Patent ID: 6487740
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: B25F,B26B

Abstract:
A hand tool, comprising:a tool body having a pair of oppositely disposed sides; an axle extending transversely between the sides of the body at one end of the tool body; at least two blades supported on the axle, each blade being rotatable between a closed position wherein the blade lies between the oppositely disposed sides of the tool body and an open position wherein the blade extends from the tool body, each blade including a flat blade base having a peripheral surface with a notch therein; a bore through the blade base with the axle extending through the bore; an implement extending outwardly from the blade base and lying in the plane of the blade base; and a locking mechanism including a single engagement element supported on the tool body and having a locking finger extending and biased toward the peripheral surfaces of the blade bases from a first end of the single engagement element, the locking finger engaging the notch of each blade when that blade is in the open position to positively lock the blade into the open position, and a single manually accessible release, the single release being operable to disengage the locking finger from the notch of the blade that is in the open position while permitting the other blades to remain in the closed position, wherein the hand tool is one handle of a combination tool having a pair of handles deployably joined to a jaw mechanism.