Abstract:
A firefighter tool has multiple integrated construction features for accessing and fighting fires in diverse venues, particularly including homes and automobiles. The firefighter tool has pliers, battery cable cutters, a pry wedge, a gas meter flow shut-off wrench, a window breaker, a hammerhead icebreaker and a fire hose flange uncoupling hook. The diverse features are an integrated into a tool of practical construction which is readily commercially manufactured and effectively utilized in fighting fires.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to hand tools. This invention specifically relates to hand tools having multiple functionalities. This invention more specifically relates to a firefighter tool having multiple functionalities. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Firefighter tools having multiple functions are disclosed in USD210,141, granted Feb. 13, 1968 to Woods; USD226,162, granted Jan. 30, 1973 to Zlayele, Jr., USD233,405, granted Oct. 29, 1974 to Frey; USD244,252, granted May 10, 1997 to Ardis; USD281,216, granted Nov. 5, 1985 to Cutliff, Jr, et al.; USD 329,972, granted Oct. 6, 1992 to Calvagno; U.S. Pat. No. 1,561,647, granted Nov. 17, 1925 to Johnson; U.S. Pat. No. 2,360,163, granted Oct. 10, 1944 to Sadler; U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,255 granted Oct. 21, 1968 to Carroll, Sr.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,439, granted Apr. 13, 1976 to Ardis; U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,623, granted Sep. 8, 1981 to Tarran; U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,123, granted Jul. 1, 1986 to Cobe, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,378, granted Mar. 3, 1987 to Borden; U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,493, granted Apr. 21, 1992 to Lugtenaar; U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,853, granted Jul. 4, 1995 to Menke; U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,355, granted Oct. 30, 2001 to McMillan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,420, granted Jun. 4, 2002 to Roxton; U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,001, granted May 31, 2005 to Sanders et al.; and US Publication 2004/0261188, published Dec. 30, 2004 to Mathis. 
         [0005]    In general, such prior art firefighter tools while providing multiple functions suffered one or more of the following impediments: the inability to quickly positively cut cables; the encumbrance of one functional component while using the other functional component; the lack of a useful and comfortable grip for a high leverage pry wedge; the impairment or damage to one functional component during use of another functional component; and the impracticality of the multi tool design for and construction commercial manufacture. 
         [0006]    The present invention provides a solution to the foregoing prior art impediments, and does so in a comprehensive firefighter tool. 
         [0007]    It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a hand tool particularly including a firefighter tool with multiple functionalities. 
         [0008]    It is another principal object of the present invention to provide a firefighter tool as aforesaid wherein each function is readily comfortably performed without interference with or impairment to the other functions or functional components. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a firefighter tool with multiple diverse functions for accessing fires in both a home and an automobile. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a firefighter tool as aforesaid having cable cutting functionality. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a firefighter tool as aforesaid having improved pry wedge construction and use. 
         [0012]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a firefighter tool as aforesaid having an improved construction for breaking ice away from a firehouse coupling. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a firefighter tool as aforesaid having an integral positive acting gas meter valve shut-off construction function, and particular one that is readily commercially manufactured. 
         [0014]    It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a firefighter tool as aforesaid having an improved fire hose coupling engagement construction. 
         [0015]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multiple function hand tool, particularly including a firefighter tool, of practical design and construction, and practical in commercial manufacture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The firefighter tool combines diverse construction elements for accessing and suppressing fires in diverse venues particularly including homes and automobiles. 
         [0017]    In another aspect, the firefighter tool provides an improved pry wedge for high leverage action, particularly in prying open windows to access homes. 
         [0018]    In another aspect, the firefighter tool provides a pliers&#39; configured cable cutter. 
         [0019]    In another aspect, the firefighter tools provides a hammerhead for breaking ice on a fire hose coupling, and a complimentary hook for then engaging the fire hose coupling flange for ready uncoupling. The use of the uncoupling flange engagement function does not impair or damage the other construction features or elements. 
         [0020]    In still another aspect, the firefighter tool provides a specifically designed polygonal wrench for engaging and shutting off a home gas flow meter valve, and a complimentary high leverage wedge for prying a window open for access to the home after securing the gas flow. 
         [0021]    In one preferred aspect, the firefighter tool has two pivotably connected members with distally disposed jaws having a cable cutting function, and two proximately disposed handles with diverse complementary constructions and functions. One handle has a specially designed polygonal wrench for shutting off the home gas flow meter valve, and further includes an adjacent wedge for prying a home window open after the gas flow is secured. The pry wedge is used by pressing down on extended surface area planar surfaces disposed on the pliers&#39; jaws to apply a high leverage force to the oppositely disposed wedge edge. The other handle has a hammerhead for breaking ice away from a fire hose coupling, and further includes a hook and juxtaposed contoured handle for contactingly engaging the fire hose coupling to apply torque for readily uncoupling the fire hose. The hook and contoured handle are formed to engage differently sized fire hose couplings. 
         [0022]    In another preferred aspect, the firefighter tool has a first member with a proximately disposed first handle and a distally disposed first jaw; 
         [0023]    a firefighter tool that includes a first member having a proximately disposed first handle and a distally disposed first jaw, and a second member having a proximately disposed second handle and a distally disposed second jaw with a pivotable connection connecting the members comprising a pivot axis disposed between the handles and jaws so that the handles pivotably move the jaws from an open position to a closed position, a wedge formed at the proximate end of the first handle, and the wedge has an elongate edge transversely disposed to said pivot axis, and further including a foot or lug formed on the first handle, whereby with the jaws in the closed position the user grips the tool adjacent the means for pivotably connecting the members and applies a force so that the foot or lug contactingly engages a surface and a resultant leverage force is applied to the wedge edge, a second member with a proximately disposed second handle and a distally disposed second jaw; and further including means for pivotably connecting the members with a pivot axis, disposed between the handles and jaws so that the handles pivotably move the jaws from an open position to a closed position; and further includes a wedge formed at the proximate end of the first handle, having an elongate edge transversely disposed to the pivot axis. The firefighter tool, when in the pivoted closed position, permits the user to grip the extended planar surfaces adjacent the means for pivotably connecting the members. The firefighter grips the tool accordingly and presses downwardly on the extended planar surfaces to apply a high leverage force to the wedge edge. 
         [0024]    Whereas the pliers art consistently teaches one to grasp the handles and not the jaws, the present invention, in one broad aspect, finds that certain closed pliers jaws having extended surfaces provide a useful and comfortable grip in conjunction with operable construction elements disposed at the proximate ends of the handles. This is particularly so for a proximately disposed pry edge, which is transversely disposed to the pliers jaws pivot axis. More specifically, it has been found that with the jaws closed, a specific minimum planar surface area provides a relatively comfortable grip. An extended planar surface area of least about 2.25 sq. in., and preferably at least about 2.25 to 2.50 sq. in., was found to provide an effective and comfortable grip portion for proximate end tool elements. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a bottom plan view of the firefighter tool in use in engaging a fire hose coupling; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the firefighter tool of  FIG. 1  with cross-hatching designating extended planar surfaces adjacent the distal end; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the firefighter tool of  FIG. 1  in the open positions; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the firefighter tool of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the mid region of the wedge as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    Referring to the FIGS., there is shown the firefighter tool  10  of the present invention. Firefighter tool  10 , in broad terms, includes two members  11  and  12  pivotally connected by pivot member  50  having pivot axis A. Members  11  and  12  have respective proximately disposed handles  13  and  14 , and respective distally disposed jaws  15  and  16 . The handles  13 ,  14  and jaws  15 ,  16  pivot with respect to pivot member  50 . 
         [0031]    Handle  13  has inner edge  17 , an outer edge  18  and proximate end surface  19 . Inner edge  17  is formed with proximately disposed hammerhead  20 . Hammerhead  20  extends away from handle  13  towards handle  14 , for purposes hereinafter appearing. Outer edge  18  is formed with hook  21 . Hook  21  extends distally from proximate end surface  19  and terminates in tapered end  23 . Outer edge  18  is also formed with curvilinear recess  22 , which is somewhat distally disposed from hook end  23 , for purposes hereinafter appearing. 
         [0032]    Handle  14  is formed with a proximately disposed wedge  25 . Wedge  25  terminates in tapered pry edge  26 . Pry edge  26  is transversely disposed to pivot axis A of pivot member  50 , for reasons hereinafter appearing. Wedge  25  has a top surface  27 , a curvilinear bottom surface  28 , pry edge  26  and an elongate irregular hexagonal through hole  30 . Through hole  30  extends from surface  27  to surface  28 , and has tapered sidewalls  30   a - 30   f , for purposed hereinafter appearing. 
         [0033]    Handle  13  is also formed with a proximately extending cylindrical projection member  31  having a sharpened point  32 , for purposes hereinafter appearing. 
         [0034]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the lined bottom extended surfaces of the jaws. The upper surfaces of the jaws are similar ( FIG. 1 ). Handle  13  has a distally disposed first extended planar surface  33 , a second extended planar surface  34 , and a third extended planar surface  35 . Surfaces  33  and  34  are coplanar. Surface  35  is obtusively angled with respect to immediately adjacent surface  34 . Again referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , handle  14  has a distally first disposed extended planar surface  37 , a second planar surface  38  and immediately adjacent obtusively angled planar surface  39 . In this manner of construction, the total surface area of extended planar surfaces corresponding to the lower extended surfaces  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  37 ,  38  and  39  is at least about 2.25 sq. in., and preferably at least about 2.25 to 2.50 sq. in. With the jaws in the closed position, the firefighter grips jaws  15 ,  16  and the palm, in particular, contactingly engages the top extended surfaces  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  37 ,  38  and  39 . The firefighter inserts wedge pry edge  26  into, e.g. a closed window edge and exerts a downward force on the like aforesaid extended upper surfaces ( FIG. 1 ) area to in turn provide a high leverage force to the wedge pry edge to readily open the closed window. 
         [0035]    Referring specifically to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , there is shown the bottom of handle  14 . A transversely disposed elongated foot or lug  40  is formed on the bottom of handle  14 . Lug  40  is adjacent to through hole  30 . Lug  40  is formed with a curved or rounded end. In this manner of construction, the user inserts wedge edge  20  at the bottom of a closed window (not shown) and rests the rounded end of lug  40  on a sill or other adjacent surface (not shown) and in gripping the jaws, exerts a downward force. Lug  40  improves the assertion of a leverage force on the wedge edge. 
         [0036]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a fire hose coupling  80 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , having a cylindrical outer surface  81  and three equally spaced radially outwardly protruding lugs  82  of conventional construction. The coupling  80  is a 4 in. conventional firehouse coupling. A conventional 2 in. conventional firehouse coupling (not shown) may likewise be accommodated by tool  10 . Handle  13 , and specifically curvilinear recess  22  is configured so that a substantial portion of surface  81  is received in and contactingly engages recess  22 . Where tool  10  is utilized to uncouple a 2 in. hose, a lesser portion of the 2 in. cylindrical surface (not shown) contactingly engages recess  22 . Hook  21  is configured to engage a 4 in. or a 2 in. coupling lug (not shown). That is, the present tool is operable with differently sized standard fire hose couplings. 
         [0037]    Through hole  30  is of elongate irregular hexagonal construction having sidewalls  30   a - 30   f  and corresponding corners  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  and  47 . Through hole  30  is sized to slidably engage the handle of a standard home gas flow meter flow valve to provide a wrench function (not shown). The firefighter grips the closed jaws, particularly including the extended surfaces  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  37 ,  38  and  39 , and engages the gas flow valve handle in hole  30 . The firefighter rotates to the tool to close the valve to shut off the gas flow. This is undertaken prior to entry through the pry bar opened window as afore-discussed. It has been found that by providing a tapered irregular hexagonal through hole in contradistinction to rectilinear through hole, the wedge may be readily manufactured in a combination fire. That is, less force is required to punch the slightly hexagonal sheet, in the handle as shown, during the operation. A conventional commercially available combination die may therefore be used, such as shown in  FIG. 8-115  “Fundamental of Tool Design”, Society of Manufacturing Engineering. This is one of the several features that make the present tool both readily operable and manufactured, and a consequently commercially viable. 
         [0038]    It has been found that by providing a series of adjacent or contiguous extended planar surfaces surrounding the pivot member and on the jaws, the extended planar surfaces be used as an effective and comfortable handle for using proximately disposed tool elements, particularly including the pry wedge. It has been found that when the foregoing upper planar surfaces corresponding to the lower planar surfaces have a minimal extended surface area of at least about 2.25 sq. in., and preferably at least about 2.25 to 2.50 sq. in, an effective comfortable grip is achieved with the jaws closed. 
         [0039]    Jaws  15 , 16  are formed with respective edges  15   a ,  16   a  for cutting a cable such as an automatic battery cable to disarm the battery before fighting the automobile fire. Handles  13 ,  14  are formed with opposed serrated edges  13   f ,  14   f  for gripping a cable or hose (not shown) to further assist the firefighter. 
         [0040]    In the aforesaid manner of construction, the firefighter, in accessing a home fire, grips the jaws distal end planar surfaces and uses the hexagonal wrench to engage and shut-off the home gas meter valve, and then grips the tool at the planar surfaces and engages a closed window edge with the pry wedge and exerts a downward force to leverage the wedge edge against the window edge to open the window to thereby gain entry to the home with the gas flow shut off. 
         [0041]    In the aforesaid manner of construction, the firefighter may also use the hammerhead to break away ice from the fire hose coupling and then use the oppositely disposed hook to engage the coupling flange and readily uncouple the ice free fire hose. 
         [0042]    In the aforesaid manner of construction, the firefighter can use the pliers&#39; jaws to cut the battery cables of an automobile and then use the proximate end projection to break the automobile window to thereby gain access to the fire. 
         [0043]    A multipurpose firefighter tool has been illustrated and described. Various modifications and/or substitutions of the specific components described herein may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention.