Patent ID: 12257687

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the provided subject matter relate to a tool having a blade with an indent in a bottom surface thereof near its first end for engaging a detent on a deflectable arm in a closed position. The blade also includes and a ramp on its bottom surface near the indent defining a reduced thickness portion of the blade that reduces in thickness from the indent towards an edge of the blade to reduce contact between the detent and the blade during rotation of the blade.

With reference to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. However, the inclusion of like elements in different views does not mean a given embodiment necessarily includes such elements or that all embodiments of the invention include such elements.

Referring toFIGS.1-14, a tool, such as a folding multi-purpose tool is illustrated at reference numeral10. The folding tool10can be used during painting and drywalling, for example, to scrape paint, clean cracks, spread compound, clean rollers, remove putty, open a paint lid, open a bottle, open cracks, set nails, cut, install and remove flush mounted cover plates, etc. The folding tool includes a longitudinal axis A-A and a handle assembly including two outer portions, a top portion12and a bottom portion14that form a substantially trapezoidal tool. Sandwiched between the top and bottom portions12and14are a lock plate16and a blade18. In an embodiment, the lock plate16abuts the bottom portion14and the blade18abuts the top portion12when in a closed position.

The lock plate16includes a deflectable arm20that is biased in a first position inFIG.1to prevent movement of the blade18from an open position (shown inFIGS.1-7) to the closed position (shown inFIGS.8-14). The deflectable arm20is movable to a second position to allow movement of the blade18from the open position to the closed position, and to an intermediate position (FIG.29) to assist in restricting movement of the blade18when the blade18is in the closed position.

By way of example and not limitation, the coupling between the top portion12, bottom portion14, and lock plate16, among others can be a screw, a bolt and nut, a rivet, a male and female coupling of elements, among others. For example, the top portion12, bottom portion14, and lock plate16may each include a plurality of openings, discussed in more detail below, for receiving rivets22,24,26, and28to couple the components together. The top portion12, bottom portion14, lock plate16, and blade18may each also include a pivot opening, discussed in more detail below, for receiving a pivot formed by first and second coupling screws30and32that couple the components together and allow the blade18to pivot relative to the top portion12, bottom portion14, and lock plate16.

Referring now toFIGS.15-17and the top portion12in detail, the top portion12of the handle assembly has first and second ends40and42spaced along the axis, an outer surface44, and an inner surface46. The top portion12includes a pivot opening48at the first end40that has a flat50for aligning with a corresponding flat on the coupling screw32to prevent rotation of the screw32, and a plurality of rivet openings52,54,56, and58spaced along the top portion12for receiving the rivets22,24,26, and28respectively. The opening48can be countersunk to receive the head of the coupling screw30. By way of example and not limitation, the rivet opening52is near the first end40, the rivet opening54is near a middle of the top portion12, and the rivet openings56and58are near the second end42. The rivet openings are provided near edges of the top portion12to prevent interference with the blade18.

The top portion12also includes a plurality of grip areas60on the outer surface44in the form of indentations for a user to grip, an area62on the outer surface44for indicia, a support structure64extending throughout the inner surface46for strength, and a notch66extending inwardly from a side68of the top portion12to expose the deflectable arm20and a loop70(FIG.1) of the blade18. The notch66allows the user to engage the loop70without interference by the top portion12to move the blade18from the closed position to the open position, and allows the user to move the deflectable arm20to the second position to move the blade18from the open position to the closed position.

Referring now toFIGS.18-20and the bottom portion14in detail, the bottom portion14of the handle assembly has first and second ends80and82spaced along the axis, an outer surface84, and an inner surface86. The bottom portion14includes a pivot opening88at the first end80for receiving the screw32, and a plurality of rivet openings92,94,96, and98spaced along the bottom portion14for receiving the rivets22,24,26, and28respectively. The pivot opening88can be countersunk to receive the head of the coupling screw32. By way of example and not limitation, the rivet opening92is near the first end80, the rivet opening94is near a middle of the bottom portion14, and the rivet openings96and98are near the second end82. The rivet openings are provided near edges of the bottom portion14to prevent interference with the blade18.

The bottom portion14also includes a plurality of grip areas100on the outer surface84in the form of indentations for a user to grip, a clip102integrally formed with the outer surface84for clipping to a pocket or a belt for example, and a support structure104extending throughout the inner surface86for strength. The clip has a fixed end106formed with the bottom portion14and a free end108that can be deflected away from the bottom portion14.

