Magnetic tool retaining device

A magnetic tool retaining device for supporting wrench sockets or other ferrous tools on an upright mounting board or other surface is disclosed. The device includes a holder having a front mounting surface and rear attachment surface. A mounting post projecting outwardly from the front mounting surface includes resilient threadlike ridges for engaging and mounting a disc magnet on the front surface. The magnet has a magnetic mounting surface projecting outwardly from the holder. A lower lip projecting outwardly from the holder, beyond the magnetic face, prevents the wrench sockets from slipping off the face. Two projections project outwardly from the rear attachment surface and are dimensioned and spaced apart to engage corresponding holes in a mounting board. With the projections removed a screw received in a central opening of the mounting post can also be used to attach the device to a solid surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention generally relates to retaining devices for holding tools, 
such as wrench sockets or the like, in an easily accessible position; and 
more particularly, to a universal magnetic tool retaining device for 
individually supporting the same in a visible and convenient upright 
position on a mounting board or other conventional wall surface. 
Holders for sockets are known for use in retaining a plurality of different 
size sockets in a single body member, to prevent the same from becoming 
lost or misplaced in professional and amateur workshops. Such devices 
typically include a holder having a plurality of differently dimensioned 
socket receivers, with each receiver being designed to receive a 
correspondingly dimensioned socket. The prior art holder carrying multiple 
sockets is customarily placed upon a workbench or table surface, among 
other tools or plans, and can be difficult to locate and also tends to 
clutter work space. In such locations, too, the holder may be 
inadvertently upset, resulting in spilling of the sockets and loss of work 
time. 
Some attempts have been made to provide a holder tending to overcome these 
problems. One such attempt is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,377 to Pierce, 
wherein there is disclosed a holder having a plurality of differently 
dimensioned sockets, as aforesaid, and further includes magnet means 
positioned at the bottom of each socket for magnetically attracting and 
retaining an individual socket. By positioning the magnet at the bottom of 
the sockets, the holder itself may be placed upon a magnetically attracted 
metal surface, in a vertical or inverted position, and thus is effective 
for locating the sockets in a more convenient location for access. While 
such devices are generally effective for this purpose, it is sometimes 
difficult to remove the sockets from the holder, particularly when strong 
enough magnets are being used in order to support the entire holder and 
sockets. 
In addition, each socket can only retain one size of socket, and none 
larger, and are also not adapted for holding other ferrous tool 
implements, such as router bits, thread dies, hole saws, and the like. 
Further, to place the holder in a vertical position, such as upon a wall, 
requires the use of an additional metallic surface that must be purchased 
and installed on the wall to achieve the intended use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a universal 
magnetic tool retaining device capable of individually supporting a tool 
for easy access and allowing easy removal for use. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a device capable of easy and 
upright attachment to a wall or like surface, for supporting a tool in a 
visible and convenient location. 
Yet another object is to provide a device capable of easy mounting and 
dismounting of the tool by lateral sliding movement of the tool across a 
magnetic face. 
Still another object is to provide a device that is simple in design and 
economical to manufacture. 
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be 
set forth in detail in part in the description which follows and in part 
will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the 
drawing, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and 
advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of 
instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the 
appended claims. 
The magnetic tool retaining device of the present invention is capable of 
individually retaining a variety of wrench sockets or other ferrous tools 
in a convenient and visible location upon a wall. By mounting a plurality 
of the devices together, an entire set of tools may be conveniently 
positioned for easy access. The retaining device comprises a holder having 
a front mounting surface and rear attachment surface. A disc magnet, 
dimensioned corresponding to the diameter of the front mounting surface, 
is attached to the mounting surface. The magnet presents a magnetic 
mounting face projecting outwardly from the holder, to attract and retain 
the tool. The mounting face has a sufficiently free edge to allow easy 
removal by lateral sliding movement across the edge and from the face. 
A mounting post, projecting outwardly from the front mounting surface, 
includes resilient, threadlike annular ridges dimensioned to secure the 
magnet to the post and mounting surface in an interference fitting 
engagement. Attaching projections are provided upon the rear attachment 
surface, and are dimensioned and spaced apart from each other to engage 
corresponding holes in a mounting board for secure attachment of the 
holder. The projections have an interference and snap-fitting engagement 
with the holes. A countersunk hole, extending through the mounting post 
and holder, permits auxiliary attachment to the mounting board, or 
attachment to a plain wall surface with a screw. When the screw is used 
for mounting on a plain surface, the projections are simply sawed off of 
the back attachment surface of the device. 
