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: 6691357
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Publication number: 20040019973
    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: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6675419
    Abstract: A folding multipurpose tool includes removable tweezers. The tweezers have a pair of opposed legs that are hooked over a pin extending through a tool storage pocket in a handle of the tool. The tweezers can pivot about said pin between a folded position within said pocket and an extended position outside of said pocket. One of the legs is thicker than the other and unable to pass through a passageway between the pin and the floor of the tool pocket. When the tweezers are in the extended position one of the legs may be slid into the pocket, disengaging the tweezers from the pin and enables the tweezer to be lifted out of the pocket. A generic implement with a hooked shaped base may be removed from a tool pocket in a similar manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Publication number: 20030192128
    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: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6622327
    Abstract: A folding multipurpose hand tool including folding pliers and other tool blades and bits. A pair of handles each have a pivot axle at each end. A base of each jaw of the pliers is mounted on the pivot axle at one end of a handle, allowing the handles to fold around the jaws to a compact folded configuration of the tool. Each handle has frame side members with attached flanges. Elongate springs lie alongside the handle frame side members and fit around the flanges, rather than being riveted to the handle frame side member. The springs press against the base of a pliers jaw or other tool bit or blade, or a spacer, to keep each tool blade, jaw, or bit in a folded position or support it in a deployed position. Additional frame side members each include a flange and support a spring and one or two additional tool blades or bits. The pivot axles interconnect the handle frame side members and the tool bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6622328
    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: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Publication number: 20030141332
    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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Rivera, Nathan E. Knight, Bernd Heinrichs
  • Publication number: 20030140740
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Publication number: 20030140424
    Abstract: A folding multipurpose tool includes removable tweezers. The tweezers have a pair of opposed legs that are hooked over a pin extending through a tool storage pocket in a handle of the tool. The tweezers can pivot about said pin between a folded position within said pocket and an extended position outside of said pocket. One of the legs is thicker than the other and unable to pass through a passageway between the pin and the floor of the tool pocket. When the tweezers are in the extended position one of the legs may be slid into the pocket, disengaging the tweezers from the pin and enables the tweezer to be lifted out of the pocket. A generic implement with a hooked shaped base may be removed from a tool pocket in a similar manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6588040
    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: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Publication number: 20030037644
    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. 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6510767
    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 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: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Goup, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Publication number: 20020189411
    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: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Howard G. Berg, Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 6450071
    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: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard G. Berg, Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: D470031
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: D470032
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: D470372
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: D474085
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: D474670
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: D485146
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera