GB2447351A

GB2447351A - Hand tool extension

Info

Publication number: GB2447351A
Application number: GB0804202A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Robert Lane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-08
Filing date: 2008-03-06
Publication date: 2008-09-10
Also published as: GB0804202D0; AU2008201094A1

Abstract

The extension for extending the reach of a hand tool includes a clamping means 2 for clamping a handle or shaft of a variety of different shape or size hand tools 34. An adjustable handle 4 extends from the clamping means and is adjustable to extend in different directions 14, 16, 18, 20 from the handle or shaft of the hand tool. The extension may be made as two rotatable discs 8, 10 enabling the operator to find an adjustment which gives appropriate access to a job.

Description

HAND TOOL EXTENSION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an extension for hand tools. In a particular aspect the invention relates to a hand tool extension which may be used to extend a variety of hand tools in different directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hand tools such as spanners, screwdrivers and wrenches are commonly used for gripping different types of fasteners. For example, a screwdriver may be used to hold a screw still with one hand, whilst a spanner is used in the other hand to fasten a nut on to the screw. Similarly a wrench may be used to hold a nut still with one hand, whilst a spanner is used in the other hand to screw a bolt into the nut. * * S...

Typically these hand tools have a short straight shaft, making it difficult for the user * to grip fasteners located in hard to reach places. For instance, the user may have S..

* difficulty in reaching around a large panel in order to hold a nut on one side of the panel whilst unscrewing a bolt which is fastened to the nut on the other side of the :. panel. It may also be a problem for the user to easily reach fasteners placed in areas in which there is inadequate space for the user's upper limb to fit.

Thus there is a need for an extension for hand tools which may allow the user to more easily grip fasteners in hard to reach places.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a hand tool extension comprising, clamping means for clamping the handle or shaft of any one of a variety of hand tools of different shapes or sizes, and an adjustable handle extending from the clamping means and being adjustable so that it may extend in different directions from the handle or shaft of the hand tool.

The clamping means may comprise a tool portion adapted for clamping the handle or shaft of the hand tool, and a handle portion adapted to receive the adjustable handle so that it may extend in different directions from the handle or shaft of the hand tool.

In a particular form, the handle portion may be rotated relative to the tool portion. An elongate fastening member may hold the handle portion in relation to the tool portion whilst allowing relative rotation therebetween.

The clamping means may comprise a plurality of connecting portions, and the adjustable handle may be removably connected to each of the connecting portions.

In a particular form, the adjustable handle comprises a screw portion at one end, and each connecting portion defines a threaded bore adapted to receive the screw portion so that the adjustable handle may be screwably connected to the clamping means. * **

There may be more than one threaded bore. Two or more of the threaded bores may S...

*... be angled in different directions from each other so that the adjustable handle may extend in different directions from the handle or shaft of the hand tool. *

S

The clamping means may define one or more apertures. The or each aperture may be * .* adapted to receive the handle or shaft of the hand tool, and the clamping means may * . comprise a clamping member adapted to clamp the handle or shaft of the hand tool within the aperture. There may be at least two apertures which are of a different shape or size.

In a particular embodiment, the clamping means defines a hole extending from an outer surface of the clamping means to the aperture, and the clamping member comprises an elongate member adapted to be passed in the hole and protrude into the aperture.

The hole may be a threaded hole, and the elongate member may be a screw adapted to protrude into the aperture and thereby abut the handle or shaft of the hand tool.

The clamping means may be generally cylindrical in shape having a curved surface extending between two end surfaces. The or each aperture may be present in the curved surface, the threaded hole may be present in the curved surface, and the threaded bores may be present in the curved surface or one of the end surfaces.

In a particular form, the handle portion comprises a first generally cylindrical member or disc, and the tool portion comprises a second generally cylindrical member or disc.

The clamping means may be formed by joining the discs face to face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example only, embodiments of the invention are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a bottom plan view of clamping means of a hand tool extension according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. * .. * S S * SS S...

