Patent Publication Number: US-2002002744-A1

Title: Quick-connect hand tool

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims priority to a corresponding provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/206,284, filed May 23, 2000 in the name of the applicant of this application. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] This invention relates generally to hand tools for use in repair work and, more specifically, to a quick-connect hand tool for automotive repair or other repair/manufacture needs having at least one accessory dimensioned to be coupled to the hand tool through a quick-connect attachment device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Automotive repair, as well as other forms of manufacture and repair work, requires the use of different hand tools to perform different tasks. For example, picks, hooks, and magnets are often needed to pry, probe, or poke, or to retrieve small objects in a work area. One who is involved in repair work generally needs, therefore, to purchase, store and maintain the different tools to which resort may be needed. However, it is both costly and inconvenient to acquire and store multiple tools. A need therefore existed for a quick-connect hand tool capable of releasably locking into place various tool attachments while maintaining a single handle for use. Further, a need existed for a hand tool capable of mating a single handle to a plurality of tool attachments that further permits the storage of the attachment within the tool handle itself, both for purposes of saving storage space and for providing ready access to a needed tool during a work situation. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related, advantages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a quick-connect hand tool capable of releasably locking a plurality of tool attachments to a single handle.  
       [0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a quick-connect hand tool capable of storing a plurality of tool attachments in a handle portion thereof.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0006] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a quick-connect hand tool is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a handle having a first end and a second end, a quick-connect attachment device fixedly coupled to the second end of the handle; and at least one tool accessory having a first end and a second end, the first end is dimensioned to releasably couple to the quick-connect attachment device and the second end of the tool accessory comprises a tool tip.  
       [0007] In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a method for using multiple tool accessories to effect repair is disclosed, comprising, in combination the steps of providing a handle having a first end and a second end, providing a quick-connect attachment device fixedly coupled to the second end of the handle; providing at least one tool accessory having a first end and a second end, the first end is dimensioned to releasably couple to the quick-connect attachment device and the second end of the tool accessory comprises a tool tip, and releasably coupling the second end of the tool accessory to the quick-connect attachment device.  
       [0008] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the quick-connect hand tool of the present invention.  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a side, cross-sectional view of the quick-connect hand tool of FIG. 1, showing an accessory housed in the interior of the quick-connect tool handle.  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of exemplary accessories.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the quick-connect hand tool, hereinafter quick-connect hand tool  10 , of the present invention is shown. The quick-connect hand tool  10  comprises a handle  12  having a first end  14  and a second end  16 , a quick-connect attachment device  20  fixedly coupled to the second end  16  of the handle  12  and at least one tool accessory  22  having a first end  23  and a second end  25 , the first end  23  is dimensioned to releasably couple to the quick-connect attachment device  20  and the second end  25  comprises a tool tip  27 . The quick-connect attachment device  20  is of the type known in the art.  
     [0013] Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 3 , the quick-connect hand tool  10  further comprises at least one tool accessory  22  of the type used in automotive repair or other repair/manufacture needs, releasably coupled to the quick-connect attachment device  20 . Illustrated herein, by way of example of the types of tool accessories  22  useable with the quick-connect hand tool  10  are picks, magnets and hooks. Other tool accessories (not shown) could, of course, also be used, including for example cutting blades, deburring tools, and files.  
     [0014] In order to permit attachment of the tool accessories  22  to the quick-connect attachment device  20 , the tool accessories  22  preferably have an area of reduced diameter proximate the first end  23 , as shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 . In the preferred embodiment, the quick-connect hand tool  10  comprises four hook and pick tool accessories  22  of various configurations (shown in FIG. 3), although it should be understood that substantial benefit could be derived from a configuration of the quick-connect hand tool  10  comprising as few as one tool accessory  22 , two to three tool accessories  22 , or more than four tool accessories  22 .  
     [0015] In the preferred embodiment, the handle  12  defines a hollow, preferably cylindrical, chamber  18  between the first end  14  and the second end  16 . Referring now to FIG. 2, the chamber  18  is preferably dimensioned to store the tool accessories  22  when they are not needed. The chamber  18  is preferably large enough to hold a full set of tool accessories  22 , so that the entire set of tool accessories  22  can be held therein when the quick-connect hand tool  10  is not in use. While, in the preferred embodiment, the handle  12  defines a chamber  18  dimensioned to house the tool accessories  22 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the handle  12  which defines a chamber  18  dimensioned to hold fewer than the entire set of tool accessories  22  or a handle  12  which lacks a chamber  18  altogether. Preferably, the first end  14  of the handle  12  defines a threaded aperture  24  (shown in FIG. 2) dimensioned to mate with a corresponding threaded screw cap  26 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the handle  12  of the quick-connect hand tool  10  which does not define a threaded aperture  24 , or in which the first end  14  of the handle  12  is dimensioned to mate with a cap  26  in a different manner.  
     [0016] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.