BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein relates to a hand tool accessory holder, and more particularly to a device for storage and easy accessibility of accessories for the user of the hand tool.

OVERVIEW OF PRIOR ART

Many hand tools are designed to accommodate an increased cost efficiency by making one tool handle and a variety of accessories of attachments therefore. Such is the case with a ratchet wrench set Though a variety of combinations can be found, commonly the ratio of sockets to wrenches is between 10:1 to 50:1 The wrench without the proper socket is of little value, which leads to searching a many times cramped space for a small metal socket. The same holds true for screwdriver handles with multiple bits. In either case accessible storage of the accessories is a desirable feature of the tool.

In terms of multiple bit screwdriver combinations the prior art as disclosed by McKenzie (U.S. Pat No. 4,924,733) shows different methods of the storage of screwdriver bits within the handle These bits fastened to the driver of the handle via a coupler The function of the device is limited in that only bits of specified length properly function with the device These bits come in a variety of lengths and therefore many would be to long and

interfere with the function of the tool or if to short the user would not be able to recognize what bit to retrieve

Stillwagon, Jr , in U S Pat No 3,667,518 disclosed a simple ring that is positioned radially around the handle thereby securing a plurality of bits thereto Here as before, the method of storage is unique to the tool as a whole Such a locking ring would not feasibly be capable of being used with a different but functionally similar tool In addition the movement of the ring as disclosed could result in inadvertently freeing more than one bit at a time Smith (U S Pat No 4,452,289) disclosed a combination grip and bit storage tool that addresses easily seeing the bit and specificity of bit location, because they are easily seen, but as with the previously mentioned only allows minimal variance in bits and the unit is not retrofitable to existing tools

Lin disclosed a drive handle with a hexagonal storage chamber supported therein in U S Pat No 4,893,529 This device maintains a similar shortcoming in that the accessory bits are specific to the tool, only with this to the extent that they must be specifically designed to mate with the socket in order to connect to the drive shaft Also the view of the desired bit is obstructed by the chamber, distracting from the function of the device In terms of socket wrenches, Martinmaas disclosed in three U S

Patents (4,253,356, 4,352,306 and 4,352,307) similar methods of storage of sockets within the handle of the socket wrench Each disclosure is similar in that a plurality of sockets are stored end to end within the open cylindrical body of the handle of the socket wrench As with the bit storage of the screwdriver devices these do not allow for use with an existing tool Also before each socket can be removed, it must be unlocked from the handle in some way and due to the radial taper of the handle, each socket is specific to

a position within the handle This alone and especially in combination could be a tedious task in the tight quarters of a work situation

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the disclosed invention is to provide a means of providing easy access of accessory tools such as bits and sockets to the user of the appropriate handled wrench This is accomplished by use of a retrofitable glove on the end of the handle with which a plurality of protrusions extend therefrom The protrusions are shaped to fit the appropriate accessory and thereby provide capability for receiving and securing same thereon The device is manufactured of a pliable material so as to secure firmly over the end of the handle, also assisting in the gripping potential of the combination These material properties also allow secure storage and easy retrieval of the tool accessories by providing a minimal interference fit and a high coefficient of friction between same The accessories are radially oriented and therefore highly visible and easily accessible Standard drive sizes are used within the industry therefore standard sizes can be used that work with existing accessories, allowing them to be used with existing tools

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig 1 is a prospective view of a hand tool accessory holder produced in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig 2 is a prospective exploded view of a hand tool accessory holder with typical accessories and a tool handle, the holder produced in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 3 is a prospective view of a hand tool accessory holder shown being used with typical accessories and a tool handle, the holder produced in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a hand tool accessory holder produced in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectioned view, as shown in Fig. 4, of a hand tool accessory holder produced in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 6 is a prospective exploded view of a variation of the preferred embodiment of the hand tool accessory holder with other accessories and a tool handle, the holder produced in accordance with the present invention

Fig. 7 is a side view of a variation of the preferred embodiment of the hand tool accessory holder, produced in accordance with the present invention Fig. 8 is a sectioned view, as shown in Fig. 7, of a variation of the preferred embodiment of the hand tool accessory holder, produced in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Few would argue that tools have been instrumental in the development of our society, especially given the technological age in which we live Many hand tools are designed for and marketed to individual users so as to assist with household chores and minor repairs. Industry also uses a variety of tools to perform simple tasks that would otherwise be difficult if not impossible. To optimize the efficiency of the design of hand tools, the tool traditionally consists of a single handle and a variety of accessories or

attachments to the handle, thereby greatly increasing the versatility of the tool as a whole with limited increase in cost The complication results when a small accessory is not easily accessible In this case the tool is no longer functional to the user This temporary storage and ease of access is addressed by the invention disclosed herein

