WO1998021010A2

WO1998021010A2 - Accessory package for improved hand tool

Info

Publication number: WO1998021010A2
Application number: PCT/NZ1997/000152
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodney William Baker
Original assignee: Rodney William Baker
Priority date: 1996-11-10
Filing date: 1997-11-07
Publication date: 1998-05-22
Also published as: AU4971297A; WO1998021010A3

Abstract

The object of the invention is to enhance the usefulness of an improved ratchet hand tool (45-1), with supplementary means of rotating the drive. The improvement consists of an extension handle (8-1) for tool (45-1), for reaching into areas with difficult access, and an air-assisted extension handle (9-1) for tool (45-1) to provide an air-powered ratchet tool.

Description

Accessory Package for Improved Hand Tool

Technical Field

My invention relates to ratchet hand tools and in particular to a recent invention entitled "An Improved Hand Tool" with P.C.T. No. NZ 94 / 00086. This improved hand tool has a supplementary means of rotating the drive and is now widely known as the "Speed Spanner". For clarity, an image of this tool (1-1) is displayed in the centre of the accompanying drawings and hereinafter will be referred to as the "tool". Furthermore an abstract of the "tool" is enclosed with this application. The accessory package relates only to this "tool" and any ratchet tool where the ratchet wheel has a square hole rather than a square peg for its means of drive.

Through the development of this "tool" a number of additional features have been developed to enhance its usefulness and versatility in confined space work. These additional features which are designed to readily adapt to the "tool", are what make up our claim for "An Accessory Package for an Improved Hand Tool".

Background Art

As the "Accessory Package" is a follow on development to the "tool" the undersigned is unaware of any prior art. Disclosure of Invention

In accordance with the present invention I provide an accessory package which consists of nine components where each components, or in combination with one of the other components can provide additional advantages to the "tool". My invention contains an adaptor for screwdriver bits, two adaptors for larger and smaller socket drives, a hexagon shallow reach socket range, a drill chuck adaptor, a hexagon shallow reach socket range with a swivel between socket and square drive, a square drive to hexagon alien key drive, an extension handle to the "tool" and an air powered extension handle to the "tool".

The accessory package can now be described in the list of claims below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claims

1. A hexagon screwdriver bit adaptor (1-1) which consists of a square drive of suitable material with a hexagon shaped hole (10-1) part way through the middle and the length of the square drive to accept standard or special purpose 1/4 inch hexagon screwdriver bits. A magnet fixed at (11-1) could serve to retain a screwdriver bit within the hexagon hole and a spring loaded ball bearing at (12-1) could serve to retain the adaptor within the square hole of the ratchet wheel while in use.

2. A 3/8 x 1/2 inch adaptor (2-1) which consists of a 3/8 inch square drive of suitable material with one end expanded to 1/2 inch square to accept a standard 1/2 inch drive socket. Spring loaded ball bearings are fitted at (13-1) and (14-1) to locate indents inside the ratchet wheel (15-1) and in any standard socket of suitable drive.

3. A 3/8 x 1/4 inch adaptor (3-1) which consists of a 3/8 inch square drive of suitable material with one end reduced to 1/4 inch square to accept a standard 1/4 drive socket. As in 2. spring loaded ball bearings are fitted at (16-1) and (17-1) to locate indents inside the ratchet wheel (15-1) and any standard socket of suitable drive.

4. A range of hexagonal shallow reach sockets (4-1) which consists of a 3/8 inch square drive of suitable material with one end (18-1) expanded to accept varying sizes of metric bolts and nuts. Towards the end of the square drive a spring loaded ball bearing (19-1) is fitted to locate the indents in ratchet wheel (15-1). This shallow reach socket can be used where conventional sockets are used but can also be used in a narrow work space where the more conventional sockets will not fit due to being longer.

5. A drill chuck adaptor (5-1) which consists of a 3/8 inch square drive with a flange (20-1) and a male thread (21-1) as one preferred configuration to accept a standard drill chuck which can be threaded on to the adaptor and tightened against flange (20-1). When fitted to the "tool" the spring loaded ball bearing at (22-1) can locate the indents inside the ratchet wheel (15-1). The drill chuck can be rotated by operating the "tools" supplementary means of rotating the ratchet wheel (15-1 ).

6. A range of 3/8 inch square drive to hexagon alien keys of varying sizes at (6-1), consists of a 3/8 inch square drive of suitable material with a spring loaded ball bearing (23-1) at one end to locate indents in ratchet wheel (15-1). A flange at (24-1) to serve as a stop against end of square hole in wheel (15-1). A hexagon alien key at (25-1) formed in a range of imperial and metric sizes to suit conventional hexagon drive screws.

7. A range of hexagonal shallow reach sockets, (7-1) where each socket consists of a 3/8 inch square drive of suitable material with one end constructed to allow the socket (6-1 ) to pivot in such a way as to allow extraction of nuts and bolts at an angle to the drive. The other end of the square drive has a spring loaded ball bearing (27-1) to locate indents in the wheel of the tool.

8. An extension handle (8-1), which consists of a length of suitable tubular material which has been expanded inside the tube. The rod has a ball (31-1) formed on one end similar to the ball (32-1) on the handle end of the "tool". On the other end of the rod is a ball socket (33-1 ) with a sideways entry (34-1 ) allowing the ball end (32-1) to be fitted into the ball socket (33-1). Constructed in this way the extension handle (8-1 ) can be fitted to the "tool", firstly by removing the lever mechanism (35-1) from the "tool" and fitting the ball socket (33-1) to the ball (32-1) on the end of the "tool". The next step is to simply slide the expanded end (28-1 ) on to the handle (29-1). At the other end of the extension handle (8-1) the ball end (31-1) will be protruding sufficiently to attach the lever mechanism (35-1) as it would normally be attached to the "tool". This will now enable the user of the "tool" to reach further into confined areas and work the lever mechanism (35-1) from outside of those areas.

9. An air powered extension handle (9-1) which is designed to be attached to the "tool" in a similar way to the extension handle (8-1). This component consists of a tubular body or air cylinder (36-1) and disposed within this body is a piston (37-1) with a piston rod (38-1) which is connected to piston (37-1). Ball socket (39-1) can be connected to ball (32-1) of the "tool" and the enlarged tube end (40-1) can be fitted to handle (29-1). Air supplied to on/off valve (41-1) can be through air hose (42-1 ) and ducted into air passage (43-1 ) to supply air to the gland (44-1 ) end of the air cylinder. Although not shown, a conventional system could be used to supply air alternatively to each end of air cylinder (36-1) to cause piston (37-1) to oscillate. Piston rod (38-1) could then draw ball end (32-1 ) away from handle (29-1 ) with a to and fro action and produce the same movement to ball end (21-1) as the lever mechanism (35-1) does.