Hand tools

• US 5,894,667 A
• Filed: 08/27/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anne Lynch
• Original Assignee: Anne Lynch
• Inventors: Van Den Hout, Filip
• Primary Examiner(s): PAYER, HWEI SIU CHOU
• Application Number:
  US08/917,946
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 30/249, 30/245, 30/187, 30/188, 30/277, 30/272.1, 30/277.4, 30/228, 30/180
• US Class Current: 30/249
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 3/0255 Tree pruners, i.e. pruning shears carried at the end of a pole
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 15/00 Hand-held shears with motor-driven blades

Abstract

A hand tool of a type where relative movement between operative elements is required. The hand tool includes a handpiece (C) and a separate fluid displacement device (P) which are coupled together by a flexible hose (H). The handpiece (C) has a fixed blade (36) and a movable blade (34). The displacement unit (P) has a handle (10) which can be moved relative to a ground engageable foot (18) thereby causing a piston (16) to displace fluid along the hose (H) and drive a piston (28) in handpiece (C) against the bias of a spring (38). Movement of piston (28) against the spring (38) causes cutting blade (34) to move toward blade (36). Spring (38) causes reverse movement of piston (28) upon pressure being released from the handle (10) to retract blade (34) from blade (36). The blades (34) and (36) can be replaced by other operative elments such as clamping jaws.

Claims

1. A hand tool comprising a hand holdable fluid powered actuator coupled by a flexible fluid conduit means to a fluid displacement device, the fluid powered actuator having operative elements mounted for relative movement therebetween, the fluid displacement device including a hand gripping means and a ground engagement means, said hand gripping means and said ground engagement means being mounted for relative movement therebetween to effect actuation of the fluid powered actuator, the fluid powered actuator having an operating member retained for movement against the action of biasing means, the operating member being coupled to at least one of said operative elements, the fluid displacement device further including first and second tubular elements slidingly interengaged, said hand gripping means being mounted with the first tubular element and the ground engagement means being mounted with the second tubular element, there being piston means slidingly engaged in the first tubular element and coupled by coupling means to the ground engagement means.

2. A hand tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operative elements form cutting means.

3. A hand tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ground engagement means includes a pointed portion.

4. A hand tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid displacement device further includes fluid pressure adjustment means, there being a fluid displacement element within the fluid displacement device having less cross-sectional area than a driven element located within the fluid powered actuator and movable in response to displacement of fluid by the displacement element, the driven element being coupled with said operating member, said biasing means acting against movement of the driven element as a consequence of said fluid displacement.

5. A hand tool comprising a handpiece and a separate fluid displacement device, the handpiece having a fluid powered actuator and pair of operative elements, one of said operative elements being coupled to an operating member of the fluid powered actuator and the other of said operative elements fixed in position, a flexible conduit means communicating at one end with a first fluid chamber of the fluid powered actuator and at its other end with a second fluid chamber of the fluid displacement device, biasing means within the handpiece, the operating member being biased by said biasing means to a first position, the fluid displacement device having handle means and ground engagement means, the handle means being movable relative to the ground engagement means to cause fluid movement to occur in the first fluid chamber resulting in movement of the operating member from said first position against the bias of the biasing means.

6. A hand tool as claimed in claim 5 wherein a first piston in the fluid displacement device is movable in response to relative movement between the handle means and the ground engagement means, said first piston being of less cross-sectional area than a second piston slidingly located in the first fluid chamber, said second piston being operatively connected to said operating member.

7. A hand tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein the ground engagement means has a pointed engagement portion.

8. A hand tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein the biasing means is a compression spring means.

9. A hand tool as claimed in claim 8 wherein the operative elements are a blade and an anvil.

10. A hand tool as claimed in claim 8 wherein the operative elements are a pair of cutting blades.

11. A hand tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein the fluid displacement device further includes a fluid pressure adjustment means.

12. A hand tool as claimed in claim 11 wherein a third fluid chamber is disposed between the first fluid chamber and said other end of the flexible conduit means, the fluid pressure adjustment means being a bung mounted for adjustable positioning in the third fluid chamber to adjust the effective volume of the third fluid chamber.

13. A hand tool as claimed in claim 12 wherein the third fluid chamber has an opening into which said bung is screw threaded, the bung being rotatable to move axially in the opening.

14. A hand tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein the handle means includes a first tubular element in which said first piston is slidingly located, a first piston rod coupled with said first piston and extending to said ground engagement means, said ground engagement means having a second tubular element within which at least a part of said first tubular element is slidingly located, said first tubular element communicating with a cavity in the handle means, said cavity being connected to said other end of the flexible conduit means.

15. A hand tool as claimed in claim 14 wherein the fluid powered actuator comprises a body having an internal bore at least forming part of said first fluid chamber and in which said second piston is slidingly engaged, there being a second piston rod coupled to said second piston and forming said operating member, said second piston rod extending from said body and engaging with said one operative element.

16. A hand tool as claimed in claim 15 wherein a distal end of the said second piston rod has a pin engaged in a bifurcated portion of said one operative element.