Multi-purpose utility tool

A multi-purpose utility tool wherein an elongated straight handle is attached to a curved plate, the curvature occurring between a front edge and a back edge and being concave with respect to the top surface of the plate. The two side edges of the plate are mutually parallel and intersect the front edge at a right angle. The front edge is sharpened, the cutting edge preferably formed by bevelling between the top surface of the plate and the front edge. The handle is attached to the top surface of the curved plate, with the longitudinal axis of the handle forming an obtuse exterior angle with the curved plate at the point of attachment. A solid web, with a curved exterior edge surface, is formed between the back edge of the curved plate and the handle, the solid web extending tangentially from the back edge of the plate and curving toward the handle so as to terminate at its intersection with the handle. An alternative configuration, in lieu of the curved web, extends the curved plate until that plate reintersects the handle, thereby providing a broader continuous fulcrum-contacting surface than the narrower web. A guide element may be added to a side edge of the tool in order to guide the cutting edge. A two-wheel dolly may be attached transversely across the curved plate to provide means for wheeled movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention generally relates to a hand tool, and, more 
particularly, a multi-purpose utility tool capable of performing the 
functions of lifting, prying, and cutting. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Numerous tool have been designed for specific purposes, but little has been 
done to design a single tool to accomplish a number of operations. The 
result is a maze of tools which generally are unsuitable except for their 
particular design purpose. An example in point is the common pry bar. 
Available in several shapes, it generally comes with a relatively blunt 
edge, a narrow width which may cause damage to the fulcrum material when 
pressure is applied, and a shape which generally is not conducive to 
lifting. 
A need exists for a sturdy tool which is effective in a variety of cutting, 
prying and lifting operations. Such tool should be shaped to facilitate 
prying and lifting while minimizing fulcrum damage, and should have a 
broad sharpened forward edge for cutting and gaining access to narrow 
locations. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a multi-purpose utility tool which is 
designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The invention involves a 
curved plate having a sharpened, straight front edge which is attached to 
an elongated handle, together with a continuous fulcrum-contacting 
surface. 
Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, the invention comprises an 
elongated straight handle to which is attached a curved plate, the 
curvature occurring uniformly between a front edge and a back edge and 
which is concave with respect to the top side of the plate. The two side 
edges of the plate are mutually parallel and intersect the front edge at a 
right angle. The front edge is sharpened for cutting and for slipping into 
narrow spaces for prying and lifting, the cutting edge preferably formed 
by bevelling between the top surface of the plate and the front edge. The 
handle is attached to the top surface of the curved plate, preferably by 
welding, with the longitudinal axis of the handle forming an obtuse 
exterior angle with the curved plate at the point of attachment. A solid 
curved web, with a curved exterior edge surface, is formed, in one 
preferred configuration, between the back edge of the curved plate and the 
handle, the solid web extending tangentially from the back edge of the 
plate and curving toward the handle so as to terminate at its intersection 
with the handle, thereby providing continuing fulcrum-contacting surface 
beyond the curved plate upon which the tool can be pivoted while prying or 
lifting. 
A radius of curvature for the curved plate of between nine and twelve feet 
is preferred, along with an exterior angle of intersection between the 
handle and the top side of the curved plate of between 150 and 160 
degrees. 
An alternative configuration, in lieu of the curved web, extends the curved 
plate until that plate reintersects the handle, thereby providing a 
broader, albeit heavier and bulkier continuous fulcrum-contacting surface 
than the narrower web. 
A guide element may be added to a side edge of the tool in order to guide 
the tool, particularly in cutting operations. 
A wheeled element may be added to the curved plate to provide a dolly for 
enhancing mobility in transporting a load, a feature which is especially 
useful in conjunction with lifting operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the various drawings, and particularly the views of FIG. 1, 2 
and 3, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the multi-purpose utility 
tool 10. An elongated handle 12 is attached, as by welding, to a curved 
plate 14. The curved plate, formed of 1/4-inch steel, curves uniformly 
between its front edge 16 and its back edge 18, with the radius of 
curvature of the curved plate 14 being between nine and twelve feet, this 
radius of curvature appearing to be most suitable for the multiple uses of 
the utility tool. Similarly, to maximize usefulness, the preferred length 
between the front edge 16 and back edge 18 is six to eight inches; the 
preferred width of the curved plate 14 between the two side edges 20 and 
22 is between 21/2-and four-inches. The two side edges 20, and 22 are 
mutually parallel and the curved plate 14 between the two side edges 20 
and 22 is flat, the curvature being between the front edge 16 and the back 
edge 18, as indicated above. The top surface 24 of the curved plate 14, 
which is concave in shape, is attached to the lower end 26 of the handle 
12, as by welding. The exterior angle of attachment 28 of the handle 12 to 
the top surface 24 of the curved plate 14, as illustrated, is within the 
range of 140 to 170 degrees, and is preferred to be between 150 to 160 
degrees, this angle 28 also being determined to maximize usefulness of the 
tool in various applications. 
The front edge 16 of the curved plate 14 is sharpened to provide a straight 
cutting edge 30 for cutting functions, and for entering narrow spaces to 
engage an object in prying and lifting operations. It is found preferable 
to provide the cutting edge 30 by bevelling the front edge 16 of the 
curved plate 14 between the top surface 24 and the front edge 16, thereby 
retaining a smooth bottom surface 32 for fulcrum applications. 
