Multipurpose handheld tool and associated method

• US 8,015,642 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dennis C. Oakley
• Original Assignee: Dennis C. Oakley
• Inventors: Oakley, Dennis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas; David B
• Application Number:
  US12/384,045
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 7154-156, 81/30.9, 81/34.5
• US Class Current: 7/156
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/04 wherein the elements are brought into working positions by a pivoting or sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/00 Hand knives combined with other implements, e.g. with corkscrew, with scissors, with writing implement combined table-ware A47G21/06
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/001 of the Swiss-knife type

Abstract

A multipurpose handheld tool includes a casing having a cavity and two flanges at the end of the casing, and a variety of tools pivotally coupled to the casing. Each of the tools is independently articulated along a unique arcuate path defined between retracted and deployed positions. The apparatus include a plurality of tools such as a wine knife with a lemon skin peeler; a serrated cutting utensil; a can opener; and a bottle cap popper preferably having a concave curvilinear edge and a clock positioned at the proximal end of the casing. In particular, one of the tools is a bifurcated wine key lever having two members held together by a resilient metal band. A writing utensil and a retractable flashlight are also provided.

Claims

1. A multifunctional hand-operable tool for use in restaurant environments, said multifunctional hand-operable tool comprising:

a casing having a cavity defined therein; and

a plurality of tools pivotally coupled to said casing, each of said tools being independently articulated along a unique arcuate path defined between retracted and deployed positions;

wherein one of said tools includes a bifurcated wine key lever having first and second members resiliently biased along a fulcrum axis traversing a longitudinal length of said wine key lever, said wine key lever being configured in such a manner that said first and second members are aligned along a rectilinear path when pivoted to said retracted position;

wherein said wine key lever remains exposed exterior of said casing while positioned at said retracted and deployed positions respectively;

wherein said casing comprises anterior and posterior plates equidistantly spaced apart along a major longitudinal length of said casing such that said cavity maintains a uniform thickness along entire respective longitudinal lengths of said anterior and posterior plates.

2. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 1, wherein said wine key lever further comprises:

first and second slots formed adjacent to conjoining edges of said first and second members respectively; and

a band positioned through said first and second slots and wrapped about said conjoining edges of said first and second members respectively;

wherein said band is deformably resilient and configured in such a manner that a resistive force is exerted against said first member when said wine key lever is pivotally offset along said fulcrum axes;

wherein said fulcrum axis is defined along said conjoining edges of said first and second members respectively.

3. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second flange portions directly coupled to proximal and distal ends of said casing respectively, each of said flange portions axially extending away from said casing and facing axially opposed directions respectively.

4. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 3, wherein said tools further comprise:

a plurality of tools selected from a group of tools comprising

a wine knife provided with a lemon skin peeler situated at said first flange portion;

a serrated cutting utensil situated adjacent to said proximal end and juxtaposed adjacent to said first flange portion;

a corkscrew situated adjacent to said wine key lever;

a can opener situated at said distal end of said casing and being juxtaposed adjacent to said second flange portion; and

any combination thereof.

5. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a bottle cap popper having a concave curvilinear edge.

6. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a clock positioned at said proximal end of said casing.

7. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a rectilinear slot formed in said anterior face of said casing; and

an ink pen removably positioned within said slot, said ink pen being countersunk within said slot while housed at a stored position.

8. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a retractable flashlight attached to said casing, said retractable flashlight comprising

a body provided with a light-emitting source located at a distal end thereof; and

a switch and a power source communicatively coupled thereto;

wherein said body is automatically displaced to a deployed position when said switch is linearly biased along an axial path defined parallel to a longitudinal length of said casing;

wherein said switch is toggled to an open position while said body is at said deployed position;

wherein said switch is toggled to a closed position while said body is linearly biased to a retracted position.

9. A multifunctional hand-operable tool for use in restaurant environments, said multifunctional hand-operable tool comprising:

a casing having a cavity defined therein; and

a plurality of tools pivotally coupled to said casing, each of said tools being independently articulated along a unique arcuate path defined between retracted and deployed positions;

wherein one of said tools includes a bifurcated wine key lever having first and second members resiliently biased along a fulcrum axis traversing a longitudinal length of said wine key lever, said wine key lever being configured in such a manner that said first and second members are aligned along a rectilinear path when pivoted to said retracted position;

wherein said wine key lever remains exposed exterior of said casing while positioned at said retracted and deployed positions respectively;

wherein said second member is pivotally coupled directly to said casing and said first member remains spaced from said casing while said wine key lever is biased to said deployed position;

wherein said casing comprises anterior and posterior plates equidistantly spaced apart along a major longitudinal length of said casing such that said cavity maintains a uniform thickness along entire respective longitudinal lengths of said anterior and posterior plates.

10. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 9, wherein said wine key lever further comprises:

first and second slots formed adjacent to conjoining edges of said first and second members respectively; and

a band positioned through said first and second slots and wrapped about said conjoining edges of said first and second members respectively;

wherein said band is deformably resilient and configured in such a manner that a resistive force is exerted against said first member when said wine key lever is pivotally offset along said fulcrum axes;

wherein said fulcrum axis is defined along said conjoining edges of said first and second members respectively.

11. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 9, further comprising:

first and second flange portions directly coupled to proximal and distal ends of said casing respectively, each of said flange portions axially extending away from said casing and facing axially opposed directions respectively.

12. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 11, wherein said tools further comprise:

a plurality of tools selected from a group of tools comprising

a wine knife provided with a lemon skin peeler situated at said first flange portion;

a serrated cutting utensil situated adjacent to said proximal end and juxtaposed adjacent to said first flange portion;

a corkscrew situated adjacent to said wine key lever;

a can opener situated at said distal end of said casing and being juxtaposed adjacent to said second flange portion; and

any combination thereof.

13. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 9, further comprising:

a bottle cap popper having a concave curvilinear edge.

14. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 9, further comprising:

a clock positioned at said proximal end of said casing.

15. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 9, further comprising:

a rectilinear slot formed in said anterior face of said casing; and

an ink pen removably positioned within said slot, said ink pen being countersunk within said slot while housed at a stored position.

16. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 9, further comprising:

a retractable flashlight attached to said casing, said retractable flashlight comprising

a body provided with a light-emitting source located at a distal end thereof; and

a switch and a power source communicatively coupled thereto;

wherein said body is automatically displaced to a deployed position when said switch is linearly biased along an axial path defined parallel to a longitudinal length of said casing;

wherein said switch is toggled to an open position while said body is at said deployed position;

wherein said switch is toggled to a closed position while said body is linearly biased to a retracted position.