MXPA97000284A - Combination tool with downloadable handles - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination tool comprising: a tool head including a jaw mechanism having two jaws that lie in a tool head plane, a first handle fastened in a pivot to the jaw mechanism and which can be rotated in a first direction around a first pivot axis lying in the tool head plane between a nested position where the first handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and a deployed position where the first handle is coupled to and separate from the jaw mechanism, a second handle pivotably fastened to the jaw mechanism and which can be rotated in a second direction, opposite the first direction, around a second pivot axis lying in the plane of the tool head between a nested position where the second handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and a deployed position where the The second handle is jointed with and detached from the jaw mechanism, and a set of tool blades includes a first catch received in the form of a pivot in the first handle, and a second blade received in the form of a pivot in the second handle.

Description

COMBINATION TOOL WITH OPENING DEPLOYABLE HANDLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a combination tool with a jaw mechanism and handles, and more particularly to such a tool wherein the jaw mechanism and the handle are deployed by rotation in opposite directions around axes that lie in the plane of the mechanism. jaw.

Implements with multiple deployable tools have been known for a long time at home, in the workplace and in sports applications. An example is a folding pocket knife with two blades. The blades are carried inside a handle for storage, and are deployed selectively one at a time, when it is required to perform specific functions.

The pocket knife type devices are like those produced by Wenger and Victorinox and commonly referred to as the knives or knives of the "Swiss Army", which use the same principle extended to a plurality of tools carried within the body of the knife. Such implements typically incorporate a variety of types of blade type tools, such as one or more sharp blades, a screwdriver, a tongue, a bottle opener, a magnifying glass, etc. Blade tools may also include mechanically operated implements such as scissors or tweezers. Devices of this type are widely used and are highly functional for many applications, but they have disadvantages. Generally these are designed to be small and light enough to be carried in the bag and therefore are limited in terms of the strength and robustness of the tools. For example, the pincers or scissors found on Swiss Army knives are typically miniature in size and are suitable only for applications where large gripping forces are not required.

In recent years, devices known generically as "combination tools" have been widely developed and marketed. A combination tool is typically constructed around a jaw mechanism such as a full-size pin head. The clamp head has handles fixed to it. To make the combination tool compact but still capable of being used in situations requiring the application of large forces, the handles are deployable between a closed or nested position and an open or unfolded position. When the handles are in the nested position, the combination tool is compact in size and can be adjusted in a bag or worn on a belt. When the handles are in the unfolded position, they cooperate with the jaw mechanism to provide full force and size clamps whereby the large forces can be applied.

A number of other types of blade tools are received in a collapsible manner within the same handles. As used with reference to tools received within the handles of the combination tool, or within the handle of a knife or other comparable device, a "blade tool" refers to any relatively thin tool that is bent in a handle or handle. Such blade tools are generally of the same type found in Swiss army knives, such as sharp knives, screwdrivers, a bottle opener, a saw glue, etc. When a handle is in the unfolded position, the blade tools folded into the handles are accessible and can be opened for use.

The combination tools of various designs are available from various manufacturers. Combination tools generally incorporate the features discussed above and differ most notably in the unfolding mode of the tweezer head. In the combination tool sold by Leatherman and described to some extent in the patents of the United States of North America Nos. 4,238,862 and 4,744,272; the handles unfold and open with a complex movt in the plane of movt of the tweezers. In the combination tool sold by Gerber and described in the patents of the United States of North America Nos. 5,142,721 and 5,142,844, the head of the clamps is slidably deployed from the handles or handles. In the Paratool combination tool sold by SOG Specialty Knives and described in U.S. Patent No. 5,267,366 and to some extent in U.S. Patent No. 5,062,173, the handles are bent in the same direction out of the plane of movt of the clamps.

Existing tools even when they are functional have disadvantages. The Leatherman tool requires a complex opening and a closing movement and requires the user to grip the exposed channel edges of the handles when operating the clamps. The Gerber tool does not allow the handles to be opened to lie in a straight line, so the use of the knife tools when opening the handles is difficult and in some cases there is a risk of pinching with the clamps when they are used. In the SOG Paratool, the clamp head is not easily moved between the nested and unfolded positions, regulating an appendage attachment to aid in unfolding. The SOG Paratool tool also produces an asymmetric gripping force when pressure is applied to the head of the grips through the handles. In all cases, the deployment of the head of the clamps can be difficult in some situations, such as when the user is wearing gloves.

There is a need for a combination tool that overcomes these and other problems, but still has the same advantages as other combination tools. The present invention fills this need and also has related advantages.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a combination tool having a deployable jaw mechanism and folding handles with the knife tools received in the handles. The combination tool is compact when the handles are nested and is fully functional when the handles are unfolded. The handles are easily deployed or nested easily, even when the user is wearing gloves. When the handles are unfolded and the combination tool is used as a pair of tweezers. The user grasps the bent side of the handle in the form of a channel and can apply large gripping forces in an asymmetric manner through the center line of the combination tool and without any discomfort. Any type of blade tools bent in the handles found in other types of combination tools, or other types of tools can be used with the present approach. The combination tool has an "S" handle configuration that provides a comfortable and large grip handle when the blade tools are to be used.

According to the invention, a combination tool comprises a tool head including a jaw mechanism having two jaws that lie in a tool head plane. A first handle is pivoted in the jaw mechanism and can rotate in a first direction about a first pivot axis lying in the tool head plane between a nested position where the first handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and an unfolded position wherein the first handle is coplanar with and separate from the jaw mechanism. A second handle is pivotally fastened to the jaw mechanism and can rotate in a second direction (opposite the first direction) around a second pivot axis lying in the plane of the tool head between a nested position where the second handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and an unfolded position wherein the second handle or handle is coplanar and separate from the jaw mechanism. The combination tool has a set of knife tools including a first blade received in the form of a pivot in the first handle, and a second blade received in the form of a pivot in the second handle. (As used herein, in reference to the blade tools received within the handles of the combination tool, a "blade" or a "blade tool" refers to any relatively thin tool that is bent inside the handle and it is received between the sides of the handle, such blade includes, but is not limited to, a sharp blade, a screwdriver, a file, a small saw, a tongue, a bottle opener, etc.).

In another embodiment, a combination tool comprises a tool head including a jaw mechanism having two jaws that lie in a tool head plane, a first clamp ear extending from the jaw mechanism, and a second clamp ear extending from the jaw mechanism. A first handle mechanism includes a first handle fastened in the form of a pivot to the first clamping ear of the tool head and a first pivot axis lying in the plane of the tool head. The first handle is engaged and can rotate about the first pivot axis in a first direction relative to the tool head plane between a nested position where the first handle is coplanar with the two jaws and adjacent to the two jaws and one position unfolded where the first handle is coplanar with the two jaws and separated from the two jaws. The second handle mechanism includes a second handle pivotably secured to the second clamping ear of the tool head and a second pivot axis lying in the plane of the tool head. The second handle is engaged and can rotate about the second pivot axis in a second direction relative to the tool head plane between a nested position where the second handle is coplanar with the two jaws and adjacent to the two jaws and one position unfolded where the second handle is coplanar with the two jaws and separated from the two jaws. The second direction is opposite to the first address. There is a set of knife tools including a first blade pivotably received in the first handle and movable between a closed position where the first blade lies within the first handle and an open position where the first blade extends out of the first handle and a second blade is received in the form of a pivot in the second handle and can move between a closed position where the second blade lies within the second handle and an open position wherein the second blade extends outwardly of the second handle. The first handle and the second handle are cooperatively formed with the jaw mechanism so that the jaw mechanism is nested between and is coplanar with the first handle and a second handle when the first handle and the second handle are in nested positions and the first blade and second blade are in their closed positions.

The first and second pivot axes may be angularly offset from one another, as by 1/2 to about 4 degrees. The first and second pivot axes can instead be collinear. In this latter form of the invention, the handles open with a lateral spacing which is constant or increases when the handles move from the nested position to the unfolded position (reinversely, a lateral spacing which decreases as the handles move from the unfolded position). to the nested position). The handles are conveniently moved laterally using a cam mechanism in either the pivot pin or the clamping leg and the handle, or other type of lateral movement mechanism. Several retainer structures to hold the handles in the open or closed positions can also be provided.

The present invention provides a combination tool that is more conveniently operated than existing types of combination tools. The handles move between the completely open and fully closed positions with a direct circular movement that is easily achieved which involves fewer movements and more natural than those prescribed for the available combination tools. In intermediate positions of the handles, with one handle open and the other partially or completely closed, the knife tools on the handles are easy to access and easy to use. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a plan view of a combination tool with the handles completely unfolded to the deployed position; Figure 2 is a sectional view through one of the handles of Figure 1 taken along line 2-2; Figure 3 is a plan view of the combination tool of Figure 1 with the handles fully bent in the nested position; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the combination tool of Figure 1 in the configuration shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the combination tool of Figure 1, with the handles in a partially deployed position between the nested and unfolded positions; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the combination tool of Figure 1, in the configuration shown in Figure 3; Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the handle retainer portion of the combination tool of Figure 1 taken along lines 7-7; Figure 8A is an enlarged sectional view of the handle retainer part of the combination tool of Figure 3, taken along lines 8-8; Figure 8B is an enlarged view of another embodiment of the retainer structure; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the combination tool of Fig. 1, with the handles in the unfolded position and one open tool and the other of the handles in the nested position; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view like that of Fig. 1 of a mode wherein the pivot axes are angularly offset from one another; Figure 11 is a plan view like that of Figure 1 of a modality in which the pivot axes are collinear and there is no lateral displacement mechanism for the handles; Figure 12 is a plan view like that of Figure 1 of a modality in which the pivot axes are collinear and the handles employ a first type of cam for lateral displacement; Fig. 13 is a view of a detail of Fig. 12, taken along line 13-13; Figure 14 is a plan view like that of Figure 1 of a mode wherein the pivot axes are collinear and the handles employ a second type of cam for lateral displacement; Fig. 15 is a plan view like that of Fig. 1 of a mode where the pivot axes are collinear and the handles are laterally displaced by re-positioning the jaw pivot, with the jaw pivot positioned for a small separation between the handles; Fig. 16 is a plan view of the combination tool of Fig. 15 with the jaw pivot repositioned for a large spacing between the handles; Fig. 17 is a plan view of the combination tool of Fig. 16 with the clamp jaw open; Figure 18 is a schematic elevated view of a second embodiment of a handle retainer portion of the combination tool of Figure 1; Figure 19 is an elevated view of a handle retainer spring used in the embodiment of Figure 18; Y Figure 20 is a schematic elevated view of a third embodiment of a handle retainer portion of the combination tool of Figure 1; Figure 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a handle retainer of the combination tool of Figure 1; Figure 22 is a fragmented perspective view of a combination tool embodiment wherein the pivot axes are collinear when the jaw mechanism is in the nested position; Y Figure 23 is a fragmented perspective view of a combination tool of Figure 22, with the jaw mechanism in the deployed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows a combination tool 20 having a tool head 22 and handles 24 and 26 attached thereto. The tool head 22 includes a jaw mechanism 28 illustrated as a jaw jaw mechanism having two jaw sides that pivot about a jaw pivot 29. A first fastening ear 30 is fixed to one side of the jaw mechanism and a second holding ear 32 is fixed to the other side of the jaw mechanism.

The first handle 24 is pivotably secured to the first clamping leg 30 by a first pivot axis 35 which extends through the first clamping leg 30 and two arms 34 on the first handle 24. As shown in Figure 2 , the first handle 24 preferably is in the shape of a channel having a first side 36, a second side 38, and a fabric 40 connecting the first side 36 and the second side 38. In this form, the sides 36 and 38 act as the arms 34. The channel opens inwards, or in a different way, the web 40 is on the side facing away from the first handle 24 which is grasped by a person using the grippers of the combination tool 20. a toolkit blade 42 is secured to the end of the first handle 24 that is spaced from the pivot axis 35. the game 42 includes at least one blade 44, here illustrated as four blades pivotally received in the form of p channel irst handle and supported on a pivot bolt 46. The blade 44 can pivot between a closed position, shown in Figure 2, wherein the blade is received in the channel of the handle, and an open position (not shown) where blade is extended out of the first handle 24. As discussed previously, when the term "blade" is used herein with reference to deployable tools received into the handle of the combination tool, it refers to any relatively thin tool that can bend inside the handle, regardless of the use of the tool. Such a "blade" thus includes, but is not limited to, a sharp blade, a screwdriver, a tongue, an opener, a file, a small saw, etc.

The second handle 26 is fastened pivotally to the second holding 32 by a second pivot shaft 50 extending through the second holding 32 and two arms 52 on the second handle 26. The second handle 26 it is in the form of a channel of generally the same construction as that of the first handle 24 with two sides and a fabric, except that the channel of the second handle 26 opens to the left in the view of figure 1. deployable tools 42 includes at least one fixed blade drop pivotally at one end of the second handle gue is separated from second pivot axis 50 with a pivot pin, as in the case of the first handle. The blades of the second handle 26 can be pivoted between a closed position where the tools are received within the channel of the second handle and an open position where the tools extend from the second handle.

Figures 1 and 3-6 illustrate the sequence of movement of the handles 24 and 26 from the deployed or open position shown in Figures 1 and 4, through a partially deployed position shown in Figure 5, and to a nested position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the handles 24 and 26 lie in a tool head plane 54, which is the plane in which the two jaws of the jaw mechanism of FIG. clamps 28 open and close and lie perpendicular to an axis 29 'of jaw pivot 29. In the deployed position, handles 24 and 26 are separated from jaw mechanism 28; that is, the handles do not lie on the side of the jaw mechanism. The stops 60 prevent the handles 24 and 26 from being pivoted beyond their deployed position. As shown in Figure 4, the handles 24 and 26 are closed towards the nested position by pivoting them in the opposite directions 56 and 58 around the respective shafts 35 and 50 (the axis 35 is not in the view of FIGS. -6). Complete closure or nesting is achieved when the handles 24 and 26 are pivoted 180 ° in opposite directions from the positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 to the positions illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. At this point, the handles 24 and 26 and the jaw mechanism 28 are coplanar in the plane of the tool head 54, and the jaw mechanism is on one side and nested between the two handles 24 and 26.

For the greatest convenience of the user, the handles 24 and 26 are stably stopped in the deployed positions (figures 1 and 4) or in the nested positions (figures 3 and 6) by the detent mechanisms. The detent mechanisms provide a force that serves to hold the handles in the respective positions, but which can be overcome by a force applied with the user's hand. Any operable detent mechanism can be used and some preferred detent mechanisms are illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 18, 19 and 20.

The detent mechanism 62 is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 for the handle 24 (the same approach is used for the handle 26). The detent mechanism 62 includes a spring finger 63 formed as a needle in the tissue portion 40 of the handle 24. The first fastening ear 30 is formed with a cam-shaped surface 64 with a hole 65 therethrough. to receive the first pivot shaft 35. The first spring finger 63 is bent inward toward the hole 65 to travel on the cam-shaped surface 64 so that the spring finger 63 serves as a cam follower. The distance from the center of the hole 65 to the surface 64 in the direction lying in the tool head plane 54, distance p, is greater than the distance from the center of the hole 65 to the surface 64 in the perpendicular direction to the plane of the tool head 54, distance s. When the handle 24 is in the fully deployed position of Figure 7 or the fully nested position of Figure 8A, the spring finger 63 relaxes inward toward the hole 65. When the handle is moved out of any of these positions , as in the half-folded position of FIG. 5, the spring finger 63 is forced out of the hole 65 by its contact with the cam surface 64. The cooperation of the cam surface 64 and the spring finger 63 therefore creates a restoring force tending to retain the handle in either the deployed or nested positions but whose restoring force can be overcome by the force of the hand against the pressing force of the spring finger 63.

Figures 7 and 8A show the spring finger 63 as an integral part of the fabric 40 of the handle 24. As shown in Figure 8B, the spring finger 63 can be supported equivalently on a spring support in the form of channel 300 which adjusts between the two arms of the handle 24 with a hole 302 in the spring support 300 aligned with the hole 65, so that the pivot shaft 35 extends through both holes 65 and 205. The spring finger 63 is formed as a leaf on a core 304 of the spring support 300, in the same position and with the same function as that described for the integral shape of the spring finger 63 shown in Figures 7 and 8A. The approach of Figure 8B may be preferred to that of Figures 7 and 8A in some circumstances, since the spring support 300 is manufactured as a separate piece and assembled to the handle 24.

Another embodiment of a detent mechanism 200 is illustrated in FIG. 18. The first fastening ear 30 includes two opposed raised cam surfaces 202, extending outwardly from the ear 30 perpendicular to the plane of the tool head 54 when the handle 24 is either closed (as shown in figure 18) or open. A spring 204, shown in greater detail in Figure 19, fits between two arms 34 of the handle 24 with a hole 205 in the spring 204 aligned with the hole 65 so that the pivot shaft 35 extends through both holes 65. and 205. The spring 204 has two front appendages 206 along its bottom surface. The appendages 206 are bent upward near their central regions, to engage the cam surfaces 202 and center the cam surfaces 202 between the appendages 206 when the handle 204 is either open or closed. To move the handle out of the closed location shown in Figure 18, the leftmost appendage 206 must be pressed by the hand force applied by the user of the tool upon opening of the handle 24.

A third embodiment of a detent mechanism 210 is illustrated in FIG. 20. The ear 30 is generally cylindrical in shape with the cam surfaces, but there are two opposing notches 212 positioned in positions on the surface of the ear 30 perpendicular to the plane. of tool head 54. A ball 214 is mounted on the inside of one of the arms 34 and is pressed towards the ear 30 by a spring 216. The ball 214 is placed in a location on a line erected from the center of the hole 65. perpendicular to the plane 54, such as ball glue 214 engages one of the notches 212 when the handle 24 is either completely open or completely closed (as in Fig. 20). The spring 216 provides a catch force in any of these positions.

A fourth embodiment of the detent mechanism 220 is illustrated in FIG. 21. The detent mechanism 220 includes a leaf spring 222 fixed along the inside of one side of the handle 24. An extension 224 of the leaf spring 222 engages the ear 30, which has the same general shape as that shown in Figures 7 and 8. The reaction between the surface of the ear 30 and the extension 224 creates a catch force when the handle 24 is either in the open position (as in Figure 21) or closed. An opposingly placed closure surface 226 of the leaf spring 222 contacts a tail end 228 of the blade 44 when the blade 44 is in its open position, thereby securing the blade in the open position. The blade 44 can be released from the open position by pushing the end of the leaf spring 222 containing the fixing surface 226 inwardly out of the side 36 so that the fixing surface 226 clears the tail end 228 and the blade 44 can be turned to its closed position. Thus, the leaf spring 222 serves a dual purpose as a detent spring for the jaw mechanism 28 and as a side closure fastening mechanism for the blade 44.

Returning to the discussion of the general structure of the tool, Figure 9 illustrates the preferred manner in which the handles, called "S" configuration, are arranged when one of the blades 44 is to be opened from one of the handles and uses. In the case of the use of the blade 44 held on the handle 24, the handle 24 is moved to the deployed position. The other handle 26 is moved from the nested position lying on one side of the jaw mechanism 28. The handle 26 and the jaw mechanism 28 together form an ergonomically comfortable handle that the user grasps to ensure the attachment and use of the blade 44 , when the blade is a sharp blade. The handle 26 and the jaw mechanism 28 can be further rotated about the pivot shaft 35 to bring the jaw mechanism 28 to the nested position with the blade 44 open and extended providing a double-thick grip, if desired by the operator. user. In the event that the blade 44 is a screwdriver, a tongue, or other type of blade that requires the application of a torsional force during service, the handle 26 can be placed at a right angle to the plane of the tool head for giving an additional force for the operation of the blade 44. The present approach with the opposing foldable handles thus provides greater flexibility in the selection of the most useful handle configuration to operate any selected blade.

