GB2392318A

GB2392318A - Tool with stripper in handle

Info

Publication number: GB2392318A
Application number: GB0219413A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chao-Chin Yen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-20
Filing date: 2002-08-20
Publication date: 2004-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-20
Also published as: GB0219413D0; GB2392318B

Abstract

The wire stripping tool is mounted within pivotally 25, 27, 28 attached handles 22, 26. A catch 33-37 releasably secures the two handles 22, 26 together against the action of a spring 30. Another tool, preferably a screwdriver 24, peeling hook or peeling knife (figure 6, 24), is attached to one handle 22. Preferably a cutting blade 49, 50 is received within one handle or stripping blades 51, 52 are received within both handles. The preferred stripping blades 51, 52 include rows of semi-cylindrical cutting edges.

Description

239231 8

TOOL HANDLE ASSEMBLY

The invention relates to a tool handle assembly and, more particularly, to multi-function tool handle capable of mounting different types of tool 5 elements and performing cutting and stripping of a wire insulating layer.

Hand-held working tools are indispensable for manual assembly, disassembly, or repair works. Different types of manual works usually require different and specific types of working tools. To have a large panel of working tools at hand, heavy tools cases are therefore often needed to store the to different and specific working tools. Such a conventional utilization of working tools is cumbersome. An improvement therefore consists of integrating the functions of the different and specific working tools in a more reduced number of multi-function working tools. An example of this functional integration is described hereafter.

Is As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional working tool may be, for example, a screwdriver that includes a tool handle 1. The tool handle 1 usually has a single function of hand holding, and includes an end attached with a screwdriver rod 2. Such a working tool therefore is only capable of performing a single function.

zo Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, two perspective views illustrate a stripping tool known in the prior art. The stripping tool of the prior art

comprises a tool handle that is formed by the assembly of an upper half semi cylindrical body 3 with a lower half semi-cylindrical body 4. The assembly

interface between the upper and lower half semi cylindrical bodies 3, 4 comprises a pivotal side 5 at which the upper and lower half semicylindrical bodies 3, 4 are pivotally assembled with each other by means of a pin 7 that inserts through pivot holes 6 and a spring 8. In proximity to the pivotal side 5 5 are further formed a fitting slot 9 and a fitting groove 10, a fitting piece 11 sliding through the fitting slot 9. Both lower and upper half-semi-cylindrical bodies respectively have planar bases that are provided with corresponding semi-cylindrical cavities 12. The semi-cylindrical cavities 12 further include blade slots 13 in which are received corresponding cutting blades, one 14 of lo larger size located above another 15 of smaller size.

When a stripping operation is performed, the fitting piece 11 is entirely inserted through the fitting slot 9, and both bodies 3, 4 are opened from one another by means of the spring 8. An insulated wire (not shown) then is placed on one of the semi-cylindrical cavities 12, and the two bodies 3, 4 are Is closed on each other. Meanwhile, the fitting piece 11 is pushed in the fitting groove 10 to block the resilient force of the spring 8. The wire is thereby squeezed to strip the insulation.

The above stripping tool can only perform a single function. When stripping of several types of wire and connection of the wire are required, two to types of working tool are needed. If further operations have to be performed, further types of working tools are needed, which therefore adversely increases the number of working tools.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a tool handle assembly in which at least some of the above disadvantages are overcome or alleviated. Accordingly the invention provides a tool handle assembly comprising 5 two pivotally attached handle portions disposed side by side, wherein: one handle portion terminates in a distal end that includes a mounting for fixedly attaching a tool element; the other handle portion includes a housing with a spring element and at least a stripping tool being mounted within the housing, and a catch is to provided for releasably securing the two handle portions together against the action of the spring element.

In one embodiment the tool handle assembly comprises a mounting part at one side and an adjacent movable part. The mounting part terminates in a front end that includes a mounting slot capable of securing a tool is element. The movable part is pivotally attached to the mounting part and comprises a housing or cover. The handle parts can therefore be opened and closed relative to each other. A spring element and at least a stripping tool are mounted on the movable part and/or the fixed part and a catch extends through the upper cover to securely close the upper cover.

ho Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a traditional tool handle known in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating another tool handle structure of the prior art that can be movably opened;

5FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the tool handle of FIG. 2 in a closing state; FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a tool handle structure according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 is a perspective View schematically illustrating the tool handle lostructure assembled according to the first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a tool handle structure according to a second embodiment of the invention; and ÀP10. 7 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a tool handle structure assembled according to the second embodiment of the invention.

