US1870403A

US1870403A - Collapsible handle

Info

Publication number: US1870403A
Application number: US582244A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fredrick W Coffing
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-12-21
Filing date: 1931-12-21
Publication date: 1932-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1949-08-09

Description

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 FREDRICK W. COFFING, F DANVILLE, ILLINOIS COLLAPSIBLE HANDLE Application filed. December 21, 1931.

This invention relates toa collapsible handle suitable for augers, socket wrenches and similar tools. y

The chief object of this invention is toprovide a handle structure that may be readily collapsed and in which the parts are permanently associated together, and may, if desired, be retained in collapsed position.

The chief feature of the invention consists in the accomplishing of the foregoing object by the provision of a head with which is telescopically associated a pair of handles, each handle having a multiple telescoping connection with said head.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a tool showing the handle applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central sectional view through the head portion of the handle and the handle members, showing one of the handle members in the collapsed position and another handle member in an intermediate position from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 before mentioned. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and in the direction of the arrows, and of `a retaining structure for the handle members when collapsed. Fig. 4 is a central sectional View of a modied form of structure and is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 2, one of the handle mem- Y bers, however, being shown in collapsed position and the other being shown in extended or handle-forming position. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawing, 10 indicates the shaft of a 4.o tool, such as a ground auger, socket wrench or similar structure. Suitably secured thereto is a head structure indicated generally by the numeral 11. Said head structure includes a pair of aligned sockets 12 which herein `are shownk communicating with each other The head also includes a pair of sockets 13, said sockets being positioned side by side and in spaced relation. Herein said sockets are shown positioned substantially transverse to the aligned sockets 12. Each socket includes Serial No. 582,244.

a slot. The slot 14 for socket 12 communicates with or is a continuation of the slot 15 of socket 13. Each aligned socket and the adjacent side socket communicate with each other, but at the communication or junction, and thereby defining the end of the side socket, is a stop arrangement. This stop arrangement consists of an inwardly directed flange 9, and the ilange does not project beyond or into the

slot

14 or 15, and a pair of flanges 9 is provided at the head of each side socket.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the shaft 10 is shown seated in an intermediate socket 16 and secured in said socket by a bolt rivet or pin 17. The socket 16 is herein shown communicating with the aligned sockets 12, but need not necessarily communicate therewith except in certain selected forms of the invention. y V`The pin 19 prevents the handle members from projecting past the center or communication between the aligned sockets.

One of the selected forms of the invention is shown in Fig. 4, and in this figure numerals of like or similar parts are indicated as of the 100 series. In this form of the invention, the shaft 110 includes a rounded end 120 and the shaft is secured by the pin 119. One purpose of this rounded end will appear more fully when reference is had to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Another is for handle stopping.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated an elongated coil spring 18 which is anchored as by a cross pin 22 in the remote end of a tubular handle having a tubular passage 23 and wall portion 24. The tubular handle member 24 may be seated in either the socket 12 or the adjacent socket 13 and may be readily moved from one to the other by moving the handle member axially to clear the socket and then 90 turning the handle until the end thereof registers with the other socket and then permitting the handle to seat in the other socket, such seating being maintained by the spring 18. To permit the spring 18 to move from one 95 socket to the other in the present form of the invention, the

slots

14 and 15 provide for such accommodation.

As will be noted from the dotted line in Fig. 1 and the full lines in Fig. 2, the elon- 100 gated spring 18 extends from the remote end of one handle member 2a to the remote end of theother handle member 24 and said spring means is arranged to insure seating of said handle members in either one of the sockets arranged to accommodate that particular handle member. v

Roller 20 may be provided to facilitate spring movement and thereby reduce friction and wear on the spring 18. The roller 20 may be omitted.

