Patents by Inventor Benjamin C. Rivera
Benjamin C. Rivera has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7634956Abstract: A folding multipurpose hand tool including a pivoted latch that engages side walls of a handle and a base of a folding tool member to hold the folding tool member in a selected position. A separate safety interlock latch keeps a folding blade stowed in a handle when another tool is moved from a first position with respect to the handle. A tool bit holder securely holds and drives reduced thickness tool bits that can also be engaged in and driven by conventional sockets having a regular hexagonal shape.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2007Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Nathan E. Knight, Hollan E. Tsuda
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Patent number: 7596870Abstract: A multipurpose tool includes bypass shears with handles that fold around the shears into a compact configuration in which the blades of the shears are hidden. A sharp-edged cutter is removable from the shears for resharpening or replacement. A blade safety lock holds the blades closed and is automatically engaged as the handles are folded. The handles are comfortably shaped and may include overmolded elastomeric cushioning portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2004Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Glenn Klecker, Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7530129Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2007Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Melissa C. Yale, Hollan A. Tsuda, Glenn Klecker, Benjamin C. Rivera
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Publication number: 20080263777Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7415745Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2007Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7406896Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7363669Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Howard G. Berg, Timothy S. Leatherman, Benjamin C. Rivera, Reinhard Srajer
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Patent number: 7347128Abstract: A folding multipurpose hand tool including a pivoted latch that engages side walls of a handle and a base of a folding tool member to hold the folding tool member in a selection position. A separate safety interlock latch keeps a folding blade stowed in a handle when another tool is moved from a first position with respect to the handle. A tool bit holder securely holds and drives reduced thickness tool bits that can also be engaged in and driven by conventional sockets having a regular hexagonal shape.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2004Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker, Reinhard Srajer
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Patent number: 7249390Abstract: 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 land 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2005Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Melissa C. Yale, Hollan A. Tsuda, Glenn Klecker, Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7213283Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7185569Abstract: A folding multipurpose hand tool including a pivoted latch that engages side walls of a handle and a base of a folding tool member to hold the folding tool member in a selection position. A separate safety interlock latch keeps a folding blade stowed in a handle when another tool is moved from a first position with respect to the handle. A tool bit holder securely holds and drives reduced thickness tool bits that can also be engaged in and driven by conventional sockets having a regular hexagonal shape.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Nathan Knight, Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7182001Abstract: A frame member for the handle of a folding knife or multipurpose tool includes an integral flange with an integral leaf spring. 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2002Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7150210Abstract: A multi-purpose folding tool including a pair of folding scissors, in which a scissors blade is movable about a pivot shaft, between a stowed position and a deployed position. A rocker is moved by a spring in the tool handle and urges a movable scissors blade toward an open position. In one embodiment two handles are folded about respective scissors blades to house the blades, and four springs hold the handles together with the folded scissors stowed within the handles. Protruding ears overlap and are located along side each other to hold the handles in place with respect to each other during use of screwdriver blades. When the tool is folded it has a smooth outside configuration allowing it to be carried in a pocket without causing undue wear.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Howard G. Berg, Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7146668Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7051627Abstract: A folding multipurpose tool incorporating a latch release mechanism including a lever, a cam, and a rocker-shaped grip body to easily effect release of a catch for holding knife or screwdriver blades extended. spring and cams are arranged to hold a pair of handles either extended or folded with respect to the tangs of a pair of pliers jaws or the like. The handles include inwardly directed comfortable rounded rims. Portions of folding blades interlock with other folding blades on an opposite handle when the tool is folded, to stabilize the handles while using a knife or screwdriver. Blades of folding scissors include edges that are serrated only near their tips. A container opener includes a hook defining a recessed throat.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2002Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 7020922Abstract: A multipurpose hand tool with folding handles each including a central channel to receive pliers jaws or the like when the tool is folded, and including troughs holding outer blades alongside the central channel so that the outer blades can be opened without unfolding the tool. The troughs face opposite the direction of the central channels, and the bases of the outer troughs act as comfortable places to grip the handles when they are extended for use of the pliers. Blade locking mechanisms are incorporated in the walls of the central channels to lock each of the outer blades in an extended position.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2005Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: 6990702Abstract: A folding multipurpose tool incorporating a latch release mechanism including a lever, a cam, and a rocker-shaped grip body to easily effect release of a catch for holding knife or screwdriver blades extended. A spring and cams are arranged to hold each of a pair of handles either extended or folded with respect to the tangs of a pair of pliers jaws or the like. The handles include inwardly directed comfortable rounded rims. Portions of folding blades interlock with other folding blades on an opposite handle when the tool is folded, to stabilize the handles while using a knife or screwdriver. Blades of folding scissors include edges that are serrated only near their tips. A container opener includes a hook defining a recessed throat.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
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Patent number: D543432Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
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Patent number: D595440Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2008Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Blair Scott Barnes, Rainer Opolka
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Patent number: D607591Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Blair Scott Barnes, Rainer Opolka