U.S. patent application number 12/228236 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-15 for multifunctional rotatable tool storage device.
Invention is credited to Stephen M. Boyd, Michael D. Wiegand.
Application Number | 20090255883 12/228236 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41163122 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090255883 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boyd; Stephen M. ; et
al. |
October 15, 2009 |
Multifunctional rotatable tool storage device
Abstract
A combination of adjustable elements that allows the user to
assemble a combination of a rotatable large tool carrier and small
hand tool storage table that can be attached to a workbench, set on
a floor, attached to a ceiling, and because of telescopic tubing,
is adjustable in height.
Inventors: |
Boyd; Stephen M.; (New
Caney, TX) ; Wiegand; Michael D.; (New Caney,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL A. ERVIN
8202 TALBOT COVE
AUSTIN
TX
78746
US
|
Family ID: |
41163122 |
Appl. No.: |
12/228236 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61123720 |
Apr 10, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/70 ;
211/70.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/0892 20130101;
A47F 5/02 20130101; B25H 3/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/70 ;
211/70.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Claims
1. A rotating implement storage device comprising: i. An adjustable
two piece telescopic shaft having a first end and a second end; ii.
a first implement table rotatably attached to said shaft; iii. at
least one implement retainer attached to said table for hanging and
storing implements; iv. a second implement table rotatably attached
to said shaft; and v. a stop collar for adjusting and maintaining
the length of said adjustable two-piece telescopic shaft.
2. The rotating implement storage device of claim 1 further
comprising a mobile floor stand shaped to accept said first end or
said second end of said two-piece telescopic shaft.
3. The rotating implement storage device of claim 1 further
comprising a connecting mount for attaching said telescopic shaft
to flat surfaces.
4. The rotating implement storage device of claim 1 wherein said
first implement table comprises implement hangers for hanging any
type of tool suitable for hanging.
5. The rotating implement storage device of claim 4 wherein said
implement hangers are on the outside circumference of said first
implement table.
6. The rotating implement storage device of claim 4 wherein said
implement hangers are on the bottom surface of said first implement
table.
7. The rotating implement storage device of claim 1 wherein said
first implement table comprises holes designed to accept
non-hanging items.
8. The rotating implement storage device of claim 1 wherein said
second implement table comprises holes designed to accept
non-hanging items.
9. The rotating implement storage device of claim 2 further
comprising at least one leg attached to said floor stand to provide
support.
10. The rotating implement storage device of claim 9 further
comprising a leg leveler attached to said at least one leg attached
to said floor stand.
11. The rotating implement storage device of claim 3 wherein said
connecting mount is oriented to be attached to horizontal
surfaces.
12. The rotating implement storage device of claim 3 wherein said
connecting mount is oriented to be attached to horizontal surfaces.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 61/123,720 filed Apr. 10, 2008 by the present
inventors.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The American garage has become a disorganized storage shed
for lawn and garden tools, assorted hand and power tools, as well
as sports equipment.
[0003] A typical approach to this issue has been to stack these
things in a corner, where they attract a colony of assorted
arachnids, insects, and sometimes rodents. Alternately they are
lined along walls on hooks, nails and clips. Many implement handles
contain a hole or other attachment means which allows the implement
to be secured to these nails or hooks.
[0004] The space utilization of these methods is not optimum, and
valuable space in an already crowded garage or tool shed that could
be used for other purposes is wasted. And in order to access the
tools stored along a wall, one must approach the tools directly
beneath their placement on the wall, often necessitating that items
beneath the stored tools be moved or vehicles backed from the
garage in an effort to facilitate access to the desired tools.
[0005] Various methods for this problem have been proposed in the
prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,644 issued to Joseph A. Weld, Jr. on
Mar. 7, 1989, shows a circular rack with hooks and tongs upon which
equestrian gear are hung so that they may be rotatably brought into
view. Again, this would be inappropriate for a garden
implement-retaining device. There are a myriad of references for
circular racks, both motorized and unmotorized, which allow items
like men's ties to be draped over hooks on a wheel or disk which
can be rotated from its center in order to bring the ties into
view. The need is for a system that has easy accessibility to large
tools, such as gardening implements, as well as the numerous small
hand tools that do not require hanging, while maximizing the use of
comparatively minimal amounts of space.
[0006] Geldenhuys (U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,277) has partly addressed
this need with a support mounted rotating implement rack having a
releasable means for hanging, retaining, and storing garden tools
and other large implements. While an improvement, this approach is
limited to situations in which there is a section of clear wall
available for mounting the support bracket or a strong low level
beam available overhead in an advantageous position in the garage
or tool shed. What is needed is a very versatile solution, which
can be configured in any number of positions, while offering the
user access to a variety of tools, including both large garden
tools and simple hand tools that do not have to be hung, with an
easy means of placing and removing them.
SUMMARY
[0007] This need is met by the instant invention to be described.
The invention is an elegant combination of adjustable elements that
allows the user to assemble a combination of a rotatable large tool
carrier and small hand tool storage table that can be attached to a
workbench, set on a floor, attached to a ceiling, and because of
telescopic tubing, is adjustable in height.
[0008] The invention is accomplished by a rotating implement
storage device including at least: an adjustable two piece
telescopic shaft having a first end and a second end; a first
implement table rotatably attached to the shaft; at least one
implement retainer attached to the table for hanging and storing
implements; a second implement table rotatably attached to the
shaft; and a stop collar for adjusting and maintaining the length
of the adjustable two-piece telescopic shaft.
[0009] An aspect of the invention is a telescopic shaft consisting
of two concentric tubes of different diameters so that the shaft
can be collapsed to a first short length or extended to a second
longer length.
