US2564356A

US2564356A - Handle for screw drivers and other hand tools

Info

Publication number: US2564356A
Application number: US59456A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur E Dianda
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-11-12
Filing date: 1948-11-12
Publication date: 1951-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1968-08-14

Description

Aug. 14, 1951 A. E. DIANDA HANDLE FOR SCREW DRIVERS AND OTHER HAND TOOLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 14, 1944 INVENTOR. fizzw ZDz'czna a MIC W Aug. 14, 1951 DlANDA HANDLE FOR SCREW DRIVERS AND OTHER HAND TOOLS Original Filed Aug. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

.Aawamysr Patented Aug. 14, .1951

HANDLE FOR scaew DRIVERS AND- omen DTO OLS

Arthur E. Dianda, New York, N. Y.

Substituted for abandoned application, Serial No.

549,419, August 14, 1944. This application November 12, 1948, Serial No. 59,456

This invention relates to new. and useful improvements in rotary-head handles for screw drivers and other hand tools.

This is a substitute for my abandoned appliwhen the screw driver is in use, the two parts being adapted to be held by different parts ,of the users body.

Still further it is proposed to provide a handle as aforesaid having friction, roller or ball bearings between the parts and means securing the parts against accidental separation but permitting them to be disconnected when desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a screw driver with a handle as aforesaid having a ratchet permitting the handle to be turned by either part, the screw driver-shaft upper end being capped by the top part and exposed when the top part is removed.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the Objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of'the invention are more particularly set forth. I

In the accompanying drawings 'forming a material. part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a. screw driver constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an axial section through the screw driver. 1

Fig. 3 is an axial section through a screw driver constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention, the screw drivershaft being shown in full.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the top part of the screw driver shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 5-'-.5 of Fig. 4. I

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line G-6 of Fig; 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary axial section of a handieconstructed .in accordance with a 'modi-' fication of this invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary axial section of a handle constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention. i

Fig; 9 is a fragmentary axial section of a handle constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

"Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of a portion of 1 Claim. (Cl. 14550) a screw driver employing either of the handles of Figs. 7-9.

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of a handle constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention, two tools being indicated in dot-dash lines. I} I The screw driver, according to this invention, comprises a shaft l0 shaped at its lower end for insertion in the slot of a screw head. Shaft I0 is secured at its upper end in a roto-head handle including body II, which may be, for instance, cast of plastic around the upper end of the shaft, the shaft having wings I 2 preventing it from turning in the body. The lower end of the body is conical and covered by a cap I3.

An axial bore I4 is formed in the top of the body and a roller bearing raceway groove i5 is formed in its top face around the bore I4. A1

normally stationary cap member I6 is disposed on top of the body H and has a pin l1 extended into the bore I l and a ball bearing raceway groove l8 in its bottom face in line with groove l5. Ball bearings 19 are disposed in the grooves, frictionlessly supporting the member 16 on the body H.

Pin I1 is formed with longitudinal flutes 2D aiding in securing it firmly in the cap member It. At the lower end of the pin I] there is an annular groove 2|. A set screw 22 is screwed in a threaded orifice 23 in the body II and has its inner end rounded and disposed in the groove 2 l, holding the cap member l6 rotatably on body II but permitting their separation upon removal of the set screw 22.

The operation of the screw driver is as follows:

The person using the screw driver can bear against the cap member [B wit-h his hand or with the pit of his stomach, thereby pressing the shaft l0 firmly against the screw to be turned. With his other hand he can turn the body H, thereby turning the screw. The ball bearings permit the body It to be rotated relative to the cap member l6 even though great pressure is exerted on the cap member IS. the cap member It can be removed for'cleaning or replacement of the ball bearings [9 by removing the set screw 22; This set screwpermits the rotation of the body I I relative to the cap member l6 as it fits with clearance all around in the groove 2|. As the cap member [6 is held stationary and is externally smooth, it prevents blisters from being caused. The roto-head handle, while shown as part of a screw driver, may be employed with other types of tools.

A screw driver constructed in accordance with When desired,

a modification of this invention is shown in Figs. 3-6, and it distinguishes from the screw driver of Figs. l-2 in that the shaft 10 extends through and beyond the top of the body ll. Body II has a flat top face on which is disposed a ball bearing raceway or cage l holding ball bearings IS.

