Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a tool instrument which includes a plurality of elongated tools with these tools being movable between a retracted position and an extended position with usage of the tool to occur when in the extended position. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Tradesmen and homeowners at times have need to use an elongated tool. A typical elongated tool would be a screwdriver, an Allen key or any similar like tool. These tools come in different sizes. In the past, a homeowner or tradesman had to have each size tool at his or her disposal. This would mean that there has to be available several different tools with there being a separate tool for each size tool. 
   In the past, it has been known to combine a plurality of elongated tools, such as screwdrivers or Allen keys within a single housing forming an instrument. This arrangement is particularly desirable as it provides a compact structure which can be readily carried in a tool box, glove compartment of an automobile, desk, kitchen drawer or even in a user&#39;s pocket. The user will be able to quickly extract the instrument and effect movement of a particular tool relative to that instrument so that that tool will project to an operating position and then the tool to be used by the user to perform mechanical repairs, electrical repairs or adjustments. Typical adjustments would be in conjunction with fasteners, such as a screw. 
   In the past, these instruments require that the outwardly projected tool that is to be used is to be fixed in position by the user&#39;s hand and not fixed to the instrument housing. The free movement of the tool relative to the instrument housing in some usages makes it difficult to perform certain tasks. It would be desirable if the projected tool could be locked in place relative to the instrument. Additionally, it would be desirable if the elongated tool that is projected is capable of being locked in different projected positions which will provide to the user different positions of use. At times, a particular task requires that the tool, for convenience, be in a particular position when not being used, the tool should be in an “out of the way” storage position. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The first basic embodiment of the present invention is directed to a tool instrument locking mechanism that utilizes a housing with an elongated tool being movably mounted between a retracted position confined within the housing to an extended position extending outward from the housing. The elongated tool has an aft end with the aft end including a through opening. The through opening has a non-circular configuration. A shaft is mounted on the housing with the shaft having a circular section and a non-circular section. The non-circular section is to matingly connect with the through opening locking the tool to the shaft. The shaft is lineally movable to disconnect the noncircular section from the tool and connect the circular section with the through opening which will permit the tool to freely pivot on the shaft. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by permitting the shaft to be moved manually. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the shaft being spring biased constantly to engage the non-circular section with the through opening. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the non-circular section including a plurality of interconnected surfaces located in a circular pattern. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the configuration of the through opening comprising a series of interconnected-planar surfaces located in a circular pattern. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the extended position actually defining a plurality of separate positions each extending at a different angle from the housing. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by there being mounted a plurality of elongated tools in conjunction with the housing. 
   A second basic embodiment of the present invention comprises a tool which has a housing which has an internal chamber with an elongated tool being mounted within this internal chamber. The tool is movable between a retracted position confined within the internal chamber to an extended position projecting outwardly from the housing. The tool has an aft end, the aft end includes a through hole. A shaft is mounted within the through hole and extends exteriorly of the through hole. The shaft is also mounted to the housing. The improvement comprises the through hole including a first means for engagement. The shaft has a means for non-engagement and a second means for engagement. The shaft is movable to connect either the means for engagement with the second means for engagement or with the first means for engagement. With the first means for engagement connecting with the second means of engagement, the implement is locked in position relative to the housing. With the first means for engagement connecting with the means for non-engagement, the tool will be freely pivotable on the shaft. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the shaft being lineally movable to connect the first means for engagement with either a second means for engagement or with a means for nonengagement. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the shaft being connected to a pressable button which is to be manually actuated in order to effect the lineal movement of the shaft. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the shaft being continuously spring biased to have the first means for engagement connect with the second means for engagement. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the first means for engagement being a polygonal shape and the second means for engagement being also polygonal shaped. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the tool being movable and lockable into a plurality of different positions when in the extended position. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by there actually being mounted in conjunction with the housing more than one tool. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is an exterior isometric view of a typical tool instrument which embodies the locking mechanism of the subject invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1  showing the locking mechanism in the locked position; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 2  but showing the locking mechanism being manually moved to permit free pivoting of the tools relative to the housing of the tool instrument; and 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view of the tool instrument that embodies the locking mechanism of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown in  FIG. 1  the assembled tool instrument  10  which includes the locking mechanism of this invention. The tool instrument  10  has a housing  12  with the housing  12  being formed of a pair of spaced apart housing members  14  and  16 . The housing member  14  has a smoothly contoured exterior surface which is also true for housing member  16 . Each of the housing members  14  and  16  are basically in the shape of thin plates which are elongated. In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , housing member  14 , although showing square holes  18  and  20 , can be any shape that produces interference and prevents shafts  28  from rotating. Similarly, housing  16  corresponds with like holes to support the opposite end of shaft  28 . The constructional arrangement in association with each of the square holes  18  and  20  is identical so therefore the following description relative to square hole  20  will be applicable also to square hole  18 . 
