(19)
(11) EP 1 110 674 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
22.09.2004 Bulletin 2004/39

(21) Application number: 99124891.5

(22) Date of filing: 17.12.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7B25B 13/50

(54)

Hook screw drivers

Ringösendreher

Dispositif d'entrainement pour crochet à oeil


(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR GB IT NL

(43) Date of publication of application:
27.06.2001 Bulletin 2001/26

(73) Proprietor: Hu, Bobby
Taichung (TW)

(72) Inventor:
  • Hu, Bobby
    Taichung (TW)

(74) Representative: Dokter, Eric-Michael et al
Viering, Jentschura & Partner, Patent- und Rechtsanwälte, Postfach 22 14 43
80504 München
80504 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
FR-A- 2 678 538
GB-A- 2 248 793
US-A- 4 275 621
GB-A- 1 140 722
GB-A- 191 312 045
US-A- 5 335 569
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to hook screw drivers of a kind that is disclosed, e.g., in US-A-4 275 621 or GB 12045 A A.b.1913 that may be applied to hook screws of various sizes.

    [0002] Hook screws are widely used on wooden walls for hanging objects. The user often use a pair of pliers to clamp a hook screw when mounting the hook screw to a wooden wall, which is inconvenient and may cause damage to the hook screw. Although devices have been proposed to securely hold hook screws, yet the holding effect is found unsatisfactory. In addition, the conventional devices cannot be applied to hook screws of various sizes as there are many shapes and sizes in the hook portion of the hook screw. The present invention is intended to provide improved hook screw drivers to solve these problems.

    [0003] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved hook screw driver that can be applied to securely hold hook screws of various sizes so as to mount the hook screws to a wooden wall.

    [0004] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hook screw driver having the features as set forth in claim 1.

    [0005] In an embodiment of the invention, the holding screw driver further includes an end section that has an end integral with one of the first part and the second part. The other of the first part and the second part is pivoially connected to the end section at an end thereof that is distal to the notch. Each of the first part and the second part includes an outer threading defined in an end thereof that is connected to the end section, and further comprises a retainer ring with inner threading for releasably engagement with the outer threading on the first part and the second part. The outer threading is conic and has a width that gradually increases from an end adjacent to the end section to an end distal to the end section.

    [0006] The end section may further include a stop means formed on an outer surface thereof to keep the retainer ring between the stop means and the outer threading of the holding section. The stop means may be a resilient member having a distal end projecting toward the holding section.

    [0007] The holding member may include a retaining section formed thereon, the retaining section having a pattern constructed by a plurality of spaced second blocks that constitute a plurality of grooves. ,

    [0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a hook screw driver comprises an end section and a holding section including a first part and a second part having inner sides that face each other. The first part has a first end with a first compartment defined in the inner side thereof and a second end securely connected to the end section. The second part has a first end with a second compartment defined in the inner side thereof and aligned with the first compartment and a second end pivotally connected to the end section. Each of the first part and the second part includes a holding member mounted in the first compartment and in the second compartment the holding member being made of a deformable, frictional material for securely holding a hook portion of a hook screw. At least one of the first ends of the first part and the second part has a notch defined in an end thereof and communicated with one of the first compartment and the second compartment. Through the notch, the neck portion of the hook screw is to be extended.

    [0009] Other objects, advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

    Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a hook screw driver in accordance with the present invention;

    Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hook screw driver;

    Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating opening and closing of the hook screw driver;

    Fig. 4 is a top view of the hook screw driver in use;

    Fig. 5 is a side view of the hook screw driver in Fig. 4;

    Fig. 6 is a partly sectioned side view illustrating use of the hook screw driver;

    Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of modified embodiments of the hook screw driver in Fig. 1;and

    Fig. 9 is a further modified embodiment of the hook screw driver.



    [0010] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 and 2, a hook screw driver in accordance with the present invention generally includes a holding section 10 and an end section 11. The holding portion 10 includes a first part 12 integral with the end section 11 and a second part 13. Each part 12, 13 includes an inner side that includes a compartment 121, 131 defined in a first end thereof. The first end of each part 12, 13 includes a notch 123, 133 defined therein and communicated with the compartment 121, 131. A soft holding member 122, 132 is received in the compartment 121, 131 and preferably made of a highly deformbale, high frictional material for securely holding a hook portion 101 (Fig. 4) of a hook screw 100, which will be described later. In addition, a second end of each part 12, 13 includes a threading 124, 134 defined in an outer side thereof. The threading 124, 134 may be arranged in a conic manner (Fig. 3). Namely, the width of the conic threading 124, 134 increases gradually from the second end to the first end of the associated part 12, 13. This may increase the holding effect of the hook screw 100.

