AU2019203566B2

AU2019203566B2 - Tool holding frame

Info

Publication number: AU2019203566B2
Application number: AU2019203566A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jui-Chien Kao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-05-21
Filing date: 2019-05-21
Publication date: 2021-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-21
Also published as: AU2019203566A1

Abstract

A tool holding frame has a track base (10), a positioning board (20), and at least one positioning mount (30). The positioning board (20) is disposed on the track base (10) and has a positioning segment (24). The first positioning segment 5 (24) has multiple positioning blocks (242) having curved side edges (243) and multiple positioning portions (244). The at least one positioning mount (30) is slidably and rotatably mounted on the track base (10). Each positioning mount (30) has an annular positioning flange (311) and a second positioning segment (312). The second positioning segment (312) is selectively engaged with two of 10 the positioning portions (244). C~C) C14o CCN

Description

C~C)

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CCN TOOL HOLDING FRAME

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool holding frame, and more

particularly to a tool holding frame that may provide a firm positioning effect in

rotation and in dual-movement directions to tools that are mounted on the tool

holding frame.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to Fig. 9, a conventional socket holding frame has a track

base, a positioning board, and multiple positioning mounts. The track base is

elongated. The positioning board is mounted on the track base and has multiple

first engaging segments formed on the positioning board and arranged in a line.

The positioning mounts are mounted slidably on the track base, and each

positioning mount has multiple second engaging segments formed on a bottom

of the positioning mount, arranged annularly, and selectively engaged with the

first engaging segments on the positioning board. Accordingly, multiple sockets

in different sizes can be respectively mounted around and positioned on the

positioning mounts. With the engagement between the first and second engaging

segments, the positioning mounts can be positioned at specific positions and

angles relative to the track base, respectively. When one of the sockets or the

positioning mounts is rotated, the label referring to the size of the socket can be

rotated to a specific direction to allow a user to check the label easily.

The first engaging segments of the conventional socket holding frame

comprise multiple curved grooves arranged at spaced intervals and multiple ribs

formed between the curved grooves. The second engaging segments comprises multiple teeth arranged annularly. With the engagements between the teeth and the ribs, the positioning mounts can be held at specific angles relative to the track base, respectively.

However, the first and second engaging segments of the conventional

socket holding frame cannot provide a sufficient positioning effect to the

positioning mounts along the movement direction. Although the curved grooves

in the positioning board can provide a positioning effect to the positioning

mounts, the curved grooves can only provide a positioning effect along one

single movement direction and cannot provide a dual-directional movement

positioning effect to the positioning mounts.

With reference to Fig. 10, the first engaging segments of another

conventional socket holding frame comprise multiple grooves arranged in a line

at spaced intervals and multiple ribs formed respectively on bottoms of the

curved grooves. The second engaging segments comprise multiple teeth

arranged annularly. With the engagements between the ribs and the teeth, the

positioning mounts can be held at specific angles relative to the track base,

respectively.

However, the curved grooves can only provide the positioning mounts

with a unidirectional movement positioning effect, so the positioning effect

provided by the engaging segments to the positioning mounts is not sufficient.

The positioning mounts are easily moved relative to the track base when a force

is applied to the socket holding frame.

With reference to Fig. 11, the first engaging segment of further another

conventional socket holding frame comprises a rib extending longitudinally along the positioning board. With the engagement of the rib and the teeth of the second positioning segments of the positioning mounts, the positioning mounts can be held at specific angles relative to the track base, respectively.

However, engaging segments of the conventional socket holding frame

can only provide the positioning mounts with a positioning effect to rotation and

cannot provide a positioning effect to the positioning mounts with a positioning

effect of movement. Therefore, the positioning mounts are easily moved relative

to the track base when a force is applied to the socket holding frame.

To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional socket holding frame,

the present invention provides a tool holding frame to mitigate or obviate the

aforementioned problems.

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a tool holding

frame that can provide a firm positioning effect in dual-movement directions and

rotation to tools that are mounted on the tool holding frame.

