HK1023744B - Tool bit drive adaptor - Google Patents

Description

Tool bit drive adapter

Technical Field

The present invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to an adapter for use with pliers or multi-purpose hand tools for rotating screwdriver bits, small socket wrenches and the like.

Background

It is known to use a single handle to drive a screwdriver bit selected from a set of bits or a variety of sizes of wrenches to save the cost of having multiple handles. It is also often desirable to minimize the weight and number of tools that are applied or carried. An adapter for being gripped by a drill chuck may also be used to receive such a tool bit. Some multi-purpose hand tools previously available also include a drive member for driving a small socket wrench. Some drive members as parts of the multipurpose tool disadvantageously increase the size of the multipurpose tool when in use, making the multipurpose tool inconvenient to carry.

Folding utility tools are disclosed, for example, in both U.S. patents 4,238,862 and 4,888,869 to leitmann. Many substantially similar tools are also commercially available.

Most such multi-purpose tools do not include more than two or three sizes of linear screwdriver blades and more than one or two sizes of Phillips (Phillips) screwdrivers. Such multi-purpose tools do not typically include any socket wrench driver and therefore they cannot be conveniently used to drive different types or sizes of screwdriver heads and socket wrenches available. However, it would be advantageous if an available multi-purpose tool could be used as a drive handle to drive such a screwdriver bit, socket wrench or other small tool. This would be particularly advantageous to avoid carrying multiple special drive handlebars, where it is important to minimize the weight of the tool being carried, such as during a bicycle tour.

Depending on the space available around the screw, bolt or nut, the sleeve or screwdriver must be selectively adjustable to align with the handle or extend at an angle to one side. While some adapters previously available enable a screwdriver or small socket wrench to be driven by a folding utility tool, these devices are not sufficiently robust or are limited to axial alignment engagement with a screwdriver included in the utility tool or their use is limited for other reasons.

What is needed is a suitably robust adapter by which various small tool bits, screwdrivers or sockets can be driven using another hand tool as the handle of the adapter and with which the tool bits can be aligned at a selected angle relative to the hand tool. Such adapters are preferably used with those multi-purpose tools that are well known and widely available, and are small enough to be conveniently carried.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter for driving a tool bit in combination with a hand tool comprising a pair of jaws and a pair of handles, which combination can be conveniently used to drive different types or sizes of screwdriver bits and socket wrenches available.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a drive adapter that can be used with those multi-purpose tools that are well known and widely available, and that is small enough to be conveniently carried.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies of the prior art and provides a solution to the need for an adapter that is small and easy to use, yet robust and capable of driving a variety of different tool bits with a single hand tool. The tool head described herein means a screwdriver head or a small socket wrench, or similar tool, which may be one of a set of different sizes of such tools, all of which can be driven to rotate when engaged with an appropriate driving member.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided in combination an adaptor for driving a tool head and a hand tool comprising a pair of jaws and a pair of handles, the adaptor comprising a drive plate having a driven end and a driving end and a pair of generally parallel arms connected to said driven end, said arms being spaced apart and defining a throat therebetween, said parallel arms extending proximally along respective opposite sides of said jaws of said hand tool.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a drive adapter for use with a hand tool having a pair of handles and a pair of jaws for driving a tool bit, the adapter comprising: (a) a drive plate having a drive end and an oppositely located driven end, the drive plate being adapted to cooperate with a hand tool having a pair of handles and a pair of jaws, said driven end including a pair of spaced fork arms defining a generally unobstructed jaw receiving slot therebetween for receiving a portion of said hand tool such that a corresponding portion of said jaw can be received in said slot between said fork arms and said drive plate can be driven by said hand tool; and (b) a tool bit engaging member mounted on said driving end of said drive plate and extending in a direction away from said driving end of said drive plate.

The adaptor of the present invention includes a drive plate having a driven end and a driving end, and a tool bit engaging member mounted adjacent the driving end of the drive plate. A pair of generally parallel arms are included on the driven end of the drive plate and are adapted to be engaged by or engaged by a hand tool used as a handle for the adaptor.

