PATENT ABSTRACT
A tool adapted for prying comprises a handle including a pivotal end and a grip end, with the pivotal end having a through-hole; a working device having first and second ends, with the first end of the working device pivotally connected to the pivotal end of the handle and including a positioned hole formed transversely and a cavity formed longitudinally and communicating with the positioned hole, with the positioned hole corresponding to the through-hole; and a positioning device disposed at the through-hole, the positioned hole and the cavity and moveable between a fixing position and an adjusting position.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a tool having a working device which includes prongs for extracting an element to be pried and a positioning device adapted for positioning the prying device at various angles with respect to a handle of the tool. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A tool, generally known as crowbar, includes a straight bar and a working end slightly bent with respect to the bar and forked. In operation, the working end is engaged with an element to be extracted and the straight bar is used as a lever to pivot about a fulcrum. 
         [0005]    However, the working end is usually fixed to the straight bar and cannot be adjustably connected to the straight bar at various angles. It&#39;s not convenient to be used in various slopes. The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]    According to the present invention, a tool includes a handle and a prying device pivotally connected to the handle and positionable at various pivoting positions with respect to the handle. The prying device is engagable with an object to be pried and the handle is utilized as a lever to extract the object efficiently. The tool also includes a hammering portion. 
         [0007]    It is an aspect of the present invention that the toot is usable for prying an object and used as a hammer. 
         [0008]    It is another aspect of the present invention that the tool has a simple structure and is manufactured cost-effectively. 
         [0009]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tool in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is another cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is another cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a tool in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the tool shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is another perspective view of the tool shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a tool in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the tool shown in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a partial, cross-sectional view of the tool shown in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is another partial, cross-sectional view of the tool shown in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is another partial, cross-sectional view of the tool similar to  FIG. 13 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is another perspective view of the tool shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]      FIGS. 1 through 7  show a tool usable for prying in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The tool includes a handle  10   a,  working device  20   a  and a positioning device  30  which is moveable between a fixing position and an adjusting position. And while the positioning device  30  is in the fixing position, the handle  10   a  is fixed in position with respect to the working device  20   a.  While the positioning device  30  is in the adjusting position, the handle  10   a  is able to pivot with respect to the working device  20   a.    
         [0027]    The handle  10   a  includes a pivotal end  101   a  and a grip end  102   a.  A flat coupled portion  11   a  is defined at the pivotal end  101   a  and a hammering portion  12   a  extends from the distal of the pivotal end  101   a  treated as a hammer. The coupled portion  11   a  includes a hexagonal through-hole  13   a  transversely formed thereon and two limited portions  14   a  formed on two sides thereof and proximal to the hammering portion  12   a.    
         [0028]    The working device  20   a  includes first and second ends  201   a,    202   a.  The second end  202   a  is in form of pry. A positioned hole  21   a,  a slot  22   a  and a cavity  23   a  are formed at the first end  201   a  and communicate with one another in sequence. The slot  22   a,  which is sandwiched between the positioned hole  21   a  and the cavity  23   a  and extends from the first end  201   a  to the second end  202   a,  is mounted on the pivotal end  101   a  of the handle  10   a.  The positioned hole  21   a  corresponds to the through-hole  13   a  and has a plurality of positioning sections  211   a  defined on the periphery thereof as to form the positioned hole  21   a  to be a ratchet hole preferably. In this case, the cavity  23   a  is in form of circle hole. Moreover, in other embodiment, attachment of the handle  10   a  and the working device  20   a  can be achieved via the coupled portion  11  a is mounted on the first end  201   a  of the working device  20   a.    
         [0029]    The positioning device  30  is disposed at the through-hole  13   a,  the positioned hole  21   a  and the cavity  23   a  and consists of a controller  31 , a resilient member  32  and a retaining member  33 . The controller  31  includes a cap  311 , a plurality of detents  312 , first and second body sections  313 ,  314  and a joint  315 . The controller  31  is inserted through the pivotal end  101   a  and adapted to connect the working device  20   a  to the handle  10   a.  The cap  311  exposes from the positioned hole  21   a  and the plurality of detents  312  are removably meshed with the plurality of positioning sections  211   a.  The first body section  313  is adjacent to the cap  311  and has a hexagonal cross-section as to correspond to and engage with the trough-hole  13   a.  The second body section  314  is adjacent to the joint  315  and inserted through the resilient member  32  in the cavity  23   a.  The joint  315  is attached to the retaining member  33  in an adhesive manner or a screw manner for preventing the controller  31  removing from the working device  20   a.    
         [0030]    While the positioning device  30  is in the fixing position, the detents  312  are engaged with the positioning sections  211   a  of the working device  20   a  so that the handle  10   a  is fixed with respect to the working device  20   a.  The profile of the first body section  313  corresponds to that of the through-hole  13   a  so that the controller  31  cannot rotate with respect to the handle  10   a.  The resilient member  32  and the retaining member  33  are limited in the cavity  23   a  and the positioning device  30  is restricted at the handle  10   a  and working device  20   a  via the cap  311  and the retaining member  33 . 
