Abstract:
A fastener staging and placement system comprising a staging member capable of temporarily attaching to structures and storing a plurality of ring type fasteners, and a placement member with a means for gripping and removing one or more fasteners to and from the staging member. The staging member comprises a removable and substantially vertically oriented dowel, configured to present a series of ordered sets of fasteners to the placement member, and an attachment means that may be removably attached to various structures. The placement member comprises two or more gripping arms that are configured to flex and exert pressure on at least one fastener thereby securing an ordered set of fasteners.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application a) is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/120,645, filed Feb. 25, 2015, and b) is related to, claims the priority benefit of, and is a continuation-in-part patent application of, U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application Ser. No. 14/487,510 filed Sep. 16, 2014, which is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/878,252, filed Sep. 16, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/944,817, filed Feb. 26, 2014. The contents of each of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Utility linemen are often required to work in elevated workstations such as utility trucks with aerial buckets. These aerial buckets are typically located at the end of an extendable hydraulically driven arm that is attached to a truck or other vehicle and are capable of lifting one or more linemen to elevated positions above the ground. 
         [0003]    Once in position, the linemen is often required to perform repairs or assemblies utilizing many tools and small parts such as washers, nuts, and bolts. While performing the repairs and assemblies, the linemen are normally required to wear leather gloves and may sometimes be required to wear thick electrically insulated gloves. These thick gloves make it significantly more difficult to grasp and manipulate small objects. 
         [0004]    To solve this problem, there are several related inventions known in the art. For example, hardware storage devices such as bag type apparatuses are configured with one or more grommets capable of receiving hooks that are attached to the lip of the aerial bucket. These bag devices contain a plurality of pockets for storing and organizing tools and fasteners. However, when using gloves linemen can have great difficulty retrieving and manipulating specific items in the pockets of these bag storage devices. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,889 filed on Nov. 13, 1995 by Anderson et al. describes a lug nut removal and storage tool comprising a tube with ball bearings that secures lug nuts. While linemen are required to manipulate nut type fasteners and washers, this invention is only able to store and accommodate nut type fasteners. 
         [0006]    Typically, linemen are required to attach an ordered set of fasteners onto a bolt. These ordered sets of fasteners usually comprise a nut type fastener and one or more types of washers. The related art contains many inventions that are capable of storing a plurality of fasteners, however, none are able to store and dispense a specific series of sets of different types of fasteners, and are able to then place a specific set of fasteners in a manner that is conducive to manipulation with gloved hands. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a need exists for a new fastener staging and placement system capable of storing an ordered plurality of ring type fasteners and capable of placing a set of fasteners in desired locations by gloved hands. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The present disclosure includes disclosure of novel fastener staging and placement systems for use with an elevated workstation, such as an aerial bucket, commonly found on utility trucks. Exemplary fastener staging and placement systems of the present disclosure are capable of storing and placing an ordered plurality of ring type fasteners in a desired location. 
         [0009]    A fastener staging and placement system comprising a staging member capable of temporarily attaching to structures and storing a plurality of ring type fasteners, and a placement member with a means for gripping and removing one or more fasteners to and from the staging member. The staging member comprises a removable and substantially vertically oriented dowel, configured to present and a series of ordered sets of fasteners to the placement member, and an attachment means that may be removably attached to various structures such as the rim of aerial buckets. The placement member comprises two or more gripping arms that are configured to flex and exert pressure on at least one fastener thereby securing an ordered set of fasteners. A user with gloved hands is able to use the placement member to pick up an ordered set of fasteners, from the staging member, and to then place and secure the fasteners onto a desired bolt. 
         [0010]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the system comprises a staging member, comprising a dowel sized and shaped to receive a plurality of fasteners, and an attachment portion (which may be configured to engage an external product or to otherwise be a component or element coupled to the dowel), and a placement member comprising a fastener gripping portion configured to secure at least one of the plurality of fasteners within a central channel defined within the placement member. In another embodiment, the attachment portion comprises a stanchion receiving unit coupled to at least two clip legs, wherein the at least two clip legs are configured to engage the external product. In yet another embodiment, at least one of the at least two clip legs is movable relative to the stanchion receiving unit. In an additional embodiment, at least one of the at least two clip legs is hingedly coupled to the stanchion receiving unit by at least one spring. 
