Portable instrument

Claim 2

A portable instrument comprising: a housing member for receiving operating parts of said instrument; a generally U-shaped handle member for carrying and supporting said instrument in a standing position on a surface, said handle member having two cantilevered arm portions; and means mounted adjacent the extremity of each arm portion for coupling said handle and housing members for relative rotation therebetween about an axis, at least one of the coupling means including a resilient tubular element, radially inwardly yieldable, generally centered on said axis and projecting from one of said members, the other of said members including at least one generally circular internal wall centered on said axis and defining an opening in which said tubular element is received and bears against said internal wall for rotation about said axis, and means for releasably locking said handle member on said housing member in at least one housing-supporting position, including an outwardly projecting section at the outer periphery of said resilient tubular element and a camming surface section adjacent to a recessed section at the inner periphery of said internal wall, the distance from said axis to the outermost surface of said projecting section being greater than the distance from said axis to said camming surface section of said internal wall adjacent to said recessed section, said projecting section being received in said recessed section to bear against said camming surface section in said at least one housing-supporting position for locking said tubular element against rotation with respect to said internal wall when said tubular element is subjected to a relative torque smaller than a given value, in one direction from said at least one housing-supporting position, and said projecting section being cammed inwardly into said resilient tubular element by deformation thereof when forced against said camming surface section upon said tubular element being subjected to a relative torque greater than said given value to disengage said projecting section from said recessed section in said one direction and to shift said handle and housing members from said at least one housingsupporting position to another relative position.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said resilient tubular element is integral with and projects from said handle member and said opening is defined in a side portion of said housing member.

Claim 4

The portable instrument of claim 1 wherein said resilient tubular element is connected to said one member by means of at least one connecting portion extending over only a fraction of the periphery of said resilient tubular element to leave a clearance between said resilient tubular element and said one member, which clearance is substantially aligned with said outwardly projecting section parallel to the direction of said axis.

Claim 5

The portable instrument of claim 3 wherein one end of said tubular element is open adjacent to said one member and said clearance, and the other end of said tubular element away from said one member is closed by an integral wall transverse to said axis.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tubular element has a substantially circular cross section, said outwardly projecting section is one of a series of external arcuate projections circumferentially distributed at the outer periphery of said tubular element, and said camming surface section is one of a plurality of inwardly directed lobes spaced about said opening at the periphery of said internal wall and separated by arcuate recesses one of which includes said adjacent recessed section, each one of said arcuate projections being received in one of said arcuate recesses in said at least one housing-supporting position of said handle and housing members.

Claim 7

The portable instrument of claim 5, further comprising: an annular retaining flange adjacent a free end of said tubular element away from said one member, having a first inclined side face of tapering cross section toward said free end and a second side face facing said one member in the opposite direction; an annular space at the outer surface of said tubular element between said retaining flange and said plurality of arcuate projections around said tubular element; and a shoulder defined by said internal wall around said opening and engaging the second side face of said retaining flange to prevent withdrawal of said tubular element from said opening, the diameter of said opening at said shoulder being smaller than the maximum diameter of the first side of said retaining flange but larger than the minimum diameter thereof, whereby said tubular element can be mounted by forcing The free end thereof through said opening upon resilient deformation of said flange for passing said shoulder.

Claim 8

The portable instrument of claim 6 wherein said handle and housing members have respective opposite surfaces engageable for limiting axial penetration of said tubular element into said opening, and said second face of said retaining flange is inclined at an obtuse angle on the surface of said annular space for resiliently engaging said shoulder once the first inclined surface of said flange has passed said shoulder to urge said opposite engageable surfaces in mutual contact whereby axial relative movement of said members is prevented.