    [0011] The end section 11 includes an end that is preferably integral with the second end of the first part 12. The end section 11 may include at least one resilient stop member 111 (four resilient stop members 111 in this embodiment) that has a distal end projecting outwardly toward the holding section 10. A retainer ring 20 with an inner threading 21 is passable through the resilient stop members 111, which will be described later.

    [0012] In assembly, the hook portion 101 of the hook screw 100 is placed onto the soft holding member (e.g., member 122) received in the compartment 121 of the first part 12. Then, the second part 131 is engaged with the first part 13 such that the soft holding members 122 and 132 together hold the hook portion 101 of the hook screw 100, best shown in Fig. 6. The retainer ring 20 is moved to threadedly engage with the threading 124 and 134 of the first part 12 and the second part 13, respectively, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Thus, the hook portion 101 of the hook screw 100 is securely held by the hook screw driver of the present invention. Inadvertent loss of the retainer ring 20 is prevented by provision of the resilient members 111. The neck (not labeled) of the hook screw 100 is extended through the notches 123 and 133 of the first part 12 and the second part 13, respectively. In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, the second part 13 may include a pivotal section 135 formed on the second end thereof. The pivotal section 135 is connected to the end section 11 to allow pivotal movement of the second part 13 relative to the end section I 1 and the first part 12. This may prevent inadvertent loss of the second part 13, improve holding effect of the hook screw 100, and allow easy reception of the hook screw 100.

    [0013] In use, the user may hold the hook screw driver and apply a rotational force to the hook screw driver so as to threadedly inserting a hook end 102 (Fig. 5) of the hook screw into a wooden wall (not shown). It is appreciated that the soft holding members 122 and 132 may effectively retain the hook portion 101 of the hook screw 100 as the soft holding members 122 and 132 are made of a highly deformable, high friction material. After completion of mounting of the hook screw onto the wooden wall, the retainer ring 20 is disengaged from the threading 124, 134, and the user may open the second part 13 (see the phantom lines in Fig. 3) to allow disengagement of the hook screw 100 from the hook screw driver.

    [0014] Fig. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the hook screw driver of the invention, in which the compartment 121, the holding member 122, and the notch 123 of the first part 12 are omitted. Fig. 8 illustrates another modified embodiment of the hook screw driver of the invention, in which the compartment 131, the holding member 132, and the notch 133 of the second part 13 are omitted.

    [0015] Fig. 9 illustrates a further modified embodiment of the hook screw driver of the invention, in which the holding member 122 includes a retaining section (not labeled) that has a pattern formed thereon. The pattern is constructed by a plurality of spaced blocks 1221 that constitute a plurality of grooves adapted to securely retain the hook portion 101 of the hook screw 100 the size of which may vary in a wide range. In addition, as the soft holding member 122 is made of a material that is highly deformable, even though combinations of the grooves do not include the exact configuration of the hook portion 101 of the hook screw 100, the holding member 122 can be slightly deformed to fittingly receive the hook portion 101.

    [0016] According to the above description, it is appreciated that the hook screw driver may be applied to the hook screws of numerous sizes and the operation thereof is simple.

    [0017] Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.


    Claims

    1. A hook screw driver for being applied to a hook screw having a hook portion and a neck portion, comprising a holding section (10) including a first part (12) and a second part (13) that are releasably engaged together, the first part (12) and the second part (13) having inner sides that base each other, at least the inner side of one of the first part (12) and the second part (13) having a compartment (121, 131) defined therein, said at least one of the first part (12) and the second part (13) having a notch (123, 133) defined in an end thereof and communicated with the compartment, said notch being adapted to allow the neck portion of the hook screw to extend therethrough, characterized by a holding member (122, 132) being mounted in the compartment (121, 131) and made of a deformable, frictional material for securely holding the hook portion of the hook screw in the compartment by the engagement of the first part (12) and the second part (13).
     
    2. The hook screw driver according to claim 1, further including an end section (11) that has an end integral with one of the first part (12) and the second part (13).
     
    3. The hook screw driver according to claim 2, wherein the other of the first part (12) and the second part (13) is pivotally connected to the end section (11) at an end thereof that is distal to the notch (123, 133).
     
    4. The hook screw driver according to claim 2, wherein each of the first part (12) and the second part (13) includes an outer thread (124, 134) defined at an end thereof that is connected to the end section (11), and the hook screw driver further comprises a retainer ring (20) with an inner thread (21) for releasably engagement with the outer thread on the first part and the second part.
     
    5. The hook screw driver according to claim 4, wherein the outer thread (124, 134) is conic and has a width that gradually increases from an end adjacent to the end section (11) to an end distal to the end section.
     
    6. The hook screw driver according to claim 4, wherein the end section (11) further includes a stop means formed on an outer surface thereof to keep the retainer ring (20) between the stop means and the outer thread of the holding section.
     
    7. The hook screw driver according to claim 6, wherein the stop means is a resilient member (111) having a distal end projecting toward the holding section (10).
     
    8. The hook screw driver according to claim 1, wherein the holding member (122) includes a retaining section formed thereon, the retaining section having a pattern constructed by a plurality of spaced blocks (1221) that constitute a plurality of grooves.
     
    9. The hook screw driver according to claim 1, further comprising an end section (11), the first part having a first end with a first compartment (121) defined in the inner side thereof and a second end securely connected to the end section, the second part (13) having a first end with a second compartment (131) defined in the inner side thereof and aligned with the first compartment and a second end pivotally connected to the end section, each of the first part and the second part including a holding member (122, 132) mounted in the first compartment (121) and in the second compartment (131), at least one of the first ends of the first part and the second part having a notch (123, 133) defined in an end thereof and communicated with one of the first compartment and the second compartment.
     
    10. The hook screw driver according to claim 9, wherein each of the first part (12) and the second part (13) includes an outer thread (124, 134) defined at the second end thereof, and the hook screw driver further comprises a retainer ring (20) with an inner thread (21) for releasably engagement with the outer thread on the first part and the second part.
     
    11. The hook screw driver according to claim 10, wherein the outer thread (124, 134) is conic and has a width that gradually increases from an end adjacent to the end section to an end distal to the end section (11).
     
    12. The hook screw driver according to claim 10, wherein the end section (11) further includes a stop means formed on an outer surface thereof to keep the retainer ring between the stop means and the outer holding section.
     
    13. The hook screw driver according to claim 12, wherein the stop means is a resilient member (111) having a distal end projecting toward the holding section (10).
     
    14. The hook screw driver according to claim 9, wherein the holding member (122) includes a retaining section formed thereon, the retaining plurality of spaced blocks (1221) that constitute a plurality of grooves.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Hakenschraubendreher für die Verwendung mit einer Hakenschraube, die einen Hakenabschnitt und einen Halsabschnitt hat, aufweisend einen Halteabschnitt (10) mit einem ersten Teil (12) und einem zweiten Teil (13), die in lösbarem Eingriff miteinander stehen, wobei der erste Teil (12) und der zweite Teil (13) Innenseiten aufweisen, die einander zugewandt sind, wobei zumindest die Innenseite eines des ersten Teils (12) und des zweiten Teils' (13) eine darin definierte Kammer (121, 131) aufweist, wobei zumindest eines des ersten Teils (12) und des zweiten Teils (13) eine Nut (123, 133) aufweist, die in einem Ende davon definiert ist und mit der Kammer verbunden ist, wobei die Nut angepasst ist, zu ermöglichen, dass sich der Halsabschnitt der Hakenschraube dort hindurch erstreckt, gekennzeichnet durch ein Halteteil (122, 132), das in der Kammer (121, 131) montiert ist und aus einem verformbaren, reibenden Werkstoff hergestellt ist, um den Hakenabschnitt der Hakenschraube in der Kammer durch den Eingriff des ersten Teils (12) und des zweiten Teils (13) fest zu halten.
     
    2. Hakenschraubendreher nach Anspruch 1, ferner aufweisend einen Endabschnitt (11), der ein Ende hat, das mit einem des ersten Teils (12) und des zweiten Teils (13) einstückig ist.
     
    3. Hakenschraubedreher nach Anspruch 2, wobei der andere des ersten Teils (12) und des zweiten Teils (13) mit dem Endabschnitt (11) an einem Ende davon, das distal zu der Nut (123, 133) ist, schwenkbar verbunden ist.
     
    4. Hakenschraubendreher nach Anspruch 2, wobei jeweils der erste Teil (12) und der zweite Teil (13) ein Außengewinde (123, 134) aufweist, das an einem Ende davon definiert ist, das mit dem Endabschnitt (11) verbunden ist, und der Hakenschraubendreher ferner einen Haltering (20) mit einem Innengewinde (21) für den lösbaren Eingriff mit dem Außengewinde an dem ersten Teil und dem zweiten Teil aufweist.
     