[0010] Another aspect of the invention is at least one first table
attached rotatably to the shaft that has at least one implement
retainer that functions to hang and store items of variable length.
This first table is preferably circular but can take other shapes
such as rectangular.
[0011] Another aspect of the invention is at least one second table
attached rotatably to the shaft that functions as a table to store
a variety of smaller items. This second table can be solid or have
designed holes to allow insertion and storage of numerous hand
tools. This second table is preferably circular but can take other
shapes such as rectangular.
[0012] Another aspect of the invention is a mobile floor stand that
is used to support the telescopic shaft and can be used
advantageously to move the storage device is the optimum location
for a job. The mobile floor stand can take a number of forms.
[0013] Another aspect of the invention is a connecting mount for
attaching the telescopic shaft to solid supports. In one
configuration the connecting mount can be used to attach the shaft
to a ceiling when the storage device is used in a ceiling hanging
mode. In an alternate configuration the connecting mount can be
used to attach the shaft to a solid support such as a workbench or
a floor.
[0014] Another aspect of the invention is that the at least one
first table and the at least one second table can be configured in
multiple ways. For example either can be above the other in a
working configuration. In addition the working configuration can be
a short shaft configuration, with the concentric tubes collapsed,
or a long shaft configuration, with the concentric tubes expanded.
And the device can be ceiling mounted, or floor or workbench
mounted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a view of the pieces of a floor mount version of
of the instant invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is different aspect views of the tables of the
instant invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a possible configuration of the floor mount
version.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a configuration of a hanging version of the
instant invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 demonstrates two different versions of an alternate
version of the instant invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 demonstrates two different configurations of the
connecting mount of the alternate version of the instant
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] FIG. 1, numeral 100, shows the elements of the instant
invention in a floor model. Concentric tubes 110 are of two
different diameters and one slides into the other to create a
telescopic shaft. A first table 120 and second table 125 are shown
that have a central hole for insertion of the tubes of the
telescopic shaft. Both tables are rotatable. Flange spindles 108
and 130 are used to position the first and second table in place on
the shaft. In addition a stop collar 135 fits over the telescopic
shaft to control the extension length of the shaft. One possible
mobile floor stand design 115, with legs 140 and leg levelers 145
accepts one end of the telescopic shaft. A decorative end cap 104
is used on the top of the telescopic shaft. This combination of
tables, tubes, flange spindles, and stop collar can be used to
generate a variety of configurations for storage possibilities for
a floor mounted unit.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the two tables from FIG. 1 in more detail and
from different perspectives. The second table (125 in FIG. 1) is
shown generally by the numeral 200. A top 230, side 220 and bottom
210 view are shown. This version of the second table has numerous
holes designed to accept non-hanging items such as brushes,
screwdrivers, or pliers. The first table in three perspectives
(260,270,280) is shown generally by the numeral 250. In addition to
any possible configuration of holes to accommodate non-hanging
items as in the second table, this first table is ringed by
implement hangers that can take various shapes and can be attached
not only around but also underneath the first table. The implement
hangers can be used to hang any garage or gardening tools suitable
for hanging. Either table can have any number of holes and the
holes can be useful for storing non-hanging items such as brushes,
screwdrivers, or pliers. Either table may also have flat tray areas
without holes for accepting storage of small implements like nuts
and bolts. Because either table is rotatable this makes for easy
accessibility to tools without reaching around.
[0023] FIG. 3, shown generally by the numeral 300, demonstrates one
of the possibilities for configuring a floor mounted storage
device. The telescoping tubes are configured and held in place
rigidly by stop collar 330. The first table 310 with implement
hangers around the circumference and underneath (not shown) is
mounted at the top and supported underneath by a flange spindle
(not shown). It can be used to hang various tools as well as accept
non-hanging items in the provided holes. Second table 320 is
mounted below supported underneath by a flange spindle (not
shown).
[0024] For storage needs in which a floor mount is not practical
the instant invention provides an alternate version with a
connecting mount. FIG. 4, shown generally by the numeral 400 is a
possible hanging configuration. The telescoping tubes are
configured and held in place by stop collar 410. The first table
420 is configured in place above second table 430. The decorative
cap is placed below the second table. In this configuration a
special connecting mount 450 is shown on the top of the
configuration. Connecting mount 450 is shown with holes that allow
nails or screws to be used to attach the mount to any horizontal or
vertical surface. With this connecting mount the storage device
could also be connected directly to a workbench or table.
[0025] FIG. 5 demonstrates two different configurations (500 and
550) of a hanging connecting mount version of the instant
invention. In both configurations a stop collar 520 is used to
rigidly hold the telescoping tubes in place. The first table 530
and the second table 540 are held in place and supported by
underlying flange spindles. Configuration 500 demonstrates a
connecting mount 510 oriented to be mounted upward onto a
horizontal surface. Configuration 560 demonstrates a connecting
mount 560 oriented to be mounted upward onto a vertical
surface.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a more detailed and larger view of two basic
configurations for mounting the storage device to a surface. In the
first configuration 600 the connecting mount is locked into place
using locking pin 620 in a configuration that allows the invention
to be mounted upwardly onto a horizontal surface. In the second
configuration 610 the connecting mount is locked into place using
locking pin 620 in a configuration that allows the invention to be
mounted on any vertical surface.
[0027] The floor mounting shown in FIG. 3 and the connecting
mounting shown in FIG. 4 are just one combination possible of each.
It is evident that the telescoping tubes can be configured to any
number of lengths. The first and second tables can be placed
anywhere on the combined tubes, with either on top.
[0028] While one (or more) embodiment(s) of this invention has
(have) been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described
above, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes
and modifications may be made therein without departing from the
essence of this invention. All such modifications or variations are
believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as
defined by the claims appended hereto.
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