U.S. patent application number 10/151209 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-20 for tool retaining device having stably retaining structure.
Invention is credited to Lee, Yung Jen.
Application Number | 20030213760 10/151209 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29419383 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030213760 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee, Yung Jen |
November 20, 2003 |
Tool retaining device having stably retaining structure
Abstract
A tool retaining device includes a base for supporting tool
members, a frame having two side arms pivotally secured to the base
which is rotatable relative to the frame between an inward storing
position and an outward working position. A knob is slidably
secured to the frame and has a latch for latching the base to the
frame. The arms may be adjustably secured to the base for receiving
tool members of different lengths. The base has one or more stops
for limiting the rotating of the base relative to the frame.
Inventors: |
Lee, Yung Jen; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Yung Jen LEE
P.O. Box 63-99
Taichung
406
TW
|
Family ID: |
29419383 |
Appl. No.: |
10/151209 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/70.6 ;
206/378 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/70.6 ;
206/378 |
International
Class: |
A47F 007/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A tool retaining device comprising: a base for supporting tool
members, said base including two sides, a frame including two sides
each having an arm extended therefrom and pivotally secured to said
sides of said base, said base being rotatable relative to said
frame between an inward storing position and an outward working
position, and means for latching said base to said frame and to
retain said base in said inward storing position relative to said
frame.
2. The tool retaining device according to claim 1 further
comprising means for adjustably securing said base to said
frame.
3. The tool retaining device according to claim 2, wherein said
adjustably securing means includes a pair of pivot pins extended
from said sides of said base respectively, a first pair of orifices
formed in said arms of said frame respectively for rotatably
receiving said pair of pins respectively, and at least one second
pair of orifices formed in said arms of said frame respectively for
rotatably and selectively receiving said pair of pins
respectively.
4. The tool retaining device according to claim 1 further
comprising means for limiting a rotational movement of said base
relative to said frame.
5. The tool retaining device according to claim 4, wherein said
limiting means includes at least one stop extended from said base
and engageable with a first of said arms for limiting the
rotational movement of said base relative to said frame.
6. The tool retaining device according to claim 1 further
comprising means for retaining the tool members in said base.
7. The tool retaining device according to claim 6, wherein said
retaining means includes at least one cavity formed in said base
for receiving the tool member.
8. The tool retaining device according to claim 6, wherein said
retaining means includes at least one rod extended from said base
for receiving the tool member.
9. The tool retaining device according to claim 8, wherein said at
least one rod includes an extension extended therefrom for engaging
into the tool member.
10. The tool retaining device according to claim 1, wherein said
latching means includes a latch for selectively engaged between
said frame and said base for latching and securing said base to
said frame.
11. The tool retaining device according to claim 10, wherein said
base includes at least one stop extended from a first of said sides
thereof, said latch is engageable between said at lest one stop of
said base and a first of said arms of said frame.
12. The tool retaining device according to claim 10, wherein said
latching means includes a knob slidably engaged on a first of said
arms of said frame, and having said latch extended therefrom.
13. The tool retaining device according to claim 12, wherein said
first arm includes a track provided therein, said knob includes a
channel formed therein for slidably receiving said track, for
guiding said knob to slide relative to said first arm.
14. The tool retaining device according to claim 12, wherein said
first arm includes a slot formed therein, said knob includes a
guide rid extended therefrom and slidably received in said slot of
said first arm, for guiding said knob to slide relative to said
first arm.
15. The tool retaining device according to claim 1, wherein said
frame includes a fence provided thereon and having at least one
hole formed therein for hanging purposes.
16. The tool retaining device according to claim 1 further
comprising a panel attached to said frame for hanging purposes.
17. The tool retaining device according to claim 16, wherein said
frame includes a casing having a groove formed therein, said panel
includes a tongue extended therefrom and engaged into said groove
of said casing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a tool retaining device,
and more particularly to a tool retaining device having a stably
retaining structure for stably retaining the tool members
therein.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Various kinds of typical tool retaining devices have been
developed for retaining various kinds of tool members, such as the
wrenches, the screw drivers, the pens, the brushes, the tool bits,
the sockets, etc. One example of the typical tool retaining devices
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,710 to Hofer and comprises a
number of incisions formed in a block for receiving and retaining
the tool members. However, the tool retaining device do not include
any stably retaining structure for stably retaining the tool
members therein, such that the tool members may have a good chance
to be disengaged from the tool retaining device.
