Patent Publication Number: US-11639287-B2

Title: Hand tool

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 109111350, filed Apr. 1, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a tool and a tool component. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a prying head which can be detachably assembled with a handle and a hand tool with the prying head. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Tools, such as crowbar and wrench, are often used while repairing articles or during a construction. In short, the crowbar and the wrench are both levers. Workers can easily pry apart fixed articles or lift heavy articles with the help of crowbar. The wrench is used to loosen or tighten fasteners such as bolts or nuts. It is pretty convenient to use the abovementioned tools, which is favorable for enhancing the working efficiency of workers. 
     Furthermore, crowbar, wrench and other tools in relatively large sizes must be used to repair massive articles. These large tools have relatively long effort arms (handles), so as to easily apply forces or operate the components which are in small slits and difficult to be touched. In order to make the works go smoothly, the workers will prepare the large tools needed at a time. However, due to the huge volumes and weights of the large tools, the burden of the workers increases as simultaneously bringing several large tools. 
     In this regard, it is still an unsolved problem to reduce the total volume of large crowbar and wrench, while the original functions of these two tools remain. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a prying head, which is used in cooperation with a hand tool, includes a prying portion, a supporting portion and an assembling portion. The prying portion includes a ground-abutting surface and an article-abutting surface. The article-abutting surface is connected to the ground-abutting surface to form a sharp edge. The supporting portion is connected to the prying portion and includes a curved surface. The curved surface is connected to the ground-abutting surface and the article-abutting surface, so as to make an end of the supporting portion away from the sharp edge into a curved form. The assembling portion is connected to the supporting portion and includes a blind hole. The blind hole is recessed from an end of the assembling portion away from the sharp edge. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a hand tool includes a prying head, a wrench head and a handle. The prying head includes a prying portion, a supporting portion and an assembling portion. The prying portion includes a ground-abutting surface and an article-abutting surface. The article-abutting surface is connected to the ground-abutting surface to form a sharp edge. The supporting portion is connected to the prying portion and includes a curved surface. The curved surface is connected to the ground-abutting surface and the article-abutting surface, so as to make an end of the supporting portion away from the sharp edge into a curved form. The assembling portion is connected to the supporting portion and includes a blind hole. The blind hole is recessed from an end of the assembling portion away from the sharp edge. The wrench head includes an engaging hole. The handle includes an inserting portion. The inserting portion is detachably engaged with the engaging hole of the wrench head or the blind hole of the prying head. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows: 
         FIG.  1    is a three-dimensional schematic view of a prying head according to one embodiment of one aspect in the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a front schematic view of the prying head of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3 A  is a partial enlarged schematic view of a part  3   a  in the prying head of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  3 B  is a partial enlarged schematic view of a part  3   b  in the prying head of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4    is a three-dimensional schematic view of a prying head according to another embodiment in the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is one three-dimensional explosive schematic view of a hand tool according to an embodiment of another aspect in the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is another three-dimensional explosive schematic view of the hand tool of  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic view of the comparison between the size of a supporting portion of a prying head and the size of a wrench head according to the hand tool of  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic view of using the hand tool of  FIG.  5   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  1    is a three-dimensional schematic view of a prying head  100  according to one embodiment of one aspect in the present disclosure.  FIG.  2    is a front schematic view of the prying head  100  of  FIG.  1   . The prying head  100  is used in cooperation with a hand tool. The prying head  100  includes a prying portion  110 , a supporting portion  120  and an assembling portion  130 . The supporting portion  120  is connected to the prying portion  110 , and the assembling portion  130  is connected to the supporting portion  120 . 
     In detail, the prying portion  110  includes a ground-abutting surface  111  and an article-abutting surface  112 , and the article-abutting surface  112  is connected to the ground-abutting surface  111  to form a sharp edge  113 . As using the prying head  100 , it is easy for the sharp edge  113  to slide into the gap between the heavy article and the ground. Then, the heavy article is slightly lifted and the prying portion  110  can be smoothly pushed to the bottom of the heavy article. 
