GB1563826A - Coupling comprising a first member having a hollow end into which is fitted an end of a second member - Google Patents

Description

(54) A COUPLING COMPRISING A FIRST MEMBER HAVING A HOLLOW END INTO WHICH IS FITTED AN END OF A SECOND MEMBER (71) We. ETABLISSEMENTS DUCHES NAY FRERES of 30, place Marechal Leclerc, 61800 Tinchebray (Orne), France, a body corporate organized under the laws of France, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement :- This invention concerns a coupling comprising a first member having a hollow end, e. g. the haft of a tool, into which is fitted an end of a second member, e. g. a handle, so that the said ends overlap to an appreciable extent, and a clamping element for clamping the overlapping ends together.

In the field of gardening tools it is current practice to employ cylindrical handles terminating at one end in a conical part.

This latter is intended to be inserted into similarly conical hafts provided on the tools.

Because of the forces to which tools are subject in use simple jointing of the two conical parts is insufficient to ensure that the tool is well secured to the end of the sleeve. Besides, due to the diversity in manufacture, the conical parts of the sleeves and tools do not display a universally respected standard. Thus, for instance, the cone angle and the length of the coupling do not have a constant value. In addition, with certain tools such as a combined hoe and fork, the conicity of the handle does not contract or taper towards the free end; rather, it widens.

For a long time now, the securing together of interfitting cones has been ensured by forming a hole on the conical part of the tool to provide a passageway for a pin driven into the handle. This solution is convenient only for wooden handles ; but handles are increasingly made of aluminium tubing or of glass fibre. In addition, this solution necessitates the use of as many handles as there are tools because it is not possible easily and quickly to dismantle a tool and to replace it by another tool, on the same handle.

Also, it is sometimes advantageous to use cylindrical handles and sleeves, e. g. where tubular extensions are concerne, and to enable them rigidly and easily to be coupled together.

The principal aim of the invention is to provide a coupling securing together two interfitting parts which is of simple and inexpensive design, easy to use and which allows the ready and rapid replacement of one piece by another.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a coupling which is equally suitable for securing together frusto-conical and cylindrical ends of members.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a coupling which, when used with gardening tools, permits the rigid fixing of one of the same handle to various tools even if the conicity of the hafts of the latter does not match that of the end of the handle.

These aims are sought to be attained according to the invention by means of a coupling comprising a first member having a hollow end into which is fitted an end of a second member so that the said ends overlap to an appreciable extent, a collar threaded on and wholly traversed by the second member at a position spaced from the region of overlap of said ends, an extension member rigidly secured to said collar and extending therefrom to the region of overlap so as partly or wholly to surround the latter, and a clamping element carried by said extension and displaceable towards or away from the region of overlap to clamp or release the overlapping ends, respectively.

According to the particular embodiment of the invention the cylindrical collar is itself provided with means of immobilising it on the cylindrical part that carries it.

In order better to understand the invention there will now be given, purely by way of example, a description of several embodiments of the coupling according to the invention. Reference bill be had to the attached drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a first embodiment of the invention showing how it is used, with a handle and a tool shown partially in chain lines and having matching conical parts, Figure 2 is an elevational view of the same coupling showing its use with the same handle as in Figure 1 but with a tool having a conical haft of greater dimensions, Figure 3 is a view of the same coupling t'sed with a widening handle and a tool matched to the latter ; Figure 4 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the invention used for securing together two interfitting tubular parts; and Figure 5 is an elevational and sectional view of a constructional variant of the invention.

The coupling shown in Figures 1 to 3 consists, in the longitudinal direction, of a cylindrical collar I which in this example is of constant internal cross-section and from which extends a longitudinal extension 2. This latter is integrally secured, e. g. by welding, to the outer face of the collar 1, or it may be of one piece with the collar.

