Multiple-in-1 precision hand tool

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6655243
  • Patent Number
    6,655,243
  • Date Filed
    Friday, October 19, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 2, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A 12-in-1 precision hand tool has five double-ended specifically sized precision tool bits stored in separate handle compartments adjacent the handle proximate end and one double-ended tool bit operably disposed at the distal end of a selectively retractably extendible shank for impeded access precision drive use. A handle cap is removably attached to the handle and has a rare earth permanent metal magnet disposed therein and operably disposed with respect to an axial opening in the cap to slidably receive and magnetically hold one selected double-headed tool bit. The removed handle cap provides a mini 12-in-1 precision drive tool. The handle has alternate flat and arcuate surfaces of about equal surface area and distally disposed contiguous tapered flat surfaces for ergonomic precision tool use.
Description




FIELD OF INVENTION




This invention relates to precision hand tools. This invention more specifically relates to multiple-in-1 precision hand drive tools, and precision tool bits therefor. This invention also relates to ergonomic handle precision drive tools. This invention also specifically relates to combination multiple-in-1 precision hand tools.




BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART




Precision hand tools or drivers are known in the art wherein the user engages the body of the tool handle with the thumb and middle finger and the index finger pressingly engages the proximate end of the handle. Fine rotational movement is achieved by the thumb and middle finger imparting a finely controlled torque movement to the handle body and in turn to the distally disposed tool bit.




It was known in the prior art to provide precision hand tool sets wherein the tool and interchangeable single-ended precision tool bits were stored in a case. Such prior art sets are shown in

FIGS. 1A and 1B

.

FIGS. 1A and 1B

depict a prior art precision tool set


10


wherein a case


15


contained the precision hand tool


11


and a number of interchangeable single-ended precision tool bits


12


. The single-ended tool bits


12


were individually stored in case


15


, and selectively slidably operably disposed at the distal end


16


of hand tool


11


. These sets were undesirable in that the user had to carry and access the case


15


at and to the work site. The small single-ended precision tool bits when removed from the case would be readily lost or misplaced.





FIG. 2

depicts another prior art precision hand tool set


13


, wherein a series of precision screwdrivers


17


-


24


were stored in the case


29


with different tool bit configurations formed at the respective ends of the fixedly disposed shanks. Tool set


13


was bulky and cumbersome in use, and only a limited number of drive functions were practically available. Additionally, the user had to access the bulky case and tool set at the work site.




It was also known in the prior art to provide a precision hand tool wherein interchangeable precision single-ended tool bits were loosely stored in the handle. Such hand tools are shown in

FIGS. 3A and 3B

. Specifically,

FIGS. 3A and 3B

depict a precision hand tool


25


wherein a number of elongated single ended tool bits


26


(typical) were loosely stored in the hollow handle


27


. The user would remove end cap


28


and shake out the tool bits and then insert the desired selected tool bit in the distal end


29


of tool


25


. The

FIGS. 3A and 3B

hand tool was undesirable in that the small precision tool bits would be damaged in loose common storage, and it was difficult to selectively retrieve just the desired tool bit without misplacing the other tool bits. The prior art tool of

FIGS. 3A and 3B

also suffered the impediment of requiring a large number of single-ended bits to accomplish an equally large number of drive functions. The precision size handle could not however accommodate a sufficient number of such bits.





FIGS. 4A and 4B

depict still another prior art precision tool set


30


. Tool set


30


contains a precision hand tool


31


with a flexible shaft


32


, a sleeve


32




a


and, generally six single-ended tool bits


33


(typical). The single-ended tool bits


33


were mounted in a case


34


. Sleeve


32




a


was slidably received over flexible shaft


32


to, alternately, use the tool as a non-flexible shaft tool. Each tool bit


33


was slidably non-rotatably operably disposed in the distal end


36


of hand tool


31


. Set


30


required a case


34


for storage and the removed loose tool bits


33


would be readily lost or misplaced.




The prior art was generally directed to highly elongated single-ended precision tool bits. These tool bits were formed from wire blanks of exceptional length.

FIG. 16

shows a typical prior art single-ended precision tool bit. It was believed that the exceptional length was required to achieve an accurately machined precision tool bit ends. These exceptional length precision tool bits militated against stowage in precision sized hand tool handles.




The prior art, as demonstrated in

FIGS. 1-4B

and


16


was directed to providing single-ended precision tool bits. The prior art, as shown in

FIGS. 2-4B

and


16


was instead directed to precision single-ended tool bits with exceptionally elongated body portions.




