Tool holder with removable handle

[0001] The present invention generally relates to hand tools. More particularly, the invention relates to a tool holder for holding tools such as a tap for cutting threads in the walls of an opening in a work pieces.

[0002] Such tools are also commonly referred to as tap wrenches and a common design of tap wrenches have a cylindrical handle that slides back and forth to allow its use in tight spaces. This requires the user to slide the handle approximately every half turn, which is not an issue when the handle is needed for leverage but when removing the tap little leverages needed and sliding the handle back and forth becomes cumbersome. The capability of removing the handle completely allows the user to spin the assembly relatively easily during the removal. However, as the handle is easily removable, it may slide out of the body and fall to some inconvenient location.

[0003] A tool holder comprises an elongated body having a first end portion for receiving a handle and a second end portion with an adjustable tool retaining mechanism for holding a tool, an elongated handle releasable retained in the first end portion and being configured to be slideable between stop positions at opposite ends, and a release mechanism at the first end portion configured to enable the handle to be separated from the body when operated.

[0011] Broadly stated, the various embodiments of the tool holder of the present invention have a T-handle-type tool holder configuration that has a slideable handle that fits in the body of the tool holder. The tool holder is designed to have stops at opposite ends so that the handle will not be separated from the body during normal operation, but which can be removed when desired by a user. This is accomplished by a release mechanism that when operated permits the handle to be separated from the body. It is accomplished by a pushing an exposed end portion at the top of the body that enables the handle to be pulled out of the body.

[0012] This facilitates easy removal of the tool holder after threads have been cut in an opening and the tap needs to be backed out of the opening. Since very little resistance to such unthreading action is generally experienced, it can almost be spun out of the opening. An advantage of the embodiments of the present invention is that the top of the exposed end portion is provided with a slot, or other noncircular recess that can cooperate with a complementary end portion of the elongated handle so that the end of the handle can be separated from the body and be used to engage the end portion and spin the body to back out the tap after a thread making operation has been completed.

[0013] Turning now to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 through 5, the preferred embodiment of the tool holder is indicated generally at 10 which has a generally cylindrical body, indicated generally at 12, and an elongated handle 14 that is removable attached to an upper end portion 16 of the body 12. A lower end portion 18 has a tool retaining mechanism 20 for holding a cutting tap (not shown) and a release mechanism, indicated generally at 22.

[0014] As is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the body 12 has an elongated generally cylindrical shape, with a cylindrical opening 24 in its upper end portion 16. Small openings 26 in the cylindrical wall provide access to the opening 24, as do larger openings 28 which are sized to receive the handle 14. The body 12 has a reduced diameter central portion 30 with an enlarged threaded portion 32 (the threads not being shown) that cooperates with the tool retaining mechanism 20. The lower end portion 18 has a hollow interior chamber 34 for receiving cutting tap (not shown). The chamber 34 has a smaller diameter extension 36 for receiving the end of a tap tool and the center portion 30 and lower portion 18 have transverse slots 38 which define four flexible jaws 40 that are configured to retain a cutting tap placed in the chamber 34 when the tool retaining mechanism 20 is tightened. In this regard, the mechanism 20 is in the form of a collet nut having hexagonal faces 42, an internally threaded opening 44 that is inwardly tapered toward its nose end 46. This cooperates with a tapered end portion 48 on each jaw, which when the collet is tightened, forces the jaws toward one another to hold the tap in place.

[0015] As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the release mechanism 22 principally comprises a stop member 50 and a spring 52, both of which fit within the opening 24 of the body 12. As shown in the enlarged perspective view of FIG. 5, the stop member 50 has an opening 54 that is preferably approximately the same size as the opening 28, i.e., it is sized to receive the handle 14. The lower half of the stop member has portions of the cylindrical shape removed on opposite sides to present flat faces 56 on opposite sides of a relatively thin remaining portion 58. The thickness of the portion 58 is sized to cooperate with a reduced diameter portion of the handle 14 to limit the sliding movement of the handle 14 relative to the body during normal operation.

[0016] The stop member 50 has axially directed recesses 60 on opposite sides thereof which cooperate with set screws 62 that are screwed into the openings 26 and are sized to extend inwardly into the opening 24 and penetrate into the recesses 60 for limiting the outward movement of the stop member caused by the biasing force applied by the spring 52. Importantly, the set screws 62 also prevent rotation of the stop member relative to the body 12 so that the opening 54 maintains its alignment with opening 28 in the body enabling the handle 14 to be inserted and removed from the body 12.

[0017] It should be understood that other fastening techniques and mechanisms could be used other than set screws. For example, dowel pins or roll pins could be used, and it is possible that the body could be crimped or staked to form a protrusion instead of using pins, screws or the like.

[0018] The length of the recesses 60 is preferably such that a top surface 62 of the stop member 50 extends outwardly beyond an end surface 64 of the body as shown in FIG. 1 which facilitates easy manipulation by a user to separate the handle 14 from the body 12. The stop member 50 also has a slot 66 in the outer end thereof for receiving a complementary configured end portion of the handle 14.

[0019] The handle 14 has a reduced diameter portion 70 located at opposite ends thereof with the outer portion terminating in a transverse shoulder 72 and the inner end portion terminating in a ramped or inclined annular surface 74. The length of the reduced diameter portion 70 is preferably greater than the thickness of the portion 58 of the stop member 50 so that when the handle 14 is pulled in either direction, when the reduced diameter portion 70 is co-extensive with the portion 58, one of the faces 56 will engage the transverse shoulder 72 and prevent the handle from being completely removed from the body 12. This happens because the spring 52 acts to push the stop member 50 outwardly.

[0020] While the handle 14 cannot be removed from the body 12, it can be moved in the opposite direction at which time the stop member 50 can ride up the ramped or inclined portion 74. This is achieved with only a slight increase in force necessary to overcome the force applied by the spring 52. The outer ends of the handle 14 have a flat blade 76 which is sized to fit in the slot 66 of the stop member 50. If the handle 14 is to be removed from the body 12, the user merely presses on the top surface 62 of the stop member 50 so that the opening 54 is generally aligned with the handle and enables the transverse shoulder 72 to be cleared and the handle can be pulled further to separate it from the body 12. If a thread making operation is completed and the tap is to be backed out of the newly threaded hole, the blade 76 can be inserted into the slot 66 if desired in order to facilitate rapid and easy removal of the tap.

[0021] It should be understood that the blade and single slot configuration of the preferred embodiment can be modified by using any of many other complementary noncircular configurations, such as the Philips type end portion 76′ shown in FIG. 7 which cooperates with an alternative cross-shaped recess 66′ as shown in FIG. 6. It should be understood that other configurations such as an oval, star, box or hex configuration could be used if desired. In the alternative embodiments, numbers having a prime designation are intended to be similar to the parts that have been described with the same number corresponding to the preferred embodiment.

[0022] While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that other modifications, substitutions and alternatives are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which should be determined from the appended claims.

[0023] Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.