   Located within and connecting with the square hole  20  is a round hole  22 . The round hole  22  is centrally located relative to the square hole  20 . One end of a coil spring  24  is mounted within the round hole  22 . The opposite end of the coil spring  24  fits within a round hole  26  which is formed within a shaft  28 . It is to be understood that there is a separate shaft  28  for each coil spring  24  and for each square hole  18  and  20 . The exterior surface of the shaft  28  has a plurality of non-engagement sections which is defined as circular sections  30 ,  32  and  34 . Each circular section  30 ,  32  and  34  is of the same diameter although this is not mandatory. In between the circular section  30  and circular section  32  is an engagement section  36  which is basically polygonal shaped and has a plurality of interconnected planar surfaces, all of the same length, located in a circular pattern. A similar such engagement section  38  is located between the circular section  32  and  34 . At the outer end of the shaft  28  there is a similar engagement section  40  that connects only with the circular section  34 . All the engagement sections  36 ,  38  and  40  are of the same size and the same dimensions. However, again, such is not mandatory but such is preferred for ease in manufacture. The outer end of the shaft  28  is formed into a polygonal shaped protuberance  42 . The inner end of the shaft  28  is formed into a polygonal shaped sleeve  44  that surrounds the round hole  26 . The sleeve  44  is to matingly fit in the polygonal hole  20  that is shown square in shape. Housing member  16  is equipped with square holes  84  that connect with each hole  58  that prevent push buttons  56  from rotating when connection is made between the surfaces of each hole  84  with square surface  86  of each push button  56 . Push button  56  is equipped with a square hole  87  that engages with protuberance  42  located on shafts  28  that provide support for tools  60  as well as prevent shafts  28  from rotating. 
   Surrounding the square hole  20  is a circular boss  48 . Surrounding the circular boss  48  is an annular groove  50 . A washer  52  is to be mountable within the groove  50 . The round portion  57  of the push bush button  56  is mounted within a hole  58  formed within the housing member  16 . It is to be understood that there are actually two in number of holes  58  with a push button  56  being mounted within each hole. A part of the round portion  57  protrudes exteriorly of the housing member  16 . 
   Referring particularly to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, there is shown six in number of elongated tools  60 . Each tool  60  will have a head  62  that will be in a particular desired configuration, such as a screwdriver head, an Allen key or other similar type of tool head. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the head  62  is in the shape of a Phillips head type screwdriver head with the tools  60  ranging in size from a small screwdriver type head to a quite large screwdriver head. Each tool  60  has an inner end that is formed into a through hole  64 . The through hole  64  is not circular and includes a first means for engagement in the form of a series of planar surfaces  66  arranged in a circular pattern. The first means of engagement  66  is basically of a polygonal configuration. The size and shape of the first means of engagement  66  is such that the engagement sections  36 ,  38  and  40  can matingly connect with the first means for engagement  66  in a locking manner. 
   In order to connect together into a single unit the housing members  14  and  16 , there is mounted on the inner wall of housing member  14  a plate  68 . Plate  68  includes a pair of spaced apart holes  70  and  72 . There is also a plate  74  fixedly mounted on the inside surface of the housing member  16 . Mounted on the surface of the plate  74  are spaced apart protuberances  76  and  78 . 
   In assembling of the tool set  10  of this invention, three in number of the tools  60 , forming two separate banks of tools  60 , are mounted about each shaft  28  and then the sleeve  44  of each shaft is placed within a respective square hole  20 . The spring has been previously mounted between the round holes  26  and  22 . 
   The push button  56  is mounted on protuberance  42 . The housing members  14  and  16  are located at its desired spatial relationship generally about one inch apart with protuberance  76  being tightly press fitted within hole  70  and protuberance  78  being tightly press fitted within hole  72 . The tool instrument  10  is now formed into a single unit. 
   It is to be noted that three of the tools  60  point in one direction and are located parallel to each other and three of the other tools  60  are pointing in an opposite direction and also are parallel to each other. When all six of the tools  60  are located within the internal chamber  80  which is formed between the housing members  14  and  16 , all the tools  60  will be essentially parallel to each other. In the normal at-rest position, each engaging section  36 ,  38  and  40  will connect with a first means for engagement  66  of a through hole  64 . Therefore, each tool  60  is fixedly locked in position relative to the housing  12 . Let it now be assumed that the user is to extract one of the tools  60  and to utilize the head  62  in conjunction with a fastener, which is not shown. Although six in number of tools  60  are illustrated in  FIG. 4 , any number of tools greater or less than six could be used. 
   In order to extract the single tool  60 , the user will decide which tool from which bank of the tools  60  is desired. Once the particular bank is selected, the user will press the push button  56  in direction depicted by arrow  82  for that particular bank. When the push button  56  is pressed, the shaft  28  is lineally moved from the position in  FIG. 2  to the position in FIG.  3 . This will locate the engaging section  36  in the space between a pair of the tools  60 , locate the engaging section  38  between another pair of the tools  60  and locate the engaging recess  40  directly adjacent the washer  50 . The result is the circular section  30  is located within a through hole  64  of one tool  60  with circular section  32  being located within a through hole  64  of another tool  60  and circular section  34  connecting with a through hole of the remaining tool  60 . This means that each of the tools  60  in this bank of tools is capable of being freely pivoted to any one of the dotted line positions shown in FIG.  1 . However, the user will normally not remove all three implements of the bank of tools  60  although the user would be capable of doing such. Typically, the user will remove a single tool  60  and locate it in either the dotted right angled position shown in  FIG. 1 , the dotted obtuse position shown in  FIG. 1 , or the dotted straight line position shown in FIG.  1 . When the desired position has been obtained, the user will release push button  56  and the bias of the spring  24  will force the shaft  28  in the left direction, which is directly opposite the pushing in direction represented by arrow  82 . This will then reengage the engaging sections  36 ,  38  and  40  with the first means for engagement  66  of the tools  60  that are mounted on the shaft  28 . This means that the tool  60  that is in the outwardly extended position, represented by the dotted lines of  FIG. 1 , is locked in that position. After usage of the tool  60 , the user is to then push on push button  56  in the direction of arrow  82  which will permit the tool  60  to be moved back within the internal chamber  80 , and when the push button  56  is released, the tool  60  is again locked in position.

Technology Category: 2