[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional tool
retaining devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a tool retaining device including a stably retaining structure for
stably retaining the tool members therein and for preventing the
tool members from being disengaged from the tool retaining
device.
[0007] The other objective of the present invention is to provide a
tool retaining device including an adjustable retaining structure
for stably retaining the tool members of different sizes or
lengths.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a tool retaining device comprising a base for supporting
tool members, the base including two sides, a frame including two
sides each having an arm extended therefrom and pivotally secured
to the sides of the base, the base being rotatable relative to the
frame between an inward storing position and an outward working
position, and means for latching the base to the frame and to
retain the base in the inward storing position relative to the
frame, such that the tool members may be stably retained in the
base or between the base and the frame, and may be prevented from
being disengaged from the base.
[0009] A device may further be provided for adjustably securing the
base to the frame, and includes a pair of pivot pins extended from
the sides of the base respectively, a first pair of orifices formed
in the arms of the frame respectively for rotatably receiving the
pair of pins respectively, and at least one second pair of orifices
formed in the arms of the frame respectively for rotatably and
selectively receiving the pair of pins respectively.
[0010] A device may further be provided for limiting a rotational
movement of the base relative to the frame and includes at least
one stop extended from the base and engageable with a first of the
arms for limiting the rotational movement of the base relative to
the frame.
[0011] A device may further be provided for retaining the tool
members in the base and includes at least one cavity formed in the
base for receiving the tool member.
[0012] The retaining device includes at least one rod extended from
the base for receiving the tool member. The rod may include an
extension extended therefrom for engaging into the tool member.
[0013] The latching means includes a latch for selectively engaged
between the frame and the base for latching and securing the base
to the frame.
[0014] The base includes at least one stop extended from a first of
the sides thereof, the latch is engageable between the at lest one
stop of the base and the first arm of the frame.
[0015] The latching means includes a knob slidably engaged on the
first arm of the frame, and having the latch extended
therefrom.
[0016] The first arm includes a track provided therein, the knob
includes a channel formed therein for slidably receiving the track,
for guiding the knob to slide relative to the first arm.
[0017] The first arm includes a slot formed therein, the knob
includes a guide rid extended therefrom and slidably received in
the slot of the first arm, for guiding the knob to slide relative
to the first arm.
[0018] The frame includes a fence provided thereon and having at
least one hole formed therein.
[0019] A panel is further provided and attached to the frame for
hanging purposes. The frame includes a casing having a groove
formed therein, the panel includes a tongue extended therefrom and
engaged into the groove of the casing.
[0020] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool retaining device in
accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the tool retaining device;
[0023] FIGS. 3, 4 are perspective views illustrating the operation
of the tool retaining device; and
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4,
illustrating the other arrangement or embodiment of the tool
retaining device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
tool retaining device in accordance with the present invention
comprises a base 20 including one or more cavities 21 formed
therein (FIGS. 1-5) for receiving tool members 23 therein (FIG. 5),
such as the screw driver bits or the like, and including one or
more rods 24 extended upwardly therefrom, and one or more
extensions 25 extended upwardly from the rods 24 respectively and
having an outer diameter smaller than that of the rods 24 for
forming or defining a peripheral shoulder 27 between the rods 24
and the extensions 25 respectively.
[0026] The other tool members 70, such as the sockets 70 may be
engaged onto the rods 24 and the extensions 25. Normally, the
typical sockets 70 may include a step hole formed therein (not
shown) for receiving the rods 24 and the extensions 25. It is
preferable that the rods 24 and the extensions 25 and the
peripheral shoulders 27 of the rods 24 include a shape
corresponding to that of the step holes of the sockets 70, for
allowing the sockets 70 to be stably engaged onto and retained on
the rods 24 and the extensions 25. The base 20 includes one or
more, such as a pair of opposite pivot pins 28 extended laterally
outward from the sides thereof respectively. The cavities 21 and
the rods 24 and/or the extensions 25 thus may form as a retaining
means or device for retaining the tool members 23, 70 in the base
20.
[0027] A frame 30 includes a pair of arms 31 extended downward from
the sides thereof respectively, and each having one or more
orifices 32, 33 for selectively receiving the pivot pins 28, and
for adjustably and rotatably securing the arms 31 of the frame 30
to the base 20. For example, the frame 30 may be adjusted and
spaced away from the base 20 when the pivot pins 28 are engaged in
the lower pair of orifices 32 of the frame 30, and may be adjusted
closer to the base 20 when the pivot pins 28 are engaged in the
other or the upper pair of orifices 33 of the frame 30. The frame
30 may include one or more fences 34 each having one or more holes
35 formed therein for hanging purposes. The selective engagement of
the pins 28 in the pairs of orifices 32, 33 thus forms as an
adjusting means or device for adjusting the frame 30 relative to
the base 20.
[0028] The base 20 further includes one or more, such as a pair of
stops 26 extended laterally outward from the sides thereof. The
base 20 is rotatable inward of the frame 30 in the inwardly
rotating position or storing position (FIGS. 1, 3, 5), and
rotatable outward of the frame 30 about the pivot pins 28 in the
outwardly rotating position or working position (FIG. 4), for
allowing the tool members 70, 23 to be easily removed or disengaged
from the base 20. The lower portions 29 of the stops 26 may be
engaged with the arms 31 of the frame 30 (FIG. 4) for limiting the
outward rotation of the base 20 relative to the frame 30, such that
the stops 26 may form as a limiting means or device for limiting
the rotational movement of the base 20 relative to the frame 30.
When the base 20 is rotated inward of the frame 30 (FIGS. 1, 3, 5),
a space or a gap 80 (FIG. 3) may be formed between the stop 26 and
the arm 31 of the frame 30.
[0029] The frame 30 further includes a slot 36 formed in one of the
arms 31 thereof, for forming or defining a longitudinal track 37 in
the arm 31. A knob 40 includes a channel 41 formed therein for
slidably receiving the track 37, and includes a guide rib 42
extended therefrom for slidably engaging in the slot 36 of the
frame 30, and for allowing the knob 40 to be moved upwardly and
downwardly along the track 37 of the arm 31. The knob 40 includes a
latch 43 extended therefrom for engaging into the gap 80 (FIG. 3)
formed between the stop 26 and the arm 31 of the frame 30 (FIGS. 1,
5), so as to retain the base 20 in the inwardly rotating position
or storing position relative to the frame 30. The latch 43 of the
knob 40 thus forms a latching means or device for retaining the
base 20 in the inwardly rotating position or storing position
relative to the frame 30.
[0030] In operation, as shown in FIG. 3, when the knob 40 is moved
upward along the track 37 of the frame 30 in order to disengage the
latch 43 of the knob 40 from the gap 80 that is formed between the
stop 26 and the arm 31 of the frame 30, the base 20 is released
relative to the frame 30 and is thus rotatable relative to the
frame 30 about the pivot pins 28, such that the base 20 may be
rotated outwardly of the frame 30 to the working position as shown
in FIG. 4, for allowing the tool members 70 to be easily obtained
or fetched by the users.
[0031] The pivot pins 28 of the base 20 may be selectively or
adjustably engaged with either pairs of the orifices 32, 33 for
adjusting the frame 30 relative to the base 20, and for allowing
the tool members 23, 70 of different sizes or lengths to be stably
retained in the base 20 and the frame 30, particularly when the
base 20 is rotated relative to the frame 30 in the inwardly
rotating position or storing position. The base 20 may include a
recess 22 formed in the upper portion thereof for receiving or
retaining or supporting the tool members 23, 70.
[0032] The tool retaining device may further includes a panel 47
having a tongue 48 extended therefrom for engaging into a groove 38
of the frame 30 which includes a casing 39 attached thereto or
extended therefrom, such as extended from one side thereof for
forming or defining the groove 38 therein. The panel 47 may include
an aperture 49 formed therein for hanging purposes.
[0033] Accordingly, the tool retaining device in accordance with
the present invention includes a stably retaining structure for
stably retaining the tool members therein and for preventing the
tool members from being disengaged from the tool retaining device,
and/or includes an adjustable retaining structure for stably
retaining the tool members of different sizes or lengths.
[0034] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *