| Faucet or valve handle turning tool -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Faucet or valve handle turning toolRelated Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, MiscellaneousFaucet or valve handle turning tool description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070180611, Faucet or valve handle turning tool. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to a plumbing tool and, more specifically, to a versatile faucet or valve handle turning tool. When servicing or replacing plumbing fixtures, such as sinks and toilets, it is often required that the water supply to the fixture be turned off. It is typical in residential and commercial construction to place a shut off faucet or valve in close proximity to the plumbing fixture. Because a significant amount of time can elapse between actuation of the shut off faucet or valve, it is common for these valves to "stick" or become difficult to operate. In addition, the location of the shut off faucet or valve in close proximity to the plumbing fixture often makes it difficult easily access the valve and obtain the needed leverage to turn the valve handle to the off position. Furthermore, placing a common monkey wrench, pipe wrench or channel lock pliers on the faucet or valve handle can damage (and sometimes destroy) the handle. There exists a need for a tool of simple construction that allows the user to actuate the shut off faucet or valve with ease without damaging the valve during use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0002] A preferred example of the faucet or valve handle turning tool includes a cavity formed at one end of the tool body and a handle at the opposite end. The cavity receives a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a conventional faucet or valve handle. [0003] The faucet or valve handle turning tool of the present invention facilitates alternative rotation of a faucet or valve handle, and in particular, faucet or valve handles located in cramped working quarters. In addition, the invention provides a recessed gripping cavity of relatively soft material when compared with the exposed gripping surface of said tool handle. The recessed gripping cavity of the tool may be relatively straight in configuration including a major and a minor axis to provide increased rotational strength required for rotation of said tool handle upon a faucet or valve handle. [0004] In another embodiment, there is formed an ellipsoidal cavity which includes an inwardly extending, elliptically formed, peripheral sidewall substantially matching the mating peripheral surface of a conventional faucet or valve handle. This elliptical configuration also permits a relatively greater gripping contour for alternative rotation of the faucet or valve handle. Varying the length of one or both major or minor dimension of the elliptical axes provides a more versatile design for known hexagonal, octagonal and abraded circular surfaces of conventional faucet or valve handles. A novel elliptical contour with the possibilities of varying length of the major and/or minor axes provides means of grasping handles of contours other than elliptical. [0005] In addition, the specific concave end of present turning tool utilizes a wooden, plastic, or otherwise machinable or moldable material providing a relatively soft mating, scratch-resistant surface for engaging relatively highly polished, metallic faucet or valve handles. It was also discovered that the ellipsoidal cavitation of the novel device provides ample room for variations in size of an elliptical faucet or valve handle. The elongation of the elliptical sides provides sufficient grasp for turning the handle in either direction. [0006] It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a tool which allows the application of high torque in either the opening or closing direction of a highly polished decorative faucet or valve handle located in a narrow working area. [0007] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a tool which securely and firmly fits onto the faucet or valve handle without causing damage thereto. [0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a longitudinally elongated tool defining a recessed opening at one end thereof, and wherein the recessed opening or cavity has an elliptical configuration. [0009] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a tool for accommodating faucet or valve handles, and which tool includes an elongated handle for minimizing difficulty reaching inwardly of a cabinet, lavatory or toilet during installation or routine maintenance procedures. [0010] It is a further object of this invention to provide a faucet or valve handle turning tool including one end of the tool terminating in a recess or cavity of lesser material hardness when compared to the hardness of the exposed surface of the faucet or valve handle, to thereby reduce the possibility of damage to a gripped faucet handle surface. [0011] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a faucet or valve handle turning tool having a cylindrical body of machinable or moldable material composition formed at one end of the supporting cylindrical body with a faucet or valve handle gripping cavity of preferred ellipsoidal configuration. The opposite end of the cylindrical body is provided with manual gripping means radially extending from the periphery of the cylindrical body for rotational leverage of the tool with respect to the faucet or valve handle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrally formed, rotatable handle for providing rotational leverage to a faucet or valve handle. [0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective, enlarged view of oppositely located end portions of the tool of FIG. 1. [0014] FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of another version of the faucet or valve handle gripping end of the tool of FIG. 1, and wherein a separately formed, cavitational surface is provided. [0015] FIG. 3 is an end view of the tool of FIGS. 1 and 2, and showing, in phantom, the relative position of comparable ellipsoidal handle configurations of varying sizes, and which may be accommodated by the tool of this invention. [0016] FIG. 4 is a side view of the faucet or valve handle turning tool of FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, and showing a relative machine position of an operating router, mechanical shaping tool or the like, during formation of the slotted, recessed cavity protruding axially relative to the cylindrical body of the tool. [0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view integrally formed tool of this invention, which tool includes an elliptically formed recess for preferably accommodating elliptically configured faucet or valve handles. [0018] FIG. 6 is an end view of the tool of FIG. 5 and its preferred elliptical cavity. [0019] FIG. 7 is another version of the tool of FIGS. 1 and 2, but with an elliptically formed, two-stepped end cavity. [0020] FIG. 8 is illustrative of an end view of a faucet or valve handle turning tool, wherein perpendicular or transversely arranged recessed areas are disposed for retention of elliptical faucet handles having either a vertical or a horizontal axis and being disposed in relative perpendicular directions. [0021] FIG. 9 is an end view of the tool of this invention depicting a valve handle gripping configuration arranged for accommodating two conventionally sized faucet or valve handles, and in which a smaller size handle is accommodated by means of placement of oppositely disposed strips of material positioned inwardly with respect to the exposed outer surface of the cavity or recessed area of larger dimension. Continue reading about Faucet or valve handle turning tool... Full patent description for Faucet or valve handle turning tool Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Faucet or valve handle turning tool patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Faucet or valve handle turning tool or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Sink lining system and method therefor Next Patent Application: Patient removal system Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Faucet or valve handle turning tool patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.09135 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
