Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02321365 2000-10-16
BP # 9437-010
BERESKIN & PARR CANADA
Title: LOCKING AND RELEASE MECHANISM FOR A FOLDING
COMBINATION TOOL
Inventor(s): Walter A. Gardiner, David A. Swinden, James Quinn, Robert
Andersen, Oleh Stecyk, Joseph Hufnagel, Peter Lynch, David Furth, Robert
Naas, John Denis Lemaire
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENT10N
Field of The Invention
This invention relates to a locking and release mechanism for a
multi-purpose folding tool, commonly referred to as a compound or
combination tool, since it includes a plurality of independently used tools,
or
as a survival tool, since it has rapidly become the tool of choice of
outdoorsmen. A typical compound tool may incorporate pliers, flat-head and
Phillips-head screwdrivers, knife blades, an awl, a pick, a fish cleaning
serrated blade, a ruler, a wire insulation trimmer, and a bottle/can opener.
Each of these independently used tools are typically housed in a single tool
capable of folding into an easily carried, compact unit. Compound tools of
this type are especially useful to those who need to maximize the utility of
what they carry while minimizing the size and weight thereof, e.g.
back-packers, bikers, campers, electricians, fishermen, hikers, and hunters.
Description of Related Art
Combination tools, i.e., those in which several different types of tools,
e.g., a knife blade, an awl, or an assortment of screwdrivers and wrenches,
are individually rotatable into and out of a housing for storage and use,
respectively, have been the subject of U.S. patents for some time; see, for
example, Barnard & Brace, U. S. Patent No. 97,154, issued 11-23-1869, and
Pierce, U. S. Patent No. 234,378, issued 11-8-1880. Combination tools
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which include a pair of scissors or pliers, in which the crossed jaws fold
into
or adjacent to their handles, were developed around the turn of the twentieth
century; see, respectively, Klever, Kaiserliches Patentamt, Patentschrift No.
30,788, issued 3-12-1885, and Klever, U. S. Patent No.858,003, issued
6-25-1907. The latter allows other tools, e.g., a knife blade, to be joined
therewith, although the other tools are stored separately from the folded tool
by inserting their base into a notch formed by the closed handles. Pliers
having handles pivotally connected to the tangs of the pliers jaws, such that
the handles fold adjacent the pliers jaws, are also known (e.g., Garrison, U.
S. Patent No. 1,461,270).
Combination tools including folding pliers in combination with other,
supplemental tools, usually stored within the handles, the so called "survival
tools", did not achieve widespread popularity until relatively recently with
the
patenting of such tools by Leatherman, U. S. Patent Nos. 4,238,862,
4,744,272, and 4,888,869, and as evidenced in European Patent Application
No. 513,937. Others followed quickly, e.g., Collins et al., U. S. Patent Nos.
Des. 368,634, and 5,062,173, Sessions et al., U. S. Patent Nos. 5,142,721
and 5,212,844, and Frazer, U. S. Patent Nos. Des. 368,634, and 5,267,366.
All of these prior art tools are generally satisfactory for their intended
purposes, but they do have drawbacks associated therewith.
In all of the folding tools cited above, from Klever to Frazer, the folding
tools include straight handles. Thus, when the folding tool is closed, the
jaws of the pliers are stored within the confines of the handles. Not only are
the handles weakened by removing portions of the walls of the handles to
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receive the pliers, the space inside the handles is diminished, thereby
decreasing the room available for the supplemental tools, which must
perforce be made smaller and weaker.
Many folding tools position the plier head over some of the
supplemental tools when completely closed. It is then necessary to go to the
inconvenience of opening the plier portion of the tool when desiring only to
access a supplemental tool. This then requires fully closing the plier portion
of the tool again before you can actually use the supplemental tool.
The handles of Leatherman, Collins et al., Sessions et al., and Frazer
are channel-shaped, open along their entire length, which may make them
more susceptible to bending under heavy strains, particularly near the pivotal
connection of the handles with the plier jaws' tangs, depending upon the
thickness of the material.
The channel openings of Leatherman and Frazer (Design Patent No.
368,634) open outwardly along the outer edge of the handles, i.e., outwardly
in the plane of the handles. When squeezing the handles, the open channels
and supplemental tools therein present rough surfaces and raw edges to the
hands.
Prior art survival tools latch or lock the supplemental tools in their
stored and extended positions by means of either (1) a leaf spring coacting
with a flat on the periphery of the supplemental tools (e.g., Leatherman,
Collins et al., Sessions et al., and Frazer), or by providing a projection at
the
end of the leaf spring to mate with a recess or notch in the periphery of the
supplemental tools (Leatherman). The latter is the time-honored method
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used in related arts as well, such as, in jack-knives, vanity kits, or other
specialized combination tools; see Hallvarson, 1,556,788, Nielsen,
1,561,993, Bovee, 2,575,652, Bassett, 2,798,290, Zoeller, 2,851,704, and
Felix-Dalichow, 4,442,600. In each of these, a projection on a separate lever
or spring, or a flange on a resilient portion of the housing, fits into a
notch on
the supplemental tool to lock the tool in place. Alternatively, a projection
on
the tool mates with a seat or notch on the housing. Either way, a projection
is
designed to mate with a notch. Projections or flanges are difficult and costly
to manufacture, and notching a tool to receive the projection usually results
in
lost material, and thereby lost strength, in the mounting end of the tool.
