Patent ID: 7661288

Claim:
A press brake tool and a tool holder in combination, the tool holder including a downwardly-facing recess, a safety groove, and a generally upwardly-facing shoulder, the tool having a shank mounted in the downwardly-facing recess of the tool holder, the tool including a safety key having an extended position and a retracted position, the safety key being in its extended position and being received in the safety groove of the tool holder, the safety groove being bounded by the generally upwardly-facing shoulder of the tool holder, the safety key having (a) a tapered leading region with a leading cam surface, and (b) a tapered trailing region with a trailing cam surface, the leading cam surface being offset from vertical by a leading angle, the trailing cam surface being offset from vertical by a trailing angle, the leading angle being smaller than the trailing angle, the tool including a lock that is in a locked position in which the lock engages the safety key to positively lock it in its extended position, the tool having a button that can be pushed by a press brake operator, wherein pushing the button forces the lock from its locked position to an unlocked position and results in the safety key's trailing cam surface resting on said generally upwardly-facing shoulder so as to hold the tool in the tool holder's recess until the operator pulls downwardly on the tool so as to cause the safety key's trailing cam surface to cam with said generally upwardly-facing shoulder thereby moving the safety key from its extended position toward its retracted position and allowing the tool to be removed downwardly from the tool holder's recess.