Tool holder

• US 6,032,796 A
• Filed: 03/06/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Tool Companies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hopper, Ryan Keith, Zlomke, Steven Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Application Number:
  US09/036,353
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 206/372, 206/373, 206/376, 206/377, 206/379, 206/472, 206/473, 220/831, 220/832, 220/833, 220/834, 220/835, 220/840, 220/842, 220/4.21, 220/4.22, 220/4.24
• US Class Current: 206/377
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/005 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/003 Holders for drill bits or the like

Abstract

A tool holder having a first panel that has a first side and a second side that faces opposite to the first side, wherein the first side has a channel. The second side includes an indicating mechanism which indicates when an object will be held in place within the channel.

Claims

1. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side, wherein said first side comprises a first open channel extending along a first direction from one end of said first side to a second end of said first side and having a first diameter along the entire length of said first open channel as measured perpendicular to said first direction; and

wherein said first side comprises a second channel having a second diameter that is different in magnitude than said first diameter.

2. The tool holder of claim 1, wherein said second channel extends along said first direction and has a second diameter as measured perpendicular to said first direction.

3. The tool holder of claim 2, wherein said first open channel is parallel to said second channel.

4. The tool holder of claim 1, further comprising:

a second panel attached to said first panel and comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side.

5. The tool holder of claim 4, comprising a hinge that hingedly attaches said first panel to said second panel so that said first panel pivots relative to said second panel from a closed position to an open position.

6. The tool holder of claim 5, wherein said closed position is achieved when said first side of said first panel is parallel to said first side of said second panel.

7. The tool holder of claim 4, wherein said first side of said second panel comprises a first channel extending along said first direction.

8. The tool holder of claim 6, wherein said first side of said second panel comprises a first open channel extending along said first direction and wherein an opening defined by said first open channel of said first panel faces an opening defined by said first channel of said second panel when said first panel is located at said closed position.

9. The tool holder of claim 6, said first panel comprising a rib interposed between and adjacent to said first open channel and said second channel of said first panel.

10. The tool holder of claim 9, wherein said first side of said second panel comprises a first open channel extending along said first direction and wherein the entire portion of an opening defined by said first channel of said second panel faces said rib when said first panel is located at said closed position.

34. The tool holder of claim 1, wherein said first open channel is permanently accessible for entry therein.

35. The tool holder of claim 1, wherein there are no clamps attached to said tool holder.

11. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side, wherein said first side comprises a first open channel extending along a first direction and having a first diameter as measured perpendicular to said first direction; and

wherein said first side comprises a second channel having a second diameter that is different in magnitude than said first diameter; and

a handle detachably connected to said first panel.

12. The tool holder of claim 11, wherein said handle comprises an opening to receive and lock a tool therein.

13. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side, wherein said first side comprises a first open channel extending along a first direction and having a first diameter as measured perpendicular to said first direction; and

wherein said first side comprises a second channel having a second diameter that is different in magnitude than said first diameter;

a second panel attached to said first panel and comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side;

a hinge that hingedly attaches said first panel to said second panel so that said first panel pivots relative to said second panel from a closed position to an open position; and

a handle detachably connected to said hinge.

14. The tool holder of claim 13, wherein said handle comprises an opening to receive and lock a tool therein.

15. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first open channel extending along a first direction from one end of said first panel to a second end of said first panel and having a first diameter along the entire length of said first open channel as measured perpendicular to said first direction; and

;

a second panel attached to said first panel and comprising a second open channel, wherein said first and second open channels have openings that face in directions opposite from one another.

16. The tool holder of claim 15, wherein said openings of said first and second open channels face one another.

17. The tool holder of claim 15, wherein said openings of said first and second open channels are offset from one another.

18. The tool holder of claim 15, wherein said first panel comprises a plurality of open channels and said second panel comprises a plurality of open channels, wherein no two open channels in said first and second panel have a diameter with the same magnitude as measured perpendicular to said first direction.

19. The tool holder of claim 18, wherein one or more of said plurality of open channels of said first panel are offset relative to any of said plurality of open channels of said second open channel.

