Abstract
An adjustable length handle having a first handle member, a tubular shaped second handle member and an adjusting mechanism interconnecting the two handle members to shorten or lengthen the handle length. The second handle member has an interior channel that receives the first handle member. An inner surface of the channel is in opposing relation to an outer surface of the first handle member. The adjusting mechanism comprises a longitudinally disposed length adjusting slot and one or more laterally disposed engaging slots in the inner surface that receive an engaging member which extends outward from the outer surface of the first handle member. When in the length adjusting slot, the engaging member allows linear movement of one handle member relative to the other handle member to adjust the handle length. When in one of the engaging slots, the engaging member prevents such linear movement to fix the handle length.
Claims
1. An adjustable length handle, comprising: a first handle member and a second handle member; wherein said second handle having an interior channel operable to receive said first handle member; an adjusting mechanism operable to allow said first handle member to be moved along said interior channel relative to said second handle member and to hold said first handle member is in a plurality of positions, allowing for the selection of a handle length; and a ring-shaped sealing plate and an adjustable stop at a first end of said interior channel, said sealing plate having an aperture sized and configured to allow an engagement member on an outer diameter of said first handle member to pass through said sealing plate and adjustable stop configured to selectively allow the passage of said engagement member through said sealing plate.
2. The adjustable length handle of claim 1, wherein said adjusting mechanism comprises a length adjusting slot longitudinally disposed in an inner surface and one or more engaging slots, each comprising a first shaped section laterally disposed in said inner surface so as to be connected to said length adjusting slot at a first end, said engagement member sized and configured to slide along said length adjusting slot when said handle is in a disengaged condition and to rotate into said engaging slots to place said handle in an engaged condition.
3. The adjustable length handle of claim 2 wherein said one or more engaging slots each further comprise an intersecting slot continuous with said engaging slot at a second end of said engaging slot, said intersecting slot is sized and configured to receive said engagement member when said handle is in said engaged condition.
4. The adjustable length handle of claim 2, wherein each of said engaging slots has a first end connected to said length adjusting slot and a second end distally disposed from said length adjusting slot, said engagement member cooperatively sized and configured with each of said length adjusting slot and said engaging slots to move from said length adjusting slot to said engaging slot past said first end of said engaging slot to said second end thereof to place said handle in said engaged condition.
5. The adjustable length handle of claim 4 further comprising a secondary shaped section at said second end of one or more of said engaging slots, said secondary shaped section sized and configured to receive said engaging member when said handle is in said engaged condition.
6. The adjustable length handle of claim 4, wherein said length adjusting slot and said first end of said engaging slots define a slot intersection, said slot intersection structured and arranged to allow said engagement member to smoothly transition between said length adjusting slot and said engaging slot to move said handle to said engaged condition.
7. (canceled)
8. The adjustable length handle of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of said handle being aligned with each of a longitudinal axis of said first handle member and said second handle member.
9. The adjustable length handle of claim 1, wherein one of said first handle member and said second handle member is attached to or integral with a work portion to define a tool.
10. An adjustable length handle, comprising: a first handle member; a tubular shaped second handle member having a handle body and an interior channel operale to receive said first handle member; an adjusting mechanism interconnecting an outer surface of said first handle member and an inner surface of said second handle member, said adjusting mechanism comprising an engagement member extending outwardly from said outer surface of said first handle member, a length adjusting slot longitudinally disposed in said inner surface of said second handle member; and a ring-shaped sealing plate at a first end of said interior channel, said sealing plate having an aperture sized and configured to allow said outer surface of said first handle member to pass through said sealing plate, prevent the passage of said engagement member.
11. The adjustable length handle of claim 10, further comprising a secondary shaped section at second end of one or more of said engaging slots, said secondary shaped section sized and configured to receive said engagement member when said handle is in said engaged condition.
12. The adjustable length handle of claim 10, wherein said length adjusting slot and a first end of said engaging slots define a slot intersection, said slot intersection structured and arranged to allow said engaging member to smoothly transition between said length adjusting slot and said engaging slot to move said handle to an engaged condition.
13. (canceled)
14. The adjustable length handle of claim 10, wherein said a longitudinal axis of said first handle member and a longitudinal axis of said second handle member are aligned.
