Multipurpose folding tool with easily accessible outer blades
DCFirst Claim
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1. A multipurpose hand tool, comprising:
- (a) a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws each having a base;
(b) a pair of handles, each of said handles defining a handle-folding pivot axis and having a first end attached to said base of a respective one of said jaws, said first end being movable about said handle-folding pivot axis, each of said handles defining a central channel, and said tool having a folded configuration in which said jaws are stowed within said central channels, and an open configuration in which said jaws are extended away from said handles and said central channels face outwardly away from each other;
(c) at least one of said handles including a pair of side wing portions, each of said side wing portions defining a respective side trough that is located parallel with and alongside said central channel but facing in an opposite direction with respect to said central channel, each said side trough having an arcuately convex base outer surface available as a comfortable hand grip surface when said tool is in said open configuration; and
(d) said at least one of said handles that includes said pair of side wing portions having an outer blade mounted thereon and pivotally movable with respect to said at least one of said handles, between an extended position and a stowed position within a respective one of said side troughs.
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Abstract
A multipurpose hand tool with folding handles each including a central channel to receive pliers jaws or the like when the tool is folded, and including troughs holding outer blades alongside the central channel so that the outer blades can be opened without unfolding the tool. The troughs face opposite the direction of the central channels, and the bases of the outer troughs act as comfortable places to grip the handles when they are extended for use of the pliers. Blade locking mechanisms are incorporated in the walls of the central channels to lock each of the outer blades in an extended position.
68 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A multipurpose hand tool, comprising:
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(a) a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws each having a base;
(b) a pair of handles, each of said handles defining a handle-folding pivot axis and having a first end attached to said base of a respective one of said jaws, said first end being movable about said handle-folding pivot axis, each of said handles defining a central channel, and said tool having a folded configuration in which said jaws are stowed within said central channels, and an open configuration in which said jaws are extended away from said handles and said central channels face outwardly away from each other;
(c) at least one of said handles including a pair of side wing portions, each of said side wing portions defining a respective side trough that is located parallel with and alongside said central channel but facing in an opposite direction with respect to said central channel, each said side trough having an arcuately convex base outer surface available as a comfortable hand grip surface when said tool is in said open configuration; and
(d) said at least one of said handles that includes said pair of side wing portions having an outer blade mounted thereon and pivotally movable with respect to said at least one of said handles, between an extended position and a stowed position within a respective one of said side troughs. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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2. A multipurpose hand tool, comprising:
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(a) a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws each having a base;
(b) a pair of handles, each of said handles having a first end attached pivotally to said base of a respective one of said jaws, each of said handles defining a central channel, and said tool having a folded configuration in which said jaws are stowed within said central channels, and an open configuration in which said jaws are extended away from said handles and said central channels face outwardly away from each other;
(c) at least one of said handles including a pair of side wing portions, each of said side wing portions defining a respective side trough that is located parallel with and alongside said central channel but facing in an opposite direction with respect to said central channel, each said side trough having an arcuately convex base outer surface available as a hand grip surface when said tool is in said open configuration; and
wherein(d) each of said handles defines a handle-folding pivot axis, and said at least one of said handles that includes said pair of side wing portions has an outer blade mounted thereon and pivotally movable about said handle-folding pivot axis thereof, between an extended position and a stowed position within a respective one of said side troughs. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A multipurpose hand tool, comprising:
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(a) a pair of pivotally interconnected laws each having a base;
(b) a pair of handles, each of said handles having a first end attached pivotally to said base of a respective one of said laws, each of said handles defining a central channel, and said tool having a folded configuration in which said laws are stowed within said central channels, and an open configuration in which said jaws are extended away from said handles and said central channels face outwardly away from each other; and
(c) at least one of said handles including a pair of side wing portions, each of said side wing portions defining a respective side trough that is located parallel with and alongside said central channel but facing in an opposite direction with respect to said central channel, each said side trough having an arcuately convex base outer surface available as a hand grip surface when said tool is in said open configuration; and
(d) wherein said at least one of said handles includes a blade pivot shaft adjacent said first end thereof defining a handle-folding pivot axis and an outer blade mounted on said blade pivot shaft and movable about said handle-folding pivot axis between a stowed position in a respective side trough and an extended position, said outer blade including a tang defining a blade pivot opening and said blade pivot shaft being located within said blade pivot opening, said tang further defining a mouth communicating with said blade pivot opening. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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24. A multipurpose hand tool, comprising:
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(a) a pair of pivotally interconnected laws each having a base;
(b) a pair of handles, each of said handles having a first end attached pivotally to said base of a respective one of said laws, each of said handles defining a central channel, and said tool having a folded configuration in which said laws are stowed within said central channels, and an open configuration in which said laws are extended away from said handles and said central channels face outwardly away from each other, wherein said central channel of one of said handles has a pair of opposite channel walls, at least one of said channel walls having a margin defining an arcuately concave finger rest surface; and
(c) at least one of said handles including a pair of side wing portions, each of said side wing portions defining a respective side trough that is located parallel with and alongside said central channel but facing in an opposite direction with respect to said central channel. each said side trough having an arcuately convex base outer surface available as a hand grip surface when said tool is in said open configuration.
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25. A multipurpose hand tool, comprising:
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(a) a pair of pivotally interconnected laws each having a base;
(b) a pair of handles, each of said handles having a first end attached pivotally to said base of a respective one of said laws, each of said handles defining a central channel, and said tool having a folded configuration in which said laws are stowed within said central channels, and an open configuration in which said laws are extended away from said handles and said central channels face outwardly away from each other; and
(c) at least one of said handles including a pair of side wing portions, each of said central channels including a channel base defining a base plane and each said side wing portion extending to said base plane of a respective channel, and each of said side wing portions defining a respective side trough that is located parallel with and alongside said central channel but facing in an opposite direction with respect to said central channel, each said side trough having an arcuately convex base outer surface available as a hand grip surface when said tool is in said open configuration.
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26. A multipurpose hand tool, comprising
(a) a pair of pivotally interconnected laws each having a base; -
(b) a pair of handles, each of said handles having a first end attached pivotally to said base of a respective one of said jaws, each of said handles defining a central channel, and said tool having a folded configuration in which said jaws are stowed within said central channels, and an open configuration in which said jaws are extended away from said handles and said central channels face outwardly away from each other; and
(c) at least one of said handles including a Pair of side wing portions, each said central channel having a pair of channel walls interconnected by a channel base defining a base plane, a portion of each said side wing portion extending parallel with a respective one of said channel walls for a distance toward said base plane of a respective channel, and each of said side wing portions defining a respective side trough that is located parallel with and alongside said central channel but facing in an opposite direction with respect to said central channel, each said side trough having an arcuately convex base outer surface available as a hand grip surface when said tool is in said open configuration.
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Specification