Adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism comprising:
- a first hinge portion having a pair of arms;
a second hinge portion having a shoulder sized and configured to fit between the pair of arms, the pair of arms including a first splined bore extending through both arms and the shoulder including a second splined bore, the first and second splined bores being coaxially aligned and cooperating to form a splined hinge bore; and
a hinge pin having a plurality of continuous splines for engaging the splines of the hinge bore substantially along the entire length of the hinge bore, the hinge pin being movable in the hinge bore between a hinge locking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is prevented and a hinge unlocking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is permitted.
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Abstract
An adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism is disclosed which is movable between a plurality of selectable positions. A hinge pin splined along substantially its entire length holds the portions of the tool together, and is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the tool is adjustable, and in the locked position the tool is fixed in position and suitable for use.
93 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism comprising:
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a first hinge portion having a pair of arms; a second hinge portion having a shoulder sized and configured to fit between the pair of arms, the pair of arms including a first splined bore extending through both arms and the shoulder including a second splined bore, the first and second splined bores being coaxially aligned and cooperating to form a splined hinge bore; and a hinge pin having a plurality of continuous splines for engaging the splines of the hinge bore substantially along the entire length of the hinge bore, the hinge pin being movable in the hinge bore between a hinge locking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is prevented and a hinge unlocking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is permitted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism comprising:
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a first hinge portion having a pair of arms; a second hinge portion having a shoulder sized and configured to fit between the pair of arms, the pair of arms including a first splined bore extending through both arms and the shoulder including a second splined bore, the first and second splined bores being coaxially aligned and cooperating to form a splined hinge bore; a hinge pin having a plurality of splines for engaging the splines of the hinge bore and being movable in the hinge bore between a hinge locking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is prevented and a hinge unlocking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is permitted; and a retainer coupled to the hinge pin, the retainer being configured to interfere with the splines of the splined hinge bore to retain the hinge pin in the unlocking position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism comprising:
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a first hinge portion having a pair of arms; a second hinge portion having a shoulder sized and configured to fit between the pair of arms, the pair of arms including a first splined bore extending through both arms and the shoulder including a second splined bore, the first and second splined bores being coaxial aligned and cooperating to form a splined hinge bore, wherein at least one of the first and second splined bores includes a hinge pin release; and a hinge pin having a plurality of splines for engaging the splines of the hinge bore and being movable in the hinge bore between the first and second hinge portions is prevented and a hinge unlocking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is permitted.
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16. An adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism comprising:
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a first hinge portion having a pair of arms; a second hinge portion having a shoulder sized and configured to fit between the pair of arms, the pair of arms including a first splined bore extending through both arms and the shoulder including a second splined bore, the first and second splined bores being coaxially aligned and cooperating to form a splined hinge bore, wherein at least one of the first and second hinge portions includes a hinge pin release; a hinge pin having a plurality of splines for engaging the splines of the hinge bore and being movable in the hinge bore between a hinge locking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is prevented and a hinge unlocking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is permitted; and a resilient retaining ring coupled to the pin, the retaining ring being sized to interfere with the splines of the splined hinge bore, the release including a conical opening portion in the splined hinge bore, the retaining ring being compressed in response to engagement with the release to reduce the diameter of the retaining ring.
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17. An adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism comprising:
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a first hinge portion having a pair of arms; a second hinge portion having a shoulder sized and configured to fit between the pair of arms, the pair of arms including a first splined bore extending through both arms and the shoulder including a second splined bore, the first and second splined bores being coaxially aligned and cooperating to form a splined hinge bore, wherein each of the first and second hinge portions includes a hinge pin release; a hinge pin having a plurality of splines for engaging the splines of the splined hinge bore and a resilient retaining ring coupled to the pin for engaging the splines of the splined hinge bore, the hinge pin being movable in the splined hinge bore in response to engagement between the resilient retaining ring and the hinge pin release, the hinge pin being moveable between a hinge locking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is prevented and a hinge unlocking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is permitted.
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18. An adjustable tool with a locking hinge mechanism comprising:
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a first hinge portion having a pair of arms; a second hinge portion having a shoulder sized and configured to fit between the pair of arms, the pair of arms including a first splined bore extending through both arms and the shoulder including a second splined bore, the first and second splined bores being coaxially aligned and cooperating to form a splined hinge bore having a first end and a second end; and a hinge pin having a plurality of splines for engaging the splines of the hinge bore substantially along the entire length of the hinge bore, the hinge pin being movable in the hinge bore between a hinge locking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is prevented and a hinge unlocking position wherein relative movement between the first and second hinge portions is permitted; and a retainer coupled to the hinge pin, the retainer being disposed between the first and second ends to retain the hinge pin in the hinge unlocking position.
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Specification