Abstract: A folding tool and an associated locking mechanism are provided in order to securely and reliably retain an implement, such as a knife blade, in an open position. The folding tool may include a handle, an implement pivotally connected to the handle and a lock. The lock, in turn, may include an engagement member for movement with the blade and a pivotable member, such as a cam member, configured to pivot relative to the handle between first and second positions. As a result of controlled interaction between the engagement member and the pivotable member, such as a result of camming action provided by the cam member, the rotatable implement can be secured in the open position. If desired, the rotatable implement may be released and folded into the closed position.

Abstract: A multipurpose folding hand tool including a tool holder permitting exchanges of blades. The tool may include a folding scissors including a spring that is moved into operative engagement with a scissors handle to open the scissors handles apart from each other only as the scissors approaches an extended, operative position with respect to the handle of the folding hand tool, within which it may be stowed. A resilient grip member is incorporated in one of the handles of the folding multipurpose hand tool. A wire cutter and a crimping tool are located on pliers jaw tangs, between the pliers pivot and the foldable handles of the tool.

Abstract: A tool and an associated bit driver are provided. The tool includes a handle and a bit driver carried by the handle. The bit driver can include a body defining a cavity for receiving a bit and a pivotable lock configured to move between a locked position in which the lock engages the bit and an unlocked position in which the lock is spaced and thereby disengaged from the bit. The pivotable lock can include a pivot pin, an engagement member for engaging the bit and an actuation member with the engagement and actuation members extending along the body in opposite directions from the pivot pin.

Abstract: A scissors-action tool whose blades or jaws are urged apart by a spring and which includes an adjustable member restricting opening movement to a limited blade or jaw separation angle during normal use of the tool, but allowing the blades or jaws to be opened to a wider angle when the adjustable member is moved to a rearward position. The adjustable member may be a rocker including an elongated hole permitting the rocker to be moved rearwardly from a normal position of engagement with a rocker pivot pin.

Abstract: A frame member for the handle of a folding knife or multipurpose tool includes an integral flange with an integral leaf spring. An internal frame member has an upper flange and an oppositely facing lower flange. Each flange includes an integral leaf spring. The leaf springs bear upon the base portions of folding tool blades that are pivotably pinned to the frame. Attaching side scales to the frame creates upwardly and downwardly facing tool pockets. Other frames are shown in the form of a channel with an integral external flange extending outwardly from the top of a channel wall in a direction away from the channel. Pivot pins extending through the channel and out the channel wall carry pivoting tool blades. An integral leaf spring on the external flange bears against the base of a blade pivotably connected to the frame outside of the channel. Other tool blades are carried inside the channel and pivot about the pivot pin.

Abstract: A locking sheath and knife combination is provided that includes a spring biased member that partially extends out of the handle of the knife and interacts with a catch on the sheath for securing the knife to the sheath. When the user wants to extract the knife from the sheath, the spring biased member is squeezed as the handle is grabbed, which rotates the spring biased member to be substantially fully contained within the handle of the knife, and is secured there by the lock spring plate. When the knife is inserted back into the sheath, a protrusion on the sheath interacts with the lock spring plate to automatically allow the spring biased member to rotate out of the handle, thereby securing the knife to the sheath.

Abstract: A folding multipurpose hand tool including folding pliers or scissors and other tool blades and bits. A pair of handles each has a pivot axle at each end. A base of each pliers jaw or scissors blade is mounted on the pivot axle at one end of a handle, allowing the handles to fold around the jaws to blades to a compact folded configuration of the tool. Each handle has frame side members with attached flanges. Elongate springs lie between the handle frame side members and fit around the flanges, rather than being riveted to the handle frame side members. The springs press against the base of each pliers jaw or other tool blade, to keep each in a folded position or support it in a deployed position. One end of a spring may be hooked around a spring retainer at one end of the handle. The pivot axles interconnect the handle frame side members and the jaws, blades, or tool bits.

Abstract: A frame member for the handle of a folding knife or multipurpose tool includes an integral flange with an integral leaf spring. An internal frame member has an upper flange and an oppositely facing lower flange. Each flange includes an integral leaf spring. The leaf springs bear upon the base portions of folding tool blades that are pivotably pinned to the frame. Attaching side scales to the frame creates upwardly and downwardly facing tool pockets. Other frames are shown in the form of a channel with an integral external flange extending outwardly from the top of a channel wall in a direction away from the channel. Pivot pins extending through the channel and out the channel wall carry pivoting tool blades. An integral leaf spring on the external flange bears against the base of a blade pivotably connected to the frame outside of the channel. Other tool blades are carried inside the channel and pivot about the pivot pin.

Abstract: A multipurpose tool is provided that includes a carabiner and that is designed to fold into a closed position that is relatively compact. As such, the carabiner of the multipurpose tool can be utilized to secure the multipurpose tool to a user, such as to a belt loop or the like, while permitting the multipurpose tool to be folded into a compact form. A handle that includes a carabiner and that can be utilized by such a multipurpose tool as well as a method of forming the handle are also provided. Still further, a multipurpose tool is provided that includes a handle defining a pocket for storing at least one bit in instances in which the bit is not engaged by the bit driver, thereby reducing the likelihood that the bit will be lost or otherwise separated from the multipurpose tool.

Abstract: A folding multipurpose tool including adjustable locking pliers with an over-center locking mechanism to retain the jaws in a gripping condition. The jaws of the locking pliers can be folded into the handles of the tool to produce a compact folded configuration. A latch mechanism in the tool handle retains a selected one of several folding tool bits or blades in an extended position for use and includes an abutment arrangement to prevent such a selected tool bit from being extended too far. A spring associated with a tool bit driving socket retains separate tool bits and resists inadvertent removal of an adjustment screw element of the locking pliers. Upon removal of the adjustment screw element, special bits, such as a corkscrew, can be screwed into the tool bit driving socket.

Abstract: A multi-function hand tool with a pivotally collapsible jaw-type tool that has a jaw lock which mechanically prevents the jaw-type tool from collapse is disclosed. The jaw lock mechanism is contained within the jaw pivot joint of the jaw-type tool, and may be partially extended as a push button to prevent unwanted handle collapse. A plurality of blades are pivotally attached to the opposite end of the multi-function tool and has a blade locking mechanism wherein the blade lock is pivoted about an axis located distal to the blade fastener/pivot axis. Each handle of the multi-function tool may be made of two individual handle halves that unite to form the handle, but that provide very precise tensioning, or the handles may be of a single channel shape using an infinitely adjustable threaded fastener and sleeve to provide precise adjustment of the multiple blades.