Releasably lockable articulated handle

• US 4,530,262 A
• Filed: 05/31/1983
• Issued: 07/23/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry D. Pownall
• Original Assignee: Larry D. Pownall
• Inventors: Pownall, Larry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US06/501,063
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 81/177 ST, 81/177.8, 81/177.9, 403/92
• US Class Current: 81/177.9
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/481 for operating in areas having limited access
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/063 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32327 including radially spaced detent or latch component

Abstract

A pair of elongated arm members are provided disposed in generally the same plane and including one pair of overlapped ends pivotally interconnected for relative swinging of the arm members about an axis generally normal to the aforementioned plane. Lock structure is shiftably supported relative to the overlapped ends of the arm members and is movable between a first active position locking the arm members in adjusted angularly displaced positions relative to each other and a second inactive position allowing at least substantially free relative angular displacement of the arm members. The ends of the arm members remote from the overlapped ends thereof include non-circular recesses formed therein for receiving nuts or bolt heads therein against rotation of the nuts or bolt heads relative to the arm members and the lock structure is shiftably supported from one of the overlapped ends of the arm members for limited displacement along the axis of relative oscillation of the arm members.

Claims

1. A releasably lockable articulated handle assembly including a pair of elongated arm members disposed in generally the same plane and including one pair of overlapped ends pivotally interconnected for relative swinging movement of said arm members about an axis generally normal to said plane, lock means shiftably supported relative to said arm members and movable between a first active position locking said arm members in angularly displaced positions relative to each other and a second inactive position allowing at least substantially free relative angular displacement of said arm members, one of said overlapped ends defining a first laterally outwardly opening recess and a non-circular shank portion projecting outwardly of the central portion of the inner end of said recess, said shank portion being at least generally coaxial with said axis, the other of said overlapped ends defining a head thereon received in said recess and defining a second laterally opening recess opening axially into said first recess, said lock means including a toothed gear axially slidable on said shank portion and non-rotatable relative thereto, said second recess including peripherally spaced teeth with which said toothed gear may be meshed, said peripherally spaced teeth being confined to an inner portion of said second recess, said gear being disposed within the inner portion of said second recess and meshed with said teeth when in said active position and being disposed in an outer portion of said second recess out of meshed engagement with said teeth when in said inactive position, said arm members including end wall portions defining the inner limits of said recesses, said end wall portion of said other overlapped end having an opening formed therethrough rotatably receiving the free end of said shank portion therethrough and including an outer end counterbore, a retaining member releasably engaged with said free end of said shank portion and seated in said counterbore, said shank portion being polygonal in cross section and having a longitudinal groove formed in one side surface thereof opening endwise outwardly of the shank portion end remote from said one overlapped end wall portion, the last mentioned end wall portion having a small opening formed therein registered with the adjacent end of said groove, said toothed gear including a central polygonal opening formed therethrough of a size and shape corresponding to the cross-sectional size and shape of said shank portion, one of the sides of said opening corresponding to said one side surface of said shank portion including an elongated thrust bar fixed thereon extending longitudinally through said central opening and outward beyond the axial end faces of said toothed gear, the end of said bar corresponding to said last mentioned end wall portion being longitudinally shiftable through said small opening and the other end of said bar being longitudinally extendable and retractable relative to the end of said groove which opens through the end of said shank portion remote from said one overlapped end wall portion, said gear and shank portion including coacting means yieldingly retaining said gear in said active position.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the other pair of ends of said arm members include non-circular recesses formed therein for receiving nuts or bolt heads therein against rotation of said nuts or bolt heads relative to said arm members.