GB2209301A

GB2209301A - Hand tools

Info

Publication number: GB2209301A
Application number: GB8820397A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Christopher Alsop; Brian Scott-Smith
Original assignee: James Neill Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: James Neill Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1987-09-03
Filing date: 1988-08-26
Publication date: 1989-05-10
Also published as: GB8820397D0

Abstract

The invention relates to hand tools and particularly garden tools with detachable tool heads. An elongate handle 1 has socket means 3 formed at one end with catch means 5, 6 provided on the socket means. A tool head 7 has a handle 10 of a cross section to locate within the socket means 3 on the elongate handle. There being a means eg detent 12 on the handle of the tool head to engage with the catch means at 6 provided on the socket means 3 on the elongate handle 1. Thus not only is the connection of an operative end piece to a handle simplified, but also with each end piece provided with its own short handle it can be used in its own right when the use of a long handle is either not required or is inconvenient. <IMAGE>

Description

HAND TOOLS This invention relates to hand tools and is particularly but not necessarily exclusively concerned with hand tools for garden use.

Ordinarily hand tools for garden use comprise individual implements each for its own particular purpose, for example, hoes, forks, rakes etc., and in addition similar operative ends are separately provided either with a short or with a long handle. Consequently, considerable expense is involved to the user in providing a complete set of such hand tools.

As a means of reducing the cost involved, it has already been proposed, particularly in connection with long handled garden tools, to provide a single long handle to which can be secured a number of different operative end pieces.

Hitherto relatively complex and expensive means of securing an operative end piece to the handle have been employed and as a consequence of providing a purpose built tang on the operative end piece to enable it to be secured to the handle the result is that the operative end piece can only be used in conjunction with the handle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hand tool comprising a handle and a number of operative end pieces that avoids the disadvantages mentioned above.

According to the present invention a hand tool comprises an elongate handle, socket means formed at one end of the handle with catch means provided on the socket means, and an operative end piece, there being a handle on the operative end piece of a cross section such that the said handle can locate within the socket means on the elongate handle, and there being a means on the handle of the operative end piece to engage with the catch means provided on the socket means dn the elongate handle.

The socket means may of itself be of a length to receive the handle on the operative end piece, however it is preferred that the elongate handle is of itself hollow and with a relatively short socket means at the end thereof, and when the handle on the operative end piece extends through the socket means and into the interior of the elongate handle.

It is further preferred that a means is provided to assist in the prevention of the rotation of the operative end piece about the longitudinal axis of the elongate handle.

Thus, at the end of the socket means, a recess can be provided to be engaged by an appropriate projection formed on the handle of the operative end piece.

The catch means whereby the handle on the operative end piece is retained in the socket may be formed by providing a slot in the socket means to create a depressable catch, and when a tubular elongate handle is provided forming a corresponding hole in the tubular handle, and there being formed on the handle of the operative end piece a resilient detent that ordinarily stands proud of the surface of the handle on the operative end piece and which can be depressed as that handle is inserted through the socket and spring outward to engage the hole in the elongate handle and/or the slot in the socket means. To release the operative end piece, the depr essibl e catch is depressed causing the depression of the detent and thereby enabling the handle of the operative end piece to be withdrawn from the socket means.

It will therefore be appreciated that any number of operative end pieces can be provided with the first and major advantage that each operative end piece is provided with a handle per se allowing the use of such end pieces after the manner of conventional short handled hand tools e.g., garden tools with the second and equally major advantage that a single elongate handle can be provided able to be engaged by any one of the short handled hand tools allowing the use of such end pieces after the manner of conventional long handled hand tools e.g., garden tools.

In a preferred form of construction, the elongate handle is formed by a metal tube of an appropriate length, provided at one end with a handle of a suitable plastics material and at the other end with a short tubular socket again of a suitable plastics material. The catch means on the socket can then be provided simply by moulding the socket with a slot to create a depressable catch. As to the handle on the operative end piece this may be formed by an innermost metal tube for strength on which is moulded a tubular handle of a suitable plastics material with the plastics moulding suitable slotted to provide an integral detent. In the end of the tubular handle a plug-like connector may be provided to receive the tang of the operative end piece with the tang suitable and permanently secured within the plg-like connector.

Again with the socket means and the handle of the operative end piece formed from plastics material, the recess in the socket means and the co-operating projection on the handle (to prevent relative rotation during use) can be formed during the moulding of the socket means and the tubular handle in relatively simple manner.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described purely by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective vew of an operative end piece in the form of a dutch hoe located at the end of an elongate handle; and Figure 2 is a transverse section generally on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. In the drawings, a garden tool in the form of a dutch hoe is displayed, but it will be understood that the operative end piece of any of the types or kinds serving as garden tools can be employed in replacement or the operative end piece displayed.

Thus an elongate handle 1 is provided formed by a metal tube and which is provided at its outer end with a hand grip 2. To the opposite end of the elongate handle a tubular socket 3 is provided of a suitable plastics material, the socket being slotted at 4 to provide a depressable catch 5 that lies in register with a corresponding through-hole6 in te elongate handle.

The operative end piece 7 is provided with a spigotlike tang 8 that is a force fit in a plug-like connector 9 that is itself firmly secured within a tubular end piece handle 18, there being an innermost tubular metal sleeve 11 in the tubular end piece handle 18 to provide added strength and added security of location of the plug-like connector 9 within the tubular end piece handle 18.

In similar manner to the socket 3, the tubular end piece handle 18 is slotted to provide an outwardly springloaded detent 12 that registers with the hole 6 in the elongate handle and which can be contacted by the catch 5.

Thus, as is illustrated in Figure 2, and with the tubular end piece handle 18 inserted through the socket 3, to lie within the elongate handle, the spring-loaded detent 12 engages in the hole 6 in the elongate handle to provide a positive location of the operative end piece 7 on the elongate handle 1.

When a different operative end piece is required to be used in conjunction with the elongate handle 1, it is simply the case that the catch 5 on the socket 3 is depressed to urge the detent 12 in a downward direction and thus allows the tubular end piece handle to be withdrawn from the elongate handle, and to be replaced by a different end piece with a similarly formed end piece handle 18.

Therefore, the invention provides the first major advantage of allowing one elongate handle to be used in conjunction with a number of operative end pieces, with the further advantage that with each operative end piece being provided with its own handle 18, each operative end piece can be used in its own right and in a circumstance where the use of an elongate handle is not required or is most inconvenient.

For additional security of location of the operative end piece 7 on the elongate handle 1, and principally to prevent rotation of the operative end piece on the elongate handle during use, it is preferred to provide a slot 13 in the end of the socket 3 to be engaged by a projection 14 of corresponding shape formed on the tubular end piece handle 18.

Claims

1. A hand tool comprising an elongate handle, socket means formed at one end of the handle with catch means provided on the socket means, and an operative end piece, there being a handle on the operative end piece of a cross section such that the said handle can locate within the socket means on the elongate handle, and there being a means on the handle of the operative end piece to engage with the catch means provided on the socket means on the elongate handle.

2. A hand tool as in Claim 1, wherein the socket means is of a length to receive the handle on the operative end piece.

3. A hand tool as in Claim 1, wherein the elongate handle is of itself hollow with a relatively short socket means at the end thereof, and when the handle on the operative end piece extends through the socket means and into the interior of the elongate handle.

4. A hand tool as in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a means is provided to assist in the prevention of the rotation of the operative end piece about the longitudinal axis of the elongate handle.

5. A hand tool as in Claim 4, wherein at the end of the socket means a recess is provided to be engaged by an appropriate projection formed on the handle of the operative end piece.

6. A hand tool as in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the catch means whereby the handle on the operative end piece is retained in the socket is formed by providing a slot in the socket means to create a depressible catch, and when a tubular elongate handle is provided forming a corresponding hole in the tubular handle, and there being formed on the handle of the operative end piece a resilient detent that ordinarily stands proud of the surface of the handle on the operative end piece and which is depressed as that handle is inserted through the socket means to spring outwards to engage the hole in the elongate handle and/or the slot in the socket means.

7. A hand tool as in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the elongate handle is formed by a metal tube of an appropriate length provided at one end with a handle of a suitable plastics material and at the other end with a tubular socket, again of a suitable plastics material.

8. A hand tool as in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the handle on the operative end piece is formed by an innermost metal tube on which is moulded a tubular handle of a suitable plastics material, with the plastics moulding suitaby slotted to provide an integral detent.

9. A hand tool as in Claim 8, wherein in the end of the tubular handle a plug-like connector is provided to receive the tang of the operative end piece.

18. A hand tool as in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the socket means on the elongate handle is formed with a recess and the handle on the operative end piece is formed with a cooperating projection whereby to prevent relative rotation of the operative end piece during use.

11. A hand tool substantially as hereinbefore decribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.