WO2014146688A1

WO2014146688A1 - Foldable hand-held tool

Info

Publication number: WO2014146688A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/055637
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jens NÄSLUND; Fredrik Nilsson
Original assignee: Husqvarna Ab
Priority date: 2013-03-19
Filing date: 2013-03-19
Publication date: 2014-09-25
Also published as: RU2015144458A; CN105142865A; EP2976190A1; EP2976190B1; CN105142865B; PL2976190T3

Abstract

A hand-held tool (100, 400) includes a blade (102) pivotably coupled to a handle (104), the blade being retained at a plurality of predetermined positions. A reference indicator (310, 502) is provided on the handle. Further, an indicating member (202) is provided on the handle. The indicating member includes a plurality of movable indicators (228A, 228B, 228C, 230, 402A, 402B, 402C, 404) corresponding to the plurality of the predetermined positions, the indicating member being configured to rotate with the blade. Moreover, each of the plurality of the movable indicators substantially aligns with the reference indicator at each of the plurality of the predetermined positions of the blade.

Description

FOLDABLE HAND-HELD TOOL

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a foldable hand-held tool.

BACKGROUND

Foldable hand-held tools, such as handsaws, are well known in the art. A foldable hand-hand tool includes a handle and a blade coupled to the handle. The blade may be retained in multiple predetermined positions relative to the handle. Typically, a user may unlock the blade, rotate the blade to a desired predetermined position, and lock the blade in that position.

However, the user may not be able to see at least one of the multiple predetermined positions. Therefore, the user may try to lock the blade in a wrong position. The experience may not be satisfactory to the user. Any component of the tool may also get damaged in the process.

Therefore, in light of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved foldable hand-held tool.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the problems discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved according to a hand-held tool, in an embodiment of the present invention. The hand-held tool includes a blade pivotably coupled to a handle, the blade being retained at a plurality of predetermined positions. A reference indicator is provided on the handle. Further, an indicating member is provided on the handle. The indicating member includes a plurality of movable indicators, each of the plurality of the movable indicators corresponding to each of the plurality of the predetermined positions. The indicating member is configured to rotate with the blade. Moreover, each of the plurality of the movable indicators substantially aligns with the reference indicator at each of the plurality of the predetermined positions of the blade. The plurality of the movable indicators and the reference indicator may provide a clear visual indication of the plurality of the predetermined positions of the blade. This may be convenient for a user who may otherwise try to retain the blade in a wrong position. Therefore, ergonomics of the hand-held tool may be improved. Further, any accidental damage to the hand-held tool may be prevented since the user is aware when an attempt is made to retain the blade in a wrong position.

In an embodiment, the reference indicator is disposed on a reference member, the reference member projecting from an outer surface of the handle. In another embodiment, the reference member is spring biased in a locked position and movable to an unlocked position. In the locked position the blade is retained at one of the plurality of the predetermined positions, and in the unlocked position the blade is pivotable relative to the handle.

In an embodiment, the reference indicator engages with one of the plurality of the movable indicators in the locked position. Further, the reference indicator disengages from one of the plurality of the movable indicators in the unlocked position. In a further embodiment, the reference indicator is an extension and each of the plurality of the movable indicators is a notch, the extension being configured to detachably engage with the notch. The extension and the notch may provide a visual indication to a user.

In an embodiment, the reference indicator is one of a projection, a recess, or a marking. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of the movable indicators is one of a projection, a recess, or a marking.

In an embodiment, the indicating member is a substantially circular dial.

In an embodiment, at least one of the plurality of the movable indicators corresponds to a working position of the blade, the blade extending from the handle in the working position. Further, one of the plurality of the movable indicators corresponds to a retracted position of the blade, the blade at least partially retracted within the handle in the retracted position. In another embodiment, the handle includes a slot configured to at least partially receive the blade in the retracted position.

