U.S. patent application number 11/272854 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for tool rack.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEHIGH CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.. Invention is credited to Ken Laga.
Application Number | 20060102569 11/272854 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36406168 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060102569 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Laga; Ken |
May 18, 2006 |
Tool rack
Abstract
A tool rack takes the form of a shelf member provided with a
plurality of structural formations such as holes, slots, and
recesses for receiving and holding respective tools. The shelf
member is provided along the rear edge with two rearwardly open
inwardly extending rectangular slots for receiving respective wall
studs, whereby the shelf may be mounted over the studs. The shelf
may be additionally or alternatively attached directly to a
vertical surface such as an ordinary wall or a perforated wall
board.
Inventors: |
Laga; Ken; (Emmaus,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLEMAN SUDOL SAPONE, P.C.
714 COLORADO AVENUE
BRIDGE PORT
CT
06605-1601
US
|
Assignee: |
LEHIGH CONSUMER PRODUCTS,
INC.
Macungie
PA
|
Family ID: |
36406168 |
Appl. No.: |
11/272854 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60628004 |
Nov 15, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/70.6 ;
211/87.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/0807 20130101;
B25H 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/070.6 ;
211/087.01 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Claims
1. A tool rack comprising a shelf member formed with a plurality of
structural formations for receiving and holding respective tools,
said shelf member having a front edge and a rear edge, said shelf
member being provided along said rear edge with at least one slot
for receiving a wall stud, whereby said shelf may be mounted over
said wall stud.
2. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said shelf member is
provided along said rear edge with at least two slots for receiving
respective studs, said slots being spaced from one another.
3. The tool rack defined in claim 2 wherein said slots are
rectangular.
4. The tool rack defined in claim 3 wherein said shelf member is
provided with means for enabling the attachment of the shelf to the
studs.
5. The tool rack defined in claim 4 wherein said means for enabling
attachment includes apertures alignable with the studs, said
apertures being traversable by elongate coupling elements taken
from the group consisting of nails, screws, and bolts.
6. The tool rack defined in claim 5 wherein said shelf member is
provided with a lip or rim bordering each of said slots, said
apertures being formed in the lips or rims.
7. The tool rack defined in claim 6 wherein said structural
formations include holes of various sizes and shapes.
8. The tool rack defined in claim 7 wherein said structural
formations include elongate slots.
9. The tool rack defined in claim 5 wherein said shelf member
comprises an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from one
another.
10. The tool rack defined in claim 9 wherein said upper panel and
said lower panel are connected to one another along at least three
sides.
11. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said slot is
rectangular.
12. The tool rack defined in claim 11 wherein said shelf member is
provided with means for enabling the attachment of the shelf to the
stud.
13. The tool rack defined in claim 12 wherein said means for
enabling attachment includes at least one aperture alignable with
the stud, said aperture being traversable by an elongate coupling
element taken from the group consisting of a nail, a screw, and a
bolt.
14. The tool rack defined in claim 13 wherein said shelf member is
provided with a lip or rim bordering said slot, said aperture being
formed in the lip or rim.
15. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said shelf member is
provided with means for enabling the attachment of the shelf to a
vertical support.
16. The tool rack defined in claim 15 wherein said means for
enabling attachment includes a multiplicity of apertures
traversable by elongate coupling elements taken from the group
consisting essentially of nails, screws, bolts, hooks, dowels,
pins, pegs, and rivets.
17. The tool rack defined in claim 16 wherein said shelf member is
provided along said rear end with an upwardly extending flange,
said apertures being located in said flange.
18. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said structural
formations include holes of various sizes and shapes.
19. The tool rack defined in claim 18 wherein said structural
formations include elongate slots.
20. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said shelf member
comprises an upper panel and a lower panel spaced from one
another.
21. The tool rack defined in claim 20 wherein said upper panel and
said lower panel are connected to one another along at least three
sides.
22. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said slot is open at
said edge to enabling a sliding of said shelf member over the stud
so that the stud passes through said slot.
23. The tool rack defined in claim 1 wherein said shelf member is
provided with a lip or rim bordering said slot.
24. A method for storing tools, comprising: providing a tool rack
in the form of a shelf member provided with a plurality of holes,
said shelf member having a front edge and a rear edge, said shelf
member being provided along said rear edge with at least one
inwardly extending slot; sliding said shelf member over a wall stud
so that said stud is received in and traverses said slot and said
shelf member substantially surrounds said stud on three sides;
coupling said shelf member to a vertical support; disposing a
plurality of tools on said shelf member, so that the tools are held
on said shelf member.
