Tools – Handle for tool – Having storage compartment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-04-24
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Handle for tool
Having storage compartment
C081S177400, C081S438000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220129
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a dual screwdriver wherein the handle is made of two sections with the rear section being disconnectable from the front section and constituting a stub screwdriver. In particular the two handle sections are interconnected in clamping function fit and a storage magazine is provided about the periphery of the rear wall of the front handle section by cavities having at least a portion thereof formed of a thermoplastic elastomer section which forms part of the handle to provide improved retention of the bits while providing improved torquing by the hand of a user.
BACKGROUND ART
Multi-bit screwdrivers are known wherein the bits are stored within the handle of the screwdriver and are accessible by disconnecting a portion of the handle. An example of such multi-bit screwdrivers is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,044. With such screwdrivers, it is necessary to change the screwdriver bit every time the screw head has a different shape. Also with such screwdrivers the handle is of a common size and when working in a restricted space that type of screwdriver may not be usable.
Dual screwdrivers having a main screwdriver handle and a disconnectable stub end which is convertable to a stub screwdriver is also known as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,048. This particular patent describes a specific system of interlocking the stub end handle section to the main handle section and the bits are merely retained in a loose arrangement in a hollow section of the handle. Accordingly, these bits are easily lost and only a limited amount of bits can be accommodated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,615 describes a multi-bit screwdriver wherein bits are secured about the outside of the handle in grooves which are sized and shaped to receive a single bit. The bits have opposed screw engaging heads and are retained in the grooves by sliding panels slidingly connected to the handle. The panels only cover a portion of these grooves. Accordingly, when a person grasps the handle, his hand is exposed to irregularities which makes it very uncomfortable. Also, during the torquing application of the handle, stress is imposed upon these sliding panels which can often break. The panels also break when the screwdriver is dropped on a hard surface. Another disadvantage of such screwdriver handles is that the sliding panels may be accidentally displaced thereby accidentally releasing a bit. Also, if one of these sliding panels break, then the groove is no longer useable and the grasping of the handle is rendered even more uncomfortable to the user's hand and without storage space the loose bit becomes lost and the utility of the screwdriver is impaired.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a dual multi-bit screwdriver which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of multi-bit and dual-type screwdrivers of the prior art.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a dual multi-bit screwdriver wherein the handle is made of two sections and wherein the sections can separate from one another to form two screwdrivers having handles and shafts of different lengths.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a dual multi-bit screwdriver having a two section handle and wherein the sections are disconnectable from one another by exerting a pulling force and wherein when disconnected provide access to a screwdriver bit magazine protected by the stub handle section.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a dual screwdriver having a multi-bit capability.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a dual multi-bit screwdriver wherein the screwdriver bit magazine has at least a section thereof provided with a pliable thermoplastic elastomer to provide frictional retention against the bit and wherein the thermoplastic elastomer also extends in the outer handle surface to provide improved friction retention with the hand of a user person to improve torquing the torque transmitting shaft of the main screwdriver body and the stub screwdriver body.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a dual multi-bit screwdriver which comprises a handle having a front and a rear handle section removably interconnected together. An elongated torque transmitting shaft extends axially from a front end of the front handle section. The rear handle section has a short torque transmitting shaft extending axially from a front end thereof and extending within a central inner bore of the front handle section when the rear handle section is mated with the front handle section. Each of the torque transmitting shafts have a chuck cavity at a free end thereof for receiving a screwdriver bit in close friction fit therein. A bit storing magazine is formed in a rear wall of the front handle section and extends about the handle for storing a plurality of spaced-apart screwdriver bits in friction fit retention therein with an end portion of the bits projecting from the magazine sufficiently for removal by finger engagement. The rear handle section has cavity means to receive projection portions of the bits stored in the magazine when the rear handle section is mated with the front handle section.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4227430 (1980-10-01), Jannson et al.
patent: 4278119 (1981-07-01), Elmore
patent: 4300607 (1981-11-01), Mellinger
patent: 5566596 (1996-10-01), Lin
patent: 5875692 (2000-04-01), Lin
patent: 5957014 (1999-09-01), Tseng et al.
patent: 6050158 (2000-04-01), Cassutti et al.
Houle Guy J.
Innovak D.I.Y. Products Inc.
Smith James G.
Swabey Ogilvy Renault
Wilson Lee
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