"MULTIPLE TOOL"

Designed inventors: Barbara Bigolin, Frank Hermansen, Carl Winefordner

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multiple tool.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a multiple tool for the maintenance and repair of motorcycles, bicycles and the like, and their mechanical parts.

STATE OF THE ART

Multiple tools are known, particularly of the pocket type and then rather small, which allow the user to bring together in one portable object a number of implements, each one for a different use.

Some examples of these implements are wrenches, alien keys, screwdrivers, and the like.

Some known types of multiple tools are especially dedicated to the care, maintenance and repair of mechanical parts for cycles and motorcycles.

The user can then bring with himself the multiple tool, for example, when making excursions or trips by bicycle or motorcycle, so he can work out emergency situations, such as mechanical damage to the medium, boring tire punctures, and more.

Alternatively, the multiple tool can be simply used to make quick adjustments to the medium itself, such as raise or lower the saddle, mount or dismount accessories, and so on.

Portable multiple tools of the known type generally comprise a pivot around which said implements, adjacent one another, are rotatable from a minimum encumbrance retracted position to an operating position: this operating position is reached by manually rotating the implement around the pivot, starting from the retracted position, by a certain angle comfortable enough to use the implement by gripping the multiple tool.

Portable multiple tools are relatively heavy because they generally require two steel bolts for the tools to pivot around, two steel or aluminum frame members, and about half the weight of each tool is comprised by the portion that pivots around each bolt.

Some less portable tools that are commonly used in shops or at home are known as Y-tools, because each Y-tool is comprised of 3 tools joined at the center, each tool about 120° apart from the next.

Y-tools are more convenient to use than portable multiple tools, but they are rather inconvenient to carry, partly because of their shape, and partly because approximately ten different tools are commonly required for maintaining a bicycle, which would mean carrying three or four separate Y-tools.

Furthermore, carrying three or four separate Y-tools in a jersey pocket would be dangerous, as the tool tips could easily poke the person.

Additionally, other tools and accessories beyond Y-tools are sometimes required, such as a chain breaker, inflator, spoke wrenches, tire patch kit, and the like.

There is not a known convenient way to bundle Y-tools, or to additionally carry other needed tools beyond the Y-tools.

PURPOSES OF THE INVENTION

The technical aim of the present invention is therefore to improve the state of the art.

Within such technical aim it is an object of the invention to develop a light weight multiple tool that is more convenient to carry, and that can additionally carry other needed tools and accessories.

This aim and these objects are all achieved by the multiple tool according to the attached claim 1.

According to the invention, the multiple tool comprises at least one tool body provided with a central portion and radial portions departing from the central portion; each of the radial portions carries a respective tool. The multiple tool further comprises at least a frame, provided with at least an opening for removably housing at least one tool body, and with peripheral seats for removably housing respective implements. According to another aspect of the invention, the tool bodies are easily connected to a frame because of magnetic attraction.

According to a further aspect of the invention, all the implements can be easily engaged and disengaged from the frame.

One of the preferred embodiments of the multiple tool has a chain breaker that provides better leverage for turning the pin screw, and which can also be used as a spoke adjuster.

Other preferred embodiments of the multiple tool further comprise a tire inflator that comprises a valve that can be selectably opened or closed.

Other preferred embodiments of the multiple tool further comprise a storage container for tool bits.