S..... Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the clamping means of Figure 1. *555

Figure 3 shows an elevational view from A in Figure 1. S..

S

. Figure 4 shows an elevational view from B in Figure 1.

S

I

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the clamping means of Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a handle of a hand tool extension according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 shows a bottom plan view of clamping means of a hand tool extension according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 shows a top plan view of the clamping means of Figure 7.

Figure 9 shows an elevational view from A in Figure 7.

Figure 10 shows an elevational view from B in Figure 7.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the clamping means of Figure 7.

Figure 12 shows an assembled hand tool extension being used as an extension for a spanner.

Figure 13 shows an assembled hand tool extension being used as an extension for a screwdriver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1-6, there is shown a hand tool extension comprising clamping *.... means 2 and an elongate stainless steel removably adjustable handle 4. A screw S...

portion 6 is located at one end of the handle. S... *...

* The clamping means is substantially cylindrical and is formed by joining a flat inner end surface of a first cylindrical member or disc 8 to a flat inner end surface of a * ** second cylindrical member or disc 10. The first and second cylindrical members are e of a similar size and are manufactured from hard plastic. A bolt 12 is passed through the centre of the first and second cylindrical members, thereby holding the first and second cylindrical members adjacent each other whilst allowing relative rotation therebetween.

The first cylindrical member defines four threaded bores 14, 16, 18, 20 into which the screw portion of the adjustable handle may be screwed. Each of the threaded bores is angled in a different direction so that the adjustable handle may extend from the clamping means and therefore the hand tool in different directions. This arrangement, combined with the ability to rotate the first cylindrical member with respect to the second cylindrical member, enables the user many options from which to choose the most appropriate angle which will aid in gripping fasteners in hard to reach places.

The first threaded bore 14 is tapped directly into a flat outer end surface of the first cylindrical member so that when the adjustable handle is connected to the first threaded bore it extends substantially perpendicularly from the outer end surface.

The second threaded bore 16 is tapped obliquely into the outer end surface of the first cylindrical member so that when the adjustable handle is connected to the second threaded bore it extends at an angle of around sixty degrees to the flat outer end surface.

The third threaded bore 18 is also tapped obliquely into the outer end surface of the first cylindrical member so that when the adjustable handle is connected to the third threaded bore it extends at an angle of around thirty degrees to the flat outer end surface.

The fourth threaded bore 20 is tapped into the curved surface of the first cylindrical *.*. member so that the when the adjustable handle is connected to the fourth threaded S...

bore it extends in parallel with the surface of the outer flat end. S...

* First and second apertures 22, 24 are defined by the second cylindrical member. The S..

first aperture 22 is round and extends from an opening in the curved surface straight ** through the second cylindrical member to another opening in the curved surface.

. Long rounded elongate shafts such as those found on a screwdriver may be inserted into the first aperture.

The second aperture 24 is substantially oval shaped and adapted to receive the shaft or handle of larger hand tools such as spanners and wrenches. It lies parallel to the first aperture, extending from an opening in the curved surface straight through the second cylindrical member to another opening in the curved surface.

A first threaded hole (not shown) is defined by the second cylindrical member and extends from the outer end surface to the first aperture. The clamping means comprises a first screw 26 adapted to be screwed in the first hole and protrude into the first aperture so that it may abut the shaft of the screwdriver and clamp it within the

Claims

aperture.

Similarly, a second threaded hole (not shown) is defined by the second cylindrical member and extends from the outer end surface to the second aperture. The clamping means comprises a second screw 28 adapted to be screwed in the first hole and protrude into the second aperture so that it may abut the shaft of the spanner or wrench and clamp it within the aperture.

Referring to Figures 7-1 1, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the outer end surface of the first cylindrical member is no longer entirely flat.

In this embodiment, the outer end surface is cut away forming a first sloped wall 30 angled downward at approximately 300 from the flat portion of the outer end surface.

The second threaded bore is tapped perpendicularly into the first sloped wall so that when the adjustable handle is connected to the second threaded bore it extends at an angle of around 600 with respect to the flat portion of the outer end surface.

in a similar fashion the outer end surface of the first cylindrical member is cut away to form a second sloped wall 32 angled downward at approximately 60 from the flat * portion of the outer end surface.

*:*. The third threaded bore is tapped perpendicularly into the second sloped wall so that * when the adjustable handle is connected to the third threaded bore it extends at an angle of around 30 with respect to the flat portion of the outer end surface.

Figure 12 shows a hand tool extension being used as an extension for a spanner 34. In order to achieve this configuration, a spanner was placed in the second aperture and clamped in position by screwing in the second screw until it abutted the shaft of the spanner. The screw portion of the adjustable handle was then screwed into the first threaded bore, and the first cylindrical member was rotated to a position wherein the adjustable handle extends in a direction which facilitates the user to grasp a hard to reach nut with the head of the spanner. In the other hand another spanner may be used in known manner to unscrew a bolt attached to the nut whilst the nut is held in position with the aid of the hand tool extension.

Figure 13 shows a hand tool extension being used as an extension for a screwdriver 36. In order to achieve this configuration, the shaft of the screw driver was passed into the first aperture and the first screw was used to clamp the screwdriver in position. The adjustable handle was then connected to the clamping means by screwing the screw portion into the third threaded bore, and the first cylindrical member was rotated accordingly. This allows the user easy access in gripping a screw on, for example, one side of a panel with the head of the screwdriver. Whilst the screwdriver is being held firmly in position a spanner is used by the other hand in known manner to unscrew a bolt on the other side of the panel.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention *.,. can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention. S... S.. S. *

S SS S *.

S **4

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A hand tool extension comprising clamping means for clamping the handle or shaft of any one of a variety of hand tools of different shapes or sizes, and an adjustable handle extending from the clamping means and being adjustable so that it may extend in different directions from the handle or shaft of the hand tool.
2. A hand tool extension according to Claim 1, wherein the clamping means comprises a tool portion adapted for clamping the handle or shaft of the hand tool, and a handle portion adapted to receive the adjustable handle so that it may extend in different directions from the handle or shaft of the hand tool.
3. A hand tool extension according to Claim 2, wherein the handle portion may be rotated relative to the tool portion.

*::
4. A hand tool extension according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the handle portion comprises a first disc and the tool portion comprises a second disc, and the clamping means is formed by joining the discs face to face.
5. A hand tool extension according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping means comprises a plurality of connecting portions, and the adjustable handle may be removably connected to each of the connecting portions.
6. A hand tool extension according to Claim 5, wherein the adjustable handle comprises a screw portion at one end, and each connection portion defines a threaded bore adapted to receive the screw portion.
7. A hand tool extension according to Claim 6 when dependant upon Claim 4, wherein the threaded bore is present in the round surface of the first disc.
8. A hand tool extension according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein there is more than one threaded bore, and two or more of the threaded bores are angled in different directions from each other.
9. A hand tool extension according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping means defines an aperture adapted to receive the handle or shaft of the hand tool, and the clamping means comprises a clamping member adapted to clamp the handle or shaft of the hand tool within the aperture.
10. A hand tool extension according to Claim 9 when dependant upon Claim 4, wherein the aperture is present in the round surface of the second disc.
11. A hand tool extension according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the clamping means defines a threaded hole extending from an outer surface of the clamping means to the aperture, and the clamping member comprises a screw adapted to be passed through the threaded hole and abut the handle or shaft of the hand tool.
12. A hand tool extension according to Claim 11 when dependant upon Claim 4, wherein the threaded hole is present in the round or flat surface of the second disc.
13. A hand tool extension according to Claims 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein the *:*. clamping means defines at least two apertures which are of a different size or . shape.
14. A hand tool extension substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1-6.
15. A hand tool extension substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6-13.