Claims
- 1. A multiple function tool comprising:a first handle having first and second opposing sides; more than one tool coupled to said first handle for movement along a pivot plane between a storage position and an extended working position; and a first locking mechanism positioned along one of said opposing sides of said first handle and positioned with respect to said tools such that each of said tools is separately lockable by said first locking mechanism into an extended working position; wherein said first locking mechanism is positioned with respect to said first handle to permit actuation thereof to release a tool from being locked in an extended working position without the user crossing said pivot plane.
- 2. A multiple function tool as in claim 1, further comprising a second handle coupled to said first handle and having first and second sides, wherein:more than one tool is coupled to said second handle for movement along a pivot plane between a storage position and an extended working position; a second locking mechanism is coupled to said second handle and positioned with respect to said tools such that each of said tools coupled to said second handle is lockable by said second locking mechanism into an extended working position; said second locking mechanism is positioned with respect to said second handle to permit actuation thereof to release a tool in an extended working position and to return the tool to a storage position without the user crossing said pivot plane; and a portion of at least one of said first and second locking mechanisms is accessible along one of the first and second sides of the handle to which said locking mechanism is coupled for actuation such that a user's finger need not pass through said pivot plane to actuate said locking mechanism to release a tool from being locked in an extended working position.
- 3. A multiple function tool as in claim 2, wherein:said first handle has a channel formed therein in which said tools coupled to said first handle are positioned when in a storage position; said second handle has a channel formed therein in which said tools coupled to said second handle are positioned when in a storage position; and said first and second locking mechanisms and said tools are positioned to be accessible when said first and second handles are in a folded configuration.
- 4. A multiple function tool as in claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a spring lock plate having a major plane perpendicular to said pivot plane.
- 5. A multiple function tool comprising:a first handle having a longitudinal axis and a channel wall defining a channel; more than one tool coupled to said first handle for movement along a pivot plane between a storage position and an extended working position; and a locking mechanism slidably coupled to said first handle for movement along said longitudinal axis between (a) a locking position in which said locking mechanism is sandwiched between said tools and said channel wall to contact and to lock any of said tools into an extended working position, and (b) an unlock position in which said tools are free to move between said storage position and said extended working position; wherein each tool is positioned with respect to said locking mechanism to be locked by said locking mechanism.
- 6. A multiple function tool as in claim 5, wherein said locking mechanism is slidable along said longitudinal axis into and out of direct contact with a selected tool to selectively lock said selected tool into one of said storage position and said extended working position.
- 7. A multiple function tool as in claim 5, wherein said locking mechanism selectively prevents a selected tool from moving from an extended working position into a storage position.
- 8. A multiple function tool comprising:a first handle; a plurality of tools each pivotably coupled to said first handle for movement along a pivot plane between a storage position and an extended working position; and a locking mechanism comprising a flat spring lock plate lying perpendicular to said pivot plane and slidably coupled to said handle for selectively locking any of said plurality of tools into a working position; wherein each tool is positioned with respect to said locking mechanism to be locked by said locking mechanism while any number of said plurality of tools remains in said storage position.
- 9. A multiple function tool as in claim 8, wherein said first handle has a longitudinal axis and said locking mechanism is slidably coupled to said handle for movement along said longitudinal axis.
- 10. A multiple function tool as in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of springs coupled to said handle and corresponding to said plurality of tools, said locking mechanism being movable with respect to said springs.
- 11. A multiple function tool as in claim 8, wherein said locking mechanism is positioned to directly contact said selected tool to selectively lock said selected tool in a working position.
- 12. A multiple function tool as in claim 11, wherein:each of said tools has a pivot end by which said tool is coupled to said handle; a locking notch is defined in said pivot end of each said tool; and said locking mechanism selectively slides into and out of engagement with said locking notch in said pivot end to selectively prevent movement of said tools from said extended working position into said storage position.
- 13. A multiple function tool as in claim 8, wherein:said first handle has first and second sides; and said locking mechanism is positioned along one of said sides of said first handle.
- 14. A multiple function tool as in claim 8, wherein:said plurality of tools are coupled to said first handle for movement along a pivot plane between said storage position and said extended working position; and said locking mechanism is positioned with respect to said first handle to permit actuation thereof to release a tool in an extended working position and to return the tool to a storage position without the user crossing said pivot plane.
- 15. A multiple function tool as in claim 8, further comprising:a second handle coupled to said first handle and having first and second sides; and a tool head having first and second jaw members coupled to each other, said first jaw further being coupled to said first handle and said second jaw further being coupled to said second handles.
- 16. A multiple function tool as in claim 8, wherein:said first handle has a longitudinal axis and a channel wall defining a channel; and said locking mechanism is coupled to said first handle for movement between a locking position, in which said locking mechanism is positioned between said plurality of tools and said channel wall to contact and to lock any of said tools into an extended working position, and an unlock position in which said plurality of tools are free to move between said storage position and said extended working position.
- 17. A multiple function tool as in claim 5, wherein said locking mechanism is directly adjacent said channel wall.
- 18. A multiple function tool comprising:a first handle having first and second sides and a longitudinal axis; more than one tool pivotably coupled to said first handle for movement along a pivot plane between a storage position and an extended working position; and a first locking mechanism coupled to said first handle and positioned with respect to said tools to lock any one of said tools into an extended working position; wherein: said locking mechanism is in a neutral position when said tools are in said storage position; said locking mechanism is movable from said neutral position along said handle longitudinal axis as a tool is withdrawn from said storage position and into said extended working position; and once said tool is fully withdrawn into said extended working position, said locking mechanism returns to said neutral position.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/437,790, filed Nov. 10, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,901, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/874,959, filed Jun. 13, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,582, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/739,707, filed Oct. 29, 1996, now abandoned.
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Continuations (3)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
09/437790 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/796817 |
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US |
Parent |
09/874959 |
Jun 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/437790 |
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US |
Parent |
08/739707 |
Oct 1996 |
US |
Child |
09/874959 |
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US |