Multi-purpose hand tool method & apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US7334502B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Multi-purpose hand tool method & apparatus",
  "abstract": "A combination tool comprising first and second sections designated a “hammer section” and a “wrench section” which as their names suggest, have a hammer function and a wrench function, respectively. These two sections are releasably and pivotally connected to one another at a pivot location so that these cooperate to function as pliers. The tool also accomplishes other functions. The handles of each of these sections each have a storage section for other components such as screw drivers, socket wrenches, a cutter, a can opener, a bottle opener, and other functions.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A multi-task combination tool comprising: a. a first main section comprising a hammer handle section and an upper located hammer related operating section connected to the hammer handle section; b. said upper hammer related operating section comprising a hammer impact portion having a hammer impact surface and a first jaw portion having a first gripping surface; c. a second main section comprising a wrench handle section and an upper located wrench related operating section; d. said upper wrench related operating section comprising a second jaw portion with a second gripping surface arranged to act with the first gripping surface, and also comprising a wrench related third gripping surface; e. said upper located wrench related operating section further comprising a wrench related third jaw portion which has a wrench related moveable third jaw portion which comprises a wrench related fourth gripping surface to coact with said third gripping surface; f. said first and second main sections being arranged to be able to be moved about a pivot location with respect to one another so that the first and second gripping surfaces move both toward and away from each other.",
    "2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said combination tool had a right side and a left side, and said hammer handle section and wrench handle sections each have a respective longitudinal handle axis; said hammer handle section and said wrench handle section have an adjacent position and a distant position and in the adjacent position the hammer handle and wrench handle longitudinal handle axes are generally aligned with one another and there is a middle alignment axis which is between and generally aligned with said hammer handle and wrench handle longitudinal handle axes when in the adjacent position, said hammer section having a rigid hammering structure comprising a hammer handle hand grip located structure portion as part of the hammer handle section and a hammer related extension portion extending from the hammer handle related grip portion across the middle alignment axis with the tool in the adjacent position to connect to the hammer impact portion.",
    "3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said hammer impact portion is to the right of the second jaw portion.",
    "4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said extension portion is spaced laterally from an upper end portion of said hammer handle section and there is an upper handle access region at said upper end portion of said hammer handle section.",
    "5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein there is in said hammer handle section a hammer handle section storage region.",
    "6. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein a lower end portion of said hammer handle has a lower storage region.",
    "7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said hammer handle section comprises a rigid hammering support structure and there is a shell structure removably positioned at least partially around the hammering support structure, said shell structure comprising at least one end located socket wrench portion.",
    "8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein there are two end socket wrench portions at opposite ends of the shell structure.",
    "9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said shell structure comprises at least one opening portion arranged to receive a lever member to rotate said shell structure when operating as a socket wrench.",
    "10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said hammer handle section has first and second end portions, at least one of said end portions having a storage region, an auxiliary multi-purpose tool comprising a mounting end portion and an operating end portion, said mounting end portion being able to be positioned in said storage region in a manner to position the operating end portion in its operating position and also being able to be positioned in the storage region to position the operating region in the storage region.",
    "11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said auxiliary multi-purpose tool has a releasable retaining portion to retain the shell structure in its position on the hammering support structure.",
    "12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said hammer handle section comprises a rigid hammering support structure having at least one of said end portions having a storage region, an auxiliary multi-purpose tool section comprising a mounting end portion and an operating end portion, said mounting end portion being able to be positioned in said storage region in a manner to position the operating end portion in its operating position and also being able to be positioned in the storage region.",
    "13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein there is a connecting section between a mounting portion and an operating portion of the multipurpose tool section, and having a wrench engaging portion arranged to be engaged by a wrench.",
    "14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein operating end portion comprises one or more of a knife, a saw edge, a file, an all purpose conversely curved cutting edge, a can opener and a bottle opener.",
    "15. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said hammering support structure has a storage section having another opening at a second end portion of the hammering support structure and a plug member adapted to be positioned in said of opening, said plug member comprising a driver end portion configured to be driven by a drive member, a threaded plug portion and a drive socket.",
    "16. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said pivot connection is length adjustable with respect to one another so that a gap distance between the first and second gripping surfaces is length adjustable, and said first and second sections are removably connected to one another so that the first and second sections can be separated to function independently from one another.",
    "17. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the handle sections comprises a storage region, in each of which is positioned one or more of the following in a stowed position: a. a plurality of socket drive members; b. a plurality of socket drive members having a pair of oppositely positioned socket recesses aligned with one another in one of said storage regions and having aligned through openings with an elongated extension drive member extending through said aligned through openings in a stowed position. c. a plurality of screw tips adapted to be connected to drive members also stowed in a stowed position; d. a multipurpose tool section comprising one or more of a knife section, a file, a can opener, a bottle opener, a saw edge; e. at least one drive extender.",
