Patent Application
20150190915
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to tools and, more particularly, to a tool, such as a multipurpose tool, configured to accept additional tool members and/or to allow tool members to fold into a handle of the tool in response to actuation of a tab defined by a scale of the handle.
Multipurpose tools are widely popular for their utility in a substantial number of different applications. As its name suggests, a multipurpose tool includes a number of tool members carried by common frame. A multipurpose tool may include different combinations of tool members depending upon its intended application. For example, multipurpose tools that are designed for a more universal or generic application can include pliers, a wire cutter, a bit driver, one or more knife blades, a saw blade, a bottle opener or the like. Other multipurpose tools are designed to service more specific applications or niche markets and correspondingly include tool members that are useful for the intended application. For example, multipurpose tools may be specifically designed for automobile repairs, hunting, fishing or other outdoor applications, gardening, and the like.
One reason for the popularity of multipurpose tools is the capability provided by a multipurpose tool to provide a wide range of functionality with a single tool, thereby reducing the need to carry a number of different tools to perform those same functions. For example, a single multipurpose tool may be carried instead of a pair of pliers, one or more screwdrivers, a knife and a bottle opener. As such, the burden upon a user is reduced since the user need only carry a single multipurpose tool.
As multipurpose tools are frequently carried by users in the field, it is desirable for the multipurpose tools to be relatively small and lightweight while remaining rugged so as to resist damage. In order to reduce the overall size of a multipurpose tool, some multipurpose tools have been designed to be foldable. In this regard, foldable multipurpose tools are designed to move between a closed position and an open position. Generally, the closed position is more compact with the multipurpose tool frequently being carried in the closed position. Conversely, while the open position is generally less compact than the closed position, the open position generally allows the deployment of one or more of the tool members that are stowed and relatively inaccessible when the multipurpose tool is in the closed position.
For example, a multipurpose tool may include pliers or scissors having a pair of jaws connected to respective handles. In the open position, the pliers or scissors are deployed and capable of being actuated by movement of the handles toward and away from one another. In the closed position, the handles may be folded about the pliers or scissors such that the pliers or scissors are no longer functional. In the closed position, however, the multipurpose tool is more compact with the form factor generally defined by the proximal relationship of the handles. The pliers or scissors may be spring-actuated to assume an open position in the absence of any forces applied by a user who moves the handles toward one another and, in turn, move the pliers or scissors to a closed position. As noted above, a multipurpose tool may include a large number and wide variety of tool members. However, some users of a multipurpose tool may not utilize all of the tool members. These unused tool members may consequently fail to serve a useful purpose (for a particular user) and, may, instead, unnecessarily increase the complexity and the weight of the multipurpose tool.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a tool, such as a multipurpose tool, is provided that is designed to receive a separate tool member configured to be installed after assembly and delivery of the tool. In this regard, the tool of one embodiment may have a retention mechanism configured to accept a separate tool member and to thereafter securely retain the separate tool member. In another embodiment, a corresponding method of installing a tool member onto a tool is provided. As such, a tool, such as a multipurpose tool, may be provided that may include a fewer number of tool members such that the tool is less complex and lighter weight. By providing the separate tool member, however, the tool and corresponding method of an example embodiment may permit the separate tool member to be added by a user if desired so as to increase the functionality of the tool at the cost of complexity and weight for those users desirous of the increased functionality. In another embodiment, a tool may be provided that includes a release mechanism to allow tool members to fold into the tool with the release mechanism being actuatable by tabs positioned on the sides of the handles outside of the path of travel of the tool member.
In one embodiment, a multipurpose tool is provided that has a plurality of handles configured for relative movement between a closed position and an open position. The plurality of handles include at least one handle that comprises an opening configured to receive a separate tool member, such as a knife blade, and an axle upon which the separate tool member is rotatably mounted. The multipurpose tool includes a plurality of tool members carried by at least one of the handles. The multipurpose tool also includes a separate tool member that is configured to be installed following the assembly of the tool. The separate tool member comprises a tang and defines an open slot on the tang that is configured to receive the axle. The tool also comprises a lock carried by a respective handle with the lock being configured to engage the separate tool member upon installation of the separate tool member such that the open slot of the separate tool member is mounted upon the axle. The tang of the tool member includes a retention feature and the lock is configured to engage the retention feature to secure the separate tool member within the tool following the installation of the separate tool member. In an embodiment in which the separate tool member is a knife blade, the tool may also optionally include a knife guard removably mounted upon the knife blade.
In an additional embodiment, the tang of the separate tool member comprises a step feature configured to engage a lock. The step feature may define a shelf which may extend around a portion of the tang concentric to the slot on the tang.
According to another embodiment, the lock comprises a retention edge designed to engage the step feature of the separate tool member. When the separate tool member is in the open position, the step feature of the separate tool member is not engaged with the retention edge of the lock. As the separate tool member rotates along the axle from an open to a closed position, the retention edge slides along the step feature, thereby retaining the separate tool member within the tool. The step feature may comprise a ramp configured to allow the lock to slide out of the step feature when the separate tool member rotates between a predefined intermediate position relative the handle and a closed position.
In a further embodiment, the axle comprises a surface with at least one portion of the surface having a reduced diameter relative to the other surfaces. For example, the axle may comprise two flat surfaces located on opposite sides from each other on the surface of the axle.
In another embodiment, a tool is provided comprising a plurality of handles wherein at least one handle comprises a scale that defines an exterior surface of the handle. The tool also includes at least one tool member, such as a knife blade, carried by at least one of the handles and configured to transition between the open and closed positions along a path of travel. The tool further includes a lock carried by a respective handle, wherein the lock is configured to engage the tool member and hold the tool member in an open position relative to the respective handle. The tool also includes a tab defined by the scale and actuable from outside of the path of travel of the tool member. The tab is configured, upon actuation, to displace the lock and allow the tool member to fold back into the handle.
In an additional embodiment, the tool further comprises an axle upon which the tool member is mounted and about which the tool member rotates. In this embodiment, the tab may be positioned closer to the axle than to an opposite end of the handle. The tool may also comprise a pair of tabs on the scales on opposite sides of at least one handle. The tool may further comprise a dogleg associated with the lock with the dogleg being configured to permit the deflection of the tab to be translated into movement of the lock.
In one embodiment, a method of installing a tool member in a tool with a plurality of handles configured for relative movement between a closed position and an open position is provided. Such a method comprises providing a tool member comprising a tang that defines an open slot and that comprises a retention feature. The method also includes aligning the open slot of the tool member with an axle of a handle of the tool, sliding the axle of the handle into the open slot of the tool member, and engaging the retention feature of the tool member with a lock of the tool once the open slot of the tool member is mounted upon the axle.
In another embodiment, the method further includes providing a knife blade comprising a blade guard. In such an embodiment, the aligning step may comprise aligning the blade guard with the handle such that the blade guard guides the open slot of the tang onto the axle of the tool.
Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
a is a perspective view of the multipurpose tool in the closed position with the scale removed from the top handle and illustrating the installation of a separate tool member onto the axle of the handle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
b and 7c are a perspective view and a side view of the multipurpose tool illustrating the interaction between the blade guard and a scale of the tool so as to align the tool member with the axle of the tool in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention;
The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Referring now to
The multipurpose tool 20 includes a plurality of handles 22 configured for movement relative to one another, as well a plurality of tool members carried by at least one of the handles. Typically, the multipurpose tool includes a pair of generally elongate handles that extend between opposed ends. As a result of their connection, such a pivotal connection, to one another and/or to one or more of the tool members, the handles can be moved toward and away from one another, such as in order to actuate a tool member as described below.
As also described below, the multipurpose tool 20 may be configured such that the handles 22 are adapted for relative movement between an open position as shown in
Each handle 22 includes a pair of opposed sidewalls or scales 28 and a floor such that a cavity is defined within the handle to receive and store a plurality of tool members. With reference to
The multipurpose tool 20 can include a variety of tool members. For example, the multipurpose tool can include a tool member 26 having pivotable jaws 24, such as the pliers described above. Although not heretofore described, the tool member having pivotable jaws can also include wire cutters and/or wire strippers, or scissors, if desired. Additionally, the multipurpose tool of the embodiment depicted in
In order to facilitate the rotation of a tool member, for example, the knife blade 30 from its stowed position, the knife blade can define an opening 70, typically opposite the cutting edge 72, that a user can grasp in order to rotate the knife blade outwardly away from the handle 22. In order to prevent access to the cutting edge of the knife blade while the knife blade is in a folded position, the scale or sidewall 28 that is attached or otherwise integral to the frame of the respective handle covers the cutting edge of the knife blade while the knife blade is in a folded position.
The multipurpose tool 20 can also include additional tool members 74, such as a screwdriver, bit driver, bottle opener, can opener, saw, razor, tweezers, gut hook or the like, that are folded into the channel defined by a handle 22.
An assembled tool may be provided to the user with a separate tool member that has not yet been assembled with the remainder of the tool, but that the user can install into the tool if desired. As such, a user may utilize the tool without the separate tool member if the user does not have any use for the separate tool member and, instead, desires a lighter and less complex tool. However, if the user desires to use the separate tool member, the user may install the separate tool member so as to add its functionality to that of the multipurpose tool. For purposes of the description, the separate tool member may include, but is not limited to, for example, a knife blade.
In order to facilitate the insertion of the separate tool member, the tool is provided with an opening or channel defined by the handle and configured to receive the separate tool member. Although the opening or cavity in the handle of the assembled tool can be left empty when the separate tool member is not installed, in some instances, it may be desirable to insert a temporary filler or cover (e.g., a plastic or metal piece) over or within the cavity that can be removed prior to installing the separate tool member.
In such a tool, the tool includes an axle 34 upon which the separate tool member (and in some embodiments other tool member(s)) is rotatably mounted in an instance in which a user wishes to install the separate tool member in the multipurpose tool. In order to facilitate installation, the separate tool member has a tang 52 with an open slot 50, as shown in
When the slots of the tang are aligned with the flats of the axle and the tang of the tool member is slid onto the axle, the separate tool member is retained on the axle as a result of the separate tool member engaging a lock feature 44 of the tool, as described below. In the illustrated embodiment, the separate tool member also has a retention feature on at least one side which is engaged by a spring loaded lock, such as a liner lock, a frame lock, etc., to retain the tool member within the tool following installation of the separate tool member. The retention feature may be configured in various manners, but, in the illustrated embodiment, is a concentric step feature 46, such as a coined step feature, as shown in
Once the open slot 50 of the separate tool member has been slid onto the axle 34, the lock is disposed within, e.g., snaps into, the step feature 46 so as to retain the separate tool member. As shown in
As the separate tool member rotates from an open to a closed position, the retention edge of the lock 42 slides along the step feature 46 of the separate tool member, as shown in
As discussed above, the user will have the option to install a separate tool member onto the tool following purchase and/or delivery of the tool. Thus, the user can tailor the tool as desired. As such, a method of installing a tool member onto an already assembled tool is provided. If a filler or cover has been inserted into the opening on the handle, it should be removed prior to installation of the separate tool member. In such a method, the tool member is aligned such that the open slot 50 on the tang 52 of the tool member slides onto the axle 34 of the handle, as illustrated in
In some cases, a guard may be carried by the separate tool member during installation. In the example of a knife blade, a blade guard 68 may be used, such as one shown in
When the tool member of a tool is in the open position, the tool member may be locked open, as depicted in
As shown in
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
