GB2362597A

GB2362597A - Handle accommodating a variety of tools

Info

Publication number: GB2362597A
Application number: GB0012702A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kuang-Pin Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-24
Filing date: 2000-05-24
Publication date: 2001-11-28
Also published as: GB0012702D0

Abstract

A handle 3 comprises a socket which is capable of accommodating flat, rectangular or hexagonal gardening tool shanks (see figures 5 to 7). The socket comprises a first upper surface 32, a second lower surface 33, and left and right sides having first and second projections 34,35 of the same height extending towards the centre of the socket. The first and second projections 34,35 define two third surfaces 342,352 opposite each other and two fourth surfaces 341,351 parallel to the first surface 32, the socket further comprising two fifth surfaces 321 on the remainder of the left and right sides. The handle 3 also includes a slot 36 which is complementary to a non-circular section (11; figures 2,3) of a stem (1, figures 1 to 3) extending from the side of the handle 3 remote from the tool portion (2; figures 1,3). The handle may be equipped with a locking mechanism (4; figures 1-3,8,9).

Description

2362597 GRIP FOR GARDENING TOOL The present invention relates to a grip of

gardening tool., which is formed with a fitting hole. The inner wall of the fitting hole is disposed with multiple symmetrically arranged engaging faces which define a specific space in which flat, rectangular or hexagonal fitting section of different tools can be accommodated tofirmly associate the grip with 10 different tools.

There are various types of gardening tools which are used in different sites and for different purposes. These gardening tools can be used in association with a long stem.

A Most of the existing gardening tools have flat, rectangular'and hexagonal fitting sections. For example, Figs. 10 and 11 respectively show a harrow 8 with a flat fitting section 81 and a hole 9 with a hexagonal fitting section 91. The different fitting sections 81, 91 are used 20 in accordance with different application forces and working manners. The different fitting sections 81, 91 has different advantages. For example, the flat fitting section 81 is more easy to manufacture, while the hexagonal fitting section 91 can be more firmly associated with the grip. However, different grips 83, 93 respectively formed with a flat fitting hole 82 and a hexagonal fitting hole 92 must be respectively co-used with the 1 different fitting sections. Under such circumstance, in use of a tool 9 with hexagonal fitting section 91, a grip 93 with the hexagonal fitting hole 92 must be prepared. When another tool formed with otherwise shaped fitting section is used, a different grip must be further prepared. As a result, many different grips must be prepared for the tools with different fitting sections. This leads to limitation of use of the grip and increment of cost.

In order to solve the above problems, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a grip of gardening tool, which is formed with a fitting hole. The inner wall of the fitting hole is disposed with multiple symmetrically arranged engaging faces which define a specific space for accommodating flat, rectangular or hexagonal fitting section of different tools so as to avoid rotation of the fitting section. Therefore, the grip can be firmly associated with different tools to enlarge the using range. In addition, the different tools commonly use the grip so that the cost is reduced.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

2 Fig. 1 is a plane assembled view of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the grip and stem of the 5 present invention; Fig. 3 is a plane exploded view of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 2, excluding the locating mechanism; Fig. 5 is a sectional view according to Fig. 4, in which a flat fitting section of a tool head is fitted in the fitting hole of the grip; Fig. 6 is a sectional view according to Fig. 4, in which a rectangular fitting section of a tool head is fitted in the fitting hole of the grip; Fig. 7 is a sectional view according to Fig. 4, in which a hexagonal fitting section of a tool head is fitted in the fitting hole of the grip; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the locating mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 9 shows the operation of the locating mechanism of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a perspective exploded view of a conventional grip and gardening tool head; and Fig. 11 is a perspective exploded view of another type of conventional grip and gardening tool head.

3 Please refer to Figs. 1 to 4 and 8 and 9 which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The gardening tool includes:

a stem 1, one end of which being a non-circular section 11.

a tool head 2 composed of a tool section 21 and a connector 22, a tool stem 23 being fitted in the.connector 22, one end of the tool stem 23 being fitted with the tool section 21, while the other end thereof having a fitting section 24 formed with a socket 25; a grip 3 formed with a fitting hole 31 for the fitting section 24 of the tool head 2 to insert therein, the top edge of the fitting hole 31 being a first engaging faces 32, the bottom edge of the fitting hole 3.1 being a second engaging face 33, a left and a right sides of the fitting hole 31 being respectively disposed with a first and a second projections 34, 35 which extend toward the axis, the opposite faces of the first and second projections 34, 35 being respectively formed with two third engaging faces 342, 352, the faces of the first and second projections 34, 35 opposite to the first engaging face 32 being two fourth engaging faces 341, 351 which are parallel to the first engaging face 32 and positioned at the same height, the fitting hole 31 being further formed with two fifth engaging faces 321 on two sides of the first engaging face 32, the fifth engaging faces 321 being perpendicular to the first engaging face 32; and one side of the grip 3 opposite to the side the tool head 2 inserted therein being inserted with the non-circular section of the stem 1, a slot 36 complementary to the non-circular section 11 of the stem 1 being surrounded with the fitting hole 31.