Though supplemental tools may lock in extended position to some
degree, many tools have little or no provision for a completely positive lock.
One reason is the resulting problem of providing an unlocking means that is
safe, convenient and cost effective. Wth supplemental tools locking in a less
than completely sure manner in the extended position, safe use can be
questionable.
The jaws of pliers, wrenches, etc., have in the past occasionally been
of a laminated construction, i.e., a plurality of sheets bound together by
some
means, often by rivets; see, e.g., Bernard, 526,480, McLeran, 831,676, Chen
et al., 4,660,241, and Warheit, 4,662,252. In each of these, the laminations
reinforce each other against forces acting transversely to the jaws, but they
provide little to no resistance to shearing forces along the planar surfaces
between the laminates.
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OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the difficulties described above by:
tapering the handles inwardly to create recesses which, when
the tool is folded, provides storage for the plier jaws, maintaining the
integrity
and strength of the handle walls while providing more room for larger, heftier
supplemental tools;
reinforcing the handles with a box-beam construction in the area
of the handle-to-tang pivots;
opening the channels in a direction away from the palm of the
hand when the plier is operational, so that the user's hand squeezes on
relatively smooth handle surfaces;
forming a stock on the end of a leaf spring to mate with a notch
in the mounting end of the supplemental tool to lock it in place;
interlocking the laminates of plier jaws against shear forces
along their planar surfaces by providing mating countersinks and daps in
their facing surfaces;
storing supplemental tools outside the closed plier handles for
quick, safe and convenient access; and
providing a lock release mechanism that conveniently works
with a completely positive locking design for the supplemental tools.
Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to taper inwardly
the folding handles of a multi-purpose folding tool, making the pair of
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handles more comfortable while in the process creating a recess which,
when the tool is folded, stores the plier jaws externally of the handle walls.
Another object of the present invention is to reinforce the handles by
providing a box-beam construction adjacent the pivotal connections with the
folding pliers.
A further object of the present invention is to provide smooth,
comfortable handle surfaces for contact with the user's hands when the tool
is in use.
A still additional object of the present invention is to provide a stock on
a flange-less leaf spring to mate with a small notch on the mounting end of
the tool to lock the tool in place.
Another object of the invention is to provide a stronger jaw structure for
a gripping tool, e.g., a pair of pliers, by including complementary, mating
countersinks and daps in the laminates, thereby constraining the laminates
against lateral shifting.
The foregoing and other objects are achieved in accordance with one
aspect of the present invention through the provision of a multi-purpose
folding tool which comprises a pliers having a pair of crossed jaws. Each of
the jaws includes a gripping end with a tip, a pivot bearing, and a tang. The
jaws are rotatably connected to each other by a jaw pivot pin extending
through each of the pivot bearings.
The folding tool further includes a pair of handles each having a
secured end and a free end. A pivot bearing is located at the secured end of
each handle and is rotatably connected to one of the tangs by a pivot pin. The
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axes of the jaw pivot pin and the tang pivot pins are substantially parallel
to
one another. The handles each further include a pair of upstanding
sidewalls integrally connected by a web, the sidewalls and the web forming a
U-shaped channel open outwardly from the plane of the handles.
The pair of sidewalls comprise an outboard sidewall facing away from
the opposite handle and an inboard sidewall facing toward the opposite
handle, each of the outboard sidewalls of the handles including an inwardly
tapered portion to define a recess adjacent to a respective one of the pivot
bearings.
The handles also include a channel pivot pin journaled in the
sidewalk transverse of the channel adjacent the free end of the handle. The
axis of the channel pivot pin is substantially orthogonal to the axes of the
jaw
and tang pivot pins.
A plurality of supplemental tools are pivotally mounted on the channel
pivot pin. Each of the supplemental tools is individually rotatable between a
closed position within the channel and an open position extending from the
channel.
The inwardly tapered portions of the outboard sidewalls are configured
such that when the folding tool is folded by pivoting the handles about the
tang pivot pins, the inwardly tapered portions of the outboard sidewalls cam
the tips of the jaws towards one another to assist in the folding of the
multi-purpose folding tool.
In addition, when the folding tool is folded, the outboard sidewalls
enclose the jaws between the recesses. The inboard sidewalls may include
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a second tapered portion to provide a separation between the free ends of
the handles, while the outboard sidewalls preferably include protrusions or
nubs formed thereon to improve the grip of a user's thumb and fingers on the
folding tool.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the web
includes a flat, resilient leaf spring located at one end of the channel, and
a
slot through the free end of the leaf spring. The slot is bordered across the
free end by a transverse, flat, flange-free stock. Each of the supplemental
tools comprises a body and a mounting end, the body being shaped as
appropriate for the function of the supplemental tool. The mounting end is
pivotally mounted on the channel pivot pin.