The upper end of the shaft is provided with a row of ratchet teeth 24, one of which is extended, by means of a groove 25, to the top of the shaft ID. The cap member [6 has a central bore 26 in which the upper end of the shaft I0 is disposed and a spring steel detent or drive.

strip 21 is secured in the member IS with its inner end extending into the bore 26. The wall of bore 26 at one side of strip 21 is cut out, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6 providing a flared recess 28 permitting the inner end of strip 2! to bend, permitting the teeth 24 to idle past the detent when the body II and the shaft l0 are turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, relative to the cap member [6' and the detent 21. This inner end of strip 21 is adapted to coact with the ratchet teeth 24 in driving relation when the cap member [6' is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, carrying the shaft I0 and the body H with it.

The operation of this form of device is as follows:

The screw driver ma be employed exactly as was the screw driver of Figs. 1-2, that is to say, the cap member I6 held stationary while the body I I is rotated, when a screw is being screwed into an object. During such operation, the ratchet teeth 24 merely idle past the free end of the detent 21. However, when the body II and the cap member I6 are gripped as a unit, the detent. 21 engages the ratchet teeth 24 locking the parts H and I6 together against any possible relative rotation when the screw driver is being used to turn screws or the like into a piece of wood or similar material without pressure against the cap member [6.

Furthermore, the detent 21 looks the cap member IE to the body ll against axial separation except when the detent 2'! is disposed in the ratchet tooth 24 that opens into the groove 25. Member Hi may be removed from body II when the detent 21 is in ratchet tooth 24 that opens into the groove by lifting the cap memher [6' relative to the body II.

The removel of the cap member l6 exposes the top of the shaft ID. This affords the added advantage that the user of the screw driver can hammer the top of the shaft I0 when necessary to start a stubborn screw or to clean out the slot of a screw when it is clogged with paint or other substance. The advantage of being able to hit the shaft ID direct instead of hitting the top of the cap member I6 is that the member l6 wont become broken or disfigured and the body H will not be loosened on the shaft [0.

The embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 1-6 show simple types of roto-heads applied to screw drivers, it being understood that they may be applied to other types of tools. In Figs. 7-10 other types of roto-heads are shown which are also especially adapted for use with screw drivers, but ma be used with other types of tools. These roto-heads are quite similar to each other but distinguish from each other mainly in that the roto-head of Fig. 7 is especially adapted for friction bearings, of Fig. 8 is especially adapted for roller bearings and of Fig. 9 is especially adapted for ball bearings. The handle 4 parts of these rote-heads may be made of plastic which is cast around the metal parts thereof.

The roto-head shown fragmentally in Fig. '7, constructed in accordance with a further modification of this invention is a surface bearing rotohead adapted for oil lubrication. It includes a stationary cap member 36 in which is threaded a stud 3i having a surface bearing plate 32 and a pin 33. The pin 33 is formed with an annular groove 34 in its lower end. A projection 35 on the cap member 33 extends into a recess in the plate 32 holding these two parts against relative rotation. The roto-head further has a body 36 formed with an axial bore in which is mounted a surface bearing plate 31 having a threaded cylindrical portion 38.

A projection 39 on body 36 extends into a recess in the plate 31 preventing relative rotation therebetween. A look ring holder 40 is disposed in the bottom of the bore of the body 36 and is held therein by a force fit. 'Asplit lock ring 4| is disposed between the top of the holder 40 and a shoulder 36* formed on the inner face of the cylindrical portion 38 and engages the groove 34 of the pin 33, when the pin is inserted into the cylindrical portion 38 to removably rotatively attach the cap member 30 to the body 36. The member 30 has a skirt 42 overhanging the body 36, as is clearly shown in Fig. '7. e

The operation of this roto-head is similar to that above described. The lock ring 4l permits the pin 33 to be pulled axially out of the body 36 separating the cap member 30 from the body 36. The

surface plates

32 and 31 contact each other and may be lubricated so that they rotate relative to each other more easily. The oil flows into the body bore and lubricates the pin 33.

The roto-head shown fragmentally in Fig. 8, constructed in accordance with another modification of this invention, is a roller-bearing type roto-head, adapted for grease packed lubrication. It distinguishes from the rote-head shown in Fig. '7 in that it has roller bearings 43 between the bearing plates 32' and 31. Other parts corresponding to similar parts of the roto-head of Fig. 7 are indicated by like references primed.