In the above discussed preferred embodiment, the preferred handle 12 is 
approximately thirty inches in length and may be made of one-inch outside 
diameter steel pipe, hemispherically capped 34 at its upper end 36. 
Finally, a solid steel web 38 is formed, as by welding, between the back 
edge 18 of the curved plate 14 and the handle 12, as illustrated. The web 
38, approximately 1/2-inch in width, extends tangentially from the back 
edge 18 of the curved plate 14, and with increasing curvature intersects 
the handle 12 three to five inches above the lower end 26 of the handle 
12. Such web 38 provides additional support to the connection of the 
handle 12 to the curved plate 14, and, more importantly, also provides a 
continuing fulcrum-contacting surface 40, extending beyond the bottom 
surface 32 of the curved plate 14, so as to afford increased prying and 
lifting capability. 
Thus described, the preferred embodiment of the multi-purpose utility tool 
10 provides a sturdy tool with a capability for numerous uses never 
available in a single tool before. 
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate the utility tool 10 as used to pry loose a 
molding 41 from a wall 42, in this case a ceiling molding 41. The 
sharpened front edge 16 is inserted between the molding 41 and the wall 42 
and the top end 36 of the handle is moved toward the wall 42, so that the 
utility tool 10 pivots about that portion 44 of the bottom surface 32 of 
the curved plate 14 in contact with the wall 42, causing the front edge 16 
to move outwards and the molding 40 to separate from the wall 42 to allow 
removal. The utility tool 10 pivots on the full width of the bottom 
surface 32 of the curved plate 14, thereby minimizing or eliminating 
damage to the wall 42 caused by the force of the pivoting surface 44 
against the wall in applying leverage to the outward movement of the front 
edge 16 beneath the molding 40. Numerous other prying operations would 
utilize similar technique. 
FIG. 6 illustrates another of many uses for the utility tool 10, the 
removal of linoleum, carpeting or other floor covering 46. The sharpened 
front edge 16 is placed between the floor covering 46 and the subfloor 48 
where the cutting edge 30 cuts into any binding material 50. Having 
achieved a purchase with the front edge 16, the utility tool 10 is then 
pivoted about the bottom surface 32 of the curved plate 14, thereby 
forceably lifting the floor covering 46 from the subfloor 48 as shown in 
dashed lines. Minimum damage to the subfloor 48 is assured by the 
broadness of the bottom surface 32 of the pivoting curved plate 14, while 
the wide front edge 16 creates a broad grip beneath the floor covering 46 
to apply greater force with a minimum tearing effect. 
FIG. 7 illustrates a two-wheel dolly 54 designed for attachment to the 
curved plate 14. The wheels 56 rotate upon an axle 58 in a conventional 
manner; connected to the axle 58 are two L-shaped brackets 60 through 
which bolts 59 are threaded so as to grasp the curved plate 14 when placed 
between the brackets 60. FIG. 8 shows the utility tool 10, with dolly 54 
attached, in use. The curved plate 14 pivots about the axle 58 to provide 
leverage at the front edge 16 in the lifting of, for example, the crate 
61. Once lifted, say by several of the utility tools 10 with dolly 54 
attached, the crate 61 can be easily moved. Even a single utility tool 10 
with dolly 54 can be used to walk a heavy object from place to place. Such 
a combination is invaluable for warehouse work, or even in the residence, 
where it can be used to move heavy appliances, as for servicing. 
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrate a guide 62 which is attachable to either side 
edge, 20 or 22, (20 as illustrated) of the curved plate 14 to guide and 
limit the movement of the curved plate 14 and especially of the cutting 
edge 30 when used in a cutting operation, such as shaving as a slick on 
boat caps. FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the guide 62 comprising 
U-shaped member 64 fastened by threaded bolts 66 locking onto the curved 
plate 14 and connecting to a flat guide edge 68. 
FIG. 11 shows the utility tool 10 being applied in a lifting mode, the 
application being the lifting of a section of drywall 70 to the ceiling 72 
so as to be attached at that location to structural members 74 by 
conventional means. The sharpened front edge 16 having been inserted under 
the lower edge 76 of a section of drywall 70, the handle 12 is forceably 
lowered, raising the drywall 70 appropriately by pivoting, as illustrated, 
about the curved surface 40 of the web 38. 
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show two views of an alternative configuration utility 
tool 110 wherein the curved plate 114 extends beyond its attachment, as by 
welding, to the handle 112 at location 116, so that the curved plate 114 
reintersects with, and is attached, as by welding, to the handle 112 at 
location 118. Location 118 will depend upon the curvature of the plate 
114, particularly beyond location 116. The continuation of the curving 
plate 114 thus provides a continuing broader bottom surface 120 for pivot 
positions which, in the first configuration, rely on the curved surface 40 
of web 38 for the fulcrum-contacting part of the utility tool 10. While 
heavier and bulkier than the utility tool 10, this alternative 
configuration 110 has application when greater movement of handle 112 in 
conjunction with the need for a broad pivot surface as at 120, is 
indicated by the desired use. 
It is thought that the multi-purpose utility tool of the present invention 
and its many attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing 
description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made 
in form, construction and arrangement of the parts thereof without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of 
its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore stated being merely 
exemplary embodiments thereof.