MXPA06001644A - Multi-purpose hand tool and scribing apparatus utilizing multi-purpose hand tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-purpose hand tool has a first member having a first portion and a second portion. A second portion member is slidably and pivotally coupled to the second portion of the first member. A coupling assembly pivotally couples the second member to the second portion of the first member and allows the second portion between a first position proximate a first end of the second portion in which the multi-purpose hand tool can be used to obtain a measurement for a first marking or scribing operation, and a second position proximate a second end of the second portion opposite the first end thereof in which the multi-purpose hand tool can be used to obtain a measurement for a second marking or scribing operation different from the first marking or scribing operation, thereby providing a multi-purpose hand tool reconfigurable for a plurality of purposes.

Description

MULTIPLE USES MANUAL TOOL AND TRACER APPLIANCE USING THE MULTIPLE USER'S MANUAL TOOL 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to hand tools and, more particularly, to a multi-purpose manual tool that is susceptible to being used for different tasks during commercial, industrial and residential construction, and for a tracer device that uses the multi-purpose manual tool. 2. Background Information During the course of commercial, industrial and residential construction, several different hand tools are employed by construction workers.

In general, each manual tool is used to execute a task. For example, in addition to the obvious requirement of a hammer and saw, a carpenter / retailer or homeowner also requires the use of a number of additional hand tools such as a combination of square, measuring tape, a combination of tools for marking a piece of material that needs to be adjusted against a non-uniform surface or to mark a door structure or a window frame for the installation of a door frame or a window frame, a compass for drawing cutting lines for a rcos and circles, yu na n avaja or sharpener to sharpen the tip of pencils. Traditionally, construction workers have maintained and transported one or more large boxes that contain such single-use hand tools to their work site, from which they extract the appropriate tool, as needed. Having to stop and retrieve the single-use manual tool and having to store the different manual tools is usually a great inconvenience, it has a considerable cost in time, money and energy. Although it would be desirable, a construction worker may not be able to keep each of the necessary hand tools in his apron or job bag. Therefore, due to the number of different tools that must be transported to the job site, and transported by the construction worker, an individual manual tool that can be used to perform various tasks has been searched. Various devices of the prior art are known to combine several tools in a device. However, the applicant is not aware of any hand tools that are susceptible to being used to mark a piece of material that needs to be adjusted against a non-uniform surface, marking door and window structures for the installation of door or door frames. window, and mark the cutting line for arcs and circles, and that incorporates a pencil sharpener to sharpen pencils used in conjunction with the multi-purpose hand tool and a scale that can be used as a rule to measure dimensions associated with the uses of the multi-use manual tool. Furthermore, the prior art devices are not light and compact enough to be easily stored in the apron or bag of a construction worker. When a piece of material is marked that needs to be adjusted against a non-uniform surface, the construction worker has the task of doing so in a single operation, leaving no room for errors. This is commonly done using a compass, set in a measurement selected between a compass point and a pencil tip. The use of the compass is not inexperienced because of the movement between the tips and the lack of ability of the carpenter to maintain a stable hand and a constant angle. This task can also be done using a block of wood, although this does not provide precision for corners or walls in the wrong way. When labeling door and window structures for the installation of door or window frames, accuracy is of vital importance for both appearance and functionality. Conventionally, a measuring tape has been used to mark the door or window structure for the desired distance (e.g., 34 O% e inch). However, the tape measure is not well designed to mark those small dimensions without substantial difficulty. Other conventional methods for marking door and window structures for the installation of door and window frames involve the use of a combination box and the use of two connected pieces of square blocks. However, the connection of square block pieces is time consuming and field conditions may require that additional blocks of wood be accumulated to accommodate different setback measurements (eg, retra inch recess, 3/8 inch setback, 34-inch setback, etc.) which would require the construction and connection of additional pieces of wood to mark the new retention measurement. A compass is commonly used in conjunction with the measuring tape to draw circles. However, restrictions and precision apply with respect to the size of the circles that the compass can draw. Furthermore, not only is the compass the one that is not durable when mixed with tools of more durable quality but it is difficult to use when drawing a circle beyond a certain diameter (for example 7 inches), therefore, while that compass is a very useful construction tool mainly for highly experienced construction workers, it can often not be found when needed due to its small size and it becomes easily dangerous which makes it difficult to trace a circle with precision. In addition, for the purpose of drawing circles of diameters larger than that allowed by conventional compass tools, two methods have been proposed. A first method involves the use of a piece of string that is selected from a length that generally corresponds to the radius of the desired circle to be drawn on the material to be marked. One end of the rope is connected to a fastener such as a screw, which is fixed to a location in the material corresponding to the center of the circle to be drawn. The opposite end of the string is wound around a pencil at the desired radius point. The user then pivots the string and pencil around the central screw to trace the circle. However, such a method results in arcs or imperfect circles due to the fact that it is difficult to maintain the consistent tension on the string. In the second method, a user cuts a strip of material for a preselecteditude that corresponds to a desired radius for the circle to be plotted. A pilot hole (e.g. 3/6 inch in diameter) is drilled in a location approximately one inch from one end of the strip of material. The length of the desired radius is then measured and a pencil hole is drilled at the other end of the strip of material. The user then fixes a thyme through the pilot hole into the material to be marked in a position corresponding to the center point of the circle and rotates the strip of material and the pencil around the center point, thereby drawing an arc or a circle. However, the problem with this method is that any error in the measurement or inaccuracy in the drilling of the holes will require that new holes be drilled to start the process again or drill as many holes as necessary to achieve an acceptable precision result . This method consumes time and increases the overall cost of construction projects. The present invention overcomes many of the inherent disadvantages of conventional multi-use hand tools and the need to use many different hand tools during commercial construction, industrial and residential. The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those with experience in the art in view of the description of the currently best known mode for carrying out the invention as described herein and as illustrated in the drawings. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is a subject of the invention to provide a multi-purpose hand tool that can be used to mark a piece of material that needs to be adjusted against a non-uniform surface, to mark door and window structures for the installation of frames of doors and windows, and to mark straight lines, arcs or circles accurately and without consuming a large amount of time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a manual multi-purpose tool and extension combination for drawing circles of various desired diameters. Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool incorporating a pencil sharpener for sharpening marking pencils and a scale for taking measurements and which are used in conjunction with the multi-purpose tool. Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool that is easy to operate in the workplace. Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool that can be operated quickly with little or no risk of inaccuracy due to fluctuation during operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool that can be easily operated without the use of auxiliary tools or excessive manipulations. Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool that is light and compact so that it can be easily transported and stored in an apron or worker pouch. Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool having components fabricated from transparent casting or poured resin to assist transparency through the components to assist the user during the marking operation. A further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool that is economical, durable, reliable and fully effective to achieve the intended purposes. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a tracer apparatus that uses the multi-purpose hand tool of the present invention to draw a line on or on a piece of material. The above and other objects of the present invention are practiced by means of a multi-purpose hand tool comprising a first member having a first portion and a second portion, a second member slidable and pivotally coupled to the second portion of the second portion. first member, and a coupling assembly for copying both the first and second members to the second portion of the first member and allowing the second member to slide over and pivot in relation to the second portion between a first close position to a first end of the second position in which the multi-purpose hand tool can be used to obtain a first marking or tracing operation, and a second position close to a second end of the second portion opposite the first end thereof in which the multi-purpose manual tool can be used to obtain a measurement for a second operation of marking or plotting different from the first marking or plotting operation, to thereby provide a reconfigurable multi-purpose manual tool for a plurality of purposes.

