Tire mounted work tray

• US 6,082,270 A
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence M. Zerger
• Original Assignee: Lawrence M. Zerger
• Inventors: Zerger, Lawrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/321,153
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 108/42, 108/43, 108/44, 108/45, 108/46, 108/47, 248/231.31, 248/231.41, 248/231.51
• US Class Current: 108/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/001 of tables or trays

Abstract

A tire mounted work tray for providing convenient and easy access to tools while working on vehicles includes an elongated support base with a track formed therein, a tool tray secured to an upper surface of the support base, and an adjustable clamping mechanism secured to the support base for clamping the device to a vehicle tire or other convenient support structure.

Claims

1. A tool holder assembly, comprising:

an elongated support base including a track formed therein;

a tool tray secured to an upper surface of the support base;

adjustable clamp means secured to the support base adapted for clamping the assembly to a support surface, said adjustable clamp means comprising a stationary clamp portion pivotally attached to the support base and a moveable clamp portion pivotally attached to a carriage slidably disposed within the track; and

a locking lever pivotally attached to the carriage, the locking lever having an arcuate outer perimeter being selectively extendable above the carriage by pivoting said locking lever whereby the carriage is urged against the track when said locking lever is pivoted for frictionally preventing movement of the carriage, the locking lever being disposed between opposing walls of the carriage, the opposing walls each including a plurality of aligned holes, the locking lever including an aperture extending transverse to a plane in which the locking lever pivots, the aperture being alignable with a selectable pair of opposing holes in the walls of the carriage such that a pin is insertable through the walls and the locking lever for preventing the locking lever from pivoting whereby the outer perimeter of the locking lever is securable in an extended position for preventing movement of the carriage.

2. The tool holder assembly of claim 1, further comprising a stop means affixed to the support base for limiting the range of sliding movement of the carriage within the track.

3. The tool holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer perimeter of the locking lever has a toothed portion for facilitating prevention of lateral movement of the locking lever with respect to the tray when the outer perimeter is in the extended position.

4. The tool holder assembly of claim 1 wherein the support surface is a vehicle tire, and wherein each clamp portion includes an arcuate clamping wall adapted for engaging the vehicle tire.

5. The tool holder assembly of claim 4, wherein each arcuate clamping wall is covered by a rubber gripping material for facilitating secure engagement of the clamp means to the vehicle tire.

6. A tool holder assembly, comprising:

an elongated support base including a track formed therein;

a tool tray secured to an upper surface of the support base;

adjustable clamp means secured to the support base adapted for clamping the assembly to a support surface, said adjustable clamp means comprising a stationary clamp portion pivotally attached to the support base and a moveable clamp portion pivotally attached to a carriage slidably disposed within the track;

a locking lever pivotally attached to the carriage, the locking lever having an arcuate outer perimeter being selectively extendable above the carriage by pivoting said locking lever whereby the carriage is urged against the track when said locking lever is pivoted for frictionally preventing movement of the carriage, the locking lever being disposed between opposing walls of the carriage, the opposing walls each including a plurality of aligned holes, the locking lever including an aperture extending transverse to a plane in which the locking lever pivots, the aperture being alignable with a selectable pair of opposing holes in the walls of the carriage such that a pin is insertable through the walls and the locking lever for preventing the locking lever from pivoting whereby the outer perimeter of the locking lever is securable in an extended position for preventing movement of the carriage;

a stop means affixed to the support base for limiting the range of sliding movement of the carriage within the track;

the outer perimeter of the locking lever having a toothed portion for facilitating prevention of lateral movement of the locking lever with respect to the tray when the outer perimeter is in the extended position;

wherein each clamp portion includes an arcuate clamping wall adapted for engaging the vehicle tire; and

each arcuate clamping wall being covered by a rubber gripping material for facilitating secure engagement of the clamp means to the vehicle tire.