US1723371A - Combined tool handle and switch - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1929. o. H. PIEPER COMBINED TOOL HANDLE AND SWITCH Filed Deo. 1,2, 1924 INVENToR TORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR H. PIEPER,`OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

COMBINED TOOL HANDLE AND SWITCH.

Application filed December 12, 1924. Serial No. 755,575.

This invention. relates `to combined ytool f handles andswitches for operating electrical hand tools, such, for example, as a dental cautery, the chief object of the invention being to provide an improved instrument of this nature operating in a simple and convenient manner and having a practical form of construction comprising comparatively few parts capable of being economically manufactured and readily assembled by unskilled labor.

To these and other ends the invention re-` sides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general View of an instrument embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line ,f a--21 in Figure 1, showing the interior op-` erating parts; y i t y y Figure 3 is a View similar to B igure 2, but

with the parts in different position and additionally sectioned; l .f l

Figure l is a similar View in a sectional plane at Lright angles to that of Figures 2 and 3; f

Figure 5 isa transverse sectional view ony the line fia-.5 in Figure 3, and p y .n Figure 6 is afragmentary detail of a porA tion of the tubular handle.`

vSiinilarreference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The invention is disclosed in the present instance by way of illustration in an embodiment adapted for usewith dental hand tools, such as a cautery, comprising the handle portion proper indicated generally at 10, and a portion 11 of the usual or, any suitable construction known in the art for mounting the tool itself. As shown, the tool mount y11 is attached to one end yof the handle portion, the other end of which receives the electrical conductors for energizing the tool under-cony n trol of the handle switch.l

` yThehandle comprises preferably a main tubular portion 12 constructed yof a suitable material with relatively tliinwalls throughout the major portion of its extent Vbut thick` r ened somewhat at the tool end as at 13; This end is adapted to have the end of the tool mount 11 detachably secured therein for which ypurpose the latter is provided with a lug 14 cooperating with a bayonet slot,`ofl the usual or any suitable construction (not shown), comprising an inclined shoulder vor surface 15 .in 'the handle so that the tool mount after insertion in the latter may be turned to bring lugll into cooperation with shoulder 15 and thus securely draw the tool mount down to its seatin the handle, as Well understood in the art.

The end of the tool mount in the handle carries ay projecting contact post 16, Figure 3, surrounded in insulated relation by a shorter conducting rsleeve 17 these conducting portions extendingthrough the tool mount into connection with suitable contacts for cooperation with the tool inserted in the mount.

lVithin the handle tube 12 is a core piece 18 of any suitable insulating material and of slightly less diameter than the bore of the tube, with longitudinally extending slots 19.

These slots are for the purpose of receiving 75 cey tacliablyretained'in their slots by means of 80 a doivel pin 24 and by U-shaped collars 25 fitted over the saine in circular grooves 26 in the core piece. These securing means are readily applied and removed by hand with-l out the use of tools and securely hold the contact and insulating strips in the core piece slots. The core piece with its contacts thus assembledis readily inserted through the end ofthe handle tube opposite the tool and is secured in proper position in the tube by means of a screw/27 passed from the outside through the tube Wall and into a threaded opening 28 in the core'.

The ends of contact strips 20 and`21 opposite the tool have connected therewith the Wires 29 and 30, respectively, of an electric circuit of suitable power, these wires passing in a cord Slythrough an opening in a plug 32 detachably screwed into this end of the handle tube and equipped outside the latter with a suitable flexible guard 33 for the circuit cord kThe contact strips 2O and 21 cooperate at their other ends with the Contact elements 17 and 16, respectively, of the tool mount. Contact strip 2() is extended lor continuous engageinent with contact sleeve 17 against which. is bears through its inherent resilience so long as `thetool .mount is attached to the handle. Contact strip 21 is ext-ended opposite the end of contact rod 1G, but normally stands spaced Cil theretrom as shown in Figure 2. For this purpose the contact strip is bent near the ad- ]acent end of the core piece so as to lie inclined to t-he axis of the handle, as at 34, Figure 3. The contacts 16 and 2l thus ferm a pair ot self opening 'contacts operated by the means hereafter described.

The means for operating the switch contact-s is simple and eitective, comprising a member or sleeve 35 sliding longitudinally on the handle tube as shown. This sleeve is pret'- erably constructed ot insulating material with a thickened central portion 36 termed with a transverse bearing opening in which slides a member of plunger 37, also ot insulating material. The latter projects at its outer end from the sleeve boss 36 as shown and at its inner end has a head 38 engaging the outwardly inclined portion 34e ot the switch Contact 21 which normally presses the plunger outwardly until its head 38 engages the inner walls of the handle tube. The latter is termed with a longitudinal Vslot 39 in which the plunger works and which limits movement of the sleeve. The core piece is reduced in diameter for clearance in thisneighborhood as at Ll0, except for an end portion ell slotted to receive and guide the contact strips 2O and 21. End portion 4l() is also slabbed 0H opposite the .plunger as at 4t2 to clear the latter.

