Multiple purpose tool

• US 6,352,010 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Victorinox AG (Victorinox Swiss Army Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Victorinox AG (Victorinox Swiss Army Incorporated)
• Inventors: Elsener, Carl, Giarritta, Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): MEISLIN, DEBRA S
• Application Number:
  US09/435,753
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 814/37--40, 811/774, 811/244, 711/8, 716/5, 716/8, 301/61, 301/64
• US Class Current: 81/177.4
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/04 wherein the elements are brought into working positions by a pivoting or sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/085 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 1/04 lockable in adjusted position
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/00 Hand knives combined with other implements, e.g. with corkscrew, with scissors, with writing implement combined table-ware A47G21/06

Abstract

This invention relates to a multi-purpose pocket tool which may incorporate for instance one or two knife blades, a Philips screwdriver, a pair of pliers, scissors, a cap remover, a can opener, tweezers and the like and, according to this invention, a bit holder shaft and a bit cartridge for single- or double-ended bits suitable for use on electrical devices and especially computers. The tool according to this invention is small in size and weight, easy to handle, and extremely versatile.

Claims

1. A pocket tool comprising:

a handle having a longitudinal axis, and a first side and a second side extending along side handle longitudinal axis;

a bit holder pivotably coupled to said handle; and

a bit cartridge pivotably couple to said handle;

wherein;

said bit holder includes a shaft with a longitudinal axis, a first end formed as a bit-holding tip, and a second end having a swivel-mounting section mounted on a spindle, wherein said shaft longitudinal axis is offset form said spindle;

a tool chamber is defined in said first side of said handle;

said bit holder and said bit cartridge are pivotable between a retracted position in said tool chamber and a tilted-out position said tool chamber; and

both said bit holder and said bit cartridge are accessible from said first side.

2. A pocket tool as in claim 1, wherein said bit holder shaft longitudinal axis is offset to permit said bit cartridge to be stored in said tool chamber below said bit holder.

3. A pocket tool as in claim 2, wherein said bit cartridge is accessible only when said bit holder is in said tilted-out position.

4. A pocket tool as in claim 1, wherein said bit holding tip includes at least two hexagonal sockets of different widths, one axially positioned behind the other.

5. A pocket tool as in claim 4, further comprising a spring element, wherein said swivel-mounting section of said bit holder shaft bears on said spring element.

6. A pocket tool as in claim 5, wherein said spring element extends over only a partial length of said handle.

7. A pocket tool as in claim 6, wherein between said swivel-mounting section of said bit holder and said spring element, impact and pressure surfaces extend at an oblique angle relative to said handle longitudinal axis.

8. A pocket tool as in claim 7, wherein:

said spring element further comprises detents; and

said detents and said swivel-mounting section of said bit holder are in the form of matched surfaces which interact to lock said bit holder in a desired position.

9. A pocket tool as in claim 8, wherein said tool chamber is formed from intermediate plates.

10. A pocket tool comprising:

a handle having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side and a central longitudinal axis equidistant from said first and second sides;

a tool chamber formed within handle;

a swivel-mounting section pivotably coupled to said handle first end about a spindle spaced from both said first side and said second side of said handle and closer to said handle center longitudinal axis than to either of said first and second sides;

a bit holder coupled to said swivel-mounting section and having a longitudinal axis; and

a bit cartridge pivotably coupled to said handle second end;

wherein;

said bit holder is coupled to said swivel-mounting section such that said bit holder longitudinal axis is offset from said spindle;

said bit holder is offset from said handle central longitudinal axis when in a retracted position such that said tool chamber is enclosed by said bit holder;

said bit cartridge is stored below said bit holder within said tool chamber;

said bit holder must be extended before said bit cartridge is accessible to be extended; and

said bit holder and said bit cartridge are accessible only from said first side of said handle.

11. The pocket tool of claim 10, further comprising a spring element having a first end coupled to said handle and a second end engaging said swivel-mounting section.

