Abstract:
A hand tool has a pliers with pivotably disposed handles with one handle having a closed ended sleeve pivotably connected to one handle head for removably operably receiving tool with the sleeve non-removably bits pivoting 180° from an inoperable position between the handle sides to an operable position, and the other handle has a plurality of bladed tools pivotally connected to the other handle end.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of our Ser. No. 08/904,666, filed Aug. 1, 1997, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of our copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/451,398 filed May 26, 1995, and Ser. No. 08/620,471 filed Mar. 22, 1996, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Also, this application relates to our copending U.S. patent application entitled IMPROVED HEX KEY HAND TOOL AND FOLDING SCREW/NUT DRIVER, Ser. No. 08/904,665 filed on Aug. 1, 1997. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention pertains to multi-purpose hand tools, and more particularly to a Leatherman&#39;s type hand tool or Swiss army knife, but with improved features, such as an inter-changeable 4 in 1 or screw nut driver even an 8 in 1 driver tool, as well as other novel improved wrench and plier hand tools.  
           [0003]    Incorporation of multiple tool functions or abilities into a single tool device is a well-known convenience, as is incorporation of multiple blades and tools which may be designed to ‘fold’ into a handle, such as in a conventional pocket knife configuration. Such blades and tools do not themselves generally fold, but are hinged to the handle, and the combination blade and handle are said to fold closed for safe and convenient transport and unfold, or hinge open, for use. In such conventional pocket knife configurations as are known to the applicant, each blade and tool function is represented by a single operative member, such as a knife blade or a screwdriver blade, which are combined in some stacked arrangement to hinge with respect to the handle. On the other hand, multipurpose tools are known which do not fold, such as interchangeable bit screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, etc.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention provides a self-contained, improved hand tool having no loose parts, such as folding pocket-type knives with the flexibility and functionality of multipurpose tools. The present invention provides,. among other hand tools, a folding combination pocket-type knife with the professional usefulness of interchangeable bit screwdrivers and offset screwdrivers using the same interchangeable bit. In particular, the present invention provides hinged sleeve means which removably retains screwdriver bits in hinged relationship to a handle adapted to receive the sleeve and bit in recessed storage relationship and in exposed functioning relationship. The sleeve means has retaining means which cooperates with the bit to removably secure the bit in the sleeve. The double ended bit is interchangeable with other bits and is reversible, having a different drive at each end.  
           [0005]    Also provided is an hexagonal cross-hole, extending from one side bolster to the other of the handle, to receive the interchangeable bits in perpendicular relation to the handle, creating an offset interchangeable bit section of the invention. Retractable and/or biasable ball retaining means, or magnets, or retaining clips on each interchangeable bit may be used to retain the offset bit by fitting between the side bolsters and being retained thereby. Also, with the various hand tools of the invention, the folding blades may suitably have conventional provisions for locking in the open positions any of the tools for safety so as to prevent tools and blades from unexpectedly snapping closed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is plan view of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention showing the sleeve and bit in closed and operative positions and a knife blade in operative position.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 in closed position.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a top view of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention showing a screwdriver bit in offset position.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention showing the sleeve and bit in closed and operative positions and a knife blade in partially open position.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is an end view of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a plan view of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention showing a sleeve-in-sleeve version of the invention in closed and operative positions and partially broken away to show the internal construction, and a knife blade in operative position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a top view of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention of FIG. 6, showing the sleeve-in-sleeve and a bit in closed position and a bit in offset position.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is an end view of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sleeve-in-sleeve and bit of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, of a bit being inserted into the sleeve-in-sleeve of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a magnetic retainer version of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 13 is a perspective fragmentary view, partly broken away, of the magnetic retainer version of the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 14 is a perspective, partially exploded view of the improved hand/survival tool with multiple functions/purposes, and with a 4 in 1 interchangeable screwdriver shown in one of the hinged or folding blade-like implements forming part of the hand tool.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the hand/survival tool shown in FIG. 14, but with all tool implements and/or blade-like devices folded into the pivoted and linked pair of handles (with all of the innards shown in phantom).  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 16 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIG. 15, but partially broken away, and showing both handles folded outwardly about 90 degrees.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 17 is a bottom view or a view looking into the handle cavities or compartments and showing all of the tool implements and/or blade-like devices folded into their storage positions, and with the plier-like jaws shown also pivoted back into their respective portions of the handle cavities or compartments.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the hand/survival tool shown in FIGS.  14 - 17 , but with both handles folded about 180 degrees from their stored/folded abutting position, and with a 4 in 1 screwdriver tool shown both in its locked, fully extended operative use position, and in phantom at about 75 degrees, and in its stored position without the 4 in 1 screwdriver tool.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 19 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIG. 15, but with the pair of handles, shown partly broken away, to illustrate the stored tool implements; and with the 4 in 1 screwdriver tool shown in section in its extended operative position for use by the user with one of the two sized Phillips head screwdriver bits.  
