Patent Abstract:
Disclosed herein are several examples of an adapter for a modular tool system. The adapter in one form comprising: a handle attachment device fixed to a shovel head; the handle attachment device removably attached to a coupler which is fixed to one longitudinal end of an elongate handle; the elongate handle having a longitudinal axis wherein the coupler is in line with the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal axis of the handle; an offset arm having a first end fixed to the handle attachment device, the offset arm extending from the handle attachment device and extending to a second end removably coupled to the elongate handle at a point longitudinally distal of the coupler; and wherein the offset arm extends from the handle attachment device at a vertical offset distance from the longitudinal axis of the elongate handle.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates to the field of lawn and garden, firefighting, trail building and other earth moving hand tools which are modular in that they can be broken down and stored in a smaller footprint than their operating or assembled configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Disclosed herein are several examples of an adapter for a modular tool system. The adapter in one form comprising: a handle attachment device fixed to a shovel head; the handle attachment device removably attached to a coupler which is fixed to one longitudinal end of an elongate handle; the elongate handle having a longitudinal axis wherein the coupler is in line with the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal axis of the handle; an offset arm having a first end fixed to the handle attachment device, the offset arm extending from the handle attachment device and extending to a second end removably coupled to the elongate handle at a point longitudinally distal of the coupler; and wherein the offset arm extends from the handle attachment device at a vertical offset distance from the longitudinal axis of the elongate handle. 
     The adapter as recited herein may further comprise a clamp apparatus removably coupled to the elongate handle wherein the clamp forms one portion of the attachment between the elongate handle and the offset arm. 
     The adapter as recited herein may further comprise: a pin extending from the clamp apparatus; a surface defining a void in the second end of the offset arm of slightly larger cross section than a cross section of the pin; and wherein the pin is received by the surface defining the void so as to counter compression forces from the handle attachment device to the clamp apparatus. 
     The adapter as recited herein may be arranged wherein the coupler comprises: a plurality of teeth with grooves there between extending longitudinally from the coupler; a plurality of grooves and teeth there between extending longitudinally from the handle attachment device, wherein the teeth protruding from the coupler engage the grooves of the handle attachment device and vice versa; a male threaded surface on either the coupler or the handle attachment device; and a female threaded ring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one example of the apparatus in an assembled state. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the example of  FIG. 1  in a disassembled state. 
         FIG. 3  is a detail exploded view of the example of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a detail exploded view of the example of  FIG. 2  with several components removed to show the remaining components in more detail. 
         FIG. 5  is a detail exploded view of the example of  FIG. 4  from a different angle. 
     
    
    
     In  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , the handle extension  30  has been cut off to better show the remaining components. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Looking to  FIG. 1  is shown a modular tool  20  comprising an elongate handle  22  and a plurality of interchangeable tool heads  24  and  26 . The first tool head  24  comprises a McLeod head having a rake portion  28  and a hoe portion  31 . The second tool head  26  is a shovel head. 
     Before continuing a detailed description, an axes system  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  generally comprising a longitudinal axis  12 , a vertical axis  14  generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis  12  and orthogonal to a general plane of the shovel head  26 . Also disclosed is a transverse axis  16  which is orthogonal to the vertical axis  14  and the longitudinal axis  12 . The longitudinal axis  12  is generally collinear to the handle axis  18 . The handle axis  18  generally aligned with the radial center of the elongate tool handle  22 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the elongate handle  22  in one example comprises a plurality of individual handle extensions  30 A,  30 B, and  30 C. As will be understood, additional handle extensions  30  can be utilized for a longer elongate handle  22  or alternatively, fewer handle extensions  30  can be utilized for a shorter elongate handle  22 . 
     In this disclosure, it will be attempted to identify generic components with a numeric label and specific examples of each generic component of an alphabetic suffix. For example, a general handle extension will be termed  30  while the specific handle extensions shown in  FIG. 1  are labeled with  30 A- 30 C. 
     Looking to  FIG. 2 , it can be understood that the tool head  24  is a McLeod style tool head having a rake portion  28  and a hoe portion  30 . In addition, a tool head coupling  32  is fixed to the back side  35  of the tool head  24  protruding therefrom. The tool head coupling  32  removably attached to a first end coupling  34 A of the first handle extension  30 A, the first end coupling  34 A in this example having teeth  38  and grooves  40  therebetween. The teeth  38  fitting within grooves  40 ′ of the tool head coupling  32  and teeth  40 ′ of the tool head coupling  32  fitting within grooves  40  of the first end coupling  34 A. As with the alphabetic suffix, an apostrophe (′) may be utilized to denote substantially identical components on alternate structures as can be understood by the preceding description. 
     While different examples of the handle extensions can be utilized, looking to  FIG. 4 , it can be appreciated that in this example the handle extension  30  has a first end coupling  34  with teeth  38  and grooves  40  protruding from the longitudinal end thereof. In the example shown, adjacent the teeth  38  and grooves  40  is a smooth surface  42  with a shoulder  44  adjacent thereto and longitudinally proximal to the first handle extension  30 . Also shown is a female threaded ring  46  with an inset ring  48  machined or formed on the proximal end thereof. The female threaded ring  46  generally has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the smooth surface  42  so as to slide thereupon. The inset ring  48  has an inner diameter larger than the diameter  50  of the tube portion of the handle extension  30  so as to slide thereupon. The inner diameter of the inset ring  48  as shown is substantially smaller than the outer diameter of the smooth surface  42  so that the inset ring  48  engages the shoulder  44  as the female threaded ring  46  is threaded up on a male threaded portion  52  of a male coupler portion  54 . The male coupler portion  54  may be utilized as a portion of the tool head coupling  32 , shovel head coupling  98 , or second end coupling  36 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the shovel head coupling  98  including the male coupler portion  54  already described as well as a tool head block  56  which is attached to the shovel head  26  and one example. In one form, the tool head block  56  comprises an indent  58  which receives a detent  60  protruding from the longitudinal end of the male coupler portion  54 . In one form, upon positioning of the male coupler portion  54  to the tool head block  56 , fasteners, adhesives, or welding may be employed to fix the male coupler portion  54  to the tool head block  56 . 
     The tool head block  56  in one example also comprises a countersink void  62  for receiving a head portion  63  of a fastener  64  which is threaded into a receiving portion  106  of the shovel head  26 . This assembly is more easily seen in  FIG. 3 . In one form, a threaded void is provided in the receiving portion  106 ; although adhesives or welding may also be utilized to attach the tool head block  56  to the receiving portion  106 .  FIG. 5  shows a pass through void  96  through which the fastener  64  passes as it is threaded into the receiving portion  106 . The tool head block  56  in one example also comprises an offset arm receiver  66  to which first end  68  of the offset arm  70  is attached by way of adhesives, fasteners, welding, brazing etc. 
     The first end  68  of the offset arm  70  in this example is generally aligned with the handle axis  18  and parallel thereto. In one form, the offset arm  70  comprises a bend  72  between the first and  68  and a median portion  74  and a bend  76  between the median portion  74  and a second end  78 . In one form, the second and  78  is again parallel to the handle axis  18  and may comprise a void  80  for receiving of a pin  82  or fastener which allows removable attachment of the offset arm  70  to the handle extension  30  at a position along the handle extension  30  distal from the first end coupling  34 . 
       FIG. 4  also shows a clamp apparatus  84  for placement of the pin  82  upon the outer surface  86  of the handle extension  30 . In other examples, the pin  82  may protrude from the handle extension  30  or may be attached using other means. In this example, the clamp apparatus  84  comprises an upper clamp portion  88  and a lower clamp portion  90  where in the inner diameter  92  of the clamp apparatus  84  is slightly smaller than the diameter  50  of the handle extension  30  such that when clamp fasteners  96 A and  96 B are tensioned the inner surface  94  of the clamp apparatus  84  compresses about the outer surface  86  of the handle extension  30  and is therefore removably attached thereto. Removal being accomplished by releasing tension between the upper clamp portion  88  and lower clamp portion  90  through counter rotation of the clamp fasteners  96 A and  96 B. 