Other alternative embodiments are not shown, but would be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages will be better understood by any man skilled in the art from the following description that follows and from the attached drawings, given as a non-limiting example, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of the multiple tool according to the invention;

figure 2 is a partially exploded view of the multiple tool;

figure 3 is perspective partially sectioned view of the multiple tool;

figure 4 is an exploded view of one of the Y-tools of the multiple tool shown in figures 1-3;

figure 5 is a perspective view of the chain breaker and spoke wrench shown in figure 2;

figure 6 is an exploded view of the chain breaker shown in figure 2 and ready for use;

figure 7 is a perspective view of a gas cartridge ready for installation into the tire inflator shown in figure 2;

figure 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the multiple tool according to the invention;

figure 9 is an exploded view of the multiple tool shown in figure 8;

figure 10 is perspective view of another embodiment of the multiple tool according to the invention;

figure 1 1 is an exploded view of the multiple tool shown in figure 10;

figure 12 is a perspective detailed view of the multiple tool according to the embodiment of figures 10, 1 1 ;

figure 13 is a perspective detailed and partially sectioned view of the multiple tool according to the embodiment of figures 10-12;

figure 14 is a perspective detailed view of another embodiment of the multiple tool according to the invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the schematic representation of figure 1, a multiple tool according to the invention is wholly indicated with 10.

In the following embodiments individual characteristics, given in connection with specific embodiments, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other embodiments.

The multiple tool 10 comprises at least a tool body 70,90.

The tool body 70,90 comprises a central portion 22 and radial portions 24.

The radial portions 24 depart from the central portion 22.

Each of the radial portions 24 carries a respective tool 72,74,76, or 92,94,96.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the multiple tool 100 comprises at least a frame 40.

The frame 40 comprises a frame body 46.

The frame 40, and in particular its frame body 46, comprises at least an opening 41. The opening 41 is suitable for removably housing at least a tool body 70,90.

According to another aspect of the invention, the frame 40, in more in particular the frame body 46, comprises peripheral seats 12, 14, 16. The peripheral seats 12, 14, 16 are suitable for removably housing respective implements 1 10, 130, 140.

More in detail, the frame body 46 comprises a central region 48.

Furthermore, the frame body 46 comprises radial regions 49 departing from the central region 48.

The peripheral seats 12, 14, 16 are foreseen among the radial regions 49 of the frame body 46.

The opening 41 is passing through the frame body 46.

The opening 41 fully extends through the central region 48 and the radial portions 49 of the frame body 46.

The frame body 46 is made of a semi-rigid material.

For example, the frame body 46 is made of glass filled nylon polymer, or any other suitable material.

Each of the radial regions 49 of the frame body 46 comprise a widened end portion 50.

The widened end portion 50 comprises two respective lateral surfaces 52,54.

The lateral surfaces 52,54 of two adjacent widened end portions 50 are opposite to each other, and define a respective peripheral seat 12, 14, 16.

According to another aspect of the invention, each of the peripheral seats 12, 14, 16 comprises respective holding means 60 for the implements 1 10, 130, 140.

The holding means 60 foreseen in each of the peripheral seats 12, 14, 16 are suitable to removably retain the respective implement 1 10, 130, 140.

More in particular, the holding means 60 comprise at least two bumps 42,43.

The bumps 42,43 are foreseen on the lateral surfaces 52,54 of two adjacent widened end portions 50.

The holding means 60 further comprise two respective recesses 44,45 foreseen in each of the implements 1 10, 130, 140.

In particular, the recesses 44,45 are foreseen on opposite sides of each of the implements 1 10, 130, 140, as better explained hereafter.

According to the invention, the bumps 42,43 are elastically engageable in the respective recesses 44,45.

Referring in particular to the embodiment of figures 1-7, the multiple tool 10 comprise two tool bodies 70,90.

In particular, the multiple tool 10 comprises a first tool body 70 and a second tool body 90.

The tool bodies 70,90 are removably insertable in the opening 41 of the frame body 46.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the central portions 22 of the tool bodies 70,90 comprise respective mutual connection means 80.

The mutual connection means 80 comprise at least a magnet 78.

The magnet 78 is foreseen on at least a face 79 of the central portion 22 of at least one of the tool bodies 70,90.

More in detail, a face 79 of each of the tool bodies 70,90 comprise a respective magnet 78.

The magnets 78 foreseen in the two tool bodies 70,90 are mounted with reverse polarities, in order to generate a mutual attraction magnetic force.

As it can be clearly seen in figure 3, the tool bodies 70,90 are mutually connected inside the opening 41 of the frame body 46, in a minimum encumbrance configuration.

The two tool bodies 70,90 also magnetically connect to ordinary steel, such as for mounting directly to a steel wall strip for home or shop storage.

The central portion 22 of each of the tool bodies 70,90 comprise a flange portion 84, see for example figure 3 or 4.

Furthermore, the frame body 46 comprises notches 44 for the quick and easy extraction of each of the tool bodies 70,90 from the opening 41.

The notches 44 are foreseen on both faces of the frame body 46, by the peripheral seats 12, 14, 16.

The flange portion 84 is suitable to rest on the respective notches 44 - as shown in figure 2,3 - when the tool body 70,90 is housed in the opening 41 in the configuration of minimum encumbrance. The notches 44 allow the user to insert a finger under the flange portion 84 to remove the tool bodies 70,90.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, each of the tool bodies 70,90 is substantially "Y" shaped.

In particular, each of the tool bodies 70,90 comprises three radial portions 24, angularly equidistant by 120°.

Referring to the first tool body 70, its radial portions 24 carry respective first tools 72,74,76.

For example, the first tool body 70 comprises a 6 mm hexagonal alien key 72, a 5 mm hexagonal alien key 74, and a 4 mm hexagonal alien key 76.

Referring to the second tool body 90, its radial portions 24 carry respective second tools 92,94,96.

Again for example, the second tool body 90 comprises a T-25 driver 92, an 8 mm hexagonal alien key 94, and a ¼ inch hexagonal socket 96.

Figure 4 shows some design features of the first tool body 70.

The central portion 22 comprises an upper seat 71 and three side recesses 77.

The magnet 78 preferably press fits the upper seat 71 or, as an alternative, it is bonded inside said upper seat 71.

First tools 72,74,76 are bonded or press fit into the respective side recesses 77, and then possibly welded into place.

The second tool body 90 shows the same above disclosed design features.

Referring to figure 2, a first implement 1 10 is constituted by a storage container, for holding hexagonal tool bits 120, of any kind.

The container 1 10 comprises an opened side which is fully closed when the container is engaged in the respective peripheral seat 12.

A second implement 130 is constituted by a chain breaker and spoke adjuster, shown for example in figure 5.

In particular, the chain breaker and spoke adjuster 130 comprises a body 133 and a screw 135.

The body comprises lateral recesses 44,45. The lateral recess 45 is foreseen in a ¼ inch hexagonal portion 134 of the screw 135.

The body 133 further comprises a 6 mm hexagonal recess 132, and two spoke adjustment recesses 131.

In figure 6 the chain breaker and spoke adjuster 130 is shown ready for use as a chain breaker.

To easily and conveniently hold the chain breaker and spoke adjuster 130, the first tool 72 - 6 mm hexagonal alien key - fits into the 6 mm hexagonal recess 132 of body 133.

For easily turning the screw 135, the ¼ inch hexagonal socket 96 fits the ¼ inch hexagonal portion 134.

This configuration provides better screw leverage than traditional multiple tools.

In addition, this solution overcomes the drawbacks of the chain breakers foreseen on existing portable multiple tools, which do not provide long enough holds for turning in the screw, making it difficult to remove or install chain pins.

A third implement 140 is constituted by a tire inflator.

In particular, the tire inflator 140 comprises a body 146, and a tip 148.

With reference to figure 7, when a gas cartridge 160 is fully screwed into the body

146 of the tire inflator 140, it becomes punctured, allowing pressurized gas to flow through the body 146.

The tip 148 is pressed onto a tire valve, and when the tip 148 is depressed hard enough, pressurized gas flows into the tire.

Each of the implements 1 10, 130, 140 can be easily housed inside respective peripheral seats 12, 14, 16.