15. A tool, comprising: an adjustable length handle having an elongated first handle member, a tubular shaped elongated second handle member having an interior channel in which said first handle member is moveably received; an adjusting mechanism operable to interconnect said first handle member and said second handle member, and to allow linear movement of one of said first handle; and a ring-shaped sealing plate and adjustable stop at a first end of said interior channel, said sealing plate having an aperture sized and configured to allow said outer surface of said first handle member to pass through said sealing plate, and wherein said adjustable stop is configured to selectively allow passage of said engaging member through said sealing plate.
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. The tool of claim 15, wherein said first handle member has a handle body defining a longitudinal axis for said first handle member and said second handle member has a handle body defining a longitudinal axis for said second handle member, said longitudinal axis of said handle being aligned with each of said longitudinal axis of said first handle member and said longitudinal axis of said second handle member.
20. The tool of claim 15, wherein said interior channel has a first end at a first end of said second handle member and a second end disposed towards a second end of said second handle member.
21. The tool of claim 10, wherein said sealing plate maintain a tight fit around said first handle member operable to scrape debris from said outer surface of said first handle member.
22. The tool of claim 10, further comprising one or more engaging slots disposed in an inner surface of said second handle member, each of said one or more engaging slots having a first end passably connected to said length adjusting slot and a second end spaced apart from said length adjusting slot, said engagement member cooperatively sized and configured with said length adjusting slot to move along said length adjusting slot when said handle is in a disengaged condition to allow linear movement of one of said first handle member and said second handle member relative to the other of said first handle member and said second handle member along said longitudinal axis of said handle so as to move said handle between a retracted position and an extended position to select a handle length for said handle, each of said engaging slots cooperatively sized and configured with said engaging member and said length adjusting slot to allow said engaging member to move from said length adjusting slot into one of said engaging slots upon rotational movement of one of said first handle member and said second handle member relative to the other of said first handle member and said second handle member to move said handle to an engaged condition that prevents linear movement of one of said first handle member and the other of said first handle member and said second handle member relative to said first handle member to fixedly establish said handle length.
23. The tool of claim 10, wherein said interior channel further comprises an adjustable stop at said first end of said interior channel operable to selectively allow the passage of said first handle member through said sealing plate.
24. The tool of claim 10, wherein said sealing plate further comprises a brush extending inward toward the aperture of the sealing plate operable to scrape debris from said outer surface of said first handle.
25. The tool of claim 15, wherein said sealing plate maintains a tight fit around said first handle member operable to scrape debris from said outer surface of said first handle member.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a side view of a tool having an adjustable length handle that is configured according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with the new handle shown in its retracted position and integrally formed with a work portion of the tool.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a side view of the tool of FIG. 1 shown with the adjustable length handle in its extended position.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged cross-sectional view of the tool of FIG. 1 taken through lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a second or right end view of the tool of FIG. 3.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the adjustable length handle of FIG. 1.
[0041] FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the adjustable length handle of FIG. 5.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a first or left end view of the second/outer handle member of FIG. 6 showing the longitudinally disposed length adjusting slot and three laterally disposed engaging slots.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the second/outer handle member of FIG. 6 taken through lines 8-8 of FIG. 6 showing the length adjusting slot and engaging slots thereof.
[0044] FIG. 9 is a side view of the second/outer handle member of FIG. 8 having a portion of the first/inner handle member disposed inside the channel of the second/outer handle member, with the adjustable length handle shown in its non-engaged condition having the engaging member moveably disposed in the length adjusting slot.
[0045] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional end view of the second/handle member and inner handle member of FIG. 9 taken through the lines 10-10 of FIG. 9.
[0046] FIG. 11 is a side view of the second/outer handle member of FIG. 8 having a portion of the first/inner handle member disposed inside the channel of the second/outer handle member, with the adjustable length handle shown in its engaged condition having the engaging member in one of the engaging slots.
[0047] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional end view of the second/handle member and inner handle member of FIG. 11 taken through the lines 12-12 of FIG. 11.
[0048] FIG. 13 is a top view of the inner handle member of FIG. 1 showing the engaging member on the outer surface thereof.
