BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to a miniature tool kit and a miniature flashlight, and in particular to a miniature device incorporating a tool kit and a solar-powered light for being carried on a keychain to be held in a pocket or a handbag.

Description of the Prior Art

[0002] There are many descriptions of miniature tool kits which can be held in a person's pocket or in a handbag. These include U.S. Patent Nos. 6,347,875 (Painsith 2002, including among other things a pen knife), 5,809,600 (Cachot 1998, also having a pen knife), 5,887,306 (Huang 1999, screwdriver and knife), 5,996,451 (Seber et al., hand tool including pliers), 6,286,397 (Taggart et al. 2001 , tool kit for use with sports equipment), 6,564,678 (Wang 2003, a plurality of tool kits), 6,574,817 (Wu 2003, a complex tool kit having two tool assemblies), 7,140,280 (Hawkins et al., tool kit with pivotable tools), 7,810,415 (Adamany et al., foidable tool kit with expandable tools), 5,491,856 (Legg 1996, a foidable multiple-function tool), U.S. D555,455 S (Chang 2007, multi-function tool), D549,542 S (Chiang 2007, tool kit), D598,266 S (Rubin et al. 2009, portable tool set), D595,106 S (Rubin et al. 2009, portable tool set), U.S. Pub. 2010/0319138 Al (Adamany et al., a miniature tool kit with an auto-release clasp and expandable tools), 7,810,415 (Adamany et al. 2010, miniature tool kit with an auto- release clasp and expandable tools), D522,519 S (Rubin et al. 2006, miniature tool kit), D551,802 S (Rubin et al. 2007, miniature tool kit), 6,1 12,352 (Legg 2000, foidable tool kit) and 6,109,147 (Legg 2000, hexagonal tool bit set).

[0003] A number of these miniature tool kits have illuminating devices such as flashlights, flashers and LEDs. This group includes U.S. 2007/0182572 Al (Rubin et al. 2007, emergency device with a flashlight and emergency flasher), US 2006/0075570 Al (Gelfand 2006), 7,306,366 (Camenzind et al. 2007, a folding knife with a flashlight that can be powered by a battery or a solar cell), 7,008,076 (Zirk et al. 2006, a folding knife with a light that can be powered by conventional batteries, a solar-powered series of cells or a solar-charged battery), 7,810,415 (Adamany et al. 2010, a portable tool kit having electrically powered lamps), US 2006/0164826 Al (Ackermann et al. 2006, a pocket lamp having a rechargeable energy- storage unit), and 6,460,698 (Wang 2002, a planer tool casing that can be held in a pocket and having one or more lights). There are also U.S. design patents that can be stored in a pocket and have an illumination device including D593,693 S (Adamany et al. 2009, a combined flashlight and docking station), D564,387 S (Rubin et al. 2008, a handheld emergency tool), D552,276 S (Shaljian 2007, a cellular phone light), D544.388 S (Chisholm 2007, an emergency light), D543,297 S (Oslecki et al. 2007, a lighting device), D525,247 S (Rubin et al. 2006, a micro-pro flash drive), D522,519 S (Rubin et al. 2006, a micro-pro flash drive), D514,063 S (Rubin et al. 2006, a micro-flashlight docking station).

[0004] There are also known in the prior art many keyring devices having different keyring assemblies and other apparatuses combined with the keyrings. These include US 2003/01337833 Al (Hsu 2003, a mini-flashlight incorporated on a keyring), 7,810,415 (Adamany et al., an expandable tool kit on a keyring), 7,146,667 (Eisner 2006, a pocket tool including knife blades incorporated on a keyring), 6,332,345 (Huang 2001, a keyring structure having a disc for holding a number of keyrings), 6,006,562 (Wolter 1999, a collective holder having a number of slidable runners each of which include a keyring), 6,487,941 (Ping 2002, a foldable hand tool for being mounted on a keyring), 6,460,698 (Wang 2002, a planer tool casing mounted on a keychain, 6,418,628 (Steingass 2002, a car window breaker mounted on a keychain loop), 5,491,856 (Legg 1996, a foldable multiple-function tool which can be mounted on a keyring), 5,279,021 (Edgin 1994, an article retaining apparatus for being mounted on a keyring), 5,077,850 (Brubaker 1992, a utility device for a keyring), 4,324,121 (Richter 1982, a ring having a removable metal ring for the insertion and removal of keys where the ring is rotatable in a handle portion), 2,558,265 (Mosch 1951, a pocket utensil holder having pivotally-mounted keys), 2,412,056 (Mosch 1946, a utensil holder having pivotally-mounted keys), 2,371,308 (Mosch 1945, a pocket utensil holder having pivotally mounted keys), 1,561,262 (Martin 1925, a pocket implement mounted on a keyring), US 2010/0319138 Al (Adamany et al. 2010, a portable tool kit mounted on a clasp), 7,557,720 (Rubin et al. 2009, a personal emergency device mounted on a keyring), 5,491,856 (Legg 1996, a foldable multifunction tool mountable on a keyring). There are also a number of U.S. design patents disclosing various devices mountable on a keyring or incorporating a keyring, including D593,693 S (Adamany et al. 2009, a combined flashlight and docking station), D575,182 S (Rubin et al. 2008, a handheld emergency tool mountable on a keyring), D522,519 S (Rubin et al. 2006, a micro-pro flash drive mountable on a keyring), D543,297 S (Oslecki et al. 2007, a lighting device incorporating a keyring) and D622.955 S (Mudrick et al. 2010, a solar-powered keyring).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a pocket-sized, easy-to-use illuminating device.

[0006] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a small, pocket-sized illuminating device having tools which do not significantly increase the size of the illuminating device.

[0007] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a pocket-sized illuminating device which does not require batteries.

[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a small solar-powered illuminating device having an easy-to-access actuating button which does not impede the function of a solar panel.

[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to a small, attractive and easy-to-use pocket-sized illuminating device having a quick-disconnect keyring.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a small pocket-sized illuminating device lacking sharp edges and including tools which do not significantly increase the size of the device and are configured to maintain the profile of the device.

[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a small pocket-sized LED illuminating device having a relatively thin depth with an easy-to-access actuating button.

[0012] A further object is the provision of a small, attractive multi-tool solar-powered light which is economical and efficient to manufacture, and easy to use.

[0013] These and other objects will be apparent from the description to follow and from the appended claims.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a small, pocket-sized multi- tool with a solar-powered light is provided which is composed of opposing face plates of a relatively large dimension as compared to the side walls connecting the face plates, the entire unit lacking sharp corners to render it easy and safe to carry. The inventive device has on one of the face plates a solar panel and on its opposite face plate an actuating button. At one end of the device there are side walls having a pair of LED lenses, and at the other end are side walls having a slide, quick-disconnect keyring holder. Opposing sets of long side walls have a pair of slots holding respectively a pivotable pocketknife and on the other connecting end a pivotable tool. Both of the latter pocketknife and tool have holes extending through their accessible portions when the latter implements are in their closed positions for rendering the pocketknife and the tool easy to engage and move to their respective open positions.

[0015] The inventive device is preferably precisely made and sturdy in performance. It is constructed from modular units which are easy to assemble but relatively difficult to disassemble, rendering it durable in use. It is nonetheless very economical to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the preferred form of the multi-tool assembly according to the invention showing a solar panel incorporated in the device.

[0017] Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, taken from the opposite side of the device showing the actuating button.

[0018] Fig. 5 is a top view of the invention showing the solar panel.

[0019] Figs. 6 and 7 are exploded views taken from different directions of the device shown in Figs. 1 -5.

[0020] Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of a module incorporated in the multi-tool assembly shown in Figs. 1-7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring to Figs. 1-4, a multi-tool assembly with solar-powered light 10 is shown in perspective form. Multi-tool assembly 10 includes a housing 12. Housing 12 has a body portion 14. Body portion 14 includes a body portion face plate 16 which has a peripheral configuration, with opposing body portion long edges and opposing body portion short edges interconnecting the latter long edges. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, face plate 1 has a solar panel window 18. Body portion 14 further includes a body portion long side wall 20 and an opposing body portion long side wall 22. Side walls 20 and 22 extend transversely from the body portion long edges, and they each terminate in long side free surfaces 26 and 28, respectively.

[0022] Body portion 14 further includes a body portion short side wall 30 and an opposing body portion short side wall 32. The latter body portion short side walls 30, 32 extend from the respective body portion short edges and interconnect respective body portion long side walls 20, 22. Body portion short side wall 30 terminates in a first short side free surface 34, and body portion short side wall 32 terminates in a second short side free surface 38. Body portion short side wall 30 has a pair of light-emitting diode orifices 42. Body portion short side wall 32 is of greater width than is body portion short side wall 30 between the respective body portion long side walls 20 and 22 that they respectively interconnect.

[0023] Housing 12 further includes a cover portion 46. Cover portion 46 has a cover portion face plate 48 which has a peripheral configuration matching that of the peripheral configuration of the body portion face plate, and has opposing cover portion long edges and opposing cover portion short edges interconnecting the cover portion long edges. Cover portion face plate 48 has an actuating-button window 50. Also included in cover portion 46 are opposing cover portion long side walls 52 and 54 which extend transversely from the respective cover portion long edges. Long side walls 52 and 54 terminate respectively in long side wall free surfaces 56 and 58. Free surfaces 56 and 58 oppose the respective free surfaces 34 and 38 to form a blade-receiving slot 59 and a tool-receiving slot 61, respectively.

[0024] Cover portion 46 further includes cover portion short side walls 60 and 62, respectively. Free surfaces 56 and 58 face the respective free surfaces 26 and 28.

[0025] Cover portion 46 additionally includes a cover portion short side wall 60 and an opposing cover portion short side wall 62. Short side wall 60 terminates in a short side free surface 64, and short side wall 62 terminates in a short side wall free surface 66. There is also provided structure 67 for attaching body portion 14 and cover portion 46 together to form housing 12, the latter structure including screws 154 discussed below. The foregoing attachment forms a compartment 68.

[0026] Multi-tool assembly 10 further includes a blade assembly 70 disposed in part between body portion face plate 16 and cover portion face plate 48. Blade assembly 70 is proximal to one of body portion long side walls 20 and 22 and the opposing cover portion long side walls 52 and 54. Blade assembly 70 is shown as being proximal long side walls 20 and 54. Blade assembly 70 includes a knife blade 72 which is pivotably mounted between a closed portion (shown in Figs. 1-4) wherein knife blade 72 is substantially between body portion 14 and cover portion 46, and includes an open position discussed below wherein knife blade 72 is substantially withdrawn from body portion 14 and cover portion 46. A portion of free surface 26 of body portion long side wall 20 and at least a portion of free surface 56 of cover portion long side wall 52 are spaced apart sufficiently to allow for the pivotal movement of knife blade 72 between body portion 14 and cover portion 46.

[0027] Similarly, a tool assembly 74 is disposed in part between body portion face plate 16 and cover portion face plate 48 proximal body portion long side wall 22 and cover portion long side wall 54. Tool assembly 74 includes a tool 76 which is pivotally movable between a closed position where tool 76 is substantially between body portion 14 and cover portion 46 (as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) and an open position where tool 76 is substantially withdrawn from body portion 14 and cover portion 46. Free surface 28 of body portion long side wall 22 and free surface 58 of cover portion long side wall 54 are spaced apart sufficiently to allow the pivotal movement of tool 76.

[0028] With particular reference to Figs. 6 and 7, multi-tool assembly 10 further includes a solar-powered light assembly 78. Solar-powered light assembly 78 is composed of a circuit board 80, a solar panel 82 which is electronically coupled to circuit board 80, at least one light- emitting diode 84, and two LEDs are shown. LEDs 84 are electrically coupled to circuit board 80 and solar panel 82. Each LED 84 has a lens 86. Each lens 86 transmits light through light- emitting orifice 42 shown in Fig. 2. Light assembly 78 further includes an LED switch 88 for closing an electric circuit 90 to illuminate an LED 84 which is solar powered by solar panel 82. Assembly 78 additionally includes a light assembly mounting structure 92 (described in detail below) for mounting solar panel light assembly 78 in compartment 68.