Claim 9

A portable instrument comprising a housing member for enclosing operating parts of the instrument, a handle member having two joined arm portions for carrying the instrument and supporting it in a standing position on a bearing surface, and means adjacent the extremities of said arm portions for coupling said handle and housing members for relative rotation about an axis comprising: at least one resilient tubular wall projecting from one of said members and integral therewith, generally centered on said axis; mounting means for substantially preventing relative axial movement in at least one direction between said tubular wall and the other of said members while permitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis; and interlocking surface portions on said tubular wall and said other member for yieldably locking said handle and housing members against rotation in a plurality of relative angularly displaced locking positions, including a plurality of radially yieldable detent surface portions spaced about said axis on said resilient tubular wall and a series of substantially non-deformable spaced apart camming surface portions disposed about said axis on said other member opposite the surface of said resilient tubular wall, with each one of said detent surface portions radially facing a section of said other member intermediate two respective adjacent ones of said camming surface portions in each one of said angularly displaced locking positions, said respective adjacent camming surface portions extending radially for providing stops against angular displacement on either side of each one of said detent surface portions facing said intermediate sections in said angularly displaced locking positions to prevent relative rotation of said members when subjected to a relative torque smaller than a given torque, and for camming and pressing radially said yieldable detent surface portions by deforming said resilient wall when said detent surface portions are brought opposite one of said respective adjacent camming surface portions upon application to said members in one of said angularly displaced locking positions of a relative torque greater than said given torque to permit relative rotation thereof toward another of said angularly displaced locking positions.

Claim 10

A portable instrument comprising a housing member for enclosing operating parts of the instrument, a handle member having two joined arm portions for carrying the instrument and supporting it in a standing position on a bearing surface, and means adjacent the extremities of said arm portions for coupling said handle and housing members for relative rotation about an axis comprising: at least one resilient tubular wall projecting from one of said members and integral therewith, generally centered on said axis; mounting means for substantially preventing relative axial movement in at least one direction between said tubular wall and the other of said members while permitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis; and interlocking surface portions on said tubular wall and said other member for yieldably locking said handle and housing members against rotation in a plurality of relative angularly displaced locking positions, including a plurality of radially yieldable detent surface portions spaced about said axis on said resilient tubular wall and a series of substantially non-deformable spaced apart camming surface portions disposed about said axis on said other member opposite the surface of said resilient tubular wall, with each one of said detent surface portions radially facing a section of said other member intermediate two respective adjacent ones of said camming surface portions in each one of said angularly displaced locking positions, said respective adjacent camming surface portions extending radially for providing stops against angular displacement on either side of each one of said detent surface portions facing said intermediate sections in said angularly displaced locking positions to prevent relative rotation of said members when subjected to a relative torque smaller than a given torque, and for camming and pressing radially said yieldable detent surface portions by deforming said resilient wall when said detent surface portions are brought opposite one of said respective adjacent camming surface portions upon application to said members in one of said angularly displaced locking positions of a relative torque greater than said given torque to permit relative rotation thereof toward another of said angularly displaced locking positions.

Claim 11

The instrument of claim 8 wherein said mounting means include a flange portion on said tubular wall having an inclined side face tapering toward the end of said tubular wall opposite said one member and an opposite side face, and an internal wall in said other member defining an opening centered on said axis in which said tubular wall portion is rotatably received, and said internal wall forming a shoulder around said opening for abutting against said opposite side face of said flange portion to prevent withdrawal of said tubular wall from said opening, the transverse dimension of said opening being intermediate between the maximum and minimum transverse dimensions of said inclined side face of said flange portion so as to permit introduction of said tubular wall portion into said opening by forcing said inclined side face through said opening past said shoulder upon elastic deformation of said flange portion on said resilient tubular wall.

Claim 12

The instrument of claim 8, wherein said radially yieldable detent surface portions are inwardly yIeldable at the outer surface of said resilient tubular wall and said camming surface portions are formed around the inner periphery of a generally circular internal wall centered on said axis and defining an opening in said other member wherein said resilient tubular wall is received for rotation about said axis.

