GB2563403A

GB2563403A - Folding pocket tool

Info

Publication number: GB2563403A
Application number: GB1709368.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Berman Lee
Original assignee: True Brands Ltd
Current assignee: True Brands Ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-13
Filing date: 2017-06-13
Publication date: 2018-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-13
Also published as: GB201717790D0; GB2563466A; GB2563403B; GB201709368D0; GB2563466B

Abstract

A folding pocket tool comprises two elongate handle plates 1, 2, at least one of which is an elongate handle plate, where when the device is folded, the plates are parallel and confront each other, the tool carrying a tool bit magazine which has a locking position where it interferes with unfolding of the tool. The tool bit magazines can be slid out past a stop 16a, 16b by bending a centrally-mounted tool bit 15 away from the stop, allowing unfolding. In the unfolded configuration, keyhole apertures 7A, 7B allow detachment of the handle plates which can then be reconnected end to end to double the length of the tool. A longitudinal bit holder socket 10, 11, 12 is formed in the distal end of the plates 1, 2 and an attached casting 3 for holding a hexagonal tool bit.

Description

Pocket tool

The present invention relates to pocket tool and to a kit of parts for such a tool. The invention relates particularly but not exclusively to a pocket tool for bicycle maintenance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact folding pocket tool of simple construction which is easily reconfigurable and which is held in a folded configuration when in the user’s pocket.

In one aspect the invention provides a folding pocket tool comprising two plates, at least one of which is an elongate handle plate, the plates having a folded configuration in which they are substantially parallel and confront each other and having an unfolded configuration, the pocket tool carrying a tool bit magazine which in the folded configuration has a locking position in which it interferes with unfolding to the unfolded configuration.

The tool bit magazine serves a dual purpose, namely maintaining the tool in the folded configuration in addition to holding tool bits, eg standard hexagonal screwdriver bits.

Preferably in the locking position the tool bit magazine is slidable away from the locking position to allow unfolding to the unfolded configuration.

This feature simplifies construction and in practice utilises the slight frictional resistance to sliding of a typical moulded plastics tool bit magazine to maintain it in the locking position.

Preferably the tool bit magazine is slidably mounted on the interior of a frame portion of one or both plates.

This feature protects the user’s pocket from being tom by tool bits in the tool bit magazine when the tool is not in use.

Preferably said frame portion interior has two opposite sides which in the locking position fit within respective channels in the exterior of the tool bit magazine, the two opposite sides having an outwardly stepped region from which the tool bit magazine can be released.

This feature simplifies release of the tool bit magazine.

Preferably the folding pocket tool comprises a row of two or more such tool bit magazines, at least one of which is slidably removable to allow another of the tool bit magazines to be slid out of a locking position.

This feature simplifies operation of the tool, since it is normally easier to remove two small tool bit magazines in succession than to remove one large tool bit magazine.

Preferably the tool bit magazine has an array of eg two, three or four bit holders.

Preferably the tool bit magazine has a bit holder which is so positioned that in said locking position, a standard tool bit can be fitted in said bit holder to oppose a stop carried by one of the plates and thereby prevent movement of the tool bit magazine out of the locking position, the tool bit magazine being composed of resilient material whereby such a standard tool bit can be deviated by a user to allow movement of the tool bit magazine out of the locking position.

This feature reduces the risk of the tool bit magazine becoming inadvertently detached from the tool, eg when being carried in a user’s pocket.

Preferably the tool bit magazine is slidably removable from one or both plates.

Preferably said plates are mutually detachable when in a detachment configuration but in said locking position said tool bit magazine prevents their movement to the detachment configuration.

The facility to detach the plates substantially improves the versatility of the tool, as will become apparent from the description below.

Preferably at least one of said plates has one or more keyholes registering with respective headed fastener(s) mounted on the other of the plates, each keyhole having a large aperture portion through which the head of a fastener can pass and a small aperture portion through which the head of a fastener cannot pass, wherein in said folded configuration the headed fastener(s) extend through the small aperture portion(s) to attach the plates, and said plates can be moved to a detachment configuration in which each fastener head is aligned with a large aperture portion to allow mutual detachment of the plates.

