Positively lockable angularly adjustable handle

Claim 2

A portable instrument comprising: a housing member; a generally U-shaped resilient handle member having first and second coextensive arms substantially parallel to a plane and having respective first and second ends, said arms being resiliently movable relative to one another parallel to said plane; and first and second means respectively adjacent said first and second ends for coupling said handle member to said housing member, each said coupling means including: journal means having an axis and including a tubular resilient wall projecting from one of said members in a generally axial direction, the other of said members having an internal wall centered on said axis and defining at least one aperture in which said tubular wall is received in a first axial position thereof for rotation about said axis, inwardly yieldable stop means on the outer surface of said resilient tubular wall, retainer means within said aperture for engaging said stop means to retain said resilient tubular wall against axial movement within said aperture in one direction between said first axial position and a second axial position thereof axially displaced with respect to said first position in said one direction when said tubular wall is subjected to an axial force smaller than a given value, and for inwardly camming said yieldable stop means resiliently into said resilient tubular wall upon axial displacement thereof within said aperture in said one direction toward said second axial position when said tubular wall is subjected to an axial force greater than said given value, first interlocking means disposed upon said one member, second interlocking means upon said other member for engaging said first interlocking means when said tubular wall is in its said second axial position to lock said handle member in a selected angular locking position with respect to said housing member, said second interlocking means being disengaged from said first interlocking means when said tubular wall is in its said first axial position for permitting rotation of said handle member with respect to said housing member to select a desired angular locking position for said handle and housing members, whereby said handle member can be locked in the selected angular position by moving said first and second resilient arms substantially parallel to said plane for causing said resilient tubular wall to shift from its said first to its said second axial position to lockingly engage said first and second interlocking means in the selected angular position.

Claim 3

The instrument of claim 1 wherein said retainer means is further cooperatively arranged for engaging said stop means to retain said resilient tubular wall against movement from its said second axial position toward its said first axial position when subjected to an axial force smaller than a given value, while inwardly camming said yieldable stop means resiliently into said resilient tubular wall upon displacement thereof from its said second to its said first axial position when subjected to an axial force smaller or greater than the given value.

Claim 4

The instrument of claim 1, wherein said retainer means includes a retainer flange portion inwardly projecting from said internal wall into said aperture, and said stop means includes a plurality of yieldable integral detent projections dIstributed circumferentially around the outer surface of said resilient tubular wall, the inner radial extent of said retainer flange portion being greater than that of the outer surface said resilient tubular wall and smaller than the radial distance from said axis to the outermost portions of said integral detent projections.

Claim 5

The instrument of claim 3, wherein each said coupling means further includes a resilient end flange adjacent one end of said resilient tubular wall the radial extent of the outermost portion of said resilient end flange being greater than the inner radial extent of said retainer flange portion, said resilient end flange having a tapered axial cross section for resiliently deforming said end flange upon forcibly inserting said resilient tubular wall into said aperture past said retainer flange portion, and said retainer flange portion being confined between said end flange and said detent projections in the first axial position of said resilient tubular wall.

Claim 6

The instrument of claim 1, wherein said first interlocking means includes a first alternate series of axially directed splines and recesses disposed about the outer peripheral surface of said journal means, said second interlocking means includes a second alternate series of axially directed recesses and splines disposed upon said internal wall around said aperture for respectively mating with the splines and recesses of said first series at a plurality of angular locking positions distributed about said journal axis; and each said coupling means further includes abutment means for retaining said resilient tubular wall in the second position thereof against further axial movement in said one direction.

Claim 7

The instrument of claim 1 wherein said one member is said handle member and said resilient tubular wall is integral with the respective one of said arms and projects therefrom in the axial direction at the end thereof.

Claim 8

A monolithic positively lockable angularly adjustable handle for an apparatus having first and second coupling openings formed therein comprising: a handle bar of a resilient material having two ends; first and second coextensive arms of the same material integral with said bar and respectively extending from these ends thereof in a normally substantially parallel relationship, and having respective first and second free ends resiliently movable toward and away from one another; and first and second journal means having an axis, on said first and second arms adjacent said first and second free ends respectively and adapted to cooperate with the first and second coupling openings of the apparatus respectively for rotatably coupling said arms to the apparatus in a first relative axial position thereof and for selectively locking against rotation said arms in a plurality of angular positions with respect to the apparatus in a second relative axial position thereof, each said first and second journal means including: a resilient tubular wall integral with the respective one of said arms and projecting therefrom in the direction of the other of said arms, said resilient tubular wall being centered on said journal axis and having a free end opposite said respective arm, an integral flange portion outwardly projecting at the outer surface of said tubular wall adjacent the free end thereof, a series of inwardly yieldable detent projections distributed circumferentially around said resilient tubular wall, said series of detent projections being axially spaced from said flange portion on said tubular wall by a distance sufficient to accommodate therebetween an annular retaining flange inwardly projecting from a respective such coupling opening in the apparatus, in the first axial position of the respective one of said journal means with respect to the apparatus, said detent projections being resiliently yieldable into said wall portion in response to inward camming action of such an annular retaining flange engaging said detent projeCtions upon forcible axial displacement of said resilient tubular wall in either direction through such an annular retaining flange in the respective opening, said tubular wall including an outer surface portion between said detent projections series and said respective arm, the axial spacing between said detent projection series and said respective arm being sufficient to accommodate therebetween such respective retaining annular flange of the apparatus in the second axial position of said respective journal means with respect to the apparatus, said second axial position being axially displaced from said first axial position; and interlocking means integrally formed between said detent projections series and said respective arm and adapted for lockably engaging corresponding interlocking means on the apparatus in a plurality of angular locking positions when said respective journal means is in its said second axial position.

Claim 9

A monolithic positively lockable angularly adjustable handle for an apparatus having first and second coupling openings formed therein comprising: a handle bar of a resilient material having two ends; first and second coextensive arms of the same material integral with said bar and respectively extending from these ends thereof in a normally substantially parallel relationship, and having respective first and second free ends resiliently movable toward and away from one another; and first and second journal means having an axis, on said first and second arms adjacent said first and second free ends respectively and adapted to cooperate with the first and second coupling openings of the apparatus respectively for rotatably coupling said arms to the apparatus in a first relative axial position thereof and for selectively locking against rotation said arms in a plurality of angular positions with respect to the apparatus in a second relative axial position thereof, each said first and second journal means including: a resilient tubular wall integral with the respective one of said arms and projecting therefrom in the direction of the other of said arms, said resilient tubular wall being centered on said journal axis and having a free end opposite said respective arm, an integral flange portion outwardly projecting at the outer surface of said tubular wall adjacent the free end thereof, a series of inwardly yieldable detent projections distributed circumferentially around said resilient tubular wall, said series of detent projections being axially spaced from said flange portion on said tubular wall by a distance sufficient to accommodate therebetween an annular retaining flange inwardly projecting from a respective such coupling opening in the apparatus, in the first axial position of the respective one of said journal means with respect to the apparatus, said detent projections being resiliently yieldable into said wall portion in response to inward camming action of such an annular retaining flange engaging said detent projeCtions upon forcible axial displacement of said resilient tubular wall in either direction through such an annular retaining flange in the respective opening, said tubular wall including an outer surface portion between said detent projections series and said respective arm, the axial spacing between said detent projection series and said respective arm being sufficient to accommodate therebetween such respective retaining annular flange of the apparatus in the second axial position of said respective journal means with respect to the apparatus, said second axial position being axially displaced from said first axial position; and interlocking means integrally formed between said detent projections series and said respective arm and adapted for lockably engaging corresponding interlocking means on the apparatus in a plurality of angular locking positions when said respective journal means is in its said second axial position.

Claim 10

The handle of claim 7 wherein said flange portion has a tapered profile toward the free end of said tubular wall and the smallest diametrical extent of said flange is substantially equal or smaller than the outer diametrical extent of said tubular wall.

Claim 11

The handle of claim 7 wherein said interlocking means includes a series of alternate axially directed splines and recesses projecting from said respective arm end and centered about said journal axis.

Claim 12

A positively lockable angularly adjustable coupling between a handle and an apparatus comprising: means defining at least one aperture within said apparatus; at least one journal means having an axis and disposed upon said handle for rotatably securing said handle within said at least one aperture about the axis of said journal means and including a resilient flange member disposed about the peripheral surface of said journal means and integral therewith at an inner axial position, and a plurality of arcuate-shaped resilient stop members of rounded axial cross section disposed about the peripheral surface of said journal means and integral therewith at an outer axial position; first interlocking means disposed upon said journal means and including an alternate series of splines and recesses disposed about the outer peripheral surface of said journal means; second interlocking means including an alternate series of recesses and splines disposed upon the inner peripheral surface of said means defining said at least one aperture for respectively mating with said splines and recesses of said first interlocking means at a plurality of angular positions disposed about said journal axis, so as to prevent angular rotation of said handle relative to said apparatus, said first and second interlocking means being disengaged when said journal means is located at a first axial position within said aperture, and being engaged when said journal means is located at a second axial position within said aperture, said second position being axially spaced from said first position, whereby when said first and second interlocking means are disengaged said handle may be freely rotatably adjusted relative to said apparatus to a particular one of said angular positions whereupon said first and second interlocking means may be engaged so as to positively lock said handle against rotation relative to said apparatus; a radially extending, inwardly projecting flange integrally formed upon the inner peripheral surface of said means defining said at least one aperture, the inner radial extent of said inwardly projecting flange being less than that of said resilient flange member and than that of said resilient stop members; said resilient flange member and said resilient stop members of rounded axial cross section defining therebetween a circumferential bearing surface and said inwardly projecting flange being received between said resilient flange member and said resilient stop members around said circumferential bearing surface at said first axial position; said resilIent flange member including an axially inner inclined surface and an axially outer inclined surface, the degree of inclination of said outer surface being substantially greater than the inclination of said inner surface, whereby when said journal means is axially inserted within said at least one aperture, said resilient flange member will abut and be radially compressed by said inwardly projecting flange whereupon said journal means may be snap-fitted into said at least one aperture and said inwardly projecting flange will be supported upon said bearing surface at said first axial position while the ready withdrawal of said journal means from said aperture is substantially hindered; and said resilient stop members being axially spaced from said first interlocking means so as to define therebetween a circumferential recess adapted to receive said inwardly projecting flange therein at said second axial position, whereby when said journal means if further axially inserted within said at least one aperture from its said first to its said second axial position, said resilient stop members will abut and be radially compressed by said inwardly projecting flange whereupon said stop members will move past said inwardly projecting flange which will be housed within said recess at said second axial position and said first and second interlocking means will be engaged whereby said handle will be prevented from rotating relative to said apparatus.

Claim 13

A positively lockable angularly adjustable coupling between a handle and an apparatus comprising: means defining at least one aperture within said apparatus; at least one journal means having an axis and disposed upon said handle for rotatably securing said handle within said at least one aperture about the axis of said journal means and including a resilient flange member disposed about the peripheral surface of said journal means and integral therewith at an inner axial position, and a plurality of arcuate-shaped resilient stop members of rounded axial cross section disposed about the peripheral surface of said journal means and integral therewith at an outer axial position; first interlocking means disposed upon said journal means and including an alternate series of splines and recesses disposed about the outer peripheral surface of said journal means; second interlocking means including an alternate series of recesses and splines disposed upon the inner peripheral surface of said means defining said at least one aperture for respectively mating with said splines and recesses of said first interlocking means at a plurality of angular positions disposed about said journal axis, so as to prevent angular rotation of said handle relative to said apparatus, said first and second interlocking means being disengaged when said journal means is located at a first axial position within said aperture, and being engaged when said journal means is located at a second axial position within said aperture, said second position being axially spaced from said first position, whereby when said first and second interlocking means are disengaged said handle may be freely rotatably adjusted relative to said apparatus to a particular one of said angular positions whereupon said first and second interlocking means may be engaged so as to positively lock said handle against rotation relative to said apparatus; a radially extending, inwardly projecting flange integrally formed upon the inner peripheral surface of said means defining said at least one aperture, the inner radial extent of said inwardly projecting flange being less than that of said resilient flange member and than that of said resilient stop members; said resilient flange member and said resilient stop members of rounded axial cross section defining therebetween a circumferential bearing surface and said inwardly projecting flange being received between said resilient flange member and said resilient stop members around said circumferential bearing surface at said first axial position; said resilIent flange member including an axially inner inclined surface and an axially outer inclined surface, the degree of inclination of said outer surface being substantially greater than the inclination of said inner surface, whereby when said journal means is axially inserted within said at least one aperture, said resilient flange member will abut and be radially compressed by said inwardly projecting flange whereupon said journal means may be snap-fitted into said at least one aperture and said inwardly projecting flange will be supported upon said bearing surface at said first axial position while the ready withdrawal of said journal means from said aperture is substantially hindered; and said resilient stop members being axially spaced from said first interlocking means so as to define therebetween a circumferential recess adapted to receive said inwardly projecting flange therein at said second axial position, whereby when said journal means if further axially inserted within said at least one aperture from its said first to its said second axial position, said resilient stop members will abut and be radially compressed by said inwardly projecting flange whereupon said stop members will move past said inwardly projecting flange which will be housed within said recess at said second axial position and said first and second interlocking means will be engaged whereby said handle will be prevented from rotating relative to said apparatus.