Patent Publication Number: US-2018050840-A1

Title: Magnetic tool system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/376,339 filed Aug. 17, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of storage of existing art and more specifically relates to tool magnet systems. 
     RELATED ART 
     A tool box is a crucial component for virtually any craftsman. Over a lifetime of work a craftsman can accumulate a vast multitude of tools which require a suitable form of storage. The conventional tool box has the immediate drawback of becoming messy and disorganized. With many people owning tools numbered in the hundreds, it&#39;s no surprise that their tool box often becomes a cluttered mess. Many tool boxes are outfitted with several drawers and trays to help manage organization. These drawers and trays are useful for keeping similar tools separate from each other by allowing a user to assign a drawer to only wrenches or only screwdrivers for example. 
     Some tool boxes come with integrated organizational components such as foam or plastic inserts in their drawers with cutouts shaped to fit specific tools in a specific place. Others come with flanges built into their drawers to maintain tools in their positions when not in use. The organizational implementations mentioned above all share a common drawback; while they are acceptable means for storing several tools separately, they are not suitable for storing a specific set of tools together in an orderly fashion. When faced with similar jobs over an extended period of time, a user would often benefit from being able to store their most used tools together in an easy to use, organized fashion. A suitable solution is desired. 
     U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0247585 to Claude Breckwoldt et al. relates to a lid for storing a tool. The described lid for storing a tool includes a base portion having a wall portion along a periphery of the base portion and a magnet portion positioned on the base portion with the magnet portion adapted to hold a metal portion of a tool. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known tool magnet systems art, the present disclosure provides a novel magnetic tool system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a magnetic tool system for efficient storage of tools. 
     A tool organization system is disclosed herein. The tool organization system includes a plurality of magnets, and a container. The plurality of magnets may be arranged in a set, and the container may be configured to house the plurality of magnets arranged in the set. The plurality of magnets may include at least one aperture wherein each aperture includes a countersink on at least one side of the aperture. Alternately, an adhesive backing may be configured to attach to a non-magnetic surface. 
     At least one of the plurality of magnets may have sufficient surface area to hold a plurality of fastening hardware such as small nails, screws, bolts, etc., and alternately, at least one of the plurality of magnets may have sufficient surface area to hold a standard hammer. Each of the plurality of magnets has an outer perimeter circumscribing an axis of polarity, and each of the plurality of magnets may include a peripheral coating on said outer perimeter the plurality of magnets. 
     The plurality of magnets may be configured with a beveled edge configured to be one-fourth inch in width from a forward-facing position, and may even further be configured to be coated in phosphorescent paint. The peripheral coating of each of the plurality of magnets may include phosphorescent paint to easily see tool outlines in low light conditions. The container may be configured to house the plurality of magnets arranged in the set. The container may have a volume at least large enough to house at least one sets of the plurality of magnets. The plurality of magnets may be configured to be individually movable for arranging the plurality of magnets on a planar surface in any combination desired by a user. 
     According to another embodiment, a method of using a tool organization system is also disclosed herein. The method of using a tool organization system includes attaching a plurality of magnets to a planar surface, arranging the plurality of magnets in a desired configuration, attaching a tool to a forward face of the plurality of magnets, identifying the tool attached to the forward face of the plurality of magnets by the illumination of a phosphorescent paint, removing the tool as needed from the forward face of the plurality of magnets, and storing a plurality of magnets in a container. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a magnetic tool system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the tool organization system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tool organization system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  is a back view of the tool organization system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is a front view of the tool organization system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the tool organization system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using the tool organization system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a tool magnet system and more particularly to a magnetic tool system as used to improve the organization of a toolbox and visibility of tools in low light situations. 
     Generally speaking, the tool magnet system is a convenient way to store commonly used tools for easy access. The magnet system is simple; various pound weights of magnets are used for a stronger or lighter hold depending on how much a respective tool weighs. This system is diverse and can work in many environments. Metal tool boxes on the back of trucks may have stored tools that are hard to reach into from the sides, where things tend to get lost and jumbled around. 
