Patent Publication Number: US-2005115853-A1

Title: Tool holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to tool holders, and more particularly to a tool holder for storing a tool or multiple tools with handles.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Many different types of holding devices for supporting and storing tools are known. One example of a tool holder is a metal or wire bracket suspended from a pegboard mounted to a vertical wall surface. The wire bracket, in one example, includes a pair of laterally spaced apart and forward extending support arms. The tool handle is inserted between the support arms and the tool head rests loosely on the support arms to store the tool.  
      One problem with known tool holders of this type is that, if a stored tool is bumped or not properly installed in the holder, the tool can easily fall forward and become inadvertently or unintentionally dislodged from the holder. A falling tool can cause injury to persons standing nearby or can cause damage to objects that are hit by the falling tool.  
      Another type of tool storage rack is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Design Pat. No. D473,991. This design patent discloses a rolling tool cart with a base and an elevated tool handle support rack. The support rack includes a plurality of tool handle receiving slots which are forwardly open for receiving a tool handle therein. The slots are shown to have a narrower width insert section or insert opening extending into a larger diameter or larger width storage section. The handle must be snapped through the narrower width insert opening, which can require exertion of substantial force, to be received and stored in the larger diameter or larger width section.  
      The insert opening in the holder of U.S. Design Pat. No. D473,991 may inhibit a tool from becoming inadvertently dislodged from the holder. The opening can be sized such that the handle must be forcibly inserted through this opening before reaching the larger sized storage opening. However, if the insert opening is too small for a given tool, it may be too difficult or impossible to insert a tool therein. If the insert opening is too large for a given tool, the tool may quite easily and inadvertently or undesirably exit from its storage slot.  
      In another example, a wire bracket as described above for use with a pegboard may include a pair of spaced apart and forwardly extending support arms that are upturned on their distal ends. The upturned ends can be configured to help retain tools stored thereon. Additional problems with these types of retaining methods are known. For example, the support arms of a pegboard bracket may tend to bend when loaded. When bent, a tool can easily slide forward off of these support arms even if they include upturned retaining ends.  
      Other configurations of the metal-type or wire-type support brackets are also known. Many of these types of brackets, are for storing small hand tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, or the like. These brackets may include a circular opening for downwardly receiving a tool or a handle of a tool therein. The tool is then supported by its tool head or by its larger size handle resting on a portion of the bracket. Such a holder is not well suited for supporting heavy tools or for readily receiving long handled tools. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:  
       FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of one example of a tool holder constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2A  shows a top view of the tool holder of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 2B  shows a front view of the tool holder of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of another example of a tool holder constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4A  shows a top view of the tool holder of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 4B  shows a front view of the tool holder of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 5  shows the tool holder of  FIG. 1  with a long handled tool tilted and either being inserted into or removed from the tool holder.  
       FIG. 6  shows the tool holder of  FIG. 5  with the long handled tool fully installed in the tool holder.  
       FIG. 7  shows another example of a tool holder constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and having a plurality of tool storage slots.  
       FIG. 8  shows another example of a tool holder constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and having a plurality of tool storage slots incorporated into a storage shelf. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE  
      The present invention is generally directed to a tool holder that solves or improves upon one or more of the above noted problems with existing tool holders. The disclosed tool holders generally have a storage space that is forward facing and open for insertion of a handle of a tool. The space is configured to receive a tool handle therein when the handle is held upright, but rotated to an insertion orientation. The insertion orientation is at an angle relative to a storage orientation. Once received in the storage space, the tool can be further inserted into the space of the tool holder. The tool handle gradually rotates to the storage orientation as it slides into the space until reaching a storage region of the space.  