The top and bottom portions12and14may be made of any suitable material, such as a polymer composite, and may be formed in any suitable manner, such as injection molding. In an embodiment, the polymer composite includes nylon reinforced with fiberglass, such as between ten to twenty percent fiberglass.

Referring now toFIGS.21-23and the lock plate16in detail, the lock plate16has first and second ends110and112spaced along the axis, a top surface114, and a bottom surface116. The lock plate16includes a pivot opening118at the first end110for receiving the screw32, and a plurality of rivet openings122,124,126, and128spaced along the lock plate16for receiving the rivets22,24,26, and28respectively. By way of example and not limitation, the rivet opening122is near the first end110, the rivet opening124is near a middle of the lock plate16, and the rivet openings126and128are near the second end112. The rivet openings are provided near edges of the lock plate16and aligned with the corresponding rivet openings in the top and bottom portions12and14to prevent interference with the blade18.

The lock plate16also includes an opening130between the openings126and128near the second end112for receiving a protrusion222of a hammerhead210(FIG.27) as discussed below, and a rounded portion132at the first end110that extends beyond the first ends40and80of the top and bottom portions12and14. The rounded portion132can be used as a flathead screwdriver and/or as an opener for a lid on a paint can for example.

The lock plate16is substantially trapezoidal in shape and sized substantially similar to the top and bottom portions12and14except for the rounded portion132. The lock plate16has a substantially L-shaped cutout having a cutout portion140extending axially near a middle of the lock plate16and a cutout portion142extending perpendicular to the axis and opening to an outside of the lock plate16. The cutout portion140has a length longer than a length of the cutout portion142. In an embodiment the length of the cutout portion140is more than twice the length of the cutout portion142, and in another embodiment more than three times the length. The cutout separates the lock plate16into a body portion144and the deflectable arm20. The lock plate16may be one-piece formed in any suitable manner, such as by stamping, or may be formed as multiple pieces connected in a suitable manner.

The deflectable arm20includes a first end146being a free end spaced from the body portion144by the cutout portion142, a second end148being a fixed end integrally formed with the body portion144, an inner edge150spaced from the body portion144by the cutout portion140, and an outer edge152that when the tool is assembled is substantially aligned with the corresponding edge of the bottom portion14. The outer edge152includes a serrated region154extending along a portion of the outer edge152for a user to grip when moving the deflectable arm20between positions.

The deflectable arm20is biased in the first position where the free end146is above a plane of the body portion144such that the deflectable arm20forms an incline from the fixed end to the free end, and the deflectable arm20is deflectable to the second position during movement of the blade18where the deflectable arm20is substantially in the same plane as the body portion144. The angle of incline of the deflectable arm20is sized to give a positive lock action in the first position when the blade is in the open position and to resist deflection if contacted by a user during operation, and to resist movement of the blade without an external force when the blade18is in the closed position. For example, the free end146may be raised above the top surface114and thus the body portion144approximately three millimeters.

The deflectable arm20also includes a detent160, such as a detent ball spaced from the first end146and the inner edge150, and an elongate opening162spaced from the inner and outer edges150and152. The detent160extends upward from the deflectable arm perpendicular to the axis, for example approximate greater than five tenths of a millimeter and has a diameter of approximately one and eight tenths of a millimeter. The detent160is axially spaced form the first end146and spaced from the inner edge150so as to reduce the amount of contact between the detent and the blade18during movement between the open and closed positions. For example, the detent160may be spaced from the free end146approximately five millimeters.

The elongate opening162may be spaced from the inner and outer edges150and152to form two continuous regions of the deflectable arm20around the opening162to increase the strength of the deflectable arm20while distributing forces exerted on the deflectable arm. The elongate opening162may be provided at or near the second end148of the deflectable arm20and is longer in a direction from the fixed end148to the free end146than in a direction from the inner edge150to the outer edge152. The elongate opening162has an inner edge164proximate and parallel to the inner edge150, and an outer edge166proximate and parallel to the outer edge152such that the continuous regions maintain substantially constant widths.

