HK1073625B - Pocket tool - Google Patents

Description

Pocket tool

Technical Field

The invention relates to a pocket tool and a functional component for a pocket tool.

Background

From WO 01/39629 a1 and CH 686173 a5, pocket tools in the form of pocket knives or plate-shaped tool cards of different designs are known, which have a housing with at least one receiving region and a plurality of functional components which can be moved from a storage position inside the receiving region into a use position outside the receiving region. These functional parts are formed on the one hand by tools such as scissors, knives, screwdrivers or the like and on the other hand by household items such as toothpicks, tweezers or cleaning needles. The functionality of the known pocket tool is extended by providing a battery-buffered working memory Random Access Memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM) inside the housing. These reservoirs are arranged in a stationary manner in the pocket knife. In these memories, programs or data can be stored in a readable manner. Such a working memory is also referred to as a so-called volatile memory, since this memory must be supplied with a corresponding voltage in order that the memory contents are not lost even when power is removed. The arrangement of the battery in the housing required for this makes the overall height of the pocket tool large, or for the same overall dimensions, only a small number of functional components can be provided in the housing.

If the memory is formed of a ROM memory, only data can be read from the memory, but data cannot be written to the memory, so that a user can use only data or programs given by a pocket tool manufacturer, and thus the range of use of the pocket tool is greatly limited.

Furthermore, a multifunction tool is known from WO 99/56918 a1, which has at least one measuring, input and display device for at least one physical variable arranged in or on the tool. The display device can be formed here by an LCD display, which is used for the video output of the physical quantity. The measurement and display device can be supplied with power by a battery and/or by a solar cell. Furthermore, an interface can be provided in or on the tool in order to input data into the measuring and display device or to transmit data out of this device. For converting the measured and/or input values into electrical signals, a converter or a microprocessor may be provided for converting the electrical signals into standard physical units.

Although the functionality of a pocket knife or pocket tool can be extended by such a multifunctional tool, the functional range of the tool is limited to the processing of detectable physical measured values.

The pocket tools generally known from the prior art are deficient in terms of the ability to process digital data and to output digital data in a form that is detectable for the user, so that there is a need for additionally expanding the functional range of pocket tools, while maintaining a comfortable functional range for the user in a comfortable manner and method, which is achieved by functional tools or components, such as screwdrivers, knives, scissors, or household items, such as toothpicks.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the invention is to expand the range of use of the pocket tool without thereby affecting the size of the pocket tool itself. Another part of the object of the invention is to expand the functional range and the field of application of pocket tools in digital data processing methods, wherein the mechanical functionality is to be maintained by means of existing tools or commodities.

This object of the present invention is achieved by the following features.

The pocket tool according to the invention has a housing comprising one or more receiving areas inside the housing and at least two functional parts, wherein a first functional part can be moved between a storage position inside the receiving area and a use position outside the receiving area and is designed as a tool or a commodity and a second functional part has an electronic module, wherein the electronic module has a carrier housing which can be moved between a storage position inside the receiving area and a use position outside the receiving area; and, arranging a longitudinal guide or a rotary support between the support housing and the casing of the electronic module; characterized in that the removable electronic module is provided with a writable and readable non-volatile memory inside the support housing and a bidirectional interface adapted to read electronic data from and to an external data processing system.

This results in the advantage that the second functional part embodied as an electronic module can be moved for its use to a position outside the pocket tool receiving area, and thus a better accessibility, in particular to the interface, is achieved. Data, for example text data or data as image or language information and the like and programs, such as application programs or the like, can be written or read in a non-volatile memory, wherein the non-volatile memory is distinguished in that, in contrast to known volatile memories, in which data and programs can likewise be read in and written out, a power supply can be dispensed with, and the volume of space otherwise required for accommodating a battery, for example in a housing, or as additional storage space or for other tools can be used. This allows the functionality, in particular the storage capacity, of the pocket tool or the range of use of the pocket tool to be significantly increased without substantially increasing its overall dimensions. The advantage is also the design of a locking device between the functional part and the housing, which locking device can be released if necessary, since this prevents, for example, the functional part from being inadvertently rotated out of its storage position. Longitudinal guides or pivot supports between the support housing of the second functional part and the pocket tool housing promote a better movement of the second functional part relative to the receiving region or a bearing axis arranged in the housing.

The object of the invention is also achieved independently by the following features.

The pocket tool according to the invention comprises a housing having at least one receiving area and an electronic module which can be moved between a storage position inside the receiving area and a use position outside the receiving area or can be mechanically coupled to the housing, and which has a support housing and a control circuit, characterized in that the electronic module further comprises: a) a writable and readable non-volatile memory disposed within the support housing; b) a bi-directional first interface for reading electronic data from an external data processing system into the memory and for reading electronic data from the memory into the external data processing system; c) a second interface for connecting the audio output device or the video output device to the electronic module, and the control circuit is connected to an operating device which is designed to control the volume and to select the data objects stored in the memory, and the control circuit has a control device which is assigned to the control circuit and is designed to process the digitized media information stored in the memory.

This provides the advantage that, firstly, the functional range of a pocket tool can be significantly increased and the pocket tool can be used in a versatile manner by the user via a control circuit provided in the pocket tool for processing digitized media information. In addition to the mechanical functionality which is comfortable for the user, the pocket tool also provides electronic functionality for the mobile processing of digital information, wherein the pocket tool is portable and has a small overall size. In particular, a processor for multimedia data is thus realized, which is capable of providing and/or receiving audio, video or image information independently of the location. Thus, there is an advantage for a user that does not have to use separate devices for processing digital information and for mechanical work, respectively. The pocket tool according to the invention can be used advantageously, for example, as a media or multimedia player, in particular an audio and/or video player, as a sound recorder, as a digital camera, as a navigator supporting digital information, such as card material stored in a memory, etc.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pocket tool can advantageously be formed modularly from functional components, wherein the individual functional components, which can optionally be detached from the pocket tool housing, form a functional unit comprising electronic components or control circuits and/or a switching circuit for at least one peripheral device. This results in the possibility of retrofitting the individual functional components to expand or change the functional range of media or control technology aspects of the pocket tool and to replace the individual functional components if necessary.

The embodiment according to the invention is advantageous because, on the one hand, the memory or the control circuit and/or the at least one peripheral device are arranged inside the respectively surrounding support housing and thus protect sensitive electronic components from external influences, such as moisture, dust, etc.; on the other hand, the bearing housing has a high mechanical stability and is insensitive to pressure loads. The interface is represented as a connection element of the memory to an external EDV system.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a standard length of pocket tools known from the prior art can be maintained.

In the following, an advantageous movement sequence of the second functional part is described.

The preferred embodiment according to the invention is advantageous because the second functional part forming the electronic module can be completely separated from the housing of the pocket tool in its position of use and used independently of the pocket tool. The increased aviation safety certainty provides the user with precisely the use of pocket tools, especially with small knives or scissors and similar instruments, in the passenger compartment of an aircraft. Since the electronic module can be separated from the housing by the rotationally mounted coupling device if required, the housing with the tools can be placed in a travel box, while the electronic module can be carried by the user into the passenger cabin of the aircraft.

The embodiment according to the invention is advantageous because the bearing shaft, which is present in the housing itself, forms the second coupling element and no additional structural elements have to be provided in the housing, which can lead to an increase in the overall dimensions of the pocket tool.

According to a development of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second coupling element is formed by an adapter which is rotatably mounted in the housing at the bearing axis, as a result of which the coupling and decoupling of the electronic module to and from the adapter can be achieved in a particularly simple manner.

The extension according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is also advantageous, whereby the side walls and/or partition walls, which are present in any case from the basic structure of the pocket tool, serve as longitudinal guides for the support housing of the electronic module. The electronic module can be initially pushed in a guided manner into the receiving region or pulled out of the receiving region in the opposite direction by means of the interface facing the receiving region in a direction extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pocket tool. The receiving region forms a separating wall which is spaced apart from each other between two opposite side walls or a side wall of the pocket knife and the separating wall or between two bottom parts of a tool holder which are arranged next to each other and the cover plate.

The extension according to the preferred embodiment of the invention has particular advantages, since the electronic module can be locked in its storage position inside the receiving region by the locking device and thus a vibration-proof fastening is ensured. In a first embodiment, the locking device is formed by a plug element or a positioning element and a latching element or a friction locking element which can be engaged with each other. According to one embodiment of the pocket tool as a pocket knife, the plug element or the positioning element and the latching element or the frictional locking element are arranged in the housing on at least one side of two side-by-side walls and/or partition walls facing each other and on at least one wide side wall and/or one narrow side wall on the support housing. According to the tool clamp, the plug element or the positioning element and the latching element or the frictional locking element are arranged in the housing on at least one of the mutually facing inner sides of the base plate and the cover plate and/or on at least one of the mutually adjoining partition walls and on the support housing on at least one wide side wall and/or narrow side wall.

In the following, different advantageous embodiments of the housing of the pocket tool are described. In a preferred embodiment of the pocket tool, the support housing of the electronic module is mounted on a support shaft arranged in the housing so as to be rotatable about an axis extending perpendicularly to the broad side walls thereof, such that the width measured between the parallel broad side walls of the support housing is decisive for the overall width of the pocket tool, while the height of the support housing of the electronic module is substantially equal to a standard overall height of the pocket tool. It should be noted here, however, that the width of the electronic module support housing is only equal to half the height and in particular between 5mm and 9mm, in particular 7.5 mm. This makes it possible to handle or control the tools and electronic modules in a particularly ergonomic and comfortable manner. Furthermore, the overall assembly of the pocket tool can be significantly simplified by using the connecting pins, which are originally used for connecting the side walls of the housing and, if necessary, the partition walls, as bearing shafts for the tool and the electronic module.

The development according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is also advantageous because, on the one hand, the decoupling of the second electronic module from the second coupling element can be achieved with little effort, and, on the other hand, the coupling of the electronic module to the second coupling element is achieved and the first coupling element is automatically locked on a bearing surface of the second coupling element. The spring force in the locking arm is optimized in a preferred manner with regard to effort.

The development according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is also advantageous in that it prevents the electronic module from rotating out of the storage position during transport of the pocket tool as far as possible, and in that the spring force in the latching arms of the first coupling element and thus the force required for coupling or uncoupling the electronic module to or from the housing are kept low, since in the storage position of the electronic module a constant clamping force is established between the mutually supported coupling parts by the latching clamping arms on the bearing axis. This clamping force is released only when the bearing shaft is lifted out of the recess in the clamping arm and is moved by the detent projections into the circular-arc-shaped raceways, the radius of which is equal to the radius of rotation of the housing of the electronic module.

The development according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is also advantageous because the interface of the electronic module can be protected by the closure cap against harmful external influences, such as dirt, splashes of water, etc., or against mechanical stress during transport of the pocket tool. In a preferred embodiment, the closure cap is configured to be axially adjustable or rotatable relative to the housing between an open and a closed position in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pocket tool. The rotatable closure has a second end wall part with a bearing surface for the first narrow side wall of the interface, on which bearing surface the electronic module is simultaneously rotated from its storage position into a defined removal position as a result of an adjusting movement of the closure from the closed position into the open position. This makes it possible to dispense with an additional grip element on the electronic module. The locking device between the closure cap and the housing reliably prevents the closure cap and thus the electronic module from being unintentionally turned out. In a further development, the closure cap can be formed by a part region of the housing of the pocket tool, thereby reducing the number of individual components and achieving a compact design of the pocket tool.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the memory can be formed by a flash memory card or by an RFID, which stores data and/or programs in a non-volatile manner. These non-volatile rewritable memories utilize semiconductor technology and operate reliably.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, data exchange is effected via contacts between the memory or the control circuit and data processing means, such as computers or peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners and the like. For this purpose, standard USB connection plugs or FireWire (FireWire) known from the prior art are used^TM) A connector plug and a corresponding socket are characterized by a high data transmission rate.

Finally, as described below, it is also advantageous to use an interface in which data and signal transmission is effected wirelessly. Such a standard interface is known on the market as Bluetooth (r)^TM) An interface or a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface.

