U.S. patent application number 11/452063 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for holder for implements.
Invention is credited to Jung Li Huang.
Application Number | 20080000853 11/452063 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38875497 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000853 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Jung Li |
January 3, 2008 |
Holder for implements
Abstract
A holder includes a housing having two passages having inclined
passage segments which include a lower portion located closer to
each other, and an upper portion located and spaced farther away
from each other, two arms each has a shaft rotatably received in
the housing and movable and rotatable along the inclined passage
segments of the housing and rotatable between an upwardly folding
position and an outwardly working position, and the arms may be
guided and forced to move toward each other when moving along the
inclined passage segments of the housing for stably grasping and
holding a tool between the arms.
Inventors: |
Huang; Jung Li; (Changhua
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET, THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
38875497 |
Appl. No.: |
11/452063 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/70.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 7/0028 20130101;
B25H 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/70.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Claims
1. A holder comprising: a housing including two passages formed
therein and each having an inclined passage segment, said inclined
passage segments of said housing including a lower portion located
closer to each other, and an upper portion located and spaced
farther away from each other, and two arms each including a shaft
rotatably received in said housing and movable and rotatable along
said inclined passage segments of said housing respectively, and
rotatable relative to said housing between an upwardly folding
position and an outwardly working position, and said arms being
guided and forced to move toward each other when said arms are
moved downwardly along said inclined passage segments of said
housing and from said farther upper portion toward said closer
lower portion of said inclined passage segments of said housing
respectively, for grasping and holding a tool between said
arms.
2. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes
two lateral passage segments formed therein for rotatably receiving
said shafts of said arms respectively.
3. The holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said housing includes
at least one projection extended into each of said lateral passage
segments of said housing for frictionally engaging with said
shafts.
4. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arms each include
a rounded portion for engaging with the tool.
5. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arms each include
an outwardly extended and opened jaw portion for allowing the tool
to be engaged into and grasped by said arms.
6. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arms each include
a soft outer covering engaged on an outer peripheral portion for
softly engaging with the tool.
7. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein an auxiliary holding
member is rotatably attached to said housing for selectively
holding and supporting the tool.
8. The holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein said auxiliary holding
member includes a bar having two lateral passageways formed therein
for slidably receiving said arms respectively.
9. The holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary holding
member includes a lever extended from said bar and rotatably
attached to said housing.
10. The holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein said housing includes
a slit formed therein for slidably receiving said lever of said
auxiliary holding member.
11. The holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein said auxiliary
holding member includes an axle extended from said lever for
rotatably attaching to said housing.
12. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes
a base plate attached thereto for rotatably retaining said arms to
said housing.
13. The holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein said-base plate
includes a swelling having two recesses formed therein for
rotatably engaging with and supporting said arms.
14. The holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein said housing
includes at least one hole formed therein, and said base plate
includes at least one pin extended from said swelling and engaged
into said at least one hole of said housing for anchoring said
housing to said base plate.
15. The holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein said housing
includes a chamber formed therein and defined by an outer
peripheral wall for receiving said swelling of said base plate.
16. The holder as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rail
having a channel formed therein for slidably receiving said base
plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a tool retainer or holder,
and more particularly to a holder including a foldable structure
for stably holding and supporting and retaining tools or implements
in place.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical tool holders comprise a number pairs of plates
disposed between resilient blocks which may apply a resilient or
spring biasing force against the pairs of plates to clamp and
retain various tools or implements between the pairs of plates.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,591,805 to Gossett discloses
one of the typical holders for implements comprising a number of
resilient blocks for biasing or forcing-pairs of plates to clamp
and retain various tools or implements. However, the resilient
blocks may be hardened after aging and thus may not suitably bias
or force the pairs of plates to clamp and retain various tools or
implements between the pairs of plates.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,052 to Brown discloses another typical
holder or rack comprising a number of spring clips each having a
pair of curved arms for resiliently clamping and retaining various
tools or implements between the curved arms of the spring
clips.
[0007] However, the resilient curved arms of the spring clips are
required to be formed into specifically designed shapes or
configurations and to be formed into straight portions, rounded
corner or angle portions, and jaw portions, and may be deformed
after use and thus may no longer be used to suitably clamp and
retain various tools or implements between the curved arms of the
spring clips.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,285 to Bisping et al. discloses a
further typical cable clip device comprising a number of clips
slidably attached to a C-shaped sectional bar or support member,
and each having a pair of curved clamping jaws for resiliently
clamping and retaining various tools or implements between the
clamping jaws of the clips. However, the resilient clamping jaws of
the clips may also be deformed after use and thus may no longer be
used to suitably clamp and retain various tools or implements
between the clamping jaws of the clips.
[0009] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional holders for
tools or implements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a holder including a foldable structure for stably holding and
supporting and retaining tools or implements in place.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a holder comprising a housing including two passages
formed therein and each having an inclined passage segment, the
inclined passage segments of the housing including a lower portion
located closer to each other, and an upper portion located and
spaced farther away from each other, and two arms each including a
shaft rotatably received in the housing and movable and rotatable
along the inclined passage segments of the housing respectively,
and rotatable relative to the housing between an upwardly folding
position and an outwardly working position, and the arms may be
guided and forced to move toward each other when the arms are moved
downwardly along the inclined passage segments of the housing and
from the farther upper portion toward the closer lower portion of
the inclined passage segments of the housing respectively, for
grasping and holding a tool between the arms.
[0012] The housing includes two lateral passage segments formed
therein for rotatably receiving the shafts of the arms
respectively. The housing includes at least one projection extended
into each of the lateral passage segments of the housing for
frictionally engaging with the shafts.
[0013] The arms each include a rounded portion for engaging with
the tool. The arms each include an outwardly extended and opened
jaw portion for allowing the tool to be engaged into and grasped by
the arms. The arms each include a soft outer covering engaged on an
outer peripheral portion for softly engaging with the tool.
[0014] An auxiliary holding member may further be provided and
rotatably attached to the housing for selectively holding and
supporting the tool. The auxiliary holding member includes a bar
having two lateral passageways formed therein for slidably
receiving the arms respectively.
[0015] The auxiliary holding member includes a lever extended from
the bar and rotatably attached to the housing. The housing includes
a slit formed therein for slidably receiving the lever of the
auxiliary holding member. The auxiliary holding member includes an
axle extended from the lever for rotatably attaching to the
housing.
[0016] The housing includes a base plate attached thereto for
rotatably retaining the arms to the housing. The base plate
includes a swelling having two recesses formed therein for
rotatably engaging with and supporting the arms. A rail may further
be provided and includes a channel formed therein for slidably
receiving the base plate.
[0017] The housing includes at least one hole formed therein, and
the base plate includes at least one pin extended from the swelling
and engaged into the hole of the housing for anchoring the housing
to the base plate. The housing includes a chamber formed therein
and defined by an outer peripheral wall for receiving the swelling
of the base plate.
[0018] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a holder in
accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the holder;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an inner structure
of a housing of the holder;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the holder, taken along
lines 4-4 of FIG. 5;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the holder, taken along
lines 5-5 of FIG. 4; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is a top plan schematic view illustrating the
operation of the holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 4, a
holder 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a track
or rail 10 including longitudinal channel 11 formed therein and
defined by a rear panel 12, an upper panel 13, a lower panel 14,
and one or more flanges 15 extended from the free end portions of
the upper panel 13 and the lower panel 14 respectively, for
slidably receiving and supporting one or more supporting members 2
(FIG. 1). For example, each of the supporting members 2 includes a
base plate 20 slidably engaged into and movable along the
longitudinal channel 11 of the rail 10.
[0026] A swelling 21 is extended forwardly from the base plate 20
and includes two substantially L-shaped recesses 22 formed therein
and arranged in a mirror symmetric status, a slot 24 also formed in
the swelling 21 and located between the recesses 22, and the slot
24 of the swelling 21 includes a lower portion 25 communicating
with the recesses 22 of the swelling 21. One or more pins 26 are
extended forwardly from the swelling 21. It is preferable that the
recesses 22 of the swelling 21 each include a substantially
horizontal or lateral recess segment 23 and a substantially
vertical or inclined recess segment 28 (FIG. 2).
[0027] A housing 30 is to be engaged onto the base plate 20 and to
be secured onto the base plate 20 with such as fasteners 80, and
includes a chamber 31 formed therein and defined by an outer
peripheral wall 32 which will be engaged onto the base plate 20,
and arranged to receive the swelling 21 of the base plate 20 within
the chamber 31 of the housing 30. The housing 30 also includes a
bulge 33 extended into the chamber 31 thereof for mating or
engaging with the swelling 21 of the base plate 20, and includes
one or more holes 34 formed in the bulge 33 (FIG. 3) for receiving
the pins 26 and for anchoring or positioning the housing 30 to the
base plate 20 and for preventing the housing 30 from being moved up
and down and sidewise relative to the base plate 20.
[0028] The housing 30 also includes two substantially L-shaped
passages 35 formed therein and arranged in a mirror symmetric
status, and aligned with the recesses 22 of the swelling 21 of the
base plate 20, and a slit 36 also formed in the bulge 33 and
located between the passages 35, and the slit 36 of the bulge 33
includes a lower portion 37 communicating with the passages 35 of
the bulge 33 (FIG. 3). It is also preferable that the passages 35
of the bulge 33 each also include a substantially horizontal or
lateral passage segment 38 and a substantially vertical or inclined
passage segment 39 (FIG. 3) for aligning with the horizontal or
lateral recess segment 23 and the vertical or inclined recess
segment 28 of the recesses 22 of the swelling 21 of the base plate
20 respectively. The slit 36 and the vertical or inclined passage
segments 39 of the housing 30 are formed forwardly through the
housing 30.
[0029] A pair of arms 50 each include an angled base portion 51
received in the passages 35 of the bulge 33 of the housing 30
and/or in the recesses 22 of the swelling 21 of the base plate 20
respectively, and having a substantially horizontal or lateral
shaft 52 rotatably received in the horizontal or lateral passage
segment 38 of the housing 30 and/or in the horizontal or lateral
recess segment 23 of the swelling 21 of the base plate 20
respectively for allowing the arms 50 to be rotated relative to the
housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 between an upwardly folding or
receiving position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and an
outwardly and substantially horizontal working position as shown in
solid lines in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, in which the arms 50 are movable
along the vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing
30 respectively as shown with arrows in FIG. 5.
[0030] It is preferable that the arms 50 each further include an
angled or rounded portion 53 and an outwardly extended or opened
jaw portion 54 for suitably engaging with or gripping or grasping
various tools or implements 81, 83 therein (FIGS. 1, 6), and a soft
or resilient outer covering 55 attached or engaged or molded on the
outer peripheral portion of both the angled or rounded portion 53
and the jaw portion 54 of the arms 50 respectively for softly
engaging with the tools or implements 81, 83 and for preventing the
tools or implements 81, 83 from being scratched or damaged by the
arms 50. The outwardly extended or opened jaw portions 54 of the
arms 50 allow the tools or implements 81, 83 to be suitably engaged
into and grasped by the arms 50.
[0031] As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the vertical or inclined
passage segments 39 of the housing 30 include a lower portion 40
located closer to each other, and an upper portion 41 located
distal to each other or spaced farther away from each other for
guiding the angled or rounded portion 53 and the jaw portion 54 of
the arms 50 to move toward each other when the arms 50 are moved
downwardly along the vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of
the housing 30 respectively, and thus for allowing the angled or
rounded portion 53 and the jaw portion 54 of the arms 50 to
suitably grip or grasp and hold the tools or implements 81, 83
between the arms 50.
[0032] It is further preferable that the housing 30 may include one
or more projections 88 (FIG. 3) extended into the horizontal or
lateral passage segment 38 of the housing 30 for frictionally
engaging with the lateral shaft 52 or the angled base portion 51 of
the arms 50 respectively and for stably retaining the arms 50 to
the housing 30 and the base plate 20, for example, for stably
retaining the arms 50 to the housing 30 and the base plate 20 at
the upwardly folding or receiving position as shown in dotted lines
in FIG. 4, and for preventing the arms 50 from moving or rotating
forwardly and downwardly relative to the housing 30 and/or the base
plate 20 from the upwardly folding or receiving position to the
horizontal working position as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6.
[0033] An auxiliary holding member 60 may further be provided and
includes a lever 61 for movably or rotatably engaging in the slit
36 of the bulge 33 of the housing 30 and/or the slot 24 of the
swelling 21 of the base plate 20, and also for allowing the
auxiliary holding member 60 to be rotated relative to the housing
30 and/or the base plate 20 between an upwardly folding or
receiving position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and an
outwardly and substantially horizontal working position as shown in
solid lines in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, in which the lever 61 of the
auxiliary holding member 60 is also movable outwardly or downwardly
along the slit 36 of the bulge 33 of the housing 30.
[0034] For example, the auxiliary holding member 60 includes an
axle 62 extended from the lever 61 and rotatably engaged in the
adjacent portions of the horizontal or lateral passage segment 38
of the housing 30 and/or of the horizontal or lateral recess
segment 23 of the swelling 21 of the base plate 20 respectively for
allowing the auxiliary holding member 60 to be suitably rotated
relative to the housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 with the axle
62. The auxiliary holding member 60 further includes a bar 63
attached to or extended from the front or free end portion of the
lever 61 and preferably perpendicular to the lever 61 and having a
pair of outwardly opened and lateral passageways 64 formed therein
for slidably receiving the arms 50 respectively and for further
stably supporting the arms 50 at the horizontal working position as
shown in FIGS. 1, and 4-6.
[0035] It is to be noted that the arms 50, particularly the angled
or rounded portions 53 and/or the jaw portions 54 of the arms 50
may be suitably spaced farther away from each other by the upwardly
and outwardly inclined vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of
the housing 30 when the arms 50 are rotated upwardly relative to
the housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 to the upwardly folding or
receiving position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and thus for
allowing the tools or implements 81, 83 to be engaged into or
between the angled or rounded portions 53 and/or the jaw portions
54 of the arms 50.
[0036] When the arms 50 are rotated downwardly relative to the
housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 from the upwardly folding or
receiving position to the horizontal working position as shown in
FIGS. 1, and 4-6, the angled or rounded portion 53 and the jaw
portion 54 of the arms 50 may be guided and forced to move toward
each other when the arms 50 are moved downwardly along the vertical
or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing 30 and from the
farther upper portions 41 toward the closer lower portions 40 of
the vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing 30
respectively, in order to suitably grip or grasp and hold the tools
or implements 81, 83 between the arms 50.
[0037] The angled or rounded portion 53 and the jaw portion 54 of
the arms 50 may further be guided and forced to move toward each
other by the weight of both the tools or implements 81, 83 and the
arms 50 in order to suitably grip or grasp and hold the tools or
implements 81, 83 of different size or width or thickness best
shown in FIG. 6. It is to be noted that the base plate 20 may be
formed or molded integral with the housing 30, or may be formed or
acted as a retaining means for rotatably retaining the arms 50 to
the housing 30.
[0038] Accordingly, the holder in accordance with the present
invention includes a foldable structure for stably holding and
supporting and retaining tools or implements in place.
[0039] 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.
* * * * *