Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HAND TOOL WITH REPLACEABLE FUNCTION HEAD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hand tool with a replaceable
driving member which is easily connected to or removed from the handle.
(2) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A conventional hand tool generally includes a handle and a
driving member such as a wrench head or a box end, the driving member
usually is integrally connected to the handle and cannot be replaced. Some
hand tools have a reception recess defined in the handle so as to receive a
pivotable driving member, the reception recess requires a certain space
which makes the hand tool difficult to insert into a narrow space. U.S. Pat.
No. 7,146,886 discloses a wrench with a replaceable driving member.
However, the user has to pull the driving member to check the driving
member is well secured or not, and this is not satisfied by the users.
The present invention intends to provide a hand tool with a
replaceable driving member, the driving member and the handle are simply
hooked to each other by a pin and the driving member can be pivoted
about the pin to be operated in different angles.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hand tool which comprises a handle having
a connection end which includes two parallel arms and a space is defined
between
the two arms. A driving member has an insertion which includes an engaging
notch
defined in an underside thereof. The insertion is located in the space between
the two
arms and a pin extends through the two arms and the engaging notch of the
insertion.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand tool
comprising: a handle having a connection end which includes two parallel arms
and a
space defined between the two arms; a driving member having an insertion which
includes an engaging notch defined in an underside thereof, the insertion
located in
the space between the two arms, and a pin extending through the two arms and
the
engaging notch of the insertion, wherein the engaging notch having an open end
formed on the bottom of the insertion of the driving member for
engaging/disengaging
the driving member with/from the handle, such that the driving member is
replaced
easily; wherein a first groove is defined in an inner periphery of the
engaging notch
and a resilient clamp is engaged with the first groove, the pin includes a
second
groove with which the resilient clamp is engaged.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand tool
comprising: a handle having a connection end which includes two parallel arms
and a
space defined between the two arms, each arm having an engaging notch defined
in
an underside thereof; a driving member having an insertion which is located in
the
space between the two arms and including a through hole, and a pin engaged
with
the two engaging notches and extending through the through hole in the
insertion,
wherein the engaging notch having an open end formed on the bottom of the arm
of
the handle for engaging/disengaging the handle with/from the driving member,
such
that the driving member is replaced easily; wherein two passages are defined
in two
respective distal ends of the two arms and communicate with the engaging
notches,
two second recesses are defined in two respective inner peripheries of the
engaging
notches and located remote to the two respective distal ends of the two arms,
two
second engaging units are received in the second recesses and each of the
second
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engaging units includes a rod and a spring which biases the rod toward the
engaging
notch, the two rods partially protrude in the engaging notches and are in
contact with
the pin.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand tool
comprising: a handle having a connection end which includes two parallel arms
and a
space defined between the two arms, each arm having an engaging notch defined
in
an underside thereof; a driving member having an insertion which is located in
the
space between the two arms and including a through hole, and a pin engaged
with
the two engaging notches and extending through the through hole in the
insertion,
wherein the engaging notch having an open end formed on the bottom of the arm
of
the handle for engaging/disengaging the handle with/from the driving member,
such
that the driving member is replaced easily; wherein the pin includes two
serrated
surfaces defined in an outer periphery thereof and the serrated surfaces are
located
within the through hole of the insertion.
According to a yet further aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand
tool
comprising: a handle having a connection end which includes two parallel arms
and a
space defined between the two arms, each arm having an engaging notch defined
in
an underside thereof, a driving member having an insertion which is located in
the
space between the two arms and including a through hole, and a pin engaged
with
the two engaging notches and extending through the through hole in the
insertion,
wherein the engaging notch having an open end formed on the bottom of the arm
of
the handle for engaging/disengaging the handle with/from the driving member,
such
that the driving member is replaced easily, two passages are defined in two
respective distal ends of the two arms and communicate with the engaging
notches,
two second recesses are define in two respective inner peripheries of the
engaging
notches and located remote to the two respective distal ends of the two arms,
two
second engaging unit are received in the second recesses and each of the
second
engaging units includes a bead and a spring which biases the bead toward the
engaging notch, the two beads partially protrude in the engaging notches and
are in
contact with the pin.
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The present invention will become more obvious from the following
description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which
show,
for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with
the
present invention.
S BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an exploded view to show a first embodiment of the hand tool of
the present invention;
Fig. 1 A is an enlarged view to show the driving member and the engaging
notch in the insertion;
Fig. 2 is a partial side cross sectional view to show the hand tool of the
present invention;
Fig. 2A is an enlarged partial cross sectional view to show the bead is
pushed to be in contact with the pin;
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Fig. 3 is a perspective view to show the first embodiment of the
hand tool of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a partial side cross sectional view to show the driving
member is pivoted relative to the connection end of the hand tool of the
present invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view to show another driving member is
connected to the handle of the hand tool of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is an exploded view to show a second embodiment of the
hand tool of the present invention;
Fig. 6A is an enlarged view to show the driving member and the
engaging notch in the insertion of the second embodiment of the hand tool;
Fig. 7 is a partial side cross sectional view to show the hand tool
of the present invention in Fig. 6;
Fig. 7A is an enlarged partial cross sectional view to show the
bead is pushed to be in contact with the pin and the bead is stopped by the
stop in the second recess;
Fig. 8 is an exploded view to show a third embodiment of the
hand tool of the present invention;
Fig. 9 shows the positions of the two distal ends of the resilient
clamp in the third embodiment of the hand tool;
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Fig. 10 shows that the two distal ends of the resilient clamp in Fig.
9 are engaged with two blocks;
Fig. 11 is a partial cross sectional view to show that the resilient
clamp is lifted when mounted on the pin;
Fig. 12 is a partial cross sectional view to show that the resilient
clamp is lowered when engaged with the first groove in the pin;
Fig. 13 is a top view to show the hand tool in Fig. 8;
Fig. 14 is an exploded view to show a fourth embodiment of the
hand tool of the present invention;
14 Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the hand
tool of the present invention;
Fig. 16 is a partial side cross sectional view to show the hand tool
of the present invention in Fig. 14;
Fig. 17 is a top cross sectional view to show the hand tool of the
present invention in Fig. 14;
Fig. 18 shows that another driving member is used on the hand
tool in Fig. 14;
Fig. 19 shows that the engaging notch of in the connection end of
the handle is inclined;
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Fig. 20 shows that the inclined engaging notch is convenient to be
connected with the pin and the driving member;
Fig. 21 is an exploded view to show a fifth embodiment of the
hand tool of the present invention;
Fig. 22 is a side view to show the fifth embodiment of the hand
tool of the present invention wherein the two rods are engaged with the
teeth of the driving member, and
Fig. 23 shows that the two rods are retracted into the second
recesses in the handle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figs. 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 3 and 4, the hand tool 1 of the
present invention comprises a handle 20 having a connection end 21 which
includes two parallel arms 22 and a space defined between the two arms
22. A first recess 23 is defined in an inner end of the space between the
two arms 22 and a first engaging unit 40 is received in the first recess 23.
The first engaging unit 40 includes a spring 41 and a pawl member 42. A
driving member 10 such as a box end which includes a polygonal hole 11
and an insertion 12 extending from the driving member 10. The insertion 12
includes an engaging notch 121 defined in an underside thereof and the
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insertion 12 is located in the space between the two arms 22. The distal
end of the insertion 12 includes teeth 122 defined therein.
A pin 30 extends through two respective through holes 221 in the
two arms 22 and the engaging notch 121 of the insertion 12 so that the
driving member 10 is pivotably connected between the two arms 22. The
pawl member 42 is engaged with one of the teeth 122 to position the
driving member 10 at different angles.
A passage 123 is defined in a distal end of the insertion 12 and
communicates with the engaging notch 121, a second engaging unit 50 is
received in the passage 123. The second engaging unit 50 includes a bead
51, a spring 52 which biases the bead 51 toward the engaging notch 121
and a seal member 53 which seals an opening defined by the passage 123
in the distal end of the insertion 12. The bead 51 partially protrudes in the
engaging notch 121 and is in contact with the pin 30 as shown in Fig. 2A. A
stop 124 extends inward from an inner periphery of the passage 123 so as
to stop the bead 51 from disengaging from the passage 123.
It is easily to replace another driving member such as the open
end wrench head shown in Fig. 5 by applying a force in a first direction to
the connection end 21 and applying a force in opposite direction to the
driving member 10, the pin 30 is disengaged from the engaging notch 121.
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Figs. 6, 6A, 7 and 7A show a second embodiment of the hand tool
1 wherein a second recess Al is defined in an inside of the engaging notch
121 and communicates with the engaging notch 121. The second recess
Al is located remote to a distal end of the insertion 12 and located in
alignment with the passage 123. A second engaging unit 50 is received in
the second recess Al and includes a bead 51 and a spring 52 which biases
the bead 51 toward the engaging notch 121. The bead 51 partially
protrudes in the engaging notch 121 and is in contact with the pin 30. A
stop 124 extends inward from an inner periphery of the second recess Al
so as to stop the bead 51 from disengaging from the second recess Al.