Other embodiments are provided in the preferred embodiment of the invention. The use of a peripheral device formed by a memory element has proven to be advantageous, since the memory element is integrated in the electronic module, and the electronic module is always and independently of the location of the memory element carried and used in the housing of the pocket tool. The use of a peripheral device formed by a data interface is advantageous due to the stable and mass-stored connection method on the control circuit relative to the overall size of the pocket tool.

By means of the features of the preferred embodiments of the invention, a computer structure known from the prior art can be used in a suitable manner, which is compact in design in the pocket tool and whose control functions are determined very flexibly and adaptively by the control device.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an advantageous development of the control device is described, in which the control logic, which is formed by software, enables the control circuit to be freely programmed in the control process, and in which the hardware configuration can be kept unchanged in the pocket tool, the control logic can be developed or exchanged and the software can be implemented in a simple manner in order to change the control process.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it has proven advantageous if, according to this exemplary embodiment, the control circuit can be stored in a further memory element, in particular a ROM memory, having a non-volatile read-only memory, or a fixed memory area can be allocated to the control circuit in the first memory element, in which a preferably unchangeable loading program of the initial program, in particular control logic in the form of so-called "firmware", is stored. The control function of the control circuit cannot therefore be changed directly by the user, and the risk of unauthorized manipulation of the control logic by the user and thus the occurrence of functional errors in the control circuit can be prevented. However, if necessary, the release of the memory element and the storage of the new control logic can be carried out at the manufacturer by updating a software or automatically by technical support personnel or by the user by an additional measure, for example by calling up an update software driven by an external computer which is communicatively connected to the control circuit.

The advantages provided by the preferred embodiments of the invention make it possible to save storage space in the storage element in an advantageous manner and to store media information in the storage element which has a substantially greater playing time or running time than in uncompressed form overall. Furthermore, the formats defined in the prior art, such as MP3 or WMA, can only be played or processed on the pocket tool by the control circuit.

By means of a signal and/or data bus in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a power and/or data transmission can be effected at different locations or between peripheral devices and/or control circuits provided in different functional components of the pocket tool.

By virtue of the features provided in the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible, despite the modular design, to exchange signals between the individual functional components which are structurally independent of one another in their operating or storage position in the pocket tool housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of a bus interface for connecting different electronic modules or functional components via contact elements is described.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a further advantageous embodiment is described, since the rivet pins normally present in pocket tools for forming the housing can also be used as signal transmission elements, so that no or only a small number of separate lines for signal and/or data buses are necessary.

The features according to a preferred embodiment of the invention are advantageous in that the signals calculated and output by the control circuit can be output via the input and/or output interface in a form that is accepted and processed by terminal devices known from the prior art, such as audio and/or video players, in particular external loudspeakers or screens or image projectors. Furthermore, if necessary, the analog input signal can also be transmitted from a recording device, such as a microphone or a video or still camera, via an input and/or output interface to a control circuit, which converts the analog input signal into a digital signal and stores it in a memory. In this case, signal amplifiers, analog/digital converters, digital/analog converters or the like may additionally be assigned to the input and/or output interfaces.

The features according to the preferred embodiments of the invention are furthermore advantageous, since the media information is output via the pocket tool via the audio and/or video input and/or output device in a form that is understandable to the user, without the user having to force external device accessories for this purpose. The media information can be output or displayed in the form of images and/or sound, for example, by means of an input and/or output device integrated in the pocket tool, and stored in the memory element in digital form. The input and/or output devices may furthermore be displayed as states of different parameters or processing modes of the control circuit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pocket tool is provided, since in these embodiments the setting of the parameters of the control circuit by the operating device with the input element can be carried out in a simple manner for the user. A particularly intuitive and user-friendly operation can be achieved by a user interface associated with the operating device and, if necessary, by an electronic position detection device, in particular a touch screen, a particularly compact design of the control circuit, the display and the operating device with few discrete components can be achieved.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, suitable pocket tool embodiments are described, in each case, which provide a simple operation and adjustment of the function of the control circuit.

Another suitable peripheral expansion architecture is described in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a power supply device, in particular, which is formed by a self-sufficient power supply memory, is advantageous, since the pocket tool is therefore not limited in its mobility and the control circuit can be driven essentially independent of the position. In particular, electrochemical energy stores, in particular rechargeable batteries, such as lithium ion batteries or lithium polymer accumulators or disposable batteries, can be used here.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is also advantageous because the power supply device embodied in the pocket tool in the form of an electrical conductor does not require an energy store of its own, since the electrical energy for the control circuit or the peripheral device is supplied via the electrical conductor, or an energy store arranged in the pocket tool is charged via the electrical conductor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, advantageous embodiments of an arrangement for a control circuit and at least one peripheral are described in each case.

The advantages of the memory and the interface described above and below can be achieved for the memory element and the data interface by means of preferred embodiments of the invention.

Another independent solution according to the object of the invention relates to a pocket tool.

The pocket tool according to the invention comprises: a) a housing having: a first side wall, a second side wall arranged parallel to the first side wall, a first bearing shaft, a second bearing shaft, the first and second bearing shafts being arranged one above the other in an end region of the housing and extending between the first and second side walls; b) at least one receiving area disposed between the first and second sidewalls; c) a functional part which is rotatably mounted on the first support shaft by means of a bearing element and can be moved between a storage position inside the receiving region and a use position outside the receiving region; the method is characterized in that: the support element has an axis which is offset from the longitudinal center axis of the functional component and extends perpendicularly to the side wall; the functional part also has a clamping arm which engages with the second bearing shaft when the functional part is moved in its storage position inside the receiving region; and, a gap is provided between the bearing element and the clamping arm, which gap is adapted to receive the second bearing shaft.

This gives the advantage that the first coupling element for connection to the functional part of the other coupling element of the pocket tool simultaneously has the bearing element and forms a rotary bearing point. The first coupling element thus provides a simple design with a rotatability of the functional part out of the receiving region in the housing of the pocket tool, and the functional part can be removed from the housing of the pocket tool in the rotated-out state.

Drawings

The invention is described in detail below with the aid of embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings:

fig. 1 and 2 show a pocket knife according to the invention in a perspective view, with an electronic module placed in a storage position inside a receiving area;

fig. 3 and 4 show a perspective view of the pocket knife according to fig. 1 and 2 with the tool turned out and the electronic module rotated into its position of use;

FIG. 5 illustrates the pocket knife of FIG. 4 in a side view;

FIG. 6 illustrates the pocket knife of FIG. 2 in a side view;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view along section line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

fig. 8 shows a pocket knife in a perspective view with the electronic module adjusted to the removal position;

FIG. 9 illustrates the pocket knife of FIG. 8 in a side view;

fig. 10 shows the pocket knife from fig. 9 in a partially enlarged view, with a rotary bearing arranged between the electronic module bearing housing and the pocket knife housing and with a coupling device of a first embodiment of a coupling element;

fig. 11 shows, in perspective view, a closure cap for protecting the interface of the electronic module fully rotated to the storage position;

fig. 12 shows a further embodiment of a coupling element of a rotationally supported coupling in a side view and a simplified illustration;

fig. 12a shows a partial section with a rotary bearing of a pocket knife according to a further embodiment and a partial region of an electronic module which is not detachable from the housing in a side view;

fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a pocket knife with an electronic module that can be released or completely separated from its housing;

fig. 14 shows a side view of the pocket knife and the electronic module in a ready position before they are coupled to the second coupling element of the housing;

fig. 15 shows a partial section of the pocket knife and the electronic module in a side view in a ready position before they are decoupled by the second coupling element of the housing;

fig. 16 shows a plate-shaped tool card in a top view and in a very simplified schematic view;

FIG. 17 shows the tool card of FIG. 16 in a very simplified view along section lines XVII-XVII;

fig. 18 shows, in a longitudinal section and in a very simplified schematic view, another possible embodiment of a locking device between a support housing of an electronic module and a tool card housing;

FIG. 19 shows in perspective another embodiment of the pocket knife with an electronic module with a control circuit and peripherals;

FIG. 20 illustrates the electronic module of FIG. 19 in a side view;

FIG. 21 illustrates the electronic module of FIG. 19 in a front view;

FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of a control circuit having various peripheral devices connected thereto;

fig. 23 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a pocket knife with electronic components integrated in the housing;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a pocket knife having an electronic module that is removable from the housing and electronic components disposed in the pocket tool housing;

fig. 25 shows a further possible embodiment of a pocket knife in a top view, with a plate-shaped electronic module;

fig. 26 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a pocket knife with an external operating device for the control circuit and an external data carrier;

fig. 27 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a pocket knife with a plurality of electronic modules equipped in a different manner;

fig. 28 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a pocket knife with an input and/or output device on the cover;

fig. 29 shows a possible design of a tool card comprising an electronic module in a perspective view.

Detailed Description

It is first of all pointed out that identical components in the different described embodiments are provided with the same reference numerals or the same structural component designations, wherein the content disclosed throughout the description may be transferred in a sense to components having the same reference numerals or the same structural component designations. The positions selected in the description, such as upper, lower, lateral, etc., are directly referenced to the figures described and shown, and are transferred to new positions in the sense of the position change. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features of the different embodiments described and illustrated can also represent independent, inventive or solutions according to the invention.

Fig. 1 to 15, which are described together, show a first exemplary embodiment of a pocket tool according to the invention in different views. According to this embodiment, the pocket tool is formed by a pocket knife 1 having a housing 2 with a width 3 and a length 4 measured at right angles to the width. The housing 2 has a receiving body 5, for example made of metal, which has two outer side walls 6 lying opposite one another and is called an outer sheet, and two cover plates 8 which are fastened to outer side faces 7 of the side walls 6 facing away from one another. These cover plates 8 are made of, for example, opaque or transparent plastic. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a partition wall 9, a so-called intermediate plate, is arranged between the two outer side walls 6, and two pocket-like receiving areas 10, which are arranged at least partially spaced apart from one another by the intermediate plate, are formed between the two side walls 6 and the partition wall 9 for receiving different functional components 11. The two receiving areas 10 are each at least partially delimited by the side walls and the partition walls 6, 9 and are arranged at least partially spaced apart from one another in a plurality of parallel planes and extend parallel to the side faces 7 of the outer side wall 6 and between two opposite end areas 12, 13 at the end of the pocket knife 1. As shown in fig. 1, each receiving area 10 can preferably receive two functional components 11, respectively.

As is not further shown, the cover plates 8 each have, on their inner side facing the side 7, openings arranged recessed into this inner side for receiving heads, in particular rivet pins, of the bearing shafts 14a to 15b, as can be seen, for example, in fig. 6 and 9. The cover 8 is fixed to the outer side wall 6 of the pocket knife 1 by a press fit. The bearing shafts 14a to 15b fitted into the openings interconnect the respective side and partition walls 6, 9 and the functional component 11 disposed therebetween. The functional part 11 is rotatably mounted on bearing shafts 14a to 15b or rivet pins. Two supporting shafts 14a, b and 15a, b, which are arranged one above the other and extend perpendicularly to the side faces 7, are preferably provided on the mutually opposite end regions 12, 13 of the pocket knife 1. The central axes of the bearing shafts 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b of the housing 2, which are arranged one above the other, are aligned or arranged one above the other. The housing 2 has support shafts 14a, 14b, 15a, 15 b.

One of these functional components 11 is formed by an electronic module 19 which is rotatably mounted on a first bearing shaft 14a arranged in the first end region 12 of the end face and is arranged between the outer side wall of the first receiving region 10 and the partition walls 6, 9. This electronic module 19 is rotated, preferably up to 180 °, from a storage position, shown for example in fig. 1 and 2, inside the receiving region 10 or receiving body 5 into a use position, shown for example in fig. 3 and 4, outside the receiving region 10 or receiving body 5.

The further functional component 11 is formed in the form of a scissors 16, which is rotatably mounted on a second bearing shaft 14b arranged in the first end region 12 of the end face and is arranged between the outer side wall of the first receiving region 10 and the partition walls 6, 9. This functional part 11 is rotated, by means of a spring loading not shown, preferably by 90 ° or 180 ° from a storage position, shown for example in fig. 1 and 2, inside the receiving region 10 or receiving body 5 into a use position, shown for example in fig. 3 and 4, outside the receiving region 10 or receiving body 5.

