Multifunction tool

• US 5,062,173 A
• Filed: 07/05/1990
• Issued: 11/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SOG Specialty Knives Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SOG Specialty Knives Incorporated
• Inventors: Collins, Michael C., Collins, Walter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US07/550,798
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 81/415, 81/427.5, 30/255, 7/126-130, 7/167, 7/118
• US Class Current: 7/118
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 7/00 Pliers; Other hand-held gripping tools with jaws on pivoted limbs; Details applicable generally to pivoted-limb hand tools implements for fastening, connecting, or tensioning wire or strip B25B25/00; adapted for other fitting or separating purposes B25B27/00; for marking animals A01K11/00; dentists' forceps A61C3/00; bending wire eyes B21F1/06; hand-held metal-shearing or metal-cutting devices B23D29/00; hand cutting tools B26B; for punching or perforating B26F1/36; devices for securing ends of binding material in bundling machines B65B13/24; specially designed for watch-making or comparable work G04D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 7/22 Pliers provided with auxiliary tool elements, e.g. cutting edges, nail extractors for removing insulation or armouring from electric cables H02G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/003 of pliers'-, scissors'- or wrench-type with at least one movable jaw B25F1/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/04 wherein the elements are brought into working positions by a pivoting or sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/003 having folding handles

Abstract

A multifunction or combination tool having a screw driver, a wrench, a saw blade, a serrated blade, a metal file, and a knife blade divided into two groups, color-coded, and rotatably mounted in recesses in a two part handle, and a pair of pliers also rotatably mounted in the recesses of the handle, one pliers in each handle part so that the pliers can be rotated out of the recess and used in a range of positions at an angle from the handles as well as fully extended with or without rotating any of the remaining instruments. A latch attached to the pliers holds the two handle parts together when the pliers is not in use. The screw driver is adapted for turning both a phillips head and a flat head screw. Spring washers are used to separate the various implements and allow the compression of them to fit a set of implements into the handles of the multifunction tool.

Claims

1. A tool comprising:

a left pliers;

a right pliers;

a first pivot means for pivotally interconnecting said left and said right pliers so that said left pliers and said right pliers can cooperatively hold an object therebetween, said left and said right pliers pivoting about a first axis;

a left handle having a first recess dimensioned to receive said left pliers;

a second pivot means for pivotally attaching said left handle to said right pliers, said right pliers and said left handle pivoting about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis;

a right handle having a second recess dimensioned to receive said right pliers;

a third pivot means for pivotally attaching said right handle to said left pliers, said left pliers and said right handle pivoting about a third axis perpendicular to said first axis and aligned with said second axis so that said left and said right pliers rotate together about said second and said third axes, respectively, from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position whereby said left pliers is received into said first recess of said left handle and said right pliers is received into said second recess of said right handle;

said left and said right pliers openable and closable by separating and bringing together said left and said right handles,

said left and right pliers cooperating to hold said object over a range of positions between said fully extended position and near said fully retracted position; and

latching means for holding said left handle and said right handle together when said left and said right pliers are in said retracted position in said left and right handles, respectively,

said latching means unlocking when said left and said right pliers are rotated to the extended position.

2. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a first group of at least one instrument;

a fourth pivot means in said left handle for rotatably attaching said first group to said left handle;

said left handle further comprising a third recess dimensioned to receive said first group;

said at least one instrument of said first group rotatable from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position whereby said at least one instrument of said first group is received into said third recess of said left handle.

3. The tool of claim 2 further comprising:

a second group of at least one instrument;

a fifth pivot means in said right handle for rotatably attaching said second group to said right handle;

said right handle further comprising a fourth recess dimensioned to receive said second group;

said at least one member of said second group rotatable about said fifth axis from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position whereby said at least one member of said second group is received into said fourth recess of said right handle.

4. The tool of claim 2 wherein said first group includes a screw driver means for turning a phillips head screw and a flat head screw.

5. The tool of claim 4 wherein said screw driver means comprises:

an elongated member having a first end and a second end,

said first end rotatably attached to said fourth pivot means, and

said second end having a generally rectangular cross-section, said cross-section reduced in size toward said second end to form a taper so that said second end fits a slot of a flat head screw and any two opposing slots of a phillips head screw.

6. The tool of claim 2 wherein said first group includes a wrench means, said wrench means comprising an elongated piece of metal having a first end and a second end,

said first end rotatably attached to said fourth pivot means, and

said second end comprising at least one wrench-shaped cut.

7. The tool of claim 2 wherein said instruments of said first group and said instruments of said second group include a knife, a serrated blade, a saw blade, a metal file, a wrench, and a screwdriver.

8. The tool of claim 2 wherein said instruments and said left and right pliers are color-coded.

9. The tool of claim 1 wherein said left handle and said right handle are made of a moldable, glass reinforced material.

10. A tool comprising:

a handle having a recess;

a pliers;

a means for rotatably attaching said pliers to said handle so that said pliers rotates into and out of said recess from a retracted to an extended position,

said pliers operable when rotated to a position intermediate between said retracted and said extended positions,

said pliers operable with one hand;

a screwdriver;

a means for rotatably attaching said screwdriver to said handle so that said screwdriver may be rotated without rotating said pliers,

said screwdriver dimensioned to fit a slot of a flat head screw and any two opposing slots of a phillips head screw;

a wrench;

a means for rotatably attaching said wrench so that said wrench may be rotated without rotating said pliers;

a knife blade;

a metal file;

a serrated blade; and

a saw blade.

11. A tool comprising:

a left handle having a first recess;

a right handle opposing said left handle, said right handle having a second recess;

a plurality of instruments divided into a first group and a second group, said first group positioned in said first recess, said second group positioned in said second recess;

means for rotatably attaching said first group to said left handle and said second group to said right handle so that each instrument of said first group may be rotated out of said first recess and each instrument of said second group may be rotated out of said second recess of said second recess;

a latch for securing said left handle to said right handle;

a first cooperative instrument of said first group;

a second cooperative instrument of said second group, said first cooperative instrument and said second cooperative instrument connected together so that as said first cooperative instrument is rotated from said first recess said second cooperative instrument is rotated from said second recess, said latch attached to said first cooperative instrument, said first and said second cooperative instruments cooperating together for performing a function.

12. The tool of claim 11 wherein said instruments are color-coded.

13. The tool of claim 11 wherein said first and said second handles are made of a moldable, glass reinforced material.