| Leatherman Tool Group, Inc., Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
| 20110119834 | Tool Having An Integral Carabiner - A tool, such as a multipurpose tool, is provided that includes a carabiner having a spring that is configured to be sufficiently rugged to withstand the anticipated utilization of the carabiner. The tool may include at least a first handle, including a carabiner defining an opening thereto, and at least one tool carried by the first handle. The tool may also include a spring connected to the first handle proximate the carabiner and a gate urged by the spring to extend at least partially across the opening defined by the carabiner. The first handle may also include a tab, and the spring may include a corresponding engagement member configured to engage the tab such that the tab resists movement of the spring relative to the first handle. A corresponding handle assembly may also be provided. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20090293285 | Folding Hand Tool Having An At Least Partially Composite Handle - A hand tool, a handle of a hand tool and associated methods for fabricating the handle of a hand tool are provided in order to reduce the weight and thickness of the resulting hand tool. The handle generally includes a composite portion fabricated of fibers embedded in a matrix material in such a manner such that the composite portion meaningfully contributes to the strength of the handle and, in turn, the hand tool. In this regard, the composite portion may include a relatively high percentage of fibers, relatively long fibers and/or fibers that are generally aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle. For example, the composite portion may include fibers that constitute at least 50% by volume, fibers that are at least 30 mm in length on average and/or fibers that are within 15° of being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090119926 | Folding Tool Having A Rotatable Locking Mechanism - 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. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090090225 | Tool And Associated Bit Driver - 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. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20080263777 | Tool Frame Member Including Spring - 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. | 10-30-2008 |