     Please also refer to  FIG.  3 A .  FIG.  3 A  is a partial enlarged schematic view of a part  3   a  in the prying head  100  of  FIG.  2   . The ground-abutting surface  111  of the prying head  100  can be in a planar form, or be divided into a sudden-narrowing part  111   a  and a gradual-narrowing part  111   b . The sudden-narrowing part  111   a  is closer to the sharp edge  113  than the gradual-narrowing part  111   b . A narrowing rate between the sudden-narrowing part  111   a  and the article-abutting surface  112  is higher than a narrowing rate between the gradual-narrowing part  111   b  and the article-abutting surface  112 . In short, along the direction of the part away from the sharp edge  113  to the sharp edge  113 , the ground-abutting surface  111  and the article-abutting surface  112  become closer and closer. The narrowing rate represents the rate of the surfaces becoming closer. Due to the difference between the narrowing rates, the prying portion  110  with the sudden-narrowing part  111   a  slightly tilts upwardly. Therefore, as pushing the prying head  100  to the bottom of the heavy article, the heavy article can be first lifted by the prying portion  110  with the sudden-narrowing part  111   a , and the gap between the heavy article and the ground is enlarged to facilitate the prying portion  110  entering the bottom of the heavy article. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   . The supporting portion  120  includes a curved surface  121 . The curved surface  121  is connected to the ground-abutting surface  111  and the article-abutting surface  112 , so as to make an end of the supporting portion  120  away from the sharp edge  113  into a curved form. In order to lift the heavy article, force is applied downwardly on one side of the prying head  100  adjacent to the supporting portion  120 , and the prying portion  110  at the other side rises. The curved supporting portion  120  makes the prying head  100  rotate more smoothly on the ground as applying force, which is favorable for smoothly lifting the heavy article. 
     Please also refer to  FIG.  3 B .  FIG.  3 B  is a partial enlarged schematic view of a part  3   b  in the prying head  100  of  FIG.  2   . A fulcrum  122  can be formed at a connection between the curved surface  121  and the ground-abutting surface  111 . The fulcrum  122  can facilitate the leverage of the supporting portion  120  and the prying portion  110 , so as to lift the prying portion  110  loaded with the heavy article by a reduced force. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   . The supporting portion  120  further includes a through hole  123 . The through hole  123  penetrates from a first side surface of the supporting portion  120  to a second side surface of the supporting portion  120  opposite to the first side surface. The through hole  123  is configured for an engaging end of a wrench head being engaged with, and the process of assembling the prying head  100  and the wrench head and the instruction will be explained in another aspect of the present disclosure, and the details will not be given herein. 
     The assembling portion  130  includes a blind hole  131 , which is recessed from an end of the assembling portion  130  away from the sharp edge  113 . The blind hole  131  is configured for assembling with the elements having similar sizes to the blind hole  131 . That is, any handles including the elements with corresponding sizes can be assembled with the prying head  100 , which brings more usages of the prying head  100 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  4   .  FIG.  4    is a three-dimensional schematic view of a prying head  100   a  according to another embodiment in the present disclosure. The prying head of the present disclosure can further include at least one recessed cavity  140 , as shown in  FIG.  1   , or further include at least one through cavity  150 , as shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     First, please refer to  FIG.  1   . The at least one recessed cavity  140  is recessed from a side surface of the prying portion  110 . Through arranging the at least one recessed cavity  140 , the total weight of the prying head  100  can be decreased and the burden of carrying the prying head  100  is reduced. For example, in the present embodiment, the number of the at least one recessed cavity  140  can be two. The two recessed cavities  140  can be arranged on two side surfaces of the prying portion  110 , respectively. The positions and the shapes of the two recessed cavities  140  are preferable to being symmetric, which prevents the center of gravity of the prying head  100  offsetting. Thus, it is more handy to take or use the prying head  100 . Please note that the features, such as number, position and shape, of the at least one recessed cavity  140  are not limited in the present disclosure. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  4   . The at least one through cavity  150  penetrates from a first side surface of the prying portion  110  to a second side surface of the prying portion  110  opposite to the first side surface. Through arranging the at least one through cavity  150 , the total weight of the prying head  100   a  can be also decreased and the burden of carrying the prying head  100   a  is reduced. 