         [0031]    While the positioning device  30  is in the adjusting position, the handle  10   a  is able to rotate with respect to the working device  20   a.  Users push the retaining member  33  of the positioning device  30  to press the resilient member  32  and further the controller  31 . And then, the detents  312  are disengaged from the positioning sections  211   a  of the positioned hole  21   a.  Therefore, users can adjust the working device  20   a  to a desired angle with respect to the handle  10 , next, to release the retaining member  33  as to return the positioning device  30  to be in the fixing position. 
         [0032]    The limited portions  14   a  are adapted to restrict rotation of the working device  20   a  with respect to the handle  10   a.  As shown in  FIG. 7 , the limited portions  14   a  prevents the working device  20   a  rotating over the hammering portion  12   a.  Further, while the working device  20   a  is used to extract an element to be pried, the limited portions  14   a  provide a support force to the working device  20   a  and prevent the working device  20   a  detaching from the handle  10   a.    
         [0033]      FIGS. 8 through 10  show that a tool is usable for prying in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention and similar to the first embodiment except that a handle  10   b  replaces the handle  10   a.  The handle  10   b  includes a pivotal end  101   b  and a grip end  102   b.  A flat coupled portion  11   b  is defined at the pivotal end  101   b  and a hexagonal through-hole  13   b  is transversely formed on the coupled portion  11   b  and corresponds to the positioned hole  21   a.  And the positioning device  30  is disposed at the through-hole  13   b.    
         [0034]      FIGS. 11 through 16  show that a tool is usable for prying in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention and similar to the second embodiment except that a working device  20   b  replaces the working device  20   a  and a prying device  40  is further attached to the working device  20   b  for extracting an element to be pried. The working device  20   b  has first and second ends  201   b,    202   b  and a pressed portion  203   b  formed on the outer periphery thereof between the first and second ends  201   b,    202   b.  The prying device  40  is coupled to the second end  202   b.  A positioned hole  21   b,  a slot  22   b  and a cavity  23   b  are formed at the first end  201   b  and communicate with one another in sequence. The slot  22   b,  which is sandwiched between the positioned hole  21   b  and the cavity  23   b  and extends from the first end  201   b  to the second end  202   b,  is mounted on the pivotal end  101   b  of the handle  10   b.  The positioned hole  21   b  corresponds to the through-hole  13   b  and has a plurality of positioning sections  211   b  defined on the periphery thereof as to form the positioned hole  21   b  to be a ratchet hole preferably. In this case, the cavity  23   b  is in form of circle hole. A hexagonal coupled hole  24   b  is transversely formed at the second end  202   b  and communicates with the slot  22   b.  The coupled hole  24   b  is spaced from the positioned hole  21   b.    
         [0035]    The prying device  40  consists of a shaft  41  adapted for inserted through the coupled hole  24   b,  two pry elements  42  and two positioning units  43 . A notch  411  is formed on the outer periphery of the center of the shaft  41 . A plurality of positioning sections  412  are respectively provided on the outer periphery of two ends of the shaft  41  in transverse line arrangement. 
         [0036]    Each pry element  42  has first and second ends  4201 ,  4202 . First and second connected holes  421 ,  422  are formed on the first end  4201  and communicate with each other. The first connected hole  421  is preferably being a polygon hole and perpendicular to the second connected hole  422 . The second hole  422  has first and second sections  4221 ,  4222 , and a diameter of the first section  4221  is larger than that of the second section  4222 . The second end  4202  is treated as a pry. 
         [0037]    Each positioning unit  43  is adapted to removably fix the related pry element  42  to the related end of the shaft  41  and consists of a control member  431 , a resilient member  432  and a detent  433 . The control member  431  is inserted into the second connected hole  422  and has a head  4311  and a body  4312 . A recess  4313  and an abutting section  4314  are formed on the body  4312 . The resilient member  432  is mounted on the body  4312  and restricted at the first section  4221  of the second connected hole  422 . The detent  433  is restricted between the recess  4313  and the abutting section  4314  and positioned at the second section  4222  of the second connected hole  422 . The detent  433  is moveable between the selected one positioning section  412  and the recess  4313  and selectively engaged with the selected one positioning section  412  or the recess  4313  as to fix the pry elements  42  to the shaft  41  or not. While the detent  433  that is in a first position and engaged with the selected one positioning section  412  and against the abutting section  4314 , it prevents the pry elements  42  from rotating with respect to the shaft  41 . While the detent  433  is driven to be in a second position by pressing the head  4311  of the control member  431 , the resilient member  432  is pressed via the control member  431  and the detent  433  is disengaged from the abutting section  4314  and the selected one positioning section  412 , both. Then, the detent  433  is engaged with the recess  4313  so that the pry elements  42  are moveable with respect to the shaft  41 . 
         [0038]    Moreover, the distal of the pivotal end  101   b  is inserted into the notch  411  on the center of the shaft  41 . Therefore, the handle  10   b  can be aligned with the center of the shaft  41 . 
         [0039]    To operate the positioning device  30  (as shown in  FIG. 16 ), the working device  20   b  is able to rotate with respect to the handle  10   b  till the pressed portion  203   b  is driven to be positioned opposite to the handle  10   b  with respect to the shaft  41  so that the pressed portion  203   b  can be adapted to be used for abutting with the ground or any item. 
         [0040]    While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of invention and the scope of invention is only limited by the scope of accompanying claims.