Claim 13

A portable instrument comprising: a housing for receiving operating parts of the instrument; a monolithic U-shaped handle of a resilient material coupled to said housing for hand carrying the instrument and for providing a stand for this instrument on a flat surface, said handle having first and second arms and a bar connecting said arms at one end thereof; and means for coupling said handle to said housing for rotation relative thereto about a common axis comprising: first and second tubular portions respectively projecting inwardly of said arms adjacent the other ends thereof in axial coalignment, each of said tubular portions including: a generally cylindrical coaxial resilient wall having one open end, and a free end away from said respective arm, a plurality of separate connecting portions for connecting said cylindrical wall to said respective arm, said connecting portions distributed around the periphery of said cylindrical wall adjacent the open end thereof, and separated by arcuate slots leaving a clearance between said cylindrical wall and said arm, an integral wall closing said free end, a first coaxial retaining flange projecting outwardly of the surface of said cylindrical wall at the free end thereof, said first retaining flange having one side face facing toward said respective arm and an opposed side face tapering toward said free end, and a series of external arcuate projections distributed circumferentially around said cylindrical wall intermediate said first retaining flange and said respective arm, each of said arcuate projections being in alignment with one of said arcuate slots in the direction of said axis; said housing having first and second concentric cavities formed therein which are defined by two respective coaxial internal housing wall surfaces against each of which a respective one of said first and second tubular portions bears for rotation about said axis; camming surface sections on each of said wall surfaces separated by arcuate recesses formed therein, the recesses being shaped to accommodate said projections on said respective cylindrical wall and the distance from said axis to the outermost surface of each of said projections being greater than the distance from said axis to said camming surface sections, whereby said projections are pressed inwardly within a section of said resilient cylindrical wall aligned with a corresponding one of said slots when opposite said camming surface sections of said internal housing wall surface, and are displaced outwardly when opposite said recesses to lock the handle against rotation in at least one housing-supporting position; and a second flange on each of said internal wall surfaces radially projecting within the respective cavity and having two opposed lateral faces, one oriented toward said camming surface sections and recesses and the other facing inside said housing, and a circular concentric inner wall surface opposite a portion of said respective cylindrical resilient wall confined between said series of arcuate projections and said first retaining flange; each of said arms abutting axially inwardly against said housing for limiting the penetration of the respective tubular portion within said respective cavity and said one side face of said respective first retaining flange abutting axially outwardly against said lateral face of said respective second flange facing inside said housing for preventing withdrawal of said respective tubular portion from said respective cavity; and the maximum outer diameter of said opposed tapering side face of each said first retaining flange being greater than the diameter Of said inner wall surface of said corresponding second flange and decreasing to a value less than the diameter of said inner wall surface toward said free end of said respective cylindrical wall whereby the corresponding arm of said handle can be mounted in said housing by forcing said first retaining flange at the free end of said resilient cylindrical wall through said inner wall surface of said second flange upon resilient deformation of said first retaining flange.

Claim 14

A portable instrument comprising: a housing for receiving operating parts of the instrument; a monolithic U-shaped handle of a resilient material coupled to said housing for hand carrying the instrument and for providing a stand for this instrument on a flat surface, said handle having first and second arms and a bar connecting said arms at one end thereof; and means for coupling said handle to said housing for rotation relative thereto about a common axis comprising: first and second tubular portions respectively projecting inwardly of said arms adjacent the other ends thereof in axial coalignment, each of said tubular portions including: a generally cylindrical coaxial resilient wall having one open end, and a free end away from said respective arm, a plurality of separate connecting portions for connecting said cylindrical wall to said respective arm, said connecting portions distributed around the periphery of said cylindrical wall adjacent the open end thereof, and separated by arcuate slots leaving a clearance between said cylindrical wall and said arm, an integral wall closing said free end, a first coaxial retaining flange projecting outwardly of the surface of said cylindrical wall at the free end thereof, said first retaining flange having one side face facing toward said respective arm and an opposed side face tapering toward said free end, and a series of external arcuate projections distributed circumferentially around said cylindrical wall intermediate said first retaining flange and said respective arm, each of said arcuate projections being in alignment with one of said arcuate slots in the direction of said axis; said housing having first and second concentric cavities formed therein which are defined by two respective coaxial internal housing wall surfaces against each of which a respective one of said first and second tubular portions bears for rotation about said axis; camming surface sections on each of said wall surfaces separated by arcuate recesses formed therein, the recesses being shaped to accommodate said projections on said respective cylindrical wall and the distance from said axis to the outermost surface of each of said projections being greater than the distance from said axis to said camming surface sections, whereby said projections are pressed inwardly within a section of said resilient cylindrical wall aligned with a corresponding one of said slots when opposite said camming surface sections of said internal housing wall surface, and are displaced outwardly when opposite said recesses to lock the handle against rotation in at least one housing-supporting position; and a second flange on each of said internal wall surfaces radially projecting within the respective cavity and having two opposed lateral faces, one oriented toward said camming surface sections and recesses and the other facing inside said housing, and a circular concentric inner wall surface opposite a portion of said respective cylindrical resilient wall confined between said series of arcuate projections and said first retaining flange; each of said arms abutting axially inwardly against said housing for limiting the penetration of the respective tubular portion within said respective cavity and said one side face of said respective first retaining flange abutting axially outwardly against said lateral face of said respective second flange facing inside said housing for preventing withdrawal of said respective tubular portion from said respective cavity; and the maximum outer diameter of said opposed tapering side face of each said first retaining flange being greater than the diameter Of said inner wall surface of said corresponding second flange and decreasing to a value less than the diameter of said inner wall surface toward said free end of said respective cylindrical wall whereby the corresponding arm of said handle can be mounted in said housing by forcing said first retaining flange at the free end of said resilient cylindrical wall through said inner wall surface of said second flange upon resilient deformation of said first retaining flange.

Claim 15

A portable instrument comprising a housing member for enclosing operating parts of the instrument, a handle member having two joined arm portions for carrying the instrument and supporting it in a standing position on a bearing surface, and means adjacent the extremities of said arm portions for coupling said handle and housing members for relative rotation about an axis comprising: at least one resilient tubular wall projecting from one of said members and integral therewith, generally centered on said axis; mounting means for substantially preventing relative axial movement in at least one direction between said tubular wall and the other of said members while permitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis, said mounting means including a flange portion on said tubular wall having an inclined side face tapering toward the end of said tubular wall opposite said one member and an opposite side face, and an internal wall in said other member defining an opening centered on said axis in which said tubular wall portion is rotatably received, said internal wall forming a shoulder around said opening for abutting against said opposite side face of said flange portion to prevent withdrawal of said tubular wall from said opening, the transverse dimension of said opening being intermediate between the maximum and minimum transverse dimensions of said inclined side face of said flange portion so as to permit introduction of said tubular wall portion into said opening by forcing said inclined side face through said opening beyond said shoulder upon elastic deformation of said flange portion on said resilient tubular wall; and interlocking surface portions on said tubular wall and said other member for yieldably locking said handle and housing members against rotation in at least one housing-supporting position, including at least one substantially radially yieldable detent surface portion on said resilient tubular wall and at least one camming surface portion on said other member for providing a stop for said detent surface portion in said housing-supporting position to prevent relative rotation of said members when subjected to a relative torque smaller than a given torque, and for pressing said yieldable detent surface portion by substantially radially deforming said resilient wall upon application of a relative torque to said members greater than said given torque to permit relative rotation thereof.

Claim 16

A portable instrument comprising a housing member for enclosing operating parts of the instrument, a handle member having two joined arm portions for carrying the instrument and supporting it in a standing position on a bearing surface, and means adjacent the extremities of said arm portions for coupling said handle and housing members for relative rotation about an axis comprising: at least one resilient tubular wall projecting from one of said members and integral therewith, generally centered on said axis; mounting means for substantially preventing relative axial movement in at least one direction between said tubular wall and the other of said members while permitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis, said mounting means including a flange portion on said tubular wall having an inclined side face tapering toward the end of said tubular wall opposite said one member and an opposite side face, and an internal wall in said other member defining an opening centered on said axis in which said tubular wall portion is rotatably received, said internal wall forming a shoulder around said opening for abutting against said opposite side face of said flange portion to prevent withdrawal of said tubular wall from said opening, the transverse dimension of said opening being intermediate between the maximum and minimum transverse dimensions of said inclined side face of said flange portion so as to permit introduction of said tubular wall portion into said opening by forcing said inclined side face through said opening beyond said shoulder upon elastic deformation of said flange portion on said resilient tubular wall; and interlocking surface portions on said tubular wall and said other member for yieldably locking said handle and housing members against rotation in at least one housing-supporting position, including at least one substantially radially yieldable detent surface portion on said resilient tubular wall and at least one camming surface portion on said other member for providing a stop for said detent surface portion in said housing-supporting position to prevent relative rotation of said members when subjected to a relative torque smaller than a given torque, and for pressing said yieldable detent surface portion by substantially radially deforming said resilient wall upon application of a relative torque to said members greater than said given torque to permit relative rotation thereof.

Claim 17

A portable apparatus housing for coupling to a rotatable handle lockable in at least one angular position with respect to the housing for providing a stand for the apparatus on a flat surface, comprising a hollow housing body including two sidewalls on opposite sides thereof, said sidewalls respectively having inner and outer faces and internal walls formed therebetween, said internal walls defining two respective generally circular bores through said sidewalls, centered on a common axis and adapted for rotatably receiving a journal portion of the handle, each said internal wall comprising: a first cylindrical wall section of undulated transverse cross section terminated at one end thereof by a plane edge section on the outer face of the respective sidewall of the hollow housing body, said first wall section defining a series of inwardly projecting lobes separated by arcuate recesses distributed on said first wall section around said axis; and a second cylindrical wall section of circular transverse cross section centered on said axis, having one end thereof adjacent to Said first section and terminated at the other end thereof by a circular shoulder section on the inner face of said respective sidewall, the radius of said second wall section being smaller than the radial extent of the outermost surface of said arcuate recesses, whereby a substantially U-shaped handle having two arms with two respective inwardly directed cylindrical journal portions adjacent the end thereof, each journal portion terminated by a retaining flange at one free end thereof and including at least one surface section projecting outwardly on the journal portion and shaped to be received in said arcuate recesses, can be rotatably coupled to said housing body by forcing the retaining flange of the journal portions thereof through a respective one of said bores beyond said shoulder section and can be locked with respect to said housing in one of a plurality of angularly adjustable positions upon insertion of the aforementioned outwardly projecting section in a corresponding one of said arcuate recesses.

Claim 18

A portable apparatus housing for coupling to a rotatable handle lockable in at least one angular position with respect to the housing for providing a stand for the apparatus on a flat surface, comprising a hollow housing body including two sidewalls on opposite sides thereof, said sidewalls respectively having inner and outer faces and internal walls formed therebetween, said internal walls defining two respective generally circular bores through said sidewalls, centered on a common axis and adapted for rotatably receiving a journal portion of the handle, each said internal wall comprising: a first cylindrical wall section of undulated transverse cross section terminated at one end thereof by a plane edge section on the outer face of the respective sidewall of the hollow housing body, said first wall section defining a series of inwardly projecting lobes separated by arcuate recesses distributed on said first wall section around said axis; and a second cylindrical wall section of circular transverse cross section centered on said axis, having one end thereof adjacent to Said first section and terminated at the other end thereof by a circular shoulder section on the inner face of said respective sidewall, the radius of said second wall section being smaller than the radial extent of the outermost surface of said arcuate recesses, whereby a substantially U-shaped handle having two arms with two respective inwardly directed cylindrical journal portions adjacent the end thereof, each journal portion terminated by a retaining flange at one free end thereof and including at least one surface section projecting outwardly on the journal portion and shaped to be received in said arcuate recesses, can be rotatably coupled to said housing body by forcing the retaining flange of the journal portions thereof through a respective one of said bores beyond said shoulder section and can be locked with respect to said housing in one of a plurality of angularly adjustable positions upon insertion of the aforementioned outwardly projecting section in a corresponding one of said arcuate recesses.