ZA200104532B - Shaft for a tool. - Google Patents

Description

SHAFT FOR A TOOL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a shaft, to a tool kit including the shaft and to a tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a shaft includes an elongate member and an insert which has at least one recess, the insert being at least partly inserted into the elongate member and the elongate member being swaged to the insert to secure the insert to the elongate member.

The elongate member is swaged to the insert by squeezing the elongate member around that part of the insert inserted into the elongate member to cause material of the elongate member to flow into the recess.

The word recess is used herein to include groove, knurling, thread, or any indentation into which material of the elongate member can flow during the swaging process.

The insert preferably includes engaging means. The engaging means may be a spigot or a socket. The spigot and the socket may be threaded.

Preferably two inserts secured one to cither end of the elongate member are provided. One of the inserts preferably has threaded spigot and the other of the inserts preferably has a threaded socket.

CONFIRMATION COPY

The elongate member is preferably a tube.

According to another aspect of the invention a tool kit includes at least one shaft as described above and at least one tool head with engaging means for engaging the shaft to form a tool.

The tool kit preferably includes at least one handle with engaging means for engaging the shaft to form a tool having a handle at one end of the shaft and a tool head at the other end of the shaft. The tool head and the handle are preferably releasably engageable with the shaft.

According to another aspect of the invention a tool having a shaft includes an elongate member and an insert which has at least one recess, the insert is at least partly inserted into the elongate member, and the elongate member is swaged to the insert to secure the insert to the elongate member. }

The tool preferably includes an implement head secured to, or integral with, the insert.

The tool preferably includes two inserts secured one to either end of the elongate member. The tool may include an implement head secured to, or integral with, one of the inserts, and a handle secured to, or integral with, the other of the inserts.

The elongate member is preferably a tube.

The tool may be a pinch bar.

According to another aspect of the invention a joint between an elongate member and an insert with at least one recess, wherein the insert is at least partly inserted into the clongate member, and the elongate member is swaged to the insert to secure the insert to the elongate member.

According to another aspect of the invention a method of securing an insert with at least one recess to an elongate member includes the steps of at least partly inserting the insert into the elongate member and swaging the elongate member to the insert to secure the insert to the elongate member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

. Figure 1 1s an exploded side view of a shaft according to the invention;

Figure 2 1s an assembled side view of the shaft of figure 1; ) Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view on line IT — ITT of figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded side view of a tool kit according to the

Figure 5 is an assembled side view of an axe;

Figure 6 is an assembled side view of a spade;

Figure 7 is a side view of a pinch bar according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a side view of the head of the pinch bar; and

Figure 9 is a partly sectioned side view of part of the pinch bar of figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to figures 1 to 3, a shaft 10 includes an aluminium tube 12 which is swaged to two inserts 14 and 16 located at opposite ends of the tube 12.

Each of the inserts 14 and 16 has grooves 20 extending circumferentially around the insert and grooves 22 extending longitudinally along the stem 18.

Insert 14 has a threaded socket 24 and insert 16 has a threaded spigot 26.

The tube 12 is squeezed under high pressure around the inserts 14 and 16 to cause the aluminium of the tube 12 to flow into the grooves 20 and 22. The aluminium in the grooves 20 prevents the inserts from being withdrawn from } the tube 12. The aluminium in the grooves 22 prevents the inserts from rotating relative to the tube 12. ‘The shaft 10 forms part of a tool kit 28 shown in figure 4. The tool kit 28 consists of two shafts 10, an axe head 30, a spade head 32, an axe handle 34, a spade handle 36 and two tightening pins 38.

The axe head 30 and the spade head 32 have threaded spigots 40. The threaded spigot 40 of the spade head 32 forms part of an insert which is swaged to a socket 44 of the spade head 32.

An axe 46 (figure 5) or a spade 48 (figure 6) can be assembled from the tool kit 28. The two pins 38 are inserted into holes 50 of the shafts 10 and are used to tighten the shafts 10 together whereupon the pins 38 are removed from the holes 50. Obviously only one shaft 10 or more than two shafts 10 can be used in which event a shorter or longer tool will be produced.

Referring now to figures 7 to 9, a pinch bar 52 consists of two solid steel inserts 54 and 56 swaged to an aluminium tube 58.

Each of the inserts 54 and 56 is formed from round bar which has circumferentially extending grooves 60 machined in it. The grooves 60 are about 1mm deep. The grooved part of each insert 54 and 56 is inserted into the tube 52 which is then swaged to the grooved part of each insert to form a joint 61 between each insert and the tube 58.

Insert 54 has an integral head 62 which protrudes from the tube 58. Likewise insert 56 has an integral head 64 which protrudes from the tube 58.

It will be appreciated that many modifications or variations of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit of scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A pinch bar having a shaft including an elongate member in the form of an aluminium tube and two steel inserts each having at least one recess, each insert is at least partly inserted into an opposite end of the aluminium tube, and the aluminium tube is swaged to each insert to secure the insert to the aluminium tube, each insert having an integral head which protrudes from the aluminium tube.

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2. The pinch bar of claim 1 wherein at least one recess is machined in each insert.

3. The pinch bar of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the at least one recess is circumferentially extending.

4. The pinch bar of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the at least one recess is about one millimetre deep.

5. The pinch bar of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the steel inserts are formed from round bar.

6. The pinch bar of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein at least one of the integral heads narrows towards its free end.

7. The pinch bar of claim 6 wherein the at least one integral head narrows to a point at its free end.

8. A pinch bar substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. AMENDED SHEET - DATED 28 MARCH 2007