GB2582624A

GB2582624A - Pocket tool

Info

Publication number: GB2582624A
Application number: GB1904320.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Berman Lee
Original assignee: True Brands Ltd
Current assignee: True Brands Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-28
Filing date: 2019-03-28
Publication date: 2020-09-30
Also published as: GB201904320D0; CN111745695A

Abstract

A pocket tool having two or more angularly spaced-apart coplanar tool blades 18, where the tool blades are spaced such as to be usable in combination as a pry bar in addition to as individual tool blades. The pocket tool may be a folding pocket tool, such as a pocket knife. The tool blades may be screwdriver blades, chamfered along one or both of their major surfaces, and formed of a single pry bar member 30 with a cut-out portion defining the portion between the two blades. The tool blades may also be mounted to one of the handle plates of the pocket tool. The pry bar member may optionally include a bit retainer portion (13, figure 2) provided with a magnet (100, figure 2) for retaining a tool bit (9, figure 2). Additional implements which may be incorporated in the pocket tool include hexagonal spanner portions, wire-strippers 16 and a bottle-opener 7. There is also an independent claim to a kit of parts containing the components of the pocket tool.

Description

Pocket tool The present invention relates to a pocket tool, especially a folding pocket tool such as a pocket knife for example. These include frame lock and liner lock folding knives, in which a part of the frame or a liner element movable within a frame can be moved to a position in which the blade is locked in the unfolded, deployed configuration.

It is known to include a pry bar in pocket tools, which is useful for eg prying off the flanged lid of a tin of for prising apart other items.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pocket tool with a more versatile pry bar.

Accordingly the invention provides a pocket tool comprising two or more angularly spaced-apart substantially coplanar tool blades, the disposition of the tool blades being such that they are usable in combination as a pry bar and are usable individually as tool blades.

In a preferred embodiment the tool blades are screwdriver blades.

Preferably the pocket tool includes a holder for storing one or more tool bits.

Other preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

The invention also provides a kit of parts for the pocket tool defined above.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a sketch perspective view from above of the pocket knife of Figure 1 showing a hexagonal tool bit held magnetic bit holder at the opposite end to the socket; Figure 2 is a similar sketch perspective view showing the hexagonal tool bit withdrawn from the bit holder; Figure 3 is a partial sketch perspective view of the pry bar of the pocket knife of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a partial side elevation showing the pry bar of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, a pocket knife is shown which comprises a stainless steel knife blade 1 connected by a threaded pivot bushing assembly 5 to lower and upper handle plates (or scales) 2 and 3 An uppermost cover plate 4 which includes a millimetre scale at one long edge thereof is secured against the outer surface of upper handle plate 3 by the pivot bushing assembly 5 at the forward (distal) end of the tool and by two machine screws 20 at the rear (proximal) end of the tool. These machine screws also extend through a pry bar tool 30 which spaces apart the upper and lower handle plates at the rear (proximal) end of the tool.

The handle plates 2 and 3 and the cover plate 4 include registering cut-outs in their mid regions which define graduated hexagonal spanner portions 6.

The handle plates 2 and 3 and the cover plate 4 include one or more wire-stripper holes 16.

The handle plates 2 and 3 include bottle-opener projections 7 at their distal ends.

The knife blade lincludes a transverse screwdriver blade 8 at one side of its root portion and a serrated edge for cutting eg cardboard at the other side of its root portion.

In the retracted configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cutting edge of blade 1 is covered by the handle plates.

A spring bar (not shown), cantilevered to the proximal end of the handle plate 2, is formed in the lower handle plate 2 by a transverse cut. An expanded head portion of spring bar 19 engages a camming surface (not shown) of the root portion of the knife blade 1 when the latter is fully extended (ie pointing down and to the right in Figure 1) and resists (but does not prevent) retraction of the blade 1 between the handle plates.

The handle plates 2 and 3 and pry bar tool 30 include registering rectangular cut-out portions which form an L-shaped tool bit retainer 13 at their proximal end, as best seen in Figure 2. Other bit storage methods may also be used.

Tool bit retainer 13 is shaped and dimensioned to retain a standard hexagonal tool bit 9 against one side of the pocket tool, as shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 2, a cylindrical magnet 100 is fixed flush to the base of the rectangular cut-out in pry bar tool 30 and, in use, engages the base of the hexagonal tool bit 9 to retain it in the position shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 3, pry bar tool 30 is sandwiched between the upper and lower handle plates of the folding pocket knife at their proximal ends and held in position by machine screws 20.

The pry bar tool includes two angularly spaced-apart substantially coplanar screwdriver blades 18. Their angular spacing 0 between their longitudinal axes Y is such that each can be used as a screwdriver without interference from the other. The angle 0 is desirably less than 60 degrees, preferably less than 50 degrees, more preferably less than 40 degrees, most preferably less than 30 degrees. The angle 0 is most preferably in the range 10 to 25 degrees, ideally in the range 15 to 20 degrees.

These angles ensure that either of the screwdriver blades 18 can be used as such without the other screwdriver blade fouling the workpiece as the tool is rotated about the axis Y of the screwdriver blade being used.

Figure 4 shows the retaining magnet 100 mounted in the base of the retainer portion of the pry bar tool 18.

A flexible belt clip 21 is optionally provided on the underside of the handle assembly, cantilevered to the distal end of the lower handle plate 2.

Claims

Claims 1. A pocket tool comprising two or more angularly spaced-apart substantially coplanar tool blades, the disposition of the tool blades being such that they are usable in combination as a pry bar and are usable individually as tool blades.
2. A pocket tool according to claim 1 wherein the tool blades are screwdriver blades.
3. A pocket tool according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the angular spacing between the longitudinal axes of the tool blades is less than 60 degrees.
4. A pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said angular spacing is less than 50 degrees.
5. A pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said angular spacing is less than 40 degrees.
6. A pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said angular spacing is less than 30 degrees.
7. A pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said angular spacing is in the range 10 to 25 degrees.
8. A pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said angular spacing is in the range 15 to 20 degrees.
9. A pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein said tool blades are formed from a single pry bar member.
10. A pocket tool according to claim 9 wherein said pry bar member has a cut-out portion between the tool blades.
11. A pocket tool according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein said pry bar member incorporates a bit retainer portion.
12. A pocket tool according to claim 11 wherein said bit retainer portion is provided with a magnet for retaining a tool bit in said bit retainer portion.
13. A pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein said tool blades are chamfered on one or both major surfaces thereof.
14. A pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein said tool blades are mounted in a fixed configuration on one or more handle plates of the pocket tool.
15. A pocket tool according to any preceding claim which is a pocket knife.
16 A kit of parts for a pocket tool according to any preceding claim, the kit comprising two or more angularly spaced-apart substantially coplanar tool blades, the disposition of the tool blades being such that they are usable in combination as a pry bar and are usable individually.