         [0025]    FIGS.  20 - 22  are various views, partly in section, of an alternative form of the improved hand/survival tool, but with only one large handle, having a cavity for storing all of the tools (knife, 4 in 1 driver bit tool, etc.), except the pliers, with the other small handle operating the sole movable or pivotable jaw of the pliers.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 21A and 21B are views similar to that of FIGS.  21  and  22 , but with a centrally disposed crossbore on one handle for driving both the hexagonal driver sleeve and the hexagonal driver bit transversely to the axis of the tool handle.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 23 is an exploded view of an alternate version of the invention where the cylindrical compartmented hexagonal sleeve member of the 4 in 1 bit driver/holder is independent of the knife handle, and is removably attached to a driver suitably pivotally mounted in the handle with conventional means for locking the driver in the in-line position with the handle.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the driver/holder of FIG. 23, and showing therein a pair of hexagonal bits retained at opposite ends in their respective hexagonal compartments.  
         [0029]    FIGS.  25 - 27  are other various view of the invention; and showing in such figures, particularly that of FIGS. 25 and 26 a dual crossbore at one end of the tool handle for mating with both the hexagonal driver sleeve and one of the hexagonal bits; and with this arrangement, greater torque than that of FIG. 21B would be available to the user due to the longer “lever arm” of the tool handle. Also, the hexagonal sleeve element provides a greater “extension” to the bit being driven.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 28 is a partial sectional view showing a “laminated” tool handle with the crossbore driver aperture formed in a plurality of planes, such as those formed by two metal plates.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 29 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 28, but showing two hexagonal bores in the same or like material, such as plastic, although metal, steel or other material could be used.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 30 is an enlarged plan view, broken away, of just the crossbores of FIGS. 28 and 29 showing their coaxial bores or hexagonal shapes which are in coincidence with respect to each other for mating with the hexagonal shapes of both a driver bit and a hexagonal driver element/sleeve where the tool desired requires a longer extension or reach (see FIG. 31).  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 31 shows in section the dual driving surfaces of the hexagonal crossbores in both sides of the laminated tool handles (similar to that shown in FIG. 21B).  
         [0034]    FIGS.  32 - 34  are views of a further folding knife tool having a “chuck” or bit holder which is removably connected to a pivotable element. The entire element and “chuck” can be stored within the cutout bay of the tool handle, and anyone of a plurality of drive bits (one shown) stored in the transverse crossbore can be substituted for the drive bit connect to the “chuck”.  
         [0035]    FIGS.  35 - 37  are views similar to that of FIGS. 15 and 19, but showing a long nose pliers both with a fixed end connection as well as with a pivotable end connection with a removably connected “chuck” or driver element (FIG. 37) for a hexagonal driver having dual hexagonal bits at opposite ends thereof; with FIG. 37 showing removal of the driver tool element when the tool is folded for storage due to the length of the jaws of the pliers.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 38 illustrates a storage case with a pair of pockets, one for storing the folded tool of FIG. 37, and the other smaller one for storing the removable “chuck” or driver element.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 39 and 40 are side elevational views, partly in section, of an alternate more compact, plier hand tool, but with handles having storage cavities, and which pivot perpendicularly to that of the pivot axis of the plier jaws.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 41 is a side elevational view of a more conventional type pliers, but with handles having hollowed distal end portions for containing either 4 in 1 or 8 in 1 bit drivers of either the blade type or the nut types.  
