The present invention relates to a foldable handle, and more particularly, to a foldable handle of a hand tool.
A T-shaped tool includes a handle and a rod which perpendicularly extending from the middle portion of the handle. A driving portion is connected to the distal end of the rod, so that when the user holds the handle and rotates the T-shaped tool, the T-shaped tool can tighten or loosen a bolt or the like. However, the conventional T-shaped tool occupies too much space and is not convenient for storage. Some of the T-shaped tools are improved to include a pivotable portion so that the tool can be foldable. Nevertheless, the pivotable portion lacks a proper restriction feature and the T-shaped tool is not stable when outputting a torque.
The present invention is intended to provide a foldable handle that has a limitation feature to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above.
The present invention relates to a foldable handle and comprises a connection section and a grip section. A recess is defined in the connection section and defined between a first sidewall, a second sidewall and an inner bottom formed between the first and second sidewalls. The recess includes a radial opening and an axial opening which communicates with the radial opening. The axial opening is located opposite to the grip section. The connection section includes a passage defined through the first sidewall and communicates with the recess. A bore is defined through the second sidewall and communicates with the recess. The passage is located corresponding to the bore. A function part includes an installation end and a connection portion respectively formed on two ends thereof, and a neck is formed between the installation end and the connection portion. The installation end is located in the recess and has a through hole and a restriction hole. The through hole is located corresponding to the bore, and the restriction hole is located corresponding to the passage. The through hole communicates with the restriction hole.
A restriction unit has a restriction member, a connector and a resilient member. The restriction member includes a restriction section. The connector includes a connection end and a head respectively formed on two ends thereof. The connection end extends through the bore and is connected to the restriction member. The resilient member is mounted to the connector and biased between the head and the connection section. The resilient member pushes the head of the connector to move the restriction section of the restriction member to be located in the restriction hole of the installation end to restrict the function part from pivoting relative to the handle. Alternatively, the resilient member is compressed by the head of the connector to remove the restriction section of the restriction member out from the restriction hole of the installation end so that the function part is pivotable relative to the handle.
Preferably, the restriction member includes a rod and a flange respectively formed on two ends of the restriction section. The rod extends through the through hole of the function part and includes a threaded hole. The connection end includes outer threads which are connected to the threaded hole. The flange contacts outside of the connection section.
Preferably, the connection section includes a stepped recess defined in the outside thereof. The stepped recess communicates with the bore. One end of the resilient member is engaged with the stepped recess.
Preferably, the first sidewall includes a first inside through which the passage is defined. The second sidewall includes a second inside through which the bore is defined. The installation end includes two installation faces, and the through hole and the restriction hole are respectively defined through the two installation faces. The first and second insides of the connection section respectively contact the two installation faces.
Preferably, the first sidewall includes a first contact face which is located close to the axial opening. The second sidewall includes a second contact face which is located close to the axial opening. The neck includes a matching face. When the function part is pivoted to be co-axial with the handle, the matching face is located within the recess and contacts the first contact face, the second contact face and the inner bottom.
Preferably, the first sidewall includes a first transit face which is formed between the first inside and the first contact face. The second sidewall includes a second transit face which is formed between the second inside and the second contact face. The function part includes two yielding faces and each yielding face is formed between the installation face and the matching face corresponding thereto. When the neck is pivoted to be co-axial with the handle, the yielding faces are not in contact with the first and second transit faces to reduce friction between the neck of the function part and first and second sidewalls of the recess when pivoting the neck relative to the recess.
Preferably, the passage and the bore are located close to the grip section. The first and second contact faces are located remote from the grip section. The distance between the first and second insides is smaller than the distance between the first and second contact faces.
Preferably, the passage and the restriction hole both are a hexagonal hole. The restriction section of the restriction member includes a hexagonal cross section which is movably inserted into the passage and the restriction hole.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to
A function part 20 includes an installation end 21 and a connection portion 23 respectively formed on two ends thereof, and a neck 22 is formed between the installation end 21 and the connection portion 23. The installation end 21 is located in the recess 11 and has a through hole 211 and a restriction hole 212. The through hole 211 is located corresponding to the bore 141. The restriction hole 212 is located corresponding to the passage 131. The through hole 211 communicates with the restriction hole 212. The passage 131 and the restriction hole 212 both are a hexagonal hole. The installation end 21 includes two installation faces 213. The through hole 211 and the restriction hole 212 are respectively defined through the two installation faces 213. The first and second insides 132, 142 of the connection section 12 respectively contact the two installation faces 213. The neck 22 includes a matching face 221. The function part 20 includes two yielding faces 222 and each yielding face 222 is formed between the installation face 213 and the matching face 221 corresponding thereto. The connection portion 23 includes two lugs 231 extending therefrom, and an installation recess 232 is defined between the two lugs 231. A driving head 24 is pivotably connected between the two lugs 231. A driving portion 241 extends from one side of the driving head 24.
A restriction unit 30 includes a restriction member 31, a connector 32 and a resilient member 33, The restriction member 31 includes a restriction section 313, and a rod 311 and a flange 312 are respectively formed on two ends of the restriction section 313. The restriction section 313 includes a hexagonal cross section so as to be movably inserted into the passage 131 and the restriction hole 212. A threaded hole 314 is defined in the distal end of the rod 311 of the restriction member 31. The rod 311 extends through passage 131 in the first sidewall 13 and the through hole 211 of the function part 20.
The connector 32 includes a connection end 321 and a head 322 respectively formed on two ends thereof. The resilient member 33 is mounted to the connector 32 and biased between the head 322 and the stepped recess 145 of the connection section 12. The connection end 321 extends through the bore 141 and includes outer threads which are connected to the threaded hole 314 of the restriction member 31. The flange 312 contacts outside of the connection section 12.
As shown in
When the resilient member 33 is compressed by the head 322 of the connector 32 as shown in
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6401576 | Wu | Jun 2002 | B1 |
7197965 | Anderson | Apr 2007 | B1 |
7237463 | Lee | Jul 2007 | B1 |
7866235 | Hi | Jan 2011 | B2 |
8869658 | Chou | Oct 2014 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20200001441 A1 | Jan 2020 | US |