      Turning now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1, 2A , and  2 B show one example of a tool holder  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The tool holder  10  generally has a holder body  12  which can vary considerably in form and structure. In this example, the body  12  is in block form and has a top or upper side  14 , a free front end  16 , a lower side  18 , and a rear end  20 . In this example, the rear end  20  is configured to mount to a generally vertically orientated surface such as a wall. The body  12  in this example also has opposite and spaced apart outer side surfaces  22  and  24 . The side surfaces  22  and  24  are positioned at and extend between the ends of the free front end  16  and the rear end  20  of the body  12 . In this example, the top side has a top surface  25 .  
      The means or structure employed to mount the tool holder  10  can vary considerably and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The invention is not intended to be limited to a particular type of mounting means. In this example, a mounting flange  26  extends upward from the top or upper side  14  adjacent the rear end  20 . The mounting flange  26  includes a pair of laterally spaced apart openings  28  that can be used to secure the tool holder  10  to a surface or to suspend or hang the holder from a surface. In one example, the openings  28  can be configured to receive hooks suspended from a pegboard or other such pre-installed mounting system. In another example, the openings  28  can be configured to receive fasteners, utilized to affix the tool holder  10  to a surface.  
      As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, and as is described in further detail below, the body  12  can vary considerably in size, shape, configuration, structure, and material, and yet perform its intended function. For example, the body  12  in this example can include a bottom surface (not shown), similar to the top surface  25 , that closes off the lower side  18 . The body  12  can also have a back surface (not shown) closing off the rear end  20 . The body  12  can thus be completely enclosed if desired. Further, the body  12  in such a configuration can be a solid block of material, or can be hollow. Alternatively, the lower side  18  and/or the rear end  20  can be open with only the visible surfaces shown in  FIG. 1  being provided. A body having such an open lower side and/or rear end can employ structure-enhancing features such as ribs, beams, trusses, flanges, and/or the like, as needed or desired, to provide or enhance the rigidity of the holder. In another example, the top side  14 , front end  16 , and/or side surfaces  22 ,  24  can be open or configured differently from the surfaces shown.  
      The tool holder  10  has a storage recess or space  30 , which is configured to create a contoured, twisting path for a tool handle received and stored in the holder. In the example of the holder  10 , the storage recess or space  30  is generally a vertically oriented notch that originates at the entry opening  33  in the front end. The storage space extends rearward into the holder body  12  from the free front end  16 . In this example, the free front end  16  has a substantially closed front surface  32 , other than an entry or insertion opening  33  into the storage space. As described below in greater detail, the entry opening  33  is configured and arranged to require a tool handle to be oriented in a certain manner in order to insert the tool into the storage space of the holder.  
      The storage space  30  in this example is formed in part by an upper slot  34  originating at an upper slot opening  36  in an upper edge  38  of the body&#39;s front surface  32 . The upper slot  34  is positioned generally in a plane of the top or upper side  14  of the body  12 . The upper slot  34  extends generally rearward toward the rear end  20  of the body  12  and terminates at an upper slot end  40 .  
      The storage space  30  in this example also is formed in part by a lower slot  42  that originates at a lower slot opening  44  in a lower edge  46  of the body&#39;s front surface  32 . The lower slot  42  is positioned generally in a plane of the lower side  18  of the body  12 . The lower slot also extends generally rearward toward the rear end  20  of the holder body  12  and terminates at a lower slot end  48 . The upper and lower slots are vertically spaced apart a distance H, which in this example is a height of the front surface  32 .  
