EP3698926A1

EP3698926A1 - Tool fixing system for a tool cart

Info

Publication number: EP3698926A1
Application number: EP17808966.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andoni LINAZISORO ARREGI; Jon Uranga Elorza; Jorge Ruiz de Azúa Fernández
Original assignee: SNA Europe Industries Iberia SA
Current assignee: SNA Europe Industries Iberia SA
Priority date: 2017-10-19
Filing date: 2017-10-19
Publication date: 2020-08-26
Also published as: WO2019077170A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tool fixing system for tool carts which allows quickly, easily and comfortably coupling and fixing different accessory elements (A) to the top tray (2) of a cart (1), thereby increasing its versatility, the fixing system (10) comprising: a support part (20) located below the top tray (2) in correspondence with a housing (3) made in said top tray (2), where the support part (20) has a vertical bolt (21) that can be inserted into the housing (3) without projecting from the horizontal plane of the top tray (2); a hollow tube (30) that can be inserted into the housing (3) of the top tray (2), such that the lower end of the tube (30) can in turn be fitted to the vertical bolt (21) of the support part (20) for attachment thereof; and a main flange (40) fixed to the tube (30) and to which an external accessory element (A) can be coupled.

Description

Object of the Invention

The present invention belongs to the technical field of workshop tools, and more specifically to movable assemblies for storing, supporting and/or holding tools, objects or parts to be worked.
The object of the present invention is a multifunctional fixing system for a tool cart, where said system allows a user to quickly, easily and comfortably couple and fix a wide range of work elements and accessories to the top tray of a cart without having to make holes for the elements and accessories or to screw them directly on the cart, and therefore improving work performance, efficiency and safety.

Background of the Invention

Tool carts, also referred to as "workshop carts", applicable both on a professional level (in vehicle workshops, assembly plants, machinery construction, etc.) and on the home-user level, are known today.
These carts are particularly configured for storing hand tools of any type, such as screwdrivers, box-end wrenches, fixed wrenches, combined wrenches, Allen® wrenches, pliers, hammers, etc., which are located in different inner compartments or drawers of the cart, usually inserted in multilayer foams to facilitate quick identification and prevent unwanted impacts on or movements of the tools.
Furthermore, these tool carts are generally provided with wheels which make them movable, so the cart can be easily and comfortably taken from one location to another in the work area. Some examples of carts of this type are described in the translations of European patent ES2064776 T3 and ES2603068 T3 .
The technical problem herein considered relates to the work bench, i.e., the top tray, incorporated in current tool carts. Specifically, the most basic carts only have a top work board that is generally flat, elongated and made of wood, on which the user places the parts to be worked, with the lack of safety this entails and the frequent falling of objects this causes. Other solutions consisting of more sophisticated carts include in their work bench a series of holes made in the top tray itself, and into which the user must screw the accessory elements directly on the work bench. This solution has also proven to be rather ineffective and unviable, mainly due to the following reasons:

a) It requires a significant amount of for installation and removal given that the accessory must be screwed into each of the holes of the bench, one by one, reducing effectiveness and therefore increasing labor costs.
b) There is a significant limitation in terms of the versatility and the number of accessory elements that can be coupled given that not all the accessories have a male threading element on the outer portion thereof that is compatible with the specific inner thread of the hole of the work bench.
c) Furthermore, due to continuous use, solutions based on threading and screwing in the work bench itself have a limited service life given that the threads undergo defects and become worn due to both constant friction and contact with the external environment, where the inner thread becomes rusty and/or blocked due to dirt build-up, which completely prevents the functionality thereof.

Therefore, years of experience in the sector have shown that the performance and efficiency of work performed by means of current systems are clearly susceptible to optimization given that every professional has his/her own needs and/or work routines, where he/she is unable to "customize" or personalize his/her work bench according to his/her own particular requirements or needs.

Description of the Invention

The present invention solves the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a multifunctional fixing system applicable in a tool cart, where said system allows a user to quickly, easily and comfortably couple and fix a wide range of work tools and accessories to the top tray of the cart, the system standing out due to its enormous versatility which makes it optimal for work techniques and applications of a different nature.
Furthermore, unlike current systems the fixing system of the invention does not require any type of advanced knowledge or special tool for installation, without there being a need to make holes or to screw anything directly on the cart itself. Work performance and efficiency are thereby increased simultaneously with the increase in work safety given that the existence of unstable, non-fixed or unbalanced accessories that may fall to the floor and thereby cause accidents is prevented.
The fixing system herein described is therefore applicable to a tool cart of the type comprising a frame, drawers sliding between an open position and a closed position, and a top work tray.
More specifically, the fixing system of the invention comprises: at least one support part located below the top tray of the cart in correspondence with a housing made in the top tray, where said support part has a vertical bolt that can be inserted into the housing, and where the vertical bolt has a length such that it does not project from the horizontal plane of the top tray; at least one hollow tube that can be inserted into the housing of the top tray, such that the lower end of said tube can in turn be fitted to the vertical bolt of the support part for attachment thereof; and at least one main flange fixed to the tube and to which an external accessory element can be coupled.
In turn, the main flange preferably comprises: a fixed portion and a movable portion, where both portions are attached to one another by means of an inner pin; and a protruding body attached to the fixed portion, such that an accessory element can be coupled to said protruding body.
The top tray of a tool cart is therefore modified, customized or personalized by means of the fixing system herein described, providing enormous versatility to the cart and allowing adaptation thereof to the particular needs of each worker and/or discipline because each sector or each person requires a different mode of operation. Quick and comfortable access to each of the tools and accessories is therefore provided, which ultimately results in an improved ergonomics, a better performance and optimized efficiency and work safety.

Description of the Drawings

To complement the description that is being made and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description in which the following has been described in an illustrative and nonlimiting character:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a tool cart.
Figure 2 shows a detail view of the top tray of the cart in which the fixing system of the invention can be installed.
Figure 3 shows one of the parts of the fixing system, located below the top tray of the cart.
Figure 4 shows the top tray of a cart with the fixing system of the invention installed therein, according to a preferred embodiment.
Figure 5 shows an exploded view where different accessories are seen coupled to the top tray of a cart by means of the fixing system of the invention.
Figure 6 shows a detail view of the main flange of the fixing system of the invention.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

Several preferred embodiments are described below in reference to the aforementioned drawings, without them limiting or reducing the scope of protection of the present invention.
Figure 1 shows a tool cart (1) of the type comprising, among other elements: a plurality of storage compartments, a lower frame, wheels and a top work tray (2). The fixing system (10) of the invention can therefore be applied or installed in this top tray (2) of the cart (1), also shown in Figure 2, specifically in at least one housing (3), preferably in four housings (3), provided in each of the corners of the top tray (2) of the cart (1).
More specifically, according to a possible embodiment the fixing system (10) comprises:

a support part (20), shown in Figure 3, located below the top tray (2) of the cart (1) in correspondence with each of the housings (3) made in the top tray (2), where the support part (20) comprises a vertical bolt (21) and a horizontal plate (22) on which the vertical bolt (21) is supported;
a hollow tube (30) which can also be inserted into each of the housings (3) of the top tray (2), such that the lower end of said tube (30) can in turn be fitted to the vertical bolt (21) of the support part (20) for the attachment and integral fitting thereof;
a main flange (40), shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, fixed to the tube (30), and to which external accessory elements (A) of a different nature and/or configuration can be coupled, such as a support (A) for a laptop, a hanger (A) or threaded support elements (A) with a flat head, such as those depicted in Figures 4 and 5, for supporting mirrors, glass or the like.

More particularly, the vertical bolt (21) of the support part (20) can be concentrically inserted into each of the housings (3) of the top tray (2) of the cart. Said vertical bolt (21) has a length such that it does not project from the horizontal plane of the top tray (2). This allows preventing damage to the vertical bolt (21) itself as a result of blows or impacts, said vertical bolt (21) being protected and concealed from the outside. According to the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the support part (20) is located below the top tray (2) and above an upper surface of the frame of the cart (1).
Furthermore, according to this preferred embodiment the attachment between the vertical bolt (21) of the support part (20) and the tube (30) is a threaded attachment, such that the vertical bolt (21) has an outer thread in correspondence with an inner thread of the tube (30). This threaded attachment provides the user a quick, easy and comfortable solution without having to use any type of tools.
Therefore, according to this embodiment the housing (3), the vertical bolt (21), and the tube (30) have a cylindrical configuration, which ultimately facilitates installing/removing the fixing system (10) in a quick and comfortable manner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, they have been envisaged to be able to have any other prismatic configuration, such as a triangular or quadrangular configuration, and to have a "snap-fit"-type closure instead of a threaded closure, such that upon reaching a certain level or height of insertion of the tube (30) into the vertical bolt (21), closure occurs by means of the interaction between a recess and a protrusion, where the recess can be located in the tube (30) and the protrusion can be located in the vertical bolt (21), or vice versa.
In relation to the tubes (30), they have been envisaged to be able to have different lengths and dimensions, depending on the particular needs of each case, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
The main flange (40) most clearly depicted in Figure 6 preferably comprises:

