Adjustable crowbar

Abstract

Adjustable breaker bar comprising a rod (10), a breaker head (20), and a pivoting device (30). The pivoting device (30) comprises an engagement element (31), an axial element (32), and a positioning element (33). The engagement element (31) is movably inserted through the rod (10) and the breaker head (20). The axial element (32) is movably inserted through the breaker head (20) and the engagement element (31). The positioning element (33) is movably arranged in the engagement element (31) and configured to enter the axial element (32) when the axial element (32) moves relative to the breaker head (20) and the engagement element (31), thereby allowing the positioning element (33) to selectively protrude from the engagement element (31) and being suitable for connection to a drive tool (90).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a hand tool and, more particularly, to an adjustable crowbar adapted to be connected to a drive tool.

[0002] Conventional crowbars are designed for users to separate two connected objects or to remove nails. To enhance the functionality of crowbars, crowbars are now available with various additional features, such as adjustable-length crowbars, crowbars with a hammer head for hammering functions, or crowbars with magnets for attracting removed nails.

[0003] US 2020 / 0002145 A1 describes a galvanizing tool comprising a main body with a first and a second connecting portion and a galvanizing element set with a first and a second galvanizing element which are movably and detachably connected to the main body.

[0004] US 2012 / 0223279 A1 describes a tool comprising a handle, a working device, a positioning device, a clamping device and a fine adjustment mechanism.

[0005] An adjustable breaker bar comprises a rod, a breaker head, and a pivoting device. The rod has a first pivoting portion having a first engagement hole. The breaker head has a second pivoting portion having a second engagement hole, a receiving hole, and a receiving slot communicating with the second engagement hole and the receiving hole. The first pivoting portion is pivotally connected to the receiving slot. The pivoting device comprises an engaging element, an axial element, and a positioning element. The engaging element is movably inserted through the first engagement hole and the second engagement hole.The engagement element includes an engagement portion that is detachably engaged with the first engagement hole and normally engaged with the second engagement hole, a through hole extending through the engagement element, and a positioning hole that radially communicates with the through hole. The axial element is movably inserted through the receiving hole and the through hole and is provided with a positioning recess. The axial element is configured to drive the engagement element so that the engagement portion can be disengaged from the first engagement hole.The positioning element is movably disposed in the positioning hole and configured to selectively enter the positioning recess when the axial element moves relative to the receiving hole and the through hole, so that the positioning element can selectively protrude from the engaging element and is suitable for being connected to a driving tool. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an adjustable crowbar according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective partially exploded view of the adjustable crowbar of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the adjustable crowbar of Fig. 1 and shows the engaging element in the locked position and the axial element in the first position; Fig. 4 shows a continuation view of Fig. 3 and shows the engaging element in the locked position and the axial element in the second position; Fig. 5 shows a continuation view of Fig. 4 and shows the engagement element in the unlocked position and the axial element in the third position; and Fig. 6 shows a continuation view of Fig. 5 and shows the breaking head adjusted in angle with respect to the rod.

[0006] The Fig. 1 to 6 show an adjustable crowbar according to an embodiment of the present invention. The adjustable crowbar comprises a rod 10, a crowbar head 20, and a pivoting device 30. The rod 10 has a first pivoting portion 11 with a first engagement hole 111. The crowbar head 20 has a second pivoting portion 21 with a second engagement hole 211, a receiving hole 212, and a receiving slot 213 communicating with the second engagement hole 211 and the receiving hole 212. The first pivoting portion 11 is pivotally connected to the receiving slot 213. The pivoting device 30 has an engagement element 31, an axial element 32, and a positioning element 33. The engagement element 31 is movably inserted through the first engagement hole 111 and the second engagement hole 211.The engaging member 31 includes an engaging portion 311 that is releasably engaged with the first engaging hole 111 and normally engaged with the second engaging hole 211, a through-hole 312 extending through the engaging member, and a positioning hole 313 that radially communicates with the through-hole 312. The axial member 32 is movably inserted through the receiving hole 212 and the through-hole 312 and includes a positioning recess 326. The axial member 32 is configured to drive the engaging member 31 so that the engaging portion 311 can be disengaged from the first engaging hole 111 to cause the breaking head 20 to be adjustable at an angle relative to the rod 10.The positioning element 33 is movably disposed in the positioning hole 313 and configured to selectively enter the positioning recess 326 when the axial element 32 moves relative to the receiving hole 212 and the through hole 312, so that the positioning element 33 can selectively protrude from the engaging element 31 and is suitable for being connected to a drive tool 90, such as a socket 90.

[0007] In the embodiment, the engagement member 31 is configured to be driven by the axial member 32 to move between a locked position ( Fig. 3) and an unlocked position ( Fig. 5) along an axis A relative to the second engagement hole 211 and the first engagement hole 111. The axial element 32 is configured to be switched between a first position ( Fig. 3), a second position ( Fig. 4) and a third position ( Fig. 5) to be switched along the axis A with respect to the receiving hole 212 and the through hole 312. When the engaging element 31 is in the locked position and the axial element 32 is in the first position, the engaging portion 311 is engaged with the first engaging hole 111. When the engaging element 31 is in the locked position and the axial element 32 is in the second position, the positioning element 33 enters the positioning recess 326. When the engaging element 31 is in the unlocked position and the axial element 32 is in the third position, the engaging portion 311 is disengaged from the first engaging hole 111.

[0008] The through hole 312 extends through opposite ends of the engaging member 31 along the axis A. The axial member 32 has a pressing portion 321 disposed in the receiving hole 212 and a body 322 extending from the pressing portion 321 along the axis A. The body 322 selectively abuts the engaging member 31 to drive the engaging member 31.

[0009] The through hole 312 further includes a large-diameter portion 314 and a small-diameter portion 315 along the axis A. The body 322 includes a large-diameter portion 323 extending from the pressing portion 321 along the axis A and corresponding to the large-diameter portion 314, and a small-diameter portion 324 extending from the large-diameter portion 323 and corresponding to the small-diameter portion 315. The positioning recess 326 is formed in the small-diameter portion 324. This increases the contact area between the engaging member 31 and the axial member 32 to prevent the problem of damage due to stress concentration.

[0010] In addition, the through-hole 312 further includes a first shoulder 316 located between the large diameter portion 314 and the small diameter portion 315 along the axis A. The body 322 further includes a second shoulder 325 located between the large diameter portion 323 and the small diameter portion 324 along the axis A. The second shoulder 325 abuts the first shoulder 316 when the axial member 32 is in the second and third positions.

[0011] In addition, the engaging member 31 has a connecting portion 317 extending from the engaging portion 311. The positioning hole 313 is formed in the connecting portion 317. The body 322 further has a restricting portion 327 extending from the small-diameter portion 324 and protruding from the small-diameter portion 315. The restricting portion 327 selectively abuts the connecting portion 317.

[0012] In the embodiment, the connecting portion 317 may have a quadrangular prism shape and is adapted to be connected to the socket 90. At least a part of an inner surface of the first engaging hole 111, at least a part of an inner surface of the second engaging hole 211, and at least a part of an outer surface of the engaging portion 311 are provided with corresponding teeth.

[0013] The pivoting device 30 further includes a biasing element 34 configured to bias the axial element 32 toward the first position. The biasing element 34 has opposite ends that each elastically engage the first pivoting portion 11 and the pressing portion 321 along the axis A, thereby allowing the axial element 32 to remain in the first position without external force. In the embodiment, the biasing element 34 may be a torsion spring and may be arranged in a sleeve-like manner around the body 322.

[0014] According to Fig. 3, the engaging element 31 is in the locked position, and the axial element 32 is in the first position. The engaging portion 311 of the engaging element 31 engages with both the first engaging hole 111 and the second engaging hole 211. The limiting portion 327 of the axial element 32 abuts the connecting portion 317, and the second shoulder 325 does not abut the first shoulder 316. The positioning element 33 protrudes from the positioning hole 313 of the engaging element 31 and is connected to the socket 90. The biasing element 34 is not compressed. Therefore, the breaking head 20 cannot be adjusted angularly with respect to the rod 10.

[0015] Next, according to Fig. 4, the pressing portion 321 of the axial member 32 is pressed by an external force, causing the axial member 32 to move from the first position to the second position relative to the receiving hole 212 and the through hole 312. The biasing member 34 is slightly compressed, and the engaging member 31 remains in the locked position. The engaging portion 311 of the engaging member 31 engages with both the first engaging hole 111 and the second engaging hole 211. The limiting portion 327 of the axial member 32 disengages from the connecting portion 317, and the second shoulder 325 abuts the first shoulder 316.The positioning member 33 retracts into the positioning hole 313 of the engaging member 31 and enters the positioning recess 326 of the axial member 32, thereby disengaging from the socket 90, thereby allowing the socket 90 to detach from the connecting portion 317.

[0016] According to further reference to the Fig. 5 and Fig.6, the pressing portion 321 of the axial member 32 is subjected to a larger external force, causing the axial member 32 to move from the second position to the third position relative to the receiving hole 212 and the through hole 312. The biasing member 34 is fully compressed, and the engaging member 31 is in the unlocked position. The engaging portion 311 of the engaging member 31 disengages from the first engaging hole 111, thereby allowing the breaking head 20 to be angularly adjustable relative to the rod 10. Once the external force on the pressing portion 321 of the axial member 32 is released, the axial member 32 is biased from the third position back to the first position by the biasing member 34, thereby also driving the engaging member 31 from the unlocked position back to the locked position.