[0049] FIG. 14 is a top view of an inner handle member that is configured according to a second embodiment of the present invention showing use of multiple engaging members on the outer surface thereof.
[0050] FIG. 15 is a side view of the inner handle member of FIG. 14.
[0051] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of the second/outer handle member showing the use of a secondary shaped section at the second or distal end of each of the engaging slots.
[0052] FIG. 17 is a side view of an adjustable length handle member having a threaded work tool connector at the first end of the first/inner tubular member for removably connecting the handle to a work portion to form a tool.
[0053] FIG. 18 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the first handle member showing placement of the length adjusting slot and engaging slots at the outer surface thereof.
[0054] FIG. 19 is an end view of the first end of an alternative embodiment of the second handle member showing the engaging member extending outwardly from the inner surface thereof into the interior channel.
[0055] FIG. 20 is a handle configured according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which utilizes the first handle member of FIG. 18 and the second handle member of FIG. 19, showing the engaging member in the length adjusting slot with the handle in its disengaged condition.
[0056] FIG. 21 is a side view of a tool having an adjustable length handle that is configured according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, with the tubular shaped second/outer handle member being connected to the work portion of the tool and the first/inner handle member configured to move in and out the interior channel of the first handle member and the adjustable length handle shown in the retracted position.
[0057] FIG. 22 is a side view of the tool of FIG. 21 with the adjustable length handle shown in its extended position.
[0058] FIG. 23 is an end-on view of an outer handle member, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0059] FIGS. 24A and 24B each provide a top-down view of a sealing plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 25 is a side view of an adjustable length handle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0061] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without all of the specific details provided.
[0062] With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed figures are illustrative of several potential preferred embodiments and, therefore, are included to represent several different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and shown in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the description and figures included herewith generally describe and show particular materials, shapes and configurations for the various components of the new adjustable length handle of the present invention, as well as an example of a tool with which the new adjustable length handle may be utilized, those who are skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is not so limited. In addition, the exemplary embodiments of the new adjustable length handle are shown and described herein with only those components that are required to disclose the present invention. As such, it may be possible or even likely that some of the necessary elements for attaching and using the present invention are not shown or necessarily described below, but which are well known to persons who are skilled in the relevant art. As will be readily appreciated by such persons, the various elements of the present invention that are described below may take on any form consistent with forms that are readily realized by a person of ordinary skill in the art having knowledge of handles and tools that use such handles.
[0063] An adjustable length handle that is configured pursuant to one or more of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is referred to generally as in FIGS. 1-6, 9-13 and 16. As set forth in detail below, the new adjustable length handle 10 of the present invention is structured and arranged to be attached to or integral with a tool 12 that may be utilized by a person to accomplish a wide variety of different work objectives, including those that require the user to apply torque to a work object, such as a nut, bolt or the like. As well known in the art, the tool 12 has a work portion 14 that is structured and arranged to accomplish a particular work objective. For applying torque, the work portion 14 may be the head of a ratchet (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), wrench, breaker bar or the like to form the desired tool 12 (i.e., the ratchet). Alternatively, work portion 14 may be the head of a brush, mop, broom or the like to form a tool 12, such as a brush, mop or broom. The ratchet 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided for exemplary purposes only and is not intended to limit the present invention in any manner. In fact, for purposes of the present invention, the work portion 14 may be of any type of functional or work component that is configured to form any type of tool 12, the use of which may or is likely to benefit from use with the adjustable length handle 10 of the present invention. As will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the art, the new adjustable length handle 10 may be integrally formed with (as shown with regard to the adjustable length handle 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2) or fixedly or re movably attached to (as shown with regard to the adjustable length handle 10 of FIG. 16) a work portion 14 to form a tool 12 that can be beneficially utilized by a person who desires to more efficiently and effectively accomplish any type of work objective where changing the length of the tool 12 is necessary or beneficial.
[0064] The adjustable length handle 10 (hereinafter, also referred to as “adjustable handle” or just “handle”) generally comprises a first or inner handle member 16, a second or outer handle member 18 and an adjusting mechanism 20 that are cooperatively structured and arranged so the first handle member 16 and second handle member 18 are telescopically configured so as to move between a retracted position 22 and an extended position 24, as respectively shown with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2. The first handle member 16 has a handle body 26 with a first or left end 28, a second or right end 30 and an outer surface 32. The second handle member 18 has a handle body 34 with a first or left end 36, a second or right end 38 and an outer surface 40. The terms “left” and “right” are utilized with regard to the tool 12 in the horizontal position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0065] In the embodiments shown in the figures, each of the first handle member 16 and second handle member 18 of handle 10 are cooperatively sized and configured such that the second handle member 18 moves over a portion of first handle member 16 (or put another way, a portion of first handle member 16 moves in and out of second handle member 18). As such, in this embodiment, the second handle member 18 is tubular shaped with an interior channel 42 defining an inner surface 42, as best shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11, that is disposed in the handle body 34 of the second handle member 18. The interior channel 42 defines an open first end 36. In the embodiment shown in the figures, a first end 46 of the interior channel 42 of second handle member 18 corresponds to the first end 36 of the second handle member 18 and a second end 48 of the interior channel 42 is in spaced apart relation to the second end 38 of second handle member 18, as best shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11. In this embodiment, the second handle member 18 has a closed second end 38, as also shown in FIG. 4. In alternative embodiments, the interior channel 42 may extend completely through the second handle member 18 such that the second end 48 of the interior channel 42 corresponds to the second end 38 of the second handle member 18. Though not shown in the figures, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that in such an embodiment, a portion of the handle body 26 near or toward the second end 30 of the first handle member 16 may be able to extend beyond the second end 38 of the handle body 34 of the second handle member 18 (i.e., to the right of the second end 38 of the tool shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) when the handle 10 is in its retracted position 22. This may or may not have benefits to the use of a tool 12 having the new handle 10.
[0066] The adjusting mechanism 20 of the new handle 10 is structured and arranged to allow the first handle member 16 and second handle member 18 to move relative to each other in a telescoping manner along the longitudinal axis 50 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 5) between the retracted position 22 and extended position 24, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the handle 10 has a round cross-section. In these embodiments, the first handle member 16 has a longitudinal axis 52 and the second handle member 18 has a longitudinal axis 54, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 13, and the longitudinal axis 50 of the handle 10 is in alignment with the longitudinal axis 52 of the first handle member 16 and with the longitudinal axis 54 of the second handle member 18. In other configurations of handle 10, the axes 50, 52 and 54 may not necessarily be in alignment.
[0067] The adjusting mechanism 20 of the new handle is structured and arranged to allow the first handle member 16 and the second handle member 18 to move relative to each other to shorten or increase the handle length, shown as HL in FIG. 2, as necessary or desired by the user of the tool 12 with which the handle 10 is associated. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the handle length HL may be selected, depending on the configuration of the adjusting mechanism 20, to be at or between the retracted position 22 and the extended position 24, such as the partially extended position 56 shown in FIG. 11. As set forth in more detail below, the adjusting mechanism 20 may be configured to provide one or more partially extended positions 56.
[0068] The adjusting mechanism 20 of the new handle 10 comprises at least one outwardly extending engaging member 58 that is sized and configured to be slidably received in and move along a longitudinally disposed length adjusting slot 60 and into and out of one or more laterally disposed engaging slots 62, as best shown in FIGS. 7-13. As set forth in more detail below, the engaging member 58 moves longitudinally along the length adjusting slot 60 to allow the user to move either the first handle member 16 relative to the second handle member 18 or the second handle member relative 18 to the first handle member 16 (depending on which handle member 16/18 is attached to or integral with the tool portion 14) and to also move into and out of the engaging slots 62 upon rotation of the first handle member 16 or the second handle member 18 (depending on which handle member 16/18 is attached to or integral with the tool portion 14, as shown in FIGS. 1-2 relative to FIGS. 21-22) to temporarily fix the first handle member 16 and the second handle member 18 relative to the other so as to establish a handle length HL that allows the user to accomplish, or at least more efficiently accomplish, the work objective. As set forth below, when engaging member 58 is positioned in the length adjusting slot 60 (by the user rotating either the first 16 or second 18 handle member), the handle 10 is in its moving or disengaged condition 64, as shown in FIGS. 9-10, and when engaging member 58 is in one of the engaging slots 62, the handle 10 is in its fixed or engaged condition 66, as shown in FIGS. 11-12.
