Multipurpose tool

A multipurpose tool designed particularly for use while painting, and including a claw for opening large pails or buckets and a blade for scraping and for opening standard one gallon paint cans. The claw is designed to extend partially or entirely around the rung of a ladder thereby permitting the tool, and a supported paint can, to be suspended from the rung. The claw includes flanges for can support and for engaging under the bead of a pail or bucket for prying off the cover of the pail or bucket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates as indicated to a multipurpose tool, and 
relates more particularly to a tool specifically designed to provide in 
one tool many of the necessary functions normally required when painting. 
For example, the tool is provided with a claw for opening relatively 
wide-lipped buckets, a blade at the front thereof for scraping and for 
opening conventional gallon cans of paint, and provides a stable hanger 
for suspending the tool, and a paint can, for example, to the rung of a 
ladder. 
The prior art is literally replete with tools providing some but not all of 
the functions capable of being performed by the present invention. For 
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 259,245; 376,825; 395,704; 429,515; 2,579,930 and 
4,053,131 disclose various tools specifically designed to support a paint 
can from a supporting surface, typically the rung of a ladder. U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,363,316 discloses a tool having a blade at the front edge thereof 
specifically designed for removing wallpaper. U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,685, and 
U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 174,896; 263,198, and 276,304 illustrate various 
types of tools specifically designed for opening the lid of a pail or can. 
While the tools illustrated in the noted patents satisfactorily perform the 
functions indicated, they do not commonly provide the flexibility or 
multifunction use provided by the tool of the present invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The tool constructed in accordance with the present invention is primarily 
designed for use by painters, and is able to perform numerous functions 
normally requiring the use of separate tools. The tool can be used to open 
large pails or buckets containing paint or other types of protective 
coatings, and conventional one gallon cans of paint. The tool includes a 
scraping blade for scraping surfaces where scale is to be removed prior to 
painting, and can be used to efficiently suspend a paint can or pail from 
the rung of a ladder. The tool is of high strength plastic, and is 
reinforced around the edges to enhance the indicated functions, and to 
ensure long life of the product. 
The tool is particularly characterized by a claw portion having inwardly 
and upwardly turned flanges for gripping the outer bead of a pail for 
removing the same, and for engaging around the rung of a ladder for 
supporting a paint can from the rung in a very stable manner. 
The scraping blade at the forward end of the tool additionally functions to 
provide a relatively wide, essentially blade surface to facilitate the 
removal of the top of a paint can in which the top is formed with an outer 
peripheral bead under which a blade can be inserted for prying up the bead 
for removing the cover. This type of lid construction is of the normal 
type provided with one gallon cans of paint. 
The tool is preferably constructed from high impact styrene by injection 
molding, with the blade being embedded at the front of the tool during the 
molding process. The high impact styrene provides a high density and 
consequent toughness to the tool to withstand repeated uses and provide a 
long life for the product. The tool is reinforced around its edges by 
laterally extending beads, particularly effective in increasing the 
strength of the tool in the claw area, and the tool is formed with a 
gripping surface on its under side to enhance the gripping and use of the 
tool. 
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent as the following 
description proceeds in particular reference to the application drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The tool is generally indicated at 10 and includes a body portion 12 of 
uniform thickness throughout the length of the tool. The thickness of the 
tool is increased preferably along all edges by providing a laterally 
extending continuous bead 14 which serves to reinforce and strengthen the 
tool throughout its length. The thickness of the bead relative to the 
thickness of the body portion 12 can be seen in FIG. 2. 
A blade 16 is embedded in the front of the tool in the beaded area of 
greater thickness, with the width of the blade being such that the blade 
can serve as a scraper, and can also be used to open paint cans, as shown 
in FIG. 5. 
Relatively adjacent the front of the tool, the body portion is upwardly 
relieved to form a claw generally designated at 18 comprising a bottom 
wall 20 and side walls 22 and 24, with the claw being generally inverted 
U-shape in cross section. The edges of the walls are likewise formed with 
beads 14 for rigidifying the claw. Inwardly and upwardly directed flanges 
26 and 28 are provided at the ends of the side walls 22 and 24, 
respectively, with the flanges performing several functions. Referring to 
FIG. 4, the flange 26 is shaped so as to fit tightly under the outer bead 
30 of the lid of a large bucket or pail 31, with the bottom of the 
opposite flange 28 engaging the upper surface of the pail cover and 
serving as a fulcrum about which the cover can be pried open as shown in 
FIG. 4. Secondly, the flange 26 is adapted to fit partially or entirely 
around the rung of a ladder, with the rung engaging the side wall 22 as 
shown in FIG. 3. If the diameter of the rung exceeds the length of the 
wall 26, the end of the flange 26 will engage the peripheral surface of 
the rung, which is normally longitudinally grooved. Such engagement 
coupled with the weight of the can to be suspended provides a stable 
holding arrangement. The flange 26 prevents the tool from slipping from 
the rung, and the inclination of the flange 28 serves to provide a 
cradling area for the bail or handle 32 of a paint can 34, as shown in 
FIG. 3. 
As previously noted, the tool is preferably made of high impact styrene so 
as to give the tool the desired strength and toughness. The tool can be 
made by injection molding, with the blade 16 being embedded during the 
molding process. Ridges commonly designated at 38 and intervening 
depressions commonly designated at 40 are molded in the tool in the handle 
area so as to provide a gripping surface to enhance manipulation of the 
tool. An opening 42 near the end of the tool extends entirely through the 
thickness of the body 12 to provide a means by which the tool can be hung 
during nonuse. 
The dimensions of the tool can vary considerably. Highly satisfactory 
results have been obtained where the body portion of the tool is 
approximately 0.35-0.6" in thickness and the reinforcing beads are 
0.15-0.3" in lateral thickness. The bottom wall 20 of the claw is 1.5-2.0" 
long, and the side walls 22 and 24 are approximately 0.8 to 1.2" long. The 
wall 22 is slightly inclined (10.degree.-20.degree.) relative to a 
transverse vertical plane centrally through the bottom wall 20, and the 
wall 26 is more inclined (20.degree.-35.degree.) relative to the same 
plane. The length and inclination of wall 22 are designed so that the tool 
hangs generally vertically when supporting a pail as shown in FIG. 3. 
The faces of the flanges 26 and 28 are inclined upwardly approximately 
15.degree.-45.degree. relative to the horizontal. This permits the flange 
26 to more effectively engage and lift the bottom of the cover bead 30. 
Moreover, the shape of the flange 26 in combination with the length of the 
wall 22 permits the tool to be used with virtually all large pails or 
buckets currently on the market. Although not clearly visible in FIG. 1, 
the wall 22 and flange 26 are approximately 0.20-0.35" longer than wall 24 
and flange 28 so as to position the flange 26 below the cover bead of the 
pail to provide maximum leverage. When in a position to open the cover, 
the tool is accordingly generally horizontal, with the bottom of flange 26 
resting on the top surface of the pail to provide a fulcrum point. 
The tool shown in the application drawing is specifically designed for 
ladders having round rungs. For step ladders having flat rungs, the tool 
can conveniently be suspended from the ladder hinge for supporting the can 
handle.