Abstract:
An inexpensive, portable, durable and convenient organizer, storage and carry system for cleco type and long and short-nosed spring clamp fasteners and pliers that provides enhanced tool accountability in the aerospace industry while working with sheet materials. The present invention also creates workflow efficiencies by allowing for the transportation of multiple sizes and variations of the aforementioned tools in an organized and secure state.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to the organizing, storing, and carrying of cleco type and spring clamp fasteners and pliers when working with sheet materials such as, but not limited to, aluminum skins, extrusions, formed frames, longerons and stringers used to manufacture or repair aircrafts, space crafts and other aerodynamic vessels. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Cleco type fasteners, pliers and spring clamp fasteners (“the tools”) are often used in the aerospace industry to temporarily secure sheet metal parts, such as aluminum, to the fuselage or other components of an aircraft or space craft&#39;s outer-covering. These cleco type and spring clamp fasteners are small objects and are used in large quantities for most manufacturing and repair related procedures. The cleco type fasteners are available in many sizes, but the four most common are numbered and color-coded as follows: size #40 is silver, size #30 is copper, size #21 is black and size #10 is gold. Spring clamp fasteners have two variations—a long-nosed clamp and a short-nosed clamp. Numerous plier types exist, but the most common is the wedgelok plier. All fastener-related pliers function to allow the user to engage the fasteners and temporarily attach them to the materials. 
         [0005]    It is important for the user to keep strict controls over all of the tools during use as they have the potential to cause significant damage to the aircraft or spacecraft in flight if left behind. This type of damage is known as Foreign Object Damage (“FOD”), and is a major safety concern that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to address. 
         [0006]    Currently, the best practice for monitoring or keeping inventory of cleco type fasteners is by utilizing a portable cleco type fastener dispenser. Such dispensers can only organize one size of the fasteners per unit and do not address the use of spring clamp fasteners, which are typically used on jobs with cleco type fasteners, or pliers, which are needed to operate both the cleco type and spring clamp fasteners. For this reason, a majority of users do not use portable cleco type fastener dispensers. Instead, they store their various cleco type and spring clamp fasteners together, co-mingled in zippered bags or toolboxes with pliers. This does not allow the user to quickly take inventory of the tools before, during or after use and increases the likelihood of FOD. Additionally, the user often struggles to maintain organization of the fasteners by size and variation and is slowed by having to laboriously search through bags or compartments to find a size or variation that is suitable. 
         [0007]    Ideally, a mechanic needs a lightweight fastener organizer, manufactured at a modest expense, that properly stores and displays the fasteners and pliers for optimal inventory management and thus, diminishes the likelihood of FOD. Therefore, a need exists for such a fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system to avoid the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a means to store, securely carry and organize cleco type and spring clamp fasteners and pliers in an efficient manner while working with sheet metal or similar materials. The fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system is intended to be a relatively inexpensive, lightweight, portable and durable fastener and plier organizer that holds the fasteners so the quantity being secured can easily be ascertained before, during and after the task or duty at hand. The fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system serves to decrease the likelihood of FOD because the user can take inventory of the tools at a glance and determine that all of the tools are accounted for. Additionally, the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system allows the user to carry multiple sizes and variations of cleco type and spring clamp fasteners, allowing for workflow efficiencies from one job to another. 
         [0009]    The fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system displays the cleco type fasteners in a single-level, grid format with the colored tips exposed so they can be readily counted by size. This design is a vast improvement compared to current practices because the amount of time needed to take inventory of the fasteners is dramatically reduced. Also, various sized cleco type fasteners can be organized and inserted per the user&#39;s preference because the method of support for the cleco type fasteners fits the four major sizes uniformly. 
         [0010]    The tools are secured and can be transported without risk of loss because the organizer, storage and carry system is equipped with durable locking mechanisms designed to tightly hold the tools in place until the user disengages the respective locking apparatus. Such locks, eliminate the likelihood of FOD caused by dropping or loosing the tools while traveling to and fro the job site. 
         [0011]    The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a side elevational view of a cleco type fastener. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a side elevational view of a long-nosed spring clamp fastener. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a side elevational view of a short-nosed spring clamp fastener. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of a wedgelock plier tool. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a “loaded” or filled fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system that is securely closed according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a “loaded” or filled fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system that is open according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system that is open and empty according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system that is closed and empty according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the shorter side of the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system that is open and “loaded” according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the major components of the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system when it is not assembled according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    The present invention relates to a means to store, securely carry and organize cleco type and spring clamp fasteners and pliers in an efficient manner while working with sheet metal or other materials when there are securing requirements of two or more pieces. The fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system is intended to be a relatively inexpensive, lightweight, portable, and durable temporary fastener organizer that holds the temporary fasteners so the quantity of temporary fasteners can easily be ascertained before, during and after they are used by a mechanic or layperson to complete the task or duty at hand. The fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system serves to increase workflow efficiencies and decrease FOD by lessening the risk of misplacing fasteners and by allowing the user to quickly establish how many fasteners he has so that he can match that quantity to the necessary quantity for project completion. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , illustrating a side elevational view of a cleco type fastener  10  according to known prior art. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , illustrating a side elevational view of a long-nosed spring clamp fastener  22  according to known prior art. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , illustrating a side elevational view of a short-nosed spring clamp fastener  44  according to known prior art. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , illustrating a side view of a wedgelock plier tool  88  according to known prior art. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , illustrating a perspective view of a “loaded” or filled fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  that is securely closed according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  is filled with cleco type fasteners  10 , secures two wedgelock plier tools  88  and can hold an assortment of up to twenty long-nosed spring clamp fasteners  22  and short-nosed spring clamp fasteners  44 . 
