Patent Publication Number: US-7584973-B2

Title: Multilevel tool tree

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   None 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   The invention disclosed in this application was not the subject of federally sponsored research or development. 
   FIELD 
   This invention is related to the storage of tools or small items; more particularly, this invention pertains to a system by which a wide variety of tools or small items can be stored yet remain conveniently available for use when needed. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Since the time when human beings first developed tools, a convenient way to organize and store the tools needed to perform a specific task has been a necessity. Prior art methods of organizing and storing tools are numerous including bags, belts, pails, etc. Some tool users keep their tools in boxes. Early tool boxes were made of wood. While these wooden tool boxes enabled tools to be kept in a single location and protected, wooden tool boxes did not present a convenient way to organize tools so that the tool required at a particular time could be easily identified and located. Many tools were simply dumped into a box and the person needing a specific tool had to rummage through all of the tools in the box or selectively remove tools one by one until the right tool was found for the job at hand. 
   The development of sophisticated manufacturing techniques has enabled low cost tools of all shapes and sizes to be made available to users. However, with more tools available to users the problem of storing and organizing all of the tools in a user&#39;s possession is exacerbated. 
   To this day, many tool boxes simply include a removable tray sized to fit into the top of a tool box. By using the removable tray, smaller hand tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers can be separated from larger, less frequently used tools such as hammers and pipe wrenches. These larger tools are typically stored in the bottom of the tool box. For the sophisticated builder, car mechanic or repairman, a tool box with a simple tray insert is insufficient to organize all the different types of tools that might be necessary to complete a job. Moreover, a mechanic with a large collection of different tools will have a difficult time finding the right tool for the job in a tool box having only a top tray, thereby wasting valuable time and energy. 
   To organize and hold the many tools used by a mechanic, builder or repairman, chest-type metal tool boxes were developed. These prior art chest-type tool boxes can be from three feet to six feet in height. In each chest-type tool box are a number of different sized drawers into which even the heaviest tools can be placed for storage and protection. Some of these prior art tool boxes are made to be movable by the use of casters. However, large prior art chest-type tool boxes are too big to fit into tight spaces and cannot be rolled into spaces with a low overhead such as underneath a car or a truck. Moreover, the tools in chest-type tool boxes are stored inside the drawers, out of sight from the mechanic. Unless the mechanic has memorized the drawer location for each tool, the mechanic must open each drawer and then examine the contents of each drawer to find the right tool. This effort to find the right tool for a job requires the mechanic to leave a job in progress, walk over to the tool box and locate the right tool. 
   What is needed in the art is a tool organizing system which can be moved alongside a workman to the job site that will provide easy access to a large selection of tools. In addition, the tool organizing system should be able to fit in tight spaces as well as spaces with a low overhead and still present needed tools to the mechanic so that the mechanic does not have to dig through an unorganized pile of tools to find the right tool for the task at hand. 
   SUMMARY 
   The disclosed tool organizing system of the present invention provides a mechanism for the convenient storage of tools and presentation of the tools to a mechanic, a builder or a repairman at the job site. Further, the disclosed tool organizing system can be used in tight spaces or in spaces with a low overhead. 
   The disclosed invention is a “tool tree” or tool lift which includes one or more shelf assemblies onto which individual tools or small items such as replacement parts or fasteners can be placed. Each tool on the tool lift is in open view and readily obtainable. The shelf assemblies are rotatably mounted so that tools on the far side of the shelf assembly from the mechanic can be easily accessed by rotating the shelf assembly in either direction to where the needed tool or small item is within easy reach of the user. Individual shelf assemblies can be removed leaving only those shelf assemblies holding the tools or small items which are needed. Accordingly, the tool lift of the present invention will fit under a car, thus making it possible for a mechanic to have access to all the tools or small items needed to do the work needed without having to crawl out from under the car and retrieve a needed tool from a tool box. Further, the shelf assemblies can be raised to the desired height for work or lowered to a compact shape for storage by use of a centrally mounted substantially vertical cylinder assembly which can be extended pneumatically, hydraulically, electrically or mechanically. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     A better understanding of the multilevel tool lift system of the present invention may be had by review of the drawing figures wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view from the front of the multilevel tool lift in an extended configuration; 
       FIG. 2  is a elevational view of the multilevel tool lift in a collapsed configuration with a cover; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the multilevel lift; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the base assembly; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a shelf assembly; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a pneumatic connection assembly. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   The multilevel tool lift  10  disclosed in the instant application and as shown in  FIG. 1  is a system for the storage of tools. The multilevel tool lift  10  consists of a base assembly  20  which both supports the tool lift  10  and provides a mounting for the wheels  22  by which the multilevel tool lift  10  may be moved from one location to another. The base assembly  20  also may house either an air tank, a tank of hydraulic fluid, an electric motor or a hand-operated mechanical gear drive assembly  60  or the like to extend a substantially vertical cylinder assembly  60 . 
   The substantially vertical cylinder assembly  60  may be a pneumatic substantially vertical cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electrically-extended substantially vertical cylinder or mechanically-extended substantially vertical cylinder. The purpose of the cylinder assembly  60  is to raise the multilevel tool lift  10  to its full height. Surrounding the substantially vertical telescoping cylinder assembly  60  and attached thereto are a plurality of shelf assemblies  30 ,  40 , and  50 . In the preferred embodiment, the shelf assemblies  30 ,  40  and  50  diminish in radius in inverse relationship with the height of the multilevel tool lift  10  with the largest shelf located at the base assembly  20  of the multilevel tool lift  10 . If desired the horizontal surfaces on each shelf assembly may be magnetized or covered with a magnetic material to keep metal tools or small items in place. Alternatively, the horizontal surface may also be covered with a replaceable tacky surface to keep non-metal tools or small items in place. 
   The substantially vertical telescoping cylinder assembly  60  may be extended using either air or hydraulic fluid pressurized by an electrical or foot-operated pump. The substantially vertical telescoping cylinder  60  may also be extended using an electric motor using available electrical power or by a rechargeable battery. Alternatively, the telescoping cylinder may be extended by the use of a hand crank or a foot pedal. 
   In addition to storage and organizing tools at home, at a repair shop or on an assembly line, the multilevel tool lift  10  can also be used to store replacement parts and/or fasteners and make them convenient for use by a construction or assembly technician. A smaller version of the multilevel tool lift  10  may be used as a desktop organizer for office supplies or as an organizer in the kitchen for cooking utensils. The multilevel tool lift  10  could also be used in a hospital or other medical setting. In an operating room many different types of tools, instruments and supplies could be stored on the tool lift  10  making these tools, instruments and supplies readily available and convenient for access by all of the healthcare providers during either a surgical or some other type of medical procedure. In an emergency room, bandages, drugs and instruments stored on the multilevel tool lift  10  would be at the fingertips of the doctors, nurses or technicians caring for a patient. The medical equipment could be kept clean and secure by use of the cover which is attachable to the tool lift  10 . Pilfering of supplies or controlled substances stored on the tool lift  10  could be prevented by locking the cover to the base assembly  20  of the multilevel tool lift  10 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the multilevel tool lift  10  of the present invention could be made in many sizes and that there are many uses for the disclosed multilevel tool lift  10 . 
   The basic structure and organization of the tool lift  10  disclosed in the instant application is shown in  FIG. 1 . Attached to the base assembly  20  are three or more caster wheel assemblies  22  which facilitate movement of the tool lift  10 . Not shown but well known to those of ordinary skill in the art is either an air tank, hydraulic fluid tank, electric motor or crank assembly which is housed in the base assembly  20  and would be used to raise the substantially vertical tube assembly  60  to selected heights. 
   Attached to the substantially vertical tube assembly  60  is a lower shelf assembly  30 , a middle shelf assembly  40  and an upper shelf assembly  50 . In the preferred embodiment each shelf assembly  30 ,  40 , and  50  is formed as a disk. For stability, particularly when heavy objects are stored, the size of each disk becomes progressively smaller in diameter as the shelf assemblies  30 ,  40 , and  50  are positioned away from the base assembly  20 . While disks are shown in the preferred embodiment other shapes for the shelf assemblies such as triangles, squares, rectangles, pentagons, hexagons or octagons may be used.  FIG. 1  shows the tool tree  10  in its extended mode; but, as will be explained below the tool lift  10  may be collapsed by the shortening of the substantially vertical tube assembly  60 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the multilevel tool lift  10  in its compressed mode. As previously explained, the substantially vertical tube assembly  60  may be extended using a variety of different methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The substantially vertical tube assembly  60  to which the shelf assemblies  30 ,  40 ,  50  are all attached can be easily lowered by gravity so that the cover assembly  70  can be placed over the tools in the multilevel tool lift  10 . The cover assembly  70  can be secured to the base assembly  20  of the tool lift  10  by a lock  72  which fits through a slot  71  on the cover  70  and attaches the cover  70  to the base assembly  20 . This provides security for the tools stored on the tool lift  10  and prevents dust and debris from collecting on the tools when not in use. 
   An exploded view of the tool lift  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Therein it may be seen that shelf assemblies  30 ,  40 , and  50  rest on different sections  62 ,  64 , and  66  of the substantially vertical cylinder assembly  60  respectively. 
     FIG. 4  shows the component parts of the base assembly  20 . Wheels  22  are attached to the base bottom  23  with threaded fasteners through a lower base cross member assembly  24 . Attached to the lower cross member assembly  24  are four base vertical supports  25 . Threaded fasteners  21  are used to attach four vertical supports  25  to the upper base cross member assembly  26 . A support collar  221  and a support plate  27  are attached to the center of the upper base cross member assembly  26 . A substantially circular wall  28  is attached to the lower cross member assembly  26 . A load bearing turntable  29  rests atop support plate  27 . A disk shaped shelf  222  rests on the turntable  29 . A connection assembly  224  for connection to a source of pressurized air, for example, is attached to the substantially circular wall  28  wrap  28 . While pressurized air is used in the preferred embodiment because of its availability in most shops, connection assembly  224  could be replaced with connections for hydraulic fluid, electrical connections, or a socket for a hand crank or foot pedal. 
   The design and construction of shelf assemblies  30 ,  40 , and  50  is shown in  FIG. 5 . A load bearing turntable  72  is first attached to a shelf centering plate  74  and then to the substantially disk-shaped shelf  76  with threaded fasteners. Bearing centering ring  78  is attached to a bottom plate  80  by threaded fasteners. The bottom plate  80  is connected to a tubular support piece  82 . A threaded fastener with a handle knob  84  is attached to the tubular support  82  to prevent unwanted rotation of the shelf assembly about the telescoping cylindrical assembly  60 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 3 , the bottom end  61  of the substantially vertical tube assembly  60  is attached to the base assembly  20 . The top end  63  of the substantially vertical tube assembly  60  is attached in the preferred embodiment to the top shelf assembly  50 . The middle shelf assembly  40  is attached to the middle section  64  of the substantially vertical tube assembly  60  underneath the top shelf assembly  50 . The lower shelf assembly  30  is attached to the lower section  62  of the substantially vertical tube assembly  60  underneath the middle shelf assembly  40 . In the preferred embodiment of the multilevel tool lift  10 , the substantially vertical tube assembly  60  has three sections on which three shelf assemblies are attached. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that substantially vertical tube assemblies  60  with fewer than three extensions or more than three extensions are also possible. Each shelf assembly is made to be independently rotatable around the substantially vertical cylinder assembly  60 . The substantially vertical tube assembly  60  is extended or contracted as needed. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention, the substantially vertical tube assembly  60  is raised pneumatically using a pneumatic connection assembly  90  shown in  FIG. 6 . The substantially vertical tube assembly  60  is connected to a pneumatic hose (not shown). At the other end of the pneumatic hose is the assembly of control valves  90  which connected to the base assembly  20  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The pneumatic hose is connected to the control assembly by a T fitting  91 . The T fitting  91  is connected to a threaded coupling  92  which extends through the substantially circular wall surrounding the base assembly  20 . Attached to the threaded coupling  92  on the outside of the wall  28  is a safety valve  93 . 
   The T fitting  91  is also connected to an elbow connector  94 . The elbow connector  94  is connected to another threaded coupling  95  which extends through the wall  28 . Attached to threaded mount coupling  95  on the outside of the wall is a male coupling  96  to permit attachment to a source of air. 
   The multilevel tool lift of the present invention is provided to a user without tools. It is thereby up to the user to arrange the tools or small items on the tool lift according to his/her personal preference. Some users may want smaller tools near the top and larger tools or items near the bottom. Others may arrange tools or items so that tools or items needed at a higher level are on the top and tools or items needed at a lower level are on the bottom. As previously indicated, the tools or items may be held on the shelf assemblies using magnetic force or a tacky surface. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the surfaces of the shelf assemblies may be divided into sections and include colored surfaces to distinguish certain sizes of tools one from another; e.g. English and metric. 
   Others of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the shelf assemblies may be automatically rotated around the substantially vertical tube assembly using a remote control similar to that used with a television set. Still others of ordinary skill will understand that lights may be placed on the shelf assemblies to enable the user to better identify needed tools in dark spaces. In yet another embodiment a cover for the shelf assembly may include special pockets sized to hold certain tools or item so that the absence of a tool or item can be quickly noticed. 
   Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there exist other embodiments of the invention which is the subject of this application which are not specifically disclosed in the specification. Those other embodiments to be included within by the scope and meaning of the appended claims.