Patent ID: 7686531

Claim:
A universal connector apparatus for securing a male-threaded utility handle into a female-threaded receptacle of a tool assembly comprising a tool, the connector apparatus comprising: a substantially-circular friction ring comprising opposing contact surfaces; a substantially-circular thread neck unitarily formed with and longitudinally-aligned with, at a leading end thereof, a trailing end of said friction ring; and a substantially-circular threaded-end aperture comprising an aperture diameter and longitudinally extending through the friction ring and thread neck combination such that said threaded-end aperture is open at both ends thereof; said friction ring oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to a centerline longitudinally extending through said threaded-end aperture, and substantially wider in said perpendicular plane than in a direction parallel to said centerline, each of said opposing contact surfaces of said friction ring comprising friction-enhancing surface features; said threaded-end aperture being sized and shaped to and said friction ring and said thread neck comprising an elastic connector material which radially elastically deforms to conform to male threads of the male-threaded handle having an outer thread diameter larger than said aperture diameter when an end of the handle proximate the male threads is inserted into said threaded-end aperture and extends through said friction ring and thread neck combination; wherein said connector material is selected from the friction-enhancing materials group consisting of elastomers and plastics; and said connector material with said friction-enhancing surface features supplying enhanced friction wherein when said friction ring and thread neck combination is fitted over the male threads, and when the male threads in combination with said thread neck are screwed into the female-threaded receptacle of the tool assembly, said connector apparatus substantially impedes relative rotation between the handle and the tool, said friction-enhancing surface features adding friction between a circumferential shoulder of said utility handle and an outside surface of said female-threaded receptacle.