Tool including adjustable handle

• US 7,032,941 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William R. Heneveld
• Original Assignee: William R. Heneveld
• Inventors: Heneveld, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer, Dean J.
• Application Number:
  US10/635,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20050029825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 294/49, 294/51, 294/52, 294/53.5, 294/55, 294/57, 7114-116, 164/22, 164/30, 403/93, 403/101, 403/103
• US Class Current: 294/51
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 1/225 around a substantially horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/06 reversible or adjustable for position

Abstract

A tool includes different tool heads, and an angularly adjustable handle. The angular adjustability allows better ergonomic body posture during use, thus reducing stress and injury, and also allows multiple functions for each tool. The handle comfortably receives a user'"'"'s hand, with the user'"'"'s thumb or forefinger located at a release button. The release button is spring-biased and includes teeth that inter-engage with teeth on the tool head to latchingly hold a selected angular position. A resilient cover encases the handle and the release button, preventing dirt from entering the button area to prevent jamming. The covering slips onto the handle and includes an annular lip that stretches over an end surface to retain the covering on the handle. The cultivator includes tines that, by adjusting an angle of the handle, extend in a direction parallel the handle but offset therefrom, or that extend at an angle to the handle.

Claims

1. An adjustable tool comprising:

a tool head configured for doing at least one particular task;

a handle; and

an internally-positioned adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the tool head to the handle, the adjustment mechanism being configured to support selective angular adjustment of the tool head relative to the handle between at least two different use positions and to hold the tool head in a selected one of said two different use positions, the adjustment mechanism including overlapping flanges and inter-engaging teeth adapted to releasably hold a selected one of the use positions, and including a cover shielding the teeth from dirt but that leaves exposed a portion of the overlapping flanges so that the tool head can be adjusted without distorting the cover.

2. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, wherein the handle includes an outer. surface defining a geometric shape, and wherein the internal adjustment mechanism includes a latch member located within the geometric shape.

3. The adjustable tool defined in claim 2, wherein the handle has a transverse cross section that generally defines a circle, and wherein the latch member has a contoured outer surface, the contoured outer surface lying inward from the circle to reduce a likelihood of inadvertent release of the latch member.

4. The adjustable tool defined in claim 2, wherein the cover completely covers the latch member to prevent dirt and debris from entering an area around the latch member.

5. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes first teeth that operably engage mating teeth on one of the tool head and the handle for holding the selected use position.

6. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, wherein the tool head has a blade section with a narrowed end and shovel shape, for making the tool useful as a trowel.

7. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, wherein the tool head has a blade section with indicia thereon indicating a depth dimension from an end of the bladed section, for making the tool head useful as a bulb planter and transplanter.

8. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, wherein the tool head has multiple tines forming a fork.

9. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a button operably supported on the handle for movement between a released position for permitting adjustment of the tool head on the handle, and a latched position for holding the selected one use position.

10. The adjustable tool defined in claim 9, wherein the handle includes a recess, and the button is positioned in the recess and is actuable while holding the handle.

11. The adjustable tool defined in claim 9, wherein the tool head and handle include overlapping flanges that are pivotally connected, at least one of the flanges including first teeth, and wherein the button includes latching teeth operably engaging the first teeth, when in the latched position, for holding the selected one use position.

12. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, including a plurality of additional tool heads, each having a particular shape and being configured to do different tasks than the other tool heads.

13. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, wherein the handle includes a raised area toward the tool head that creates a place to focus hand and finger pressure to resist slippage of the user'"'"'s hand when the tool head meets resistance.

14. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, wherein the different use positions include at least three discrete angled positions of the tool head on the handle, and wherein the adjustment mechanism is constructed to select and hold any one of the at least three discrete angled positions.

15. The adjustable tool defined in claim 1, wherein the cover closely engages an outer surface of the overlapping flanges.

16. An adjustable tool comprising:

a tool head configured for doing at least one particular task;

a handle;

an internally-positioned adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the tool head to the handle, the adjustment mechanism being configured to support selective angular adjustment of the tool head relative to the handle between at least two different use positions and to hold the tool head in a selected one of said two different use positions;

wherein the handle includes an outer surface defining a geometric shape;

wherein the internal adjustment mechanism includes a latch member located within the geometric shape; and

a cover that covers the latch member to prevent dirt and debris from entering an area around the latch member, wherein the cover encloses and covers a majority of the handle.