12. The pocket tool of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of additional operational elements pivotably coupled to said handle.

13. The pocket tool of claim 10, wherein said bit cartridge is shaped to hold a plurality of bits in parallel, non-collinear orientations such that said bits are independently accessible in said bit cartridge.

14. The pocket tool of claim 10, further comprising:

an operational element having a base section pivotably coupled to said handle for movement of said operational element between a retracted position within said tool chamber and a tilted-out position outside said tool chamber; and

a spring element with a first end coupled to said handle, a second end engaging said base section of said operational element, and a free end at said second end;

wherein;

said operational element base section includes a tilted-out position cam;

said second end of said spring element includes a detent spaced from said spring clement free end; and

in said tilted-out position of said operational element, said tilted-out position cam engages said detent to inhibit said operational element from returning to said tool chamber.

15. The pocket tool of claim 14, wherein in said retracted position of said operational element, said second end of said spring element engages said base section to maintain said operational element in said retracted position.

22. The pocket tool of claim 12, further comprising:

an operational element coupled to said swivel-mounting section and having a longitudinal axis; and

a spring coupled to said handle and having a locking spring end engaging said swivel-mounting section;

wherein;

said operational element is pivotable between a retracted position within said tool chamber and a tilted-out position outside said tool chamber; and

said swivel-mounting section is in the form of a circular segment with a plurality of cutouts forming cams for locking functions in conjunction with said spring.

23. The pocket tool of claim 22, wherein:

said handle first end is rounded; and

said circular segment is dimensioned to conform to the rounded shape of said handle first end such said circular segment does not extend beyond said handle first end during pivoting of said bit holder between said retracted position and said tilted-out position.

24. The pocket tool of claim 22, wherein said spring has a longitudinal axis, a first end coupled to said handle, and a second end with a protrusion extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and shaped to engage within a cutout of said swivel-mounting section to lock said operational element in a desired position.

25. The pocket tool of claim 14, wherein:

said operational element includes a shaft with a shaft base coupled to said base section;

a recess is defined in said base section between said shaft base and said tilted-out position cam; and

said free end of said spring element abuts said shaft base to prevent further tilting of said operational element out of said storage compartment.

26. The pocket tool of claim 25, wherein said second end of said spring element includes a protrusion shaped to extend into said recess in said base section of said operational element between said shaft base and said tilted-out position cam.

16. A pocket tool comprising:

a handle having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between said first and second ends, a first open side extending along said handle longitudinal axis and between said first and second sides, and a second open side extending along said handle longitudinal axis and between said first and second sides;

at least one jackplate separating said handle into at least one tool chamber; and

a bit cartridge pivotably coupled to one of said first and second ends of said handle for pivotable movement between a retracted position in said tool chamber and a tilted-out position outside said tool chamber;

wherein;

at least one retaining ridge is formed on said bit cartridge facing said jackplate;

a cutout is formed in said at least one jackplate; and

said bit cartridge retaining ridge engages said jackplate cutout to prevent said bit cartridge from extending out of said handle through said second open side of said handle.

17. A pocket tool as in claim 16, wherein said retaining ridge is accommodated within the plane of said jackplate.

18. A pocket tool as in claim 16, wherein:

said jackplate includes a first side adjacent said first open side of said handle and a second side adjacent said second open side of said handle; and

said bit cartridge has a longitudinal axis, a first side defining receptacles for bits, and a second side adjacent and accessible through said second open side of said handle when said bit cartridge is in said retracted position.

19. A pocket tool as in claim 18, wherein said second side of said bit cartridge is aligned with said second side of said jackplate when said bit cartridge is in said retracted position.

20. A pocket tool as in claim 18, wherein said receptacles are oriented transverse to said bit cartridge longitudinal axis.

21. A pocket tool as in claim 16, wherein said bit cartridge has a nosepiece adjacent said one of said first and second ends of said handle and shaped such that upon application of pressure thereto said bit cartridge is tilted out of said retracted position and into said tilted-out position.