Abstract:
A support for a series of tools, each tool including at least one head and one handle, includes a base; a plurality of housings, each housing being intended to receive and retain the handle; a plurality of means for receiving and retaining a head, each receiving and retaining means being intended to receive and retain the head; the housings and the receiving and retaining means being secured to the base, each housing comprising two partitions, at least one of the partitions including a means for positioning the handle. At least one partition, which is formed integrally with the base, is designed to flex elastically and transversely to allow the handle to overcome the means for positioning the handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a support for a set of tools, in particular for spanners or ring spanners, each tool comprising at least one operating head and a handle. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art 
     Hand tools are generally marketed as a set of tools which are arranged on a support which is subsequently used in workshops to arrange the set of tools and check the presence of all the tools from the set in the support. 
     From the patent application U.S. Pat. No. 2,068,308, it is known to produce such a wrench support from sheet steel, the support comprising a base from which extends an element for receiving and retaining tool heads and an element which is formed by housings for tool handles, the element which is formed by housings being separate from the base and being fitted thereto. 
     However, such a configuration is difficult to implement since it requires cutting, folding and crimping and therefore does not allow a hand tool support to be obtained for a low production cost. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to simplify the configuration of a support for a set of tools whilst reducing the production costs. 
     To this end, the invention relates to a support for a set of tools of the above-mentioned type, characterised in that at least one partition of each channel, which is integral with the base, is capable of flexing resiliently and transversely in order to allow the handle to pass the means for positioning the handle. 
     In this manner, the invention provides efficient positioning of the tool handle and allows the production cost of the support to be reduced. 
     The support is of the type comprising:
         a base which is generally substantially planar;   a plurality of mutually parallel housings, each housing being intended to receive and retain the handle of a corresponding tool from the set in a predetermined position in the support;   a plurality of means for receiving and retaining a tool head, each receiving and retaining means being associated with a housing and being intended to receive and retain the operating head of the corresponding tool in a predetermined position in the support;
 
the plurality of housings and the plurality of receiving and retaining means being fixedly joined to the base, each housing comprising two substantially mutually parallel partitions which delimit a channel, at least one of the partitions comprising a means for positioning the handle.
       

     According to other embodiments:
         each partition is arranged substantially perpendicularly relative to the base;   the means for receiving and retaining a tool head are integral with the base;   the means for positioning the handle comprises a protuberance which is arranged so as to protrude transversely into the channel and which is integral with the partition which carries it;   the support is moulded in one piece by means of thermoplastic injection;   the support is moulded from thermoplastic elastomer material;   the support comprises at least one lateral wall, preferably two lateral walls which is/are integral with the base and which delimit(s) externally one or more outer housing(s), each lateral wall connecting the base to the means for receiving and retaining a tool head;   the means for receiving and retaining a tool head define, at one end of the base, a space for receiving the tool head, the end of the base forming a stop for retaining the tool head;   the means for receiving and retaining the tool head comprise a stepped bar which extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction of the channels, the bar having portions with dimensions which complement those of a female inner shape of the tool heads of the set;   the means for receiving and retaining the tool head comprise a series of stepped receptacles, each receptacle extending in continuation of the associated channel, the series of receptacles having portions with shapes which complement the outer shapes of the tool heads of the set;   each portion is spaced from the base;   the receiving and retaining means have substantially circular cross-sections which increase progressively from one portion to the next;   each means for receiving and retaining a tool head is arranged substantially in the same plane as the associated housing of the corresponding handle of a tool, respectively;   each channel is capable of receiving the handle of an associated tool with play in each direction of the cross-section of the handle.       

    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention and its advantages will be better understood from a reading of the following description, given purely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a support for a tool set according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the support for a tool set illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the support for a set of tools illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the tools being in position on the support; 
         FIG. 4  is a section along the line IV-IV of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view along the line V-V of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a view from below of a second embodiment of a support for a set of tools according to the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a view from below of a third embodiment of a support for a set of tools according to the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a section of a fourth embodiment of a support for a set of tools according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a front view illustrating the mechanical assembly of two supports for a set of tools according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 5  illustrate a support  10  for a set of tools  12  ( FIG. 3 ), in particular for spanners, each tool comprising at least one operating head  14  and  16  and a handle  18 , the head  14  being of the type having an open fork-shaped profile and the head  16  being of the type having a closed ring-shaped profile in the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The support  10  is moulded in one piece by means of thermoplastic injection from a thermoplastic elastomer material, which is, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer having a hardness of between 50 Shore D and 90 Shore D. 