    5. Hakenschraubendreher nach Anspruch 4, wobei das Außengewinde (124, 134) konisch ist und eine Weite hat, die von einem zu dem Endabschnitt (11) benachbarten Ende zu einem zu dem Endabschnitt distalen Ende allmählich ansteigt.
     
    6. Hakenschraubendreher nach Anspruch 4, wobei der Endabschnitt (11) ferner ein Anschlagmittel aufweist, das an einer Außenfläche davon ausgebildet ist, um den Haltering (20) zwischen dem Anschlagmittel und dem Außengewinde des Halteabschnitts zu halten.
     
    7. Hakenschraubendreher gemäß Anspruch 6, wobei das Anschlagmittel ein federndes Teil (111) ist, das ein distales Ende aufweist, das zu dem Halteabschnitt (10) hin vorsteht.
     
    8. Hakenschraubendreher gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Halteteil (122) einen daran ausgebildeten Halteabschnitt aufweist, wobei der Halteabschnitt ein Muster aufweist, das durch eine Mehrzahl von im Abstand voneinander angeordneten Blöcken (1221) aufgebaut ist, die eine Mehrzahl von Nuten bilden.
     
    9. Hakenschraubendreher nach Anspruch 1, ferner aufweisend einen Endabschnitt (11), wobei der erste Teil ein erstes Ende mit einer ersten Kammer (121), die in der Innenseite davon definiert ist, und ein zweites Ende aufweist, das mit dem Endabschnitt fest verbunden ist, wobei der zweite Teil (13) ein erstes Ende mit einer zweiten Kammer (131), die in der Innenseite davon definiert ist und zu der ersten Kammer ausgerichtet ist, und ein zweites Ende aufweist, das mit dem Endabschnitt schwenkbar verbunden ist, wobei jeweils der erste Teil und der zweite Teil ein Halteteil (122, 132) aufweisen, das in der ersten Kammer (121) und in der zweiten Kammer (131) montiert ist, wobei zumindest eines der ersten Enden des ersten Teils und des zweiten Teils eine Nut (123, 133) aufweist, die in einem Ende davon definiert ist und mit einer der ersten Kammer und der zweiten Kammer verbunden ist.
     
    10. Hakenschraubendreher nach Anspruch 9, wobei jeweils der erste Teil (12) und der zweite Teil (13) ein Außengewinde (124, 134) aufweisen, das an dem zweiten Ende davon definiert ist, und der Hakenschraubendreher ferner einen Haltering (20) mit einem Innengewinde (21) für den lösbaren Eingriff mit dem Außengewinde an dem ersten Teil und dem zweiten Teil aufweist.
     
    11. Hakenschraubendreher nach Anspruch 10, wobei das Außengewinde (124, 134) konisch ist und eine Weite hat, die von einem zu dem Endabschnitt benachbarten Ende zu einem zu dem Endabschnitt distalen Ende allmählich ansteigt.
     
    12. Hakenschraubendreher nach Anspruch 10, wobei der Endabschnitt (11) ferner ein Anschlagmittel aufweist, das an einer Außenfläche davon ausgebildet ist, um den Haltering zwischen dem Anschlagmittel und dem äußeren Halteabschnitt zu halten.
     
    13. Hakenschraubendreher gemäß Anspruch 12, wobei das Anschlagmittel ein federndes Teil (111) ist, das ein distales Ende aufweist, das zu dem Halteabschnitt (10) hin vorsteht.
     
    14. Hakenschraubendreher gemäß Anspruch 9, wobei das Halteteil (122) einen daran ausgebildeten Halteabschnitt aufweist, wobei der Halteabschnitt eine Mehrzahl von im Abstand voneinander angeordneten Blöcken (1221) aufweist, die eine Mehrzahl von Nuten bilden.
     