17. An adjustable tool comprising:

a tool head configured for doing at least one particular task;

a handle; and

an internally-positioned adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the tool head to the handle, the adjustment mechanism being configured to support selective angular adjustment of the tool head relative to the handle between at least two different use positions and to hold the tool head in a selected one of said two different use positions;

wherein the handle includes an outer surface defining a geometric shape, and wherein the internal adjustment mechanism includes a latch member located within the geometric shape; and

a cover that covers the latch member to prevent dirt and debris from entering an area around the latch member; and

wherein the latch member includes a button that is depressible through the cover and movable between a release position and a latched position.

18. The adjustable tool defined in claim 17, wherein the latch member includes first teeth that operably engage mating teeth on the tool head for holding the selected use position.

19. An adjustable tool comprising:

a tool head configured for doing at least one particular task;

a handle; and

an internally-positioned adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the tool head to the handle, the adjustment mechanism being configured to support selective angular adjustment of the tool head relative to the handle between at least two different use positions and to hold the tool head in a selected one of said two different use positions; and

a cover that encases a majority of the handle including the adjustment mechanism to prevent dirt and debris from entering an area around the adjustment mechanism.

20. An adjustable tool comprising:

a tool head;

a handle adjustably connected to the tool head, the handle including a recess adapted to ergonomically receive and support a user'"'"'s thumb and fingers so that pressure can be readily communicated through the handle to the tool head while using the tool; and

a release button movable between a released position and a latched position for fixing the tool head to the handle in a selected adjusted position, the release button being located near the recess where the release button is easily operated by the user to adjust the tool head, the release button including first teeth with angled outer edges that engage mating teeth with angled surfaces on the tool head, the angled outer edges and angled surfaces reducing a distance of movement of the button in order to engage or disengage the first teeth.

21. The adjustable tool defined in claim 20, wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the tool head.

22. The adjustable tool defined in claim 20, including a spring biasing the button toward the latched position.

23. The adjustable tool defined in claim 20, wherein the button and the tool head include mating teeth defining a plurality of discrete positions of angular adjustment.

24. The adjustable tool defined in claim 20, wherein the recess defines an annular ring, and wherein the button includes an outer surface recessed from a bottom of the annular ring to form a clearance to reduce a likelihood of inadvertent depression of the button.

25. The adjustable tool defined in claim 20, wherein the button is movable along an actuation path, and the angled outer edges define lines that extend at an acute angle to the longitudinal actuation path when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the actuation path.

26. An adjustable tool comprising:

a tool head;

a handle adjustably connected to the tool head, the handle including a recess adapted to ergonomically receive and support a user'"'"'s thumb and fingers so that pressure can be readily communicated through the handle to the tool head while using the tool;

a release button movable between a released position and a latched position for fixing the tool head to the handle in a selected adjusted position, the release button being located near the recess where the release button is easily operated by the user to adjust the tool head; and

including a cover that covers a portion of the handle including an area of the button.

27. An adjustable tool comprising:

a tool head configured for doing at least one particular task;

a handle; and

an adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the tool head to the handle, the adjustment mechanism including overlapping flanges on the tool head and the handle, and a pivot pin connecting the overlapping flanges for selective angular adjustment of the tool head relative to the handle between at least two different use positions; and

a cover that closely engages an outer surface of the overlapping flanges to prevent dirt and debris from entering an area around the adjustment mechanism, but that leaves at least a part of one of the overlapping flanges exposed so that the tool head can be angularly adjusted without the tool head distorting the cover and without allowing dirt to enter the adjustment mechanism.

28. The adjustable tool defined in claim 27, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes first teeth that operably engage mating teeth on one of the tool head and the handle for holding the selected use position.

29. An adjustable too comprising:

a head;

a handle connected and adjustable to the head for adjustment around a pivot axis; and

a button mounted on the handle adjacent the pivot axis but spaced therefrom and configured to directly release and engage the head allowing adjustment and securing of the head to the handle in at least two different positions; and

a cover covering and protecting the button and covering ends of the head and handle at the pivot axis.

30. An adjustable tool comprising:

a head;

a handle connected and adjustable to the head for adjustment around a pivot axis; and

a button mounted on the handle adjacent the pivot axis but spaced therefrom and configured to directly release and engage the head allowing adjustment and securing of the head to the handle in at least two different positions; and

wherein the button and head include mating teeth that releasably engage, the teeth having angled leading edges that engage at an angle thus reducing required movement of the button for disengagement and that provide a wide area of contact even when only partially engaged.

31. The adjustable tool defined in claim 30, wherein the button is movable along an actuation path that extends parallel the pivot axis, and wherein the teeth define lines that extend at an acute angle to the longitudinal actuation path when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the actuation path.