Abstract
First and second handles 18 and 20 extend from first and second plier parts 24 and 26 with a tool shaft 14 disposed on the handle 20 and extending outward of a pivot at 34 and stows into the outer side of the handle 20. The base 42 of the tool shaft 14 has a mating profile 80 which engages a complimentary mating profile 48 disposed on the pivot at 32 or at a complimentary mating profile 48 in an accessory tool 50. The tool shaft 14 is locked in place by closing the two handles 18 and 20 and engaging the handle locking mechanism 30, and extends from a center of the two handles 18 and 20 when closed.
Claims
1. A multitool 12 with locking multipurpose driver, the multitool 12 comprising: a plier head 22 and first and second handles 18 and 20; the plier head 22 having opposing first and second plier halves 24 and 26 which pivot at 46 to open and close when the multitool 12 is in an open position; each of the first and second handles 18 and 20 extend from the first and second plier parts 24 and 26 at pivots 28; a tool shaft 14 is disposed on the handle 20 at a pivot at 34 disposed on the handle 20 opposite the plier head 22, wherein the tool shaft 14 extends outward of the pivot at 34, and stows into the outer side of the handle 20; wherein the tool shaft 14 has a mating profile 80 which engages a complimentary mating profile 48 formed at the pivot at 32 and locks the tool shaft 14 by closing the two handles 18 and 20 with the tool shaft 14; and the tool shaft 14 is positioned and extends from a center of the two handles 18 and 20 when closed.
2. The multitool with locking multipurpose driver of claim 1, wherein: the mechanism for locking accessories in place operated by closing the two handles comprises a first indenture or tab at the base of the accessory which mates with a corresponding feature in the opposing handle or on an accessory disposed in the opposing handle with the tool shaft 14 disposed and extending from the center of the first and second handles 18 and 20.
3. The multitool of claim 2, further comprising: the mechanism for locking accessories in place operated by closing the two handles further comprises a second indenture or tab at an angle to the first indenture or tab which mates with a corresponding feature in the opposing handle or on an accessory disposed in the opposing handle to hold the tool shaft 14 at a different angle to the handles 18 and 20 in order to apply more torque on the tool shaft 14.
4. The multitool with locking multipurpose driver of claim 1, further comprising: a safety handle locking mechanism 30 that fits over both first and second handles 18 and 20 when closed.
5. The multitool 12 of claim 3, wherein: the safety handle locking mechanism 30 is partially/initially deployed by moving the tool shaft 14 into an open fully extended position.
6. The multitool of claim 1, wherein the centrally disposed tool is a driver, and a tool shaft.
7. The multitool of claim 1, wherein the tool may be disposed in one of two open positions fully opened, and halfway opened.
8. The multitool of claim 4, further comprising a tool bit holder 54.
9. The multitool 12 of claim 1, further comprising a thumb actuated safety lock 30.
10. The multitool 12 of claim 1, further comprising: a plier stop 44 disposed in the second handle 20 to position the plier head 22 off-center in the first handle 18.
11. A multitool 12 with locking multipurpose driver, the multitool 12 comprising: a plier head 22 and first and second handles 18 and 20; the plier head 22 having opposing first and second plier halves 24 and 26 which pivot at 46 to open and close when the multitool 12 is in an open position; each of the first and second handles 18 and 20 extend from the first and second plier parts 24 and 26 at pivots 28; a tool shaft 14 is disposed on the handle 20 at a pivot at 34 disposed on the handle 20 opposite the plier head 22, wherein the tool shaft 14 extends outward of the pivot at 34, and stows into the outer side of the handle 20; wherein the tool shaft 14 has a mating profile 80 which engages a complimentary mating profile 48 formed at the pivot at 32 and locks the tool shaft 14 by closing the two handles 18 and 20 with the tool shaft 14; and the tool shaft 14 is positioned and extends from a center of the two handles 18 and 20 when closed; wherein the centrally disposed tool is a driver having a tool shaft.
12. The multitool of claim 11, wherein: the mechanism for locking accessories in place operated by closing the two handles comprises a first indenture or tab at the base of the accessory which mates with a corresponding feature in the opposing handle or on an accessory disposed in the opposing handle with the tool shaft 14 disposed and extending from the center of the first and second handles 18 and 20.
13. The multitool of claim 11, further comprising: the mechanism for locking accessories in place operated by closing the two handles further comprises a second indenture or tab at an angle to the first indenture or tab which mates with a corresponding feature in the opposing handle or on an accessory disposed in the opposing handle to hold the tool shaft 14 at a different angle to the handles 18 and 20 in order to apply more torque on the tool shaft 14.
14. The multitool with locking multipurpose driver of claim 11, further comprising: a safety handle locking mechanism 30 that fits over both first and second handles 18 and 20 when closed.
15. The multitool 12 of claim 14, wherein: the safety handle locking mechanism 30 is partially/initially deployed by moving the tool shaft 14 into an open fully extended position.
16. The multitool of claim 11, wherein the tool may be disposed in one of two open positions fully opened and halfway opened.
17. The multitool of claim 4, further comprising a tool bit holder 54.
18. The multitool 12 of claim 1, further comprising a thumb actuated safety lock 30.
19. The multitool 12 of claim 1, further comprising: a plier stop 44 disposed in the second handle 20 to position the plier head 22 off-center in the first handle 18.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0024] The novel features of the described embodiments are specifically set forth in the appended claims; however, embodiments relating to the structure and process of making the present invention may best be understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a multitool 12 with locking multipurpose driver shaft 14, with a driver bit 16 engaged in the driver shaft 14, in which the driver shaft 14 extends from closed and locked handles 18 and 20.
[0026] FIGS. 2A-2C show side views of an alternative embodiment of a multitool 12 that can be reduced in size to form a miniature multitool 12, with FIGS. 2A and 2B showing the internal components outlined in dashed lines, while FIG. 2C shows a side view without the internal dashed lines.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a multitool 12 with locking multipurpose driver 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention with the internal components outlined.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows an outer side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3.
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 with the pliers 22 in the open position.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 in which the accessory tool 50 is extended and the handles 18 and 20 are in the closed position.
[0031] FIGS. 7A and 7B show side views of a multitool 12 depicting an alternative embodiment of the present invention which has more than one accessory tool 50 each of which has the same complimentary mating profiles 48 with FIG. 7B shows the internal position of the tool parts when stowed.
[0032] FIG. 8 shows the multitool 12 of FIGS. 7A and 7B with the tool shaft 14 fully extended and profile 48 mated with the complimentary profile 48 of a tool accessory 50 with the handle lock mechanism 30 partially deployed.
[0033] FIGS. 9A-9C show another alternative embodiment of a multitool 12 showing an alternative mating profile 80 (fully extended position) and 82 (angle position) on the base 42 with FIG. 9B depicting the tool shaft at an angle so the handle can be used for added torque and FIG. 9C depicting to tool shaft in the fully extended position.
[0034] FIGS. 10A-10E depict various views of the handles 18 and 20 from the edges and the top with FIG. 10A showing the handle 20 with the tool shaft 14 and bit 16 stowed with the handle lock 30 fully open in the stowed position, FIG. B shows the accessory tool 50 lock 36 and rivet 40 with the bar 52 that engages the complimentary matting profile 48 when a tool 50 is extended, FIG. 10C shows an end without handle lock 30, FIG. 10D shows the end with the tool shaft 14 deployed, and FIG. 10E shows the end with the tool shaft 14 stowed and the handle lock 30 in the open position.
[0035] FIG. 11 shows an edge view of an embodiment of a multitool 12 according to the present invention in which more than one tool 50 is stowed in the handle 18 and showing the tool shaft 14 stowed.
[0036] FIG. 12 is an exploded view showing the tool shaft 14 with the base 42 and bit 16 with the complimentary mating 48 of a tool accessory 50.
[0037] FIGS. 13A-13D show side views of an alternative embodiment of a multitool 12 of the present invention showing differing position of the handle locking mechanism 30 going from the stowed position in FIG. 13A, to partially deployed positions in FIGS. 13B and 13C, to all the way deployed and locked at pivot 32.
[0038] FIG. 14 shows a side view of a multitool 12 according to alternative embodiments of the present design depicting the parts in open display.
[0039] FIGS. 15A-15C show alternative accessory tools 50 with complimentary mating profiles 48.
[0040] FIGS. 16A-16F show an alternative view of a tool shaft base 42 which an alternative profile from different angles and demonstrating the interaction with the complimentary mating profile 48 of tool accessory 50.
[0041] FIGS. 17A-17E show alternative profiles of a tool shaft 14 used, with square (FIGS. 17B and 17C) and hexagonal (FIGS. 17A and 17D) features as shown.
[0042] FIGS. 18A-18E depict different perspectives of a bit holder 54 that may be incorporated into a handle (18 or 20) to store additional bits 16 for the tool shaft 14.
[0043] FIGS. 19A-19D show the handle locking mechanism 30 from various angles.
[0044] FIGS. 20A-20I shows various parts of the multitool 12 of the present invention including the tool shaft 14 (FIG. 20A), tool bit 16 (FIG. 20B), spare tool bit 16 (FIG. 20C), handle lock 30 (FIG. 20D), plier head 22 (FIG. 20E), handles 18 and 20 (FIG. 20F), tool lock lever 36 (FIG. 20G), rivet 40 (FIG. 20H), and tool lock lever spring 56 (FIG. 20I).
[0045] FIGS. 21A-21C shows front side and back views of a tool lock lever 36 with a mating bar 52 and a pivot 38.
[0046] FIGS. 22A-22C show the operation of the tool lock lever 36 as it operates with a tool 50 that has a complimentary mating profile 48 that can be used to mate with the mating bar 52 of the tool lock lever 36 with the spring 56 and rivet 40 operating to release the tool lock lever 36 and free the tool accessory 50 to be stowed.
[0047] FIGS. 23A-23D show details of the handles 18 and 20 of an alternative embodiment of the multitool 12 according to the present invention.
[0048] FIGS. 24A-24C show an alternative embodiment for the pivots 28, 32, and 34 of the present invention including threaded pin 62, pin shaft 60, threaded pin 62 and pin shaft 60 heads 66 and 68, and spacer sleeve 64 which may be used as a plier stop 44.
[0049] FIG. 25 shows another embodiment of the present design with the tool accessory locking mechanism 36 being disposed on the inside of the handle 18 in which the back profile of the bar 52 mates with the tool shaft 14 base 42.
[0050] FIGS. 26A and 26B show an alternative configuration of the tool shaft base 42 and angle deployment mating profile 82 which permits the use of the drive shaft 12 fixed at an angle to the handles 18 and 20 and the handle locking mechanism 30 fully engaged in the lock position.
[0051] FIGS. 27A and 27B show the alternative configuration of FIGS. 26A and 26B in which the tool shaft 14 is depicted in the fully extended position.
[0052] FIG. 28 shows an embodiment of the multitool 12 with a tool accessory lock 36 on the inside of the handle 18 and the alternative design of the tool accessory 50 complimentary mating profile 48 with the tool accessory 50 fully deployed with the handles 18 and 20 in a closed position.
[0053] FIGS. 29A and 29B show alternative tool accessories 50 that have the complimentary mating profile 48 for the embodiment of the multitool 12 in which the tool accessory lever lock 36 is on the inside of the handle 18.
[0054] FIGS. 30A-30C shows the handles 18 and 20 of the multitool 12 according to the alternative embodiments depicted in FIG. 25-29B.
[0055] FIG. 31 shows an alternative of the tool shaft 12 base 42 which has two positions for mating profile at 80 and 82, and also shows the thumb ridges 84 which facilitate easy opening of the tools, and the ball detent 58 to facilitate mating with a shaft tool 14 that has a ball.
[0056] FIG. 32 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention of a multitool 12 which has additional tools 74 disposed adjacent the plier head 22 at pivots 28.
[0057] FIGS. 33A-33D show an alternative configuration of the handles 18 and 20 according to the embodiment of the multitool 12 depicted in FIG. 32 showing where the extra tools 74 are disposed.
[0058] FIGS. 34A-34C show alternative threaded pins 62, pin shafts 60, and heads 68.
[0059] FIGS. 35A and 35B show alternative mating profiles 80, 82 and complimentary mating profiles 48 that provide for an angled position and an extended position accordingly.
[0060] FIGS. 36A-36C show another alternative for the base 42 having a pin 86 and groove 88 configuration which restricts the movement of the tool shaft 14 relative to the handle 20.
[0061] FIGS. 37A-37C show an alternative bit holder 54 and detent 58 to receive a bit 16.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0062] A side view of an embodiment of a multitool 12 with locking multipurpose driver shaft 14 is shown in FIG. 1. The driver shaft 14 extends from the center of the multitool 12 when the handles 18 and 20 are in a locked closed position with the driver shaft extended. The plier head 22 is not visible in FIG. 1, because it is stowed within the handles in the closed position regardless of whether the driver shaft 14 or other tool 50 is extended from the handle 18 or 20. A latch 30 can be seen in FIG. 1 and is used to lock the handles 18 and 20 together.
[0063] At least one tool bit 16 is provided which fits within the tool shaft 14. The tool bit 16 may be two sided. For example, the tool bit 16 may have a Philips head and a flat head disposed on opposing ends of the tool bit 16. A bit storage component holder 54 to retain tool bits 16 therein may be provided for embodiments of the present invention that have more than one tool bit 16. A driver bit 16 is engaged in the driver shaft 14. A tool latch 36 is also shown which pivots at 38 and is released by pushing lever 36. The spring 56 is held in place by the rivet 40. Additional pivots at 28, 32, and 34 provide attachments of tools 50 at 32 and 34, and the driver shaft 14 at 34, to the handles 18 and 20. The plier head 22 plier parts 24 and 26 pivotably attach to the handles 18 and 20 at 28. Additional tool accessories 74 may be attached at 28, as discussed later herein. The driver component 14 with a protrusion (tooth/tab) 80 which interlocks with the space 48 formed by the second end of the handle pivot at 32 and the first end of one of the plier head halves 22 when the tool shaft 14 is in an open position and the handles 18 and 20 are in a closed position.
[0064] The tool driver shaft 14 has first and second ends. The tool shaft 14 may have a hexagonal opening at the first end to accept tool bits and a square opening at the second end to accept the male stubs of the driver component. By removing the tool shaft 14 from the driver component base 42, standard ¼″ drive sockets could be fitted to and driving by the driver component base 42.
[0065] Another embodiment of the present invention provides for a curved base 42 to the driver component shaft 14. The curve of this base 42 may closely match the curve 48 of the minor tools 50 disposed in the second end 32 of the opposing handle 18. By rotating the driver component base 42 approximately 90 degrees and engaging the locking mechanism 80, 82, 48, the curved base 42 would mesh with the interior implements, and thus be fixed in a position nearly perpendicular to the handles 18 and 20.
[0066] In the alternative, each handle 18 and 20 may be comprised of opposing handle parts creating an opening therebetween to permit the plier halves 24 and 26 to be encased therein when the handles 18 and 20 are in a closed position. Alternatively, the handles 18 and 20 may simply have an alcove sufficient to accommodate the plier halves 24 and 26. The simplest embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2A-2C could easily use a handle 20 with an alcove to accommodate the tool shaft 14.
[0067] FIGS. 2A-2C show side views of an alternative embodiment of a multitool 12 that can be reduced in size to form a miniature multitool 12. FIGS. 2A and 2B shows the internal components outlined in dashed lines. FIG. 2C shows a side view of FIG. 2B without the internal dashed lines demonstrating the central location of the driver shaft 14 when extended from the handles 18 and 20. This is a simplest and potentially smallest embodiment of the present invention. The multitool 12 has a plier head 22 and first and second handles 18 and 20. The plier head 22 has opposing first and second plier parts 24 and 26 which pivot at 46 to open and close when the multitool 12 is in an open position. Each of the first and second handles 18 and 20 extend from the first and second plier halves 24 and 26 at 28. A tool shaft 14 is disposed on the handle 20 opposite the pivot at 28 at a pivot at 34. The tool shaft 14 extends outward of the pivot at 34 and stows into the outer side of the handle 20. The tool shaft 14 has a mating profile 80 which engages a complimentary mating profile 48 disposed on the pivot at 32 and locks the tool shaft 14 by closing the two handles 18 and 20 with the tool shaft 14. The tool shaft 14 is positioned and extends from a center of the two handles 18 and 20 when closed.
[0068] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a multitool 12 with locking multipurpose driver 14 in a closed position with all internal components from the closed position outlined. FIG. 4 shows an outer side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3. The multitool 12 with locking multipurpose driver shaft 14 has a plier head 22. The plier head 22 has opposing plier halves 24 and 26. Each plier half 24 or 26 has a central pivot at 46 and with each handle at 28 as shown. The opposing plier halves are pivotable at 46 attached by a fastener (such as shown in FIGS. 24A, 24B, 34A and 34B) between the first and second ends at 28 of each half 24 or 26 of the plier head 22. FIG. 5 shows a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 with the pliers 22 in the open position. FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 in which the tool 50 is extended and the handles 18 and 20 are in the closed position. First and second handles 18 and 20 are attached to the pliers halves 24 and 26. Each of the handles 18 and 20 has a first end at pivot 28 and a second end at pivots 32 and 34. The first end pivots at 28 of each handle 18 and 20 is pivotably attached at the second ends at 28 of each plier half 24 and 26. FIG. 4 shows a side view with driver engaged and locked.