In a preferred embodiment said plates have first and second oppositely aligned keyholes and first and second headed fasteners, in said folded configuration the first and second headed fasteners align with small aperture portions of the first and second keyholes respectively and in said detachment configuration the headed fasteners align with the large aperture portions of the respective keyholes.

Preferably the folding pocket tool has an extended configuration in which the first and second headed fasteners align with the small aperture portions of the second and first keyholes respectively.

Preferably an outer end region of at least one of the plates has at least one tool element for applying torque about an axis orthogonal to the plane of the at least one plate to a tool bit or a workpiece when said pocket tool is in said extended configuration, said headed fasteners forming a rigid connection between the plates when said torque is applied.

The invention also provides a kit of parts for a folding pocket tool, the kit comprising two plates, at least one of which is an elongate handle plate, the plates being as defined above, and at least one tool bit magazine which can be carried by the tool and in the folded configuration of the plates has a locking position in which it interferes with unfolding to the unfolded configuration.

Other preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

In another aspect the invention provides a folding pocket tool comprising two plates, at least one of which is an elongate handle plate, the plates having a folded configuration in which they are substantially parallel and confront each other and having an unfolded configuration, a distal end of the pocket tool having a longitudinal bit holder socket formed partly in one plate and partly in the other plate.

This enables the folding pocket tool to be used as a screwdriver or the like, without unfolding the tool.

Preferably the longitudinal bit holder socket is generally hexagonal in transverse cross-section and is partially defined by a slot in one of the plates which in transverse cross-section has two parallel sides.

In a preferred embodiment an additional member is attached to the outer face of one of said plates and the longitudinal bit holder socket is formed partly in the additional member and partly in the two plates.

The folding pocket tooling this aspect of the invention can optionally include any of the preferred features of the other aspect of the invention.

In this aspect the invention also provides a kit of parts for a pocket tool as defined above, the kit comprising two plates as defined above and optionally an additional member as defined above.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a folding pocket tool in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the pocket tool of Figure 1, showing the tool assembled and carrying tool bits;

Figure 3 is a left (distal) end elevation of the pocket tool shown in Figure 2 showing the longitudinal bit holder socket thereof;

Figure 4 is a plan view from above showing the pocket tool of Figure 1 in a partially unfolded configuration in which the two handle plates are separable;

Figure 5 is a perspective view from below of the pocket tool of Figure 4 in an extended configuration;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the lower handle plate 2 of the pocket tool of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the lower handle plate 2;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the upper handle plate 1 of the pocket tool of Figure 1, and

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the upper handle plate 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a pocket cycle repair tool is shown in disassembled form and comprises three main parts, namely an upper elongate handle plate 1, a lower elongate handle plate 2, and an additional member 3, these being attachable by two-part threaded or snap fasteners 4A, 5A and 4B, 5B through circular apertures d and e in member 3 and plate 1, and keyhole apertures 7A and 7B in plate 2. It will be seen that each keyhole aperture comprises a large diameter portion b and a small diameter portion a which merge at a cusp transition c. The small diameter portions a are coaxial with apertures e of upper plate 1 and their common axes 14 define a vertical plane which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

The heads of fastener portions 5A and 5B are sized to be able to pass through the large diameter portions b but not through the small diameter portions a. Accordingly, in the folded configuration shown in Figure 2. the plates 1 and 2 are held together by the fasteners. The cylindrical bodies of fastener portions 5 A and 5B are preferably sized to be able to just pass through the cusp transition c between the small and large diameter portions a and b of the keyhole apertures, to facilitate unfolding and folding of the plates 1 and 2.

The tool has standard tool elements that fit standard parts of a bicycle, as described in detail at the end of the description.

Elongate handle plates 1 and 2 are suitably in the form of steel or stainless steel or titanium or titanium alloy stampings and additional member 3 is suitably an aluminium or aluminium alloy casting.

Each elongate handle plate 1 and 2 has a shaped cut-out Cl, C2 respectively that defines a frame portion having stepped opposite sides. Lengths f (plate 1) and g (plate 2) have the same spacing which corresponds to the spacing between the bases of lateral channel portions 13 formed in the exterior of two tool bit magazines 6. The tool bit magazines 6 are suitably moulded from resilient plastics material such as polyethylene or polypropylene for example.

