COUPLING FOR HANDLE AND TOOL HEAD
A coupling for an elongated handle and a tool head is provided. The coupling may be positioned at the handle upper end after the handle upper end has passed through the tool head eye. The coupling is a frustoconical shape which engages the tool head in a manner of a slip eye coupling. However, because the lower end of the handle does not pass through the tool head eye, the lower end of the handle, i.e., the grip, may have any shape. Thus, the present invention allows for use of a slip eye coupling while also allowing the handle grip to be of any shape.
1 . A coupling for an elongated handle and a tool head, said tool head having an eye therethrough, said handle having a upper end sized to pass through said tool head eye, said handle upper end having a mounting structured to be engaged by an anchor device, said coupling comprising:
a compressible collar assembly having a body with an inner surface defining a cavity and an external surface defining a frustoconical shape, and an anchor device;
said inner cavity sized to accommodate said handle upper end; and
said anchor device structured to engage said handle upper end mounting and to resist axial movement of the compressible collar assembly relative to said handle upper end.
2 . The coupling of claim 1 wherein said compressible collar assembly body includes a first member and a second member, said first member and a second member structured to be coupled together while disposed about said handle upper end.
3 . The coupling of claim 2 wherein said handle upper end mounting includes at least one narrow portion of said handle upper end and at least one wide portion of said handle upper end, and wherein said compressible collar assembly anchor device includes a cavity inner surface shaped to correspond to the shape of said handle upper end mounting.
4 . The coupling of claim 3 wherein said handle upper end mounting at least one wide portion includes a circumferential face extending substantially about said handle upper end, and wherein said compressible collar assembly anchor device includes at least one anchor face structured to engage said handle upper end mounting circumferential face in a generally face-to-face manner.
5 . The coupling of claim 4 wherein said handle upper end mounting circumferential face extends in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle, and wherein said compressible collar assembly anchor device anchor face extends in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle.
6 . The coupling of claim 4 wherein said handle upper end mounting circumferential face is part of at least one groove extending substantially about said handle upper end, and wherein:
said compressible collar assembly anchor device includes at least one ridge extending from said compressible collar assembly body inner surface; and
said compressible collar assembly anchor device at least one ridge includes said compressible collar assembly anchor device anchor face and said compressible collar assembly anchor device at least one ridge is sized to be disposed within said handle upper end mounting groove.
7 . The coupling of claim 6 wherein said handle upper end mounting circumferential face extends in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle and wherein said compressible collar assembly anchor device at least one ridge has a generally rectangular cross-section.
8 . The coupling of claim 7 wherein:
said compressible collar assembly further includes a mounting ring, said mounting ring sized to pass through said tool head eye, said mounting ring having an upper face, a first inner surface, and a second inner surface, said first inner surface adjacent to said upper face;
said compressible collar assembly mounting ring second inner surface shaped to fit snugly about said handle upper end;
said compressible collar assembly mounting ring first inner surface shaped to be spaced from said handle upper end;
whereby, when said compressible collar assembly mounting ring is disposed on said handle upper end, a hollow is created between said handle upper end and said compressible collar assembly mounting ring second inner surface, said hollow being disposed adjacent to said compressible collar assembly mounting ring upper face; and
said compressible collar assembly body having a lower end, said lower end having an axial extension, said axial extension extending in a direction generally parallel to said handle axis, said axial extension sized to be disposed within said compressible collar assembly mounting ring hollow.
9 . The coupling of claim 8 wherein said collar assembly body first member and second member are each coupled to said mounting ring by a living hinge.
10 . The coupling of claim 1 wherein said compressible collar assembly does not include an adhesive structured to couple said handle to said tool head.
11 . The coupling of claim 1 wherein said compressible collar assembly is coupled to said handle upper end without fracturing said handle upper end.
12 . A tool comprising:
a tool head having an eye therethrough;
a handle having an upper end sized to pass through said tool head eye, said handle upper end having a mounting structured to be engaged by an anchor device;
a compressible collar assembly structured to couple said tool head and said handle, said compressible collar assembly having a body with an inner surface defining a cavity and an external surface defining a frustoconical shape, and an anchor device;
said inner cavity sized to accommodate said handle upper end; and
said anchor device structured to engage said handle upper end mounting and to resist axial movement of the compressible collar assembly relative to said handle upper end.
13 . The tool of claim 12 wherein said compressible collar assembly body includes a first member and a second member, said first member and a second member structured to be coupled together while disposed about said handle upper end.
14 . The tool of claim 13 wherein:
said handle upper end mounting includes at least one narrow portion of said handle upper end and at least one wide portion of said handle upper end; and
said compressible collar assembly anchor device includes a cavity inner surface shaped to correspond to the shape of said handle upper end mounting.
15 . The tool of claim 14 wherein:
said handle upper end mounting at least one wide portion includes a circumferential face extending substantially about said handle upper end; and
said compressible collar assembly anchor device includes at least one anchor face structured to engage said handle upper end mounting circumferential face in a generally face-to-face manner.
16 . The tool of claim 15 wherein:
said handle upper end mounting circumferential face extends in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle; and
said compressible collar assembly anchor device anchor face extends in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle.
17 . The tool of claim 15 wherein:
said handle upper end mounting circumferential face is part of at least one groove extending substantially about said handle upper end;
said compressible collar assembly anchor device includes at least one ridge extending from said compressible collar assembly body inner surface; and
said compressible collar assembly anchor device at least one ridge includes said compressible collar assembly anchor device anchor face and said compressible collar assembly anchor device at least one ridge is sized to be disposed within said handle upper end mounting groove.
18 . The tool of claim 17 wherein:
said handle upper end mounting circumferential face extends in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle; and
said compressible collar assembly anchor device at least one ridge has a generally rectangular cross-section.
19 . The tool of claim 18 wherein:
said compressible collar assembly further includes a mounting ring, said mounting ring sized to pass through said tool head eye, said mounting ring having an upper face, a first inner surface, and a second inner surface, said first inner surface adjacent to said upper face;
said compressible collar assembly mounting ring second inner surface shaped to fit snugly about said handle upper end;
said compressible collar assembly mounting ring second inner surface shaped to be spaced from said handle upper end;
whereby, when said compressible collar assembly mounting ring is disposed on said handle upper end, a hollow is created between said handle upper end and said compressible collar assembly mounting ring second inner surface, said hollow being disposed adjacent to said compressible collar assembly mounting ring upper face; and
said compressible collar assembly body having a lower end, said lower end having an axial extension, said axial extension extending in a direction generally parallel to said handle axis, said axial extension sized to be disposed within said compressible collar assembly mounting ring hollow.
20 . The tool of claim 19 wherein said collar assembly body first member and second member are each coupled to said mounting ring by a living hinge.
21 . The tool of claim 12 wherein said compressible collar assembly does not include an adhesive structured to couple said handle to said tool head.
22 . The tool of claim 12 wherein said compressible collar assembly is coupled to said handle upper end without fracturing said handle upper end.