At least one of the supplemental tools includes a mounting end having a
peripheral notch positioned to snugly receive the stock therein, when such
supplemental tool is extended, to positively lock same.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, release
means are provided for unlocking such supplemental tool from its extended,
locked position. The release means preferably comprises an outwardly
directed bulge positioned on another of the supplemental tools on the body
thereof. The bulge protrudes above the longitudinal edges of the sidewalk
when its supplemental tool is closed. The mounting end of such
supplemental tool is configured such that depression of the bulge causes
the mounting end to deflect the leaf spring, lifting the stock out of the
notch. In
addition, the mounting end of such supplemental tool includes a peripheral
flat which coacts with the leaf spring to bias such supplemental tool closed.
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Such flat has a corner which contacts and deflects the leaf spring when the
bulge is depressed.
Another of the supplemental tools includes a mounting end having first
and second peripheral flats. The first flat coacts with the flat leaf spring
to
bias such supplemental tool into its closed position, while the second flat
coacts with the leaf spring to bias such supplemental tool into its open
position, thereby retaining such supplemental tool in its closed and open
positions, respectively.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, each of
the pair of jaws preferably comprises at least three laminated sheets. Each
pair of adjacent sheets is preferably reinforced with at least one mating
countersink and dap. Binding means, preferably in the form of a rivet, passes
through the laminated sheets to secure them together. The laminated
sheets preferably comprise a central body and a pair of outer strips. The
countersinks are preferably formed in the central body while the daps are
preferably formed in the outer strips.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the handles
further include a fourth wall folded over a portion of the outward opening of
the
U-shaped channel so as to form a box-beam construction. One of the walls
of the box-beam construction further may include an aperture therethrough
which is adapted to receive a lanyard.
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BRIEF DESCRIPT10N OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, aspects, uses, and advantages of the
present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better
understood from the following detailed description of the present invention
when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view which shows the preferred embodiment
of the present invention as it appears when opened with the plier jaws
closed;
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the opened inventive tool with the
plier jaws closed;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the open compound tool with the plier jaws open;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the compound tool partially closed;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the compound tool almost closed;
FIG. 6 is a top view of the closed compound tool;
FIG. 7 illustrates a use of the present invention clamping a cable;
FIG. 8A is a sectional top view of the ends of the handles of the
compound tool with two supplemental tools extended, showing the latching
and locking mechanism in operation;
FIGS. 8B and 8C show side views of two supplemental tools;
FIG. 9A is a side view of the compound tool illustrating the release of the
latching mechanism;
FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional side view of one of the supplemental tools
releasing the locking mechanism;
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FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of one of the handles of the compound
tool with the supplemental tools stored therein in varying degrees of
extension;
FIG. 11 is a reversed sectional side view of the other of the handles of
the compound tool with the supplemental tools stored therein in varying
degrees of extension;
FIGS. 12 and 13 show side views of the two plier jaws separated and
facing one another;
FIG. 14 is a side view of one of the jaws of the pliers from the outside as
seen along the lines 14-14 in FIG. 12;
FIG. 15 is a side view of the jaw of FIG. 14 from the inside as seen along
the lines 15-15 in FIG. 12;
FIG. 16 is a front end view of the jaw of FIG. 14 as seen along the lines
16-16 in FIG. 12;
FIG. 17 is a sectional, cross-sectional view of the laminated structure of
the plier jaws as seen along the lines 17-17 in FIG. 12; and
FIG. 18 is an enlarged side view of a preferred embodiment of a rivet
used with the plier jaws of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A preferred embodiment of a multi-purpose folding tool, combination
tool, or compound tool of the present invention is indicated generally by
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reference numeral 10 and is seen in its opened or unfolded state in FIG. 1
and its closed or folded state in FIG. 6. When opened, it has the overall form
of a pair of pliers. When closed, tool 10 is box-shaped and occupies a
relatively small amount of space with relatively smooth external surfaces.
For the sake of clarity in the drawings, the reference numerals in FIGS.
1-6 have been placed on a figure only if a particular feature is most clearly
shown in that figure. In other words, including reference numerals for all of
the features shown in each figure has been avoided in the interest of clarity.
In FIG. 1, compound tool 10 is shown in the form of a cross-jawed pliers
12 comprising a gripping end 14 and a handle end 16. Gripping end 14
includes a pair of plier jaws 18 and 20; handle end 16 includes a pair of
handles 22 and 24. Pliers 12 are cross-jawed pliers inasmuch as jaw 18 is
connected across a pivot pin 26 to handle 24 and jaw 20 is connected across
pivot pin 26 to handle 22. Pliers 12 preferably comprise needlenose pliers,
and, while this is the preferred embodiment, any other plier shape could be
substituted.