The roto-head shown fragmentall in Fig. 9, constructed in accordance with still another modification of this invention, is a ball bearing type roto-head adapted for grease packed lubrication. It distinguishes from the roto-head of Fig. 8 in that the pin 33" has an annular groove 44 above its groove 34" and the body bearing plate 31" is made separately from the cylindrical portion The cylindrical portion 38" has a shoulder above the locking ring 4|" similar to the shoulder of the roto-heads of Figs. 7 and 8 and a similar shoulder 45 below a locking ring 46 disposed in the groove 44. The adjacent surfaces of the bearing plates are provided with ball bearing raceways 41 in which are disposed ball bearings 48.

The wear'p1ate31" of the body 36" is separated from the cylindrical portion 38" and merely rests in a complementary cavity formed in the top of the body 36 and against the top end of the cylindrical portion 33 as shown in Fig. 9. Fric tional contact between the adjacent faces of the wear plate 31" and the complementary cavity in the body 36" will retain the wear plate 31" against rotation in the assembled position shown.

merely freely projected into the top of the cylindrical portion 38" but bears against the bottom face of the wear plate 31". Thus, when the cap member 30 is separated from the body 36" by pulling axially upwards thereon, the pin 33" will move upwards in the cylindrical portion 38" away from the lock-ring 4!". At the same time, the lock ring 46 moves out of the top end of the cylindrical portion 38" and as it bears against the bottom face of the wear plate 3'!" it forces the wear plate 3?" out of its complementary cavity in the top of the bod 36" causing the Wear plate 31" to be separated from the body 36" as a unit with the cap member 30. Thus, the wear plates 32" and 31 are held together preventing the ball bearings 48 from escaping from between the adjacent faces thereof when the cap member 30" is removed from the body 36". Should it, for some reason, be desirable to separate the wear plates 32" and 31" it is merely necessary to remove the lock ring 46 permitting the wear plate 32" to be slipped OK the free end of the pin 33".

The cylindrical portion 38" is formed with knurling 52 at its periphery to prevent twisting. The cylindrical portion 38 may be cylindrical, rectangular or of any other shape in cross section.

The three roto-heads of Figs. 7-9 have several common features. One is that each of the pins has external helical lubricating grooves 5|. Another is that the lock rings snap into place when the stationary cap member is pushed into position on the body member and similarly are forced back out of the way when the stationary cap member is pulled away from the body member to permit separation for cleaning and lubrication, or for replacement of worn ball or roller bearings. Each of the three roto-heads may have an outside appearance as shown in Fig. 10.

The roto-head shown in Fig. 11 is a socket wrench roto-handle. It is to be used with a socket set extension bar A or socket wrench bar handle B, indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 11. When used with a socket extension bar it is placed on one end of the bar, the roto-head being equipped with a hexagonal recess 49 in its bottom for this purpose. The socket to be used is placed on the other end of the bar. The rote-head is also provided with a hexagonal side recess 50 for use with a socket Wrench bar handle. The rote-head may otherwise be constructed like either of the three roto-heads of Figs. 7-9.

While the rote-heads have been described as being formed of metal parts around which plastic has been cast, it is obvious that the roto-heads may be made of other suitable materials such as wood or metal.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A screw driver comprising a shaft having an end adapted to coact with the slotted head of a screw, a bod secured on said shaft intermediate its ends, the other end of said shaft projecting above said body, a ball bearing assemblage disposed on the top face of said body surrounding said shaft, a cap member have an axial bore mounted on said projection of said shaft and resting on said ball bearing assemblage, said projection having a ring of ratchet teeth, and a ratchet detent in said cap member coacting with said teeth, one of said teeth being in line with a groove opening through the top end of said projection for sliding removal and assemblage of said ratchet detent with said teeth.

ARTHUR E.-DIANDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 320,920 Farrand June 30, 1885 687,401 Morse Nov. 26, 1901 811,305 Leblanc Jan. 30, 1906 858,131 Aichele June 25, 1907 861,010 Zeman July 23, 1907 1,163,500 Ball Dec. 7, 1915 1,309,715 Barton July 15, 1919 1,337,205 Dingman Apr. 20, 1920 1,388,922 Bullard Aug. 30, 1921 1,772,040 Dunlea Aug. 5, 1930 1,816,359 Carlin July 28, 1931 2,476,617 Mueller July 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 209,228 Great Britain Jan. 10, 1924