Tool assembly
OwnerMarilyn M. Wilk, Peter J. Wilkinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A household implement comprises a tool member including an operative element and a rod attached at one end to the operative element. The tool member is slidably mounted to a hollow housing having an opening at one end (a lower end) and a hand grip at an opposite end (an upper end). The tool member shifts relative to the housing between a retracted position inside the housing and an extended position wherein the operative element and a portion of the rod are outside of the housing. A locking element(s) is provided for locking the tool member in the extended position.
Claims13
A household implement comprising:
- a tool member including an operative element and a rod attached at one end to said operative element;
- a hollow housing having an opening at one end and a hand grip at an opposite end, said housing includes a transversely oriented plate at said opposite end of said housing, said hand grip including a pair of parallel elongate slots in said plate;
- mounting means for mounting said tool member to said housing for slidable motion between a retracted position inside said housing and an extended position wherein said operative element and a portion of said rod are outside of said housing;
- and
- locking means on said housing for locking said tool member in said extended position.
A method for executing a household chore, comprising the steps of:
- lifting up a housing by a handle provided at an upper end thereof;
- extending, from an opening in a lower end of said housing, a tool member disposed inside said housing prior to said step of lifting;
- rotating said tool member with respect to said housing, thereby locking said tool member in an extended position to said housing;
- manipulating said housing and said tool member via said handle to perform a task to which said tool member is adapted;
- upon completion of said task, again rotating said tool member with respect to said housing, thereby unlocking said tool member from said housing;
- retracting said tool member back into said housing;
- and
- placing said housing upon a horizontal surface so that said opening is covered and said tool member is again contained inside said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.