BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, multi-tools have been utilized where such tools provide a variety of functionality. Most multitools have properties where the first and second handle members are arranged in a manner so as to operatively function as a plier portion. Many multitools have a principal method of operating where when the tool is an open orientation, by squeezing first and second handles together, the corresponding plier members of each tool are further squeezed together.
The handle regions in the multitool generally have an open region that allows for various tool members contained within each of the handles (generally in more than just one handle) to be accessed and withdrawn from the handle. For example, many types of tools such as scissors, knives, or the like are generally extractable and can be utilized by the operator for various purposes, making the tool very versatile.
However, many of the prior art tools that allow a proper configuration for accessing the various tools contained within the handle, as described herein, there are various embodiments for accessing various tools contained within the first and second handles of the multitool when the multitool is in a closed orientation.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
A multitool comprising a jaw region having first and second jaw members, the jaw members comprising first and second handle members operatively attached to the jaw region, the first and second handle members having a closed orientation where the jaw region is positioned between the first and second handle members in an open orientation, each handle member having a central channel region. Each channel region comprises a plurality of tools pivotally attached to the first and second handle members and positioned within the central channel region when in a stored orientation and the tools further having an extended orientation.
The multitool further comprises the first and second handle members, each having a tool access portion configured to allow access to tools contained within the handle member. The first handle member is arranged where a transverse width of the first handle member is sufficiently greater than a transverse width of the second handle member that a transversely outward positioned tool in the first handle member is operatively arranged to reposition past the second handle member from a stored orientation to an extended orientation while the first and second handle members are in a closed orientation.
In another embodiment, the second handle member of the multitool has the tool access portion faced laterally outwardly while in the closed orientation. Additionally, the first handle member may have the tool access portion positioned laterally inwardly.
In yet another embodiment of the multitool, a second transverse outward portion of the first handle member is orientated sufficiently outward from a center longitudinal axis to allow access of a second transversely outward positioned tool to pass the second handle member while the multitool is in the closed orientation. The locking mechanism of the second handle member can be positioned laterally inwardly of the second handle member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a front view of the tool along a transverse axis in an open orientation where a plurality of tools are shown extended from the central channel region of the first and second handle members;
FIG. 2 shows a side view of the multitool in a closed orientation where the plier region is contained within the first and second handle members;
FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment where the second handle member has a tool access region that is exposed laterally outwardly with respect to the center longitudinal axis of the tool;
FIGS. 4A-4C are taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 where FIG. 4A shows one configuration where the transverse width of the first and second handle members is substantially the same;
FIG. 4B shows a configuration where the first and second handle members have a tool access region both facing laterally inwardly but the transverse with of the second handle member allows a first tool positioned in the first transverse region of the first handle member to pass thereby when in a closed orientation;
FIG. 4C shows an orientation where the first and second handle members have the open access region face laterally inwardly but tools in the first handle member at first and second transverse regions are configured to pass by the second handle member;
FIGS. 5A-5C show an orientation taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 3 where, in Fig. A, the second handle member has an open access region faced in the laterally outward region when in a closed orientation;
5B shows an orientation where the second handle member is facing laterally outwardly and has a transverse width sufficiently narrow to allow a tool in the first transverse region of the first handle member to pass thereby when in a closed orientation;
FIG. 5C shows a configuration where the second handle member has the open access region facing laterally outwardly and further has a sufficiently narrow transverse width and orientation in the transverse direction to allow first and second tool members located in the first and second transverse regions of the first handle member to pass thereby;
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a multitool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The multitool 20 as shown in FIG. 1 is shown in open illustration in an open orientation illustrating the various tool members 36 and 38. The individual tool members are noted by the alpha character following the general numeric number.
Before going into further discussion of the multitool 20, there will first be a description of a reference axis system to aid in the description of the embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, the axis system 10 comprises a transverse axis 12 and a longitudinal axis 14. Further, the axis which is orthogonal to the axes 12 and 14 is the lateral axis 16 as shown in FIG. 4A at 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, and for example in FIG. 4C, there is a center longitudinal axis 18.
There will now be a description of the general regions and components of the multitool 20. In general, the multitool 20 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a handle region 22 and a jaw region 24, which in one form is a plier region. The handle region 22 is comprised of first and second handle members 30 and 32. Each of the handle members has a tool cover 34 and 36 pivotally attached at the pivot attachment locations 38 and 40 as shown in FIG. 1. The handle region has a central region 42 where the handles are pivotally attached to the plier region 24. In one form, the handle region 22 is attached by way of a gear lock system at the more central region all of the multitool toward the jar region 47a which are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,003,180, 6,070,504 and 6,282,997 which are fully incorporated by reference.
The plier region 24 is comprised of first and second jaw members 48 and 50 which are operatively attached to the handle members 30 and 32 to contract in a transverse inward direction with respect to the transverse inward relocation of the handle members 30 and 32. In one form, the members 30 and 32 as well as the members 50 and 48 are directly attached to one another at a tail region 53 by the pivot member 51 to have a plier-like action. The pivot member can be integral with one of the jaw members or a separate component. In one form, the first and second jaw members 40 and 50 are plier members such as needle nose pliers. However, in other forms, the jaw members could be (for example) shearing mechanisms to shear brush or the like, or other types of tools whereby each of the members forcefully engage one-another and produce some form of functional or desirable effect. As described above, these members can be gearingly attached with a compound gear-like mechanism. Alternatively a multitool 20a such as that as shown in FIG. 6 can be utilized with the spacing of the handles and orientation of the tool access regions which will be described further herein.
