US3091984A

US3091984A - Automatic locking handle mechanisms for tools and the like

Info

Publication number: US3091984A
Application number: US150448A
Authority: US
Inventors: Steiner Lajos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-11-06
Filing date: 1961-11-06
Publication date: 1963-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-04

Description

L. STEINER AUTOMATIC LOCKING HANDLE MECHANISMS June 4, 1963 FOR TOOLS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 6. 1961 F igureS United States Patent 3,091,984 AUTOMATIC LOCKlNG LE MECHANISMS FOR TOOLS AND THE LIKE Lajos Steiner, 2/1 Harriette St., Neutral Bay, New South Wales, Australia Filed Nov. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 150,448 4 Claims. (Cl. 81-329) This invention relates to automatic locking handle mechanisms for tools and the like.

It is usual to lock devices which hold, clamp or pull articles against reactive forces. Such devices may be tools, handbrake fasteners and the like. The locking of such devices has been achieved in various ways, but automatic and continuous or stepless locking has been seldom achieved successfully at the same time. The dead centre locking effect for instance needs some manual adjustment and the ratchet is not fully continuous or stepless.

The present invention aims to give automatic, and at the same time continuous locking eflect, achieved in a simple way, by providing two continuously engaging cams, which prevent the operating handles from pivoting in the disengaging direction, but at the same time allowing them to move unhindered in the engaging direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device where all operations can be maintained by using one hand only.

Other objects of the invention are to provide useful tools and the like for a large variety of applications, where continuous and automatic locking effects are of advantage.

Other desirable objects will be apparent from the following description.

According to this invention an automatic locking handle mechanism for tools and the like comprises: a body member pivotally accommodating an operating handle mechanism which is continuously engaged by a spring motivated locking element; said handle mechanism consisting of pivotally interconnected handles and auxiliary link forming a four bar linkage with the body member; one of the operating handles having a cam incorporated about a pivot point to continuously interfere with a cam incorporated about a pivot point in another member of said four oar linkage preventing any handle movement in one direction while allowing handle movements in the opposite direction.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show the invention in one embodiment as an adjustable socket wrench and wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows an elevated view.

FIGURE 2 shows a lefthand side view with the handles cut away.

FIGURE 3 shows a top view.

FIGURE 4 shows a section through operating handles, showing the locking arrangement.

The invention as illustrated consists of a body member 1 of hollow construction having co-operating jaw formations comprising a fixed jaw 2 and a moving jaw 3 accommodated and sliding on guideways 4. The clamping faces 5 of the ja-"Ws are formed as 120 degree Vs. The moving jaw is actuated by a handle mechanism made up of

operating handles

6 and 7 and auxiliary link 8, all constructed from flat plates. The handle mechanism is interconnected at

pivot points

9 and 10 and joined to body member 1 at pivot points 11 and 12 to form a four bar linkage with it. To actuate the moving jaw 3 the handle mechanism is joined to it at pivot point 13. The hole in the moving jaw is slotted to compensate for the arcuate movement of the pin about point 12. Handle 6 has incorporated between its outside plates a cam 14 made from a circular disc and drilled off centre so that pivoting about point 10 it has a positive displacement 22 against an anti-clockwise disengaging movement. Locking element 15 is retained in operating handle 7 on pivot point 16 consisting of a cam 17 made from an 011 centre drilled round disc and end lever 13 bent from a more or less thin plate into a channel so that a tension spring 19 can be accommodated in it on pin 20. Pivoted on point 16 cam 17 has a positive displacement 23 when moving clockwise. Tension spring 19 is continuously pulling cam 17 in a clockwise direction, when its free end, inside of operating handle 6 is attached to pin 21. The socket wrench is shown in the fully closed position. The jaws are firmly locked in position as the handle mechanism operating the moving jaw cannot be opened, due to the positive interference of

cams

14 and 17. To disengage the cams locking element 15 must be moved in an anti-clockwise direction by moving end lever 18 towards operating handle 6.

Operating handles

6 and 7 are then free to be moved apart, which action setting said four bar linkage in motion would actuate moving jaw 3 through point 13 and separate it from fixed jaw 2 to release work elements clamped between faces 5. Releasing end lever 18 tension spring 19 pulls locking element 15 clockwise re-establishing interference between

cams

14 and 17 and again locking

operating handles

6 and 7, which though can be moved towards each other until a work element is firmly clamped between the jaws.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the one embodiment described, which I believe at present to be the best application of it, as it may undergo further development and within its scope may be employed in other useful applications.

I claim:

1. An automatic locking handle mechanism -for tools and the like comprising a body member accommodating an operating handle means which is in continuous engagement with a spring motivated lock-ing element, said handle means including handles pivotally connected together and an auxiliary link pivotally joined to said body member and one handle, the other handle being pivotally joined to said body member thereby forming a four bar linkage, said one handle having a cam incorporated about its point of pivot with the other handle, a pivot joining said locking element to said other handle, said locking element including a cam located around its pivot, and spring means biasing said locking element cam in continuous engagement with said first mentioned cam thereby prohibiting relative handle movement in one direction while allowing relative movement in the opposite direction.

2. A handle mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said other handle includes a pair of side plates receiving therebet-ween said body member and said other handle,

and said one handle includes a pair of side plates incorporating said handle cam therebetween.

3. A handle mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said locking element is made channel-shaped and said spring means is in the form of a tension spring secured at one end to the free end of said one handle and secured at the other end to an intermediate portion of said looking element.

4. A handle mechanism as defined in claim 3 further including operating fixed and movable jaw members mounted on said body member, said movable jaw being pivotally connected to said auxiliary link whereby relative movement of said handle members toward each other Will move the jaws in a closing direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,761 Sarvie Dec. 29, 1953 761,797 Vogel June 7, 1904 1,151,772 Erickson Aug. 31, 1915 1,428,600 McCullough. Sept. 12, 1922 2,399,497 Melchers Apr. 30, 1946

Claims

1. AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING HANDLE MECHANISM FOR TOOLS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER ACCOMMODATING AN OPERATING HANDLE MEANS WHICH IS IN CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH A SPRING MOTIVATED LOCKING ELEMENT, SAID HANDLE MEANS INCLUDING HANDLES PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER AND AN AUXILIARY LINK PIVOTALLY JOINED TO SAID BODY MEMBER AND ONE HANDLE, THE OTHER HANDLE BEING PIVOTALLY JOINED TO SAID BODY MEMBER THEREBY FORMING A FOUR BAR LINKAGE, SAID ONE HANDLE HAVING A CAM INCORPORATED ABOUT ITS POINT OF PIVOT WITH THE OTHER HANDLE, A PIVOT JOINING SAID LOCKING ELEMENT TO SAID OTHER HANDLE, SAID LOCKING ELEMENT INCLUDING A CAM LOCATED AROUND ITS PIVOT, AND SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID LOCKING ELEMENT CAM IN CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED CAM THEREBY PROHIBITING RELATIVE HANDLE MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION WHILE ALLOWING RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.