Complex tool kit

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6574817
  • Patent Number
    6,574,817
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, October 31, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 10, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Wilson; Lee D.
    • Thomas; David B.
    Agents
    • Troxell Law Office PLLC
Abstract
Complex tool kit including a foldable tool assembly and another tool assembly. The foldable tool assembly includes a main body having a passage on top face and several tools one end of which is pivotally connected with one end of the main body, The tools can be folded and collectively arranged under the main body. The other tool assembly includes an elongated flat board body, a chain-disassembling mechanism disposed on the board body for disassembling/assembling a chain and a clamping mechanism disposed on the board body. The clamping mechanism defines a clamping hole adjustable in size for driving a nut. The board body of the other tool assembly is detachably fitted into the passage of the main body and connected with the foldable tool assembly.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is related to a hand tool, and more particularly to a complex tool kit composed of two tool assemblies. The complex tool kit can be easily carried and used to drive screwed connecting members of a bicycle frame.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,042 discloses a tool combination for bicycle as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. The tool combination includes two kits of foldable tools


10


,


20


locked with each other by a fixing device


11


. Each foldable tool kit has a main body


12


,


22


and several tools pivotally connected with the main body


12


,


22


by a bolt.




The tool kits are used to assemble/disassemble or repair or adjust the structure of the bicycle.




Many parts of the bicycle frame are fixed thereon by a set of screwed connecting members including a hexagonal bolt and a nut. The two tool kits are used to respectively drive the bolt and nut. However, the two tool kits


10


,


20


have large volume and after connected by the fixing device


11


, the volume will be even larger so that such tool kits can be hardly conveniently carried. Furthermore, multiple hexagonal wrenches


13


˜


17


with different sizes are pivotally connected with one tool kit


10


for driving hexagonal bolts. Three fixing wrenches


23


,


24


,


25


with different sizes and two hexagonal wrenches


26


,


27


are pivotally connected with the other tool kit


20


for driving nuts. However, the number of the fixing wrenches is limited so that they can drive only a few sizes of nuts and can be hardly applied to all kinds of nuts of the bicycle frame. Especially, in the case that a user himself/herself adds articles to the bicycle frame, the nuts used for such articles will have various sizes to which the fixing wrenches cannot be applied.




In addition, the above tool kits have another shortcoming as follows: It often takes place that the hexagonal wrench and fixing wrench suitable for a certain set of bolt and nut are mounted on the same tool kit


20


. For example, the hexagonal wrench


26


and the fixing wrench


25


must be cooperatively used. At this time, it is impossible to at the same drive the bolt and the nut and only one of the bolt and nut can be driven. Under such circumstance, the bolt and nut are often synchronously driven and cannot be tightened or untightened. Also, it is quite inconvenient to use the chain-cutting tool


28


of the tool kits.





FIG. 3

shows another conventional tool


30


for bicycle. The tool


30


has multiple fitting holes


32


with different sizes. The top end of the tool


30


is detachably connected with a chain cutter


34


. The number of the sizes of the fitting holes


32


is limited so that the tool


30


can be hardly applied to all sizes of nuts. Moreover, the tool is one-piece tool so that it is still impossible to drive the bolt at the same time and effectively tighten or untighten the screwed connecting members.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a complex tool kit composed of two tool assemblies which have simple structure and can be easily carried.




It is a further object of the present invention to provide a complex tool kit composed of two tool assemblies which are able to effectively drive all screwed connecting members of the bicycle frame and assemble/disassemble the chain of the bicycle.




It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a complex tool kit which are applicable to all sizes of nuts of the bicycle frame.




The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective assembled view of a conventional tool combination;





FIG. 2

is a side view according to

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a perspective exploded view of another conventional tool;





FIG. 4

is a perspective assembled view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a folded state;





FIG. 5

is a perspective exploded view according to

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 6

is a bottom view of the foldable tool assembly of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 7

shows the use of the present invention in one state;





FIG. 8

is a partially longitudinally sectional view according to

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 9

is a top view according to

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 10

is a cross-sectional view according to

FIG. 4

, showing the latched state of the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a view according to

FIG. 10

, showing that the tool assembly is unlatched and taken out;





FIG. 12

is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 13

is a perspective view of a part of still another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 14

is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 15

is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 16

is a top partially sectional view of the embodiment of

FIG. 15

; and





FIG. 17

is a top view of still another embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Please refer to

FIGS. 4 and 5

. According to a first embodiment, the complex tool kit


40


of the present invention includes two tool assemblies


50


,


80


.




The tool assembly


50


is foldable, including a main body


60


. The front end of the main body


60


is formed with two lugs


62


. The rear end of the main body


60


is a hook-like insertion end


64


. The top face of the main body


60


has a projection


65


formed with a passage


66


. The passage


66


is axially parallel to the longitudinal length of the main body. The top face of the passage is open. The projection


65


has an inward extending wall section


67


partially covering the opening of the top face of the passage. Referring to

FIG. 6

, the foldable tool assembly


50


further has multiple tools


68


˜


77


including 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm hexagonal wrenches, a crosshead screwdriver, a flat head screwdriver and a blade. One end of each tool is formed as an arched pivot end. A screwed connecting member


78


is passed through the pivot ends of the tools


68


˜


77


and pivotally connected between the lugs


62


of the main body


60


for folding and storing the tools.




The other tool assembly


80


is an adjustable wrench having an elongated flat board body


81


. The rear end of the board body


81


is also a hook-like insertion end


82


. The board body is provided with a chain-disassembling mechanism A and a clamping mechanism B. The chain-disassembling mechanism A includes a cavity


83


and an pushing member


86


. The cavity


83


is inward recessed from front end of the board body


81


. Two projecting walls


85


are disposed in the cavity


83


at intervals. The pushing member


86


has a thread rod section


87


and a pin section


88


formed at one end of the thread rod section


87


. The thread rod section


87


is transversely movably screwed in a transverse thread hole


89


formed at front end of the board body


81


, making the pin section


88


extend into the cavity


83


.




The clamping mechanism B extends along the board body


81


from rear end to front end and sequentially includes a fitting slot


90


, a through hole


811


and a projecting section


92


upward projecting from top face of the board body. The longitudinal length of the fitting slot


90


is parallel to the longitudinal length of the board body. A clamping member


93


is disposed in the fitting slot


90


and is slidable along the fitting slot


90


. A front end of a thread rod


95


parallel to the longitudinal length of the board body extends into the projecting section


92


. A rear end of the thread rod


95


is connected with a projecting section


931


formed on the clamping member


93


. An rotary switch


96


formed with a thread hole is placed in the through hole


811


and screwed onto the thread rod


95


. When screwing the rotary switch


96


, the thread rod


95


is driven to move back and forth so as to further drive the clamping member


93


to slide within the fitting slot


90


and define a clamping hole adjustable in size. In addition, the board body


81


is formed with a cap-opening hole


97


. Two sides of the board body are formed with several rectangular dents


98


with different sizes.




In use, the two tool assemblies


50


,


80


are respectively fitted onto the hexagonal bolt and nut of a set of screwed connecting members. A hexagonal wrench with suitable size is selected from the foldable tool assembly


50


in accordance with the size of a bolt. The hexagonal wrench is fitted onto the bolt. Then, the fitting slot


90


of the tool assembly


80


is fitted onto a nut. The rotary switch


96


is rotated to move the clamping member


93


, whereby the V-shaped clamping face


932


of the clamping member and the V-shaped clamping face


901


of the fitting slot


90


can together clamp the nut. Accordingly, an operator can respectively operate the tool assemblies


50


,


80


with both hands to screw or unscrew bolts or nuts of a bicycle frame so as to adjust or detach parts.




The chain-detaching mechanism A of the tool assembly


80


is used to adjust the chain. The chain is placed in the cavity


83


and the pin section


88


of the pushing member


86


pushes the chain bolt of the chain so as to adjust the length of the chain. In use, an operator fits one hexagonal wrench of the foldable tool assembly


50


into a hexagonal hole (not shown) formed at outer end of the pushing member


86


as shown in FIG.


7


. The operator holds the board body


81


with one hand and turn the foldable tool assembly


50


with the other hand so as to rotate the pushing member


86


.




The insertion ends


64


,


82


of the two tool assemblies


50


,


80


can pry a tire away from the rim for repairing the tire. The dents


98


are used to adjust the spokes of the rim. The cap-opening hole


97


is used to open the cap of a bottle.




After used, the board body


81


of the tool assembly


80


is inserted into the passage


66


of the foldable tool assembly


50


as shown in

FIGS. 4

,


8


and


9


to collect the complex tool kit


40


. The wall section


67


serves to stop the board body


81


to prevent the tool assembly


80


from dropping out. Also, two side walls of the board body


81


are tightly fitted with two side walls of the passage


66


so that the board body is not easy to get out of the passage


66


.




Alternatively, a latch device can be disposed between the two tool assemblies to achieve firmly engaging effect. As shown in

FIGS. 5 and 10

, the present invention further includes:




a latch device


100


having a latch member


102


and a resilient member


108


. The latch member


102


is an elongated member one end of which is a latch section


104


, while the other end of which is an operable controlling end


106


. The latch member


102


is slidably fitted in a transverse tunnel


61


of the main body


60


. The latch section


104


extends through a through hole


63


of the main body


60


into the passage


66


. The controlling end


106


is positioned at one end of the tunnel


61


for a user to press. The resilient member


108


is placed in the tunnel


61


. One end of the resilient member


108


abuts against a sealing cap


109


, while the other end thereof resiliently abuts against the latch member


102


.




In normal state, the latch member is resiliently pushed by the resilient member


108


toward one end of the tunnel


61


and kept in a latched position as shown in

FIGS. 9 and 10

. At this time, the latch section


104


extends into the passage


66


. After the board body


81


is fitted into the passage


66


, the latch section


104


is latched in a dent


98


of the board body to fix the board body.




When taking out the tool assembly


80


, the controlling end


106


is pressed inward to make the latch member


102


slide toward the other end of the tunnel


61


into an unlatched position as shown in FIG.


11


. At this time, the latch section


104


is drawn out of the passage


66


to unlatch the board body. Accordingly, the tool assembly


80


can be taken out for use.




It should be noted that one side of the board body


81


can be additionally formed with a dent instead of the dent


98


for the latch member to latch therein.




The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.





FIG. 12

shows a complex tool kit in which the latch device has a resilient latch member


124


disposed on bottom face of the passage


122


of the main body


120


. The bottom face of the board body


125


is formed with a recessed section


126


. When the board body


125


is fitted into the passage


122


, the resilient member


124


is engaged with the recessed section


126


.





FIG. 13

shows still another embodiment of the present invention, in which a side wall of the main body


130


is formed with a recess


132


. The latch device includes a latch member


140


and a resilient member


145


. The body of the latch member


140


is pivotally connected in the recess


132


by a pivot shaft


142


. The resilient member


145


is placed in the recess


132


. Two ends of the resilient member


145


respectively abut against the inner wall of the recess and the latch member


140


. When not subject to external force, the latch member is kept in a latched position. The latch section


137


at the other end of the latch member extends through a through hole


133


into the passage


134


to latch in a dent


136


of the board body


135


. When the controlling end


144


of the other end of the latch member


140


is pressed, the latch member is moved to an unlatched position to unlatch the board body.




In the complex tool kit of

FIG. 14

, the latch device includes a bead-like detent body


156


and a spring


158


embedded in a side wall of the board body


155


. When the board body is fitted into the passage


152


of the main body


150


, the detent body


156


is resiliently clicked into a dent


154


formed on inner wall of the passage so as to locate the board body.





FIGS. 15 and 16

show still another embodiment of the present invention, in which the projection


162


of the main body


160


is formed with a transverse tunnel


164


communicating with the passage


166


. The latch device includes a latch member


170


and a resilient member


175


. One end of the latch member is a latch section


172


, while the other end thereof is an operable controlling end


174


. The latch section


172


is received in the tunnel


164


, while the controlling end


174


protrudes out of the main body


160


. The resilient member


175


is disposed in the tunnel


164


to resiliently push the latch member


170


. When not subject to external force, the latch member is pushed by the resilient member


175


and positioned in a latched position where the latch section


172


extends into the passage


166


to latch in a dent


179


of the board body


178


. When the controlling end


174


is outward shifted, as shown by phantom line of

FIG. 15

, the latch member


170


is moved to an unlatch position to unlatch the board body


178


.





FIG. 17

shows still another embodiment of the present invention, which has a structure substantially identical to that of the first embodiment. This embodiment also includes a foldable tool assembly and another tool assembly


180


. The foldable tool assembly is structurally identical to the first embodiment and thus is not shown. The tool assembly


180


is also substantially structurally identical to the first embodiment. The difference therebetween is that the fitting slot


183


formed on the board body


182


is open on one side. One side of the clamping member


184


attaches to the other side of the fitting slot


183


and is longitudinally movable along the fitting hole. The clamping member


184


and the fitting hole


183


can be formed with straight clamping faces


185


,


186


for clamping opposite sides of a nut.




