GB2285597A - Forming flat pack tool sets - Google Patents

Abstract

Disposable flat blade-like tools (11), specifically a number of different but related tools (11) which together make up a set, are formed out of a stiff plastics material as a "flat pack" set (10) which can then be sold as it is, without any further selection or arranging. In particular the set (10) may be formed as an integral whole, each tool (11) within the set detachably secured to either another tool (11) or to some disposable framework (12) or "web" for the set (in much the same way that the parts of a modelling kit are provided in sheets of individual parts removably mounted via short, thin breakable connector elements called "sprues" (13), within a web-like framework or "gate"). <IMAGE>

Description

Flat packs This invention relates to flat packs, and concerns in particular a flat pack in the form of a set of tools in a planar array releasably mounted on a web.

Many tools used in the house decorating trade are basically flat blades with handles. For example, one such tool is a scraper or spreader, for applying and removing plaster or paint, and it has a broad "chisel"or "trowel"-like blade, with either a squared-off end or an angled end. Another, similar, tool is a spreader/scraper especially for adhesive, and this too has a broad blade with a chisel-like end, but the end is saw-toothed rather than a straight edge. A third type of tool is a narrower scraper/spreader, with a beaded-edge end, and a fourth variety of tool is a knife-like device, having a "knife" blade and usable as a putty knife.

Many tools of this general sort are in practice used only once - that is, on one particular job of work - whereafter either they are lost or they are not cleaned properly, and so have become virtually useless by the time the next job arises. Accordingly, it seems rather extravagant to design and construct the tools as "permanent" objects, with a long-term life, and much preferable to make them as disposable items, and indeed many such tools are now available as "plastic" replicas - rather like the sort of plastic cutlery handed out in aeroplanes for use with airline food, or the plastic scalpels now routinely used in surgery - that are cheap to make, with a short life, and can cheerfully be thrown away after use. The present invention relates to such disposable tools.

Cheap plastic tools of the type under consideration all have flat blades and can be designed with similarly flat handles (which may carry some surface or edge ribbing to provide some of the strength and rigidity necessary). Obviously, a tool like this can be stamped out of a sheet using an appropriately-shaped cutter, or can alternatively be (injection) moulded using a suitably-shaped mould. Moreover, each such tool can clearly be produced as an individual item, to be packaged and sold individually. Often, however, there will be a number of different but related tools which together make up a set - for instance, a set containing one each of the several tools identified above - and while it would be perfectly possible to prepare such a set by assembling the relevant examples of individuallyformed tools it would be highly advantageous to construct the set as a single entity - that is, to form all the tools not individually but as the set itself and it is this idea that forms the essence of the present invention. In other words, the invention proposes that a plurality of flat, blade-like tools (preferably of different sorts) be formed out of a stiff plastics material as a "flat pack" set which can then be sold as it is, without any further selection or arranging. Like the individual tools, the set could be formed either by a stamping operation, using a cutter shaped to define all the component tools within the set to cut the tools out of a sheet of suitable (plastics) material, or it could be formed by a corresponding (injection) moulding operation using a mould shaped to define all the component tools within the set.

Moreover, while it would be perfectly possible for the individual tool set components to be formed "loose" that is, separated one from another - it is much preferred to have the set formed as an integral whole, each tool within the set detachably secured to either another tool or to some disposable framework or "web" for the set (in much the same way that the parts of a modelling kit, such as that made and sold by Airfix, are provided in sheets of individual parts removably mounted via short, thin breakable connector elements called "sprues", within a web-like framework or "gate").

In one aspect, therefore, the invention provides a flat pack set of tools formed out of a plastics material and comprising a multiplicity of individual tools each having a flat blade and a flat handle co-planar therewith, the set taking the form of a sheet-like planar web, or gate, of material to which the several tools are detachably attached and supported co-planar therewith by breakable sprue-like connector elements extending therebetween.

The invention provides a flat pack set of tools that is to say, a package of tools which is flat. The tools may be of any sort concomitant with the concept of a flat pack; basically they will be blade-like devices with flat handles, and typical such tools are those mentioned hereinbefore, namely scrapers, spreaders and knives. Most advantageously, the tools' handles will.

as noted hereinbefore, included stiffening portions, such as cross-surface ribbing or, and as preferred, a beaded or ribbed edge. The set will normally contain one of several different types of tool, but it would naturally be possible for it to be made to include two or more tools of the same type - even all tools of one type only.

The invention's flat pack set of tools is formed out of a plastics material - more specifically, a "stiff", even rigid, plastics material that is capable of standing up to the physical strains involved when the tools are used. There are many such plastics available, and which is used will depend not only on the physical characteristics required of the tools but also on the manner in which the flat pack is formed (for instance, by a cutting or a moulding operation). Two typical thermoplastics especially suited for use in an (injection) moulding method are that composite material type known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (and generally referred to as ABS) and a polyalkylene such as one of the many different polyethylenes.

The set of tools of the invention's flat pack employs a sheet-like planar web, or gate, of material to which the several tools are detachably attached. This web/gate is a framework carrying the individual tools, and is basically an outer, or peripheral, frame possibly with inner bars in a grid-like or gate-like form (hence the term "gate"), to which frame (and bars) the tools are attached. Normally the web is discarded once the tools carried thereby have been detached therefrom, but it is possible to design parts of the frame itself to have some subsequent use - as a paint stirrer, for example, or as some sort of handle or hook by which the flat pack can be hung up for storage and/or display.

