Abstract:
A chain saw holder for supporting and selectively locking a chain saw to a vehicle such as a trailer, truck, van, etc. The holder includes a cutter bar retaining portion for frictionally engaging the chain saw cutter bar and a handle retaining portion for selectively receiving and capturing the chain saw elongate front handle. A stop member is selectively moveable along an elongate arm for selective placement over the U-shaped section and capturing the chain saw handle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of apparatus for supporting and transporting chain saws. More particularly, the present invention relates to a chain saw holder which can be mounted on a support structure such as a trailer, truck, van, etc., and whereupon a chain saw is selectively mounted for storage and transport.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Chain saws are today very commonly used in various industries including grounds and tree maintenance, construction, and logging. Chain saws are typically powered with a gas engine and include a cutter bar which is mounted on and extends from the engine. A cutting chain is slidingly driven around the cutter bar. Chain saws further typically include a front elongate handle and a rear handle for grasping and operating. The front handle is typically elongate, having a horizontal portion above and to one side of the cutter bar, and a vertical portion opposite the cutter bar location. The rear handle is typically located at the rear of the chain saw engine and includes a throttle for controlling the engine speed.  
           [0003]    In view of their shape, chain saws are generally difficult to store and transport in a manner whereby they will not be damaged and/or whereby the chain saw teeth will not cause damage to other items being transported therewith. This is particularly problematic in the tree cutting, grounds maintenance and construction industries which require the chain saws to be transported on vehicles such as trailers, trucks or vans between job sites. Furthermore, while parked chain saws which are not secured to the vehicle may be stolen.  
           [0004]    Various apparatus for supporting and transporting chain saws have previously been devised and used. Most common is probably a chain saw case which completely surrounds and encloses a chain saw. Although this adequately protects the chain saw, it is typically relatively difficult to place and quickly remove the saw from the case and, more importantly, does not provide a means for securing to the vehicle and preventing the saw and case from sliding or rolling in the vehicle while in transit.  
           [0005]    Other known chain saw supporting devices include those shown and disclosed by Harper, U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,176 and Shurman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,575. Although the devices of these patents appear to adequately support chain saws for transport, they are not easily capable of use with various different types and sizes of chain saws.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, a need exists for a chain saw holder for efficiently and properly supporting and storing chain saws on transport vehicles and, further, wherein the chains saws can relatively easily and quickly be placed on and removed from the holder.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is the principal object of the present invention to overcome the above discussed disadvantages associated with prior chain saw holding and storing devices and which fullfills the desired above discussed needs.  
           [0008]    The chain saw holder, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, in general, includes a base adapted to be mounted to a support structure including transport vehicles such as trailers, trucks and vans. A cutter bar retaining portion is attached to and extends from the base and includes a slot for receiving the chain saw cutter bar. Flexible rubber grommets are attached to the cutter bar retaining portion adjacent to and extending into the slot whereby, upon insertion, the chain saw cutter bar is frictionally engaged by the rubber grommets.  
           [0009]    A handle retaining portion is also attached to and extends from the base, and includes a handle capture portion adapted to selectively receive and retain the forward elongate chain saw handle located adjacent and to the side of the cutter bar. Preferably, the handle capture portion includes a horizontally disposed U-shaped section for receiving the generally vertical portion of the chain saw elongate handle. The U-shaped section further includes an elongate arm extending generally horizontally. A stop member is provided and is slidingly moveable along the arm for selectively securing and capturing the chain saw handle within the U-shaped section. The stop member can be selectively locked along the elongate arm for thereby locking the chain saw handle within the U-shaped section.  
           [0010]    The cutter bar retaining portion is slidingly attached to the base for selectively adjusting the distance between the cutter bar retaining portion and the handle retaining portion. In this manner, various types and sizes of chain saws having various distances between the cutter bar and vertical portion of the front handle can be accommodated.  
           [0011]    In one form thereof, the present invention is directed to a chain saw holder for supporting a chain saw having a cutter bar and an elongate handle. The chain saw holder includes a base and a cutter bar retaining portion extending from the base and having a slot for receiving a chain saw cutter bar. A handle retaining portion is also provided and extends from the base and has a handle capture portion selectively receiving and retaining a chain saw elongate handle.  