         [0039]    FIGS.  42 - 44  are various views of an adjustable type monkey wrench embodiment, partly in section so as to more particularly illustrate the 4 in 1 screwdriver tool shown at the distal end of the wrench handle.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 45 is a plan view of a pliers and interchangeable bit screwdriver in accordance with the invention mounted on one handle of a pliers and provided with additional tools that are pivotally mounted at the end of the other handle of the pliers.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 46 is a cross sectional view of the sleeve and bit mounted therein, taken along line  46 - 46  in FIG. 45.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 47 illustrates the embodiment shown in FIG. 45 as it would be normally used for driving a fastener with a bit driver.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 48 is a perspective view of a Leatherman-type tool in accordance with the invention in which the multiple bit driver element is pivotally mounted at one free end of one of the handles and multiple additional tools are pivotally mounted at the free end of the other handle.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 49 is a plan view of the Leatherman-type tool shown in FIG. 48, with the handles folded to conceal the jaws of the pliers and with the knives retracted into the handle.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 50 is similar to FIG. 49, but with the handles folded to expose the jaws of the pliers.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 51 is a side elevational view of the tool shown in the Figures shown in  48 - 50 , in which the handles are pivoted 180° from each other, and further showing the blades pivotally mounted on one of the handles partially extended and the multiple bit driver attachment pivoted at an arbitrary angle relative to the handle on which it is mounted.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 52 is a plan view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, in which an adjustable wrench is mounted at one end of an elongate body and a multiple bit driver attachment is pivotally mounted at the other free end of the body, additional tools also being mounted at the other or second free end of the body and are in the nature of various flat blades such as a knife blade, a flat file blade, etc.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 53 illustrates a tool of FIG. 52, in which the multiple bit driver attachment has been pivoted 180° to an extended or operative position and the blades have been partially removed from the body.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0049]    With reference to FIGS.  1 - 13  of the drawings, the folding knife and interchangeable bit screwdriver of the invention  10  comprises handle means  12  having a pair of spaced similarly shaped side bolsters  14   a  and  14   b . A plurality of hinge pins  16   a  and  16   b  are provided, each traversing between side bolsters  14   a  and  14   b  and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of handle means  12 . In the preferred embodiment, at least one hinge pin is provided at each end of handle means  12 . Rotatably attached to one hinge pin  16   a  is a knife blade  18  which swivels about hinge pin  16   a  from a closed position partly or entirely recessed in handle means  12 , as shown in FIG. 2, to a partly open position as shown in FIG. 4, to a fully open and operative position as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0050]    Rotatably attached to hinge pin  16   b  is sleeve means  20 , comprising hollow tube means  22  having a hinged end  24  and an open end  26  opposite hinged end  24 . The interior of hollow tube means  22  is hexagonal in cross section.  
         [0051]    Reversible screwdriver bit  30  comprises a central shoulder section  32  which is noncircular in cross section, preferably hexagonal, and is adapted to slidably fit within hollow tube means  22 . Each end of reversible bit  30  has a screwdriver drive. As shown in the drawing, reversible bit  30  has a Phillips drive end  34  and a crosscut drive end  36 , but any combination of useful screwdriver configurations may be used. The screwdriver ends are smaller in cross section than the cross section of shoulder section  32  to permit insertion into hollow tube means  22 . Reversible bit  30  may be inserted into hollow tube means  22  with either end exposed for use and may be withdrawn and reversed for use of the opposite end. Sleeve means  20  is rotatable about hinge pin  16   b  from an open position, at any angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of handle means  12 , or closed wholly or partially within a recess  36  provided in handle means  12  for the purpose.  
         [0052]    Retaining means are provided on each reversible bit  30  to removably retain each bit in hollow tube means  30 . In the preferred embodiment, such retaining means comprise a spring-loaded ball  35 . Means such as spring-loaded detents may be provided to retain hollow tube means  30  in closed, 90° open and 180° open positions as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and  6 . Reversible bits  30  may also be referred to as interchangeable bit means.  
         [0053]    Side bolsters  14   a  and  14   b  are provided with a central depression  38  adapted to receive the user&#39;s fingers when using knife  18  to help prevent the fingers from sliding onto the knife blade. With appropriate location of hinge pin  16   b  adjacent depression  38 , sleeve means  20  may close into depression  38  as well as into recess  36  when closed. Hingedly opening sleeve means  20  exposes depression  38  for use.  
         [0054]    With one reversible bit  30 , a 2-in-1 folding screwdriver means is provided. The invention also provides a 4-in-1 folding screwdriver means as shown in FIGS.  6 - 11 . Sleeve means  20  is provided with an inner sleeve  22   a  which is slidably secured within hollow tube  22 . Means are provided to prevent inner sleeve  22   a  from rotating relative to hollow tube  22 , such as by having the exterior of inner sleeve  22   a  hexagonal in cross section to mate with the hexagonal interior of hollow tube  22 . Inner sleeve  22   a  itself has a hexagonal interior adapted to receive and matingly engage shoulder section  32  of reversible bit  30  such that there is no relative rotational motion therebetween. Inner sleeve  22   a  is sufficiently long to receive two reversible bits  30  at the same time, yielding four bit ends for use by reversing either bit in inner sleeve  22   a , or by reversing inner sleeve  22   a  in hollow tube  22 .  