[0069] The outwardly extending engaging member 58 extends outward from the outer surface 32 of the handle body 26 of the first handle member 16, as best shown in FIGS. 1-2, 5-6, 10 and 12-13. As best shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the engaging member 58 extends outwardly from the outer surface 32 of the handle body 26 a sufficient distance to bridge the gap 68 between the outer surface 32 of the first handle member 16 and the inner surface 44 of the second handle member 18 and sufficiently extend into either the length adjusting slot 60 or one of the engaging slots 62 to accomplish the moving or engaging objectives for the handle 10 of the present invention. More specifically, the engaging member 58 must extend far enough into the length adjusting slot 60 and into the engaging slots 62 such that the engaging member 58 will stay in the slots 60/62 to maintain the handle 10 in either its disengaged condition 64 or its engaged condition 66 to, respectively, allow the user to easily move the handle members 16/18 relative to each other or to fix the handle length HL. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the exact amount which the engaging member 58 will extend above the outer surface 32 of the handle body 26 of the first handle member 16 is likely to depend on factors such as the amount of wall thickness available in the second handle member 18 and the amount of torque or other force to which the handle 10 is likely to be subjected to during use thereof. In addition, although the engaging member 58 and slots 60/62 can have different sizes and shapes, the engaging member 58 and slots 60/62 will need to be sized and configured in cooperative arrangement so the engaging member 58 will fit into and be able to move along the length adjusting slot 60 and engaging slots 62. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the engaging member 58 is square shaped and each of the length adjusting slot 60 and the engaging slots 62 are rectangular shaped with a cross-section that is just slightly larger than the square shaped engaging member 58 so the engaging member 58 will fit into and be able to move along the slots 60/62. As will also be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, although the engaging member 58 and slots 60/62 must be cooperatively configured, there are various different shapes and sizes that can be utilized for the engaging member 58 and the slots 60/62, including a round engaging member 58 and curved slots 60/62 and the like.
[0070] The longitudinally disposed length adjusting slot 60 has a first end 70 and a second end 72, as best shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11. In the embodiment 20 shown in the figures, the first end 70 of the length adjusting slot 60 is at the first end 36 of the second handle member 18, which is also where the first end 46 of the interior channel 42 is located. The second end 72 of the length adjusting slot 60 is toward the second end 48 of the interior channel 42, which is towards the second end 38 of the second handle member 18. Although the length adjusting slot 60 does not need to extend to the first end 36 of the second handle member and first end 46 of the interior channel 42, having the length adjusting slot 60 open at these ends 36/46 will help with the manufacturing process by allowing the first handle member 16, having engaging member 58 thereon, to be positioned inside the second handle member 18.
[0071] In a preferred configuration, a ring-shaped sealing plate 74, having an aperture 76 therethrough, can be utilized to close the interior channel 42 at its first end 46, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, when the first handle member 16 being moveably received through the aperture 76, as best shown in FIG. 3 (without the first handle member 16, the interior channel 42 would be open through the aperture 76). The aperture 76, which is positioned at approximately the center of the sealing plate 74, is sized and configured to allow the handle body 26 of the first handle member 16 to move therethrough, but prevent the portion of the first handle member 16 having the engaging member 58 from passing from the interior channel 42 out past the first end 36, to secure the engaging member 58 inside the interior channel 42 of the second handle member 18. In addition to keeping that portion of the first handle member 16 inside the interior channel 42, the sealing plate 74 substantially closes off the first end 46 of interior channel 42 to significantly reduce the likelihood that grease, dirt, debris or other materials will get into the interior channel 42 or one of the slots 60/62. Keeping these materials out of interior channel 42 significantly reduces the likelihood that such materials will interfere with the movement of the first handle member 16 relative to the second handle member 18 or the movement of the engaging member 58 in or along the slots 60/62. In one embodiment, the second handle member 18 and ring-shaped sealing plate 74 can be cooperatively configured such that the sealing plate 74 can be removed from the second handle member 18 by the user if he or she wants or needs to clean the interior channel 42 and/or slots 60/62. A set screw or like connector can be utilized through one side of the handle body 34 to engage the sealing plate 74 and hold it in place at the second end 38 of the handle body 34 of the second handle member 18. The configuration and use of a screw or other connector to removably hold a ring or ring-like member inside a tubular member are generally well known in the relevant art. In another embodiment, the inner edge of the aperture 76 of ring-like sealing plate 74 can have brush or brush-like components that extend generally inward to the aperture 76 that are configured to scrape or otherwise remove any grease, dirt, debris or other materials off of the outer surface 32 of the handle body 26 of the first handle member 16 before the it enters the interior channel 42.