As seen in FIGS. 4, 12, and 13, jaw 18 is functionally divided into a nose
28, a bearing 30, and a tang 32. Jaw 20 is preferably although not
necessarily a mirror image of jaw 18 and also comprises a nose 34, a
bearing 36, and a tang 38. Jaw 18 and jaw 20 are rotationally joined together
by aligning apertures 40 and 42 in bearings 30 and 36, respectively, and
extending pivot pin 26 therethrough (FIGS. 1 and 4). Jaws 18 and 20 present
opposing, generally flat surfaces 44 and 46 for gripping flat objects, arcuate
surfaces 48 and 50 for gripping round, square, or hexagonally shaped
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objects, and cutting surfaces 52 and 54 for cutting materials such as wire,
all
as is well known in the art. Surfaces 44-50 may be serrated as desired to
improve their gripping abilities. The remaining features of jaws 18 and 20
will be introduced as they arise in the following description of the
invention.
Returning to FIG. 1, handle 22 is pivotally attached to tang 38 of jaw 20 by
a pivot pin 56, while handle 24 is pivotally attached to tang 32 of jaw 18 by
a
pivot pin 58. Pins 56 and 58 extend through a pair of apertures 60 and 62,
respectively, formed in tangs 38 and 32 (FIGS. 12-13).
Pivot pins 26, 56, and 58 are parallel and extend generally outwardly
from the plane of the drawings, providing rotational movement thereabout in
the plane of the drawings. This is an important feature for it provides the
pliers 12 of the present invention with more structural stability than prior
art
compound tools in which the plier jaws fold into the handles along axes
perpendicular to the pliers pivot, such as found in Collins et al., U. S.
Patent
No. 5,062,173, and Frazer, U. S. Patent No 5,267,366.
The structure of handles 22 and 24 are best seen in the perspective
views of FIGS. 1 and 2 to which attention is now directed. Common features
in each handle will be given the same reference numeral for simplicity and
clarity of description.
Handles 22 and 24 are channel shaped with each handle being formed
by a pair of upstanding sidewalls, namely by an interior sidewall 64 and an
exterior sidewall or outboard wall 66, which are connected by a web 68.
("interior" and "exterior" are relative terms and are used here with reference
to
the views in FIGS. 1-3, where compound tool 10 is shown in its opened state.
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In the closed state of FIGS. 4-6, the relationship between "exterior" and
"interior" obviously reverses.) Sidewalls 64 and 66 and web 68 define an
internal channel 70 partially open toward the bottom of tool 10, as seen in
FIG. 2. A partial web 72 (FIG. 2) is folded and extends integrally from the
pivot
end of sidewall 64 towards the pivot end of sidewall 66, thereby effectively
enclosing the pivot end of channel 70 in a box-beam construction which
further strengthens the handles 22 and 24 of pliers 12. The sloped edges 74
of partial webs 72 increase the torsional strength of handles 22 and 24.
Prior art compound tools which also include channel-shaped handles
for housing supplemental tools, such as Leatherman, (U. S. Patent Nos.
4,238,862, 4,744,272, and 4,888,869), European Patent Application 513,937,
Collins et al. (U. S. Patent Nos. Des. 368,634 and 5,062,173), Sessions et al.
(U. S. Patent Nos. 5,142,721 and 5,212,844), and Frazer (U. S. Patent Nos.
Des. 368,634 and 5,267,366), show U-shaped channels throughout the
length of their handles. Since the foregoing do not have the enclosed, box
beam construction of the handles of the present invention, they lack the
torsional resistance required when twisting pliers 12 against a heavy load.
Channel 70 houses a plurality of supplemental tools 76 (FIG. 2) which
may be stored therein and retrieved therefrom. More particularly, sidewalls
64 and 66 and webs 68 and 72 leave an opening to channel 70 through
which supplemental tools 76 may be rotated about a pair of pivot pins 78
(that extend between the ends of sidewalls 64 and 66) from their stored
positions shown in FIG. 2 to their extended positions, some of which are
shown, for example, in FIGS. 8A and 9-11.
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As seen in FIG. 2, channel 70 opens toward the bottom of tool 10, in
contrast to the side tool openings shown in so many of the prior art
compound tools mentioned above, so supplemental tools 76 of the present
invention are facing away from the palm of the hand when pliers 12 are being
used. Sidewalls 64 and 66 and webs 68 of handles 22 and 24 are solid
sheets, so that there are no rough surfaces or standing handle edges to
cause discomfort to one's hand when squeezing handle end 16 of the
present invention. A plurality of raised, rounded nubs 80 or various other
configurations may be added to exterior sidewalls 66 to improve the user's
grip on handles 22 and 24 without adding potentially painful sharp edges.
Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the shape of handles 22 and 24 provides
important functional results which distinguishes the present invention from
the prior art. More particularly, as seen in FIG. 3, webs 68 of handles 22 and
24 include a tapered portion 82 positioned between two portions having
substantially constant widths, namely, a wider end portion 84 adjacent end
86 and a narrower waist portion 88 adjacent pivot bearing 90, to delineate a
pair of recesses or jaw recess portions 92 positioned on exterior sidewalls
66.
The disclosed shape allows for many advantages. First, recesses 92
afford a very comfortable nesting area for the thumb and fingers to grip
pliers
12. Second, recesses 92 combine to provide an area for storing plier jaws
18 and 20 when compound tool 10 is fully closed, as seen in FIG. 6. Tapered
portions 82 are dimensioned and located so as to complement the shape of
a pair of tapered portions 94 formed on plier jaws 18 and 20 (FIGS. 3 and
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12-13); the smaller, constant width waist portion 88 mates with a pair of flat
sides 96 of plier jaws 18 and 20; and the curved portion 89 between waist
portion 88 and annular bearing 90 snugly fits around annular bearings 30
and 36. Third, external recesses 92 store gripping end 14 of the pliers 12
externally of the handles' walls, leaving more interior room in the handles
for
supplemental tools 76. Fourth, storing the gripping end 14 externally of
compound tool 10 allows pliers 12 to be used to clamp items, hands-free, for
an extended period of time, as will be seen in FIG. 7 to be discussed in
greater detail below.
FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the manner in which pliers 12 fold into the closed
state of compound tool 10. Handles 22 and 24 are pulled apart, as in FIG. 3,
until a pair of outer shoulders 98 (FIGS. 3 and 12-13) come into contact with
vertical portions of shoulders 104, at which time jaws 18 and 20 cease to
diverge. Further outward pressure on handles 22 and 24 overcomes the
inherent friction between handles 22 and 24 and tangs 32 and 38, and the
pliers handles 22 and 24 begin to converge, as seen in FIG. 4. A pair of tip
portions 100 of jaws 18 and 20 are substantially separated from each other
in their fully open position, as shown for example in FIGS. 4 and 5. Further
movement of handles 22 and 24 towards one another results in the
orientation of handles and jaws as shown in FIG. 5. In this orientation, a
pair
of tips 100 of jaws 18 and 20 contact tapered surfaces or contact portions 82
of exterior (now interior) sidewalls 66 which cam the jaws 18 and 20 together,
also forcing tangs 32 and 38 and handle bearings 90 towards one another.
Continued pressure brings compound tool 10 finally to the fully closed
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position shown in FIG. 6. In the latter position, tip portions 100 touch each
other.
Referring again to FIGS. 3, 12, and 13, when squeezing pliers 12
together from the FIG. 3 position to seize an object, edges 102 at the pivot
end of interior sidewalls 64 adjacent bearings 90 are in contact with
shoulders 104 of tangs 32 and 38 (FIGS. 12-13). The forces generated by
squeezing handles 22 and 24 are directed from edges 102 through
shoulders 104, which, being offset from their pivot pins 26, 56, and 58,
applies a force rotating jaws 18 and 20 of pliers 12 together. Each of the
interior sidewalls 64 is a relatively planar, solid sheet which is integrally
connected with web 68 and sidewall 66. With the force vectors essentially
lying within the plane of sidewalls 64, a very stable structure is provided
which can withstand high clamping pressures.
One use of too1.10 to clamp items like a vise is shown in FIG. 7. A
multi-strand cable 106 is clamped in jaws 18 and 20 with tool 10 in a
semi-closed state. An aperture 108 is preferably formed through web 68 of
handle 24 and is adapted to receive, when desired, a lanyard 110. Lanyard
110 provides a convenient way to carry tool 10 on a belt or back-pack. It also
allows tool 10 to clamp cable 106, or other desired item, by closing tool 10
with cable 106 between the jaws 18 and 20 of pliers 12, and by wrapping
lanyard 110 tightly around handles 22 and 24. Tool 10 will continue to clamp
cable 106 without the necessity of gripping the pliers in one's hands. As
noted above, this advantage is due to the storing of gripping end 14
externally
of the handles when tool 10 is closed.
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Supplemental tools 76 and their relationship to tool 10 will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 8-11.
The selection of which supplemental tools to include in any particular
model of tool 10 is discretionary with the manufacturer of tool 10, depending
on its intended audience. For example, a fisherman's tool might include
supplemental tools useful for fishing, e.g., a serrated blade for cleaning
fish,
a whetstone for sharpening fish hooks, scissors for cutting line, and an
assortment of knife blades, whereas an electrician's tool might include an
assortment of screwdrivers, a wire insulation cutter and stripper, a saw, a
file,
and a ruler. The supplemental tools included in this preferred embodiment
are therefore only exemplary of the possibilities.