         [0055]    Referring now, and more particularly, to FIGS.  14 - 45 , there is shown a number of alternate and improved modifications and alternate constructions of the hand tool of the invention with various implements generally pivotably mounted to at least the distal end of one of the tool handles. More particularly, as shown therein, the hand tool of FIGS.  14 - 19  is very much like the conventional Leatherman&#39;s plier tool, made and sold by the United States company known as the Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. However, where the improved hand/survival tool  50  embodies a tool having no loose parts, in addition to other conventional tools, knives, etc., either in a 4 in 1 or an 8 in 1 screw-nut driver tool (4 in 1 shown) by the reference numeral  52 , the only difference being that with the 8 in 1 tool, a longer handle would be required due to the need for a longer “master” inner sleeve  52 , and a generally wider or bulkier handle due to the need for an outer holding sleeve and the reversible master inner sleeve and reversible “servant” sleeves having reversible driver tools and/or bit drivers, depending upon the length and diameter of the drive bits. It will be appreciated that the longer master or outer sleeve in an 8 in 1 tool securely holds and precludes rotation between itself and the shorter servant or inner sleeves of the pair of oppositely disposed 4 in 1 tool elements at the distal ends of the long inner sleeve. Nevertheless, it is also within the practice of the invention for the master and/or servant sleeves, as well as the screwdriver bits themselves to be either symmetrical or asymmetrical (long or short reach), similar to that disclosed in our copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/620,471 incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0056]    In FIGS.  14 - 19 , the improved multipurpose hand tool  50  includes a pair of handles  54  and  56 , which in the case of a Leatherman-like hand tool, both handles are pivotable to their respective jaws  58  and  60  at their front or proximal ends  62  and  64 , with the movable jaws themselves being centrally pivotable about the tool&#39;s primary axis or pivot pin  66 . While the jaws shown therein are illustrated as blunt at their ends (“cut-off” type), other various types of jaws are also applicable to the present invention, including the long nose type, where the jaws are generally more slender and elongated in shape, such as long nose pliers made and sold by the American Tool Companies of Kenosha, Wis., and DeWitt, Nebr., but without the over-toggle clamping means normally associated with a locking hand tool pliers.  
         [0057]    Each of the folding handles  54  and  56  have a respective storage cavity  54 ′ and  56 ′ for storing a respective jaw  58  and  60 , as well as the one or more tool implements pivotally mounted at the opposite distal jaw ends  66  and  68 . One of the handles  54  may be suitably provided with either a 4 in 1 or 8 in 1 driver tool. In the illustrated embodiment of the improved hand tool of the invention, a 4 in 1 screwdriver  70  is shown, with its reversible sleeve or integral tube means  72  having a pair of reversible bits  73  and  75 , removably seated at opposite ends in cavities or compartments, each reversible driver bit embodying a Phillips type screwdriver  74 ,  74 ′ and a more conventional flat blade type screwdriver  76 ,  76 ′ at opposite ends of the reversible bit driver. Both the reversible bits and the reversible sleeve or tube means  72  are suitably retained or held in place in their carriers by conventional means, such as biasable ball detents, suitable magnets, retaining clips, such as C or U-shaped and the like. In addition, as noted in the embodiments of FIGS.  1 - 13 , means are provided to prevent the reversible sleeve  72  from rotating relative to the pivotable, outer hollow tube  52 , such as by conventional grooves in the outer sleeve and mating ears on the inner sleeve, or as shown in said figures by having the exterior of the sleeve  72  hexagonal in cross section so as to mate with the hexagonal interior of the hollow tube  52 .  
         [0058]    Furthermore, the reversible sleeve  72  itself is also provided with a hexagonal interior for matingly receiving and engaging a shoulder section  32 ′ of the reversible bits so that rotational motion may be transmitted from the handles to the hollow tube  52  to the reversible sleeve  72  and to the reversible bit, and thence to the fastener (not shown) being driven or removed from a wall or surface in which the fastener is located.  
         [0059]    At the proximal tool end are located the pivotable and mating jaws  58  and  60 , both of which are movable in synchronism with each other. Each is provided with a mating jaw face having a suitable knurl or other gripping means (not shown) and teeth  78  and  80  for gripping a nut, rod, pipe or other object, and a cutter with anvil  82  and  84 .  