The other two functional parts 11 are formed by a knife 17 and a file 18, which are both rotatably mounted on a first bearing shaft 15a arranged in the second end region 13 of the end face and are arranged between the outer side wall of the second receiving region 10 and the partition walls 6, 9. The functional components 11 are each rotated, by means of a spring force, not shown, from a storage position, for example shown in fig. 1 and 2, inside the receiving region 10 or receiving body 5, preferably by 90 ° or 180 °, into a use position, for example shown in fig. 3 and 4, outside the receiving region 10 or receiving body 5. Thus, the scissors 16, knife 17 and rasp 18 constitute a tool.

A closure flap, which is described in greater detail below, is rotatably mounted on a second bearing shaft 15b arranged in the second end region 13 of the end face. This closure is likewise arranged between the outer side wall of the first receiving area 10 and the partition walls 6, 9.

As can be seen from the individual figures, a functional part 11, which is formed by a pen 20 and which can be actuated by means of a slide 21 guided in a longitudinal slot, not shown in any further detail, in the cover 8, is arranged on at least one of the two covers 8, see fig. 7. The pen 20 thus acts as a commodity. This longitudinal slot is formed on the inner side of a cover plate 8 facing the side wall 6. The slide can be locked in a retracted end position, as shown for example in fig. 1, or in a pushed-forward end position, as shown for example in fig. 4. For its actuation, the slide has an actuating element 22 which projects from the contour of the cover 8. Such a pen and the design of the longitudinal slot, the cover plate 8 and the actuating element 22 are already known from the prior art and are disclosed in detail in WO 99/07247a of the same applicant. On the other hand, the functional part 11 or the article of daily use guided in the longitudinal slot of the cover plate 8 can also be formed by a toothpick, tweezers or cleaning pin or similar articles of daily use. At least one of the cover plates 8 can also have a plurality of longitudinal slots for accommodating a plurality of articles of daily use, if necessary.

According to the solution of the invention, which is shown in fig. 1 to 18 by way of different exemplary embodiments, the functional component 11 is formed by an electronic module 19, which has an interface 24 and a memory, and which has an elongated carrier housing 25. The support housing 25 comprises two broad side walls 26 which are opposite one another at a distance from one another and narrow side walls 27, 28 which extend perpendicularly to the broad side walls.

As shown in the enlarged view in fig. 10, a rotary bearing 29, which is provided with a coupling device 30, is arranged between the electronic module 19 or the bearing housing 25 and the housing 2 of the pocket knife 1. The coupling device 30 has two coupling elements 31, 32 that can be engaged with and disengaged from each other, of which the first coupling element 31 is arranged in a first end region of the end face of the support housing 25, in particular on the first narrow side wall 28 of the end face, and the second coupling element 32 is arranged in the housing 2 of the pocket knife 1 or is connected to this housing in an articulated manner. The second coupling element 32 is formed according to this embodiment by the first bearing shaft 14a in the first end 12 of the pocket knife 1. The first coupling element 31 arranged in the first end region of the end face of the bearing housing 25 forms an axis 34 which is offset from the longitudinal center axis 33 of the bearing housing 25 and extends perpendicularly to the side face 7 of the side wall 6 or perpendicularly to the broad side wall 26. The bearing housing 25 of the electronic module 19 is therefore mounted rotatably by its first end about the axis 34 on the first bearing shaft 14a and has a first coupling element 31.

The first coupling element 31 comprises a partially spring-loaded locking arm 35 which projects freely from the first narrow side wall 28 of the end face, and a bearing element 36 which is formed rigidly with respect to the locking arm 35. The locking arm 35 is formed by a positioning element or clamping element and is formed by two adjacent arm sections. The first arm section is directly connected to the support element 36 and the second arm section connected to the first arm section extends opposite the first arm section. The locking arm 35, in particular the free end of the second arm section, is pressed or supported against a bearing surface 39 of the second coupling element 32 by a spring force or clamping force which is predetermined by the elasticity of the locking arm 35, while the bearing element 36 is guided on the second coupling element 32 by a bearing sleeve 37 which is arranged coaxially with the second coupling element 32 and is approximately half-shell-shaped. The bearing element 36 or the bearing sleeve 37 forms a bearing surface 38, which is formed at least in some regions complementary to a bearing surface 39 of the second coupling element 32. The locking arm 35 is expediently formed so as to be telescopic in the direction of its free end. As long as the locking arm 35 is clamped against the bearing surface 39 of the second coupling element 32, a reliable rotation function of the electronic module 19 relative to the housing 2 is achieved.

As can also be seen in fig. 10, the support housing 25 of the electronic module 19 is provided, in addition to the first coupling element 31, with a slightly flexurally elastic (sideerlastisch) clamping arm 40 which projects freely on the first narrow side wall 28 of the end face and is offset with respect to the longitudinal center axis 33 of the support housing 25 in the lateral direction opposite the first coupling element 31. Between the first coupling element 31 and the clamping arm 40, a receiving gap 41 for the second bearing shaft 14b is formed, which extends substantially over the longitudinal extent of the bearing housing 25. The clamping arm 40 is provided on the side facing the first coupling element 31 with a positioning projection 42 projecting into the receiving gap 41, which together with the bearing shaft 14b arranged in the housing 2 forms a locking device 45 that can be removed if necessary. The locating projection 42 extends parallel to the axis 34. The clamping arm 40 has a recess 43 facing the bearing axis 14b and a circular-arc-shaped raceway 46 in the longitudinal extension thereof from the end region of the end face of the bearing housing 25. The recess 43 and the circular arc-shaped raceway 46 are formed separately from each other by a positioning projection 42, wherein the positioning projection 42 projects on the raceway 46. The radius 48 of the raceway 46 corresponds to the radius of rotation of the bearing housing 25. In the storage position of the electronic module 19, the bearing shaft 14b is clamped in the recess 43, while from a given electronic module removal position, in which the electronic module 19 projects sufficiently far on the outer contour to be able to be held by hand, the bearing shaft 14b bears slidably against the raceway 46. While during the other rotational movement the clamping arm 40 slides on the bearing shaft 14b via its raceway 46. In order to prevent the bearing shaft 14b from coming out of the recess 43 in the storage position, the bearing housing 25 is additionally provided with a fastening projection 47 which projects on the first narrow side wall 28. The design of the clamping arm 40 has the advantage that, during transport of the pocket knife 1 or when the electronic module 19 is completely rotated into its storage position, the first coupling element 31 is pressed against the second coupling element 32 with a constant clamping force when the longitudinal center axis 33 of the support housing 25 and the longitudinal axis of the pocket tool extend in a congruent manner, and thus, for example, inadvertent uncoupling of the electronic module 19 from the housing 2 is avoided. The electronic module 19 can thus be transported reliably together with the pocket tool 1 as a structural unit. The clamping arm 40 can therefore also serve as a loss-proof safeguard for the electronic module 19.

The housing 2 also comprises a closure cap 50, which is rotatably mounted on a second bearing shaft 15b arranged in the second end region 13 of the pocket tool and is shown in detail in particular in fig. 9 and 11. The second end region 13 is located opposite the first end region 12. The closure flap 50 is arranged between the parallel side walls in the first receiving area 10 and the partition walls 6, 9 and is arranged between a closed position, as shown in fig. 1 and 6, for example, and an open position, as shown in fig. 3 and 9, and is configured to be adjustable, in particular rotatable, relative to the housing 2. The electronic module 19 or the support housing 25 and the closure 50 are arranged in a storage position and in a closed position inside the same first accommodation area 10.

As shown in enlarged form in fig. 11, the closure cap 50 is of substantially sickle-shaped design and comprises an axis 52 which is offset from the housing longitudinal axis 51 and extends perpendicularly to the side face 7 or the broad-side wall 26. The closure cap 50 is also provided with a substantially hub-shaped rotation bearing region 53, which has a bearing bore 54 extending perpendicularly to the side face 7 or the broad-side wall 26 and penetrated by the bearing shaft 15b, and a first stop face 55 on the inner side facing the receiving region 10. In its closed position shown in fig. 6, the closure cap 50 is supported by a first stop surface 55 against a stop surface 56 on the housing 2, in particular formed by the bearing axis 15 a.

At one end of the bearing opening 54, a wall part 57 is formed which projects laterally perpendicularly to the axis 52 of the bearing opening 54 and forms a further stop surface 58, wherein the closure cap 50 is supported in its open position, as shown in fig. 9, by the further stop surface 58 relative to the stop surface 56 of the housing 2, in particular of the bearing shaft 15 a.

An outer wall 59 of the closure cap 50, which is designed in the shape of a sickle, is designed in a partial section in the shape of a circular arc and has at its first end a first end wall part 60 connected to this end and at its second end a planar second end wall part 61 connected to this end. The rotation support region 53 is connected to a second end of the wall 59. The end wall part 61 is arranged in the extension of the wall 59 and has a freely projecting end edge 62, which is offset from the pivot bearing region 53 in the direction of the first receiving region 10, and a planar support surface 63, which extends between the end edge 62 and the pivot bearing region 53. This planar support surface 63 faces the first receiving area 10 and serves as a bearing for the interface 24 of the electronic module 19, which is described in more detail below, when it is completely pivoted into the storage position. As shown in fig. 11, the second end wall part 61 is provided in the region of the end edge 62 with a curved bearing surface 64 which serves as a bearing for the connection 24 of the electronic module 19 which is pivoted out of the removal position.

The wall part 57 projects perpendicularly from the support surface 63 and extends over a portion of the distance between the first and second end wall parts 60, 61. The first end wall part 60 is provided with an actuating element 65, which projects with its free end face end 66 a freely projecting end edge 62' formed by the first end wall part 60. The end face 66 projecting beyond the end edge 62' and the second end wall part 61 and the wall 59 form a protective cover which protects the connection 24 from dirt and mechanical stress when the electronic module 19 is not in use and when the electronic module is moved into the receiving position. The upper surface of the operating element 65 forms a recess.

Between the first end wall part 60 and the hub-shaped rotation support region 53, a locking arm 67, which projects freely on the inside of the wall 59 and is connected on the one hand to the first end wall part 60 via a first connecting wall 68 that is curved in an arc and on the other hand is connected integrally to the rotation support region 53 via a second connecting wall 69 that is curved in an arc, is provided. A planar third connecting wall 70 extends between the second connecting wall 69 and the wall 59. Between the end face end 66 or the first end wall part 60 and the locking arm 67, a guide slot 71 is formed, which is delimited by guide surfaces facing one another and which has an open end face in the direction of the first receiving region 10 and the end face located opposite this end face is delimited by a first connecting wall 68. The connecting wall 68 constitutes the stop face 55.

The closure cap 50 forms a positioning projection 72 which projects into the guide slot 71 and is formed on the locking arm 67. The latching projections 72 together with the bearing shafts 15a arranged in the housing 2 form a locking device 73 (see fig. 6) which can be removed if necessary. The locking device 73 is thus arranged between the closure cap 50 and the housing 2. The positioning projection 72 extends perpendicularly to the adjustment direction of the closure cap 50, in particular parallel to the axis 52. The closure can thus be locked in its closed position by means of the locking device 37. As can also be seen from fig. 11, the closure cap 50 is provided on an outer side facing away from the first receiving area 10 with a collar 74, which forms a through-opening. A key ring 75 passes through the through hole and is movably connected with the flange 74.

The interaction between the second functional part 11 forming the electronic module 19 and the closure cap 50 is now described with the aid of fig. 8 and 9. If the electronic module 19 is to be moved, in particular rotated out, from its storage position inside the first receiving region 10 into its use position outside the first receiving region 10, the closure flap 50 is first adjusted, in particular rotated out, from its closed position shown in fig. 6 into the open position shown in fig. 9 by applying an actuating force to the actuating element 65.

In the pivoted storage position of the electronic module 19, the connection 24 sensitive to dirt and mechanical loads is arranged between the two side walls 6, the first end wall part 60 or the end face end 66 and the second end wall part 61 and between these arcuately extending walls 59. The interface 24 is in this case overlapped over part of its length by the first end wall part 60 or the end face end 66 and the second end wall part 61 on two opposing narrow side walls 76 extending parallel to the narrow side walls 27 of the support housing 25 and is preferably completely covered by the wall 59 on its open end face 77, on which the electrical contacts are arranged. Contamination and mechanical loading of the electrical contacts arranged in the region of the open end face 77 of the interface 24, which electrical contacts are not further shown, are thus reliably prevented during transport of the pocket tool. Dirt is prevented from entering the connection 24 and a mechanical load on the bearing housing 25 on the side by the side walls and the partition walls 6, 9 which are arranged adjacent to the electronic module 19 when it is pivoted into the storage position.

In the storage position of the electronic module 19, the interface 24 rests partially against the support surface 6 via the first narrow side wall 76, see fig. 6.

At the same time, the electronic module 19 is pivoted out of its storage position into the removal position shown in fig. 9 by a pivoting-out movement of the closure cap 50, in which position it can be gripped and completely pivoted out into the use position outside the receiving region 10. After being pivoted out into the removal position, the electronic module 19 can be pivoted into the respective use position as required. In the removal position, the electronic module 19 protrudes from the receiving region 10 only so much that it can be held by a user with little effort and with a simple design.

As described above, in the removal position, the interface 24 rests with its first narrow side wall 76 against the support surface 64 of the second end wall part 61, while the projecting wall part 57 is supported with its stop surface 58 against the stop surface 56 formed by the support shaft 15a, and the longitudinal center axis 33 of the electronic module 19 forms an angle 78 with the longitudinal axis 51 of the pocket tool, which angle is determined such that the electronic module 19 and/or the interface 24 project at least partially from the outer contour of the pocket tool. The angle 78 can be determined as required by dimensioning the wall part 57 formed by the stop surface 58 and the wall part 61 with the bearing surface 64 accordingly.

The electronic module 19 and the closure 50 are movably coupled. If the closure 50 is moved from its closed position to its open position, the electronic module 19 is simultaneously rotated out of its storage position to its removal position. Here, on the one hand, the bearing shaft 15a, which is locked in the recess 88 defined by the positioning projection 72 and the stop face 55, rises out of the recess 88 and moves over the positioning projection 72 to the free end of the locking arm 67, and on the other hand, the bearing shaft 14b rises out of the recess 43 defined by the positioning projection 42 and the fixing projection 47 and moves over the positioning projection 42 in the direction of the free end of the clamping arm 40 to the raceway 46. If the respective bearing shafts 14b, 15a slide over the respective positioning projections 42, 72, the positioning projections 42, 72 themselves elastically deform and/or the clamping and locking arms 40, 67 deflect slightly in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the positioning projections 42, 72. After passing over the positioning projections 42, 72, the resiliently deformable clamping and locking arms 40, 67 are automatically returned to their original positions, if necessary. This raceway 46 promotes a smoother rotational movement of the electronic module 19 relative to the housing 2 as the electronic module 19 continues to rotate from the removal position to the use position.

In contrast, when the electronic module 19 is to be moved from its position of use outside the receiving region 10, in particular into its storage position inside the receiving region 10, the electronic module 19 is first rotated into its removal position, in which the interface 24 in turn bears with its first narrow side wall 76 against the bearing surface 64 of the closure flap 50 rotated out into the closure flap open position, so that the bearing shafts 14b, 15a automatically snap into the respective recesses 43, 88 by pressure exerted on the freely accessible narrow side walls 27 of the bearing housing 25 and/or the actuating element 65 of the closure flap 50, the clamping and locking arms 40, 67 with the positioning projections 42, 72 being adjusted in the same direction relative to the bearing shafts 14b, 15 a. The closure flap 50 is pivoted from its open position into its closed position and is supported in the closed position by its stop surface 55 against a stop surface 56 in the housing 2.

Fig. 12 shows a side view of a part of the area of a pocket tool according to the invention. A rotary bearing 29 is provided between the bearing housing 25 of the second functional component 11 constituting the electronic module 19 and the housing 2. The rotary bearing 29 according to this exemplary embodiment has a rotary bearing region 79 which has a bearing opening 80 arranged in this region and via which the rotary bearing is rotatably mounted on the bearing shaft 14a of the housing 2. The rotary bearing 29 comprises a coupling device 30 having coupling elements 31, 32 that can be engaged with and disengaged from each other, wherein the first coupling element 31 is formed on the bearing housing 25 and the second coupling element 32 is formed by a joint 81 that is mounted rotatably on a bearing shaft 14a that is arranged fixedly in the housing 2. The adapter 81 and the bearing housing 25 each have at least one plug element or positioning element or latching element which forms the first and second coupling elements 32. The interengagable plug elements or detent elements or latching elements are formed complementarily. The second functional part 11 is detachably connected, if necessary, to the adapter 81 between this functional part and the adapter 81 by means of a plug-in or detent or snap-in connection which forms the coupling device 30.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the coupling device 30 is formed by a plug-in or friction-locking connection. The first coupling element 31 arranged on the bearing housing 25 in the first end region of the end face facing the adapter 81 is expediently formed by the mutually opposite broad and/or narrow side walls 26, 27 and a partial region of the second coupling element 32 formed by the adapter 81 by a plug-in opening 82. The frictional engagement between the broad and/or narrow side walls 26, 27 of the bearing housing 25 and the inner walls of the plug-in openings 82 of the adapters 81 can be adjusted as required by corresponding surface expansions.

In a further embodiment, which is not shown, the coupling device 30 can be formed by a positioning device, wherein the second functional part 11 or the electronic module 19 or the bearing housing 25 forming this functional part is detachably fixed in or on the adapter 81 by positioning, for example by spring-loaded balls.

The pivot bearing 29 has the aforementioned clamping arm 40 and a positioning projection 42 which projects into an accommodating gap 41 formed between the pivot bearing region 79 and the clamping arm 40 for supporting the shaft 14 b. The positioning projection 42 and the support shaft 14b together form a locking device 45. By means of this locking device 45, which can be removed if necessary, the second cover part 11 can be locked at least in its storage position inside the first receiving area 10, which is not shown in this figure.

By means of this coupling device 30, the second functional part 11 or the electronic module 19 forming this functional part can be completely separated from the pocket knife 1 or the housing 2 and can be used independently of the pocket knife 1, as is shown in fig. 13. The position of use of the second functional part 11 can be understood in this case as the position in which the electronic module 19 is completely used separately from the pocket knife 1 and is connected, for example, via the interface 24 to a data processing device, such as a computer, a laptop, for data exchange between this data processing device and the electronic module 19.

The coupling and decoupling of the electronic module 19 to and from the housing 2, in particular the bearing shaft 14a, on the housing 2, in particular the bearing shaft 14a, is described in detail with reference to fig. 14 and 15.

When the electronic module 19 is coupled to the bearing shaft 14a with the housing 2, the closure cap 50 is first brought into its open position and the electronic module 19 is brought into a position approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 51 of the pocket knife 1 via the receiving gap 41 directly above the bearing shaft 14a, and the electronic module 19 is then moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 51, according to arrow 83, onto the bearing shaft 14a of the pocket knife 1, the bearing shaft 14a is introduced into the receiving gap 41 and is then pushed parallel to the longitudinal axis 51 in the direction of the closure cap 50, according to arrow 84, until the locking arm 35 of the first coupling element 31 locks onto the bearing surface 39 of the second coupling element 32, so that the first coupling element 31 is connected to the second coupling element 32 in a rotationally displaceable or articulated manner. After the snap-in, the electronic module 19 is transferred into a storage position, not shown in this figure, inside the first receiving area 10.

When the electronic module 19 is decoupled from the support shaft 14a with the housing 2, this is done in the reverse order to that for coupling, as shown in fig. 15. To this end, the electronic module 19 is first rotated into a position in which the clamping arm 40 and the bearing shaft 14b are disengaged, the electronic module 19 is then acted upon and overcome by a decoupling force acting substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal center axis 33 of the electronic module 19 in accordance with arrow 85 in opposition to the clamping force of the locking arm 35, the second arm section of the locking arm 35 is deflected radially outward in accordance with the arrow shown with respect to the bearing shaft 14a, and the first coupling element 31 is then decoupled from the second coupling element 32 or the bearing shaft 14a forming this coupling element by the electronic module 19 being moved in accordance with arrow 86 between the longitudinal axis 51 of the pocket tool and an angular direction extending toward the longitudinal center axis 33 of the electronic module 19.

In the commonly described figures 16 and 17, another embodiment of a pocket tool according to the invention is shown in different views. The pocket tool is formed by a plate-shaped tool holder 90 made of metal and/or plastic and has a rectangular plan profile with a width 91 and a length 92 perpendicular to the width. The width 91 separates two longitudinal sides 93 running parallel to one another, which run perpendicular to transverse sides 94 separated from one another by a length 92. The plate-shaped tool card 90 includes a housing 95 having a profile that is substantially that of a credit card or business card.

The housing 95 of the tool holder 90 has a base plate 96 and a cover plate 97 extending substantially parallel to this base plate, which are connected to one another in a non-detachable manner and have mutually facing sides 98. The housing 95 has, in a plane extending parallel to the base and cover plates 96, 97, a plurality of receiving areas 100, which are arranged at least partially spaced apart from one another by partition walls 99, for receiving a plurality of functional components 11, which are accessible from the outside via receiving openings 101. The receiving region 100 is arranged at least partially within the housing 95 between the base plate and the cover plates 96, 97. It has thus been seen that according to this embodiment, the functional part 11 is completely separated from the housing 95 in its respective use position and can be used independently of the housing.

The removable functional part 11 is formed, for example, by a knife 102, a so-called multi-function tool 103, an electronics module 19, a tweezers 105, a screwdriver 106 for a screw with a cross-slot, and a toothpick 107. Each functional part 11 which is movable between a storage position inside the receiving region 10 and a use position outside the receiving region 10 has a handle 108 which projects into the receiving opening 101 in the storage position of the respective functional part 11.

As shown in the two figures, a longitudinal side 93 is connected by an inclined surface to the outer surface of a cover 97 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal plane 93, which extends obliquely in the direction of the outer surface from the longitudinal side 93 and is provided with a length 109.

According to this exemplary embodiment, a plurality of mutually parallel partition walls 99, which are distributed over the interior sides of the base and cover plates 96, 97 facing each other and not shown in the drawings, are formed at least in sections at the inner sides, spaced apart from each other. These partition walls 99 project from the base plate 96 in the direction of the cover plate 97 and from the cover plate 97 in the direction of the base plate 96 perpendicularly to the inner side faces and each extend approximately over the entire interior height between the inner side faces, so that the partition walls 99 are arranged next to one another when the cover plate 97 is placed on the base plate 96 and are connected by their end edges facing the inner side faces of the base plate and the cover plates 96, 97 to the inner side faces of the base plate and the cover plates 96, 97 by means of connecting elements.

In a further embodiment, it is also conceivable for a plurality of mutually parallel partition walls 99, which are distributed over the mutually opposite inner faces of the base plate and cover plate 96, 97, to be formed at least in regions at the inner faces separately from one another. These partition walls 99 project from the base plate 96 perpendicularly to the inner side faces in the direction of the cover plate 97 and from the cover plate 97 in the direction of the base plate 96 and each extend over only a part of the entire inner height between the inner side faces facing one another and, when the cover plate 97 is placed on the base plate 96, extend over one another. The mutually opposite partition walls 99 are connected to one another at their facing end edges in a non-detachable manner by a connecting element. A continuous partition wall 99 is thus formed over the entire internal height from the base plate to the cover plates 96, 97.

On the other hand, it is also possible to form a plurality of mutually parallel partition walls 99, which are distributed over only one of the mutually opposite inner faces of the base and cover plates 96, 97, at least in some regions at least partially spaced apart from one another on the inner faces and extend over the entire inner height between the mutually facing inner faces of the base and cover plates 96, 97. The partition walls 99 on the base and cover plates 96, 97 are connected with their end edges to the inner sides of the opposite base and cover plates 96, 97 by connecting elements in an unreleasable manner. The partition wall 99 protrudes perpendicularly to the inner side face.