Referring first to FIG. 10, a side view of a section of handle 22 is shown
with five supplemental tools 76: a bottle/can opener 112, a Phillips head
screwdriver 114, a scribe 116, a clip blade 118, and a file 120. FIG. 11 shows
the other handle 24 with five additional tools: a small screwdriver 122, a
combination large screwdriver/wire stripper 124, a scraper 126, a sheepfoot
blade 128, and a ruler 142. The supplemental tools 76 have been rotated to
varying degrees of extension to illustrate them better; they would not
normally
be used as shown. Normally, only one supplemental tool 76 would be
extended at any given time. For example, when one needs to use Phillips
head screwdriver 114, it would be extended alone (as shown in the lower
portion of FIG. 8A). Tool 10 should be closed, as in FIG. 8A (note the
location
of nubs 80), to provide a hefty handle for the screwdriver.
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FIG. 8A is a partial top view of the ends of handles 22 and 24 intended to
illustrate, along with FIGS. 8B, 8C, 9A and 9B, the operation of the latching
and locking mechanism of the present invention. It should be understood
that in FIG. 8A, both screwdriver 114 and ruler 142 are shown extended from
their respective handles 22 and 24; however, during actual use, only one
such tool will be normally extended at any given time.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8A, webs 68 of handles 22 and 24 each include
a resilient tongue 132 adjacent end 86. A pair of recesses 134 inwardly and
oppositely extend at the side junction between tongue 132 and web 68 to aid
in the flexibility of tongue 132. A rectangular aperture or slot 136 is formed
adjacent the end portion 137 of tongue 132 and is bordered by two side strips
138 and a transverse stock or latch 140. Stock 140 has an outer edge 158
defining the outer edge surface of free end 137, and an interior edge surface
157 defining the locking edge surface of slot 136. Flat tongue 132, flat stock
140, and flat web 168 are essentially coplanar when tongue 132 is in its at-
rest, unflexed state. Compare FIGS. 10 - 11 where tongue 132 is at rest with
FIGS. 9(a) - 9(b) where tongue 132 has been deflected into its flexed state.
Ruler 142 (FIGS. 8A and 8B) is typical of a supplemental tool 76
mounted on pivot pin 78 outboard of the other tools in handle 24 and,
therefore, in alignment with one of the side strips 138. File 120 is another
such outboard mounted supplemental tool which is, however, located in the
other handle 22. Ruler 142 (FIG. 8B) includes a tool body 144 and a
mounting end or shank 146. Tool body 144 is unique to the type of tool 76
included in compound tool 10 and includes whatever working surfaces are
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important to that particular tool. Mounting end 146 is constructed
substantially the same as the mounting end of other outboard-mounted
supplementary tools, such as file 120. Mounting end 146 includes an
aperture 148 for receiving pivot pin 78 and a caroming surface 150 having a
first flat 152 formed adjacent a stop 154 and a second flat 156 positioned
diametrically opposite to first flat 152. The radial width of caroming surface
150 is slightly more than the distance between pivot pin 78 and tongue 132,
whereas the radial width of flats 152 and 156 are substantially equal to that
distance.
In operation, when ruler 142 is in its fully extended position in
longitudinal alignment with handle 24 (as shown in FIG. 8A, or when file 120
is in its fully extended position as shown in FIG. 9A), flat 152 is flush with
the
unflexed tongue 132, and stop 154 is in contact with outer edge 158 of stock
140. Stop 154 and edge 158 prevent ruler 142 (and any other similar
supplemental tool such as file 120) from rotating beyond its alignment with
handle 24. The flex-resisting force of tongue 132 urges stock 140 against
flat 152 and thus biases ruler 142 and file 120 toward their fully extended
positions, not preventing closure thereof but requiring an additional force be
applied to overcome the bias. As such, ruler 142 and file 120 will be latched,
as opposed to being positively locked (as some of the interior tools can be
which will be described in greater detail shortly).
When in its closed position, housed within channel 70 of handle 22, file
120 is biased to its closed position by resilient tongue 132 pressing on flat
156, effectively holding file 120 in place. When being closed from its fully
CA 02321365 2000-10-16
open position, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 9A, camming surface 150
flexes tongue 132 (arrow B in FIG. 9A) slightly outwardly from the plane of
web
68. If flats 152 and 156 were not of slightly less radial distance from pivot
pin
78 than the remainder of camming surface 150, file 120 might not be held in
its closed and extended positions, but could flop about uncontrollably.
File 120 and ruler 142 are merely illustrative of outboard mounted tools,
or possibly an inboard mounted tool, which do not need to be positively
locked in their open, extended positions. Clip blade 118 (FIG. 8C) is
illustrative of an inboard mounted supplementary tool which needs for safety
reasons to be positively locked in its open, extended position.
Clip blade 118 is shown having a body 144 appropriate to its function.
Included in body 144 of clip blade 118 is a nail nick 159 to facilitate
opening
of clip blade 118. Some outboard tools, such as file 120 and ruler 142, have
a notch 160 on their top edge when they are closed, to allow access to
interior tools having nail nicks 159, such as bottle/can opener 112, scribe
116, clip blade 118, large screwdriver/wire stripper 124, and scraper 126.
