EP2272634A1

EP2272634A1 - Device for joining the interchangeable head and handle of a hand tool

Info

Publication number: EP2272634A1
Application number: EP09730044A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Elena De Juana Cancho
Original assignee: Bellota Herramientas SL
Current assignee: Bellota Herramientas SL
Priority date: 2008-04-11
Filing date: 2009-03-23
Publication date: 2011-01-12
Also published as: ES1067659U; ES1067659Y; WO2009125030A1; EP2272634A4

Abstract

The handle (1) and head (3) are joined by means of an adapter (2) that can be fitted on the end of the handle (1), the head (3) being fitted to the other end of said adapter (2). Inside, said adapter (2) has catch/release means comprising a U-shaped part (10), the middle branch of which has, on the inside face thereof, a projection (11) for catching on a window (6) made in a plate (5) of a head (3). A pushbutton (9) associated with the U-shaped part (10) is used to unlock or release the projection (11) from the window (6), thereby freeing the handle (1) from the head (3). A spring (14), in the form of a curved strip also associated with the U-shaped part (10), constitutes the return means for said U-shaped part (10), which it tends to push constantly outwards.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as this specification states in its title, relates to a device for joining the interchangeable head and handle of a hand tool, intended to be applied to any type of handle and to any type of hand tool.
The object of the present invention is to achieve greater ease, efficiency and safety when catching/releasing the head of the respective hand tool and the corresponding adapter provided in said tool handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As known, certain types of tools are handled in use by a long handle, such that, an adapter with means for enabling the catch/release of the head belonging to the tool is usually included at its end, thus allowing different types of tools may be fitted and unfitted on a same handle, as long as their head includes catch/release means from the means provided in the adapter fitted at the end of the handle.
In such connection, a system including an aluminum handle is known, inside of which a pressure-fitted adapter is included at its end, and in adapter of which a "U" shaped-part with a small bulge is included, which is responsible for catching the tool head, namely a plate axially mounted on said head, plate that is affected in proximity to one of its end by a window wherein the bulge of the "U"-shaped part can be caught when such plate is axially inserted through the end of the adapter entirely mounted on the end of the handle.
This "U"-shaped catch part is associated with an outwardly operable pushbutton for slightly moving the catch part transversally and releasing the bulge in such part from the plate window of the head, that traverse displacement of the catch part being performed against a coil compression spring located between such part and the base or bottom of the recess wherein that catch part is precisely located, making that the aforementioned spring tends to constantly push the catch part towards its operating position, wherein the pushbutton is slightly pop outwards in order to perform the corresponding pushing.
Between the head of the plate corresponding to the tool and the end of the adapter inside fitted to the handle, a rubber part that can be assembled to/disassembled from the tool head has been provided.
The type of device just being referred has a number of problems and drawbacks, among which the following can be mentioned:

1°. -The handle including the device is triangular and made of aluminum throughout its length, which means an inadequate grip and low weight that sometimes is not appropriate for achieving a correct and effective use of the tool, regardless of whether aluminum is inappropriate from the aesthetic point of view.
2°. - The adapter provided with catch means for the tool, is mounted inside the handle, thereby in the case that disassemble is required in order to replace any element or part, difficulties are often arise.
3°. - The configuration of the catch part and the position of the spring for pushing thereof, together with the coil shape of such spring, cause functionality problems, since sometimes the spring disorientates, disabling this system for catching and pushing the pushbutton. Also, by having said catch part a "U" shape and performing the effort of pressing on one of the side branches, the breakage of such branch can be produced by taking into account that the part is made of plastic.
4°. - The rubber part mounted on the end of the tool head, by being independable, can easily get lost and also small variations in its thickness cause the system to malfunction, that the head does not catch well.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device object of the invention, based on the type above referred, has a number of innovations and improvements that allows solving the problems and drawbacks just mentioned and having the conventional mentioned device.
In such connection, the device of the invention has as first novel characteristic the fact that the catch part has a "U"-shaped configuration, but wherein the protrusion or bulge for catching the plate of the head tool consists of a rectangular section projecting from the inner central area corresponding to the middle branch of the part, thereby providing greater resistance for such part assembly.
Moreover, that catch part is associated with the pushbutton through the side branches thereof, which are affected by windows wherein elastic pins belonging to the pushbutton are imbedded, this having form of inverted rectangular box, in two walls of which are made up anchoring pins in the windows of the side branches of the "U"-shaped catch part. This system implies a reduction of efforts, by not saying that is zero, on the catch part, wherewith the possibilities of breakage thereof are practically none.
On the other hand, the driving spring of said catch part is a curved strip placed on the middle branch outer surface of the "U"-shaped catch part, the part being joining towards the strip through a small bulge outside from this which fits into a central hole of the strip, keeping it in the concrete mounting position thereof, wherewith the functionality of the catch/release system is reliable and has no disorientation problems.
As for the catch projection of the "U"-shaped part, it should be mentioned that it has a ramp for sliding the plate of the tool head, thus allowing an easy insert and catch operation of the plate of the tool head, thus facilitating such plate to be guided and slid towards the catch position, by virtue of beveled edges provided at the end of the mentioned plate.
Other novel characteristic of the device is that the handle preferably consists of a tubular section made of aluminum and the rest of a wooden body fitted on the free end of said aluminum section, constituting an axial extension thereof. That is to say, the handle is a combination of aluminum and wood, resulting in a more noble aesthetic appearance than the conventional ones.
Another novel characteristic is that the adapter including the catch/release device is externally mounted on the end of the handle, which eases its assembly when fixing any reparation, malfunction, etc.
The rubber piece acting as a stopper between the head and the adapter is provided in conventional devices; in the device of the invention it is a part injected into the adapter itself, whereby it is not independable, thus preventing its possible loss.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description that will be made now and with the purpose of helping to a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention a set of drawings is attached to the present specification, based on which the innovations and advantages of the device for joining the interchangeable head and handle of a hand tool, made according to the object of the invention, will be more easily understood.

