US2596594A

US2596594A - Chuck feature of tools of the detachably connected shank and handle type

Info

Publication number: US2596594A
Application number: US189554A
Authority: US
Inventors: John N Petre
Original assignee: PARK METALWARE Co Inc
Current assignee: PARK METALWARE Co Inc; PARK METALWARE COMPANY Inc
Priority date: 1950-10-11
Filing date: 1950-10-11
Publication date: 1952-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1969-05-13

Description

May 13, 1952 2,596,594

J- N. PETRE CHUCK FEATURE OF TOOLS OF THE DETAC LY ONNECTED SHANK AND HANDLE TYP Filed 001;. 11, 1950 1 F14. FJ'. 0 351 153 2 1 Q2 F195. I a Bag;

3nvemor Jo/z .Pefre,

(Ittomeg Patented May 13, 1952 CHUCK FEATURE OF TOOLS OF THE DE- TACHABLY CONNECTED SHANK AND HAN DLE TYPE John N. Petre, Orchard Park, N. Y., assignor to Park Metalware Company, Inc., Orchard Park, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 11, 1950, Serial No. 189,554

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to tools of the type wherein a tool shank projects from and is coaxial with a handle, is mounted within a sleeve fitted within a recess formed axially in the handle, and is secured in the sleeve and thereby in the handle in detachable relation. Sundry varying tool elements, e. g. screw drivers of different forms, socket wrenches and the like may be interchangeably used with the same handle and may be of either single shank or double shank construction, the double shank elements having different tool formations at their opposite ends and being reversible in relation to the handle whereby either tool formation, according to choice, may be used.

A tool of the above description which has been standard for at least a generation and has had wide acceptance by the trade and the public is one wherein the shank is provided with a flat faced collar of greater diametrical dimension, the collar being conventionally hexagonal in cross section and carrying a spring loaded ball friction latch which projects to a suitable extent beyond a flat face of the collar and is biased in a radial direction for latching cooperation with the wall of the sleeve in which the collar is fitted.

This invention specifically relates to tools as above described which have the standard feature of a fiat faced collar of greater diametrical dimension than the shank.

Tools which are provided with the ball latch feature as above described have been found to be seriously objectionable from a number of standpoints. The manufacturing operation is expensive in that it involves the necessity of drilling a recess for the spring and ball latch followed by an upsetting operation to deform the edge of the recess whereby to prevent the displacement of the latch. In manufacture, due to unavoidable adventitious circumstances, it happens in a substantial number of instances that the ball latch will not project in suitable degree beyond the fiat faced collar, a fact which imposes a manufacturing loss. In use, moisture seeps into the recess for the ball latch, causing rusting of the spring. Fine particles of dust, dirt or grease also work into such recess and impair the action of the ball latch. Repair is so diflicult as to be prohibitive in cost. In general, inasmuch as the active element of the latch is carried by the shank, it has been found to be more economical in cases where repair is indicated to discard the shank and replace it with a new one.

The entire problem in connection with tools as described in the first paragraph of the specification involves considerations of manufacture, use and repair.

The improvement originated by me and John 0. Olsen, as joint inventors, and which :is disclosed in Patent 2,476,762 issued July 19, 1949, satisfactorily solves certain, but by no means all, of the aspects of the problem. This patented improvement dis-closes a species which satisfactorily overcomes the objections of the ball latch feature in respect to use, repair and certain manufacturing problems.

However, from a manufacturing standpoint, the improvement shown in said patent falls short of an important advantage of the ball latch construction in that, as a proposition of use and of consequent manufacture, it is required that the shanks of the tools of the type above generally described be of varying standard diameters and it is further required that the sleeves which are fitted in the handles be dimensioned to accord with variations in the maximum width of the keys formed on the shanks, such width varying in accordance with variations in the diameters of the shanks.

It follows that a handle having a sleeve which accords with a shank of some particular diameter will be quite useless in connection with a shank of another particular diameter. Therefore for the shanks of varying standard diameters handles having sleeves of corresponding varying internal diameters are required. In short a standard handle is impossible and a particular handle must be provided for each diameter of shank.

On the other hand, from a manufacturing standpoint, the ball latch construction has the advantage that regardless of variations in standard shank diameters the flat faced collar may be of a single standard diameter and hence the sleeves in the handles which accommodate the collars may be of a conforming single standard diameter. It follows that the handles may be standardized and any handle may be used for the completion of a tool regardless of the particular standard diameter of the shank.

The invention is directed to the chuck features of tools of the type generally above described as characterized by a shank-carried flat faced collar of greater diametrical dimension.

The object of the invention is a construction which satisfactorily deals with all aspects of the entire problem of manufacture, use and repair.

The invention is characterized by certain novel features of a handle-carried leaf spring latch and associated parts, the latch being in cooperation with a flat face of the shank-carried collar. The invention is of advantage in enabling the economical repair of tools embodying the standard ball latch feature and is also of advantage in the '2 and abuts-the shoulder 5.

aueaeoe manufacture of tools embodying the feature of the flat faced collar of greater diameter than the shank in which manufacture the ball latch feature may be entirely omitted. Further characterizing details of the features of the invention will be set forth asthe description proceeds;

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a tool in accordance with the invention in which two tool elements are formed, respectively, at the ends of a double shank.