In various embodiments, the hand-held tool is one of a handsaw or a knife. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hand-held tool with a blade in a middle working position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the hand-held tool with the blade in an upper working position, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the hand-held tool with the blade in a lower working position, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the hand-held tool with the blade in a retracted position, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the hand-held tool with the blade in the middle working position, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "lateral", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

FIGS. 1-4, illustrate various configurations of a hand-held tool 100 (hereinafter referred to as "the tool 100"), according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tool 100 is embodied as a handsaw in FIGS. 1-4. However, in various other embodiments, the tool 100 may be a knife. The tool 100 may be used for cutting various objects, for example, but not limited to, branches, logs etc.

The tool 100 includes a blade 102 and a handle 104. In an embodiment of the present invention, the blade 102 is pivotably coupled to the handle 104. The blade 102 includes a cutting edge 106 with serrations. Alternately, the cutting edge 106 may be smooth (not shown). The blade 102 further includes an eyelet 107 that may facilitate grasping of the blade 102 in order to pivot the blade 102 relative to the handle 104.

The handle 104 includes a first portion 108 and a second portion 110. The blade 102 is engaged with the first portion 108. The second portion 110 may be used for gripping by a user. The second portion 110 includes an end support 112 that may prevent a user's hand from slipping off the handle 104. The first portion 108 includes a first slot 114. The blade 102 extends from a portion of the first slot 114 disposed in the first portion 108. Further, the second portion 110 includes a second slot 115. In an embodiment, the first slot 114 and the second slot 115 may be continuous from the first portion 108 to the end support 112. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the blade 102 at least partly retracts into a portion of the second slot 115. Further, the second portion 110 may include a grip (not shown) in order to facilitate grasping. In an embodiment, the handle 104 may be a single piece with a detachable cover (not shown) in the first portion 108. In an alternate embodiment, the handle 104 may include two halves that are joined together.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , a recessed region 116 is disposed in the first portion 108 of the handle 104. An indicating member 202 and a reference member 302 are provided in the recessed region 116 adjacent to one another. The indicating member 202 and the reference member 302 project from an outer surface 118 of the recession region 116 so as to permit access and/or visual feedback to a user. In an embodiment, the recessed region 116 is bounded by a first wall 120 and a second wall 122. The indicating member 202 is substantially surrounded by the first wall 120, while the reference member 302 is substantially surrounded by the second wall 122. Further, the first wall 120 and the second wall 122 may be shaped so as to conform to the shapes of the indicating member 202 and the reference member 302, respectively.

In an embodiment, the indicating member 202 is substantially a circular dial including a ring portion 204 and a central aperture (not shown). The central aperture may be aligned with a corresponding aperture (not shown) of the recessed region 116. A stepped portion 208 is provided between the ring portion 204 and the central aperture. A fastening member 210 passes through the central aperture of the indicating member 202. In an embodiment, at least parts (not shown) of the fastening member 210 and the central aperture may be non-circular such that there may not be any relative rotation between the indicating member 202 and the fastening member 210. The stepped portion 208 may enable a smooth transition between the ring portion 204 and the central aperture. Further, the stepped portion 208 may enable an improved coupling between the indicating member 202 and the fastening member 210. In an embodiment, the fastening member 210 may be connected to the blade 102 such that there may not be any relative rotation between the fastening member 210 and the blade 102. Therefore, the fastening member 210 and the indicating member 202 also rotate when the blade 102 rotates.

In an embodiment, the ring portion 204 may curve downwards from an inner end 212 to an outer end 214. In a further embodiment, the ring portion 204 includes a first indentation 216 and a second indentation 218 proximate the outer end 214. The first indentation 216 includes a first surface 219 bounded by a first inner wall 220 and two first sidewalls 222. Similarly, the second indentation 218 includes a second surface 223 bounded by a second inner wall 224 and two second side walls 226. In an embodiment, the first and/or second inner walls 220, 224 may be substantially circular segments. Further, the first and/or second sidewalls 222, 226 may be substantially radial segments. The first surface 219 and/or the second surface 223 may be curved downwards from the first inner wall 220 and/or the second inner wall 224, respectively.