      As can be seen in  FIG. 2A , the body has a longitudinally arranged reference axis B that extends normal or perpendicular to and between the free front end  16  and the rear end  20 . The upper slot  34  and the lower slot  42  do not extend parallel to the longitudinal reference axis B. Instead, a centerline reference UC, depicted in  FIG. 2A , of the upper slot  34  is orientated at an acute angle relative to the reference axis B. The upper slot centerline UC extends from a center of the upper slot opening  36  along a center of the upper slot  34  to the slot end  40 . The center of the upper slot opening  36  is offset to one side of the longitudinal axis B. The lower slot  42  is depicted having a similar centerline reference LC extending along a center of the lower slot and passing through the center of the lower slot opening  44 . The lower slot centerline LC is also oriented at an acute angle to the longitudinal reference axis B. However, the lower slot opening  44  is offset to a side of the longitudinal axis B opposite the upper slot opening  36 . The insertion openings  36  and  44  lie generally in the same plane of the free front end  16 , but are laterally offset from one another. Thus, the upper and lower slot openings  34  and  42  only partially overlie one another as can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
      In contrast, the upper slot end  40  and lower slot end  48  are arranged in this example to directly vertically overlie one another. As depicted in  FIG. 2A , the region where the centerlines UC and LC of the respective upper and lower slots  34  and  42  coincide or intersect defines a long handled tool storage region  50  in the storage space  30 . The intersection of the two slot centerlines UC and LC in this example is at about the center of the storage region  50  and the slot ends  40  and  48  are aligned to define a storage axis SA.  
      In this example, a contoured or curved transition surface  52  extends between and connects the perimeter of the upper slot  34  with the perimeter of the lower slot  42 . The transition surface  52  generally has a pair of opposed side sections  54  and  56  on opposite sides of the storage space  30  and a rear section  58  disposed generally within the storage region  50  between the upper and lower slot ends  40  and  48 . In this example, the rear section  58  of the transition surface is essentially vertically orientated surrounding the storage region  50 . The transition surface  52  then transitions from the rear section  58  into the side sections  54  and  56 . The side sections begin to gradually tilt or twist moving from the rear section to the entry opening  33  of the storage space  30 . The twist of the transition surface  52  coincides with the gradually divergence or offset of the upper and lower slots  34  and  42 . Thus, the slant or twist along the side sections  54  and  56  becomes greater moving toward the upper and lower insertion openings  36  and  44 .  
       FIG. 2B  shows a front view of the tool holder  10 . The center of the upper slot opening  36  in this example is offset to the left of the vertical storage axis SA of the storage region  50 . A center of the lower slot opening  44  is offset to the right of the vertical storage axis SA of the storage region  50 . An insertion axis IA is illustrated as passing through the centers of the upper and lower slot openings  36  and  44 . This insertion axis IA defines an insertion orientation for a tool and for the entry opening  33 . This insertion orientation or angle is defined in a plane that lies generally parallel to the free front end  16  of the tool holder  10  in this example. The insertion orientation IA is at an acute angle relative to the storage orientation SA, which in this example is generally vertical. In one example, the difference between the insertion orientation and the storage orientation is about 15-20 degrees. However, the acute angle between SA and IA can vary from less than 15 degrees to greater than 45 degrees if desired, and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, the storage orientation need not be vertical, but instead can be at an angle relative to a vertical reference.  
      As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the offset direction of the upper and lower slots  34  and  42  can be reversed. The upper slot opening  36  can be offset to the right of the longitudinal axis B of the holder and the lower slot opening  44  can be offset to the left of the longitudinal axis. Further, the degree of offset of the insert openings relative to a longitudinal axis of the holder or other reference need not be identical for the upper and lower slots. The slot orientations need not be symmetric about any particular reference. The slots are simply offset vertically relative to one another in some manner to create the difference in insertion orientation IA and storage orientation SA for the holder to function.  
      As noted above, the body  12  of the tool holder  10  can be fabricated in a number of alternative configurations. Further, the body  12  can be fabricated utilizing a number of optional methods and materials. For example, a closed hollow body can be blow molded from a plastic or thermoplastic material. A closed solid body can be machined from wood, metal, or the like, or can be injection molded from a plastic or thermoplastic material. A thin wall or panel body structure can also be injection molded and include strengthening features in the structure. A wire form body structure can be fabricated from metal bending operations. The body in any form can be configured and enhanced to add strength, rigidity, durability, and aesthetic design characteristics as desired.  
