Flex-head tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11331776-B2
Application number	US-201916731485-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2019
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	May 17, 2022
Grant date	May 17, 2022

Abstract

A flex-head tool includes a first portion pivotally coupled to a second portion. A pivot mechanism is engaged with the first and the second portions. The pivot mechanism is movable between a first position in which the first portion is fixedly positioned with respect to the second portion, and a second position in which the first portion is pivotal with relative to the second portion. The pivot mechanism includes a toothed first engaging portion engageable with teeth of pivot holes of the first and the second portions simultaneously and not simultaneously selectively and a second engaging portion connected with a pivot hole and in surface-to-surface contact.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flex-head tool comprising:
a first portion having a first joining portion, wherein the first joining portion defines a first pivot hole, and wherein the first pivot hole is toothed and has teeth;
a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion and having second and third joining portions, wherein the second and the third joining portions include the first joining portion disposed therebetween, wherein the second joining portion defines a second pivot hole and the third joining portion defines a third pivot hole respectively, wherein the second pivot hole is toothed and has teeth; and
a pivot mechanism engaged with the first and the second portions and including a shaft on which the first and the second portions turns, wherein the shaft is inserted in the first, the second, and the third pivot holes, wherein the shaft has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, and wherein the first engaging portion is toothed,
wherein the pivot mechanism is movable between a first position in which the first portion is fixedly positioned with respect to the second portion, and a second position in which the first portion is pivotal with relative to the second portion, wherein when the pivot mechanism is in the first position, the shaft is moved to a position in which the first engaging portion is engaged with the teeth of the first and the second pivot holes simultaneously and peripheries of the second engaging portion and the third pivot hole are connected with other and in surface-to-surface contact, and wherein when the pivot mechanism is in the second position, the shaft is moved to a position in which the first engaging portion is not engaged with the teeth of the first and the second pivot holes simultaneously and the second engaging portion and the third pivot hole are connected with other and in surface-to-surface contact,
wherein the second pivot hole is adjacent to a slot, wherein the shaft includes a stop member disposed thereon, and wherein stop member is retained in the slot, and
wherein the second pivot hole is adjacent to a compartment, wherein the slot is disposed between the teeth of the second pivot hole and the compartment, wherein the shaft has a flange adapted to obstruct the stop member, and wherein the flange is disposed in the compartment.

2. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the periphery of the second engaging portion is in a form of a circular column.

3. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion include a positioning mechanism engaged therewith, wherein the positioning mechanism includes a biasing spring and a detent urged by the biasing spring, wherein the first joining portion has a positioning end, which has a plurality of recesses, and wherein when the first portion is fixedly positioned with respect to the second portion, the detent is retained in one of the plurality of recesses of the positioning end.

4. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second and third joining portions define a space therebetween, and the positioning mechanism is retained in the space.

5. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the slot extends annularly, and wherein the stop member is disposed circumferentially on the shaft.

6. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the stop member is resilient.

7. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second portion has an end forming a grip end, which is adapted to be held by a user of the flex-head tool.

8. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flange and the shaft are releasably fastened together by a fastener.

9. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shaft has two flanges, and wherein one of the two flanges is adjacent to a first end of the shaft and the other of the two flanges is adjacent to a second end of the shaft.

10. A flex-head tool comprising:
a first portion having a first joining portion, wherein the first joining portion defines a first pivot hole, and wherein the first pivot hole is toothed and has teeth;
a second portion pivotally coupled to the first portion and having second and third joining portions, wherein the second and the third joining portions include the first joining portion disposed therebetween, wherein the second joining portion defines a second pivot hole and the third joining portion defines a third pivot hole respectively, wherein the second pivot hole is toothed and has teeth; and
a pivot mechanism engaged with the first and the second portions and including a shaft on which the first and the second portions turns, wherein the shaft is inserted in the first, the second, and the third pivot holes, wherein the shaft has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, and wherein the first engaging portion is toothed; and
a third portion pivotally coupled to the second portion, and wherein the second and the third portions include a second pivot mechanism engaged therewith, wherein the second pivot mechanism includes a shaft on which the second and the third portions turns,
wherein the pivot mechanism is movable between a first position in which the first portion is fixedly positioned with respect to the second portion, and a second position in which the first portion is pivotal with relative to the second portion, wherein when the pivot mechanism is in the first position, the shaft is moved to a position in which the first engaging portion is engaged with the teeth of the first and the second pivot holes simultaneously and peripheries of the second engaging portion and the third pivot hole are connected with other and in surface-to-surface contact, and wherein when the pivot mechanism is in the second position, the shaft is moved to a position in which the first engaging portion is not engaged with the teeth of the first and the second pivot holes simultaneously and the second engaging portion and the third pivot hole are connected with other and in surface-to-surface contact,
wherein the second pivot hole is adjacent to a slot, wherein the shaft includes a stop member disposed thereon, and wherein stop member is retained in the slot, and
wherein the second pivot hole is adjacent to a compartment, wherein the slot is disposed between the teeth of the second pivot hole and the compartment, wherein the shaft has a flange adapted to obstruct the stop member, and wherein the flange is disposed in the compartment.

11. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the periphery of the second engaging portion is in a form of a non-circular column.

12. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the periphery of the second engaging portion is toothed.

13. The flex-head tool as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the second portion has a fourth joining portion, wherein the fourth joining portion defines a fourth pivot hole, wherein the fourth pivot hole is toothed and has teeth, wherein the third portion has fifth and sixth joining portions, wherein the fifth and sixth joining portions include the fourth joining portion disposed therebetween, wherein the fifth joining portion defines a fifth pivot hole and the sixth joining portion defines a sixth pivot hole respectively, wherein the fifth pivot hole is toothed and has teeth, wherein the shaft of the second pivot mechanism has a third engaging portion and a fourth engaging portion, wherein the third engaging portion is toothed, wherein the second pivot mechanism is movable between a first position in which the second portion is fixedly positioned with respect to the third portion, and a second position in which the second portion is pivotal w

Assignees

• Hong Ann Tool Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Su Cheng-Wei

Classifications

• B25B13/462

  the ratchet parts engaging in a direction radial to the tool operating axis · CPC title

• B25B23/0028 Primary

  Angular adjustment means between tool head and handle · CPC title

• B25B23/16

  Handles (in general B25G) · CPC title

• B25B13/463

  a pawl engaging an externally toothed wheel · CPC title

• B25G1/063

  for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners · CPC title