Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a pocket tool with interchangeable tools. A 'pocket tool' is such that it is small, compact and able to be carried in a pocket.

Background of the invention

Pocket tools, such as pocket knives, are relatively common and typically consist of a housing, where different tools can pivot out of the housing for use. In some cases an implement, such as a tooth pick, is able to slide out of a friction fit receptacle portion on the housing.

Pocket tools usually include a selection of tools, and may include different combinations of tools depending upon its intended application. For example a pocket tool could be directed to fastening, such as a selection of screw driver head, or may be tailored to fishing, gardening or car repairs.

Children love little gadgets, particularly those that they can carry in their pocket or can clip onto their school bag. Children also have a strong desire to swap their possessions with their friends, trading one item for another. However, they conversely also have a desire to personalize their belongings, with their own name or a unique decoration, such as is the case with iPod® or iPhone® covers.

It is therefore a desired object of the present invention to provide an alternative pocket tool that can be customized to a user.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a multifunctional pocket tool, including: a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first and second housing portions having a spindle extending therebetween; at least one tool holder removably positionable on the spindle to sit between the first and second housing portions, the tool holder having means to connect to one of a series of tools, the tool holder(s) with tool rotatable about the spindle between a storage position and an in-use position; wherein the pocket tool is reconfigurable with a user's selection of tools.

The spindle is preferably reconfigurable to space the first and second housing at different distances, such that a pocket tool can be reconfigured to different widths, which allows for a different number of tools or tools of different widths to be placed between the first and second housing portions.

The first and second housing portions are preferably elongated ovals in shape, such that they have two straight sides and semi-circular ends. Advantageously, the connected tool and tool holder are of similar external shape to the housing portions. The tools may rotate in and out of the housing, and when rotated into a non-use position sit within the boundaries of the housing.

Preferably, the first housing portion includes a torch and activation button. The second housing portion may include a nameplate, such that a user can write or etch their name on the nameplate's surface. The nameplate may be provided as an insert that slots into a channel in the second housing portion. Alternative nameplate inserts may be provided that can receive inter-changeable decorative buttons.

Advantageously, the spindle is a hollow tube, such that a loop of string may project through the centre of the spindle, allowing a clip to be attached to the pocket tool. The clip is preferably a carabiner. The tool holders advantageously have an aperture that allows them to slide onto and rotate about the spindle. The tool holders may be provided in a number of selected widths, with different combinations being configurable on the spindle to sit between the two housing portions.

Advantageously, the tool holders or the tools are respectively male and female components, such that a male portion of one clips inside a female portion of the other. Preferably, the tool holder is the female receptacle portion and the tool has the male tongue portion(s). The male component preferably includes at least one other projection that is capable of being moved laterally, such that it is biased in a first direction to lock into a lateral opening in the female component. Pressing the projection disengages it from the lateral opening, releasing the tool from the tool holder.

Advantageously, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are spaced apart by the spindle.

In a first embodiment, the spindle may be integral to the housing portions such that half the spindle projects from the first housing portion and the other half projects from the second housing portion. A connector may be used to connect the two sides of the spindle and therefore the two housing portions. The connector is preferably removable from one or both housing portions, such that it clips into and out of the apertures in the housing portion. Alternatively, connection means may be integrated into the ends of the two halves of the spindle.

In a second embodiment, the spindle may be a separate component, where the spindle also connects the two housing portions. Alternatively, the connector may form part of the spindle, where the central portion of the connector forms the central portion of the spindle and the outer ends of the connector project into the outer ends of the spindle sections projecting from the housing portions. Another alternative embodiment has the spindle being integrally formed and projecting from one of the housing portions only; the end of the spindle then connecting directly, or via a separate connector, to the other housing portion. The connector may use a bayonet connection or an outwardly biased projections connection, or any other suitable connection. A locking mechanism may be incorporated into the housing portions to prevent disconnection.

Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of reference only, with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pocket tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a hand holding the pocket tool of Figure 1 , with a tool rotated outward for use;

Figure 3 illustrates three pocket tools and a variety of tools;

Figure 4 shows perspective views of three alternate width pocket tools;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pocket tool of Figure 1 with the second housing portion being removed;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pocket tool of Figures 1 and 5, with a first tool and tool holder being removed;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pocket tool of Figures 5 and 6, with the first tool being removed from the first tool holder and three alternative tools;

Figure 8 and 9 are perspective views of the pocket tool of Figures 5 to 7, with a replacement tool being inserted into the first tool holder; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the second housing portion being clipped back onto the spindle;

Figure 11 is a partially exploded perspective view of a pocket tool according to a second embodiment, similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a pocket tool housing according to a third embodiment;

Figure 13 is a side view of the pocket tool housing of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of the pocket tool housing of Figure 1, with the first housing portion being connected to the connector;

Figure 15 is a partially exploded perspective view of the pocket tool housing of Figure 14, with the second housing portion being connected to the connector;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a pocket tool according to the third embodiment having a first width;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the pocket tool of Figure 16 having a second width;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the pocket tool of Figure 16 having a third width;

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the pocket tool of Figure 16 without tools inserted;

Figure 20a is a perspective view of the tool and tool holder of the third embodiment;

Figure 20b is a top view of the tool and tool holder of Figure 20a; Figure 21a is a cross-sectional side view through the pocket tool with a locking mechanism in the engaged position;

Figure 21b is a cross-sectional side view of the pocket tool of Figure 21a with the locking mechanism in the disengaged position;

Figure 22 is a perspective exploded view of a nameplate insert;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of the nameplate insert of Figure 22 with alternative buttons; and

Figure 24 is a perspective view of a nameplate insert with buttons inserted into a pocket tool.

