Patent ID: 12240095

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1illustrates a perspective view of embodiment100of the rotatable handle of the present invention. This embodiment100comprises a D-shaped grip105for manipulating the handle, at least one hollow portion110, and at least one connector housing115. The connector housing115comprises a first-end opening120, a middle portion125, and a second-end opening130. The hollow portion110is attached to the D-shaped grip105. The interior of the hollow portion110partially houses at least one rotatable apparatus. The exterior wall of the hollow portion110engages with the first end opening120of the connector housing115. To provide the user with a better grab while attaching the D-shaped grip to the connector housing, several grab tabs140are disposed on the exterior wall of the connector housing115around the first and second end openings120and130. One end135of the shovel's shaft is disposed through the second end opening130and preferably attached to the rotatable apparatus disposed inside the connector housing115and the hollow portion110. Preferably, the connector housing may rotate against the shaft in fifteen-degree increments. It is appreciated that the second-end opening130perimeter is made to fit the perimeter of the shovel's shaft, which is smaller than the inner perimeter of the middle portion125and the first-end opening120. The inner perimeters of the middle portion125and the first-end opening120are made larger to receive the shaft, the connector, and the rotatable apparatus. The rotational handle100may comprise semi-permanent or permanent parts wherein the parts may be connected by means of screwing, pinning, or but not limited to, a locking mechanism that will maintain the structural integrity of the rotational handle100. The handle further comprises a latch component that in turn comprises an S-shaped body150that is shaped to complement the contour of the side of the grip105. The latch body150is attached to the side of the grip by a pin155at about the midsection of the latch body. The latch body can pivot on the pin155to lock and unlock the rotatable apparatus inside the hollow portion110.

FIG.2illustrates a bottom view of embodiment200of the rotatable handle of the present invention. This embodiment comprises a rotatable apparatus210that receives a garden tool's shaft220and attaches to it by a variety of fastening means, as disclosed above. As this embodiment's body205and its grip, invisible in this view, rotate relative to the rotatable apparatus210, they also rotate around the shaft220. The rotatable apparatus in turn comprises cavities spaced around its outer wall to receive the pin240. This pin prevents the embodiment's body205from rotating around the rotatable apparatus210, and, thus, the shaft220, once it is disposed in a cavity230.

FIG.3is an exploded view of embodiment300of the present invention. This embodiment comprises a latch component310that in turn comprises an elongated body320that has a S shape. When assembled, this latch component is disposed in a cavity390, which also has an S shape, on a side of the handle. The latch component310further comprises a coil spring330that is disposed in between one end of the body320and a seat335in the cavity390. The latch component further comprises a hinge pin340that has an end cap. When assembled, the pin340is disposed through and in a hinge380on the handle, through and in a hole342about the middle of the body320, and is held in place by the end cap345. It is contemplated that the pin340can be held in the hinge380by a variety of fastening methods besides the end cap345. The latch component310further comprises a pin bolt350that is disposed through and in a hole352on and at one end of the body320. When assembled, the bolt350screws into a threaded hole354on the one end of the body320. Before screwing into the hole354, the bolt passes through a hole365on an end of a pin360. The bolt attaches the pin360to the body320but allows the pin to pivot on the axis of the bolt. When fully assembled, the body320is attached to the handle by the hinge pin340, but it can pivot on the hinge. Since the body320is attached to the handle, the coil spring330only pushes the one end of the body320away from the handle and makes the body pivot on the hinge380, and, thus, pushes the other end of the body320and the pin360toward the handle. The pin360is disposed through and in a hole395on the handle. The pin then engages with the rotatable apparatus disposed inside the hollow portion of the handle as disclosed hereinbefore.

To rotate the handle, the user applies force on the near end of the body320against the coil spring outward force and presses the near end toward the handle. The body320pivots on the hinge380and causes the far end of the body320and, thus, the pin360to move away from the handle. The pin360disengages with the rotatable apparatus inside the handle, so the rotatable apparatus is then free to rotate on the handle's and shaft's axis.

FIG.4is another exploded view of the embodiment300of the present invention. In this view, the hinge pin340is assembled in the hinge380without the body320attached and blocking the detailed view of the assembled hinge pin. Also in this view, the pin360is attached to the body320by the bolt350. As attached and the body320is attached, the pin360is inserted in the hole395so that it can engage with the rotatable apparatus.

FIG.5is a perspective view of embodiment500of the present invention where the rotatable handle and the latch component are fully assembled. The latch component's end520is pushed away from the handle by a coil spring, as disclosed hereinbefore. The latch component is attached to the handle by the hinge540. The other end560of the latch component is pressed by the pivot force firmly against the outer wall of the handle. As disclosed hereinbefore, a pin is attached to the end560and inserted into a hole on the handle so that it can engage with the rotatable apparatus disposed inside the hollow portion of the handle. When the user wants to rotate the handle on the shaft's axis, he applies force on the end520and presses it toward the handle, and, by the pivot force, the other end560is moved away from the handle, and the attached pin. This attached pin disengages from the internal rotatable apparatus. Thus, the rotatable apparatus is free to rotate.