1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of tools, and more particularly to a multi-function tool that provides functionality common to painters' needs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Often times, workers such as painters require supporting tools to perform their tasks. In addition to the basic equipment required by a painter, such as a paint brush and paint roller, a painter may require various additional pieces of equipment to perform functions such as scraping, various cutting tasks, spreading, cleaning rollers, scraping caulk, removing lids from paint cans, hammering nails, driving screws and the like. It is appreciated that each of these tasks requires separate tools which can burden the painter.
Therefore, for the foregoing reasons, it is readily apparent that there is a need for a multi-function tool apparatus and system, wherein the present apparatus reduces the number of ancillary tools required by a painter.
Briefly described in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such an invention by providing a multi-function tool apparatus and system, comprising a handle and a utility blade having a structure that accommodates a plurality of functions, thus, reducing the number of ancillary tools required by a painter.
According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention in its preferred form is a multi-function tool apparatus and system, comprising a handle having a butt end that includes a screwdriver in threaded engagement with the handle. The screwdriver can preferably be removed to expose a shaft and a plurality of screwdriver bits or varying configuration. The butt end further preferably includes a bolt in threaded engagement with the butt end. The bolt can preferably be removed to attach an extension pole to allow the apparatus to reach remote areas. The structure of the utility blade preferably accommodates functions including but not limited to: scraping; putty spreading; caulk scraping; can opening; roller wiping; cutting; torquing fasteners; nail pulling, nail driving, and the like.
In general, according to one aspect, the invention features a tool apparatus, including a handle, a blade disposed on one end of the handle and a butt end disposed on another end of the handle.
In one embodiment, the butt end comprises a sub-tool inverted to face inwards of a hollow interior of the handle.
In another embodiment, the inverted tool is a screwdriver removably attached to the handle.
In another embodiment, the blade includes a first utility edge.
In another embodiment, the blade includes a second utility edge.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a third utility edge disposed between and generally perpendicular to the first and second utility edges.
In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a tool edge having a paint roller cleaner and a can opener disposed adjacent the paint roller cleaner.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a tool edge having a first hex nut aperture, a second hex nut aperture disposed adjacent the first hex nut aperture, a concave blade edge disposed adjacent the second hex nut aperture and a caulk scraper disposed adjacent the concave blade edge.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a tool edge disposed on one end of the blade, the tool edge including a combination scraper and putty knife, a can opener disposed on one end of the combination scraper and putty knife and a caulk scraper disposed on an end of the combination scraper and putty knife opposite the end having the can opener.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a nail-puller through-hole disposed on the blade.
In another embodiment, the handle includes a central handle portion, a butt portion in threaded engagement with the central handle portion and a bolt end in threaded engagement with the butt portion.
In another embodiment, the bolt end is for hammering.
In still another embodiment, the central handle portion comprises a hollow interior.
In yet another embodiment, the butt portion is a screwdriver handle.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes a screwdriver shaft coupled to the screwdriver handle and disposed within the hollow interior of the central handle portion.
In another embodiment, the apparatus further includes screwdriver bits coupled to the screwdriver handle and disposed within the hollow interior of the central handle portion.
In another embodiment, the screwdriver bits are for removeably coupling to the screwdriver shaft.
In another embodiment, the handle is arranged about a longitudinal axis.
In another embodiment, the blade includes three sides.
In another embodiment, a first side of the three sides includes a concave curve, a second side of the three sides includes three concave curves and a third side of the three sides is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
In another embodiment, two of the concave curves comprise a generally semi-circular profile.
In another embodiment, two of the concave curves include 4 side arranged in a hexagonal pattern.
In another aspect, the invention features a tool system, including a tool handle, a utility blade disposed on one end of the tool handle and an extension pole for affixation to an end of the tool handle opposite the end having the utility blade.
In one embodiment, the system further includes a screwdriver having a screwdriver handle and a shaft coupled to the handle, the screwdriver handle being in threaded engagement with the tool handle, and wherein the shaft is disposed in a hollow interior of the tool handle.
In another embodiment, the extension pole is in threaded engagement with an end of the screwdriver handle.
In another aspect, the invention features a utility tool kit, including a tool apparatus, having a handle and a blade disposed on one end of the handle, a screwdriver for disposition on the handle and an extension pole for disposition on the screwdriver.
In one embodiment, the screwdriver comprises a butt end that is for being in threaded engagement with the handle, while a screwdriver shaft coupled to the butt end is disposed within a hollow interior of the handle.
In another embodiment, the kit further includes an end bolt for being in threaded engagement with the butt end.
In another embodiment, the extension pole includes a threaded end for being in threaded engagement with the butt end when the end bolt is removed from the butt end.
In another aspect, the invention features a painter's tool apparatus, having a handle and a utility knife disposed on the handle and means for performing a painter's function disposed on the utility knife.
In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a screwdriver disposed on the handle.
In another embodiment, the apparatus can be used to clean a paint roller.
In another embodiment, the apparatus can be used to apply putty.
In another embodiment, the apparatus can be used to scrape.
In another embodiment, the apparatus can be used to scrape caulk.
In another embodiment, the apparatus can be used to cut.
In another embodiment, the apparatus can be used to receive a bolt.
In another embodiment, the apparatus can be used to pull nails.
In another embodiment, the apparatus can be used to open a paint can.
In another embodiment, the apparatus can be used to close a paint can.
In another embodiment, the handle includes a bolt end in threaded engagement with the handle and for hammering nails.