    Revendications

    1. Tournevis pour vis à crochet destiné à être appliqué sur une vis à crochet ayant une partie de crochet et une partie de cou, comportant un tronçon de maintien (10) incluant une première partie (12) et une seconde partie (13) qui sont en prise de manière libérable ensemble, la première partie (12) et la seconde partie (13) ayant des côtés intérieurs qui sont vis-à-vis l'un de l'autre, au moins le côté intérieur d'une partie parmi la première partie (12) et la seconde partie (13) ayant un compartiment (121, 131) défini dans celui-ci, ladite au moins une partie parmi la première partie (12) et la seconde partie (13) ayant une encoche (123, 133) définie dans une extrémité de celle-ci, et mise en communication avec le compartiment, ladite encoche étant adaptée pour permettre à la partie de cou de la vis à crochet de s'étendre à travers celle-ci, caractérisé par un élément de maintien (122, 132) monté dans le compartiment (121, 131) et constitué d'un matériau de frottement déformable pour maintenir de manière sûre la partie de crochet de la vis à crochet dans le compartiment par la mise en prise de la première partie (12) et de la seconde partie (13).
     
    2. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 1, comportant de plus un tronçon d'extrémité (11) qui a une extrémité en un seul bloc avec une partie parmi la première partie (12) et la seconde partie (13).
     
    3. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'autre partie parmi la première partie (12) et la seconde partie (13) est connectée de manière pivotante au tronçon d'extrémité (11) au niveau d'une extrémité de celle-ci qui est distale par rapport à l'encoche (123, 133).
     
    4. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 2, dans lequel chacune de la première partie (12) et la seconde partie (13) comporte un filet extérieur (124, 134) défini à une extrémité de celles-ci qui est connectée au tronçon d'extrémité (11), et le tournevis pour vis à crochet comporte de plus un anneau de retenue (20) ayant un filet intérieur (21) destiné à venir en prise de manière libérable avec le filet extérieur situé sur la première partie et la seconde partie.
     
    5. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le filet extérieur (124, 134) est conique, et a une largeur qui augmente graduellement à partir d'une extrémité adjacente au tronçon d'extrémité (11) vers une extrémité distale par rapport au tronçon d'extrémité.
     
    6. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le tronçon d'extrémité (11) comporte de plus des moyens d'arrêt formés sur une surface extérieure de celui-ci pour garder l'anneau de retenue (20) entre les moyens d'arrêt et le filet extérieur du tronçon de maintien.
     
    7. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 6, dans lequel les moyens d'arrêt sont constitués d'un élément élastique (111) ayant une extrémité distale faisant saillie vers le tronçon de maintien (10).
     
    8. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'élément de maintien (122) comporte un tronçon de retenue formé sur celui-ci, le tronçon de retenue ayant un motif constitué par un pluralité de blocs espacés (1221) qui constituent une pluralité de gorges.
     
    9. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 1, comportant de plus un tronçon d'extrémité (11), la première partie ayant une première extrémité ayant un premier compartiment (121) défini dans la surface intérieure de celle-ci, et une seconde extrémité connectée de manière sûre au tronçon d'extrémité, la seconde partie (13) ayant une première extrémité ayant un second compartiment (131) défini dans le côté intérieur de celle-ci et aligné avec le premier compartiment, et une seconde extrémité connectée de manière pivotante au tronçon d'extrémité, chacune des première et seconde parties comportant un élément de maintien (122, 132) monté dans le premier compartiment (121) et dans le second compartiment (131) au niveau d'au moins une des premières extrémités de la première partie et de la seconde partie ayant une encoche (123, 133) définie dans une extrémité de celle-ci, et mise en communication avec un compartiment parmi le premier compartiment et le second compartiment.
     
    10. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 9, dans lequel chacune des première partie (12) et seconde partie (13) comporte un filet extérieur (124, 134) défini au niveau de la seconde extrémité de celles-ci, et le tournevis pour vis à crochet comporte de plus un anneau de retenue (20) ayant un filet intérieur (21) destiné à venir en prise de manière libérable avec le filet extérieur situé sur la première partie et la seconde partie.
     
    11. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le filet extérieur (124, 134) est conique, et a une largeur qui augmente graduellement à partir d'une extrémité adjacente au tronçon d'extrémité vers une extrémité distale par rapport au tronçon d'extrémité (11).
     
    12. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le tronçon d'extrémité (11) comporte de plus des moyens d'arrêt formés sur une surface extérieure de celui-ci pour garder l'anneau de retenue entre les moyens d'arrêt et le tronçon de maintien extérieur.
     
    13. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 12, dans lequel les moyens d'arrêt sont constitués d'un élément élastique (111) ayant une extrémité distale faisant saillie vers le tronçon de maintien (10).
     
    14. Tournevis pour vis à crochet selon la revendication 9, dans lequel l'élément de maintien (122) comporte un tronçon de retenue formé sur celui-ci, le tronçon de retenue comportant une pluralité de blocs espacés (1221) qui constituent une pluralité de gorges.
     




    Drawing