[0072] Each of the engaging slots 62 are passably connected to the length adjusting slot 60 so the engaging member 58 can selectively move between the length adjusting slot 60 and one of the engaging slots 62 with relative ease as the handle 10 moves between its disengaged condition 64 and disengaged condition 66. In FIGS. 7-9 and 11, the adjusting mechanism 20 is shown with four engaging slots 62, shown as the first engaging slot 62a, second engaging slot 62b, third engaging slot 62c and fourth engaging slot 62d. Each of the engaging slots 62 have a first end 78 that is passably connected to the length adjusting slot 60 and a second or distal end 80 at which the engaging slot 62 terminates, as best shown in FIG. 8. In the preferred configuration, each of the engaging slots 62 are sized and configured substantially the same (i.e., very minor if any size and shape difference) as length adjusting slot 60 and the intersection, shown as slot intersection 82 in FIG. 8, where the first end 78 of an engaging slot 62 joins the length adjusting slot 60 is smooth to provide a substantially effortless passable transition from the length adjusting slot 60 to the engaging slot 62. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the engaging slots 62 are also rectangular shaped with a cross-section that is just slightly larger than the square shaped engaging member 58 so the engaging member 58 will moveably fit into and move along the slots 62. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, although the engaging member 58 and engaging slots 62 must be cooperatively configured, there are various different shapes and sizes that can be utilized for the engaging member 58 and engaging slots 62, such as having a round engaging member 58 and curved slots 60/62 or the like. The engaging slots 62 can have any length. In one embodiment, the length of the engaging slots 62 is selected such that the user rotates one of the handle members 16/18 a one-fourth or one-half turn before the engaging member 58 moves from the length adjusting slot 60 to the second end 80 of the selected engaging slot 62. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the longer lengths engaging slots 62 are likely to provide improved engagement of the engagement member 58 in the engaging slot 62.
[0073] In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 16, the engaging slots 62 can be generally L-shaped or T-shaped, with the secondary shaped section (shown as 84 in FIG. 16) being at or near each of the second ends 80 of the engaging slots 62, to further secure the engaging member 58 in the engaging slots 62, particularly where it is anticipated that the handle 10 will be subject to relatively high torque and/or other forces. In one configuration of this embodiment, the secondary shaped section 84 is longitudinally disposed such that the secondary shaped section 84 is substantially parallel to the length adjusting slot 60, as shown in FIG. 16. In other configurations, the secondary shaped section 84 may be at an angle other than 90° relative to the associated engaging slot 62. The secondary shaped section 84 should be sized and shaped the same as the engaging slot 62 and have a length that is sufficient to securely receive the engaging member 58 therein, such as being at least as long as the engaging member 58 is wide. With the engaging member 58 received in the secondary shaped section 84, it is anticipated that there will be less likelihood of the engaging member 58 inadvertently exiting an engaging slot 62 when the tool 12 associated with the handle 10 is being utilized.
