Radial foldout tool

• US 8,925,429 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wagic, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wagic, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Ronald L., Gallegos, Robert J., Escobar, Steven Simas, Hudson, Anders Scot, Ruiz, Idriss Mansouri-Chafik, Lockhart, Yugen Patrick, Wilson, Howard Allen, Colton, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller, Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US12/009,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,546 Days
• Field of Search: 81436-440, 814/90, 811/774, 811/776, 811/772, D81/05, D8 82- 85, 711/8
• US Class Current: 81/440
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/06 of socket type
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/005 with cross- or star-shaped cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/007 with blade of flat or substantially flat cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/008 Allen-type keys
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/04 wherein the elements are brought into working positions by a pivoting or sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/066 the grip itself being angularly adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/08 with provision for storing tool elements
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/085 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/001 of the Swiss-knife type

Abstract

A radial foldout tool includes a body with opposing ends and one or more sets of tool drivers. A first set of tool drivers are positioned on/near a first end and a second set of tool drivers are positioned on/near a second end. The tool drivers are contained within channels of the body when in a closed position. The tool drivers are also contained in a plurality of planes. The tool drivers open by rotating/moving in a direction at least perpendicular to a neighboring tool driver. When they are in an open position, each of the tool drivers are in/near the center of the end of the body. By being positioned in/near the center of the end, the radial foldout tool is able to be gripped and turned in a fashion similar to a standard screwdriver.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical body having a center, a first round end and a second round end, wherein the first end and the second end are positioned on opposite ends of the body;

b. a first set of tool drivers positioned within the body in a plurality of planes, wherein each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers is configured to be positioned out of the first round end in an open position, wherein each tool driver is prevented from opening past an angle of 180 degrees and all of each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers that extends outward from the body, extends parallel to, and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the body of the device when placed in the open position; and

c. a second set of tool drivers positioned within the body in the plurality of planes, wherein the second set of tool drivers are configured to be positioned out of the second end,

wherein at least one tool driver of the first set of the tool drivers and one tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned in a first channel and at least one tool driver of the first set of the tool drivers and one tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned in a second channel, each of the first channel and the second channel comprising a first side, a second side and a bottom and further wherein a plurality of tool drivers in the first set of tool drivers are capable of being placed in the open position at the same time.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first set of tool drivers and the second set of tool drivers are positioned within the body in a closed position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein each tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned out of the second end in an open position.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein each tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned generally in the center of the second end in an open position.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein a first tool driver of the first set of tool drivers is in the same plane as a second tool driver of the second set of tool drivers.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the body includes a set of channels for the first set of tool drivers and the second set of tool drivers to be positioned in the closed position.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers is positioned at least 90°

around the circumference of the first end away from a neighboring tool driver of the first set and each tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned at least 90°

around the circumference of the second end away from a neighboring tool driver of the second set and each tool driver of the set.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the first set of tool drivers and the second set of tool drivers are selected from the group consisting of hexagonal wrenches, screwdrivers, socket wrenches and star-shaped drivers.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers is a different tool driver.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a stop within the body for preventing each of the first set of tool drivers from opening further than 180°

.

11. A device comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical body having a center, the body including;

i. a plurality of planes;

ii. a first round end; and

iii. a second round end, wherein the first end and the second end are positioned on opposite ends of the body;

b. a first set of tool drivers, wherein each tool driver is prevented from opening past an angle of 180 degrees and wherein all of each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers that extends outward from the body, extends parallel to, and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the body of the device when placed in an open position and further wherein the first set of tool drivers are configured to be positioned out of the first round end in the open position; and

c. a second set of tool drivers, wherein each tool driver is prevented from opening past an angle of 180 degrees and wherein all of each tool driver of the second set of tool drivers that extends outward from the body, extends parallel to, and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the body of the device when placed in an open position and further wherein the first set of tool drivers are configured to be positioned out of the second round end in the open position,