Wherever possible in the following description, like reference numerals

will refer to like elements and parts unless otherwise illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. S. two schematic views illustrate a tool handle structure according to a first embodiment of the invention. The tool 20 handle structure of the invention comprises a front side where is formed a fixation part 21 and a rear side where is formed a movable part 22.

The fixation part 21 includes a fixation slot 23 through which is mounted a tool element 24 such as a screwdriver rod.

The movable part 22 has a pivot hole 25 at a connecting zone with the fixation part 21. On the movable part 22 is further assembled an upper coyer '26 at a front side of which is formed a pivot hole 27 corresponding to the pivot hole 25, a pin 28 inserting through the pivot holes 25, 27. At respective inner sides 5 of the movable part 22 and upper cover 26 proximate to the pivot holes 25, 27 are respectively formed recessed collars 29, 31 that are vis-a-vis each other.

Between the recessed collars 29, 31 of the movable part 22 and upper cover 26 is arranged a spring element 30. Proximate to a rear side of the movable part 22 is defined a tenon slot 32 in prosperity of which is protruded a projection 33. By the above assembly, the movable part-22 and the upper cover 26 are thereby capable of being opened and closed relatively to each other.

Proximate to a rear side of the upper cover 26 is defined a sliding slot 34 that matches with a switch 35. The switch 35 extends downward into a tenon t536 that corresponds to the tenon slot 32 of the movable part 22. Between the top of the switch 35 and the tenon 36 is cut a notch 37 corresponding to the projection 33 of the movable part 22.

When the upper cover 26 and the movable part 22 are tightly closed on each other, the tenon 36 of the switch 35 inserts in the tenon slot 32 of the movable part 22. Furthermore, the projection 33 snap fits with the notch 37 of the switch 35, which thereby achieves an assembled handle.

The tight closing of the upper cover 26 on the movable part 22 defines an assembly interface 38 there between. A surface of the movable part 22

corresponding to the assembly interface 38 is provided With a cutting board receiving slot 39 capable of receiving a cutting board 40. A surface of the upper cover 26 corresponding to the assembly interface 38 is further provided with a blade receiving opening 41 in which is formed a blade receiving slot 42 5 capable of receiving a cutting blade 43. More particularly, the cutting blade 43 and the cutting board 40 are received vis-a vis each other respectively in the upper cover 26 and the movable part 22.

At each side of the assembly interface 38, the movable part 22 and the upper cover 26 respectively include first and second rows of semicylindrical cavities 44, 45 that are vis-a-vis each other. The first row of semi-cylindrical cavities 44 and the second row of semi-cylindrical cavities 45 are correspondingly assembled with each other to form a plurality of cylindrical peeling holes 46 of different sizes. A first long blade slot 47 and a second long blade slot 48 are further respectively cut longitudinally through the first row of semi-cylindrical cavities 44 and second row of semi-cylindrical cavities 45 to respectively receive the insertions of first and second long peeling blades 49, 50.

The first and second long blades 49, 50 respectively include first and second 20 rows of semi-cylindrically profiled cutting edges 51, 52 that correspond to one . another. More particularly, the first and second rows of semi-cylindrically profiled cutting edges 51, 52 are respectively aligned with the first and second rows of semi-cylindrical cavities 44, 45. Thereby, once assembled, the first and second rows of semicylindrically profiled cutting edges 51, 52 form a plurality

of Cutting holes 53 of different sizes that are aligned with the cylindrical peeling holes 46.

At each side of the assembly interface 38, the movable part 22 and the upper cover 26 further respectively include first and second rows of s semi-cylindrical wire cavities 54, 55 that are vis-a-vis each other. The first and second rows of semi-cylindrical wire cavities 54, 55 respectively are spaced away transversally from and aligned with the first and second rows of seru-cylindrical cavities 44, 45. Once assembled, the first and second rows of semi-cylindrical wire cavities 54, 55 thereby form a plurality of wire holes 56 of À different sizes that are aligned with the cylindrical peeling holes 46 and the cutting holes 53.

