IP Library Granted Patent US 7,131,356
Granted Patent B2
US 7,131,356 · App. 11/018,150 · Granted Nov 7, 2006

Hand tool having an adjustable head with joint lock mechanism

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,131,356
App. No.
11/018,150
Granted
Nov 7, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hand tool having an adjustable head with a joint lock mechanism. The joint lock mechanism includes a first engaging device, a second engaging device, a pull button and a first elastic device. The pull button has a knob portion and an engaging portion beneath the knob portion and the engaging portion engages the second engaging device. The first elastic device is received in a first aperture and abuts against the second engaging device with a forward force such that the front end of the second engaging device is pushed to engage the first engaging device.

Claims (17)

1. A hand tool having an adjustable head with a joint lock mechanism, comprising:

a head having a rear end, the rear end having a convex pivotal portion;

a handle having a front end, the front end having a concave pivotal portion pivotally coupled to the convex pivotal portion of the rear end of the head, the handle having a first aperture longitudinally extending from the front end thereof, and a second aperture perpendicularly intersecting the first aperture;

a fastening device disposed through the convex pivotal portion and the concave pivotal portion such that the fastening device is pivotally coupled to the convex pivotal portion while being fixedly coupled to the concave pivotal portion; and

the joint lock mechanism being disposed between the rear end of the head and the front end of the handle;

the joint lock mechanism comprising:

a first engaging device disposed at the rear end of the head, the first engaging device having a plurality of slots spaced equidistantly along the surface of the convex pivot portion;

a second engaging device received in the first aperture of the front end of the handle, the second engaging device having a front end and a rear end, and the second engaging device having at least one engaging portion formed at the front end thereof;

a pull button having a knob portion and an engaging portion beneath the knob portion, the engaging portion extending along the second aperture and engaging the second engaging device;

a first elastic device received in the first aperture and abutting against the second engaging device with a forward force such that the front end of the second engaging device is pushed to engage the first engaging device; and

a positioning device having a positioning element and a second elastic device, the positioning element being disposed at the front end of the first aperture and having a shape substantially matching that of the engaging portion of the second engaging device so as to guide the engaging portion of the second engaging device to engage one of the plurality of slots; the second elastic device being positioned behind the positioning element and abutting against the positioning element with a forward force.

2. The hand tool according to claim 1 , wherein the first aperture has a front portion having a larger diameter and a rear portion having a smaller diameter which forms a shoulder portion in between, and the second elastic device is disposed in the front portion with its front end abutting against the positioning device while its rear end abuts against the shoulder portion.

3. The hand tool according to claim 1 , wherein the second engaging device includes a pair of slots formed at opposite sides between the front and the rear ends thereof, and the engaging portion of the pull button comprises two hooks engaging the corresponding pair of slots such that the pull button is adapted to actuate the second engaging device to move along the first aperture.

4. The hand tool according to claim 1 , wherein the second engaging portion has a through slot formed between the front and the rear ends thereof, and the engaging portion of the pull button is a hook for engaging the through slot such that the pull button is adapted to actuate the second engaging device to move along the first aperture.

5. The hand tool according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the convex pivot portion is an arc.

6. The hand tool according to claim 1 , wherein the knob portion has a surface formed with a plurality of anti-slip teeth.

7. The hand tool according to claim 1 , wherein the knob portion has a surface formed with pattern consisting of a word “LOCK”, a mark at the side of the head and a double arrow crossing said mark.

Assignments (6)
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded May 23, 2013
From: APEX TOOL (HK) LIMITED
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 030488/0456 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 11, 2012
From: DANAHER TOOL LIMITED
To: APEX TOOL (HK) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028352/0204 →
RE-RECORD TO CORRECT THE NAMES OF BOTH THE ASSIGNEE AND ASSIGNOR, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 021523 FRAME 0041. Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: LEA WAY HAND TOOL CORPORATION
To: LEA WAY HAND TOOL LTD.
Reel/Frame 022203/0660 →
GENERAL TRANSFER AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 12, 2008
From: LEE WAY HAND TOOL CORPORATION
To: LEE WAY HAND TOOL LTD.
Reel/Frame 021523/0041 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2008
From: LEA WAY HAND TOOL LTD.
To: DANAHER TOOL LIMITED, TAIWAN BRANCH
Reel/Frame 021523/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2004
From: LIN, YU-CHENG
To: LEA WAY HAND TOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016117/0083 →