wherein at least one tool driver of the first set of the tool drivers and one tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned in a first channel and at least one tool driver of the first set of the tool drivers and one tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned in a second channel, each of the first channel and the second channel comprising a first side, a second side and a bottom and further wherein a plurality of tool drivers in the first set of tool drivers are capable of being placed in the open position at the same time.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the first set of tool drivers and the second set of tool drivers are positioned within the body in a closed position.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein a first tool driver of the first set of tool drivers is in the same plane as a second tool driver of the second set of tool drivers.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the body includes a set of channels for the first set of tool drivers and the second set of tool drivers to be positioned in the closed position.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers and the second set of tool drivers is positioned in the open position by rotation in a direction away from the first plane and the second plane, respectively.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the first set of tool drivers and the second set of tool drivers are selected from the group consisting of hexagonal wrenches, screwdrivers, socket wrenches and star-shaped drivers.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers is a different tool driver.

18. The device of claim 11 further comprising a stop within the body for preventing each of the first set of tool drivers and the second set of tool drivers from opening further than 180°

.

19. A generally cylindrical tool handle having a body with a center, a first round end and a second round end and a generally cylindrical surface, the handle including a plurality of tool drivers each of a differing size in a plurality of planes, wherein each of the plurality of tool drivers comprises a continuously linear portion coupled with the tool handle and including a proximal end for engaging an object wherein each tool driver is prevented from opening past an angle of 180 degrees and further wherein each tool driver is positioned out of one of the first round end and the round second end in an open position, wherein all of each tool driver that extends outward from the body, extends parallel to, and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the body of the tool handle when placed in the open position, and wherein a plurality of the tool drivers are positioned in a first channel and at least a plurality of the tool drivers are positioned in a second channel, each of the first channel and the second channel comprising a first side, a second side and a bottom and further wherein a plurality of tool drivers in the first set of tool drivers are capable of being placed in the open position at the same time.

20. The tool handle of claim 19 wherein the set of tool drivers are positioned within the body in a closed position.

21. The tool handle of claim 19 wherein each tool driver of the set of tool drivers is positioned at least 90°

around the circumference of one of the first end and the second end away from a neighboring tool driver.

22. The tool handle of claim 19 further comprising a stop within the body for preventing each tool driver of the set of tool drivers from opening further.

23. A device comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical body having a center, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are positioned on opposite ends of the body;

b. a first set of tool drivers positioned within the body in a plurality of planes, wherein each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers is positioned out out of the first end in an open position and wherein all of each tool driver that extends outward from the body, extends parallel to, and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the body of the device when placed in the open position and further wherein each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers is lockable into place in the open position; and

c. a second set of tool drivers positioned within the body in the plurality of planes,

wherein the second set of tool drivers are configured to be positioned out of the second end,

wherein at least one tool driver of the first set of the tool drivers and one tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned in a first channel and at least one tool driver of the first set of the tool drivers and one tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned in a second channel, each of the first channel and the second channel comprising a first side, a second side and a bottom and further wherein a plurality of tool drivers in the first set of tool drivers are capable of being placed in the open position at the same time.

24. A device comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical body having;

i. a center;

ii. a first end;

iii. a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are positioned on opposite ends of the body; and

iv. a plurality of channels positioned in a plurality of planes around an outside of the generally cylindrical body, each of the channels having a first channel portion and a second channel portion, wherein the first channel portion is at an approximately 90°

angle to the second channel portion;

b. a first set of tool drivers each positioned within one of the plurality of channels, wherein each tool driver of the first set of tool drivers has a first tool portion, a second tool portion and a bend between the first tool portion and the second tool portion, wherein when each tool driver is in a closed position, the first tool portion is in the first channel portion and the second tool portion is in the second channel portion, and further wherein each tool driver is positioned out of the first end in an open position and wherein all of each tool driver that extends outward from the body, extends parallel to, and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the body of the device when placed in the open position; and

c. a second set of tool drivers each positioned within one of the plurality of channels, wherein the second set of tool drivers are configured to be positioned out of the second end,

wherein at least one tool driver of the first set of the tool drivers and one tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned in a first channel and at least one tool driver of the first set of the tool drivers and one tool driver of the second set of tool drivers is positioned in a second channel, each of the first channel and the second channel comprising a first side, a second side and a bottom and further wherein a plurality of tool drivers in the first set of tool drivers are capable of being placed in the open position at the same time.