U.S. patent application number 11/615644 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for adjustable holder and organizer.
Invention is credited to Michael John Hill.
Application Number | 20070144986 11/615644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38192369 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070144986 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hill; Michael John |
June 28, 2007 |
Adjustable Holder and Organizer
Abstract
An adjustable holder and organizer comprises a plurality of
movable pins that fit within a frame having a plurality of pin
openings that allow the pins to move from a fully extended position
to a fully retracted position. A tool or other item is placed
against the pins and pressure applied to move the pins under the
tool leaving the other pins extended thus creating a custom space
to hold the tool. The pins may be frictionally engaged within the
openings by means of O-rings, frictional bushings or spring biased
detents. The frame may be placed within a housing to utilize the
adjustable holder and organizer within a drawer or other flat
surface. A reset panel may be disposed within a housing to enable a
user to return the pins to a fully extended position to customize
the adjustable holder and organizer for different uses.
Inventors: |
Hill; Michael John; (Cedar
Falls, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATWRITE LLC
408 W. MAIN ST.
MARSHALLTOWN
IA
50158-5759
US
|
Family ID: |
38192369 |
Appl. No.: |
11/615644 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60752604 |
Dec 22, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/70.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/04 20130101; A47F
7/00 20130101; B25H 3/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/070.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Claims
1. An adjustable holder and organizer comprising: a frame having a
plurality of pin openings; said plurality of pin openings being
regularly spaced at selected intervals; and a plurality of pins
movably disposed within said pin openings.
2. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 1 further
comprising: a plurality of frictional engagement members disposed
around at least a portion of said pin whereby said pins are held in
a selected configuration.
3. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 2 whereby
said frictional engagement member is an O-ring.
4. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 3 further
comprising: an O-ring retainer panel having a plurality of pin
openings aligned with and corresponding to said frame pin openings
whereby said O-rings are held in place.
5. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 1 further
comprising a plurality of pull knobs disposed on a top of said
pins.
6. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 1 further
comprising: a plurality of pressure detents disposed within said
openings; and at least one catch groove radially disposed on said
pins whereby said pressure detent movably fits within said catch
groove.
7. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 6 further
comprising a plurality detent springs disposed within a plurality
of detent openings disposed around said pin openings within said
frame whereby said pressure detents are biased against said
pins.
8. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 1 further
comprising a housing to enclose a lower portion of said frame
whereby said frame can lie flat against a surface.
9. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 8 further
comprising a reset panel movably disposed within said housing and
engaging a bottom portion of said pin whereby said pin may be moved
together to a fully out position.
10. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 9 further
comprising a handle outwardly extending from said reset panel.
11. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 1 further
comprising a plurality of end stops disposed on at least one end of
said pins whereby said pins are prevented from passing through said
pin openings.
12. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 1 whereby
said frame is adapted to fit within a drawer.
13. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 1 whereby
said frame is adapted to be mounted vertically.
14. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 9 whereby
said reset panel is spring-loaded to bias said reset panel against
a bottom of said pins.
15. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 14
further comprising a reset panel catch to hold said reset panel
away from said bottom of said pins until a user chooses to
reset.
16. An adjustable holder and organizer comprising: a frame having a
plurality of pin openings spaced at selected intervals; a plurality
of pins movably disposed within said pin openings; and a plurality
of catching means disposed on said plurality of pin openings
whereby said pins are held in a selected position.
17. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 16
whereby said catching means is an O-ring.
18. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 16
whereby said catching means is a pressure detent.
19. An adjustable holder and organizer according to claim 16
whereby said catching mean is a friction bushing.
20. An adjustable holder and organizer comprising: a frame having a
plurality of pin openings spaced at selected intervals; a plurality
of pins movably disposed within said pin openings; and a plurality
of frictional engagement members disposed around at least a portion
of said pins whereby said pins are held in a selected
configuration.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority and herein incorporates by
reference U.S. provisional patent application 60/752,604, filed
Dec. 22, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Anyone who has experienced the frustration of not being able
to locate a tool when needed will appreciate the need for an easy
to use organizer. Jobs are made easier by being able to locate
needed tools and clutter is eliminated by good organizational
aides. Tool cabinets, shelves, workbenches, cabinets and peg boards
have all been utilized to help people locate and organize items. It
is known to trace an outline around a tool that has been placed on
a wall organizer or in a drawer. This is time-consuming and does
not easily facilitate moving the tool to a different location or
replacing the tool with new model.
[0003] It is also known to utilize foam or some other moldable
material to make a custom fitting opening for a tool, but this is
relatively expensive and complex and the foam must generally be
discarded if rearrangement is desired.
[0004] There is a need for an easy to use, flexible item holder and
organizer that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An adjustable holder and organizer comprises a plurality of
movable pins that fit within a frame having a plurality of pin
openings that allow the pins to move from a fully extended position
to a fully retracted position. A tool or other item is placed
against the pins and pressure applied to move the pins under the
tool leaving the other pins extended thus creating a custom space
to hold the tool. The pins may be frictionally engaged within the
openings by means of O-rings, frictional bushings or spring biased
detents. The frame may be placed within a housing to utilize the
adjustable holder and organizer within a drawer or other flat
surface. A reset panel may be disposed within a housing to enable a
user to return the pins to a fully extended position to customize
the adjustable holder and organizer for different uses.
[0006] Other features and advantages of the instant invention will
become apparent from the following description of the invention
which refers to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an adjustable holder and
organizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a detail cutaway side view of a portion of pins
and frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a detail cutaway side view of a portion of pins
and frame according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a detail cutaway side view of a portion of pins
and frame with pull knobs according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a detail cutaway side view of a portion of pins
and frame with pressure detents according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a detail view of the portion shown in FIG. 5.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a cutaway side view of an adjustable holder and
organizer fitted within a housing according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 8 is an illustration showing an adjustable holder and
organizer vertically mounted according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an adjustable holder and
organizer within a housing according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an adjustable holder and
organizer fitted within a drawer according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a cutaway side view of an adjustable holder and
organizer having a reset plate according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an adjustable holder and
organizer having a reset plate according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a detail cutaway side view of a portion of pins
and frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Reference is now made to the drawings in which reference
numerals refer to like elements.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, an adjustable holder and organizer is
shown having a plurality of pins 1 06 movably mounted within a
frame 104. Tools 102 or other items are pressed against pins 106
moving them toward frame 104, thus leaving a space which custom
fits tools 102. In this way various shapes are accommodated and
allows a user to visually ascertain the correct space for a
selected tool 102. The user can rearrange the tools by simply
resetting pins 106 and placing tool 102 in a new location.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, a portion of pins 106 are shown
passing through pin openings within frame 104. The openings may
have a close tolerance between pins 106 to provide frictional
positional support as they are moved. The openings may be lined
with a bushing (not shown) to provide consistent frictional
resistance as pin 106 moves. The bushing (not shown) could be made
of a soft metal such as bronze, rubber or nylon like material or it
could be a composite material as is known in the art.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 3, a portion of pins 106 are shown
within pin openings on frame 104. A plurality of O-rings 110 are
placed around a lower portion of pins 106 to frictionally support
pins 106 as they are moved. An O-ring retainer 108 has
corresponding openings and holds O-rings 108 in place as pins 106
are moved. A number of fasteners 112 are used to hold O-ring
retainer 108 in place. Fasteners 112 may be screws, bolts, rivets
or other attaching means as is known in the art.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows the addition of pull knobs 114 attached to a
top portion of pins 106. Pull knobs 114 are used to position pins
106. A user grips each pin 106 by pull knob 114 and can, therefore,
easily move a retracted pin 106 to an extended position. In this
embodiment, the tool or item (102 FIG. 1) rests against the top of
pull knobs 114 rather than the surface of frame 104, but the
functionality remains the same.
[0025] Now referring FIGS. 5 and 6, pins 106 include radially
disposed catch grooves 116 and 122 respectively to provide a
positive positional orientation from a fully extended to a fully
retracted state. A plurality of detents 118 are fitted within
detent openings 126 located within frame 104. A detent spring 120
biases each detent 118 against pin 106. In the fully extended
state, detent 118 clicks into detent groove 116. As pressure is
applied to pin 106, detent 118 is forced inward allowing pin 106 to
move. As pin 106 reaches a fully retracted state, detent 118 clicks
into detent groove 122. Although the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5
utilizes two detents 118, other arrangements are acceptable such as
a single detent per pin or multiple detents, such as three or four
detents per pin, would also be acceptable. Additionally, detent
spring 120 could also be a leaf spring or other biasing
configuration as is known in the art.
[0026] Now referring to FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, an adjustable holder and
organizer 200 is shown fitted within a housing 124 to allow
adjustable holder and organizer 200 to lie flat against a surface
such as a drawer of a toolbox 132. Housing 124 holds frame 104 away
from a surface so that pins 106 can move up and down without
impinging on the surface. In the embodiment shown, tool 102 is
placed against pins 106 displacing them but still containing them
within housing 124. Housing 124 fits against O-ring plate 108 and
includes spacers 128 which are approximately the same size as
O-rings 110. Of course it should be readily apparent that housing
124 could be utilized with any of the embodiments shown even though
it is depicted here using O-rings.
[0027] FIG. 8 depicts adjustable holder and organizer 100 mounted
in a vertical orientation on a workbench 130. In this way a user
can customize a workspace for quick visual identification even when
tool 102 is not present. Also because pins 106 may be reset,
rearrangement is easily achieved.
[0028] Now referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a reset panel 134 is
movably fitted within housing 124. Reset panel 134 has a handle 138
on each side. Handle 138 is connected to reset panel 134 with a
connecting rod 142. Connecting rod 142 slides up and down in reset
slot 136 formed within housing 124. This allows a user to reset all
the pins 106 at once to the fully extended position rather than
having to move individual pins 106. Reset panel 134 may be
spring-loaded (not shown) to assist a user in resetting pins 106.
In a spring-loaded embodiment, reset panel 134 would be biased
against the bottoms of pins 106. To prepare adjustable holder and
organizer for use, handles 138 are used to move reset panel 124
away from pins 106 and held in place by a catching mechanism (not
shown) as is known in the art. To reset, a user would release the
catching mechanism and all pins 106 would automatically be restored
to the fully extended position.
[0029] Although the instant invention has been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those
skilled in the art.
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