Tool collet for securing a hand tool to a tool lanyard

Abstract

A tool collet for creating a lanyard attachment point on a hand tool that includes a collet body with a through opening, an annular groove in one of a first body side of the collet body, a second body side of the collet body or a peripheral body surface of the collet body, a lanyard ring having an annular end adapted to be disposed and captured within the annular groove where the lanyard ring is adapted to freely slide along the annular groove, and one or more fastening members adapted to securely fix the collet body around an elongated body of a hand tool.

Claims

1. A tool collet for creating a lanyard attachment point on a hand tool, the tool collet comprising: a collet body having a first body side, a second body side, a peripheral body surface between the first body side and the second body side, a collet through opening with an opening surface, the collet through opening extending through the collet body transversely from the first body side to the second body side, and an annular groove in one of the first body side, the second body side or the peripheral body surface of the collet body, the collet body being divided radially relative to the collet through opening and defining a first body component and a second body component fixedly attached to the first body component and wherein the through opening is formed by the first body component and the second body component; a lanyard ring having an annular end disposed and captured within the annular groove wherein the lanyard ring freely slides along the annular groove; and one or more fastening members that extends between the first body component and the second body component wherein the one or more fastening members are adapted to securely fix the first body component to the second body component.

2. The tool collet of claim 1 further comprising a gripping member disposed within the collet through opening adjacent the opening surface.

3. The tool collet of claim 2 wherein the gripping member is selected from the group consisting of (1) the opening surface having a gripping finish, (2) an insert having an insert through opening wherein the insert is disposed within the through opening of the collet body, (3) one or more inserts disposed within one or more recesses in the opening surface of the through opening, and (4) one or more setscrews that penetrate radially through the tool collet to the through opening to engage the hand tool.

4. The tool collet of claim 3 wherein the insert is resilient.

5. The tool collet of claim 1 wherein the collet body is annularly shaped.

6. The tool collet of Claim wherein the annular groove is located within the peripheral body surface of the collet body.

7. The tool collet of claim 1 wherein the collet body includes a first annular groove in the first body side of the collet body and a second annular groove in the second body side of the collet body opposite the first annular groove wherein the first annular groove and the second annular groove are adjacent the peripheral body surface of the collet body.

8. The tool collet of claim 1 wherein the annular groove has a cross-section that is T-shaped.

9. The tool collet of claim 1 wherein the annular end of the lanyard ring has a cross-section that is T-shaped.

10. The tool collet of claim 1 wherein the collet through opening has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of a circular cross-section and a polygonal cross-section.

11. The tool collet of claim 3 wherein the gripping finish of the opening surface is a knurled finish.

12. The tool collet of claim 3 wherein the insert with a through opening has an outer insert surface with a cross-section that is circular when the collet through opening is circular or an outer insert surface with a matching polygonal cross-section when the collet through opening is a polygon.

13. The tool collet of claim 3 wherein the insert disposed within a recess in the opening surface is an elongated, resilient, gripping member disposed within the recess and extending a predefined distance away from the opening surface and into the through opening.

14. In combination, a hand tool and a tool collet for creating a lanyard attachment point on the hand tool, the combination comprising: a hand tool having an elongated body that extends to a first hand tool end wherein the elongated body has a predefined cross-sectional diameter that is equal to or larger than a cross-sectional diameter of the first hand tool end; and a tool collet attached to the elongated body of the hand tool, the tool collet comprising: a collet body having a first body side, a second body side, a peripheral body surface between the first body side and the second body side, a collet through opening with an opening surface, the collet through opening extending through the collet body transversely from the first body side to the second body side. and an annular groove in one of the first body side, the second body side or the peripheral body surface of the collet body, the collet body being divided radially relative to the collet through opening and defining a first body component and a second body component fixedly attached to the first body component and wherein the through opening is formed by the first body component and the second body component, the through opening surrounding and securely attached to the elongated body of the hand tool; a lanyard ring having an annular end adapted to be disposed and captured within the annular groove wherein the lanyard ring is adapted to freely slide along the annular groove; and one or more fastening members that extends between the first body component and the second body component wherein the one or more fastening members are adapted to securely fix the first body component to the second body component.

15. The combination of claim 14 further comprising a gripping member disposed within the collet through opening between the opening surface and the elongated body of the hand tool.

16. The combination of claim 14 further comprising a tool lanyard removably attached to the lanyard ring.

17. A tool collet kit for a creating a lanyard attachment point on a hand tool, the kit comprising: a collet body having a first body side, a second body side, a peripheral body surface between the first body side and the second body side, a collet through opening with an opening surface the collet through opening extending through the collet body transversely from the first body side to the second body side, and an annular groove in one of the first body side, the second body side or the peripheral body surface of the collet body, the collet body being divided radially relative to the collet through opening and defining a first body component and a second body component adapted to be fixedly attached to the first body component and wherein the through opening is formed when the first body component and the second body component are attached to each other; a lanyard ring having an annular end adapted to be disposed and captured within the annular groove wherein the lanyard ring is adapted to freely slide along the annular groove; and orae or more fastening members adapted to extend between the first body component and the second body component wherein the one or more fastening members are adapted to securely fix the first body component to the second body component and to securely fix the collet body around an elongated body of a hand tool.

18. The kit of claim 16 further comprising an insert adapted to be positioned between the opening surface of the collet body and the elongated body of the hand tool.

19. The kit of claim 16 wherein the opening surface has a knurled finish.

20. The kit of claim 16 further comprising a tool lanyard adapted to be removably attached to the lanyard ring.

21. The tool collet of claim 1 further comprising one or more setscrews disposed in a respective collet radial through aperture wherein the collet radial through aperture penetrates radially through the tool collet from the peripheral body surface to the collet through opening.

22. The tool collet of claim 21 wherein the one or more setscrews and the respective collet radial through aperture are disposed at an angle that is less than ninety degrees relative to a nearest one of a body component mating surface of the first body component or a body component mating surface of the second body component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a tool collet for creating a lanyard attachment point on a hand tool attached to a portion of a hand tool.

(2) FIG. 2 is an expanded view of the tool collet shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of one embodiment of the collet body of the tool collet shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the collet body shown in FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is a plan view of the collet body shown in FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a lanyard ring of the tool collet shown in FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 7 is a plan view of the lanyard ring shown in FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is an enlarged, perspective view of one embodiment of a gripping insert of the tool collet shown in FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the gripping insert shown in FIG. 8.

(10) FIG. 10 is an end view of the gripping insert shown in FIG. 8.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tool collet for creating a lanyard attachment point on a hand tool attached to a hand tool with a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

(12) FIG. 12 is an expanded view of the tool collet shown in FIG. 11.

(13) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tool collet for creating a lanyard attachment point on a hand tool.

(14) FIG. 14 is an expanded view of the tool collet shown in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(15) The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1-14. FIGS. 1 and 2 show one embodiment of a tool collet 10 for creating a lanyard attachment point on a hand tool. Tool collet 10 includes a collet body 40, a lanyard ring 80 operatively engaged with collet body 40, and one or more fastening members 200 of collet body 40. In FIG. 2, tool collet 10 is shown mounted on a portion of the hand tool 500. Although tool collet 10 was designed to address the problem of securing a lanyard attachment point on drift pins and/or alignment pins, tool collet 10 may be used on many other hand tools having a cylindrically-shaped portion around which tool collet 10 may attach. Drift pins and/or alignment pins present a special problem with securing a lanyard attachment point. Because drift pins and/or alignment tools typically have a tapered design, it is difficult to provide a lanyard attachment point that will not slip off of the drift pin and/or alignment tool when the attached lanyard arrests or stops the fall of the hand tool. The forces exerted on the attachment point using any other lanyard attachment point design typically causes the release of the attachment point from the hand tool. The failure of the attachment point of a dropped tool can cause substantial damage or harm to plant equipment, to workers or to objects below a worker.

