Abstract:
A support stand for a soldering or de-soldering handheld tool comprises a base and a cradle for supporting the handheld tool when it is not in use that protects the surrounding work area and accommodates user preferences.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a support stand which supports a heating tool. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The assembly and repair of electrical devices generally requires a human operator to utilize several different tools, including various hand-held heating devices such as a soldering iron for electrically securing components, a de-soldering tool for melting and removing solder to allow rework or repair, and a hot air device that may be required for heat shrink insulation. Often the operator may require all of these heating devices, along with a number of hand tools and electrical components, on the work surface of a work bench to work efficiently. However, the heating devices may easily damage electrical components, or injure the operator if they are carelessly set aside when not in use. 
         [0003]    A diligent user may prefer placing the heating devices in some type of holder or support stand. The positioning of the heating devices in the holder or stand often depends on the user. Some users prefer putting the handle of the heating device obliquely downward toward the top surface of the work bench, and others prefer putting the handle of the heating device obliquely upward with respect to the top surface of the work bench. The orientation may depend upon how the particular user lifts and holds the heating device. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides various alternative embodiments of a support stand for heating devices that may accommodate a number of different heating devices and user preferred positioning of the heating devices when they are not in use. In addition, the present invention provides a shield to isolate the hot portion of the heating devices so that they do not damage electrical components or injure the user. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment of the invention, the support stand includes a cradle pivotally mounted to a base, the cradle including one or more projections or stepped section on the inner surface of the cradle to engage portions of the heating device when the handle of the heating device is placed in the cradle of the support stand. The user can hook or engage the handle of the heating device on the projections or stepped section regardless of the direction of placement of the handle. Therefore the user can place the heating device on the support stand easily and stably. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a support stand for a heating device; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary configuration of a heating device that may be accommodated by the support stands of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a simplified top-view of the cradle portion of the support stand of  FIG. 1  and the central portion of the heating device of  FIG. 2  positioned in a first orientation; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a simplified top-view of the cradle portion of the support stand of  FIG. 1  and the central portion of the heating device of  FIG. 2  positioned in a second orientation; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a simplified top-view of one embodiment of the cradle portion of the support stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a simplified top-view of a second embodiment of the cradle portion of the support stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a simplified top-view of a third embodiment of the cradle portion of the support stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the support stand for a heating device with an additional cover unit heat shield assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the support stand and cover unit of  FIG. 8  with an exemplary heating device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of a support stand and cover unit with an exemplary heating device; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the alternative configuration of a support stand and cover unit with an exemplary heating device of  FIG. 10 , with the heating device oriented in an opposite position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a support stand  10 . The support stand includes a base  12  including a sloped upper surface  13 , a leg member  14  and a cradle  16 . The cradle  16  includes a mount  18  to secure the leg member  14  to the cradle. Alternatively, the mount  18  may be configured so that the leg member  14  may be removable to allow easy repair or replacement. The cradle  16  defines a partial generally cylindrical section  20  defining an inner surface  22 , a first upwardly projecting side  24  and a second upwardly projecting side  26  so that a handle of a heating device may be rested in a space between said first side and said second side as described below. The cradle  16  further includes at least one type of projection  30  on the inner surface  22 , strategically positioned to allow balance. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary configuration of a heating device  40 . The heating device  40  may be a hot air blower, a soldering iron, a de-soldering tool or another type of tool which uses thermal energy. The heating device  40  is intended to be connected to a power supply by a cable  42 , and held by a user gripping an insulated handle section  44 . A heating assembly portion  46  extends from a distal end  48  of the insulated handle section  44 . The insulated handle section  44  further includes a first cylindrical section  50 , a beveled section  52  that flares to a greater diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical section  50 , a groove  54  at the distal end of the beveled section  52 , and a second cylindrical section  56  extending from the groove  54  to the distal end  48  of the handle section  44 . 
         [0019]    The configuration of the support stand  10  and the heating device  40  allows the heating device  40  to be placed in the support stand in either direction so that the heating device  40  may be oriented in either an upward angled or downward angled direction. To illustrate this concept,  FIG. 3  is a simplified top-view of the cradle portion of the support stand of  FIG. 1  and the central portion of the heating device  40  of  FIG. 2  positioned in a first orientation obliquely upward.  FIG. 4  is a simplified top-view of the cradle portion of the support stand of  FIG. 1  and the central portion of the heating device of  FIG. 2  positioned in a second or opposite orientation obliquely downward. In the configuration of  FIG. 3 , the beveled portion  52  of the handle section  44  engages the projection  30  on the inner surface  22  of the cradle  16 . In the configuration of  FIG. 4 , the distal end of the beveled portion  52  (or the distal end of the second cylindrical section depicted in  FIG. 2 ), engages the projection  30  on the inner surface  22  of the cradle  16 . In either orientation, the engagement with the projection  30  prevents the heating device  40  from slipping downward. 