[0074] In another alternative embodiment of the handle 10 of the present invention, the adjusting mechanism 20 thereof may have more than one engaging member 58, such as the three engaging members 58a, 58b and 58c shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, extending outward from the outer surface 32 of the handle body 26 of the first handle member 16. In this embodiment, the handle 10 is configured such that all three of the engaging members 58a/58b/58c will move into engaging slots 62 at the same time. With more than one engaging member 58 being in an engaging slot 62, the first handle member 16 will be more securely joined to the second handle member 18. Having multiple engaging members 58 inside the engaging slots 62 is likely to be particularly useful where it is anticipated that the handle 10 will be subject to relatively high torque and/or other forces during use of the tool 12 with which the handle 10 is associated. As described above for the single engaging member 58, each of the multiple engaging members 58a/58b/58c are cooperatively sized and configured with the slots 60/62 so as to move along the length adjusting slot 60 and in and out of the engaging slots 62. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the use of three engaging members 58 is provided for exemplary purposes only, as the handle 10 may have two engaging members 58 or more than three engaging members 58.
[0075] The various components of handle 10 can be made out of a variety of different materials, including metal, composites, plastic, fiberglass, wood and the like. Typically, the materials for handle 10 will depend on the anticipated use of the tool 12 with which the handle 10 will be associated. Metal and other relatively stiff and strong materials are likely to be required when for use with torque type of tools 12, such as ratchets, wrenches, breaker bars and the like. In one embodiment, the outer surface 40 of the second handle member 18 is made out of and/or, covered or coated with a material that provides a gripping surface to improve the user's ability to securely hold onto the handle 10 when he or she is using the tool. A variety of other well-known handling and aesthetic modifications for handles may be incorporated into the new handle 10.
[0076] The embodiment of FIG. 17 shows a handle 10 that is configured to be removably attached to the work portion 14 of a tool 12. For instance, the handle 10 can be utilized with the head of a mop, brush, broom or the like to form a mop, brush, broom or the like with an adjustable length handle 10 that will allow the user to (as an example) reach higher places than he or she would otherwise be able to with most fixed length handles. To provide for the connection to a work portion 14, the handle 10 has a work tool connector 86 at the first end 28 of the first handle member 16, as shown in FIG. 17. In this embodiment, the work tool connector 86 has external threads that are threadably received in a socket associated with the work portion 14 to form the tool 12 that the user can utilize to accomplish the desired work objective.
[0077] In use, the user selects a tool 12 having an adjustable length handle 10 configured according to the present invention attached to or integrally formed with the work portion 14 of the tool 12. As the user is using the tool 12, he or she will move the work portion 14 towards the work object, such as a bolt, nut or the like, to perform the desired work objective, such as tightening or loosening the work object. If the user needs, or otherwise determines it to be beneficial, to shorten or lengthen the handle length HL, he or she will operate the adjusting mechanism 20 of the handle 10 to place the handle 10 in its retracted position 22, extended position 24 or a partially extended position 56 to be able to more efficiently and/or effectively utilize the tool 12. To shorten or lengthen the handle 10, the user rotates (typically) the second handle member 18 to move the engaging member 58 into the length adjusting slot 60, as shown in FIG. 9, and then slides the engaging member 58 in the length adjusting slot 60 by (typically) moving the second handle member 18 relative to the first handle member 16 to obtain the desired handle length HL. Using the second handle member 18, the user then positions one of the engaging slots 62 adjacent the engaging member 58 and rotates the second handle member 18 to slide the engaging member 58 into the nearby engaging slot 62, as shown in FIG. 11, to fix the position of the second handle member 18 relative to the first handle member 16. With the engaging member 58 inside the engaging slot 62 (or, as applicable, the secondary shaped section 84 thereof), the tool 12 has the equivalent of a fixed length handle that is of the handle length HL which is most beneficial to the user. When the user needs to adjust the handle length HL again, he or she merely repeats the above.
[0078] The pin and groove arrangement of the adjusting mechanism 20 of the new handle 10 of the present invention has a number of benefits relative to prior art adjustable handles. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the new handle 10 allows the user to easily, quickly and effectively shorten or lengthen the handle length HL anytime he or she needs to or otherwise considers it to be beneficial to complete the work objective. The configuration of the new handle 10 of the present invention will be particularly useful for tools 12 that the user utilizes to apply torque to a work object, such as a bolt, nut or the like. The new handle 10 may be attached to, including removably attached to, or integrally formed with a work portion 14 of a tool 12 to provide the length adjusting features of the new handle 10 to the tool 12. In addition, the configuration of the adjusting mechanism 20 of the handle 10 of the present invention is much less likely to have problems with grease, dirt, debris or other materials interfering with the length-adjusting operation of the new handle 10.
