Cutlery – Combined cutlery or combined with ancillary feature – With material-holder or disposal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-08-07
Watts, Douglas D. (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Combined cutlery or combined with ancillary feature
With material-holder or disposal
C030S162000, C030S337000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269542
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates in general to a multi-purpose tool assembly, and more particularly, to a universal tool handle assembly operative to enable ready attachment and/or replacement of any one of a plurality of tools each having the same or different function, while at the same time, securing the tool within the tool handle assembly to enable the use thereof in a variety of operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tools are widely used to perform many different functions. For example, tools are used to cut any number of different materials such as hair, clothing, electrical wire, paper, flowers, tree branches, wood products, metal products, carpeting, food, etc. In addition, a variety of tools may be used to perform the functions of scraping, screwing, sawing, hammering, rasping, puncturing, filing, grasping, etc. In order to increase performance, the tool art has become highly specialized so that a different type of tool may be used to best perform each of the above mentioned operations and functions. More particularly, standard garden shears may be used to cut tree branches, prune plants or cut flowers. A scissors may be used for ordinary cutting operations while scissors having a more precision type blade may be used to cut hair or clothing. A hammer or mallet may be used to drive nails. A file may be used to grind metal and wood. A wrench may be used for grasping pipes and bolts. A screwdriver may be used for driving screws. An awl may be used for puncturing holes, etc.
There is known a variety of tools which include a replaceable cutting blade, for example, utility knives used by contractors for various trimming operations and a flush cutter as disclosed in Gamba, U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,096. Common in each of the aforementioned tools is a blade holder assembly operative to enable attachment of the cutting blade to the handle to enable use of the tool, while at the same time, enabling ready removal of the cutting blade when the need for replacement arises, e.g., when the blade becomes worn or broken. In this regard, a blade holder assembly must satisfy two competing objectives, i.e., securing the cutting blade for use while enabling its ready replacement. Although there is known tool handle assemblies which attempt to meet each of these objectives, they typically do not achieve both objectives equally well.
There is also known a variety of tools which perform specific functions, for example, as noted hereinabove. In order to allow use of these tools, each tool includes a working end and a supporting handle portion. The handle supporting portion is often constructed from rigid materials in order to be sufficiently sturdy to meet the functional needs of the tool. This can result in the tool being expensive to manufacture, particularly, when different types of tools include the same handle construction. It would therefore be desirable to construct a tool handle which would meet the demands of the user in a variety of applications by enabling the tool to be replaced with another tool having the same or different function. In this manner, a single tool handle could suffice for use with a plurality of interchangeable tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is broadly an object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose tool assembly having a tool handle assembly which equally satisfies the need of securing a tool thereto, while at the same time, allowing the tool to be readily removed for replacement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose tool assembly having a tool handle assembly which is operative using one's fingers, a conventional screw driver, coin edge or the like to permit tool attachment and replacement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose tool assembly having a tool handle assembly to which there can be replaceably attached any one of a plurality of tools having the same or different function.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose tool assembly having a tool handle assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture from the fewest number of components.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose tool assembly in the nature of a kit which includes a plurality of tools having different functions for replaceable attachment to the tool handle assembly.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is described a multi-purpose tool assembly, the assembly comprising a frame member, a tool having a shank removably supported on the frame member, a plate coupled to the frame member arranged overlying at least a portion of the shank, a spring arranged between the shank and the plate, and securing means in operative association with the plate for releasably clamping the shank against the frame member by engagement of at least a portion of the plate with the shank, whereby the tool can be replaced with another tool having a shank by operation of the securing means.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is described a multi-purpose tool assembly, the assembly comprising a U-shaped frame member, a tool having a shank removably supported on the frame member, a plate pivotably coupled to the frame member overlying at least a portion of the shank, a spring arranged between the shank and the plate and a bolt threadably received through one end of the plate for releasably clamping the shank against the frame member, the bolt having a portion engaging the shank while pivoting the plate such that another end of the plate engages the shank thereby clamping the shank to the frame, whereby the tool can be replaced with another tool having a shank by operation of the securing means.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is described a multi-purpose tool kit, the kit comprising a frame member, a plurality of tools each having a shank, the tools being separately and removably supported on the frame member, a plate coupled to the frame member arranged overlying at least a portion of the shank, a spring arranged between the shank and the plate, and securing means in operative association with the plate for releasably clamping the shank against the frame member by engagement of at least a portion of the plate with the shank, whereby one of the plurality of tools can be replaced with another one of the plurality of tools by operation of the securing means.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is described a tool comprising a frame member having a pair of spaced apart openings at one end thereof, a cutting blade including a body having a cutting edge removably supported on the frame member between a first and second position, the cutting edge arranged along a first axis when the body is supported on the frame member between the pair of spaced apart openings and along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis when the body is supported on the frame member extending through the pair of spaced apart openings, a plate coupled to the frame member arranged overlying at least a portion of the body, and securing means in operative association with the plate for releasably clamping the blade against the frame member when in the first and second positions by engagement of at least a portion of the plate with the body.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 271149 (1983-10-01), Castiglione
patent: 830451 (1906-09-01), Peterson
patent: 2094260 (1937-09-01), Brody
patent: 2133087 (1938-10-01), Ericsson
patent: 2257314 (1941-09-01), Shinn
patent: 2259050 (1941-10-01), Thurston
patent: 2885778 (1959-05-01), Randol
patent: 3667122 (1972-06-01), Black
patent: 4381604 (1983-05-01), Horst
patent: 5093994 (1992-03-01), Karas
patent: 5440811 (1995-08-01), Challis
patent: 5507096 (1996-04-01), Gamba
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Watts Douglas D.
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