Patent ID: 7347128
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: B25B,B25F

Abstract:
1. A hand tool, comprising: (a) a handle having an end and a pair of side walls adjacent said end; (b) a folding tool member attached to said handle at said end and having a base located adjacent said side wall and movable about a tool pivot, between an extended position and a folded position; (c) a latch lever attached pivotably to said handle by a latch pivot; (d) a locking bar carried on an outer end of said latch lever; (e) a latch support notch defined in each of said side walls of said handle; (f) a latch engagement notch defined in said base of said folding tool member, said locking bar being engaged in both of said latch support notches and in said engagement notch, thereby holding said folding tool member in a selected position with respect to said tool pivot; said latch pivot including clearance between said latch lever and said handle to allow said latch lever to move along said side walls in a direction extending longitudinally along said handle without rotation of said latch lever about said latch pivot, to a position in which said locking bar is received snugly in said latch support notches, whereby said latch pivot is substantially isolated from forces exerted by said folding tool member through said latch engagement notch; and (g) said locking bar being selectively removable from said latch engagement notch by pivoting movement of said latch lever about said latch pivot, in order to release said folding tool member from said selected position.