Folding handle for tools and tools having folding handles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11465219-B2
Application number	US-202117161063-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2021
Priority date	Jan 29, 2020
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A folding handle for a tool has a main handle having a tool head, a handle extension rotatably connected to the main handle, the handle extension rotatable between a first extended position and a second folded position relative to the main handle, and a latching mechanism having a locking pin and an actuator connected to the locking pin and movable between a first position in which the locking pin engages the handle extension, preventing movement of the handle extension relative to the main handle, and a second position in which the locking pin is disengaged from the handle extension, allowing movement of the handle extension relative to the main handle. A tool may have first and second folding handles which are movably connected to one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A folding handle for a cutting tool comprising:
a main handle having a proximal end and a distal end, a tool head located at said proximal end;
a handle extension having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said handle extension rotatably connected to said distal end of said main handle, said handle extension rotatable between a first extended position and a second folded position relative to said main handle; and
a latching mechanism, said latching mechanism comprising:
a locking pin; and
an actuator connected to said locking pin, said actuator movable between a first position in which said locking pin engages said handle extension, preventing movement of said handle extension relative to said main handle, and a second position in which said locking pin is disengaged from said handle extension, allowing movement of said handle extension relative to said main handle,

wherein said actuator and locking pin are mounted to said main handle for movement relative to said main handle and wherein said movement of said actuator between said first and second positions relative to said main handle results in engagement of said locking pin with and disengagement of said locking pin from said handle extension, wherein said actuator comprises a control lever, wherein said control lever extends from said locking pin towards said tool head both when said handle extension is in the first extended position and when said handle extension is in the second folded position.

2. The folding handle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said tool head comprises a cutting head.

3. The folding handle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said locking pin is mounted for linear movement along a guide extending from said main handle.

4. The folding handle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said handle extension has at least one first notch and at least one second notch, wherein when said locking pin engages said at least one first notch, said locking pin locks said handle extension in said first extended position and when said locking pin engages said at least one second notch, said locking pin locks said handle extension in said second folded position.

5. The folding handle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said control lever has a proximal end, a distal end connected to said locking pin, and is pivotally connected to said main handle between said proximal and distal ends thereof.

6. The folding handle in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising a spring for biasing said distal end of said control lever with respect to said proximal end thereof, said spring engaging said proximal end of said control lever.

7. The folding handle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said actuator is biased to said first position.

8. The folding handle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said proximal end of said handle extension comprises a first extension and a second extension and said distal end of said main handle is located between said first and second extensions.

9. The folding handle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein in said folded position said distal end of said handle extension is folded towards said proximal end of said main handle.

10. A cutting tool having folding handles, comprising:
a first handle comprising:
a first main handle having a proximal end and a distal end, a first tool head located at said proximal end;
a first handle extension having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said first handle extension rotatably connected to said distal end of said first main handle, said first handle extension rotatable between a first extended position and a second folded position relative to said first main handle; and
a first latching mechanism, said first latching mechanism comprising:
a first locking pin mounted to said first main handle for movement relative to said first main handle; and
a first actuator movably mounted to said first main handle and connected to said first locking pin, said first actuator movable between a first position in which said first locking pin engages said first handle extension, preventing movement of said first handle extension relative to said first main handle, and a second position in which said first locking pin is disengaged from said first handle extension, allowing movement of said first handle extension relative to said first main handle;

a second handle comprising:
a second main handle having a proximal end and a distal end, a second tool head located at said proximal end;
a second handle extension having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said second handle extension rotatably connected to said distal end of said second main handle, said second handle extension rotatable between a first extended position and a second folded position relative to said second main handle; and
a second latching mechanism, said second latching mechanism comprising:
a second locking pin mounted to said second main handle for movement relative to said second main handle; and
a second actuator movably mounted to said second main handle and connected to said second locking pin, said second actuator movable between a first position in which said second locking pin engages said second handle extension, preventing movement of said second handle extension relative to said second main handle, and a second position in which said second locking pin is disengaged from said second handle extension, allowing movement of said second handle extension relative to said second main handle;

said first and second main handles movably connected to one another, wherein each of said first and second actuators comprises a control lever, wherein each said control lever extends from said respective first and second locking pins towards said tool head both when said first and second handle extensions are in the first extended position and when said first and second handle extensions are in the second folded position.

11. The cutting tool in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said tool comprises a cutting tool and said first and second tool heads comprise cutting elements.

12. The cutting tool in accordance with claim 10 , wherein when said first and second handle extensions are moved to said second folded position, said distal ends of said first and second handle extensions are rotated towards said proximal ends of said first and second main handles.

13. The cutting tool in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said, said first main handle has a first side facing said second main handle and said second main handle has a first side facing said first main handle, said first locking pin and first actuator located at said first side of said first main handle and second locking pin and said second actuator located at said first side of said second main handle.

14. The cutting tool in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said first main handle has a second side opposite said first side and said first handle extension extends along said second side when in said folded position and said second main handle has a second side opposite said first side and said second handle extension extends along said second side when in said folded position.

15. The cutting tool in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said distal end of said first main handle comprises a stop which engages a face of said first handle extension when said first handle extension is located in said extended position.

16. The cutting tool in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said distal end of said first handle extension comprises a first tool grip and said distal end of said second handle extens

Assignees

• Js Products Inc

Inventors

• Chen Chungeng

Classifications

• B23D29/023 Primary

  for cutting wires · CPC title

• B25G1/04 Primary

  telescopic; extensible; sectional · CPC title

• B25G1/06

  reversible or adjustable for position · CPC title