Abstract:
The support ring of the includes an outer mounting bracket that is connected to a fixed bracket by a swivel. The outer mounting bracket pivotly supports a bolt-together collar that rotatably receives an inner collar. The inner collar is designed to tightly clamp onto the tool to be supported. The inner collar and the tool thus rotate inside the outer collar while the outer collar allows the tool to pivot with respect to the bracket. The support ring thus allows the tool to be weightlessly supported in essentially any useful position as if the tool were not supported at all.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/123,964 filed Mar. 12,1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention generally relates to tools and, more particularly, to a support ring that holds a tool that allows the tool to be used in a variety of positions. Specifically, the present invention relates to a support ring for an impact hammer that has an inner clamping ring that is rotatably carried by an outer ring which is, in turn, pivotly mounted to a U-shaped bracket that is, in turn, pivotly mounted to a support structure. The support ring of the present invention allows a heavy tool, such an impact hammer, to be weightlessly supported while allowing the user to move the tool into essentially any position as if the tool was not supported. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Various heavy power tools that must be used for long periods of time are known in the art. One such tool is an impact hammer that is used to break welds in the automotive industry. It is thus desired in the art to support the weight of these tools by a support mechanism so that the user does not have to hold the entire weight of the tool while working. 
     Different devices have been developed in the art for holding impact hammers. These devices generally support the weight of the impact hammer from above while allowing the device to move. These devices either work with air pressure or springs. The devices have not, however, provided enough movement of the tool with respect to a work piece. The users of the tools thus desire a support arrangement that allows the tool to be used in a wider variety of locations and angles when supported by these support devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a support ring for a tool that allows the tool to rotate or pivot about two axes in addition to a third axis on which the weight of the tool is supported. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a support ring for a tool that clamps onto the tool to form a tight connection between the support ring and the tool. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a support ring for a tool that allows the tool to rotate 360 degrees about its longitudinal axis as well as pivot about a horizontal axis while being rotationally supported from above about a vertical axis. 
    
    
     These and other objectives of the present invention are achieved by the support ring for a tool as disclosed below and in the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant contemplated applying the principles of the invention are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the support ring of the present invention used hold a tool; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the inner ring of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the support ring of the present invention used to holding tool in one position; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view similar to FIG. 6 showing the tool in the second position; 
     FIG. 8 is an end view showing the tool in a third position; 
     FIG. 9 is another end view showing the tool in a fourth position; and 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to view  9  showing the tool in the fifth position; 
     FIG. 11 is a manufacturing drawing for the brass bolt-together collar; 
     FIG. 12 is a manufacturing drawing for the steel bolt-together collar; and 
     FIG. 13 is an assembly drawing of the brass and steel bolt-together collars. 
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout the specification. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The support ring of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  10  in the accompanying drawings. Support ring  10  is depicted in the drawings as carrying a tool  12  having at least one area  14  having a substantially cylindrical outer surface. Support ring  10  is configured to clamp around area  14  of tool  12  to form a secure connection between ring  10  and tool  12 . In operation, support ring  10  allows tools  12  to freely rotate about the longitudinal axis  16  of tool  12  as well as pivot about a pivot axis  18  that is substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis  16 . The mounting device  20  that supports the weight of tool  12  typically includes a cable  22  that mounts to a swivel  24  that allows tool  12  to rotate about the vertical axis  26  while in use. 
     Support ring  10  generally includes an outer mounting bracket  30 , an outer bolt-together collar  32 , and an inner bolt-together collar  34 . Inner collar  34  is sized and configured to clamp against area  14  of tool  12  such that there is relatively no movement between collar  14  and tool  12  when tool is in operation. Collar  34  is slidingly seated in a U-shaped channel  36  formed in outer collar  32  such that inner collar  34  may rotate freely with respect to outer collar  32  but may not move longitudinally with respect to outer collar  32 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, inner collar  34  is fabricated from brass and outer collar  32  is fabricated from steel such that there is smooth sliding engagement between the two elements. Lubrication may be used if desired. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, inner collar  34  is formed from two halves,  40  and  42  that bolt together with a pair of suitable bolts  44 . Each bolt  44  is received in an appropriate bore  46  that is threaded to receive bolt  44 . 
     Inner collar  34  further includes a pair of clamping screws  48  that are threadably received in threaded bores  50 . Screws  48  are provided to ensure a secure fit between inner collar  34  and area  14  of tool  12 . A pair of locking holes  52  may also be provided that communicate with bores  50  and screws  48 . Locking members may be received in holes  52  to secure screws  48  in place. A tight secure connection between inner collar  34  and tool  12  is necessary given the vibrations created by tool  12 . 
     The inner diameter of inner collar  34  is preferably sized to be slightly smaller than the outside diameter of area  14 . This configuration ensures that a tight clamping fit can be achieved between inner collar  34  and tool  12 . In a second embodiment of the present invention, an inner collar  60  is used as shown in FIG.  5 . Inner collar  60  includes a single piece with a slot  62 . A bolt hole  64  extends through the body of inner collar  60  and is threaded to allow a suitable bolt to threadably engage bore  64 . In operation, the bolt will pull the two edges  66  towards each other to allow inner collar  60  to clamp about tool  12 . This configuration allows an extremely tight fit between inner collar  60  and tool  12  to be achieved by pulling the ends of inner collar  60  toward each other with the single bolt. 
     Outer bolt-together collar  32  includes a first half  70  and a second half  72  that are connected by a pair of suitable bolts  74  that are threadedly received in threaded boars  76 . As described above, each half  70  and  72  is formed with a U-shaped channel  36  sized to snugly but slidably receive inner collar  34 . A pair of bolt holes  78  are substantially oppositely disposed and pass entirely through a diameter of outer bolt-together collar  32 . Bolt holes  78  provide access to bores or holes  50  so that the clamping connection between inner collar  34  and tool  12  may be adjusted without disassembling outer collar  32 . 
     A pair of holding bolts  80  are threadedly received in holes  78 . Spacers  82  slidingly engage bolts  80  and are used to space the ends of bracket  30  from outer collar  34  and to provide room inside bracket  30  through which tool  12  may pivot. 
     Support ring  10  is assembled by first clamping inner bolt-together collar  34  about area  14  of tool  12 . Outer bolt-together  32  is then bolted together around inner collar  34 . Locking screws  48  may then be tightened or retightened with access provided through holes  78 . Spacers  82  and bolts  80  are then used to mount bracket  30  to outer collar  32 . Bracket  30  is then connected to swivel  24  which is, in turn, connected to cable  22 . 
     Tool  12  may be rotated to a variety of positions depicted in FIGS. 6-10 when it is held by support ring  10 . Tool  12  may pivot up vertically as depicted in FIG. 7 or down vertically as depicted in FIG.  8 . Bracket  30  provides space for tool  12  to move. Tool  12  may also be rotated  90  degrees as depicted in FIG. 9 or 180 degrees as depicted in FIG.  10 . Tool  12  may be used in any or a combination of these positions as well as an infinite number of other positions while the tool is in use. Support ring  10  thus allows the user of the tool to position the working end  100  of the tool in a variety of desired positions without holding the entire weight of the tool. Support ring  10  thus allows the user to be more productive and risk fewer injuries while using tool  12 . 
     Accordingly, the improved support ring for tool is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 
     Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the support ring for tool is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.