Faucet or valve handle turning tool

Abstract

A faucet or valve handle turning tool is provided and includes an elongated, cylindrical body of machinable or moldable material having a handle at one end and a cavity formed in the opposite end. The cavity is formed with inwardly extending sidewalls and has at least one portion conforming to the peripheral contour of a faucet or valve handle. In particular, the sidewalls of such cavity may have similar elliptical contours. In at least one example, the cavity may be formed by means of mechanical routing and removal of material from the tool body. In use, the tool thereby reduces the possibility of damage to a polished faucet or valve handle frequently caused by hardened conventional plumbing tools.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrally formed, rotatable handle for providing rotational leverage to a faucet or valve handle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, enlarged view of oppositely located end portions of the tool of FIG. 1.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the tool of FIG. 5 and its preferred elliptical cavity.

FIG. 7 is another version of the tool of FIGS. 1 and 2, but with an elliptically formed, two-stepped end cavity.

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.

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.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention that may be embodied in other specific structures.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated the tool 10 of this invention having a generally cylindrical, elongated, body 12 with a radially extended lever arm or handle 11 and distal end 40. The lever arm 11 extends from the periphery of the cylindrical body 12 to provide manually rotatable leverage to the tool for rotation of a valve handle (not shown in FIG. 1). In the present case, it has been found to be convenient to form the lever arm 11 in the shape of a conventional “shovel-type” handle which may be formed as an integral part of the body 12, as shown. A preformed handle (not shown) may be made of two mating elongate members affixed or otherwise joined in mating relationship to surround the cylindrical body 12. In addition the handle or lever arm 11 may be formed by passing a rigid, elongated rod through an opening formed transversely through the end of body 12 opposite its distal end 40. Also, the lever arm 11 may be constructed from the combination of a hexagonal protrusion formed on the end of the body 12 opposite distal end 40 in combination with a wrench. The wrench could include any of the following: open end wrench, box end wrench, socket wrench, crescent wrench or the like. All versions of the lever arm or handle 11 could conceivably be made of a one-piece, unitary construction, such as molded from a suitable plastic material.

It will be further apparent that the present tool 10 may have a machined outline made by means of a conventional router or shaper bit having the desired configuration for forming the recessed area or cavity 14. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the cavity 14 is shown with parallel straight, oppositely disposed, sidewalls 16a and 18a. As is disclosed in FIG. 3, the sidewalls 16a and 18a may be selectively positioned in spaced relationship to accommodate the larger of the two conventional elliptical faucet or valve handles shown herein by phantom line 20a. The width between the sidewalls 16a and 18a may be of such dimension as to also accommodate a smaller version of a conventional faucet or valve handle as disclosed in FIG. 3 shown herein by phantom line 20b. Other embodiments of the present invention will be shown and described in the figures to follow.

It is preferred, and is a part of this invention, to provide a body of plastic, wood or other relatively soft texture to mate with the valve or faucet handle when compared to the exterior of a typical metallic faucet or valve handle rotatably operated by the tool of this invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical body 12 may be secured to a separate handle or lever 11 constructed of a hard material such as steel, cast iron or the like. As shown in FIG. 2A, the body 12 could be connected to the handle 11 by means of a transversely located screw or screws through the opening as shown.

As stated in the Brief Description of the Drawings, FIG. 4 is illustrative of a typical transverse recess made by a router or mechanical shaping tool, shown in phantom line 24, and having a conventional straight bit 26 and positioned, as shown, to traverse the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body 12, and thereby define the sidewalls 16a and 18a rising from the inwardly recessed area 14.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 illustrates a relatively shortened length body 12 of the tool 10. In particular, the view of FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a machined recess or cavity 14b having an elliptical configuration.

As shown in FIG. 6, the elliptical configuration is defined geometrically by a major axis 30 and a minor axis 32. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be observed that the machined elliptical configuration of the recess 14b is measured to grippingly grasp a conventional faucet or valve handle 20a, shown in phantom outline in the view of FIG. 6. The recessed area 14b of FIG. 6 may also be modified in size to accommodate a smaller faucet or valve handle; as shown in phantom line 20b in FIG. 3.

The alternative embodiment of FIG. 7 depicts a stepped recess formed in the cylindrical body 12 to provide an inwardly located, relatively smaller, faucet or valve handle outline in the deeper recess 14d using the stepped down sidewalls 16d and 18d from the deeper recess 14d. A relatively larger conventional faucet or valve handle may be received by the laterally extending sidewalls 16e and 18e defining the larger recess 14c.

The present invention may also adopt the configuration shown in FIG. 8, wherein a horizontal recess 14f and a vertical recess 14e may be formed, machined or otherwise inwardly axially disposed relative to the distal end 40 of the body 12. Such arrangement provides means for operating the faucet or valve handle in the desired rotative direction and accommodates the workable spacing available for rotating the faucet or valve handle.

Another alternative configuration is shown in FIG. 9 whereby placement of relatively thin filler strips 42 and 44 having laterally extending sidewalls 16d′ and 18d′ define a smaller cavity as compared to the cavity formed by sidewalls 16e and 18e integral with the body 12. The placement of oppositely disposed, relatively thin, strips 42 and 44 can optionally be glued, interference fit or otherwise tacked in place to receive a relatively smaller sized faucet or valve handle 20b (not shown).

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A faucet handle turning tool for engaging and actuating a faucet handle, the tool comprising:

an elongated, longitudinally extending, cylindrical body;

said cylindrical body comprising a cavity extending axially inwardly from end portion of said body and manually rotatable gripping means at the opposite end portion of said body.

2. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 1, wherein said cavity has at least one inwardly extending sidewall;

said indentation having a periphery generally conforming to the peripheral contour of said faucet handle, and being arranged to engage and alternatively rotate said faucet handle in opposed opening or closing directions.

3. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 2, wherein the mating surface of the cavity formed in the one end of said cylindrical body has a surface hardness less than the surface hardness of the mating surface of the faucet handle.

4. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 3, wherein the one end of said body containing said cavity is of wooden material.

5. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 3, wherein the one end of said body is of molded plastic material.

6. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 2, wherein the inwardly extending sidewall of said cavity is defined by an elliptically formed peripheral contour.

7. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 2, wherein said cavity includes radially spaced indentations of substantially identical ellipsoidal contour to accommodate faucet handles having mating ellipsoidal contours.

8. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 7, wherein the radially spaced indentations are respectively located at separate levels projecting inwardly parallel with the axis of said cylindrical body.

9. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 8, wherein the radially spaced indentations are provided by relatively thin filler strips of substantially even height located to define separate levels projecting inwardly parallel with the axis of said cylindrical body.

10. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 2, wherein the inwardly extending sidewall indentation of said cavity is formed by mechanical routing and removing material from the exposed surface of said one end portion.

11. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 9, wherein a cylindrical body of said turning tool is comprised of a machinable composition of lesser hardness than the exposed surface of said faucet handle to thereby reduce the possibility of damage to said faucet handle surface.

12. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 2, wherein said cavity includes two elongated, axially extending, sidewall indentations, and wherein the respective longitudinal axes of said indentations are located in transversely relative relationship.

13. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 12, wherein the respective longitudinal axes of said indentations are located in perpendicular relationship.

14. The faucet handle turning tool of claim 12, wherein the respective peripheries of said indentations are of elliptical contour and wherein the elliptical major and minor axes are located in perpendicular relationship.