HAND TOOLS AND METHOD OF FABRICATION THEREOF
An attachment system and method allows reversely operating a working head with a shaft of different lengths selectively. A first hand tool is reversely connected to an extension shaft to obtain a second, longer-shafted hand tool, both fully operational and sturdy for hand-use, according to applications, work conditions and ergonomics. A range of different lengths hand tools may be contemplated, such as shovels, forks, trowels, transplanters, weed cutters, rakes, hoes, planters, and scoops, for example.
1 . A tool, comprising:
a tool shaft;
a tool head;
a sleeve removably connecting the tool head to the tool shaft; and
a clamp connected to the sleeve between an open position and a closed position;
wherein:
i) in the closed position, the clamp locks the sleeve about the tool head, thereby connecting and locking the tool head to the tool shaft; and
ii) in the open position, the sleeve is unlocked, thereby unlocking the tool head from the tool shaft.
2 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the clamp is an excentric clamp.
3 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the clamp is rotatively connected to the sleeve.
4 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises a locking tab, and, in the closed position of the clamp, the locking tab engages the tool head.
5 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool shaft comprises a locking pin, the sleeve comprises an opening, and, in the closed position of the clamp, the locking pin engages the opening.
6 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein, from the closed position of the clamp, the clamp rotates out of abutment with the tool head.
7 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein, from the closed position, the clamp rotates out of abutment with the tool head thereby unlocking from around the sleeve and unlocking the tool head from the sleeve.
8 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein, from the closed position, the clamp rotates out of abutment with the tool head thereby unlocking from around the sleeve and unlocking the tool head from the tool shaft.
9 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein, from the closed position, the clamp rotates out of abutment from the tool head thereby untightening from around the sleeve and unlocking the sleeve from the tool head, thereby unlocking the tool head from the tool shaft.
10 . A combination, comprising:
a first shaft of a first length;
a first tool, comprising a second shaft of a second length;
a sleeve; and
a clamp connected to the sleeve between an open position and a closed position;
wherein:
i) in the closed position, the first shaft and the second shaft are aligned, and the clamp locks the sleeve about the first shaft and the second shaft, thereby connecting and locking the first shaft and the second shaft together, and the first tool to the first shaft into a second tool comprising a third shaft; and
ii) in the open position, the sleeve is unlocked thereby unlocking the first tool from the first shaft.
11 . The combination of claim 10 , wherein the clamp is rotatively connected to the sleeve.
12 . The combination of claim 10 , wherein the clamp comprises a locking tab, and, in the closed position of the clamp, the locking tab engages the tool head.
13 . The combination of claim 10 , wherein the first shaft comprises a locking pin, the sleeve comprises an opening, and, in the closed position of the clamp, the locking pin engages the opening.
14 . The combination of claim 10 , wherein, from the closed position of the clamp, the clamp rotates out of abutment with the first tool.
15 . The combination of claim 10 , wherein, from the closed position, the clamp rotates out of abutment with the first tool thereby unlocking from around the sleeve and unlocking the first tool from the sleeve.
16 . The combination of claim 10 , wherein, from the closed position, the clamp rotates out of abutment with the first tool thereby unlocking from around the sleeve and unlocking the first tool from the first shaft.
17 . The combination of claim 10 , wherein, from the closed position, the clamp rotates out of abutment from the first tool thereby untightening from around the sleeve and unlocking the sleeve from the first tool, thereby unlocking the first tool from the first shaft.
18 . The combination of claim 10 , wherein the clamp is an excentric clamp.
19 . An extension shaft for a tool, comprising a sleeve and a clamp connected to the sleeve between an open position and a closed position, wherein the sleeve comprises an opening, and,
i) in the open position of the clamp, the sleeve in configured to receive a free end of the tool; and
ii) in the closed position of the clamp, the clamp locks the sleeve about the free end of the tool, thereby connecting and locking the tool to the extension shaft.
20 . An extension shaft for a tool according to claim 19 , comprising a locking pin, a sleeve and a clamp connected to the sleeve between an open position and a closed position, wherein the sleeve comprises an opening, and,
i) in the open position of the clamp, the sleeve in configured to receive a free end of the tool; and
ii) in the closed position of the clamp, the clamp locks the sleeve about the free end of the tool and the locking pin engages the opening, thereby connecting and locking the tool to the extension shaft.