In one embodiment of the invention, the tool bit engaging member comprises a suitably sized hexagonal socket for receiving the shank of an interchangeable screwdriver bit or other tool bit of the same size.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tool bit engaging member is capable of pivoting relative to the drive plate between a linear position and an offset or angled position.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism for maintaining the tool bit engaging member in an in-line position or a selected angled position relative to the drive plate when the adapter is in use. In one such locking mechanism, the spring-loaded teeth engage selected notches in the drive plate, while a sleeve surrounding the body of the tool bit engaging member maintains alignment of the detent and can be used to disengage the detent from the notches.

The driven end of the drive plate preferably includes a projection for engaging a handle of the utility tool to maintain the adapter in secure engagement with the utility tool.

In one embodiment of the invention, the parallel arms defined on the driven end of the adapter drive plate are designed to snugly fit along opposite sides of a jaw pair of a multi-purpose tool with which the adapter is engaged.

One embodiment of the present invention features a ribbed portion of the drive plate that increases the amount of torque transmitted to the tool head in the offset or angled position.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tool bit drive adapter and a portion of a tool bit in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tool bit drive adapter of fig. 1 positioned between the handles of a folding multipurpose tool.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the folding multi-purpose tool and tool bit drive adapter of fig. 2, with the handle and jaws of the folding multi-purpose tool partially separated from one another.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view, partially broken away, of the tool bit drive adapter of fig. 3 in conjunction with a portion of a folding multi-purpose tool.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a portion of the tool head driver and multi-purpose tool of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the tool bit drive adapter and a portion of the multi-purpose tool of fig. 4 rotated 180 about the longitudinal axis of the tool drive adapter to show the opposite side of fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the tool bit drive adapter of fig. 1 in conjunction with a folding multi-purpose tool having dimensions slightly larger than the multi-purpose tool of fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to fig. 4 showing the position of the tool bit drive adapter relative to the handle and jaws of the multi-purpose tool of fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the tool head drive adapter of fig. 7 in conjunction with a portion of a multi-purpose tool.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to fig. 6 showing the tool bit drive adapter of the present invention in conjunction with the multi-purpose tool of fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the socket and locking member of the tool bit drive adapter of fig. 1-10, taken along line 11-11 of fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the tool bit drive adapter of fig. 1-11, taken along line 12-12 of fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of the sleeve and locking member shown in fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to fig. 11 but showing the corresponding parts of a tool bit drive adapter in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to fig. 14 showing a portion of the tool bit drive adaptor of fig. 14 with the tool bit engaging member thereof in a locked position relative to the adaptor drive plate.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 of fig. 15.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

Referring to fig. 1-6, which form a part of the present disclosure, the tool bit drive adapter 20 includes a tool bit engaging member 22 mounted at a drive end 23 of a drive plate 24. A hexagonal socket 26 is formed in the outer or drive end of the tool bit engaging member 22 for receiving a hexagonal end or base 28 of a tool bit, which may be a screwdriver or wrench of a group of similar screwdrivers or wrenches, all of which have bases sized to fit the socket 26, so that a single handle can be used to drive any one screwdriver or wrench.

Within the sleeve 26 is located a circular spring 30 in a radial recess of sufficient depth to expand the circular spring 30 to allow the base 28 of a screwdriver or other tool bit to enter the sleeve 26, after which the resilient grip of the spring 30 helps to retain the base 28 within the sleeve 26.

Drive plate 24 includes a pair of generally parallel fork arms 32 and 34 located at a driven end 36 of drive plate 24 and defining a jaw receiving slot 39 therebetween. An aperture 35 is provided in the fork arm 32 for receiving a lanyard to make the adaptor 20 convenient to use. The drive plate 24 is formed by stamping or coining an appropriately shaped unitary blank, which may be cut from sheet metal, such as steel, to a suitable thickness, for example, about 0.094 inches. Locating tab 38 is bent to extend generally perpendicularly upwardly from yoke 32 and a portion of drive plate 24 is similarly bent upwardly to form a rib 40 extending along the length of drive plate 24 including yoke 34. The width of the ribs 40 can be, for example, about 0.25 inches. The provision of the ribs 40 greatly enhances the ability of the adaptor 20 to transmit torque to the tool bit without causing damage or failure of the drive plate 24, particularly if the length of the tool bit engaging member and the drive plate 24 are in an inclined position rather than in line.

