Patent Publication Number: US-2009218463-A1

Title: Magnetic Tool Restraint

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/030,955, filed Feb. 23, 2008, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to the field of multi-purpose, versatile magnetic tool holders. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In both industrial and consumer settings there has been a growing need for a tool holder that can restrain a wide variety of tools through relying on magnetism. While present day tool holders sometimes use magnetism to supplement a separate restraint, very few are able to rely on magnetic forces alone. Those tool holders that supplement their restraints with magnetism often implement such limited forces that any resulting magnetic restraint remains incidental to the tool holder&#39;s functionality. On the other hand, those tool holders that rely purely on magnetism to perform their functions often include so much magnetism, mainly using electromagnets, that the functionality precludes tools with electronic components. Furthermore, modern tools holders that rely on magnetic restraint remain subject to a tool&#39;s ferrous properties. 
     Often, wrench racks provide predefined receptacles often having magnets to supplement restraining capability. While the wrench rack&#39;s magnetism is not essential to the restraint it may supplement the rack in keeping a tool in place. When such racks include magnets, such incorporation is usually inconsequential to overall functionality. Furthermore, when magnets are incorporated in such wrench racks and the like, the magnets are usually non-movable and bound to a receptacle. Tool restraints that rely purely on magnetic forces are generally usable only for certain types of tools, due to the use of electromagnets, which although powerful, can cause significant damage to electric motors incorporated in such tools. Thus, while an end user may rely on electromagnetism to hold a standard screwdriver, that user may think twice before holding an electric screwdriver by that same electromagnetic force. 
     As a consequence of the foregoing, a longstanding need exists for an apparatus and method allowing for the quick, simple, and effective magnetic storage and retrieval of tools whether or not a tool has magnetic properties. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and method are provided to allow for the more efficient magnetic storage and retrieval of tools. The present invention provides a magnetic tool holder that includes a tool holder&#39;s magnetic restraint and/or a restraint independent of an individual tool&#39;s ferrous properties. One embodiment of the present invention can rely on a tool&#39;s ferrous properties to provide restraint, another embodiment provides a restraint for almost any tool by relying on the magnetic attraction of the ball bearings alone or in combination with a surrounding channel. 
     One embodiment of the present invention is a base with one or more first recesses and one or more first magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more first recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools. The base may include one or more non-magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more first recesses. Alternatively the base may have one or more planar faces each having one or more first recesses. 
     Still another embodiment of the present invention may include a base with one or more first recesses, wherein the base may have one or more apertures spaced about the one or more first recesses. Alternatively, the present invention may include a base, in which at least a portion of the base is magnetic or non-magnetic or metallic or non-metallic or elastomeric or non-elastomeric or malleable or non-malleable or ferrous or non-ferrous. Also another embodiment may have a base wherein, at least a portion of the one or first magnetic ball bearings are metallic or non-metallic or elastomeric or non-elastomeric or malleable or non-malleable or ferrous or non-ferrous. Furthermore, at least a portion of the base may be plastic or rubber. 
     The present invention may include a base with one or more first recesses and one or more first magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more first recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools, wherein the one or more first magnetic ball bearings have differing diameters. Alternately, the one or more non-magnetic ball bearings of differing diameters may be disposed within one or more first recesses. Also the present invention may include a base, wherein the one or more first magnetic ball bearings have at least one inner core encased by a shell of an opposite polarity. Furthermore, the present invention may have one or more first magnetic ball bearings having two halves of opposite polarities. 
     Also the base may have one or more channels, with each channel having one or more second recesses, and one or more second magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more second recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools. Additionally the one or more non-magnetic ball bearings may be included. The base with one or more channels, with each channel having one or more second recesses, and one or more second magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more second recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools, may also have the one or more channels outwardly extend from a surface of the base. The present invention may by designed such that at least a portion of the base is magnetic or non-magnetic or metallic or non-metallic or elastomeric or non-elastomeric or malleable or non-malleable or ferrous or non-ferrous. Still the present invention may have one or more second magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more second recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools, wherein at least a portion of the one or second magnetic ball bearings is metallic or non-metallic or elastomeric or non-elastomeric or malleable or non-malleable or ferrous or non-ferrous. 
     Yet, another embodiment of the present invention may have the base with one or more channels, with each channel having one or more second recesses, and one or more second magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more second recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools, wherein, at least a portion of the base is plastic or rubber. Furthermore, the present invention may have a base with one or more channels, with each channel having one or more second recesses, and one or more second magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more second recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools, wherein one or more second magnetic ball bearings have differing diameters. The base with one or more channels, with each channel having one or more second recesses, and one or more second magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more second recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools may also include one or more non-magnetic ball bearings of differing diameters disposed within one or more second recesses. 
     Furthermore, another embodiment of the present invention may include a base with one or more channels, with each channel having one or more second recesses, and one or more second magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more second recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools, wherein the one or more second magnetic ball bearings have at least one inner core encased by a shell of an opposite polarity. Alternatively the one or more second magnetic ball bearings have two halves of opposite polarities. Another embodiment may include the base where the one or more channels are of different depths and/or one or more second recesses are of differing dimensions. The present invention may also have a base with one or more channels, with each channel having one or more second recesses, and one or more second magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more second recesses to magnetically restrain one or more tools, wherein each second recess extends substantially perpendicular to one or more channels. 
     The present invention may have a base with one or more first recesses and one or more first magnetic ball bearings disposed within the one or more first recesses and may be used by first lifting one or more tools within the magnetic field of one or more first magnetic ball bearings, then moving one or more tools such that the magnetic field of one or more first restraints increasingly attracts one or more tools, and finally disposing one or more tools whereby the magnetic attraction to one or more first magnetic ball bearings constrains one or more tools. When, the present invention has a base with one or more channels, where each channel has one or more second recesses, and where one or more second magnetic ball bearings are disposed within one or more second recesses and the present invention may be used by first lifting one or more tools within one or more channels of the base and then disposing one or more tools past one or more second magnetic ball bearings whereby the second magnetic ball bearings constrain further tool movement. 
     When, the base has one or more first recesses or when the base has one or more channels, where each channel has one or more second recesses, the base may be manufactured by injection molding, die casting, sintering, or machining. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures and in which: 
         FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  illustrate isometric, front, top, and side views of an embodiment of a magnetic tool restraint. 
         FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  further illustrates isometric, front, top, and side views of an embodiment of a magnetic tool restraint. 
         FIGS. 3   a - 3   c  depict multiple cut-out top and side views of embodiments of the base and one or more apertures spaced about one or more first recesses in which one or more first magnetic ball bearings are disposed. 
         FIGS. 4   a  to  4   f  depict multiple cut-out side views of the base having one or more first recesses in which one or more first magnetic ball bearings are disposed and one or more non-magnetic ball bearings are disposed along with one or more channels, each having one or more second recesses, in which one or more second magnetic ball bearings are disposed. 
         FIGS. 5   a - 5   g  depict multiple cut out side views of various embodiments having a base with one or more channels, where each channel has one or more second recesses, with each recess having one or more disposed second magnetic ball bearings. 
         FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  depicts two alternative embodiments of a first magnetic ball bearing or a second magnetic ball bearing may be situated. 
         FIGS. 7   a - 7   c  depict alternate isometric views of embodiments in which a base may be arranged. 
         FIG. 8  depicts yet another isometric view of an embodiment in which a magnetic tool restraint whose base, has a first recess disposing a first magnetic ball bearing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. 
     To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims. 
