Abstract: A portable extendable pruner for cutting limbs, branches and the like, the pruner including a hollow elongate housing assembly having a pair of telescoping tubular sections, a shears mounted on the outer end of one of the sections, an actuating element mounted on the outer end of the other of the sections, a first cable for connecting the actuating element to the shears, a second cable having one end connected to one of the tubular sections and the other end connected to the other of the tubular sections, and a compensating pulley assembly connecting the second cable to the first cable to maintain tension in the first cable when the tubular sections are moved axially relative to each other to adjust the length of the housing assembly.

Abstract: A cutting tool has respective first and second tool members cooperating to effect a cutting stroke between an open position and a closed position. The cutting tool has a first tool member having a first handle rigidly connected to a first cutting member, and a second tool member including a second cutting member pivotally secured to the first cutting member and including a tab and an elongated shank portion formed thereon and defining a channel therebetween. The second tool member further includes a fulcrum rigidly secured to the second cutting member and configured for sliding interaction with the shank portion of the second cutting member to effect the cutting stroke. In addition, a locking member is slideably mounted in a longitudinally extending slot formed in the first handle. The locking member is slideable within the slot from a locked position in which it is received within the channel to an unlocked position in which it is located outside of the channel.

Abstract: Shears are provided with a cutting mechanism for obtaining maximum leverage at the point in the cutting stroke corresponding to the maximum resistance. The cutting mechanism comprises cooperating first and second shearing members and a lever arm. The lever arm is pivotally connected to the first shearing member and a sliding connection is effected between the second shearing member and the lever arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scissor sharpener comprising a grinding element which is passed along the scissor blades between them during sharpening. The blades can be provided with a microscopic transverse toothing if the grinding element is formed by two rolls the rotation of which is prevented when they are passed from the blade point toward the scissor hinge and allowed when they are passed in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A shearing device capable of being articulated between open and closed positions for cutting material includes pairs of handle levers and shearing elements rotatably mounted on a pivot mechanism. A clutch assembly comprising plates with complimentary and fixed configurations biased in abutting and intermeshing relationship when in a predetermined rotary alignment is positioned between the pairs of handle levers and switching elements. The clutch assembly is responsible to a predetermined force generated when the handle levers are articulated towards a closed position and the shearing elements encounter cut resistant material for camming the plates out of meshing relationship and operatively disconnecting the handle levers.

Abstract: A hand tool according to the invention, such as a pair of snips, has a releasable locking mechanism whereby the jaws of the tool can be secured in a closed position. The locking mechanism includes a pair of projections disposed in offset, opposing positions on the handles of the tool. The projections have respective holes which are brought into alignment when the tool handles are brought together to close the jaws. A suitable mechanism, such as a rectactable button, engages both holes and holds the handles together against the force of a spring which biases the jaws towards an open position. The locking mechanism can include a groove-and-projection detent mechanism which allows the jaws to be unlocked by simply squeezing the handles.

Abstract: The object of the invention relates to a device for sharpening knives, comprising a freely rotatably mounted grinding element (6) consisting of two truncated cones turned against each other. In known devices of this kind, one side of the knife blade (17) remains unground at the free end and handle end of the blade. This can be avoided, if the grinding element (6) can turn around one end (11) of its axle (10) in such a way that the axle forms an angle with respect to the sharpening direction of the knife, which angle is smaller or larger than 90.degree. in the end positions of the axle.

Abstract: A knife according to the invention has a handle with improved flexibility and gripping characteristics. The tang embedded in the unitary handle has a series of spaced-apart flex sites at which the tang can resiliently bend. The handle is made of a resilient material which can flex in cooperation with the tang. The handle may further include a series of rows of flexible ribs as an improved gripping surface. The knife according to the invention can flex along its entire length and is well suited for use as a fillet knife.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pair of scissors and a mould and a method for the manufacture of a pair of scissors. The scissors comprise two scissor blades of metal, a ceramic material or the like, and two plastic handle portions which both form a tongue positioned on the outer surface of the blade and surrounding the scissor hinge. By virtue of variation in the position of the hole of the blade, through which hole the scissor hinge goes, the points of the blades and the counter faces of the handle portions must be finished manually. This can be avoided if at least one hole has a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the hinge pin so that the bearing surfaces formed by the tongues can, if necessary, be placed eccentrically with respect to the hole of the blades.