Folding tools with locking hinges
OwnerBrent L. Andersoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Folding tools including a tool blade and a handle are foldably connected by a lockable hinge which permits folding the assembly for compact storage but automatically locks into a rigid assembly when fully unfolded. The hinge operates by the movement of a locking bar into locking groove(s) via a tensioning mechanism when the hinge components are aligned in the unfolded, extended configuration. The lockable hinges can be used to connect the blade and handle components of a variety of common tools including shovels, saws and the like, and are disclosed and claimed in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,240.
Claims33
A folding tool having at least one tool blade and at least one handle connected thereto with at least one lockable hinge, said lockable hinge comprising:
- a center hinge rod;
- two hinge assembly components, each comprising a hinge platform and at least one hinge paw attached thereto, said hinge paws each forming a cylindrical opening which is rotationally attached to said center hinge rod so that said hinge paws are adjacent to each other and can rotate in opposite directions;
- retaining means to keep said hinge assembly components in position, with said cylindrical openings of said hinge paws rotationally attached to said hinge rod;
- and
- mechanical means in said center hinge rod for automatically locking said hinge paws to said center hinge rod when said hinge assembly components are rotated so that they form a single plane or align at a predetermined acute angle.
A hinged, foldable survival shovel comprising a shovel blade and a handle foldably connected by a lockable hinge, said hinge comprising:
- a center hinge rod and two hinge assembly components rigidly attached to said shovel blade and a receptacle for said handle, each comprising a hinge platform connected to said shovel blade or said receptacle, a first hinge component comprising a double hinge paw and a second hinge component comprising a single hinge paw, wherein each hinge paw contains a cylindrical opening therein and the hinge components are arranged with said double hinge paw and said single hinge paw intertwined, with the cylindrical openings therein mounted upon said center hinge rod;
- mechanical means for retaining said hinge paws in position upon said hinge rod;
- and
- mechanical means in said center hinge rod for locking both of said hinge paws in position upon said center hinge rod when said hinge components are rotated into the same plane, thus locking said shovel blade into a rigid extended position with respect to said receptacle and said handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.