The coupling assembly preferably comprises a projecting portion extending from a surface of the second member, an elongated slot positioned between the first and second ends of the second portion of the first member to receive the projecting portion, and a releasable closure mechanism. which cooperates with the projecting portion and the elongated slot a fon to allow the second member to slide over and pivot relative to the second portion of the first member. The releasable locking mechanism comprises a pillable shape with a knob having a female threaded socket and a fastener having a rod provided with a male threaded joint for coupling with the female threaded joint in the knob. The first member includes a cutting region in the first portion of the same. The brace has a head portion for releasable engagement with a surface of the cutting region during the sliding movement between the first member and the second member. In accordance with the aspect of the proposed and proposed, the first member of the multi-purpose hand tool includes a retractable needle assembly. In one embodiment, the retractable needle assembly comprises a digital engaging portion area undergoing rotation in first and second opposed directions on a first surface of the first portion, and a pin for undergoing rotation with the digital engaging portion. The pin has a head portion, a rod extending from the head portion and having a needle tip, and a male threaded joint positioned in the rod and between the head portion and the needle portion. The first portion of the first member has a through hole extending from the first surface of the first portion to a second surface thereof opposite the first surface. The through hole has a female threaded joint for engagement with the male threaded joint of the pin so that upon rotation of the digital coupling portion in the first direction, the pin is displaced in a direction along a longitudinal axis thereof. for protruding the needle tip of the rod from one end of the through hole in the second surface of the first portion, and so that upon rotation of the digital coupling portion in the second direction, the pin is displaced along the length of the second direction. longitudinal axis to retract the needle tip into the through hole. The digital coupling portion has a cavity for receiving the head portion of the rod so that the rotation of the digital coupling portion in each of the first and second directions rotates the pin in a respective one of the first and second directions and allows the movement of the head portion of the pin within the cavity along the longitudinal axis. In another aspect, the multi-use hand tool further comprises means defining at least one marker pen rest placed on the first end of the second member. In one embodiment, the means defining at least one pencil rest comprises a notch portion cut in the second member at a first end thereof. In another aspect, the multi-use hand tool further comprises retaining means positioned at a second end of the second member opposite the first end thereof for holding a marking pen. In one embodiment, the retaining means comprises a tubular insert positioned in the through hole of the second member, and fastening means extending from an inner peripheral surface of the tubular insert to hold the marking pen. Preferably, the fastening means comprise a plurality of ribs. In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, the multi-purpose hand tool has measurement scales to measure dimensions that correspond to the use of the multi-use hand tool. The measurement scales are preferably color coded to facilitate the selection of the measurement scale for the particular use and to facilitate the identification of the dimensional markings on the measurement scales during said use. According to one aspect, the multi-purpose hand tool has at least one pencil sharpener for sharpening the marking pencils. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to the combination of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention and a structure member configured to be integrally connected to the multi-purpose hand tool and which functions to extend the hand tool multipurpose in order to allow circles of large diameters to be marked on a piece of material. Preferably, the multi-purpose hand tool is provided with a pair of through holes extending through the first member. The structure member is connected to the multi-purpose hand tool using a pair of fasteners which pass through the respective through holes and couple the structure member.

In still another aspect, the present invention is directed to a tracer device comprised of a first member having a first surface for contacting the surface of a material to be drawn, a second surface positioned opposite the first surface, and a longitudinal groove extending from the first surface to the second surface. A second member is deflectable and pivotally coupled to the first surface of the first member. The second member has a first major surface a second major surface positioned opposite the first major surface, and a through hole extending from the first major surface to the second major surface. The through hole is generally vertically aligned with the longitudinal groove of the first member in pre-selected positions of the second member relative to the first member. A coupling assembly pivotally couples the second member to the first surface of the first member and allows the second member to slide over and pivot relative to the first surface of the first member. A cutting tool has a cutter member for insertion generally vertically through the through hole of the second member and the longitudinal groove of the first member in any of the preselected positions to make contact with the surface of the material to draw a line on the surface of the material when the first member and the second member are displaced relative to the material as long as the first member is kept in contact with the surface of the material. In another embodiment, at least the first and second members of the multi-use hand tool in any of the above aspects of the invention are manufactured from a transparent material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The brief description above, as well as the detailed description following of the preferred embodiment of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings of the currently preferred embodiments are shown here. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and instrumentation shown. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a multi-purpose hand tool in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a right side view of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a left side view of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention; Figure 5A is a top view of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention and Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5B-5B in Figure 5A; Figure 6 is a bottom view of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention; Figure 7 is an exploded view of the multi-purpose hand tool in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8 is a front view of the multi-purpose multiple tool according to the present invention; Fig. 9 is a rear view of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention; Figure 10 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in Figure 5; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 in Figure 10; Figure 13 is a partially exploded view of the multi-purpose hand tool showing the components of the retractable needle tip mechanism according to the present invention; Figures 14A-14B are perspective views of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention in a first configuration and a second configuration, respectively, during use to mark cut lines for circles; Figure 15 is a perspective view of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention used in combination with an extension for marking cut lines for circles with larger diameters; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention during use to mark a piece of material that needs to be adjusted against a non-uniform surface; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention during use for marking a door structure or a window structure for the installation of a door frame or a window frame, respectively; and Figures 18A-18D show a cutting tool for use in combination with the multi-purpose hand tool according to the present invention for marking a cut line for a circle with the cutting tool, where 18A is a view in perspective of the combination, and Figures 18B-18D are a bottom view, a front view, and a side view, respectively, of the cutting tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, this specification and the accompanying drawings describe only some forms as examples of the use of the invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to the modalities so described, and the scope of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims. Some terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not intended to be limiting. The words right, left, back, front, top, bottom, internal, external, to the right and to the left designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. This terminology includes the words mentioned above specifically and words of similar importance. Referring now to the drawings in detail, where similar numbers are used to indicate similar elements, a mode of a tool is shown in Figures 1-4, 5A-5B, 6-13, 14A-14B and 15-17. multi-use manual, generally designated 2, according to the present invention. The multi-purpose hand tool 2 has a first member 4, a second member 6 mounted on the first member 4 to undergo sliding and rotational movement relative thereto, and a releasable closure mechanism, generally designated at 8, having a position closed and an open position. As described in detail below, the releasing mechanism 8 allows the variable orientation of the second member 6 with respect to the first member 4 in its open position so that the second member 6 is allowed to rotate and slide linearly relative to the first member. 4. The first member 4 has a front portion ending at a first end 4a, a rear portion ending at a second end 4b, a first side 4c, a second side 4d, and a lower surface 4e. The first member 4 has a first portion 10 which has an end terminating at the second end 4b and a second portion 12 extending from another end of the first portion 10 to the first end 4a. The first portion 10 has an upper surface 10a and the second portion 12 has an upper surface 12a. The lower surface 4e of the first member 4 corresponds to a lower surface of the first and second portions 10, 12. As shown in figures 3 and 6, the distance between the first end 4a and the second end 4b defines a length L of the first member 4 and therefore the overall length of the tool m each of multiple seconds 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the distance between the upper surface 10a of the first portion 10 and the lower surface 4e defines a thickness t1 of the first portion 10. The distance between the upper surface 12a of the second portion 12 and the lower surface 4e defines a thickness t2 of the given portion 12. The distance between the first side 4c and the second side 4d defines a width W of the first member 4 and therefore the general width of the multi-purpose hand tool. The end of the first portion 10 which is opposite the end thereof terminating at the second end 4b of the first member 4 has two tapered surfaces 10b, 10c converging towards the second end 4b and ending at a partially circular surface 10d. The front portion of the first member 4 has two tapered surfaces 4f, 4g converging from the edges 4h, 4i, respectively, towards the first end 4a to form a steep edge 14 which, as described below, serves as a guide edge during the marking operation of the multi-purpose hand tool 2. An elongated slot 12b is formed in the second portion 12 of the first member 4 and, as described below, allows the second member 6 to slide and pivot relative to the first member 4. The elongated slot 12b extends partially along the length L of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 and has a first end 11 positioned close to the circular surface 10d and a second end 13 positioned next to a crossing line respective points along edges 4h, 4i. In the thickness direction t1 of the second portion 12, the elongated slot 12b extends from the upper surface 12a of the second portion 1 2 to a surface of a cutting region 15 formed in the lower surface 4e of the first member 4. The first portion 10 of! first member 4 supports a retractable needle assembly, generally designated at 16, which, as will be described below, is used as a center in order to allow the multi-purpose hand tool 2 to rotate about an axis of a pin for circular marking. Referring to Figure 13, the retractable needle assembly 16 comprises a pin, generally designated 18, and a knob 26. The pin 18 has a rod 20 provided with a needle tip 20a, a male threaded joint 22 positioned in the rod 20, and a head portion 24. A knob 26 has a cavity 26a for receiving the head portion 24 of the pin 18, a digital coupling portion 26b, and a coupling portion 26c spaced from the digital coupling portion 26b by means of a portion of reduced diameter 26d. The first portion 10 of the first member 4 has a through hole 27 extending from the upper surface 10a to the lower surface 4e. The through hole 27 has a cut-out 28 for receiving the coupling portion 26b of the knob 26 and a female threaded joint 30 contiguous with the cut-out 28. In the described embodiment, the coupling portion 26b of the knob 26 is a fastener which is adapted to be fitted within the cut 28 of the through hole 27 and having a diameter sufficiently smaller than the cut 28 in order to allow the knob 26 to rotate relative to the first portion 10. The relative dimensions of the cavity 26a of the knob 26 and the head portion 24 of the pin 18 are selected so that the knob 26 and the head portion 24 can rotate together while allowing the head portion 24 to move along a longitudinal axis of the pin. , denoted by the direction of the arrow 32 relative to the knob 26. Figure 11 shows the retractable needle assembly 16 in the assembled condition. The pin 18 is secured to the first portion 10 of the first member 4 by screwing the male threaded joint 22 provided in the step 20 of the pin 18 into the female threaded joint 30 provided in the first portion 10. The knob 26 can be manipulated in manually (i.e. rotating in the left directions denoted by arrows 34, 36, respectively) to move the pin 18 in the vertical directions denoted by the arrows 32 in FIG. 13 to thereby move the pin 18 from a first closed position wherein the needle tip 20a is retracted into the through hole 27, as shown in figure 6, to a second closed position where the tip and needle 20a is exposed from the through hole 27 and protrudes from the bottom surface 44 of the first member 4, as shown in Figures 10-11. As best shown in Figure 11, in the assembled condition of the retractable needle assembly 16, the needle tip 20a is placed at the center of the central axis d of the first member 4 in the longitudinal direction thereof. The first portion 10 of the first member 4 is also provided with two countersunk holes 21, 25 which, as best shown in Figure 5B, extends from the upper surface 10a towards the lower surface 4e of the first portion 10. The countersunk holes 21, 25 are placed on opposite sides of the elongated slot 12b formed in the second portion 1 2 d of the first miter 4. As described below, the countersunk holes 21, 25 are used to facilitate the integral connection of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 to a structure member that functions as an extension for the multi-purpose hand tool 2 which allows circles of larger diameters to be marked on a piece of material. Referring to figures 1, 2, 6, 7 and 10, the second member 6 has a body generally in the form of plate 7 having a front portion ending at a first end 6a, a rear portion ending at a second end 6b, a first side 6c , a second side 6d placed generally parallel to the first side 6c, an upper surface 6e and a lower surface 6f. The first portion of the second member 6 has two tapered surfaces 6g, 6h converging towards the first end 6a. Each of the tapered surfaces has a notch portion 6x, 6y, respectively, which, as described below, serves as a pencil rest during a marking operation of the multi-purpose hand tool 2. The back portion of the second member 6 has two tapered surfaces 6j, 6k converging towards the second end 6b and ending in a partially circular projection 61 having a first through hole 6m extending from the upper surface 6e to the lower surface 6f. A second through hole 6n is placed between the first and second ends 6a, 6b of the second member 6 and extends from the upper surface 6e to the lower surface 6f thereof. As shown in Figures 5A and 6, the second member 6 has a width equal to the width W of the first member 4. Referring to Figure 12, a generally circular projection portion 6p extends from the plate-shaped body 7. in the lower surface 6f and contiguous with the second through hole 6n. The projecting portion 6p is sized to be placed in the elongated slot 12b of the second portion with a generally circular free space c therebetween so that the projecting portion 6p is allowed to rotate in the elongated slot 12b and is linearly deployed along of the elongated slot 12b. By means of this construction, the projecting portion 6p serves as a guide and a pivot point for the pivotable and pivotal movement of the second member 6 relative to the first member 4. The second member 6 is releasably secured to the second portion 12. of the first member 4 through the releasable closing mechanism 8. In the closed position of the releasable closing mechanism 8, the second member 6 is secured to the second portion 12 of the first member 4 to prevent any relative movement between the first member. and second members 4, 6. In the open position of the releasable locking mechanism 8, the second member 6 is allowed to rotate and slide linearly relative to the first member 4 along the elongated slot 12b. While it is considered that any releasable closing mechanism known to those skilled in the art can be used to provide rotational and slidable movement of the second member 6 relative to the first member 4, the preferred releasable closure mechanism 8, as shown in FIG. shown in Figures 7, 10 and 12, has a fastener 38 and a knob 40 having a threaded female seal 40a. The fastener 38 has a threaded male seal 38a positioned on a rod 38b and a head portion 38c. The second member 6 is secured to the second portion 12 of the first member 4 by first placing the lower surface 6f of the second member 6 on the upper surface 12a of the second portion 12 so that the protruding portion 6p is placed in the elongated groove 12b as shown in figure 12. The knob 40 is then placed on the upper surface 6e of the second member 6 so that the female threaded joint 40a is aligned with the second through hole 6n of the second member 6, and the rod 38b of the fastener 38 is passed through the elongated slot 12b of the second portion 12 and through the through hole 6n of the second member 6 from the lower surface 4e of the first member 4. The threaded male joint 38a of the fastener 38 is then screwed into the joint threaded female 40a provided on knob 40 when knob 40 rotates until head portion 38c of the fastener splices the surface of cutting region 15 of the first member or 4 and the second member 6 is pressed securely between a lower surface 40b of the knob 40 and the upper surface 12a of the second portion 12. The releasable locking mechanism 8 can be placed in the open position by loosening the knob 40. (that is to say, unscrewing the threads 40 of the knob 40 from the threads 38 of the rod 38b. in its open position, the releasable locking mechanism 8 provides the second member 6 with the ability to slide linearly along the elongated slot 12b and rotate about the guide portion 6p to be adjusted toward the desired orientation or necessary. During the sliding movement of the second member 6 relative to the first member 4, the head portion 38c is allowed to slide along the cutting region 15 of the first member 4. Therefore the knob 40 constitutes manual fastening means for extracting the upper surface 12a of the second portion 12 of the first member 4 against the lower surface 6f of the second member 6. Said manual fastening means greatly facilitate the marking operations, allowing said marking operations to be carried out rapidly and ease without additional tools. In this case, the knob 40 can be fastened and released easily and quickly through the simple digital coupling. Those skilled in the art will understand that other digital clamping devices could also be used, such as manual adjustment screw, wing nut and the like. The second member 6 can be adjusted for a desired orientation relative to the first member 4 so that the use of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is adapted for the specific use of the multi-purpose hand tool desired by the operator. For example, in a configuration shown in Figures 1-6 and 10, the second member 6 is positioned relative to the first member 4 so that the tapered surfaces 6j, 6k and the partially circular projection 61 of the second member are positioned in relation to the first member 4. of close confrontation towards the corresponding tapered surfaces 10b, 10c and the partially circular surface 10d of the first portion 10. More specifically, in this configuration the second end 6b of the second member 6 butts the first end 11 of the elongated slot 12b. After placing the releasable locking mechanism 8 in the open position, the second member 6 can slide along the elongated slot 12b in a direction away from the first portion 10 and then closed in place by means of the closing mechanism. 8 in any desired position to achieve, for example, the configuration shown in Figure 14. As described in detail below, in the configuration shown in Figures 14A and 14B the operator can use the multi-purpose manual tool 2 to mark a cutting line for a circle with a pencil 44, or marking a cutting line for a circle with a cutting tool 100 shown in Figures 18A-18D, with the diameter of the circle increasing as the second member 6 is positioned (i.e. by sliding the second member 6 along the elongated slot 12a to a position where a circle 74, for example, can be marked) furthest from the first to portion 10. From the configuration of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 shown in Fig. 14A, the configuration shown in Fig. 14B is achieved by loosening the knob 40, rotating the second member 180a, sliding the second member 6 to along the slot 12a to a preselected position (e.g., to mark a circle 76), and adjust the knob 40 in the preselected position. As described below, in the configuration shown in Fig. 15 the multi-use hand tool 2 is completely connected to a structure member 55 that functions as an extension for the multi-purpose hand tool 2 that allows circles to be marked of larger diameters (for example, circle 78) with pencil 44 or marked with cutting tool 100 (figures 18A-18D). In another configuration shown in figure 16, after placing the releasable locking mechanism 8 in the open position, the second member 6 is thrown or rotated 180 ° around the guide portion 6p and then fixed in place relative to the first member 4 when adjusting the mechanism of closing 8 in any desired position along the slot 12b. As described below, in the configuration shown in Figure 16 the operator can use the multi-purpose hand tool 2, for example, to mark a piece of material 80 that needs to be adjusted against a non-uniform surface 82. Figure 17 shows another configuration of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 n where the second member 6 s slides along the elongated slot 12b in the away direction from the first portion 10 until the first end 6a of the second member 6 extends an amount desired preselected from the first end 4a of the first member 4 and is secured in place relative to the first member 4 through the closing mechanism 8. As described below, in the configuration shown in Figure 17 the operator can use the manual multi-use tool 2, for example, for marking a door or window structure 90 for the installation of a door or window frame. Referring now to Figures 7 and 10, a generally cylindrical tubular insert 42 having a plurality of longitudinal ribs 42a extending from the inner wall surface thereof is sized to fit in the through hole 6m of the second member 6. The length and diameter of the tubular insert 42 are selected such that the tubular insert is retained in the through hole 6m by means of friction adjustment and the upper and lower peripheral edges of the tubular insert are generally located flush with a respective one of the upper and lower surfaces 6e, 6f of the second member 6. The tubular insert 42 functions as a holder or holder for holding a marking pen 44 during the use of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 in the configurations shown in figures 14 and 15 , for example. The ribs 42a prevent any rotation of the pencil 44. In the closed position of the closing mechanism 8, the through-hole 6m, and thus the tubular insert 42, are aligned with the elongated slot 12b, as shown in Fig. 6, of so that at least one tip 44a of the marking pen 44 extends into the elongated slot and is allowed to contact a surface on which a dialing operation is executed, for example, if desired. The ribs 42a prevent any rotation of the marking pen 44 relative to the second member 6 during use of the multi-purpose hand tool 2. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 6 , 7 and 10, the first portion 10 of the first member 4 includes two sharpeners designated at 45 and 49, for sharpening the marking pen 44. The pencil sharpener 45 has a passage 46 formed in the first portion 10 and extending from the second. end 4b to the second side 4d of the first member 4. An open end 48 of the passageway 46 at the second end 4b allows insertion therethrough of the tip 44a of the marking pen 44 to be sharpened. Preferably, the diameter of the passage 46 is selected so that the marking pen 44 is allowed to rotate therein during the sharpening operation while being held in the mime without assistance of the operator during the use of the manual tool of uses. multiple 2. A cut 50 is formed on the second side 4d of the first member 4 and a longitudinal groove 52 extends through the cut 50 to communicate the passage 46 with the exterior of the first member 4. A cutter 54 is removably mounted to the first portion 10 and extends over the slot 52 so that a cutting edge 54a of the blade 54 is aligned with the slot 52 and is oriented generally parallel to a sliding side 46a of the passage 46. Any suitable means can be used to removably assembling the blade 54 in the cut 50. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the blade 54 can be mounted on the cut 50 when passing threaded screws 56 through the openings 58 e the blade 54 and the screwing of each of the screws 56 the respective through holes 60 formed in the cutting portion 50. Preferably, the blade 54 has another cutting edge 54b in parallel relation to the cutting edge 54a. When the cutting edge 54a is blunt, the cutting edge 54b can be used as the blade 54 rotates 180 ° and the blade 54 is placed in the cut 50 so that the cutting edge 54 is aligned with the slot 52. During use, the The tip of the marking pen 44 is inserted into the passage 46 through the open end 48 and rotated against the cutting edge 54a and is thus sharpened. The cut-outs of the marking pen are directed by the cutting edge 54a towards the exterior of the first member 4.

The pencil sharpener 49 has a passage 51 formed in the first portion 10 and extending from the second end 4b to the first side 4c of the first member 4. The construction of the sharpener 49 is the same as described above for the pencil sharpener 45 except for the shape of the front end of the passages 46 and 51. As shown in Figure 6, in the sharpener 45 the front end of the passage 46 is formed to accommodate a pencil with a short sharpening tip, as shown by the pencil 44 in Figure 10. However, in the sharpener 49, the front end of the passage 51 is formed to accommodate a pencil with a larger sharpening tip (e.g., a common sharpening tip for a No. 2 pencil), as it is shown by the marking pen 44 shown in Figures 14-17. Those skilled in the art will understand that the construction of the front end of the passages 46 and 51 can be varied from the construction shown in Figure 6 in order to accommodate pencils having sharpening tips different from those shown by the pencils 44 shown in Figures 10 and 14-17. According to another aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figures 3-4, a measurement scale, generally designated at 62, is provided on each of the first and second sides 4c, 4d of the first member 4. The scales of measurement 62 are preferably provided with dimensional markings 63 in the form of thin lines drawn to facilitate identification. The measurement scales 62 can be used as rules, as well as scales to measure the diameter of a circle or to measure the distance of the line that is going to be harvested from a given surface when the multi-purpose hand tool it is used by an operator, for example, in the corresponding configuration shown in Figures 14-17. The directions of the imensal markings of the 62nd edition scales are inverted in the first and second sides 4c, 4d of the first member 4 to facilitate the taking of measurements in any of the described uses of the manual multi-use tool 2. Although In the present invention a measurement scale is provided on each of the first and second sides 4c, 4d of the first member 4, it is understood that the measurement scale can be provided only on one of the first and second sides 4c, 4d. In addition to the measuring scales 62 provided on the sides of the first member 4, three measurement scales are preferably provided on the surfaces of the first member 4 and the second member 6. H ending reference to the figure, the measuring scales 63, 65 are provided on the upper surface 12 of the second portion 12 the first member 4 u on opposite sides of the elongated slot 12b. The measuring scales 63, 65 have dimensional markings 63a, 65a, respectively. The directions of the dimensional markings of the measurement scales 63, 65 are inverted as shown in FIG. 5 to facilitate taking measurements in any of the described uses of the multi-purpose hand tool 2. FIG. 6 shows another scale measuring 67 provided on the lower surface 6f of the second member 6 and having dimensional markings 67a. The dimensional markings of the measurement scales 63, 65 and 67 are p rovised in p revious way in thin lines drawn to facilitate identification. Measurement scales 63, 65 and 67 can also be used as rules, as well as scales to measure the diameter of a circle or to measure the distance of the line to be marked from a given surface when the multi-purpose hand tool it is used by an operator, for example, in the corresponding configuration shown in Figures 14A-14B and 15-17. According to another aspect of the present invention, one or more of the measurement scales 62, 63, 65 and 67 can be color coded to correspond to a specific function or operation, as in the case when the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is used by an operator in any of the corresponding configurations shown in Figures 14-17. The dimensional markings of the scales and measurement 62, 63, 65 and 67 can also be color coded for the purpose of easier identification. During the use of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 having the color coded measurement scales, the user can easily select the measuring scale to be used for a particular operation by mere inspection of the color designated as corresponding to the operation . Various practical uses for the multi-purpose hand tool 2 of the present invention will now be illustrated in conjunction with Figures 1-17. Figure 14A illustrates the multi-purpose hand tool 2 of the present invention used to mark a cut line for a circle. After locating the center of the circle to be marked on a piece of material 70, the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is placed on the piece of material 70 so that the needle tip 20a of the spider 1 8 d Retractable needle nipple 16 matches the marked center of the circle. The user then rotates the knob 26 to the right (i.e., in the direction shown by the arrow 36 in FIG. 13) to thereby move the pin 18 to the second closing position when the needle tip 20a protrudes from the bottom surface 4e of the first member 4 and contacting the material 70 in the marked center of the circle. In this state, the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is sufficiently held or anchored in the material 70 by means of the tip and needle 20a so that the multi-purpose hand tool does not slide relative to it and the needle tip 20a can be used as a center around which the multi-purpose hand tool is rotated to draw a circle on the material 70 as outlined below. To facilitate the placement of the needle tip 20a in the center of the circle to be marked, indicators e center in the form of marks 23 are provided at the second end 4b, the first side 4c and the second side 4d of the first member 4, as shown in Figures 1-4, 7, 9 and 13. The mark 23 in the second 4 bd the first member 4 coincides with the central axis of the first member 4 in the longitudinal direction thereof and, for therefore, it also coincides with the needle tip 20a which is located on the central axis as described above. The needle tip 20a is also located on a line extending through the marks 23 on the first and second sides 4c, 4d d the first member 4. After selecting the center of the circle to be marked on the material 70, the precise placement of the needle tip 20a in the center of the circle is achieved by first drawing perpendicular lines through the selected center of the circle and then placing the multi-purpose hand tool 2 on the material 70 so that the marking 23 at the second end 4b of the first member 4 coincides with one of the perpendicular lines and the marks 23 on the first and second sides 4c, 4d of the first limb 4 coincide with the other perpendicular line. The needle tip 20a is then anchored to the material 70 at the selected center of the circle as described above. After locating the center of the circle to be marked using the marks 23 and the placement of the needle tip 20a of the pin 18 in the center of the circle as described above, the diameter of the circle is selected by the user when sliding the second member 6 along the elongated slot 12b of the first member 4. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the combination of the length of the elongated slot 12b and the fixed distance between the needle tip 20a of the pin 18 and the The first end 11 of the elongated slot 12b defines the range of diameters of the circle that can be traced by the multi-purpose hand tool 2 in the configuration shown in Fig. 14A. Therefore, the minimum diameter of the circle that can be drawn using the multi-purpose hand tool 2 in the configuration shown in Fig. 14A is achieved by placing the second member 6 relative to the first member 4 so that the second end 6b of the second member 6 is placed on the first end 11 of the elongated slot 12b. After locking the releasable locking mechanism 8 in this position of the sliding member 6, the marking pen 44 is inserted into the tubular insert 42 until the tip 44a contacts the surface of the material 70. A circle 72 is then drawn on the material 70 by turning the multi-purpose hand tool 2 around the center defined by the needle tip 20a. In this embodiment, the diameter of the circle 72 is equal to twice the distance (i.e., the radius) between the needle tip 20a of the pin 18 and the center of the first through hole 6m of the second member 6. To place the hand tool multipurpose 2 to mark another circle, the knob 26 of the retractable needle assembly 16 is rotated first to the left (ie, in the direction shown by the date 34 in Figure 13) to thereby move the pin 18 toward the first closing position wherein the needle tip 20a is retracted into the through hole 27. Then, after marking the desired center of the new circle to be drawn on the piece of material 70, the needle tip 20a of the pin 18 is moved to the second closing position so that the needle tip 20a coincides with the center marked the circle and can be used as a center for the circle to be plotted as described above. Later, in order to draw a circle 74 in the material 70 having a larger diameter than the circle 72, the releasable closing mechanism 8 is first placed in the open position, as described above, and the second member 6 is slid as along the elongated slot 12b in a direction towards the second end 13 until a desired diameter is selected for the circle to be plotted. When the diameter d is selected, the releasable closing mechanism 8 is placed in the closed position as described above to prevent sliding movement between the first member 4 and the second member 6. After locking the release mechanism 8 , the marking pen 44 s inserted into the tubular insert 42 until the tip 44a makes contact with the surface of the material 70. The circle 74 is then drawn on the material 70 by turning the multi-purpose hand tool 2 around the defined center by the needle tip 20a. The maximum diameter of the circle that can be traced using the multi-purpose hand tool 2 in the configuration shown in Fig. 14A is achieved by sliding the second member 6 relative to the first member 4 so that the second end 6b of the second member 6 it is placed at the second end 13 of the elongated slot 12b. Fig. 14B shows an alternative configuration of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 for marking a cut line for a circle having a diameter greater than the maximum circle diameter achieved by the configuration of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 shown in FIG. Figure 14A. The configuration shown in Figure 14B to mark a cut line for a circle is achieved as follows. After placing the release mechanism 8 in the open position as described above, the second member 8 is rotated 180 ° relative to the first member 4 from the configuration shown in Figures 1-6 and 10 so that the The first end 6a of the second member 6 confronts the first portion 10 of the first member 4 and the second end 6b of the second member 6 confronts the pronounced edge 14 of the first member 4. After locating the center of the circle to be marked using the marks 23 and the placement of the tip and needle 20a of the pin 18 in the center of the circle as described above, the diameter of the circle is selected by the user as the second member 6 slides along the elongated slot 12b of the first member 4 At this point, the releasable closing mechanism 8 is placed in the closed position as described above to avoid relative sliding movement between the first member 4 and the second member 6. After locking the releasable locking mechanism 8, the marking pen 44 is inserted into the tubular insert 42 until the tip 44a contacts the surface of the material 70. A circle 76, for example, is then drawn on the material 70 by turning the multi-purpose hand tool 2 around a center defined by the needle tip 20a. Fig. 15 shows an alternative configuration and use of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 according to the present invention to mark a cut line for a circle 78 having a larger diameter than the maximum diameter of the circle that it can be achieved through each of the configurations of the multi-use hand tool 2 shown in Figures 14A and 14B. In the configuration shown in Figure 15, the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is used in combination with a separate structure member or extension 55 which functions to improve the versatility of the multi-use hand tool for marking circles of larger diameters. The extension 55 can be made from any suitable material, such as a strip of wood or metal, of a length sufficiently long to achieve the desired radius of the circle 78. A pilot hole 55a is then drilled in the extension 55 approximately one inch from the end 55b thereof to form a pivot around the circle 78 that will be plotted. The other end 55c of the extension is then integrally connected to the first portion 10 of the first member 4 of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 using two fasteners 5961, which are passed and fastened through the countersunk holes 21, 25, respectively, and are coupled with the extension 55 so that the multi-purpose hand tool 2 exits from the end 55c of the extension 55.

Preferably, the fasteners 59, 61 may be two wood or metal screws that pierce within the wood or metaf extension 55 with sufficient strength to integrally connect the multi-purpose hand tool 2 to the extension 55. Without However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other types of removable fasteners, such as pins and nails, are suitable as long as the end 55c of extension 55 is integrally connected removably to the multi-purpose hand tool. However, screws are generally preferred over other types of fasteners such as nails and pins because they can be easily removed to disconnect the extension 55 from the multi-purpose hand tool 2 after a marking operation without potential damage or of the 55 extension or the multi-purpose manual tool 2. After the manual tool multiple uses 2 and extension 55 are connected integrally removable as described above, a fastener 57 (e.g., a screw, pin or nail) is inserted through the pilot hole 57 at the end 55b of the extension and connected to the material 70 to be cast at the selected pivot point only to the extent that the extension 55 allows it to rotate relative to the material 70. In this configuration, the user can conduct a marking operation by simply inserting the pencil 44 ( or tracer tool 100 for the embodiment of Figures 18A-18D) within the tubular insert 42 of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 and rotate the assembly around the center point to mark the circle 78 as shown in Figure 15. Those with ordinary skill in the art will understand that before a marking operation, the second member 6 can slide along the elongated slot 12b and then be fixed in place with the closing mechanism 8, as described above with respect to the configurations shown in Figures 14A and 14B, to vary in an additional manner; the diameter of the circle to be drawn. Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that circles of diameters greater than the diameters that are obtained by means of the multi-use hand tool 2 in the configuration shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B can be achieved by combining the multi-purpose hand tool 2 and the extension 55 described above. For example, if the desired diameter for a circle to be marked six feet (6 '), then the extension 55 preferably has a minimum length of about 38 inches and the diameter of the pilot hole 55a drilled in the extension 55 it is preferably 5/16 inch. Therefore, during a marking operation with the selected extension 55, if the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 (ie, with the tapered surfaces 6j, 6k of the second member 6 which are placed in close confrontation relation with the tapered surfaces 10b, 10c of the first portion 10 of the first member 4) it is possible to connect a circle or a prisoner with a diameter of approximately 6 p is (6 '). Subsequently, additional circles or arcs having diameters of 6 '3/8"and 6' 1 3/8", respectively, may be created, for example, a! sliding the second member 6 along the elongated slot 12b in corresponding amounts and then fixed in place as described above. Through the above construction and method of use of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 according to the present invention, the carpenter / retailer or home owner can draw circles of various diameters more quickly and in a highly efficient manner in comparison with the conventional methods to draw circles. Figure 16 illustrates the multi-purpose hand tool 2 of the present invention used to mark a piece of material 80 that needs to be adjusted against a non-uniform surface 82. The multi-purpose hand tool 2 is placed on a surface of the workpiece. material 80 with the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4 facing the non-uniform surface 82. After placing the releasable locking mechanism 8 in the open position as described above, the second member 6 is rotated 180 ° relative to the first member 4 from the configuration shown in Figures 1-6 and 10 so that the first end 6a of the second member 6 confronts the first portion 10 of the first member 4 and the second end 6b of the second member 6 confronts the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4. Subsequently, the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is moved towards the non-uniform surface 82 until the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4 is placed in contact with the non-uniform surface 82. After the desired distance is selected from the non-uniform surface 84 where a line 84 is to be marked on the piece of material 80, the second member 6 is slid along the elongated slot 12b until the center of the through hole 6m is located at a point of the piece of material 80 corresponding to the selected distance from the non-uniform surface 82. At this point, the closing mechanism releasable 8 s placed in the closed position as described above to prevent relative sliding movement between the first member 4 and the second member 6. After closing the releasable locking mechanism 8, the marking pen 44 is inserted into the tubular insert 42 until the tip 44a of the marking pen 44 makes contact with the surface of the piece of material 80. The line 84 is then marked on the piece of material 80 by sliding the multi-purpose hand tool 2 along the piece. of material in any of the directions shown by the double-headed arrow 86 while the tip 44a of the marking pen 44 is held in contact with the piece of material 80 and the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4 is kept in contact with the non-uniform surface 82. The configuration of the multi-use manual tool 2 and its application as thirsty wrote to ntes and was shown in figure 16 is adapted to Usually for retailers and housewives with little or no experience in carpentry or general construction. An alternative configuration of the multi-use manual tool 2 for the application shown in Figure 16 is adapted for the professional operator who, through experience, is able to maintain a stable hand during the dialing operation. In the alternative configuration, if the desired distance from the non-uniform surface 82 on which a line 84 is to be marked on the metal part 80 is known, the user uses only the measurement scales 62 to mark the line 84 on the piece. of material 80 by sliding the multi-purpose hand tool 2 along the piece of material 80 in any of the directions shown by the double-headed arrow 86 while the tip 44a of the marking pen 44 is kept in contact with the piece of material 80 and the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4 is held in contact with the non-uniform surface 82. By means of the above construction and method of use, the multi-purpose hand tool 2 according to the present invention can assist the carpenter / retailer or the housekeeper. of house to mark and cut accurately (ie, trace) any particular piece of wood, "corian", formalism, group of leaves, etc., that needs to be adjusted against any uneven horizontal or vertical surface (for example, the installation of a top cover against a non-uniform vertical wall). Figure 17 illustrates the multi-purpose manual tool 2 of the present invention used to mark a door or window structure for the installation of a door or window frame. From the configuration shown in Figures 1-6 and 10, the lip-lock mechanism 8 is first placed in the open position as described above. The second member 6 is then slid along the elongated slot 12b to a full frontal position until the second end 6b the second member 6 is placed on the second end 13 of the elongated slot 12b.

The second member 6 is then slid to a preselected arrangement by placing the second member 6 so that the first end 6a of the second member 6 extends beyond the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4 in an amount corresponding to the preselected arrangement. The preselected arrangement is commonly in the range of 1/16 of an inch to ZA of an inch (eg, a common installation that is% of an inch or 3/8 of an inch) set back from the edge 90a of the structure 90. Once the preselected arrangement is fixed, the releasable locking mechanism 8 is placed in the closed position as described above. Subsequently, the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4 is placed against an internal intersecting corner of the structure 90 so that the tapered surfaces 4f, 4g of the first member 4 buttress the horizontal and vertical edges of the structure 90. The marking pencil 44 it is then placed first in the notch portion 6x and then in the notch portion 6y of the second member 6 and the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is slid respectively horizontally and vertically, while the tapered surfaces 4f, 4g of the first member 4 splice horizontal and vertical edges of the structure 90 so that the outer edge of the 90 ° angle is marked around the entire structure 90. Therefore, the multi-purpose hand tool 2 according to the present invention will allow the carpenter / operator or housewife accurately pinpoints the exact location of the intersection of the inner edges of the 45 ° cuts, in so much that it also marks the setback position selected for the door frame or window. The configuration of the multi-use manual tool 2 and its application as described above and shown in Figure 17 is commonly adapted for the professional operator who, through experience, is able to maintain a stable hand as the operator The multi-purpose manual tool 2 is slid while the marking pen 44 is rested in the notch portions 6x, 6y of the second member 6 during the marking operation. An alternative configuration of the manual multi-use tool 2 for the application shown in Figure 17 is adapted for the novice operator or housewives with little or no experience in carpentry or construction in general. In the alternative configuration, the second member 6 is positioned relative to the first member 4 as described above for the application shown in Figure 16. More specifically, after placing the releasable closure mechanism 8 in the open position as described above, the second member 6 is rotated 180 ° relative to the first member 4 from the configuration shown in Figures 1-6 and 10 so that the first end 6a of the second member 6 confronts the first portion 10 of the first member 4 and the second end 6b of the second member member confronts the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4. Subsequently, the second member 6 is slid to a preselected arrangement by placing the second member 6 so that the second end 6b, including the first through hole 6m, extends beyond the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4 in an amount corresponding to the preselected layout. Once the preselected arrangement is fixed, the releasable locking mechanism 8 is placed in the closed position as described above. Subsequently, the pointed edge 14 of the first member 4 is placed against an internal intersecting corner of the structure 90 so that the tapered surfaces 4f, 4g of the first member 4 buttress horizontal and vertical edges of the structure 90. The marking pen 44 it is then placed in the tubular insert 42 until the tip 44a of the marking pen 44 makes contact with the surface of the structure 90 and the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is slid horizontally and vertically while the tapered surfaces 4f, 4g of the first member 4empalman horizontal and vertical edges of the structure 90 so that the outer edge of the 90 ° angle is marked around the entire structure 90. In the above uses for the multi-purpose hand tool 2 of the present invention described with reference to Figures 14-17, all measurements are taken using one or more of the measurement scales 62, 63, 65 and 67 They, as described above, can be color coded to facilitate the selection of the measurement scale for the particular use and to facilitate the identification of the dimensional marks the measurement scales during use. It is considered that the length L and the width W of the first member 4 may be of any desired or necessary size to achieve the user's objectives of the multi-purpose hand tool 2. however, a key feature of the present invention are the different structural dimensions of various components and portions that allow the present invention to be extremely useful as a multi-purpose hand tool for carpenters / operators and housewives as long as a compact structure is achieved and without compromising the user's objectives. In this regard, a length L of the first member 4 is preferably in the range of 6.44 to 7.86 inches, and more preferably 7.125 inches. The width W of the first member 4 is preferably in the range of 1.42 to 1.74 inches and more preferably 1.56 inches. The thickness t1 of the first portion 10 and the thickness t2 of the second portion 12 are preferably in the range of 0.49 to 0.69 inches, and most preferably 0.56 inches. The above preferred length L of the first member 4 allows the starting groove 1 2b to have a length (that is, the distance between the first and second ends 11, 13 of the elongated groove 12b) preferably in the range from 4.1 to 4.9 inches, and more preferably 4.5 inches. The above preferred length L of the first member 4 also allows the distance between the needle tip 20a of the pin 18 and the first end 11 of the elongated slot 12b is preferably in the range of 0.84 to 1.0 inches, and most preferably 0.94 inches. The above preferred length of the elongated slot 12b and the above preferred distance between the needle tip 20a of the pin 18 and the first end 11 of the elongated slot 12a allows users to trace circles ranging from approximately 2.25 inches to 10.5 inches. As described above, the range of parameters for the circles that can be traced by the multi-purpose hand tool 2 according to the present invention is defined by the combination of the length of the elongated slot 12a and the defined fixed length. between the needle tip 20a of the pin 18 and the first end 11 of the elongated slot 12b. The multi-purpose hand tool 2 according to the present invention as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein could be constructed using any number and acceptable methods employing a wide variety of different materials. The materials for the components of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 according to the present invention are selected to preferably provide sufficient protection of the environmental elements, to provide sufficient stiffness to make the multi-purpose hand tool resistant to withstand the damage in the workplace, and to allow the multi-purpose manual tool to be transported and stored in an apron or worker's bag. Therefore, the components of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 are preferably of a rigid and firm construction and the materials are preferably selected to be light and resistant to chemical agents, ultraviolet rays, hot and cold temperatures and against impact. . For example, the first and second members 4, 6 are preferably manufactured through an injection molding process using high performance plastics such as a nylon combination (e.g., CAPRON ™), a polycarbonate / polyester combination (for example X ENOY ™), or a combination of polycarbonate / Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (for example, CYCOLAY ™). The releasable closing mechanism 8 (for example, fastener 38 and knob 40) and the retractable needle assembly 16 for example, pin 18 and knob 26) are preferably manufactured through an injection molding process employing plastic high performance such as nylon combination (eg, CAPRON ™), a polycarbonate / polyester combination (eg, XENOY ™), or an acetal copolymer (eg, CELCON ™). The main location 42 for holding or holding the mandrel 44 is preferably manufactured through an injection molding process using thermoplastic polyurethane (for example ELASTOLAN ™). However, those with ordinary skill in the art will understand that other high performance plastics and a wide variety of other materials, including lower grade plastics such as polypropylene and durable and rigid materials such as light and steel, would be acceptable for the first and second members 4, 6, releasable locking mechanism 8, retractable needle assembly 16, and tubular holder 42. Blade 54 and screws 56 are preferably made of stainless steel or other suitable metal. Despite the firm and rigid construction of the knob 26 of the retractable needle assembly 16, the reduced diameter portion 26d between the digital coupling portion 26b and the coupling portion 26c allows the coupling portion 26c to flex sufficiently. so that the coupling portion 26c can be snapped into the cut 28 of the through hole 27, as shown in Figures 10 and 1 during the assembly of the multi-purpose hand tool 2. In another embodiment, various components of the multi-purpose manual tool 2Including the first member 4, the second member 6, and the knobs 26, 40, are preferably manufactured from a transparent cast or poured resin material so that the multi-purpose hand tool 2 is substantially transparent. The transparency of the manual multipurpose tool 2 will allow the user to see through the different transparenie portions to ensure the accuracy of the dialing operations. For example, when a top cover is drawn or a circle or arc is drawn, the user will be able to see the pencil line as it is being drawn, thus increasing the accuracy of the multi-purpose hand tool. the multi-purpose hand tool 2 also creates a pleasing aesthetic effect by allowing the user to see the non-transparent portions (e.g., pin 18 and fastener 38). Figures 18A-18D show a tracer apparatus 101 according to the present Nvention to draw a cut line on a piece of material. Tracer apparatus 101 comprises a multi-purpose hand tool 2 according to any of the above-described embodiments and a cutting tool 100 for use in combination with the multi-purpose hand tool 2. Cutting tool 1 00 has a member elongated 102, a sleeve mounted at one end of elongate member 102, and a pair of leg portions 106 extending from the end of elongate member 102 and positioned in spaced relation to one another. A pin 108 extends transversely to and connects the leg portions 106 to each other. A generally circular shaped blade 110 is mounted on the pin 108 to undergo rotation relative thereto. The sleeve 104 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal ribs 104a that extend along an outer wall surface thereof. The longitudinal ribs 104a of the sleeve 104 function as a fastener or support for holding the cutting tool 100 in the tubular insert 42 fitted in the through hole 6m of the second member 6 and prevents any rotation of the cutting tool 100 during the use of the multi-purpose manual tool 2. The diameter of the sleeve 104 is thus selected such that the sleeve 104 is retained within the tubular insert 42 while the longitudinal ribs 1 04a prevent any rotation of the cutting tool 1 00 relative to the second member during use. of the multi-use hand tool 2. The diameter of the blade 110 is also selected so that it is allowed to pass through the tubular insert 42 until it makes contact with the surface on which it is desired to execute a marking operation. The cutting tool 100 may be used in combination with the multi-purpose hand tool 2 of the present invention to mark a cut-off line for any of the uses of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 of the present invention described above with reference to Figures 14A-14B and 15-17, except for the configuration of the multi-use hand tool shown in Figure 17 in which the pencil rests on the notch portions 6x, 6y of the second member 6 to mark the line around the structure 90. For example, during the use of the multi-purpose hand tool 2 to mark a line on a piece of material 80 which needs to be adjusted against a non-uniform surface 82, as shown in Fig. 16, the cutting tool 100 is inserted into the tube-shaped insert 42 until the cutting blade 110 makes contact with the surface of the piece of material 80 The line 84 is then marked on the piece of material 80 by sliding the multi-purpose hand tool 2 along the piece of material 80 in any of the directions shown by the double-headed arrow 86 in the direction of the blade 110. of the cutting tool 100 is kept in contact with the material part 80 and the punctured edge 14 of the first member is maintained in conjoint with the non-uniform surface 82. The multi-purpose manual tool 2 can also be used in combination with the cutting tool 100 to mark a line for a circle, as shown in figures 14 and 15. For example, after locating the center of the circle to be marked By using the markings 23 and placing the needle point 20a of the pin 18 in the center of the circle as described above, the diameter of the circle is selected by the user as the second member 6 slides along the elongated slot 12b of the first 4. After locking the releasable locking mechanism 8 in this position of the slidable member 6, the cutting tool 100 is inserted into the tube insert 42 so that the cutting blade 110 makes contact with the surface of the material 70. A circle (for example, any of the circles 72, 74, 76 and 78 shown in FIGS. 14A-14B and 15) is then marked on the screen 70 by rotating the multi-purpose hand tool 2 around the hub defined by the needle punch 20a. The unique construction of the present invention resulted in a multi-purpose hand tool and versatile device that have a unique design that allows the carpenter / operator or housewife to selectively use the multiple-use hand tool and tool to mark or To create a particular piece of material that needed to be adjusted to a non-uniform surface, to mark and mark door and window sidings for the inscription of door and window frames, and to mark and mark lines with arcs or circles of any diameter with precision and without consuming a great amount of time. The multi-purpose manual tool and the device of the present invention are light and compact so that they can be easily transported and stored in an apron or worker's bag and are easy to operate in the workplace. In addition, the multi-use manual tool and plotter can be operated quickly by highly experienced people as well as by carpenters / novice operators and housewives with little or no risk of inaccuracy due to fluctuation during the operation and can be easily operated without the use of auxiliary tools or excessive manipulations. The multi-purpose hand tool and tracer apparatus in accordance with the present invention will allow inexperienced operators or housewives to obtain professional results. In addition, the multi-purpose hand tool and tracer apparatus according to the present invention can be manufactured in any size and weight and are very durable and resistant to structural or performance degradation. From the above description, it can be seen that the present invention comprises an improved multi-use manual tool and an improved scattering apparatus. Those with experience in the art will appreciate that obvious changes can be made to the modalities described in the foregoing description without departing from the scope of the inventive concept thereof. It is therefore understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described, but is intended to cover all obvious modifications that are within the scope of the invention and that the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (35)

1. A multi-purpose manual tool comprising: a first member having a first portion and a second portion; a second sliding member and pivoially coupled to the second portion of the first member; and a coupling assembly for pivotally coupling the second member to the second portion of the first member and allowing the second member to slide on and pivot relative to the second portion between a first position proximate a first end of the second portion wherein the multi-purpose hand tool can be used to obtain a measurement for a first marking or plotting operation, and a second position near a second end of the second portion of the first end thereof in which the hand tool Multiple uses may be used to obtain a measurement of a second marking or plotting operation different from the first marking or plotting operation, thereby providing a reconfigurable multi-purpose manual tool for a plurality of purposes.

2. A multi-purpose hand tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling assembly includes means for pivotally coupling the second member to the second portion of the first member and allowing the second member to slide over the second portion while which is coupled to the second portion.

3. A multi-purpose hand tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling means comprises a protruding portion extending from a surface of the second member, an elongated slot positioned between the first and second exiros of the second portion of the second portion of the second member. first member to receive the projecting portion, and a releasable closure mechanism with protruding portion and elongated slot so as to allow the second member to slide over and pivot relative to the portion of the first member.

4. A multi-purpose manual tool in accordance with the claim 3, characterized in that the releasable closing mechanism comprises a knob having a threaded thread h and a fastener having a sleeve provided with a male threaded member for coupling with the female threaded member of the knob.

5. A multi-purpose manual tool in accordance with the claim 4, characterized in that the first member includes a cutting region in the first portion thereof; and wherein the fastener has a head portion for sliding engagement with a surface with a surface of the cutting region during the relative sliding movement between the first member and the second member.

6. A multi-use manual tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the first portion of the first member includes at least one pencil sharpener.

7. A multi-purpose manual tool in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the first portion of the first member includes a retractable needle assembly.

8. A multi-purpose hand tool according to claim 7, characterized in that the retrievable needle assembly comprises a digital coupling portion for undergoing rotation in opposite first and second directions on a first surface of the first portion and a pin for rotation with the digital coupling portion, the pin having a head portion, a rod extending from the head portion and having a needle tip, and a male threaded joint placed in the rod and between the head portion and the needle point.

9. A multi-purpose hand tool according to claim 8, characterized in that the first portion of the first member has a through hole that extends from the first surface of the first part to a second surface thereof. the first surface, the through hole which is a female threaded junction for coupling with the threaded joint of the pin so that the rotation of the coupling portion in the first direction, the pin is displaced in a direction along a longitudinal axis thereof for protruding the needle tip of the vagina from one end of the through hole in the second surface of the first portion, and so that upon rotation of the digital coupling portion in the second direction, the pin is displaced along the longitudinal axis to retract the needle tip deníro the through hole.

10. A multi-use hand tool according to claim 9, characterized in that the digital coupling portion has a cavity for receiving the head portion of the rod so that the rotation of the digital coupling portion in each of the first and second directions rotates the pin in the respective first and second directions and allows the movement of the head portion of the pin within the cavity along the longitudinal axis.

11. A multi-use hand tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the second member has a top main surface, a lower main surface, a first end, a second end, and a through hole placed in the second end and that Excends through the upper and lower main surfaces; and further comprising means defining at least one marker pen rest placed in the first eximeme of the second member.

12. A multi-use manual tool according to claim 11, characterized in that the means defining a marking pen rest comprise a notch portion cut in the second member in the first indentation thereof.

13. A multi-use manual tool according to claim 11, further comprising support means positioned at the second end of the second member for holding a marking pen. A multi-purpose hand tool according to claim 13, characterized in that the support means comprises a fibular insert positioned in the passageway of the second member, and fastening means that extend from an internal peripheral surface of the tubular insert. to hold the marking pen. 15. A manual multipurpose tool according to claim 14, characterized in that the fastening means comprise a plurality of quills. 16. A multi-purpose manual tool according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the first member and the second member includes at least one measuring scale. 17. A multi-purpose manual tool according to claim 16, characterized in that the measurement scales are color-coded. 18. A multi-use manual tool according to claim 1, which further comprises a plurality of through holes extending from a first surface of the first portion to a second surface thereof opposite to the first surface. 19. A multi-purpose hand tool according to claim 18, characterized in that each of the through holes comprises a countersunk hole for receiving therein a fastener for connecting the multi-purpose hand tool to a structural member. 20. A multi-purpose manual tool according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the first member and the second member are manufactured from a transparent material. 21. A tracer apparatus comprising: a first member having a first surface for making contact with a surface of a marking or marking material, a second surface positioned opposite to the first surface, and a longitudinal groove that is Extend from the first surface to the second surface; a second member slidable and pivotably coupled to the first surface of the first member, the second member having a first major surface, a second major surface positioned opposite the first major surface, and a pilot orifice extending from the first major surface towards the second main surface, the through hole which is generally aligned substantially with the longitudinal groove of the first member in preselected positions relative to the first member; a coupling assembly for pivoially coupling the second member to the first surface of the prior member and allowing the second member to slide over and pivot relative to the first surface of the first member; and a cutting tool having a cutting member for insertion generally vertically through the through hole of the second member and the longitudinal slot d the first member in any of the preselected positions to make contact with the surface of the marking material or draw a line on the surface of the material when the first member and the second member are displaced relative to the maigery! in ianío that the first member is kept in contact with the surface of the material. 22. An arresting apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that each of the first member and the second member includes at least one measuring scale. 23. An arresting apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the measurement scales are color coded. 24. A tracer apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the first member has a longitudinal centreline axis; and further comprising a pair of through holes that extend from the first surface to the second surface of the first member and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis thereof. 25. An arresting apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that each of the pair of passive holes comprises a countersunk hole for receiving therein a fastener for connecting the multi-purpose hand tool to a structure member. 26. A tracer apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that each of the first member and the second member are manufactured from a transverse material. 27. A multi-use hand tool comprising: a first component having a first portion and a second portion; and a second member slidable and pivotally coupled to the second portion of the first member so that the second member can slide over and pivot relative to the second portion sends a first position close to a first eximeum of the second portion in which the tool The multiple use manual can be used to obtain a first measurement for a first marking operation, and a second position close to the second measurement of the second portion opposite to the first one in which the multi-use manual tool can be used. be used to obtain a measurement of a second marking operation or differentiate from the first operation of marking or braking. 28. A multi-use manual tool according to claim 27, characterized in that it comprises a pair of passin holes extending from a first surface of the first portion to a second surface thereof opposite to the first surface. 29. A multi-use manual tool according to claim 27, characterized in that each of the pair of through holes comprises a countersunk hole for receiving therein a fastener for connecting the multi-purpose hand tool to a structural member. 30. A multi-use manual tool according to claim 27, characterized in that each of! The first member and the second member are manufactured from a transparent material. 31. A multi-purpose hand tool comprising: a first member having a first surface to make contact with a surface of a material to be marked or broken, a second surface positioned opposite to the first surface, and a longitudinal groove. which extends from the first surface to the second surface; and a second slidable member pivotably coupled to the first surface of the first member, the second member having a first major surface, a second major surface positioned opposite the first major surface, and a passing hole extending from the first major surface In the second main surface, the hole passes which is generally vertically aligned with the longitudinal groove of the first member in preselected positions of the second member relative to the first member to receive therethrough a marking pen or a tracer tool so that the multi-purpose hand tool can be used to mark or draw a line on the surface of a material when the marking pen or the tracer tool is generally inserted vertically through the through hole of the second member and the longitudinal groove of the second member. first member in any One of the preselected positions is kept in contact with the surface of the material while the first member and the second member are displaced relative to the material. 32. A multi-use manual tool according to claim 31, further comprising a pair of through holes extending from the first surface of the first portion to a second surface thereof opposite the first surface. 33. A multi-purpose manual tool according to claim 32, characterized in that each of the pair of through holes comprises a countersunk hole for receiving therein a fastener for connecting the multi-purpose hand tool to a structural member. 34. A multi-purpose hand tool according to claim 31, characterized in that each of the first member and the second member is manufactured from a transparent material. 35. In combination: a multi-use manual tool comprised of a first member having a first portion and a second portion, a second member slidable and pivotally coupled to the second portion of the first member, and a coupling assembly for pivotally coupling the second member to the second portion of the first member and allowing the second member to slide in and pivot relative to the second portion between a first position proximate a first end of the second portion in which the multi-use manual tool may be used to obtain a measurement for a first marking operation or tracing on a piece of material, and a second position near a second end of the second portion opposite the first end thereof in which the multi-use manual tool may be used to obtain a measurement for a second marking operation or on a the piece of material different from the first marking or plotting operation; a structural member having a first extreme portion and a second extreme portion or set to the first end portion; and connection means for integrally-removable connection of the first extrusion portion of the design member to the first portion of the first multi-purpose hand tool member and to removably connect the second end portion of the structure member to the specimen member. material in order to allow relative movement between the structural member and the piece of material. A combination according to claim 35, characterized in that the connecting means comprise a pair of through holes extending from a first surface of the first portion of the first member to a second surface thereof opposite to the first surface, a pair of first fasteners that extend through the respective passive holes and which engages the first end portion of the structure member, and a second fastener extending through the second extreme p or d of the structural member already copla apieza de maíerial. 37. A combination according to claim 35, characterized in that the first and second members of the multi-use hand tool are manufactured from a transverse material.