Appeal No. 2003-1284 Page 5
Application No. 09/887,179
With this as background, we analyze the prior art applied by the examiner in the
rejection of the claims on appeal.
Teachings of Leatherman
Leatherman's invention relates to improvements in a folding pocket multiple tool
having pliers and other frequently needed tools incorporated into a single instrument.
Leatherman teaches (column 1, lines 8-63) that:
Certain tools are often needed in situations where it is impractical or at
least inconvenient to go prepared with a well equipped tool box. For example,
hunters, fishermen, campers, bicyclists and even motorcyclists and automobilists
have frequent need for a variety of common tools which are not available when
the need arises. Even in the home workshop or portable tool box it is often
convenient to provide a single multiple tool that will take the place of a
considerable number or separate tools.
A review of U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,474,592; 2,747,446; 1,174,132; 1,334,425;
3,044,081; 1,187,842; 2,561,682; 1,619,181; 858,003 and British Pat. Nos.
5,375 (1882); 21,369 (1894) and 15,859 (1904) shows that devices herefore
proposed for such purposes have not been as satisfactory in regard to the
performance and effectiveness of the individual tools as the present invention,
nor have they included as many useful tools in as compact and novel an
arrangement.
Objects of the present invention are therefore to provide an improved
multiple tool, to provide a multiple tool having both cross-jaw pliers and
parallel-jaw pliers, to provide an instrument in which certain of the auxiliary tools
are arranged to serve as handle extensions for increasing the leverage on the
pliers, to provide novel and improved locking means for the pliers and to provide
a pocket tool of the type described which is convenient to store and efficient in
operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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