The rounded portion 120 of the end of the shaft 11() in the modification shown in Fig. 4, accomplishes the same purpose. The support 119 in Fig. 4: not only accomplishes the purpose of the support 19 of Fig. 2, but also the pur ose of the retaining element 17 shown in ig. 2. Y f

To revent accidental displacement from the co lapsed position by either or both of the handle members, the shaft 10 may be provided with a pair of spring clip members 30 which have the neck portions 31 and the outwardly turned mouth forming portions 32. pair of said clips form a clamp that yieldingly receives and retains the handle member24 and holds it adjacent the shaft 16. The clip members 30 are secured to the shaft by a rivet 33.

It will be noted that the clamp structure shown in Fig. 3 is not essential, but may be dispensed with whenever desired and whenever the head structure includes a deep side socket of the type specifically shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Whenever, however, the handle structure does not include a side socket, then the retaining means shown in Fig. 3 is employed. When the retaining means shown in Fig. 3 is employed with the deep side sockets, then said retaining means must permit the tubular handle members to slide longitudinally with reference thereto for the seated end of the handle member to clear the mouth of the side socket.

The invention claimed is 1. A collapsible handle structure, including a pair of handle members, a shaft, and a head structure rigid with the shaft and including a pair of sockets arranged side by side and between which is secured said shaft, and a pair of substantially aligned sockets arranged substantially transverse to the shaft, each y member being interchangeably receivable by an aligned socket and the adjacent side socket for handle extension and collapse, respectively.

2. A collapsible handle structure, including a pair of handle members, a shaft, ahead structure rigid with the shaft and including a pair of sockets arranged side by side and between Which is secured said shaft, a pair of substantially aligned sockets arranged substantially transverse to the shaft, each member being interchangeably receivable by an aligned socket and the adjacent side socket for handle extension and collapse, respect-ively, and handle retaining yielding means carried by said shaft for normally retaining the members in collapsed position, butY permitting forcible release therefrom.

3. A collapsible handle structure, including a pair of handle members, a shaft, and a head structure rigid With the shaft and including a pair of sockets arranged side by side and between which is secured said shaft, a pair of substantially aligned sockets arranged.y substantially transverse to the shaft, each member being interchangeably receivable by an aligned socket and the adjacent side socket for handle extension and collapse, respectively, and means normally constrain ing said members toward socket seating.

4. A collapsible handle structure, including a pair of handle members, a shaft, a head structure rigid with the shaft and including a pair of sockets arranged side by side and between which is secured said shaft, a pair of substantially aligned sockets arranged substantially transverse to the shaft, each member being interchangeably receivable by an aligned socket and the adjacent side socket for handle extension and collapse, respectively, each'handle member being tubular and the aligned sockets communicating with each other, and extensible means positioned in the sockets normally constraining said members towardr socket seating and extending from handle member to member and connected thereto, said means being enclosed within said members.y

5k. Acollapsible handle structure, including a pair of handle members, a shaft, a head structure rigid with the shaft and including a pair of sockets arranged side by side and between which is secured said shaft, a pair of substantially aligned sockets arranged substantially transverse to the shaft, each member being interchangeably receivable by an aligned socket and the adjacent side socket for handle extension and collapse, respective ly, the aligned sockets communicating with each other, and extensible means positioned in the sockets normally constraining said members toward socket seating and extending from handle member to member and connected thereto. y

6. A head structure for a collapsible handle including a pair of substantially aligned sockets, and a pair of 'side-by-side positioned socketsin spaced relation, each side socket and adjacent aligned socket including a lateral slot, said slots being connected, the intermediate spaced portion of the head being arranged for head anchorage.

7. A head structure for ay collapsible handle, including a pair of substantially aligned sockets, and a pair of side-by-side positioned sockets in spaced relation, each side socket and adjacent aligned socket including a lateral slot, said slots being connected, the intermediate spaced portion of the head being arranged for head anchorage, each side socket and each adjacent aligned socket communicating with each other, and means adjacent the junction between said non-aligned sockets and at the end of the side socket for stopping handle seating movement therein.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

FREDRICK W. COFFING.