As best seen in Figure 2, these tool bit magazines can thereby be accommodated within the assembled upper and lower elongate handle plates 1 and 2.

In this manner, as shown in Figure 2, the tool is held in the folded configuration by engagement of the channels 13 of the tool bit magazines 6 with the lengths f and g of the lateral sides of the cut-outs Cl and C2.

Because the opposite lateral sides of the cut-outs Cl and C2 are stepped outwardly to the proximal end (right hand end) from lengths f and g, the tool bit magazines can be removed by sliding to the proximal (right hand) end of the tool where the channels 13 are no longer engaged by the lateral sides of the cut-outs.

Each tool bit magazine has three hexagonal bores 9 for holding standard 6mm hexagonal tool bits such as screwdriver bits 15 (Figure 2).

As also shown in Figure 2, each elongate handle plate 1, 2 has a stop 16a, 16b respectively formed at the proximal end of the interior of its cut-out Cl, C2 and these stops oppose a central tool bit 15 of the proximal (right hand) tool bit magazine 6. Figure 2 also shows a cutter 17 (also shown in Figure 4) and a bottle-opener tool 31 (also shown in Figure 8).

The right hand tool bit magazine 6 can be removed by deviating the head of its central tool bit 15 upwardly or downwardly from the stop 16a, 16b and then sliding the tool bit magazine to the proximal (right hand) end of the tool until its channels 13 slide off lengths f and g. Having remove the right hand (proximal) tool bit magazine, the left hand (distal) tool tool bit magazine can be slid off in the proximal (right hand) direction quite easily.

Referring now to Figure 3, a longitudinal bit holder socket is shown comprising a first socket portion 11 formed in the additional member 3, a second socket portion in the form of a slot 10 formed in plate 1 and a third socket portion 12 formed (preferably by stamping) in plate 2. The sides of slot 10 are parallel and combine with lower vertical portions of socket portion 11 to form opposite sides of a hexagonal socket, the other four sides of which are formed by the triangular roof of socket portion 11 and the triangular socket portion 12 which is best seen in Figure 1. The resulting hexagonal bit holder socket can hold a standard 6 millimetre hexagonal tool bit 15.

As shown in Figure 1, a cylindrical magnet 8 (omitted in Figure 3) is accommodated in a part-cylindrical recess behind slot 10 which co-operates with a similar partcylindrical recess (visible in Figure 3) behind slot 11. Magnet 8 retains hexagonal tool bit 15 (Figure 2).

In order to accommodate small tolerances in the size of different hexagonal tool bits, fasteners 4A, 5A and 4B, 5B allow a spacing between plates 1 and 2 of up to 0.5 millimetres as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2 shows the pocket tool in the folded configuration. It will be seen that the external perimeters of plates 1 and 2 register with each other and include various spanner cut-outs. These are described in more detail with reference to Figures 6 to 9. The internal perimeters of plates 1 and 2 are also largely identical and register with each other but at the distal end plate 1 carries a cutter 17 which, during operation of the tool in the unfolded configuration, slides over a shelf portion of the underlying plate 2 in which a circular aperture 18 is formed, as best seen in Figure 4.

By squeezing the plates 1 and 2 together, considerable pressure can be applied by the cutter 17 to eg wire or cable or cord or the like protruding through aperture 18, thereby cutting the wire or cable or cord or the like as the slides over the shelf portion and traverses the aperture 18.

In a variant, the cutter 17 may be in the form of a wire stripper and additional apertures of different diameters may be provided in the path of cutter 17 for accommodating insulated wire cable of different diameters, to enable the insulation to be stripped by cutter 17. Cutter 17 is preferably in the form of a blade.

In a further variant, cast parts may be added to the respective handle plates 1 and 2 to provide opposing faces that act as gripping jaws and a cutter (as in a standard plier head).

Referring again to Figure 4, the tool is shown in a detachment configuration in which the upper elongate handle plate 1 has been swung anticlockwise with respect to the lower elongate handle plate 2 so as to align the large diameter portions b of the keyhole apertures with the heads of the fastener portions 5A, 5B. In this configuration the upper plate 1 can be lifted away (ie out of the plane of Figure 4) to separate it from lower handle plate 2. The heads of fastener portions 4A and 4B are larger in diameter than the large diameter portions b of the keyhole apertures and accordingly the fasteners are retained on upper handle plate 1 as it is lifted away.