    "18. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein: a. said combination tool had a right side and a left side, and said hammer handle section and wrench handle sections each have a respective longitudinal handle axis; said hammer handle section and said wrench handle section have an adjacent position and a distant position and in the adjacent position the hammer handle and wrench handle longitudinal handle axes are generally aligned with one another and there is a middle alignment axis which is between and generally aligned with said hammer handle and wrench handle longitudinal handle axes, said hammer section having a rigid hammering structure comprising a hammer handle hand grip located structure portion as part of the hammer handle section and a hammer related extension portion extending from the hammer handle related grip portion across the middle alignment axis with the tool in the adjacent position to connect to the hammer impact portion; b. each of the handle sections comprises a storage region, in each of which is positioned one or more of the following in a stowed position: i. a plurality of socket drive members; ii. a plurality of socket drive members having a pair of oppositely positioned socket recesses aligned with one another in one of said storage regions and having aligned through openings with an elongated extension drive member extending through said aligned through openings in a stowed position; iii. a plurality of screw tips adapted to be connected to drive members also stowed in said storage regions in a stowed position; iv. a multipurpose tool section comprising one or more of a knife section, a file, a can opener, a bottle opener, a saw edge; v. at least one drive extender; c. said hammer handle section has at its upper end an access opening through which items can be passed into and from the storage region in the hammer handle section without interference from the upper hammer related operating section; and d. said wrench handle section has at its lower end an access opening through which items can pass into and from the storage region in the wrench handle section so that the wrench related operating section can be located to be in general alignment with the wrench handle longitudinal axis.",
    "19. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein there is at least one socket member which is arranged to engage in drive relationship a male drive member having a surrounding side surface comprising a number of substantially flat surface portions which have juncture locations and each of which has a side surface center location, with oppositely positioned juncture locations having a male drive junction diameter, and with oppositely positioned flat surface positions having a side center surface location diameter, said socket member comprising: a. an interior surface comprising a number of recessed surface locations which are located at a first greater distance from a center location of the interior surface with oppositely positioned pairs of said recessed surface locations being spaced from one another by a socket recess greater distance, which is a greater socket diameter; b. said interior surface comprising a number of inwardly protruding socket mid-surfaces at mid-surface locations, each of which is located between a related pair of adjacent recessed surface locations, with oppositely positioned inwardly protruding mid-surface locations being positioned at a lesser distance from said center location surface, with oppositely positioned inwardly protruding mid-surfaces having a lesser socket diameter; c. said mid-surfaces of each having a convex surface configuration with a mid-contact region that transitions into curving slanted side contact regions contoured to engage flat surfaces of the male drive member; and d. said socket member being adapted to be in drive engagement with a male drive member having a side center surface location diameter no greater than or less than said lesser socket diameter and having a male drive junction diameter at least as great as or greater than said lesser socket diameter, whereby the socket member can be adapted to be operable, for example, when the socket member is used in connection with male drive members sized in accordance with metric measure or in foot/inch measure.",
    "20. A method of selectively accomplishing one or more of a hammering operation, a pliers gripping action, or a wrench gripping action, by providing and operating components of a multi-task combination tool, said method comprising: a. providing a first main section comprising a hammer handle section and also an upper located hammer related operating section connected to the hammer handle section; b. providing said upper hammer related operating section with a hammer impact portion having a hammer impact surface and also providing a first jaw portion having a first gripping surface; c. providing a second main section comprising a wrench handle section and an upper located wrench related operating section; d. providing said upper wrench related operating section with a second jaw portion with a second gripping surface arranged to coact with the first gripping surface, and also providing for said second jaw portion a wrench related third gripping surface; e. providing said upper located wrench related operating section with a wrench related third jaw portion with a wrench related moveable third jaw portion which comprises a wrench related fourth gripping surface to coact with said third gripping surface; f. accomplishing one or more of the following tasks: i) providing said first and second main sections with a pivot connection and moving said first and second main sections about said pivot location with respect to one another so that the first and second gripping surfaces move both toward and away from each other in performing a pliers function; ii) moving the hammer operating section to perform a hammer function; and iii) operating said wrench section in a wrench gripping function."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "a) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combination tool, and more particularly to a combination tool which occupies a relatively small volume so that it could be easily carried by a person or stowed in a small area. b) Background Art There are a wide variety of multi-purpose tools which combine various combinations of functions which can include two or more functions, such as the functions of pliers, a wrench, socket driver, a hammer, cutting, etc. Desirably, such tools should be structured so as to be compact, convenient to use, and have (as much as possible) a wide variety of functions. More particularly, it would be desirable to have such a tool which could be used in emergency situations where a bulky tool kit is not available. This could be, for example, where a person would need to make emergency repairs on a vehicle, such as an automobile or a motorcycle. c) Summary of Invention There is a multipurpose tool providing hammer, pliers, and wrench functions. It comprises first and second main sections, which in turn comprise, respectively, a hammer handle section and a wrench handle section pivotally connected to one another. Several jaws are mounted to the two main sections to accomplish the main functions. In addition, there are auxiliary function components removably stored in the two handle sections, these providing drive functions and miscellaneous additional functions.\n\nFIG.",
  "cpc": [
    "B25D 1/00",
    "B25B 13/14",
    "B25B 7/22",
    "B25F 1/006",
    "B25F 1/02",
    "B25G 1/085"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 7/22",
    "B25D 1/00",
    "B25F 1/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "DURKEE KENNETH"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "DURKEE KENNETH"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2007-03-14",
  "publication_date": "2008-02-26",
  "grant_date": "2008-02-26",
  "priority_date": "2006-03-17",
  "application_number": "US-72447507-A",
  "family_id": "39103528",
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}