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The disclosure relates to multi-tool devices and more particularly pertains to a new multi-tool device for loosening or tightening fasteners.
The prior art relates to multi-tool devices. The prior art discloses a variety of multi-tools with a plurality of bits. In each of these cases the multi-tools include a ratchet and an elongated receiver. In none of these cases is a bendable receiver claimed. The prior art discloses a ratcheting socket wrench to loosening or tightening bolts with a socket. In many of these cases a variety of spring loaded locks and corresponding detents are included to facilitate slidable adjustments.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a grip and a receiver that is extendable through the grip. The receiver has a first half pivotally coupled to a second half thereby facilitating the receiver to be bent into a plurality of angles. A plurality of bits is provided and each of the bits is insertable into a respective one of the first wells or the second wells for storage. Each of the bits is positionable into the receiver to tighten or loosen a fastener. A ratchet is integrated into the grip and the ratchet engages the receiver when the receiver is extended through the grip. The ratchet facilitates the grip to ratchet around the receiver in either a first direction or a second direction. In this way the grip can be rotated back and forth around the receiver for tightening or loosening the fastener.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The first end 16 has a plurality of first wells 22 each extending toward the second end 18. The first wells 22 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed around the aperture 14. The second end 18 has a plurality of second wells 24 each extending toward the first end 16. The second wells 24 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed around the aperture 14. Each of the first wells 22 and the second wells 24 has a bounding surface 26, and the bounding surface 26 may have a plurality of intersecting sides such that each of the first wells 22 and the second wells 24 has a hexagonal shape.
A receiver 28 is included that has a primary end 30 and a secondary end 32, and the receiver 28 is elongated between the first end 16 and the second end 18. The receiver 28 is insertable through the aperture 14 having each of the primary end 30 and the secondary end 32 being exposed, and each of the first end 16 and the second end 18 is open. The receiver 28 has a first half 34 that is pivotally coupled to a second half 36 thereby facilitating the receiver 28 to be bent into a plurality of angles.
The receiver 28 has an outer surface 38, the outer surface 38 of the receiver 28 has a slot 40 extending therein and the slot 40 extends between the primary end 30 and the secondary end 32. Each of the first half 34 and the second half 36 has a coupling end 42. The coupling end 42 of the first half 34 has a channel 44 extending therein, the coupling end 42 of the second half 36 has a tab 46 extending away therefrom and the tab 46 is positioned in the channel 44. The receiver 28 includes a pin 48 extending through the channel 44 and engaging the tab 46 for pivotally retaining the first half 34 to the second half 36. Additionally, the tab 46 has an outwardly facing surface 50 and the outwardly facing surface 50 has a plurality of detents 52 thereon. Additionally, the outwardly facing surface 50 is concavely arcuate with respect to the coupling end 42 of the second half 36.
A plurality of bits 54 is provided and each of the bits 54 is insertable into a respective one of the first wells 22 or the second wells 24 for storage. Each of the bits 54 is positionable into either the primary end 30 or the secondary end 32 of the receiver 28 to engage a fastener for tightening or loosening the fastener. Each of the bits 54 is structured to engage a unique type of fastener to tighten or loosen a variety of fasteners. The bits 54 may include Phillips bits, flat head bits, socket drivers, allen bits and any other type of bit for engaging threaded fasteners. Additionally, the aperture 14 in the receiver 28 and each of the bits 54 may have a hexagonal profile to inhibit the bits 54 from rotating in the receiver 28.
A plurality of first magnets 56 is each positioned in a respective one of the first wells 22 thereby facilitating each of the first magnets 56 to magnetically attract the bits 54 for retaining the bits 54 in the first wells 22. A plurality of first springs 58 is each positioned in a respective one of the first wells 22. Each of the first springs 58 engages the bit 54 that is inserted into the respective first well 22. In this way the bit 54 is inhibited from contacting the first magnet 56 in the respective first well 22 thereby enhancing removing the bits 54 from the respective first well 22.
A plurality of second magnets 60 is each positioned in a respective one of the second wells 24 thereby facilitating each of the second magnets 60 to magnetically attract the bits 54 for retaining the bits 54 in the second wells 24. A plurality of second springs 62 is each positioned in a respective one of the second wells 24. Each of the second springs 62 engages the bit 54 that is inserted into the respective second well 24. In this way the bit 54 is inhibited from contacting the second magnet 60 in the respective second well 24 thereby enhancing removing the bits 54 from the respective second well 24.