Now referring to FIG. 2, the multitool 20 is shown in a closed orientation. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the multitool 20 in closed orientations. The handle portion 30 has an open transverse region 56 and a closed transverse region 58. Further, in a like manner, the handle member 32 has an open transverse region 60 and a closed transverse region 62. In one form, positioned at the closed transverse region of each side are locking mechanisms 64 and 66. In one form, this locking mechanism is a spring activated lock adapted to engage grooves within the individual tools 66 and 68.
The tools 36 and 38 are pivotally attached at the pivot attachment locations 70 and 72. In other forms, the tools are attached at the head region 42 of the handle.
As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of tools 66 and 68 can be positioned in an extended orientation similar to the tool members 66e and 68e, or in a stored orientation where the tools are positioned within the chamber region 80 of the handle members 30 and 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of tool members 66a-66e are laterally spaced from one other, and referring to FIG. 4B, one of the tool members is positioned in a laterally outward region 94 of the first handle member 30′. This particular tool member is referred to as a first lateral outward tool member, and the orientation of this tool member with the second handle member will be further described herein.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there are two variations of the multitool 20. In one form, the handle members each have a first longitudinal region 55 where the members are connected to the pivot connection member 57 at the pivot connection axis 59. As noted above, this linkage system is described thoroughly in the Applicant's previous patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,003,180, 6,070,504 and 6,282,997. Referring back to FIG. 1, it should be noted that the locking mechanism 64, which in one form is a lever-like lock having the extension portion 65 to engage the grooves within the tool member is one form of a lock. Of course, other forms could be utilized as well, particularly in the orientation as shown in FIG. 3 as well as the cross-sectional views in FIGS. 5A-5C. It should be further noted that the tool covers 34 and 36 are optional in one form, and would not be employed in some of the embodiments.
Referring now to FIG. 4A, there is shown the first handle member 30 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2. As shown in this cross-sectional view, it can be seen how the handle members have a central channel 80 and 82. The tool members 66 and 68 are positioned within the respective central channels 80 and 82. Further, the handle members 30 and 32 define tool access regions 84 and 86 which provide open access for accessing the tools contained in the central channels 80 and 82. As shown in FIG. 4B, it can be seen how the second handle member 32′ has a first laterally outward region 90 and a second laterally outward region 92. Further, the first tool member 30′ also has a first laterally outward region 94 and a second laterally outward region 96. Located at the first laterally outward region 90 of the second tool member 32′ is a first laterally outward surface 98. The first handle member 32′ has a lateral width 100, which is greater than the lateral width 102 of the second tool member 32′. Therefore, it can be appreciated that the first laterally outward tool member indicated at 104 can pass by the second tool member 32′ when the first and second handles are in a closed orientation, such as that shown in FIG. 4B. Now referring to FIG. 5B, it can be appreciated that the second tool member 32A′ has the tool access region 86′ positioned in the transverse outward direction. Therefore, not only can the tool is' be accessed when the multitool 20 is a closed orientation, but further, the tools 68′ can further be accessed when the handle members are in a closed orientation.
It should be noted that FIG. 5A shows an embodiment where the tool access region 86 is positioned in the transverse outward direction as well. In other forms, the handle members can reposition in the lateral direction about, for example, a shaft support such as that shown as 35 in FIG. 1. Therefore, in one form, the second handle member 32 could reposition slightly in the lateral direction to give enough clearance to provide access for the first laterally outward tool member 104. Of course, this type of lateral reorientation could be utilized, for example, in FIG. 5B where the second handle member 32a′ would reposition in the lateral direction to allow access to the second laterally outward tool member 110.
Now referring to FIG. 4C, there is shown not only the first laterally outward tool member 104 but further a second laterally outward tool member 110 positioned at the opposing lateral region of the first handle member 30′. If this form, the second handle member 32″ has a lateral width indicated at 112 which is much less than the lateral width of the first handle member. Therefore, as shown in this figure, the second laterally outward tool member 110 can pass by the second transverse region 92′ so either the tool members 104 or 110 can be accessed when the handle members are in a closed orientation. FIG. 5C shows a similar orientation, with the exception that the open access region 86″ of the handle member 32A″ is positioned in the transverse outward direction.
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a multitool 20 where, for example, the tool member 104a is pivotally attached at a pivot attachment location 35 which is positioned near the base region of the handle member/region 22a. In this form, the width of, for example, of the handle member 22a in the transverse direction can be greater than the transverse width of the second handle member 24a so the tool member can pass by the first laterally outward surface 98a. In a like manner, the tool member 105a can pass beyond the surface 98a when the first and second handle members 22a and 24a are in a closed orientation.
While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' general concept.
Patent Application
20080271256
