At a glance
| Patent number | CN108098701B (application CN201810095142) |
| Type | China invention patent (发明专利) - protects product structure and method |
| Original title | Wrench and screwdriver combined two-purpose tool (一种扳手与螺丝刀合一的两用工具) |
| Patent owner | Sanming University |
| Inventors | Wang Lin, Qiu Guopeng |
| Filing date | 2018-01-31 |
| Grant date | 2024-02-09 |
| Status (China) | In force - valid until at most 2038-01-31, subject to payment of annual fees |
| Patent family | Chinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 0 later documents |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN108098701B) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 - a dual-purpose tool comprising a clamping assembly, a rotary gear shaft, a first shaft sleeve, and a second shaft sleeve. The second sleeve has separable first and second parts. The gear shaft includes a gear portion and a shaft body. Two clamping units each have a main body and a serration plate. These plates mesh with the gear portion above and below. Rotating the gear opens or closes the main bodies. When closed, the bodies’ ends (splicing parts) form a screw groove insertion part (screwdriver). A gear limiting part and groove lock the sleeves to prevent rotation, fixing the wrench clamping space. The claim specifies the limiting part has at least 180 teeth.
Claim 2 - the gear limiting part and groove are coaxially distributed with the rotary gear shaft. Claim 3 - the sleeve parts are cylindrical with anti-skid grooves along their length. Claim 4 - magnetic pieces can be added to the facing surfaces of the sleeve parts for adsorption. Claim 5 - the length of the serration plate is between 3 cm and 5 cm.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
This patent was filed only in China and is currently in force there. It has no US or other foreign counterpart. Therefore, making or selling this specific design in China requires permission from the patent owner. Making or selling it in the US does not infringe this specific Chinese patent, but other local laws apply.
Two points to settle early:
- Other patents may exist. Multi-function hand tools are a crowded field with many existing US patents covering various combinations of pliers, wrenches, and drivers. A freedom-to-operate (FTO) review is necessary to ensure your specific implementation does not conflict with earlier US patents.
- Mechanical durability. The gear and serration interface bears high stress. Material selection and heat treatment processes must be validated to prevent stripping under typical user loads.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Tip Shape | Straight slot (flathead) or Cross slot (Phillips) formed by the splicing portions. |
| Handle Material | Plastic over-mold, rubber grip, or bare metal finish. |
| Locking Mechanism | Adjust tooth count of limiting part (min 180 per claim) for finer resolution. |
| Magnet Integration | Add or omit magnetic retention pieces based on target market preference. |
| Dimensions | Overall length and jaw capacity adjusted via shaft/sleeve proportions. |
Things to plan for (US market)
- ASTM F1856 - Standard specification for power-driven handheld tools (though manual, safety testing protocols often reference similar impact standards).
- CPSC General Product Safety - Ensuring no sharp edges or pinch points that violate consumer safety norms for household tools.
- Material Compliance - If marketed for food-contact adjacent areas (e.g., kitchen appliances), materials must comply with FDA guidelines, though primarily a hardware item.
- Labeling - Country of origin marking required for imports into the US.
How a project runs
- Inquiry - Define jaw capacity range, tip type, and handle preferences.
- Design - Model the gear ratio and serration profile to ensure smooth clamping without binding.
- Prototype - CNC machine samples to test the locking mechanism and screwdriver alignment.
- Pilot run - Injection mold handles, stamp/machine metal parts, assemble small batch.
- Production - Full-scale manufacturing with quality control on gear meshing tolerances.
Quantities & timeline
The core mechanism requires precision machining for the gear shaft and serrated plates to ensure they mesh correctly. The sleeves and handles can be cast or molded. Development time focuses on tuning the “click” resistance of the locking mechanism and ensuring the screwdriver tip is flush when closed. Send us your desired jaw range, tip style, handle material, quantity and target price and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
