TOOL SUPPORTS FOR SHADOW BOARDS

Abstract: A tool support for use in mounting tools or other articles to a shadow board, comprises an adhesive backing for adhering the tool support to the board intended to receive an article corresponding in shape to the support. The support is provided with integral formations (14) serving to support the article of shape corresponding to that of the tool support.

Description: TOOL SUPPORTS FOR SHADOW BOARDS This invention relates to tool supports for shadow boards, namely boards for fixing to a wall or other vertical surface and having clips, hooks or other supports for engaging articles such as hand tools to them, the boards being provided with an outline or shadow corresponding to the shape and position of each article when engaged to its clip or hook. Hitherto it has been time consuming to make a shadow board, involving arranging the tools or other articles on the board, drawing around these articles, printing or otherwise infilling the shadows, and attaching clips or hooks to the board. It is difficult to form shadows of appropriate shape and it is also difficult to position the shadows and clips or hooks so that the tools will hang correctly relative to the shadows. We have now devised a tool support for use in mounting a tool or other article to a shadow board, which tool support provides a shadow of the tool and overcomes the difficulties outlined above. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a tool support for use in mounting tools or other articles to a shadow board, the support being provided with an adhesive backing for adhering it to the board intended to receive an article corresponding in shape to the support, the support being provided with integral formations serving to support the article of shape corresponding to that of the tool support. The tool support can be formed of plastics material, e.g. by vacuum forming or by injection moulding, then provided with an adhesive backing. Such tool supports may be sold with or alongside the corresponding tools or other articles for which they are intended. The purchaser can then apply the tool supports to a board in positions selected by him. The supports are thus provided in appropriate shapes for the intended tools or other articles and can be adhered easily to the shadow board in the selected positions. Different colours can be used for the supports to indicate different types or ranges of tools, e.g. red for power tools, blue for hand tools, green for spanners, etc. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a screwdriver support formed by vacuum forming or injection moulding; FIGURE 2 is a similar view of a support for a is a similar view of a support for a is a section on the line X-X shown in is a section on the line Y-Y shown in Figure 1 showing the layers separated. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a support formed of plastics material by vacuum forming or by injection moulding, and intended to support a screwdriver on a shadow board. Thus, the support shown in Figure 1 comprises a generally planar base 10 of outline shape corresponding to that of a screwdriver, with a narrow elongate portion 10a corresponding to the shank of the screwdriver and an enlarged portion 10b corresponding to the handle of the screwdriver. The base 10 is formed with a raised rib 12 around its periphery on its front face, to assist in locating the screwdriver when positioned over the support. Furthermore, the support is formed with projections 14, 15 serving to support and locate the screwdriver. Thus, the projections 14, project from the front surface of the support and are positioned adjacent opposite edges of the base 10 just at the top of the elongate shank portion 10a of the support, for the handle of the screwdriver to rest upon. Also, projections 15 project from the front of the support adjacent opposite edges of base adjacent the lower end of the shank portion 10a, to locate the screwdriver shank. Figure 2 shows a similar support for a pair of pliers. This is also formed by injection moulding or vacuum forming and has a planar base portion 20 shaped in outline to correspond to the pair of pliers. This portion is formed with a raised rib 22 around its periphery. A supporting projection 24 extends from the base portion at the bottom of a head 25 of the support and a further pair of projections 26 extend from either edge of the head portion. Thus the pliers may rest on the projection 24 with their handles hanging down either side and over the elongate margins 27 of the support, and the projections 26 lie alongside the nose of the pliers to keep them in alignment with the head 25 of the support. Figure 3 shows a support for a spanner, formed by injection moulding or vacuum forming. This support has a planar base 30 shaped in outline to correspond with a spanner and having a raised rib 34 around its periphery, an elongate intermediate portion 31 and an enlarged head 33 at each end. Projections 32 are formed at each side of the elongate portion 31 adjacent one of the heads 33, for the head of a spanner to rest upon. Each of the supports shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is provided with an adhesive backing for adhering the support to a shadow board. This backing comprises a piece of sheet material with adhesive on both its sides and with both sides covered with a release paper, the backing being die cut to shape. The backing may be provided separate f om the tool support, leaving it to the user to remove the release paper from one side and adhere the backing to the support, and then remove the other release paper for adhering the support to the shadow board. In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the backing is shown at 40 with the first release paper (for adhering the backing to the support) removed and the second release paper is shown at 42. The backing 40 may comprise sponge i.e. foamed plastics material. Optionally, each tool support may also be fixed to the shadow board by screws 50 and for this purpose screw holes 52 are formed through the base of each support.

Claims: CLAIMS 1) A tool support for use in mounting tools or other articles to a shadow board, the support being provided with an adhesive backing for adhering it to the board intended to receive an article corresponding in shape to the support, the support being provided with integral formations serving to support the article of shape corresponding to that of the tool support. 2) A tool support as claimed in claim 1, which is formed by vacuum forming. 3) A tool support as claimed in claim 1, which is formed by injection moulding. 4) A tool support as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a generally planar base portion of outline shape corresponding to that of the article to be supported, the integral formations which serve to support the article comprising integral hooks or projections extending outwardly from the base portion. 5) A tool support as claimed in claim 4, in which the base portion is formed with a raised rib around its periphery on its front face. 6) A tool support as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the base portion is provided with a adhesive backing which comprises an adhesive sponge.

Inventors: TUTHILL ROY DOUGLAS, TUTHILL, ROY, DOUGLAS
Applicants: WYCHFORD ELECTRONICS LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B25H3
IPC codes: B25H3