Patent Publication Number: US-11389944-B1

Title: Tool rack structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a rack or holder and, more particularly, to a tool rack structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional tool rack structure was disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,181, and comprises a molded tray  12  in combination with a first pole piece, armature, or keeper  14 , a bar magnet  16 , a second pole piece, armature, or keeper  18  and a second bar magnet  20 . The tray  12  includes a series of parallel troughs  22  which are separated by ridges  24  and extend transversely from a molded, hollow center rib  26 . Each trough  22  is sized to receive magnetizable sockets having a range of dimension and shape. 
     However, the conventional tool rack structure has the following disadvantages. 
     1. The troughs  22  are only used to receive the sockets so that the troughs  22 , and the tray  12  does not have an angle adjusting function, thereby limiting the versatility of the conventional tool rack structure. 
     2. the troughs  22  cannot position the sockets exactly when the sockets are received in the troughs  22 , so that the sockets are easily detached from the troughs  22  inadvertently, thereby causing inconvenience to the operator. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tool rack structure comprising a first body, and a second body pivotally connected with the first body and rotatable relative to the first body. The first body has an end provided with at least one first pivot portion. The at least one first pivot portion is provided with two first locking portions, a second locking portion, and a third locking portion. The second body is provided with at least one third pivot portion pivotally connected with the at least one first pivot portion. The at least one third pivot portion is provided with two fourth locking portions locked onto the two first locking portions, and a fifth locking portion locked onto the third locking portion. 
     According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the two first locking portions, the second locking portion, and the third locking portion are locked with the two fourth locking portions and the fifth locking portion respectively, so that the second body is positioned at predetermined angles relative to the first body, and the at least one third pivot portion is not detached from the at least one first pivot portion easily. 
     According to the secondary advantage of the present invention, the two first locking portions and the third locking portion have different structures, while the two fourth locking portions and the fifth locking portion have different structures. In such a manner, the two fourth locking portions and the two first locking portions are used to control the positioning angles between the second body and the first body, while the fifth locking portion and the third locking portion are used to avoid the at least one third pivot portion from being detached from the at least one first pivot portion. Thus, the two fourth locking portions cooperate with the two first locking portions, while the fifth locking portion cooperates with the third locking portion to provide different functions. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the tool rack structure taken along a mark A as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the tool rack structure taken along a mark B as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of a first body of the tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the first body of the tool rack structure taken along line C-C as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the first body of the tool rack structure taken along line D-D as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the tool rack structure taken along a mark E as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the tool rack structure taken along a mark F as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a rear view showing a first operation mode of the tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the first body of the tool rack structure taken along line C-C as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the first body of the tool rack structure taken along line D-D as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view showing a second operation mode of the tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the second operation mode of the tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view showing a third operation mode of the tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing a fourth operation mode of the tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged view of the tool rack structure taken along a mark F as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view showing a fifth operation mode of the tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view of a tool rack structure in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective assembly view of the tool rack structure as shown in  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-12 , a tool rack structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a first body  10 , a second body  20 , and at least one third body  30 . 
     The first body  10  has a cuboid shape and has an end provided with at least one first pivot portion  11 . The at least one first pivot portion  11  has a cylindrical shape and slightly protrudes from the first body  10 . The at least one first pivot portion  11  is provided with two first locking portions  111  ( FIG. 5 ) extending in a lengthwise direction of the at least one first pivot portion  11 . Each of the two first locking portions  111  is a concave groove. The at least one first pivot portion  11  is provided with a second locking portion  112  ( FIG. 5 ) extending in the lengthwise direction of the at least one first pivot portion  11 . The second locking portion  112  is an elongate channel. The at least one first pivot portion  11  is provided with a third locking portion  113  ( FIG. 6 ). The third locking portion  113  is arranged beside one of the two first locking portions  111 . Preferably, the third locking portion  113  is a triangular groove in cross section. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first body  10  has two first pivot portions  11  spaced from each other and arranged symmetrically relative to the first body  10 . Thus, one of the two first pivot portions  11  has the two first locking portions  111  and the third locking portion  113 , while the other one of the two first pivot portions  11  only has the two first locking portions  111  without the third locking portion  113 . 