a fixed portion (41) and a movable portion (42), having suitable sizes for surrounding and being coupled to the tube (30), where both portions (41, 42) are attached to one another by means of an inner pin (43); and
a protruding body (44) attached to the fixed portion (41), such that there can be coupled to said protruding body (44) an accessory element (A), such as a hanger (A), for example, see Figure 5, which has an incorporated cover and is directly coupled on the protruding body (44) of the main flange (40).

Furthermore, though not depicted in the drawings, the main flange (40), specifically its fixed portion (41), has been envisaged to be able to internally incorporate a set screw for securely fastening and fixing the main flange (40) to the tube (30).Said set screw is preferably oriented according to the horizontal axis (H) of the protruding body (44), such that its actuating head or end is only accessible when the protruding body (44) is removed.
In turn, Figure 6 shows that the protruding body (44) of the main flange (40) has a pair of threaded through holes (45) to which an accessory element (A) can be coupled; and where said protruding body (44) furthermore has fastening means (46) that can be inserted into the holes (45) for securely fixing the accessory element (A) to the protruding body (44). Preferably, these through holes (45) are arranged diagonally distributed with respect to one another, i.e., at different heights with respect to the lower edge of the protruding body (44), as shown in Figure 6. This feature allows assuring a secure and firm fixing of the accessory element (A) in question, given that it is fastened and fixed at two points located at different heights.
With respect to the movable portion (42) of the main flange (40), according to the present embodiment this movable portion (42) has a tab (47), shown in Figure 6, that is prolonged until contacting the fixed portion (41), such that a pressure applied on the tab (47) causes the separation of the two portions (41, 42) of the main flange (40), which thereby facilitates quick opening and closing of the main flange (40) by the user where the user only needs to press on said tab (47).
On the other hand, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the fixing system further comprises a removable auxiliary part (50), which acts like a side cover and preferably has a hollow side extension (51) depicted on the right side in Figure 5, for the integral fitting thereof in the protruding body (44) of the main flange (40). This auxiliary part (50) also has a hollow vertical sleeve (52) having an inner thread in which an accessory element (A) can be inserted, as shown in Figure 4, where in this case the element is a threaded support element (A) with a flat head, ideal for holding large objects, such as plate glass, glass or windows of a automobile vehicle.
Therefore, at least the following three modes for fixing and coupling external accessory elements (A) are provided by means of the fixing system (10) herein described:

a) Direct coupling: by means of the tongue-and-groove attachment between the protruding body (44) of the main flange (40) and the accessory (A) itself, see the example of the hanger (A) shown on the right side in Figure 5.
b) Lateral coupling screwed onto the main flange (40) itself: by means of the fastening means (46) inserted both into the accessory element (A) and into the through holes (45) of the protruding body (44) of the main flange (40), see the example of the laptop support (A) shown on the left side in Figure 5.
c) Threaded vertical coupling: by means of the removable auxiliary part (50), specifically through the hollow vertical sleeve (52) with an inner thread, into which a threaded support element (A) with a flat head like the one depicted in Figure 4 can be inserted.