[0029] An actuating assembly 94 is provided for selectively actuating LED switch 88 to illuminate LEDs 84. Actuating assembly 94 includes a switching device 96 shown in Figs. 6 and 7. A switching device 96 transmits manual pressure to LED switch 88 to close electric circuit 90. The input to actuating assembly 94 is an actuating button 98 which is accessible through actuating-button window 50, button 98 being operatively connected to switching device 96. There is also an actuating assembly mounting structure 99 described below for mounting actuating assembly 94 in compartment 68. Actuating button 98 is manually operable to operate switching device 96 to actuate LED switch 88 and close electric circuit 90 to illuminate light-emitting diodes 84.

[0030] Still referring to Fig. 1, body portion short side wall 32 has a keyring support slot 100 having a narrow slot portion 102 and a wide slot portion 104. A keyring support 103 is disposed in keyring support slot 100. As shown in further detail in Fig. 6, keyring support 103 has a keyring support base 106 and a keyring support outer member 108 which is spaced from keyring support base 106. Both support base 106 and outer member 108 are wider than the width of narrow slot portion 102, so that keyring support 103 cannot be withdrawn from narrow slot portion 102 so long as keyring support 103 is located in narrow slot portion 102. Keyring support 103 further has a keyring support stem 1 10 which connects base 106 and outer member 108 and is narrower than the distance between the sides of narrow slot portion 102 to enable keyring support stem 1 10 to move in narrow slot portion 102 and be confined to narrow slot portion 102. However, keyring support 103 can be removed from keyring support slot 100 by simply moving support 103 to wide slot portion 104 to withdraw keyring support 103 from keyring support slot 100. Keyring support 103 has a keyring-engaging device 1 12, such as annular ring 118, and holds a keyring on multi-tool assembly 110. In order to retain keyring support 103 in keyring support slot 100 and also to make removal thereof feasible, a biasing device 1 14 is provided for biasing keyring support 103 against the walls defining keyring support slot 100. Biasing device 1 14 is preferably a sheet spring as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

[0031] In order to make knife blade 72 more accessible when in the closed position, a blade recessed portion 1 15 is provided in body portion side wall 20 to enable a fingertip of the user to engage blade 72 and pivot blade 72 from the closed position toward the open position. Likewise, a tool recessed portion 1 17 is provided in body portion long side wall 22 to provide easy access to tool 76 for providing access to the user's fingertip to move tool 76 from the closed position to the open position.

[0032] Tool 76 could really be any type of tool. As is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, tool 76 could include a bottle opener 1 16 and a screwdriver 1 18. Any other type of tool which could be accommodated in housing 12 is possible, and tool 76 could be another knife blade.

[0033] Multi-tool assembly 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention has a very attractive, useful and easy-to-use configuration. Considering Figs. 1-4, and particularly Fig. 5, multi-tool assembly 10 has the profile of a whale. Assembly 10 has a relatively large section 120 which includes opposing body portion long side walls 20 and 22 and cover portion long side walls 52 and 54, and body portion short side wall 32 and cover portion short side wall 62. Multi-tool assembly 10 further has a relatively small section 122 which has generally flat portions which, as shown on Figs. 1-4, include a flat wall 124 which is an end portion of body portion long side wall 20 and an opposing flat wall 126 which is an end portion of body portion long side wall 22, and their corresponding portions of cover portion 46, namely a flat wall 128 and a corresponding flat wall 130 at the ends connected to cover portion short side wall 60 of respective cover portion long side walls 52 and 54. Further included in small section 122 are body portion short side wall 30 and cover portion short side wall 60. The transitions between each of the foregoing portions of the walls described above in housing 12 have rounded corners to protect both the pocket or other place where multi-tool assembly 10 is stored and to protect assembly 10 itself against being chipped or the like.