         [0011]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, wherein at least two of the at least two clip legs define a cut-out corresponding to a shape of a portion of the external product. In an additional embodiment, the stanchion receiving unit defines an aperture therein, the aperture sized and shaped to receive at least part of the dowel therethrough. In yet an additional embodiment, the stanchion receiving unit has a plurality of notches defined therein, the plurality of notches corresponding to a plurality of notched sections of the dowel. In another embodiment, when the dowel is positioned within the aperture so that the plurality of notched sections contacts the plurality of notches, rotation of the dowel in a first direction relative to the stanchion receiving unit causes the dowel to engage the stanchion receiving unit, and rotation of the dowel in a second direction opposite the first direction relative to the stanchion receiving unit causes the dowel to disengage the stanchion receiving unit. 
         [0012]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the dowel comprises a fastener seat sized and shaped to prevent at least one of the plurality of fasteners from moving beyond the fastener seat after placement upon the dowel from an end of the dowel. In another embodiment, the attachment portion comprises at least one protrusion extending therefrom, the at least one protrusion configured to limit rotation of the attachment portion relative to the external product. In yet another embodiment, staging unit further comprises a ridge, the ridge sized and shaped to be received within the fastener gripping portion of the placement member. In an additional embodiment, the staging member comprises a curved section having two curved portions so that the dowel and the attachment portion are parallel to one another. 
         [0013]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the fastener gripping portion comprises a plurality of arms configured to surround at least part of the staging member. In an additional embodiment, at least one of the plurality of arms comprises a tapered lip, the tapered lip configured to engage a portion of the staging member. In yet an additional embodiment, the fastener gripping portion comprises an angled interior side, the angled interior side configured to engage at least one of the plurality of fasteners therein. 
         [0014]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a device of the present disclosure, the device comprises a staging member, comprising a dowel sized and shaped to receive a plurality of fasteners, and an attachment portion configured to engage an external product, wherein the staging member is configured to receive a placement member comprising a fastener gripping portion configured to secure at least one of the plurality of fasteners within a central channel defined within the placement member. In an additional embodiment, when the plurality of fasteners is positioned upon the dowel and wherein the placement member is secured upon the staging member, subsequent removal of the placement member results in the plurality of fasteners to be secured within the placement member. 
         [0015]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps of positioning a plurality of fasteners upon a dowel of a staging member, the staging member further comprising an attachment portion configured to engage an external product, and positioning a placement member upon the staging member to secure at least one of the plurality of fasteners within a central channel defined within the placement member. In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of removing the placement member from the staging member, wherein the plurality of fasteners remains secured within the placement member. In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of positioning the placement member upon a threaded portion of a bolt, rotating the placement member so to position at least one of the plurality of fasteners upon the threaded portion of the bolt, and removing the placement member from the bolt, wherein the plurality of fasteners are no longer positioned within the placement member. 
         [0016]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the system comprises a staging member, comprising a dowel sized and shaped to receive a plurality of fasteners and an attachment portion configured to engage an external product, and a placement member comprising a fastener gripping portion configured to secure at least one of the plurality of fasteners within a central channel defined within the placement member, wherein the fastener gripping portion comprises a plurality of arms configured to surround at least part of the staging member. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the placement member further comprises a planar distal end. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the planar distal end does not have an aperture defined therethrough. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the planar distal end has an aperture defined therethrough. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the aperture is a pilot hole at least partially surrounded by a pilot notch, whereby the pilot notch has a larger diameter than a diameter of the pilot hole. 
         [0017]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the planar distal end has a geometric notch defined therein but not completely through the planar distal end. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the geometric notch has a square shape. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the aperture is sized and shaped to receive a socket therethrough, the socket having a drive aperture defined within an end of the socket. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the system is configured so that when the socket is positioned into the aperture and into the central channel of the placement member upon the plurality of fasteners, the socket can be used to tighten the plurality of fasteners upon a substrate. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure, the system is configured so that the placement member can disengage from the plurality of fasteners and slide toward the drive aperture of the socket. 
         [0018]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a placement member of the present disclosure, the placement member comprises a fastener gripping portion configured to secure at least one of a plurality of fasteners within a central channel defined within the placement member, wherein the fastener gripping portion comprises a plurality of arms configured to surround at least part of a staging member having the plurality of fasteners positioned thereon. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a placement member of the present disclosure, the placement member further comprises a planar distal end having an aperture defined therethrough. 
         [0019]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a placement member of the present disclosure, the placement member further comprises a planar distal end that does not have an aperture defined therethrough. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a placement member of the present disclosure, the aperture is a pilot hole at least partially surrounded by a pilot notch, whereby the pilot notch has a larger diameter than a diameter of the pilot hole. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a placement member of the present disclosure, the planar distal end has a geometric notch defined therein but not completely through the planar distal end. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a placement member of the present disclosure, the aperture is sized and shaped to receive a socket therethrough, the socket having a drive aperture defined within an end of the socket. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a placement member of the present disclosure, the placement member is configured so that when the socket is positioned into the aperture and into the central channel of the placement member upon the plurality of fasteners, the socket can be used to tighten the plurality of fasteners upon a substrate and so that the placement member can disengage from the plurality of fasteners and slide toward the drive aperture of the socket. 
         [0020]    In at least one exemplary embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps of positioning a plurality of fasteners upon a dowel of a staging member, the staging member further comprising an attachment portion configured to engage an external product, and positioning a placement member having a fastener gripping portion upon the staging member to secure at least one of the plurality of fasteners within a central channel defined within the placement member, wherein the fastener gripping portion comprises a plurality of arms configured to surround at least part of the staging member having the plurality of fasteners positioned thereon. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the method further comprises the step of removing the placement member from the staging member, wherein the plurality of fasteners remains secured within the placement member. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the method further comprises the steps of positioning the placement member upon a threaded portion of a bolt, inserting a socket into an aperture defined within the placement member so that at least a portion of the socket enters the central channel and engages at least one of the plurality of fasteners, rotating the socket so to position at least one of the plurality of fasteners upon the threaded portion of the bolt, and removing the placement member from the bolt, wherein the plurality of fasteners are no longer positioned within the placement member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar members and in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  depicts a transparent perspective view of an example of a fastener staging and placement system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a side perspective view of a lower assembly of a staging member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows an example of a bottom view of a stanchion receiving station of a staging member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  depicts an example of a side view of a dowel configured to be removably connected to a staging member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a substantially side view of the bottom of a placement member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a substantially side view of the top of a placement member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  depicts an example of a substantially side view of the bottom of a placement member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a side profile view of a staging member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  shows an example of a substantially side view of the top of a placement member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B  show various views of a placement member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11C  shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of an arm of a placement member according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 11D, 11E, and 11F  show perspective views of staging members, according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11G  shows a staging member configured to receive at least part of a socket, according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0035]      FIG. 11H  shows a staging member receiving at least part of a socket, according to various embodiments described herein. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  show block component diagrams of kits according to various embodiments described herein. 
       
    
    
       [0037]    An overview of the features, functions and/or configurations of the components depicted in the various figures will now be presented. It should be appreciated that not all of the features of the components of the figures are necessarily described. Some of these non-discussed features, such as various couplers, etc., as well as discussed features are inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed features may be inherent in component geometry and/or configuration. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended. 
         [0039]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0040]    Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
         [0041]    In describing embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the specification, figures, and the claims. 
         [0042]    New fastener staging and installation systems for use with gloved or non-gloved hands are discussed. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0043]    The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below. 
         [0044]    Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments.  FIG. 1  depicts an example of a semi-transparent view of a fastener staging and placement system  100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, the fastener staging and placement system  100  comprises a staging member  11  and a placement member  30  configured to accept ring type fasteners such as locking washers, fender washers, Belleville washers, and/or nut fasteners commonly used with bolt fasteners. In various embodiments, the fastener staging and placement system  100  is configured for use with 0.5 inch fasteners such as one and 1.25 inch outer diameter Belleville or flat washers, 0.86 inch outer diameter lock washers, and/or 0.75 inch outer diameter nuts. In other embodiments, fastener staging and placement system  100  is configured for use with any size Metric or SAE fastener system used by linemen and industrial workers. One skilled in the art will immediately recognize that larger fasteners will require a larger sized fastener staging and placement system  100 , while smaller fasteners will require a smaller sized fastener staging and placement system  100 . 
         [0045]    In an exemplary embodiment, the staging member  11  comprises an attachment means  12  (also referred to as attachment portion  12 ), a stanchion receiving unit  13 , and a dowel  14 . In at least one embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , a placement member  30  comprises a central channel  31  and a fastener gripping means/portion  32  (also referred to as a fastener gripping portion  32 ). In such an embodiment, a Belleville washer  40 , lock washer  41 , and a nut  42  (exemplary fasteners  43  of the present disclosure as shown in  FIG. 1 ) can be stored on the dowel  14  of the staging member  11 . The placement member  30  can be placed over and down onto the dowel  14 , so that the dowel  14  enters the central channel  31 , until the fastener gripping means/portion  32  physically engages the Belleville washer  40 , for example. Once the fastener gripping means/portion  32  engages the Belleville washer  40 , removal of the placement member  30  from the staging member  11  will effectuate the removal of all three of the fasteners ( 40 ,  41 , and  42 , for example) from the staging member  11 . The placement member  30  is then placed over and down onto a desired bolt (not shown), so that the bolt enters the central channel  31 , and is rotated, in at least one example, until the threads of the nut  42  engage the threads of the bolt. Once the nut  42  is threaded onto the bolt, the placement member  30  is pulled off the bolt which in turn disengages the Belleville washer  40  from the fastener gripping means/portion  32  leaving the fasteners on the bolt. 
         [0046]    An exemplary side perspective view of a lower assembly of a staging member  11  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In this example, the attachment means/portion  12  comprises two movable clip legs  12   a  which are configured to resist the movement of the clip legs  12   a  away from each other by the action of one or more torsion springs  15 , leaf springs, compression springs, and the like. The clip legs  12   a  and torsion springs  15  are attached to the stanchion receiving unit  13  at the two hinge points  16 . In some embodiments, the stanchion receiving unit  13  defines an aperture  18  therein or therethrough configured to receive the base of a removable dowel  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . In some embodiments, the stanchion receiving unit  13  and the two clip legs  12   a  are each configured with a cut out  17  configured to accept the lip of aerial bags typically used on aerial bucket trucks and the like. In other embodiments, the attachment means/portion  12  may comprise one movable clip leg  12   a  and one clip leg  12   a  that is not configured to move. 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  shows an example of a bottom of a stanchion receiving unit  13  of a staging member  11  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The aperture  18  is configured to receive and support the base of a dowel  14  and may be configured to maintain the dowel  14  in a vertical orientation. In some embodiments, the aperture  18  is configured to receive and support the base of the dowel  14  to maintain the dowel  14  in a substantially vertical orientation of or about 13 degrees off of vertical. In other embodiments, the aperture  18  is configured to receive and support the base of the dowel  14  to maintain the dowel  14  in a substantially vertical orientation of or between 1 and 25 degrees off of vertical. The aperture  18  may be surrounded by one or more (in this example three) female grooved notches  18   a  defined within the stanchion receiving unit  13  which are configured to accept the base of the dowel  14  such as depicted in  FIG. 4 . In other embodiments, the dowel  14  is not removable from the aperture  18  of the stanchion receiving unit  13 , and is either molded as one piece or formed as separate pieces that are coupled to one another. 
         [0048]    An example of a side view of a dowel  14  which may be removably or permanently connected to a staging member  11  is depicted in  FIG. 4 . The dowel  14  may have a substantially blunt pointed end  19  capable of accepting hardware such as nuts and washers. A fastener seat  20  allows for fasteners (such as fasteners  40 ,  41 , and  42 , for example) residing on the dowel  14  to be positioned slightly above the stanchion receiving unit  13 , allowing the gripping means/portion  32  of the placement member  30  to extend over and secure the fastener closest to the stanchion receiving unit  13 . In the example shown, the dowel  14  terminates into three notched sections  21  which when inserted and twisted into the aperture  18  depicted in  FIG. 3 , compress and lock into the three female grooved notches  18   a  that surround the aperture  18 . Twisting the dowel  14  in the reverse direction and pulling disengages and decompresses the notched sections  21  from the female grooved notches  18   a  allowing removal of the dowel  14  from the aperture  18  in such an example. 
         [0049]    The dowel  14  may be of a diameter capable of accepting a wide size range of hardware common in the art. In some embodiments, the dowel  14  may be at or about 0.42 inches in diameter. In other embodiments, the dowel  14  diameter may be between 0.25 inches and 3 inches. In some embodiments, the dowel  14  is about 3.5 inches in length. In other embodiments, the dowel  14  is at or between 3 inches and 8 inches in length. In further embodiments the dowel  14  is at or between 2 inches and 12 inches or any suitable length or diameter to accommodate various sizes and numbers of fasteners. 
         [0050]    Although a specific example is provided for a dowel  14  within  FIG. 4 , other shapes and sizes of dowels or vertical rods are contemplated herein which may be permanently or removably attached to the stanchion receiving unit  13  in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  depicts an example of a substantially side perspective view of the bottom of a placement member  30  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this preferred embodiment, placement member  30  is substantially cylindrical in shape with a gripping means/portion  32  (that may comprise two, three, or more arms  33 , each configured with a lip  34  which may be tapered as shown within the figures. In other embodiments, the griping means/portion  32  comprises two or more arms  33 . The arms  33 , in various embodiments, are flexibly attached to the placement member  30  so that as the placement member  30  is pushed down onto a fastener such as a washer or nut, the fastener presses on the tapered lips  34  causing the arms  33  to flex outward allowing the fastener to enter the central channel  31 . Once the fastener has passed the tapered lips  34 , the tapered lips return to their original position and prevent the fastener from falling out of the placement means/portion  30 . The portion of the central channel  31  closest to the arms  33  may preferably have a plurality of angled interior sides  35 , and may be shaped and sized to accommodate a specific size of nut  42 , for example. Thus, the central channel  31  comprises a portion that may be pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal, having five, six, or eight interior sides  35  respectively, and be configured for use with any size SAE or Metric nut type fastener or other similar objects. 
         [0052]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the central channel  31  may extend the length of the placement member  30  to allow a longer dowel  14  or bolt to pass through to top of placement member  30 . In some embodiments, the top of the central channel  31  is substantially circular in diameter. In other embodiments, the top of the central channel  31  may be substantially square in shape and a dimension configured to accommodate ratchets and other fastener tightening tools, such as shown in the placement member embodiment  30  shown in  FIG. 9 . As shown therein, the top of central channel  31  has a square shape, so to be engaged by a square drive tool, for example. Such an embodiment, for example, can be used on a ratchet as a starting fastener, but may or may not be intended for final torque. 
         [0053]      FIG. 7  depicts an example of another embodiment of a placement member  30  of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the gripping means/portion  32  comprises three arms  33  that are substantially recessed into the body of the placement member  30 . In other embodiments, the griping means/portion  32  comprises two or more arms  33 . The tapered lips  34  of the arms  33  may be circular and convex in shape, but are still configured to cause the arms  33  to flex outward as the placement member  30  is pressed over one or more fasteners. Once the final fastener has passed the tapered lips  34 , the tapered lips  34  return to their original position, and prevent the fasteners from falling out of the placement member  30 . The portion of the central channel  31  closest to the arms  33  may have a plurality of interior angled sides  35 , and is shaped and sized to accommodate a specific size of nut  42 . Thus, the central channel  31  comprises a portion that may be pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal, having five, six, or eight interior sides  35  and may be configured for use with any size SAE or Metric nut type fastener. 
         [0054]    Turning now to  FIG. 8 , another embodiment of a staging member  11  is illustrated. In this embodiment, the staging member  11  comprises a dowel  14  attached to a fastener seat  20 . The dowel  14 , in at least one embodiment, comprises a pointed end  19  configured to accept ring type fasteners and tools comprising a central orifice. As depicted in this embodiment, the attachment means/portion  12  is joined to the fastener seat  20  and dowel  14 , and further may comprise one or more protrusions  22  configured to secure and position the staging member  11  when the attachment means/portion  12  is inserted into a pocket in a tool pouch, aerial bucket nose bag, tool apron, hand tool bag, and the like (each referred to herein as an “external product”). In this and other embodiments, the fastener seat  20  may comprise a ridge  20   a  which may be configured to secure to one or more tapered lips  34  of a placement member  30 . In some embodiments and as shown by example in  FIG. 8 , the staging member may contain a curved section  24  between dowel  14  and attachment means/portion  12 , so to, for example, secure attachment means/portion  12  to a pocket or other item. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 10A-11B  show various views of an additional exemplary placement member  30  of the present disclosure.  FIG. 10A  shows a side perspective view,  FIG. 10B  shows a top perspective view,  FIG. 11A  shows generally a side view, and  FIG. 11B  shows a bottom perspective view, of an exemplary placement member  30  having an inner lip  38  at an end generally opposite to that having fastener gripping means/portion  32 . Inner lip  38 , as shown in  FIGS. 10B-11B , is configured to protrude inward into a central channel  31  of placement member  30 , so to act as a “stop” for an exemplary fastener  43 , such as nut  42 , so to prevent nut  42  from extending through the opening defined by inner lip  38 . 
         [0056]    In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 10A-11B , and in various other embodiments of the present disclosure, fastener gripping means/portion  32  may be substantially circular and have one, two, three, or more cutout recesses  39  defined therein, so to facilitate flex of fastener gripping means/portion  32 , as generally described herein, when using placement member  30  to engage various fasteners  43  therein. Furthermore, and as shown in  FIGS. 10A and 11B , tapered lips  34  may be tapered on a relative inside (indicated as  34   a  on  FIG. 11C , which shows a cross-section of a portion of an arm  33  of a placement member  30  as shown in  FIG. 11B ) as well as a relative outside (as indicated as  34   b  in  FIG. 11C ), or may be tapered on a relative inside (only element  34   a ) or a relative outside (only element  34   b ), of placement member  30 , as desired. 
         [0057]      FIG. 11D  shows an additional embodiment of an exemplary placement member  30  of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 11D , placement member  30 , instead of having an inner lip  38  defining an aperture  50  therethrough (as shown in  FIG. 10B ), has a planar end  80  with no aperture  50  defined therethrough. Such a placement member  30  embodiment would cause a bolt to “push” off of placement member  30  from the pre-staged set of fasteners  43  (such as a Belleville washer  40 , lock washer  41 , and nut  42 , for example). This provides an option to pre-load placement member  30  with fasteners  43  by hand or machine without using a staging member  11 , such as shown in  FIG. 8 , prior to using said fasteners  43 , and/or the process can be performed using gloved hands, for example. Furthermore, and in placement member  30  embodiments of the present disclosure configured for use with a square drive tool, such as shown in  FIG. 9 , it would work well as desired and not have a tendency to pull off of said tool (an extension, ratchet, and/or the like). 
