A pocket-tool, pocket-knife or similarly retractable tools

Abstract

 Tool elements (1) rotating in and out of the tool holder (4) around a cylinder (2) of such dimensions and construction that it has a strength similar to the tool elements. The aperture of the cylinder can fit, for instance, a forefinger, and, together with the flanges (19) of the cylinder, it will provide the user of the pocket tool with a firm grip. The greatly increased width of the tool element around the cylinder provides for a locking device (3) consisting of a springloaded cath (9) and a recess arrangement (9, 10) at the rim of the tool element so as to hold the opened tool element securely when in use. The locking device can be released by pulling a catch, or with the aid of a lever (6, 7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a folding-type pooket-tool such as a pocket-knife, with one or more tool-elements whereby the tool-elements can rotate in and out of the holder which serves simultaneously as a protector and as a handle for handling the tool.

[0002] Pocket-tools are handtools that can be stored in a safe place whereby usually the handle serves simultaneously as the store. A mechanism releases and returns the tool-element to its store, usually a pivot-type arrangement is chosen, whereby the tool-element is rotating around a pin.

[0003] The pivot-type pocket-tool has usually a spring that keeps the tool-element in place. By overcoming the springaotion usually by pulling at the tool-element, it snaps into open position. Similarly, by overcoming the springaction in open position, the tool-element snaps into closed position.

[0004] When the strength of the tool is put at a test, considerable forces have to be borne by the parts forming the pivot-arrangement, in particular bending-forces acting in a plane rectangular to the plane in which the tool pivots will give rise to distortion and damage to the pivot-arrangement. The tool itself usually can withstand considerable higher bending-forces. The weak spot of a pocket-tool is the pivot-arrangement, it does not allow a similar use being made of a pocket-knife and pocket-tool as of an equivalent fixed tool. A second reason why the two cannot be considered equal and treated as such in use is often the lack of a looking device that looks the tool-element in the operating position.

[0005] The invention as claimed is intended to remedy these drawbacks. It solves the problem of how to design a pooket-tool and similarly retractable tools in whiph the forces are transmitted to the handle by means of a cylinder with solid flanges, of such dimensions that it has a similar strength and resistance against bending as the tool-element itself. The aperture of the cylinder and the flanges and their sizes give the pocket-tool a firm grip and a greatly ncreased width of the tool-element at the location of the cylinder sothat a looking device for insranoe consisting of a spring loaded catoh and chamber arrangement can operate with sufficient strength at the rim of the tool-element thereby adsorbing severe operating Forces. It may be also possible to slip the forefinger through the aperture thereby improving the grip remarkably. By reducing the cross section of the pocket-tool after the cylinder, an extra safeguard and a further improved grip is achieved.

[0006] The advantages offered by the invention are manifold: the rivetted ends of the pins, used normally for rotating the tool-elements, are not anymore pulled through the coverglates and the coverplates are not being bent which loosens the tool-elements. Accidents with pocket-tools are greatly reduced now that the tool-element cannot collapse, fold back and out the operators hand. Also the hand is protected against sliding into the sharp edges of the tool, and it oan now be made easily possible to replace tool-elements. Without complicating the pocket-tool by adding devices, the pocket-tool has become more effective, safer to operate, can be handled with greater force and has become extremaly durable.

[0007] A way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below, with reference to drawings which illustrate only one specific embodiment of the invention with some variations in some details.

[0008] The figures 1, 2 and 3 show a pocket-tool in closed position comprising essentially a tool-element 1, a cylinder 2 around which the tool-element 1 can rotate, a springloaded looking device 3 securing the tool-element 1, ooverplates 4, separatingplates 5 and lifting handles 6, 7 and 8.

[0009] In accordance with the invention, the tool-element 1 is firmly placed with flat surfaces between flat mating surfaces of separatingplates ₅ or coverplates 4. Likewise the innersurfaoes of the flanges 19 of cylinder 2 rest firmly and with flat surfaces against mating surfaces of the ooverplates 4.

[0010] The springloaded looking device 3 is keeping the tool-element 1 secured when catch 9 falls in chamber 10 which can be achieved by rotating tool-element 1 around cylinder 2.

[0011] Lifting the looking device 3 can be accomplished in various ways, in figure 1 for instance a recess 12 is provided which can have various shapes and can also be a void. By pulling disengagement of catch 9 is achieved. The surface of tool-element 1 over which catch 9 moves falls back at location 13 where tool-element 1 is nearing its restposition as is shown in figure 1 and 2. This secures the tool-element 1 in its restposition.

[0012] In figure 2 lifting handles 6 and 7 are shown as variations for lifting the springloaded looking device 3 when more force is required then can be reasonably expected from a thumbnail.

[0013] Handle 6 pivots around pin 15 which runs through the separatingplates 5 and ooverplates 4. Separatingplates 5 are having a recess 16 to accommodate handle 6. On handle 6 a stud 17 is provided resting with one side against the springloaded arm of looking device 3. When lifting and rotating handle 6, stud 17 rotates and lifts looking device 3 whereby face 18 becomes engaged.

[0014] Handle 7 pivots around pin 15 in the same chamber that gives accommodation to the tool-element 1 thereby lifting looking device 3.

[0015] A oross-section of the cylinder 2 is given showing an alternative solution to the looking of the tool-elements 1 and plates 4 and 5; instead of for instanoe direct riveting, a ring 20 is slipped over the unfinished end of the cylinder till it meets a stepwise increase in the diameter at the location of endplate 4 sothat ring 20 is looked in the right position when the cylinder extension is rolled into a flange. The advantage of this variation is that the landing force of ring 20 onto ooverplate 4 by which the tool-elements 1 are looked can be well controlled. Ring 20 can have a circular shape or any other shape to improve its strength.

[0016] Figure 3 shows a looking device whereby catch 9 extends over all tool-elements 1, serving all tool-elements 1 simultaneously. For lifting the looking device 3 any lifting device cam be used. Shown is a handle 8 rotating around cylinder 2. Rim 21 in contact with catch 9 is curved such that a larger radius lifts the looking device 3 when handle 8 is rotating. For passing handle 8, looking device 3 is provided with a window 22. The fixed end of looking device 3 for instance has recesses 23 for accommodating separatingplates 5. Holes 24 for instance indicate a fastening means for coverplates 4, separatingplates 5 and the locking devioe(s) 3.

[0017] Two more possible means of constructing the cylinder 2 are claimed. In detail A a double cylinder consisting of an inner cylinder 25 and an outer cylinder 26 are screwed in each other with matohing thread sothat the toll-elements 1, separatingplates 5 and coverplates 4 are looked together as tight as required between the surfaces 27 and 28. The position of the two cylinders 25 and 26 can be secured for instance with a spring 29 provided in one of the ooverplates with a butt 30 that fits into a recess in the flange of one of the cylinders 25 and 26 while the other cylinder flange for instance is secured for instance with a fixed pin. This construction allows replacement of tool-elements 1 and oleaning.

[0018] An other method of securing the two cylinders together is for instance by rolling the inner cylinder end into a flange 31 fitting a recess in the flange of the outer cylinder 26 fer instance as shown in detail B.

Claims

1. A pocket-tool and similarly acting multiple tool-carrying devices whereby tool-element 1 can be released from a holder and looked in position, comprising of a holder consisting of ooverplates 4 and separatingplates 5 with a cylinder 2 around which the tool-elements 1 rotate, wherein the ends of the cylinder 2 have flanges resting with flat surfaces against the flat corresponding outersurfaoes of the coverplates 4, characterised in that the cylinder 2 consists of one or more solid undevided cylinders, and that the aperture can be small or of such size that it fits the forefinger, whereby tool-element 1 fits securely the cylinder 2 and has flat continuous parallel surfaces matching and resting against flat surfaces of the separatingplates 5 and ooverplates 4, and wherein a springloaded looking device 3 with catch 9 fits into a corresponding recess 10 in the tool-element 1 and in a second location which has a sloping surface 13 on the adjacent rim-surfaoe of the tool-element 1 and wherein the looking device 3 has a recess or void 12 for lifting and disengaging the looking device 3.

2. A pooket-tool as claimed in claim 1 or any combination of claims, oharaoterised in that the holder is reduced in width as compared to the section that accommodates the cylinder 2.

3. A pooket-tool as claimed in claim 1 or any combination of claims, wherein the cylinder has a recess and a mating ring 20=oharaoterised in that the package of tool-elements 1, separatingplates 5 and coverplates 4 fits precisely the distance between ring 20 and the opposite flange 19.

4. A pocket-tool as claimed in claim 1 or any combination of claims, wherein the cylinder 2 consists of 2 cylinders 25 and 26 closely fitting in each other for instance with a thread or for instance rolled, characterised in that each cylinder has a flange 27 and 28, and a length such that when fitted together they fit precisely the package of tools 1, separatingplates 5 and ooverplates 4.

5. A pooket-tool as claimed in claim 1 or any combination of claims, wherein the lifting means of the looking device 3 is a lever 6 located between the looking devices 3 with a stud 17 characterised in that when the lever 6 is lifted, the stud 17 is lifting the looking device 3.

6. A pocket-tool as claimed in claim 1 or any combination of claims, wherein the lifting means of the looking device 3 is a lever 7 located inside the tool-element chamber of the holder and between the separatingplates 5 pivoting near the catch 9 of the looking device 3 oharaoterised in that the short end of lever 7 lifts the looking device 3 when the long end of the lever 7 is lifted out of the tool-element chamber.

7. A pocket-tool as claimed in claim 1 or any combination of claims, wherein the lifting means of the looking device 3 is a lever. 8 located between separatingplates 5 and pivoting around cylinder 2 characterised in that it lifts catch 9 directly with its rim- surface when rotating.

Drawing