     The support  10  comprises a base  20  which is generally substantially planar and in the form of a trapezium. 
     A plurality of housings  22  extend in a mutually parallel manner from the base  20 , each housing being intended to receive and retain the handle  18  of a corresponding tool of the set in a predetermined position in the support  10 . 
     A plurality of receiving and retaining means  32  for a tool head  14  extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the housings  22 , each receiving and retaining means  32  being associated with a housing  22  and being intended to receive and retain the operating head  14  of the corresponding tool  12  in a predetermined position in the support  10 . 
     The housings  22  and the receiving and retaining means  32  are fixedly joined to the base  20 . 
     The intermediate housings  22  comprise solid partitions  24  which are substantially mutually parallel and which delimit a channel  22 . The outer partitions of the two outer housings form an outer lateral wall  26 ,  28 , respectively. 
     The lateral walls  26  and  28  connect the base  20  to the receiving and retaining means  32  and are arranged in the region of the trapezoidal bases. The wall  28  thus has a longitudinal dimension which is less than that of the wall  26 . 
     The partitions  24  and the two lateral walls  26  and  28  are integral with the base  20 , protrude substantially perpendicularly relative to this base, on the same face of the base, and each comprises a means  30  for positioning the handle  18 . This means  30  is formed by a protuberance  30  which is integral with the partition  24  and/or the lateral wall  26  or  28  which carries it and is arranged so as to protrude transversely in the channel  22 . 
     The means  32  for receiving and retaining tool heads are also integral with the base  20  and comprise a hollow stepped bar  32  which is generally substantially conical and which extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction of the channels  22 . A portion  34  (i.e. a receiving portion) which is of a size which complements those of the female inner shape  15  of a tool head  14  of the set of tools, defines a step of the bar  32 . Each portion  34  is spaced from the base  20  and transversely retains the fork  14  relative to the bar  32 . 
     A step of the bar  32  is arranged substantially in the same plane as the associated housing  22  of the handle  18  of the corresponding tool  12  and the bar  32  has cross-sections which increase progressively from one portion  34  to the following portion. 
     A protruding tongue  36  extends the stepped bar  32  in the longitudinal direction of the channels  22 . A mark  37  which is integral with the tongue  36  is arranged facing each portion  34  of the stepped bar  32 . Each mark  37  indicates the opening dimension of the female inner profile  15  of the head  14  of the tool  12 . 
     The base  20  further comprises a tapered end  38  which is directed towards the bar  32  and spaced therefrom by a space  39  for receiving the tool head  14 , as will be described below. 
     The hollow bar  32  opens in each of the lateral walls  26  and  28 , respectively, in the region of holes  40  and  42  ( FIG. 4 ), respectively. 
     A metal clamp  44  ( FIG. 4 ) which is positioned between two ribs  45  of the rear face of the base  20  ( FIG. 2 ) is fitted and fixed by a fixing element (not illustrated) which is itself screwed into a blind hole  46 . The clamp  44  allows the support to be hooked to the belt of a user. 
     An aperture  48  is provided in continuation of one of the partitions  24 , and is sized in such a manner that a rod of a sales display packaging may extend from one side of the base  20  to the other. In this manner, the support  10  contributes to the sales packaging of the set of tools. 