A lock 64 is integrated into the receiver 28 and the lock 64 is positioned in the first half 34 of the receiver 28. The lock 64 is biased to engage a respective one of the detents 52 in the outwardly facing surface of the tab 46. In this way the receiver 28 is movably retained in a chosen angle. As is most clearly shown in
A ratchet 74 is integrated into the grip 12 and the ratchet 74 engages the receiver 28 when the receiver 28 is extended through the grip 12. The ratchet 74 is actuatable to rotate in a first direction or a second direction. The ratchet 74 rotates the receiver 28 in the first direction when the grip 12 is rotated in the first direction and the ratchet 74 is actuated to rotate in first direction. Additionally, the ratchet 74 slips in the grip 12 when the grip 12 is rotated in the second direction and the ratchet 74 is actuated to rotate in the first direction. In this way the receiver 28 is inhibited from rotating in the second direction.
The ratchet 74 rotates the receiver 28 in the second direction when the grip 12 is rotated in the second direction and the ratchet 74 is actuated to rotate in second direction. The ratchet 74 slips in the grip 12 when the grip 12 is rotated in the first direction and the ratchet 74 is actuated to rotate in the second direction. In this way the ratchet 74 inhibits the receiver 28 from rotating in the first direction. Thus, the ratchet 74 facilitates the grip 12 to be rotated back and forth for tightening or loosening the fastener.
The ratchet 74 comprises a sleeve 76 that extends through the aperture 14 and the sleeve 76 is rotatable in the aperture 14. The sleeve 76 has an outer surface 78 and the outer surface 78 of the sleeve 76 has a plurality of teeth 80 thereon that are distributed around an entire circumference of the sleeve 76. The sleeve 76 engages the slot 40 in the receiver 28 when the receiver 28 is extended through the sleeve 76 such that the receiver 28 is rotatably coupled to the sleeve 76.
The ratchet 74 includes a gear 82 that is pivotally positioned in the grip 12, and the gear 82 has a first engagement point 84 and a second engagement point 86. The first engagement point 84 engages the teeth 80 on outer surface 20 of the sleeve 76 when the gear 82 is positioned in a first position. The first engagement point 84 slips along the teeth 80 when the grip 12 is rotated in the second direction and the gear 82 is in the first position thereby inhibiting the sleeve 76 from rotating the receiver 28. Conversely, the first engagement point 84 engages the teeth 80 when the grip 12 is rotated in the first direction and the gear 82 is in the first position thereby facilitating the sleeve 76 to rotate the receiver 28.
The second engagement point 86 engages the teeth 80 on outer surface 20 of the sleeve 76 when the gear 82 is positioned in a second position. The second engagement point 86 slips along the teeth 80 when the grip 12 is rotated in the first direction and the gear 82 is in the second position thereby inhibiting the sleeve 76 from rotating the receiver 28. Conversely, the second engagement point 86 engages the teeth 80 when the grip 12 is rotated in the second direction and the gear 82 is in the second position thereby facilitating the sleeve 76 to rotate the receiver 28.
The ratchet 74 includes a biasing member 88 that is positioned within the grip 12 and the biasing member 88 engages the gear 82. Additionally, the biasing member 88 retains the gear 82 in either the first position or the second position. A lever 90 is movably coupled to the first end 16 of the grip 12 and the lever 90 is in mechanical communication with the gear 82. The lever 90 urges the gear 82 between the first position and the second position when the lever 90 is manipulated. In this way the direction of rotation of the receiver 28 can be changed to either loosen or tighten fasteners. The lever 90 may include a stem 92 and a head 94 that tapers to a point such that the lever 90 has an arrow shape.
In use, the receiver 28 is extended through the aperture 14 in the handle and selected bits 54 are inserted into the receiver 28 for tightening or loosening a fastener. The lever 90 is manipulated into the appropriate position for loosening or tightening the fastener. In this way the grip 12 can ratchet 74 around the receiver 28 for loosening or tightening the fastener. The receiver 28 can be pulled outwardly from the grip 12 a sufficient distance to expose the coupling end 42 of the first half 34 and the second half 36. In this way the receiver 28 can be bent to facilitate the grip 12 to act as a lever 90 for rotating the receiver 28.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210213589 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |