Locking handle

Abstract

Devices and methods for folding handles are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A locking handle assembly comprising a gudgeon, a roll pin, a piston defining a piston axis, a spring, and a handle, wherein:
 the roll pin is operably attached to the gudgeon so that the roll pin cannot translate relative to the gudgeon;   the piston is operably attached to the roll pin so that the piston can rotate about the roll pin but cannot otherwise translate relative to the roll pin or the gudgeon;   the handle defines a blind bore substantially aligned with the piston axis;   the spring and a portion of the piston are arranged within the blind bore so that the spring biases the handle relative to the piston toward the gudgeon along the piston axis;   the handle is configured to transition between a first locked state and an unlocked state by translating relative to the piston along the piston axis;   when the handle is in the first locked state:
 (a) a chamfered end of the handle is held in contact with a first divot, the first divot being defined by the gudgeon and being sized and shaped to mate with the chamfered end; and 
 (b) the chamfered end is held in contact with the first divot by the bias of the spring acting along the piston axis such that interference of the chamfered end with the first divot substantially prevents the handle, the piston and the spring from rotating relative to the gudgeon; and 
   when the handle is in the unlocked state:
 (a) the handle is farther from the gudgeon along the piston axis than in the locked state so that the chamfered end of the handle is clear of the first divot, thereby allowing the handle, the piston and the spring to rotate relative to the gudgeon; 
 (b) the handle is urged along the piston axis by the bias of the spring; and 
 (c) the spring is more compressed along the piston axis in the unlocked state than in the locked state. 
   
     
     
         2 . A locking handle assembly according to  claim 1  wherein:
 the gudgeon further defines a second divot sized and shaped to mate with the chamfered end; 
 the handle is further configured to transition between the unlocked state and a second locked state by translating relative to the piston axis; 
 when the handle is in the second locked state:
 (a) the chamfered end of the handle is held in contact with the second divot; and 
 (b) the chamfered end is held in contact with the second divot by the bias of the spring acting along the piston axis such that interference of the chamfered end with the second divot substantially prevents the handle, the piston and the spring from rotating relative to the gudgeon; and 
 
 the first and second divots are spaced apart on the gudgeon so that in the first locked state the handle assumes a first orientation relative to the gudgeon and in the second locked state the handle assumes a second orientation relative to the gudgeon. 
 
     
     
         3 . A locking handle assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the piston axis in the first orientation is rotated 90 degrees about the roll pin relative to the piston axis in the second orientation. 
     
     
         4 . An air gun comprising the locking handle assembly of  claim 3  and an elongated shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein:
 the elongated shaft includes a user end configured to be supplied with pressurized air, and a working end configured to discharge pressurized air, 
 the shaft defines a channel substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis; 
 the user end is in fluid communication with the working end through the channel; 
 the gudgeon is fixedly attached to the elongated shaft adjacent to the user end such that the gudgeon can neither rotate nor translate relative to the elongated shaft; 
 the piston axis in the first orientation is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and 
 the piston axis in the second orientation is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
         5 . A locking handle assembly comprising:
 a base;   a locking handle operably attached to the base; and   a means for disposing the handle relative to the base so that the handle either (a) cannot translate relative to the base in at least a first position and a second position relative to the base, or (b) can transition between the first and second positions.