Painters and drywallers use a variety of tools to perform a variety of tasks while painting and drywalling. Switching between the various tools wastes time and added space is required to store such tools. To save time and space, a single tool can be provided for painters and drywallers that enables the painter/drywaller to perform the variety of tasks. For example, a single tool can be provided for cleaning a paint roller, scraping paint, cleaning cracks, working putty, and opening paint cans.
Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to a tool, and more particularly a folding tool that swivels.
In an embodiment, a tool is provided that includes a handle assembly including a top and bottom portion and a blade disposed between the top and bottom portion having first and second ends and an opening at its first end. The opening includes first and second notches opposed to one another. The tool also includes a latch assembly disposed between the top and bottom portion that is movable between first and second positions, the latch assembly including a latch having a protrusion that engages one of the first or second notches in the first position and disengages from the one of the first or second notches in the second position. The blade is rotatable about the first end between a closed positioned where the second end of the blade is disposed between the handle portions and the first notch is engaged by the protrusion, and an open position where the second end of the blade is outside the handle portions and the second notch is engaged by the protrusion.
Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which particular embodiments and further benefits of the provided subject matter are illustrated as described in more detail in the description below.
Embodiments of the provided subject matter relate to a tool having a handle with a top portion and a bottom portion opposite thereto in which an opening in a shape is included on each portion. The opening can be a circle-shaped opening about which a blade rotates between an open position and a closed position. The tool can include a latch assembly moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position a latch of the latch assembly can restrict movement of the blade to position the blade in the open position or the closed position. In the second position the latch can allow the blade to move between the open position and the closed position. The latch can engage one or more notches on the blade and each of the one or more notches can correspond to a position of the blade.
With reference to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. However, the inclusion of like elements in different views does not mean a given embodiment necessarily includes such elements or that all embodiments of the invention include such elements.
Referring to
The tool 10 also includes a latch assembly 22 that prevents movement of the blade 18 from a closed position or an open position when the latch assembly 22 is in a first position and allows movement of the blade from the closed position or the open position to the other of the closed position or open position when the latch assembly 22 is in a second position. The blade 18 is shown in the open position in
Referring now to
Referring now to
As best shown in
As best shown in
The spring footing 66 includes a body 110, such as an L-shaped body having a projection 112 that serves as a seat for one end of the spring 68, a pair of projections 114 that are received in openings 116 in the top plate 16, and an opening 118 through which the projecting portion 46 of the spring footing protrusion 44 extends.
Turning now to
Secured to the top plate 16 are spacers 150, 152, and 154. The spacer 150 is secured to the top plate 16 via a fastener received in an opening in the top plate 16 near the first end 130. The spacer 150 serves as a stop for the blade 18 both when the blade is in the closed position and the open position. The spacer 152 is secured to the top plate 16 via a fastener received in an opening in the top plate 16 near the openings 116. The spacer 152 serves as a stop for a portion of the blade 18 when the blade is in the closed position. The spacer 154, and as shown plurality of spacers 154, are secured to the top plate 16 via respective fasteners received in respective openings in the top plate 16 near the second end 132.
Turning now to
The blade 18, which may be any suitable shape made of any suitable material such as metal, includes first and second ends 190 and 192 spaced along the axis and an opening 194 at the first end 190 that aligns with the openings 38, 136, and 164. The blade 18 also includes first and second notches 196 and 198 in the opening 194 opposite one another and aligned with the axis. The first notch 196 engages the protrusion 104 on the latch 64 when in the closed position and the latch 64 is in the first position and the second notch 198 engages the protrusion 104 when in the open position and the latch 64 is in the first position. When in the closed position, the second end 192 of the blade is encased within the handle assembly and in the open position, the second end 192 of the blade is exposed outside the handle assembly. It will be appreciated that one or more additional notches may be provided in the opening 194, such as a notch between the first and second notches 196 and 198, which can allow the blade to be locked or positioned at a location in-between the open position and closed position.
The blade 18 additionally includes a groove 200 on an outer surface thereof that engages the spacer 150 in the closed position as shown in
Turning now to
The hooks 252 and 254 may be substantially Z-shaped with portions 256 and 258 that abut the respective openings 244 and 246 and portions 260 and 262 that abut the bottom plate 20. As shown in
Turning now to
The tool may also include one or more washers, and in the illustrated embodiment a keyed washer 290 and a flat washer 292 similar to the washers shown in
During use of the tool, to move the blade 18 from the closed position to the open position, the user moves the latch assembly 22 from the first position to the second position thereby moving the actuation portion 72 of the button 60 axially towards the second end 32 of the top portion 12. The axial movement compresses the spring 68, moves the slider 62 axially towards the second end 32, and causes the slider to be angled by the ramps 48, 50, 94 and 96 such that the arms 86 and tabs 90 move in a front direction towards the actuation portion 72. The arms 86 remain in the channels 88 of the latch 64 during movement such that the end of the latch 64 opposite the protrusion 64 is moved in a back direction towards the back portion 14 causing the protrusion 104 to move in the front direction to disengage from the notch 196. The motion is an elevator like motion or perpendicular axial motion relative to the axial orientation of the blade.
The blade 18 can then be swiveled or rotated about an axis perpendicular the longitudinal axis to the open position. The user can release the actuation portion 72 either after the notch 196 has been moved past the protrusion 104 or once the notch 198 is aligned with the protrusion 104. When the actuation portion 72 is released, the spring 68 moves the actuation button 60 and slider 62 axially towards the first end 30 and the ramps 48, 50, 94, and 96 guide the slider 62 back to its position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The movement causes the arms 86 to move through the channels 88 and allows the end of the latch 64 to move back to its position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, thereby moving the protrusion 104 in the back direction to engage the notch 198. When the blade 18 is in the open position, the groove of the projecting portion 202 abuts the spacer 150 as shown in
Turning now to
The tool 310 includes a top portion 312, a bottom portion 314, a top plate 316, a blade 318, a bottom portion 320, a latch assembly 322, a collar top 572, a collar bottom 574, a keyed washer 590, and a flat washer 592. The top plate 316 includes openings 456 that receive positioning pins 594 of the keyed washer to position the keyed washer relative to the top plate 316. In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion 312 and top plate 316 are free of openings at their second ends 332 and 432 for connecting the top portion and top plate together at the second ends 332 and 432. Similarly, the bottom plate 320 is free of openings for connecting to the top plate 316, and the bottom portion 314 and bottom plate 320 are free of openings for connecting to one another. The blade 318 can include additional edges, such as an opener edge 596.
The blade 18 or 318 can include an edge, wherein the edge can be, but is not limited to being, a scraping edge, a beveled edge, a cutting edge, among others. The blade can further include one or more edges. In another embodiment, the blade can be a shape having one or more edges, angles, curves, and the like to provide functionality. For instance, the blade can include one or more edges for scraping, removing of material (e.g., putty), cleaning (e.g., coating roller cleaning, paint roller cleaning, roller cleaning, etc.), enlarging or opening cracks (e.g., opening or enlarging cracks for patching, repair, touch-ups, etc.), applying a material (e.g., applying putty, etc.), among others.
In an embodiment, the tool 10 or 310 can include a hammerhead on the bottom end, a film gauge device that is retractable or removable from the bottom end, a slot for receiving screw driver and/or other bit attachments, and/or an opener on the opening.
The aforementioned elements (e.g., tool 10, top portion 12, bottom portion 14, top plate 16, blade 18, bottom plate 20, latch assembly 22, among others), and the like have been described with respect to interaction between several components and/or elements. It should be appreciated that such elements can include those elements or sub-elements specified therein, some of the specified elements or sub-elements, and/or additional elements. Further yet, one or more elements and/or sub-elements may be combined into a single component to provide aggregate functionality. The elements may also interact with one or more other elements not specifically described herein.
In the specification and claims, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify a quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Moreover, unless specifically stated otherwise, a use of the terms “first,” “second,” etc., do not denote an order or importance, but rather the terms “first,” “second,” etc., are used to distinguish one element from another.
As used herein, the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of “may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable. For example, in some circumstances an event or capacity can be expected, while in other circumstances the event or capacity cannot occur—this distinction is captured by the terms “may” and “may be.”
This written description uses examples to disclose the subject matter, including the best mode, and also to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, including making and using a devices or systems and performing incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differentiate from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
This application is a continuation application and claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/061,377 filed on Mar. 4, 2016. U.S. application Ser. No. 15/061,377 claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/129,495 filed Mar. 6, 2015. The entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62129495 | Mar 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15061377 | Mar 2016 | US |
Child | 16419412 | US |