EASY SHIFT DUAL-MODE PISTOL-GRIP GREASE GUN
First Claim
1. A dual-mode pistol-grip grease gun comprising:
- a cylinder head portion having a recess formed therein, the recess being adapted to receive a cylinder;
a handle having a first end attached to the cylinder head portion, and having a free second end;
a link having a first end and a second end, the first end of the link being rotatably connected to the cylinder head portion;
a lever having a first end having a slot formed therein and a free second end, the second end of the link is slidably and rotatably mounted in the slot, wherein the slot has a first end portion and a second end portion each of which receive the second end of the link, wherein the second end of the link is movable between the first end portion of the slot and the second end portion of the slot, wherein positioning the second end of the link in the first end portion of the slot adapts the gun to operate in a volume mode and wherein positioning the second end of the link in the second end portion of the slot adapts the gun to operate in a pressure mode;
a piston rotatably fastened to a central portion of the lever, the piston being in alignment with a piston cavity extending through the cylinder head portion;
a spring surrounding the piston that biases the lever away from said handle; and
a stop disposed in the lever central portion and engageable with a side of the piston to define a maximum withdrawal position of the piston from the piston cavity,wherein the slot is shaped such that, when the second end of the link is positioned in the first end portion of the slot, the link is manually adjustable, by pushing the link toward the second end portion of the slot, in a single action.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dual mode pistol grip grease gun that operates in either the volume mode or the pressure mode. The grease gun includes a cylinder head having a handle attached thereto. Attached to the cylinder head via a shiftable link is a lever, which has a slot at one end. The shiftable link is disposed in the slot of the lever, and its position therein defines whether the grease gun is in the volume or the pressure mode. The shape of the slot is such that, when the grease gun is in volume mode and when the lever is fully pressed toward the handle, an angle defined by a first axis (defined as a line connecting a pivot point of a connection of the link to the cylinder head and a pivot point of a connection of the link to an end of the slot defining volume mode) and a second axis (defined as a line connecting the pivot point of the connection of the link to the end of the slot defining volume mode and a point along a bottom curve of the slot where the concavity of the curve changes) is approximately ten degrees. The shape of the slot, roller and tabs on the link allow for ease of shifting.
18 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A dual-mode pistol-grip grease gun comprising:
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a cylinder head portion having a recess formed therein, the recess being adapted to receive a cylinder; a handle having a first end attached to the cylinder head portion, and having a free second end; a link having a first end and a second end, the first end of the link being rotatably connected to the cylinder head portion; a lever having a first end having a slot formed therein and a free second end, the second end of the link is slidably and rotatably mounted in the slot, wherein the slot has a first end portion and a second end portion each of which receive the second end of the link, wherein the second end of the link is movable between the first end portion of the slot and the second end portion of the slot, wherein positioning the second end of the link in the first end portion of the slot adapts the gun to operate in a volume mode and wherein positioning the second end of the link in the second end portion of the slot adapts the gun to operate in a pressure mode; a piston rotatably fastened to a central portion of the lever, the piston being in alignment with a piston cavity extending through the cylinder head portion; a spring surrounding the piston that biases the lever away from said handle; and a stop disposed in the lever central portion and engageable with a side of the piston to define a maximum withdrawal position of the piston from the piston cavity, wherein the slot is shaped such that, when the second end of the link is positioned in the first end portion of the slot, the link is manually adjustable, by pushing the link toward the second end portion of the slot, in a single action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of manufacturing a dual-mode grease gun, the method comprising:
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forming a cylinder head portion having a recess formed therein, the recess being adapted to receive a cylinder; forming a handle having a first end attached to the cylinder head portion, and having a free second end; forming a link having a first end and a second end and rotatably connecting a first end of the link to the cylinder head portion; forming a lever including a slot in a first end; slidably and rotatably mounting the second end of the link in the slot, wherein the slot has a first end portion and a second end portion adapted to receive the second end of the link, wherein the second end of the link is movable between the first end portion of the slot and the second end portion of the slot, wherein positioning the second end of the link in the slot first portion adapts the gun to operate in a volume mode and wherein positioning the second end of the link in the slot second portion adapts the gun to operate in a pressure mode; forming a piston rotatably fastened to a central portion of the lever, the piston being in alignment with a piston cavity extending through the cylinder head portion; forming a spring surrounding the piston that biases the lever away from said handle; and forming a stop disposed in the lever central portion and engageable with a side of the piston to define a maximum withdrawal position of the piston from the piston cavity, wherein forming the slot includes determining a shape of the slot such that when the second end of the link is positioned in the first end portion of the slot, the link is manually adjustable, by pushing the link toward the second end portion of the slot, in a single action. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of using a dual-mode grease gun which includes a shiftable link rotatably connected to a cylinder head portion of the grease gun and rotatably connected to a lever of the grease gun, the link being connected to the lever via a roller arranged in a slot arranged in the lever and the link being movable between a first end portion of the slot and a second end portion of the slot, wherein positioning the link in the first end portion of the slot adapts the gun to operate in a volume mode and positioning the second end of the link in the second end portion of the slot adapts the gun to operate in a pressure mode, the method comprising:
shifting the grease gun from operating in the volume mode to operating in the pressure mode, wherein the shifting is achieved manually by pushing on the link near the second end portion of the link in a single action. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
Specification