     The magnet is specially designed to have a wide top with a thinner base since most tools have a similar shape, and the present invention comprises a beveled edge which allows a person to pull the magnet off easily. Magnets can be tough to remove when they are flat against a surface, and the beveled edge provides a way to grasp and remove the magnet. Another feature is the plastic ring around the outside which glows in the dark. This allows a user to see a silhouette of the tool in the dark and still know which tool he/she is grabbing and where to put it back. Two countersink holes have been added so the magnets can be attached to wood, and double-sided tape may be included for any surface. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , various views of a tool organization system  100 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a tool organization system  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  50 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the tool organization system  100  may be beneficial for use by a user  40  (not shown) to organize a toolbox and increase visibility of tools in low light situations. As illustrated, the tool organization system  100  may include a plurality of magnets  110 , and a container  130 . The plurality of magnets  110  are arranged magnetically on the under-side of a metal tool box  5 . Various tools  10  are held in place by the plurality of magnets  110 . The plurality of magnets  110  are arranged in a user  40  (not shown) defined order. The plurality of magnets  110  may have sufficient surface area to hold a plurality of tools  10 . The container  130  may include a volume at least large enough to house at least one set of the plurality of magnets  110 . The container  130  may be configured to house the plurality of magnets  110  arranged in a set. 
     According to one embodiment, the tool organization system  100  may be arranged as a kit  105 . In particular, the tool organization system  100  may further include a set of instructions  107 . The instructions  107  may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the tool organization system  100  such that the tool organization system  100  can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner. 
       FIG. 2  shows the tool organization system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the tool organization system  100  may include a plurality of magnets  110 , and a container  130 . The plurality of magnets  110  may include at least one aperture  112 . The at least one aperture  112  includes a countersink hole  114  such that if the plurality of magnets  110  are mounted with screws, they will be flush to the forward face  116 . Alternately as shown in  FIG. 3A , an adhesive backing  118  may be used to attach the plurality of magnets  110  to a non-magnetic surface. The plurality of magnets  110  may be configured with a beveled edge  120  so that the plurality of magnets  110  may be easily removed from a planar surface. The plurality of magnets  110  are configured to be individually movable for arranging the plurality of magnets  110  on a planar surface in any combination desired by a user  40  (not shown). 
       FIG. 3A  is a back view of the tool organization system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The beveled edge  120  may be one-fourth inch in width from a forward-facing position. Each of the plurality of magnets  110  may have an outer perimeter circumscribing an axis of polarity, and each of the plurality of magnets  110  includes a peripheral coating of phosphorescent paint  15  on the outer perimeter. 
       FIG. 3B  is a front view of the tool organization system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The beveled edge  120  may be configured to be coated in phosphorescent paint  15 . Alternately, a set of phosphorescent plastic rings  122  may be removably couplable along the outer perimeter of one of the plurality of magnets  110 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the tool organization system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The set of phosphorescent plastic rings  122  may be configured to be biodegradable. The set of the phosphorescent plastic rings  122  may be individually colored in at least one of a plurality of colors. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method  500  for using a tool organization system  100 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for using  500  a tool organization system  100  may include one or more components or features of the tool organization system  100  as described above. As illustrated, the method  500  for using a tool organization system  100  may include the steps of: step one  501 , attaching a plurality of magnets to a planar surface; step two  502 , arranging the plurality of magnets in a desired configuration; step three  503 , attaching a tool to a forward face of the plurality of magnets; step four  504 , identifying the tool attached to the forward face of the plurality of magnets by the illumination of a phosphorescent paint; step five  505 , removing the tool as needed from the forward face of the plurality of magnets; and step six  506 , storing a plurality of magnets in a container. 
     It should be noted that step  506  is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use  500  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 5  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use  500 . It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for using a tool organization system, are taught herein. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.