     As illustrated more specifically in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , apertures  50  which are produced in the base  20  opposite the positioning protuberances  30  which protrude transversely in the channels  22 , during thermoplastic injection, allow rods to pass through which allow a portion of each protuberance  30  to be moulded. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-section drawn to an enlarged scale relating to the zone of the protuberances  30 . It illustrates an outer channel  22  in which a tool handle  18  is inserted. A first protuberance  30  protrudes transversely in the channel  22  from the lateral wall  26 . A second protuberance  30  protrudes in the channel  22  from the partition  24 . Two surfaces  52  and  54  laterally delimit the channel  22 , the base  20  delimiting the base surface  56  of the channel  22 . The surfaces  52  and  54  have a slight relief in order to allow removal from the mould during thermoplastic injection. 
     In the continuation of the aperture  50 , two surfaces  58  and  60  which are substantially planar and which have an inverted relief relative to the surfaces  52  and  54  extend respectively beyond one half of the height of the lateral wall  26  and the partition  24  in the direction of the free end of the same lateral wall and partition. An inclined surface  62  extends each of the surfaces  58  and  60 , respectively, the surfaces  62  converging towards the centre of the channel. Two planar and parallel surfaces  64  extend, in the longitudinal axis of the channel  22 , each of the inclined surfaces  62  in the direction of the free end of the wall  26  and the partition  24 , respectively. Still in the direction of the free end of the lateral wall  26  and the partition  24 , an inclined surface  66  extends each of the planar surfaces  64 , respectively, the surfaces  66  diverging relative to the centre of the channel in the direction of the free end of the lateral wall  26  and the partition  24 . 
     The surfaces  62 ,  64  and  66  form retention, connection and entry surfaces for the protuberances  30 , respectively. The distance between the connection surfaces  64  is less than the smallest dimension of the cross-section of the handle  18 , so that the retention surfaces  62  are capable of retaining the handle of the tool. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the positioning of a spanner  12  will now be described. This Figure illustrates, with dot-dash lines, a first step for positioning a spanner  12  on the tool support  10 . The fork  14  of the tool  12  is presented with respect to the portion  34  corresponding to the opening dimension of the female inner profile  15  of the tool  12 , so that the fork  14  overlaps the associated portion  34 . 
     One of the jaws of the fork  14  is introduced into the receiving space  39  which separates the base  20  from the bar  32 , the inner profile  15  being adapted to the portion  34  of the bar  32  which is of a complementary size. 
     The handle  18  forms an angle with the longitudinal direction of the channel  22  of the support  10 . Since the cross-section of the portion  34  is substantially circular, the wrench  12  is capable of rotating about a centre of rotation defined by the centre of the cross-section of the portion  34  which is covered by the fork  14 . In a rotation movement which has a tendency to move the handle  18  towards the channel  22  (arrow F in  FIG. 4 ), the operator engages the handle  18  therein and places the handle  18  in contact with the inclined entry surfaces  66  of the protuberance  30 . Under the action of the forward movement of the handle  18  and owing to the resilience of the partition  24  and/or the wall  26 , the entry surfaces  66  move apart, taking with them the connection surfaces  64  on which the handle  18  slides. The partitions  24  and the lateral walls  26  and  28  are capable of flexing resiliently and transversely in order to allow the handle  18  to pass the positioning protuberances  30  of this handle. 
     After passing the connection surfaces  64  of the protuberances  30 , the handle  18  abuts the base  56  of the channel  22  and the retaining surfaces  62  retain the handle  18  in the associated housing  22  with play. 
     Each channel  22  has a width which is slightly greater than the smallest dimension of the handle  18  of the associated tool  12 . Consequently, the partition  24  and the lateral wall  26  flex resiliently, from their initial unrestricted position, and return, after the handle  18  has passed the positioning protuberances  30 , into their initial position, even if the adjacent housings are occupied by other tools. In this manner, the partition  24  and the lateral wall  26  are subject to flexing restrictions only when the handle  18  passes the positioning protuberance  30 , which improves the durability of the plastics material over time. Consequently, the handle  18  is retained in its housing with slight play in both directions of its cross-section. 
     When the handle  18  is in the retention position, the end  38  of the base  20  forms a retention stop for the outer profile of the tool head  14 . In this manner, the head  14  is retained transversely by the bar  32  and longitudinally by the stop  38 , the stop  38  effectively counteracting the longitudinal translation movement of the tool  12  relative to the channel  22 . 