           [0012]    Preferably, flexible members are provided on the cutter bar retaining portion extending into the slot whereby the chain saw cutter bar is selectively frictionally engaged. The cutter bar retaining portion is further preferably slidingly attached to the base whereby the distance between the cutter bar retaining portion and the handle retaining portion is adjustable. Yet more preferably, the handle capture portion includes a horizontally disposed U-shaped section adapted to receive a vertical portion of a chain saw elongate handle and a stop member is slidingly moveable along an arm extending from the U-shaped section for thereby selectively capturing the chain saw elongate handle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chain saw holder constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and mounted on a vertical post attached to a trailer;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the chain saw holder shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a chain saw holder constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and mounted to a horizontal portion of a trailer;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the chain saw holder shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the chain saw holder shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the chain saw holder shown in FIG. 5;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a chain saw holder constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken generally along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 2; and,  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken generally along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 2. 
     
    
       [0023]    Corresponding characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
         [0024]    The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention in one form thereof and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure or the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 3, a chain saw holder constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the numeral  10 . Chain saw holder  10  is preferably detachably attachable to a support structure such as trailer  12 , for example, via a vertical post  14  attached to the trailer  12 , or directly to a horizontal tube  16  making up part of the trailer structure. In this manner, a chain saw  18  can quickly be placed on and accessed from the chain saw holder  10 .  
         [0026]    It is noted that chain saw  18  typically includes a gas engine  20  adapted to drive a cutting chain  22  around the cutter bar  24 . A front handle  26  is generally elongate as shown and includes a horizontal portion  28  and a vertical portion  30 . Front handle  26 , as shown, typically is located adjacent and to the side of the cutter bar  24 . A rear handle  32  is provided at the rear of the chain saw along with a speed control or trigger  34 . As will more fully be described hereinbelow, chain saw  18  is supported and retained on the chain saw holder  10  by setting the chain saw on the base  36 , and securing the cutter bar  24  with a cutter bar retaining portion  38  and securing the front handle  26  with a handle retaining portion  40 .  
         [0027]    Chain saw holder  10  is detachably attachable to the vertical post  14  or the trailer horizontal tube  16  with a bracket  42 . Bracket  42  includes a central flat  44  from which extend integrally formed parallel ears  46  and perpendicular ears  48 . As best seen in FIG. 6, holes  50  are provided in the upper perpendicular ears  48 ; holes  52  are provided in the central flat  44  generally between and parallel with perpendicular ears  48 ; and, holes  54  are provided along the parallel ears  46  and central flat  44  between the perpendicular ears  48 .  
         [0028]    For attaching chain saw holder  10  to vertical post  14 , bracket  42  is attached to the base  36 , as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, with screws  56  extending through holes  50  in ears  48  and holes  58  through base  36 . Central flat  44  and parallel ears  46  are then placed against post  14 , and bracket  42  is attached thereto vertically at any desired height in a known and customary manner, and by using screws  60  extending through holes  54 .  
         [0029]    For attaching the chain saw holder  10  to a horizontal trailer tube  16 , bracket  42  is turned placing parallel ears  46  and central flat  44  parallel with base  36  and underneath thereof as best seen in FIG. 4. Screws are inserted through the holes  64  in base  36 , the holes  52  in central flat  44  and the holes  66  through horizontal tube  16 . A nut  68  is threadingly received at the end of screw  62  forcing perpendicular ears  48  downwardly on top of horizontal tube  16  as shown in FIG. 4, and thereby securing base  36  and chain saw holder  10  to the horizontal tube  16  of trailer  12 . As can be appreciated, by utilizing the same bracket  42  for attachment to either vertical post  14  or horizontal tube  16 , manufacturing and overall costs are decreased.  
         [0030]    For attachment of the cutter bar retaining portion  38  to base  36 , base  36  is provided with an integrally formed lip  70 . A slot  72  extends through and generally parallel with lip  72 . Cutter bar retaining portion  38  further includes a vertical plate  74  wherein there is formed a cutter bar receiving slot  76 . Rubber grommets  78  are provided and are attached to the plate  74  on the sides of slot  76  by insertion and frictional engagement into holes  80  located on the sides of slot  76  and through plate  74 . Rubber grommets  80  are flexible and extend into slot  76  so that, upon insertion, the cutter bar  24  is frictionally engaged between the rubber grommets  80 . It is noted that plate  74  is preferably made of high density polyethylene and, therefore, together with flexible rubber grommets  80 , damage to the cutter bar  24  and cutting chain  22  is prevented while positive frictional engagement is provided.  