[0079] In an alternative configuration of the new handle 10, the second handle member 18 may be connected to the work portion 14 of the tool 12 (instead of the first handle member 16) and the first handle member 16 may move in and out of the second handle member 18, with the user grasping the outer surface 32 of the handle body 26 of the first handle member 16. In another alternative configuration, the various components of the length adjusting mechanism 20 may be switched between the first handle member 16 and the second handle member 18. In such a configuration, the engaging member 18 would extend from the inner surface (or wall) 44 of the handle body 34 of the second handle member 18 into the interior channel 42 and the length adjusting slot 60 and the one or more engaging slots 62 would be cut into the outer surface 32 of the handle body 16 of the first handle member 16. As described with the above embodiments, engaging member 58 and slots 60/62 are cooperatively configured so the engaging member 58 is received in and moves along the length adjusting slot 60 and in and out of the engaging slots 62. Other than the components of the adjusting mechanism 20 being reversed, the handle 10 of this embodiment would operate the same as the handle 10 described above.
[0080] As seen in FIG. 23, the engaging slots may comprise a length which represents an increased arc length around the inner or outer handle member, so as to allow for a greater margin of error without the engaging member disengaging from an engaging slot when the user twists his or her wrist while the tool is in use. The engaging slots may each comprise an arc of approximately 90 degrees (e.g., from about 85 degrees to about 95 degrees). The engaging slots of the present invention may thereby prevent accidental disengagement of the engaging member due to a normal flexion of the wrist which may occur while using the handle of the present invention to perform a task. However, a user may still be able to adjust a length of the handle with one hand and without taking the work end away from the work (e.g., without taking the socket off of the bolt), by intentionally twisting the handle.
[0081] The adjustable length handle of the present invention may comprise a releasing lateral slot 63, the releasing lateral slot 63 providing a path from the lengthening slot 60 to a releasing longitudinal slot 61. The releasing lateral slot 63 may comprise an orientation and shape similar to the engaging slots 62, and may be arranged at an end of the lengthening slot 60. The releasing longitudinal slot 61 may provide a path which allows the engaging member 58 to exit from the outer member 18. The releasing lateral slot 63 and releasing longitudinal slot 61 may thus allow the inner member 16 to slide out from the outer member 18 in the same longitudinal direction in which the inner member 16 entered the outer member 18 (e.g., wherein the engaging member 58 first entered the lengthening slot 60).
[0082] The adjustable length handle of the present invention may further comprise an adjustable stop 65, the stop 65 blocking the engaging member 58 from progressing through the releasing longitudinal slot 61 of the outer member 18 in a first position (see FIG. 23), and allowing the engaging member 58 to pass through the releasing longitudinal slot 61 when the stop 65 is in a second position (e.g., threaded out of the outer member 18, not shown). The stop 65 may comprise a threaded member operable to thread into a threaded passage in the outer member 18, the inner end of the stop 65 extending into the releasing longitudinal slot 61.
[0083] As seen in FIG. 24A, the aperture 76 of the sealing plate 74 may comprise a sealing member 75 for contacting an outer surface of the inner member 16. The sealing member 75 may comprise a grommet made from a flexible material, the sealing member 75 being operable to provide a tight grip around the outer surface of the inner member 16 without preventing adjustment of a length of the handle. As seen in FIG. 24B, in another embodiment, the aperture 76 of the sealing plate 74 may comprise a brush-like component 77 to scrape any grease, dirt, debris or other material off the outer surface of the inner member 16 as it passes into the channel of the outer member 18.
[0084] As seen in FIG. 25, the adjustable length handle of the present invention may further comprise a removable distal cap 90 for sealing a second end 38 of the outer member 18. When installed on the second end 38 of the outer member 18, the cap 90 may prevent the inner member 16 from passing out of the outer member 18 at the second end 38, and may prevent debris, moisture, and other contaminants from entering the outer member 18 from the second end 38. The distal cap 90 may comprise a threading 91 having a shape complementary to a threading 92 on an inner surface of the outer member 18.
[0085] While there are shown and described herein specific forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention.