Detailed description of the embodiments

A multifunctional pocket tool 10 is shown in Figure 1 in the non-use or storage condition, as it would be transported in a pocket, in a bag or could be used with a clip to be clipped onto a bag or belt. Figure 2 shows the pocket tool 10 in an in-use condition, where the pocket tool 10 is held in the hand and one of the tools, being a compass tool 12, has been rotated out using a thumb.

The pocket tool 10 is constructed from a first housing portion 14 and a second housing portion 16 that have a spindle 18 extending between them. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, three tool holders 20a, 20b, 20c sit on the spindle 18. Clipped into each of the tool holders 20a, 20b, 20c are three tools 12, 22, 24. In the non-use condition of Figure 1 , all of the clipped in tools sit within the boundary defined by the housing. Each of the tool holders 20a, 20b, 20c have an aperture 21 allowing them to sit on and rotate about the spindle 18, such that one or more of the tools 12, 22, 24 can be rotated to an in-use position, as shown in Figure 2, where the tools located on the outer end can be used.

In boththe non-use or in-use positions, a tool 12, 22, 24 can be released from its respective holder 20a, 20b, 20c such that it can be used separately to the pocket tool 10. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the tool 24 is a ball maze game, which can be released from the pocket tool and played with. A different tool of a similar width, such as the tape measure tool 26 could be clipped back into the empty tool holder 20c to replace the ball maze game tool 24, allowing the pocket tool 10 to be reconfigured with different tools according to the user's preferences.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the tools may take many forms and come in a variety of widths. The type of tool is only limited by its ability to fit within the dimensional boundaries of the housing portions. For example, compass tool 12, tool 22, ball maze game tool 24, tape measure tool 26, notepad and pen tool 28, USB tool 30 and voice changer tool 32 are all of a first width, being 6mm. Magnifying glass tool 34, mirror tool 36 and blank tool 38 are all of a smaller width, being 3mm. Earphone tool 40, storage compartment tool 42 and blank tool 44 are all of a larger width, being 12mm. There is therefore the ability to reconfigure the tool holders placed on the spindle 18 to a user's requirements for the tools that they wish to have on their pocket tool 10. This is explained in detail below.

As can also be seen from Figure 3, the spindle 18 is hollow, which allows for the threading of a cord 46 to enable a clip, such as carabiner 48 to be attached to the pocket tool 10. This allows the pocket tool 10 to be hung from school bags or belts. The first housing portion 14 also includes a torch 50, being an LED that emits light out of the end of the first housing portion 14. A button 52 is located on the face 54 of the first housing portion 14. The second housing portion 16 includes a nameplate 56 on the face 58. The nameplate 56 could be such that a name could be etched into it, written on it or applied with a sticker. The pocket tool 10 can be further visually personalised by producing the housing portions, tool holders and tools in different coloured plastic, such that different combinations of colours can be assembled together by the user. The nameplate could be an insert strip (not shown) or, as can be seen in an alternative embodiment in Figures 22-24, be an insert 57 with slide in buttons 59 used to decorate the first housing portion. The buttons 59 could be different shapes such as starts, circles etc, different colours, or depict flags or characters. Once the buttons 59 have been slid into the insert 57 (as in Figure 23) the insert 57 is then slid in the second housing portion 16 (as shown in Figure 24). Customisation of the pocket tool 10 can be achieved with the provision of different length spindles 18, as shown in Figure 4. The two housing portions 14, 16 are spaced apart by the spindle and it is the distance between the two housing portions 14, 16 that defines the amount of space available on the spindle for tool holders 20. As can be seen in Figure 4, typically the lengths of the spindles are such that the width on the inside of the first and second housing portions 14, 16 is 18mm, 30mm and 42mm. On the 18mm spindle you can fit three 6mm width holders 20; alternatively you could fit six 3mm holders, or one 12mm holder and one 6mm holder, or two 6mm holders and two 3mm holders, or any other combination. On the 30mm spindle you can fit five 6mm width holders or ten 3mm holders, or two 12mm holders and one 6mm holder, or one 12mm holder and three 6mm holders, or any other combination. On the 42mm spindle you can fit seven 6mm width holders, or fourteen 3mm holders, or three 12mm holders and one 6mm holder, or two 12mm holders and three 6mm holders, or any other combination.

Reconfiguration according to a first embodiment will now be described, with reference to Figures 5 through 10. In this illustrated embodiment, and that shown in Figure 11 also, the spindle 18 is formed from two halves 18a and 18b, each being integrally formed projections extending from the first and second housing portions 14, 16. A connector 19 extends through the spindle and through the apertures 64 in the housing portions 14, 16.

In Figure 5 it is shown that the second housing portion 16 is removed from the connector 19. The connector 19 has two projections 60 that are flexible enough to resiliently deform under the application of enough pressure, but that otherwise sit within recessed section 62 on the outer faces 54, 58 of the housing portions adjacent the apertures 64. These recessed sections 62 also prevent the housing portions from rotating about the connector 19.

As shown in Figure 6, once the housing portion 16 has been removed, the connected tool holder 20c and tool 24 can be removed, by similarly pulling off the spindle 18 and connector 19 overcoming the outward bias of the projections 60. The tools can also be removed from the tool holders whilst on the spindle, as explained earlier, however, when reconfiguring the pocket tool, a user may select different tools, different coloured components or different sized holders. It is shown in Figures 7 and 8 how the tool and holder connect. In the embodiment illustrated, the holder 20 includes a receptacle or female portion 66 and the tool 24 includes a tongue or male portion 68. The tool 24 also includes a projection 70 that sits adjacent the tongue 68 and has a lateral projection 72. A space 73 is provided between the tongue 68 and the projection 70 such that the projection 70 is capable of moving laterally. The projection 70 is biased outwardly, such that when inserted into the receptacle 66, the lateral projection 72 engages in a cut-out aperture 74 in the side of the tool holder 20c. To release the tool 24 from the holder 20c, the lateral projection 72 is pushed inwardly against its outward bias through the aperture 74 and the tool is pulled away from the holder.

A new tool 12 and potentially a new holder (of different colour or width to match the chosen tool) are selected and the tool is inserted into the holder, as shown in Figure 9. The holder 20c is then pressed down onto the spindle and then the housing portion is clipped in completing the assembly of the reconfigured pocket tool 10.

As best shown in Figure 11 , the housing portions 14, 16 include inwardly projecting tubular sections 18a, 18b that together form the spindle 18. At the centre of the connector 19 is a ridge 76 that runs around the circumference of the connector, which is a hollow tube. The ridge 76 prevents the housing from being pushed more than half way onto the connector 19, locking the projections 60 into the recessed sections 62. The height of the ridge 76 is preferably the same as the thickness of the wall of the spindle, such that when the connector 19 is inserted into the spindle end 18a, the ridge 76 and two spindles ends 18a, 18b, form a seamless join.

When creating pocket tools 10 of different widths, it may be that different housing portions 14, 16 are provided with different length projecting spindle halves 18a, 18b. Alternatively, the same housing portions could be used, with a longer connector 19. This is illustrated in relation to the third embodiment in Figure 12. The connector 19 includes a ridge 76 in the centre, but the ridge would be of greater width, such that the distance from the projections to the ridge were the same, but the seamless nature of the spindle was maintained by a wider band being formed from the ridge spanning the gap between the edges of the two spindle halves 18a, 18b.

An alternative embodiment is shown in Figures 12 through 21b, where the connector 119 forms a central portion of the spindle 118. In this embodiment illustrated in Figures 12, 13, 17 and 18 the first and second housing portions 114, 116 are spaced apart further by using a longer connector 119 that includes a wider ridge 176, as described above. Figures 14 and 15 show how the connector 119 is joined to the housing portions. A bayonet connection is used, such that two opposed projections 161 extend laterally from the ends of the connector 119. These projections 161 engage in channels 163 located within the apertures 164 of the housing portions. A first end of the connector 119 is inserted into the aperture of the first housing portion 1 4 (see Figure 14) and rotated 90 degrees to engage the bayonet connection. The second end of the connector 119 is then inserted into the second housing portion 116 (see Figure 15) and rotated, with the first housing portion 114, 90 degrees until the two housing portions are aligned. It is in the condition shown in Figure 15, that tool holders 120 are slotted onto the first housing portion 114 and connector 119, before the second housing portion is connected. As shown in Figures 20a and 20b, the tool holder's apertures 121 include cut outs 123 that allow the tool holders 120 to slot over the projections 161 on the connector 119. It can also be seen from Figure 20a and 20b that the tool and tool holder connection in this embodiment include two locking projections 170 with a central male projection 168. The locking projections 170 are hook-like with lateral projecting sections 172 that engage in the apertures 174 in the two sides of the tool holder 120.

As shown in Figures 21a and 21b, a locking mechanism is incorporated into the housing portions 114, 116. Rocker switches 181 , 183 are provided in the faces 154, 156 of the housing portions 114, 116, which rock about pivot points 185, 187. As shown in Figure 21a, springs 189, 191 bias the inner ends of the rocket switches to clamp against the lateral projections 161 preventing the disconnection of the connector 119 from the housing portions 114, 116. To release, as shown in Figure 21 b, the rocker switches 181 , 183 are depressed and the connector is undamped allowing for removal. It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a pocket tool that is both able to be personalised, reconfigurable and allows for the swapping of tools. The ability to remove tool holders means that numerous combinations of tools can be swapped in and out. The ability of being able to alter the distance between the housing portions also provides an advantage over known pocket tools.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.