[0034] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 and to Figs. 8 and 9, it can be seen that knife blade 72, when in its closed position, has an exposed blade edge 131 having a convex configuration similar to the convex configuration of the matched body portion long side wall 20 and the cover portion long side wall 52. Likewise, tool 76 has an exposed edge 132 which has a convex configuration similar to the convex configuration of the matched body portion long side wall 22 and cover portion long side wall 58

[0035] As can further be seen in Figs. 1-4 and 8-9, knife blade 72 has an accessible portion when knife blade 72 is in its closed position, and a fingertip-engaging hole 133 is provided in the accessible portion to enable a user's fingertip to grasp and move knife blade 72 from the closed position to the open position. Likewise, tool 76 has an accessible portion, and it, too, has a fingertip-engaging hole 134 into which a user's fingertip can be inserted to move tool 76 from the closed position to the open position.

[0036] Referring next to blade assembly 70 and tool assembly 74 as shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, assemblies 70 and 74 include an outer plate 135 having the same general peripheral configuration as body portion face plate 16 and cover portion face plate 48, with which outer plate 135 is in alignment in a matching relationship. Outer plate 135 has an actuating-button window 136 in alignment with actuating-button window 50 in cover portion face plate 48. Assembly 70 further includes an inner plate 137 which also has the same general peripheral configuration as outer plate 135, which in turn has the same general peripheral configuration as body portion face plate 16 and cover portion face plate 48. Outer plate 135 has opposing outer plate long side portions 138 and 140, and opposing short side portions 142 and 144. Inner plate 137 has an actuating-button window 145 which is in alignment with actuating-button window 136 of outer plate 135. Inner plate 137 has opposing inner plate long side portions 146 and 148 matching respective outer plate long side portions 138 and 140. Inner plate 137 likewise has short side portions 150 and 152 which oppose each other and match short side portions 142 and 144.

[0037] Knife blade 72 is pivotally mounted between outer plate 135 and inner plate 137. Knife blade 72 is further proximal outer plate long side portions 138 and the matching inner plate long side portion 146. Likewise, tool 76 is pivotally mounted between outer plate 135 and inner plate 137 and is proximal the other of aligned outer plate long side portion 140 and inner plate long side portion 148. Actuating assembly 94 is incorporated in blade assembly 70. Switching device 96 is in alignment with actuating-button windows 136 and 145 of outer plate 135 and inner plate 137, as well as with LED switch 88.

[0038] Body portion 14 is connected to cover portion 46 by means of fasteners such as screws 154. These engage with appropriate bores and receptacles, such as screw bores 156 in cover portion 46 and screw receptacles 158 in body portion 16.

[0039] Blade assembly 70 includes a rivet 160 extending through outer plate 135 and inner plate 137 about which blade 72 pivots. Tool 76 pivots about a rivet 162 also extending through plates 135 and 137. A blade spring bar or blade biasing device 164 for biasing blade 72 towards the open position and for releasably locking blade 72 in the open position is provided. Biasing occurs because of the central bent portion 166 of blade spring bar 164 which provides a biasing force as blade 72 nears the open position, and the locking occurs because of the engagement of a blunt end portion 168 with a shoulder 170 of blade 72. Blade spring bar 164 is mounted on a rivet 172 extending through plates 132 and 134. Biasing of tool 76 is provided by a tool spring bar or tool biasing device 174 having a central bent portion 176 for biasing tool 76 to the open position as tool 76 approaches its open position. Tool spring bar 174 has a blunt end 178 which abuts against a shoulder 180 of tool 76 to temporarily lock tool 76 in the open position. Tool spring bar 174 is mounted on a rivet 182 extending through plates 132 and 134. [0040] Multi-tool assembly with solar-powered light 10 is particularly efficient in operation, is aesthetic in appearance, economical to make and durable in use. Its modular construction is important with respect to its economical characteristic.

[0041] The invention has been described with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, but variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains with respect to the foregoing description and to the appended claims.