A hand tool includes a first jaw; a second jaw rotatably coupled to the first jaw, the second jaw including a first set of projections and a first bearing surface, the first bearing surface having a first curvature; and a lever coupled to the first jaw, the lever including a second set of projections and a second bearing surface, the second bearing surface having a second curvature. During a movement of the first and second jaws from a full open position to a full close position, the first and second sets of projections are at least partially engaged to prevent a slippage between the first and second bearing surfaces that are in a rolling contact during the movement of the first and second jaws from the full open position to the full close position.

A hand-operated, two-blade shearing device providing a pincer post operatively associated with each blade, the two pincers post being dimensioned and adapted to work in concert to securely pinch and hold the object sheared by the two blades during the shearing action.

Presented here are toollessly releasable, interchangeable handles for hand tools and methods of use thereof. Hand tool users often experience discomfort and injury because hand tool handles are not well suited to each user's hands. In addition, different hand tools have different handles, so users that switch between hand tools often find a different level of comfort with different hand tools. The disclosed platform for interchangeable handles for hand tools allows a user to attach handles custom fitted to their hand to any corresponding hand tool, and likewise allows different users to share a hand tool by detaching the first user's handles and then attaching a second user's handles. Various embodiments for connecting interchangeable handles to hand tools are shown. Additionally, a fluid reservoir disposed within an interchangeable handle and locking mechanisms for keeping the interchangeable handles attached to the hand tool are disclosed.

A device for holding a cutting blade having a cam, including a blade pivot pin for mounting the cutting blade in a pivoting manner on a cutting tool, and a cam pivot pin connected to a driving mechanism of the blade, a first pivot pin chosen from the blade pivot pin and the cam pivot pin being provided with a matching-shape axial lock. The other pivot pin is provided with a manually tightened axial lock. The device includes a catch having a first end with a latch able to be engaged with and held on the first pivot pin by matching shapes, and a second end able to be engaged with and held on the pivot pin provided with the manually tightened axial lock.

An effector coupled to an automated harvesting apparatus, the effector comprising a sensor unit configured to obtain fruit cluster related data relating; a closed kinematic chain mechanism configured: to expand from a closed configuration to an expanded configuration; close from the expanded configuration to the closed configuration; harvesting shears configured to cut the fruit stem, said harvesting shears are coupled to the kinematical closed chain mechanism; a catch mechanism configured to catch the fruit stem after the fruit stem is cut by the harvesting shears; and, a processor configured to operate the effector to cut the fruit stem.

A cutting tool includes a body formed by a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall, extending outward from a base. The first wall, second wall, third wall and the base define a trough in the body. The cutting tool further includes a blade holder in the trough, the blade holder pivotally engaged to the body, a strut assembly in the trough, the strut assembly pivotally engaged to the blade holder and pivotally engaged to the body, a blade in the blade holder, a blade channel in the body and extending through a third wall so as to receive the blade, at least one angled body channel in the body and wherein the blade holder is pivotable relative to the body to enable the blade to cut through a plant stem or tree branch present in the blade channel and the at least one angled body channel.

A tree pruner configured to reduce the width of the device to facilitate reduction of shipping costs and store space. The tree pruner comprises a leaf spring having a lower end mounted onto a lower portion of a lever, and an upper end connected to a first end of a self-locking pin, wherein the self-locking pin penetrates the lever. When the lever is at a first position at shipping or store front, the leaf spring is in tension to exert force on the self-locking pin to engage with an outer surface of a back hook to hold the lever at the position. When the lever is pulled to a second position for use, the leaf spring is at rest. The self-locking pin penetrates all the way through the lever and engages with an edge of the back hook to serve as an end stop for the lever movement.