25. The method defined in claim 24 wherein the coupling of said
shelf member to a vertical support includes inserting elongate
coupling elements through apertures on said shelf member and into
said vertical support.
26. The method defined in claim 24 wherein said vertical member is
taken from the group consisting of a wall surface, a perforated
wall board, and said stud.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/628,004 filed Nov. 15, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a tool rack. More particularly,
this invention relates to a rack in the form of a shelf attachable
to a vertical support for holding tools of different kinds and
sizes.
[0003] It is an ever ending goal of tool users to organize and
store their tools in an efficient manner. Tool storage units must
involve an efficient use of space and must hold tools so that they
may be easily or readily inspected, preferably without
manipulation. The tools should be easily removed from their
respective storage locations and subsequently easily returned to
those same storage locations.
[0004] Tool holders such as storage racks should be easy to
install, inexpensive and sturdy. Moreover, the tool holders or
racks should be able to accommodate many different kinds of tools
of different shapes and sizes.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved tool holder in the form of a rack.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a
tool holder or rack that may be mounted to a variety of vertical
supports.
[0007] A related object of the present invention is to provide such
a tool holder or rack that may be mounted in a number of different
locations.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a
tool holder or rack that is easy to install.
[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
a tool holder or rack that is inexpensive.
[0010] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
such a tool holder or rack that is lightweight but sturdy.
[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
method for storing tools that is adaptable to different storage
facilities and different kinds of support structures.
[0012] Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide
such a method that is simple to carry out.
[0013] These and other objects of the present invention will be
apparent from the drawings and description herein. Although every
object of the invention is believed to be attained by at least one
embodiment of the invention, there is not necessarily any one
embodiment of the invention that achieves all of the objects of the
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] A tool rack in accordance with the present invention
comprises a shelf member formed with a plurality of structural
formations for receiving and holding respective tools. The
structural formations may take any of a number of different forms
including holes, slots, recesses, pegs, hooks, eyelets, cups, etc.
The shelf member has a front edge and a rear edge and is provided
along the rear edge with at least one slot for receiving a wall
stud, whereby the shelf may be mounted over the wall stud.
[0015] A tool rack in accordance with the invention is easy to
install, regardless of whether the tool rack is being mounted to a
perforated wall panel or non-perforated wall and/or over a pair of
studs. Where the tool rack is to be installed over at least one
stud, a method for storing tools using this tool rack comprises
sliding the shelf member over the stud so that the stud is received
in and traverses the slot and so that the shelf member
substantially surrounds the stud on three sides. Subsequently, the
shelf member is coupled to a vertical support with the stud in
position in the slot. Then it is simply a matter of disposing tools
on the shelf member, so that the tools are held thereon, sitting on
the shelf or suspended therefrom. The shelf member may be coupled
to the vertical support by any known technique, including, for
instance, inserting elongate coupling elements (nails, screws,
bolts, pegs, pins, rivets, etc) through apertures on the shelf
member and into the vertical support. Pursuant to the present
invention, the vertical member may be a wall surface, a perforated
wall board, or the stud or any combination of these.
[0016] Preferably, the shelf member is provided at spaced locations
along the rear edge with at least two rectangular slots for
receiving respective studs. The shelf member may be provided with
apertures in upwardly turned rims or lips along the slots, the
apertures being alignable with the studs. Elongate coupling
elements inserted through these apertures and connected to the
studs serve to support the shelf member as well as any tools placed
on the shelf member.
[0017] Preferably, the shelf is additionally provided with coupling
apertures located in one or more upturned or upwardly extending
flanges along the rear edge of the shelf. These coupling apertures
may be used for mounting the tool rack to a wallboard, sheetrock,
perforated Masonite or other tool support panels, etc. Where studs
are located outside a wall surface, the tool rack may be coupled to
both the flat wall surface and the studs.
[0018] In accordance with another feature of the present invention,
the shelf member comprises an upper panel and a lower panel spaced
from one another. The upper panel and the lower panel are
preferably but not necessarily connected to one another along at
least three sides or edges. This structure is lightweight and
strong. The upper panel and lower panel may be provided with
aligned apertures where the apertures in the lower panel are at
least as large as the respective apertures in the upper panel.
Alternatively, at least some of the apertures in the lower panel
may be smaller than the respective apertures in the upper panel.
Relatively narrow portions of tools may be inserted through the
apertures, while relatively wide portions of the same tools remain
supported on the upper panel or, in some cases, on the lower panel.
In some cases, only the upper panel is provided with an aperture,
in which case a recess is formed for supporting, for instance, an
item such as a can having a uniform transverse dimension
(diameter).
[0019] A tool holder or rack in accordance with the present
invention is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install. It is
strong and versatile, but in installation possibilities and the
numbers and kinds of tools that may be supported.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool holder or rack in
accordance with the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the tool holder or rack
of FIG. 1 mounted to a perforated wall board.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the tool holder or rack
of FIG. 1 mounted over a pair of wall studs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] A tool rack comprises a shelf member 10 formed with a
plurality of structural formations 12 including circular holes or
apertures 14, 16, 18, 20 of different diameters and further
including elongate holes or slots 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 of different
widths and lengths. Circular holes 14, 16, 18, 20 serve to receive
and hold respective tools that are generally axially symmetric or
include axially symmetric end portions such as screwdrivers 32,
hammers 34, pens 36, etc., whereas elongate or oval holes 22, 24,
26, 28, 30 are especially suitable for holding tools that are wider
in one dimension than an orthogonal dimension, such as scissors 38
and pliers 40.
[0024] Shelf member 10 has a front edge 42 and a rear edge 44 and
is provided along the rear edge with at least one and preferably
two inwardly oriented slots 46 and 48 that are open on rear sides
for receiving respective wall studs 50 and 52 (FIG. 3), whereby the
shelf may be mounted over the wall studs. Shelf member 10 is formed
with upwardly turned rims or lips 54 and 56 along slots 46 and 48,
respectively. Apertures 58 and 60 provided in the lips or rims 54
and 56 are alignable with studs 50 and 52 for receiving elongate
coupling elements. The elongate coupling elements, i.e., screws,
nails, bolts, pins, or pegs, etc. (not shown) are inserted through
apertures 58 and 60 into studs 50 and 52, for supporting shelf
member 10 (and tools) on the studs.
[0025] Shelf member 10 is additionally provided with coupling
apertures 62, 64, 66 located in upturned or upwardly extending
flanges 68, 70, 72 along rear edge 44. These coupling apertures 62,
64, 66 may be used for mounting shelf member 10 to a perforated
tool support panels 74 (FIG. 2) or a vertical wall panel 76 (FIG.
3) in the form of sheetrock or other material. Shelf member is also
provided with downwardly turned flanges 78 along rear edge or side
44. Flanges 44 may be also provided with coupling apertures (not
shown). The coupling apertures 62, 64, 66 located in flanges 68,
70, 72, and 78 may be provided at various spacings and/or as slots
to accommodate wallboard perforations 79 (FIG. 2) of different
spacings.
[0026] Shelf member 10 is preferably made of metal and includes an
upper panel 80 and a lower panel 82 spaced from one another. Upper
panel 80 and lower panel 82 are connected to one another along
three sides or edges including front edge 42 and two lateral edges
84 and 86. Circular holes or apertures 14, 16, 18, 20 and elongate
or oval holes 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are then provided in vertically
aligned pairs, one hole in the upper panel 80 and a corresponding
aligned hole in the lower panel 82. The holes of each pair may be
of identical or different sizes.
[0027] To install the tool rack over studs 50 and 52, shelf member
10 is simply slid over the studs so that the studs are received in
and traverse the respective slots 46 and 48 and so that the shelf
member substantially surrounds each stud on three sides.
Subsequently, shelf member 10 is coupled to studs 50 and 52 via
apertures 58 and 60 and/or to vertical wall panel 76 via coupling
apertures 62, 64, 66 and/or apertures in flanges 78, with the studs
50 and 52 in position in the slots 46 and 48. Then it is simply a
matter of disposing tools such as screwdrivers 32, hammers 34, pens
36, scissors 38, pliers 40, and cans 90 on shelf member 10, either
sitting on the shelf or suspended therefrom.
[0028] Although the invention has been described in terms of
particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in
the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional
embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of
or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. For example,
structural formations 12 may include recesses, pegs, hooks,
eyelets, cups, and other structures suitable for holding or
suspending tools and related paraphernalia. Accordingly, it is to
be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are
proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the
invention and should not be construed to limit the scope
thereof.
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