EP2025257A2

EP2025257A2 - Pocket tool and combination thereof with key

Info

Publication number: EP2025257A2
Application number: EP08252701A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lee Berman
Original assignee: TOERAGS Ltd; True Brands Ltd
Current assignee: True Brands Ltd
Priority date: 2007-08-17
Filing date: 2008-08-14
Publication date: 2009-02-18
Also published as: GB2451905B; GB0716145D0; GB2451905A; EP2025257A3

Abstract

A pocket tool (1) is in the form of a channel-section which is arranged to fit over the shank of a key (k) and has an aperture (h1, h2) formed in the proximal ends of the side walls thereof which registers with the standard aperture formed in a key handle, enabling the tool to be linked to a key with a key ring (r). As shown, the key can be unfolded from the tool until the root of the key shank bears against the base of the channel, so that leverage can be applied to a bottle opener portion (4) as shown by the curved arrow.

The tool is compact and lightweight and reduces wear to the user's pockets.

Description

The present invention relates to a pocket tool which can fit over the shank of a standard key, such as a Yale (RTM) key for example. However the pocket tool of the invention can be designed for use with any standard key such as a Chubb (RTM) key or a car key for example.
There is a need for compact tools such as bottle openers, penknives, screwdrivers and the like and various multi-tools are available in which the tools, such as penknife blades, screwdrivers etc., can be deployed e.g. by unfolding them from a relatively large handle portion. However even though such tools are relatively compact, they are easily mislaid and moreover are somewhat too heavy to be carried around in a normal clothes pocket.
There is a need for compact and lightweight pocket tools in which the above disadvantages are overcome or alleviated.
Accordingly, the invention provides a pocket tool which is shaped and dimensioned to fit over the shank of a standard key, the tool having an aperture which can register with an aperture in the key handle to enable the tool and key to be linked with a key ring, the tool being operable by manipulating the key.
Because the tool is linked to the key with a key ring during normal use, there is much less likelihood of the tool being mislaid and because it is shaped and dimensioned to fit over the shank of the key, the shank is transformed from a rather sharp implement which is liable to wear a hold in the user's pocket to a blunter form which, moreover, can optionally extend beyond the serrations in the key shank to protect the users pocket against wear by the serrations.
Furthermore the key handle can be used as the handle of the pocket tool and thus acquires a dual function.
Preferably the pocket tool is elongate and is channel-shaped in transverse cross section, said aperture being formed in a proximal end of the tool and a tool element (e.g. a bottle opener portion) being formed in at least one side wall at a distal end of the tool. By unfolding the key from the channel-section pocket tool, the key shank can be used to apply leverage to the bottle opener portion or other tool element. In this manner, the key shank cooperates with the tool and greatly increases its effectiveness.
Preferably the pocket tool is elongate and has a distal region which is channel-shaped in transverse cross-section for fitting over the shank of a key and a proximal region comprising facing longitudinally-extending continuations of the side walls which each have an aperture which can register with said aperture in said key handle.
This feature enables the key to be rotated out of the channel section by a reflex angle so that the shank of the key forms an acute angle with the exterior of the channel section and can be used to apply leverage to the bottle opener or other tool element.
Preferably at least one of the facing continuations of the channel side walls has a screwdriver portion formed at an edge thereof.
Preferably a said screwdriver portion is formed in the longitudinal edge of a channel side wall extension and is located adjacent the tool's aperture whereby in use the shank of a standard key linked to the tool can be rotated into alignment with a screwdriver axis defined by said screwdriver portion. This enables the key shank to function as a screwdriver handle.
In a preferred embodiment, two such screwdriver portions are formed in opposite longitudinal edges of a channel side wall extension and are diametrically disposed about the tool's aperture.
The screwdriver portions can be standard screwdriver blades or can be cross-headed screwdriver portions, for example.
In a preferred embodiment an abrading surface is formed on an exterior surface region of the tool. Preferably this abrading portion is formed on the distal portion intermediate the two side walls thereof. In use, the key shank can remain within the channel portion and can be used to apply pressure while the abrading surface is rubbed against a workpiece. Thus the key shank strengthens the tool.
The pocket tool of the invention can for example be formed of bent sheet metal and can therefore be produced at low cost.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pocket tool in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of one side only of the tool of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the opposite side (only) of the tool of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the tool of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the proximal end of the tool of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing a key linked to the pocket tool of Figure 1 by a keyring, with the shank retained within the channel thereof;
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the key deployed with its shank aligned with one of the screwdriver portions;
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the key deployed with its shank aligned with the other screwdriver portion, and
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but with the key shown rotated to its full extent to lie with the key shank at an acute angle to the exterior of the tool for use with the bottle opener element of the tool.