     The base, one more first magnetic ball bearings, one or more second magnetic ball bearings, non-magnetic balls bearings, and other parts of the present invention may be made from a wide variety of materials that are, e.g., metallic or non-metallic or magnetic or non-magnetic or elastomeric or non-elastomeric or malleable or non-malleable or the one or more second restraints are metallic or non-metallic or magnetic or non-magnetic or elastomeric or non-elastomeric or malleable or non-malleable. Also, the present invention may be made such that the base is metallic or non-metallic or magnetic or non-magnetic or elastomeric or non-elastomeric or malleable or non-malleable. Examples of materials include metals, plastics, polymers, wood, alloys, composites and the like. The metals may be made from one or more metals, such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, nickel, magnesium, or any other structural metal. Examples of plastics or polymers may include: nylon, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyester (PE), polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), or polycarbonate, for example, GE&#39;s Lexan® polycarbonate, and combinations thereof, among other plastics. The tool restraint taught herein may be molded, sintered, machined and/or combinations thereof to form the required pieces to assemble the tool restraint components. 
     The present invention may also include magnetic surfaces that help to restrain the tools. For example, a wide variety of permanent magnets may be used with the present invention such as rare earth magnets, ceramic magnets, alnico magnets, which may be rigid, semi-rigid and flexible magnets. Flexible magnets are made by impregnating a flexible material such as neoprene rubber, vinyl, nitrile, nylon or a plastic with a material such as iron flakes having magnetic characteristics and will find use with the present invention. Conversely, the tool may be rendered magnetic and the material embedded or placed into a base for attachment of the tool may be ferrous. 
     While the bearings depicted in the figures are shown as generally spherical, the skilled artisan will recognize that the magnetic or ferrous attachment point of the present invention may have any shape, for example, linear, triangular, cubic, rectangular, polyhedral, oval, round, polygonal, as long as a contact portion is available to magnetically attract and retain a tool. 
       FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  illustrate various embodiments of a magnetic tool restraint  10 , including a base  20  with one or more first recesses  30 , one or more first magnetic ball bearings  32 , as well as one or more non-magnetic ball bearings  50  disposed within the one or more first recesses  30 . Furthermore,  FIG. 2  depicts a magnetic tool restraint  10  is shown including a base  20  with one or more channels  44 , where each channel has one or more second recesses  40 , in which one or more second magnetic ball bearings  42  are disposed. In  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  show, respectively, isometric, front, top, and side views of an embodiment of a magnetic tool restraint  10  are shown. In these particular embodiments, the magnetic tool restraint  10  has a base  20 , one or more first magnetic ball bearings  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d ,  32   e ,  32   f , and one or more non-magnetic ball bearings  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d ,  50   e ,  50   f  disposed within one or more first recesses  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e ,  30   f.    
     The isometric view depicts two rows one or more first magnetic ball bearings  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d ,  32   e ,  32   f  substantially aligned with one row of one or more non-magnetic ball bearings  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d ,  50   e ,  50   f . This does not necessarily have to be the case in another embodiment. Any number of first magnetic ball bearings  32  may be placed anywhere about the base  20 . Furthermore any number of non-magnetic ball bearings  50  may be placed anywhere about the base  20 . Neither one or more first magnetic ball bearings  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d ,  32   e ,  32   f  nor do one or more non-magnetic ball bearings  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d ,  50   e ,  50   f  need to be placed in rows, or organized in any fashion. Accordingly, any non-magnetic ball bearing  50  could be placed next to, behind, in front of, in parallel with, adjacent to, and any number of first magnetic ball bearings  32 . 
     Furthermore, though this particular embodiment depicts a base  20  taking a generally rectangular shape, this need not be the case. The base  20  may have any variety of shapes and any number of planes. For example, the base may take a generally trapezoidal shape, a generally ovular shape, a generally pyramid-like shape. Also, any number of first magnetic ball bearings  32  and any number of non-magnetic ball bearings  50  may be placed about any location, face, or plane of the base  20 . 
