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DE-102025144080-A1 - Drive tool with insulated shaft

DE102025144080A1DE 102025144080 A1DE102025144080 A1DE 102025144080A1DE-102025144080-A1

Abstract

Various embodiments of a drive tool with an insulated shaft are provided. In these embodiments, the shaft comprises shafts that are separated from each other, for example, by a connection, in order to reduce the electrical connection between the shafts and thus between the ends of the shaft. In these embodiments, the shaft is covered with one or more covers made of electrically resistant material.

Inventors

  • Marko Todorovic

Assignees

  • MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251028
Priority Date
20251002

Claims (20)

  1. A drive tool comprising: a handle; and a shaft detachably connected to the handle, the shaft extending along a first longitudinal axis and comprising a first shaft, a second shaft, a connection, a first functional end extending from the first shaft, and a second operational end extending from the second shaft, the connection separating the first shaft and the second shaft, with at least one section of the first shaft being inserted into the handle when the second operational end is furthest from the handle, and at least one section of the second shaft being inserted into the handle when the first operational end is furthest from the handle, the connection being formed of an electrically insulating material, and the connection being positioned between the first shaft and the second shaft to provide electrical insulation between the first shaft and the second shaft.
  2. drive tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the first shaft is formed from a first metallic material.
  3. drive tool according to Claim 2 , wherein the compound is formed from a first material and wherein the first material has less than 1% of the electrical conductivity of the first metallic material.
  4. drive tool according to Claim 2 , wherein the second shaft is formed from a second metallic material.
  5. drive tool according to Claim 4 , where the first metallic material is the same as the second metallic material.
  6. drive tool according to Claim 2 , wherein the compound is formed from a first material and wherein the first material has less than 10% of the electrical conductivity of the first metallic material.
  7. drive tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the first shaft extends from a first end to the first operative end opposite the first end, the connection surrounding the first end.
  8. drive tool according to Claim 7 , wherein the second shaft extends from a second end to the second operative end opposite the second end, the connection surrounding the second end.
  9. drive tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the first operative end comprises a cross-slot head.
  10. drive tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the second operative end includes a slotted head configured for screwing in screws.
  11. drive tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the connection is located at a midpoint of the shaft along the first longitudinal axis.
  12. A drive tool comprising: a handle; and a shaft detachably connected to the handle, the shaft extending along a first longitudinal axis and comprising a first shank connected to a second shank, such that a torque applied to a first end of the shaft is transmitted to a second end of the shaft opposite the first end with respect to the first longitudinal axis, the first shank being formed of a first piece of metallic material and the second shank being formed of a second piece of metallic material that is distinct from and separate from the first piece of metallic material, the first shank being spaced apart from the second shank along the first longitudinal axis so that the first shank does not touch the second shank.
  13. drive tool according to Claim 12 , wherein the first shaft is formed from a first metallic material, wherein the second shaft is formed from the first metallic material.
  14. drive tool according to Claim 12 , wherein the first shaft extends along a second longitudinal axis which is collinear to the first longitudinal axis, and the second shaft extends along a third longitudinal axis which is collinear to the first longitudinal axis.
  15. drive tool according to Claim 12 , where the first shaft defines a first length and the second shaft defines a second length which is within 5% of the first length.
  16. Drive tool comprising: a handle; and a shaft detachably connected to the handle, the shaft extending along a first longitudinal axis and comprising a first shank, a second shank, a joint, a first operative end extending from the first shank, a second operative end extending from the second shank, and a first coating surrounding the first shank, and comprising a second coating surrounding the second shaft, wherein the first coating and the second coating are formed of an electrically insulating material, the connection separating the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein at least one section of the first shaft is inserted into the handle when the second operative end is furthest from the handle and positioned for use, and at least one section of the second shaft is inserted into the handle when the first operative end is furthest from the handle and positioned for use.
  17. drive tool according to Claim 16 , whereby the first coating does not cover the first operative end.
  18. drive tool according to Claim 16 , wherein the wave comprises a wave coating which contains the first coating and the second coating, and wherein the first coating is integrally formed with the second coating.
  19. drive tool according to Claim 18 , wherein the wave coating defines a coating length and the wave defines a wavelength, wherein the coating length is at least 50% of the wavelength.
  20. drive tool according to Claim 18 , wherein the wave coating defines a coating length and the wave defines a wavelength, wherein the coating length is at least 80% of the wavelength.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS This application claims priority of the Provisional- US application no. 63/737082 , submitted on December 20, 2024, and the Provisional- US application no. 63/717,974 , submitted on 8 November 2024, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of hand tools. In particular, the present invention relates to a drive tool with an insulated and/or reversible shaft. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the invention relates to a drive tool comprising a handle and a shaft detachably connected to the handle. The shaft extends along a first longitudinal axis and comprises a first shaft, a second shaft, a connector, a first operative end extending from the first shaft, and a second operative end extending from the second shaft. The connector separates the first shaft and the second shaft from each other. At least one section of the first shaft is inserted into the handle when the second operative end is furthest from the handle, and at least one section of the second shaft is inserted into the handle when the first operative end is furthest from the handle. The connector is made of an electrically insulating material and is positioned between the first shaft and the second shaft to provide electrical insulation between them. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a drive tool with a handle and a shaft detachably connected to the handle. The shaft extends along a first longitudinal axis and comprises a first shaft connected to a second shaft, such that a torque applied to a first end of the shaft is transmitted to a second end of the shaft, which is opposite the first end with respect to the first longitudinal axis. The first shaft is formed from a first piece of metallic material, and the second shaft is formed from a second piece of metallic material, which is distinct from and separate from the first piece of metallic material. The first shaft is spaced apart from the second shaft along the first longitudinal axis, so that the first shaft does not touch the second shaft. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a drive tool comprising a handle and a shaft detachably connected to the handle. The shaft extends along a first longitudinal axis and comprises a first shaft, a second shaft, a connector, a first operative end extending from the first shaft, a second operative end extending from the second shaft, a first coating surrounding the first shaft, and a second coating surrounding the second shaft. The first coating and the second coating consist of an electrically insulating material. The connector separates the first shaft and the second shaft. At least one section of the first shaft is inserted into the handle when the second operative end is furthest from the handle and positioned for use, and at least one section of the second shaft is inserted into the handle when the first operative end is furthest from the handle and positioned for use. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a drive tool with a handle and a shaft that is detachably connected to the handle. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises a first section, a second section, and a connecting piece. The first section of the shaft is centered on the longitudinal axis. The second section of the shaft is centered on the longitudinal axis and is located at a distance from the first section along the longitudinal axis. The connecting piece is located between the first section and the second section and is made of a non-electrically conductive material. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a drive tool with a handle and a shaft that is detachably connected to the handle. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises a first section connected to a second section, such that a torque applied to a first end of the shaft is transmitted to a second end of the shaft opposite the first end. The first section of the shaft is formed from a first piece of metallic material, and the second section of the shaft is formed from a second piece of metallic material that is distinct from and separate from the first piece of metallic material. The first section of the shaft is spaced apart from the second section of the shaft along its longitudinal axis, so that the shafts are physically separated and the first section of the The first section of the wave does not touch the second section. In this way, no electrically conductive path is defined between the first and second sections of the wave. In a specific embodiment, a connection links the first and second sections of the wave. The connection consists of a non-metallic material whose electrical conductivity is lower than that of the metallic material of the first and second sections of the wave. Further features and advantages are set out in the following detailed description and are readily apparent to those skil