Universal tool holder

• US 6,880,794 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter P. Kahn
• Original Assignee: Peter P. Kahn
• Inventors: Kahn, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita
• Assistant Examiner(s): STERLING, AMY JO
• Application Number:
  US10/716,541
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 248/315, 248/317, 248/223.31, 248/229.15, 248/229.14, 248/229.16, 248/229.26, 248/230.7, 241/15.R, 241/223, 241/27, 241/29.R, 241/29.D, 241/32.R
• US Class Current: 248/315
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0575 Portable tools
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0006 Hangers for hanging articles on bars, tringles, bracket arms or the like dress holders, e.g. for clothing, shoes, A47G25/00; packages for hanging B65D; lockable clothing holders E05B69/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/00 Storage means or arrangements for workshops facilitating access to, or handling of, work tools or instruments containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00; nail dispensers B25C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/143 specially adapted to be inserted into the end of a hollow rung
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/00 Hooks; Eyes if the attaching parts or means are concerned, groups F16B13/00, F16B15/00, F16B19/00, F16B25/00, F16B35/00, F16B47/00 take precedence; for hanging pictures or the like A47G1/16; towing hooks for ships B63B21/58; for hoisting or hauling purposes B66C; hooks or eyes with integral parts designed to facilitate quick attachment to cables or ropes at any point F16G11/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/39 Cord and rope holders

Abstract

A universal tool holder for carrying a tool or other article, for example, a cordless drill, nail gun, hammer or shovel is provided comprising a stretchable cord that is formed into a looped end and adapted to be wrapped about the handle of a tool in such a manner that it tightly engages the tool, and a second end having a retainable object, such as a ball, that is configured to be safely and securely held within a retaining receiver. The retaining receiver is in the form of a socket-type receiver configured to correspond to the geometrical shape of the retainable object such it can removably secure the retainable object. The socket-shaped retaining receiver can be incorporated into a variety of articles usefull in carrying and storing tools, including a belt clip, a wall mounting implement or a ladder mounting implement. By integrating the retaining receiver into such a variety of articles, any tool carried by the universal tool holder can be removably secured to the retaining receiver, thereby enabling a user to suspend the tool from a belt clip, ladder or wall.

Claims

1. A universal tool holder for removably attaching and carrying a tool, comprising:

a. a stretchable cord having first end and a second end;

b. a frusto-conical locking spacer having a proximal end, a distal end and a central opening, said distal end having a first outer diameter;

c. a retainable object having an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture having a diameter corresponding to said first outer diameter of said distal end;

d. a crimped locking element;

e. a looped end, said looped end formed by inserting said first and second ends of said stretchable cord into said proximal end of said locking spacer, through said central opening of said locking spacer and out said distal end of said locking spacer such that said first and second ends of said stretchable cord are positioned outside said distal end, and

f. a terminal end, said terminal end formed by passing said retainable object over said first and second ends of said stretchable cord and onto said distal end of said locking spacer and introducing said crimped locking element over said first and second ends of said stretchable cord in such a manner that said first and second ends of said stretchable cord cannot be pulled back through said locking spacer and said retainable object is disposed at said terminal end,

wherein said universal tool holder is removably attached to a tool by wrapping said looped end about a portion of a tool and over said retainable object at said terminal, and

wherein a retaining receiver having a main section with an inner surface and an open bottom surface is provided, said retainable object having an outer surface conforming to said inner surface and bottom surface of said retaining receiver, such that said retainable object can be introduced and removably secured within said retaining receiver in such a manner that when said retainable object is secured within said retaining receiver, said locking spacer and said looped end being disposed below said open bottom surface and a tool attached to said universal tool holder can be suspended from said retaining receiver.

2. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein said retainable object is in the form of a ball and said terminal end is a ball end.

3. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 2, wherein said retaining receiver is a ball cup comprising:

a. a main section having two arcuate arms extending therefrom, each of said two arcuate arms having an arm end which curves inwardly and toward said other arm end;

b. an inner wall concaved downwardly and inwardly from said main section and two arcuate arms to form a concaved bottom section having a bottom opening, and

c. a passage formed by between said ends of said two arcuate arms.

4. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 3, wherein said ball is introduced into said ball cup by introducing said locking spacer through said passage between said ends of said two arcuate arms, said ball end being disposed above said ball cup, pivotally lowering said ball end into said concaved bottom section until said ball contacts said concaved bottom section in such a manner that said locking spacer and said looped end extend downwardly through said bottom opening and wherein said ball has an outer diameter, said outer diameter being greater than said bottom opening such that said ball cannot exit through said bottom opening.

5. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein said main section of said retaining receiver is provided with amounting aperture such that said retaining receiver can be mounted to a wall by introducing a screw through said mounting aperture and into a wall.

6. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 5, wherein a tool attached to said universal tool holder can be stored against a wall by introducing said retainable object into said retaining receiver.

7. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 4, wherein said main section of said ball cup is provided with a mounting aperture such that said ball cup can be mounted to a wall by introducing a screw through said mounting aperture and into a wall.

8. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 7, wherein a tool attached to said universal tool holder can be stored against a wall by introducing said ball into said ball cup.

9. The universal tool holder in accordance with 1, wherein said retaining receiver is incorporated into an expandable mounting implement, said expandable mounting implement being configured to be removably secured into the interior of a hollow rung of a ladder.

10. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 9, wherein said expandable mounting implement comprises:

a. a threaded rod;

b. a washer;

c. an expandable rubber element having a flanged end and having central bore extending therethrough, said rubber element configured to be of sufficient size to be snugly inserted within the interior of a hollow rung of a ladder and said central bore having a bore diameter, said diameter being of sufficient size to receive said threaded rod;

d. said retaining receiver having a mounting aperture disposed within said main section, said mounting aperture having a mounting aperture diameter, said mounting aperture diameter being of sufficient size to receive said threaded rod, and

e. a threaded nut configured to threadingly engage said thread rod, wherein said expandable mounting implement is formed by introducing said threaded rod through said mounting aperture, through said washer, through said central bore and into said threaded nut such that said washer contacts said flanged end.

11. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 10, wherein said expandable mounting implement is removably secured into the interior of a hollow rung of a ladder by inserting said expandable rubber element into the interior of a hollow rung of a ladder, and turning said retaining receiver clockwise in such a manner that the arrangement of said rubber element disposed between said washer and said threaded nuit causes said rubber element to expand within the interior of a hollow rung.

12. The universal tool holder in accordance with 4, wherein said ball cup is incorporated into an expandable mounting implement, said expandable mounting implement being configured to be removably secured into the interior of a hollow rung of a ladder.

13. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 12, wherein said expandable mounting implement comprises:

a. a threaded rod;

b. a washer;

c. an expandable rubber element having a flanged end and having central bore extending therethrough, said rubber element configured to be of sufficient size to be snugly inserted within the interior of a hollow rung of a ladder and said central bore having a bore diameter, said diameter being of sufficient size to receive said threaded rod;

d. said ball cup having a mounting aperture disposed within said main section, said mounting aperture having a mounting aperture diameter, said mounting aperture diameter being of sufficient size to receive said threaded rod, and

e. a threaded nut configured to threadingly engage said thread rod, wherein said expandable mounting implement is formed by introducing said threaded rod through said mounting aperture, through said washer, through said central bore and into said threaded nut such that said washer contacts said flanged end.

14. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 13, wherein said expandable mounting implement is removably secured into the interior of a hollow rung of a ladder by inserting said expandable rubber element into the interior of a hollow rung of a ladder, and turning said ball cup clockwise in such a manner that the arrangement of said rubber element disposed between said washer and said threaded nuit causes said rubber element to expand within the interior of a hollow rung.

15. The universal tool holder in accordance with 1, wherein said retaining receiver is incorporated into an spring mounting implement, said spring mounting implement being configured to be removably secured to the leg of a ladder.

16. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 15, wherein said spring mounting implement comprises:

a. a suspension frame member having a first frame extending perpendicularly therefrom, said first frame arm terminating into an outer section of a hinge element, and a second frame arm extending perpendicularly from said frame member, said second frame arm terminating into a slotted locking mechanism;

b. a locking member having a first locking end terminating into an inner section of a hinge element matingly corresponding to said outer section of a hinge element, and a second locking end terminating into an arcuate tongue, and

c. a retaining receiver permanently affixed to said suspension frame member;

d. a locking pin, said locking pin joining said inner and outer sections of a hinge element, thereby forming a hinge in such a manner that said first locking end of said locking member is hingedly secured to said suspension frame member,

wherein, said spring mounting implement is removably secured to a ladder leg having an outer surface by disposing said suspension frame member against an outer surface of a ladder leg such that said retaining receiver is disposed against an outer surface of a ladder and said first and said frame arms extend over the leg, and locking said spring mounting implement thus disposed to a ladder leg by inserting said arcuate tongue of said locking member into said slotted locking mechanism.

17. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 16, wherein said slotted locking mechanism and said arcuate tongue are provided with corresponding notches such that said arcuate tongue cannot slip out of said slotted locking mechanism.

18. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 16, further comprising a flexible insert being configured to be inserted within an area defined by said suspension frame member and said first and second frame arms.

19. The universal tool holder in accordance with 4, wherein said ball cup is incorporated into an spring mounting implement, said spring mounting implement being configured to be removably secured to the leg of a ladder.

20. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 19, wherein said spring mounting implement comprises:

a. a suspension frame member having a first frame extending perpendicularly therefrom, said first frame arm terminating into an outer section of a hinge element, and a second frame arm extending perpendicularly from said frame member, said second frame arm terminating into a slotted locking mechanism;

b. a locking member having a first locking end terminating into an inner section of a hinge element matingly corresponding to said outer section of a hinge element, and a second locking end terminating into an arcuate tongue, and

c. said ball cup receiver permanently affixed to said suspension frame member;

d. a locking pin, said locking pin joining said inner and outer sections of a hinge element, thereby forming a hinge in such a manner that said first locking end of said locking member is hingedly secured to said suspension frame member,

wherein, said spring mounting implement is removably secured to a ladder leg having an outer surface by disposing said suspension frame member against an outer surface of a ladder leg such that said ball cup is disposed against an outer surface of a ladder and said first and said frame arms extend over the leg, and locking said spring mounting implement to a ladder leg by inserting said arcuate tongue of said locking member into said slotted locking mechanism.

21. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 20, wherein said slotted locking mechanism and said arcuate tongue are provided with corresponding notches such that said arcuate tongue cannot slip out of said slotted locking mechanism.

22. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 20, further comprising a flexible insert being configured to be inserted within an area defined by said suspension frame member and said first and second frame arms.

23. The universal tool holder in accordance with 1, wherein said retaining receiver is incorporated into an C-clamp mounting implement, said C-clamp mounting implement being configured to be removably secured to the leg of a ladder.

24. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 23, wherein said C-clamp mounting implement comprises:

a. a C-shaped clamp having a first clamp end provided with a threaded clamp opening extending therethrough and a second clamp end, said second clamp end having an interior grooved face;

b. a threaded rod, and

c. a retainable object having a front face and a threaded opening extending therethrough,

wherein, said C-clamp mounting implement is assembled introducing said threaded rod through said face of said retainable object, into said threaded opening and through said threaded clamp opening such that such that said threaded rod extends toward said second clamp end.

25. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 24, wherein said C-clamp mounting implement is removably secured to the leg of a ladder by positioning a ladder leg between said first and second clamp ends such that said interior grooved face of said second clamp contacts said ladder leg, and then rotating said threaded rod until said threaded rod tightly engages said ladder leg.

26. The universal tool holder in accordance with 4, wherein said ball cup is incorporated into an C-clamp mounting implement, said C-clamp mounting implement being configured to be removably secured to the leg of a ladder.

27. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 26, wherein said C-clamp mounting implement comprises:

a. a C-shaped clamp having a first clamp end provided with a threaded clamp opening extending therethrough and a second clamp end, said second clamp end having an interior grooved face;

b. a threaded rod, and

c. said ball cup having a front face and a threaded opening extending therethrough,

wherein, said C-clamp mounting implement is assembled introducing said threaded rod through said face of said ball cup, into said threaded opening and through said threaded clamp opening such that such that said threaded rod extends toward said second clamp end.

28. The universal tool holder in accordance with claim 27, wherein said C-clamp mounting implement is removably secured to the leg of a ladder by positioning a ladder leg between said first and second clamp ends such that said interior grooved face of said second clamp contacts said ladder leg, and then rotating said threaded rod until said threaded rod tightly engages said ladder leg.