Foldable multipurpose apparatus

• US 9,119,337 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oreste Frati S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Oreste Frati S.r.l.
• Inventors: Belli, Nicola, Gorza, Roberto, Frati, Gabriele
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lutz, Jessica H
• Application Number:
  US13/884,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20130233582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 172/371, 172/372, 172/378, 172/381, 294/51, 294/53.5, 294/54.5, 294/57
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 1/022 Collapsible; extensible; combinations with other tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 1/225 around a substantially horizontal axis

Abstract

A foldable multipurpose apparatus including a tool, a gripping mechanism, and a connecting element, extending along a first axis between the tool and the gripping mechanism, the tool being articulated at one end of the connecting element around a second axis transversal to the first axis, the gripping mechanism being articulated at an opposite end of the connecting element around a third axis separated from the second axis and transversal to the first axis. The second transversal axis and the third transversal axis are perpendicular to each other.

Claims

1. A multipurpose foldable apparatus comprising:

a tool including shoulders, at least one of the shoulders including a plurality of holes and a recessed portion on an outer edge of the shoulder;

a grip including two projecting portions;

a connecting member, extending along a first axis between the tool and the grip;

a first joining member interposed between the tool and the connecting member, the first joining member including a first control device configured to interact with the plurality of holes to position the tool in an extended position and at least one intermediate stable position, and the first control device is configured to interact with the recessed portion to position the tool in a retracted position;

a second joining member rotatably connected to the grip;

the tool being articulated to an end of the connecting member about a second axis transverse to the first axis;

the grip being articulated to an opposite end of the connecting member about a third axis separate from the second axis and transverse to the first axis;

a first plane including the first axis and the second axis is perpendicular with respect to a second plane including the third axis and the second axis;

at least one of the two projecting portions further comprising an offset hole configured to cooperate with a second control device that defines a first extended position of the grip; and

the second joining member is provided with a resilient deformable portion that, as the grip is rotated towards the first extended position, is configured to contact a corresponding wall in the grip to thereby elastically deform the resilient deformable portion inward and increase friction between the resilient deformable portion of the second joining member and the corresponding wall in the grip to keep the grip stable in the first extended position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the grip is configured to be positioned in at least the first extended position and a second retracted position by rotating about the third axis.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tool and the grip are rotatably connected to the connecting member respectively by interposing the first joining member and the second joining member.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second joining member comprises a first hollow portion configured to house a second end of the connecting member and a second widened portion comprising at least two flattened faces centrally traversed by a pair of holes mutually facing each other.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the two projecting portions mutually face each other and comprise at least one pair of holes facing each other for rotatable connection to the second joining member.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the resilient deformable portion is provided on a rounded head wall of the second portion of the second joining member.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second control device includes a spring and a push button biased outward by the spring such that the push button contacts an internal surface of one of the projecting portions to generate friction between the grip and the second joining member when the grip is in the second retracted position.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate stable position is between the extended position and the retracted position.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool and the grip are rotatably connected to the connecting member respectively by interposing the first joining member and the second joining member.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first joining member comprises a first hollow portion, extending along the first axis and configured to house a first end of the connecting member, and a second hollow portion extending along the second axis, the second portion being laterally closed by two walls centrally traversed by a pair of holes, a first wall of the two walls further including an additional hole arranged offset, and the first control device is inserted through the additional hole of the first wall without passing through a second wall of the two walls.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shoulders include at least two shoulders arranged facing each other, substantially rising forming a right angle from a surface of the tool, the shoulders being arranged at a mutual distance to allow insertion of the second portion of the first joining member for rotatable connection about the second axis.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first control device includes a spring and a push button biased outward by the spring through the additional hole of the first wall.