It is apparent from this construction that with the sleeve 35 in the position shown in Figure 2 plunger 37 may be conveniently depressed and released by a thumb or finger of the hand holding the handle to temporarily close and open the switch, as desired in the operation ot the instrument. VOn the other hand when it is desired to close the contacts and maintain them tor a period in closed posit-ion, this is conveniently accomplished by merely sliding sleeve 35 longitudinally on the handle toward the tool end, in which movement the plunger, sliding along the inclination of the contact 21, presses the inturned outer end thereof into engagement with the cooperating contact 16. The switch thus remains closed without holding the plunger so long as sleeve 85 remains in this outer position, but is again cey opened by sliding the sleeve longitudinally in the opposite direction.

It will be seen trom the above description of the construction and operation of the instrument that the invention provides in combination with a tool handle of compact and pleasing proportions, an exceedingly convenient switch which may be operated intermittently by merely depressing plunger 37 or maintained closed for a desired period by merely sliding sleeve 35 longitudinally ot the handle, both ot these operations being easily accomplished by a thumb or finger of the hand grasping the handle. The construction is furthermore simple, reliable and practical in character requiring but kfew parts economical to manufacture and which may be readily assembled by unskilled labor.

I claim as my invention 1. In a combined electric tool handle' and switch, a hollow tool handle containing a pair of seltopening vcontacts and actuating means therefor on said handle comprising a. pair ot members having a relative movement for temporarily closing said contacts in one position and also a movement togetherto another position for auton'iatically closing said contacts and holding the same closed.

2. In a combined electric tool handle and switch, a hollow tool handle Iccntaining a pail.` of self-opening contacts one of which is iixed within the handle and the other movable therein and relative thereto, a member adapted to be depressed againstthe action et said movable contacts Vto temporarily close the same, and a second member carrying the tirst member and movable on the handle whereby said first member will automatically `close said contacts and maintain the same closed.

3. In a combined electric tool handle and switch, a hollow tool handle containing a pair of relatively movable contacts, a plunger disposed outwardly ot said contacts and adapted to be depressed inwardly of the handle against the action of one `of said contacts for temporarily closing the same, and a sleeve carrying said plunger and movable longitudinally ot the handle said movement causing the plunger to eifect closingy said contacts and maintaining the same closed.

4. In a combined electric tool handle and switch, a hollow tool handle containing a pair of switch contacts one having an inclination to the handle axis and a resilient self-opening action, a member adapted to be depressed against the action of said resilient contact to temporarily close said contacts, and a second member carrying said first member and movable longitudinally of the handle with said first member in cooperation with theinclination of said contact for closing the contacts and maintaining the same closed.

In a combined electric tool handle and switch, a hollow tool handle containing a pair of switch contacts one having an inclination to the handle axis and a resilient self-opening action, a plunger adapted to be depressed inwardly of the handle against said resilient contact to temporarily close the contacts, and a sleeve carryinr said plunger and slidable longitudinally o the handle with said plunger in cooperation with the inclination of said contact to move the latter to closed position and hold it closed. V

6. In a combined electric tool handle and switch, ahollow tool handle, a pair of tiXed contacts therein, a core piece in said handle carrying a pair of spring contacts with one of the same engaging one of said ixed contacts and the other inclined to the handle axis and normally spaced from said other fixed Contact, a finger piece depressible in- Wardly' oit the handle against said spaced spring contact to temporarily engage the same with its :tixed contact, and a member' carrying said .finger piece and movable longitudinally of the handle with said linger piece in cooperation with the inclined portion of said Contact to move the same to and retain it in closed position.

7. In a combined electric tool handle and switch., a hollovsT tool handle, a pair of contacts therein, a longitudinally slotted core piece detachably inserted in said handle, a pair of spring contacts detachably secured in the slots of said core piece with one thereof in engagement with one of said first contacts and the other inclined to the handle axis and normally spaced from the other of said irst contacts, a sleeve slidable longitudinaliy7 oi' the handle and having a transverse bearing therein, and a plunger sliding in said bearingv and in a longitudinally extending slot in said handle in cooperation with said .inclined contact for temporarily closing the switch and for holding the switch closed When said sleeve is moved longitudinally on the handle.

8. In a device of the class described, a hollon7 handle, a pair of contacts disposed Witlr. in the handle, one of which is i'ixed and the other movable lto engage the same, said movable contact having a portion inclined to the axis of the handle, a control member movable to dilerent positions on the handle, and a second member movable on the control member tra nsverscly of the axis of the handle and arranged when the controi member is moved to one position to move relative thereto through engagement with the inclined portion of said movable Contact, and serving to move lsaid contact to closed position.

9. In a device ot' the class described, a hollow handle, a pairof contacts disposed Within the handle, one oi Which is lixed and the other movable to engage the sai e, said movable contact having a portion inclined yto the axis ot the handle, a control member movable to different positions on the handle, and a second member movable on the control member transversely of the axis of the handle and arranged When the control member is in one position to be manually `forced inwardly to engage and close the movable contact and adapted during movement of the control member to another position to automatically shift the movable contact to closed position through engagement with the inclined portion thereof.

OSCAR H. PIEPER.

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