Abstract:
A tool handle is secured to a tool head in a manner that allows the tool head such as a potato masher to be collapsed or folded with respect to the handle for more compact storage. In one form, the tool head is connected to the handle via a ball joint allowing for rotational and pivotal movement.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of prior provisional application 61/141,998, filed Dec. 31, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to kitchen tools, particularly including kitchen tools that can be collapsed or folded for storage. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Some kitchen tools such as potato mashers have a large working tool head connected to a relatively thin handle. While the handle size is convenient for storage, the tool head is often large and unwieldy. When several such tools are to be stored together, they can become interconnected or get in the way of one another, making both storage and retrieval difficult. Likewise, the tool can be difficult to wash in a dishwasher and may not fit in relatively flat spaces. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In a preferred version, the present invention includes a tool handle secured to a tool head. The tool head is secured to the handle in a manner that allows the tool head to be collapsed or folded with respect to the handle for more compact storage. In one form, the tool head is connected to the handle via a ball and socket joint allowing for rotational and pivotal movement. Most preferably the axis of rotation of the handle with respect to the tool head is at about 45 degrees with respect to a common central axis extending through the handle and tool head. 
         [0005]    In some versions of the invention, the handle secures to a stem extending from the tool head, with the handle and stem each terminating in a surface having a complementary 45 degree angle. When the two surfaces are adjacent one another in use, the handle extends orthogonally away from the tool head. As desired, the handle may be rotated along the common surfaces so that the handle lies in a plane that is substantially parallel to that of the tool head. 
         [0006]    These and other examples of the invention will be described in further detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred collapsible kitchen tool, shown with a handle in a first position with respect to a tool head. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a preferred collapsible kitchen tool, taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tool of  FIG. 1 , shown with the handle rotated to a second position with respect to the tool head. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a preferred collapsible kitchen tool. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a close-up of the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , showing the tool head and handle connection. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a preferred tool head. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    An exemplary collapsible kitchen tool is shown in the drawings and described below. In the version as illustrated, the tool is in the form of a potato masher in which the tool head has a plurality of holes through which mashed potato may pass. The tool head may have other configurations, however, and the invention is best suited for use with tool heads having a cross-sectional size and shape that is much larger than that of the handle. 
         [0015]    The tool as illustrated includes a handle having a distal handle end  10  for grasping by a user and a proximal end  11  that is configured to be secured to a tool head  20 . The proximal end preferably has a substantially smooth cylindrical shape, though in other versions of the invention the handle may be ribbed, rectangular, or otherwise configured. The handle may be formed as a single integral piece of material, or may have several components  15  fitting together and terminating with an ergonomic grip  16 . 
         [0016]    A collar  30  is attached to the proximal end of the handle. The collar fits snugly around the handle and is secured for sliding movement axially along the handle. As will be discussed further below, the collar locks the tool head and handle in a first position configured for use and, when the collar is moved, allows the tool head to be collapsed with respect to the handle for more compact storage. 
         [0017]    In one version the handle and tool head are formed primarily from plastic materials such as Nylon, with a thermoplastic elastomer secured to the distal end of the handle to provide a more secure and ergonomic grip. In other versions, the handle and tool head may be constructed from stainless steel, wood, alternative plastics, or other materials. 
         [0018]    The handle terminates at its proximal end in a surface  12  forming an approximate 45 degree angle with respect to an axis extending along the length of the handle. The proximal end of the handle further includes a detent or ball  14  projecting away from the proximal end substantially at the same 45 degree angle. The ball  14  at the end of the handle is configured to mate with a corresponding socket  24  in the tool head. The ball and socket arrangement allows the handle to be secured to the tool head for rotation along the complementary 45 degree angled faces. 
         [0019]    The tool head  20  includes a working portion which, as shown, is in the form of a slightly curved circular plate having a plurality of holes. At a central location within the circular plate a stem  22  extends axially upward. Though the stem extends axially away and is centrally located as shown, in other embodiments and with different tool heads the stem may be located in a different position. For that matter, it is not essential to the invention that a stem is included at all. Thus, in different examples of the invention alternative structures are used to interconnect the handle and the tool head. 
         [0020]    The stem terminates in an angled surface that is complementary to the angle formed in the proximal end of the handle. Thus, in the example as shown, the stem includes a terminal surface  12  formed at a 45 degree angle. In addition, the terminal end of the stem includes a socket  24  that is sized and configured to receive the ball  14  provided in the handle. Preferably, the ball and socket are formed to enable the ball to be snap-fit into the socket such that the ball may be removed but a substantial force is required to do so. In alternate examples of the invention, the ball and socket arrangement may be reversed, such that the ball is formed in the stem and the socket formed in the handle. 
         [0021]    In other versions of the invention the angles used in the collar and the stem need not be complementary or the same as one another. Depending on the size and shape of the tool head, different combinations of angles may either be desired or sufficient. 
         [0022]    In a preferred form, the surface  12  at the terminal end of the handle includes one or more projections  40 ,  41  that are received within corresponding depressions  50 ,  51  within the angled surface  22  of the stem. The projections may be large enough to lock the stem and handle in place with respect to one other or, in the preferred version, simply provide a tactile feedback so that the user knows that the handle has been rotated into a vertical position with respect to the tool head. Because the collar locks the handle in place, there is no need for a locking function in the projections  40 ,  41 . In some versions, however, the collar may be eliminated and replaced with projections that are sufficiently large to hold the stem and handle in position through the forces likely to be experienced in use. In alternate versions, a pin or other locking mechanism may replace the collar. Likewise, the projections and corresponding valleys may be provided on either of the stem or handle, or some combination of both. 
         [0023]    When configured for use, the handle is attached to the tool head with the ball and socket engaged as shown. The angled faces of the handle and stem are aligned with one another such that the handle extends away from the tool head along a common axis defined by the stem, the handle, and the center of the tool head. As shown in the illustrations, the axis lies along the sectional line A-A provided below. Although the handle and tool head may freely rotate with respect to one another by virtue of the ball and socket connection, the collar  30 , coupled with the angled faces of the handle and stem, prevent rotation of the two pieces while the collar is in place. 
         [0024]    In order to collapse the tool for storage, the collar is moved axially away from the tool head along the proximal end of the handle in a direction toward the distal end. The collar should be moved so that it is beyond the farthest surface of the stem. The movement of the collar to expose the adjacent angled surfaces of the stem and handle will allow the stem and handle to freely rotate with respect to one another about an axis defined by the ball and socket joint. Thus, the handle is rotated with respect to the stem until the handle is in a desired position for storage. Most preferably, the handle is rotated until the main axis defined by the handle is at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the central axis defined by the stem. In this position the tool head is in a better position to fit within a drawer or to be placed adjacent other similar tools for storage, or to be placed in a dishwasher in which a relatively flat space is available. 
         [0025]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.