Multi-purpose tool having removable handle for use as a hand tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10464199-B2
Application number	US-201715616592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2017
Priority date	Oct 25, 2011
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A multi-purpose tool includes a jaw head, a locking mechanism pivotably attached to the jaw head, a first handle, and a second handle. The jaw head includes a first jaw having a first tang and a second jaw having a second tang. The locking mechanism includes a projection extending from a lock body. The first tang includes a notch, and the first handle includes a notch configured to align with the notch in the first tang. The aligned notches are configured to receive the projection of the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is in a locked position. The first handle is fixed to the jaw head when the locking mechanism is in the locked position due to the projection of the locking mechanism contacting both of the aligned notches. The first handle can be removed from the first tang when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-purpose tool, comprising:
a jaw head comprising a first jaw pivotably coupled to a second jaw, the first jaw comprising a first tang and the second jaw comprising a second tang;
a locking mechanism pivotably attached to the jaw head, the locking mechanism movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking mechanism comprising a lock body and a projection extending away from a first end of the lock body; and
a first handle removably coupled to the first tang;
a second handle coupled to the second tang;
wherein the first tang comprises a notch and the first handle comprises a notch configured to align with the notch in the first tang when the first handle is in an installed position relative to the first tang, the aligned notches configured to receive the projection of the locking mechanism when the locking mechanism is in the locked position to prevent the removal of the first handle from the first tang;
wherein the first handle is fixed to the jaw head when the locking mechanism is in the locked position due to the projection of the locking mechanism contacting both of the aligned notches, and the first handle is able to be removed from the first tang when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position.

2. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the first handle includes an opening that is configured to slidably engage the first tang.

3. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the locking mechanism into the locked position.

4. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the second handle is removably coupled to the second tang and the second handle comprises a knife.

5. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the first handle comprises a first body and a hand tool pivotably coupled to the first body, the hand tool moveable between a closed position in which the hand tool is disposed within the first body and an open position in which the hand tool extends out of the first body, and wherein the first handle can be removed from the jaw head to be utilized separately from the jaw head.

6. The multi-purpose tool of claim 5 ,
wherein the hand tool comprises a bit driver; and
wherein the second handle comprises a second body, a plurality of bits configured for use with the bit driver, and a holder pivotably coupled to the second body, the holder configured to store the plurality of bits, and the holder moveable between a closed position in which the holder is disposed within the second body and an open position in which the holder extends out of the second body to allow the bits to be removed from the holder.

7. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the two jaws include at least one of a crimper and a wire cutter.

8. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the two jaws comprise a pliers.

9. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the first handle includes a channel into which the first tang is removably inserted.

10. The multi-purpose tool of claim 9 , wherein the channel is formed by a pair of opposing arms spaced apart a distance corresponding to a width of the first tang.

11. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the jaw head toward an open position.

12. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pair of arms extending from a side of the lock body and a pin, wherein the pair of arms define a space between the pair of arms configured to receive the jaw head, and wherein the pin is configured to pass through the pair of arms and the jaw head to pivotably attach the locking mechanism to the jaw head.

13. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the projection of the locking mechanism includes an angled surface configured to engage a portion of the of the first handle when the first handle is moved toward the installed position, and wherein the angled surface is configured such that the locking mechanism moves toward the unlocked position in response to movement of the first handle toward the installed position while the angled surface is engaged with the first handle.

14. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the first handle comprises a body having a first end portion and a second end portion located opposite the first end portion, wherein the first end portion is configured to receive the first tang, and wherein the first end portion is more narrow than the second end portion.

15. The multi-purpose tool of claim 14 , wherein the first handle comprises at least one of a bit driver and a flat driver rotationally coupled to the body, and wherein the second end portion of the body is configured to receive the at least one of a bit driver and a flat driver.

16. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the first handle comprises a body, a knife blade rotationally coupled to the body, and a cover coupled to the body, wherein the knife blade is rotatable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the cover substantially covers the knife blade when the knife blade is in the closed position.

17. The multi-purpose tool of claim 16 , wherein the body is an outer frame, wherein the first handle comprises an inner frame coupled to the outer frame and a lock plate coupled to the inner frame, wherein the lock plate includes a main body and a stop tab extending from the main body, and wherein the stop tab is configured to restrict rotational movement of the knife blade as the knife blade is moved to the open position.

18. The multi-purpose tool of claim 17 , wherein the lock plate comprises a locking tab extending from the main body, wherein the locking tab is configured to engage the knife blade in a first orientation and disengage from the knife blade in a second orientation, wherein the locking tab is configured to lock the knife blade in the open position when engaging the knife blade, and wherein an angle between the main body and the locking tab is larger in the first orientation than in the second orientation.

19. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the first handle includes at least one of a saw and a driver.

20. The multi-purpose tool of claim 1 , wherein the first handle comprises a body, a hand tool pivotably coupled to the body, and a slide translatably coupled to the body, the hand tool moveable between a closed position in which the hand tool is disposed within the body and an open position in which the hand tool extends out of the body, and the slide moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the slide engages a locking feature of the hand tool to lock the hand tool in at least one of the closed position and the open position when the slide is in the locked position.

Assignees

• Fiskars Brands Inc

Inventors

• Hardinge Hal
• Nason John
• Seeds Darrin

Classifications

• B25F1/04 Primary

  wherein the elements are brought into working positions by a pivoting or sliding movement · CPC title

• B25F1/003

  of pliers'-, scissors'- or wrench-type with at least one movable jaw (B25F1/006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B25G1/085

  for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners · CPC title

• B25G3/18

  comprising catches or pawls · CPC title