Tool for anti-tampering devices

Details Tool for anti-tampering devices Tool for anti-tampering devices

2000-08-01

2002-04-30

Meislin, D. S. (Department: 3723)

Tools

Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor

Having work engaging and force exerting portion inserted...

C081S448000, C081S176150

Reexamination Certificate

active

06378405

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
FIGS. 1-4
show examples of different anti-tampering devices.
FIG. 1
shows a cable signal terminator
10
and
FIG. 3
shows a locking device
12
. Each anti-tampering device
10
,
12
has an engagement means
14
shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4
, which rotates to add or remove the anti-tampering device
10
,
12
. The engagement means
14
includes a head
16
and a body
18
connected to the head
16
. The body
18
engages the other components of the anti-tampering devices
10
,
12
. These other components can include parts that are on the object in which the anti-tampering device is attached. The head
16
is used to rotate the body
18
. The head
16
includes a socket to insert a tool and a hole
22
on the side of head
16
which passes thru to the area of the socket. A prior art tool
24
used to turn the head
16
of the anti-tampering devices
10
,
12
is shown in FIG.
5
. It includes a handle
26
, a push rod
28
extending from the top of the handle
26
and a shaft
30
extending from the bottom of the handle
26
. The shaft
30
is hollow and includes a hole
32
on the side of the shaft
30
and a ball
34
trapped inside the shaft
30
. The push rod
28
extends thru the handle
26
and into the shaft
30
. When the push rod
28
is forced downward, it forces the ball
34
into the hole
32
, such that a portion of the ball
34
extends outward from the hole
32
. Pulling back on the push rod
28
at the top of the handle
26
releases the ball
34
and allows the ball
34
to fall away from the hole
32
. The tool
24
is used by pulling back on the push rod
28
and inserting the end of the shaft
30
opposite the handle
26
into the socket of the head
16
. The push rod
28
is depressed to force the ball
34
into the hole
32
of the shaft
30
, while the tool
24
is rotated. As the tool
24
is rotated, the portion of the ball
34
extending from the hole
32
of the shaft
30
will engage the hole
22
in the head
16
. When the ball
34
engages the hole
22
in the head
16
, the tool
24
and the head
16
are engaged, such that the head
16
rotates as the tool
24
is rotated. The tool
24
and engagement means
14
is a good system to prevent the removal of the anti-tampering devices
10
,
12
, but the system has some drawbacks due to the prior art tool
24
. The drawbacks are that the ball
34
can jam in the hole
32
of the shaft
30
, if too much force is applied to the push rod
28
, or the push rod
28
, itself, can jam in the shaft
30
.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool that resists jamming, simplifies use as compared to the prior art tool, simplifies manufacturing as compared to the prior art tool and reduces cost of manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a tool for use with anti-tampering devices. The tool includes a handle, shaft, spring, activation plunger and ball. The shaft extends from the handle. The shaft includes a cavity in the shaft having an open end at the bottom end of the shaft. The shaft includes a ball hole on the shaft within an area of the cavity. The spring is located in the cavity. The activation plunger extends from the bottom end of the shaft. The ball is located in the cavity, whereby the ball is positioned to be extendible out the ball hole.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3033016 (1962-05-01), Mosberg
patent: 3172282 (1965-03-01), Heckrotte
patent: 4291599 (1981-09-01), Heckrotte, Sr.
patent: 6044730 (2000-04-01), Roberts et al.

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