A lip, projecting outwardly from the lower edge of the mounting surface and 
beyond the magnetic mounting face, serves to prevent unusually heavy 
tools, such as longer than standard sockets, from sliding off the magnet 
by gravity. The lip also allows use of less expensive magnets to keep the 
cost of the retainer device desirably low.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of 
the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying 
drawings. Referring first to FIG. 1, magnetic tool retaining device 10 of 
the invention is shown in attached and upright position to mounting board 
P, for supporting wrench socket S in a visible and accessible location. 
The retainer device 10 includes holder 15 defining a flat, circular shaped 
front mounting surface (FIG. 2) and rear attachment surface (FIG. 3). The 
holder 15 further includes an upper tab 17 and lower lip 19, as discussed 
more fully below. Preferably, the above portions comprising holder 15 are 
integrally formed from plastic or like material, by injection molding or 
other similar processes. 
Disc magnet 20 is dimensioned for attachment to the front mounting surface 
and provides a magnetic mounting face 20a for magnetically attracting and 
retaining wrench socket S. To retain the magnet 20, mounting post 22 
projects outwardly from the center of the mounting surface to engage 
center hole 26 of the magnet in interference fitting engagement. The 
length of the mounting post 22 is substantially the same as the thickness 
of the magnet to maintain a smooth magnetic mounting face 20a (see FIG. 
6). 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, resilient, threadlike ridges 24 extend around 
the outer surface of mounting post 22. The diameter of center hole 26 
corresponds to a dimension intermediate the major and minor diameters of 
threadlike ridges 24, enabling the ridges to press outwardly against the 
walls of the hole to provide the interference fit when the magnet is 
forced down upon the post. Diametrically opposed slots 29, longitudinally 
formed in mounting post 22, allow the post portions defined by the slots 
to flex inwardly for a more secure retention of magnet 20. 
For securing retaining device 10 to mounting board P or other mounting 
surface, countersunk hole 30 is provided in mounting post 22 and extends 
through the central axis of the post, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Flat head 
screw 30a may extend through countersunk hole 30 for attachment. Providing 
a countersunk hole avoids projection of the screw head into the plane 
defined by the magnetic mounting face 20a thus maintaining the desired 
smoothness of the face. 
A pair of attaching projections 32 project outwardly from the rear 
attachment surface, and are spaced apart and dimensioned to fit 
corresponding holes in mounting board sheet P. Each projection 32 includes 
split portions and a retaining head larger than mounting board hole. The 
split portions flex inwardly as the head passes through the hole. Once 
through the hole the portions flex outwardly providing an interference 
holding relationship with the head abutting the rear surface of the 
mounting board for secure retention of holder 15. In this manner, device 
10 may be secured in upright position to the mounting board wall without, 
or in combination with, screw 30a. 
In the attached position, as shown in FIG. 1, magnetic mounting face 20a 
projects outwardly from holder 15, and includes sufficient, exposed 
magnetic area to attract and retain wrench socket S, while allowing 
removal by lateral sliding movement from the face. In addition, it will be 
appreciated that because magnetic mounting face 20a is substantially 
unbounded or free, the tool can be easily removed by the lateral sliding 
action across the edge and from the mounting face 20a. This feature also 
allows different dimensioned sockets or other ferrous tools to be retained 
on the retaining device 10. 
Lower lip 19 projects outwardly from the lower edge of holder 15, beyond 
magnetic face 20a, and is dimensioned to provide support for the tool at 
the bottom. This is especially important when retaining larger than 
standard-size sockets. In addition, lower lip 19 enables the use of less 
expensive magnets by preventing the socket S from sliding off magnetic 
face 20a. 
The indicia tag on the tab 17 advantageously serves as a locater for the 
socket S for replacement after use. The tab 17 also provides ease of 
handling during the initial attachment to the mounting board P or other 
vertical surface. 
In summary, it can be seen that a simple, yet effective, universal tool 
retaining device 10 for ferrous metal tools is provided. The tool, such as 
a socket S, is magnetically held on a magnet 20 in a convenient position 
for easy access. The tool may be easily removed from the mounting face 20a 
by lateral sliding action across the free edge of the magnet 20. A central 
integral post 22 on the plastic holder 15 mounts the magnet and integral 
projections 32 on the back of the holder and/or a screw attach to a 
mounting board or the like. This simplicity of design allows low cost 
production while still providing exceptional holding efficiency. When used 
in groups and including appropriate tool indentifying indicia, the user 
can conveniently locate and retrieve all of his tools, as desired. 
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention 
have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is 
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise 
form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are 
possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and 
described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its 
practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best 
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various 
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is 
intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended 
hereto.