     The at least one first pivot portion  11  has a first axis  114  ( FIG. 5 ). The two first locking portions  111  define a first angle  115  relative to the first axis  114 . Preferably, the first angle  115  is at least 90° or 100°, or approximates 110°. The second locking portion  112  defines a second angle  116  relative to the first axis  114 . Preferably, the second angle  116  is at least 90° or 110°, or approximates 126°. 
     The first body  10  is provided with a plurality of second pivot portions  12  ( FIG. 4 ). Each of the second pivot portions  12  is a column or a cylinder. Preferably, The first body  10  is provided with four second pivot portions  12 , wherein two of the four second pivot portions  12  are formed on an upper end of the first body  10  and arranged between the two first pivot portions  11 , and the other two of the four second pivot portions  12  are formed on a lower end of the first body  10 . 
     The first body  10  is provided with a plurality of first snap-fit portions  13  arranged at two sides of the first body  10 . Each of the first snap-fit portions  13  is an elongate slot. Preferably, the first body  10  has four first snap-fit portions  13 . The first body  10  is provided with a plurality of mounting portions  14 . Each of the mounting portions  14  has a column shape and is used for mounting a tool element (such as a socket or a connector) with a square recess. The mounting portions  14  are arranged in a linear matrix. Preferably, the first body  10  has eleven mounting portions  14 . 
     The second body  20  is pivotally connected with the first body  10  and is rotatable relative to the first body  10 . The second body  20  is positioned at three relative angles when the second body  20  is rotated relative to the first body  10 . The second body  20  is provided with at least one third pivot portion  21  pivotally connected with the at least one first pivot portion  11 . The at least one third pivot portion  21  has a number equal to that of the at least one first pivot portion  11 . The at least one third pivot portion  21  is provided with two fourth locking portions  211  ( FIG. 2 ) corresponding to the two first locking portions  111 . The two fourth locking portions  211  extend in a lengthwise direction of the at least one third pivot portion  21  and have a shape corresponding to that of the two first locking portions  111 . Each of the two fourth locking portions  211  is a convex projection. The two fourth locking portions  211  are arranged at two ends of the at least one third pivot portion  21 . The at least one third pivot portion  21  is provided with a fifth locking portion  212  corresponding to the third locking portion  113 . The fifth locking portion  212  is arranged beside one of the two fourth locking portions  211  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The fifth locking portion  212  has a shape and a length corresponding to that of the third locking portion  113 . Preferably, the fifth locking portion  212  is a triangular projection in cross section. The at least one third pivot portion  21  is provided with a slit  213  arranged between the two fourth locking portions  211  and the fifth locking portion  212 . The second body  20  is provided with a hanging hole  22  having an elongate shape. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second body  20  has two third pivot portions  21  spaced from each other and arranged symmetrically relative to the second body  20 . Thus, one of the two third pivot portions  21  has the two fourth locking portions  211  and the fifth locking portion  212 , while the other one of the two third pivot portions  21  only has the two fourth locking portions  211  without the third locking portion  113 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two first locking portions  111  and the third locking portion  113  have different structures, while the two fourth locking portions  211  and the fifth locking portion  212  have different structures. Thus, the two fourth locking portions  211  and the two first locking portions  111  are used to control the positioning angles between the second body  20  and the first body  10 , while the fifth locking portion  212  and the third locking portion  113  are used to avoid the at least one third pivot portion  21  from being detached from the at least one first pivot portion  11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10-12  with reference to  FIGS. 1-9 , the second locking portion  112  is hidden in each of the two third pivot portions  21  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The two fourth locking portions  211  are locked onto the two first locking portions  111 . The fifth locking portion  212  is locked onto the third locking portion  113  as shown in  FIG. 12 . The two fourth locking portions  211  are limited by the two first locking portions  111 , so that the second body  20  is positioned relative to the first body  10  at three different angles. An angle of 180° is defined between the first body  10  and the second body  20  when the first body  10  is in line with the second body  20 . 
