Multipurpose recycler's tool
AssigneeThe Bitterroot Company
InventorsWilliam B. Bradbury, Jr., S. Richard Averette, Harry B. Ussery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multipurpose combination-tool (for recyclers) which performs the functions of removing staples, scraping, identifying steel from other metallic recyclables like aluminum, cutting cardboard into dimensions appropriate for baling, removing plastic or metal cap retainer rings, stripping non-glued labels, cutting baling cord and various carton types, and removing pre-softened glue labels from bottles. The tool includes a scraper, a retractable hooked-shaped blade, a straight blade, a magnet, a passage way in the scraper, a housing with a comfortable grip and one set of extra blades stored in the housing.
Claims17
A multipurpose recycler's tool, comprising, in combination:
- (a) a lower portion having a bottom surface, a lip, an area between the lip and the bottom surface, and an internal supporting ring, said internal supporting ring having a passage way in its middle;
- (b) an upper portion having a bottom surface, an upper lip, an area between the lip and the bottom surface, an end which extends beyond the lower portion to form a scraper and an internal supporting ring, said internal supporting ring having a passage way in its middle and said upper portion fitting onto said lower portion;
- (c) means for holding the lower portion and the upper portion together so as to form a handle;
- (d) a metal piece having a first hooked-shaped blade, a second hooked-shaped blade diametrically opposed to said first hooked-shaped blade, said metal piece having a hole in its center and two gaps, said first hooked-shape blade having a cutting surface and a back side opposite to said cutting surface and a back side opposite to said cutting surface;
- (e) a straight blade having a hole in the center of its base and having a cutting surface;
- (f) a first base, said first base being flat and almost circular with one flat edge and said first base having a protruding member onto which the hole in the straight blade is placed, two locking knobs almost diametrically opposed to one another and a hollow post, said hollow post having a lower half which fits into and rotates in the passage way in the middle of the internal supporting ring in the lower portion and having an upper half which fits into and rotates in the passage way in the middle of the internal supporting ring in the upper portion;
- (g) a vertical locking member having two pins into which one of the locking knobs of said first base is positioned when the straight blade is in its open or in its storage position;
- (h) a second base upon which said metal piece is positioned and which may be slid back and forth so that the cutting surface of the first hooked-shaped blade is either within said lower and said upper portions or extends beyond the lip of said lower and said upper portions, said second base having a top side and a bottom side;
- (i) an outline of a hooked-shaped blade in the bottom surface of the lower portion;
- (j) an outline of a straight blade in the bottom surface of the lower portion;
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- (k) a magnet embedded in said tool.
A multipurpose recycler's tool, comprising, in combination:
- (a) a lower portion;
- (b) an upper portion adapted to engage the lower portion and having an end which forms a scraper;
- (c) a hooked-shaped blade having a cutting surface;
- (d) means for sliding the cutting surface of the hooked-shaped blade in and out of said lower portion and said upper portion;
- (e) a straight blade having a cutting surface;
- (f) means for rotatably mounting said straight blade within said lower portion and said upper portion and being adapted so that said straight blade can be rotated between an open position outside of both said upper portion and said lower portion, whereby the cutting surface is exposed, and a storage position within said lower portion and said upper portion;
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- (g) a magnet embedded in said tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.