The detachment configuration shown in Figure 4 is a special case of the more general unfolded configuration. In an unfolded configuration, clockwise rotation of upper handle plate 2 as indicated by arrow X moves the cutterl7 of handle plate 1 across a circular hole 18 formed in a shelf portion of elongate handle plate 2 to cut a wire or cable (not shown) inserted in this hole. Also, the cutterl7 can be used to strip insulation from such a cable or wire. The reaction on the cutter 17 from the wire or cable tends to lift the distal (left-hand) end of plate 1 and maintain the fastener 4B, 5B seated in the large diameter portion b of keyhole aperture 7B.

If the handle plates 1 and 2 are detached, they can then be re-attached in the extended configuration shown in Figure 5 by flipping upper handle plate 1 by 180° about axis 140 (Figure 4), re-attaching it by lowering it onto lower handle plate 2 so that the fastener heads pass through the large diameter portions b of the keyhole apertures, and then rotating handle plate 1 clockwise so as to align its longitudinal axis with the longitudinal axis of handle plate 2. This last operation moves the fasteners 4A, 5A and 4B, 5B out of the large diameter portions b and into the small diameter portions a of the keyhole apertures as best seen in Figure 5.

In this configuration, a torque can be applied to a tool element such as spanner portion 19a or a transverse tool bit 21 at the outer end of handle plate 1 by urging handle plate 2 in the anticlockwise direction as indicated by arrow Y. The fasteners form a rigid connection between the handle plates and transmit the torque, which urges the fasteners into the small diameter portions a of the keyhole apertures.

If it is desired to apply torque from a spanner in the opposite sense, handle plate 1 can be urged upwardly (ie clockwise) to apply clockwise torque to a similar spanner portion 19b formed at the outer end of handle plate 2.

Figures 6 to 9 show the tool arrays on the handle plates 1 and 2 in more detail, starting from the underside of the exploded view as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the lower face of elongate handle plate 2 has a file 25 formed on one marginal side portion, 17mm and 11mm open spanner portions 19b and 22b at opposite ends, a 3.4mm spoke spanner portion 27b in a mid region and closed spanner portions 23 (8mm) and 24 (7mm and 5mm) at its proximal end. A ruler scale 26 is provided on the other marginal side portion.

A bit driver 20b is provided adjacent a chamfered tyre lever portion 28 at the distal end. The dimension across the flats of bit driver 20b is 6.35mm (!4”) whereas the corresponding dimension for aperture 20a is exactly 6mm. Hence aperture 20a can retain a tool bit within aperture 20b when the plates 1 and 2 are superimposed., enabling the user to apply downward pressure to the bit.

Additionally the interior of plate 2 is provided with a 13mm open spanner portion 30b and a 10mm open spanner portion 29b at its proximal end.

Similarly, referring to Figures 8 and 9, upper handle plate 1 has 17mm and 11mm open spanner portions 19a and 22a at opposite ends and a 3.4mm spoke spanner portion 27a in a mid region.

A bit driver 20a is provided adjacent a chamfered tyre lever portion 28 at the distal end.

Additionally the interior of plate 1 is provided with a 13mm open spanner portion 30a and a 10mm open spanner portion 29a at its proximal end.

In a variant the bit holder socket 10, 11, 12 could be formed at the opposite end of the handle plates 1 and 2 i.e. the right hand end in Figure 2, with the additional member 3 mounted on the right hand end of eg handle plate 1. In such a variant the right hand end of the tool would be the distal end and the handle plates would be detachable at the proximal (left hand) end rather than at the distal end as in the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

Claims

1. A folding pocket tool comprising two plates, at least one of which is an elongate handle plate, the plates having a folded configuration in which they are substantially parallel and confront each other and having an unfolded configuration, the pocket tool carrying a tool bit magazine which in the folded configuration has a locking position in which it interferes with unfolding to the unfolded configuration.

2. A folding pocket tool according to claim 1 wherein in the locking position the tool bit magazine is slidable away from the locking position to allow unfolding to the unfolded configuration.

3. A folding pocket tool according to claim 2 wherein the tool bit magazine is slidably mounted on the interior of a frame portion of one or both plates.

