Abstract:
A combination wire-nut driver tool configured with a long hollow shank with a flared tip containing two slots which securely grip a wire-nut for the purpose of positioning and tightening a pair of electrical wires. The combination wire-nut driver tool further includes an axial bore, through which an electrical wire can pass, and a removable handle-cap which can be converted to a small screwdriver.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to a multi-function hand tool especially suited for joining the bare ends of insulated electrical wires together with a non-insulated ground-wire using a wire-nut. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Wire-connectors are used to connect electrically exposed conductive ends of two or more electrical wires. The use of wire-connectors (or wire-nuts) has become very popular in the installation of lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, electrical switches and electrical outlets. In general, a conventional wire-nut compromises an outer cap portion of non-conductive material (e.g., plastic) and a tapered insert of conductive material (e.g., metal) carried within the cap. The cap is provided with an open lower end that permits access to the conductive insert. Typically, the insert includes an internally threaded socket adapted to receive the exposed conductive ends of two or more electrical wires that are to be conductively connected. In use, the exposed conductive ends of two or more electrical wires are aligned with one another and inserted into the open end of a wire-nut. Typically the wire-nut in manually twisted onto the ends of the wires until the internally threaded socket of the conductive metal insert tightly engages the conductive ends of the wires. The non-conductive cap of the wire-connector insulates the exposed portions of the connected electrical wires from contacting other wires or other conductive portions of the fixture. In many conventional wire-nuts, the upper end of the wire-nut includes an aperture that is adapted to allow a wire pigtail or other wire extension (e.g., a ground-wire, or a neutral conductor) to pass through the upper end of the cap. 
         [0004]    Such conventional wire-nuts come in a variety of shapes and sizes. One type of conventional wire-nut has a generally conical and tapered shape with a ribbed outer surface that facilitates manual twisting or screwing of the wire-nut. Another type of conventional wire-nut has a generally tapered body portion with a pair of outwardly extending “wings” or fins disposed on opposite sides of the body portion to make manually twisting the wire-nut easier. 
         [0005]    A problem with manually twisting or screwing conventional wire-nuts onto wires is that the user&#39;s fingers and thumb can become sore from engagement with the ribs and wings of the nuts, particularly after installing a large number of them. To avoid this problem, various wrenches, pliers and other tools have been developed for installing wire-nuts. However, these devices have proven to be heavy and cumbersome, difficult to use, or altogether ineffective. Thus, a need exists for a wire-nut fastening tool that facilitates manual installation of wire-nuts, yet is lighter, more compact and easier to use than existing tools. 
         [0006]    Another problem with existing wire-nut fastening tools is that they do not allow for receiving a wire pigtail or other wire extension (e.g., a ground-wire, or a neutral conductor) to pass through the upper end of the wire-nut. While there are some wire-nut fasteners that contain a space for the extra length of wire, there exists a need for a hollow tool through which a wire can pass completely. Additionally, in both residential and commercial electrical applications, both hot and ground-wire ends are connected to posts by conventional screws. The exposed ends of the wires are looped so that they can engage a screw, which subsequently is driven and secured into a device, such as a light switch or electrical outlet. Currently, an electrician needs at least three tools to complete this task: his fingers or a wire-nut driver, a pair of pliers, and a screw driver. Thus, a need exists for a tool that has features that can quickly and easily create a loop in an exposed end of a wire, engage a wire-nut and extended ground wires, and engage a screw head. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Aspects of the present invention are directed to a multi-purpose tool comprising an elongated shank, a hollow flared tip, a handle, and a handle-plug; wherein the elongated shank has an axial bore, a working-end, a handle-end, and a transverse aperture, wherein the aperture is dimensioned and configured to engage and bend a wire when the shank is rotated; a hollow flared tip with an axial bore in registration with the axial bore of the elongated shank, comprising a terminal working-portion and a connector-portion opposite from each other along a longitudinal axis, wherein the connector-portion is connected to the working-end of the shank, wherein the flared tip has a transverse cross-sectional area which is taped from the terminal working-portion to the connector-portion, and further comprising two slots in the working-portion dimensioned and configured to engage a wire-nut; a handle comprising a shank-engagement portion longitudinally opposite from a terminal-end, wherein the handle encases the handle-end of the elongated shank and wherein the terminal-end has an aperture positioned in registration with the axial bore of the elongated shank; and a handle-plug comprising a mushroom-shaped cap with a hollow stem and a bulbous top, wherein the hollow stem is dimensioned and configured to securely and removably engage the terminal-end of the handle and wherein the hollow stem is dimensioned and configured to removably store a driver-bit. 
