GB2297510A - Rigging tool - Google Patents

Description

2297510 RIGGING TOOL This invention relates to a rigging tool.

The Rigging Tool is an essential part of the seaman's personal gear, for emergency and regular use. It is important that it incorporates optional blades for diverse uses according to the specific need of the user.

From experience it is also important that it be, firstly, exceptionally simple and robust in design to cope with the heavy stresses that may be placed on it, and secondly, that it provide as direct contact as possible between the user's hand and the working parts, to provide maximum efficiency and safety.

Rigging tools as presently available, with fixed handles and moving blades and options, are prone to corrosion, undue flexibility and breakage, and insufficient comfort, robustness and safety in use.

U.S. Pat. No: 4,651,419 and U.S. Pat. NO: 4,606,123 both cover devices superficially similar to the following invention, but both of these designs provide for either complex and fragile pivoting systems, and/or indirect contact between the user's hand and the working parts.

According to the present invention there is provided a rigging tool comprising a one-piece, combination multipurpose working part (hereafter referred to as "the blade"), with continuous heavy cross-section portion (hereafter referred to as "the backbone"), incorporating optional features, and a swinging handle formed especially to accept either side of the blade and backbone. The handle is attached to the blade by a pivot partway along the length of the blade, enabling either end of the blade and backbone to be securely, but only partially, enclosed in the swinging handle: thereby providing that the swinging handle and the blade and backbone function together to form a positive solid grip for the user, and the user's hand fit the palm. By virtue of the shape of the recesses in the handle, the more tightly the backbone and the handle are squeezed by the user's hand, the firmer the seating of the backbone in the handle becomes. A locking catch is also provided to secure the blade in its working positions.

ensuring both direct contact between and the backbone and adeauate bulk to 2_.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- FIGURE 1: shows in elevation the multipurpose blade, and options, with its backbone, the swinging handle and both its possible positions.

FIGURE 2: shows in section the handle in a working position partially enclosing one end of the blade and backbone.

FIGURE 3: shows in perspective the handle partially enclosing one end of the blade and backbone, and a locking catch.

As shown in FIGURE 1: Blade 4, the one-piece combination working part of tool, incorporates options:

7 Spike or fid 8 Shackle opener 9 Knife-edge Philips or Pozidrive-type screwdriver bit 11 Straight-blade traditional screwdriver bit 16 Pivot point for handle As shown in FIGURE 3: swinging handle 12 incorporates:

13 Hand and knuckle-guard 14 Locking catch 15 Lanyard attachment paint As shown in FIGURE 1: handle 12 is attached partway on blade 4 at pivot point 16 and may be swung to partially cover either end of blade 4 and backbone 5 while leaving the other end ready for use as shown in FIGURE 3. Also shown in FIGURE 3 is the relationship between blade 4 and backbone 5 and handle recesses 6, providing comfortable yet positive grip between user's hand and backbone 5, and secure seating for backbone 5.

FIGURE 2: illustrates how the handle 12 receives and only partially encloses backbone 5 in specially shaped recesses 6; Catch 14 is operated to render the handle 12 immovable in the required position. Also shown are hand and knuckle guards 13 on handle 12 and lanyard attachment point 15.

When the handle 12 partially encloses one end of blade 4 and backbone 5 options: 7,8 and 10 are available.

When the handle 12 partially encloses the other end of backbone 5 options: 9 and 11 are available.

The tool is kept in a sheath when not in use.

11 -KEY TO RIGGING TOOL DRAWINGS 1/2 AND 212 one-piece combination working part of tool ("The blade"). Portion of the blade with continuous heavy crosssection ("The backbone"). 6 Recesses in swinging handle to receive the backbone. 7 Spike. 8 Shackle key. 9 Knife- edge. 10 Philips/pozidrive-type screwdriver bit. 11 Straight blade traditional screwdriver head. 12 Swinging handle. 13 Hand and knuckle guard. 14 15 16 Locking catch. Lanyard attachment poin Pivot.

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Claims (6)

1. A tool comprising a single, combination multipurpose blade with a continuous heavy cross-section backbone, a swinging handle attached partway along the blade enabling either end of the blade and backbone to be partially enclosed and seated in specially shaped recesses in the handle while the other end is in use, a means of securely fastening the handle an either side of the blade when in use.
2. 2. A tool as claimed in 1. wherein one side or end of the blade has a cutting edge or knife-edge, and the other side or end has a spike or fid.
3. 3. A tool as claimed in 2. wherein the side of the blade with the spike or fid also incorporates a shackle opener.
4. 4. A tool as claimed in 3. wherein the side of the blade with the spike or fid and shackle-opener also incorporates a Philips screwdriver bit.
5. 5.

   A tool as claimed in 4. wherein the side of the blade with the cutting edge or knife-edge also incorporates a flat-head screwdriver bit.
6. 6. A tool substantially as described herewith with reference to FIGURES 13 of the accompanying drawings.

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