     Multiple tool elements are mounted on the first body  10  so that when the hanging hole  22  is hung on an article, the tool rack structure has a heavy weight. At this time, the fifth locking portion  212  is locked onto the third locking portion  113 , to prevent the at least one third pivot portion  21  from being released from the at least one first pivot portion  11 , and to prevent the second body  20  from being detached from the first body  10 . In addition, the direction of gravity of the first body  10  applied on the second body  20  is perpendicular to that of the fifth locking portion  212  locked with the third locking portion  113 , to prevent the second body  20  from being detached from the first body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14  with reference to  FIGS. 1-12 , when the second body  20  is rotated relative to the first body  10  through an angle, one of the two first locking portions  111  is hidden in the at least one third pivot portion  21 , the other one of the two first locking portions  111  is locked with one of the two fourth locking portions  211 , and the other one of the two fourth locking portions  211  is received in the second locking portion  112 , so that the second body  20  is positioned on the first body  10 . Thus, the first body  10  and the second body  20  are disposed at an inclined state to facilitate a user taking out the tool elements on the mounting portions  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15  with reference to  FIGS. 1-14 , when the second body  20  is further rotated relative to the first body  10  through an angle, the two first locking portions  111  is hidden in the at least one third pivot portion  21 , and the two fourth locking portions  211  are locked on two ends of the second locking portion  112 , so that the second body  20  is positioned on the first body  10 . Thus, the second body  20  is folded relative to the first body  10  to facilitate the user storing the tool rack structure. 
     Again referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , the at least one third body  30  is provided with a plurality of fourth pivot portions  31  pivotally connected with the second pivot portions  12 . The at least one third body  30  is provided with a plurality of second snap-fit portions  32  detachably fitted with the first snap-fit portions  13 . Each of the second snap-fit portions  32  is provided with a first retaining element  321  and two second retaining elements  323 . The first retaining element  321  is arranged between the two second retaining elements  323 . The first retaining element  321  is an elongate projection and has a distal end provided with a first locking tenon  322  having a triangular shape. Each of the two second retaining elements  323  is an elongate projection and has a distal end provided with a second locking tenon  324  having a semi-circular shape. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tool rack structure has two third bodies  30 . Each of the two third bodies  30  is a U-shaped bracket and has two fourth pivot portions  31  and two second snap-fit portions  32 . 
     When each of the second snap-fit portions  32  is fitted onto each of the first snap-fit portions  13 , the first retaining element  321  and the two second retaining elements  323  extend through each of the first snap-fit portions  13 , and the first locking tenon  322  and the second locking tenon  324  protrude from and are locked onto each of the first snap-fit portions  13  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The first body  10  is retained by the first locking tenon  322  so that the first retaining element  321  is secured to the first body  10 , and the at least one third body  30  is secured to and will not be detached from the first body  10 . After the first locking tenon  322  is cut, each of the two second retaining elements  323  is easily detached from each of the first snap-fit portions  13  by provision of the second locking tenon  324 , so that each of the second snap-fit portions  32  is detached from each of the first snap-fit portions  13 , and the at least one third body  30  is rotatable relative to the first body  10 . 