The approach to the opening and closing handles is compatible with any of several configurations of the handles in relation to the tool head. Fig. 10 shows a combination tool 20 in which the pivot axes 35 and 50 are coplanar in the tool head plane 54 (the plane of the illustration of Fig. 10) but are angularly offset from each other by an angle A The angle A is preferably about 1/2 to about 4 degrees, more preferably around 2 degrees. This approach of angularly decentered pivot shafts has been previously described in U.S. Patent No. 5,267,366 for a configuration in which the handles are bent in the same direction in a different manner from the present invention wherein the handles are they bend in opposite directions. With the approach of the present invention the handles do not remain parallel to one another since they are rotated in opposite directions between the nested and unfolded positions.

The present approach with the angularly offset pivot shafts has the advantage over the patent 5,267,366 in that fixing the handles in the fully nested position, where the handles are coplanar with the tool head, is achieved much more easily . In the design described in the patent 5,267,366, the two handles and the tool head are brought to the closed position simultaneously for an interlock. Considerable care must be taken to ensure that the three components (the two handles and the tool head) are moved to the closed coplanar position simultaneously or the handles will not latch properly due to the low angle of approach of the two handles towards each other. In the present approach, the handles are placed in the nested position independently of each other, making the closure easier.

A different approach is shown in figures 11-14. In these embodiments, the pivot shafts 35 and 50 are coplanar in the plane of the tool head 54 (the plane of the paper in the illustrations of FIGS. 11, 12 and 14) and are also coaxial along an axis of common pivot 70. As a result of this, the handles rotate parallel to each other as they rotate in opposite directions between the nested and unfolded positions. It is preferred that the clamped ears 30 and 32 are configured such that a gap 72 between the handles 24 and 26 when the handles are in the deployed position as shown in Figure 11. The clearance 72 helps prevent pinching of the hand of the user during the operation of handles 24 and 26 to effect a clamp action. The provision of the gap 72 enlarges the size on the combination tool when the handles are in the nested position, as compared to a case where there is no such separation 72. The dimension of the gap 72 is selected as a compromise between having a gap large enough to avoid pinching of the user's fingers and the size of the wrapper of the combination tool 20. The gap 72 is preferably from about 1/16 to about 1/2 inch and more preferably about 1/4 inch in dimension.

To reduce the size of the envelope when the handles are rotated to the nested position, a mechanism is provided to effect the lateral movement of the handles 24, 26 parallel to the common pivot axis 70, simultaneously with the rotation of the handles around the axis of the pin. common pivot. Four modalities are illustrated in Figures 12-17 and 22-23. In the embodiment of Figures 12-13, a helical groove 74 is provided on each pivot shaft 34, 50. The helical groove 74 acts as a cam surface. A cam follower, shown as a cam follower pin 76 is positioned within either the clamping leg 30 or the handle 26. (Equivalently a second helical groove which meshes with the helical groove 74 can be replaced by the cam follower pin 76). The cam follower bolt 76 engages the helical groove 74, causing the handle 26 to move laterally parallel to the common pivot shaft 70 when the handle 26 is rotated about the pivot axis 70 during movement of the handle 26 between the positions nested and deployed. The direction of the helical groove is selected so that the rotational movement of the handle 26 moves the handles laterally apart (but remaining parallel) as they are rotated toward the open position, thereby establishing the spacing 72. The rotation of the handle 26 towards the position Nested makes it move laterally towards the other handle 24 (again staying parallel) to close any gap between them and reduce the envelope size when the handles are put in the fully nested position. This approach also has the important advantage of crue the approach angle of the handles when approaching the fully nested position is greater than for the approach of figure 10, making the mesh and closing of the handles easier for the approach of the figure 10 In another embodiment for achieving lateral movement of the handles parallel to the common pivot axis 70 during rotation between the nested and unfolded positions, the camming surfaces are provided on those portions of the lateral sides of the holding leg 32 and the respective sides of the arms 52. As shown in Fig. 14, the front cam surfaces 78, 80 and 82, 84 are provided on the sides of the clamp leg 32 and the arms 52. The cam surface 58 on an inner arm 52a goes against the front cam surface 80 on the clamping leg 32. The cam surface 82 on the outer arm 52b goes against the front cam surface 84 on the clamping leg 30. The surfaces The cam members are selected so that the arms 24 and 26 move and move away from one another (while remaining parallel to one another), parallel to the common pivot axis 70, when the arms 24 and 26 are rotated to the same position. unfolded to define the separation 72. Conversely, the arms 24 and 26 move towards each other (while remaining parallel to each other) parallel to the common pivot axis 70, when the arms 24 and 26 are turned towards the nested position. This approach gives the same advantages as described for the modalities of Figures 12-13.

Another embodiment as illustrated in Figures 15-17. In this form, a shank pivot 90 extends upwardly from one of the jaw members 92 of the gripper tool head 22. The shank pivot is cylindrical with the jaws. plates 94 formed on the opposite sides thereof. A two-lobed orifice 96 with the lobes 96a and 96 extends through the other of the jaw members 98. Each of the lobes 96a and 96b is a part of a cylinder. The dimension of the opening between the two lobes 96a and 96b and the spacing between the plates 92 is chosen cooperatively so that any of the lobes can rotate about the jaw pivot and also so that the jaw pivot 90 can slide between any of the lobes 96a and 96b by aligning the plates with the opening. This approach is known for conventional clamps.

The combination tool is illustrated in FIG. 15 with the jaw pivot 90 residing in the orifice lobe 96a, protruding in a glue gap 72 between the handles 24 and 26. If the jaw pivot 90 is moved to the orifice lobe 96b , separation 72 is virtually greater to decrease the possibility of pinching of the palm of the user's hand when the jaw mechanism is operated. As a secondary benefit, when the jaws 92 and 98 are open, the jaws will accommodate a larger grasped object 100 when the jaw pivot is positioned in the hole lobe 96a than when it is in the hole lobe 96b. The positioning of the jaw pivot 90 in relation to the lobes 96a and 96b therefore determines both the size of the separation 72 between the handles and the size of the object 100 which can be grasped, as well as the force that can be applied to the grasped object. 100 Figures 22 and 23 illustrate another approach to the jaw opening and to the closure configuration in the nested and unfolded positions respectively. The jaw mechanism 28 is pivotally secured by a handle pivot bolt 240 extending perpendicular to the plane 54 to a handle pivot body 242. The handle pivot body 242 is in turn pivotally secured between the arms 34 by the shaft of pivot 35. The arms 34 are not parallel but instead are tapered by a small amount on the order of about 1 / 2-4 degrees, more preferably 2 degrees, one with respect to the other. When the jaw mechanism 28 is in the nested position of FIG. 22, an axis 246 of the jaw mechanism 28 is aligned with an axis 244 of the handle 24. When the jaw mechanism 28 is opened to the deployed position of FIG. 23 by pivoting on the axis 35, the jaw mechanism 28 also pivots in the plane 54 on the pivot pin 240 so that the axis 246 of the jaw mechanism 28 is angularly offset from the axis 244 of the handle 24 by an angle B, preferably about the order of about 1 / 2-4 degrees. This angular offset creates the separation between the handles when the handles are opened, so that the user's hand is not pinched when the handles are operated to open the claw mechanism.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for the purposes of illustration, various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited except by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