Referring to Figure 1, the tool 1 shown is formed of bent stainless steel sheet or the like and is of inverted channel-shaped cross section, with a base wall portion c and opposite side walls a and b. The proximal end of the tool comprises two facing longitudinally-extending continuations of the side walls and, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3, each of these continuations has a hole h1/h2 which in use each register with the standard hole formed in a Yale (RTM) key.
A bottle opener portion 4 is formed in each side wall a and b.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that this bottle opener portion comprises a forwardly-projecting portion 4a in side wall a and a corresponding forwardly-projecting portion 4b in side wall b which in use can be inserted beneath the edge of a bottle cap to lever off the bottle cap, as is explained in more detail below with reference to Figure 9.
Referring to Figure 4, an 8mm screwdriver blade 3 is formed in the bottom edge of the longitudinally extending continuation of side wall a. This can also be seen in Figure 2 and Figure 5 and, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 5, this screwdriver blade projects beyond the base c of the channel section. If a considerable torque is required the left-hand end of the tool (as shown in Figure 2) can be grasped to screw this screwdriver blade about a vertical screwdriver axis. Alternatively, if rapid screwing is required, the key k can be rotated by 90° to align with the vertical screwdriver axis and the key shape can be used as a screwdriver handle.
Referring again to Figures 2 and 5, a 4mm screwdriver blade is formed on the opposite edge of the longitudinal extension from side wall a and can be used in a similar manner as shown in Figure 7.
As best seen in Figure 4, a file surface f is formed in the exterior of the channel face portion c and in use, the key shank is retained within the channel as shown in Figure 6 and can be used to strengthen the tool while file surface f is used to abrade a workpiece. Figure 6 also shows the tool 1 linked to key k by a keyring and passing through the key aperture and apertures h1 and h2 in the tool.
Figure 9 shows the configuration of the key k for use with the bottle opener element 4 of the tool and it will be seen that the key shank has been rotated anticlockwise in the direction of the curved arrow to form an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the tool, so that a user can apply thumb pressure on the upper surface of the key shank to lever off a bottle cap engaged by the bottle opener portion 4 of the tool.
In a variant of the combination shown in Figures 6 to 9, the key k could be reversed so that (referring to Figure 6) the key serrations on the shank face upwardly and rest against the interior of base wall portion c of the tool. This will prevent the sharp serrated portions wearing holes in the user's pockets but has the slight disadvantage that the serrations will press into a user's thumb when the tool is in the bottle opener configuration shown in Figure 9. However this variant may be preferred in some embodiments, particularly those embodiments in which the bottle opener portion is omitted.
The pocket tool of the invention is particularly suitable for carrying a brand name or logo, e.g. of an insurance company, e.g. on side wall a and/or on side wall b.

Claims

A pocket tool which is shaped and dimensioned to fit over the shank of a standard key, the tool having an aperture which can register with an aperture in the key handle to enable the tool and key to be linked with a key ring, the tool being operable by manipulating the key.
A pocket tool according to claim 1 which is elongate and is channel-shaped in transverse cross-section, said aperture being formed in a proximal end of the tool and a tool element being formed in at least one side wall at a distal end of the tool.
A pocket tool according to claim 1 wherein said tool element is a bottle opener portion.
A pocket tool according to any preceding claim which is elongate and has a distal region which is channel-shaped in transverse cross-section for fitting over the shank of a key and a proximal region comprising facing longitudinally-extending continuations of the channel side walls which each have an aperture which can register with said aperture in said key handle.
A pocket tool according to claim 4 wherein at least one of said facing continuations of said channel side walls has a screwdriver portion formed at an edge thereof.
A pocket tool according to claim 5 wherein a said screwdriver portion is formed in the longitudinal edge of a channel side wall extension and is located adjacent the tool's aperture whereby in use the shank of a standard key linked to the tool can be rotated into alignment with a screwdriver axis defined by said screwdriver portion.
A pocket tool according to claim 6 wherein two such screwdriver portions are formed in opposite longitudinal edges of a channel side wall extension and are diametrically disposed about the tool's aperture.
A pocket tool according to any preceding claims wherein an abrading surface is formed on an exterior surface portion of the tool.
A pocket tool according to claim 8 as dependent on any of claims 2 to 7 wherein said abrading portion is formed on the distal portion intermediate the two side walls thereof.
A pocket tool according to any preceding claim which is formed of bent sheet metal.
The combination of a pocket tool as claimed in any preceding claim with a key ring and a key.