(16) Tool body 40 has a first body side 42, a second body side 44, a collet through opening 46, and a peripheral body surface 47. Each of first and second body side 42, 44 has an annular groove 48 that retains lanyard ring 80 in a captured but slidable orientation. In this embodiment, annular groove 48 includes a first annular groove 48awith an annular recess 49a and a second annular groove 48b with an annular recess 49b where second annular groove 48b is opposite first annular groove 48a. Each annular groove 48 of first and second bodysides 42, 44 is concentric with collet through opening 46. Within collet through opening 46, there is disposed an optional gripping member 100 that engages hand tool 500 and prevents the movement of tool collet 10 on hand tool 500.

(17) Optional gripping member 100 may be a gripping structure 102 integrally made in an collet opening surface 50 of collet through opening 46 (i.e. the inside surface of through opening 46). One example of a gripping structure 102 includes but is not limited to a knurled finish on collet opening surface 50. Optional gripping member 100 may also be an insert 104 that is disposed within through opening 46. Insert 104 is typically made of a flexibly resilient material such as, for example, rubber or other similar material that is capable of creating frictional contact between tool collet 10 and hand tool 500. Another embodiment of gripping member 100 includes one or more of an optional setscrew 106 that mates with a collet radial through aperture 52. Collet radial through aperture 52 penetrates radially through tool collet 10 from peripheral body surface 47 to collet through opening 46. Setscrew 106 may include one or more setscrews that penetrate radially through tool collet 10 to the surface of hand tool 500. When setscrew 106 is tightened, it fixes tool collet 10 to hand tool 500. It is contemplated that setscrew 106 may also be used with or without insert 104.

(18) Turning now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an enlarged and separated view of tool body 40. In this embodiment, tool body 40 has a first body component 54 and a second body component 64 where the collet body 40 is divided radially relative to the collet through opening 46 and where each of first and second body component 54, 64 is one-half of collet body 40. It is understood that first and second body component 54, 64 may have other size ratios relative to each other such as one-third to two-thirds. It is contemplated that assembly to hand tool 500 of collet body 40 having ratios other than 50-50 will require an appropriate adjustment in the assembly procedure. In this embodiment, each of first and second body component 54, 64 has a body component mating surface 54a, 64a and 54b, 64b. Optionally mating surfaces 54a, 64a and 54b, 64b have alignment members 56, 66 that insure first body component 54 and second body component 65 are properly aligned when assembled. Alignment members include a mating protrusion 56a, 66a and a corresponding mating recess 56b, 66b. Mating protrusion 56a is received in mating recess 66b and, if included, mating protrusion 66a is received in mating recess 56b.

(19) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of tool body 40. As is more clearly shown in this figure, each of first and second annular groove 48a, 48b has a cross-section that is T-shaped. Each of annular groove 48a, 48b is adjacent peripheral body surface 47. In this embodiment, each annular groove 48a, 48b forms a full circle or ring within first body side 42 and second body side 44, respectively. By forming a full circle, annular groove 48 allows lanyard ring 80 to slide completely around the circumference of collet body 40. Through opening 46 may also include an optional annular recess 46a in first body side 42 and an optional annular recess 46b in second body side 44. Optional annular recess 46a, 46b may be provided to receive and retain insert 104, which will be further explained below.

(20) FIG. 5 illustrates the front plan view of collet body 40 showing the internal surfaces in dashed lines. In this embodiment, peripheral body surface 47 includes one or more fastener openings 53 within collet body 40 that passes through from first body component 54 to second body component 64 where the one or more fastener openings 53 are adapted to receive a fastener 200 to secure first body component 54 to second body component 64 and vice-versa. Typically at least one of the fastener openings in first body component 54 and second body component 64 is threaded to match the threads on fastener 200. Although the present embodiment illustrates two fasteners 200, it is contemplated that one pair of mating surface 54a, 64b or 54b, 64a may be hingedly connected to each other while the other of the pair of mating surface 54a, 64b or 54b, 64a has fastener opening 53 and fastener 200. FIG. 5 also illustrates at least one, optional, radial through aperture 52 for receiving setscrew 106.

