Multipurpose handheld tool and associated method

• US 9,676,603 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• 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:
  US14/543,192
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 1/04 wherein the elements are brought into working positions by a pivoting or sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/001 of the Swiss-knife type
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 2007/0458 Means for cutting sealing capsules
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/0423 of wine-waiter, i.e. sommelier type
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/16 for removing flanged caps, e.g. crown caps
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/44 Combination tools, e.g. comprising cork-screws, can piercers, crowncap removers combinations of opening devices with cutting tools B26; with devices serving other purposes, see appropriate subclasses, e.g. B25F; B43K29/00

Abstract

A multifunctional hand-operable beverage service tool includes a casing having a cavity defined therein, the casing having a proximal end region and a distal end region. A plurality of tools are pivotally coupled to said casing, the tools each being independently pivotable relative to the casing along an arcuate path defined between retracted and deployed positions; wherein one of said plurality of tools comprises a wine key lever. A first opening is positioned through the distal end region of the casing, the first opening being constructed and arranged to engage and remove a bottle cap. A second opening comprising a finger hole is positioned through the proximal end region of the casing.

Claims

1. A multifunctional hand-operable beverage service tool comprising:

a casing having a proximal end region and a distal end region;

a plurality of tools pivotally coupled to said casing, the tools each being independently pivotable relative to the casing along an arcuate path defined between retracted and deployed positions;

wherein one of said plurality of tools comprises a wine key lever, the wine key lever comprising a zester at a distal end thereof, the zester including a plurality of openings, an outermost edge of the wine key lever including a sharpened surface proximal to the plurality of openings;

a first opening through the distal end region of the casing, the first opening being constructed and arranged to engage and remove a bottle cap; and

a second opening comprising a finger hole through the proximal end region of the casing.

2. The multifunctional tool of claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings comprises a number ranging between two and eight.

3. The multifunctional tool of claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings comprises four openings.

4. The multifunctional tool of claim 1 wherein inner surfaces of the openings are oriented perpendicular to upper and lower surfaces of the wine key lever.

5. The multifunctional tool of claim 1 wherein inner surfaces of the openings are oriented at an acute angle relative to upper and lower surfaces of the wine key lever.

6. The multifunctional hand-operable tool of claim 1, wherein said wine key lever is constructed and arranged to comprise first and second leverage points that are fixed in position relative to each other.

7. The multifunctional tool of claim 1 wherein the finger hole comprises a rounded inner surface.

8. The multifunctional tool of claim 1 wherein the finger hole has an inner width of at least 1 inch.

9. The multifunctional tool of claim 1 wherein the finger hole is circular.

10. The multifunctional tool of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve on an inner surface of the finger hole.

11. The multifunctional tool of claim 10 wherein the sleeve is on an entire inner surface of the finger hole.

12. The multifunctional tool of claim 10 wherein the sleeve is on a portion of the inner surface of the finger hole.

13. The multifunctional tool of claim 10 wherein the sleeve further covers a portion of at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the casing proximal to the finger hole.

14. The multifunctional tool of claim 10 wherein the sleeve further covers an outermost end of the casing proximal to the finger hole.

15. The multifunctional tool of claim 10 wherein the sleeve is constructed and arranged to rotate freely relative to the casing.

16. A multifunctional hand-operable beverage service tool comprising:

a casing having a proximal end region and a distal end region;

a plurality of tools pivotally coupled to said casing, the tools each being independently pivotable relative to the casing along an arcuate path defined between retracted and deployed positions;

a first opening through the distal end region of the casing, the first opening being constructed and arranged to engage and remove a bottle cap; and

a second opening comprising a finger hole through the proximal end region of the casing, a sleeve being positioned on an inner surface of the finger hole.

17. The multifunctional tool of claim 16 wherein the sleeve is on an entire inner surface of the finger hole or on a portion of the inner surface of the finger hole.

18. The multifunctional tool of claim 16 wherein the sleeve covers a portion of at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the casing proximal to the finger hole, or further covers an outermost end of the casing proximal to the finger hole.

19. The multifunctional tool of claim 16 wherein the sleeve is constructed and arranged to rotate freely relative to the casing.

20. The multifunctional tool of claim 16 wherein one of said plurality of tools comprises a wine key lever, the wine key lever comprising a zester at a distal end thereof, the zester including a plurality of openings, an outermost edge of the wine key lever including a sharpened surface proximal to the plurality of openings.