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US 5,621,936 AGranted
Multi-purpose hand tool
OwnerJanet L. Penaligon, Jerry L. Smithinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A utensil is adapted to be held by a user and manipulated by the user's hand to operate on a workpiece. One feature of the utensil enables the user to gain mechanical advantage when locking and unlocking key-operated locking mechanisms by displacing a key from its stowed state to its extended state. Other features include a letter opener, a cap remover, and an abrasive element.
Claims29
A utensil adapted to be held by a user and manipulated by the user's hand and operative to act on a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a body member having flat first and second surfaces spaced apart from one another along a central axis, said body member including a peripheral edge extending therearound and having a thickness between said first and second surfaces, said body member having at least a first cavity formed into said peripheral edge between said first and second surfaces.
- (b) a rigid first tool element sized and adapted to a received in a closely-fitted relationship by said first cap it so that said first tool element can move between a stowed state whereby said first tool element is disposed within said first cavity and an extended state whereby a proximal end portion of said first tool element is disposed within said first cavity while a distal end portion of said first tool element extends exteriorly of said first cavity so that said body member may be manipulated to act on said proximal end portion of said first tool element thereby to gain mechanical advantage on said distal end portion;
- and
- (c) a peripheral recess formed into said peripheral edge of said body member, said peripheral recess tapering inwardly from said peripheral edge.
1 more element
A utensil adapted to be held by a user and manipulated by the user's hand to act on a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a body member having flat first and second surfaces spaced apart along a central axis, said body member including a peripheral edge extending therearound and having a thickness between said first and second surfaces, said body member having at least a first and a second cavity formed into said peripheral edge between said first and second surfaces spaced apart from one another;
- (b) a first key;
- (c) a second key, each of said first and second keys being sized and adapted to be received in a closely-fitted relationship by a respective one of said first and second cavities so that each key can move between a stowed state whereby respective ones of said first and second keys are disposed within respective ones of said first and second cavities and an extended state whereby a respective bow end portion of each key is disposed within a respective one of said first and second cavities while a respective blade end portion of each key extends exteriorly of a respective one of said first and second cavities so that said body member may be manipulated to act on said respective bow end portions of each key thereby to gain mechanical advantage on respective ones of said blade end portions thereof;
- and
- (d) a surface recess formed into said first surface, said surface recess defined by a pair of oppositely-disposed triangularly-shaped sidewalls and a ramping wall extending therebetween whereby an opening is formed between an upper edge of said first surface and a lower edge portion of said ramping wall and between said triangularly-shaped sidewalls.
2 more elements
A utensil adapted to be held by a user and manipulated by the user's hand and operative to act on a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) a body member having flat first and second surfaces spaced apart from one another along a central axis, said body member including a peripheral edge extending therearound and having a thickness between said first and second surfaces, said body member having at least a first cavity formed into said peripheral edge between said first and second surfaces;
- (b) a rigid first tool element sized and adapted to be received in a closely-fitted relationship by said first cavity so that said first tool element can move between a stowed state whereby said first tool element is disposed within said first cavity and an extended state whereby a proximal end portion of said first tool element is disposed within said first cavity while a distal end portion of said first tool element extends exteriorly of said first cavity so that said body member may be manipulated to act on said proximal end portion of said first tool element thereby to gain mechanical advantage on said distal end portion thereof;
- and
- (c) a pair of plateau structures disposed on one of said first and second surfaces and oriented relative to each other to form a substantially V-shaped channel therebetween, said V-shaped channel being located above one of said first and second surfaces.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.