Furthermore, the fixing system (10) herein described has been envisaged to be able to additionally comprise a secondary flange (60) likewise fixed to the tube (30), as shown in Figures 4 and 5, where said secondary flange (60) is arranged in direct contact with the inner surface of the main flange (40). This secondary flange (60) is firmly positioned on the tube (30), such that said secondary flange (60) does not rotate or move according to the vertical axis (V) of the tube (30).
Therefore, this particularity of providing a secondary flange (60) coupled to the main flange (40) at the lower portion thereof is not a trivial or random feature, rather it pursues a well-identified objective, i.e., to allow the free rotation of the main flange (40) with respect to the actual concentric vertical axis (V) of the tube (30), as shown in Figure 4, which thereby allows placing the accessory element (A) in the desired working position, either in an inner position, close to the top tray (2) of the cart (1), or in an outer position, where the accessory element (A) is located away from the cart (1), according to the user's needs.
At this point, there is a need to highlight the rotating capacity described in the preceding paragraph in relation to the main flange (40), i.e., the rotation of the main flange (40) as a whole is a rotation in the horizontal plane with respect to the concentric vertical axis (V) of the tube (30), see arrow (F1) included in Figure 4.
Furthermore, for those cases in which no accessory (A) is to be coupled to the top tray (2) of the cart, and for the purpose of protecting the support part (20) and preventing objects from being inserted into and/or dirt from entering the housings (3), the possibility of incorporating a cover (70) having a flat upper surface (71) and a lower protuberance (72) has been contemplated, where said lower protuberance (72) is perpendicular to the flat upper surface (71) and has a suitable size to fit into each housing (3) of the top tray (2) of the cart (1). More preferably, the lower protuberance (72) of the cover (70) has at least one vertical slot (73). This vertical slot (73) allows giving the lower protuberance (72) certain flexibility, such that the movement of inserting said lower protuberance (72) into the housing (3) of the top tray (2) of the cart (1) is facilitated.
Finally, in relation to the materials the fixing system (10) herein described, including all its components, has been envisaged to be manufactured in stainless steel as it is a hard material that is highly resistant to impacts and corrosion, characteristics which make it particularly suitable for this sector.

Claims

Fixing system (10) for tool carts (1) having a top work tray (2), where the fixing system (10) is characterized in that it comprises:
- at least one support part (20) located below the top tray (2) of the cart (1) in correspondence with a housing (3) made in the top tray (2), where said support part (20) has a vertical bolt (21) insertable into the housing (3), and where the vertical bolt (21) has a length such that it does not project from the horizontal plane of the top tray (2);

- at least one hollow tube (30) insertable into the housing (3) of the top tray (2), and where the lower end of said tube (30) is fittable to the vertical bolt (21) of the support part (20) for attachment thereof; and

- at least one main flange (40) fixed to the tube (30) and to which an external accessory element (A) is couplable.
Fixing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the main flange (40) in turn comprises:
- a fixed portion (41) and a movable portion (42), where both portions (41, 42) are attached to one another by means of an inner pin (43); and

- a protruding body (44) attached to the fixed portion (41), such that an accessory element (A) is couplable to said protruding body (44).
Fixing system (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the protruding body (44) of the main flange (40) has at least one pair of threaded through holes (45), in which an accessory element (A) is couplable, and in that said protruding body (44) furthermore has fastening means (46) insertable into the through holes (45) for securely fixing the accessory element (A) to the protruding body (44).
Fixing system (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the through holes (45) are arranged diagonally distributed with respect to one another, at different heights with respect to the lower edge of the protruding body (44), for securely and firmly fixing the accessory element (A).
Fixing system (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the movable portion (42) of the main flange (40) has a tab (47) that is prolonged until contacting the fixed portion (41), such that a pressure applied on the tab (47) causes the separation of the two portions (41, 42) of the main flange (40).
Fixing system (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that it additionally comprises a removable auxiliary part (50) in turn having a hollow side extension (51) for the integral fitting thereof in the protruding body (44) of the main flange (40), and a hollow vertical sleeve (52) having an inner thread in which an accessory element (A) is insertable.
Fixing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises a secondary flange (60) fixed to the tube (30), where said secondary flange (60) is arranged in direct contact with the inner surface of the main flange (40), such that the main flange is capable of rotating in the horizontal plane with respect to the concentric vertical axis (V) of the tube (30).
Fixing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support part (20) additionally comprises a horizontal plate (22) on which the vertical bolt (21) is supported.
Fixing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment between the vertical bolt (21) and the tube (30) is a threaded attachment, such that the vertical bolt (21) has an outer thread in correspondence with an inner thread of the tube (30).
Fixing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment between the vertical bolt (21) and the tube (30) is a "snap-fit"-type closure, such that upon reaching a certain level or height of insertion of the tube (30) into the vertical bolt (21), closure occurs by means of the interaction between a recess and a protrusion, the recess being located in the tube (30) and the protrusion being located on the vertical bolt (21), or vice versa.
Fixing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises a cover (70) having a flat upper surface (71) and a lower protuberance (72), where said lower protuberance (72) is perpendicular to the flat upper surface (71) and has a suitable size to fit into each housing (3) of the top tray (2) of the cart (1).
Fixing system (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that the lower protuberance (72) of the cover (70) has at least one vertical slot (73).
Fixing system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (3), the vertical bolt (21) and the tube (30) have a cylindrical configuration.
Fixing system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is manufactured in stainless steel.