         [0060]    The other handle  56  is suitably equipped with any number of other pivotable tools, such as knives, bottle openers, screwdrivers, ruler-file, serrated saw, blade, scissors, awl-punch, fish scaler, can opener, Phillips or slotted screwdriver and the like. As shown therein, the four tools are a bottle opener/flat screwdriver, another flat blade screwdriver, file and awl-punch.  
         [0061]    As best shown with like numerals, the tool of FIGS.  20 - 21 ,  21  (A&amp;B) and  22 , illustrate another plier-like tool with a pivotable sleeve for a 4 in 1 driver tool, but with only one movable jaw  86  as shown by the reference arrow, the other jaw  88  being fixed to larger fixed handle  90 . The movable handle  92  is pivotable about the fixed handle by means of axis point or pivot pin  94  and such handle is suitably held in the closed position by a pivotable U-shaped element  96  which may also serve as a loop for holding the improved hand tool to one&#39;s belt loop or chain attached to a pair of pants. Optionally, a spring element  98  may be secured to the handle  90  by means of fastener  100  to biasably urge the movable jaw  86  to an open position.  
         [0062]    The fixed handle  90  is suitably equipped with a plurality of pivotable tool implements, such as a large knife  104  and a 4 in 1 or 8 in 1 driver tool, similar to that shown in FIGS. 6 and 15- 19 . The releasable locking mechanism (not shown) for holding such tool implements in the open position does not form part of the invention and is well known and conventional. In the embodiment of FIGS. 21A and 21B, the 4 in 1 driver sleeve  70 ′ with dual bits at opposite ends thereof is shown removed from the pivotable sleeve  70  and positioned in the pair of hexagonal bores  91  provided in a side of the handle  90 .  
         [0063]    [0063]FIGS. 21A and 21B show the tool also, optionally, having at least one dual transverse hexagonal crossbore  91  in one or both handle sides (one shown). The crossbore  91  is of a desired, predetermined size for mating with either or both of an hexagonal driver bit or a hexagonal sleeve-hexagonal driver bit, thereby enabling the tool be gripped about the handle with the 4 in 1 screwdriver  70 ′ midway between a user&#39;s four fingers. With such a tool arrangement, one has greater flexibility in employing such tool for various applications of driving or un-driving fasteners. Dual hexagonal crossbores  91  enable greater torque capability, and less “slippage” and/or wearing of the hexagonal bores provided in the laminated handle sides, which are conventionally made either entirely or laminated of metal, plastic, or the handle sides could even be a combination of both materials. In any event, one hexagonal connection is adequate for driving fasteners. Of course, suitable clearance must be provided between the side walls or side bolsters for a protruding drive bit, and there can be no interference with any of the other pivotable elements or tools in the folding hand tool. Nevertheless, depending upon the size of the tools and the handle length, a tool can be pivoted into the open position, if necessary for clearance.  
         [0064]    In FIGS.  23 , there is shown, partly broken away, an exploded view of a variation of the folding tool wherein just one of the tools provided, that is, the 4 in 1 driver tool  70 ″ is only illustrated. Here such driver tool  70 ″ is not fixedly pivoted to an end of the tool handle, but is removably connected by suitable ball detent means (or magnets or by retaining clips) to a polygonal socket connection-drive means  110  for the 4 in 1 driver tool  70 ″, such as hexagon or square as shown. Of course, mating grooves and ears as shown in FIG. 15 could also be used. The inner sleeve  106  and its drive bits are the same as that of the 4 in 1 driver tool  70  of FIGS.  14 - 22 , as shown, the inner sleeve  106  is also suitably secured by ball detent or other said means noted herein, for example, to the outer sleeve; and is suitably precluded from rotating with respect thereto so as to transmit torque therethrough by means of a pair of mating grooves  51  in the outer sleeve and a matching pair of protruding ears  53  on the inner sleeve (not shown), but same is well known in the art, and illustrated in FIG. 14 for convenience. FIG. 24 simply shows the female square  108  at one end of the driver tool  70 ″. U-shape element  112  is conventional and is connectable to a conventional flat cam-like element (not shown) for facilitating the locking and pivotable movement of the square socket connection-drive means  110  from the closed stored condition to the open, longitudinally extending locked position. While such well known “linkage” can be used for other tools of the improved hand/survival tool of the invention, here in the present application, it is just employed for the square drive means  110  which is small and difficult to reach and pull out of the cavity/compartment  114  where one&#39;s fingers are large and/or to big for grasping the drive means  110  and pulling same out of its storage position in the cavity or compartment between the two flat handles or bolsters of the improved folding/survival tool of the invention.  
         [0065]    In FIGS.  25 - 31 , one or more, differently sized, dual crossbore  138  (one shown) is suitably positioned at one end of a folding tool so as to provide maximum lever advantage to the user. In all other respects, the embodiment of such FIGS.  25 - 28  is similar to that of FIG. 21B where both an inner hexagonal sleeve and the hexagonal bits are employed to transfer torque from one turning the tool handle to transmission through the bit and sleeve to a fastener being driven or undriven. FIGS. 28 and 29 show partial cross-sectional views of a laminated handle (FIG. 28) and a one-piece handle side (FIG. 29), with FIG. 30 showing in plan view the dual hexagonal crossbore which mate with a 4 in 1 driver sleeve and one of its hexagonal drive bits.  
         [0066]    As shown in FIGS.  25 - 31 , the folding knife/tool  130  of the invention is suitably provided with various knives, bottle and can openers, etc. as well as either a 4 in 1 or 8 in 1 driver tool which employs a pivotable outer sleeve  132  and inner hexagonal sleeve  134  with its oppositely disposed drive bits  136  (one shown). In this tool, suitable dual crossbores  138  may be positioned in the laminated sides  140 ,  142  of the handle, thereby enabling transmission of torque transverse to the handle axis when the inner hexagonal sleeve  134  and drive bit  136  are engaged with the crossbores  138 . Considerable mechanical advantage is achieved when the improved tool of the invention is employed in this manner.  
         [0067]    Note that FIG. 28 shows broken away a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the laminated metallic sides  140 ,  142  (see also FIGS.  25 - 27  and  31 ). FIG. 30 is simply an illustration of the hexagonal crossbores  130  in the laminated plates  140  and  142 .  
         [0068]    In FIGS.  32 - 34 , a further improved folding tool has a large cutout bay for a conventional bit “chuck”  120  which is removably securable by well known means to a pivotable outer sleeve like element  122  which may be provided with a hex or square bore for torque transmission. The hexagonal driver bit  124  is seated in the hexagonal inner bore of the chuck  120  and held therein by a suitable ball detent, magnets, retaining clips or the like. A plurality of drive bits  126  (one shown) may be suitably stored and held by the aforesaid ball detent means in a plurality of hexagonal through bores  128  passing through the body of the tool from side to side. Thus, in the embodiment shown, five bits could be conveniently stored, one in the chuck and four in the tool itself. If desired, other additional bits can be placed in crossbores where space is available and does not interfere with action of any of the tools. However, if desired, one can separately carry with the tool itself extra bits in a pouch for holding the tool and the extra bits of various sizes and/or shapes or styles, such as those well known in the marketplace (star or Torx, pin-type, Phillips, flat, etc.).  
         [0069]    In FIGS.  35 - 38 , an improved shorter version plier-like tool  146 , such as the Leatherman type of FIGS.  14 - 19 , but with a suitable hexagonal drive means  110 ′ (similar to the square drive means of FIG. 23). In a like manner, this embodiment may utilize in lieu of a square or hexagon drive means mating grooves and engaging protruding wings or ears for transmitting rotational motion therebetween. Such drive means  110 ′ may be male or female, pivotable or not, protruding or recessed, polygonal or otherwise so shaped for transmitting torque (such as mating grooves and ears), and may also be suitably provided with a conventional flat cam-like element (not shown) for facilitating the pivotable movement of the square socket convention-drive means  110 ′ from the closed stored condition to the open, longitudinal extending locked position. The removable driver tool  70 ′ drives the mating hexagonal inner sleeve  106 ″ which in turn drives either of the hexagonal bits from its inner hexagonal cavities. Case  148 , suitably of leather, with a “snap-like” closure cover  150  has a pair of pockets as shown for holding the plier-like tool  146  and the removable driver tool  70 ′″. Of course, it will be appreciated that the distal end mating connection for the driver tool element may be male or female or vise-versa, such as similarly shown in FIG. 32.  
