Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to improvements in an implement
handle. In particular this invention relates to an improved
clamping jaw assembly for releasably clamping an implement
to a handle.
The clamping jaw assembly of the present invention is
suitable for use in association with a hand tool assembly of
the type disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 1,117,481 dated
Feb. 2, 1982.
PRIOR ART
In my prior clamping jaw assembly I provided a seperate
clamping member for use in releasably securing the two jaws
in the clamping position .The use of a seperate jaw requires
a two hand manipulation of the assembly to lock and release
the jaws and this can create difficulties when attempting to
remove an implement, such as a wet paint roller, which must
be manually supported during removal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved clamping jaw assembly which can be manipulated
between an open and a closed position by a one handed
operation.
A further disadvantage of the structure of ~ny prior
assembly is that ~he clamping device was detachable from the
jaws and could be lost or misplaced during storage or use.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide an improved clamping jaw assembly in which the
clamping jaws can be releasably locked with respect to one
another without the aid of a seperate clamping member.
SUMMERY OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present lnvention there
is provided in an implement handle assembly having a handle
portion and first and second jaws each having a clamping
face adapted to co-operate with one another to releasably
engage a mounting member of an implement when in a
face-to-face clamping position,said first jaw being fas-t
with respect to said handle,the improvement wherein; said
first jaw has a mounting edge extending trans~ersly of the
distal end thereof, and said second jaw has a locking lip
formed at the distal end thereof, said lip being shaped and
proportioned to hook around said mounting edge when said
jaws are in said clamping position to lock said jaws in
clamping position,and wherein said second jaw has its
proximal end both pivotally and slidably mounted with
respect to said handle whereby said first jaw may slide
between an extended position and a retracted position and
may pivot between an open position and said clamping
position with respect to said first jaw such that when said
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second jaw is in said retracted and clamping positions said
locking lip is hooked around said mounting edge to prevent
pivotal mov~ment of said first jaw, and when said second jaw
is in said extended position said second jaw is free to
pivot between said clamping position and said open position.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.
The invention will be more clearly understood with
reference to the following detailed specification in
conjunction with the drawings wherein;
Fig 1 is a pictorial plan view of a handle assembly
constructed according to an embodiment of the present
invention,
Fig 2 is a view similar to Figl showing the clamping
jaws in a closed position,
Fig 3 is a sectional side view taken along the line 3-3
of Fig 2 showing the first two steps in the clamping
procedure,
Fig 4 is a view similar to Fig 3 showing the jaws in
the loc~ed position.
With reference to Figure 1 of the drawlngs, the reference
numeral 10 refers generally to a modular hand~tool of the type
described in my copending application serial No. 242,291 which
includes a handle assembly generally identified by the reference
numeral 20 and a paint roller assembly generally identified by
z
the reference numeral 30. The paint roller assembly comprises a
roller frame assembly 32 which has a generally V-shaped coupling
component 34 at one end thereof and a roller coater 36 mounted
for ro-tation at the other end thereof.The structure of the
roller assembly 30 may be substantially the same as that
described in our Canadian Patent No. 1,117,481 dated Feb. 2,
1982, and will not therefore be described in detail.
The handle assembly 20 comprises a manually engageable
handle portion 22 upon which a first jaw 24 is rigidly mounted
and a second jaw 26 is pivotally mounted. The first jaw 24 has
a pair of arms 42 within which a U-shaped channel 28 is formed.
The U-shaped channel 28 extends along a generally V-shaped path
corresponding to the configuration of the coupling member 34 of
the roller frame. A bridge member 40 extends transversely
between the distal ends of the arms 32. The bridge member 40
has a mounting edge 44 (Figs. 3 and 4) upon which the second jaw
is locked as will be described hereafter.
A shoulder 46 is formed at the distal end of the end
portion 22 and a pivot pin 48 is mounted to project laterally
from the shoulder 46 on opposite sides thereof. An enlarged
head portion 50 is located at each end of the pivot pin 48.
The proximal end of the second jaw 26 is bi~urcated to
provide a pair of arms 52 each oE which is formed with an
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elongated passage 54 which receives the pivot pin 48. A hoo~
shaped lip 56 is located at the distal end of the second jaw 26
and is proportioned to fit in a close fitting relationship about
the mounting edge 44 of the bridge member 40. A thumb-pad 58 is
mounted on the upper face 60 of the second jaw 26 so as to be
engageable by the thumb of the user when the handle portion 22
is in the grasp of the user. A stiffening ridge 62 extends
transversely of the distal end of the second jaw 24.
The reerence numeral 41 refers generally to the clamping
face of the first jaw 24 and the reference numeral 43 re~ers
generally to the clamping face o~ the second jaw 26.
The first jaw 24 is fast with respect to the handle portio.n
22 and the second jaw 26 is both pivotally and slidably mounted
on the pivot pin 48 for movement between an extended open
position as shown in Figure l and a retracted closed position as
shown in Figures 2 and 4.
In use, the second jaw 26 is positioned as shown in Figure
l of the drawings so as to permit the coupling element 34 to be
seated in the channel 28. The second jaw 26 is, then, pivoted
to the closed position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.This
can be achieved by the user merely pushing the thumb pad 58 with
the thumb o~ the hand which is used to grasp the handle 22.
Thereafter, the second jaw 26 is moved to the retracted position
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shown in Figure 3 and, again, this can be achieved by the
application of a load in the direction of the arrow A indicated
in Figure 3 and such a load can be applied by the thumb of the
hand used to grasp the handle portion 22. This causes the jaw
26 to slide along the pivot pin 48 to position the locking lip
56 over the locking edge 44, the locking lip 56 being
proportioned to provide a tight fit over the locking edge 44 so
that it will not be accidentally dislodged in use.
The second jaw 26 can be released in order to permit it to
return to the open position by the application of a load
applied to the thumb pad 58 in the direction of the arrow B
which can be applied by the thumb of the hand used to grasp the
handle portion 22.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the implement
handle assembly of the present invention provides a simple and
efficient clamping jaw which facilitates the mounting and
removal of an implement. It will be apparent that other
implements having a coupler element corresponding to the coupler
element 34 may be mounted in the handle assembly of the present
invention. Other implements may include sanding pads, scrapers
or the like.