Figure 2 is a similar view partly in section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal section in the same plane as Figure 2, showing the position of the spring latch when the hexagonal collar of the tool is in place.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing in detail the position of the spring latch when the tool shank is removed.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing the improvement in relation to a tool shank provided with a ball latch.

Figure 6 is a cross section along the line E-5 ofFigure 3.

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing the spring latch and the sleeve in separated relation.

The tool handle I has no intrinsic novelty. It ismade by a molding process from any suitable plastic material, for example a phenolic condensation compound, and is formed with a central axial recess 2 of suitable extent, open to its inner end, the recess 2 being of circular cross section. In accordance with well known practice a metallic sleeve 3 is fitted in the recess 2. The sleeve 3 includes a pilot part A of annular cross section and aflat faced part 5 of greater diameter and preferably of hexagonal cross section. At a suitable distance from the inner end of the :handle the recess 2 is formed with an annular shoulder 6, and between the inner end of the handle and the shoulder 6, the recess is formed with a second annular shoulder i of greater diameter than the shoulderfi, the recess thus having a portion of maximum diameter 8 extending from the. inner end of the handle and a portion 9 of less diameter extending from the shoulderB to the shoulder l. The pilot part d of the sleeve 3 fits in the portion 3 of the recess The hexagonal part 5 .of the sleeve 3 fits in the portion 8 ofthe recess g and abuts the shoulder l. The sleeve 3, inaccordance with standard practice, has a press fit within the

portions

3 and 9 of the recess 2 and, except in respects to be herein described, is of standard construction.

Since the portion 8 of the recess 2 is of circular cross section and the part 5 of the sleeve 3 is of hexagonalcross section the flat external faces of the part 5 have a chord-like relation to the,

annular face of the recess portion 3 whereby ,filfiarances H! are provided between the several flat faces of the part 5 and the annular wall of the recess portion 8. In the prior construction these clearances have been adventitious and non-functional.

The tool is completed by a shank i I which may beeither of single form or double form. A double shank is shown and is formed at its ends with diverse tool elements l2, either of which maybe used according to choice. The shank ll carriesa flat faced collar l3 which is preferably [of the standard hexagonal form and is rigidly The fitted upon the shank in the usual manner. collar l3 has diametrical dimension substantially greater than the diametrical dimensions of the shank. Where the shank is of single form it 1s provided with but a single terminal tool element and the collar is located at or near its inner end. Where the shank is of double form the collar is located substantially midway between the tool elements. The internal conformation of the part 5 corresponds to the cross sectional outline of the collar I3. In the construction as shown and preferred the part 5 is of hexagonal cross section, bot h internal and externally. The sleeve 3 is formed internally at the junction of the parts 4 and 5 with an annular shoulder l4 against which the end of the collar l3 bears and which limits the insertion movement of the collar into the sleeve.

In accordance with the invention the shank is securely held against accidental displacement from the sleeve 3 by a novel latch l5 of leaf spring form, the outer terminal of which is formed to bear with suitable pressure against a flat surface of the collar I3 and thereby to oppose adequate frictional resistance to the axial displacement of the collar from the sleeve while at the same time permitting the ready manual separation of the shank from the handle.

The latch consists of a straight elongated body of thin spring metal which is formed'at ts inner end with an inturned flange l6 and at its outer end with an inwardly directed terminal bow H which constitutes the active element of the latch and is the part which bears frictionally upon a flat face of the collar l3, the bow I being or" substantial semi-circular outline in l-on: gitudinal section. The elongated body of the latch l5 overliesthe sleeve 3 (without the .necese.

sity of attachment to it) in longitudinally ex:-v tencling'relation and the flange l6 abuts the in: ner end of the sleeve and is held in clamped relation between it and the shoulder 6, displacemerit of the latch in either longitudinal direction bei ther p even ed- The pa o the sleeve is formed in one of its flat faces with elongated slot it and the bow ll extendsinto the slot and thereby engages the hat face of the collar I3. When the sleeve is inserted into the recess 2 the straight body of the latch cuts a keyway, so to speak, in the portion 9 of the recess 2. The straight body of the latch is in effect clamped between theflat face of the part 5 which is located behind the slot 18 and the wall of the portion 8 of the recess 2. In this relation the clearances i0 are functional that any one of them may serve for the accommodationpof that part of the latch which overlies the slot-provided fiat face of the part 5 of the sleeve. The keyway out by the latch, the projection of the bow ll into the slot 18 and the clamping of the body of the latch prevents the latch from shifting peripherally relatively to the sleeve.

