TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a tool, and more particularly to a locking element for detachably coupling a work implement to a handle of the tool.

BACKGROUND

Tools that typically include a handle detachably coupled to an interchangeable work implement are well known in the art. In many cases, conventional screw thread arrangements have been provided to each of the working implement and the handle so that end users can secure the work implement to the handle prior to use of the tool. In order to secure the work implement to the handle, end users may be required to repetitively rotate any one of the work implement and the handle relative to the other so that a plurality of external and internal threads provided on respective ones of the work implement and the handle become engaged with one another.

Upon mutually engaging the internal and external threads, an extent to which the work implement is secured against detachment from the handle may rely solely on an amount of torque applied to any one of the work implement and the handle relative to the other towards an end of the engagement between the internal and external threads. It is also well known in the art that a maximum amount of torque that can be applied to any one of the work implement and the handle relative to the other for securing the work implement to the handle could be based on various factors including, but not limited to, material/s used in forming the external and internal threads, a maximum limit to which the internal and external threads can be stressed, and/or a yield strength of the threads to which the maximum stress limit of the threads correspond.

However, during use of the tool, it may be possible for effects such as dynamic loading on the tool and/or any resultant vibration to overcome the torque- based engagement established between the internal and external threads and hence, compromise the extent of securement between the work implement and the handle. Such occurrences may also inadvertently cause a detachment of the handle with the work implement. Repeated detachment and coupling of the work implement and the handle may be cumbersome and therefore, pose as an inconvenient activity to end users of the tool.

Hence, in light of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved tool that is configured to prevent an inadvertent detachment of the work implement with respect to the handle.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the drawbacks discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved by a tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tool includes a work implement, a handle, and a locking element for detachably coupling the work implement to the handle. The work implement has an annular groove disposed about a longitudinal axis thereof. The handle defines a hollow interior region disposed along a longitudinal axis of the handle. The hollow interior region is configured to at least partly receive the work implement therein. The locking element is received within the hollow interior region of the handle. The locking element has a recess bound by an arcuate edge disposed partway along an outer circumference of the locking element. The arcuate edge comprises a leading end, a trailing end, and a detent located between the leading end and the trailing end. The locking element is rotatably moveable within the hollow interior region about a transverse axis of the handle between an open position and a locked position. Movement of the locking element into the open position causes the leading end of the arcuate edge to be disposed proximal to the annular groove of the work implement so as to allow an axial movement of the work implement with respect to the handle while movement of the locking element into the locked position causes the detent to bias the annular groove of the work implement towards the trailing end of the arcuate edge such that the detent abuts with the annular groove of the work implement to restrict an axial movement of the work implement in relation to the handle. According to an embodiment, the work implement further comprises a first protuberance region located adjacent to the first end of the annular groove, the first protuberance region having a circumference larger than a circumference of the annular groove. Further, the first protuberance region is configured to have a plurality of first locating surfaces arranged radially in an equiaxed configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the work implement. Furthermore, the handle has a plurality of second locating surfaces disposed on an inner surface of the handle, the plurality of second locating surfaces being configured to engage with the plurality of first locating surfaces defined by the first protuberance region on the work implement to restrict a rotational movement of the work implement in relation to the handle.

According to an embodiment, the work implement further comprises a second protuberance region located adjacent to the second end of the annular groove, the second protuberance region having a circumference larger than a circumference of the annular groove. The circumference of the second protuberance region is also maintained smaller than a circumference associated with the leading end of the arcuate edge so that the second protuberance region of the work implement can be easily received within the recess when the locking element is disposed in the unlocked position.

According to a further embodiment, the recess defined in the locking element is adapted to receive the second protuberance region of the work implement therein such that when the locking element is rotated into the locked position, the detent and the trailing end on the arcuate edge abut with the annular groove defined on the work implement to restrict an axial movement of the work implement in relation to the tool holding collar past the second end of the annular groove.

According to an embodiment, the handle defines a first hole disposed about the transverse axis of the handle. A rotary knob is provided outside the handle, and a stem extends from the handle to the locking element along the transverse axis of the handle via the first hole defined by the handle. The rotary knob is adapted for rotational movement about the transverse axis of the handle between an unlocked position and a locked position, the unlocked and locked positions of the rotary knob being configured to correspond with respective ones of the unlocked and locked positions of the locking element. This way, users can conveniently rotate the rotary knob to accomplish a movement of the locking element into one of the locked and unlocked positions.

According to a further embodiment, a range of angular movement for the locking element lies between 0 and 120 degrees. More particularly, the range of angular movement for the locking element lies between 0 and 90 degrees. The angular ranges disclosed herein can therefore, help facilitate end users in coupling or detaching the work implement and the handle quickly and with ease. In other embodiments however the angular movement might be different, and even bigger. That is, if one uses a higher tense material or if it is advantageous to the user of the tool that its turning angle is greater (e.g. 180 degrees) the one skilled in the art will adopt the design of the locking element in accordance with these requirements without departing from the invention.

According to an embodiment, when the locking element is disposed in the locked position, the trailing end and the detent on the arcuate edge of the locking element secure the second end of the annular groove in a form- fitting manner. This way, it is envisioned that manufacturers of the tool disclosed herein can advantageously use elastically deformable materials including, but not limited to, plastics, thermoplastics, metals and other materials in which a pliancy of the used material/s helps to impart a return-to-original state capability for the detent and/or the trailing end so that locking and unlocking of the annular groove by the detent and/or the trailing end can be repeatedly performed upon movement of the locking element about the transverse axis of the handle.

According to an embodiment, a tool holding collar is slidably disposed within the hollow interior region of the handle and configured to engage with an inner surface of the handle. The tool holding collar defines a chamber that is located partway along a length of the tool holding collar and disposed in communication with the hollow interior region of the handle. In this embodiment, the locking element may be received within the chamber of the tool holding collar. Further, the tool holding collar also has a plurality of second locating surfaces disposed on an inner surface of the tool holding collar. The plurality of second locating surfaces are configured to engage with the plurality of first locating surfaces defined by the first protuberance region on the work implement for restricting a rotational movement of the work implement in relation to the handle.

According to a further embodiment, the tool holding collar additionally defines a second hole disposed in mutual alignment with the first hole of the handle. In this embodiment, the stem extending from the rotary knob to the locking element may be conveniently received via the mutually aligned first and second holes of the handle and the tool holding collar.

According to a further embodiment, the locking element includes at least one clamping surface to engage with the second protuberance region of the work implement. The locking element may include two clamping surfaces. The clamping surface allows the locking element to accommodate slightly different sizes of second protuberance region of the work implement. For example, the second protuberance region may be made up of different materials such as a metal, or a plastic material. The locking element with the clamping surface may easily accommodate the tolerances in the size due to such variations.

Embodiments of this present invention are also independently directed to a handle and a work implement of the tool disclosed herein.

Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a tool showing a handle sectioned along its longitudinal axis and a work implement for coupling with the handle, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a locking element of the tool, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partially sectioned perspective view of the tool showing a second protuberance region of the work implement being received in a recess of the locking element while the locking element is in an open position, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a partially sectioned side view of the tool, according to the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear sectional view of the tool showing the second protuberance region of the work implement being received within the recess of the locking element while the locking element is positioned in an open position, according to the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom breakaway view of the tool showing the open position of the locking element, according to the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 illustrates a partially sectioned perspective view of the tool showing the second protuberance region of the work implement being restricted by the locking element from axially moving in relation to the handle while the locking element is in a locked position, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged perspective of the locking element and the work implement when the locking element is in the locked position, according to embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a partially sectioned side view of the tool, according to the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 illustrates a rear sectional view of the tool showing the second protuberance region of the work implement being restricted by the locking element for preventing axial movement of the work implement in relation to the handle while the locking element is in the locked position, according to the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 illustrates a bottom breakaway view of the tool showing the locked position of the locking element, according to the embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of the locking element, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a tool 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tool 100 includes a work implement 102 and a handle 104. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the work implement 102 is embodied in the form of a grubber. The grubber disclosed herein may be used for loosening and/or aerating soil. However, in other embodiments, other types of work implements including, but not limited to, a cultivator, a plough, a tiller, or a soil rake may be interchangeably used in lieu of the grubber disclosed herein depending upon specific requirements of an application.

