US1826038A - Hand tool - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6,1931. u o. ALTENBACH 1,826,038

HAND Tool.4

Filed May 1'7. 1927 z ,x l

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Patented Oct. 6, 1931 narran STATES OTTO ALTENBACH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA HAND TOOL Application led May 17,

This invention relates to a hand tool, and especially to a compound tool that can conveniently be carried about in the pocket.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a compact and convenient tool that serves a number of purposes, such as a screwdriver and a knife.

It is another object of my invention to provide a double-ended tool, each end forming a distinct implement, in conjunction with a convenient handle means for either of these ends.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a novel and compact electricians compound tool, in which the handle member for the tool when using one of the implements, is completely insulated, as by hard rubber or bakelite, from the operative end of the tool.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a few forms in 25 the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specication. I shall now proceed to describe these forms in detail,

which illustrate the general principles of my invention; but it is to be understood that this 3 detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a closed compound tool embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, of the tool shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, 4" taken in the direct-ion of arrow 3 in Fig. 2, but

with a portion of the insulation covering removed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a slightly modified form of my invention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof.

In general, my compound tool consists of a metal shank l1 that is shown in this instance as square, from one end of which extends a knife blade 12, and from the other 1927. Serial No. 192,028.

end, a "screwdriver blade 13. It is obvious however that other kinds of tools could be substituted in place of the cutting implement and screw-driver herein shown.

I provide a casing or box for the implements.1`his casing is so arranged that a part can at will beremoved to expose one of the tool extensions, the other part of the casing then serving not only to cover the other tool, but also as a handle. For this purpose I preferably provide a pair of metallic cylindrical intern'tting sections 14 and 15. Each of these sections has a square counterbore, suoli as lo and 17, which lits snugly over shank 11 and provides a shoulder against which the end of the shank 11 abuts, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. W hen either of these sections is removed, the other section serves as a handle for the exposed tool. In order to permit its use by electricians in connection with live conductors, the sections 14 and 15 are overlaid with a thick layer of insulation, indicated by 18 and 19.

In order to safeguard against inadvertentY removal of the casing sections 14 and 15 when they are closed or when they serve as handles, I preferably provide a spring snap arrangement for locking them in place. rlhus shank 11 can be provided with apertures 2() and 2l in which are located the spring-pressed buttons 22 and 23. These buttons or latches, being urged by springs 32 and 33 in an outward direction, engage in Slots 26` and 27 in casings 15 and 14 respectively. That edge 24 or of the slot nearest the end of its respective casing is engaged by the button, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, whereby withdrawal of the casing is prevented until that button is depressed out of its cooperating Slot. It is thus evident that these buttons in the position shown, retain the casing sections against axial movement. To depress these buttons below the cooperating shoulders, when it is desired to remove the casings, I provide insulation push- buttons 28 and 29 extending through apertures in the insulation casings 18 and 19, and retained on the end of a fiat spring member 30 or 31 fastened to the casings below the insulation. These push-buttons are thus through the heads of spring members 30 and 31 iny Contact with the tops i of spring-pressed buttons 22 and QBWhereby these buttons 22 and 23 can be depressed.

Coiledsprings 32, 33 for urgingbuttons22,y

23 outwardly are anchored in any appropriatey fashion at their inner ends in apertures 20, 21; and at their outer ends, to the buttons 22, 23.

The tool just described is adaptable for use by electricians, its handle being completely insulated. However, my invention can be ap plied to ordinary pocket implements, or such as are adapted to be suspended on a watch chain. Figsy and 5 show such aiform, in

which casing sections 34, 35 can be' left una covered. One casing such as 34, can be pra= vided at its end with a chain ring'36 to permit its being hung on a watch chain. The casing sections 34 and 35 can each be provided with a groove such as 37-for the accommodation, of a. flat spring 38 carrying push-button 39 for depressing the lockingr button 40. In other respects this form is quite similar to that shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3.

I claim:

In a hand tool, a shank having tool extensions at each end, a pair of cylindrical casing sections enclosing said extensions and meeting at the shank to form u closed box-like enclosure, an insulation covering for each section, a spring lock located in the shank for each section, and a releasing insulated button for each section operable outside the insulation covering for permitting the section to be removed, and whereby the other section can serve ns an insulated handle for operating the exposed tool.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

OTTO ALTENBACH.

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