     In assembly, referring to  FIGS. 7-12  with reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the at least one third pivot portion  21  is pivotally connected with the at least one first pivot portion  11 , so that the second body  20  is pivotally connected with the first body  10 . The fourth pivot portions  31  are pivotally connected with the second pivot portions  12 , the second snap-fit portions  32  are assembled with the first snap-fit portions  13 , the first retaining element  321  and the two second retaining elements  323  extend through each of the first snap-fit portions  13 , and the first locking tenon  322  and the second locking tenon  324  protrude from and are locked onto each of the first snap-fit portions  13 , so that the at least one third body  30  is secured to and will not be detached from the first body  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10-12 , the first body  10  is in line with the second body  20 , with an angle of 180° being defined between the first body  10  and the second body  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , one of the two first locking portions  111  is locked with one of the two fourth locking portions  211 , so that the second body  20  is positioned at a determined angle. Thus, the first body  10  is disposed at an inclined state to facilitate a user taking out the tool elements on the mounting portions  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the two fourth locking portions  211  are locked on two ends of the second locking portion  112 , so that the second body  20  is positioned on the first body  10  and is folded relative to the first body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 16-18 , after the first locking tenon  322  is cut, the second locking tenon  324  is released from each of the first snap-fit portions  13  easily, so that the two second retaining elements  323  are detached from each of the first snap-fit portions  13  easily. Thus, each of the second snap-fit portions  32  is detached from each of the first snap-fit portions  13 , and the at least one third body  30  is unlocked from the first body  10  and is rotatable relative to the first body  10  as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the first body  10  has a first pivot portion  11 , two second pivot portions  12 , and a first snap-fit portion  13 . The two second pivot portions  12  are formed on a lower end of the first body  10 . The first snap-fit portion  13  is close to the first pivot portion  11 . The second body  20  has a third pivot portion  21 . The tool rack structure has a third body  30 . The third body  30  has two fourth pivot portions  31  and a second snap-fit portion  32 . The two fourth pivot portions  31  are formed on a lower end of the third body  30 . The second snap-fit portion  32  is formed on an upper end of the third body  30 . The second snap-fit portion  32  is detachably fitted with the first snap-fit portion  13 . 
     Accordingly, the tool rack structure has the following advantages. 
     1. The two first locking portions  111 , the second locking portion  112 , and the third locking portion  113  are locked with the two fourth locking portions  211  and the fifth locking portion  212  respectively, so that the second body  20  is positioned at predetermined angles relative to the first body  10 , and the at least one third pivot portion  21  is not detached from the at least one first pivot portion  11  easily. 
     2. The second body  20  is rotated relative to the first body  10  through three different angles. 
     3. The two first locking portions  111  and the third locking portion  113  have different structures, while the two fourth locking portions  211  and the fifth locking portion  212  have different structures. In such a manner, the two fourth locking portions  211  and the two first locking portions  111  are used to control the positioning angles between the second body  20  and the first body  10 , while the fifth locking portion  212  and the third locking portion  113  are used to avoid the at least one third pivot portion  21  from being detached from the at least one first pivot portion  11 . Thus, the two fourth locking portions  211  cooperate with the two first locking portions  111 , while the fifth locking portion  212  cooperates with the third locking portion  113  to provide different functions. 
     4. The two fourth locking portions  211  cooperate with the two first locking portions  111  to position the second body  20  on the first body  10 , and to prevent the second body  20  from being detached from the first body  10 . 
     5. As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , when the second body  20  is rotated relative to the first body  10  through an angle, one of the two first locking portions  111  is hidden in the at least one third pivot portion  21 , the other one of the two first locking portions  111  is locked with one of the two fourth locking portions  211 , and the other one of the two fourth locking portions  211  is received in the second locking portion  112 , so that the second body  20  is positioned on the first body  10  with an angle defined therebetween. Thus, the first body  10  and the second body  20  are disposed at an inclined state to facilitate the user taking out the tool elements on the mounting portions  14 . 
     6. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the two fourth locking portions  211  are locked on two ends of the second locking portion  112 , so that the second body  20  is positioned on the first body  10  by locking of the second locking portion  112  and is folded relative to the first body  10  to facilitate the user storing the tool rack structure. 
     7. As shown in  FIGS. 16-18 , after the first locking tenon  322  is cut, each of the second snap-fit portions  32  is detached from each of the first snap-fit portions  13 , and the at least one third body  30  is unlocked and removed from the first body  10  so that the user can use the tool elements on the mounting portions  14 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the invention.