It was also known in the hand tool art to provide magnetic functions in the hand tool handle. This prior art construction would temporarily magnetize and demagnetize a selected tool bit end. The art desired a versatile and practical magnet and functionality in precision hand tools.




The art desired a practical multiple function, multiple-in-1 precision drive tool. The precision tool art also described an ergonomic precision drive tool handle. The present invention provides the solutions to the foregoing art desired needs.




SUMMARY OF INVENTION




In one aspect, the present invention is a multiple-in-1 precision hand tool. In another aspect, the present invention is a precision hand tool with a 12-in-1 drive function. The precision tool, in other preferred aspects, has a mag/demag function and a removable handle cap mini multiple-in-1 tool bit drive function.




In a more specific aspect, the present invention is a precision hand tool, with a removable cap disposed at the proximate end, which cap magnetically operably holds a tool bit so that the tool bit is operably disposed in the handle cap. The handle cap with the magnetically held tool bit functions as a mini fine control screwdriver.




In still another aspect, the present invention is a precision hand tool with double-ended or double-headed precision-sized tool bits. The precision double-ended tool bits are practically stored within elongated compartments of the precision-sized hand tool handle.




The precision double-ended tool bits of the present invention are specifically proportioned with each bit end and central body being of the same length, and within a practical overall minimal length. The limited overall length made it possible to store a plurality of such double-ended bits in the handle of a precision sized hand tool. The tool bits are alternatively operably received in the precision handle cap and at the distal end of the precision hand tool shank for alternate drive use.




In still further aspects, the present invention is a precision hand tool with ergonomic handle construction.




It is still a further aspect, the present invention provides a handle as aforesaid in combination with an extendible metal shank for diverse precision tool operations. The handle and hexagonal shank construction of the present invention provide for the proximate end of the shank and the internal hexagonal sleeve to provide stop means to hold the shank in the handle. The spatial arrangement and construction of the proximate end of the shank and the distal end of the handle wherein forces caused by flexure of the fully extended sleeve are distributed to prevent fracture of the handle.




In still further aspects, the present invention contemplates a hand tool which combines one or more of the afore-described inventive features of the present invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1A

is a front elevational view of a prior art precision hand tool set in its carrying case;





FIG. 1B

is a side elevational view of the precision hand tool of the set of

FIG. 1A

;





FIG. 2

is a front elevational view of a second prior art precision hand tool set in its case and with one precision hand tool removed;





FIG. 3A

is a side elevational view of a third prior art precision hand tool;





FIG. 3B

is an exploded side view of the precision hand tool of

FIG. 3A

;





FIG. 4A

is a front elevational view of a fourth prior art precision hand tool set in its case mounted on a display card;





FIG. 4B

is a series of side elevational views of the precision hand tool removed from the set of

FIG. 4A

in various non-flexed and flexed shaft modes;





FIG. 5

is a exploded top perspective view of the precision hand tool of the present invention;





FIG. 6

is a top perspective view of the assembled precision hand tool of

FIG. 5

with the tool bit operably disposed and shank retracted;





FIG. 7

is of a sectional view of handle of

FIG. 6

without the shank;





FIG. 8

is a sectional view of the precision hand tool taken along line


8





8


of

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 9

is an enlarged sectional view taken along line


9





9


of

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 10

is a sectional view of the handle of the handle and a side elevational assembly view of a shank;





FIG. 11

is an enlarged view of the proximate end of the handle of

FIG. 10

;





FIG. 12

is a sectional view of the assembled tool of

FIG. 5

with the shank fully extended;





FIG. 13

is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken along line


13





13


of

FIG. 12

;





FIG. 14

is a perspective view of the precision tool of

FIG. 12

in one mode of use;





FIG. 15

is a perspective view of the precision tool of

FIG. 12

in a second mode of use;





FIG. 16

is a respective side elevational and top plan view of a prior art single-ended precision tool bit;





FIG. 17

is a side elevational view of a prior art non-precision double-ended tool bit;





FIG. 18

is a side elevational view of the precision double-ended tool bit of the present invention.





FIG. 19

is a perspective view of the handle cap of

FIG. 5

with a tool bit being demagnetized;





FIG. 20

is a perspective view of the handle cap of

FIG. 19

with a tool bit being magnetized;





FIG. 21

is a perspective view of the handle cap of

FIG. 19

showing insertion of the tool bit; and





FIG. 22

is a perspective view of the handle cap of

FIG. 19

with the tool bit inserted.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to

FIGS. 5-15

and


18


-


22


there is shown precision hand tool


50


. Precision hand tool


50


, in general terms, includes removable handle cap


90


, transparent plastic handle or handle body


51


, hexagonal cross-sectioned metal shank


52


, shank lock nut


53


, distally disposed sleeve assembly


57


and six double-ended precision tool bits


60


(typical). The six double-ended tool bits


60


provide a 12-in-1 drive functionality. Handle


51


is of clear thermoplastic construction. Handle


51


includes a proximately disposed circular cylindrical portion


42


, a first body portion


53


, and a second body portion


54


. First body portion


53


has four equally sized flat walls


55


(typical) and four equally sized curved or arcuate walls


56


(typical). Walls


55


and


56


have about the same surface area (See FIGS.


6


and


9


). Second body portion


54


has eight distally tapered flat walls


57


(typical) and eight corners


58


(typical). Each second portion wall


57


is contiguous with one of the first portion walls


55


or


56


as at common recess


74


. First and second body portions


53


and


54


are formed with a central axially disposed cylindrical hole


61


, and distal end of body portion


54


is formed with central hexagonal hole


161


for purposes hereinafter appearing. First body portion


53


is formed with four radially disposed walls


62


, and central cylindrical wall


63


which in turn forms four wedge shaped recesses or compartments


65


having distal end walls


66


. Each compartment


65


slidably receives or stows a respective double-ended tool bit


60


.




First body portion


53


and second body portion


54


provide an ergonomic handle construction, wherein the user can selectively in diverse combinations grip the flat walls


55


, arcuate walls


56


tapered walls


57


for best desired comfort and control. By way of example, with the shank fully extended, the user may want particularly fine control. The walls


55


,


56


, and


57


provide diverse ergonomic grip arrangements for diverse fine precision drive operations. Two such grip examples are shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

, respectively.




A metal pocket clip


70


has a cylindrical holder portion


71


which is slidably received on the outer cylindrical surface of handle proximate portion


42


Pocket clip


70


includes pocket engaging portion


72


, which extends distally to wherein clip end


73


is disposed adjacent corner recess


74


.




Shank


52


is slidably disposed in proximately disposed central axially disposed cylindrical hole


61


and distally disposed hexagonal hole


161


, whereby shank


52


can be slidably extended for precision drive use in impeded access operations such as electronics equipment. Lock nut assembly


153


locks the extended shank


52


in the extended desired position. Referring specifically to

FIGS. 10-13

, there is shown certain details of tool


50


with regard to the lower or distal body portion


54


and the proximate end


152


of shank


52


. Shank proximate end


152


is formed with a transverse groove


253


and oppositely disposed ears


155


. Ears


155


frictionally engage the corners of hexagonal hole


161


and thereby functions as a stop to retain the shank


52


within the plastic handle body. Sleeve portion


161


is formed with a vertically disposed slot


162


having an enlarged rounded stress relief blind edge


163


. In molding the handle, shank


52


is slidably received in the distal end hole


61


of handle


51


, when the thermoplastic body is just molded and readily thermoplastically deformable. The shank


52


is then moved distally to cover the ears


155


to gouge the thermoplastically deformable walls of hexagonal recess of sleeve


161


and in doing so form a stop. In operation, shank


52


slides freely through central cylindrical hole


61


, until the ears


155


engage the corners of hole


161


. That is, shank end


152


engages the proximate end hexagonal sleeve portion


161


to stop further movement. When shank


52


is fully extended, as shown in

FIGS. 12 and 13

, shank ears


155


frictionally engage two corner walls of hexagonal sleeve portion


161


and exert radial forces on the plastic sleeve. Slot


162


and slot end


163


relieve the radial force stress to avoid fractures in the plastic handle. In this manner of construction, frictionally engaged shank


52


is prevented from sliding out the distal end


156


of handle


51


. Lock nut


153


screw engages the distal end


165


of handle


51


so that with the fastening of lock nut


153


, shank


52


is fixed in its extended position. The shank distal end


152


portion disposed hexagonal sleeve end portion


161


spatial arrangement and construction distribute the bending forces caused by extended shank flexure thereby presenting plastic handle fracture.




Sleeve assembly


57


includes a distal hexagonal recess


75


for slidably non-rotatably operably receiving a tool bit


60


. Sleeve assembly


57


is also formed with a proximately disposed hexagonal recess


76


for fixedly non-rotatably receiving the distal end


77


of hexagonal shank


52


. Sleeve assembly


57


is also formed with a lock collar and ball retainer assembly


78


for holding tool bit


60


in place in sleeve recess


75


. With tool bit


60


removed, sleeve assembly hexagonal end recess


76


serves as a precision nut driver.




Handle cap


90


is formed with a proximately disposed slight depression or recessed surface


91


for receiving the end of the user's index finger. Cap


90


has a fustro-conical body


92


. Handle cap


90


has a cylindrical distal end portion


93


formed with a circumferential groove


191


for receiving a snap-on O-ring. Cap distal portion


93


is slidably received in the proximate end recess


66


of handle


51


, and removably held therein by the O-ring in handle body circumferential groove. Attached cap


90


swivels in handle body recess


66


. Cap


90


covers the four tool bits


60


stowed in the elongated arcuate handle compartments


65


.




Handle cap


90


is formed with a transversely disposed cross-hole


97


, and an axially disposed cylindrical recess


98


which communicates with cross-hole


97


. A cylindrical or pill shaped rare earth permanent magnet


100


is secured in recess


88


by known means, for purposes hereinafter appearing. Cap


90


is also formed with a distal end stepped recess


101


for non-rotatably receiving metal insert


102


. Insert


102


is formed with a hexagonal inner bore


103


which is sized to slidably receive the body


60




a


of double-ended precision tool bit


60


typical. Handle cap and metal insert hexagonal bore


103


function as a mini nut drive tool with cap


90


detached from the handle body and with tool bit removed. With tool bit


60


disposed in bore


103


, one tool bit end


60




b


contactingly engages magnet


100


and the other tool bit end


60




b


is operably disposed, as best shown in

FIGS. 14-17

. Magnet


100


magnetically holds tool bit


60


in cap


90


. Distally disposed tool bit end


60




b


is magnetized to magnetically hold a fastener such as a screw (not shown). In this manner of construction, handle removed cap


90


with tool bit


60


magnetically held functions as a mini precision screwdriver. Of course, any one of the six tool bits can be selectively magnetically held and operably disposed in removed handle cap


90


.




Cap cross-hole


97


is sized to slidably receive a selected tool bit


60


so that tool bit


60


is magnetized by magnet


100


(FIG.


20


). The magnetized tool bit can then be mounted in distal recess


75


whereat the operably disposed magnetized tool bit end can hold a screw or like ferro-metallic drive element (not shown). A further feature of the present tool is that by striking a magnetized tool bit across cap proximate shallow recessed surface


91


, the tool bit becomes demagnetized (FIG.


19


).




Magnet


100


is a rare earth magnet as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,229, U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,497, U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,717 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,718, which patent disclosures are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Magnet


100


has an energy product of at least about 6.0×10


6


gauss-oersteds, and preferably at least about 7.0×10


6


gauss-oersteds.




Referring to

FIGS. 16-18

there is shown, respectively, side and top views of a typical prior art precision tool bit


80


(FIG.


16


), a side elevational view of a typical prior art non-precision double-ended tool bit


85


(FIG.


17


), and the double-ended precision tool bit


60


of the present invention (FIG.


13


).

FIGS. 11-13

are shown in accurate proportional scale for size and configuration comparisons. Tool bit


80


is generally formed of cylindrical wire stock and includes an elongated body portion


80




a


and an elongated single bit end


80




b


and proximate end ears


80




c


for locking the bit in the tool (not shown in

FIG. 11

, but generally shown in FIGS.


4


A and


4


B). It was generally believed and the direction of the prior art that only a single bit could be accurately minimal for a precision tool, as generally shown in

FIGS. 1-4B

. Referring now to

FIG. 12

, conventional double-end tool bit


85


has a body portion


85




a


and a first bit end


85




b


and second bit end


85




c.


Tool bit end lengths x were generally at least about ½ inch or 17 mm, with the distance across the body flats being generally at least about ¼ inch or 8.5 mm. The art was directed to a tool bit length of at least about 17 mm for an accurately mechanical hex bar stock of about 8.5 mm in construction. The precision tool bit


60


of the present invention, as shown in

FIG. 18

, has a body portion of regular hexagonal cross-section with a width of no more than about 4 mm across the flat sides of the regular hexagon, and a body length y of no more than about 8-10 mm, with a tool bit


60




b


integrally formed at respective opposite ends of the body portion. Each tool bit


60




b


length z is no more than about ⅜ inch or about 8-10 mm. That is, the present invention has found that it is practical to production machine bar stock of 4 mm and produce precision bit ends having bit end lengths of 8-10 mm and a body length of 8-10 mm, or an overall length of 24-30 mm. The aforedescribed tool bit and the handle construction provides a practical multiple-in-1 precision tool. Tool bit ends


60




b


maybe of different drive sizes and/or configurations. It is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide different drive configurations such as flat blade screwdriver, Phillips, and TORX configurations, by way of example.




In the aforesaid manner of construction, the user in one mode of use, grasps the handle body with the thumb and middle fingers and places the end of the index finger in the proximate end recess of the handle cap for fine precision use, as shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

. Handle cap swivels within handle body proximate recess to further contribute to fine control precision grip use.




There is provided by the present invention a versatile multiple-in-1 pocket precision drive tool, namely a 12-in-1 pocket precision drive tool and a 12-in-1 stubby or mini handle cap precision drive tool. The present tool provides mag/demag functionality as well as multiple nut drive functionality. This most versatile multiple use construction is readily and practically stowed and within a shirt pocket. The clear plastic construction of the first handle body portion permits the user to identify the desired stowed precision tool bit.




Although the present invention has been described in some detail by the way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will of course be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the form, details and arrangements of the elements and parts without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the adjoined claims.



Claims
  • 1. A precision hand tool comprising;precision tool bit members, each member having a body and oppositely disposed ends and having a tool bit disposed at each said end; a handle, said handle having a proximate end and a distal end, and having elongated compartments to receive said precision tool bit members for storage within the compartments; further comprising a handle cap, said handle cap comprising means for removably rotatably attaching the handle cap to the handle proximate end to cover the compartments with the tool bit members in a closed position, said handle cap being rotatable in the closed position; and a shank, said shank having a proximate end and a distal end, and means for connecting said shank proximate end to said handle distal end, said shank distal end comprising means for slidably receiving a selected tool bit member so that one tool bit is operably disposed.
  • 2. The precision hand tool of claim 1, said handle cap being formed with a centrally disposed recess for slidably receiving one tool bit member.
  • 3. The precision hand tool of claim 2, said handle cap further comprising a permanent magnet operably disposed with respect to the handle cap recess to magnetically hold the slidably received one tool bit member, whereby the slidably received tool bit member is magnetized and operably held in the handle cap.
  • 4. The precision hand tool of claim 3, wherein the magnet has en energy product of at least about 6.0×106 gauss-oersteds.
  • 5. The precision hand tool of claim 4, said handle cap defining a first position for receiving the magnetized one tool bit member to demagnetize the one tool bit member.
  • 6. The precision hand tool of claim 1, said handle comprising means for retractably extending said shank to a desired length.
  • 7. The precision hand tool of claim 1, said compartments comprising radially disposed wedge shaped compartments.
  • 8. The precision hand tool of claim 2, said handle further comprising a central elongated compartment in coaxial alignment with said handle cap recess.
  • 9. The precision hand tool of claim 1, said handle cap having a permanent magnet, and said handle cap defining a first position for magnetizing a selected tool bit and a second position spacedly disposed from the first position for demagnetizing the selected tool bit.
  • 10. A multiple-in-1 precision tool comprising:a handle, said handle having a proximate end and a distal end, and being formed with a central compartment and a plurality radially disposed compartments adjacent the proximate end for storing tool bits, a handle cap, said handle cap having a distal end having a central compartment, and means for removably rotatably attaching said handle cap distal end to said handle proximate end to cover the radially disposed compartments with the tool bits in a closed position, said handle cap being rotatable in the closed position, whereby the central compartments are in communication, a shank, said shank having a proximate end and a distal, and having a sleeve disposed at the shank distal end, and means for slidably extending said shank in said handle, interchangeable precision tool bits, each said handle compartment, said handle cap compartment being formed to slidably receive at least one tool bit, whereby with a tool bit disposed in the handle cap and the handle cap removed from the handle there is a mini multiple-in-1 precision drive tool and with the handle cap attached and a tool bit disposed in the sleeve there is a multiple-in-1 precision drive tool.
  • 11. The precision tool claim 10, said handle further comprising means for selectively extending said shank from said handle to a desired length.
  • 12. The precision tool of claim 10, said handle comprising a plurality of flat surfaces and arcuate surfaces for finger and thumb engagement for precision tool bit drive use.
  • 13. The precision tool of claim 10, said shank having a polygonal cross section, and said handle distal end being formed with a polygonal recess for slidable engagement of said shank.