The tool holding frame has a track base, a positioning board, and at least

one positioning mount. The track base is an elongated seat and has two sliding

channels defined respectively in two sides of the track base. Each rail has an

opening, and the openings of the two sliding channels face each other. The

positioning board is disposed on the track base and has a top surface and a first

positioning segment. The first positioning segment is formed on the top surface

of the positioning board and has multiple positioning blocks and multiple

positioning portions. The positioning blocks are formed on and protrude from

the top surface of the positioning board and arranged in a line at spaced intervals

to define multiple positioning recesses respectively between the positioning blocks. Each positioning block has two curved side edges formed on two opposite sides of the positioning block. The positioning portions are formed on and protrude from the top surface of the positioning board and are held respectively in the positioning recesses. The at least one positioning mount is slidably and rotatably mounted on the track base. Each one of the at least one positioning mount has a sliding seat and an extending element. The sliding seat is slidably and rotatably mounted in the sliding channels of the rails and has a bottom, a top, an annular positioning flange, and a second positioning segment.

The annular positioning flange is formed on and protrudes downwardly from the

bottom of the sliding seat, is selectively engaged with two of the positioning

recesses in the positioning board. The second positioning segment is formed on

the bottom of the positioning flange and is selectively engaged with two

positioning portions held in the two positioning recesses engaged with the

positioning flange. The extending element is formed on and protrudes upwardly

from the top of the sliding seat.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will

become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in

conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a tool holding frame in accordance

with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is another partial perspective view of the tool holding frame in Fig.

1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the tool holding frame

in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view in partial section of the tool holding

frame in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an operational cross sectional top view of the tool holding frame

in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an end view in partial section of the tool holding frame in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side view in partial section of the tool holding frame in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an operational perspective view of the tool holding frame in Fig.

1;

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional socket holding

frame;

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another conventional socket

holding frame; and

Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of further another conventional

socket holding frame.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, a tool holding frame in accordance with

the present invention comprises a track base 10, a positioning board 20, and at

least one positioning mount 30.

The track base 10 is elongated, is made of metal, and is preferably an

aluminum extrusion. The track base 10 comprises a bottom panel 11 and two

rails 12. The bottom panel 11 is elongated. The two rails 12 are respectively

formed on and protrude from two sides of the bottom panel 11. Each rail 12 has a

sliding channel 14 and a positioning channel 13. Each one of the sliding channels

14 and the positioning channels 13 has an opening. The openings of the sliding

channels 14 face each other and the openings of the positioning channels 13 also face each other. The positioning channel 13 of each rail 12 is located below the sliding channel 14 of the rail 12.

The positioning board 20 is mounted on the track base 10 between the

rails 12. Preferably, the positioning board 20 is resilient and is mounted in the

positioning channels 13 in the rails 12 of the track base 10. Alternatively, the

positioning board 20 may be connected integrally with the rails 12 and is served

as the bottom panel 11 of the track base 10. In a first embodiment, the positioning

board 20 has two long opposite sides, two free ends, a middle, a top surface, a

bottom surface, two rail bars 21, a recess 22, and a positioning segment 24. The

positioning board 20 is bent upwardly from the long opposite sides to the middle

of the positioning board 20. The two rail bars 21 are formed on and protrude

outwardly from the bottom surface of the positioning board 20 respectively at the

two long opposite sides of the positioning board 20 and are mounted respectively

in the positioning channels 13 of the rails 12. Alternatively, the rail bars 21 are

connected integrally with the rails 12 respectively. The recess 22 is formed in the

bottom surface at the middle of the positioning board 20 between the free ends of

the positioning board 20, and is parallel with the long opposite sides of the

positioning board 20, such that the cross section of the positioning board 20 is

curved to allow the middle of the positioning board 20 to deform relative to the

track base 10.

The positioning segment 24 is formed on the top surface and the middle

of the positioning board 20 between the two free ends of the positioning board 20.

The positioning segment 24 comprises multiple positioning blocks 242 and

positioning portions 244. The positioning blocks 242 are formed on and protrude from the top surface of the positioning board 20 and are arranged in a line at spaced intervals to define multiple positioning recesses respectively between the positioning blocks 242. Each positioning block 242 has two curved side edges

243 formed on two opposite sides of the positioning block 242. The positioning

portions 244 are formed on and protrude from the top surface of the positioning

board 20 and are held respectively in the positioning recesses. Preferably, each

portion 244 is a rib and has two ends connected respectively with two curved

side edges 243 of two adjacent positioning blocks 242.