Though numerous attempts have been made to combat this ongoing problem, to date noting has been done that incorporates existing tools, by use of a simple device that joins the tool with a variety of accessories The disclosed invention does just that as it is shown in Fig 1 The holder 10 is comprised of two functional components, the body 12 and a series of protrusions 14 The body 12 supports and locates the protrusions 14 on the handle of a tool Each protrusion 14 is capable of receiving at least one accessory and is specific to the type and drive size of the tool What is shown here is typical of a ratchet wrench and associated sockets The square shape of the protrusions 14 simulate the shape and size of the drive of the ratchet The material of the holder 10 is some pliable material such as plastic or rubber allowing a high friction coefficient between the mating parts, thereby retaining same, but allowing them to be disengaged by the user

To further show the application of the holder 10, Fig 2 discloses an exploded view of the preferred use of the device Here the body 12 is shown with an open end 16 opposite to the area of the protrusions 14 A ratchet handle 18 is shown positioned such that it can be inserted into the open end 16 of the holder 10, thereby securing one to another as a handle grip would fasten by use of the friction between the mating surfaces Here the accessories are sockets 20 which have a drive attachment 22 which is traditionally square in shape The pliable material of the protrusions 14 allow for a minimal oversize of the base of the protrusion 24 and a chamfered outer

edge 26, thereby providing ease of assembly of the socket 20 onto the protrusion 14 yet with an interference fit that secures one to another Several sockets 20 are then held away from the working portion of the tool so as to not get in the way and yet they are easily seen as accessible by the user, even in cramped circumstances

Fig 3 shows the holder 10 as it would be traditionally used with a ratchet wrench 28 The holder 10 is placed on the end of the ratchet handle 18 and the sockets 20 are secured onto the protrusions 14 on the drive side of the sockets 20 The user grasps the handle as he normally would only now with the added feature of a hand grip and uses the tool 28 When he desires to change sockets, he removes socket 30 from the drive 32 switching positions with the desired socket 20 from the holder 10 No searching on the floor or toolbox is required to find the proper socket and with the socket size imprinted on the side of the socket, this positioning also simplifies locating the appropriate socket

The ratchet drive 32 follows standard sizes across the flats of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inches for most tools Larger sizes are available for industrial applications but are generally limited in scope Never the less the disclosed invention can accommodate any size tool or accessory and are to be considered part of the disclosure Though exceptions may exist, as a general rule the handle 18 diameter and the size of the drive 32 are consistent one with another, thereby making three sizes of the holder 10 instantly usable by the vast majority of tool owners

Fig 4 shows the holder 10 in a side view Here the number of protrusions 14 extending from the body 12 is four extending radially, including the one not seen, and one extending from the closed end 34 of the body 12

This number can vary but this number has been found to accommodate the user without making a cluttered array on the end of the tool

In Fig 5 the holder 10 of Fig 4 is sectioned along section line A-A and shown here The hollow portion 36 can be seen as continuous with the open end 16 of the body 12 As shown here, the back edge 38 of the hollow portion 36 extends to near the front edge 40 of the protrusions 14 This is not necessary to the function of the invention but it is preferable because it allows the full use of the lever arm of the wrench handle, thereby not distracting from the function of the tool The function of the invention is not limited to the one specific tool In

Fig 6 a screwdriver handle 42 is shown with a coupling end 44 allowing multiple bits to be used therein In this case the invention is similar to the previously disclosed in that a body 12 and a series of protrusions are used only here the protrusions are hollow protrusions 46, each being capable of receiving a screwdriver bit 48 or a hex insert bit 50 or any similar bit that is receivable in the coupling 44 The bits 48, 50 are inserted into the opening 52 in the end of the hollow protrusions 46 In a manner similar to the sockets, the friction created by the interference of the bit and the internal edge of the hollow protrusion 46 secures the bits 48, 50 while making them easily visible and accessible to the user

This alternative design is shown in side view in Fig 7 Here it is seen that the body 12 supports a series of hollow protrusions 46 Since the bits are smaller than the sockets the placement of the hollow protrusions 46 can be at a closer proximity than with the version which supported sockets Thus, more hollow protrusions 46 are shown extending radially from the body 12 This design also has a closed end but it is a flat closed end 54 This is done because typically the user of a screwdriver tool will grab the grip with one

hand while applying force on the end of the handle with the other hand, to prevent the screwdriver tip from disengaging from the workpiece Here, as before, the body 12 acts as a cushioned grip and the flat closed end 54 cushions the users palm when applying this force This is all done in conjunction with providing greater accessibility through convenient storage of the bits on the tool

Fig 8 shows the crossectional view of the invention as shown along the section line B-B of Fig 7 Here the hollow portion 56 is continuous with its open end 58, and continues to near the flat closed end 54 of the body 12 In this case, the position of the back edge 60 of the hollow portion 56 is not as critical as with the previously disclosed embodiment because the critical radius is not the length of the handle but the radial distance from the centerline, which the invention increases by the thickness of the body 12 The hollow protrusions 46 are shown with their openings 52 away from the centerline of the invention, thereby allowing positioning and retrieval of the accessory bits therein