BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-function tool adapted for nail pulling and prying. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-function tool having a pry bar whose location thereon is adjustable.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional tool for nail pulling and prying material on the surface includes a pry bar formed on an end thereof and a handle formed on another end thereof. However, the tool is usually formed as one piece and the distance between the pry bar and the handle cannot be adjusted so that it causes that the tool is just adapted for pulling nails whose size is limited to a particular range, and if nail whose size is over the range, the tool could not pull out the nail fully. Moreover, when a user operates the tool to pry something on a narrow place, it is difficult to find a fulcrum for supporting.
Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multi-function tool that is adapted to be adjusted the distance between a pry bar thereof and the ground for pulling nails which have various sizes of length.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a multi-function tool includes a shank body, a pry bar slidably mounted on the shank body longitudinally and a clutch coupling the pry bar to the shank body. The shank body includes a head portion formed on a first end thereof for nail pulling, a second end inserted through the pry bar and a plurality of positioning grooves aligned thereon from the second end to the first end. The pry bar includes a connected section for engaging with a selective one of the positioning grooves, a working section for nail pulling and a second receptacle formed on a side thereof for receiving a clutch, with the clutch adapted for fixing the pry bar to the selective one positioning groove so that the pry bar can be adjusted to a desired location on the shank body.
Other objectives, advantages, and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-function tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial, exploded view of the multi-function tool shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along 3-3 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating pressing the switch device to detach from one of the positioning grooves of the shank body shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the multi-function tool shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a multi-function tool according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a partial, exploded view of the multi-function tool shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the multi-function tool shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a multi-function tool according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a side view of the multi-function tool shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a multi-function tool according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the multi-function tool shown in FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a multi-function tool in accordance with a first embodiment in the present invention, the multi-function tool includes a hexagonal shank body 10, a pry bar 20 slidably mounted on the shank body 10 longitudinally and a clutch 30 coupling the pry bar 20 to the shank body 10.
The shank body 10 includes a first end 11 and a second end 12. A head portion 111 is formed on the first end 11 and capable of prying materials on narrow conditions. A slot 112 is defined on the center of the head portion 111 for nail pulling. The second end 12 includes a receiving portion 121 formed therein longitudinally and opening to outside thereof and a projection 122 annularly formed on the inner wall of the receiving portion 121. A plurality of positioning grooves 13 are defined on the outer periphery of the shank body 10, with the positioning grooves 13 aligned from the second end 12 to the first end 11, with the interval between each of the positioning grooves 13 alternatively being constant or not.
The pry bar 20 includes a connected section 21 mounted on the shank body 10, a working section 22 extending therefrom and transverse to a side of the shank body 10 and a terminal end 25 projecting from an end of the connected section 21 and opposite to the working section 22. A hexagonal through-hole 23 pierces the connected section 21, with the direction of axis of the through-hole 23 being parallel to that of the shank body 10, with the periphery of the through-hole 23 corresponding to the outer periphery of the shank body 10. A first receptacle 231 is formed on the bottom of the through-hole 23 and opposite to the first end 11 of the shank body 10. A fixed member 26 is disposed in the through-hole 23 and includes a first end forming a flange 261 slightly protruding from the first receptacle 231 and a second end forming an inserted end 262 received in the receiving portion 121 of the shank body 10. An annular groove 263 is defined on the inserted end 262 and corresponds to and is provided to receive the projection 122 for fixing the fixed member 26 in the second end 12 of the shank body 10, with the inserted end 262 of the fixed member 26 provided with elasticity so that it is easy to press the fixed member 26 into the second end 12 of the shank body 10. A second receptacle 24 transversely pierces the connected section 21 and in communication with the through-hole 23, with the direction of axis of the second receptacle 24 being perpendicular to that of the through-hole 23 and that of the working section 22, respectively. A limited end 241 is formed on an end of the second receptacle 24, with the diameter of the limited end 241 being larger than that of the second receptacle 24. A claw portion 221 is defined on the working section 22 for nail pulling.
The clutch 30 is in form of a column and disposed in the second receptacle 24 to selectively engage with one of the positioning grooves 13 for fixing the pry bar 20 on the desired location of the shank body 10. The clutch 30 includes a first end defining a flange 31 for abutting against the limited end 241 and a second end defining a protrusion 33 for exactly inserting into the one of the positioning grooves 13. An abutted surface 34 is defined on the protrusion 33 so that when the protrusion 33 is inserted in the one of the positioning grooves 13, the abutted surface 34 just abuts with the inner wall of the positioning groove 13 for a secure engagement of the pry bar 20 and the shank body 10. A sunken portion 32 is provided between the first and second ends of the clutch 30 and then the shank body 10 is through the clutch 30 and is set in the through-hole 23 of the pry bar without contact with the clutch 30. The clutch 30 further includes an elastic element 35 mounted thereon and adjacent to the flange 31. When the clutch 30 is in an engaging position and the elastic element 35 is released, the protrusion 33 is engaged with one of the positioning grooves 13 and the abutted surface 34 abuts with the inner wall of the positioning groove 13 (shown in FIG. 3). When the clutch 30 is in a disengaging position and the elastic element 35 is pressed, the protrusion 33 is disengaged from the positioning groove 13 and the abutted surface 34 is spaced from the inner wall of the positioning groove 13 (shown in FIG. 4).