         [0008]    Aspects of the present invention are further directed to a multi-purpose tool comprising an elongated shank, a hollow flared tip, a handle, and handle-plug; wherein the elongated shank has an axial bore, a working-end, a handle-end, and a transverse aperture, wherein the aperture is dimensioned and configured to engage and bend a wire when the shank is rotated; a hollow flared tip with an axial bore in registration with the axial bore of the elongated shank, comprising a terminal working-portion and a connector-portion opposite from each other along a longitudinal axis, wherein the connector-portion is connected to the working-end of the shank, wherein the flared tip has a transverse cross-sectional area which is taped from the terminal working-portion to the connector-portion, and further comprising two slots in the working-portion dimensioned and configured to engage a wire-nut; a handle comprising a shank-engagement portion longitudinally opposite of a terminal-end, wherein the handle encases the handle-end of the elongated shank and wherein the terminal-end has an aperture positioned in registration with the axial bore of the elongated shank; a handle-plug comprising a mushroom-shaped cap with a hollow stem and a bulbous top, wherein the hollow stem is dimensioned and configured to securely and removable engage with the terminal-end of the handle and wherein the hollow stem is dimensioned and configured to removably store a driver-bit; and a driver-bit comprising two longitudinally opposite ends, wherein one end is dimensioned and configured to engage a slotted screw and the opposite end is dimensioned and configured to engage a Phillips head screw and wherein the driver-bit is stored in the stem of the handle-plug. 
         [0009]    Aspects of the present invention are further directed to a multi-purpose tool comprising an elongated shank, a hollow flared tip, a handle, and a handle-plug; wherein the elongated shank has an axial bore, a working-end, a handle-end, and a transverse aperture, wherein the aperture is dimensioned and configured to engage and bend a wire when the shank is rotated; a hollow flared tip with an axial bore in registration with the axial bore of the elongated shank, comprising a terminal working-portion and a connector-portion opposite from each other along a longitudinal axis, wherein the connector-portion is connected to the working-end of the shank, wherein the flared tip has a transverse cross-sectional area which is tapered from the terminal working-portion to the connector-portion, and further comprising two slots in the working-portion dimensioned and configured to engage a wire-nut; a handle comprising a shank-engagement portion longitudinally opposite of the terminal-end, wherein the handle encases the handle-end of the elongated shank and wherein the terminal-end has an aperture positioned in registration with the axial bore of the elongated shank, and further comprising an inner-portion and an outer-portion wherein the inner-portion is in direct contact with the elongated shank and is dimensioned and configured to substantially resist electrical conductivity, and wherein the outer-portion is dimensioned and configured to be slip resistant; and a driver-bit comprising two longitudinally opposite ends, wherein one end is dimensioned and configured to engage a slotted screw and the opposite end is dimensioned and configured to engage to Phillips head screw and wherein the driver-bit is stored in the stem of the handle-plug. 
         [0010]    Embodiments of the invention may include a multi-purpose tool that is especially suited for an electrician or others working with electrical wires. The working-end of the elongated shank may be flared and may include two opposing slots extending from the terminal-end close to the connector end. The terminal-end may be flared sufficiently to cover a conventional wire-nut so that the wings on a conventional wire-nut will fit into the slots of the tip. When the handle of the tool is rotated, the wire-nut may also be rotated around a central axis. Embodiments may provide for the rotation of the wire-nut to cause any wires, inserted into the wire-nut, to engage not only each other but also the internal surface of the wire-nut. Thus, a connection may be made between the wires. 
         [0011]    Commercial and residential electrical wiring schemes require a ground-wire as a safety device. The ground-wire is attached to an electrical switch, electrical outlet, or other electrical device to drain excess current from an electrical circuit. Wire-nuts that are specifically suited for engaging ground-wires have a hole through the top, through which extended ground-wires may pass. A wire-nut suited for ground-wires serves the purpose of connecting multiple ground wires to one grounding source. The exposed end of a hot-wire is twisted around a ground-wire by the rotation of the wire-nut. The hot-wire end remains covered within the wire-nut, while the ground wire extends through the hole in the wire-nut. 
         [0012]    With a long enough primary ground-wire, multiple secondary ground-wires may be connected to the primary wire. In this configuration, the primary ground-wire would pass through the hole in the wire-nut and then connect to subsequent ground-wire and subsequent series of ground-wires. Aspects of the present invention may allow for this unique configuration because of the axial bore that extends through the entirety of exemplary devices, from the working-end through the handle. Such features may be particularly advantageous because the elongated shank can be produced in a length sufficient to reach deep into electrical boxes or outlets. 
         [0013]    Another useful feature of the present subject matter is a removable handle-plug containing a driver-bit. Conventional light switches in both residential and commercial applications are connected to a power source by attaching wires to the light switch via Phillips head screws. The electrical wire (either hot or ground) is bent into a loop configuration and wrapped around the stem of a screw. When the screw is tightened into the light switch, the head of the screw squeezes the wire between the metal screw and a metal connector plate. Once the screw is tightened the wire remains in place and an electrical connection is made. A removable handle-plug as described herein may conveniently store a driver-bit. Preferably the driver-bit includes a slotted head screw end and a Phillips head screw end, however, other screw heads are possible, i.e., Allen, star, etc. A removable driver-bit may be secured into the cap of the handle-plug and function as a short or stubby screwdriver. 
         [0014]    Embodiments may also include a transverse hole in the elongated shank. This feature can replace conventional needle-nose pliers in an electrician&#39;s toolkit. In the example of a light switch, all of the electrical wires must be bent to wrap around the screw post. Instead of using one&#39;s hands or an additional tool, the user can simply put the end of the wire into the transverse hole, hold the wire with one hand, and rotate the tool in the other hand. The aperture sufficiently grips the end of the wire and bends it into a loop. The user can then wrap the looped end of the wire around the screw post and, using the handle-plug as a screwdriver, secure the connection. 
         [0015]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments discussed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation of an exemplary combination wire-nut driver. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section of an exemplary combination wire-nut driver of  FIG. 1  at line A. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of an exemplary combination wire-nut driver with a hex-shape handle. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section of an exemplary handle-plug of the combination wire-nut driver of  FIG. 1  at line A. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of an exemplary removable driver-bit stored in a handle-plug. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary driven wire-nut. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7A  is a top plan view of an exemplary ground-wire wire-nut. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7B  is a side elevation of an exemplary ground-wire wire-nut. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary driving tip of the combination wire-nut driver of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The following detailed description is provided with reference to exemplary embodiments for the ease of description and understanding. Applicants&#39; invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and encompasses other variations that fall within the overall scope of description provided herein References will now be made to the attached drawings, where the same reference numerals are used throughout the various view. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an exemplary combination wire-nut driver  10  includes an elongated shank  12 . The elongated shank  12  may provide a primary structure for the wire-nut driver  10 . The working end of the elongated shank  12  comprises a flared tip  14 . Opposite the flared tip  14  is a handle-end  15 . The flared tip  14  swells outwardly and may be configured to substantially match the taper on a conventional wire-nut  50 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The flared tip  14  has two opposing wing slots  26 . The two wing slots  26  are located across from one another on opposite sides of the flared tip  14 . The wing slots  26  may be configured to substantially match the wings  54  on a conventional wire-nut  50 , as shown on  FIG. 7 . 
         [0027]    The handle-end  15  of the elongated shank  12  is encased by the handle  19 . In a preferred embodiment, the handle-end  15  of the elongated shank  12  does not extend entirely through the handle  19 ; rather the handle extends past the terminal end of the handle-end  15  of the elongated shank  12 . 
         [0028]    A handle-plug  20  may be removably securable to the end of the handle  19 . A wire-bending hole  18  is shown positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the combination wire-nut driver  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wire-bending hole  18  may be located in the handle  19 . In an alternate embodiment, the wire-bending hole  18  may be positioned at a point in the elongated shank  12  or the handle-plug  20 . The elongated shank  12  is shown with a hollow inner shaft  22  which extends completely through the longitudinal axis of the elongated shank  12 . Because the handle  19  and the handle-plug  20  also have a hollow inner shaft, an axial bore extends through the entirety of the exemplary combination wire-nut driver  10 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 1  at line A. A ground-wire  24  is illustrated extending through the hollow inner shaft  22  beginning at the flared tip  14  of the elongated shank  12 , through the handle-end  15  and the handle  19  and extending outward from the handle-plug  20 .  FIG. 2  also illustrates a preferred construction of the handle  19 . The handle  19  includes an insulating inner handle  17  and a finished outer handle  16 . The insulating inner handle  17  prevents the passage of any electrical current from the elongated shank  12  to the hand of the user. A preferred material of the insulating inner handle  17  is, for example, cellulose acetate; however, other substantially insulating materials could be used, such as rubber, wood, ceramic, or other insulating material. The finished outer handle  16  surrounds the insulating inner handle  17  and may provide a slip resistant surface for the user. A preferred construction of the finished outer handle  16  may include a ribbed or ridged rubber material. However, the outer handle  16  can be made of any other slip resistant and comfortable material. The handle-plug  20  may be preferably made of a similar material to the finished outer handle  16 . The elongated shank  12  may be preferably made of a material capable of withstanding great torsion or pressure. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the elongated shank  12 . The elongated shank  12  has a flared tip  14  and opposing wing-slots  26  as well as a hollow inner shaft  22 . On the opposite longitudinal end from the flared tip  14  is the alternative hex-shape handle  28 . The hex-shape handle  28  is configured to be gripped by a conventional rotary drill or mechanical tool (not shown) with a three-jaw chuck. It is also within the scope of the invention, that the hex-shape handle  28  can be used manually with a crescent wrench (not shown) or a suitably sized open jaw wrench. It is also within the scope of this invention that the handle  19  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) can securely fit over the alternative hex-shape handle  28 . It is also within the scope of this invention that the wire-bending hole  18  may be positioned as part of the elongated shank  12  or the hex-shape handle  28 , and not in the handle  19 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary handle-plug  20 . The handle-plug  20  is mushroom-shaped with a bulbous cap  21  and a stem  23 , both of which have an axial bore in registration with the hollow shaft  22  of the elongated shank  12 . The stem  23  may be configured to securely fit in the handle  19 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a driver-bit  30  which can be securely stored inside the handle-plug  20 . The handle-plug  20  has a securing protrusion  32  which engages a notch  33  on the driver-bit  30 . The securing protrusion  32  is rigid enough to keep the driver-bit  30  securely in place, yet flexible enough to allow the removal of the driver-bit  30  from the handle-plug  20 . A preferred embodiment of the driver-bit  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 5  with a slotted screw end  34  and a Phillips head end  36 . Slotted and Phillips head screws are the most common used in electrical wiring; however, alternative embodiments of the driver-bit  30  may engage other types of screw heads, e.g., star or Allen. The handle-plug  20  can be used as a short or stubby screwdriver when necessary. When a handle-plug  20  is removed from the handle  19 , an end of the driver-bit  30  may extend past the stem  23 . If another of the driver-bit  30  is desired, the user may apply enough pressure on the driver-bit  30  to urge the notch  33  off the securing protrusion  32 . The user then inverts the driver-bit  30  and replaces it into the stem  23  with enough pressure to urge the notch  33  back onto the securing protrusion  32 . Once the user has finished using the handle-plug  20 , it may be securely placed back into the handle  19 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of how the combination wire-nit driver  10  may be used. For example, in a typical residential or commercial application, ground-wire  24  and other ground wires  40  are combined  42  in an electrical box  38 . The ground-wires  24 ,  40  are brought close together and a wire-nut  50  is placed over the top so that (as shown) only a single ground-wire  24  extends through the hole  52  in the wire-nut  50 .  FIG. 7A  is a top plan view of a conventional ground-wire-nut  50  illustrating the hole  52  and the wings  54 .  FIG. 7B  is a side elevation view of a conventional ground-wire-nut  50 .  FIG. 8  is a side plan view of just the flared tip  14  and the opposing wing slots  26 . After the wire-nut  50  is placed onto the ground-wires  24 ,  40  with one ground-wire  24  extending through the hole  52  of the wire-nut  50 , the flared tip  14  can be slid onto the wire-nut  50 . The wings  54  slide into the slots  26  and the extended ground-wire  24  extends into the flared tip  14  and further into the hollow inner shaft  22  of the elongated shank  12 . The user can then rotate the handle  19 , which rotationally urges the wire-nut  50 . The wire-nut  50  engages, twists and subsequently connects the ground-wires  24 ,  40 . 
         [0033]    It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.