Folding tool

• US 6,279,435 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles D. Zayat Jr
• Original Assignee: Charles D. Zayat Jr
• Inventors: Zayat, Charles D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US09/443,756
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 811/771, 811/774, 811/777, 814/40, 811/245, 811/776
• US Class Current: 81/440
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/56 Spanner sets
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/008 Allen-type keys
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/005 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/085 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners

Abstract

A multi-purpose hand tool which includes a handle body with a plurality of drive tools mounted on an axis at one end allowing various tools such as hex tools, screwdriver tools, torx tools and others to rotate for use. Pivoting folding wingbars are affixed to the handle by an axis to give additional torque to the drive tools. At the opposite end of the drive tools in the handle is a square opening to receive various independent hand and power ratchet drives. The tool incorporates lifting levers which are affixed to the handle by an axis. The levers when depressed toward the folding tool will lift the drive tools away from the handle to provide easier selection of a particular drive tool. A second embodiment has a ratchet mechanism assembly with two folding wingbars which eliminate the need for an independent ratchet handle or driver.

Claims

1. A mechanical hand tool comprising:

a cylindrical handle having a first end and a second end and an outer surface;

a drive tool being pivotably attached to said first end for selectively deploying said drive tool in an operational mode from a stored position in which said drive tool lies alongside said handle in a lever slot to an operative position in which said drive tool extends beyond said first end of said handle,

wherein said lever slot is located in the outer surface of the handle adapted to house a lifting lever which is rotably attached near said second end of the handle, wherein said lifting lever comprises a drive tool surface end and a contact surface end on the upper surface and a folding tool surface on the under surface wherein the lifting lever is operational by depressing said contact surface end to rotate said drive tool toward the operative position;

a bar slot in the outer surface of said handle extending from near said first end towards said second end,

the bar slot housing a wingbar, the wingbar pivotally attached to said handle at a rotation end of said wingbar and having a free end opposite said rotation end and adapted to be deployed between a storage position substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said handle and an operative position outwardly and laterally extending from said handle.

2. The hand tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a square opening in the second end of the handle for engaging a ratchet driver.

3. The hand tool of claim 1 further comprising:

said handle having a second bar slot displaced approximately 180 degrees from said bar slot wherein said second bar slot houses a second wingbar.

4. The hand tool of claim 1 further comprising:

said handle having a second lever slot displaced approximately 180 degrees from said lever slot housing a second lifting lever and housing at least one additional drive tool.

5. The hand tool of claim 1 further comprising:

said bar slot having a tapered slot end and adjacent bar access depression on the end near the first end of said handle.

6. The wingbar as claimed in claim 1 having a tapered tip on said free end.

7. The hand tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of drive tools housed in the lever slot of the handle.