U.S. patent application number 11/206669 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for hand tool rack.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEA WAY HAND TOOL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Tina Lin, Charlie Tseng.
Application Number | 20060108300 11/206669 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36459990 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060108300 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Tina ; et al. |
May 25, 2006 |
Hand tool rack
Abstract
The invention relates to a hand tool rack, which comprises a
rack base with a plurality of tool slots, a handle and a cover,
wherein the tool slots are arranged horizontally from top to
bottom, while the hand tools are positioned horizontally to have a
greater contact area with the rack than if positioned vertically,
thereby increasing the stability for tool storage. The cover may be
locked to the rack base to ensure the hand tools are not dropped
out. Preferably, a safety pin is provided to pass through the cover
and the rack base, and the safety pin must be snipped off by using
a tool when the hand tools are taken out for the first time, such
that the hand tools exhibited in the rack can be more effectively
prevented from being stolen.
Inventors: |
Lin; Tina; (Taichung City,
TW) ; Tseng; Charlie; (Taichung City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY
26 WEST 61ST STREET
NEW YORK
NY
10023
US
|
Assignee: |
LEA WAY HAND TOOL
CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
36459990 |
Appl. No.: |
11/206669 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/70.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 7/0028 20130101;
B25H 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/070.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 23, 2004 |
TW |
093218804 |
Claims
1. A hand tool rack, comprising: a rack base having a
tool-retaining section and a plurality of tool slots spaced from
each other on said tool-retaining section, each of said tool slots
being defined by a space between a stabilizing member and a support
member, both of said members extending from said tool-retaining
section and opposite to each other.
2. The hand tool rack of claim 1, further comprising a handle
connected to said rack base.
3. The hand tool rack of claim 1, further comprising a cover
pivotally connected to said rack base so as to at least partly
enclose said tool-retaining section of said rack base.
4. The hand tool rack of claim 3, further comprising a releasable
device engaging a free end of said cover with the rack base.
5. The hand tool rack of claim 1, wherein each of said support
members comprises a restrictor.
6. The hand tool rack of claim 3, further comprising a safety pin
having at least one enlarged end, said safety pin passing through a
free end of said rack base said cover.
7. The hand tool rack of claim 2, wherein said handle is an
integral part of said rack base.
8. The hand tool rack of claim 2, wherein said handle and said rack
base are detachable.
9. The hand tool rack of claim 1, wherein an acute angle is
provided between said support member and said tool-retaining
section of said rack base.
10. The hand tool rack of claim 9, wherein said acute angle of each
said support member ranges from 45 to 90 degrees.
11. The hand tool rack of claim 9, wherein said acute angle of each
said support member ranges from 60 to 80 degrees.
12. The hand tool rack of claim 4, wherein said releasable device
comprises protrusions on both sides of said free end of said cover,
and corresponding concaves on said rack base for engaging with said
protrusions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a hang-type/carry-type rack with
the functions of packaging, exhibiting and storing various hand
tools.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] There are a wide variety of hand tools of different kinds
and specifications. To meet the different requirements of
consumers, hand tools of particular kinds or specifications usually
need to be packaged and sold as a kit.
[0005] Due to customers' different requirement, it is sometimes
necessary for the contents of the kit to be visible to the
customers, or even to allow the tools to be touched by customers so
that they can have a better understanding of the actual quality of
the products and avoid a situation that in which quality of the
product bought is found not to meet requirements only after it has
been paid for and unsealed. Transparent boxes or plastic films are
usually used in current packaging so that customers can see the
contents packaged inside the packing box. However, due to a layer
of packing material, the light may be reflected therefrom or
transmit thereinto, thus causing consumers to misjudge the
product's quality, and therefore buy an undesired product. Thus,
it's necessary for a part of the product to be exposed so that
customers may actually touch the product to feel its quality.
[0006] However, partial exposure of the exhibited product causes
concerns that it will be stolen; therefore, theft-proof design is
often necessary.
[0007] Moreover, there may be a lot of hand tools included in a kit
package. In addition to exhibition, the ease of storage after use
is also of concern. Therefore, a rack that can stably hold the
tools and is convenient for carrying is needed.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,303 discloses a conventional theft-proof
hand tool rack capable of exhibiting and storing tools. However,
when the tool rack is unsealed for use and the latch member (17) is
cut, the hand tools in the hand tool rack may drop out once they
are touched due to the damage of the latch member (17). Further,
when the user lifts the first end (11) of the tool rack to move the
whole tool kit, the tools in the tool rack are positioned upright
and therefore easily scattered due to shaking by a careless
user.
[0009] In view of the above disadvantages, there still exists a
need to provide a hand tool rack which is easy to manufacture,
firmly retains tools in the hand tool rack, and allows a user to
easily access the tools therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The invention relates to a hand tool rack including a rack
base having a plurality of tool slots, a handle and a cover,
wherein said tool slots are arranged in series along a direction
orthogonal to the handle (i.e., up-to-down) with each of them
parallel to said handle, such that, when the hand tool rack is
lifted from the handle, the tool slots are in an up-to-down
arrangement with each of them extending horizontally. With the
above structure, the hand tools have a greater contact area with
the rack than that of U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,303, therefore increasing
the storing stability. The cover can be secured to the rack base to
ensure that the hand tools will not drop out.
[0011] Further, a safety pin extends through the cover and the rack
base, which is snipped off by a cutting tool when a user wishes to
acquire the hand tools in a new hand tool rack for first-time use.