As shown, the work implement 102 has an annular groove 106 disposed about a longitudinal axis XX' of the work implement 102. The annular groove 106 includes first and second ends 108, 110 that are located partway along a length of the work implement 102. The work implement 102 also includes a first protuberance region 112 that is located adjacent to the first end 108 of the annular groove 106. The first protuberance region 112 has a circumference CI larger than a circumference C of the annular groove 106. The work implement 102 also includes a second protuberance region 114 that is located adjacent to the second end 110 of the annular groove 106. The second protuberance region 114 has a circumference C2 larger than the circumference C of the annular groove 106.

Further, the handle 104 has a hollow interior region 116 disposed along a longitudinal axis YY' of the handle 104. As shown in FIG. 1, a tool holding collar 118 is slidably disposed within the hollow interior region 116 of the handle 104 and configured to engage with an inner surface 120 of the handle 104. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the tool holding collar 118 may be engaged to the handle 104 with the help of, for example, a screw thread arrangement, an interlocking arrangement, or any other arrangement provided on respective ones of an outer surface 122 of the tool holding collar 118 and the inner surface 120 of the handle 104. Therefore, in embodiments herein, it may be noted that a position of the tool holding collar 118 is generally fixed in relation to the handle 104 and a type of arrangement used to establish the engagement i.e., the fixed positioning of the tool holding collar 118 with respect to the handle 104 is non-limiting of this disclosure.

The first protuberance region 112 of the work implement 102 is configured to have multiple first locating surfaces 124 that are arranged radially in an equiaxed configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis XX' of the work implement 102. The tool holding collar 118 has multiple second locating surfaces 126 disposed on an inner surface 128 of the tool holding collar 118. Referring to FIG. 1, the first locating surfaces 124 defined on the first protuberance region 112 of the work implement 102 are configured to engage with the second locating surfaces 126 of the tool holding collar 118 to restrict a rotational movement of the work implement 102 in relation to the handle 104, which in this embodiment, is accomplished by restricting the rotational movement of the work implement 102 with respect to the tool holding collar 118 that in turn is fixed in relation to the handle 104.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the tool holding collar 118 is configured to define a chamber 130 located partway along a length of the tool holding collar 118 and disposed in communication with the hollow interior region 116 of the handle 104. A locking element 132 is received within the chamber 130 of the tool holding collar 118. The locking element 132 is configured to detachably couple the work implement 102 to the handle 104. The locking element 132, which is shown in unlocked and locked positions PI, P2 in FIGS. 3-6 and FIGS. 7-11 respectively, can be used to operatively accomplish a detachable coupling of the work implement 102 with the tool holding collar 118 that is positionally fixed in relation to the handle 104.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the locking element 132 is rotatably moveable within the chamber 130 about a transverse axis ZZ' of the handle 104 between an unlocked position PI and a locked position P2. As shown in FIG. 1, the handle 104 defines a first hole 134 disposed about the transverse axis ZZ' of the handle 104. Moreover, the tool holding collar 118 defines a second hole 136 disposed in mutual alignment with the first hole 134 of the handle 104. The tool 100 further includes a rotary knob 138 provided outside the handle 104. A stem 140 is provided to the rotary knob 138. The stem 140 extends from the handle 104 to the locking element 132 along the transverse axis ZZ' of the handle 104 via the mutually aligned first and second holes 134, 136 defined by respective ones of the handle 104 and the tool holding collar 118.