(21) FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate one embodiment of lanyard ring 80. In this embodiment, lanyard ring 80 has a D-ring shape with a ring body 82 and a pair of opposed ring ends 84, 86. Each of opposed ring ends 84, 86 has a circular ear 84a, 86a, respectively, that has a larger cross-sectional diameter than opposed ring ends 84, 86. Circular ears 84a, 86a have a cross-sectional diameter and a thickness less that the recessed groove 49a, 49b of annular groove 48a, 48b to allow lanyard ring 80 to be captured within annular groove 48 and to freely slide around the circumference of collet body 40. Lanyard ring 80 provides an attachment point for a tool lanyard.

(22) FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate one embodiment of a gripping member 100 that is an insert 104. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of insert 104 having an cylindrical body wall 104a, a first body end 104b, and a second body end 104c forming an insert through opening 104d. Insert 104 may optionally have a slit 104e through cylindrical body wall 104a to facilitate attachment to a hand tool 500 by allowing the insert 104 to be opened along slit 104e and placed around the pre-selected location on hand tool 500. Cylindrical body wall 104a has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as inner diameter of collet through opening 46. First and second body ends 104b, 104c may optionally include end flanges 105 that nest within corresponding optional annular recesses 46a, 46b of collet body 40. FIG. 9 is a front plan view of insert 104 while FIG. 10 is an end view of insert 104.

(23) Turning now to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is illustrated another embodiment of tool collet 10′ adapted for attachment to a hand tool with a hexagonal cross-sectional shape. Like tool collet 10, tool collet 10′ has a collet body 40, a lanyard ring 80 operatively engaged with collet body 40, and one or more fastening members 200 of collet body 40. In this Figure, tool collet 10 is shown mounted on a portion of a hand tool 500′.

(24) Tool body 40 has a first body side 42, a second body side 44, a collet through opening 46, and a peripheral body surface 47. Each of first and second body side 42, 44 has an annular groove 48 that retains lanyard ring 80 in a captured but slidable orientation. In this embodiment, annular groove 48 includes a first annular groove 48awith an annular recess 49a and a second annular groove 48b with an annular recess 49b where second annular groove 48b is opposite first annular groove 48a. Each annular groove 48 of first and second bodysides 42, 44 is concentric with collet through opening 46. Within collet through opening 46, there is disposed an optional gripping member 100 that engages hand tool 500′ and prevents the movement of tool collet 10′ on hand tool 500′.

(25) Optional gripping member 100 may be a gripping structure 102 integrally made in an collet opening surface 50 of collet through opening 46 (i.e. the inside surface of through opening 46). One example of a gripping structure 102 includes but is not limited to a knurled finish on collet opening surface 50. Optional gripping member 100 may also be an insert 104′ that is disposed within through opening 46. Insert 104′ is typically made of a flexibly resilient material such as, for example, rubber or other similar material that is capable of creating frictional contact between tool collet 10 and hand tool 500′. Like the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, this embodiment may also include another embodiment of gripping member 100 includes an optional setscrew 106 that mates with a collet radial through aperture 52. Setscrew 106 may include one or more setscrews that penetrate radially through tool collet 10′ to the surface of hand tool 500′. When setscrew 106 is tightened, it fixes tool collet 10′ to hand tool 500′. It is contemplated that setscrew 106 may also be used with or without insert 104′.

(26) The key difference in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-12 compared to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2 is the collet opening surface 50 has a cross-sectional shape that matches the cross-sectional shape of hand tool 500′. In the illustrated case, it is a hexagonal cross-sectional shape but any polygonal shape may be used. Insert 104′ also has an cylindrical body wall 104a′ with a hexagonal cross-sectional shape to mate with the cross-sectional shape of hand tool 500′, a first body end 104b, and a second body end 104c forming an insert through opening 104d. Insert 104′ may optionally have a slit 104e (not shown in this figure but shown in FIG. 8) through cylindrical body wall 104a′ to facilitate attachment to a hand tool 500′. Cylindrical body wall 104a′ has an outer diameter and cross-sectional shape that is substantially the same as inner diameter and cross-sectional shape of collet through opening 46. First and second body ends 104b, 104c may optionally include end flanges 105 that nest within corresponding optional annular recesses 46a, 46b of collet body 40.

(27) Turning now to FIGS. 13 and 14, there is illustrated another embodiment of a tool collet for creating a lanyard attachment point on a hand tool. Tool collet 300 includes a collet body 340, a lanyard ring 380 operatively engaged with collet body 340, and one or more fastening members 450 of collet body 340. In this Figure, tool collet 300 is shown mounted on a portion of a hand tool 500.

(28) Tool body 340 has a first body component 342, a second body component 344, a collet through opening 346, and a peripheral body surface 347. Each of first and second body component 342, 344 has an annular groove 348 in peripheral body surface 347 that retains lanyard ring 380 in a captured but slidable orientation. Each annular groove 348 of first and second body component 342, 344 is concentric with collet through opening 46. Each of first and second body component 342, 344 has a set of flanges 342a, 344a, respectively, that extend transversely and outwardly from the peripheral body surface 347 a predefined distance. In one embodiment, each of first and second body component 342, 344 has at least one flange 342a, 344a on one end 343a, 345a while the opposite ends 343b, 345b are hingedly connected. In another embodiment, each of first and second body component 342, 344 has at least one flange 342a, 344a on opposite ends 343b, 345b instead of being hingedly connected. The set of flanges 342a, 344a are adapted to be opposed to each other and have fastening member openings 353 for receiving fastener members 450. Fastening members 450 secure first body component 342 and second body component 344 to each other while simultaneously clamping tool body 340 around hand tool 500. In this embodiment, annular groove 348 includes a first annular groove 348a with an annular recess 349a. Annular groove 348 may completely circumscribe tool collet 300 or may only reside in a portion of the peripheral surface 347. Within collet through opening 346, there is disposed an optional gripping member 400 that engages hand tool 500 and prevents the movement of tool collet 10 on hand tool 500.

(29) Optional gripping member 400 may be a gripping structure 102 integrally made into collet opening surface 350 of collet through opening 346 (i.e. the inside surface of through opening 346). As previously discussed, one example of a gripping structure 102 includes but is not limited to a knurled finish on collet opening surface 350. Optional gripping member 400 may also be insert 104 (previously discussed) that is disposed within through opening 346. Another embodiment of gripping member 400 includes a plurality of flexibly resilient members 405 embedded within gripping member grooves 352 formed in collet opening surface 350. The depth of grooves 352 is less than the cross-sectional thickness of members 405 so that member 405 extends inwardly beyond collet opening surface 350 of collet through opening 346 to contact hand tool 500 at all times after tool collet 300 is attached to hand tool 500.

(30) Annular groove 348 has a cross-section that is T-shaped disposed within peripheral body surface 347. In this embodiment, annular groove 348 forms a full circle or ring around peripheral body surface 347. By forming a full circle, annular groove 348 allows lanyard ring 380 to slide completely around the circumference of collet body 340.

(31) Lanyard ring 380 has a ring body 382 with a ring body shaft 384, a closed ring 386 fixedly attached on one end 384a of ring body shaft 384, and a circular ear 388 fixedly attached on an opposite end 384b of ring body shaft 384. Circular ear 388 has a larger cross-sectional diameter than ring end 384b. Circular ear 384 also has a cross-sectional diameter and a thickness less that the recessed groove 349a, of annular groove 34 and is adapted to allow lanyard ring 380 to be captured within annular groove 348 and to freely slide around the circumference of collet body 340. Lanyard ring 380 provides an attachment point for a tool lanyard.

(32) Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.