Patent Publication Number: US-5836446-A

Title: Tool caddy

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hand tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, wrenches, stapler, drill bits, etc., are used everywhere, and are always somewhat of a nuisance to carry. Some tradesmen use small tool boxes for this purpose; others use a belt from which several tools are suspended. Regardless of the type of carrier it never seems to be sufficient for all purposes. The present invention solves some of these problems by providing more than normal space, and by being useful with an ordinary bucket, which may also be needed at the workplace. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a tool carrier that can be used with a bucket. It is another object of this invention to provide a novel tool caddy that can be carried separately from a bucket, and is lightweight and inexpensive. Still other objects will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a tool holding device adapted to be inserted into and carried by a bucket; said tool holding device includes an upper horizontal plate spaced above and rigidly joined to a lower horizontal dish; a short vertical wall around the outer perimeter of the plate, the plate being of a size to overlie and rest on the rim of the bucket. The plate is pierced by a plurality of passageways designed to receive and hold vertically hand tools with some part of the tools hanging below the plate and having a centrally located handle for lifting the tool holding device vertically. The lower horizontal dish is a shallow open container with an upturned edge; said plate and said dish being rigidly joined together by vertical connector means to dispose said dish below the plate and above the bottom of the bucket. 
     In specific and preferred embodiments of this invention the plate contains circular passageways with depending tubular guides for screwdrivers and slotted passageways for pliers; the connector is a tube which mates with bosses on the plate and the dish; or may be a pair of telescopic tubes respectively molded with the pate and dish. The tool holding device is positioned within the bucket sufficiently high to leave a space below the dish for other tools, and the dish is sectioned by partitions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional elevated view of the tool holding device according to the present invention shown mounted in a bucket and taken on line 1--1 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the upper plate as mounted on the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the upper plate of FIG. 2 taken from line 3--3 of FIG. 1 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the lower dish of the device of FIG. 1 taken from the line 4--4 of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are alternative views of the handle of the device of FIG. 1; and 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 are an alternative construction of the vertical mounting post of the device of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The novel features of this invention can best be understood by reference to the attached drawings. 
     The tool holding device includes an upper horizontal plate 11 spaced vertically above a lower horizontal dish 12, both of which are perpendicular to a common central vertical axis 13. Upper plate 11 and lower dish 12 are rigidly joined to each other by a vertical connector 23, which may be a rod or tube. In the embodiment shown here the vertical connector 23 is a tube which is seated at each end onto bosses 30 at plate 11 and 31 at dish 12. The actual connection between connector 23 and bosses 30 and 31 may be by screw threads, welding, or adhesive. Since all parts of the tool holding device are expected to be light in weight they should be made of aluminum or plastic and connector 23 joined to these parts by welding or strong adhesives. 
     Upper plate 11 is preferably flat and circular to fit the open top of a circular bucket 14 having conventional ball handle 36. If bucket 14 has a rectangular open top, plate 11 may also be rectangular. The outer perimeter 15 of plate 11 is sufficiently large in diameter or dimension to overlie the rim 22 of bucket 14 and be held in place gently. A short upstanding perimeter wall 16 extends around perimeter 15 and terminates in a channel member 16&#39;. Reinforcing radial ribs or webs 21 are preferably formed on the bottom surface 28 of plate 11 for added strength as shown in FIG. 3. Plate 11 is pierced with a plurality of passageways or holes of various sizes and shapes and to receive and hold tools inserted vertically in those passageways or holes, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Typically there will be a number of circular holes 17 to receive screwdrivers 33 and a number of slotted holes 18 to receive pliers 32. Screwdriver holes 17 are augmented with short tubular guides 19 depending downwardly below plate 11 to restrict the lateral movement of the screwdriver handle and shank, which might otherwise become tangled with adjacent tools. Guides 19 preferably are short (1-3 inches) lengths of tubing welded or otherwise attached to plate 11. Still other passageways or holes through plate 11 may be added for other tools, e.g., hammer, wrench, square. A preferred arrangement of passageways and holes 17 and 18 is for an outer circle of screwdriver holes 17 spaced circumferentially inside wall 16 and the remaining, more central area of plate 11 to be used for other tools. 
     A central handle 20 is rigidly attached to the upper surface of plate 11 by threads, welding, or the like as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. The shape of handle 20 is optional; a generally T-shaped handle being shown in the drawings. 
     Lower horizontal dish 12 is a shallow container of any chosen shape, i.e., circular, rectangular, polygonal, or the like. Dish 12 has an open top, a closed bottom 24 and an outer perimeter wall 26. The internal space may be left open and undivided or divided by radial compartment walls 27 into 4-8 compartments 25 that may be used to contain nails, screws, washers, rivets, staples, or the like as shown in FIG. 4. Dish 12 is positioned sufficiently below plate 11 so as not to interfere with tools hanging downward from plate 11, and yet close enough to plate 11 to leave as much space 35 as possible between bottom 24 of dish 12 and bottom 34 of bucket 14. Space 35 may be used to carry other tools that cannot be inserted into passageways in plate 11. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two views of the handle 20 and show lower flange 20&#39; which may be welded or otherwise attached to an upper boss 30&#39; (FIG. 1) for support of the entire tool holding device. As understood in the art, there are a wide variety of methods to mount handle 20 to upper plate 11. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a telescopic, two-section alternative embodiment of the vertical post 23 that connects upper plate 11 and lower dish 12. Post member 23&#39; is molded (or welded) to an upper plate 11&#39; (FIG. 7) and post member 23&#34; is molded (or welded) to lower dish 12&#39;. Insert fitting 38 fits inside boss 37 and is attached thereto by glue or whatever means are appropriate in the circumstances. Plate 11&#39; and dish 12&#39; are otherwise identical to respective plate 11 and dish 12 shown and described in FIGS. 1-4. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.