Claims

[1] Adjustable crowbar, with: a rod (10) having a first pivot portion (11) having a first engagement hole (111); a breaking head (20) having a second pivoting portion (21) having a second engagement hole (211), a receiving hole (212) and a receiving slot (213) communicating with the second engagement hole (211) and the receiving hole (212), and wherein the first pivoting portion (11) is pivotally connected to the receiving slot (213); and a pivoting device (30) having an engagement element (31), an axial element (32), and a positioning element (33), wherein the engagement element (31) is movably inserted through the first engagement hole (111) and the second engagement hole (211), wherein the engagement element (31) has an engagement portion (311) detachably engaged with the first engagement hole (111) and normally engaged with the second engagement hole (211), a through hole (312) extending through the engagement element, and a positioning hole (313) radially communicating with the through hole (312), wherein the axial element (32) is movably inserted through the receiving hole (212) and the through hole (312) and has a positioning recess (326), wherein the axial element (32) is configured to drive the engagement element (31), thus enabling becomes,that the engagement portion (311) can be disengaged from the first engagement hole (111), wherein the positioning element (33) is movably arranged in the positioning hole (313) and is configured to selectively enter the positioning recess (326) when the axial element (32) moves relative to the receiving hole (212) and the through hole (312), so that the positioning element (33) is enabled to selectively protrude from the engagement element (31) and is suitable for being connected to a drive tool (90). [2] Adjustable crowbar according to claim 1, wherein the engagement element (31) is configured to be driven by the axial element (32) to be switched between a locked position and an unlocked position along an axis (A) relative to the second engagement hole (211) and the first engagement hole (111), wherein the axial element (32) is configured to be switched between a first position, a second position and a third position along the axis (A) relative to the receiving hole (212) and the through hole (312), wherein, when the engaging element (31) is in the locked position and the axial element (32) is in the first position, the engaging portion (311) is engaged with the first engaging hole (111), wherein, when the engaging element (31) is in the locked position and the axial element (32) is in the second position, the positioning element (33) enters the positioning recess (326), wherein, when the engaging member (31) is in the unlocked position and the axial member (32) is in the third position, the engaging portion (311) is disengaged from the first engaging hole (111). [3] Adjustable crowbar according to claim 2, wherein the through hole (312) extends through opposite ends of the engaging member (31) along the axis (A), wherein the axial member (32) has a pressing portion (321) arranged in the receiving hole (212) and a body (322) extending from the pressing portion (321) along the axis (A), and wherein the body (322) selectively abuts the engaging member (31) to drive the engaging member (31). [4] The adjustable crowbar according to claim 2, wherein the through hole (312) has a large diameter portion (314) and a small diameter portion (315) along the axis (A), the body (322) has a large diameter portion (323) extending from the pressing portion (321) along the axis (A) and corresponding to the large diameter portion (314), and a small diameter portion (324) extending from the large diameter portion (323) and corresponding to the small diameter portion (315), and the positioning recess (326) is formed in the small diameter portion (324). [5] The adjustable breaker bar of claim 4, wherein the through-hole (312) further comprises a first shoulder (316) disposed between the large diameter portion (314) and the small diameter portion (315) along the axis (A), wherein the body (322) further comprises a second shoulder (325) disposed between the large diameter portion (323) and the small diameter portion (324) along the axis (A), and wherein the second shoulder (325) abuts the first shoulder (316) when the axial member (32) is in the second and third positions. [6] The adjustable crowbar according to claim 5, wherein the engaging member (31) further comprises a connecting portion (317) extending from the engaging portion (311), the positioning hole (313) being formed in the connecting portion (317), the body (322) further comprising a restricting portion (327) extending from the small diameter portion (324) and protruding from the small diameter portion (315), and the restricting portion (327) selectively abuts the connecting portion (317). [7] Adjustable crowbar according to claim 6, wherein the connecting portion (317) has the shape of a quadrangular prism and is suitable for being connected to the drive tool (90). [8] The adjustable crowbar according to claim 6, wherein at least a part of an inner surface of the first engaging hole (111), at least a part of an inner surface of the second engaging hole (211) and at least a part of an outer surface of the engaging portion (311) are provided with corresponding teeth. [9] The adjustable crowbar according to claim 3, wherein the pivoting device (30) further comprises a biasing member (34) configured to bias the axial member (32) toward the first position, and wherein the biasing member (34) has opposite ends that respectively elastically engage the first pivoting portion (11) and the pressing portion (321) along the axis (A). [10] Adjustable crowbar according to claim 9, wherein the biasing element (34) is a torsion spring and surrounds the body (322) in a sleeve-like manner.

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