     The pin  82  may be press fit, threaded into, welded to or otherwise affixed to the lower clamp portion  94  may be formed as a unitary structure there with. 
     As can be seen in the example of  FIG. 3 , when the shovel head coupling  98  is assembled, the first and  68  of the offset arm  70  is attached to the tool head block  56 , the tool head block  56  is attached to the receiving portion  106  of the shovel head  26 , and the male coupler portion  54  is attached to the tool head block  56 . Likewise, the clamp apparatus  84  is attached to the outer surface  86  of the handle extension  30 . 
     Once the components described above are connected, the shovel head  26  has a portion of the shovel head coupling  98  attached thereto, while the clamp apparatus  84  is attached to one of the handle extensions  30 . With the handle extension  30  detached and the separate handle extensions  30 A- 30 C detached from each other the overall length of the separate components is substantially small compared to a standard long handled shovel and also when compared to the assembled apparatus. This allows for easy storage or transportation such as in a backpack. 
     To attach the handle extension  32  the shovel head  26  one may begin with the step of aligning the handle extension  30  such that the teeth  38 ′ on the shovel head coupling  98  align with grooves  38  on the first end coupling  34  and likewise grooves  40 ′ align with teeth  40 . Once the teeth and grooves are aligned and engaged, the female threaded ring  46  may then be slid longitudinally past the smooth surface  42  and threaded onto the male threaded portion  52  until the inset ring  48  is in compression against the shoulder  44  substantially retaining the handle extension  30  upon the shovel head coupling  98 . 
     A similar process is utilized or followed to attach individual handle extensions  32  adjacent handle extensions. In addition, at the longitudinally distal end of the assembled handle  22 , a handle end cap  100  may be provided having teeth  38  and grooves  40  substantially identical to those shown on each handle extension  30  as well as a shoulder  44  and female threaded ring  46 D. This end cap  100  and ring  46 D in one form protect the distal end of the third handle extension  30 C. In one form, the end cap may be formed without teeth and grooves. In one example the threaded ring  46  is formed as a unitary structure with the end cap  100 . 
     Looking back to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that as the handle extension  30  has been engaged to the shovel head coupling  98 , the pin  82  is received by the void  80  in the offset support arm  70 . As the offset support arm  70  is significantly rigid and capable of providing substantial compression resistance can be appreciated that when a leveraging force is placed upon the elongate handle  22  relative to the scoop portion  102  and/or blade portion  104  of the shovel head  26  a bending moment is generally centered upon the shovel head coupling  98  providing significant and potentially detrimental force thereupon. The offset support arm  70  therefore takes a substantial amount of this bending moment and translates the force directly to the shovel head  26  resulting in the shovel head coupling  98  experiencing substantially more tensile strength then bending moment. For example, when the assembled apparatus is used for digging of heavy or hard earth the bending moment provided to the shovel head coupling  98  in such an operation may be enough to break the shovel head coupling  98  were it not for the offset arm  70 . 
     In one example, it may be desired to leave the clamp fasteners  96 A and  96 B un-tensioned or slightly tensioned prior to initial attachment of the handle extension  32  the shovel head  26 . Once initially in position, the clamp fasteners  96  may be tensioned and in this way, upper alignment of the pin  82  relative to the void  80  can be assured. Once tensioned, it is a relatively simple matter to unscrew the female threaded ring  46  of each handle extension  30  and disassemble the apparatus. This process should only be required at initial assembly, as the clamp will remain in the proper position once initially attached and tensioned. 
     In one form, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the surface defining a void  80  may form a slot open towards the second end  78  of the offset arm  70 . This arrangement will reduce the assembly&#39;s ability to counter tension forces, but will not affect the assembly&#39;s ability to counter compression forces and will make assembly easier then the non-slotted arrangement. 
     While it is a common term, the term distal herein meaning situated away from the point of origin or attachment, as of a limb or bone; terminal. 
     While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants&#39; general concept.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0