36. The tool holder of claim 15, wherein said first open channel is permanently accessible for entry therein.

37. The tool holder of claim 15, wherein there are no clamps attached to said tool holder.

20. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first open channel extending along a first direction;

a second panel attached to said first panel and comprising a second open channel, wherein said first and second open channels have openings that face in directions opposite from one another; and

a handle detachably connected to said first panel.

21. The tool holder of claim 20, wherein said handle comprises an opening to receive and lock a tool therein.

22. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side, wherein said first side comprises a channel; and

wherein said second side comprises an indicating mechanism which indicates where an object will be held in place within said channel.

23. The tool holder of claim 22, wherein said first side comprises a second channel extending along said first direction and having a second diameter as measured perpendicular to said first direction that is different in magnitude than said first diameter.

24. The tool holder of claim 22, further comprising:

a second panel attached to said first panel and comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side.

25. The tool holder of claim 24, comprising a hinge that hingedly attaches said first panel to said second panel so that said first panel pivots relative to said second panel from a closed position to an open position.

26. The tool holder of claim 24, wherein said first panel comprises a plurality of channels and said second panel comprises a plurality of channels, wherein no two channels in said first and second panel have a diameter with the same magnitude.

38. The tool holder of claim 22, wherein said channel is permanently accessible for entry therein.

39. The tool holder of claim 22, wherein there are no clamps attached to said tool holder.

27. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side, wherein said first side comprises a channel;

wherein said second side comprises an indicating mechanism which indicates where an object will be held in place within said channel; and

a handle detachably connected to said first panel.

28. The tool holder of claim 27, wherein said handle comprises an opening to receive and lock a tool thereto.

29. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a hinge element and a first open channel extending along a first direction from one end of said first panel to a second end of said first panel and having a first diameter along the entire length of said first open channel as measured perpendicular to said first direction;

a second panel comprising a post which is inserted into said hinge element so that said first panel pivots about said post from an open position to a closed position; and

a locking mechanism that is attached to said post and which engages said first panel at said closed position.

30. The tool holder of claim 29, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a protuberance and said element hinge comprises an opening that is engaged by said protuberance at said closed position.

31. The tool holder of claim 30, wherein said protuberance is vertical.

32. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a hinge element;

a second panel comprising a post which is inserted into said hinge element so that said first panel pivots about said post from an open position to a closed position; and

a locking mechanism that is attached to said post and which engages said first panel at said closed position,

wherein said locking mechanism comprises a protuberance and a second protuberance and said hinge element comprises an opening that is engaged by said protuberance at said closed position and is engaged by said second protuberance at said open position.

33. The tool holder of claim 32, wherein said first and second protuberances extend along the length of said post and are located on opposite sides of said post.

40. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side, wherein said first side comprises a first open channel extending along a first direction and having a first diameter as measured perpendicular to said first direction; and

wherein said first side comprises a second channel having a second diameter that is different in magnitude than said first diameter; and

a handle detachably connected to said first panel, wherein said handle comprises an opening to receive and lock a tool therein.

41. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side, wherein said first side comprises a first open channel extending along a first direction and having a first diameter as measured perpendicular to said first direction; and

wherein said first side comprises a second channel having a second diameter that is different in magnitude than said first diameter;

a second panel attached to said first panel and comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side;

a hinge that hingedly attaches said first panel to said second panel so that said first panel pivots relative to said second panel from a closed position to an open position; and

a handle connected to said hinge, wherein said handle comprises an opening to receive and lock a tool therein.

42. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first open channel extending along a first direction;

a second panel attached to said first panel and comprising a second open channel, wherein said first and second open channels have openings that face in directions opposite from one another; and

a handle connected to said first panel, wherein said handle comprises an opening to receive and lock a tool therein.

43. A tool holder comprising:

a first panel comprising a first side and a second side that faces opposite to said first side, wherein said first side comprises a channel;

wherein said second side comprises an indicating mechanism which indicates where an object will be held in place within said channel; and

a handle connected to said first panel, wherein said handle comprises an opening to receive and lock a tool thereto.