In fact, during engagement, the frame body 46 flexes slightly, in order to allow bumps 42,43 to engage with the respective recesses 44,45.

Each of the implements 1 10, 130, 140 can be easily removed from the peripheral seats 12, 14, 16 as well.

Another embodiment of the multiple tool according to the invention is shown in figures 8,9, wholly indicated with 210. This embodiment of the invention differs from the previous embodiment in that is comprises three first implements 1 10 constituted by identical storage containers. Two of the storage containers 1 10 house respective tool bits 120, while a third storage container 1 10 holds, for example, an inner tube patch kit 170.

More in general, each of the storage containers 1 10 can hold whatever the user wants, such as money, medicine, a key, spare screws, and/or any other object suitable to fit inside the storage container 1 10.

This embodiment 210 of the invention has more storage space, and it is cheaper to manufacture than the previous embodiment.

The previous embodiments of the invention have been disclosed as comprising two tool bodies 70,90.

Further embodiments of the invention, not shown in the attached figures, could comprise just one tool body 70 engaged in the opening 41 of the frame 40.

Another embodiment of the multiple tool according to the invention is shown in figures 10-13, and wholly indicated with 310.

This embodiment differs from the one of figures 1-7 in that it further comprises a third tool body 180, in addition to the first tool body 70 and to the second tool body 90.

The third tool body 180 has the same shape of the first and second tool bodies 70,90.

The third tools 184, 186, 188 of the third tool body 180 can be of any kind previously disclosed.

The three tool bodies 70,90, 180 are reciprocally connected, and held together inside the opening 41 of the frame body 46 as explained hereafter, and as better shown in figure 13.

The central portion 22 of the first tool body 70 comprises a lower seat 73, closed on top by a magnet 75.

The lower seat 73 has, for example, hexagonal cross section.

The central portion 22 of the second tool body 90 comprises a passing hole 93, having the same cross section of the lower seat 73, so for example hexagonal. The central portion 22 of the third tool body 180 comprises an upper protrusion 182.

The upper protrusion 182 has the same cross section of the passing hole 93 and of the lower seat 73, so for example hexagonal.

The upper protrusion 182 is inserted into the passing hole 93, it engages the lower seat 73 of the first tool body 70, and therefore it contacts the magnet 75.

The three tool bodies 70,90, 180 are thus safely held together inside the opening 41 of the frame body 46.

In addition, the rotation of the tool bodies 70,90, 180 with respect to each other is prevented.

While in this embodiment of the invention the three tool bodies 70,90, 180 are held together magnetically, it would also be possible to hold them together by using a light press fit, or other friction means.

As shown in figure 12, the three tool bodies 70,90, 180 can also be used per se, without to need to engage them inside the opening 41 of the frame 40.

This configuration is best suited for home or shop use, rather than portability, and it offers a convenient way to keep multiple tools body together when not in use.

While in this embodiment three tool bodies 70,90, 180 are described, almost any quantity of tool bodies - two or more - could be included.

According to another embodiment of the invention, shown in figure 14, each of the tool bodies 70,90, 180 -disclosed in the previous embodiments - can be made of a single component.

In particular, in figure 14 the first tool body 70 is shown.

For example, the first tool body 70 - or any other of the tool bodies 90, 180 - could be forged or investment cast as a single piece.

The magnet 78 - when foreseen - can be directly included inside the mold.

The multiple tool 10,210,310 according to the invention, in its assembled configuration, is compact, easy and safe to carry, and convenient to use.

Within such compact and convenient configuration, the multiple tool according to the invention allows carrying further implements 1 10, 130, 140 beyond the tool bodies 70,90,180.

The implements 110,130,140 to carry can be obviously chosen by the user from time to time among storage containers, chain breaker and tire inflator, since they can be easily and quickly engaged into the frame 40 and disengaged from it.

The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments, but equivalent variants can be devised without departing from the scope of protection offered by the following claims.