Signals and indicators – Horns – whistles and compressional wave generators
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-19
2003-09-16
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Horns, whistles and compressional wave generators
C007S118000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06619225
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to multi-implement pocket tools especially those of a folding knife type and particularly such a tool which includes a whistle as one of the implements or in which a whistle is incorporated in the body of the tool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Multi-implement pocket tools are well known in the prior art. Many of these are of the folding knife type in which one or more of the implements may be a knife blade or similar tool and in which some or all of the tools are movable from a storage position in which the implement is folded within the body of the tool which can then be placed in a pocket to an active position in which the implement is locked into a position where the tool can be used for its intended purpose. Among the more common implements incorporated in such tools are knife blades, fingernail files, screwdrivers, bottle cap removers, scissors and cork screws. As small batteries have become more powerful and long lasting, battery operated lamps or flashlights have also been made one of the items incorporated in such tools.
Although security or alarm whistles have been promoted for use by vulnerable persons when they feel in danger of imminent or potential danger, no one has incorporated such a whistle into the integral structure of a multiple implement tool such as is disclosed by the present invention. In the meantime, there are many stories of attacks and holdups in isolated streets or parking lots in which the victim could have summoned assistance or the attacker been frightened away by a loud, shrill blast of a whistle. Just startling the perpetrator could give the intended victim the opportunity to escape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a molded plastic whistle which forms one part of the housing which provides the finishing structure on each side of a multi-implement tool. The type of housing referred to is usually molded of plastic or made of similar material and secured to the spine, frame or structural base of the tool. It is necessary to change only one side of the housing to incorporate the whistle in the instant invention. The remaining portions of the tool are not changed. This makes it easy to manufacture the tool of the invention and keep the cost low.
Although batteries have been improved over the years, they still have a finite shelf life and power capacity. In other words it is possible that at any specific time the battery will cease to function and be unable to operate the device that it powers. Since the whistle which is incorporated in this invention is intended for use as an emergency or alarm signal it is undesirable to have it dependent on a battery which may stop working when needed. Therefore, the whistle is of the manual type, that is of the type blown by mouth.
Further in keeping with the emergency character of the device, the whistle is made fixed in position with respect to the spine of the tool and accessible without having to determine which of the multiple implements incorporates the whistle, then pivoting it into its active or functioning position and finally activating the whistle. In the present invention, the whistle is part of the outside housing and is always accessible to a person grasping the tool or knife. As used herein the word “knife” may be used to refer not only to an implement in the nature of a cutting blade, but also to the entire tool including implements useful for other purposes. The vast majority of tools of the multi-implement type include a cutting blade and incorporate folding mechanisms and over-all structure similar to that used in a simple folding pocket knife.
In a preferred form of the invention, the knife or tool comprises a rigid spine or frame which provides a structural base for the entire assembly. Each of the tools is attached to the spine preferably by pivots which permit each implement to be selectively placed in an active or stored position. The frame may include spacers which also provide spring tension to bias the individual tools into their active and/or stored positions. The outer sides of the multiple tool are covered by a cover or covers which help complete the multi-implement tool and which also serve as decorative or finishing members. In a preferred form of the invention one of these covers is constructed to be a whistle. The whistle may be made of one or more pieces. In a further preferred form the whistle is made of molded plastic or similar material in two pieces. One of the pieces is in the form of a flat, relatively thin base member which has a vertically extending peripheral wall of uniform height. This base member is secured to the spine of the knife by suitable means such as screws or rivets or by welding or cementing with an available bonding material. The second piece is a substantially flat cover which matches the first piece and with the base member forms a closed hollow chamber. An opening is provided at one end of the chamber and communicates with the inside of said chamber. An opening or slit is provided in the flat cover and also communicates with the inside of the chamber. When air is forced into the opening in the end of the chamber and out the slit in the flat cover it produces a whistling sound. A very loud, shrill whistle can be produced in this manner as is well known in the art.
In a well known embodiment of a multiple implement tool, the overall length of the knife or tool is about four inches, the width is about three quarters of an inch and the thickness is about an inch. The plan view dimensions of the cover which forms the whistle are substantially the same as those of the overall tool, that is about four inches long and three quarters of an inch wide, with the thickness being about one quarter of an inch. The opening in the end of the cover may be round, rectangular or any other geometric shape and the slit or slot in the cover may be of any size and/or shape which produces a loud, shrill sound. In one example of a preferred embodiment, the slit is a straight slot about a half inch long and one eighth inch in width.
The base portion of the whistle also has an abutment which may be integral therewith, extends across the width of the base and is integrally connected to the peripheral wall at each of its ends. The effective opening in the cover through which air escapes is determined by the size and relative position of the slot relative to the abutment. The base portion of the whistle, the abutment and the effective size of the opening comprise a valve which controls the final opening through which air may escape from the whistle and therefore the intensity and pitch of the sound. In a preferred form, the abutment is positioned somewhat toward the end of the base on which lies the opening for introducing air into the chamber.
It is within the skill of a person conversant in the art of manufacturing a product like that here discussed to suggest and/or utilize an almost endless variety of means for attaching a whistle to a multi-implement tool based on the structure of such tool and the economics, efficiencies and effectiveness of the manufacture of the complete product. A few of the possible means for securing the whistle to the tool are shown and/or described but the list is not exhaustive or exclusive. It is the intent of the inventors to disclose a whistle for attachment to a multi-implement tool in a relatively permanent manner with the whistle being accessible at all times from the outside of the tool without having to move or manipulate any of the movable parts of the tool. Although a preferred mode is disclosed wherein the whistle is operated by the user blowing into the inlet opening of the whistle, that is, by “manual” operation, it is within the skill of a mechanic familiar with the art, to use a whistle or oscillator or vibrator operated by power from a battery or other device to produce a “power” operation. The specific structures herein disclosed are intended to illustrate by way of example, the “best mode” of carrying out the invention and not to limit the inve
Davison, III George M.
Presniakov Alexander
Gutierrez Diego
Smith R. Alexander
LandOfFree
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