Multipurpose folding tool with easily accessible outer blades
AssigneeLeatherman Tool Group, Inc.
InventorBenjamin C. Rivera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multipurpose hand tool with folding handles each including a central channel to receive pliers jaws or the like when the tool is folded, and including troughs holding outer blades alongside the central channel so that the outer blades can be opened without unfolding the tool. The troughs face opposite the direction of the central channels, and the bases of the outer troughs act as comfortable places to grip the handles when they are extended for use of the pliers. Blade locking mechanisms are incorporated in the walls of the central channels to lock each of the outer blades in an extended position.
Claims16
A multipurpose hand tool, comprising:
- (a) a pair of pivotally interconnected cooperatively functional members each having a base;
- (b) a pair of handles, at least one of said pair of handles having a first end attached pivotally to said base of a respective one of said cooperatively functional members, said one of said handles defining a central channel, and said tool having a folded configuration in which said cooperatively functional members are stowed at least partially within said central channel, and an open configuration in which said cooperatively functional members are extended away from said handles and said central channel faces outwardly away from the other of said pair of handles;
- and
- (c) at least said one of said handles including a pair of side wing portions, each of said side wing portions defining a respective side trough that is located parallel with and alongside said central channel but facing in an opposite direction with respect to said central channel, each said side trough having an arcuately convex base outer surface available as a comfortable hand grip surface when said tool is in said open configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.