Patent ID: 7896314

Claim:
A hand tool comprising: a tool head having a claw, said tool head defining an elongated socket with a bottom; a handle coupled to said tool head; a plunger assembly having an elongated body with a top end, a bottom end and a locking assembly; said plunger assembly body rotatably and movably disposed in said socket, said plunger assembly body structured to move between a first, withdrawn position, wherein said plunger assembly body is substantially disposed within said socket, and a second, extended position, wherein said plunger assembly body extends from said socket; said locking assembly includes a fixed latch member extending laterally across a portion of said socket, an upper, first lateral notch in said plunger assembly body adjacent said top end, and a lower, second lateral notch in said plunger assembly body adjacent said bottom end; wherein, when said plunger assembly body is in said first, withdrawn position, said first notch engages said fixed latch member and, when said plunger assembly body is in said second, extended position, said second notch engages said fixed latch member; said socket has a generally circular cross-section; said plunger assembly body has a front side, an arcuate back side and at least one generally flat lateral side, said first notch and said second notch disposed on said front side; said fixed latch member extending laterally across said socket as a chord and defining a passage with a width; said plunger assembly body having a medial portion with a width between said front side and said back side that is greater than said passage width; said plunger assembly body medial portion having a width between said at least one generally flat lateral side and a side opposite said at least one generally flat lateral side that is less than said passage width; said plunger assembly body may be rotated about a longitudinal axis between a first orientation, wherein said plunger assembly body front side is disposed adjacent to said fixed latch member, and a second orientation, wherein said plunger assembly body at least one generally flat lateral side is disposed adjacent to said fixed latch member; wherein, when said plunger assembly body is in said first orientation and said first, withdrawn position, said first notch in said plunger assembly body engages said fixed latch member; wherein, when said plunger assembly body is in said second orientation, said fixed latch member does not engage said plunger assembly body and said plunger assembly body may move longitudinally within said socket; wherein, when said plunger assembly body is in said first orientation and said second, extended position, said second notch in said plunger assembly body engages said fixed latch member; and wherein said locking assembly further includes a spring, said spring disposed between said socket bottom and said plunger assembly body bottom end.