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US 6,397,709 B1Granted
Handtool with rotatable arms
OwnerDean Wallinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention is a handtool having an elongated member and two arms rotatably attached to an end of the elongated member. The elongated member is adapted to hold a bit at an its end. The first arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to the elongated member. The first arm can also be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member. Similarly, the second arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to the elongated member and the second arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member. Each of the arms can be rotated independent of the rotation of the other arm.
Claims43
A handtool comprising:
- (a) an elongated member adapted to hold a bit at an end of said elongated member;
- (b) a first arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member;
- (c) a second arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member;
- wherein:
- (i) said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member;
- (ii) said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member;
- (iii) each of said arms can be rotated independent of the rotation of the other arm;
- (iv) at least one of said arms can be rotated away from the elongated member and beyond a perpendicular position to at least one pre-determined extended position relative to the elongated member;
- and
- (v) said handtool further comprises a mechanism to secure said at least one of said arms to said at least one pre-determined extended position.
7 more elements
A handtool comprising:
- (a) an elongated member adapted to hold a bit at an end of said elongated member;
- (b) a first arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member;
- (c) a second arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member,
- wherein:
- (i) said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member;
- (ii) said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member;
- (iii) each of said arms can be rotated independent of the rotation of the other arm;
- and
- (iv) each of said arms is rotatable about substantially the same axis of rotation.
6 more elements
A handtool comprising:
- (a) an elongated member adapted to hold a bit at an end of said elongated member;
- (b) a first arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member;
- (c) a second arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member;
- wherein:
- (i) said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member;
- (ii) said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member;
- (iii) each of said arms can be rotated independent of the rotation of the other arm;
- and
- (iv) each arm is rotatably attached to said elongated member through a plate affixed to the arm.
6 more elements
A handtool comprising:
- (a) an elongated member adapted to hold a bit at an end of said elongated member;
- (b) a first arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member;
- (c) a second arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member;
- wherein:
- (i) said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member,
- (ii) said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member;
- (iii) each of said arms can be rotated independently of the rotation of the other arm;
- (iv) said first arm and said second arm are rotatable on opposite sides of the elongated member;
- (v) the elongated member is comprised of a handle and a blade;
- (vi) said first arm and second arm are rotatably attached to said handle;
- (vii) said blade extends from the handle and includes the bit holding end of the elongated member;
- (viii) said blade is adapted to receive, hold and release a bit at the bit holding end of said blade;
- (ix) said handle has a first open portion adapted to receive the first arm when it is rotated into said handle, and said handle has a second open portion adapted to receive the second arm when it is rotated into said handle;
- (x) said handle has ribs extending from said handle and running parallel to the length of said handle;
- (xi) when said arms are in a closed position, said arms complete the pattern of ribs by supplying ribs to the areas occupied by said first open portion and said second open portion.
12 more elements
A handtool comprising:
- (a) an elongated member adapted to hold a bit at an end of said elongated member;
- (b) a first arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member;
- (c) a second arm rotatably attached at a fixed point to said elongated member;
- wherein:
- (i) said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said first arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member;
- (ii) said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point to a position that is substantially perpendicular to said elongated member and said second arm can be rotated about its fixed point from its perpendicular position towards the elongated member;
- (iii) each of said arms can be rotated independent of the rotation of the other arm;
- (iv) said first arm and said second arm are rotatable on opposite sides of the elongated member;
- (v) said first arm and said second arm can simultaneously be in their perpendicular positions to form with said elongated member a T shape which can be hand-held and which provides increased torque for turning a bit at the end of said elongated member;
- and
- (vi) said handtool further comprises (d) a mechanism to secure each of said arms to its perpendicular position.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.