Abstract:
A tool tray apparatus including flexible pad and a plurality of spaced apart, rigid rods connected to the pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (1) Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a tool tray and, more particularly, to a flexible tool tray having a generally rectangular tool area for supporting tools and at least one pair of rigid rods for reducing flexibility of the tray along the direction parallel to the rods and allowing flexibility along the direction perpendicular to the rods. 
   (2) Description of the Prior Art 
   A motor vehicle technician or repairperson often works under the hood of a vehicle. This may put the technician in a position that makes it difficult for him/her to reach a tool or part needed to affect a repair. Thus, the person must temporarily leave the work area to secure the tool or part. Then the repairperson must contort him/herself back into position under the hood of the vehicle. Such contortions may lead to productivity-robbing fatigue and/or injury to the repairperson. 
   Rigid tool trays have been designed to alleviate such problems but the trays are often not capable of remaining in position close to the repairperson under the hood of a vehicle. Thus, the repairperson must reach for tools in such a tray only to topple the tray and splatter tools and parts across the floor of the work area. 
   Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved tool tray that will remain secure in position under the hood of a vehicle in an area such as on the top of the vehicle&#39;s intake manifold of heads, for example. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A flexible tool tray, said apparatus comprising: (a) a generally rectangular flexible pad forming a tool area for supporting tools; (b) a plurality of spaced apart rigid rods extending substantially the length of said pad and parallel to opposite sides of said pad for reducing flexibility of said pad along the direction parallel to said rods while, at the same time, permitting flexibility of said pad along the direction perpendicular to said rods; (c) at least one pair of spaced apart rigid rods adjacent opposite ends of said tool area extending substantially the length of said pad and parallel to opposite sides of said pad for reducing flexibility of said pad along the direction parallel to said rods while, at the same time, permitting flexibility of said pad along the direction perpendicular to said rods; and (d) at least one parts area for holding parts. 
   An embodiment may further including at least one parts area for holding parts, which may include at least one parts tray. The parts tray may be rectangular shaped and/or include vertical sides and/or a magnetic sheet for retaining parts in the parts tray. 
   In an embodiment, the upper surface of the flexible pad may include ridges for retaining tools in the tool area. The bottom surface of the flexible pad may include serrations for holding the tool tray onto a work surface. 
   The rigid rods may be metal rods having a diameter between about 1/16 inch and ⅛ inch. The flexible tool tray may include a receptacle for installing an upright frame to provide a gauge rest and/or an interior wall at least partially defining a recess for holding a specific part in the tray and/or a magnet for holding the tray to a metallic surface. 
   Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a flexible tool tray, the apparatus comprising: (a) a generally rectangular flexible pad forming a tool area for supporting tools; and (b) at least one pair of rigid rods extending substantially the length of said pad and parallel to opposite sides of said pad for reducing flexibility of said pad along the direction parallel to said rods while permitting flexibility of said pad along the direction perpendicular to said rods. 
   Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a flexible tool tray, the apparatus comprising: (a) a generally rectangular flexible pad forming a tool area for supporting tools; (b) at least one pair of rigid rods extending substantially the length of said pad and parallel to opposite sides of said pad for reducing flexibility of said pad along the direction parallel to said rods while, at the same time, permitting flexibility of said pad along the direction perpendicular to said rods; and (c) at least one pair of spaced apart rigid rods adjacent opposite ends of said tool area extending substantially the length of said pad and parallel to opposite sides of said pad for reducing flexibility of said pad along the direction parallel to said rods while, at the same time, permitting flexibility of said pad along the direction perpendicular to said rods. 
   These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a tool tray; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged cutaway view of a corner of the tool tray shown in  FIG. 1 , thus illustrating a rod in position for the rigidity of that parallel; 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the tool tray showing the rigidity of the tray in one direction and the flexibility of the tray in another; 
       FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the tool tray; and 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a tool tray. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “left,” “right,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. 
   Referring now to the drawings in general and  FIG. 1  in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. As best seen in  FIG. 1 , a flexible tool and parts tray, generally designated  10 , is shown constructed according to the present invention. The flexible tool and parts tray  10  includes a generally rectangular flexible pad  12  forming a tool area for supporting tools. The upper surface the flexible pad  12  may include ridges  26  for retaining tools in the tool area and the bottom surface of the pad  12  includes serrations  28  for holding the tool tray  10  on a work surface such as the top of a vehicle engine. 
   The tray  10  also includes at least one parts area  16  including at least one rectangular-shaped parts tray  20  having vertical sides  22  for holding small parts such as nuts, washers, bolts and other small parts included in vehicle engines. The parts tray  20  may also include a magnetic sheet  24  for retaining such small parts in the tray  20 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an enlarged view of the front corner, as shown in  FIG. 1 , of the tray  10  is shown. The tray  10  includes at least one pair of rigid rods, such as the rod  14 , (also shown in hidden view in  FIGS. 1 and 5 ) extending substantially the length of the pad  12  and parallel to opposite sides of the pad  12 . In the embodiment shown a rod  14  is present proximate each of the opposite sides of the tool area of the tray  10  and another present proximate each of two opposing outer sides of the pad  12 . These rods  14  reduce the flexibility of the pad along the direction parallel to the rods  14  while, at the same time, permit flexibility of the pad  12  along the direction perpendicular to the rods  14 . The rigid rods may be metal rods having a diameter between about 1/16 inch and ⅛ inch.  FIG. 3  shows the flexibility of the tray in the direction perpendicular to the rods and the rigidity of the tray in the direction parallel to the rods. 
     FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a tool tray  110  showing a receptacle  112  for installing an upright frame to provide a rest for a gauge. Such an upright frame may also support an illumination device, a multi-meter, or other tool, gauge, device or apparatus. Also shown in  FIG. 4  is an interior wall  114  at least partially defining a recess for holding a specific part in the parts area of the tool tray. 
     FIG. 5  is a front view of a tool tray showing a magnet  126 , in hidden view, for holding the tool tray  210  to a metal surface such as a vehicle fender. The tool tray may include a plurality of magnets near the bottom of the tray as shown. 
   Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example, the tool area could be place where the parts area is shown, or vice versa, or arranged in other desirable places on the tool tray. Also, the tool tray could be round, oval or other various desirable shapes. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.