Folding multipurpose pocket tool with floating springs

• US 7,415,745 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Rivera, Benjamin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas; David B
• Application Number:
  US11/800,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20070209121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 7125-129, 715/1, 715/2, 7154-158, 713/2, 713/4, 7165-168, 814/275, 811/774, 811/776, 814/15, 814/18, 814/89, 814/90, 301/52, 301/56, 301/60, 301/61
• US Class Current: 7/128
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/008 comprising electronic or electrical features, e.g. illuminating means, computing devices or sensors

Abstract

A folding multipurpose hand tool including folding pliers or scissors and other tool blades and bits. A pair of handles each has a pivot axle at each end. A base of each pliers jaw or scissors blade is mounted on the pivot axle at one end of a handle, allowing the handles to fold around the jaws to blades to a compact folded configuration of the tool. Each handle has frame side members with attached flanges. Elongate springs lie between the handle frame side members and fit around the flanges, rather than being riveted to the handle frame side members. The springs press against the base of each pliers jaw or other tool blade, to keep each in a folded position or support it in a deployed position. One end of a spring may be hooked around a spring retainer at one end of the handle. The pivot axles interconnect the handle frame side members and the jaws, blades, or tool bits.

Claims

1. A subassembly for a folding tool, comprising:

(a) a first frame side member having a pair of opposite ends and having a laterally-extending support member attached thereto between said opposite ends and extending from said first frame side member on a first side thereof;

(b) a tool pivot located on said first side of said first frame side member proximate a first one of said opposite ends thereof;

(c) a spring-supporting element, located adjacent said first frame side member on said first side thereof, at a second one of said opposite ends thereof;

(d) a first tool member having a base portion mounted on said tool pivot for pivoting movement between first and second positions with respect to said frame side member; and

(e) a first elongate spring having a pair of longitudinally opposite end portions and a central portion, said central portion being engaged with and supported by said laterally-extending support member, a first one of said opposite end portions of said spring resting on said base portion of said first tool member, and the other one of said opposite end portions of said spring resting on said spring-supporting element.

2. The subassembly of claim 1 wherein said laterally-extending support member has an inner side and a pair of opposite end faces, wherein said central portion of said spring includes a back side resting on said inner side of said laterally-extending support member and a pair of abutment shoulders each located adjacent and facing toward a respective one of said end faces of said laterally-extending support member, said end faces of said laterally-extending support member and said abutment shoulders of said spring cooperatively restricting longitudinal movement of said spring with respect to said laterally-extending support member.

3. The subassembly of claim 2, further comprising a second said elongate spring located alongside said first spring, and wherein said second spring includes a central portion having a back side resting on said inner side of said laterally-extending support member and a pair of abutment shoulders each adjacent and facing toward a respective one of said end faces of said laterally-extending support member, and wherein said first tool member is a pliers jaw having a base and a respective first end portion of each of said elongate springs presses on said base of said pliers jaw at said first end of said frame side member.

4. The subassembly of claim 1, said handle including a second frame side member having a pair of opposite ends and located a distance apart from said first frame member, said tool pivot being connected with both of said first and second frame side members.

5. The subassembly of claim 1 wherein said opposite end portions of said first elongate spring are elastically biased to press, respectively, against said base portion of said first tool member and against said spring-supporting element.

6. The subassembly of claim 1, wherein said spring-supporting element is a base portion of a second tool member mounted on and movable pivotally about a second tool pivot.

7. The subassembly of claim 1 including a retainer located on said tool pivot and alongside said spring and said first tool member, on a side thereof opposite said frame side member, said retainer preventing said first spring and said first tool member from moving laterally out of engagement with each other.

8. The subassembly of claim 1, said handle including a second said frame side member connected to said laterally-extending support member and spaced apart from said first frame side member, said first and second frame side members and said laterally-extending support member thereby forming a channel shorter than each of said frame side members and located between said opposite ends of said frame side members.

9. The subassembly of claim 8, said channel being wide enough to receive said first spring and said first tool member between said first and second frame side members and being narrow enough to keep said first one of said end portions of said first spring aligned with said base portion of said first tool member.

10. The subassembly of claim 8, further comprising a second said elongate spring located alongside said first spring and a second tool member having a base portion mounted on said tool pivot proximate said first tool member, said channel being wide enough to receive both of said first and second springs and said first and second tool members between said frame side members and being narrow enough to keep said first end portions of said first and second springs aligned respectively with said base portions of said first and second tool members.

11. The subassembly of claim 8 further comprising a third said frame side member spaced apart from said first frame side member on a side thereof opposite from said second frame side member, said third frame side member having a said laterally-extending support member attached thereto and extending toward said first frame side member, said first frame side member and said third frame side member and said laterally-extending support member attached to said third frame side member defining a second channel.

12. The subassembly of claim 11, wherein said channel and said second channel face openly in opposite directions.

13. The subassembly of claim 1 wherein said first tool member is one of a pair of jawlike members.

14. The subassembly of claim 1, said handle including a second frame side member having a pair of opposite ends and a laterally-extending support member attached thereto and extending laterally therefrom, said tool pivot being connected with said second frame side member at said first one of said opposite ends thereof, said subassembly also including a second tool member located adjacent said second frame side member and including a respective base portion mounted on said tool pivot for pivoting movement thereabout between respective first and second positions with respect to said second frame side member, and said subassembly further including a second elongate spring associated with said second frame side member and said second tool member.

15. The subassembly of claim 14 further comprising a third said frame side member spaced apart from said first frame side member on a side thereof opposite from said second frame side member, said third frame side member having a said laterally-extending support member attached thereto and extending toward said first frame side member, said first frame side member, said third frame side member, and said laterally-extending support member attached to said third frame side member defining a second channel.

16. The subassembly of claim 14 wherein said tool pivot and said spring-supporting element define a plane, wherein said laterally-extending support member of said first frame side member and said laterally-extending support member of said second frame side member are located respectively on opposite sides of said plane, and wherein said first tool member moves away from said plane on a first side thereof when moving from said first position to said second position thereof, and wherein said second tool member moves away from said plane on an opposite side thereof when moving from said first position to said second position thereof.

17. The subassembly of claim 1, including a second said frame side member having a respective laterally-extending support member attached thereto, said laterally-extending support members being aligned with and extending toward each other, and said tool pivot extending through both of said frame side members at said first one of said opposite ends of each, said tool pivot holding said two frame side members parallel with each other and spaced apart from each other, said frame side members and said laterally-extending support members attached thereto thereby forming a channel shorter than each of said frame side members and located between said opposite ends of said frame side members.

18. The subassembly of claim 1 wherein three separate tool members are located on said tool pivot adjacent one another and said first frame side member, each of said tool members defining a respective nail nick, the nail nicks of said three separate tool members being located at different respective distances from said tool pivot, said distances differing from each other by at least about 2 mm.

19. A subassembly for a folding tool, comprising:

(a) a first frame side member having a pair of opposite ends defining a longitudinal axis of said frame side member;

(b) a tool pivot interconnected with said first frame side member at a first one of said opposite ends thereof;

(c) a first tool member having a base portion mounted on said tool pivot and movable about said tool pivot between a deployed position and a folded position with respect to said first frame side member;

(d) a spring support connected with said first frame side member between said opposite ends and extending laterally from said first frame side member;

(e) a spring retainer extending laterally from said first frame side member at the other one of said pair of opposite ends of said first frame side member; and

(f) an elongate spring separate from said first frame side member and having a pair of opposite first and second end portions and a middle portion, said middle portion being supported by said spring support and including a shoulder portion engaged with a first end of said spring support, thereby limiting longitudinal movement of said spring with respect to said first frame side member, said first end portion of said spring resting on said base portion of said first tool member, and said opposite second end portion of said spring including an engagement member engaged with said spring retainer.

20. The subassembly of claim 19 wherein said first tool member includes an abutment face and said first end portion of said elongate spring includes a tip that engages said abutment face and supports said tool member in said deployed position.

21. The subassembly of claim 19 wherein said spring support has a second end facing toward and located near said second one of said opposite ends of said first frame side member yet spaced far enough from said spring retainer to permit said spring to be inserted between said second end of said spring support and said spring retainer and thus to permit said engagement member to be placed into engagement with said spring retainer and to permit said shoulder to be placed into engagement with said first end of said spring support during installation of said spring into an operative position with respect to said frame side member.

22. The subassembly of claim 19, including a second frame side member parallel with said first frame side member, said spring support extending from said first frame side member to said second frame side member.

23. The subassembly of claim 22 wherein first and second frame side members and said spring support define a central channel, and wherein said elongate spring is located within said central channel.

24. The subassembly of claim 23 wherein said central channel and said elongate spring cooperatively define a storage cavity for said first tool member.

25. The subassembly of claim 19 wherein said first tool member is a first one of a pair of pliers jaws.

26. The subassembly of claim 19 wherein said first tool member is a first blade of a pair of scissors.

27. The subassembly of claim 19 wherein said elongate spring includes a hump that rests on said spring support as a fulcrum about which said spring can flex.