The at least one positioning mount 30 is slidably and rotatably mounted

on the track base 10, and each one of the at least one positioning mount 30 has a

sliding seat 31 and an extending element 32. The sliding seat 31 is round and

resilient and is slidably and rotatably mounted in the sliding channels 14 in the

rails 12. The sliding seat 31 has a bottom, a top, an annular positioning flange

311, and a second positioning segment 312. The annular positioning flange 311

is formed on and protrudes downwardly from the bottom of the sliding seat 31

and is selectively engaged with two of the positioning recesses in the positioning

board 20. The second positioning segment 312 is formed on and protrudes from

the bottom of the sliding seat 31 and comprises multiple teeth formed on and

protruding from the bottom of the positioning flange 311 of the positioning

mount 30 and arranged annularly at spaced intervals. Accordingly, the second

positioning segment 312 is waved in shape, and adjacent two of the teeth of the

second positioning segment 312 are selectively engaged with one of the

positioning portions 244.

The extending element 32 is formed on and protrudes upwardly from the top of the sliding seat 31. The extending element 32 is hollow, is rectangular, and has a side surface and a protruding ball 321. The protruding ball 321 is mounted in and extends outwardly from the side surface of the extending element 32.

With reference to Figs. 4 to 7, to dispose the positioning mount 30 onto

the track base 10, the sliding seat 31 of the positioning mount 30 is inserted into

the sliding channels 14 in the rails 12 from one of the ends of the track base 10.

Consequently, the positioning mount 30 is slid to a desired position on the track

base 10. At this time, the annular positioning flange 311 is engaged with two of

the positioning recesses in the positioning boards 20, and four teeth on two ends

of a diameter of the sliding seat 31 are engaged with the two positioning portions

244 in the positioning recesses engaged with the positioning flange 311. In

addition, at least one of the positing blocks 242 between the positioning recesses

engaged with the positioning flange 311 is held in the space defined by the

annular positioning flange 311. The inner surface of the annular positioning

flange 311 abuts two curved side edges 243 of the at least one positioning block

242, and the outer surface 3112 of the annular positioning flange 311 abuts two

curved sides 243 of two of the positioning blocks 242 which are adjacent to the

positioning recesses engaged with the annular positioning flange 311. With the

abutments between the inner surface and the outer surface 3112 of the

positioning flange 311 and the curved side edges 243 of the positioning blocks

242, the positioning mount 30 can be held in place firmly relative to the track

base 10.

Alternatively, when the annular positioning flange 311 of the positioning

mount 30 is held in two of the positioning recesses, the inner surface and the outer surface 3112 of the positioning flange may be spaced from the adjacent curved side edges 243 of the adjacent positioning blocks 242 to form gaps therebetween. Consequently, even the positioning mount 30 is pushed relative to the track base 10, the positioning mount 30 can also be positioned at the desired position relative to the track base 10 due to the abutment of the inner surface or outer surface 3112 of the annular positioning flange 311 with the curved side edges 243 of the adjacent positioning blocks 242.

With such an arrangement, multiple sockets can be mounted detachably

on extending elements of multiple positioning mounts 30 respectively. When

each socket is attached onto the extending element 32 of a corresponding one of

the positioning mounts 30, the protruding ball 321 on the extending element 32 is

engaged with a cavity defined in the socket. Accordingly, the socket can be held

in place on the extending element 32 of the positioning mount 30.

When numbers or signs on the sockets are not aligned at a same direction

to face a user, the user may rotate the sockets in a clockwise or counterclockwise

direction relative to the track base 10 to make the numbers or signs of the sockets

60 face the user. With reference to Figs. 5 to 7, during the above-mentioned

rotating process, the sliding seat 31 of the positioning mount 30 may be rotated

with the socket relative to the positioning board 20 by the engagement between

the extending element 32 of the positioning mount 30 and the socket. When the

socket is rotated, the teeth of the second positioning segment 312 will be

disengaged from the corresponding positioning portions 244 of the first

positioning segment 24 due to the resilience of the sliding seat 31 of the

positioning mount 30 or the positioning board 20. When the socket is rotated to a desired angle, another four teeth of the second positioning segment 312 will engage with the two positioning portions 244 of the first positioning segment 24.

The positioning mount 30 can be firmly positioned at a specific angle relative to

the track base 10 to make the numbers or signs on the sockets face the user, and

the user can recognize and use the sockets easily.

In addition, each positioning portion 244 of the first positioning segment

24 may be a nipple or a knob. The second positioning segment 312 on the

positioning flange 311 of each positioning mount 30 may comprise multiple

cavities selectively engaged with the nipple or knob of the positioning portions

244. With the engagement between the first and second positioning segments,

the positioning mount 30 can be held in a desired angle relative to the track base

10.

To change the position of the positioning mount 30, with reference to Fig.

8, the socket or the poisoning mount 30 can be moved along the track base 10

directly. The annular positioning flange 311 on the sliding seat 31 of the

positioning mount 30 is disengaged from the positioning recesses due to the

resilience of the sliding seat 31 or the positioning board 20, and the teeth of the

second positioning segment 312 are also disengaged from the positioning

portions 244 at the same time. In addition, the at least one positioning block will

be escaped form the space formed by the annular positioning flange 311.

Consequently, the positioning mount 30 can be slid rapidly along the track base

10 to a desired position to fit with different usage demands.

When the positioning mount 30 is moved to a desired position, the

annular positioning flange 311 is engaged with another two of the positioning recesses in the positioning board 20, and the inner surface and the outer surface

3112 of the positioning flange 311 abut the curved side edges 243 of

corresponding positioning blocks 242.

With the inner surface and the outer surface 3112 of the annular

positioning flanges 311 abut the curved side edges 243 of the corresponding

positioning blocks 242, a dual-movement directional positioning effect can be

provided to the poisoning mount 30. Thus, the positioning mounts 30 can be held

firmly relative to the track base and are not easily moved even when a large

external force is applied to the tool holding frame.

The claims defining the invention are as followings:

1. A tool holding frame comprising:

a track base being an elongated seat and having

two sliding channels defined respectively in two sides of the track

base and each having an opening, and the openings of the two sliding channels

facing each other;

a positioning board disposed on the track base and having

a top surface;

a first positioning segment formed on the top surface of the

positioning board and comprising

multiple positioning blocks formed on and protruding from the

top surface of the positioning board and arranged in a line at spaced intervals to

define multiple positioning recesses respectively between the positioning blocks,

and each positioning block having two curved side edges formed on two

opposite sides of the positioning block; and

multiple positioning portions formed on and protruding from

the top surface of the positioning board and held respectively in the positioning

recesses; and

at least one positioning mount slidably and rotatably mounted on the

track base, and each one of the at least one positioning mount having

a sliding seat slidably and rotatably mounted in the sliding

channels and having

a bottom;

a top; and

Claims

an annular positioning flange formed on and protruding

downwardly from the bottom of the sliding seat, selectively engaged with two of

the positioning recesses in the positioning board; and

a second positioning segment formed on a bottom of the

positioning flange and selectively engaged with two positioning portions held in

the two positioning recesses engaged with the positioning flange; and

an extending element formed on and protruding upwardly from the

top of the sliding seat.
2. The tool holding frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular

positioning flange of each one of the at least one positioning mount has

an inner surface selectively abutting two of the curved side edges

of at least one of the positioning blocks located between the two positioning

recesses engaged with the annular positioning flange; and

an outer surface selectively abutting two of the curves side edges

of the positioning blocks which are adjacent to the positioning recesses engaged

with the annular positioning flange.
3. The tool holding frame as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein

the track base comprises

a bottom panel being elongated and having two sides; and

two rails disposed respectively on the two sides of the bottom

panel;

the two sliding channels are defined respectively in the rails;

each rail of the track base further has a positioning channel located

below the sliding channel of the rail and having an opening; the openings of the positioning channels of the two rails face each other; and the positioning board is mounted in the positioning channels in the rails of the track base.
4. The tool holding frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the positioning board further comprises

a bottom surface;

two rail bars formed on and protruding outwardly from the bottom

surface of the positioning board respectively at two opposite sides of the

positioning board and mounted respectively in the positioning channels of the

rails of the track base; and

a recess formed in the bottom surface of the positioning board at a

middle of the positioning board, the recess being parallel with the opposite sides

of the positioning board to form a space between the middle of the positioning

board and the top surface of the bottom panel.
5. The tool holding frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein each

positioning portion of the first positioning segment is a rib and has two ends

connected respectively with two of the curved side edges of adjacent two of the

positioning blocks.
6. The tool holding frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second

positioning segment of each one of the at least one positioning mount comprises

multiple teeth formed on and protruding from the bottom of the positioning

flange of the positioning mount and arranged annularly at spaced intervals.
7. The tool holding frame as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each positioning portion of the first positioning segment is a rib and has two ends connected respectively with two of the curved side edges of adjacent two of the positioning blocks.