The connecting elements can be formed by adhesive and/or welded seams and/or by a fixed connection or by a snap connection. The partition wall 99 secures the base and cover plates 96, 97 in spaced relation to one another and at least partially defines a receiving area 100.

In another embodiment, the housing 95 is formed by bottom and cover plates 96, 97 and an intermediate plate disposed therebetween. The base and cover plates 96, 97 have corresponding receiving openings 101 for the handles 108 of the functional components 11, while the receiving region 100 is provided only in the intermediate plate and is formed by a recess provided in the intermediate plate. These recesses are defined by the partition walls 99 and have a contour which is at least partially complementary to the functional component 11.

According to the solution of the invention, a locking device 45 which can be removed when required and a longitudinal guide 110 are arranged between the support housing 25 of the second functional part 11 or the electronic module 19 forming this functional part. The longitudinal guides 110 extend over a portion of the length of the tool card 90 and preferably extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool card 90. The longitudinal guide 110 for the electronic module 19 or the support housing 25 is formed by two side-by-side partition walls 99 and, if appropriate, the inner side of the housing 95 facing the wide side 26, and is at least partially delimited by the same and has two mutually parallel, opposite guide surfaces 111 formed by the partition walls 99. These guide surfaces 111 extend parallel to the mutually opposite narrow side walls 27 of the bearing housing 25 and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool holder 90.

Between the bearing housing 25 and the housing 95 of the electronic module 19, a locking device 45 is provided, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is formed by a frictional connection between the bearing housing 25 and the housing 95 of the electronic module 19. For this purpose, the bearing housing 25 has at least one friction-locking element, which is preferably formed by a partial region of at least one of the wide and/or narrow sides 26, 27. Likewise, the housing 95 also has at least one friction-locking element, which is preferably formed by a partial region of the longitudinal guide 110, in particular at least one, preferably two guide surfaces 111 and optionally at least one, preferably two inner side surfaces facing the broad side surfaces 26.

The frictional locking element may extend only over a partial length of the longitudinal guide 110 and/or the support housing 25 and may be formed only in the insertion direction of the electronic module 19 in the front and/or rear end region, or in the first and/or second end region, or over the entire length of the longitudinal guide 110 and/or the support housing 25. The frictional connection between the inserted second functional part 11 or electronic module 19 and the longitudinal guide 110 can be influenced in a targeted manner by corresponding surface expansions as described above. By increasing the surface roughness of the wide and/or narrow sides 26, 27 of the bearing housing 25 and the longitudinal guides 110, in particular the guide surfaces 111 and, if appropriate, the mutually facing sides of the base plate and cover plate 96, 97, or by changing the spatial dimensions of the mutually engaging surface parts, a sufficient clamping force is thus achieved, so that the second functional part 11 inserted into its storage position is reliably locked by frictional engagement in the transport position of the tool card 90 and unintentional removal of the second functional part 11 from the receiving region 100 can be avoided. Preferably, the locking device 45 has only a partial length of the longitudinal guide 110.

In fig. 18, a further exemplary embodiment of a locking device 45 is shown. In its storage position pushed into the receiving area 100, the second functional part 11 or the electronic module 19 is releasably locked, if necessary, by a form-locking connection between the support housing 25 of the electronic module 19 and the linear guide 110 or the receiving area 100, in particular the partition wall 99 and/or the base or cover 96, 97. For this purpose, it can be provided that the housing 95, in particular the base and/or cover 96, 97, is provided on at least one of its inner sides 112 with a slightly elastic latching projection 113 in the receiving region 100, and that the second functional part or the bearing housing 25 is provided with a complementary latching recess 114 facing the latching projection 113, so that the electronic module 19 is locked in its storage position by a form-locking connection between the latching projection 113 and the latching recess 114. The positioning projections 113 and the positioning recesses 114 extend perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the longitudinal guide 110. Naturally, the locking means 45 formed by the positioning projections 113 and the positioning recesses 114 can also be arranged between the narrow side wall 27 of the bearing housing 25 and the parallel partition wall 90 adjacent to this narrow side wall. The positioning projection 113 projects into the receiving area 100.

In the storage position, in which the functional components 11, in particular the electronic module 19, are pushed into the receiving region 100, the functional components 11, in particular the support housing 25 and/or the handle 108, can be detachably locked, if necessary, by a form-and/or frictional connection between the functional components 11, in particular the support housing 25, and the longitudinal guides 110 or the receiving region 100, in particular the partition walls 99 and/or the base plate and the inner side of the cover plates 96, 97.

The second functional part 11 or the electronic module 19 constituting this functional part comprises a memory card 115 or memory and interface 24, as shown in fig. 6 and 7. The memory card 115 has a writable and readable non-volatile memory, in particular a semiconductor memory (flash ROM) or is formed by a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID). RFID involves a chip on which data is stored passively (passiv) so that it does not emit a signal, but is able to receive radio waves from a transmitter or reader and thereby release its information. It obtains the energy necessary for transmitting data by means of the radio signals received by it. Of course, the memory card 115 can also be formed by a Smart card or chip card, a flash memory card or a so-called multimedia card.

In order to read electrical or electronic data into and from the memory card, the electronic module 19 is provided with at least one interface 24. In a preferred embodiment, the interface 24 is configured for a universal serial bus or a FireWire (FireWire) via a USB plug or socket^TM) Plug or socket (IEEE 1394). These interfaces 24 have a particularly high data transmission speed. For storing in a memory a data processing device such as a computer or a peripheral device such as a printer, scannerEtc., and this interface 24 is provided with electrical contacts.

Such a non-volatile memory has the particularly positive feature that it does not lose its memory content when the power supply is switched off and can be rewritten up to 1 million times. On this memory programs such as control and processing programs, and/or data in any form such as text data, data or image and language information, audio and video data such as MP3 may be stored in a non-volatile manner.

Unlike the interface 24 shown in the exemplary embodiment, by means of which data or signals are transmitted via contacts, writing and reading can also be effected wirelessly, in particular inductively, capacitively, optically or purely telemetrically, and thus via a radio frequency. For this purpose, the interface 24 shown has a transmitting and/or receiving device and is formed, for example, by an infrared interface or a radio signal interface. Such a standard interface 24 is known from the prior art and is known by the expert as a WLAN interface or bluetooth^TM. The electronics module 19 is formed to some extent by a moving arm disk that can hold stored content without external power.

In order to prevent unauthorized use of the data stored in the electronic module 19 when the electronic module 19 is lost, which is uncoupled or removed from the pocket tool, the support housing 25 of the electronic module 19 can also be provided with a sensor for biometric access control. This sensor may be formed, for example, by a fingerprint sensor. The electronic module 19 may also have an electronic circuit formed by a microchip, which comprises a readable and writable non-volatile memory.

Finally, another embodiment shown in fig. 12a is mentioned, in which the rotary bearing 29 has no coupling means 30 and the electronic module 19 is supported only rotatably on the bearing shaft 14a and cannot be separated from the housing 2. The electronic module 19 is connected to the housing 2 in an unalterable manner, preferably by rotating up to 180 ° from a storage position inside the receiving region 10 or receiving body 5 to a use position outside the receiving region 10 or receiving body 5. The rotary bearing 29 is formed by the bearing shaft 14a and the rotary bearing region 79 with a bearing bore 80 with the bearing housing 25. The same structure is also contemplated on the tool card 90.

In addition, this possibility also exists for a pocket tool arrangement formed by the pocket knife 1, as shown, in which the electronic module 19 is mounted in the housing 2 so as to be non-rotatable and movable, in particular axially movable, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 51 between a storage position and a use position. For this purpose, a longitudinal guide is provided, which is formed by two side walls 7 or a side wall and a partition wall 6, 9. The mutually facing side surfaces form guide surfaces between which the support housing 25 is adjustably supported. The broad side walls 26 are expediently supported on this guide surface when the electronic module 19 is pushed into the storage position. According to this embodiment, the closure cap 50 can be formed by the housing 2 and connected to the housing in a movable and fixed manner, or can be moved axially in the direction of the longitudinal axis 51 between the open and closed position into the mouthpiece 24 or out of or adjusted from the mouthpiece 24. The closure flap 50, which is adjustable relative to the bearing housing 25 of the electronic module 19 moved into the storage position, is axially movably supported in the housing 2 between an open and a closed position.

The bearing housing 25 with the first coupling element 31 and the closure cap 50 are produced from plastic in an injection molding process.

An independent solution to the object of the invention is a pocket tool, for example a pocket knife 1 or a plate-shaped tool card 90, having a housing 2, 95 and a receiving region 10, 100 and at least one functional part 11 which is moved from a storage position inside the receiving region 10, 100 to a use position outside the receiving region 10, 100 and which is formed by a tool, in particular a scissors 16 or a knife 17, 102 or a household product, in particular a toothpick 107, a tweezers 105, a cleaning needle, a pen 20 or the like, wherein the pocket tool has an electrical control circuit 120 and at least one peripheral device 121 which is coupled to the circuit for transmitting electrical signals.

Fig. 19 to 21 and 23 to 29 show possible designs of a pocket tool, comprising a control circuit 120 and at least one peripheral 121, wherein one possible configuration of the control circuit 120 or the peripheral 121 is schematically illustrated in block diagram form in fig. 22.

The control circuit 120 is preferably formed by a computer architecture having at least one processor unit 120a, an input/output system 120b and a system bus 120 c. At least one peripheral device 121 is formed by a digital memory element 122 or a data interface 123, wherein the pocket tool preferably comprises a plurality of peripheral devices 121, which can be formed in particular by the memory element 122 and/or the data interface 123 and/or an input and/or output interface 124, in particular an audio or video interface, and/or an input and output device 125 and/or an operating device 126 and/or a power supply 127. The peripheral devices 121 are electrically coupled to the control circuit 120 through the input/output system 120b to transmit signals. Furthermore, a signal and/or data bus 128 can be connected to the input/output system 120b of the control circuit 120, via which the peripheral devices 121 and the control circuit 120 are communicatively connected to one another.

It is to be noted here that the memory element 122 may comprise a memory, as already described above with respect to fig. 1 to 18. The data interface 123 can likewise be formed by the interface 24 described above. In another embodiment, the memory element 122 may be permanently or non-removably incorporated in the housing 2, 95 of the pocket tool.

Access to the data stored in the memory element 122 can be achieved via the, in particular, digital data interface 123, a unidirectional or bidirectional data exchange being possible via the data interface 123, so that any data can be stored and read in the memory element 122 independently of its form or its structure. An external data carrier, a computer network, a data processing device or the like can be connected to the control circuit 120 or the memory element 122 for transmitting signals, for example via the data interface 123, so that, for example, magnetic storage media, such as hard disks or floppy disks, or read-out devices for optical storage media, such as CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs, which are larger in terms of overall size than pocket tools, can be considered for exchanging data with the control circuit 120 and the memory element 122, if present. These designs are described in more detail below.

The control circuit 120 is assigned a control device which outputs, in particular, digital media information stored in a memory, in particular a memory element 122, for processing. As digital media information, for example, audio, image or video information stored in a memory can be mentioned.

A pocket tool with a control circuit 120 embodied in this way is extended in its functional scope in an advantageous manner, in addition to the calculation of the parameters from the analog measured values and the display in the form of numbers or letters, also by means of special control devices, data in the form of numbers which have been transmitted in the form of numbers via a data interface 123 to a memory element 122 and stored there. The data can be stored in the memory element 122 as digitized audio information in the form of data files, wherein the control circuit 120 can convert or convert the data files into a readable, in particular analog, output signal which can be accessed via the input and/or output interface 123, or a signal for controlling an acoustic input and/or output device 125, in particular a microphone, of the pocket tool. Furthermore, the data can be stored as digitized images or video information in a data file in the memory element 122, which is converted or converted by the control circuit 120 into an analog output signal or into a visual input and/or output device 125, in particular a display, for controlling the pocket tool. The information capacity that can be processed by the control circuit 120 is much greater than when only measured values are processed and other forms of information can be processed, thus giving the pocket tool a wide range of applications and facilitating the user to read different forms of information with improved reading quality. For example, a high-resolution image and/or video information in color or black and white is output on a visual input and/or output device, in particular an LCD display, and/or a noiseless or fidelity sound output is output on an auxiliary acoustic input and/or output device, in particular a sound generator. A status display can also be provided on the input and/or output device, in which, for example, the operating status of the control circuit 120 or of the peripheral devices 121 can be displayed and/or data stored in the memory element 122 can be displayed, viewed and selected if necessary.

The processor unit 120a of the control circuit 120 is preferably formed by a microprocessor and a working memory, in particular a dynamic Random Access (RAM) memory. The control means of the control circuit 120 for converting the digitized media information stored in the memory element 122 into an outputtable analog form is preferably constituted by a control logic stored as software or in an intermediate memory in the processor unit 120 a. Furthermore, in terms of hardware, the control circuit 120 has a digital-to-analog converter or an analog-to-digital converter for converting digital media information into an analog signal or vice versa. The control logic is preferably stored as a data file in a read-only memory which is formed by a memory area in the first memory element 122 or which is formed by a further memory element 129, for example a programmable and erasable flash ROM memory or an electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM) memory. The control logic can be stored as a preferably unchangeable initial loader or boot program in a read-only memory which can be erased and rewritten if necessary, for example, for the purpose of performing control logic updates.

The digitized media information is preferably stored in the storage element 122 in an encoded or compressed form, for example as an MP3(MPEG-1Layer 3-moving pictures experts group) or WMA (Windows audio media) data file. The control logic or control means of the control circuit 120 includes an encoding program and/or a decoding program for processing media information to convert compressed or encoded information into suitable signals that are readable, understandable to other peripheral devices 121, or for output. In principle, the media information can be stored in the memory element 122 in any data format or in any data structure, wherein the control means of the control circuit 120 are adapted to the format of the media information in order to be able to process this information. The control logic of the control circuit 120 may be updated, extended or exchanged as needed, so that the control circuit 120 may adapt to new or changing requirements of the output media information stored in the memory element 122.

For exchanging information and data and/or for transferring energy between the various peripheral devices 121 and the control circuit 120, a signal and/or data bus 128 may be provided. The electrical energy provided at the power supply 127, in particular the operating voltage for the control circuit 120 and, if appropriate, the peripheral devices 121, can be transmitted via the signal and/or data bus 128. For this purpose, a self-sufficient energy source, for example a battery that can be charged if necessary, such as a lithium-ion battery, a button battery or an AA or AAA battery, is associated with the pocket tool as the power supply 127. It is also to be noted that different peripheral units 121 or various electronic modules 19 can each have their own power supply 127. The power supply 127 can also be formed by electrical conductors of a signal or data bus 128, which can be connected to a power source external to the pocket tool via a power supply interface. The power supply interface can be formed, for example, by a data interface 123, which can also have supply lines in addition to data lines for the acquisition and transmission of operating voltages via a signal and/or data bus 128. Furthermore, a separate connecting element can be provided for the power supply interface.

In general, the second functional part 11 can be provided with a particularly elongated support housing 25 for forming a further embodiment of the electronic module 19, which has a control circuit 120 and/or at least one peripheral device 121. The functional component 11 or the electronic module 19 can be moved from a storage position inside the receiving region 10, 100 of the housing 2, 95 into a use position outside the receiving region 10, 100. At least one locking device 45 and a longitudinal guide 110 or a rotary bearing 29, which can be removed if necessary, are arranged between the bearing housing 25 of the second functional part 11 and the housing 2, 95. The structure of the functional component 11 is not described in detail here, since it has already been described at least partially in the description of fig. 1 to 18.

One or more peripheral devices 121 and/or control circuitry 120 may be provided in the pocket tool housing 2, 95 and electrically coupled for transmission signals with the peripheral devices and/or control circuitry 120 in the electronic module 19.

In principle, any number of functional components 11 can be provided in the receiving region 10, 100 associated with the housing 2, 95 of the pocket tool, the number of functional components 11 being determined by the overall size of the pocket tool and the availability of the receiving region 10, 100 volume associated therewith. For example, a single peripheral 121 or control circuit 120 can form a single electronic module 19, or a plurality of peripheral 121 and, if appropriate, control circuit 120 can form an electronic module 19. In a common electronic module 19, in particular a memory element 120, a data interface 123 and preferably a control circuit 120 and an input and/or output interface 124 are provided.

Fig. 19 shows a possible design of a pocket tool with a control circuit 120. The pocket tool is designed in the form of a pocket knife 1, wherein a first functional part 11 is arranged in the region of the cover 8, wherein this functional part 11 is formed by a pen 20 which can be displaced longitudinally in the direction of the arrow shown, as has already been described. The first functional part 11, which is embodied in the form of a pen 20, can be slid on a longitudinal guide 130 by actuating the slide 21 from a storage position inside the illustrated receiving area 10 into a use position in which the pen 20 protrudes from the housing 2. It is of course also possible to provide one or more further functional parts 11 in the pocket knife 1 in addition to the first functional part 11, which functional parts are formed by means of tools or articles of everyday use as described above.

As can also be seen, a second functional part 11 is accommodated in the storage position of the other receiving region 10, which is formed by a recess formed on a narrow side of the longitudinal side of the housing 2, wherein the functional part 11 has a bearing housing 25 with a wide side wall 26 and two narrow side walls 27, 28 and a rotary bearing 29 with a coupling device 30.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the control circuit 120 is arranged in or on the support housing 25 of the second functional part 11 together with a plurality of peripheral devices 121 for forming the electronic module 19. The electronic module 19 is equipped here with a control circuit 120, a memory element 122, a data interface 123, an input and/or output interface 124, an input and/or output device 125, an operating device 126 and a power supply device 127. The electronic module 19 can thus be operated autonomously and independently of the media information processing and in particular forms a discrete functional unit, wherein the electronic module 19 is mechanically coupled to the housing 2 by means of a coupling device 30. The electronic module 19 is preferably detachable from the housing 2, wherein for this purpose the first coupling element 31 provided on the support housing 25 is decoupled from the coupling element 32 provided on the housing 2 of the pocket knife 1, so that the electronic module 19 can be used, if necessary, separately from the pocket tool housing 2 and, for example, by charging the power supply 127 on a charger, or deleting information or storing new media information in the electronic module 19 on a computer device.

Fig. 20 and 21 show the electronic module 19 with the control circuit 120 in a decoupled position from the pocket knife 1. A data interface 123 is provided on the narrow side wall 28 of the bearing housing 25, wherein the data interface 123 is formed in the exemplary embodiment shown by a socket 131 which comprises electrical contacts. Of course, the interface can also be formed by a pin-shaped plug element, as described above with reference to the data interface 24.

Furthermore, an input and/or output interface 124 is provided on the narrow side wall 28, to which electrical signals, such as audio or video signals, are input and output. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the input and/or output interface 124 is formed by a connection socket 132 for connecting a sound generator, such as a loudspeaker or an external audio amplifier/receiver, wherein a single-channel or multi-channel audio signal is output at the input and/or output interface 124. The connection socket 132 is constituted, for example, by a 2.5mm or 3.5mm jack socket (klinkenbuche). Furthermore, the input and/or output interface 124 is formed by an optical or coaxial digital output. In particular, a headset, a microphone, a loudspeaker system or the like can be connected to the socket 133.

In the illustrated embodiment, acoustic and/or visual input and/or output devices 125 are provided on the broad side walls 26 of the support housing 25 of the electronic module 19. The input and/or output device 125 is formed here by a display 133, which is formed, for example, by a liquid crystal or LCD display known from the prior art. The display 133 is suitable at least for outputting numerical and alphabetical information, which in one possible embodiment may also be visible high-resolution graphics, such as images or video information. Black and white graphic information of 1Bit may be implemented on the display, or gray scale information of 8 bits or color information of 16 bits, 24 bits, or 32 bits may be displayed on the display 133. Furthermore, the display 133 can be assigned one or more light sources, which can be adjusted in light intensity if necessary, for illuminating the image area. Furthermore, the input and/or output device 125 can be formed in the form of a not shown lighting element, such as a light emitting diode.

A plurality of input elements 134 of the operating device 126 are arranged on the support housing 25 of the electronic module 19. In practice, for example, a pressure-actuated pushbutton element 135 is provided on the broad-side wall 26 and a slide button 136 and in particular a stepless actuator 137 are provided on the narrow-side wall 27, wherein the input element 134 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 120. The input element 134 may be formed by a switch contact and a regulator known in the art, such as a potentiometer. These input elements 134 are used, for example, to control audio or video functions of the control circuit 120 via an on/off switch, a volume adjuster, a play key, stop key, title or data selection key, lock key, and/or pause switch.

It is further noted that one of the peripheral devices 121 may be constituted by an electric position detection means, in particular a touch screen. In this case, display 133 and input elements 134 are realized as a common structural unit, input elements 134 being realized visually in a display area 138 on display 133 in the region of an outer surface 139 of support housing 25 and being able to be actuated by touching and pressing display area 138 of display 133. As a means for pressing against the display area 138 of the display 133, it is possible to use, for example, a tool or a commodity provided in the pocket tool, such as a toothpick, or another commodity in the form of a neutral operating pen provided in itself for inputting commands on the display 133 in the pocket tool housing 2.

In addition, a memory element 122 and a control circuit 120 are provided in the support housing 25 of the electronic module 19 for processing the digitized media information stored in the memory element 122. The adjustment or control of the operating parameters and operating states of the control circuit 120 can be effected via the input element 134 of the operating device 126. In one possible embodiment, an operating surface, for example a menu control, is visualized on the display 133 and/or by means of the lighting element, wherein the operating device 126 is provided for navigation on the operating surface. The operating face or menu control may have one or more selection faces, selection windows, registration cards or similar elements which may be displayed on the display 133 in order to be able to determine processing or reproduction parameters, objects or media data files to be reproduced, display characteristics or the like, wherein various menu controls known from the prior art may be used.

By means of such a functional component 11 with control circuit 120 and peripherals 121, a compact and small-sized electronic module 19 is achieved, which enables the output of media, such as audio, image and/or video information, whereby the range of use of the pocket tool is significantly expanded for the user, so that the pocket tool can correspond to modern requirements from information technology.

Fig. 23 shows a further embodiment of a pocket tool made of a pocket knife 1, which has at least one first functional part 11 made of a tool or a commodity. In this embodiment, a control circuit 120 and a plurality of peripheral devices 121 are arranged in or on the housing 2 of the pocket knife 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the functional component 11 is formed exclusively by a commodity or a tool, such as the illustrated knife 17, the control circuit 120 and the peripheral device 121 being permanently or non-detachably fixed in the housing 2.

In the illustrated embodiment, a display 133 having a substantially rectangular display area 138 is visually or exteriorly disposed on an outer surface 139 of a wide side 140 of the housing 2. The display 133 can be arranged below or in the interior of the cover plate 8, wherein the cover plate 8 is formed transparent at least at the display 138 of the display 133, or in another embodiment a transparent window made of plastic or glass is mounted in the bearing housing 25 of the further functional part 11. The transparent window or cover 8 may at least partially constitute an optical magnifying lens for the underlying display 133.

The data interface 123 is arranged on the narrow side 141 of the housing 2 and can be formed by a socket 131 with electrical contacts, as shown, or by a rigid plug element which slides out or pivots out of the receiving region 10, as described for the interface 24. The connection sockets 132 of the input and/or output interface 124 are arranged on the narrow side 141 of the housing 2.

Furthermore, the input elements 134 of the operating device 126 are arranged individually on the wide side 140, the narrow side 141 and, if appropriate, the end 142 of the housing 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the power supply 127 can be permanently integrated in the housing 2 of the pocket tool in the form of an energy store, in particular an accumulator, wherein electrical energy can be supplied from an external energy source via the data interface 123 and a separate power supply interface in order to charge the energy store of the power supply 127. The external energy source can be formed by a public power supply network, in which a preferably variable charging and operating voltage is applied to the energy storage device. In addition, a battery compartment, not shown, is provided in the housing 2 of the pocket tool, which can be used, for example, for accommodating cylindrical AA and AAA batteries or button batteries.