4 a locating mechanism 4 disposed on one side of the grip 3 and including a push button 41, a spring 42 and a latch board 43. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the latch board 43 is mounted in the push button 41 and the push button 41 together with the latch board 43 is pivotally connected with the grip 3 via. a pin member 44. Two endss. of the push button 41 are respectively formed with a depression end 411 and a locating end 412. The spring 42 is disposed between the depression end 411 and the grip 3. The locating end 412 makes one end of the latch board 43 downward protrude from the push button 41 to insert into the socket 25 of the fitting section 24 of the tool head 2. By means of depressing the depression end 411, the latch board 43 at the locating end 412 is inserted into or extracted from the socket 25 so as to engage the tool head 2 with or disengage the tool head 2 from the grip 3. The spring 42 serves to keep the latch board 43 at the inserted position.

Please refer to Fig. 5. A fitting section 24A with a flat cross-section can be inserted into the fitting hole 31 of the grip 3. At this time, the first and fourth engaging faces 32, 341, 351 respectively abut against the upper and lower end faces of the fitting section 24A. Moreover, the fifth engaging faces 321 on left and right sides respectively abut against two lateral faces of the fitting section 24A so as to avoid rotation of the fitting section 24A.

Referring to Fig. 6, a fitting section 24B with a rectangular cross 25 section can be also inserted into the fitting hole 31 of the grip 3. At this time, the first, second and third engaging faces 32, 33, 342,. 352 respectively abut against lateral sides of the fitting section 24B to avoid rotation of the fitting section 2413.

Please refer to Fig. 7 A fitting section 24C with a hexagonal cross-section can be also inserted into the fitting hole 31 of the grip 3. At this time, the first and second engaging faces 32, 33, respectively abut against two opposite faces of the fitting section 24C and the third engaging faces 342, 352 respectively abut against two lateral faces on the same side so as to avoid rotation of the fitting section 24C.

In conclusion, the inner wall of the fitting hole 31 of the grip 3 is disposed with multiple symmetrically arranged engaging faces which dfine a specific space for accommodating flat, rectangular or hexagonal fitting section 24 of different tools so as to avoid rotation of the fitting section 24. Therefore, the grip 3 can be firmly associated with different tools to enlarge the using range. In addition, the different tools commonly use the grip 3 so that the cost is saved.

The above embodiment is only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiment can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A grip of gardening tool, said grip being formed with a fitting hole 31 for a fitting section 24 of the tool 2 to insert therein, the top edge of the fitting hole 31 being a first engaging face 32, the bottom edge of the fitting hole 31 being a second engaging face 33, a left and a right sides of the fitting hole being respectively disposed with a first and a second projections 34, 35 which extend toward the fitting hole's axis, opposite faces of the first projection and second projections 34, 35 10 being respectively formed with two third engaging faces 342, 352, the faces of the first projection and second projections 34, 35 opposite to the first engaging face 32 being two fourth engaging faces 341, 351 which are parallel to the first engaging face 32 and positioned at the same height, the fitting hole 31 being further formed with two fifth 15 engaging faces 321 on two sides of the first engaging face 32, the fifth engaging faces 321 being perpendicular to the first engaging face 32, one side of the grip 3 opposite to the side the. tool head 2 inserted therein being inserted with the non-circular section 11 of the stem 1, a slot 36 complementary to the non-circular section 11 of the stem 1 being surrounded with the fitting hole 31.

2. A grip of gardening tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grip 3 is equipped with a locating mechanism 4 including a push button 41, a spring 42 and a latch board 43, the latch board 43 being mounted in 25 the push button 41 and the push button 41 together with the latch 7 board 43 being pivotally connected with the grip 3 via apin member 44, two ends of the push button being respectively formed with a depression end 411 and a locating end 412, the spring 42 being disposed between the depression end 411 and the grip 3, the locating end 412 making one end of the latch board 43 downward protruding from the push button 41 to insert into a socket 25 of the fitting section 24 of the tool 2.

3. A grip for a gardening tool as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.

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