         [0028]    Fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  comprises two cover pieces  14 , each having a holding mechanism ( 24 ,  26  and  28 ) for a wedgelock plier tool  88  and a semi-rectangular divot on the top of the handle  34 ; bottom tray  18 , containing cleco type fastener  10  apertures  94 , as shown in  FIG. 7 ; and two pin hinges  72 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  comprises a secure storage and transportation for cleco type fasteners  10 , long-nosed spring clamp fasteners  22 , short-nosed spring clamp fasteners  44  and wedgelock plier tools  88  when such devices are required for assembly, repair, or maintenance such as, for example, securing aluminum skins to the frame of an aircraft. 
         [0029]    Bottom tray  18  of fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  comprises a substantially planar surface populated with a distribution of apertures  94  that serve to hold cleco type fasteners  10 . Apertures  94  may range in size to accommodate larger or smaller cleco type fasteners  10 . 
         [0030]    When fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  is loaded or filled completely or partially with temporary fastener(s)  10 ,  22  and  44  and wedgelock plier tools  88  and the two cover pieces  14  are closed, as shown, the cleco type fasteners  10  are securely stored in the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  due to the male knobs  62  and female receivers  64 , shown in  FIG. 6  that connect one cover piece  14  to the other, creating a locking effect. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , showing a perspective view of a “loaded” or filled fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  that is open according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0032]    Cleco type fasteners  10  will become unsecured or accessible in the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  if the user applies pressure to the two semi-rectangular divots  34 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , on the top of the handle of cover pieces  14 . 
         [0033]    Multiple spring clamp fasteners  22  and  44  are securely attached to the ends of the cover pieces  14  and must be removed by a wedgelock plier tool  88  according to known prior art to be separated from the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , showing a perspective view of the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  that is open and empty according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0035]    Fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  within the present embodiment comprises material such as a lightweight, durable material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”) plastic. ABS is an extremely lightweight, durable material that will make lifting the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  very easy using only one hand, even if it is “loaded” or filled. In this manner, the present invention is relatively inexpensive to produce and easy to fabricate. Further, ABS is known to be capable of producing living hinges, as present in the current invention represented by pins  72  and hinge holes  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 8  showing a perspective view of the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  empty of fasteners  10 ,  22  and  44  and wedgelock plier tools  88  with the two cover pieces  14  closed. This figure shows that whether the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  is full of cleco type fasteners  10 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , or is empty, the profile or shape of the invention remains relatively the same. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , showing a side elevational view of the shorter side of the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  that is open according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0038]    To reveal the bottom tray  18  and the apertures  94  that hold the cleco type fasteners  10 , the mechanic separates the two closed cover pieces  14  at least  91  degrees from the starting position (starting position is defined as cover pieces  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 ). The cover pieces  14  are easily opened or closed with one hand because of the motion allowed by pins  72 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0039]    The wedglock plier tools  88  can remain intact to the upper cover piece  14  in this position even under the force of gravity due to the nature and placement of supports  24 ,  26  and  28 , also shown in  FIG. 7 , that serve to create a holding and locking mechanism. The user can easily snap a wedgelock plier tool  88  in and out of this holding and locking mechanism with one hand. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , showing a perspective view of the major components of the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  when it is not assembled according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0041]    The present invention contains three unique pieces, the cover piece  14 , the bottom tray  18 , and the hinge pin  72 . In this manner the present invention is produced inexpensively. To assemble 1 (one) fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100 , 2 (two) cover pieces  14 , 1 (one) bottom tray  18 , and 2 (two) hinge pins  72  are required. 
         [0042]    Easy assembly of the fastener and plier organizer, storage and carry system  100  is accomplished by sliding 1 (one) of the hinge pins  72  into the bottom tray  18  on the side of hinge hole  50  while holding hinge hole  52  inline with hinge hole  50 , creating a connection between cover piece  14  and bottom tray  18 . The same steps for the opposite side, that is, using hinge holes  54  and  56  in the place of hinge holes  50  and  52 , respectively will complete assembly of the present invention.