As best seen in fig. 1, 5 and 6, the outer end portions of fork arms 34 are slightly offset relative to major planar surface 37 of drive plate 24 to form a retaining plate 41 having an upper or retaining plate surface 42, the function of which will be explained. A pair of locator plate projections 44 are also provided near the drive end 23 of the drive plate 24 and project upwardly from the bottom surface 61 thereof and may be stamped or coined as part of the manufacturing process of the drive plate 24.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the adapter 20 is used with a small life saving tool such as a leitman (leitman)^Pocket Survival Tool^TM)46, which includes a pair of folding handles 48, 50. The tool 46 further includes a pair of interconnected jaws 52 and 54, each having a respective base 56, 58 about which one of the handles 48, 50 is rotatable between a folded position shown in fig. 2 and 3, and an unfolded position (not shown) in which the handle 48, 50 extends from the base 56, 58 for operation of the jaws 52, 54. Inner surfaces 60 of fork arms 34 extend closely against the pivotal interconnection of jaws 52, 54 of the small leitman rescue tool 46, and inner surfaces 62 and 66 extend closely against opposite sides of the pivotal interconnection of jaws 52, 54, as shown in figure 3. The opposite boundary surfaces 55 of the handles 48 and 50 also rest on the opposite surfaces 59 and 61 of the drive plate 24 where they closely contact the slot 39. The retaining plate portion 41 extends against the handle 48 with the boundary surfaces 55 of the handles 48, 50 resting along the two legs 32 and 34 against or abutting against the opposing faces 59 and 61 of the drive plate 24. Also, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, the locating tab 38 extends within the handle 48, the handle 48 being shaped to include an inwardly facing surface defining an inclined surface 64, such that the locating tab 38 prevents disengagement of the drive plate 24 from its position between the handles 48, 50 and the bases 56, 58 of the jaws 52, 54, while the tang 39 defined between the fork arms 32 and 34 rests on the pivotal interconnection of the jaws 52, 54. Thus, the position of drive plate 24 is precisely located relative to jaws 52, 54 and handles 48 and 50.

Referring next to FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, a large tool such as the Leatherman (Leatherman)^SuperTool^TM) The larger multi-purpose tool 70 has a pair of sheet metal channel structured handles 72 and 74 and a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws 76 and 78, each having a base 80, 82 about which a respective one of the handles 72, 74 can be pivoted between a folded position shown in figure 7 and an unfolded position (not shown). Adapter drive plate 24 fits around jaws 76 and 78 between their bases 80, 82 and handles 72 and 7874 which are mounted in substantially the same manner as described above in the multi-purpose tool 46 about the jaws 52 and 54, but because the handles 72 and 74 are wider and longer than the handles 48 and 50, they extend along a greater portion of the drive plate 24 as can be seen in fig. 7, 8, 9 and 10. An inclined surface portion 84 on each side of each handle 72 and 74 interconnects the wider portion 86 and the narrower portion 88 of each handle, in which the respective jaw 76 or 78 is located. The locating tab 38 extends upwardly within the handle 72 at a position to contact the inside of the inclined portion 84 to hold the drive plate 24 in place relative to the handle 72. The narrower portion 88 of each handle 72, 74 extends laterally beyond the inclined portion 84 with an inwardly facing boundary 90 of the narrower portion 88 of the handle 72 resting against the locator plate protrusion 44, while a portion of a boundary 92 of the wider portion 86 of the handle 72 rests against the locator plate surface 42, as best seen in fig. 10.

At the same time, respective boundaries 90 and 92 of the other or bottom handle 74 extend closely adjacent to the bottom surface 61 of the parallel drive plate 24, while the base 82 of the clamping jaw 78 is pressed against the bottom surface 61 of the drive plate 24 closely adjacent to the slot 39 at the pivotal interconnection of the clamping jaws 76, 78. Thus, bottom surface 61 acts as a positioning plate opposite positioning plate surface 42 and positioning plate protrusion 44. Boundary 92 of handle 72 is also pressed against positioning plate surface 42, balancing the force of boundary 90 against positioning plate protrusion 44 and keeping handle 72 parallel to major plane 37 and bottom handle 74 of drive plate 24. Thus, pressure on the handle 74 presses the base 82 of the jaw 78 against the bottom surface 61, and pressure on the upper handle 72 presses its edges 90, 92 against the locator plate protrusion 44 and the locator plate surface 42, so that the firm grip pressing the handles 72 and 74 together firmly clamps the drive plate 24 between the handles 72 and 74 to firmly connect the multi-purpose tool 70 to the adapter 20.

When the handles 72 and 74 are so positioned, the inner surfaces 60 of the fork arms 34 abut the pivotal interconnection of the jaws 76 and 78, while the inner surfaces 62 and 66 of the fork arms 32 abut the opposite side of the utility tool 70 along the pivotal interconnection of the jaws 76 and 78.

Referring now also to fig. 11, the tool bit-engaging member 22 has a body that is generally cylindrical and includes a base portion 100, the base portion 100 having supports 102 and a base support 104 defining a slot 105 therebetween that snugly receives the driving end 23 of the drive plate 24. The tool bit engaging member 22 is mounted to the drive plate 24 by a mounting screw 106, the mounting screw 106 passing through an aperture formed in the bottom support 104 and a pivot aperture 108 formed in the drive plate 24 and engaging in a threaded aperture 110 formed in the top support 102. In this manner, tool bit-engaging member 22 is able to pivot relative to drive plate 24 about axis 111 of screw 106 between the in-line position shown in FIG. 11 and a position in which tool bit-engaging member 22 extends at an angle 112 from the in-line position.

Tool bit engaging member 22 is normally maintained in a straight position or in one of a pair of selected offset angular positions A, B shown in fig. 11 by a locking mechanism included in adapter 20. As best seen in fig. 11, three cutouts 118, 120, 122 are defined in the outer boundary of drive plate 24 and are positioned at 45 ° angles from one another about central axis 111 of screw 106. The locking tooth 124 matingly engages the notch 118,120 or 122 when the tool bit engaging member 22 is in one of the aforementioned aligned or angularly offset positions A, B with the drive plate 24. Locking teeth 124 are part of a T-shaped locking member 126, locking member 126 being located in a slot 105 defined between top support 102 and bottom support 104, and the ends of T-shaped arms 128 extending out of slot 105 and being clamped between outer wall 30 of sleeve 132 and ring 134, ring 134 fitting tightly against outer wall 130 within sleeve 132. In this way, the sleeve 132 retains the locking member 126 between the supports 102 and 104. The sleeve 132 may be textured as shown at 137 to facilitate gripping.

The sleeve 132 and ring 134 may be slidably disposed as a single piece around the tool bit engaging member 22 without allowing them to move relative to each other or relative to the locking member 126, since the ends of the arms 128 are captured between the ring 134 and the sleeve 132 by crimping the periphery of the outer wall 130 inwardly at 136 against the ring 134, as shown in fig. 12 and 13, and the sleeve 132 cannot freely rotate around the tool bit engaging member 22. To more securely grip the ends of the arms 128, the sleeve 132 may also be punched inwardly as shown at 138. A coil spring 140 is disposed within the longitudinal bore between the supports 102, 104 and extends centrally along the tool bit engaging member 22 as shown in fig. 11 to urge the locking member 126, and therewith the sleeve 132 and its associated ring 134, toward the screw 106. Thus, when the tool bit engaging member 22 is positioned at the respective angle 112 relative to the drive plate 24, the spring 140 urges the locking tooth 124 into engagement with the respective one of the cutouts 118, 120, 122. Because the sleeve 132 cannot rotate relative to the tool bit engaging member 22, the sleeve 132 can be pushed longitudinally along the tool bit engaging member 22 with relative ease to disengage the locking tooth 124 from one of the cutouts 118, 120 or 122.

In another embodiment of the tool bit drive adaptor 150 of the present invention as shown in fig. 14, 15 and 16, the drive plate 152 includes a locking body 154 which may be a raised boss formed on the drive plate 152 in a suitable manner similar to the formation of the locator plate boss 44. Pivot hole 156 extends through drive plate 152 and is elongated so that screw 106 in tool bit engaging member 22 can move longitudinally along drive plate 152 in response to axial pressure in the direction of arrow 158 as shown in fig. 15.

A ball 160 is located within bore 142 of tool bit-engaging member 22 and contacts an outer end 162 of spring 140, and spring 140 urges ball 160 toward the periphery of drive plate 152. The boundaries of the drive plate 152 define generally semicircular detent cutouts 164, 166 and 168 at the outer ends of the pivot hole 156 at an in-line position, an offset angle position of 45 and an offset angle position of 90 relative to the center axis of rotation 170. Spring 140, ball 160, in combination with detent cutouts 164,166 and 168, allow tool bit-engaging member 22 to pivot relative to drive plate 152 in a manner similar to the pivoting movement described above relative to drive plate 24. At each position established by detent notches 164, 166, 168, ball 160 is urged into the respective notch by spring 140 to hold tool bit engaging member 22 in a rotational position relative to axis 170.

Additionally, when tool bit engaging member 22 is in the linear position shown in fig. 14 and 15, it can be moved axially toward drive plate 152 to move screw 106 and compress spring 140 within pivot bore 156. As this occurs, a receiving portion in the form of a channel or recess portion 172 (partially defining the aperture 142) defined in the top support 102 of the base portion 100 of the tool bit-engaging member 22 passes over the locking body 154 and receives the locking body 154 as shown in fig. 15 and 16. When the locking body 154 is positioned within the channel portion 172 as shown in fig. 16, the locking body 154 cooperates with the spring-loaded detent balls 160 in the detent notches 164 and the screw 106 positioned in the pivot bore 156 to prevent pivotal rotation of the tool bit engaging member 22 relative to the drive plate 152, thereby effectively preventing the tool bit engaging member 22 from moving out of alignment with the drive plate 150 when the tool bit is used to drive the adapter 150 and sufficient axial pressure is applied by the tool bit to overcome the force of the spring 140.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims (25)

1. In combination, an adaptor for driving a tool bit and a hand tool including a pair of jaws and a pair of handles, the adaptor comprising a drive plate having a driven end and a driving end and a pair of generally parallel arms connected to said driven end, said arms being spaced apart and defining a slot therebetween, said parallel arms extending proximally along respective opposite sides of said jaws of said hand tool.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein a portion of said drive plate is located between the jaws of said pair of jaws.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein a portion of each of said arms is located between the handles of said pair of handles.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arm extends between the handles of said handle pair and said drive adapter also includes a tool bit engaging member adapted to receive a tool bit mounted to said drive plate at said drive end.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said tool bit engaging member comprises a socket for receiving a tool bit.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said pair of arms include a pair of opposed detent surfaces disposed in suitable relation for engaging said pair of handles of said hand tool when said adaptor is used with said hand tool.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said drive plate includes a locating tab extending from one of said arms for engaging one of said handles and retaining said drive plate in a desired position between said handles.

8. The combination of claim 4 wherein said tool bit-engaging member is movable between an in-line position and an angled position, and said drive adapter includes a sliding lock engageable by moving said tool bit-engaging member toward said driven end of said drive plate when said tool bit-engaging member is in said in-line position.

9. The combination of claim 8 including a locking body located on said drive plate, wherein said tool bit engaging member defines a receiving location for receiving said locking body when said tool bit engaging member is in said linear position and moved toward said driven end of said drive plate.

10. The combination of claim 4 wherein each of said jaws has a base about which a corresponding one of said handles is movable between an extended position and a folded position, said jaw portions being disposed within said handles when both of said handles are in said folded position, said fork arms being disposed between said handles and said jaw portions being disposed between said fork arms when said adapter is in use.

11. A drive adapter for use with a hand tool having a pair of handles and a pair of jaws for driving a tool bit, the adapter comprising:

(a) a drive plate having a drive end and an oppositely located driven end, the drive plate being adapted to cooperate with a hand tool having a pair of handles and a pair of jaws, said driven end including a pair of spaced fork arms defining a generally unobstructed jaw receiving slot therebetween for receiving a portion of said hand tool such that a corresponding portion of said jaw can be received in said slot between said fork arms and said drive plate can be driven by said hand tool; and

(b) a tool bit engaging member mounted on said drive end of said drive plate and extending in a direction away from said drive end of said drive plate.

12. The drive adapter of claim 11, wherein each of said fork arms includes a tool handle engaging surface and has an inner jaw engaging surface facing the other of said fork arms.

13. The drive adapter of claim 11 wherein said pair of fork arms are spaced apart from one another by a distance sufficient to receive a tool jaw, and one of said fork arms includes a pair of opposed detent surfaces disposed to engage a pair of handles of said hand tool when said adapter is used with said hand tool.

14. The drive adaptor of claim 11 wherein said drive plate includes a locating tab extending from one of said fork arms, said locating tab being capable of engaging one of said pair of handles of said hand tool to retain said drive plate in position between said handles when said adaptor is used with said hand tool.

15. The drive adapter of claim 11 wherein said tool bit-engaging member is movable between an in-line position and an angled position, and said drive adapter includes a sliding lock engageable by moving said tool bit-engaging member toward said driven end of said drive plate when said tool bit-engaging member is in said in-line position.

16. The drive adaptor of claim 15 wherein said slide lock includes a locking body located on said drive plate and said tool bit engaging member defines a receiving location for receiving said locking body when said tool bit engaging member is in said linear position and moved toward said driven end of said drive plate.

17. The drive adapter of claim 16, wherein said receiving portion is a recess.

18. The drive adaptor of claim 11 wherein said drive plate includes a side and a rib portion extending longitudinally along said side.

19. The drive adapter of claim 11, wherein said tool bit-engaging member is movable between a linear position and an angled position and is retained in a selected one of said positions by a normally-engaged locking mechanism.

20. The drive adapter of claim 19, including a sleeve surrounding said tool bit-engaging member, said sleeve being interconnected with said locking mechanism and being axially movable along said tool bit-engaging member to release said locking mechanism.

21. The drive adaptor of claim 11 wherein said drive plate has a pair of opposed faces, said drive plate including a spacer tab on one of said faces between said tang and said drive end, said spacer tab projecting outwardly from one of said faces in a first direction, and one of said prongs of said drive plate including a spacer portion projecting in said first direction.

22. The drive adaptor of claim 11 wherein said tool bit engaging member defines a pair of supports between which said driving end of said drive plate is received, said tool bit engaging member being mounted to said drive plate by a pivot pin passing through said supports and said drive plate, and said drive plate defining a plurality of cutouts adjacent said driving end thereof, each cutout establishing a usable position of said tool bit engaging member.

23. The drive adapter of claim 22, including a notched engagement tooth located between said supports of said tool bit engaging member, and a sleeve surrounding said tool bit engaging member and interconnecting said notched engagement tooth to move said tooth into and out of engagement with a selected one of said notches.

24. The drive adaptor of claim 11 wherein said drive plate includes a first retaining plate body located adjacent the end of one of said arms and projecting relative to a first face of said drive plate, and a second retaining plate body projecting from said first face of said drive plate at a location between said driven end and said driving end.

25. The drive adaptor of claim 11 wherein said drive plate is formed from a unitary sheet metal and is formed to define a locating tab extending from one of said fork arms to a position engageable with one of said pair of handles of said hand tool to retain said drive plate in position between said handles, said drive plate having a pair of opposed faces, one of said faces defining a first direction, said drive plate including a locating plate portion projecting in said first direction, and said drive plate having a side surface and a rib portion extending longitudinally along said side surface.