The safety pin can effectively prevent a person from taking out the
hand tools in the rack without permission, especially when the hand
tool rack is simply presented for display.
[0012] The handle connected to the rack is provided for hanging in
a shop exhibition. It is also convenient for customers to grasp or
carry. The handle can be integrally formed with the rack base, or
detachably connected to the rack base so that handles of different
shaping designs can be used to catch the customers' eyes in an
exhibition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention,
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention at a closed
state, and
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention at an open
state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the rack 10 of the
present invention substantially comprises a rack base 12, a cover
14 and a handle 18. The handle 18 is connected to the upper part of
the rack base 12. The cover 14 is pivotally connected to an end
area of the rack base 12 for at least partly enclosing a tool
retaining section of the rack base 12.
[0017] The rack base 12 has a plurality of tool slots 50 on the
tool retaining section for accommodating tools, which are spaced
from each other at equal or predetermined distances. The tool slot
50 is defined by the space between a stabilizing member 22 and a
support member 24 opposite to the stabilizing member 22. The
stabilizing member 22 extends, preferably vertically, from a
surface 20 of the tool retaining section of the rack base 12. The
support member 24 extends from the surface 20, and is spaced apart
from the stabilizing member 22 at a particular distance that can
stably retain hand tools.
[0018] The support member 24 may be provided with a restrictor 32,
preferably at the free end of the support member 24. The restrictor
32 can work with the stabilizing member 22 to prevent the hand tool
in the tool slot 50 from dropping outward. The restrictor 32 is
preferably in the form of a hook. An acute angle is preferably
provided between the support member 24 and the surface 20 of the
tool-retaining section of the rack base 12. The acute angle between
the support member 24 and the rack base 12 is preferably between 45
and 90 degrees, and more preferably between 60 and 80 degrees.
[0019] The handle 18 can be detachably connected to the upper part
of the rack base 12 or be integrally formed with the rack base 12.
The detachable structure of the handle 18 can catch the eyes of
consumers due to its variable configurations. Thus, the handle 18
may be designed with various configurations to match the package
style of the rack 10, so as to increase stability and convenience
for grasping and thereby to enhance the purchase desire of
consumers. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the handle 18 is fixed
and locked to the rack base 12 with screws. Handles with different
configurations may be fixed on the rack base 12 through any locking
method.
[0020] The cover 14 has a pivotal end and a free end, wherein the
pivotal end is pivotally connected to the rack base 12 and the free
end is engaged with the rack base 12 by a releasable device. The
releasable device is preferably in the form of a protrusion 42 at
the free end or two protrusions 42 at both sides of the free end of
the cover 14. A corresponding concave or a pair of concaves for
accommodating the protrusion(s) 42 is/are disposed in the rack base
12 so that the protrusion(s) 42 can be tightly engaged with the
corresponding concave(s) through a force closing the cover 14.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rack 10 is preferably
provided with a safety pin 16 passing through the free end of the
rack base 12 and the cover 14, and the safety pin 16 is preferably
formed with enlarged ends, with one of the ends having an elastic
structure.
[0022] When using the rack 10 of the present invention, the hand
tools are disposed or inserted in the tool slots 50. The acute
angle between the support member 24 and the rack base 12 can ensure
a hand tool W is retained firmly in the corresponding tool slot 50
under the aid of the stabilizing member 22, especially when the
rack 10 is carried or hung upright. The restrictor 32 at the free
end of the support member 24 may prevent the hand tool W from
dropping out of the tool slot 50.
[0023] The pivotal end of the cover 14 is pivotally connected to
the rack base 12 so that the cover 14 may be rotated between an
open position and a closed position. When user wishes access to the
hand tool W kept in the tool slot 50, he/she can first apply force
to separate the protrusion from the concave 42 so as to open the
cover 14, and then push the protrusion 42 back into the concave to
close and lock the cover 14.
[0024] The rack 10 of the present invention has many advantages. In
one aspect, the rack 10 exposes the hand tools therein to the
customers so as to allow the customers to observe the appearance,
specification and the like of the hand tools, and allow them to
touch the tools such that the potential buyers may make sure of the
details of the desired hand tool products beforehand. To obtain the
hand tool W inserted in the rack 10, the user is supposed to snip
off the safety pin 16; otherwise, the cover 14 cannot be opened.
Therefore, the safety pin 16 can prevent persons from taking away
the hand tools in the rack 10 without permission.
[0025] The handle 18 is designed to facilitate the rack 10 being
hung on the wall or being carried by the customer, or to attract
the customers to purchase the whole hand tool rack package.
[0026] Furthermore, in order to attract customers, the appearance
design of the handle 18 may be changed. The handle 18 and the rack
base 12 may thus be connected together by screws or other methods
to allow the handle 18 and the rack base 12 to be detachably
assembled. As such, different appearances may be applied to the
handle 18 to stimulate the consumers' desire to purchase the whole
package.
[0027] The aforementioned explanations are directed to the
descriptions of preferred embodiments according to the present
invention. Since this invention is not limited to the specific
details described in connection with the preferred embodiments,
changes and implementations to certain features of the preferred
embodiments without altering the overall basic functions of the
present invention are contemplated within the scope of the appended
claims. Therefore, modifications and variations without departing
from the spirit of the present invention on the pivotal end
position of the cover 14, the releasable mechanism of the free end
and the rack base 12, and/or the technical means for the
theft-proof mechanism, the shape of the cover 14, the rack base 12,
the support member 24 and the stabilizing member 22 and the like,
are all within the scope of the invention as defined in the
accompanying claims.
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