The present invention has the following advantages:




1. The tool assembly


80


has a flat shape which can be collectively fitted with the foldable tool assembly


50


to reduce the volume for easy storage. The board body


81


of the tool assembly


80


is directly fitted into the passage


66


of the foldable tool assembly so that the two tool assemblies can be easily connected.




2. The hexagonal wrenches are totally arranged in the foldable tool assembly


50


for specifically driving the bolts of the bicycle frame. The tool assembly


80


is fitted onto a nut. Therefore, the bolt and nut of each set of screwed connecting members can be at the same time truly tightened or untightened by the two tool assemblies


50


,


80


.




3. The sizes of the hexagonal wrenches of the foldable tool assembly


50


totally conform with various sizes of hexagonal bolts of the bicycle frame. The clamping mechanism B of the tool assembly


80


is adjustable in size so that it is adaptable to various sizes of nuts of the bicycle frame. Therefore, the present invention is applicable to all sizes of bolts and nuts of the bicycle frame.



Claims
  • 1. Complex tool kit comprising a foldable tool assembly and a second tool assembly, wherein:the foldable tool assembly includes: a main body having a predetermined width, a top face of the main body being formed with a passage; and a plurality of tools including different sizes of hexagonal wrenches, one end of the tools being pivotally connected with a first end of the main body, whereby the tools can be folded about the pivot end and collectively arranged under a bottom face of the main body; and the second tool assembly includes: an elongated flat board body, one end of the board body being formed with a cavity, one side of the cavity having a thread hole normal to a longitudinal length of the board body, the thread hole communicating with the cavity; a pushing member rotatably and movably screwed in the thread hole, such that one end of the pushing member could extend into the cavity; a fitting slot formed on the board body, a longitudinal length of the fitting slot being parallel to the longitudinal length of the board body, a first end of the fitting slot being formed with a first clamping face; a clamping member positioned in the fitting slot and slidable along the fitting slot, a first end of the clamping member being formed with a second clamping face opposite to the first clamping face of the fitting slot; a thread rod disposed on the board body in parallel to the longitudinal length of the board body, a first end of the thread rod being connected with a second end of the clamping member; a rotary switch connected with a second end of the thread rod, whereby when the rotary switch is rotated, the thread rod drives the clamping member to slide within the fitting slot so as to change the distance between the first and second clamping faces; the board body of the second tool assembly being detachably fitted into the passage of the main body to connect the second tool assembly with the foldable tool assembly; and a latch device disposed between the main body and the board body, whereby when the board body is fitted into the passage, the latch device is latched with the board body to prevent the second tool assembly from dropping out of the passage, the latch device being manually operable to unlatch the board body.
  • 2. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axis of the passage is parallel to the longitudinal length of the main body.
  • 3. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein two sides of the board body are engaged with two sides of the passage by tight fit.
  • 4. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a top face of the passage has an opening, the opening having at least one wall section partially covering the opening.
  • 5. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a projection is formed on the top face of the main body and the passage is formed in the projection.
  • 6. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the board body is formed with a through hole adjacent to a second end of the fitting slot, the rotary switch being positioned in the through hole.
  • 7. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second end of the main body and a second end of the board body are respectively formed with insertion ends.
  • 8. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the board body is formed with a cap-opening hole.
  • 9. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein two sides of the board body are formed with predetermined number of dents.
  • 10. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch device includes a latch member and a resilient member, the latch member being disposed in the main body and movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, in the latched position, the latch member extending into the passage to latch with the board body, in the unlatched position, the latch member being moved out of the passage, the resilient member being positioned between the main body and the latch member to resiliently keep the latch member in the latched position.
  • 11. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the main body is formed with a transverse tunnel communicating with the passage, one end of the latch member being formed with a latch section, while the other end thereof being formed as an operable controlling end, the latch member being slidably fitted in the tunnel, the resilient member resiliently pushing the latch member to keep the latch section extending into the passage, the controlling end being positioned on one side of the main body, whereby when the controlling end is manually pressed, the latch member is moved to the unlatched position and the latch section is moved out of the passage.
  • 12. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein a side wall of the main body is formed with a recess having therein a through hole communicating with the passage, one end of the latch member being formed with a latch section pivotally connected in the recess and rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the latch section corresponding to the through hole, the resilient member being placed in the recess to push the latch member and make the latch section extend from the through hole into the passage.