Handles 22 and 24 likewise include notches 162 (FIGS. 1i 9A and 10) for the
same reason.
The mounting end or shank 146 of clip blade 118 includes a pivot pin
aperture 148, a camming surface 150, and a flat 156, all of which may be
provided for the same purposes as described in connection with ruler 142.
Mounting end 146 of clip blade 118 differs, however, from those of
non-positively locked outboard tools in that in place of flat 152 and stop
154,
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mounting end 146 of clip blade 118 has a locking transverse notch or keeper
164 located to mate with stock or latch 140 of tongue 132.
As with all other supplemental tools 76, clip blade 118 is preferably
biased toward its closed position by tongue 132 acting upon flat 156. As clip
blade 118 is rotated about pivot pin 78 (opposite to arrow A in FIG. 9A) to
its
open position, tongue 132 flexes (arrow B), because it is riding on the
radially
enlarged camming surface 150, until stock 140 snaps into U-shaped notch
164 of clip blade 118.
The width of aperture 136 (the smaller of its rectangular dimensions) is
preferably large enough to enclose the portion of camming surface 150 that
is located to the right of notch 164 as viewed in FIG. 8C in order to prevent
the
camming of stock 140 out of notch 164 by camming surface 150. Other than
that, the dimensions of aperture 136 are not significant except for structural
considerations.
The width of stock 140 (the smaller of its rectangular dimensions) is
critical, however. It must be such that stock 140 fits snugly in slot 164.
Stock
or latch 140 will remain in notch or keeper 164 until positively, forcibly
removed. Before that occurs, therefore, clip blade 118 is positively locked in
place. When tool 140 is in its extended open state, the upstanding edge
surfaces 165 and 167 (FIGS. 8A and 8C) of U-shaped notch 164 abut edge
surfaces 158 and 157, respectively, of stock 140. The coaction of edge
surfaces 158 and 167 prevents rotation of tool 144 in one direction, thereby
preventing tool 144 from opening beyond the desired extended position. The
coaction of edge surfaces 157 and 165 prevents rotation of tool 144 in the
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other direction, thereby preventing tool 144 from unintentionally closing,
i.e.,
leaving the desired extended position.
The locking mechanism described herein is a radical departure from
prior art locking mechanisms, and has profound benefits associated
therewith; as such it is an important feature of the present invention.
Bassett (U.S. Pat. No. 2,798,290) is representative of prior art patents
which utilize a transverse slot or a leaf springy but not both together, in
the
handle of a compound tool as part of a locking mechanism for tools.
Bassett's knifeblade 41 has a detent lobe 28 on the peripheral surface of its
mounting end. Locking of blade 41 is effected by a radially projecting,
smoothly arcuate lobe 28 either "engaging slot 42 with detent action" (FIGS.
6-7, and column 3, line 72 of Bassett) or being allowed to flex leaf spring 29
"to assume a position on spring 29 past dead center" (FIGS. 1-3, column 3,
lines 30-31 of Bassett). In the former, lobe 28 includes an arcuate camming
surface which bends the edges of slot 42 in fixed base 43, when lobe 28 is
being placed therein or removed therefrom; there is no leaf spring involved.
In the latter, there is no notch for lobe 28 to enter; leaf spring 29 merely
provides a bias for an over-dead-center latch. In any event, a projection on
mounting end 146 is not equivalent to a notch 164 being formed therein.
Provision of a radial projection on the mounting end requires a reduction in
the radial width of the annular ring surrounding the pivot pin which provides
the structural support for the blade; a notch does not remove any material
except to form the relatively small notch.
CA 02321365 2000-10-16
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Prior art locking mechanisms which include a locking aperture in the
housing include a projection on the blade to enter the locking aperture.
Those members of the prior art which utilize a notch in the blade also
traditionally provide a projection which fits in the notch to lock the blade,
e.g.,
an L-shaped flange on the end of a separate element. Representative of this
time-honored class, which are legion, are Barnard & Brace, U. S. Patent No.
97,154, issued in November of 1869, and Evrell, U. S. Patent No. 4,669,188.
The addition of the extra locking element decreases the number of
supplemental tools which can be housed in the tool while increasing the
number of elements required for a functional tool and concomitantly the
manufacturing costs.
A few patents, e.g., Hallvarson, U. S. Patent No. 1,556,788, and
Leatherman, U. S. Patent Nos. 4,238,862 and 4,888,869, include a resilient
spring on the housing with an L-shaped flange on the outer edge of the
resilient spring that serves as a latch to lock within a notch that serves as
a
keeper in the blade. This is in line with the conventional wisdom of the art,
for
it perpetuates the teachings of the prior art to include a projection or lug
for
entering the notch.
Referring back to the present invention, the release means for the
locking mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9B. At least two of the
supplemental tools 76i one in each handle, shown as scribe 116 in FIGS. 9A,
9B, and 10, and scraper 126 in FIG. 11, have a depressible portion preferably
in the form of a bulge 166 on their upper surfaces which protrudes above the
open side edges 170 of sidewalls 64 and 66 when tools 76 are closed.
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Manual depression of bulge 166 into the handle 22 rotates scribe 116
counter-clockwise (as viewed in FIGS. 9A-9B) about pivot pin 78, until the
leading edge or corner protrusion portion 168 of peripheral portion or flat
156
depresses and deflects tongue 132 downwardly, thereby lifting stock or latch
140 out of the notch or keeper 164 of an extended tool. This means of
release does not necessarily need to be incorporated into a supplemental
tool but would function equally as well as a single function release lever.
The
combination of a supplemental tool and a release lever into one components
howeveri adds utility to the compound tool. By way of comparison with the
prior art, Leatherman (U. S. Patent No. 4,238,862; FIG. 6) shows a locking
mechanism for a supplemental tool in which flange 90 on tongue 86 detents
into notch 91 on the tool mounting end. Leatherman releases the lock by
"partially opening one of the other tools on pivot pin 70 causing its cam
surface 87 to retract the flange 90 out of notch 91" (column 7, lines 32-35).
The preferred embodiment of the instant invention constitutes a major
improvement over this prior art by: (1) eliminating the flange, as discussed
above; and (2) by depressing another tool rather than partially opening one.
In particular, depressing a tool, rather than partially opening it, has
significant
advantages. Depression of a closed tool requires no more than one hand or
thumb squeezing the tool handle until bulge 166 descends below the open
side edges 170 of sidewalls 64 and 66, where it will stop, keeping the tool
within the handle. In contrast, partially opening a tool to release a locking
mechanism (Leatherman) requires two hands, one to hold the handle and
the other to grasp and lift the tool. As just alluded to, depressing the tool
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keeps it in the handle, out of the way, whereas opening a tool places it
outside the handle where it is at least inconvenient and could be potentially
dangerous (e.g., if it had a sharp point or edge).
An important feature of the present invention is the laminated
construction of the plier jaws, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 14-17, where
the
same reference numerals used in FIGS. 12-13 identify the same features.
In FIGS. 14-17, jaw 18 is shown as comprising a central body 172
laminated with two outer strips 174 and 176. FIG. 17 is a sectional view of
jaw 18 (taken along lines 17-17 of FIG. 12), wherein central body 172 and
outer strips 174 and 176 are not shown to scale; in practice, central body 172
is much thicker than outer strips 174, 176j closer to the illustrations of
FIGS.
14 and 15. As seen in FIG. 17, central body 172, being the heftier of the
pieces, includes countersinks 178 which mate with daps 180 formed in outer
strips 174 and 176. Countersinks 178 and daps 180 are preferably circular,
but any convenient shape will do so long as they mate snugly. The
countersink/dap combination prevents lateral sliding of the two outer strips
relative to the central body and maintains the pieces in their relative
orientations. Central body 172 and outer strips 174 and 176 can be secured
together by any known means which is not detrimental to the use of pliers 12.
A preferred method of securing the laminates (body 172 and outer strips 174
and 176) utilizes rivets 182, countersunk at 184 (FIG. 18), to provide added
strength and to positively prevent separation of the laminates.
The laminated central body 172 and outer strips 174 and 176 are
shaped as plier jaws as shown in FIGS. 14-16, jaw 20 being a mirror image
CA 02321365 2000-10-16
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of jaw 18, though some other shape, if advantageous, could be desirable.
Central body 172 extends the full length of jaw 18 from tip 100 through
bearing 32. Outer strip 176 extends similarly except that its forwardmost
portion 187 does not extend as far as tip 100. Outer strip 174 terminates at
its lower end at recess 186 adjacent bearing 30 which receives bearing 36
from jaw 20, when the two jaws are rotatably joined by pivot pin 26. The
upper end of outer strip 174 terminates in a tip 187 that is the same as the
uppermost tip of outer strip 176. Tip 100 of central body 172 is tapered on
both sides thereof as at 188. Similarly, tips 187 of outer strips 174 and 176
are each tapered on both sides thereof as at 189. Taken together with the
outer taper 94 of jaws 18 and 20 (FIGS. 12-13), the net effect is that jaws 18
and 20 comprise a pair of needlenose pliers. This needlenose effect is
enhanced by having the tips 187 of outer strips 174 and 176 terminate
rearwardly of tip 100, as previously described.
The laminated construction of plier jaws 12 as shown and described
above is believed to be significantly stronger than non-laminated plier jaws.
It is clear from the above that the objects of the invention have been
fulfilled.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which
this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing
of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several
purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims
be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do
CA 02321365 2000-10-16
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not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in
the
appended claims.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the public
generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the
art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine
quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical
disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the
invention of the application, which is measured solely by the claims, nor is
intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It can be seen from the above that an invention has been disclosed
which fulfils all the objects of the invention. It is to be understood,
however,
that the disclosure is by way of illustration only and that the scope of the
invention is to be limited solely by the following claims.