In another aspect, the invention features a tool having a handle and a multi-functional blade connected to one end of the handle, another end of the handle including a threaded opening.
In one embodiment, the blade includes a first edge having a paint roller cleaner aperture, a second edge having a concave cutter, a first hex wrench, and a second hex wrench, a third combination scraper and putty spreading edge disposed between the first and second edges having a first protrusion contiguous with the cutter for scraping caulk and a second protrusion adjacent the paint roller cleaner recess.
In another embodiment, the tool includes a through-hole disposed on the multi-functional blade for pulling nails.
In another embodiment, the tool includes a screwdriver for inserting into a hollow interior of the handle, the screwdriver having a screwdriver handle having adjacent threads for being in threaded engagement with the threaded opening of the handle.
In another embodiment, the tool further includes bolt end having a threaded shaft for being in threaded engagement with a threaded opening disposed on the screwdriver handle.
In another embodiment, the tool includes an elongated extension handle having a threaded end for being in threaded engagement with the threaded opening on the screwdriver handle when the bolt end is removed from the threaded opening on the screwdriver handle.
In another aspect, the invention features method for performing painter's functions, including providing a tool having a handle with a multifunctional blade having a first edge with a concave aperture, a second edge with a concave aperture and a hex profiled aperture, a third straight edge disposed between the first and second edges and having a first protrusion adjacent the first edge and a second protrusion adjacent the second edge, and a through-hole disposed on the multifunctional blade.
In one embodiment, the method further includes inserting a paint roller within the concave aperture on the first edge and running the paint roller along an edge of the concave aperture to clean the paint roller.
In another embodiment, the method further includes spreading putty with the straight edge.
In another embodiment, the method further includes scraping a surface with the straight edge.
In another embodiment, the method further includes scraping caulk with the second protrusion.
In another embodiment, the method further includes removing a lid from a paint can with the first protrusion.
In another embodiment, the method further includes removing a nail with the through-hole.
One advantage of the invention is that it incorporates several ancillary tools into a single tool.
Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a scraping function.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that it provides a spreading function.
Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a lid removal/can opening function.
Still another advantage of the invention is that it provides a caulk scraping function.
Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a hex profile wrench function.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that it provides a cutting function.
Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a paint roller cleaning function.
Still another advantage of the invention is that it provides a hammering function.
Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a screw-driving function.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that it provides a nail-pulling function.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
In describing the preferred and selected alternate embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in
Now referring to
As mentioned above, tool 100 preferably includes butt end 115 that preferably includes sub-tool 200, shown as a cross-section in
Referring still to
As described above, first utility edge 125 preferably includes concave curve 130 preferably including a circular arc segment profile defining an aperture, and blunt edge 131. Concave curve 130 is preferably adapted to receive a typical paint roller therein for cleaning the paint roller. Concave curve 130 preferably may be used to run blunt edge 131 along a portion of the paint roller to aid in paint extraction, preferably in conjunction with water and soap or other solvents.
As further described above, second utility edge 150 includes three concave curves 155, 160, 165. Concave curve 155 preferably has a circular arc segment profile and sharp edge 156. Concave curve 155 preferably may be used as a cutting edge for a variety of cutting needs, such as cutting natural or synthetic fibers including woven materials, paper, plastic, rubber, wires, wood, or other material.
Concave curves 160, 165 each preferably has a plurality of blunt edges 161, 166 each. In a preferred embodiment, concave curves 160, 165 each has four respective edges 161, 165 that preferably form a portion of a hexagonal profile. It is appreciated that the concave curves 160, 165 therefore are preferably adapted to receive and engage a typical hexagonal nut or other fastener having a similar hexagonal profile, which may, for example, be found on paint sprayers or other devices or containers. Therefore, concave curves 160, 165 may preferably be implemented to loosen or tighten nuts or other fasteners from paint sprayers or other devices or containers.
As also described above, third utility edge 175 preferably includes straight sharp edge 180, which may preferably be used for scraping and/or to apply putty and the like, thereby functioning as a combination scraper and putty knife. First protrusion 185 preferably terminates in point 186, which may preferably be used, for example, as a caulk scraper. In a typical embodiment, first protrusion 185 is preferably contiguous with both straight sharpen edge 180 and cutter edge 156. Second protrusion 190 is preferably formed as a blunt end that may preferably be implemented as a can opener, the cans containing, for example, paint, spackle, stain or the like. It is understood that second protrusion 190 is preferably used to pry tops or lids off cans. The tool 100 may also include a can opener slot 195. The can opener slot 195 may extend into the tool 100 and be positioned distal of the concave curve 130.
Tool 100 further preferably includes through-hole 195 disposed through blade 110. Through-hole 195 may preferably have a variety of shapes and cross sections. As shown in
It is therefore appreciated that the embodiments of the blade described above have several functions useful to painters including but not limited to: cleaning paint rollers; applying putty and other substances; scraping surfaces; scraping caulk; cutting; driving or loosening threaded fasteners or other devices having hexagonal, or other, patterns; pulling nails; opening cans; driving nails, or the like.
Extension pole 400 preferably includes first rod section 410 and second rod section 420 separated by locking button 430. Both sections 410, 420 may preferably be telescopically arranged such that extension pole 400 may be extended and retracted along a spectrum of lengths. Locking button 430 is preferably engaged and disengaged to lock the respective orientation of rod sections 420, 430 into position.
In another embodiment, as shown in
The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/940,849, filed May 30, 2007 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/898,357, filed Jan. 30, 2007.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60940849 | May 2007 | US | |
60898357 | Jan 2007 | US |