At each side of the assembly interface 38, rear ends of the movable part 22 and the upper cover 26 further respectively include a first semicylindrical Is cavity 57 and a second semi-cylindrical cavity 58 that, once assembled with each other, form a cylindrical hole 59. The first and second seen-cylindrical cavities 57, 58 respectively include first and second blade slots 60, 61 where are respectively inserted first and second blades 62, 63.

When the tenon 36 of the switch 35 disengages from the tenon slot 32 of the movable part 22, the spring element 30 separates the upper cover 26 from the movable part 22. One of the cylindrical peeling holes 46 and wire holes 56 then can be adequately selected to insert a wire therein (not shown). Alternatively, the wire may be inserted through cylindrical hole 59 at the rear end of the movable part 22/upper cover 26. By pressing down the upper cover 26 closely

on the movable part 22, the insulating layer of the wire then is subjected to the squeeze of either the first/second peeling blades 49, 50 within the cylindrical peeling hole 46 or of the first/second blades 62, 63 within the cylindrical hole 59 at the rear end. Peeling can be thereby effectively performed. An excessively long wire may be further cut by means of the cutting blade 43 and cutting board 40 pressed against each other. Once the peeling operation is completed, the tool element 24, fned to the fixation part 21, then can be used via hand holding of the assembled handle to fix the wire (not shown) at the desired connection point.

Referring to PIG. 6 and PIG. 7, two schematic views illustrate a second embodiment of the invention in which different types of tool element 24 can be fixedly mounted through the fixation slot 23 of the fixation part 21 of the handle.

The tool element 24 therefore may include, for example, a peeling hook and peeling knife, which increases the functionality of the invention.

Is As described above, the structure of tool handle of the invention includes at least the following advantages. First, the fixation slot of the fixation part can be adaptable to the mount of tool elements adequate to specific utilization demands. Furthermore, the peeling tool of the movable part and upper cover, 20 such as cutting blades, are favorably adapted to the cutting of a wire. Moreover, the peeling tool of the movable part and upper cover is adapted to the cutting of insulating layers of wires having different sizes.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the above description

is only illustrative of specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall s within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims

Claims

1( o CLAIMS:

1. A tool handle assembly, comprising two pivotally attached handle portions disposed side by side, wherein: s one handle portion terminates in a distal end that includes a mounting for fixedly attaching a tool element; the other handle portion includes a housing with a spring element and at least a stripping tool being mounted within the housing, and a catch is provided for releasably securing the two handle portions together against the to action of the spring element.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the tool element is a screwdriver rod.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the tool element comprises a peeling 15 hook and peeling knife.

4. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle portions are pivotally connected to each other by means of a pin inserted through pivot holes formed therein.

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle portions have respective internal recesses between which is mounted the spring element.

6. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein one handle portion includes a slot through which is inserted the catch, the catch including a tenon and a notch and the other handle portion having a tenon slot and a 5 projection, wherein the tenon inserts in the tenon slot and the projection snap-

fits with the notch.

7. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein one of said handle portions includes a cutting plate slot for receiving a cutting plate and to the other of said handle portions includes a blade receiving slot for receiving a cutting blade cooperating with the cutting plate.

8. An assembly according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the stripping tool comprises a first stripping blade and a second stripping blade that are 15 received in the respective handle portions, the first and second stripping blades respectively including first and second rows of semicylindrically profiled cutting edges, the first and second stripping blades cooperating with each other to form a plurality of cutting holes of different sizes.

zo

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the handle portions have respective first and second longitudinally disposed rows of opposed semi-

cylindrical cavities, the first and second rows of semi-cylindrical cavities being closable to form a plurality of stripping holes of different sizes respectively

aligned with said cutting holes, the first and second rows of semicylindrical cavities being divided by respective first and second longitudinal slots which receive said first and second stripping blades respectively.

s

10. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle portions have respective opposed semi-cylindrical cavities formed in their proximal ends and closable to form a wire hole of adjustable size.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said semi-cylindrical to cavities formed in said proximal ends include respective opposed blade slots in each of which a blade is mounted.

12. A tool handle assembly substantially as described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 or FIGS. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.