Patent Publication Number: US-9409287-B2

Title: Hex wrench tool handle

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/677,163 filed Jul. 30, 2012, the entire disclosure which is incorporated herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to hand tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tool handle to facilitate performing tasks with hex wrenches. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the present invention provides a tool handle for releasably receiving a tool including a core portion having a base portion and a cylindrical shaft portion extending outwardly therefrom, the base portion including a first surface, a second surface, and an outer wall extending therebetween, the outer wall defining a first bore therein, and a grip portion rotatably disposed about the shaft portion of the core. The first bore is configured to releasably receive a first portion of the tool. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are cross-sectional views of a tool handle for use with a hex wrench in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C  are perspective views of the tool handle as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
     
    
    
     Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention according to the disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation, not limitation, of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     A tool handle  10  in accordance with the present disclosure is shown. Tool handle  10  includes a grip portion  20  that is rotatably mounted to a core portion  30 . Grip portion  20  includes a proximal end  22 , a distal end  24  and a cylindrical outer surface  26  extending therebetween. As best seen in  FIGS. 2A through 2C , cylindrical outer surface  26  preferably includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves  27  to facilitate grasping tool handle  10 . Additionally, grip portion  20  defines a cylindrical bore  28  that extends from proximal end  22  to distal end  24 , cylindrical bore  28  being configured to rotatably receive a portion of core portion  30 , as discussed in greater detail below. In the embodiment shown, grip portion  20  is preferably constructed of a hard plastic material. Note, however, inlays of elastomeric materials may be secured to outer surface  26  of grip portion  20  to further enhance a user&#39;s grasp. As well, the entire grip portion  20  may be constructed of an elastomeric material provided that cylindrical bore  28  is lined with a low friction material to allow grip portion  20  to rotate relative to core portion  30 , as discussed in greater detail below. Note, alternate embodiments of grip portion  20  may be of numerous other cross-sectional shapes, i.e., hexagonal, triangular, square, etc. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , core portion  30  includes a base  32  and a shaft  34  extending outwardly therefrom. Base  32  includes a first surface  36 , a second surface  38  and a cylindrical outer wall  40  extending therebetween. Cylindrical outer wall  40  defines a plurality of blind bores  42   a ,  42   b , etc., that are configured to slidably receive one of a first end  54  or a second end  58  of a hex wrench  50 . As shown, the cross-section of each blind bore forms a dodecahedron such that a correspondingly sized hex wrench  50  can be received in any one of 12 angular positions with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the blind bore. Note, however, that in alternate embodiments, the blind bores are hexagonally shaped. Shaft  34  extends outwardly from, and is perpendicular to, first surface  36  of base  32 . Shaft  34  includes a cylindrical outer surface  48  that extends between its proximal end  44  and its distal end  46 , and is correspondingly shaped to cylindrical bore  28  of grip portion  20  so that it can be rotatably secured therein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , second end  58  of hex wrench  50  is slidably received in blind bore  42   b  of base  32  such that a first elongated portion  52  of hex wrench  50  is parallel to the longitudinal center axis of tool handle  10 . As such, a fastener (not shown) can be engaged by first end  54  of hex wrench  50 , and the fastener may be either tightened or loosened simply by rotating tool handle, and therefore hex wrench  50 , about the longitudinal center axis of first elongated portion  52  of hex wrench  50 . As best seen in  FIG. 1B , when a greater amount of torque is desired, first end  54  of first elongated portion  52  is slidably received in blind bore  42   b  such that tool handle  10 , and therefore hex wrench  50 , is rotatable about the longitudinal center axis of second elongated portion  56 . This configuration allows a greater amount of torque to be applied to the fastener although the same amount of force is applied to the tool handle since the moment arm created by first elongated portion  52  of hex wrench  50  is greater than that created by the shorter second elongated portion  56 . 
     While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are described above, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.