Improvements in Tool Handles and Devices for Securing the same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 2nd July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tool Handles and Devices for Securing the same.
I, HUGO AARON ZECKENDORF, Watchmaker and Jeweller, residing at Tucson,
in the County of Pima, and State of Arizona, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:.
―
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and economic form of
locking device, and to prepare the body of the tool and its handle for the reception
of the device, the locking device being placed in a position to hold the tool to
its handle in an expeditious and in a convenient manner. A further object of
the invention is to so make the attachment between the handle and the tool
adapted for the handle, that there will be but little liability for the locking
devices employed being displaced under excessive or violent use of the tool.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an axe and its handle, illustrating the application
of my invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the locking wedge and keys assembled.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the same parts separated.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on line, Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a side clevation of the end of an axe handle.
The body portion of the handle A may be made in any desired shape necessary
or that fancy may dictate, but the helve of the handle, or that portion a which
is to enter the eye of the tool B is provided with a tapering slot 10, the said slot
being narrowest at its upper end. The slot extends from the upper or outer end
of the helve to a point near its center, and is in direct communication with an
opening 11, which forms a socket and extends through the helve from side to
side, as does likewise the aforesaid tapering slot 10. In the drawings the opening
or socket 11 is of circular form, and while this form is preferred, the opening
may be given other contour.
This locking wedge C comprises a body 12, which is of the same length as the
slot 10 in the helve, and has a corresponding taper, and a head 13 which is
formed at the lower end of the body, extending beyond opposite sides of the same,
forming shoulders 14; and the lower or outer surface of the head is given a
shape corresponding to that of the socket or opening 11 in the helve in which
the head of the locking wedge is adapted to be located.
The body of the tool B which is to receive the handle is provided with an
opening 15 in each side of its eye portion, the openings 15 of the tool corresponding
in contour to the opening or socket 11 in the helve of the handle, and the
openings 15 in the tool are so located that they will register with the opening or

page_text: socket in the helve when the handle has been properly placed in the eye of the
tool.
Prior to introducing the handle into the eye of the tool, the locking wedge C
is fitted into the tapering slot 10 of the helve, and the head portion of the
locking wedge is brought to close engagement with the lower wall of the socket
or opening 11 connecting with the slot.
In addition to the locking wedge C, I ordinarily employ two keys 16, the inner
faces of the said keys being made flat as are likewise their inner edges, while
their outer or circumferential faces are given a contour corresponding to the
marginal contour of the opening or socket 11 in the helve. These keys are
driven through the openings 15 in the tool, one at each side of the locking wedge
their circumferential or outer faces being in close engagement with the side
walls of the two openings 15 and helve opening 11 while the inner faces of the
keys fit tight to the sides of the locking wedge, and the inner edges of the said
keys rest firmly upon the shoulders 14 at the head portion of the locking wedge.
From the above described construction it will be seen that the keys 16 clamp
the wedge C so firmly that it is held to move therewith, and as the keys are
carried by the tool, any outward movement of the tool on the handle caused by
the shrinkage or wear at the opening 11 in the handle, will carry the wedge with
it, and as the wedge is moved outward in the slot 10 of the handle, it spreads the
end of the handle and thereby tightens the handle in the eye of the tool.
It will also be seen that the wedge in addition to acting as a part of the keys
and serving to spread the end of the handle, as hereinbefore described, also serves,
with the keys to so lock the tool on the handle that it is prevented from rocking
thereon even should the hole of the handle become enlarged.
The attachment is a secure one, and even when the tool is most violently used
the possibility of the fastening devices becoming disarranged or displaced is
exceedingly remote.
If desired I may provide the outer end of the keys with heads a having
recesses a, the inner end of one key adapted to be seated in the recessed head of
the other key.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination, with a tool handle having a tapering slot produced in its
upper end the said handle being likewise provided with a socket or opening in
direct communication with the said tapering slot, of a locking wedge the body of
which is of such dimensions and inclinations as to fit the tapering slot of the
helve, the locking wedge being also provided with a head extending beyond
opposite sides of the body, the extending inner portions of the head forming
shoulders, the outer shoulders of the head conforming to the contour of a portion
of the slot or socket 11 in the helve, and keys having their inner bottom faces
shaped respectively-for engagement with the sides and the shoulders of the locking
wedge, the outer side surfaces of the keys conforming to the contour of the side
portions of the slot or socket in the said helve, as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination, with a handle the upper part of which is provided with a
tapering slot terminating in a socket at its lower end, the socket and slot extending
from side to side of the helve, and a locking wedge having its body of correspond-
ing taper and dimensions to the taper and dimensions of the said slot, the locking
wedge being provided with a shouldered head, which head conforms to a portion
of the margin of the aforesaid socket, of a tool into the eye of which the helve
is introduced, the said tool being provided with opposing openings of corre-
sponding contour to that of the socket in the helve, the openings in the tool being
arranged to register with the socket in the helve, and keys passed through the
openings in the tool and the socket in the helve, the said keys engaging with

page_text: opposite sides of the locking wedge, and filling up the space in the helve socket
not occupied by the head of the locking wedge, the said keys being also in close
engagement with the walls of the opening in the tool, as and for the purpose
specified.
3. The combination with a tool having a transverse opening in its eye, of a
handle provided with a circular opening and a tapering slot leading therefrom to
the end of the handle, a wedge having a curved outer surface to fit the wall of the
circular opening of the handle, and keys quadrantal in shape in cross section, and
fitting in the apertures of the tool and handle and cramping the wedge between
them, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 20th day of January 1898
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.