         [0058]      FIG. 11E  shows a placement member  30  similar to that shown in  FIG. 11D , but having a planar end  80  with a pilot hole  85  defined therethrough. Such a pilot hole  85  may be defined within planar end  80  with a pilot notch  88 , whereby, for example, pilot hole  85  is defined within planar end using part of a device (drill bit, wire, rod, etc.) sized and shaped to form pilot hole  85  during or after production of placement member  30 , and whereby pilot notch  88  is defined using the same or a different device, whereby a relative diameter of pilot notch  88  is larger than a relative diameter of pilot hole  85 . Pilot hole  85  and/or pilot notch  88  can serve as a guide for a user to drill out more of planar end  80  after manufacture of placement member  30 , as desired. 
         [0059]      FIG. 11F  shows an additional placement member  30  embodiment of the present disclosure, also having a planar end  80  with no aperture  50  defined therethrough, but defining a geometric notch  95  therein, whereby geometric notch  95  does not extend all the way through planar end  80 . Such an embodiment may be referred to as a “socket style” embodiment, whereby a tool having a square or other corresponding geometric drive can be used in connection with placement member  30 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 11G and 11H  show an additional embodiment of a placement member  30  of the present disclosure configured for use with an existing socket  110 . In lieu of using angled interior sides  35 , such as a twelve-point configuration shown in  FIG. 11B , placement member  30  is configured to at least partially fit around existing socket  110  having a drive aperture  112  defined therein, such as shown in  FIG. 11H , so that when staged fasteners  43  pull placement member  30  onto a mating surface (fastener seat  20  of staging member  11 , such as shown in  FIG. 8 ), contact with the mating surface (fastener seat  20 ) will disengage placement member  30  from fasteners  43 , allowing placement member  30  to slide up socket  110  while torqueing fastener(s)  43 . Placement member  30 , for example, can then be repositioned by hand to perform another staging operation, allowing for starting and finishing torque. Existing socket  110 , depending on configuration, may need to be shimmed and/or otherwise altered so to, for example, keep a nut  42  flush with a relative end of socket  110 . 
         [0061]    The present disclosure also includes disclosure of various kits  1200 , as shown in component block diagrams shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B . In at least one embodiment of a kit  1200  of the present disclosure, and as shown in  FIG. 12A , kit  1200  comprises at least one staging member  11  and at least one placement member  30 . Additional elements, such as fasteners  43 , sockets  100 , etc., can be part of various kits  1200  of the present disclosure.  FIG. 12B  shows another exemplary kit  1200 , comprising a plurality of placement members  30  having a plurality of fasteners  43  therein. Such a kit  1200  may include placement members  30  that are relatively thin, such as manufactured using blow molding or vacuum molding, and may “tear away,” such as by having perforations  60  defined within placement member, so that a user of kit  1200  could apply a placement member  30  having fasteners  43  therein onto a bolt (for example), and tear away placement member  30  after initial positioning/torqueing. In such an embodiment, kit  1200  may comprise several “disposable” placement members  43 , pre-filled with various fasteners  43  therein. Various kits  1200  of the present disclosure can have any number of components/items of the present disclosure included therein. 
         [0062]    In various embodiments, components discussed herein of the staging member  11  and/or placement member  30  may be constructed of one or more types of molded plastic or other non-electrically conductive materials typically used in the manufacture of hand tools used by linemen who may be working on electrical wiring. In other alternative embodiments, the components may be made of wood, plastic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aluminum, metal alloys, or a combination of materials common in the art of fastener tools and hardware. The components may be attached to each other by being integrally formed together, heat bonded, adhesively bonded, or through any other suitable attachment technique. 
         [0063]    While various embodiments of tool trays and systems and methods to use the same have been described in considerable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples. It will therefore be understood that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof. 
         [0064]    Further, in describing representative embodiments, the present disclosure may have presented a method and/or a process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition, disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.