Multi-tool technology with slitting capability

Abstract

A multi-tool is provided having a plurality of tool-receipt openings adapted to receive respective tools, wherein at least one of the tools is a slitting punch. In some cases, the slitting punch can be centrally positioned/oriented in the multi-tool. The multi-tool includes a guide plate configured to connect a driver assembly of the multi-tool and a selected one of the tools of the multi-tool via a drive mechanism. In some cases, the guide plate has a plurality of openings through which protruding portions of the drive mechanism correspondingly extend. One or more of the protruding portions extending through the guide plate openings are positioned in front of the desired tool-receipt opening. Adjustment of the drive mechanism can result from corresponding adjustment of the guide plate and/or corresponding adjustment of the driver assembly head.

1 . A multi tool comprising:
 a guide housing defined with a plurality of tool-receipt openings adapted to receive respective tools, wherein a first of the tool-receipt openings is centrally positioned and oriented in the guide housing, the first tool-receipt opening sized for accommodating a slitting punch.   
     
     
         2 . The multi tool of  claim 1  wherein when provided in the first tool-receipt opening, the slitting punch shares a central vertical axis with the multi tool. 
     
     
         3 . The multi tool of  claim 1  wherein when the slitting punch is provided in the first tool-receipt opening, a blade of the slitting punch extends across at least 75% of a diameter of a working end of the multi tool. 
     
     
         4 . The multi tool of  claim 1  wherein beyond the first tool-receipt opening sized for a slitting tool, the tool-receipt openings are sized for accommodating one or more other tool types. 
     
     
         5 . The multi tool of  claim 4  wherein the tool-receipt openings for the one or more other tool types are arranged around a periphery of a working end of the multi tool. 
     
     
         6 . The multi tool of  claim 1  further comprising a guide plate and a drive mechanism, the guide plate defined with one or more openings through which the drive mechanism is configured to extend to contact and drive a selected one of the tools when provided in a corresponding one of the tool-receipt openings. 
     
     
         7 . The multi tool of  claim 6  further comprising a drive assembly from which the drive mechanism extends, the selected tool activatable via a downward force on the driver assembly, with such force transferred onto the selected tool via the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The multi tool of  claim 6  wherein the guide plate is adjustable relative to the guide housing and the plurality of tool-receipt openings, the guide plate adjustable for selectively aligning the one or more guide plate openings with the tool-receipt opening corresponding to the selected tool. 
     
     
         9 . The multi tool of  claim 8  wherein the guide plate and drive mechanism are collectively adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . The multi tool of  claim 8  wherein the drive mechanism has a plurality of protruding portions each of which respectively extends through one of the guide plate openings, wherein at each adjusted position of the guide plate, one or more of the protruding portions is positioned to contact and activate the selected tool and one or more of the protruding portions is positioned for seating and stabilizing the drive mechanism during activation of the selected tool. 
     
     
         11 . The multi tool of  claim 10  whereby when the guide plate is adjusted to align with the first tool-receipt opening, two of the protruding portions are positioned to separately contact and deliver force across a width of the slitting punch when provided in the first tool-receipt opening and selected for activation. 
     
     
         12 . The multi tool of  claim 11  wherein the two protruding portions are offset from each other on the drive mechanism, and the openings through which the two protruding portions correspondingly extend are diametrically opposed from each other in the guide plate. 
     
     
         13 . The multi tool of  claim 10  whereby when the guide plate is adjusted to align with a further of the tool-receipt openings sized for other than a slitting tool, only one of the protruding portions is positioned to contact and deliver a force on the respective tool when provided in the further tool-receipt opening and selected for activation. 
     
     
         14 . The multi tool of  claim 1  further comprising the slitting punch, the punch comprising one or more spring packs for activating the punch. 
     
     
         15 . The multi tool of  claim 14  wherein the one or more spring packs are part of a plurality that collectively forms a drive assembly for the slitting punch, wherein each of the spring packs is configured to act on a separate portion along a width of the punch. 
     
     
         16 . The multi tool of  claim 15  further comprising an indexing system comprising a plurality of gears configured with the spring packs, each spring pack associated with a corresponding primary gear, wherein the primary gears are linked together so as to collectively index the punch across the punch's width. 
     
     
         17 . A multi tool comprising:
 a guide housing defined with a plurality of tool-receipt openings adapted to receive respective tools, a first of the tool-receipt openings sized for accommodating a slitting punch; and   a drive mechanism configured to deliver driving force across a width of the slitting punch when provided in the first tool-receipt opening and selected for activation.   
     
     
         18 . The multi tool of  claim 17  wherein when the slitting punch is provided in the first tool-receipt opening, a blade of the slitting punch sized to be at least 75% of a diameter of a working end of the multi tool. 
     
     
         19 . The multi tool of  claim 17  further comprising a guide plate, the guide plate defined with one or more openings through which the drive mechanism is configured to extend to contact and drive a selected one of the tools when provided in a corresponding one of the tool-receipt openings. 
     
     
         20 . The multi tool of  claim 19  further comprising a drive assembly from which the drive mechanism extends, the selected tool activatable via a downward force on the driver assembly, with said driving force transferred onto the selected tool via the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . The multi tool of  claim 19  wherein the drive mechanism has a plurality of protruding portions each of which respectively extends through one of the guide plate openings, wherein at each adjusted position of the guide plate, one or more of the protruding portions is positioned to contact and activate the selected tool and one or more of the protruding portions is positioned for seating and stabilizing the drive mechanism during activation of the selected tool. 
     
     
         22 . The multi tool of  claim 21  whereby when the guide plate is adjusted to align with the first tool-receipt opening, two of the protruding portions are positioned to separately contact and deliver force across the width of the punch when provided in the first tool-receipt opening and selected for activation. 
     
     
         23 . The multi tool of  claim 17  further comprising the slitting punch, the punch comprising a plurality of spring packs for activating the punch. 
     
     
         24 . The multi tool of  claim 23  wherein the spring packs collectively form the drive mechanism, wherein each of the spring packs is configured to act on a separate portion across the punch's width. 
     
     
         25 . The multi tool of  claim 24  further comprising an indexing system comprising a plurality of gears configured with the spring packs, each spring pack associated with a corresponding primary gear, wherein the primary gears are linked together so as to collectively index the punch across the punch's width.