       FIGS. 3, 4A , and  4 B show another example of a tool holder  100  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In this example, the tool holder  100  has a holder body  102  with a top or upper side  104  and a free front end  106 . Again, in this example, the holder body  102  has a lower side  108  and a rear end  110  opposite the free front end  106 . The body  102  has a pair of opposed side surfaces or sides  112  and  114  and a mounting flange  116  extending upward above the upper side  104  adjacent the rear end  110 . The mounting flange  116  has a pair of openings  118  for mounting the tool holder  100  in this example in a manner substantially the same as in the prior example. The top side  104  has a top surface  119  similar to the previous example.  
      In this example, the tool holder  100  includes an alternative construction of a storage recess or space  120 . As with the prior example, the storage space  120  extends inward from a front surface  122  of the free front end  106  of the body  102 . The recess or space  120  has an entry or insert opening  123  in the front end  106  and extends into the body  102 . The storage space  120  generally is V-shaped when viewed from the top or bottom as in  FIG. 4 . The storage space  120  extends rearward into the body  102  toward the rear end  110  and terminates at a closed end  124 .  
      The entry opening  123  of the storage space  120  in this example is significantly wider than the closed end  124 . As shown in  FIGS. 3, 4A , and  4 B, insertion of a tool handle into the large width entry opening  123  would be inhibited to effectively require the tool handle to be rotated to an insertion orientation as in the prior example. To accomplish this, an upper extension  128  of the top surface  119  lies in a plane of the top surface and extends or projects into the storage space  120  from one side of the storage space. A lower extension  130  similarly projects into the storage space  120 , but from the opposite side of the storage space, and lies in a plane of the lower side  108 . These opposing projections effectively narrow the width of the entry opening  123 .  
      The upper extension  128  is bounded within a front edge  132 , a rounded front corner  134 , and a transition edge  136 . In this example, the front edge  132  lies in the plane of the front surface  122  of the free front end  106 . The rounded corner provides a smooth transition between the front edge and the transition edge  136 . The transition edge  136  provides a smooth transition surface from the rounder corner  134  for the storage space  120 . The lower extension  130  is similarly bounded by a front edge  138 , a rounded front corner  140 , and a transition edge  142 .  
      An upper slot  144  is provided in the upper side  104  of the body  102  and is formed in part by the upper extension  128 . The upper slot  144  originates at an upper slot opening  146  aligned with an upper edge  148  of the body&#39;s front face  122 . The upper slot opening  146  is between, on one side, the upper edge  148  of the front surface  122  above the lower extension  130  and, on the other side, the front edge  132  and rounded corner  134  of the upper extension  128 . The upper slot  144  extends rearward into the body  102  toward the rear end  110  and terminates at an upper slot end  150 . The slot end  150  coincides with the closed end  124  of the storage space  120  in this example.  
      Similarly, a lower slot  152  extends rearward into the body  102  toward the rear end  110  and originates at a lower slot opening  154  aligned with a lower edge of the body&#39;s front surface  122 . The lower slot opening  154  is between, on one side, the lower edge  156  of the front surface  122  below the upper extension  128  and, on the other side, the front edge  138  and rounded corner  140  of the lower extension  130 . The lower slot  152  terminates in the body  102  at a lower slot end  158  that coincides with the closed end  124  of the storage space  120 .  
      As with the prior example, a storage region  160  is defined within the confines of the closed end  124  in the storage space  120  and vertically between the upper slot end  144  and the lower slot end  152 . In this example, a generally vertically orientated transition surface  162  extends between the top side  104  of the body  102  and the lower side  108 . In this example, the transition surface  162  is generally vertically orientated over its entire length and follows the contour of the V-shaped storage space  120 . The transition surface  162  has a rear section  164  that connects the vertically spaced apart slot ends  150  and  158  and that generally follows their contour. The transition surface  162  has a pair of forwardly diverging side sections  166  and  168  that form the generally V-shaped storage space  120 . The sides  166  and  168  extend vertically between the upper and lower sides  104  and  108  of the body  102 . However, it is not the sides  166  and  168  of the transition surface  162 , but the upper and lower extensions  128  and  130 , that define the tool handle insertion path for the storage space  120  and upper and lower slots  144  and  152  in this example. Otherwise, the relative orientation between the two slots  144  and  152  is essentially the same as with the previously described tool holder  10 .  
      The upper slot  144  has a centerline UC that passes through a center of the upper slot opening  146  and that is acutely angled relative to a longitudinal axis B of the body  102 . Similarly, the lower slot  152  has a centerline LC that passes through a center of the lower slot opening  154  and that is acutely angled in a direction opposite to the upper slot centerline, and also relative to the longitudinal axis B of the body  102 . As in the previous example, the centers of the slot openings  146  and  154  lie generally in the plane of the free front end  106 , but are laterally offset relative to one another as a result of the oppositely projecting extensions  128  and  130 . The convergence or intersection of the slot centerlines LC and UC defines the general center of the storage region  160  in this tool holder  100 .  
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a front view of the tool holder  100 . As in the prior example, the center of the upper slot opening  146  is offset to the left side of the longitudinal axis B of the holder body  102  and the center of the lower slot opening  154  is offset to the right of the longitudinal axis of the holder body. A reference axis passing through the offsetting centers of the slot openings again defines the insert orientation IA in this example similar to the prior example.  
      The transition edges  136  and  142  of the upper and lower extensions  128  and  130 , respectively, gradually taper or transition to the respective slot ends  150  and  158 . The respective rounded corners  134  and  140  of the extensions define a relatively narrow gap therebetween in this example. This narrow gap is intended to be narrower than a tool handle diameter to be inserted therein. Thus, the tool handle must be rotated end-to-end a desired degree to match the insertion axis IA before being able to pass into the entry opening  123  of the storage space in this example.  
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the method of use of the tool holders of the present invention using the tool holder  10  of  FIG. 1  for illustrative purpose.  FIG. 5  shows a shovel  200  as a representative example of a tool having a handle, and in this case, a long handle. The shovel  200  has a long handle  202  and a shovel head  204 . To insert the tool  200  in the holder  10 , the handle  202  is grasped and rotated within a plane generally parallel to a plane of the tool holder front end  16  to achieve the insertion orientation or angle. The insertion angle is defined by the orientation of the entry opening axis, and is such that a width or diameter of the handle  202  can fit within the confines of the offset slot openings  36  and  44  of the holder  10 . Once the handle  202  is at the correct orientation, the handle can be pushed rearward into the storage recess or space  30  between the sides  54  and  56  of the transition surface  52 . The handle will be guided by the offset, converging upper and lower slots  34  and  42  and by the contoured transition surface  52  toward the slot ends  40  and  48 . Once the handle  202  reaches the slots ends  40  and  48 , it is within the storage region  50 , as depicted in  FIG. 6 . The handle  202  will have been reoriented to the storage orientation, which is defined by the orientation of the storage region axis. In this example, the storage region axis is generally vertical. The tool  202  can then be lowered until the shovel head  204  rests on the top side  14  of the tool holder  10 .  
      To remove a tool  200  from the holder  10 , the user simply must grasp the handle  202 , raise the tool and its head  204  above the top side  14 , and then move the handle toward the free front end  16  along the slots  34  and  42  and storage space  33 . The divergence of the upper and lower slots, and the contour of the transition surface  52  in this example, will guide the handle  202  back to the insertion orientation allowing the handle to be removed from the storage space  33  as depicted in  FIG. 5 . The same method would be performed if using the tool holder  100  or another tool holder constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
      The upper and lower slots  34  and  40  in this example can be designed and configured to permit insertion of a tool handle into the storage space, and yet to prevent a tool head such as the shovel head  204  from sliding downward through the slots. Further, the width of the upper and lower slots can be designed to accommodate a particular maximum tool handle diameter, and yet to accommodate a wide variety of tool handle sizes. The slot width, slot angles, storage space height, and/or storage space depth can be varied as desired to result in a tool holder with suitable stability for a variety of tools or for a particular intended tool.  