Although the transverse axis ZZ' of the handle 104 is disclosed herein, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a pre-defined angle other than 90 degrees, for example, 85 degrees, 100 degrees, or any other angle may be used to suitably locate the transverse axis ZZ' of the handle 104 in relation to the longitudinal axis YY' of the handle 104 for allowing flexibility in providing various tolerances required during a manufacture of the tool 100, in particular, to establish a positionally functional relationship between the handle 104 and the locking element 132 that is consistent with features of the present invention.

The rotary knob 138 is adapted for rotational movement about the transverse axis ZZ' of the handle 104 between an unlocked position PI and a locked position P2. The unlocked and locked positions PI, P2 of the rotary knob 138 are configured to correspond with respective ones of the unlocked and locked positions PI, P2 of the locking element 132. In an embodiment, a range of angular movement R for the locking element 132 lies between 0 and 120 degrees. Preferably, the range of angular movement R for the locking element 132 is configured to lie between 0 and 90 degrees.

Although certain values for the ranges of angular movement R have been disclosed herein, it may be noted that other values may be alternatively selected to define the range of angular movement R for movement of the locking element 132 between the unlocked and locked positions PI, P2 depending upon specific requirements of an application. Nonetheless, in embodiments of this disclosure, it is envisioned that the range of angular movement R for the locking element 132 is maintained below 360 degrees, preferably below 180 degrees, and more preferably below 120 degrees. With such finite ranges being implemented for movement of the locking element 132 between its unlocked and locked positions PI, P2, users of the tool 100 can quickly and easily accomplish a movement of the locking element 132 by rotating the rotary knob 138 from the locked position P2 to the unlocked position PI or vice-versa without requiring a significant amount of effort when detaching or coupling the work implement 102 to the handle 104.

As shown in FIG. 2, the locking element 132 has a recess 144 bound by an arcuate edge 146 disposed partway along an outer circumference C3 of the locking element 132. The arcuate edge 146 of the locking element 132 comprises a leading end 148, a trailing end 150, and a detent 152 that is located between the leading end 148 and the trailing end 150 of the arcuate edge 146.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the locking element 132 is shown disposed in the unlocked position PI. When the locking element 132 is moved into the unlocked position PI, the leading end 148 of the arcuate edge 146 is disposed proximal to the annular groove 106 of the work implement 102. Referring to FIGS. 2-5, a circumference C4 of the arcuate edge 146 that is bound by the leading end 148 up until the detent 152 and a corresponding point on an opposing side of the arcuate edge 146 is greater than the circumference C2 of the second protuberance region 114 associated with the work implement 102. Therefore, when the locking element 132 is disposed in the unlocked position PI, the leading end 148 of the arcuate edge 146 is positioned to facilitate an entry of the second protuberance region 114 therethrough so that the second protuberance region 114 of the work implement 102 can be received within the recess 144. The unlocked position PI of the locking element 132 also allows a movement of the second protuberance region 114 out of the recess 144, for example, when it is desired to detach the work implement 102 from the handle 104. Therefore, it may be noted that the unlocked position PI of the locking element 132 can facilitate a movement of the second protuberance region 114 of the work implement 102 into or out of the recess 144. This way, the work implement 102 may be axially moved in relation to the handle 104 i.e., visa-vis the tool holding collar 118 which as disclosed earlier herein is fixed in relation to the handle 104. Hence, by disposing the locking element 132 into the unlocked position PI, users can easily move the work implement 102 in relation to the handle 104 so that the second protuberance region 114 may be received within the recess 144 e.g., before coupling the work implement 102 with the handle 104, or drawn out of the recess 144 e.g., for detaching the work implement 102 from the handle 104.

Referring to FIG. 6, a stop element 154 is also provided on the outer circumference C3 of the locking element 132. Further, the tool holding collar 118 is adapted to define a guide portion 156 that is disposed partway along the inner surface 128 of the tool holding collar 118 and located adjacent to the chamber 130 defined by the tool holding collar 118. The stop element 154 is at least partly received and slidably disposed within the guide portion 156 of the tool holding collar 118. The guide portion 156 has a first end 158 and a second end 160 that correspond with the unlocked and locked positions PI, P2 of the locking element 132 respectively. In other words, a radial distance D between the first and second ends 158, 160 of the guide portion 156 is selected to advantageously correspond with the extreme positions of the locking element 132 i.e., the locked position P2 (shown in FIGS. 7-11) and the unlocked position PI of the locking element 132. This way, a movement of the locking element 132 can be rotationally restricted between the unlocked and locked positions PI, P2 by restricting a movement of the stop element 154 between the first and second ends 158, 160 of the guide portion 156. As shown in FIG. 6, the stop element 154 is shown disposed in abutment with the first end 158 of the guide portion 156 that corresponds to the unlocked position PI of the locking element 132 shown in FIGS. 3-5. Referring to FIGS. 7-11, the locking element 132 is shown disposed in the locked position P2. When the locking element 132 is disposed in the locked position P2, the detent 152 engages with the annular groove 106 of the work implement 102 so as to bias the work implement 102 towards the trailing end 150 of the arcuate edge 146. In an embodiment, the detent 152 abuts with the annular groove 106 of the work implement 102 to restrict an axial movement of the work implement 102 in relation to the handle 104. In another embodiment, when the locking element 132 is disposed in the locked position P2, the trailing end 150 of the arcuate edge 146 may, additionally or optionally, abut with the annular groove 106 of the work implement 102 for restricting an axial movement of the work implement 102 in relation to the handle 104. Additionally or optionally, the detent 152 and/or the trailing end 150 on the arcuate edge 146 of the locking element 132 may be adapted to abut the annular groove 106 in a form-fitting manner.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7-11, a circumference C5 of the arcuate edge 146 that is bound by the trailing end 150, the detent 152 and the corresponding point on the opposing side of the arcuate edge 146 is lesser than the circumference C2 of the second protuberance region 114 associated with the work implement 102 and hence, the detent 152 and/or the trailing end 150 are adapted to restrict an axial movement of the second protuberance region 114 of the work implement 102 into or out of the recess 144 when the locking element 132 is disposed into the locked position P2.

Upon receiving the second protuberance region 114 of the work implement 102 in the recess 144 and when the locking element 132 is disposed in the locked position P2 as shown in FIGS. 7-10, the detent 152 and/or the trailing end 150 of the arcuate edge 146 become positioned between the first and second ends 108, 110 of the annular groove 106 defined on the work implement 102. Moreover, the detent 152 and/or the trailing end 150 of the arcuate edge 146 restrict any axial movement of the second protuberance region 114 in relation to the recess 144 by abutting with the first and/or second ends 108, 110 of the annular groove 106 defined on the work implement 102. This way, the work implement 102 may be prevented from axially moving in relation to the handle 104 vis-a-vis the tool holding collar 118 which as disclosed earlier herein is fixed in relation to the handle 104. Therefore, by moving the locking element 132 into the locked position P2, users can easily prevent the work implement 102 from axially moving in relation to the handle 104 for example, after the second protuberance region 114 has been received in the recess 144 and the work implement 102 has been secured to the handle 104 by positioning the locking element 132 into the locked position P2.

Referring to FIG. 11, the stop element 154 is shown disposed in abutment with the second end 160 of the guide portion 156 that corresponds to the locked position P2 of the locking element 132 shown in FIGS. 7-10.

