Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6446341
-
Patent Number
6,446,341
-
Date Filed
Monday, July 16, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 10, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- Kamrath; Alan
- Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 030 123
- 030 125
- 030 155
- 030 161
- 030 157
- 030 142
- 030 143
- 362 119
- 362 120
- 007 118
- 007 158
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A tool holder and tools combination includes a base with a head formed on an end thereof. A fixing seat is pivotally mounted to the head and a blade is forcibly inserted into an engaging groove of the fixing seat. A catch is provided to engage with ratchet teeth of the fixing seat to thereby prevent inadvertent folding of the blade. The catch can be retained in a position allowing free pivotal movement of the blade relative to the base.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention also relates to a tool holder and tools combination that allows easy and rapid replacement of blades and that allows reliable positioning of a service blade.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,908 to Chen issued on Sep. 2, 1997 discloses a multifunctional foldable saw in which a rotary switch
23
is turned during replacement for the blade
22
. Although the rotary switch
23
provides a simple engaging function, it still tends to be disengaged if subjected to a larger force. In addition, a rear cover
5
is required for storage and retrieval of the blade
22
, and the operation is convenient to the user. U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,788 to Chen et al. discloses a tool holder and tools combination for use with different blades such as cutting blades saw blades, or the like. The present invention provides a tool holder and tools combination that allows easy and rapid replacement of blades and that allows reliable positioning of the service blade.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved tool holder and tools combination for allowing rapid insertion of a new blade when required.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tool holder and tools combination that can be used with different blades and allow easy and rapid replacement of the blades.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved tool holder and tools combination that allows reliable positioning of the service blade.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a tool holder and tools combination is provided and comprises:
a base including a first end and a second end, the base including a compartment for receiving a service tool when not in use, the service tool including an end having an engaging hole and a slit extended from the engaging hole to an end of the service tool;
a head formed on the second end of the base;
a fixing seat pivotally mounted to the head, the fixing seat including an engaging groove for securely holding the end of the service tool;
a latch member slidably mounted in the head;
a push pin slidably mounted in the head and having a first end secured to an end of the latch member to move therewith and a second end for manual operation, the engaging hole of the service tool having an inner diameter greater than a diameter of the push pin and greater than a maximum diameter of the end of the latch member yet smaller than a remaining portion of the latch member, the slit having a width that is smaller than the diameter of the push pin and smaller than the maximum diameter of the end of the latch member, the slit being widenable to an extent allowing passage of the push pin yet not allowing passage of the end of the latch member connected to the first end of the push pin; and
means for biasing the end of the latch member to a position received in the engaging hole of the-service tool, thereby preventing removal of the service tool;
the end of the service tool being forcibly inserted into the engaging groove of the fixing seat;
the end of the latch member comprising a guide face for guiding the end of the service tool and for widening the slit of the service tool when the end of the service tool is forcibly inserted into the engaging groove of the fixing seat, and the latch member being moved to urge the push member to a position for passing through the slit into the engaging hole of the service tool; and
the push pin being manually operable to move the end of the latch member out of the engaging hole of the service tool, thereby allowing removal of the service tool from the fixing seat.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a tool holder and tools combination is provided and comprises:
a base including an end and a compartment for receiving a service tool when not in use;
a fixing seat pivotally mounted to the end of the base, the fixing seat including an engaging groove for securely holding the end of the service tool, the fixing seat including a plurality of ratchet teeth; and
means for positioning the fixing seat in place and comprising:
a catch for releasably engaging with the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat;
a mounting tube mounted to the head and including a first end and a second end for slidably receiving an end of the catch;
a manual piece connected to the first end of the mounting tube to move therewith; and
means for biasing the catch to engage with the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat;
wherein the manual piece is movable to a position to thereby move the catch to a non-operative position disengaged from the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat.
Other objects, advantages, and novel 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
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a tool holder and tools combination in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of the tool holder and tools combination in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a sectional view taken along line A—A in
FIG. 1
, illustrating insertion of a blade.
FIG. 4
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 3
, illustrating a transition of the blade.
FIG. 5
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 4
, wherein the blade is retained in place.
FIG. 6
is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, of a front portion of the tool and tool combination in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 7
is a sectional view taken along line B—B in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 8
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 6
, illustrating folding of the blade.
FIG. 9
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 7
, wherein the blade is in a storage position.
FIG. 10
is a schematic top view with a cover of the tool holder removed to illustrate use of a light.
FIG. 11
is a view similar to
FIG. 10
, wherein the light is turned off.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 1 through 11
and initially to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a tool holder in accordance with the present invention generally includes a tool holder that includes a handle consisting of a cover
20
and a base
10
.
The base
10
includes a separation wall
11
to separate two compartments
13
and
14
located on both sides of the separation wall
11
and defined in an upper side of the base
10
. The compartment
14
is provided to receive a battery
52
(or batteries) and the compartment
13
is provided to receive spare blades (not shown) of identical or different functions. In addition, a blade receiving compartment
12
is defined in an underside of the separation wall
11
for receiving a service blade when not in use. An end of the base
10
further includes two knurls
15
respectively on two lateral sides thereof for pivotal connection with pivotal holes
21
defined in an end of the cover
20
. A head
16
is formed on the other end of the base
10
and includes a mortise
162
for releasably engaging with a tenon
22
on the other end of the cover
20
. The cover
20
is thus pivotable relative to the base
10
to allow storage and retrieval of the spare blades.
The head
16
includes a pair of lugs
18
having a space
19
therebetween and aligned holes
181
. A latch member
34
is slidably extended through one of the holes
181
(see
FIG. 3
) and includes a screw hole
341
(FIG.
1
). A push pin
35
is slidably extended through the other hole
181
(
FIG. 3
) and includes a threaded first end
351
engaged with the screw hole
341
of the latch member
34
to slide therewith and a second end
352
beyond the other hole
181
for manual operation. As can be seen from
FIG. 3
, the other hole
181
is stepped for receiving an elastic member
36
that biases the latch member
34
to an operative position to prevent a service tool, e.g., a blade
60
from disengaging from the fixing seat
30
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the blade
60
includes an engaging hole
61
and a slit
62
extending from the engaging hole
61
to an end edge of the blade
60
and having a width smaller than a diameter of the engaging hole
61
. The engaging hole
61
is sized to be smaller than a diameter of the latch member
34
and greater than a diameter of the push pin
35
. The slit
62
has a width smaller than the diameter of the push pin
35
. However, the slit
62
can be widened to an extent allowing passage of the push pin
35
but not allowing passage of the latch member
34
.
The fixing seat
30
includes a blade engaging groove
31
for engaging with the end of the blade
60
having the engaging hole
61
. The fixing seat
30
further includes bulge
32
having a transverse hole
322
and plural ratchet teeth
321
formed on a periphery thereof. The fixing seat
30
further includes a stop
33
that bears against the head
16
. As can be seen from
FIG. 3
, the transverse hole
322
includes two parts, wherein the left part
322
a
(as viewed from the direction of the blade
60
) slidably receives the latch member
34
and the right part
322
b
slidably receives the push pin
35
, while the hole
61
of the blade
60
locates between the left part
322
a
and the right part
322
b.
In addition, the latch member
34
includes an inner end that has a guide face
342
for guiding the end of the blade
60
into the blade engaging groove
31
of the fixing seat
30
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the bulge
32
of the fixing seat
30
is received in the space
19
between the lugs
18
. The push pin
35
and the latch member
34
are extended through the hole
322
to allow pivotal connection between the fixing seat
30
and the head
16
. When insertion of the blade
60
is required, the blade
60
is forcibly inserted into the blade engaging groove
31
of the fixing seat
30
. The slit
62
is widened when the inner end of the blade
60
is forcibly moved against the guide face
342
of the latch member
34
. This allows further movement of the blade
60
(see
FIG. 4
) while the latch member
34
is moved outward until the hole
61
of the blade
60
is coincident with the transverse hole
322
of the fixing seat
30
, best shown in FIG.
5
. At this moment, the slit
62
restores its initial shape, and the latch member
34
and the push pin
35
are returned to their initial positions under the action of the elastic member
36
. Disengagement of the blade
60
is now impossible, as the slit
62
cannot be deformed to an extent allowing passage of the inner end of the latch member
34
with the guide face
342
. When disengagement of the blade
60
is required, the user may push the push pin
35
inward to move the inner end of the latch member
34
away from the hole
61
of the blade
60
, thereby allowing forcible removal of the blade
60
by means of forcibly pulling the blade
60
outward away from the fixing seat
30
.
Turning back to
FIG. 2
, the head
16
further includes a slot
161
in one lateral side thereof. A switch
50
has a portion extended through the slot
161
to engage with a contact blade
51
. As illustrated in
FIG. 10
, a light
53
mounted in a hole
163
in an end face of one of the lugs
18
is turned on when the switch
50
is in an “on” position, and the light
53
is turned off when the switch
50
is moved to an “off” position shown in FIG.
11
.
A positioning means
40
is provided to retain the blade
60
in place relative to the base
10
. The positioning means
40
comprises a catch
43
, a mounting tube
42
, a manual piece
41
, an elastic member
44
for biasing the catch
43
to engage with one of the ratchet teeth
321
of the fixing seat
30
, and another elastic member
45
for returning the catch
43
, the mounting tube
42
, and the manual piece
41
to an operative position.
As illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 6
, the mounting tube
42
comprises a first end with at least one protrusion
423
, a second end with a transverse pin hole
424
, and a flange
421
formed on an intermediate portion thereof. The first end of the mounting tube
42
is extended through a vertical hole
171
defined in a wall of the head
16
for securely engaging with the manual piece
41
to move therewith. An end of the catch
43
is received in the second end of the mounting tube
42
, and a pin
422
is extended through the transverse pin hole
424
of the mounting tube
42
and a slot
431
in the end of the catch
43
. The elastic member
44
is attached between the manual piece
41
and the end of the catch
43
, thereby biasing the catch
43
to engage with one of the ratchet teeth
321
of the fixing seat
30
. The elastic member
45
is mounted around the mounting tube
42
and attached between the upper wall of the head
16
and the flange
421
of the mounting tube
42
, thereby biasing the mounting tube
42
, the manual piece
41
, and the catch
43
to their operative position. The slot
431
allows the catch
43
to move away from the ratchet teeth
321
of the fixing seat
30
when the fixing seat
30
and the blade
60
are pivoted clockwise relative to the head
16
to its operative position, as shown in FIG.
6
.
Thus, as illustrated in
FIG. 6
, the blade
60
in service can be pivoted to its operative position (FIG.
7
), the ratchet teeth
321
of the fixing seat
30
and the catch
43
of the positioning means
40
prevents inadvertent pivotal movement of the blade
60
in the reverse direction that might injure the user. When not in use, the blade
60
is moved back into the blade receiving compartment
12
of the base
10
. As illustrated in
FIG. 8
, the user pulls the manual piece
41
upward, which, in turn, causes upward movement of the mounting tube
42
and the catch
43
. Thus, the catch
43
is disengaged from the ratchet teeth
321
of the fixing seat
30
to thereby allow pivotal movement of the blade
60
into the blade receiving compartment
12
of the base
10
. The manual piece
41
can be turned through an angle after it is pulled upward until the at least one protrusion
423
of the mounting tube
42
is right above the vertical hole
171
an inner periphery defining the opening
17
of the head
16
. The manual piece
41
is then released, and the protrusion
423
of the mounting tube
42
rests on the vertical hole
171
of the head
16
, which keeps the catch
43
in a position disengaged from the ratchet teeth
321
of the fixing seat
30
. Thus, the user may pivot the blade
60
to a desired position. When the blade
60
reaches the desired position, the manual piece
41
is pulled upward and then turned through an angle to thereby misalign the protrusion
423
of the mounting tube
42
with the vertical hole
171
of the head
16
. The manual piece
41
is then released, and the manual piece
41
, the mounting tube
42
, and the catch
43
are returned to the operative position under the action of the elastic member
45
.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
- 1. A tool holder and tools combination, comprising:a base including a first end and a second end, the base including a compartment for receiving a service tool when not in use, the service tool including an end having an engaging hole and a slit extended from the engaging hole to the end of the service tool; a head formed on the second end of the base; a fixing seat pivotally mounted to the head, the fixing seat including an engaging groove for securely holding the end of the service tool; a latch member slidably mounted in the head; a push pin slidably mounted in the head and having a first end secured to an end of the latch member to move therewith and a second end for manual operation, the engaging hole of the service tool having an inner diameter greater than a diameter of the push pin and greater than a maximum diameter of the end of the latch member yet smaller than a remaining portion of the latch member, the slit having a width that is smaller than the diameter of the push pin and smaller than the maximum diameter of the end of the latch member, the slit being widenable to an extent allowing passage of the push pin yet not allowing passage of the end of the latch member connected to the first end of the push pin; and means for biasing the end of the latch member to a position received in the engaging hole of the service tool, thereby preventing removal of the service tool; the end of the service tool being forcibly inserted into the engaging groove of the fixing seat; the end of the latch member comprising a guide face for guiding the end of the service tool and for widening the slit of the service tool when the end of the service tool is forcibly inserted into the engaging groove of the fixing seat, and the latch pin being moved to urge the push member to a position for passing through the slit into the engaging hole of the service tool; and the push pin being manually operable to move the end of the latch member out of the engaging hole of the service tool, thereby allowing removal of the service tool from the fixing seat.