Referring now toFIGS.24-26and the blade18in detail, the blade18, which may be any suitable shape made of any suitable material such as metal, has first and second ends170and172spaced along the axis, a top surface174, and a bottom surface176. The blade18includes a pivot opening178at the first end170for receiving the screw32, a bottle opener180on a side182, a cutter184on the side182, a scraper and/or spreader186at the second end172, a paint can opener188on a side190, a roller cleaner192on the side190, and the loop70inwardly spaced from the side190near the first end170. The loop70and thus the side184angles outward from the first end170to allow the roller cleaner192in addition to surface190to be larger than on similarly sized tools. The scraper and/or spreader186may be any suitable width, such as one and three quarters of an inch.

The blade18also includes an indent200in the bottom surface176near the first end170for engaging the detent160of the lock plate16when the blade18is in the closed position, and a ramp202near the indent200that defines a reduced thickness portion of the blade18that reduces in thickness from the indent200towards the end182. The indent200is spaced further from the opening178towards the second end172than other designs and closer to the side182reducing contact between the detent160and the bottom surface176of the blade18during movement. The ramp202also reduces contact between the bottom surface176of the blade18and the detent160during rotation of the blade18by causing the detent160to disengage from the blade18before reaching the side182. This reduces wear to the blade18and the detent160thereby increasing the life of the folding tool10. The indent200extends into the blade18in one example approximately one millimeter and has a diameter of approximate one and six tenths of a millimeter.

Referring now toFIGS.27and28, a hammerhead210is shown. The hammerhead210is substantially T-shaped having a first portion212disposed between the lock plate16and the top portion12and a second portion214perpendicular to the first portion212extending past the second ends42and82of the first and second portions12and14and abutting end faces thereof. The second portion214has a substantially flat surface that curves at the sides and ends and can be used as a hammerhead, for example for driving in nails. The first portion212includes rivet openings216and218for receiving rives26and28respectively, which are aligned with the corresponding rivet openings in the top and bottom portions12and14and the lock plate16. The first portion212also includes a pair of cutouts220for reducing weight of the hammerhead210, and a protrusion222projecting perpendicular to the first portion212parallel to the second portion214for engaging the opening130in the lock plate16to further secure the hammerhead210.

To assemble the folding tool10, the rivets22,24,26and28can be inserted through the respective openings52,54,56, and58in the top portion12. Optional rivet tubes230and232(FIG.5) can be installed over the rivets22and24and the hammerhead210can be positioned so that the rivets26and28extend through the respective openings216and218in any order. The lock plate16can then be positioned so that the rivets22,24,26, and28extend through the respective openings122,124,126, and128and the protrusion222extends through the opening130. The bottom portion14can then be positioned so that the rivets22,24,26, and28extend through the respective openings92,94,96and98. The rivets22,24,26, and28can then be stamped, for example simultaneously in a press.

The blade18can then be inserted within the handle assembly until the opening178is aligned with openings48,88, and118and washers234and236are positioned on either side of the blade18. The washers may be made of a suitable material, such as stainless steel for a high duty cycle, and the washer234may have a larger diameter than washer236. The washer234may be positioned between the top surface174of the blade18and the bottom surface46of the top portion14, and the washer236may be positioned between the bottom surface176of the blade18and the top surface114of the lock plate16. The coupling screws30and32are then positioned in the openings48,88,118and170and coupled together, for example by tightening the screws together using a suitable tool such as a torque screwdriver, to hold the washers234and236and the blade18in the assembly while allowing the blade18to pivot.

During use of the folding tool10, to move the blade18from the closed position to the open position, the user moves the blade18via the loop70thereby causing the deflectable arm20to move to the second position and allowing the blade18to be swiveled or rotated about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. After the detent160has disengaged from the blade18when the detent160reaches the ramp202, the blade18will be in an intermediate position as shown inFIG.29, and the deflectable arm20will move to the intermediate position between the first and second positions. In an embodiment, an audible indication is provided indicating that the blade18has disengaged from the detent160. The movement of the blade18is continued until the blade reaches the open position shown inFIG.1where the deflectable arm20moves to the first position where the free end146abuts the first end170of the blade18to lock the blade in the open position.

To move the blade18from the open position to the closed position, the deflectable arm20is moved to the second position and held in the second position by the user as the blade is rotated until it contacts the deflectable arm20, which will be in the intermediate position. As rotation of the blade18continues, the detent160moves up the ramp202and then contacts the bottom surface176of the blade18moving the deflectable arm20to the second position. Once the blade reaches the closed positon the detent160will engage the indent200and the deflectable arm20will be in the intermediate position.

Turning now toFIG.30, an exemplary embodiment of the folding tool is shown at310. The folding tool310is substantially the same as the above-referenced folding tool10, and consequently the same reference numerals but indexed by300are used to denote structures corresponding to similar structures in the folding tools. In addition, the foregoing description of the folding tool10is equally applicable to the folding tool310except as noted below.

The folding tool310includes a top portion312, a bottom portion (not shown), a lock plate316, a blade318, and a hammerhead510. The lock plate316includes a deflectable arm320that is biased in a first position to prevent movement of the blade318from an open position as shown to a closed position when in the first position and to allow movement of the blade318when in a second position.

The top portion312, bottom portion, and lock plate316may each include a plurality of openings for receiving rivets322,324,326, and328to couple the components together, and each include an opening for receiving a pivot330, which may be formed in any suitable manner.

The blade318includes a bottle opener480on a side482, a cutter484on the side482, a scraper and/or spreader486, a paint can opener488on a side490, a roller cleaner492on the side490, a loop370inwardly spaced from the side490, and a nail puller494. The lock plate316includes a rounded portion432that can be used as a flathead screwdriver and/or as an opener. The folding tool310additionally includes one or more tool portions, and as illustrated first and second tool portions496and498that are movable from stored positions within the top and bottom portions to exposed positions, one of which is shown, allowing the tool portions to be used. The tool portions496and498may include openings that receive the rivets326and328respectively to secure the tool portions496and498and to serve as pivots. The tool portions496and498may be suitable tool portions, for example the tool portion496may be a Philips screwdriver and the tool portion498may be a flathead screwdriver.

Turning now toFIG.31an exemplary embodiment of the folding tool is shown at510. The folding tool510is substantially the same as the above-referenced folding tool10, and consequently the same reference numerals but indexed by500are used to denote structures corresponding to similar structures in the folding tools. In addition, the foregoing description of the folding tool10is equally applicable to the folding tool510except as noted below.

The folding tool510includes a top portion512, a bottom portion514, a lock plate516, a blade518, and a hammerhead710. The lock plate516includes a deflectable arm520that is biased in a first position to prevent movement of the blade518from an open position as shown to a closed position when in the first position and to allow movement of the blade518when in a second position.

The top portion512, bottom portion514, and lock plate516may each include a plurality of openings for receiving rivets522,526, and528to couple the components together, and each include an opening for receiving a pivot530, which may be formed in any suitable manner.

The blade518includes, a cutter684on a side682, a scraper and/or spreader686, a paint can opener688on a side690, a roller cleaner692on the side690, and a loop570inwardly spaced from the side690. The lock plate516includes a rounded portion632that can be used as a flathead screwdriver and/or as an opener.

The aforementioned blades18,318,518may include suitable edges, such as a scraping edge, a beveled edge, a cutting edge, among others, and can be a shape having one or more edges, angles, curves, and the like to provide functionality. For instance, the blade can include one or more edges for scraping, removing of material (e.g., putty), cleaning (e.g., coating roller cleaning, paint roller cleaning, roller cleaning, etc.), enlarging or opening cracks (e.g., opening or enlarging cracks for patching, repair, touch-ups, etc.), applying a material (e.g., applying putty, etc.), among others. Features on one of the blades18,318, and518may be included on others.

The aforementioned elements (e.g., tool10, top portion12, bottom portion14, lock plate16, and blade18, among others), and the like have been described with respect to interaction between several components and/or elements. It should be appreciated that such elements can include those elements or sub-elements specified therein, some of the specified elements or sub-elements, and/or additional elements. Further yet, one or more elements and/or sub-elements may be combined into a single component to provide aggregate functionality. The elements may also interact with one or more other elements not specifically described herein.

In the specification and claims, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify a quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Moreover, unless specifically stated otherwise, a use of the terms “first,” “second,” etc., do not denote an order or importance, but rather the terms “first,” “second,” etc., are used to distinguish one element from another.

As used herein, the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of “may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable. For example, in some circumstances an event or capacity can be expected, while in other circumstances the event or capacity cannot occur—this distinction is captured by the terms “may” and “may be.”

This written description uses examples to disclose the subject matter, including the best mode, and also to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, including making and using a devices or systems and performing incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differentiate from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.