In an embodiment, an upper movable indicator 228A, a middle movable indicator 228B, and a lower movable indicator 228C are provided on the first indentation 216 (hereinafter known as "the movable indicators 228A, 228B, and 228C"). Further, a retracted movable indicator 230 (hereinafter known as "the movable indicator 230") is provided on the second indentation 218. Each of the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C, and 230 corresponds to each of a plurality of predetermined positions of the blade 102. Each of the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C, and 230 are embodied as projections. The projections may be substantially radial. Further, in an embodiment, each of the movable indicators 228A, 228B and 228C include an inner portion 232, a main portion 234 and an outer portion 236. In case of the first indentation 216, the inner portion 232 extends radially inwards relative to the first inner wall 220. The inner portion 232 may also taper from the main portion 234. Further, the inner portion 232 may curve downwards from the main portion 234 towards a surface of the ring portion 204. The outer portion 236 extends radially outwards relative to the outer end 214 of the ring portion 204. The outer portion 236 may also taper from the main portion 234. Further, the outer portion 236 may curve downwards from the main portion 234 towards the outer surface 118 of the recessed region 116. The main portion 234 extends substantially upwards from the first surface 219 of the first indentation 216. Similarly, in case of the second indentation 218, the inner portion 232 extends radially inwards relative to the second inner wall 224. Further, the main portion 234 extends substantially upwards from the second surface 223 of the second indentation 218.

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an angle 238 between the movable indicator 228A and the movable indicator 230 may lie substantially in a range from about 165 degrees to 205 degrees. Further, an angle 239 between the movable indicator 228C and the movable indicator 230 may lie substantially in a range from about 1 15 degrees to 155 degrees. In an embodiment, an angle 240 between the movable indicator 228A and the movable indicator 228B may lie substantially in a range from about 10 degrees to 30 degrees. Further, an angle 241 between the movable indicator 228B and the movable indicator 228C may be substantially equal to the angle 240.

The reference member 302 includes a body 304 with a curved end 306. Ribs 308 are provided on the body 304. Ribs 308 may help in manual pressing of the body 304. Further, a reference indicator 310 is disposed on the curved end 306. In an embodiment, the curved end 306 may be a substantially circular segment. Further, the reference indicator 310 is a projection that extends radially outwards of the curved end 306. The reference indicator 310 may also extend upwards relative to the curved end 306. In a further embodiment, the reference indicator 310 may be partly cylindrical. The reference member 302 is provided in an aperture 124 of the recessed region 116. The aperture 124 may have a shape similar to that of the reference member 302.

In an embodiment, the reference member 302 is movable within the aperture 124 between a locked position (as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4) and an unlocked position (not shown). Further, the reference member 302 may be spring biased in the locked position. In the unlocked position, the reference member 302 may be moved at least partly within the aperture 124 against the spring biasing. Further, in the locked position, the blade 102 may be retained at one of the plurality of the predetermined positions, as illustrated by the exemplary positions in FIGS. 1-4. In an embodiment, the blade 102 may be retained by a locking member (not shown). The locking member may be actuated by the reference member 302 to unlock the blade 102 such that the blade 102 is pivotable relative to the handle 104. However, the reference member 302, and hence the reference indicator 310 may not rotate with the rotation of the blade 102. Thus, the reference indicator 310 may provide a stationary reference irrespective of the rotation of the blade 102. In another embodiment, the reference member 302 may directly lock and unlock the blade 102. However, any other method and/or system for locking and unlocking the blade 102 may be utilized without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For example, the reference member 302 may be stationary, and another actuator (not shown) may be used for locking and unlocking the blade 102.

The movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C and 230, and the reference indicator 310, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, are purely exemplary and may be of different configurations within the scope of the present invention. For example, in an embodiment, the movable indicators 228A, 228B, and 228C, and the 230 may be notches (described with reference to FIG. 5). Alternatively, the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C and 230 may be recesses or markings. Similarly, the reference indicator 310 may be a recess or a marking. In an embodiment, the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C and 230 may be numerals and/or letters indicative of the position of the blade 102. At least one of the markings may constitute a different colour and/or a different texture. For example, at least one of the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C and 230 may be of a different colour and/or texture than the ring portion 204 of the indicating member 202. Similarly, the reference indicator 310 may be of a different colour and/or texture than the body 304 of the reference member 302. In another embodiment, at least one of the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C and 230 may be a differently coloured strip glued to the ring portion 204. Similarly, the reference indicator 310 may be a differently coloured strip glued to the body 304. In yet another embodiment, the reference indicator 310 may be present on a surface adjacent to the ring portion 204 other than the reference member 302.

Various configurations of the tool 100 will be now described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1-4. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the blade 102 is in a middle working position. In the middle working position, the blade 102 may extend from the handle 102 and is oriented substantially parallel relative to the first portion 108 of the handle 104. Further, the movable indicator 228B is substantially aligned with the reference indicator 310. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the blade 102 is in an upper working position. In the upper working position, the blade 102 may be angled substantially upwards relative to the first portion aligned with the reference indicator 310 since the indicating member 202 rotates with the blade 102. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the blade 102 in in a lower working position. In the lower working position, the blade 102 may be angled downwards relative to the first portion 108 of the handle 104. Further, the movable indicator 228C is substantially aligned with the reference indicator 310. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the blade 102 is in a retracted position. In the retracted position, the blade 102 is at least partially retracted within the second slot 115 (shown in FIG. 1 ) of the handle 104. Further, the movable indicator 230 is substantially aligned with the reference indicator 310. Therefore, as described above, the upper, middle and lower working positions, and the retracted position of the blade 102 are indicated by the substantial alignment of the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C, and 230, respectively, with the reference indicator 310.

In an example, a user may want to change the working position of the blade 102 from the middle working position to the upper working position. The user may therefore press the reference member 302 at least partially within the aperture 124 to the unlocked position. Consequently, the blade 102 is free to pivot relative to the handle 104. The user may then pivot the blade 102 towards the upper working position. The user may know that the blade 102 has reached the upper working position when the movable indicator 228A substantially aligns with the reference indicator 310. The user may therefore release the reference member 302. Consequently, the reference member 302 is spring biased to the locking position, and the blade 102 is retained in the upper working position. Similarly, in another example, the user may want to change the position of the blade 102 from the upper working position to the lower working position. The user may therefore press the reference member 302 to the unlocked position, pivot the blade 102 till the movable indicator 228C is substantially aligned with the reference indicator 310, and then release the reference member 302. The procedure may be used for moving the blade 102 to various other positions, for example, the retracted position, the middle working position etc.

As described above, the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C, and 230, and the reference indicator 310 may provide a clear visual indication of the predetermined positions of the blade 102. This may be convenient for a user who may otherwise try to retain the blade 102 in a wrong position. Therefore, ergonomics of the tool 100 may be improved. Further, any accidental damage to the tool 100 may be prevented since the user is aware when an attempt is made to retain the blade 102 in a wrong position. The outer portion 236 (shown in FIG. 1) of each of the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C, and 230 may provide a clear alignment with the reference indicator 310 since the outer portion 236 may be tapered and curved downwards. The first and second indentations 216, 218 may also improve the visibility of the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C, and 230. The first surface 219 and/or the second surface 223 of the first indentation 216 and/or the second indentation 218, respectively, may be curved downwards such that the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C, and 230 are aligned in an improved manner with the reference indicator 310. The reference indicator 310 may also be partly cylindrical and projects from the curved end 306 of the reference member 302 to provide a clear visual alignment with the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C, and 230. In an embodiment, the movable indicators 228A, 228B, 228C, and 230 and/or the reference indicator 310 may be shaped so as to minimize any error due to change in viewing angles of the user.

The various positions of the blade 102, as described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, are purely exemplary in nature, and the blade 102 may be retained in any other predetermined positions without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the blade 102 may have four working positions. Further, the blade 102 may not have a retracted position.

