SwissGrip variations that never were

J-sews · **on:** May 28, 2007, 09:13:55 PM

There's been a bit of talk lately on the forums here about the Wenger SwissGrip. A bigger, more powerful multitool you will not find. I've been carrying mine around the past few days, evaluating the pros and cons. As Def describes in his review HERE, there's a lot to appreciate about a tool this size, and not much to find fault with.

One observation I have though is about the usefulness of the hex bit driver in the side. The hex receptacle passes through both sides of the frame, and is no doubt hellishly strong. However, being situated in the center of the tool as it is, the side hex driver requires a great deal of clearance in order to be used. ("Stand back folks, everyone move clear, we're about to engage the side hex driver!" )

So anyhow, doesn't this seem like an ideal place to use a ratcheting hex driver? I thought so, and checked back through the archives to the original 1998 Wenger patent. Lo and behold, there it is, a ratcheting hex mechanism, right there in the patent drawings!

Wenger didn't opt to include this feature on the SwissGrip though, probably due to cost. Too bad, it would have made a great tool even better.

But wait, that's not all! Whereas a ratchet mechanism still requires the body of the tool to be rotated back and forth a certain amount, the alternative method below would not:

Check that out! They've cut gear teeth into the plier pivot, then engaged those with teeth in the hex driver. Assuming the hex driver still ratchets, a person could drive screws simply by opening the plier handle, then squeezing it back closed. Loosening or removing screws would be a simple matter of flipping the SwissGrip over and inserting the bit into the opposite side.

Man-o-man, I wonder where a guy could get ahold of one of those prototypes?! :grin:

Raukodur · **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2007, 10:23:53 PM

Where'd the hell you find stuff like this Bob

?!

And why on earth didn't they produce this?

BIG-TARGET · **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2007, 10:53:46 PM

I wonder if Felinevet Tim carries that model?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2007, 11:12:58 PM

I've just sent off this link to my contact at Wenger... I'll let you know if I find anything out.

Def

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2007, 10:20:37 AM

Great post j-saws

it would be great to get a bit more info on this, maybe they can be pursuaded to put it into production?

J-sews · **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2007, 07:13:42 PM

Quote from: micky d on May 29, 2007, 10:20:37 AM

it would be great to get a bit more info on this, maybe they can be pursuaded to put it into production?

Wouldn't that be awesome? I kinda doubt it will ever happen though.

Not only would it make a pricey tool even pricier, but I suspect that the SwissGrip's days are numbered now that Wenger has introduced all those new Ranger variations with the foldable pliers and foldable scissors.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #6 on:** May 29, 2007, 08:20:17 PM

Quote from: J-sews on May 29, 2007, 07:13:42 PM

Quote from: micky d on May 29, 2007, 10:20:37 AM
it would be great to get a bit more info on this, maybe they can be pursuaded to put it into production?

Wouldn't that be awesome? I kinda doubt it will ever happen though. Not only would it make a pricey tool even pricier, but I suspect that the SwissGrip's days are numbered now that Wenger has introduced all those new Ranger variations with the foldable pliers and foldable scissors.

sad but probably true

but hey wishing still free

J-sews · **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2007, 05:09:51 AM

Looking again at that sketch of the gear-drive mechanism, I see they incorporated a spring-loaded plier head. That make sense, otherwise a person would have to manually pull the plier handle open with each stroke of the bit driver.

(The regular SwissGrip does not have spring loaded jaws. However, the little PocketGrip does.)

NeitherExtreme · **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2007, 11:55:32 PM

That's really cool. I don't know that I'd carry around very much, but thats such an inovative tool I think I'd have to get one just for the tool box!

J-sews · **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2007, 03:56:59 AM

Exactly what I was thinking!

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2018, 01:02:27 PM

Bringing this one back for the Def's Dirty Dozen Thread Necro!

Some of the cool stuff that Bob found in the patent office was just mind blowing!

Def

Ron Who · **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2018, 02:51:55 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on July 24, 2018, 01:02:27 PM

Bringing this one back for the Def's Dirty Dozen Thread Necro!

Some of the cool stuff that Bob found in the patent office was just mind blowing!

Def

Did Wenger ever get back to you?