     In the other embodiments which will now be described, the elements which have the same function as that described above have the same reference numerals increased by 100. 
     A second embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 6 , differs from that illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5  in that the support  110  comprises two sets of parallel housings  122  which are arranged substantially back-to-back and which comprise a common base  120 , the assembly being moulded in one piece by means of thermoplastic injection. Two walls  126  and  128  having protuberances  130  laterally delimit the support  110 , partitions  124  carrying at each side a protuberance  130  which delimits the channels  122 . The support  110 , when viewed from below, is generally substantially rectangular with the base  120  extending in an oblique manner from the wall  126  to the wall  128 . 
     A third embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 7  differs from the second embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  in that the support  210  for a set of tools is in the form of a first set of parallel housings  222 A and a second series of parallel housings  222 B which are delimited by partitions  224 A  224 B, respectively, and lateral walls  226 A,  228 A,  226 B,  228 B. These partitions and walls are integral with a first base  220 A and a second base  220 B, respectively. An articulation  270  which is in particular integral with the bases  220 A and  220 B allows the support  210  to be opened in the manner of a wallet so as to present the tools at the same face, whilst ensuring that the means for storing the tools is as compact as in the second embodiment. In an embodiment which is not illustrated, the integral hinge  270  is replaced by a conventional hinge in which the two supports comprise complementary pins which fit one inside the other, a shaft extending through the pins in order to fix and articulate the two supports to each other. 
     A fourth embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8  differs from the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in that the tool support  310  is capable of receiving and retaining ring spanners  312 , the heads  314  and  316  having a closed ring shaped profile. The means  332  for receiving and retaining the tool head  314  comprise a series of stepped receptacles, each receptacle  332  extending in continuation of the associated channel  322 . Each receptacle  332  has a portion  334  in the form of an arc of a circle, having a shape which complements the outer shape  315  of the head  314  of the corresponding tool  312  with a closed profile. In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, each portion  334  is spaced from the base  320 . The means  332  for receiving and retaining the tool head  314  define, at one end  338  of the base  320 , a space  339  for receiving the tool head  314 . The outer profile  315  of the head  314  engaged in the receiving space  339  moves into abutment against the end  338  of the base  320 . In this manner, the end  338  of the base  320  forms a longitudinal stop for retaining the head  314 , which acts counter to the longitudinal translation movement of the tool  312  relative to the associated channel  322 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the receptacle  334  has a passage between the end  338  of the base  320  and the front free end of the receptacle  334 . This passage constitutes approximately 110° of the outer circumference of the head  314  and therefore has a dimension which is slightly less than the outer diameter  315  of the head  314 . In this manner, the head is received in the receptacle  334  by means of resilient deformation of the free end of the receptacle  334 . 
     In an embodiment which is not illustrated, the receptacle  334  is connected at the rear to the end  338  of the base  320  and has a shape which complements that of the outer surface  315  of the head  314  of the tool  312 , whilst retaining the characteristic of the stop  338 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a method for mechanical assembly of a first support  10  and a second support  410  of the type similar to that of the first embodiment, that is to say, of the type having a stepped hollow bar which opens in the region of each of the lateral walls via a hole, respectively, the supports  10  and  410  being capable of receiving and retaining tools of different sizes. A threaded rod  80  is engaged through each of the hollow bars of the first and second supports via the holes which are arranged in the region of each of the lateral walls of each of the supports, then a nut  90  is screwed to the end of the threaded rod which extends past the second support. In this manner, two supports of the same type are fixed beside each other, the threaded rod itself being able to be connected to a support for an item of storage furniture. 
     Produced in one piece from thermoplastic material, the support according to the invention has rounded shapes which are therefore harmless for an operator, in contrast to the prior art defined above. In this manner, the support according to the invention has improved characteristics in terms of ergonomics. 
     Furthermore, the design of the partitions and lateral walls of each channel, which are integral with the base, allows the handle to be retained with slight play in a predetermined position in the support without subjecting the portions of the partitions or walls which flex to continuous mechanical stresses, thus improving the long term durability of the support whilst ensuring a low production cost.