      The tool holders disclosed herein can be fabricated and utilized as stand alone, single tool holder storage spaces and suspended from a surface, as discussed above. Alternatively, multiple storage space tool holders can be provided in another product configuration. In another alternative, single or multiple storage space tool holders can be provided in conjunction with or integral in other products such as storage shelves, or as a part of an overall storage system.  
      For example,  FIG. 7  illustrates a tool holder  250  with multiple tool storage capability. The holder  250  has a tool holder body  252  is an elongate body but otherwise similarly constructed to the individual tool holder body  12  described previously. A top side  254  of the body  252  is elongate and terminates at a free front end  255  that has a front surface  256  that also extends the entire length of the body. The holder  250  also includes three separate storage spaces  258  in the front end  255 , each designed to store a tool handle therein. In this example, each storage space  258  is essentially identical to the storage space  30  described for the tool holder  10  in  FIG. 1 . However, the storage spaces  258  can optionally be constructed according to the embodiment described above for the tool holder  100 , and particularly the storage space  120 . Further, alternative storage space constructions can be employed in such a multiple tool holder  250 . Additionally, more than one type of storage space construction can be employed in the same multiple storage tool holder  250 .  
      The tool holder  250  in this example includes a mounting flange  260  that extends the entire length of the body  252  adjacent a rear end  262  of the body and upward above the top side  254 . The mounting flange  260  has mounting openings  264 , which can be utilized to suspend or secure the holder  250  to a surface. Again, the body configuration and construction, as well as the mounting structure and arrangement, for the multiple tool holder  250  can vary considerably and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates another example of a tool holder and shelf combination  300  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In this example, the tool holder  300  is in the form of a storage shelf having a horizontal shelf surface  302  that terminates at a front edge  304 . A pair of tool storage spaces  306  extend integrally forward from the front edge  304  of the shelf surface  302 . In another example, the storage spaces could be recessed directly into the front edge  304  of the shelf surface if desired. The storage spaces  306  in this example are essentially identical in construction to the space  30  of the tool holder  10  described previously, except that the tool holders  306  are integral with the shelf surface  302 . The holder  300  in this example again includes a mounting flange  308  extending upward from the shelf surface  302  adjacent a rear end  310 . The flange  308  has mounting openings  312  for suspending or securing the tool holder and shelf combination  300  to a surface. Again, the mounting arrangement and structure can vary considerably.  
       FIGS. 7 and 8  depict two of the many possible embodiments of products that can employ one or more tool holders or tool storage spaces constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the tool holder configurations can be employed in a wide variety of shelf, storage, organizer, and other systems. The tool holders described herein can be employed individually or in combination with one or more additional tool holders in any such object or system.  
      The configuration of the upper and lower slots of the tool holders described herein have been described in a manner permitting variation in the configuration of the tool holder body. The tool holder body may consist of two vertically spaced apart, horizontally extending plates with essentially no front surface. Though not shown herein, an upper plate can include an upper slot as described herein and a lower plate can include a lower slot as described herein. No transition surface need be provided between the edges of the two slots. The two slots in conjunction would define the storage space and will function essentially identically to the storage spaces of the tool holders described herein. Such a dual parallel plate tool holder could include multiple storage spaces as well.  
      Additionally, a tool holder can be constructed having a wire form body configuration. The slots can be configured utilizing formed wire creating an upper wire slot and a lower wire. The slots can then be arranged as discussed herein with respect to the tool holders  10  and  100 . Such a body will not include a solid top side or a solid bottom side, but the wire forming the upper and lower slots would or could define, for the purposes of this disclosure, the top side and bottom planes of the tool holder body. Such a wire form tool holder configuration could include one or more storage spaces. Further, a wire form configuration could be constructed to hang from a peg board system or directly to a vertical surface such as a wall.  
      Although certain tool holders have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.