Figure 1. - Shows a representation according to an exploded perspective overview of the different elements and parts constituting the device of the invention, including the tool head, the adapter and the handle, all made according to the invention.
Figure 2. - Shows a sectional view of the assembly between the catch part and the corresponding pushbutton, all made according to the object of the invention.
Figure 3. - Shows a side view of the assembly shown in the previous figure with the strip positioned on the bottom of the catch piece.
Figure 4. - Shows an exploded view of parts making up the tool head, its plate and front stopper of the adapter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As can be seen from the referred figures, in specific reference to figure 1, the assembly consisting of a handle 1, an adapter 2 that can be fitted on the end of said handle 1 and a tool head 3 intended to be caught/ released from the handle 1 in order to enable its interchange with other hand tool can be seen.
The handle 1 is formed by tubular and aluminum section 1' and a long wooden section 1" plug-fitted on the latter.
The adapter 2 is, in turn, a part externally fitted on the end of the section 1' of the handle 1, being fixing to this through a bolt or rivet 4, a cylindrical part 2' which is that externally and plug-fitted on the end of section 1' of the handle 1 being set on that adapter 2, and a prismatic part 2" inside of which the catch/release means of the head 3 corresponding to the tool 5 are mounted, the latter being embodied in a plate 5 with a window 6, so that the plate 5 of the tool is housed and retained in the head part 3 using a screw or bolt placed into a hole 3' of said head 3.
As for the prismatic part 2" of the adapter 2, it has a window 7 for inserting the tool plate 5 at the front end thereof, also having at its top another window 8 for locating a pushbutton 9 associated with a "U"-shaped part 10 in which the element for properly catching the tool plate 5 is placed, catch element which is determined by a projection 11 established in the middle branch of that part 10, with an initial ramp, so that when the tool plate 5 is inserted through the hole or window 7 of the adapter 2, the beveled end 5' of that tool plate 5, slides down the ramp of the projection 11 being perfectly guided and sliding inside the adapter 2 until the projection 11 is retained and positioned in the window 6 of the tool plate 5.
The pushbutton 9 is associated with the "U"-shaped catch part 10, using some pins 12 located in the inner face of the pushbutton 9 imbedded into the windows 13 provided for such purpose on the side wings of the "U"-shaped part 10.
A curved strip 14 tends to push constantly upwards the "U"-shaped part 10, by supporting on the outer surface of the middle branch of such part 10, the strip 14 being positioned by virtue of the insertion of a small bulge 15 of that U-shaped part 10 into a hole 16 provided for such purpose at the center of the mentioned strip 14.
Finally, it should be mentioned that on the end of the adapter 2, end of which corresponds to that for facing the head 3, a stopper 17 applied by injection, with the passage or flared mouth 18, determining the stop between the adapter and head is included integrated therein and therefore preventing it from being lost.

Claims

DEVICE FOR JOINING THE INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD AND HANDLE OF A HAND TOOL, wherein the handle (1) includes on one of its ends an adapter (2) with catch means associated with a pushbutton (9) and a return spring, means of which allow catching/releasing the tool head (3) itself by locking/unlocking a projection of the catch means, from a window (6) provided in a plate (5) of the tool head itself, characterized in that the catch/release means provided inside the adapter (2) body consist of "U"-shaped part (10) with a projecting rectangular section (11) on the inner face of the middle branch of said part (10), determining the catch means on the window (6) of the plate (5) of the head (3), the side branches of said "U"-shaped catch part (10) having windows (13) wherein respective side and elastic pins (12) provided for such purpose are imbedded into the part constituting the pushbutton (9), this having inverted bowl shape for its adapted fitting in an enveloping manner around the "U"-shaped catch part (10); with the particularity that the adapter (2) in which said catch means are positioned, is externally plug-mounted on the respective end of the handle (1).
DEVICE FOR JOINING THE INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD AND HANDLE OF A HAND TOOL, according to claim 1, characterized in that the projecting rectangular section (11) of the "U"-shaped catch part (10), has a first ramp section for sliding the end of the plate (5) corresponding to the tool head (3).
DEVICE FOR JOINING THE INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD AND HANDLE OF A HAND TOOL, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the plate (5) of the tool head (3), has beveled edges (5') for ease the guiding and sliding of said end through the ramp of the projecting rectangular section (11) of the catch part (10).
DEVICE FOR JOINING THE INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD AND HANDLE OF A HAND TOOL, according to claim 1, characterized in that the return spring associated with the catch means formed by the "U"-shaped part (10) and the pushbutton (9), is constituted by a curved strip (14), on maximum convexity part of which a positioning hole (16) with a small bulge (15) provided for such purpose at the outer face of the middle branch of the "U"-shaped catch part (10) has been provided, thus establishing a detention and correct position of said strip (14) in mounting in the respective recess of the adapter (2).
DEVICE FOR JOINING THE INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD AND HANDLE OF A HAND TOOL, according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle (1) preferably consists of a first tubular section made of aluminum (1') and a second wooden section (1 ") considerably longer than the latter and plug-fitted thereon.
DEVICE FOR JOINING THE INTERCHANGEABLE HEAD AND HANDLE OF A HAND TOOL, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the posterior end of the adapter (2) includes a stopper determined by an injected part (17) made of the same material.