4. A folding pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said frame portion interior has two opposite sides which in the locking position fit within respective channels in the exterior of the tool bit magazine, the two opposite sides having an outwardly stepped region from which the tool bit magazine can be released.

5. A folding pocket tool according to any of claims 2 to 4 comprising a row of two or more such tool bit magazines, at least one of which is slidably removable to allow another of the tool bit magazines to be slid out of a locking position.

6. A folding pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein the tool bit magazine has a bit holder which is so positioned that in said locking position, a standard tool bit can be fitted in said bit holder to oppose a stop carried by one of the plates and thereby prevent movement of the tool bit magazine out of the locking position, the tool bit magazine being composed of resilient material whereby such a standard tool bit can be deviated by a user to allow movement of the tool bit magazine out of the locking position.

7. A folding pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein the tool bit magazine is slidably removable from one or both plates.

8. A folding pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein said plates are mutually detachable when in a detachment configuration but in said locking position said tool bit magazine prevents their movement to the detachment configuration.

9. A folding pocket tool according to claim 8 wherein at least one of said plates has one or more keyholes registering with respective headed fastener(s) mounted on the other of the plates, each keyhole having a large aperture portion through which the head of a fastener can pass and a small aperture portion through which the head of a fastener cannot pass, wherein in said folded configuration the headed fastener(s) extend through the small aperture portion(s) to attach the plates, and said plates can be moved to a detachment configuration in which each fastener head is aligned with a large aperture portion to allow mutual detachment of the plates.

10. A folding pocket tool according to according to claim 9 wherein said plates have first and second oppositely aligned keyholes and first and second headed fasteners, in said folded configuration the first and second headed fasteners align with small aperture portions of the first and second keyholes respectively and in said detachment configuration the headed fasteners align with the large aperture portions of the respective keyholes.

11. A folding pocket tool according to claim 9 or claim 10 which has an extended configuration in which the first and second headed fasteners align with the small aperture portions of the second and first keyholes respectively.

12. A folding pocket tool according to claim 11 wherein an outer end region of at least one of the plates has at least one tool element for applying torque about an axis orthogonal to the plane of the at least one plate to a tool bit or a workpiece when said pocket tool is in said extended configuration, said headed fasteners forming a rigid connection between the plates when said torque is applied.

13. A folding pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein one of said plates has a locating aperture for a wire or cable and the other of said plates has a cutter which traverses said locating aperture on folding the plates to said folded configuration.

14. A folding pocket tool according to claim 13 wherein said cuttercomprises a blade.

15. A folding pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein both plates are elongate handle plates.

16. A folding pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein said tool bit magazine is slidably mounted on both plates and can be slid off the plates to allow unfolding to the unfolded configuration.

17. A folding pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein the folding plates have cut-out tool portions which register in the folded configuration.

18. A folding pocket tool according to any preceding claim which is a bicycle repair tool having tool elements that fit standard parts of a bicycle.

19. A kit of parts for a folding pocket tool, the kit comprising two plates, at least one of which is an elongate handle plate, the plates being as defined in any preceding claim, and at least one tool bit magazine which can be carried by the tool and in the folded configuration of the plates has a locking position in which it interferes with unfolding to the unfolded configuration.

20. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 19 wherein said at least one tool bit magazine is as defined in claim 5 or claim 6.

21. A folding pocket tool comprising two plates, at least one of which is an elongate handle plate, the plates having a folded configuration in which they are substantially parallel and confront each other and having an unfolded configuration, a distal end of the pocket tool having a longitudinal bit holder socket formed partly in one plate and partly in the other plate.

22. A folding pocket tool according to claim 21 wherein the longitudinal bit holder socket is generally hexagonal in transverse cross-section and is partially defined by a slot in one of the plates which in transverse cross-section has two parallel sides.

23. A folding pocket tool according to claim 21 or claim 22 wherein an additional member is attached to the outer face of one of said plates and the longitudinal bit holder socket is formed partly in the additional member and partly in the two plates.

24. A folding pocket tool according to any of claims 21 to 23 which is as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20.

25. A kit of parts for a pocket tool as claimed in any of claims 21 to 23, the kit comprising two plates as defined in claim 21 or claim 22 and optionally an additional member as defined in claim 23.