FIG. 5 illustrates the tool 400, according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the blade 102 is in the middle working position. Further, the movable indicators 402A, 402B, 402C and 404 are embodied as notches at the outer end 214 of the ring portion 204. The reference indicator 502 is embodied as an extension from the curved end 306 of the reference member 504. In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the reference indicator 502 engages with the movable indicator 402B in the middle working position of the blade 102. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the movable indicators 402A, 402B, 402C and 404, and the reference indicator 502 are substantially curved. However, the movable indicators 402A, 402B, 402C and 404, and the reference indicator 502 may be of any other shape, for example, polygonal, within the scope of the present invention. Further, the reference indicator 502 engages with the movable indicators 402A, 402C, and 404 in the upper working position, the lower working position and the retracted position, respectively, of the blade 102. The reference indicator 502 may disengage from one of the movable indicators 402A, 402B, 402C and 404 in the unlocked position of the reference member 504 when the reference member 504 is at least partly moved within the aperture 124. It may be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that the engagement between the reference indicator 502 and one of the movable indicators 402A, 402B, 402C and 404 merely provide a visual indication of a predetermined position of the blade 102, and may not be used to retain the blade 102 at the predetermined position.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Parts List:

100, 400 Hand-Held Tool

102 Blade

104 Handle

106 Cutting Edge of the Blade

107 Eyelet of the Blade

108 First Portion of the Handle

1 10 Second Portion of the Handle

1 12 End Support of the Handle

1 14 First Slot of the Handle

1 15 Second Slot of the Handle

1 16 Recession Region

1 18 Outer Surface of the Recessed Region 120 First Wall of the Recessed Region

122 Second Wall of the Recessed Region 24 Aperture of the Recessed Region

202 Indicating Member

204 Ring Portion

208 Stepped Portion

210 Fastening Member

212 Inner End of the Ring Portion

214 Outer End of the Ring Portion

216 First Indentation

218 Second Indentation

219 First Surface

220 First Inner Wall

222 First Sidewalls

223 Second Surface

224 Second Inner Wall

226 Second Sidewalls

228A, 402A Upper Movable Indicator

228B, 402B Middle Movable Indicator 228C, 402C Lower Movable Indicator

230, 404 Retracted Movable Indicator

232 Inner Portion

234 Main Portion

236 Outer Portion

238, 239, 240,241 Angles between the Movable Indicators 302, 504 Reference Member

304 Body

306 Curved End

308 Ribs

310, 502 Reference Indicator

Claims

1 . A hand-held tool (100, 400) comprising:

a blade (102) pivotably coupled to a handle (104), the blade being retained at a plurality of predetermined positions;

characterised in that,

a reference indicator (310, 502) provided on the handle;

an indicating member (202) provided on the handle, the indicating member comprising a plurality of movable indicators (228A, 228B, 228C, 230, 402A, 402B, 402C, 404), each of the plurality of the movable indicators corresponding to each of the plurality of the predetermined positions, the indicating member being configured to rotate with the blade; and

wherein each of the plurality of the movable indicators substantially aligns with the reference indicator at each of the plurality of the predetermined positions of the blade.

2. The hand-held tool according to claim 1 , wherein the reference indicator is disposed on a reference member (302, 504), the reference member projecting from an outer surface (118) of the handle.

3. The hand-held tool according to claim 2, wherein the reference member is spring biased in a locked position and movable to an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position the blade is retained at one of the plurality of the predetermined positions, and in the unlocked position the blade is pivotable relative to the handle.

4. The hand-held tool according to claim 3, wherein the reference indicator (502) engages with one of the plurality of the movable indicators (402A, 402B, 402C, 404) in the locked position, and wherein the reference indicator disengages from one of the plurality of the movable indicators in the unlocked position.

5. The hand-held according to claim 4, wherein the reference indicator is an extension (502) and each of the plurality of the movable indicators is a notch (402A, 402B, 402C, 404), the extension being configured to detachably engage with the notch.

6. The hand-held according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the reference indicator is one of a projection (228A, 228B, 228C, 230), a recess, or a marking.

7. The hand-held according to claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of the movable indicators is one of a projection (228A, 228B, 228C, 230), a recess, or a marking.

8. The hand-held according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the indicating member is a substantially circular dial.

9. The hand-held according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the plurality of the movable indicators corresponds to a working position of the blade, the blade extending from the handle in the working position, and wherein one of the plurality of the movable indicators corresponds to a retracted position of the blade, the blade at least partially retracted within the handle in the retracted position.

10. The hand-held according to claim 9, wherein the handle comprises a slot (115) configured to at least partially receive the blade in the retracted position.

1 1 . The hand-held tool according to any of the preceding claims is one of a handsaw (100, 400) or a knife.