Foldable tool with single beam construction

• US 7,140,280 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Bicycle Tools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bicycle Tools Incorporated
• Inventors: Ostor, Pierre A. G., Hawkins, Eric H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Monica
• Application Number:
  US10/907,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20050183552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 814/40, 811/245, 712/8, 713/8, 716/6, 716/8
• 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: B25B 27/0071 for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/085 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners

Abstract

A foldable tool kit having a body constructed of a single elongate member to which is secured a plurality of individual tools pivotally movable about a pin between a folded position and a working position.

Claims

1. A tool kit, comprising:

a body member, said body member comprising a single elongate member;

a first pin supported by said single elongate member with at least a portion of said first pin cantilevered outwardly and substantially transverse to said single elongate member;

a first plurality of tools pivotally supported on said cantilevered portion of said first pin such that said first plurality of tools are movable about said cantilevered portion between a working position and a folded position;

a second pin supported by said single elongate member with at least a portion of said second pin cantilevered outwardly and substantially transverse to said single elongate member;

a second plurality of tools pivotally supported on said cantilevered portion of said second pin such that said second plurality of tools are movable about said cantilevered portion between a working position and a folded position.

2. The tool kit of claim 1 wherein said first pin is disposed proximate a first end of said single elongate member.

3. The tool kit of claim 1 wherein said second pin is disposed proximate a second end of said single elongate member.

4. The tool kit of claim 1 further comprising:

a first tool stop extending substantially transverse to said single elongate member and whereby said first tool stop prevents said first plurality of tools from pivoting about said cantilevered portion of said first pin in one direction past said folded position.

5. The tool kit of claim 4 further comprising:

a second tool stop extending substantially transverse to said elongate member and whereby said second tool stop prevents said second plurality of tools from pivoting about said cantilevered portion of said second pin in one direction past said folded position.

6. The tool kit of claim 1 wherein both ends of said first pin extend outwardly and substantially transverse to said single elongate member on opposing sides of said single elongate member.

7. The tool kit of claim 1 wherein both ends of said second pin extend outwardly and substantially transverse to said single elongate member on opposing sides of said single elongate member.

8. The tool kit of claim 1 wherein one of said first and second plurality of tools includes hex wrenches.

9. The tool kit of claim 1 wherein one of said first and second plurality of tools includes a chain tool.

10. The tool kit of claim 1 further including a tire lever.

11. The tool kit of claim 10 further including means for removably attaching said tire lever to said elongate member.

12. The tool kit of claim 11 wherein said means for removably attaching said tire lever to said elongate member further cooperates with secondary tools.

13. A combination tool, comprising:

a single elongate body member;

a first pin having a cantilevered portion supported by and extending in a substantially transverse direction away from said single elongate body member;

a first plurality of tools pivotally supported in adjacent relation on said cantilevered portion such that said first plurality of tools are movable about said cantilevered portion between a working position and a folded position;

at least one biasing member supported on said cantilevered portion;

a head secured at a free end of said cantilevered portion and disposed so as to cause said at least one biasing member to bias individual tools of said first plurality of tools in frictional engagement, thereby minimizing movement of said individual tools in said transverse direction.

14. The combination tool of claim 13 wherein said at least one biasing member is a compression washer.

15. The combination tool of claim 14 further including spacers disposed between said adjacent individual tools of said first plurality of tools.

16. The combination tool of claim 13 wherein said first pin is removably secured to said single elongate body member.

17. The combination tool of claim 13 further comprising:

a second pin having a cantilevered portion supported by and extending in a substantially transverse direction away from said single elongate body member;

a second plurality of tools pivotally supported in adjacent relation on said cantilevered portion of said second pin such that said second plurality of tools are movable about said cantilevered portion of said second pin between a working position and a folded position;

at least one biasing member supported on said cantilevered portion of said second pin;

a head secured at a free end of said cantilevered portion of said second pin and disposed so as to cause said at least one biasing member to bias individual tools of said second plurality of tools in frictional engagement, thereby minimizing movement of said individual tools of said second plurality of tools in said transverse direction.

18. The combination tool of claim 13 further comprising:

a first tool stop extending substantially transverse to said single elongate body member and whereby said first tool stop prevents said first plurality of tools from pivoting about said cantilevered portion of said first pin in one direction past said folded position.

19. The tool kit of claim 17 further comprising:

a second tool stop extending substantially transverse to said single elongate body member and whereby said second tool stop prevents said second plurality of tools from pivoting about said cantilevered portion of said second pin in one direction past said folded position.

20. The tool kit of claim 19 wherein one of said first and second plurality of tools includes hex wrenches.

21. The tool kit of claim 19 wherein one of said first and second plurality of tools includes a chain tool.

22. The tool kit of claim 13 further including a tire lever.

23. The tool kit of claim 22 further including means for removably attaching said tire lever to said single elongate body member.

24. The tool kit of claim 23 wherein said means for removably attaching said tire lever to said elongate member further cooperates with secondary tools.