  • 14. The precision tool of claim 10, said shank proximate end and said handle distal end being cooperatively formed with stop means to limit the extension of the shank.
  • 15. The precision tool of claim 10, said shank proximate end and said handle distal end comprising means for distributing forces caused by flexure of the shank when extended.
  • 16. The precision tool of claim 15, said means for distributing forces comprising a portion of the shank distal end disposed in a portion of the handle distal end.
  • 17. The precision tool of claim 10, said shank comprising metal construction and said handle comprising plastic construction.
  • 18. The precision tool of claim 10, said handle proximate end comprising a first plurality of flat surfaces and adjacent arcuate surfaces, said surfaces having about the same surface area for selective diverse finger and thumb engagement, and further comprising a plurality of handle distal end flat surfaces, said distal end flat surfaces being tapered towards the handle distal end.
  • 19. The precision tool of claim 10, wherein the handle cap distal end is contoured for receiving the end of an index finger for precision tool bit drive use.
  • 20. The precision tool of claim 10, said handle proximate end comprising a first plurality of flat surfaces and adjacent arcuate surfaces, said surfaces having about the same surface area for selective diverse finger and thumb engagement.
  • 21. A precision multiple-in-1 pocket tool comprising:a handle having a proximate end and a distal end, a handle cap removably rotatably attached to the handle proximate end, a shank having a proximate end disposed in the distal end of the handle and being extendable from the handle distal end, a sleeve disposed at the distal end of the shank, precision tool bit members, one said tool bit member being operably disposable in said shank sleeve, said handle cap having means for holding one tool bit member, and said handle being formed with elongated compartments for stowing a plurality of said tool bit members, each tool bit member comprising a body and oppositely disposed precision tool bits, wherein the length of each tool bit is about equal to the length of the member body, said handle cap covers the handle compartments with the stowed tool bit members in a closed position, and said handle cap being rotatable in the closed position.
  • 22. The precision pocket tool of claim 21, each said tool bit length and said body length being about 8-10 mm.
  • 23. The precision pocket tool of claim 21, said handle cap further comprising means for holding the tool bit member comprising a permanent rare earth metal magnet.
  • 24. The precision pocket tool of claim 21, said handle comprising a proximately dispersed polygonal portion and a distally designed polygonal portion and wherein the distally dispersed polygonal portion is tapered in the distal direction.
  • 25. The precision pocket tool of claim 21, said handle cap being of fustro-conical construction, said handle cap having a proximate end formed to receive the end of a forefinger.
  • 26. The precision pocket tool of claim 21, further comprising a pocket clip disposed on said handle adjacent said handle cap.
  • 27. The precision pocket tool of claim 21, said member body being hexagonal and having a cross dimension of about 4 mm and a length of about 8-10 mm, whereby the length of the tool bit member is about 24-30 mm.
  • 28. The precision pocket tool of claim 21, said handle comprising a proximately disposed polygonal portion, and a distally tapered polygonal portion, said member body being hexagonal and having a cross dimension of about 4 mm and a length of about 8-10 mm, and the length of the tool bit member is about 24-30 mm, and wherein four tool bit members are stowed within the proximate polygonal portion and not the distal polygonal portion.
PRIOR RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/435,709 filed Nov. 8, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,711, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/168,637, filed Oct. 8, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,428, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/960,090, filed Oct. 24, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,612, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/977,453, filed Nov. 24, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,080, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/504,190, filed Feb. 15, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/690,740, filed Jul. 31, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,474.

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5740706 Tseng Apr 1998 A
5782150 Huang Jul 1998 A
5794497 Anderson Aug 1998 A
5823078 Liu Oct 1998 A
5931065 Jackson et al. Aug 1999 A
D419847 Chen Feb 2000 S
6026718 Anderson Feb 2000 A
6029549 Baker Feb 2000 A
6089133 Liao Jul 2000 A
6155144 Lin Dec 2000 A
6220129 Shimansky Apr 2001 B1
D444047 Chen Jun 2001 S
6305256 Anderson et al. Oct 2001 B1
Continuation in Parts (6)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/504190 Feb 2000 US
Child 10/000926 US
Parent 09/435709 Nov 1999 US
Child 09/504190 US
Parent 09/168637 Oct 1998 US
Child 09/435709 US
Parent 08/977453 Nov 1997 US
Child 09/168637 US
Parent 08/960090 Oct 1997 US
Child 08/977453 US
Parent 08/690740 Jul 1996 US
Child 08/960090 US