     The top view of this particular embodiment depicts two rows one or more first magnetic ball bearings  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d ,  32   e ,  32   f  substantially aligned with one row of one or more non-magnetic ball bearings  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d ,  50   e ,  50   f . This does not necessarily have to be the case in another embodiment. Any first magnetic ball bearing  32  and any non-magnetic ball bearing may be located anywhere about the base  20 . 
     The side view in this particular embodiment depicts one or more first recesses  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e ,  30   f  in which first magnetic ball bearings  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d ,  32   e ,  32   f  are disposed. Though this particular view only depicts first magnetic ball bearings  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d ,  32   e ,  32   f , another embodiment may have non-magnetic ball bearings  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   c ,  50   d ,  50   e ,  50   f  disposed within any one or more first recesses  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e ,  30   f  in any combination. For example non-magnetic ball bearings  50   a ,  50   b ,  50   f  and first magnetic ball bearings  32   c ,  32   d ,  32   e  may be disposed accordingly in one or more first recesses  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e ,  30   f.    
     The front view of this particular embodiment is included to show that any non-magnetic ball bearing  50  or any first magnetic ball bearing  32  may be disposed in one or more first recesses  30 . Though the base  20  of this particular embodiment does not include any apertures  34 , this may be the case in other embodiments. 
       FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  illustrate, respectively, isometric, front, top, and side views of an embodiment of a magnetic tool restraint  10 . In this particular embodiment, the magnetic tool restraint  10  with a base  20 , having one or more channels  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c ,  44   d ,  44   e ,  44   f , with each channel having one or more second recesses  40   a   1 ,  40   a   2 ,  40   b   1 , 40   b   2 ,  40   c   1 ,  40   c   2 ,  40   d   1 , 40   d   2 ,  40   e   1 ,  40   e   2 ,  40   f   1 ,  40   f   2 . For illustrative purposes, the one or more second magnetic ball bearings  42   a   1 ,  42   a   2 ,  42   b   1 ,  42   b   2 ,  42   c   1 ,  42   c   2 ,  42   d   1 ,  42   d   2 ,  42   e   1 ,  42   e   2 ,  42   f   1 ,  42   f   2  disposed within one or more second recesses  40   a   1 ,  40   a   2 ,  40   b   1 , 40   b   2 ,  40   c   1 , 40   c   2 ,  40   d   1 , 40   d   2 ,  40   e   1 , 40   e   2 ,  40   f   1 ,  40   f   2  have been left out of this particular depiction. In other embodiments one or more second magnetic ball bearings  42  are disposed within one or more second recesses. 
     The isometric view of this particular embodiment depicts one or more channels  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c ,  44   d ,  44   e ,  44   f  accompanied by their respective one or more second recesses  40   a   1 ,  40   a   2 ,  40   b   1 , 40   b   2 ,  40   c   1 , 40   c   2 ,  40   d   1 , 40   d   2 ,  40   e   1 , 40   e   2 ,  40   f   1 ,  40   f   2 . Though this embodiment only depicts one or more channels  44  each with one or more second recesses  40  extending about a shorter plane of the base  20 , this does not have to necessarily be so in other embodiments. Though the base  20  may have any shape and any number of planes, one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  could extend about any plane of the base. Furthermore any one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  could extend about the longitudinal axis of the base  20 . If one were to classify the one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  could extending about the top plane in this particular embodiment, in another embodiment, one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  could extend about the top plane, and another set of one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  could extend about the bottom plane, or a side plane, or just the bottom plane or just the side plane. 
     The top view of this particular embodiment depicts a base  20 , having one or more channels  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c ,  44   d ,  44   e ,  44   f , with each channel having one or more second recesses  40   a   1 ,  40   a   2 ,  40   b   1 , 40   b   2 ,  40   c   1 , 40   c   2 ,  40   d   1 , 40   d   2 ,  40   e   1 , 40   e   2 ,  40   f   1 ,  40   f   2 . The one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  do not have to be arranged about the base  20  in other embodiments, while other sets of one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  may be included in other embodiments. 
     The side view of this particular embodiment depicts a base  20 , having one or more channels  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c ,  44   d ,  44   e ,  44   f , with each channel having one or more second recesses  40   a   1 ,  40   a   2 ,  40   b   1 , 40   b   2 ,  40   c   1 , 40   c   2 ,  40   d   1 , 40   d   2 ,  40   e   1 , 40   e   2 ,  40   f   1 ,  40   f   2 . The one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  do not have to be arranged about the base  20  in other embodiments, while other sets of one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  may be included in other embodiments. 
     The front view of this particular embodiment depicts a base  20 , having one or more channels  44  having one or more second recesses  40 . The one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  do not have to be arranged about the base  20  in other embodiments, while other sets of one or more channels  44  with one or more second recesses  40  may be included in other embodiments. 
       FIGS. 3   a - 3   c  depict multiple cut-out top and side views of embodiments of the base  20 , and one or more apertures  34  spaced about one or more first recesses  30  in which one or more first magnetic ball bearings  32  are disposed. This particular depiction is included for the purpose of showing that one or more apertures  34  may take different forms and be arranged in varying manners. However, the one or more apertures  34  about one or more first recesses  30  may extend in any manner. The one or more apertures  34  may extend throughout the entire base  20  or only through part of the base  20 . 
     One or more apertures  34  may be of a generally circular shape, as depicted in the left most view in  FIG. 3 . Additionally the one or more apertures  34  may be of a generally rectangular or square shape as depicted in  FIG. 3   b . Alternatively, the one or more apertures  34  may be of a generally curved shape as depicted in the right most view in  FIG. 3 . The one or more apertures  34  may be of any shape or size. Furthermore, any of the one or more apertures  34  having any shape may be combined on the base with any other of the one or more apertures  34 . One or more apertures  34  does not have to be the same size as any other of the one or more apertures  34 . The one or more apertures  34  may extend parallel to the curvature of one or more first recesses  30 . 
       FIGS. 4   a - f  depict multiple cut-out side views of the base  20  having one or more first recesses  30  in which one or more first magnetic ball bearings  32  are disposed and one or more non-magnetic ball bearings  50  are disposed along with one or more channels  44 , each having one or more second recesses  40 , in which one or more second magnetic ball bearings  42  are disposed. Accordingly the one or more first recesses  30 , the one or more channels  44 , and the one or more second recesses  40  may take any shape including that of a rectangle or circle. The base  20  may contain any combination of one or more first recesses  30  and one or more channels  44  in which one or more second recesses  40  are disposed. 
     Each of the one or more channels  44  may have one or more second recesses  40 . Some second recesses  40  may have just one second magnetic ball bearing  42  disposed between one or more second recesses  40 , as depicted in  FIG. 4   b , while other second recesses may have more than one second magnetic ball bearings  42  disposed among them. Additionally, one or more channels  44  may have just one second recess  40  in which one or more second magnetic ball bearings  42  are disposed is depicted in  FIG. 4   c  or additional second recesses  40  having one or more second magnetic ball bearings  42  may be included. Furthermore, one or more first recesses  30   a ,  30   c  may have one or more first magnetic ball bearings  32  or one or more non-magnetic ball bearings  50  disposed within them while other one or more first recesses  30   b  may have neither a first magnetic ball bearing  32  nor a non-magnetic ball bearing  50  disposed within it as depicted in  FIG. 4   d . Also, any combination of first magnetic ball bearings  32   a ,  32   c  and one or more non-magnetic ball bearings  50   b  may be disposed within one or more first recesses  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  as depicted in  FIG. 4   e . Similarly, any combination of one or more non-magnetic ball bearings  50   a ,  50   c  and one or more first magnetic ball bearings  32   b ,  32   d  may be disposed within one or more first recesses  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d  as depicted in  FIG. 4   f.    
       FIGS. 5   a - 5   g  depict multiple cut out side views of various embodiments having a base  20  with one or more channels  44 , where each channel has one or more second recesses  40 , with each recess having one or more disposed second magnetic ball bearings  42 . Accordingly any of the one or more second recesses  40  may extend from each channel  44  in any direction. One second recess  40   a  may extend substantially perpendicular to a channel  44 , while another second recess  40   b  may extend substantially perpendicular to a channel  44 . Furthermore one second recess  40   a  may extend to form an angle between 0 and 90 degrees with a channel  44  while another second recess  40   b  may extend to form an opposite angle between 0 and 90 degrees with a channel  44  as depicted in  FIG. 5   a . Alternatively, one first channel having a second recess  40   a  may extend to form an angle between 0 and 90 degrees with a channel  44  while another second recess  40   b  may extend to form an opposite angle between 0 and 90 degrees with a channel  44  such that each second recess  40   a ,  40   b  mirrors one another as depicted in  FIG. 5   b  and  FIG. 5   c . Any second recess  40  may mirror another second recess  40  over the channel  44 . 
     Also each channel  44  may have sets of one or more second recesses  40   a ,  40   b  and  40   c ,  40   d  as depicted in  FIG. 5   d . Alternatively some channels  44  may have a second recess  40   a  with a set of second recesses  40   c ,  40   d  as depicted in  FIG. 5   e  while other channels  44  may have another set of second recesses  40   a ,  40   b  while another part of the channel has a single second recess  40   c  as depicted in  FIG. 5   f . Furthermore one or more sets of second recesses  40   a ,  40   b  and  40   c ,  40   d  may be larger or smaller than another set of second recesses  40   e ,  40   f.    
       FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  depict two alternative embodiments of a first magnetic ball bearing  32  or a second magnetic ball bearing  42 . A first magnetic ball bearing  32  or a second magnetic ball bearing  42  may have at least one inner core  52  encased by a shell  54  of an opposite polarity as depicted in  FIG. 6   a , where one inner core  52  is encased by a shell  54 . However, other embodiments may include two inner cores  52 , in which one inner core  52   a  is encased within another inner core  52   b  which is encased within a shell  54  having an opposite polarity. Alternatively a first magnetic ball bearing  32  or a second magnetic ball bearing  42  may simply be one piece having two opposite poles, as depicted in  FIG. 6   b . Any first magnetic ball bearing  32  or any second magnetic ball bearing  52  is not required to have the same radius as any other first magnetic ball bearing  32  or any second magnetic ball bearing  52 . 
       FIGS. 7   a - 7   c  depict alternate isometric views of embodiments in which a base  20  may be arranged. As displayed, a base  20  may have a generally rectangular shape or a generally pyramid shape having one or more first recesses  30  or one or more channels  44 .  FIG. 7   c  depicts a base  20  that includes magnetic ball bearing  32  in conjunction with a variety of tools. For example, the magnetic tool restraint  10  is shown holding a Phillips head screwdriver  70   a , a wrench  70   b , a monkey wrench  70   c , a scratch awl  70   d , a hammer  70   e  or a mallet  70   f  to which a ferrous material  72  has been attached. The skilled artisan will recognize that the present invention may also use non-magnetic ball bearings in circumstances where the tool to be held and/or organized has been fitted with a magnet. For example, the ball bearings or the tool attachment portion may be ferrous and the tool ferrous or non-ferrous, as long as at least a portion of the tool or a magnetic material is attached to the tool such that the tool is rendered magnetic. 
       FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  depict yet another isometric view of an embodiment in which a magnetic tool restraint  10  whose base  20 , has a first recess  30  having a first magnetic ball bearing  32 . In this particular embodiment the base  20  is substantially half-ovular, having a first magnetic ball bearing  32  disposed within a first recess  30 . The magnetic tool restraint  10  in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are fitted with a hook  82  and a screw  84  (which may also be a pin or peg) for easy attachment to a peg board, a tool strip or other tool organizer. 
     It will be understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims. 
     All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
     In the claims, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” respectively, shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases. 
     All of the materials and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.