- 2. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes a second compartment for receiving spare tools.
- 3. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base includes a third compartment for receiving a battery, further comprising a light mounted in the head, and a switch for controlling on/off of the light.
- 4. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second compartment and the third compartment are separated by a separation wall, and wherein the compartment for receiving the service tool is defined in an underside of the separation wall.
- 5. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a cover having an end pivotally connected with the first end of the base.
- 6. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cover includes a tenon on another end thereof, and wherein the head includes a mortise for releasably engaging with the tenon.
- 7. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes a second compartment for receiving a battery, further comprising a light mounted in the head, and a switch for controlling on/off of the light.
- 8. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head includes a pair of spaced lugs having a space therebetween for pivotally receiving the fixing seat.
- 9. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lugs have aligned holes through which the latch member and the push pin slidably extend, respectively.
- 10. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fixing seat includes a bulge pivotally held between the lugs and including a transverse hole through which the latch member and the push pin extend.
- 11. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bulge includes a plurality of ratchet teeth, and further comprising means for positioning the bulge of the fixing seat in place and preventing from movement of the service tool into the compartment of the base.
- 12. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the positioning means includes:a catch for releasably engaging with the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat; a mounting tube mounted to the head and including a first end and a second end for slidably receiving an end of the catch; a manual piece connected to the first end of the mounting tube to move therewith; and means for biasing the catch to engage with the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat; wherein the manual piece is movable to a position to move the catch to a non-operative position disengaged from the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat, thereby allowing free pivotal movement of the service tool relative to the base.
- 13. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein the end of the catch includes a slot, the second end of the mounting tube comprising a transverse pin hole, a pin being extended through the transverse pin hole of the mounting tube and the slot of the catch, the biasing means of the positioning means comprises an elastic element attached between the manual piece and the catch.
- 14. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 13, wherein the head comprises a wall with a hole through which the mounting tube extends, an inner periphery defining the hole of the wall of the head comprising a first protrusion, the mounting tube comprising a second protrusion not aligning with the first protrusion of the head, the manual piece being turnable through an angle to align the second protrusion with the first protrusion such that the second protrusion rests on the first protrusion when the manual piece is released, thereby retaining the catch in the non-operative position disengaged from the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat.
- 15. A tool holder and tools combination, comprising:a base including an end and a compartment for receiving a service tool when not in use; a head formed on the base; a fixing seat pivotally mounted to the end of the base, the fixing seat including an engaging groove for securely holding one end of the service tool, the fixing seat including a plurality of ratchet teeth; and means for positioning the fixing seat in place and comprising: a catch for releasably engaging with the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat; a mounting tube mounted to the head and including a first end and a second end for slidably receiving an end of the catch; a manual piece connected to the first end of the mounting tube to move therewith; and means for biasing the catch to engage with the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat; wherein the manual piece is movable to a position to thereby move the catch to a non-operative position disengaged from the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat.
- 16. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 15, wherein the end of the catch includes a slot, the second end of the mounting tube comprising a transverse pin hole, a pin being extended through the transverse pin hole of the mounting tube and the slot of the catch, the biasing means of the positioning means comprises an elastic element attached between the manual piece and the catch.
- 17. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 16, wherein the head of the base comprises a wall with a hole through which the mounting tube extends, an inner periphery defining the hole of the base comprising a first protrusion, the mounting tube comprising a second protrusion not aligning with the first protrusion of the base, the manual piece being turnable through an angle to align the second protrusion with the first protrusion such that the second protrusion rests on the first protrusion when the manual piece is released, thereby retaining the catch in the non-operative position disengaged from the ratchet teeth of the fixing seat.
- 18. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 15, wherein the base includes a second compartment for receiving spare tools.
- 19. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 18, wherein the base includes a third compartment for receiving a battery, further comprising a light mounted in the head, and a switch for controlling on/off of the light.
- 20. The tool holder and tools combination as claimed in claim 15, wherein the base includes a second compartment for receiving a battery, further comprising a light mounted in the head, and a switch for controlling on/off of the light.
US Referenced Citations (6)