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).

  • Patent number: 6957466
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6889879
    Abstract: A carrier for an article such as a folded multipurpose hand tool. The carrier is molded of a stiff but resiliently flexible material and includes a body to which is attached an arm that can be placed around a person's belt. The arm has a hook at its lower end that can be latched into mating engagement in a receptacle in the body of the carrier. Grip members hold an article securely in the carrier. Ears on the sides of the carrier can be used to hold the carrier while the article carried is being removed from the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Nathan E. Knight, Bernd Heinrichs
  • Patent number: 6857154
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Publication number: 20040255731
    Abstract: 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. A pair of tweezers of sheet metal includes a pair of parallel arms each perpendicular to a base portion of the tweezers. When the scissors and other tools are folded into their stowed positions in the handle of the multi-purpose tool of the invention the tool has a smooth outside configuration allowing the tool to be carried in a pocket without causing undue wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Howard G. Berg, Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Publication number: 20040237207
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6769331
    Abstract: 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. A pair of tweezers of sheet metal includes a pair of parallel arms each perpendicular to a base portion of the tweezers. When the scissors and other tools are folded into their stowed positions in the handle of the multi-purpose tool of the invention the tool has a smooth outside configuration allowing the tool to be carried in a pocket without causing undue wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard G. Berg, Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6763543
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: D500409
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D501127
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D494032
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: D496846
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D496847
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D497093
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D497094
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D497095
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D497096
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D497532
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D497790
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D497791
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker
  • Patent number: D499622
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Hollan A. Tsuda, Nathan E. Knight, Melissa C. Yale, Glenn Klecker