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US 4,744,272 AGranted
Foldable tool
AssigneeLeatherman Tool Group, Inc.
InventorTimothy S. Leatherman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foldable gripping tool has compound folding handle assemblies including channel shaped handles and handle extensions which may be folded into nested relationship with each other, and folded over the gripping jaws of the tool to enclose the jaws into a compact nested assembly. The handle extensions provide a broad smooth surface to be grasped and squeezed by the user's hand. The handle extensions include integral tools such as a can/bottle opener and screwdrivers. The tool also includes tool blades such as a knife blade and a screwdriver/file blade, independent of the handle extensions, which are also foldable into the channel shaped handles and handle extensions.
Claims27
A foldable tool comprising:
- (a) a pair of elongate gripping jaws, each of said jaws including a gripping portion proximate one end thereof and a tang proximate the other end, said jaws pivotably connected to each other intermediate said respective ends;
- (b) a pair of elongate handles, each handle having an inner end pivotally connected to a respective one of said tangs and an outer end opposite said inner end;
- (c) a pair of elongate handle extensions, each of said handle extensions pivotably connected proximate one end thereof to a respective one of said outer ends of said handles;
- (d) said handles and said handle extensions including respective open channel means for permitting said handle extensions to be selectively pivoted from a nested handle assembly, wherein said handles or alternatively said handle extensions are respectively received within said open channel means of the other, to extended positions with respect to each other, wherein neither of said handles or said handle extensions are received within the open channel means of the other, said respective open channel means also serving as means for permitting said nested handle assemblies to be selectively pivoted with respect to said respective jaws into a nested tool assembly with said jaws received within said open channel means of, alternatively, said handles or said handle extensions;
- and
- (e) said handle extensions arranged with respect to said respective handles so that said respective open channel means of said handles and said handle extensions face in opposite directions when said handle extensions are in extended relationship with said respective handles.
3 more elements
A foldable tool comprising:
- (a) a pair of elongate gripping jaws, each of said jaws including a gripping portion proximate one end thereof and a tang proximate the other end, said jaws pivotably connected to each other intermediate said respective ends;
- (b) a pair of elongate handles, each handle having an inner end pivotally connected to a respective one of said tangs and an outer end opposite said inner end;
- (c) a pair of elongate handle extensions, each of said handle extensions pivotably connected proximate one end thereof to a respective one of said outer ends of said handles;
- (d) said handles and said handle extensions including respective open channel means for permitting said handle extensions to be selectively pivoted from a nested handle assembly, wherein said handles or alternatively said handle extensions are respectively received within said open channel means of the other, to extended positions with respect to each other, wherein neither of said handles or said handle extensions are received within the open channel means of the other, said respective open channel means also serving as means for permitting said nested handle assemblies to be selectively pivoted with respect to said respective jaws into a nested tool assembly with said jaws received within said open channel means of, alternatively, said handles or said handle extensions;
- and
- (e) a tool blade pivotally connected to said outer end of one of said handles and pivotable between extended and nested positions with respect to said handle, said respective handle extension including guard means for shielding said tool blade from the user's hand when said handle extension and said tool blade are both in said extended positions.
3 more elements
A foldable tool comprising:
- (a) a pair of elongate gripping jaws, each of said jaws including a gripping portion proximate one end thereof and a tang proximate the other end, said jas pivotably connected to each other intermediate said respective ends;
- (b) a pair of elongate handles, each handle having an inner end pivotally connected to a respective one of said tangs and an outer end opposite said inner end;
- (c) a pair of elongate handle extensions, each of said handle extensions pivotably connected proximate one end thereof to a respective one of said outer ends of said handles;
- (d) said handles and said handle extensions including respective open channel means for permitting said handle extensions to be selectively pivoted from a nested handle assembly, wherein said handles or alternatively said handle extensions are respectively received within said open channel means of the other, to extended positions with respect to each other, wherein neither of said handles or said handle extensions are received within the open channel means of the other, said respective open channel means also serving as means for permitting said nested handle assemblies to be selectively pivoted with respect to said respective jaws into a nested tool assembly with said jaws received within said open channel means of, alternatively, said handles or said handle extensions;
- and
- (e) said open channel means respectively defined by a web and two upstanding sidewalls attached thereto, said webs of said handle extensions facing away from each other when said handle extensions are in extended relationship with said respective handles.
3 more elements
A foldable tool comprising:
- (a) a tool head;
- (b) a pair of elongate handles, each handle having an inner end pivotally connected to said tool head and an outer end opposite said inner end;
- (c) a pair of elongate handle extensions, each of said handle extensions pivotably connected proximate one end thereof to a respective one of said outer ends of said handles;
- (d) said handles and said handle extensions including respective open channel means for permitting said handle extensions to be selectively pivoted from a nested handle assembly, wherein said handles or alternatively said handle extensions are respectively received within said open channel means of the other, to extended positions with respect to each other, wherein neither of said handles or said handle extensions are received within the open channel means of the other, said respective open channel means also serving as means for permitting said nested handle assemblies to be selectively pivoted with respect to said tool head into a nested tool assembly with said tool head received within said open channel means of, alternatively, said handles or said handle extensions;
- and
- (e) said handle extensions arranged with respect to said respective handles so that said respective open channel means of said handles and said handle extensions face in opposite directions when said handle extensions are in extended relationship with said respective handles.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.