Although the tool holding collar 118 is disclosed as a part of the tool 100 in the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, in other embodiments the tool holding collar 118 may be omitted. To that end, one or more features disclosed in conjunction with the tool holding collar 118, for example, the plurality of second locating surfaces 126, can now be provided by the handle 104 in lieu of the tool holding collar 118. Also, in such other embodiments, an inter-relative sizing of the work implement 102 and the handle 104 can be varied to allow the work implement 102 and the handle 104 to structurally correspond with one another. For example, the inner surface 120 of the handle 104 can be rendered in a stepped configuration to define the hollow interior region 116 in which the chamber 130 is defined partway along the hollow interior region 116 of the handle 104 itself to receive the locking element 132 therein.

Alternatively, it can also be contemplated to form the handle 104 and the tool holding collar 118 integrally with one another. This way, the handle 104 and the tool holding collar 118 can be rendered as a single component for supporting the work implement 102 therein. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that such embodiments can beneficially help manufacturers to contemplate a reduction in a number of components that are used to form the tool 100 disclosed herein. Moreover, a reduction in the number of components used to form the tool 100 may allow manufacturers to offset costs, time, and effort typically entailed in the manufacture of the tool holding collar 118 separate from the handle 104.

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the present disclosure. The locking element 132 includes at least one clamping surface 162 to engage with the second protuberance region 114 of the work implement 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking element 132 includes two clamping surfaces 162. The clamping surfaces 162 extend away from the arcuate edge 146 towards interior of the locking element 132. The clamping surfaces 162 allow the locking element 132 to accommodate slightly different sizes of second protuberance region 114 of the work implement 102.

For example, the second protuberance region 114 may be made up of different materials such as a metal, or a plastic material. The locking element 132 with the clamping surfaces 162 may easily accommodate the tolerances in the size due to such variations. The clamping surface 162 may be coupled to the locking element through any suitable joining means such as welding, adhesive means etc. which may be applied with various aspects of the present disclosure. The clamping surface 162 may also be integrally manufactured with the locking element 132. The present disclosure is not limited to a manner of attachment of the clamping surface 162 to the locking element 132.

Various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in the illustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed as limiting of the present disclosure. All joinder references (e.g. , attached, affixed, coupled, engaged, connected, and the like) are only used to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and may not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the systems and/or methods disclosed herein. Therefore, joinder references, if any, are to be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected to each other.

Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, "first", "second", "third", or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader' s understanding of the various elements, embodiments, variations and/ or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, or over, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification.

It is to be understood that individual features shown or described for one embodiment may be combined with individual features shown or described for another embodiment. The above described implementation does not in any way limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood although some features are shown or described to illustrate the use of the present disclosure, such features may be omitted from the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

100 tool

102 work implement

104 handle

106 annular groove

108 first end of annular groove

110 second end of annular groove

112 first protuberance region

114 second protuberance region

116 hollow interior region of handle

118 tool holding collar

120 inner surface of the handle

122 outer surface of the tool holding collar

124 first locating surfaces of work implement

126 second locating surfaces of tool holding collar

128 inner surface of the tool holding collar

130 chamber

132 locking element

134 first hole

136 second hole

138 rotary knob

140 stem

144 recess

146 arcuate edge

148 leading end of arcuate edge

150 trailing end of arcuate edge 152 detent

154 stop element

156 guide portion of tool holding collar

158 first end of guide portion

160 second end of guide portion

162 clamping surface

C circumference of annular groove

CI circumference of first protuberance region

C2 circumference of second protuberance region

C3 outer circumference of the locking element

C4 circumference of the arcuate edge that is bound by the leading end up until the detent and a corresponding point on an opposing side of the arcuate edge

C5 circumference of the arcuate edge that is bound by the trailing end up until the detent and the corresponding point on the opposing side of the arcuate edge

D radial distance between the first and second ends of guide portion

XX' longitudinal axis of work implement

YY' longitudinal axis of handle

ZZ' transverse axis of the handle

R range of angular movement for the locking element

PI open position of locking element and rotary knob

P2 locked position of locking element and rotary knob