GB2582621A

GB2582621A - Folding pocket tool

Info

Publication number: GB2582621A
Application number: GB1904317.3A
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: GB201904317D0; CN111745596A

Abstract

A folding pocket tool, such as a pocket knife, with a tool plate 1 pivotally mounted between spaced apart upper and lower handle plates, 3 and 2, such that a bit holder socket is formed by facing portions of the handle plates to receive a standard tool bit 9. Optionally, the tool plate may carry a magnet to retain a tool bit in the socket. A slot may be formed in the tool plate to locate a tool bit in the socket, and the handle plates may have channels, 11 and 12, shaped to fit the tool bit. The handle plates may also have cut-out portions to form a receptacle 13 for a tool bit, the receptacle optionally having a magnet to retain the bit. One of the handle plates may have a spring locking bar to engage the tool plate. The folding pocket tool may also contain additional tool elements in one or both of the handle plates, such as spanner apertures 6, wire strippers 16, pry bars 30 or screwdriver blades 8. There is also an independent claim to a kit of parts containing the components of the folding pocket tool.

Description

Folding pocket tool The present invention relates to 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.

US 2008/016434A discloses (Fig la) a plate 200 holding a screwdriver bit 220 in a rectangular cut-out formed at one end.

GB2563466A (in the name of the present applicant) discloses a folding pocket tool comprising two elongate plates, 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 hexagonal tool bit holder socket formed partly in one plate and partly in the other plate. Both plates function as handle plates and tool plates, i.e. both are held by the user and both incorporate tool elements, eg spanner cut-outs and cutting blades.

However it has been found necessary to add small additional, uppermost plate (Figure 1 of GB 2563466A) onto the outer surface of one of the above plates at the distal end of the tool in order to provide the necessary thickness to accommodate a hexagonal socket opening. The further plate has a ridged channel formed on its lower surface which completes the hexagonal bore of the socket. The additional plate complicates the manufacture and assembly of the tool but adds little to its functionality.

Furthermore the folding pocket tool of GB 2563466A comprises two mutually pivotable and separable plate assemblies and is not suitable for incorporating eg a penknife-type blade or other relatively large tool which is deployable by unfolding from the handle assembly and is shielded when retracted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a folding pocket tool in which the above disadvantages are overcome or alleviated.

Accordingly the invention provides a folding pocket tool comprising a tool plate pivotally mounted between two spaced-apart elongate handle plates, the elongate handle plates being secured in a mutually aligned configuration and the folding pocket tool having a folded configuration in which the tool plate is substantially aligned with the elongate handle plates and an unfolded configuration in which the tool plate is deployed from between the handle plates, the folding pocket tool having a bit holder socket formed by facing portions of the handle plates.

Preferably the tool plate carries a magnet for retaining a tool bit in said bit holder socket.

Preferably a slot is formed in the tool plate which is shaped and dimensioned to locate a standard hexagonal tool bit in said bit holder socket.

Preferably the folding 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 folding pocket tool defined above.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 14 of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a sketch perspective view from above of a hexagonal tool bit and a folding pocket knife in accordance with the invention in a retracted (folded) configuration; Figure 2 is similar sketch perspective view showing the hexagonal tool bit inserted in the hexagonal socket of the pocket knife; Figure 3 is a plan view from above showing the blade of the knife of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the socket formed in the two handle plates and knife blade of the pocket knife of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a magnified diagrammatic cross-section of the above socket and the inserted hexagonal tool bit; Figure 6 is a similar diagrammatic cross-section showing a first variant of the Figure embodiment; Figure 7 is a similar diagrammatic cross-section showing a second variant; Figure 8 is a similar diagrammatic cross-section showing a third variant; Figure 9 is a plan view from above of a variant of the knife blade of Figure 3; Figure 10 is a sketch perspective view from above of a hexagonal tool bit and the folding pocket knife of Figure 1 in a partially deployed configuration; Figure 11 is a further 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 12 is a similar sketch perspective view showing the hexagonal tool bit withdrawn from the bit holder; Figure 13 is a partial sketch perspective view of the pry bar of the pocket knife of Figure 1, and Figure 14 is a partial side elevation showing the pry bar of Figure 13.

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 S at one long edge thereof is secured against the outer surface of upper handle plate 3 by the pivot bushing assembly S 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 'includes 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 23 of blade 1 is covered by the handle plates.

The upper handle plate 3 includes a longitudinal channel portion 11 at its distal edge and the lower handle plate 2 includes a similar longitudinal channel portion 12 at its distal edge, the channel portions having inclined sides and flat bases which are shaped and dimensioned to form a socket which can receive a standard 6 mm hexagonal tool bit 9 (Figure 2). Other bit storage methods may also be used.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the end of the hexagonal tool bit 9 abuts against and is retained by a cylindrical magnet 10 which is fixed within a recess in a straight edge of the root portion of knife blade 1. This is shown in more detail in Figure 5.

In use in this embodiment, torque is applied to the tool bit 9 only by the handle plates 2 and 3 via their channel portions.

Figures 6 and 9 show a variant of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 in which the root portion of knife blade 1B includes a slot 15. Slot 15 holds magnet 10 at its inner end and grips the flats of the tool bit 9, as best seen in Figure 6. The lower and upper handle plates 2A and 3A have triangular channels shaped to engage the ridges of the tool bit 9. In this embodiment, in use, the sides of slot 15 engage the flats of the tool bit 9 and assist in applying torque to the tool bit when the the pocket tool is used for screwing or unscrewing.

In the second variant shown in Figure 7, the lower and upper handle plates 2B and 3B do not have channels but abut against opposite flats of the hexagonal tool bit 9. The slot in the root portion of the knife blade is similar to that shown in Figure 9, but wider to accommodate the distance between opposite ridges of the hexagonal tool bit 9, as shown.

In the third variant shown in Figure 8, the knife blade 1B is as shown in Figures 6 and 9, including the channel 15 that engages opposite flats of the hexagonal tool bit, but the handle plates 2B and 3B are spaced further apart to correspond to the distance between the opposite ridges of the hexagonal tool bit 9, and therefore do not require channels in their inner surfaces. As in the embodiment of Figures 6 and 9, in use, the sides of slot 15 engage the flats of the tool bit 9 and assist in applying torque to the tool bit when the the pocket tool is used for screwing or unscrewing.

Figure 10 shows the deployment of the knife blade 1 (as indicated by arrow D) about pivot axis X, following the removal of the hexagonal tool bit 9.

A spring bar 19, 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 left in Figure 10) 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 11.

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.

As shown in Figure 12, 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 11.

As shown in Figure 13, 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.

Figure 14 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 folding pocket tool comprising a tool plate pivotally mounted between two spaced-apart elongate handle plates, the elongate handle plates being secured in a mutually aligned configuration and the folding pocket tool having a folded configuration in which the tool plate is substantially aligned with the elongate handle plates and an unfolded configuration in which the tool plate is deployed from between the handle plates, the folding pocket tool having a bit holder socket formed by facing portions of the handle plates.
2. A folding pocket tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool plate carries a magnet for retaining a tool bit in said bit holder socket.
3. A folding pocket tool according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a slot is formed in the tool plate which is shaped and dimensioned to locate a standard hexagonal tool bit in said bit holder socket.
4. A folding pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said slot has a width corresponding to the spacing between the diametrically opposite ridges of a standard hexagonal tool bit and one or both of said facing portions of the handle plates include channels shaped and dimensioned to fit diametrically opposite flats of a standard hexagonal tool bit.
5. A folding pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said slot has a width corresponding to the spacing between the diametrically opposite flats of a standard hexagonal tool bit and one or both of said facing portions of the handle plates include channels shaped and dimensioned to fit diametrically opposite ridges of a standard hexagonal tool bit.
6. A folding pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said slot has a width corresponding to the spacing between the diametrically opposite ridges of a standard hexagonal tool bit and the gap between said facing portions of the handle plates corresponds to the distance between the diametrically opposite flats of a standard hexagonal tool bit.
7. A folding pocket tool according to claim 3 wherein said slot has a width corresponding to the spacing between the diametrically opposite flats of a standard hexagonal tool bit and the gap between said facing portions of the handle plates corresponds to the distance between the diametrically opposite ridges of a standard hexagonal tool bit.
8. A folding pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein said handle plates include registering cut-out portions which form a bit receptacle for a standard tool bit.
9. A folding pocket tool according to claim 8 wherein said bit receptacle includes a magnet for retaining the standard tool bit.11. A pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein said tool plate is a knife blade.12. A pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein one of said handle plates has a spring locking bar formed therein which engages a root portion of said pivotally-mounted tool plate.13. A pocket tool according to any preceding claim wherein additional tool elements are formed in one or both of said handle plates.14. A pocket tool according to claim 13 wherein said additional tool elements include one or more of spanner apertures, wire strippers, pry bars and screwdriver blades.15. A kit of parts for a pocket tool, the kit comprising a tool plate and two handle plates as defined in any preceding claim.