The several tools in the set are detachably attached, supported co-planar therewith, to the web (and perhaps to each other) by breakable sprue-like connector elements extending therebetween. Each individual tool may have several connectors by which it is joined to the web and to its neighbouring tools; normally it will be so linked at one end - that end which is the handle end, so as not to mar the clean edge of the blade end - and possibly at two positions along each side edge, so as to provide a "stable" linkage that holds the tool firmly (and flat). The tools themselves can be arranged in any way relative to the web and each other, although most conveniently they will form a regular lattice-like array (and where, as will most often be the case, one end of the tool is wider than the other, the tools will point alternately one way and then the other - such as to the right and then to the left - so as to make the most of the available space).

The set of tools of the invention can be formed by a stamping operation, using a cutter shaped to define all the component tools within the set to cut the tools out of a sheet of suitable (plastics) material. Most preferably, however, it is formed by a corresponding moulding, conveniently injection moulding, operation using a mould shaped to define all the component tools within the set.

The tools in the set of the invention can be for any general purpose where flat tool devices, typically for spreading, scraping, cutting and so on, are useful.

Thus, while it has above been suggested that the tools might be for use in the home decorating sphere, they could alternatively be employed, suitably designed7 in gardening or autobody repair. A garclening set, for example, might comprise one or two sizes of hand trowel and/or hand fork, a seed pricking-out tool (or dibber), several seed identification pegs or seed bed markers, and two garden string line holders, while an autobody repair kit could include assorted body filler scrapers and levelling trowels and fibreglass mixing spatulas.

Similarly, a set of kitchen utensils might comprise an assortment of spatulas, mixing spoons, forks, salad servers, ladles and slices, a picnic and barbecue set might include a mixture of knives, forks, spoons, cocktail sticks and even a plate, while a cocktail set might comprises a multiplicity of swizzel sticks and cocktail sticks.

An embodiment of the invention is now described, though by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic Drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view from above of a flat pack tool set of the invention; and Figure 2 shows a plan view of the flat pack of Figure 1.

The Figures show the invention's flat pack set of home decorating tools (generally 10) formed out of a stiff plastics material and comprising a multiplicity of individual tools (as 11) each having a flat blade (as llb) and a flat handle (as llh) co-planar therewith, the set taking the form of a sheet-like planar web (12), or gate, of material to which the several tools 11 are detachably attached and supported co-planar therewith by breakable sprue-like connector elements (as 13) extending therebetween.

The flat pack set of tools 10 shown in the Figures is a package of tools which is flat, each individual tool 11 being itself flat, with a flat blade llb and a flat handle llb. co-planar therewith. As shown, the set of tools comprises five main tools. There is a scraper or spreader (111), for applying and removing plaster or paint, which has a broad "chisel"- or "trowel"-like blade with a squared-off end, and a similar tool (112) having a blade with an angled end. There is also a similar spreader/scraper tool (113) especially for adhesive, and this too has a broad blade but its end is saw-toothed rather than a straight edge. The fourth tool is a knife-like device (114), having a "knife" blade and usable as a putty knife, while the fifth is a narrower scraper/spreader (115) with a beaded-edge end.

The tools' handles are stiffened by the inclusion of a -ribbed edge (as 14).

The set of tools of the invention's flat pack employs a sheet-like planar web 12, or gate, of material to which the several tools are detachably attached.

This web/gate is a framework carrying the individual tools 11, and is basically a slightly thicker outer, or peripheral, frame (12f) to which the tools 11 are attached by the breakable sprue-like connector elements 13 extending therebetween. Each individual tool 11 can have several connectors 13 by which it is joined both to the outer frame 12f and to its neighbouring tools, so as to provide a "stable" linkage that holds the tool firmly (and flat); however, in the embodiment shown it is so linked only to the frame 12f at the handle end (and thus does not mar the clean edge of the blade end).

The tools 11 themselves are arranged relative to the web 12 and each other to form a regular lattice-like array (and with one end of the tool wider than the other, the tools point alternately one way and then the other - to the right and then to the left as viewed - so as to make the most of the available space.

Although normally the web 12 is discarded once the tools carried thereby have been detached therefrom, in this embodiment each of the four side portions 12f has been designed as a paint stirrer, with a grip (as 15) at one end, while the top (as shown) side portion also incorporates a hand]e (16) by which the flat pack can be hung up for storage and/or display.

Claims (7)

1. A flat pack set of tools formed out of a plastics material and comprising a multiplicity of individual tools each having a flat blade and a flat handle co-planar therewith, the set taking the form of a sheet-like planar web, or gate, of material to which the several tools are detachably attached and supported co-planar therewith by breakable sprue-like connector elements extending therebetween.

2. A flat pack tool set as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each tool is a blade-like device with a flat handle, and each tool's handle includes stiffening portions.

3. A flat pack tool set as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the handle's stiffening portion is cross-surface ribbing or a beaded or ribbed edge.

4. A flat pack tool set as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, which is formed out of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or a polyalkylene.

4. A flat pack tool set as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein parts of the frame of the web or gate itself are designed to have some subsequent use.

5. A flat pack tool set as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the breakable sprue-like connector elements by which the several tools in the set are detachably attached to the web, and optionally to each other, join each individual tool at the handle end and optionally at two positions along each side edge.

6. A flat pack tool set as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the tools themselves are arranged to form a regular lattice-like array, the tools pointing alternately one way and then the other.

7. A flat pack tool set as claimed in any of the preceding Claims and substantially as described hereinbefore.