     Moreover, the prying head  100 ,  100   a  of the present disclosure can further include at least one recessed arc  160 , which is recessed from an edge of the article-abutting surface  112 . Through arranging the at least one recessed arc  160 , the total weight of the prying head  100 ,  100   a  can be also decreased. For example, the number of the at least one recessed arc  160  can be two. The two recessed arcs  160  can be arranged at two edges, along which the article-abutting surface  112  meets the two side surfaces of the prying portion  110 , respectively. Please note that the features, such as number, position and shape, of the at least one recessed arc  160  are not limited in the present disclosure. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  5   .  FIG.  5    is one three-dimensional explosive schematic view of a hand tool  200  according to an embodiment of another aspect in the present disclosure. The hand tool  200  includes a prying head  300 , a wrench head  400  and a handle  500 . The structure of the prying head  300  is the same as the aforementioned prying head  100 , and the details will not be given herein. The wrench head  400  includes an engaging hole  410 . The handle  500  includes an inserting portion  510 , and the inserting portion  510  is detachably engaged with the engaging hole  410  of the wrench head  400  or the blind hole  331  of the prying head  300 . Therefore, different components can be assembled with the handle  500  under different conditions, and the hand tool  200  will become a crowbar or a wrench. 
     In other embodiments, the handle can be divided into several sections. Each section can include an engaging hole and/or an inserting portion, that is, each section can be connected to other sections through the engaging hole and/or the inserting portion. The handle with the structure of several sections will facilitate storing the hand tool. The total length of the hand tool can be changed by assembling different numbers of sections, so as to properly adjust the length of the hand tool to meet the different requirements. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6   .  FIG.  6    is another three-dimensional explosive schematic view of the hand tool  200  of  FIG.  5   . The wrench head  400  can further include an engaging end  420 , and the engaging end  420  protrudes from a side surface of the wrench head  400 . The wrench head  400  is detachably engaged with the through hole  323  of the prying head  300  through the engaging end  420 , so as to assemble the prying head  300  with the wrench head  400 . The engaging end  420  and the through hole  323  have corresponding structures. The shape of the through hole  323  can be designed according to the engaging end of the conventional wrench for convenient manufacturing and assembling. For example, as in  FIG.  6   , the engaging end  420  is a conventional cuboidal drive tang, and the through hole  323  is designed to have a cuboidal shape correspondingly. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  7   .  FIG.  7    is a schematic view of the comparison between the size of the supporting portion  320  of the prying head  300  and the size of the wrench head  400  according to the hand tool  200  of  FIG.  5   . The handle  500  is engaged with the wrench head  400  along an assembling direction X. The wrench head  400  includes a top surface  430  and a bottom surface  440  extending along the assembling direction X. A length of a shortest chord L of the curved surface  321  of the prying head  300  passing through a center of the through hole  323  can be larger than a longest distance W between the top surface  430  and the bottom surface  440 . When the engaging end  420  of the wrench head  400  is engaged with the through hole  323  of the prying head  300 , the top surface  430  and the bottom surface  440  of the wrench head  400  are not beyond the curved surface  321  of the prying head  300  as looking from the front side of the hand tool  200 . Therefore, the curved surface  321  of the prying head  300  can be a support to lift the heavy article when using the hand tool  200 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  8   .  FIG.  8    is a schematic view of using the hand tool  200  of  FIG.  5   . The hand tool  200  of the present disclosure cannot only be used as the conventional crowbar, but is especially suitable for using in limited spaces due to the assembling structure thereof. For example, the hand tool  200  can be used to pry two heavy articles T 1 , T 2 , which are adjacent to each other, as shown in  FIG.  8   . Specifically, as prying the heavy article T 1  away from the heavy article T 2 , it has to pry the heavy article T 1  by the hand tool  200  in a small space S between the two heavy articles T 1 , T 2 . The hand tool  200  can form a thinner structure by engaging the engaging end  420  of the wrench head  400  with the through hole  323  of the prying head  300 . It facilitates the hand tool  200  entering the space S to successfully pry the heavy article T 1 . Thus, the hand tool  200  can be assembled through the blind hole  331  or the through hole  323  of the prying head  300 . The angle between the prying head  300  and the handle  500  can be adjusted according to different situations, which makes the hand tool  200  be more practical. 
     In this regard, the prying head can be assembled with a handle through the blind hole when using the prying head of the present disclosure. The prying head can be easily detached and stored after using, which enhances the convenience of bringing multiple tools. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.