Patent Publication Number: US-2003222471-A1

Title: Bottom piece on handle of hand tool

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a bottom piece on the handle of a hand tool and the bottom piece includes a body enclosed by a casing with different color from that of the body.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] A conventional hand tool such as a screwdriver as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 generally includes a handle  10  and a shank extends from the first end of the handle  10  and a function end  17  is connected to the shank. A description  18  of the specification of the hand tool is marked on the outer surface of the handle  10 . A tongue  13  extends from the second end of the handle  10  and a flange  14  extends radially outward from the tongue  13 . A bottom piece  11  has a recess  15  defined in an end thereof and a groove  16  is defined in an inner periphery of the recess  15  so that when the bottom piece  11  is mounted on the tongue  13 , the flange  14  is engaged with the groove  16 . A collar  12  generally made of metal is mounted on the tongue  13  and located between the end of the bottom piece  11  and the second end of the handle  10 . Therefore, the bottom piece  11  can be rotated relative to the tongue  13 . An inherent shortcoming of the arrangement of the bottom piece  11  and the handle  10  is that the collar  121  is easily rusted and contaminates the handle  10 . In addition, the description  18  is easily to be worn out.  
       [0003] The present invention intends to provide a bottom piece rotatably connected to the handle and the description of the tool can be shown at the end surface of the bottom piece.  
       [0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handle assembly for a hand tool and the assembly comprises a tongue extending from a distal end of a handle and a bottom piece is rotatably mounted on the tongue. A collar portion extends radially outward from an outer surface of the bottom piece and a description is marked on an end surface of the bottom piece. A casing has a recess defined in a first end thereof and the bottom piece is received in the recess of the casing. An aperture is defined through a second end of the casing so as to see the description.  
       [0006] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a handle assembly of a hand tool wherein the specification of the tool can be shown in the end of the handle assembly.  
       [0007] The other object of the present invention is to provide a handle assembly wherein the casing and the collar portion on the bottom piece have different colors.  
       [0008] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show a conventional handle assembly of a hand tool;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view to show the conventional handle assembly of a hand tool;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded view to show the handle assembly of a hand tool of the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 4 shows a male mold and a female mold for manufacturing a casing to be mounted on the bottom piece;  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view to show the casing made between the male mold and the female mold, and  
     [0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view to show the handle assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0015] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, the handle assembly for a hand tool of the present invention comprises a tongue  21  which extends from a distal end of a handle  20  of the hand tool which includes the handle  20  and a shank extending from the handle  20 . A function end such as a cabinet end as shown is connected to a distal end of the shank. The tongue  21  has a flange  22  extending from an outer periphery thereof.  
     [0016] A bottom piece  31  is rotatably mounted on the tongue  21  and a collar portion  33  extends radially outward from an outer surface of the bottom piece  31 . A groove  35  is defined in an inner periphery thereof so as to receive the flange  22  in the groove  35 . A description  34  for the type and size of the function end is marked on an end surface of the bottom piece  31 .  
     [0017] A casing  40  has a recess  32  defined in a first end thereof and the bottom piece  31  is received in the recess  32  of the casing  40 . The first end of the casing  40  is flush with the outer surface of the collar portion  33 . An aperture is defined through a second end of the casing  40  and the description  34  is located in alignment with the aperture in the casing  40  so that the description  34  can be seen via the aperture. The description may also be made to be convex from the end surface of the bottom piece  31  and is engaged with the aperture in the casing  40 . The outer surface of the collar portion  33 , the handle  20  and the casing  40  have different colors and the color of the collar portion  33  has a preset meaning to let the user to pick the right tool quickly.  
     [0018] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the casing  40  can be manufactured by mounting the bottom piece  31  on a protrusion of a male mold  41 , and a female mold  42  having a concavity is mounted onto the bottom piece  31 . A gap is defined between the inner periphery of the concavity of the female mold  42  and the outer surface of the bottom piece  31 . Proper material is injected in the gap via a passage in the female mold to form the casing  40  which is securely mounted onto the bottom piece  31 . The first end of the casing  40  is ended before the collar portion  33  of the bottom piece  31  so that the collar portion  33  can be seen.  
     [0019] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.