Figs. 8-13 show a third embodiment of the hand tool 1 of the
present invention wherein the passage 123 and the second recess Al are
omitted, and a first groove 131 is defined in an inner periphery of the
engaging notch 121. A resilient clamp B2 is engaged with the first groove
B1. The pin 30 includes a second groove B4 with which the resilient clamp
B2 is engaged. The two distal ends of the resilient clamp 62 extend an
angle. Two blocks 83 extend from the inner periphery of the engaging
notch 121 and are located at two ends of the first groove 131, the two distal
ends of the resilient clamp B2 are engaged with the two blocks B3 when
the resilient clamp B2 is engaged with the first groove B1. As shown in Fig.
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11, when the pin 30 is inserted in the engaging notch 121, the resilient
clamp B2 is mounted to the outer periphery of the pin 30 so that the two
distal ends of the resilient clamp B2 are lifted, and when the resilient clamp
B2 is engaged with the second groove B4 in the outer periphery of the pin
30, the two distal ends of the resilient clamp B2 are lowered and engaged
with the two blocks B3.
Figs. 16-17 show a fourth embodiment of the hand tool 1 and
includes a handle 20 having a connection end 21 which includes two
parallel arms 22 and a space defined between the two arms 22. Each arm
22 has an engaging notch 121 defined in an underside thereof. A first
recess 23 is defined in an inner end of the space between the two arms 22
and a first engaging unit 40 is received in the first recess 23. The first
engaging unit 40 includes a spring 41 and a pawl member 42. Two
passages C2 are defined in two respective distal ends of the two arms 22
and communicate with the engaging notches 121. Two second recesses
C3 are define in two respective inner peripheries of the engaging notches
121 and located remote to the two respective distal ends of the two arms
22. Two second engaging unit 50 are received in the second recesses C3
and each of the second engaging units 50 includes a bead 51 and a spring
52 which biases the bead 51 toward the engaging notch 121,
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A driving member 10 such as a box end which includes a
polygonal hole 11 and an insertion 12 extends from the driving member 10.
The insertion 12 is located in the space between the two arms 22 and
includes a through hole C1. The distal end of the insertion 12 includes teeth
122 defined therein.
A pin 30 is engaged with the two engaging notches 121 and
extends through the through hole C1 in the insertion 12. The pawl member
42 is engaged with one of the teeth 122. The two beads 51 partially
protrude in the engaging notches 121 and are in contact with the pin 30.
The pin 30 includes two serrated surfaces C4 defined in an outer periphery
thereof and the serrated surfaces C4 are located within the through hole C1
of the insertion 12 so as to increase the friction between the pin 30 and the
through hole C1. Another driving member 10 such as an open end wrench
head shown in Fig. 18 can be easily connected to the handle 20.
Fig. 19 shows that two respective axes of the two engaging
notches 121 are inclined relative to an axis of the connection end 21 of the
handle 20. As shown in Fig. 20, when a user holds the handle 20 the
inclined engaging notches 121 are orientated to be easily engaged with the
pin 30.
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Figs. 21-23 show a fifth embodiment of the hand tool 1 of the present
invention, wherein two passages C2 are defined in two respective distal ends
of the
two arms 22 and communicate with the engaging notches 121. Two second recesses
C3 are defined in two respective inner peripheries of the engaging notches 121
and
located remote to the two respective distal ends of the two arms 22. Two
second
engaging units 50 are received in the second recesses C3 and each of the
second
engaging units 50 includes a rod El and a spring 52 which biases the rod El
toward
the engaging notch 121. The two rods El partially protrude in the engaging
notches
121 and are in contact with the pin 30. A top hole E4 is defined in a top of
the
connection end 21 and communicates with the first recess 23 and the two second
recesses C3. A flange E2 extends inward from an inner periphery of the top
hole E4.
An operation unit E is engaged with the top hole E4 and includes a horizontal
thumb
plate E5 and an operation plate E51 which extends perpendicularly from the
thumb
plate E5. The operation plate E51 includes a recess defined in a lower edge
thereof
and the pawl member 42 is movably engaged with the recess. The two distal ends
of
the operation plate E51 are engaged with two respective notches Ell defined in
the
two rods El. A cover E3 is connected on the flange E2 and the thumb plate E5
is
movably located above the cover E3.
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The two rods El are retracted into the second recesses C3 when
the thumb plate E5 and the operation plate E51 are moved in a direction
away from the driving member 10. By this way, the driving member 10 can
be easily disconnected from the connection end 21 of the handle 20.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in
accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in
the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
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