         [0031]    Plate  74  is attached to lip  70  using a pair of screws  82  which, as best seen in FIG. 7, extend through washers  84 , slot  74 , holes  86 , and finally, are threadingly received into threaded holes  88  extending through backing member  90 . As should now be evident, by selectively loosening and tightening screws  82 , the horizontal position of vertical plate  74  can be selectively adjusted horizontally along the length of slot  72 . In this manner, the distance between the cutter bar receiving slot  76  and the handle retaining portion  40  is selectively adjustable for accommodating various types and sizes of chain saws having differing distances between their cutter bars and front handle.  
         [0032]    For securing the chain saw front handle  26 , the handle retaining portion  40  includes a handle capture portion which preferably includes an upstanding U-shaped section  92  comprising legs  94  and  96  extending from central section  98 . As best seen in FIG. 1, the vertical portion  30  of the front handle  26  is received within the U-shaped section  92  between legs  94  and  96  and adjacent central section  98 . U-shaped section  92 , as well as the base  36 , are preferably made of steel and U-shaped section  92  is preferably welded extending generally perpendicular from base  36  as shown, thereby placing the U-shaped section and arms  94  and  96  thereof in a generally horizontally disposed position for receiving the vertical portion  30  of front handle  26 .  
         [0033]    U-shaped section  92  includes an elongate arm  100  preferably co-planer and integrally formed with leg  96  for extending beyond leg  96  as shown. A stop member generally designated by the numeral  102 , as more fully described hereinbelow, is slidingly moveable along arm  100  for selectively capturing the vertical portion  30  of front handle  26 . Stop member  102  includes a U-shaped collar  104  having a central portion  106  and front and rear legs  108  and  110 . A vertically extending slot  112  is provided through front leg  112  and a vertically extending slot  114  is provided through leg  110 . As shown, slots  112  and  114  are adapted to receive elongate arm  100  therethrough and thereby allow collar  104  to freely slide along elongate arm  100 .  
         [0034]    A latch member  116  is generally elongate as shown, and also includes a slot  118  for receiving arm  100 . When latch member  116  is received on arm  100  and within collar  104 , the upper portion  120  thereof projects upwardly and into aperture  122 . A spring member  124  made of spring steel also includes a slot  126  for receiving arm  100  therethrough. Spring member  124  is placed between rear leg  110  of collar  104  and latch member  116  and serves to urge latch member  116  away from rear leg  110  for causing the upper and lower surfaces  128  and  130  of latch slot  118  to contact and selectively frictionally engage or bind against the upper and lower surfaces  132  and  134  of elongate arm  100 . Accordingly, by selectively urging latch member  116  against the force of spring  124  toward rear leg  110 , latch member upper and lower surfaces  128  and  130  are no longer forced against the upper and lower surfaces  132  and  134  of arm  100  thereby allowing the collar  104 , latch member  116 , and spring  124  to freely slide back and forth along arm  100 . However, upon release of latch member  116 , spring  124  again causes the latch member  116  to bind against arm  100  thereby causing collar  104  to be retained at that horizontal position. As should now be appreciated, by placing a chain saw  18  with its cutter bar  24  in the cutter bar receiving slot  76  and the vertical portion  30  of front handle  26  within U-shaped section  92 , the chains saw  18  can be secured in place by merely selectively moving the stop member collar  104  against or away from the legs  94  and  96  for thereby selectively capturing the handle within the U-shaped section  92 .  
         [0035]    A rubber grommet  136  is attached to the front leg  108  of collar  106  by frictional engagement within a hole  138  through front leg  108 . Rubber grommet  136  is located as shown for contacting the vertical portion  30  of front handle  26  and preventing potential damage thereto. Additionally, a rubber cap  140  is received over leg  94  of U-shaped section  92  for also contacting the vertical portion  30  of front handle  26  and preventing potential damage thereto.  
         [0036]    A hole  142  is provided through elongate arm  100  and is sized and adapted to receive a common padlock (not shown). In this manner, when the vertical portion  30  of handle  26  is captured within U-shaped section  92  with stop member  102 , a padlock can be placed through hole  142  for locking the stop member in position and preventing potential theft of the chain saw. Additionally, a screw  144  is secured on the elongate arm  100  near the terminal end thereof through hole  146 . Screw  144  contacts the rear leg  110  as collar  104  is slid toward the terminal end of arm  100  and thereby preventing collar  104  from inadvertently being removed therefrom.  
         [0037]    It is noted that base  36 , bracket  42 , U-shaped section  92 , U-shaped collar  104 , and latch member  116  are preferably made of galvanized steel and formed as shown.  
         [0038]    While this invention has been described as having specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification. This application is, therefore, intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following the general principles thereof and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and fall within the limits of the appended claims.