Multi-function tool

• US 9,162,351 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mou-Tang Liou
• Original Assignee: Mou-Tang Liou
• Inventors: Liou, Mou-Tang
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, ALVIN J
• Application Number:
  US13/426,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20120175574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 254/25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 1/18 Tong-like tools
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/00 Combination or multi-purpose hand tools associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means B25F3/00; combined stapling and punching tools B25C5/0214
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/04 telescopic; extensible; sectional
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 15/00 Crowbars or levers

Abstract

A multi-function tool includes a shank body, a pry bar, at least one clutch, a foot hold, and a fine adjustment mechanism. The shank body includes a plurality of located grooves. The pry bar includes a first receptacle adapted for the shank body inserted therethrough. The foot hold is mounted on the shank body. The fine adjustment mechanism for fine adjusting the pry bar is mounted on the shank body and engaged with the pry bar and includes at least one second receptacle. Furthermore, the at least one clutch is disposed in the at least one second receptacle and alternatively engaged with a selective one of the plurality of located grooves of the shank body Furthermore, the pry bar is adapted to be fine adjustably moved through a distance smaller than a pitch between two adjacent located grooves.

Claims

1. A multi-function tool comprising:

a shank body including a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a plurality of located grooves formed thereon and longitudinally aligned between the first and second ends thereof;

a pry bar including a first section, a second section for prying, and a first receptacle longitudinally piercing the first section and adapted for the second end of the shank body inserted therethrough;

at least one clutch;

a foot hold mounted on the shank body; and

a fine adjustment mechanism for fine adjusting the pry bar mounted on the shank body and engaged with the pry bar and including at least one second receptacle transversely extended therein;

wherein the second end of the shank body is inserted through the first receptacle of the pry bar and installed to the foot hold;

wherein the at least one clutch is disposed in the at least one second receptacle and alternatively engaged with a selective one of the plurality of located grooves of the shank body to fix the pry bar to the shank body in position; and

wherein the pry bar is adapted to be fine adjustably moved through a distance smaller than a pitch between two adjacent located grooves.

2. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foot hold further comprises a first section, a second section extending from the first section and adapted for prying, and a connective portion formed on the first section for connecting to the second end of the shank body.

3. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connective portion includes a compartment for receiving the second end of the shank body, and at least one fastener inserted through the compartment and engaged with the shank body.

4. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the compartment has at least one opening on a periphery thereof, with each of the at least one opening receiving the at least one fastener.

5. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each clutch includes a protrusion on a side of an end thereof for exactly inserting into a selective one of the plurality of located grooves, and an abutted surface defined on the protrusion and abutting against an inner wall of the selective one of the plurality of located grooves for secure engagement of the pry bar with the shank body when the protrusion is inserted in the selective one of the plurality of located grooves.

6. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein each clutch includes a sunken portion provided on another end thereof and opposite to the protrusion, and wherein the shank body is inserted through the clutch and set in the first receptacle of the pry bar without contact with the clutch.

7. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein each clutch includes an elastic element, wherein when each clutch is in an engaging position and the elastic element is released, the protrusion is engaged with the selective one of the plurality of located grooves and the abutted surface is abutted against the inner wall of the selective one of the plurality of located grooves, wherein when each clutch is a disengaging position and the elastic element is pressed, the protrusion is disengaged from the selective one of the plurality of located grooves and the abutted surface is spaced from the inner wall of the selective one of the plurality of located grooves.

8. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein an interval between each of the plurality of located grooves alternatively being constant or not.

9. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second section of the pry bar with the cooperation of the second section of the foot hold is able to clamp materials with various sizes.

10. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism includes first and second engaging members, with the shank body inserting through the first and second engaging members, with the second receptacle extended in the first engaging member, and wherein the second engaging member is rotatably engaged with the first engaging member and interconnects the first engaging member and the prying bar.

11. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second engaging members are threadly engaged with each other, with the first engaging member including an outer peripheral wall including an outer thread and with the second engaging member including a peripheral wall of the second hole including an inner thread respectively.

12. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first engaging member includes the outer peripheral wall including a recess extended radially therein and the second engaging member includes an aperture extended radially therethrough and connected with the second hole respectively, wherein a stopper is insertable through the aperture and disposed in the recess and enclosed by the second engaging member, and wherein a ring is disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the first engaging member and reduces a travel length of the second engaging member with respect to the first engaging member and stops a relative movement of the first and second engaging members to prevent disassembly of the stopper from the fine adjustment mechanism from the aperture.

13. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second engaging member includes an outer peripheral wall including an anti-slip pattern to prevent a user from slippage during the operation thereof.

14. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second engaging member includes a groove including an end of pry bar latched thereon to prevent disengagement between the second engaging member and the pry bar.

15. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fine adjustment mechanism includes first and second engaging members, with the shank body inserting through the first and second engaging members, with the second receptacle extended in the first engaging member, and wherein the second engaging member is rotatably engaged with the first engaging member and interconnecting the first engaging member and the prying bar.

16. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 15, wherein an interval between each of the plurality of located grooves alternatively being constant or not.

17. The multi-function tool as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second section of the pry bar with the cooperation of the second section of the foot hold is able to clamp materials with various sizes.