In fig. 24, a further embodiment of a pocket tool is shown, in which the control circuit 120 and/or one or more peripheral devices 121 are permanently or non-detachably arranged in or on the housing 2, and the one or more peripheral devices 121 and/or the control circuit 120 are arranged on a support housing 25 of the electronic module 19, which can be detached from the housing 2 if necessary.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, pocket knife 1 has a slot-shaped insertion opening 143, into which modular functional part 11 is inserted linearly and is fastened detachably in insertion opening 143 by means of a further coupling device 144 via coupling elements 145, 146, not shown in detail, such as, for example, elastic snap-in or detent elements, friction elements or a mechanical interlock. In the housing 2 delimiting the insertion opening 143, an electrically conductive contact element 147 of the signal and/or data bus 128 can be arranged, which in the storage position of the functional component 11 in the receiving region 10 is in contact with another electrically conductive contact element 148 arranged on the support housing 25 for forming an electrically conductive contact element 149 of the signal and/or data bus 128. The contact elements 147, 148 can be loaded against one another, for example, by means of spring force or friction.

Fig. 25 shows a further embodiment of a pocket tool, in which several receiving areas 10 are provided for different electronic modules 19, wherein each of these electronic modules 19 has one or more peripheral devices 121 and/or a control circuit 120.

As shown, for example, an electronic module 19 may include an operating device 126 having a plurality of input elements 134 on a broad side wall 126 of the support housing 25. The input element 134 can be formed by a key field with a pressure-actuated switch contact, a navigation cross or the like. The other electronic module 19 includes control circuitry 120 and other peripherals 121. It is to be noted here that the power supply 127, which is formed in particular by an energy store, can form a separate electronic module 19. It is thus possible for the user to have a plurality of replaceable electronic modules 19 with power supply means 127 and to replace them when necessary. In particular, the memory element 122 can also form its own electronic module 19, which has proven to be advantageous since the user only has to use the memory element 122 containing the currently required information or data in the pocket tool. The individual memory elements 122 can therefore have a smaller capacity and a smaller overall size, and a plurality of electronic modules 19 with combined memory elements 122 can be used with larger memory requirements. If necessary, the control circuit 120 may also form its own electronic module 19. A pocket tool in this modular form can be adapted to the individual user requirements with regard to the range of pocket tool functions required and can provide a re-configuration of the individual peripherals 121 or control devices 120. Different electronic modules 19 can also be provided, which have a control circuit 120 for specific information processing, for example an electronic module 19 for processing audio information, an electronic module 19 for processing video information or the like, wherein these electronic modules 19 can be formed as separate modules, which can be operated jointly or as separate or discrete units in the pocket tool.

The different electronic modules 19 can be connected to one another via a signal and/or data bus 128, which is not shown in fig. 25 for reasons of clarity, wherein this bus can have the above-mentioned contact elements 147, 148 or bus interfaces 149, which can be arranged at the boundary surfaces of the receiving regions 10, 100 in the housings 2, 95 and on the outer surface 139 of the support housing 25 and which are connected to the electrical lines of the signal and/or data bus 128. The conductors of the signal and/or bus 128 can run in or on the housing 2, for example in the region of a bearing shaft 14, about which the functional component 11 can be rotated. In one possible embodiment, the lines of the signal and/or data bus 128 are formed by electrically conductive rivet pins 150. The rivet pin 150 can thus form a contact element 147 of the housing 2, which forms an interface 149 for transmitting signals and/or data via a contact element 148 provided on the bearing element 36 of the first coupling element 31. For example, two rivet pins 150 can be provided, to which the positive and negative poles of the power supply 127 are connected, wherein the control circuit 120 and the peripheral device 121 can be supplied with the necessary operating voltage via the rivet pins 150 and can be electrically coupled thereto, as is described below with reference to fig. 27.

Fig. 26 shows a further embodiment of a pocket tool, the housing 2 of which has a control circuit 120, a data interface 123 and an input and/or output interface 124 and, if appropriate, a memory element 122. The input element 134 for controlling or regulating the control circuit 120 and the operating device 126 are arranged on an external operator 151, which is connected to the input and/or output interface 124 via a transmission line 152. The operator 151 may have a loudspeaker 153, in particular an earphone or the like, at the output.

In the present exemplary embodiment, input elements 136 of operating device 126 and, if appropriate, a display 133 (not shown) are arranged on operator 151. A bidirectional data transmission takes place between the operator 151 and the control circuit 120 via the input and/or output interface 124, so that output signals from the input and/or output interface 124 can be output to the loudspeaker 153, while control signals from the operator 151 can be supplied as input signals to the input and/or output interface 124 of the control circuit 120.

Furthermore, the memory element 122 is shown by way of example as a mass memory 154, which is formed, for example, in the form of a magnetic data carrier, such as a hard disk or an optical reader, such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, and which can be coupled to the control circuit 120 via a data interface 123. Furthermore, a wireless input and/or output interface 124 is shown, which has a transmitter and/or receiver 155, for example a wireless, infrared, inductive transmitter or receiver, by means of which signals and data can be exchanged with external devices or infrastructures, such as a communication or data network. Furthermore, the transmitter and/or receiver 155 is designed as an FM radio receiver or as a component for position determination, in particular as a navigation transmitter or receiver for the GPS system (global positioning system). Another method of processing media information is also specified, in which the digitized mapping information stored in the memory is visible on the display 133 and the actual position of the pocket tool is obtained by means for position determination and shown on the display 133. If necessary, the route planning can also be carried out by a pocket tool, wherein the path and direction data can be displayed by the input and/or output device 125.

Fig. 27 shows a further embodiment of the pocket tool, in which an electronic module 19 is formed essentially in the form of a plate and can be mechanically coupled to the housing 2 of the pocket tool by means of a connecting device 156. The connecting means 156 is formed in the exemplary embodiment shown by a latching arm 157, which engages in a recess 158 in the broad side 140 of the housing 2. The functional component 11 can be snapped onto the side wall 6 of the housing 2, for example as the outermost cover element or cover 8, wherein the electrical contact elements 147, 148 can be coupled to the signal and/or data bus 128 arranged in the housing 2. The functional component 11 can have, in particular, a power supply 127 formed by an energy store.

Fig. 28 shows a further embodiment of a pocket tool, which has an image recording device 159, in particular an input and/or output device 125 in the form of a digital camera. Furthermore, a microphone 160, in particular an input and/or output device 125 in the form of a microphone, is shown by way of example. Furthermore, an input element 134 of the operating device 126 is provided on the housing 2 or the bearing housing 25, wherein the input element 134 can serve as a trigger for an image recording device 159 in the form of a camera and a microphone 160.

The image or video information received by the image recording device 159 is stored or storable in a memory element 122, which is not illustrated in detail, and can be retrieved, if necessary, in analog form via the input and/or output interface 124 or in digital form via the data interface 124. Furthermore, sound information can be acquired by means of the microphone 160 and converted into digital form by means of the control circuit 120, which is not shown in detail, wherein the audio information is or can be stored in the memory element 122.

Fig. 29 shows a further embodiment of a pocket tool, which is embodied in the form of a tool card 90 having at least one functional component 11. The tool card 90 also has a control circuit 120 and a plurality of peripheral devices 121 as described above. The structure of the functional component 11 of the tool card 90 and the arrangement of the peripheral devices 121 in the housing 95 of the tool card 90 or in the bearing housing 25 of the functional component 11 may correspond to the above-described structures and are not described in detail here.

All the embodiments show possible designs of pocket tools, wherein it is pointed out here that the invention is not limited to the specifically shown designs, but that different combinations of the above-described designs are also possible and that the possibilities of such different combinations fall within the expertise of the person skilled in the art in light of the teachings of the technical implementation provided by the invention. All conceivable embodiments can also be included in the scope of protection, which can be realized by a combination of the individual details of the embodiments shown and described.

Finally, it is to be noted in an organized manner that the pocket tool and its components are shown partially disproportionately and/or enlarged and/or reduced for a better understanding of the structure of the pocket tool.

Most importantly, in fig. 1 to 15; 16 to 18; 19, 20, 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; the various embodiments shown in 29 may constitute independent aspects of the solution according to the invention.

List of reference numerals

1 narrow side wall of pocket knife 27

2 narrow side wall of the housing 28

3 width 29 rotary support

4 Length 30 coupling

5 receiving body 31 coupling element

6 side wall 32 coupling element

7 side 33 longitudinal center axis

8 cover 34 axis

9 divider wall 35 locking arm

10 receiving area 36 support element

11 functional part 37 support sleeve

12 bearing surface of the first coupling element at the end 38

13 end 39 bearing surface of the second coupling element

14a supporting axle 40 clamp arm

14b support shaft 41 accommodation gap

15a supporting axle 42 positioning projection

15b support shaft 43 portion

Locking device for 16-scissors 45

17 small knife 46 raceway

18 file 47 fixing projection

19 electronic module 48 radius

20 pen 50 closing cap

21 longitudinal axis of the slider 51

22 operating element 52 axis

24 interface 53 rotational support area

25 support housing 54 support aperture

26 broad side wall 55 closure stop face

56 bearing axial stop surface 83 arrow

57 wall member 84 arrow

58 stop face 85 arrow of closure

59 wall 86 arrow

60 end wall member 88 recess

61 end wall member 90 tool clip

62 end edge 91 width

62' end edge 92 length

63 support surface 93 longitudinal side

64 bearing surface 94 lateral side

65 operating element 95 housing

66 surface end 96 bottom plate

67 locking arm 97 cover plate

68 connecting the sides of the wall 98

69 connecting wall 99 partition wall

70 connecting wall 100 receiving area

71 receiving gap 101 receiving hole

72 positioning convex 102 knife

73 locking device 103 multifunctional tool

74 flange 105 forceps

106 screwdriver with 75 key rings

76 narrow side wall 107 toothpick

77 front 108 handle

78 degree 109 length ruler

79 longitudinal guide for a rotary bearing region 110

80 bearing hole 111 guide surface

Side of 81 adapter 112

82 inserting hole 113 positioning projection

114 positioning recess 146 coupling element

115 memory card 147 contact element

120 control circuit 148 contact element

121 peripheral 149 bus interface

122 storage element 150 rivet pin

123 data interface 151 operator

124 input/output interface 152 transmission line

125 input/output device 153 loudspeaker

126 operating device 154 mass storage

127 power supply 155 transmitter and/or receiver

128 signal and/or data bus 156 connection device

129 memory element 157 snap arm

130 longitudinal guide 158 groove

159 picture detection device of 131 socket

132 jack 160 pickup

133 display

134 input element

135 push button

136 sliding key

137 regulator

138 display area

139 outer surface

140 wide side

141 narrow side face

142 front side

143 insertion point

144 coupling device

145 coupling element

Claims (55)

1. Pocket tool, comprising a housing (2, 95) having one or more receiving areas (10, 100) within the housing (2, 95) and at least two functional parts (11), wherein a first functional part (11) can be moved between a storage position within the receiving area (10, 100) and a use position outside the receiving area (10, 100) and is designed as a tool or a commodity and a second functional part (11) has an electronic module (19), wherein the electronic module (19) has a carrier housing (25) which can be moved between a storage position within the receiving area (10, 100) and a use position outside the receiving area (10, 100); and, between the support housing (25) of the electronic module (19) and the housing (2, 95), a longitudinal guide (110) or a rotary bearing (29) is provided; characterized in that the removable electronic module (19) is provided with a writable and readable non-volatile memory inside the support housing (25) and a bidirectional interface (24) suitable for reading electronic data from and to an external data processing system.

2. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a pocket knife (1) or a plate-shaped tool card (90).

3. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the first functional part (11) is designed as a scissors (16), a knife (17, 102), a toothpick or a pen.

4. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the support housing (25) of the electronic module (19) has two parallel broad side walls (26) opposite one another, two parallel narrow side walls (27) extending substantially perpendicularly between the broad side walls (26) and opposite one another, and two narrow side walls (28) opposite one another at the end faces, and in that the interface (24) is provided on the narrow side wall (28) of one of the end faces.

5. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic module (19) is extractable.

6. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic module (19) is separable from the casing (2, 95).

7. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary bearing (29) is provided with a coupling device (30) having mutually engageable and disengageable coupling elements (31, 32), wherein the bearing housing (25) is provided in one of its end regions of the front side with a first coupling element (31) and the housing (2) is provided in one of its end regions (12, 13) of the front side with a second coupling element (32).

8. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic module (19) can be locked at least in its storage position inside the receiving region (10, 100) by means of a releasable locking device (45) in a form-locking or force-locking manner.

9. Pocket tool according to claim 8, characterized in that said locking means (45) are provided in the length of the longitudinal guide means (110).

10. Pocket tool according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking means (45) are constituted by mutually engageable plug-in or snap-in elements provided on the bearing housing (25) and in the housing (2, 95), which elements are mutually complementary.

11. Pocket tool according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking device (45) is formed on a coupling element (31, 32) of the coupling device (30), and in that the coupling elements (31, 32) are each provided with a plug-in element or a latching element which are formed complementarily to one another.

12. Pocket tool according to claim 7, characterized in that said second coupling element (32) is constituted by a supporting shaft (14a) of the housing (2).

13. Pocket tool according to claim 12, characterized in that the second coupling element (32) is formed by an adapter (81) which is rotatably supported on a bearing shaft (14a), the bearing shaft (14a) being fixedly arranged in the housing (2) and extending perpendicularly to the broad side wall (26) of the bearing housing (25).

14. Pocket tool according to claim 13, characterized in that the adapter (81) and the support housing (25) each have at least one plug-in element or positioning element or snap-in element, and the electronic module (19) is detachably connected to the adapter (81) by means of a plug-in or positioning or snap-in connection.

15. Pocket tool according to claim 7, characterized in that the first coupling element (31) has a locking arm (35) and a bearing element (36), wherein the locking arm (35) is supported relative to the second coupling element (32) by its elastic end, which protrudes freely in the region of the first end of the end face of the bearing housing (25), and the bearing element (36) is guided on the second coupling element (32) by a substantially half-shell-shaped bearing sleeve (37) which is arranged coaxially to the second coupling element (32).

16. Pocket tool according to claim 15, characterized in that the bearing housing (25) has, in addition to the first coupling element (31), a slightly elastic clamping arm (40) which projects freely over the first end region of the end face of the bearing housing (25) and an accommodating gap (41) which extends between the clamping arm and the locking arm (35) or the bearing element (36) and which accommodates the bearing shaft (14b), and in that a positioning projection (42) which projects into the accommodating gap (41) and the bearing shaft (14b) with the housing (2) form the locking means (45).

17. The pocket tool according to claim 7, characterized in that the first coupling element (31) fixed to the bearing housing (25) in the region of the first end forms an axis (34) which is offset from a longitudinal center axis (33) of the bearing housing (25) and extends perpendicularly to the broad side wall (26) of the bearing housing (25).

18. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal guide (110) is formed by a receiving region (100) and is at least partially delimited by at least two separating walls (99) arranged at a distance from one another, wherein the separating walls (99) each have guide surfaces (111) which face one another, are parallel to one another and extend parallel to the broad side walls (26) of the bearing housing (25).

19. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2) has a receiving body (5) with at least two side walls (6) lying opposite one another at a distance and connected to one another by means of bearing shafts (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b), at least one pocket-shaped receiving region (10) arranged between the side walls (6) and two cover plates (8) fastened to outer side faces (7) of the side walls (6) facing away from one another, and in that the bearing housing (25) is mounted on the bearing shafts (14a) of the housing (2) so as to be rotatable about an axis (34) running perpendicular to the outer side faces (7).

20. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (95) has two flat base and cover plates (96, 97) lying opposite one another and a receiving region (100) for receiving tools and electronic modules (19) which is arranged at least partially spaced apart from one another in a plane extending parallel to the base and cover plates (96, 97) by means of a partition (95), and in that the base and cover plates (96, 97) form side faces (98) which lie opposite one another and are at least partially parallel to the plane and are connected to one another by means of a connecting element.

21. Pocket tool according to claim 20, characterized in that a partial section of the housing (95) forms a closure cap (50) which interacts with the interface (24) and, when the electronic module (19) is in its storage position inside the receiving region (100), the interface (24) of the electronic module (19) is covered by the closure cap (50) at least in the region of its end face (77) facing the closure cap.

22. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2) has a closure cap (50) which interacts with an interface (24) arranged in a second end region (13) of the end face of the bearing housing (25), the closure cap (50) being configured adjustably between an open position and a closed position relative to the receiving region (10), and the interface (24) of the electronic module (19) being covered by the closure cap (50) at least in the region of its electrical contacts when the electronic module (19) is in its storage position inside the receiving region (10).

23. Pocket tool according to claim 22, characterized in that the electronic module (19) is rotatably supported by means of a rotary bearing (29) on a bearing shaft (14a) which is arranged in a first end region (12) of the pocket tool, and in that the closure cap (50) is rotatably supported on one of the bearing shafts (15b) which is arranged in a second end region (13) of the pocket tool, which second end region (13) is located opposite the first end region (12).

24. Pocket tool according to claim 22, characterized in that the closure cap (50) is of substantially sickle-shaped design and forms a shaft (52) which is arranged offset from the pocket tool longitudinal axis (51) and extends perpendicularly to the broad side wall (26) of the bearing housing (25).

25. Pocket tool according to claim 22, characterized in that the closure cap (50) has a hub-shaped rotary bearing region (53) with an inner side extending perpendicularly to the broad side wall (26) of the bearing housing (25) and a bearing bore (54) bearing on the bearing shaft (15b), and a first stop face (55) on the inner side facing the receiving region (10), and in that the closure cap (50) in its closed position is supported by the first stop face (55) against a stop face (56) located in the housing (2).

26. Pocket tool according to claim 22, characterized in that the closure flap (50) can be locked in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner at least in its closed position by means of a further locking device (73).

27. The pocket tool according to claim 26, wherein said further locking means (73) is provided between the closure cap (50) and the casing (2), which further locking means is constituted by the positioning projection (72) and the supporting shaft (15 a).

28. Pocket tool according to claim 8, characterized in that said locking means (45) are constituted by mutually engageable positioning elements or friction-locking elements provided on the bearing housing (25) and in the casing (2, 95), which elements are mutually complementary.

29. Pocket tool according to claim 22, wherein the closure cap (50) has at least one wall part (57) which projects laterally at one end of the bearing opening (54) perpendicularly to its longitudinal extent and which forms a further stop face (58), wherein the closure cap (50) in its open position is supported by the further stop face (58) against a stop face (56) located in the housing (2).

30. The pocket tool of claim 22, wherein said closure (50) has a circular wall (59) having first and second end wall members (60, 61) disposed at opposite ends thereof, and a locking arm (67) disposed between said end wall members; wherein the first end wall member (60) and the locking arm (67) define an accommodation gap (71) for accommodating the support shaft (15a), and a positioning projection (72) projects into the accommodation gap (71).

31. Pocket tool according to claim 22, characterized in that said closing cover (50) has an operating element (65) projecting from the outer contour of the housing (2).

32. The pocket tool according to claim 1, wherein said memory is constituted by a flash memory card (115).

33. The pocket tool according to claim 1, wherein said memory is constituted by an RFID, radio frequency identification device.

34. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that said interface (24) is constituted by a USB connection plug or socket or FireWire^TMConnecting plug or FireWire^TMAnd a connection socket.

35. Pocket tool according to claim 1, characterized in that said interface (24) is constituted by transmitting or receiving means for wireless data or signal transmission.

36. The pocket tool according to claim 35, characterized in that said interface (24) is constituted by an infrared interface or a radio signal interface.

37. Pocket tool according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking device (45) is formed on a coupling element (31, 32) of the coupling device (30), and the coupling elements (31, 32) are each provided with a positioning element or a frictional locking element which are formed complementarily to one another.

38. Pocket tool having a housing (2, 95) comprising at least one receiving area (10, 100) and an electronic module (19), which electronic module (19) can be moved between a storage position inside the receiving area (10, 100) and a use position outside the receiving area (10, 100) or can be mechanically coupled to the housing (2, 95), and which electronic module (19) has a bearing housing (25) and a control circuit (120), characterized in that the electronic module (19) further has:

a) a writable and readable non-volatile memory (122) disposed within the support housing (25);

b) a bi-directional first interface (123) for reading electronic data from an external data processing system into the memory (122) and for reading electronic data from the memory (122) into the external data processing system;

c) a second interface (124) for connecting an audio output device or a video output device to the electronic module (19), and the control circuit (120) is connected to an operating device (126) which is designed to control the volume and to select data objects stored in the memory (122), and the control circuit (120) has a control device which is assigned to the control circuit (120) and is designed to process digitized media information stored in the memory (122).

39. The pocket tool according to claim 38, further comprising an adapter (81) rotatably supported on the housing (2), the adapter (81) having a coupling means for connecting and disconnecting the electronic module (19) to and from the adapter (81); and the electronic module (19), when it is connected to the adapter (81), can be rotated by means of the adapter (81) from a storage position into a removal position in which the electronic module (19) protrudes at least partially from the outer contour of the pocket tool and can be grasped by a hand of a user in order to allow the electronic module (19) to be moved in its use position.

40. Pocket tool according to claim 39, characterized in that the coupling means are a plug-in or detent or snap-in connection and the electronic module (19) is detachably connected to the adapter (81) by means of a plug-in or detent or snap-in connection.

41. The pocket tool according to claim 38, wherein said control circuit (120) is constituted by a computer structure having at least a processor unit (120a), an input and output system (120b) and a system bus (120 c).

42. The pocket tool according to claim 38, characterized in that the control means of the control circuit (120) are further designed to convert digital media information stored in the memory into a transmittable, analog output signal.

43. The pocket tool according to claim 38, characterized in that said control means are constituted by a control logic storable as software in a working memory of the processor unit (120 a).

44. The pocket tool according to claim 43, wherein the control logic of said control circuit (120) includes an encoding program and a decoding program for processing digitized media information.

45. The pocket tool of claim 38, wherein said digitized media information is stored in memory as an encoded or compressed data file.

46. Pocket tool according to claim 38, characterized in that the housing (2, 95) also has a signal and data bus (128) which is connected to the operating device (126) and to the control circuit (120) and which comprises at least one bus interface (149) with a first contact element (147) on the housing (2, 95), and in that a further contact element (148) is provided on the bearing housing (25) of the further functional part (11), which further contact element corresponds to the first contact element (147) when the functional part is in the storage position in the housing (2, 95).

47. The pocket tool according to claim 38, characterized in that said second interface (124) has a connection socket for earphone or microphone or video input and output.

48. The pocket tool according to claim 38, characterized in that said second interface (124) is constituted by a wireless transmitter or receiver (155).

49. The pocket tool according to claim 38, wherein said video output device (125) is constituted by a display (133) or a light source or an image acquisition means (159).

50. The pocket tool according to claim 38, wherein said audio output device (125) is constituted by a microphone (153).

51. The pocket tool according to claim 38, characterized in that said operating means (126) has one or more input elements (134) for adjusting the operating parameters and the operating state of the control circuit (120).

52. The pocket tool according to claim 51, characterized in that said operating means (126) has a menu control visual display (133) adapted to be navigated by means of the input element (134).

53. The pocket tool according to claim 38, characterized in that said audio output device or video output device or operating means (126) are provided on the housing (2, 95).

54. The pocket tool according to claim 38, characterized in that said audio output device or video output device or operating means (126) are provided on a supporting housing (25) of the electronic module (19).

55. The pocket tool according to claim 38, characterized in that said audio output device or video output device or operating means (126) are separate and independent from the casing (2, 95) or from the supporting housing (25) of the electronic module (19) and are arranged on an operator (151) able to be connected to the outside of the second interface (124).