Some embodiments disclosed in this application relate to a small tool having multiple purposes and applications.
Various tools may be useful in numerous situations. Tools such as bottle openers, screwdrivers, and wrenches find such usage; however, typically they are bulky and difficult to carry. A tool that would accomplish many tasks that the above tools do and would be easy to carry and transport would be useful.
In one embodiment, a multitool includes a carabineer gate. The multitool further includes a body portion. The body portion includes a carabineer portion, the carabineer portion including a hook portion and apertures for receiving the carabineer gate. The body portion further includes a wrench portion, the wrench portion located in a portion of the carabineer portion, the wrench portion including a first aperture sized to receive a nut. The body portion further includes a screwdriver portion and a bottle opener portion. Optionally, the first aperture has a stepped shape, and the first aperture has three portions, each having a different width, each different width corresponding to a standard nut width. Alternatively, the screwdriver portion is located proximate to the wrench portion as compared to the hook portion. In one configuration, the bottle opener portion is located between the wrench portion and the screwdriver portion. In another configuration, a ruler portion is located along an edge of the body portion, the edge opposite and parallel to the carabineer gate. In one alternative, the screwdriver portion includes a wedge edge portion. In another alternative, the body portion is approximately the size of a standard key. Optionally, the bottle opener portion is on a same side of the body as the carabineer gate. Alternatively, the body portion is formed from a single piece of material and is unitary. In one alternative, the carabineer gate and bottle opener portion are located on a first side of the multitool. In another alternative, a ruler portion is located along an edge of the body portion, the edge opposite and parallel to the carabineer gate, and the edge of the body portion is a longest continuous straight side of the body portion. Optionally, the bottle opener portion is located on the body portion such that the longest continuous straight side functions as a lever arm for the bottle opener portion. Alternatively, a width of the carabineer portion is less than half of a length of the carabineer portion.
In one embodiment, a method of using a multitool includes providing a multitool. The multitool includes a carabineer gate. The multitool further includes a body portion. The body portion includes a carabineer portion, the carabineer portion including a hook portion and apertures for receiving the carabineer gate. The body portion further includes a wrench portion, the wrench portion located in a portion of the carabineer portion, the wrench portion including a first aperture sized to receive a nut. The body portion further includes a screwdriver portion and a bottle opener portion. The method further includes clipping the multitool to a key chain using the carabineer portion. The method further includes utilizing one of the wrench portion, screwdriver portion, and bottle opener portion to complete a task.
Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for a multitool. Embodiments of the multitool provide the user with a convenient tool that combines the features of a screwdriver, a wrench for various sizes of nuts and bolts, a bottle opener, and a ruler. The features are combined in a convenient system that includes a carabineer system that is easily connected to a keychain, loop, or other point.
Furthermore, multitool 100 includes a screwdriver portion 130 that is shaped and sized such that it may be used with flathead and Phillips type screws. Multitool 100 further includes a ruler 140 with a first measurement scale such as English units for inches. On the opposite side, another ruler 141 may be printed or engraved that includes metric units such as centimeters. Multitool 100 further includes a bottle opener 150. Furthermore, wedge edge 160 has been narrowed to provide a somewhat sharp cutting surface that can be used to cut things under significant pressure and pry and wedge items.
Multitool 100 has only one moving part, gate 110, and except for gate 110 may be formed out of a single piece of material. In many embodiments, this piece of material is stainless steel. The unitary construction provides for a strong and easy-to-make item.
Furthermore, multitool 100 is approximately the same size as a standard key, providing for an easily detachable and reattachable tool that is compact. Bottle opener 150 is located on the same side of the body as carabineer gate 110. This location is unexpected, but provides for increased performance of bottle opener 150, since the opposing side 165 provides for a solid lever arm.
By combining the wrench portion 115 with the carabineer portion 105 there is a significant space savings in the device, while still allowing it to be easily clipped to a key ring or other item. This is unusual in that it requires the reshaping of the carabineer portion 105 to accommodate the wrench portion 115. Unexpectedly, by creating a slimmer carabineer portion, the multitool is better adapted for clipping into a keychain, since the resulting width and length is similar to that of a key. Furthermore, the lengthening allows for better leverage when utilizing the multitool 100 as a wrench. Reshaping of the carabineer portion 105 was also necessary for the inclusion of ruler 141. In order to include ruler 141, a flat and straight portion must be included in the multitool 100. By arranging for this flat portion to occur on the side opposite the carabineer gate 100, a needed length may be achieved. Additionally, the inclusion bottle opener 150 on the opposing side allows for increased tool and space utilization.
The previous detailed description is of a small number of embodiments for implementing the systems and methods for a multitool and is not intended to be limiting in scope. The following claims set forth a number of the embodiments of the systems and methods for a multitool disclosed with greater particularity.
This application is a National Stage of PCT Application No. PCT/US2014/048671 filed on Jul. 29, 2014, which PCT application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/859,904 filed Jul. 30, 2013, and U.S. Design application No. 29/461,942 filed Jul. 29, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. D709,344 issued Jul. 22, 2014. The above patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as though fully contained herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2014/048671 | 7/29/2014 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61859904 | Jul 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 29461942 | Jul 2013 | US |
Child | 14907902 | US |