GB2462279A - Hand tool with two handles - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand tool 10 has a rotatable body 12 configured to transmit torque to a tool head 14, with first and second handles 16, 18 extending from the body 12 at a non-zero angle to its main axis (X) of rotation. One of the handles 16 is arranged to rotate relative to the body 12 about the main axis (X). The second handle 18 is preferably rotatable between a stowed position parallel to the main axis (X) and a deployed position extending from the body 12 at a non-zero angle to its main axis (X) of rotation. The first handle 16 is preferably connected to the body 12 via a ratchet 22, and is used to transmit the torque to the tool head 14, while the second handle 18 may be used to apply an axial force to the tool head 14. The first handle 16 may be removable from the body 12. The hand tool 10 is preferably a screwdriver.

Description

A Hand Tool The present invention relates to a hand tool. More specifically the present invention relates to a hand tool with at least one handle extending at an angle to the main axis of rotation in order to approve usability and torque transmission to a tool head.

Known hand tools such as screwdrivers comprise a tool head (for example a flat head or cross head screw-engaging formation) at a first end of the shaft. A handle is positioned at a second end of the shaft opposite the first. The handle is frequently made from plastics material and defines ridges for engagement with a user's hand.

Known handles are generally rotationally symmetric with respect to the main axis of rotation of the hand tool and generally cylindrical with a diameter selected such that the tool can be easily gripped by a users hand.

In use, the tool head is engaged with e.g. a screw, the handle is gripped by a user and rotated to advance the screw by virtue of a screw thread engaging with a A problem with this type of handle is that it needs to be gripped in order to transfer torque to the tool by virtue of friction and mechanical engagement between the user's hand and the handle. The user also needs to apply axial force to the handle in order to maintain engagement with the screw. When the user wishes to gain further rotation of the handle the user can let go of the handle and reposition his or her hand in order to begin the next rotation.

A problem with this type of hand tool is that a significant degree of control is required by the user in order to apply both the torque and an axial force to the handle.

Furthermore, because the handle requires gripping and is generally of a small diameter, the user needs to apply a significant amount of force at the surface of the handle in order to rotate the hand tool, and drive the screw into the workpiece.

Such control is not easily achieved by the elderly or disabled and as such hand tools such as screwdrivers are extremely difficult to use. Power screwdrivers and powered alternatives to hand tools are known in the art however, these are generally bulky and heavy and often not practical for many jobs.

It is an aim of this invention to provide an improved hand tool.

According to the present invention there is provided a hand tool comprising a body defining a main axis of rotation, the body being configured to transmit torque to a tool head located at a first end of the body, the hand tool further comprising a first handle and a second handle, the first and second handles extend from the body at a non-zero angle to the main axis of rotation, and in which one of the first and second handles is arranged to rotate relative to the body about the main axis.

Advantageously, the handle which is arranged to rotate relative to the body can be used to apply the axial force necessary to maintain engagement between the tool head and a screw or bolt whereas the other handle can be rotated to provide the torque necessary for rotating the screw or bolt.

An example hand tool will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first hand tool in accordance with the present invention; Fig.2 is a perspective view of the hand tool of Fig. 1 showing the second handle moving from a stowed to a deployed condition; Fig.3 is a perspective view of a part of the hand tool of Fig.1; Figs.4a and 4b are perspective views of the hand tool of Fig.1 in operation; Fig.5 is a perspective view of second hand tool in accordance with the present invention.

Turning to Fig.1, a hand tool 10 comprises a body 10, a tool head 14, a first handle 16 and a second handle 18. The body 12 comprises a blind bore 20 configured to receive, and transfer torque to, the tool head 14. In order to accomplish this, the blind bore 20 may be e.g. hexagonal in cross-section and correspond to a hexagonal cross-section of the tool head 14.

The first handle 16 comprises a ratchet 22, a first arm 24 extending radially therefrom and a handle portion 26 at the end of the first arm 24 and distal to the ratchet 22.

The ratchet 22 is configured such that when the first handle 16 is rotated in a first direction 28, the tool head 14 rotates therewith (i.e. torque is transferred from the first handle 16 to the tool head 14). When the first handle 16 is rotated in a second direction 30, it slides freely with respect to the tool head 14, and does not transfer torque. It should be noted that the ratchet (and hence the first handle 16) is mounted to be continuously freely movable with respect to the body 12 and hence the second handle 18.

The second handle 18 comprises a shaft 32 attached to the body 12 (as will be described below). A handle portion 34 is situated at an end of the shaft 32 as can then be seen in Fig.2. The shaft 32 is mounted to the body 12 in such a way that it can be rotated about a secondary axis Y perpendicular to the main axis X. As such, the second handle 18 can be made parallel to the first handle 16 as shown in the hidden lines in Fig.2.

Referring to Fig.3, the body 12 at an end distal to the tool head 14 is hollow and open-ended and defines a pair of slots 36, 38 running parallel to the main axis X. The slots 36 and 38 are diametrically opposed. A pivot shaft 40 is defined in a mouth of the body 12 and orientated at 90 degrees to the diametrically opposed slots 36, 38.

The pivot shaft 40 defines the secondary axis Y. Also shown in Fig.3 is the shaft 32 which comprises a plate 42 extending from the end proximal to the body 12. The plate 42 defines a key hole slot 44 comprising a circular portion 46 positioned at an end proximal to the body 12.

When assembled the plate 42 is engaged with the slots 36, 38 of the body 12 (by rotation the shaft 32 by 90 degrees to the orientation as shown in Fig.3). When the plate 42 is fully inserted within the slots 36, 38 the pivot pin 40 is fed into position to retain the body 12 and the shaft 32 together. It will be noted that when the plate 42 is fully inserted a circular face 48 of the shaft 32 abuts an annular face 50 of the body 12 to prevent relative rotation thereof.

In order to rotate the second handle 18 about the axis Y, the second handle 18 must be pulled away from the body 12 in the direction of the main axis X such that the pivot pin 40 rests in the circular portion 46 of the slot 44. At this position the circular end 48 of the shaft 32 and the annular face 50 of the body 12 are no longer in engagement and the second handle may be freely rotated. Once rotated 90 degrees the handle 18 can be pushed back towards the body 12 in a direction 90 degrees to axis X and 90 degrees to axis Y such that the side of the plate 42 engages both the ends of slots 36 and 38 to retain the shaft 32 and hence second handle 18 in position. The tool can then be used and the handle 18 returned to its original stowed position parallel with axis X by reversing the above steps.

Once the second handle 18 has been rotated to the deployed position as shown in Figs.4a and 4b, it can be held there by a first hand of the user and used to apply a force parallel to the main axis X to retain engagement between the tool head 14 and a screw 8 being driven into a panel 6. As the force is being applied via second hand 18, the user can use the other hand to rotate the first handle 16 in a first direction 28 to progress the screw 8 into the panel 6. The user can then turn the first handle 16 back to an initial position in the first direction 28 which has no rotational effect on the screw 8 due to the action of the ratchet 22. Neither movement of the first handle 16 in the first or second directions transfers torque to the body 12. The second handle 18 therefore is only used to axial force.

It should be noted that as an alternative to the above usage, the second handle 18 may be left in a stowed position and gripped and pushed to provide a force in the direction of the main axis X if the user does not wish to deploy it.

Turning to Fig.5, a hand tool 100 is substantially similar to the handle 10 with the exception that the ratchet 22 comprises a receiving formation 102 to receive a removable shaft 104 of an alternative first handle 106.

Advantageously, the embodiments shown in Fig.5 are more compact to store as the first handle 106 can be removed from the handle 100. It should be noted that the first handle 106 could be stowed adjacent to or within the second handle 18 for storage.

Variations of the above embodiments fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, the ratchet 22 need not be defined between the body 12 and the first handle 16, rather the ratchet could be defined between the body 12 and the tool head 14. The ratchet could also be located between the second handle 18 and the body 12 or as part of the second handle 18.

The mechanism for retaining the second handle 18 in the stowed and deployed positions can be of any known form and for example may be any kind of catch or a manually actuated locking mechanism.

The present invention extends to other handles as well screwdrivers, for example sockets, wrenches and the like.

Claims (14)

1. Claims 1. A hand tool comprising a body defining a main axis of rotation, the body being configured to transmit torque to a tool head located at a first end of the body, the hand tool further comprising a first handle and a second handle, the first and second handles extending from the body at a non-zero angle to the main axis of rotation, and in which one of the first and second handles is arranged to rotate relative to the body about the main axis.
2. 2. A hand tool according to claim 1 in which the second handle is rotatable relative to the body between a stowed condition substantially parallel to the main axis to a deployed condition and a non-zero angle to the main axis of rotation.
3. 3. A hand tool according to claim 2 comprising a locking mechanism arranged to selectively inhibit rotation of the second handle relative to the body when in the stowed or deployed condition.
4. 4. A hand tool according to claim 3 in which the locking mechanism comprises a handle abutment defined on the second handle and a body abutment defined on the body, wherein in the stowed position or the deployed condition the handle abutment and the body abutment engage to inhibit rotation of the second handle, and in which the handle abutment and the body abutment are disengageable by translation of the second handle relative to the body.
5. 5. A hand tool according to claim 4 in which the locking mechanism comprises a pivot pm defined on one of the second handle and body and a slot defined on the other of the second handle and body.
6. 6. A hand tool according to any preceding claim in which the first handle is removable from the body.
7. 7. A hand tool according to claim 6 in which the body defines a first handle engagement formation for receiving the first handle.
8. 8. A hand tool according to claim 7 in which the first handle engagement formation is a recess.
9. 9. A hand tool according to any preceding claim in which the first handle is connected to the body via a ratchet.
10. 10. A hand tool according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the body comprises a first section at the first end and a second section connected to the first section via a ratchet in which the first handle extends from the second section.
11. 11. A hand tool according to any preceding claim in which the first handle is extendable in length in a direction away from the main axis of rotation.
12. 12. A hand tool according to any preceding claim in which the body comprises a tool head engagement formation at a first end.
13. 13. A hand tool according to any preceding claim in which the hand tool is a screwdriver.
14. 14. A hand tool substantially as described herein and / or with reference to the accompanying figures.