[0069] FIGS. 7A and 7B show side views of a multitool 12 depicting an alternative embodiment of the present invention which has more than one accessory tool 50 each of which has the same complimentary mating profiles 48 with FIG. 7B shows the internal position of the tool parts when stowed. FIG. 8 shows the multitool 12 of FIGS. 7A and 7B with the tool shaft 14 fully extended and profile 48 mated with the complimentary profile 48 of a tool accessory 50 with the handle lock mechanism 30 partially deployed.
[0070] FIGS. 9A-9C show another alternative embodiment of a multitool 12 showing an alternative mating profile 80 (fully extended position) and 82 (angle position) on the base 42. FIG. 9B depicts the tool shaft at an angle so the handle can be used for added torque, and FIG. 9C depicts to tool shaft in the fully extended position. In the stowed position, the plier head 22 can be seen off centered by the pin shaft 44 that holds the plier head 22 in position allowing the extra bit holder 54 be used.
[0071] FIGS. 10A-10E depict various views of the handles 18 and 20 from the edges and the top. FIG. 10A showing the handle 20 with the tool shaft 14 and bit 16 stowed with the handle lock 30 fully open in the stowed position. FIG. B shows the accessory tool 50 lock 36 and rivet 40 with the bar 52 that engages the complimentary matting profile 48 when a tool 50 is extended. FIG. 10C shows an end without handle lock 30, FIG. 10D shows the end with the tool shaft 14 deployed. FIG. 10E shows the end with the tool shaft 14 stowed and the handle lock 30 in the open position. FIG. 11 shows the other side of the handles to those depicted in FIGS. 10A-10E, in which more than one tool 50 is stowed in the handle 18 and showing the tool shaft 14 stowed. FIG. 12 is an exploded view showing the tool shaft 14 with the base 42 and bit 16 with the complimentary mating 48 of a tool accessory 50.
[0072] A locking mechanism 30 may be provided to hold the two handles 18 and 20 together, preventing the unintentional opening of the handles 18 and 20 from the closed position. The locking mechanism 30 is pivotably attached to the second end at 34 of the handle 20, and rotates to capture the extended shoulders of the fastener at 32 in the second of the opposing handle 18.
[0073] FIGS. 13A-13D show side views of an alternative embodiment of a multitool 12 of the present invention showing differing position of the handle locking mechanism 30 going from the stowed position in FIG. 13A, to partially deployed positions in FIGS. 13B and 13C, to all the way deployed and locked at pivot 32. Once the handle locking mechanism 30 is in place and the tool shaft 14 fulling extended, the multitool 12 becomes rigid and the tool shaft 14 cannot be moved. This is a safety feature as well as convenient. It can also be seen that the tool shaft 14 extends from the middle of the handles 18 and 20.
[0074] The locking mechanism 30 may possess a crossmember that spans the tool shaft 14, such that the tool shaft 14 carries the locking mechanism 30 via the interference of the tool shaft 14 and the crossmember of the locking mechanism 30 when the driver component base 42 and tool shaft 14 are rotated. Thus, the locking mechanism 30 may be rotated 180 degrees by deploying the driver component 42 and tool shaft 14, requiring only approximately 90 degrees further rotation in order to engage the extended shoulders of the fastener at 32 in the opposite handle 18.
[0075] FIG. 14 shows a side view of a multitool 12 according to alternative embodiments of the present design depicting the parts in open display. FIGS. 15A-15C show alternative accessory tools 50 with complimentary mating profiles 48. FIG. 15A shows a large flat screwdriver accessory tool 50. FIG. 15B shows an awl accessory tool 50. FIG. 15B shows a bottle opener accessory tool 50.
[0076] FIGS. 16A-16F show an alternative view of a tool shaft base 42. The base 42 has an alternative profile and is shown from different angles demonstrating the interaction with the complimentary mating profile 48 of tool accessory 50. The tool shaft base 42 fits the tool shaft 14. FIGS. 17A-17E show alternative profiles of a tool shaft 14 used, with square (FIGS. 17B and 17C) and hexagonal (FIGS. 17A and 17D) alternative options depicted. The tool shaft 14 for example may mate with a hexagonal tool bit 16 and with a square profile of a driver component base 42, and vice versa. Conventional tool bits 16 may be used, and include tool bits 16 with two flat screwdrivers and with one flat and one Phillips screwdrivers. The screwdriver bits 16 shown have ball detent for use with detents 58 on the tool shaft 14 and tool bit holder 54.
[0077] FIGS. 18A-18E depict different perspectives of a bit holder 54 that may be incorporated into a handle (18 or 20) to store additional bits 16 for the tool shaft 14. The bit storage component holder 54 has a shape which closely accepts the tool bit 16, while a hole or indentation 58 accepts the ball detente of the bit 16. This interaction secures the bit 16, while also allowing the bit 16 to pivot about its ball detente for ease of access and removal.
[0078] FIGS. 19A-19D show the handle locking mechanism 30 from various angles. FIGS. 20A-20I shows various parts of the multitool 12 of the present invention including the tool shaft 14 (FIG. 20A), tool bit (FIG. 20B), spare tool bit (FIG. 20C), handle lock 30 (FIG. 20D), plier head 22 (FIG. 20E), handles 18 and 20 (FIG. 20F), tool lock lever 36 (FIG. 20G), rivet 40 (FIG. 20H), and tool lock lever spring 56 (FIG. 20I). FIGS. 21A-21C shows front side and back views of a tool lock lever 36 with a mating bar 52 and a pivot 38. FIGS. 22A-22C show the operation of the tool lock lever 36 as it operates with a tool 50 that has a complimentary mating profile 48 that can be used to mate with the mating bar 52 of the tool lock lever 36 with the spring 56 and rivet 40 operating to release the tool lock lever 36 and free the tool accessory 50 to be stowed.
[0079] FIGS. 23A-23D show details of the handles 18 and 20 of an alternative embodiment of the multitool 12 according to the present invention. FIGS. 24A-24C show an alternative embodiment for the pivots 28, 32, and 34 of the present invention including threaded pin 62, pin shaft 60, threaded pin 62 and pin shaft 60 heads 66 and 68, and spacer sleeve 64.
[0080] FIG. 25 shows another embodiment of the present design with the tool accessory locking mechanism 36 being disposed on the inside of the handle 18 in which the back profile of the bar 52 mates with the tool shaft 14 base 42. FIGS. 26A and 26B show an alternative configuration of the tool shaft base 42 and angle deployment mating profile 82 which permits the use of the drive shaft 12 fixed at an angle to the handles 18 and 20 and the handle locking mechanism 30 fully engaged in the lock position. FIGS. 27A and 27B show the alternative configuration of FIGS. 26A and 26B in which the tool shaft 14 is depicted in the fully extended position. FIG. 28 shows an embodiment of the multitool 12 with a tool accessory lock 36 on the inside of the handle 18 and the alternative design of the tool accessory 50 complimentary mating profile 48 with the tool accessory 50 fully deployed with the handles 18 and 20 in a closed position. FIGS. 29A and 29B show alternative tool accessories 50 that have the complimentary mating profile 48 for the embodiment of the multitool 12 in which the tool accessory lever lock 36 is on the inside of the handle 18. FIGS. 30A-30C shows the handles 18 and 20 of the multitool 12 according to the alternative embodiments depicted in FIG. 25-29B. FIG. 31 shows an alternative of the tool shaft 12 base 42 which has two positions for mating profile at 80 and 82, and also shows the thumb ridges 84 which facilitate easy opening of the tools, and the detent 58 to facilitate mating with a shaft tool 14 that has a ball.
[0081] FIG. 32 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention of a multitool 12 which has additional tools 74 disposed adjacent the plier head 22 at pivots 28. FIGS. 33A-33D show an alternative configuration of the handles 18 and 20 according to the embodiment of the multitool 12 depicted in FIG. 32 showing where the extra tools 74 are disposed. FIGS. 34A-34C show alternative threaded pins 62, pin shafts 60, and heads 68.
[0082] Additional alternatives are available. FIGS. 35A and 35B show alternative mating profiles 80, 82 and complimentary mating profiles 48 that provide for an angled position and an extended position accordingly. FIGS. 36A-36C show another alternative for the base 42 having a pin 86 and groove 88 configuration which restricts the movement of the tool shaft 14 relative to the handle 20. FIGS. 37A-37C show an alternative bit holder 54 and detent 58 to receive a bit 16.
[0083] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