The normal tendency of the bow-provided terminal portion of the latch i5 is to spring inward whereby, the shank being removed from the halldle, the bow ll projects to some extent into the interior of the part 5 of the sleeve. This relation is clearly shown in Figure 4/ The rear or inner transverse wall id of the slot is provides a fulcrum about which the portion of the latch within the slot may'have play, the requisite play being provided by the clearance Ill in which the latch is accommodated. The end of the collar is which bears against the shoulder I4 may be ideally formed on an incline, i. e. tapering, as shown at Zll. When the shank is inserted into the handle the end of the collar I3, i. e. in the construction disclosed the inclined portion 20,

acts as a shoulder with cam effect upon the how I! and springs it radially outward, thereby storing pressure in the portion of the latch within the slot I 8, this pressure being maintained by the engagement of the how I! withafiat face of the collar l3 and being of such degree as to establish a secure frictional connection of the collar 13 and the handle whereby the shank will not be liable to axial displacement. The slot I8 may be of such a length that the play of the portion of the latch which is in alinement with the slot will be about a relatively long radius whereby the spring will have a long efficient life and the tendency to crystallization at the fulcrum point 19 will be negligible. The engaged relation of the bow l1 and the collar 13 is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5. j'

Figure 5 shows the availability of the invention for the easy and economical repair of tools provided with a ball latch. This figure assumes a ball latch which for one reasonor other has become inoperative in that the surface of the ball is substantially fiush with the flat face of the collar l3, that is to say, the ball does not project to any appreciable or operative extent beyond such face. The repair is accomplished simply by inserting into the recess 2 a sleeve 3 of the form herein shown and an associated spring latch IS, the bow l1 engagin a fiat face (any flat face) of the collar l3 and thereby holding the shank securely in connected relation to the handle and completely compensating for the inoperativeness of the ball latch.

It follows that as a proposition of original manufacture the ball latch is not required. Hence the tools as originally manufactured may be made without the ball latch as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

In the assembling operation the spring latch is simply placed without attachment upon the sleeve 3 to extend longitudinally thereof and with its bow I! located within the slot I B and its flange l6 abutting the end of the pilot part 5. Thereupon the sleeve, with the spring latch so associated with it, is inserted into the recess 2 until the end of the pilot part 4 engages the shoulder l6. As above pointed out the portion of the spring latch 15 which overlies the pilot part 4 will, as the sleeve is inserted in the handle and due to the fact that the handle is of plastic material, cut a keyway in the wall of the part 9 of the recess 2. As will be readily apparent from Figures 3 and 5 the flange I8 will press an accommodating groove in the shoulder 8.

In the event that after a long period of use the spring latch l5 should become crystallized or broken the tool may readily be repaired, all that is required being the removal of the sleeve 3 from the handle, the provision of a new spring latch and the reinsertion of the sleeve into the handle in a manner above explained. In such insertion it is not at all important that the new spring latch be alined with the keyway cut by the original spring latch and hence no care is required in this respect, it being immaterial that the new spring latch may be so positioned as to cut its own keyway in the wall of the part 9 of the recess 2.

I claim:

In a tool of the type which includes a handle of plastic material having an axial recess of circular cross section, a metallic sleeve fitted within the recess and formed externally with a flat face in chord-like relation to the annular wall of the recess whereby a clearance is provided between the fiat face and the annular wall of the recess, the recess having an internal annular shoulder against which the sleeve abuts, and a shank provided with a terminal tool formation and with a collar of substantially greater diameter having a number of flat faces, the sleeve having an internal shoulder against which the collar abuts and having an internal fiat face formation conforming to the flat face formation of the collar, the collar fitting conformably within the sleeve: a chuck construction wherein the sleeve is formed between its external fiat face and a corresponding internal fiat face with an elongated longitudinally extending slot which registers with a flat face of the collar and a spring latch is provided in association with the sleeve and is in the form of a leaf spring having a straight elongated body portion overlying and resting upon the sleeve and extending longitudinally thereof, "a terminal inwardly directed flange which engages the inner end of the sleeve as fitted Within the recess, and a terminal bow of semi-circular outline in longitudinal section which is arranged within the slot and has a normal tendency to spring inward, the elongated body portion of the latch being clamped by and between the collar and the annular wall of the recess and the bow-carrying terminal portion of the latch being in radial alinement with the slot with the bow normally projecting inwardly beyond the sleeve and engageable with any flat face of the collar, the clearance between the external flat face of the sleeve and the annular wall of the recess of the handle providing radial play for the bow-carrying terminal portion of the spring latch in alinement with the slot, the inner or rear wall of the slot providing a fulcrum about which said bow-carrying terminal portion may have its play, the inner end portion of the collar providing a shoulder which as the collar is inserted into the sleeve is engageable with the bow of the latch with cam effect to move the bow radially outward whereby to cause its engagement with the fiat face of the collar as fully inserted into the sleeve and to store power in the spring latch, the terminal flange of the spring latch being clamped by and between the inner end of the sleeve as fitted within the recess and the annular shoulder of the recess.

JOHN N. PETRE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,741,810 Bidal Dec. 31,1929- 2,158,728 Peters May 16, 1939 2,476,762 Petre et a1 July 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country A Date 92,049 Sweden Apr, 14, 1938