Patent ID: 7682099

Claim:
A hand tool coupling mechanism, comprising: a first member having a first splined orifice; a second member having an upper prong with a second orifice having an inner splined portion and an outer smooth cut portion around the circumference thereof and a lower prong with a third orifice having an inner splined portion and an outer smooth cut portion around the circumference thereof; a splined pin assembly, further comprising: a splined pin with a square cut around a circumference of the pin a predetermined length (L) from an end of the splined pin and a smooth, central longitudinal bore, the splined pin being adapted to be inserted into the first orifice; a flat spring seated within the third orifice of the lower prong of the second member; a first retaining cap comprising a circular planar member having a plurality of square shoulders of varying radii on an inner face thereof and a central, bored, threaded cylindrical extension extending from and orthogonal to the center of the inner face of the first retaining cap and a adapted to be inserted through the center of the first spring, the third splined orifice of the lower prong of the second member, the splined pin and the second splined orifice of the upper prong of the second member; a second retaining cap being a circular planar member having a smooth, central, tapered bore adapted to be seated on the outer smooth cut portion of the second orifice of the upper prong and a screw with a tapered head to be disposed through the central bore of the second retaining cap to be coupled to the bored, threaded cylinder extension of the first retaining cap; the first member being positioned between the upper prong and the prong of the second member with the first splined orifice coaxially aligned with the second and third splined orifices of the upper and lower prongs of the second member wherein the splined pin being movable from one axial position of the splined pin in which the splines on the splined pin do not mesh with the splines on the upper prong and lower prong such that pivoting of the first member with respect to the second member is permitted, to another axial position in which the splines on the splined pin mesh with the splines on the lower prong and the upper prong so that pivoting of the first member with respect to the second member is prevented.