CUSTOMIZABLE MULTI-TOOL ***WITH TRIPOD***

Submitted By Robert D. Brooks | 3 Comments 3 Comments

***TRIPOD MULTI-TOOL: Three Legs and a Camera Mounting Screw Pop Out Forming a Tripod***

The attachments (customizable tools) are the middle pieces, sandwiched between the grip (that hides the electronics and tripod).

In this concept, the (ergonomic) grip holds the tripod, battery, flashlight, laser-pointer and USB drive (that pops out of the back with a sliding switch). The customizable pieces can be swapped in and out (2 or 3 sets maximum) at the customer's leisure (this design uses only a single screw that needs to be removed to take the entire unit apart - the other two anchor points are simple locking posts). Could include a key-ring.

The customer can open the unit up (only one screw to remove!) and swap in and out the tool sets that he or she desires! Simple and easy!

POSSIBLE TOOL SETS - CUSTOMIZABLE (each 'card' or 'set' can hold at least 3 different tools):

BAR SET: Corkscrew, Bottle Opener and Wine Knife (pictured)
TRAVEL SET: Mirror, Clippers and Scissors
KNIFE SET: 3 Different Knives
SCREWDRIVER SET: Phillips, Flat and Square
MINI SCREWDRIVER SET: Phillips, Flat and Hex
HEX SET: Hex Keys
TOOL SET: Plyers w/ Built-In Wire Strippers, Saw, Awl

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Simple Implementation for Customizable Attachments

Submitted By Robert D. Brooks | 2 Comments 2 Comments

Each set of attachments is a credit card sized set of 4 tools (or whatever number we want). The main problem with most customizable designs is that the tools are going to be 'wobbly', since they aren't permanently attached (which could make a knife attachment VERY dangerous for our customers). This implementation allows for a much more solid connection for each tool (all four tools are anchored to each other, as well as to the gadget itself at not one, but two points, eliminating any wobble). Then, swapping out tools is as simple as swapping out credit cards. This implementation cuts down on the number of tools that need to be designed by 75%.

Designed to work seemlessly with a face-plate function as well!....

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The iKnife

Submitted By James Robinson | 3 Comments 3 Comments

For me, the most useful scheme would be to order on the web, using a 'configurator' to pick out only the tools I want (and to the extent possible based on the chassis, in the locations I want them in). Once chosen and purchased, it would be sent to me assembled with permanent rivets. Naturally, engraving would also be an option.

For store units, the most popular tool combos ordered online could give a pretty decent idea fairly quickly as to the three or four sku's most likely to sell. If replaceable components are necessary, say driver heads, then the end pieces could be swappable.

Probably much easier to just mimic current swiss army construction practices (which are almost all from China these days) but allow for a high degree of customization via tool selection, location, etc. Naturally, the more tools you add, the wider the chassis will be (and the longer the rivets).

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v.2, just in case

Submitted By Joshua Beckstrom | 2 Comments 2 Comments

In case the whole 'they only look at the original pic, not ones done later in the comments' thing is true, here is the latest from my last posting.

The idea is to make the modular knife mostly like those multi-tools that turn into pliers. But instead of just pliers, there would be sockets that you could attach things like the blades of scissors, both sides of a tweezer, both sides of pliers, etc. This would be considered the 'open' position (otherwise tucked inside when closed), and would take care of anything that would need two attachments at a time for hinged operation.

For single non-hinged operation (knives, screwdrivers, etc), the product would be in the 'closed' position, where a single socket attachment would then be accessible from the outside.

All the actual attachments would be stored inside the product, and would only be accessible when in the open position.

Some things could be built into the handles themselves (compass, bubble levels, mirror, etc). For electronic items like an LED, the battery could also be put into a compartment in the handle.

The base product would need to contain universal use items, with themed replacements bundled with it.

After looking this over a few more times, if there is a battery, it would need to be on the side where both halves meet instead of the end I drew it. Also, since the length of the attachments on that side would be unknown at any given time, it would also need to be housed in the half with the preset-fixed tools. That way it would be on the same side as the shorter tools in that half.

Also if it needs clarifying, the tools in the handle would flip out and the handles reclosed in order to use (the tool selected would be held in place by the backside of the handle it's in, as well as by the opposite handle closed upon it.
Look forward to your comments!

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cubicle & desk business card holder tool set

Submitted By Clinton Fleenor | 1 Comments 1 Comments

Almost everybody with business cards uses a business card holder at their desk.
And almost everybody occasionally uses little hand tools at their desk.

While the business card holder never gets lost, the little tools are rarely around when they are needed. Bummer.

LET'S COMBINE THE TWO!

A cool looking business card holder on the top (red is a popular color right now).
An interchangeable set of tools on the bottom.

To use, the cubicle dweller removes the business cards, turns the holder over, unfolds a tool and uses it, replaces the business cards and has the tools for next time.

To sell this, I would have a kit with the business card holder, 16 tools, star head locking attachment point screws, a star wrench for attaching the tools, and a storage box for the extra tools and the star wrench.

Not portable at all, but extremely useful to the millions of people who don't carry a swiss army knife or multi tool. When those millions of people need a tool, this will be right on their desk where it's often needed.

For the tools in the kit, I would suggest: (1) flat tip and (2) phillips tip screwdrivers, (3) adjustable spanner, (4) plastic clamshell case cutter, (4) bottle opener and tab lifter, (5) corkscrew, (6) finger nail file, (7) knife, (8) scissors, (9) saw, (10) LED light, (11) magnifying glass, (12) mirror, (13) spork, (14)&(15) eye glasses screwdrivers, (16) wire cutter/and stripper.

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Click and Release

Submitted By Michael Taylor | 2 Comments 2 Comments

I decided to add this separately since I was informed the pics posted in comments (of my original submission) might not be reviewed by the staff. Plus, you all might not drill through the comments and see this. Really interested in any thoughts you all have on this concept.

This is my take on removing and adding various attachments to the different modules. Blades would still be very secure and easy to add or remove if designed right.

I believe that there can standard modules that fit standard items (i.e. blades, saws, bottle openers, scissors etc) and the wider modules to accommodate the larger items (i.e. corkscrew, LED light, pliers etc.). If you add the set number of modules you want to begin with then you really shouldn't have to take this knife apart after the initial assembly. Simply remove or add any of the items from the stationary modules. Of course if you want to add or remove modules then this would be the only time you need to take your knife apart after you first set it up.

These modules would be put together similar to your standard pocket knife setup (perhaps like a couple of the quirky designs that look like pocket knifes). This is to show the way these items can be added or removed in a secure fashion.

You have a prong end that locks into place in your module. There is a spring loaded mechanism on the backside of the module that can be used to release the locked item for removal. This can only happen when the item is open.

The other option may be to have a slide function (similar to the spring one pictured) near the rounded edge of the prong when the knife/item is open and you simply slide it forward to push down the prong and release the item. This would be better suited to keep the bulkiness on the backside of the module down perhaps.

See the attached image for greater detail. Let me know what you think.

Also, thanks for the resize assist Joshua!

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The title of your awesome idea

Submitted By Geoffrey Cumbus | 7 Comments 7 Comments

Describe your awesome idea here

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Essential Tool

Submitted By Geoffrey Cumbus | 2 Comments 2 Comments

I am not sure if this has been proposed before but as I scanned the submissions I didn’t see it presented the way I was thinking. In order to keep the strength and structure of the knife I prefer the butterfly tool. The individual handles of the butterfly tool would be the interchangeable pieces. This allows for a sturdy handle to be built that has all the locking safety features for blades and tools and provides peace of mind to the user that the handle was assembled properly at the factory (not by the actual user who could improperly install a blade) If you look at the handle of the Leatherman you can see a solid design. The idea of interchanging the handles would provide the user with the ability to select a handle that contained blades, scissors, screw drivers, allen wrenches, or any of the great ideas listed on the site. The point being that you would only need to swap out a handle to one that meets your needs for that time. Also most butterfly tools have pliers that are available when the butterfly is opened. The pliers could also be changed with scissors, shrub clippers, wire strippers, or any other tool the group thinks of. I will try and explain this using pictures of a Leatherman in the attached document.

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The Option Tool 2

Submitted By Hugo Tilmouth | 4 Comments 4 Comments

This tool fits together with two metal plates on each side, a bolt holding the tools and knives. This can be taken apart and assembled by the user. There are also two coloured (opaque or clear) plastic plates of different colours on each side of the knife.

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The Option Tool

Submitted By Hugo Tilmouth | 4 Comments 4 Comments

This tool fits together with two metal plates on each side, a bolt holding the tools and knives. This can be taken apart and assembled by the user. There are also two coloured (opaque or clear) plastic plates of different colours on each side of the knife.

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Removable Face-Plates!

Submitted By Robert D. Brooks | 3 Comments 3 Comments

1. All of the ideas seem to be pretty boxy; straight lines and rounded corners - despite the fact that the human palm requires a pretty distinct shape to feel comfortable and have a strong grip. If we want this to be the best hand-tool ever, we need to distinguish ourselves from Leatherman and Swiss Army! Both straight-edged AND NOT grip-friendly! We need something that looks cool - and fits the palm!

2. Removable Face-Plates!... Additional tools can be hidden inside the face-plate itself. We'll need a place to hide the battery and electronics anyways. And, we customize the tool via the face-plate! For instance, the Computer Geek face-plate has a hidden battery in it and a USB port that pops out. Other versions would have different tools in their face-plates (each version a beautiful neon hue of bright plastic - or however we choose to brand it). Removing the face-plate can even be how the customer accesses the customizable tool function and inserts/removes tools.

3. Instead of having the whole tool customizable, perhaps only have one or two slots for add-ons (tools the customer is allowed to add)? If the tool is completely cusomizable, we'll either have to sell each customer EVERY possible tool (including all the ones they don't want) - or we'll have to sell every tool separately (which will make retailing it virtually impossible). If we only allow one or two slots for removable tools, it will make engineering the tool (and retailing it) much easier. Then, we only sell face-plates that come with perhaps half a dozen specialized tools (the Outdoorsman would come with a saw and knives; the Computer Geek would come with a USB port and laser pointer; the Traveler would come with cuttlery, scissors, cork-screw and nail-clippers; etc...). So, instead of selling a hundred different products, we only sell one base unit and a few different add-on sets to customize it. Or perhaps we simplify everything... Perhaps the face-plate is the ONLY way the customer can customize it!?! Perhaps we sell it as a set with 3 or 4 different themed face-plates (each one having one fold out tool on each side) - then the customer can just change the face-plate to add the tools he or she wants! That should make engineering it much easier...

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