Abstract:
A garden tool quick release device for connecting a transmission rod and a garden having a connection tube is disclosed to include a connection assembly including a first connection part for receiving the connection tube and a second connection part defining therein a second open chamber for receiving the transmission rod, and a latch assembly mounted at the first connection part for locking the connection tube to the first open chamber or releasing it from the constraint. Thus, the invention allows the user to change the garden tool rapidly, achieving the effect of convenience.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to garden tool technology and more particularly, to a garden tool quick release device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventional garden tools are roughly divided into car type and portable type. A portable garden tool generally comprises a motor, a transmission rod connected to the motor, a tool member, and a quick release device detachably connecting the tool member to the transmission rod. When wishing to change the tool member or if the tool member is damaged, the user needs to remove the tool member from the quick release device, and then attach another tool member to the quick release device. 
         [0005]    Taiwan Utility M488848 discloses a lawn mower having a retractable shaft mechanism, which uses an adjustment device set to hold down an extension tube set, prohibiting an extension tube set of the extension tube set from movement relative to a fixed tube set. The adjustment device set comprises a sleeve and a locking member. The sleeve comprises an open chamber and two adjacent flanges. The locking member is threaded into each flange. The extension tube set is mounted in the open chamber. Rotating the locking member can move the two flanges toward or away from each other, thereby changing the inner diameter of the open chamber to lock or release the extension tube set. However, during the operation of the lawn mower that uses the locking member to lock the extension tube set, the extension tube set can slide relative to the fixed tube set easily due to vibration or if the locking member is not tightly fastened up. When this problem occurs, the user needs to adjust the extension tube set or to fasten tight the locking member again, causing great inconvenience in use. 
         [0006]    Taiwan Utility M322148 discloses a garden tool transmission connection device, which has a lock pin mounted at one end of a connector. The lock pin has a stop ring, and is loaded with a spring. Matching between the spring and the stop ring enables the lock pin to lock a main shaft to one end of the connector. This design can prohibit the main shaft from sliding relative to the connector. However, when wishing to change the garden tool, the user needs to pull the lock pin out of the internal open chamber of the connector with one hand and to keep the lock pin outside the internal open chamber of the connector during change of the garden tool, and the user can release the hand from the lock pin only after change of the garden tool, enabling the lock pin to be forced by the spring to move into the inside the open chamber and to lock the newly loaded garden tool to the open chamber. Thus, using this garden tool transmission connection device still brings inconvenience to the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a garden tool quick release device, which enhances user convenience in changing the garden tool, and avoids a secondary adjustment during the operation of the lawn mower due to vibration or loosening of the adjustment device set. 
         [0008]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a garden tool quick release device is adapted for connecting a transmission rod and a garden tool. The garden tool comprises a connection tube. The garden tool quick release device comprises a connection assembly and a latch assembly. The connection assembly comprises a first connection part and a second connection part. The first connection part comprises a first open chamber, a first insertion hole and a latch holder. The first open chamber is adapted for receiving the connection tube. The latch holder is disposed corresponding to the first insertion hole. The first insertion hole is disposed in communication between the first open chamber and the latch holder. The second connection part comprises a second open chamber adapted for receiving the transmission rod. The latch assembly comprises a latch pin. The latch pin comprises a locking tip and a shoulder. The latch pin is inserted through the latch holder and the first insertion hole. The latch pin is movable between a first position and a second position. When the latch pin is in the first position, the locking tip is positioned in the first open chamber. When the latch pin is in the second position, the shoulder is secured to the latch holder to prohibit the latch pin from movement relative to the first insertion hole and the latch holder, and at this time, the locking tip is disengaged from the first open chamber. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the first connection part further comprises two adjacent flanges and a locking member. The two flanges are extended from the periphery of the first connection part, each comprising a first screw hole. The locking member is threaded into each first screw hole, and rotatable to move the two flanges toward or away from each other to further change the inner diameter of the first open chamber. The latch holder further comprises two sidewalls, a top panel, a retaining open chamber, a second insertion hole and two lugs. The two sidewalls are located at the periphery of the first connection part around the first insertion hole. The top panel is connected between the two sidewalls at a top side. The retaining open chamber is surrounded by the top panel, the two sidewalls and the first connection part. The second insertion hole is located at the top panel, and axially aligned with the first insertion hole. The two lugs are located at the top side of the top panel around the second insertion hole. The second connection part further comprises at least one second screw hole and at least one holding-down member. Each second screw hole cuts through the peripheral wall of the second connection part. The at least one holding-down member is respectively threaded into the at least one second screw hole, and rotatable to lock the transmission rod to the second open chamber, or to release the transmission rod from the second open chamber. The latch assembly further comprises a spring mounted around the latch pin and disposed in the retaining open chamber. The latch pin further comprises a finger-grippable head, an annular locating groove, and a stop member. The shoulder is latch holder is disposed corresponding to the two lugs. The stop member is fastened to the annular locating groove, and disposed in the retaining open chamber. The locking tip is inserted through the first insertion hole. The spring has two opposite ends thereof respectively stopped against the top panel and the stop member. When the latch pin is in the first position, the locking tip is positioned in the first open chamber, and the shoulder is set between the two lugs. When the latch pin is in the second position, the user can pull out the latch pin and rotate it through 90 degrees. At this time, the stop member compresses the spring against the top panel, the shoulder is supported on the two lugs to bridge the gap between the two lugs, and forced by the elastic potential energy of the spring to abut against the topmost edge of each of the two lugs. 
         [0010]    Thus, shifting the latch pin between the first position and the second position can lock the connection tube to the first open chamber, or release the connection tube from the first open chamber. When the latch pin is moved to the second position, the latch pin is constantly kept in the second position, and the user needs not to continuously pull the latch pin. After the connection tube is adjusted or replaced, the user can shift the latch pin from the second position to the first position. 
         [0011]    Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an oblique top elevational view illustrating a garden tool quick release device used in a lawn mower in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the garden tool quick release device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the garden tool quick release device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the latch pin in the first position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , illustrating the latch pin in the first position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the latch pin in the second position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 , illustrating the latch pin in the second position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a schematic top view of the present invention, illustrating a different garden tool connected to the garden tool quick release device. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a schematic top view of the present invention, illustrating another different garden tool connected to the garden tool quick release device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a garden tool quick release device  10  is shown adapted for connecting a transmission rod  11  and a garden tool  12 . The garden tool  12  in this embodiment is a lawn mower cutter. The garden tool  12  comprises a connection tube  13 . The connection tube  13  has at least one locating hole  14 . The garden tool quick release device  10  comprises a connection assembly  20  and a latch assembly  30 . 
         [0023]    The connection assembly  20  has substantially a cylindrical shape. Further, the connection assembly  20  comprises a first connection part  22  and a second connection part  24  respectively located at two opposite ends thereof. The first connection part  22  comprises a first open chamber  26 , a first insertion hole  27 , a latch holder  28 , two adjacent flanges  29  and a locking member  292 . The first open chamber  26  is adapted for receiving the connection tube  13 . The first insertion hole  27  cuts through the peripheral wall of the first connection part  22 . The latch holder  28  is located at the peripheral wall of the first connection part  22  corresponding to the first insertion hole  27 . The first insertion hole  27  is disposed in communication between the first open chamber  26  and the latch holder  28 . The latch holder  28  comprises two sidewalls  282 , a top panel  284 , a retaining open chamber  286 , a second insertion hole  288 , and two lugs  289 . The two sidewalls  282  are vertically located at the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the first connection part  22  around the first insertion hole  27 . The top panel  284  is transversely connected between respective top sides of the two sidewalls  282 . The retaining open chamber  286  is surrounded by the top panel  284 , the two sidewalls  282  and the first connection part  22 . The second insertion hole  288  is located at the top panel  284  in axial alignment with the first insertion hole  27 . The two lugs  289  are vertically located at a top surface of the top panel  284  around the second insertion hole  288 . The two flanges  29  are respectively symmetrically extended from the peripheral wall of the first connection part  22 , each defining a first screw hole  294 . The locking member  292  is a locking screw threaded into the first screw hole  294 . Rotating the locking member  292  clockwise or counter-clockwise can force the two flanges  29  to move toward or away from each other, thereby changing the inner diameter of the first open chamber  26 . The second connection part  24  comprises a second open chamber  242 , two second screw holes  244 , and two holding-down member  246 . The second open chamber  242  is adapted for receiving the transmission rod H. The two second screw holes  244  cut through the peripheral wall of the second connection part  24 . The two holding-down members  246  are holding-down screws respectively threaded into the two second screw holes  244 , and rotatable to hold down the transmission rod  11  in the second open chamber  242  or to release the transmission rod  11  from the constant. 
         [0024]    The latch assembly  30  comprises a spring  32  and a latch pin  34 . The latch pin  34  is inserted into the first insertion hole  27  and the second insertion hole  288 . The spring  32  is mounted around the latch pin  34 , and positioned in the retaining open chamber  286 . The latch pin  34  comprises a finger-grippable head  341 , a shoulder  342 , an annular locating groove  343 , a stop member  344 , and a locking tip  346 . The shoulder  342  is disposed at the lugs  289 . The stop member  344  in this embodiment is a C-shaped retainer. The stop member  344  is mounted in the annular locating groove  343  and disposed in the retaining open chamber  286 . The locking tip  346  is inserted through the first insertion hole  27 . The spring  32  has two opposite ends thereof respectively stopped against the top panel  284  and the stop member  344 . The latch pin  34  is movable between a first position P 1  and a second position P 2 . As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , when the latch pin  34  is in the first position P 1 , the locking tip  346  of the latch pin  34  is inserted through the first insertion hole  27  into the inside of the first open chamber  26 , the shoulder  342  is disposed in between the two lugs  289 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , when the latch pin  34  is in the second position P 2 , pull out the latch pin  34  and then rotate it through 90 degrees and then release is from the hand, the stop member  344  compresses the spring  32  against the top panel  284 . At this time, the shoulder  342  bridges the gap between the two lugs  289  and is forced by the elastic potential energy of the spring  32  to abut against the topmost edge of each lug  289 , and the locking tip  346  of the latch pin  34  is kept outside the first open chamber  26 . Because the shoulder  342  is tightly supported above the two lugs  289 , the latch pin  34  is prohibited from movement relative to the first insertion hole  27  and the second insertion hole  288 . 
         [0025]    Further, based on the above-described technical features of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the first open chamber  26  receives the connection tube  13 , and the locating hole  14  is disposed corresponding to the first insertion hole  27 ; when the latch pin  34  is in the first position P 1 , the latch pin  34  is inserted through the first insertion hole  27 , the second insertion hole  288  and the locating hole  14  and the shoulder  342  is set in between the two lugs  289 , and therefore, the latch pin  34  locks the connection tube  13  in the first open chamber  26 . As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , when wishing to remove the connection tube  13  from the first open chamber  26 , pull out the latch pin  34  and rotate it through 90 degrees and then release it from the hand, at this time, the shoulder  342  is disposed above the two lugs  289  and bridges the gap between the two lug  289 , the locking tip  346  is disengaged from the locating hole  14 , and the stop member  344  compresses the spring  32  against the top panel  284 . At this time, the elastic potential energy of the spring  32  causes the shoulder  342  to be firmly stopped above the two lugs  289  to prohibit the latch pin  34  from movement relative to the first insertion hole  27  and the second insertion hole  288 . Because the locking tip  346  is disengaged from the locating hole  14  at this time, the connection tube  13  is unlocked and can be freely moved out of the first open chamber  26 . 
         [0026]    Preferably, the user can rotate the locking member  292  to move the two flanges  29  toward each other and to further reduce the inner diameter of the first open chamber  26 . This operation can hold down the first connection part  22  tightly to the connection tube  13 , enhancing the structural strength. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 1 , the garden tool quick release device  10  is applicable can be used for the mounting of any other garden tool that has a transmission rod for connection to the garden tool quick release device  10 , such as chainsaw  122  or circular saw  124 . 
         [0028]    It&#39;s worth mentioning that a conventional garden tool quick release device normally uses one single locking member and has it be threaded into the connection assembly, allowing the locking member to be rotated to reduce or increase the inner diameter of the open chamber of the connection assembly and to further lock the connection tube to the connection assembly. When the user uses the lawn mower that uses this conventional design of garden tool quick release device, the connection tube can slide accidentally due to vibration or loosening of the locking member, complicating the application. Alternatively, a conventional garden tool quick release device may simply uses a lock pin and has the lock pin be inserted through the connection assembly into the open chamber to lock the connection tube to the open chamber. When wishing to adjust the connection tube, the user must pull up the lock pin for allowing adjustment, and then insert the lock pin into the open chamber to lock the connection tube after adjustment. This operation procedure is also inconvenient. The garden tool quick release device  10  of the invention uses a connection assembly  20  to work with a latch assembly  30 . The connection assembly  20  comprises a first connection part  22 . The first connection part  22  comprises a first open chamber  26  adapted for receiving the connection tube  13 . The latch assembly  30  is located at the first connection part  22 . Further, the latch assembly  30  comprises a latch pin  34 . The latch pin  34  is inserted into the first connection part  22  to lock the connection tube  13  to the first open chamber  26 . The latch pin  34  is movable between a first position P 1  to lock the connection tube  13  to the first open chamber  26 , and a second position P 2  to release the connection tube  13  from the first open chamber  26 . When the latch pin  34  is in the second position P 2 , the user needs not to pull the latch pin  34 , and the latch pin  34  is constantly kept in the second position P 2 . After adjusted the connection tube  13 , the user simply needs to shift the latch pin  34  from the second position P 2  to the first position P 1 . In conclusion, the garden tool quick release device of the invention involves an inventive step. 
         [0029]    Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.