RATCHET WITH STORAGE IN HANDLE
First Claim
1. A hand tool having an elongated handle body, and at least two storage racks longitudinally mounted in a corresponding recess in said handle body, pivotable from a closed position wherein an outer surface of said at least two storage racks cooperates with said handle body to define a handle for the tool, and an open position wherein said at least two storage racks extend outwardly from said handle body, exposing accessory storage means on said at least two storage racks;
- wherein at least two of the said at least two storage racks pivot from a common pivot point.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A storage rack pivots outwardly from a corresponding longitudinal recess in the handle of the tool. The storage rack accommodates tool accessories or the like, such as sockets where the tool is a ratchet. The storage rack has an outer surface which defines part of the handle when the storage rack is closed. Alternatively, there could be several storage racks each with different pivot points, or two racks pivoting in opposite directions and sharing a common pivot point. Preferably, the handle is of plastic, and in the case of a ratchet, is overmolded onto a metal ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism has an irregular external shape, or splines or the like, to accept torque without slipping or separating from the plastic handle portion.
52 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A hand tool having an elongated handle body, and at least two storage racks longitudinally mounted in a corresponding recess in said handle body, pivotable from a closed position wherein an outer surface of said at least two storage racks cooperates with said handle body to define a handle for the tool, and an open position wherein said at least two storage racks extend outwardly from said handle body, exposing accessory storage means on said at least two storage racks;
wherein at least two of the said at least two storage racks pivot from a common pivot point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16)
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3. (canceled)
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4. (canceled)
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5. (canceled)
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6. (canceled)
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10. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
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13. (canceled)
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17. A hand tool having an elongated handle body, and at least two storage racks longitudinally mounted in a corresponding recess in said handle body, pivotable from a closed position wherein an outer surface of said at least two storage racks cooperate with said handle body to define a handle for the tool, and an open position wherein said at least two storage racks extends outwardly from said handle body, exposing accessory storage means on said at least two storage racks;
wherein the at least two storage racks pivot from different pivot points, the different pivot points being located along a longitudinal axis of the hand tool.
Specification