The cylindrical collar I has a diameter such that it has only slight play with a cylindrical handle 3, shown in chain lines in Figures I and 2 and in full lines in Figure 3. The handle 3 may be made of any suitable material (wood, light metal tube or resin-bonded glass fibre). The collar 1 may be slid with slight friction along the cylindrical part of the handle to set it at the desired position at a distance from the region of overlap between the male frusto-conical end 4 of the handle 3 and the complementary female frustoconical end (haft) 7 of a tool 6, shown in chain lines in Figures I and 2.

The extension 2 is transversely spaced from the reeion of overlap.

The frusto-conical part 4 of the handle tapers towards its end in Figures I and 2 and widens in Figure 3.

When the collar I is in its use position on the cylindrical part of the handle 3, the free end of the extension 2 is disposed opposite the frusto-conical part 4. A transversely disposed clamping means, such as a screw 5, it mounted at this free end of the extension 2 for movement towards or away from the region of overlap. Prefer- ably, this screw is of the wing screw type to permit it to be manipulated easily.

When the ends have been joined together, it suffices to clamp them by means of the transverse screw 5 to obtain a fast securing of the joint.

In Figure 2, the tool is designated by 8 and has a haft 7 of greater dimensions than in Figure 1, the haft not being an exact fit on the frusto-conical part 4 of the handle 3.

An important advantage of the coupling of the invention is that the collar I can be drawn back without difficulty so that the handle may be completely pressed into the haft 7 so that the screw should be in the desired position for clamping conveniently to the frusto-conical part of the tool.

The transverse spacing of the extension 2 is such as to allow the frusto-conical haft 7 to be positioned without any hindrance.

It will be noted that the extension 2 may extend longitudinally parallel with the handle 3 as drawn, but in a variant to be described below it may also be parallel with the frusto-conical part 4.

In Figure 3, the handle 3 terminates in a widening frusto-conical part 4 but this fact does not change anything in the device or in its utilisation, which demonstrates its all-purpose character.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the invention, used for securing a cylin- drical tube 9 inserted in another cylindrical tube 10 of greater diameter.

The collar 1 may be adjustable and slidable on the tube 9 but in that case it is preferable to provide it with means such as two spaced apart radial lugs 11 through which projects a winged clamping screw 12.

In this way one may more securely fix the collar 1 on the tube 9 even when the diameter of the latter is not found or determined exactly.

The position of the collar 1 on the tube 9 serves to regu ! ate the extent of penetration of this tube into the tube 10. The screw 5 of the extension 2 ensures the securing of the joint.

Figure 5 shows a constructional variant of the coupling according to the invention, usable for all the previously described examples. The collar 1 may be provided, as an immobilising means, with a transverse screw 13. Instead of being terminated in a sort of finger, the extension 2 may be con stituted by a complete cylindrical sleeve 14 the internal diameter of which is greater than that of the collar 1, and which has the screw 5.

Claims (8)

1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: I. A coupling comprising a first member having a hollow end into which is fitted an end of a second member so that the said ends overlap to an appreciate extent, a collar threaded on and whollv traversed by the second member at a position spaced from the region of overlap of said ends, an extension member rigidly secured to said collar and extending therefrom to the region of overlap so as partly or wholly to surround the latter, and a clamping element carried by said extension and displaceable towards or away from the region of overlap to clamp or release the overlapping ends, respectively.
2. 2. A coupling according to claim I wherein the extension member is a finger extending longitudinally from the collar.
3. 3. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the extension member is a cylindrical sleeve of greater internal diameter than the collar, which is also cylindrical, and forms a coaxial prolongation of the latter.
4. 4. A coupling according to any preceding claim wherein the collar is cylindrical and is provided with means capable of fixing it on a cylindrical handle which it surrounds.
5. 5. A coupling according to claim 4 wherein the said means capable of fixing the collar is a transverse screw.
6. 6. A coupling according to any preceding claim wherein the collar is an annular cylinder of constant internal cross-section.
7. 7. A coupling according to claim 4 wherein the said means capable of fixing the collar is a pair of apertured radial lugs that can be clamped together by a screw.
8. 8. A coupling according to claim 1 sub stantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawing.