Multipurpose tool for mixologists

• US 9,107,543 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: True Fabrications
• Original Assignee: Joshua Salles
• Inventors: Salles, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Shakeri, Hadi
• Application Number:
  US13/713,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20130160213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 711/8, 711/9, 711/0, 715/4, 715/5, 716/4, 716/8, 715/6, 715/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/27 for mixing drinks; Hand-held shakers mechanically driven A47J43/042
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/04 wherein the elements are brought into working positions by a pivoting or sliding movement

Abstract

A multipurpose tool includes a handle with a plurality of tool arms connected with the handle. In one embodiment, one tool arm includes a muddler/reamer that includes an end portion that is rounded with a fluted outer periphery and that tapers in transverse cross-sectional dimension in a direction toward a distal end. In another embodiment, one tool arm includes at least one jigger including a cup configured to receive and retain a volume of liquid. In still another embodiment, the muddler/reamer is pivotally connected with the handle so as to extend between two jiggers when in a storage position and to be pivotally moved away from the two jiggers and from the space in relation to the handle when deployed in an operational position.

Claims

1. A multipurpose tool comprising:

a handle including a space and a plurality of tool arms connected with the handle,

wherein one tool arm comprises a muddler/reamer having an end portion that is rounded with a fluted outer periphery and that tapers in transverse cross-sectional dimension in a direction toward a distal end,

wherein the multipurpose tool further comprises two jiggers extending from an end of the handle, each jigger comprising a cup configured to receive and retain a volume of liquid, and

wherein the muddler/reamer is pivotally connected with the handle so as to extend between the two jiggers when in a storage position and to be pivotally moved away from the two jiggers and from the space in relation to the handle when deployed in an operational position.

2. The multipurpose tool of claim 1, wherein an opening of each cup is aligned in relation to the handle such that the cup openings of the two jiggers face away from each other and a space is defined between the jigger cups, and a portion of the muddler/reamer fits within the space defined between the jigger cups.

3. The multipurpose tool of claim 1, wherein the multipurpose tool further comprises at least one of a knife, a zester/channel knife, a strainer, a stirrer, a corkscrew and a bottle opener.

4. The multipurpose tool of claim 1, wherein the multipurpose tool further comprises a stirrer, the stirrer comprising a first arm member that pivotally connects with the handle and a second arm member that pivotally connects with the first arm member.

5. The multipurpose tool of claim 1, wherein the multipurpose tool further comprises a combined zester knife tool and a channel knife tool incorporated into a single tool arm, the zester knife tool comprising a plurality of spaced first holes in alignment with each other, and the channel knife tool comprising a second hole having a larger dimension than the first holes.

6. The multipurpose tool of claim 1, wherein the fluted outer periphery is a series of angularly alternating ridges and troughs extending longitudinally from a base of said end portion to the distal end of said end portion.

7. The multipurpose tool of claim 1, wherein the one tool arm includes a notch which aligns with a ridge in the space of the handle when the muddler/reamer is in a storage position to secure the muddler/reamer in relation to the handle to minimize wiggle movements of the muddler/reamer.

8. A multipurpose tool comprising:

a handle including a plurality of tool arms connected with the handle,

wherein one tool arm comprises two jiggers extending from an end of the handle, each jigger comprising a cup configured to receive and retain a volume of liquid, and wherein the multipurpose tool further comprises a tool that is pivotally connected with the handle so as to extend between the two jiggers when in a storage position and to be pivotally moved away from the two jiggers in relation to the handle when deployed in an operational position.

9. The multipurpose tool of claim 8, wherein one jigger cup is configured to receive and retain a larger volume of liquid than the other jigger cup.

10. The multipurpose tool of claim 8, wherein an opening of each cup is aligned in relation to the handle such that the cup openings of the two jiggers face away from each other and a space is defined between the jigger cups, and a portion of the tool that is pivotally connected with the handle fits within the space defined between the jigger cups.

