Abstract:
A socket caddy comprising either a vertical panel with pins holding sockets by way of the force of gravity, without friction with the pins. A base comprising a shallow storage box provides storage for socket ratchets and socket ratchet extensions.

Description:
[0001]    This is a divisional application of the application Ser. No. 12/823,349 filed on Jun. 25, 2010, Art unit 3728, by Henry E. Solowiej, and the Applicant hereby claims the benefit of said Application under 35 U.S.C. 121 and/or 365(c). 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a socket caddy holding sockets and socket ratchets for use by mechanics. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Sockets and socket ratchets are widely used in various repairs, particularly in auto repairs. An auto mechanic would position himself under a vehicle and then reach for a toolbox in order to retrieve a socket ratchet or a socket to perform the repairs. This often has to be done “on the fly”, while using only one hand and while the hand is greasy. After use, a particular socket needs to be placed back for storage or replaced with a different socket, also “on the fly”, while using only one hand and while the hand is greasy. Most mechanics lack time or discipline to return a socket to a particular predetermined location and tend to just drop it into a tool box. Accordingly, there is a need to have a socket caddy providing easy and convenient access to sockets and socket ratchets, permitting removing and replacing sockets with one hand, quickly and with minimal effort. Further, an open view storage allows the user to determine whether there are any missing sockets at a glance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The socket caddy according to this invention satisfies this need. According to this invention, a vertical panel, atop a base comprising storage, comprises pins extending at a substantially forty five degree angle to the base. Sockets are hung on the pins without the use of the force of friction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows perspective and elevational views of the socket caddy according to this invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows an alternative embodiment of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0007]    This invention will be better understood with the reference to the drawing figures  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The same numerals refer to the same elements in all drawing figures. 
         [0008]    Viewing  FIG. 1 , numeral  10  indicates a base. Base  10  comprises a rectangular bottom panel with unequal dimensions and a longitudinal axis. In the preferred embodiment described in reference to  FIG. 1 , base  10  further comprises base walls indicated by numeral  10   a . Base walls  10   a  and the rectangular bottom panel of base  10  form a shallow box for storing socket ratchets and socket ratchet extensions indicated by numeral  80 . 
         [0009]    Numeral  20  indicates a vertical panel. Vertical panel  20  is fixedly attached to the rectangular bottom panel of base  10  along the longitudinal axis. Vertical panel  20  comprises a first and second faces indicated, respectively, by numerals  20   a  and  20   b.    
         [0010]    Numeral  30  indicates pins. A plurality of pins  30  extend from first face  20   a  and second face  120   b  at a predetermined angle indicated by numeral  60 . Angle  60  is shown to be forty-five degrees with respect to the rectangular bottom panel of base  10 . 
         [0011]    Numeral  70  indicates sockets. Pins  30  slidably and removably retain sockets  70  in a frictionless hanging arrangement by way of the force of gravity, permitting. sockets  70  to be removed with one hand. To accomplish such frictionless hanging arrangement of pins  30 , angle  60  must be between zero and eighty degrees with respect to the rectangular bottom panel of base  10 . The objective of this invention is to provide effortless and quick removal and replacement of sockets  70  with one hand. Angles  60  smaller than zero degrees would cause sockets  70  to fall off of pins  30 . Angles  60  larger than eighty degrees would make removal and replacement of sockets  70  difficult. 
         [0012]    Numeral  40  indicates a handle. Handle  40  is disposed on a top portion of vertical panel  20 . 
         [0013]    In the preferred embodiment described in reference to  FIG. 1 , base  10 , vertical panel  20  and pins  30  are fabricated from a durable plastic material by way of injection molding. In other embodiments, base  10 , vertical panel  20  and pins  40  may be fabricated from rigid metal, such as steel or aluminum, or wood. 
         [0014]    Numeral  50  indicates an indicia selected from the group consisting of standard and metric. Indicia  50  is disposed on first face  20   a  and second face  20   b,  such that if first face  20   a  comprises indicia “STANDARD”, as shown in  FIG. 1 , second face  20   b  would comprise indicia “METRIC”. Standard and metric sockets are placed on either first face  20   a  or second face  20   b  accordingly. 
         [0015]    In the embodiments described in reference to  FIG. 1 , pins  30  are not removable but are fabricated from a unitary piece of material with vertical panel  20 . This can be accomplished, for example, by injection molding. It may be desirable to reduce manufacturing cost of the socket caddy according to this invention by having pins  30  removable, such that the user assembles the socket caddy himself by inserting pins  30  into vertical panel  20 .  FIG. 2  describes such removable pins  30  inserted into vertical panel  20 . Specifically, vertical panel  12  further comprises a plurality of openings indicated by numeral  30   b.  Openings  30   b  receive and removably retain pins  30 . Pins  30  are frictionally press fit into openings  30   b  by the end user. This can be accomplished by way of a hammer. 
         [0016]    The embodiment described in reference to  FIG. 2  shows pin  30  as having a taper indicated by numeral  30   a.  Taper  30   a  is disposed on the end of pin  30  inserted into opening  30   b.  In this case, the diameter of opening  30   b  is slightly larger than the diameter of taper  30   a,  allowing for press fitting of taper  50   a  into opening  50   b.  In other embodiments, pins  30  do not have tapers  30   a,  in which case openings  30   b  have diameters slightly larger than that of pins  30  for press fitting pins  30  into openings  30   b.    
         [0017]    While the present invention has been described and defined by references to the preferred embodiments of the invention, such references do not imply limitations on the invention, and no such limitations are to be inferred. The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the pertinent arts. The depicted and described preferred embodiments of the invention are exemplary only, and are not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.