Patent Publication Number: US-6705183-B1

Title: Multipurpose tool

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but the copyright owner otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to hand tools and, more particularly, to combined wrenches and screwdrivers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The 216-Type tool is very common in the telecommunications industry. The 216-Type tool is commonly called a “can wrench” and is a dual-purpose wrench. The tool is used to access communications terminals, and the tool has a thin-walled socket wrench on each end. The 216-Type tool typically has a {fraction (7/16)}-inch socket at one end and a ⅜-inch socket at an opposite end. Some terminal enclosures require the thin-walled {fraction (7/16)} socket wrench, while other terminal enclosures require the thin-walled ⅜ socket wrench. This single tool, then, conveniently functions as two essential tools for accessing and for servicing communications terminals. 
     Even though the 216-Type can wrench is convenient, more tools are often required when accessing and servicing communications terminals. Many communications terminals, for example, require a screwdriver and/or a nut driver during access and service. There is, accordingly, a need for an improved tool that allows access to communications terminals, and a need for improved multipurpose tool that can be used during service of communications terminals. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforementioned problems, and other problems, are reduced by a multipurpose tool. This invention is multiple, separate tools that are packaged as a single hand tool. This tool is especially designed for single-handed operation. One embodiment of this tool has an elongate handle with a socket at each end. A screwdriver may be extended from within each socket. A Phillips-head screwdriver, for example, may be extended and protrude beyond one socket, while a flat-head screwdriver may be extended from within the other socket. Because the sockets are preferably of different sizes, the sockets and the screwdrivers allow the handle to be used as four (4) different tools. 
     One embodiment of this invention describes a hand tool. An elongate handle defines a longitudinal axis, and the elongate handle has a first end and a second end. The handle also has a longitudinal bore extending from the first end to the second end. A first socket longitudinally extends from the first end of the handle, and the first socket has a polygonally-shaped interior cross-section. A second socket longitudinally extends from the second end of the handle, and the second socket also has a polygonally-shaped interior cross-section. The interior cross-section of the first socket is of a different size than the interior cross-section of the second socket. An elongate shank is disposed in the longitudinal bore of the handle, and the shank moves within the longitudinal bore. The shank has a screwdriver bit at one end and a security wrench at an opposite end. The security wrench is used for engaging a fastener at a demarcation point of a telecommunications network. The elongated shank has at least a first position and a second position. The first position outwardly extends the screwdriver bit beyond the first socket, and the second position outwardly extends the security wrench beyond the second socket. 
     Another embodiment of this invention also describes a 4-in-1 hand tool. This embodiment also has an elongate handle defining a longitudinal axis. The elongate handle has a first square drive at a first end and a second square drive at a second end. The first square drive and the second square drive are for attaching conventional sockets, extensions, and other tools. The elongate handle also has a longitudinal bore extending from the first end to the second end. An elongate shank is disposed in the longitudinal bore of the handle, and the shank moves within the longitudinal bore. The shank has a screwdriver bit at one end, and the shank has at least a first position and a second position. The first position extends the screwdriver bit and the second position retracts the screwdriver bit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description of the Invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIGS. 1-7 are schematics illustrating one embodiment of a multipurpose tool according to this invention; and 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematics illustrating another embodiment of a multipurpose tool according to this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-7 show one embodiment of this invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematics illustrating a multipurpose tool. This tool  10  has an elongate handle  12 . The handle  12  defines a longitudinal axis L-L (shown as reference numeral  14 ). The elongate handle  12  has a first end  16  and an opposite, second end  18 . The first end  16  includes a first square drive  20 , while the second end  18  includes a second square drive  22 . The first square drive  20  and the second square drive  22  permit the attachment of conventional sockets, extensions, and other tools. As FIG. 2 shows, a first socket  24  and a second socket  26  are examples of various tools that may be attached to the square drives  20  and  22  of the handle  12 . 
     The elongate handle  12  also has a longitudinal bore  28 . The longitudinal bore  28  extends from the first end  16  to and through the second end  18 . As FIG. 1 shows, the longitudinal bore  28  is bounded by an inner wall  30 . The longitudinal bore  28  extends through the handle  12  to an opening  32  in the first square drive  20 . The longitudinal bore  28 , likewise, extends through the handle  12  to an opening (shown as reference numeral  34  in FIG. 5) in the second square drive  22 . While the longitudinal bore  28  is preferably concentric to the handle  12  and to the longitudinal axis L-L, the longitudinal bore  28  could have an alternate orientation to the longitudinal axis L-L. 
     The tool  10  also includes a screwdriver  36 . An elongate screwdriver shank  38  is disposed within the longitudinal bore  28  of the handle  12 . The shank  38  moves or slides along and within the longitudinal bore  28 . One end  40  of the shank  38  has a screwdriver bit  42 . As FIG. 2 shows, the screwdriver bit  42  may be a flat head blade  44 , while FIG. 3 shows the screwdriver bit  42  may be a Phillips-head  46 . 
     As FIGS. 3 and 4 also show, the shank  38  has at least two (2) positions. FIG. 3 shows a first position  48  that extends the shank  38 . When the shank  38  is extended, the screwdriver bit  42  outwardly extends beyond the first socket  24 . FIG. 4 shows a second position  50  that retracts the screwdriver bit  42 . When the shank  38  is retracted, the screwdriver bit  42  retracts inside the first socket  24 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show additional details of the tool  10 . FIGS. 5 and 6 are views of the second end  18  of the tool  10 . Because the tool  10  may be used to drive sockets and screws, the handle  12  may include a contoured gripping surface  52 . The contoured gripping surface  52  allows a user to apply more torque for tightening and for loosening. The contoured gripping surface  52  preferably includes a nonconductive material to reduce electrical shock. FIG. 5 also shows the longitudinal bore  28  extending from the first end  16  to and through the second end  18 . 
     The longitudinal bore  28 , bounded by the inner wall  30 , extends through the handle  12  to the opening  34  in the second square drive  22 . The elongate shank  38  is disposed within the longitudinal bore  28 , and the shank  38  slides along and within the longitudinal bore  28 . Whereas one end (shown as reference numeral  40  in FIGS. 1-4) of the shank  38  has the screwdriver bit, an opposite end  54  of the shank  38  includes a security wrench  56 . 
     As those of ordinary skill in the art recognize, the security wrench  56  is used to open and close a Network Interface Device (not shown) of a telecommunications network. The Network Interface Device typically represents a demarcation point within the telecommunications network. The Network Interface Device separates the telecommunications service provider&#39;s responsibilities from the customer&#39;s inside wiring. The security wrench  56  engages a specialty fastener in the Network Interface Device. This specialty fastener helps prevent the customer from tampering with wires and connections that are the responsibility of the service provider. The specialty fastener resembles an ordinary Allen hex-head screw, but this specialty fastener has a center post in the hex-head. An Allen head key/wrench, therefore, cannot be inserted into the head of the specialty fastener. The security wrench  56 , then, is a thin-walled socket with a hexagonally-shaped exterior  58 . The security wrench  56  engages the specialty fastener in the Network Interface Device. The security wrench  56  could have a smoothly bored interior cross section to accept the center post in the head of the specialty fastener. The security wrench  56  may also have a polygonally-shaped interior cross section to accept the center post in the head of the specialty fastener. 
     The security wrench  56  could also function as a driver. If, for example, the security wrench  56  has a polygonally-shaped interior cross section (such as a hexagonally-shaped interior cross section), the interior cross section could accept screwdriver bits, Torx® bits, and other tools. The elongate shank  38  could also include a square drive at the opposite end  40 . The square drive allows the attachment of conventional sockets, extensions, and other tools. The elongate shank  38  could also be made of a magnetic material to help retain the screwdriver bits, Torx® bits, conventional sockets, extensions, and other tools. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show the at least two (2) positions of the shank  38 . FIG. 6 shows a first position  60  extends the shank  38 , causing the security wrench  56  to outwardly extend beyond the second socket  26 . FIG. 7 shows a second position  62  that retracts the security wrench  56  inside the second socket  26 . FIG. 7 also shows a wrist strap  64 . The wrist strap  64  attaches to the tool  10  and helps a person retrieve the tool  10  when dropped. The wrist strap  64  is especially useful when the person is using the tool  10  at elevated heights (such as rooftops or telephone poles). The wrist strap  64  is shown wrapped around a loop  66  extending from the handle  12 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of this invention. This embodiment is also a multipurpose tool  68 . An elongate handle  70  defines a longitudinal axis L-L (shown as reference numeral  72 ). The elongate handle  70  has a first end  74 , a second end  76 , and a longitudinal bore  78  extending from the first end  74  to the second end  76 . A first socket  80  longitudinally extends from the first end  74  of the handle  70 . The first socket  80  has a polygonally-shaped interior cross-section  82 . A second socket  84  longitudinally extends from the second end  76  of the handle  70 , and the second socket  84  also has a polygonally-shaped interior cross-section  86 . The interior cross-section  82  of the first socket  80  has a different size than the interior cross-section  86  of the second socket  84 . An elongated shank  88  is disposed in the longitudinal bore  78 , and the shank  88  moves or slides within the longitudinal bore  78 . The shank  88  has a screwdriver bit  90  at one end  92  and the security wrench  56  at an opposite end  94 . FIG. 8 shows a first position  96  of the shank  88  that outwardly extends the screwdriver bit  90  beyond the first socket  80 . FIG. 9 shows a second position  98  that outwardly extends the security wrench  56  beyond the second socket  84 . 
     The first socket  80  and the second socket  84  are preferably hex-head sockets with reduced outside diameters. The first socket  80  and the second socket  84  are preferably 216-Type “can wrenches” that permit access to Network Interface Devices in a telecommunications network. These can wrenches are ⅜-inch and {fraction (7/16)}-inch sizes and have reduced outside diameters. Although the multipurpose tool  68  is heretofore unavailable, can wrenches are commercially available (see, e.g., tool No. F003200 and tool No. F003205 available from Marconi plc, 1000 Marconi Drive, Warrendale, Pa. 15086-7502, 1-866-627-2664, www.marconi.com, and tool No. 19195 available from Stanley-Proto Industrial Tools, 14117 Industrial Park Blvd. NE, Covington, Ga. 30014 USA, 770-787-3800, www.stanleyproto.com). 
     The multipurpose tool  68  may also include other features. The screwdriver bit  90  may be a flat head screwdriver bit (such as the flat head blade  44  shown in FIG. 2) or a Phillips-head bit (such as the Phillips-head bit  46  shown in FIG.  3 ). The handle  70  may include an insulating, contoured gripping surface (such as the contoured gripping surface  52  shown in FIGS.  5  and  6 ). The tool  68  may also include a wrist strap to help retrieve the tool when dropped (such as the wrist strap  64  shown in FIG.  7 ). 
     The embodiments of this invention would also include inner componentry. Because these embodiments are preferably utilized with a single hand, the embodiments would include means for extending and retracting the elongate shank  38 ,  88 . As FIG. 5 shows, a thumb slide  100 , for example, would allow a person to single-handedly hold the tool  10 ,  68  and, yet, extend and retract the elongate shank  38 ,  88 . The thumb slide  100 , would connect to the shank  38 ,  68  and slide along a slot  102  in an outer surface of the handle  12 ,  70 . The means for extending and retracting the elongate shank  38 ,  88  may also include one or more springs to bias the elongate shank  38 ,  68  to a retracted or an extended position. 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the invention is not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.