Handle assembly for hand-held tool

Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Insulated handle – Bar-type handle

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C016S422000, C173S162200, C173S170000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06230367

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrically driven hand-held or manual tool, in particular, to an electrical screwdriver and/or drilling tool having a drive spindle rotatably supported in the tool housing and rotatable by an electrical drive motor likewise arranged in the tool housing, and more particularly, to a handle assembly for such a hand-held tool and including a handle connectable with the tool housing and having a through-bore for cable connecting the tool with a power source.
2. Description of the Prior Act
Electrically driven hand-held or manual tool, in particular electrical screwdrivers, drilling tools, combination tools and the like, all includes an electrical cable which usually extends through an opening formed in the handle region. For protection of the cable, there are provided antikink sockets which are usually secured in the guide opening for the cable between the tool housing and the handle shells. Constant kink movements, to which the cable is subjected during the operation of the tool can result, despite the presence of the antikink socket, in rupture of the cable strands. This leads to the stoppage of the tool and necessitates replacement of the cable.
During the use of an electrically driven tool, e.g., an electrical screwdriver or a drilling tool, it is necessary from time to time to put the tool aside so that both hands can be used for other tasks. Also during mounting works performed on a scaffold or on a ladder, it is often necessary to leave the scaffold or the ladder for a short time, e.g., to fetch additional screws or to place the ladder in a desired position. To this end, on many occasions, the electrical cable of the electrical screwdrivers or of the drilling tool is wound around a strut of the scaffold or the ladder. It is clear that these measures are unacceptable and increase the danger of the cable being damaged.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to so improve an electrically driven hand-held tool that can safely be put aside.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the possibility of the power of supply cable being damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing a handle assembly for a hand-held tool and including a handle connectable with the tool housing and having a through-bore for the cable connecting the tool with the power source, a hook-shaped device for suspending the tool and having means for securing the suspending device on the cable at any arbitrary position on the cable without a possibility of slippage of the suspending device along the cable, and connection means adjoining the through-bore of the handle for connecting the suspending device with the handle.
The connection element, which adjoins the through-bore for the power cable and is provided on the outer side of the handle, provides for attachment to the housing and, in particular, to the handle of hook-shaped suspending device securable on the cable at any arbitrary location, without slippage along the cable. The suspending device which is releasably attached to the housing or the handle, performs two functions. On one hand, it enables, when necessary, to hang the tool on a scaffold strut or a peg. On the other hand, it protects the cable. The movements, which are generated during the tool operation, do not result in buckling of the cable because it is supported on the outer surface of the hook-shaped suspending device and is not subjected to sharp snaps. The hook-shaped suspending device is retained on the cable without a possibility of slippage and can be secured at any arbitrary position of the cable. This also makes it possible to secure the suspending device between the tool handle and the connector plug. In this case, the suspending device permits to suspend the cable at a suitable location. This, e.g., is desired to prevent the cable from being located in a puddle. Because the suspending device is retained without slippage and can easily be displaced along the cable, it can, in case the tool is placed into a transporting box that has rather tight dimensions and is sized primarily in accordance with the dimensions of the tool housing, be displaced to a location on the cable that permits to place the tool into the transporting box without any problem. After removing the tool from the transporting box, the suspending device can again be displaced so that it can be connected with the connection element on the handle.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the suspending device has a hook and a substantially cylindrical connecting member adjoining the hook and having a guide opening for the cable. The inner diameter of the guide opening can be reduced with a clamping lever. The clamping lever is supported on the connecting member and has an eccentric member that projects into the guide opening. The so formed suspending device can be held and operated with one hand. It can be secured at any point on the cable with the clamping lever. The eccentric member reduces the inner diameter of the guide opening by an amount sufficient to hold the suspending device against slippage, e.g., by the weight of the drooping cable. On the other hand, the clamping force is not large enough to cause any damage of the cable in the region in which the suspending device is secured to the cable. At a larger load, e.g., generated by pulling the cable, at the same retaining force, the suspending device can displace, despite being clamped. Thereby, it is insured that the tool can be suspended by the suspending device only then when the connecting member is fixedly connected with the connection element provided on the handle. Thereby, dropping of the tool by the cable, which is suspended with the attached suspending device, is prevented.
In a particular simple embodiment of the suspending device, the eccentric member is arranged on the pivot axle of the clamping lever. The pivot axle of the clamping lever is displaceable on the connecting member of the suspending device in two support positions which extend into the guide opening at different degrees. Both support positions are connected by a displacement slot that, preferably, has a smaller width than the axle retainers of the pivot axle. Thereby, the axle retainers cannot automatically become loose. By displacing the pivot axle from the outer support position into the further projecting inner support position, the inner diameter of the guide opening can be reduced along a larger part of its circumference. This permits to easily adapt the clamping element to different diameters along the cable, e.g., for connecting the suspending device with the connection element on the handle. In the region of the ani-kink socket, a smaller reduction of the inner diameter of the guide opening is necessary than in other positions on the cable where the cable diameter is smaller.
The hook of the suspending device has an outer surface provided with a cavity-shaped depression which extends from the adjoining connecting member along a larger portion of the longitudinal extent of the hook. The cavity-shaped depression forms a guide for the cable which is supported on the suspending device. Thereby, during a normal operation of the tool, the cable is displaced together with the tool in case of possible relative horizontal swings of the tool. This prevents kinking movements of the cable. For a better attachment of the hook, e.g., on a scaffold strut or on a peg, groove-shaped depressions, which extend substantially transverse to the longitudinal extent of the hook, are provided on the hook inner surface.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the hook of the suspending device has a variable bearing width. To this end, the hook can be made as a telescopic member. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the hook can have a variable curvature. To this end, the hook can be divided in separate segments connected by locking

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