         [0020]    In  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the projection  30  is depicted as a ridge  30  projecting inwardly from the inner surface  22 . Alternative configurations of the projection  30  on the inner surface  22  of the cradle  16  are depicted in  FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 . In  FIG. 5 , the projection  30  comprises projecting pillars  32  on the inner surface  22  of the cradle  16 . The projecting pillars  32  may be configured as low-height quadratic prisms. In  FIG. 6  the projection  30  comprises projecting bumps  34  on the inner surface  22  of the cradle  16 . Projecting bumps  34  may be formed in hemispherical shapes. In  FIG. 7 , projection  30  comprises a step  36  on the inner surface  22 , whereby the cradle  16  has first thickness and a second thickness. In each of these configurations, the beveled portion  52  (or the distal end of the second cylindrical section depicted in  FIG. 2 ), engages the projecting pillars  32 , projecting bumps  34 , the step  36  or ridge  30 . 
         [0021]    To accommodate a user&#39;s preferences as well as various configurations for the heating devices to be rested in the support stand  10 , the inner surface  22  may include a plurality of holes or openings  28  positioned in a pattern and the projecting pillars  32 , the projecting bumps  34  or the ridge  30  each include a underside having projections sized to securely fit in the holes or openings of the inner surface  22 , whereby the user can reposition the pillars  32 , bumps  34  or ridge  30  in various locations of said inner surface  22 . Thus, a user may place the respective projection at different locations along the axial length of the cradle  16  to balance different configurations of the heating device  40 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the support stand  10  for a heating device with an additional cover unit  60  defining a heat shield assembly. The cover unit  60  includes two projection rods  62  that may be inserted into receiving sections  64  attached to the mount  18  of the cradle  16 . The cover unit  60  further includes a seat shaped section including a base curving into an end section  66  and two sidewalls  68 . The section  66  and sidewalls  68  may be fabricated from metal or high temperature resistant plastic materials to prevent the heating assembly portion  46  of the heating device  40  from damaging nearby electrical components or burning the user. The cover unit  60  has an open upper side that allows for heat dissipation. 
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the support stand  10  and cover unit  60  of  FIG. 8  with an exemplary heating device  40 . When the heating device  40  is placed in the cradle  16  of the support stand  10 , the beveled section  52  of the handle section  44  engages the projection  30  in the inner surface  22  of the cradle  16 , preventing axial movement. Alternatively, when the heating device  40  is placed in the cradle  16  of the support stand  10 , the groove  54  at the distal end of the beveled section  52  of the handle section  44  may engage the projection  30  on the inner surface  22  of the cradle  16 . The heating assembly portion  46  extends into the cover unit  60 , without contacting the end section  66  or sidewalls  68 . As depicted in  FIG. 9 , a hot air blower attachment is secured to the heating assembly portion  46 . The hot air from the attachment collides with the cover unit  60  and goes up, so that objects around the hot air blower attachment are not exposed to high temperature. 
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of a support stand  110  and cover unit  60  with an exemplary heating device, and  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the alternative configuration with. the heating device oriented in an opposite position. In the embodiments of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , support stand  110  includes a base  112  having a slopped upper surface  113  and a leg  114 . The support stand  110  further includes an elongated receiving slot  108  on the upper surface  113  into which a bottom end  104  of the leg  114  is inserted and secured. The configuration of the elongated receiving slot  108  allows the user to position the leg  114 , and thus the cradle  116 , in a comfortable position for the user while maintaining the balance for the heating device  40 . The user may fix the location of the leg  114  mounting to the receiving slot  108  using screws (not shown) accessed from the underside of the base  112 . In this configuration, the support stand  110  has an adjusting mechanism in order to prevent the heating device  40  from interfering with the work bench. 
         [0025]    Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the disclosure herein is meant to be exemplary and actual parameters and materials depend upon the specific application for which the process and materials of the present invention are used. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example while the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereto.