Multipurpose Tool for Handles and Valves

Abstract

A multipurpose tool for handles and valves has been designed to facilitate the operation of outdoor water faucets (sillcocks, cocks, spigots, bibs, taps) and water splitters (diverters, wyes). Metal fingers (pins, tines) on the tool fit into or onto window, tee, and cross tee handles to open or close water faucets. Other metal fingers fit onto various shapes of levers to open or close water splitter valves. The valve fingers also work as a wrench to tighten or loosen the nut securing most faucet handles to the spigot. Both types of fingers can be used to scoop out damaged leaky washers. The tool arm has a metal file surface to smooth rough faucet edges that touch washers, often a place where water leaks occur. Finally, the hollow tool handle contains extra plumbing sealing tape and washers for onsite faucet and hose repairs.

Claims

1. A multipurpose tool is comprised of contiguous integrated parts to facilitate the operation of faucet handles, splitter valve levers, and to facilitate the repairing of water leaks.

2. A predetermined set of faucet fingers (pins, tines) attaches to said multipurpose tool of claim 1 as a means to operate a plurality of said faucet handles comprising but not limited to the windowed design, single tee design, and cross tee design.

3. Said set of faucet fingers of claim 2 comprises of two predetermined fingers.

4. The set of faucet fingers of claim 2 is designed to slide into or around a plurality of said faucet handles as a means of rotating the handles to open or closed positions.

5. The set of faucet fingers of claim 2 is designed to slide into and around a plurality of flexible washers as a means to extract said washers to repair leaks.

6. A predetermined set of valve fingers (pins, tines) attaches to the multipurpose tool of claim 1 as a means to operate a plurality of said splitter valve levers comprising of but not limited to standard rectangle shapes, teardrop shapes, dumbbell shapes, diamond wedge shapes, and many other lever designs.

7. Said set of valve fingers of claim 6 fits around a plurality of splitter valve levers as a means to rotating the levers to open or closed positions.

8. The set of valve fingers of claim 6 fits faucet stem nuts as a means to tighten or loosen faucet handles.

9. The set of valve fingers of claim 6 slides into and around a plurality of said flexible washers as a means to extract the washers to repair leaks.

10. A predetermined arm attaches to the multipurpose tool of claim 1 as a means to connect, hold, and operate contiguous tool parts.

11. Said predetermined arm of claim 10 attaches to the multipurpose tool of claim 1 as a means to connect, hold, and operate the valve fingers.

12. The predetermined arm of claim 10 attaches to the multipurpose tool of claim 1 as a means to connect, hold, and operate the faucet fingers.

13. The predetermined arm of claim 10 provides a means of torque necessary to rotate the faucet fingers to open or close a plurality of faucet handles.

14. The predetermined arm of claim 10 provides a means of torque necessary to rotate the valve fingers to open or close a plurality of splitter valve levers.

15. The predetermined arm of claim 10 comprising of a file surface as a means to smooth rough metal surfaces.

16. The predetermined arm of claim 10 comprising of said file as a means to reducing or eliminating plumbing leaks where said flexible washers are located next to said metal surfaces.

17. A predetermined hollow handle attaches to the multipurpose tool arm of claim 10 which is contiguous with the faucet fingers of claim 2, and the valve fingers of claim 6.

18. Rotation of said handle of claim 17 is a means to assist the arm movement of claim 10 in the operation of the faucet fingers of claim 2, and the valve fingers of claim 6.

19. The handle of claim 17 is designed to carry a plurality of spare plumbing devices comprising of but not limited to a sealing tape dispenser that provides sealing tape as a means to reduce or eliminate water leaks when wrapped around male plumbing threads.

20. The handle of claim 17 is designed to carry a plurality of spare plumbing devices comprising of but not limited to a plurality of flexible washers as a means to repair said water leaks.

Description

FIGURES AND LEGENDS

Figures

[0072] FIG. 1: Top view of the entire multipurpose tool for handles and levers.