  • 13. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch device includes a resilient latch member disposed on bottom face of the passage of the main body, the bottom face of the board body being formed with a recessed section, whereby when the board body is fitted into the passage, the resilient latch member is engaged in the recessed section.
  • 14. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a dent is formed on an inner wall face of the passage, and wherein the latch device includes a detent body and a spring embedded in the board body, the detent body being pushed by the spring and partially exposed to outer side of the board body, whereby when the board body is fitted into the passage, the detent body is resiliently clicked into the dent.
  • 15. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fitting slot formed on the board body is open on one side.
  • 16. Complex tool kit comprising a foldable tool assembly and an adjustable wrench, wherein:the foldable tool assembly includes: a main body, a top face of the main body being formed with a passage; and a plurality of tools including different sizes of hexagonal wrenches, one end of the tools being pivotally connected with a first end of the main body, whereby the tools can be folded about the pivot end and collectively arranged under a bottom face of the main body; and the adjustable wrench includes: an elongated flat board body; a clamping mechanism disposed on the board body, the clamping mechanism defining a clamping hole adjustable in size for fitting onto a nut; the board body of the adjustable wrench being detachably fitted into the passage of the main body and connected with the foldable tool assembly; and a latch device disposed between the main body and the board body, whereby when the board body is fitted into the passage, the latch device releasably latches the main body with the board body.
  • 17. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the clamping mechanism includes:a fitting slot formed on the board body, a longitudinal length of the fitting slot being parallel to a longitudinal length of the board body, a first end of the fitting slot being formed with a clamping face; a clamping member positioned in the fitting slot and slidable along the fitting slot, a first end of the clamping member being formed with a second clamping face opposite to the first clamping face of the fitting slot; a thread rod disposed on the board body in parallel to the longitudinal length of the board body, a first end of the thread rod being connected with a second end of the clamping member; and a rotary switch connected with a second end of the thread rod, whereby when the rotary switch is rotated, the thread rod drives the clamping member to slide within the fitting slot so as to change the distance between the first and second clamping faces.
  • 18. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein a projection is formed on the top face of the main body and the passage is formed in the projection.
  • 19. Complex tool kit comprising a foldable tool assembly and another tool assembly, wherein:the foldable tool assembly includes: a main body, a top face of the main body being formed with a passage; and a plurality of tools including a predetermined number of different sizes of hexagonal wrenches, one end of the tools being pivotally connected with a first end of the main body, whereby the tools can be folded and collectively arranged under a bottom face of the main body or outward unfolded for use; and the second tool assembly includes: an elongated flat board body; a chain-disassembling mechanism disposed at one end of the board body for disassembling/assembling a chain; the board body of the second tool assembly being detachably fitted into the passage of the main body and connected with the foldable tool assembly; and a latch device disposed between the main body and the board body, whereby when the board body is fitted into the passage, the latch device releasably latches the main body with the board body.
  • 20. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the chain-disassembling mechanism includes:a cavity being formed on one end of the board body, one side of the cavity having a thread hole normal to a longitudinal length of the board body, the thread hole communicating with the cavity; a pushing member rotatably and movably screwed in the thread hole.
  • 21. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 19, wherein a projection is formed on the top face of the main body and the passage is formed in the projection.
  • 22. Complex tool kit comprising a foldable tool assembly and an adjustable wrench, wherein:the foldable tool assembly includes: a main body, a top face of the main body being formed with a passage; and several tools including a predetermined number of different sizes of hexagonal wrenches, one end of the tools being pivotally connected with one end of the main body, whereby the tools can be folded and collectively arranged under bottom face of the main body or outward unfolded for use; and the adjustable wrench includes: an elongated flat board body; a chain-disassembling mechanism disposed at one end of the board body for disassembling/assembling a chain; and a clamping mechanism disposed on the board body, the clamping mechanism defining a clamping hole adjustable in size for fitting onto a nut; the board body of the adjustable wrench being detachably fitted into the passage of the main body and connected with the foldable tool assembly.
  • 23. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 22, wherein a projection is formed on top face of the main body and the passage is formed in the projection.
  • 24. Complex tool kit as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a latch device disposed between the main body and the board body, whereby when the board body is fitted into the passage, the latch device unlatchably latches the main body with the board body.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
89221935 U Dec 2000 TW
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5970553 Lin Oct 1999 A
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