11. The multipurpose tool of claim 8, wherein the tool pivotally connected with the handle comprises a muddler/reamer.

12. The multipurpose tool of claim 8, wherein at least some of the tool arms are pivotally connected with the handle so as to at least partially fit within a space defined within the handle when in a storage position and to be pivotally moved from the space in relation to the handle when deployed in an operational position.

13. The multipurpose tool of claim 8, wherein the multipurpose tool further comprises at least one of a knife, a zester/channel knife, a strainer, a stirrer, a corkscrew and a bottle opener.

14. The multipurpose tool of claim 8, wherein the multipurpose tool further comprises a stirrer, the stirrer comprising a first arm member that pivotally connects with the handle and a second arm member that pivotally connects with the first arm member.

15. The multipurpose tool of claim 14, wherein the stirrer further comprises:

a folded configuration in which the second arm member is folded via a pivot connection into a side-by-side arrangement adjacent the first arm member so as to reduce the length of the stirrer, allowing the stirrer to fit lengthwise within a space defined within the handle; and

a deployed configuration in which the stirrer is pivoted out from the handle space to an operational position and the second arm member is pivoted away from the first arm member to a lengthwise extended position in which the second arm member is releasably locked with the first arm member.

16. The multipurpose tool of claim 8, wherein the multipurpose tool further comprises a combined zester knife tool and a channel knife tool incorporated into a single tool arm, the zester knife tool comprising a plurality of spaced first holes in alignment with each other, and the channel knife tool comprising a second hole having a larger dimension than the first holes.

17. A multipurpose tool for use in tending bar comprising:

a handle including elongated spaced outer sidewalls extending generally parallel to each other and a plurality of tool arms connected with the handle, the spaced outer sidewalls defining an elongated space with the handle, wherein at least some of the tool arms are pivotally connected with the handle so as to at least partially fit within the space defined within the handle when in a storage position and to be pivotally moved from the space in relation to the handle when deployed in an operational position; and

a combination muddler and reamer tool pivotally connected with the handle, wherein a first portion of the combination muddler and reamer tool is configured to extend within the space defined within the handle and a second portion of the combination muddler and reamer tool is configured to project from an end of said handle when the combination muddler and reamer tool is in a storage position.

18. A multipurpose tool for use in tending bar comprising:

a handle including a plurality of tool arms connected with the handle;

wherein at least some of the tool arms are pivotally connected with the handle so as to at least partially fit within a space defined within the handle when in a storage position and to be pivotally moved from the space in relation to the handle when deployed in an operational position; and

wherein at least one of the pivotally connected tool arms is strainer comprising a flat plate member including an outwardly convex edge facing outward and away from the handle, and wherein a plurality of slots are defined through the plate member and extend in a direction transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the plate member to facilitate straining of liquids through the slots when the strainer is brought proximate an open end of a container for a liquid.

19. A multipurpose tool comprising:

a handle including a plurality of tools connected with the handle,

wherein one tool of the plurality of tools comprises two jiggers extending from an end of the handle, each jigger comprising a cup configured to receive and retain a volume of liquid, and

wherein another tool of the plurality of the tools is pivotally connected with the handle so as to extend between the two jiggers when in a storage position and to be pivotally moved away from the two jiggers in relation to the handle when deployed in an operational position.

20. The multipurpose tool of claim 19, wherein said another tool comprises a muddler/reamer.

21. A multipurpose tool for use in tending bar comprising:

an elongated handle including opposed ends and spaced sidewalls extending generally parallel to each other, the opposed ends and the spaced sidewalls defining an elongated space within the handle;

a plurality of tool arms connected with the handle, at least one of the tool arms being a muddler/reamer pivotally connected with the handle at one of the opposed ends;

wherein the muddler/reamer is pivotably movable between a storage position and at least one operational position,

wherein the muddler/reamer tool arm has a first portion which fits within the space defined within the handle and a second portion that extends beyond the other opposed end of the handle when in the storage position, and

wherein the muddler/reamer tool arm is pivotally movable at about 180°

longitudinally from the storage position to the at least one operational position such that the first and second portions of the muddler/reamer tool arm extend beyond the one opposed end of the handle.