R E I V I N D I C A C I ON E S

1. A combination tool that includes: a tool head including a jaw mechanism having two jaws that lie in a tool head plane; a first handle fastened in a pivot to the jaw mechanism and which can be rotated in a first direction about a first pivot axis lying in the tool head plane between a nested position where the first handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and an unfolded position wherein the first handle is coplanar to and separate from the jaw mechanism; a second handle pivotably fastened to the jaw mechanism and which can be rotated in a second direction, opposite the first direction, around a second pivot axis lying in the plane of the tool head between a nested position where the second handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and an unfolded position wherein the second handle is coplanar with and separate from the jaw mechanism; Y a set of tool blades including a first blade received in the form of a pivot in the first handle, and a second blade received in the form of a pivot in the second handle.

2. The combination tool as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it includes a first handle retainer in the deployed position, and a second handle retainer in the deployed position.

3. The combination tool as claimed in clause 1, characterized by includes a first handle retainer in the nested position, and a second handle retainer in the nested position.

4. The combination tool as claimed in clause 1, characterized by the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are angularly offset from one another.

5. The combination tool as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are angularly offset from each other by an amount of about 1/2 to about 4 degrees.

6. The combination tool as claimed in clause 1, characterized by the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are collinear.

7. The combination tool as claimed in clause 6, further characterized by including a first handle mechanism including means for driving the first handle parallel to the first pivot axis as the first handle is rotated about the first pivot axis of its handle. unfolded position towards its nested position, and a second handle mechanism including means for driving the second handle parallel to the second pivot axis as the second handle is rotated about the second pivot axis from its unfolded position to its nested position.

8. The combination tool as claimed in clause 6, characterized by the first handle mechanism also includes a first helical handle cam groove on the first pivot shaft, and a first handle cam follower on one of the first clamping ear and the first handle, wherein the first handle cam follower is engaged to the first handle cam groove and the second handle mechanism also includes a second helical handle cam groove on the second pivot shaft, and a second cam follower on one of the second handle and the second ear wherein the second handle cam follower is engaged to the second handle cam slot.

9. The combination tool as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the first handle mechanism further includes a first camming surface of the first handle on the first clamping ear, and a second cam surface of the first handle on the first handle, wherein the first cam surface of the first handle is engaged to the second cam surface of the second handle so that the first handle is driven parallel to the first pivot axis to be the first handle rotated about the first pivot axis from its unfolded position towards its nested position, and the second handle mechanism also includes a first cam surface of the second handle on the second gripper, and a second cam surface of the second handle on the second handle, wherein the first cam surface of the second handle is engaged to the second cam surface of the second handle so that the second handle is driven parallel to the second pivot axis to be the second handle rotated about the first pivot axis from its unfolded position towards its nested position.

10. The combination tool as claimed in clause 1, characterized by the jaw mechanism comprising a claw jaw.

11. The combination tool as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the first handle and the second handle are each in the form of a channel having a first side lying parallel to the tool head plane, and a second side lying parallel to the second tool head plane, and a tissue connecting the first side and the second side.

12. The combination tool as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the jaw mechanism comprises a jaw pivot bolt extending from the first fastening ear perpendicular to the tool head plane, and a two-lobe orifice extending through the second clamping ear and receiving the pivot pivot pin therethrough.

13. The combination tool as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that at least one of the first blade and the second blade hold an implement selected from the group consisting of a sharp blade, a screwdriver, a tongue, a magnifying glass , a bottle opener, a small saw and a file. SUMMARY A combination tool including a tool head having a jaw mechanism with two jaws lying in a tool head plane, a first handle is pivotally clamped to the jaw mechanism and can rotate in a first direction about a first axis of the tool. pivot lying in the tool head plane, between a nested position where the first handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and a deployed position where the first handle is coplanar with and separate from the jaw mechanism. A second handle is pivotally attached to the jaw mechanism and can rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, about a second pivot axis lying in the tool head plane between a nested position where the second handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and a deployed position wherein the second handle is coplanar with and remote from the jaw mechanism. The combination tool further includes a set of knife tools including a first blade pivotally received in the first handle, and a second blade pivotally received in the second handle.