Pivoted sleeve screw driver pocket tool

• US 6,260,453 B1
• Filed: 01/26/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anderson Family LLC
• Original Assignee: Paolo Cassutti, Wayne Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Wayne, Cassutti, Paolo
• Primary Examiner(s): MEISLIN, DEBRA S
• Application Number:
  US09/237,457
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 814/37--40, 301/23, 301/51, 301/64, 301/55, 301/61, 711/8, 716/5, 716/8
• US Class Current: 81/440
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/008 Allen-type keys
• 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 1/02 with interchangeable or adjustable tool elements
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/04 wherein the elements are brought into working positions by a pivoting or sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/043 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 7/901 Magnetic feature

Abstract

A pocket tool has a handle with a first sleeve pivotally connected at one end of the handle for pivoting the first sleeve from an inoperable position to an operable position, and a second sleeve slidably disposed in the first sleeve with 4 tool bits slidably disposed in the second sleeve and the first and second sleeves providing 3 hexagonal openings to provide a multiple drive tool, and a second tool is pivotally connected at the end of the handle for pivoting from an inoperable position to an operable position. The pocket tool is operable as a multiple drive tool or a second tool.

Claims

1. A hand tool comprising:

a handle;

first and second pluralities of tool bits;

a first sleeve and means for pivotally connecting the first sleeve to the handle, said handle comprising spaced parallel elongated sides, said handle having opposite ends, and said means for pivotally connecting said first sleeve being disposed adjacent one of said handle ends, further comprising a second first sleeve and means for pivotally connecting said second first sleeve at the other end of the handle, said first sleeves having respective central axes, each said first sleeve comprising an inner sleeve for slidably removably nonrotatably holding one of said pluralities of tool bits, said first sleeves being pivotally connected to said handle so as to be pivoted from an inoperable position in the handle to an operable position disposed away from the handle, said first sleeves central axes being in parallel disposition in respective inoperable positions in said handle.

2. The hand tool of claim 1 said handle being elongated and comprising a central axis disposed between the sides, and each said first sleeve central axis being in parallel disposition to the central axis of the handle when in the inoperable position.

3. The hand tool of claim 1, said handle being elongated and comprising a central axis disposed between the sides, each said first sleeve central axes being angularly disposed to said handle central axis in the inoperable positions so as to provide a compact multiple bit drive hand tool.

4. The hand tool of claim 1, said hand tool comprises a pocket tool.

5. A hand tool comprising:

a handle;

a first tool comprising;

sleeve means comprising a first sleeve, and means for pivotally connecting the sleeve means to the handle so that the sleeve means is pivotable from an inoperable position adjacent the handle to an operable position disposed away from the handle, said handle comprising spaced parallel elongated sides, said handle having opposite ends, and said means for pivotally connecting said sleeve means being disposed adjacent one of said handle ends, said first sleeve being formed with an open end, said sleeve means further comprising a second sleeve, said second sleeve being slidably nonrotatably removably received in said first sleeve open end, tool bit members, each tool bit member having a body portion and oppositely disposed tool, bits such that said tool bit members comprise, 4 tool bits, and said first sleeve open end comprises a hexagonal opening and the second sleeve having opposite ends each comprising a hexagonal opening so that said first and second sleeves comprise 3 hexagonal openings, each tool bit member being slidably non-rotatably dispositional in each end of said second sleeve, and wherein one tool bit is operably disposed in the second sleeve when disposed in the first sleeve in the first tool operable position;

further comprising a second tool, and means for pivotally connecting said second tool at the other end of the handle, said second tool being pivotally connected to said handle so as to be pivoted from an inoperable position adjacent the handle to an operable position disposed away from the handle;

whereby the hand tool is operable as a first tool or a second tool.

6. The hand tool of claim 5, said first sleeve comprising an inner hexagonal configuration and said second sleeve comprising an outer hexagonal configuration so that the second sleeve is contactingly non-rotatably disposed within said first sleeve.

7. The hand tool of claim 5, said sleeve means being pivotable about 180°

from said inoperable position to said operable position.

8. The hand tool of claim 5, said second sleeve being of unitary one-piece construction.

9. The hand tool of claim 5, said first sleeve being cylindrical and being formed with an end portion oppositely disposed from the open end, and said means for pivotally connecting the sleeve means being disposed in said end portion.

10. The hand tool of claim 5, said second tool having an operable portion oppositely disposed from said means for pivotally connecting said second tool, said first tool tool bits lie In a first plane and said second tool operable portion lies in a second plane, wherein said planes are in parallel disposition with said first and second tools disposed in respective inoperable positions adjacent the handle, whereby the hand tool is pocket stowable.

11. The hand tool of claim 5, said second tool operable portion being formed with a non-circular hole, and wherein one of said tool bits being operably received in said second tool non-circular hole.