Therefore, further referring to FIG. 5, the location of the pry bar 20 relative to the shank body 10 is adjustable when the clutch 30 is in the disengaging position, and the location of the pry bar 20 on the shank body 10 is fixed when the clutch 30 is in the engaging position. And the fixed member 26 is adapted for the multi-function tool placed on the ground stably. Accordingly, as the location of the pry bar 20 on the shank body 20 is adjusted to far from the fixed member 26, the length of nails that are adapted to be pulled by the pry bar 20 could increase.
Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, it shows a second embodiment in the present invention which is similar to the first embodiment except several features below. Firstly, a pry bar 20a replaces the pry bar 20. The pry bar 20a is similar to the pry bar 20, but two second receptacles 24a replaces the second receptacle 24 and a jaw surface 222a is further defined on the working section 22a, with the second receptacles 24a parallel to each other in a transverse direction, with each of the second receptacles 24a provided to receive one clutch 30. Secondly, a jaw device 40 is mounted on the shank body 10, with the jaw device 40 disposed above the pry bar 20a. The jaw device 40 includes a connected end 41, a jaw end 42 extending from a side of the connected end 41 and a hexagonal through-hole 43 piercing the connected end 41 and corresponding to the through-hole 23a so that the shank body 10 is adapted to insert through the through-holes 43 and 23a in sequence. A receptacle 44 pierces the connected end 41 for receiving the clutch 30, with the direction of axis of the receptacle 44 being perpendicular to that of the through-hole 43 and that of the jaw end 42, respectively. A jaw surface 421 is defined on the jaw end 42 relative to the jaw surface 222a of the pry bar 20a. Therefore, the cooperation of the jaw surface 421 of the jaw device 40 and the jaw surface 222a of the pry bar 22a is adapted for clamping material which is in form of a block. In this embodiment, the three clutches 30 are provided to alternatively fix the jaw device 40 and the pry bar 20a on the shank body 10, respectively. Hence, points of the multi-function in accordance with this embodiment are adjusting the location of the jaw device 40 and the pry bar 20a on the shank body 10 for clamping materials and pulling nails via the pry bar 20a and the head portion 111 of the shank body 10.
Referring to FIGS. 9 to 10, it shows a third embodiment in the present invention which is similar to the second embodiment except several features below. Firstly, a shank body 10a replaces the shank body 10. The shank body 10a is similar to the body 10, but an orifice 123a is provided on the periphery of the second end 12a. Secondly, a pry bar 20b replaces the pry bar 20a. The pry bar 20b is similar to the pry bar 20a, but the second receptacles 24a are removed, an orifice 27b is defined on a side of the connected section 21b and relative to the orifice 123a so that a pin 28b is provided to insert through the orifices 27b and 123a in sequence for fixing the pry bar 20b on the second end 12a of the shank body 10a. Hence, points of the multi-function tool in accordance with this embodiment are the location of the pry bar 20b on the shank body 10a is fixed and the location of the jaw device 40 on the shank body 10a is adjustable.
Referring to FIG. 11, it shows a fourth embodiment in the present invention. A multi-function tool includes a hexagonal shank body 10b, a handle 50 and a joint 60 connecting the shank body 10b and the handle 50 to each other. The shank body 10b is similar to the shank body 10, but a bent portion 14b is defined between the first and second ends 11b and 12b so that the head portion 111b is approximately L-shaped. A jaw surface 15b is defined on the bottom surface of the head portion 111b. The handle 50 is hollow and includes a first end defining a hole 51 therein for receiving the second end 12b of the shank body 10b and a second end for a user to hold. The joint 60 is disposed between the shank body 10b and the handle 50 and includes a through-hole 61 and a receptacle 62 piercing therethrough, respectively, with the direction of axis of the through-hole 61 being parallel to that of the second end 12b but perpendicular to that of the receptacle 62. The receptacle 62 is provided to receive one clutch 30 that serves to adjust the location of the joint 60 on the shank body 10b. The through-hole 61 has a first end for receiving the second end 12b and a second end for receiving the first end of the handle 50, with the cross-section of the first end of the through-hole 61 coinciding with that of the second end 12b, with the cross-section of the second end of the through-hole 61 coinciding with that of first end of the handle 50 so that the shank body 10b can telescope with respect to the handle 50 stably. A jaw portion 63 extends from a side of the joint 60 relative to the head portion 111b, and a jaw surface 64 is provided on the top surface of the jaw portion 63 relative to the jaw surface 15b so that the cooperation of the jaw surfaces 15b and 64 is adapted for clamping material.
Patent Application
20090307847