[0073] FIG. 2A: Side view of the faucet fingers and the valve fingers attached to the file arm.

[0074] FIG. 2B: Frontal view of the four valve fingers.

[0075] FIG. 3A: Top and inside view of the storage handle opened attached to the file arm.

[0076] FIG. 3B: Side view of the storage handle opened with sealing tape emerging from elevated tape dispenser 11, 13 and empty washer trench revealed around tool storage hole F.

[0077] FIG. 4A: View of typical outdoor domestic water faucet with handle, and water splitter with two hoses attached.

[0078] FIG. 4B: Garden hose M2 with rubber washer H3 in base of female connector M1, and water splitter L1 with rubber washer H4 in base of threaded female connector L4, plus threaded male spout L2 exposed without sealing tape. Splitter valve levers L3 are displayed in closed position.

[0079] FIG. 5A: Rough lip of threaded male splitter spout L2.

[0080] FIG. 5B: Smooth lip of threaded male splitter spout L2 after filing with the tool arm D, not in view.

[0081] FIG. 6A: Short valve fingers B3 (hidden) and B4 surrounding slim valve lever L3.

[0082] FIG. 6B: Valve fingers B1 and B2 surrounding the wide valve lever L3.

[0083] FIG. 7A: Frontal view of the faucet fingers A1, A2 penetrating inner windows of a faucet handle.

[0084] FIG. 7B: Underside view of faucet fingers A1, A2 penetrating inner windows of a faucet handle.

[0085] FIG. 7C: Underside view of the valve fingers B1, B2 penetrating outer windows a faucet handle.

LEGENDS

[0086] A1: Left faucet finger. [0087] A2: Right faucet finger. [0088] B1: Left valve finger. [0089] B2: Right valve finger. [0090] B3: Left valve short finger. [0091] B4: Right valve short finger. [0092] B5: Valve finger limb. [0093] C: Welded hub. [0094] D: File arm. [0095] E1: Top half of the tool handle swivels on hinge G; spare washer H2, and latch bump J2 are not visible. [0096] E2: Bottom half of the tool handle contains a sealing tape dispenser 11, 12, 13 and a spare washer H1. This stationary half-handle is firmly attached to file arm D. [0097] F: Tool storage hole through handle. [0098] G: Binding-post rivet hinge. [0099] H1: Rubber washer stored in bottom half of tool handle. [0100] H2: Rubber washer (hidden from outside view) stored in top half of tool handle E1. [0101] H3: Rubber washer set in base of female hose tip. [0102] H4: Rubber washer set in base of female splitter. [0103] 11: Sealing tape holder with open slot down the middle. [0104] 12: Sealing tape holder pivoting anchor tee bar (hidden in plastic handle E2). [0105] 13: Sealing tape holder pin. [0106] J1: Handle closing latch trench. [0107] J2: Handle closing latch bump (hidden). [0108] K1: Typical outdoor window-style faucet handle. [0109] K2: Outer knob of outdoor faucet handle. [0110] K3: Indentation of outer rim of outdoor faucet handle. [0111] K4: Outer window of faucet handle. [0112] K5: Inner window of faucet handle. [0113] K6: Center square hole used to mount handle onto square water faucet stem. [0114] K7: Packing nut used to seal faucet stem. [0115] K8: Locking nut used to secure windowed handle to faucet stem. [0116] L1: Water splitter. [0117] L2: Threaded male end of splitter attaches to the female tip M1 of an extension hose M2. [0118] L3: Valve lever attached to and controlling an internal valve that opens and closes. The lever, as shown perpendicular to the splitter, is in the closed position. Note the completely open position for the valve lever, dashed lines, is parallel to the splitter. [0119] L4: Threaded female end of splitter is used to attach to the threaded male end of outdoor faucet. [0120] M1: Threaded female hose tip to be attached to threaded male splitter end L2. [0121] M2: Hose, typically a garden hose, fixed to threaded female tip M1.