Folding multipurpose pocket tool with floating springs

A subassembly of a folding tool, comprising:

• (a) a first frame side member having a pair of opposite ends;
• (b) a pivot axle, extending laterally from said first frame side member at a respective one of said opposite ends thereof;
• (c) a fastener extending laterally from said first frame side member at the other one of said opposite ends thereof;
• (d) a tool bit having a base attached to said first frame side member by a pivot pin spaced apart from and located generally between said pivot axle and said fastener, said tool bit being movable about said pivot pin between two positions, and said base of said tool bit having a pair of engagement surfaces each corresponding to one of said two positions;
• and
• (e) a spring having a pair of opposite ends, a first one of said pair of opposite ends being mounted on said pivot axle, and the other one of said pair of opposite ends being mounted on said fastener, and said spring including a central portion aligned with and biased into contact with said base of said tool bit, said central portion of said spring being spaced apart from said flange and having clearance to move toward said flange, and said spring tending to hold said tool bit in a respective one of said two positions when said spring is in contact with a respective one of said pair of engagement surfaces.

A folding multipurpose tool including a pair of pivotally interconnected crossed members and a pair of handles, each connected to a respective one of said pair of crossed members, at least one of said handles comprising:

• (a) a first frame side member having a pair of opposite ends and a flange member located between said opposite ends and extending laterally from said frame side member, said flange having an inner side and a pair of opposite end faces;
• (b) a pivot axle extending laterally from said first frame side member at a first one of said opposite ends thereof;
• (c) a spring-supporting member extending laterally from said first frame side member at the other one of said opposite ends thereof;
• and
• (d) a first one of said crossed members having a base mounted on said pivot axle for pivoting movement about said pivot axle between a deployed position and a folded position with respect to said first frame side member;
• and
• (e) a first elongate beam spring having a pair of opposite end portions and a central portion, a first one of said end portions resting on said base portion of said first one of said crossed members and being elastically biased into contact against said base, the other one of said pair of opposite end portions of said spring resting on said spring-supporting member and being elastically biased into contact with a surface of said spring-supporting member, and said central portion of said spring including a back side supported by said inner side of said flange and a pair of abutment surfaces each located adjacent and facing toward a respective one of said end faces of said flange, said end faces of said flange and said abutment surfaces of said spring cooperatively restricting longitudinal movement of said spring with respect to said frame side member.

A subassembly of a folding tool, comprising:

• (a) a first tool member having a base;
• (b) an elongate first frame side member having a first flange extending laterally therefrom;
• (c) a first pivot axle extending transversely with respect to said first frame side member, said first tool member being pivotably mounted on said first pivot axle;
• (d) an elongate first spring separate from said first frame side member and extending longitudinally with respect to said first frame side member, said spring having a free end portion resting against said base of said first tool member, a hook portion longitudinally opposite said free end, and a middle portion between said free end portion and said hook portion;
• and
• (e) a spring retainer extending transversely with respect to said first frame side member, said first spring being held between said base, said first flange, and said spring retainer, with said hook portion engaged with said spring retainer and said central portion engaged with said first flange, whereby said first flange and said spring retainer each prevent said first spring from moving longitudinally in at least one direction with respect to said first frame side member.

A subassembly of a folding tool, comprising:

• (a) a first tool member having a base;
• (b) an elongate first frame side member having a spring stop extending laterally therefrom;
• (c) a first pivot axle extending transversely with respect to said first frame side member, said first tool member being pivotably mounted on said first pivot axle;
• (d) an elongate, longitudinally extending first spring having a resilient tip at one end, a hook at a longitudinally opposite end, and a middle portion having a back;
• and
• (e) a spring retainer extending transversely with respect to said first frame side member, said first spring being arranged with said tip pressing on said base of said first tool member and said hook extending at least partially around said spring retainer, and wherein said spring stop is engaged with said back.

A method of assembling a tool of the type having:

• a first tool member having a base;
• an elongate first frame side member having a spring stop extending laterally therefrom;
• a first pivot axle capable of rotatably mounting said first tool member to said first frame side member;
• an elongate, longitudinally extending first spring having a resilient tip at one end, a hook at a longitudinally opposite end, and a middle portion having a back;
• and
• a spring retainer extending transversely with respect to said first frame side member, said method comprising:
• (a) engaging said first spring with said spring retainer by placing said hook of said first spring at least partially around said spring retainer;
• (b) thereafter, positioning said first spring with respect to said first frame side member by rotating said spring around said spring retainer until said back of said first spring is against said spring stop;
• (c) rotatably attaching said first tool member to said first frame side member by passing said first pivot axle through aligned bores defined respectively in said base of said first tool member and said first frame side member;
• and
• (d) operatively engaging said base of said first tool member with said first spring by urging said first spring against said spring stop and into a flexed condition and thereafter aligning said base of first tool member with said resilient tip of said first spring while keeping said first spring flexed.