         [0070]    In FIGS.  39 - 40 , other improved tools are illustrated and these are all equipped with at least one 4 in 1 or 8 in 1 type driver tool depending upon the size of the tool desired. For example, the collapsible/foldable clamp embodiment  152  of FIG. 40 as well as the plier embodiment  153  of FIG. 39 are each equipped with pivotable distal leg portions  154 ,  156  having hollow cavities for either a knife as shown therein or other tools, such as the 4 in 1 screwdriver tool  158 , which is similar to that of the screwdriver tools shown in FIGS.  14 - 19 , and  20 - 22 . Here, however, the pivot axes of the legs  154 ,  156  are on axes transverse to that of the jaws pivot  160  which is in contrast to the print axes of the handles  54 ,  56  of FIGS.  14 - 19  which are parallel to that of the jaws  58 ,  60  of such other Leatherman type tool embodiment.  
         [0071]    In the plier tool  170  embodiment of FIG. 41, each leg thereof is hollow at its distal end for supporting therein a 4 in 1 screwdriver tool or other type of driver tool such as a nut driver or any combination thereof, such as those disclosed in our aforesaid copending U.S. patent application. Such plier tool  170  may also be equipped with one or more hexagon cross-bore holes  172  for enabling the hexagonal central portion of a tool bit to be suitably held therein, and using the handles of the plier tool as a fulcrum-lever aid for torquing a bit as required in driving/undriving a fastener or nut. The inner sleeve  72 ′ with its dual bits is similar to that shown with respect to FIGS.  14 - 22 .  
         [0072]    In the embodiment of FIGS.  42 - 44 , there is shown an adjustable wrench  180  with its distal end handle  182  having hollow cavity  184  for mating with the reversible hexagonal  186  holding at opposite ends thereof a pair of reversible bits. This tool is also suitably provided with one or more hexagon cross-bore holes  188  similar to that of the tool of FIG. 41 except with one hole in the fixed jaw and the other hexagonal hole in the handle.  
         [0073]    Referring, for example, to FIGS. 39 and 40, a multi-functional hand tool is illustrated that generally defines a longitudinal axis A and first and second longitudinal ends E 1  and E 2 . The pliers embodiment  153  forms adjustable gripping means provided at the first longitudinal end E 1  for selectively gripping a work. The screwdriver tool  158  forms a multiple driver bit attachment at the second longitudinal end E 2  for selective movements between a retracted storage position when the driver bit attachment is not used and an extended position, as shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, for using one of the driver bits. The driver bit attachment comprises at least one inner sleeve  158 ′ mounted on the tool  153  for removably securing a reversible hexagon drive bit, as shown, in a manner enabling torque to be transmitted between the inner sleeve  158 ′ and the drive bit  158 ″.  
         [0074]    Referring to FIG. 45, an additional embodiment  200  is illustrated in accordance with the invention which also incorporates a pliers attachment. Here, therefore, a gripping attachment is provided which is in the form of jaws  202   a ,  202   b  that are pivotally mounted relative to each other about a pivot pin  204 . The jaw  202   a  is attached to a handle  206  and the other jaw  202   b  is attached to a handle  208 . The handles  206 ,  208  are pivotally movable relative to each other about the pivot pin  204  to provide relative movements of the jaws  202   a ,  202   b , as shown. As in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 39, 40, the multiple drive bit attachment is mounted at the free end of one of the handles  206 . The multiple driver bit attachment or screwdriver tool  158  is otherwise constructed and operates the same as the ones previously described. The tool  200  comprises at least one additional tool T pivotally mounted at the free end of the handle  208  about the pivot pin  210 . In the embodiment illustrated, such additional tool can comprise a knife blade  212  and/or a flat file  214  having a free end  214   a  and a pivoted end mounted within the handle  208 . The free end  214   a  of the flat file  214  may be provided with a bottle cap remover  216 , as shown. Additionally, the flat file may be provided with at least one serrated edge extending at least along a partial length of the file  214  between the free and pivoted ends.  
         [0075]    In the embodiment  200 , the additional tools T are mounted for movement about a pivot axis of the pivot pin  210  which is substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot pin  204  about which the jaws  202   a ,  202   b  are mounted for movement. Preferably, the handles  206 ,  208  are pivotally movable to relative positions shown in FIG. 45 to substantially an angle of approximately 90° for positioning the multiple driver bit attachment  158  in the extended or operative position. This can best be appreciated from FIG. 47, in which the handle  208  can be gripped by the hand H of the user to facilitate the transmission of maximum torque to the driver bit  158 ″. FIG. 46 illustrates a cross section of the screwdriver tool or multiple driver bit attachment  158  to show the details thereof.  
         [0076]    Referring again to FIGS. 39 and 40, the jaws of the pliers embodiment  153  are pivoted for movement about a first axis of the jaws pivot  160 , the multiple driver bit attachment or screwdriver tool  158  being pivotably mounted on the handle or leg  156  for movements about a second axis A 2  substantially transverse to the first axis of the pivot pin  160  to be movable between a retracted position (not shown) proximate to the jaws of the pliers embodiment  153  and an extended position remote from the jaws as shown. The other leg or handle  154  is provided with at least one additional tool pivotally mounted about a pivot pin  154 ′. Such tool can comprise, for example, a knife blade  154 ″. The knife blade is preferably mounted in a generally elongate tool Q that is pivotally mounted on the leg or handle  154  for movements about a second axis A 2  substantially transverse to the first axis of the pivot pin  160  to be movable between the position proximate to the jaws of the pliers embodiment  153  (as shown in FIG. 39) in a position remote from the jaws (as shown in FIG. 40). In the embodiment of FIGS. 39, 40 the tool holder H effectively serves as a portion of one of the handles when moved to the extended position shown in FIG. 40. The tool holder H may either be pivoted about a generally transverse axis A 2  or may be slidably mounted, such as by a tongue in groove (not shown) to allow the tool holder H to slidably move between the retracted position shown in FIG. 39 and an extended position shown in FIG. 40. In both instances, the pivot pin  154 ′ moves in a direction away from the jaws when the tool holder is moved to its operate, extended position.  
         [0077]    Referring to FIGS.  48 - 51 , a further embodiment  220  in accordance with the invention is shown which is more in the form of a Leatherman-type tool. The handle  206  is provided with a longitudinal cavity  222  extending to a free end as shown remote from the jaws  202   a ,  202   b . The multiple driver bit attachment or screwdriver tool  158  is pivotally mounted about an axis of a pivot pin  224  to be movable between a retracted position (not shown) and an extended position, shown in FIG. 48, outside and substantially in line with the cavity  222 .  
         [0078]    At least one additional tool T is provided in the embodiment  220  which is pivotally mounted at a free end of the other handle  208 . As suggested, such additional tool T can comprise differently sized knife blades  226 ,  228 , a screwdriver or prying attachment  230  and bottle cap opener  232 . The tools  226 ,  228 ,  230 ,  232  are all pivotally mounted on a pivot pin  234  which has an access substantially normal to the axis of the pivot pin  204  about which the jaws are pivotally movable. The tool illustrated in FIGS.  48 - 51 , a Leatherman-type tool, has the handles  206 ,  208  pivotally connected to the jaws about pivot pins  236 ,  238  and are provided with recesses  240  for receiving the jaws  202   a ,  202   b  when the pliers is not used and the handles can be pivoted about the jaws up to 180° to conceal the jaws while still enabling use of the other tools mounted on the handles, as shown in FIG. 49. FIG. 50 is similar to FIG. 48, showing the additional tools T in retracted positions within the longitudinal cavity  222 ′. It may be pointed out, in this connection, that the cavities  222 ,  222 ′, while shown open in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the tool itself, the cavities can be opened in directions facing away from the other handle in which the cavity is formed, in which cases the pivot pins  224 ,  234  also need to be rotated 90°. In FIG. 51 the tool  220  is shown in a fully open position in which the handles have been pivoted about the pivot pins  236 ,  238  so that the handles are in line with each other, being displaced by 180°.  
         [0079]    Referring to FIGS. 52 and 53, a further embodiment  240  in accordance with the invention is illustrated, in which the adjustable gripping attachment is in the form of a wrench—more specifically a monkey wrench. The tool  240  includes a central body  244  to which the head of the wrench  242  is fixedly attached. The multiple driver bit attachment or screwdriver tool  158  is pivotally mounted on the body  244 . While the adjustable wrench attachment is secured to one longitudinal end E 1  of the tool  240 , the screwdriver tool or multiple-driver bit attachment  158  is pivotally mounted at the other or opposing end E 2 .  
         [0080]    At least one additional tool T is provided and also pivotally mounted at the second end E 2 . The additional tool  244 , in the nature of a knife blade, and the multiple driver bit attachment, are mounted about substantially parallel axes, as shown, represented by the pivot pins  246 ,  248 . The specific additional tools used is not critical for purposes of the invention, and the same or similar tools may be used as indicated, for example, in FIG. 45.  
         [0081]    Preferably, the body  244  includes receiving cavities for receiving the screwdriver tool or multiple driver bit attachment  158  within the body when in a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 52. The same is true for the additional tools. The body  244  may be provided with one or more hexagon cross-bores  250 , to be used as previously described.  
         [0082]    Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will of course be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the form, details and arrangements of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.