EP3743247B1

EP3743247B1 - A bit holder comprising a magnetic core

Info

Publication number: EP3743247B1
Application number: EP19741489.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alec Planinc
Original assignee: Jarl AB
Current assignee: Jarl AB
Priority date: 2018-01-22
Filing date: 2019-01-22
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2039-01-22
Also published as: SE1800018A1; EP3743247A1; SE541424C2; WO2019143289A1; EP3743247C0; EP3743247A4

Description

The present invention relates to a multi-bit support for bits, comprising a magnetic core which attracts bits via holders. A bit holder according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US 4,482,049 A .
It is well known that bit holders of various kinds exist. What is common to all is that the bit is held in place by rubber or plastic that clamps around the bit. Friction means that the bit does not fall out of its position in each holder.
Furthermore, the bits are often tightly fitted when the holder is new because of the friction and it can be difficult to get them out. Over time, the material in the holder ages, and wear from all the times that the bits have been pulled out and put in contributes to a friction decrease, which means that the bit does not fit as firmly any longer and even risks falling out.
A craftsman often needs to change bits as there are many different kinds of screws. Each time, with known bit holders, one needs to find the particular bit in its place and then, after use, put it back, perhaps in another location, and then one has to search for the bit each time it is to be used. It takes time and causes the work to be interrupted for a short while. Many such interruptions will amount to lot of time.
It is also often the case that you need to use bits that are considerably longer than standard bits. These types of bits are cumbersome to have in common, known bit holders, and the solution is to store them in other places that are available, for example in some pocket, or that you simply put them down on some surface nearby. When such a stored bit is needed one has to spend time searching.
Craftsmen who use a bit holder are sometimes in dark premises where the electricity is switched off and it can then be difficult to see. A headlamp which is placed on the head, may be uncomfortable after a period of use.
An example of a known bit holder is described in patent US2014/0299640 . This type of bit holder suffers from the disadvantages described above. It is also known to use small individual magnets, one for each bit, to keep the bit in a holder.
The object of the invention is to solve the above problems by creating a bit holder which is not dependent on friction to hold fixed bits and where it is easier to keep track of the various bits. It can also have a light source that can be used in dark situations.
The invention thus relates to a bit holder with a magnetic core which attracts magnetic bits in holders. The bit holder has a magnetic core which is singular with attraction surfaces exposed to bits located in the holders, and substantially enclosed in a housing which includes the holders of the bit and having one or more openings through which the magnetic core is openly exposed outwardly to the surroundings. Such bits that are longer than normal and which would be cumbersome to store in the holders included in the bit holder can be placed here on an attraction surface of the bit holder, so that they are ready, close to hand when needed.
In one embodiment, the openings expose at least 25% of the magnetic core's attractive surfaces outwardly.
The magnetic core has a first longitudinal axis and the holders individually have a second longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the holders forming an angle of less than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the magnetic core. The angle is preferably in a range of 45 ± 15 degrees. The magnetic core of the bit holder may be connected to a bracket for a necklace, and the bit holder may also have a light source powered by a battery.
Thus, the invention comprises a bit holder with a magnetic core which attracts bits at an angle via holders, wherein the magnetic core (5) is connected to a bracket for a necklace, as well as a flat surface provided with a reflecting area with a light source, powered by a battery and activated by a pushbutton.
In a variant of the invention, the bit holder consists of a reflective area of a sticker or is printed with reflective paint having luminescent properties.
In another variant of the invention, the flat surface has a rubber coating.
In yet another variant of the invention, the necklace is elastic.
The bit holder may also in some embodiments have a rechargeable battery.
Said bracket may suitably consist of a metal which attaches to the magnetic core.
The holder according to the invention solves problems described above by the craftsman being able to use the openings which are exposed outwards, free surfaces, in advance, which distinguishes the actual bits that the craftsman chooses to use in the assembly.
One can thus, with this holder, move one or more bits to a selected location on a free magnet surface so that one can change the bits one is using without having to look for them. For example, one bit is placed in a user mode, e.g. hanging in a necklace, an upper part and another on a lower one.
Compared to other known bit holders, the bit holder according to the invention has at least one free, directly magnetically attracting surface for placing magnetic objects, without a magnetic force decreasing casing between them. The free surface(s) is of the order of magnitude that matches the size of longer bits, which are unsuitable to place in a holder, and which have double length or more than normal bits, which are normally 2-3 centimetres long.
Because the magnetic core is exposed, the bit holder can be used to "vacuum" magnetic metal chips and other magnetic objects, which can then be easily handled in another way.
The magnetism is also accessible through the openings and allows the bit holder to be attached directly to a tool board in metal or to the inside of the work car for quick access, either in direct contact or through a magnetic mount.
The angled bit holders make it easier to find and access the bit, especially if the bit holder hangs around the neck of the user, and it becomes easier to change bits with gloves on. The reflective surface also acts as a reflex which makes the user more visible in the dark.
The order of bits left 3 + 4 and right 3 + 4 makes it easy to remember where the bits are and one can thus eventually change without looking.
The bit holder, where the magnetic core through its exposure is strong enough, can be used as a finder to identify sheet metal beams or screws that attach a plasterboard to a beam. According to the invention, the magnetic core can be chosen so strong that beam search becomes possible, even through wall panels of wooden chips or plaster.
The openings that expose the magnetic core outwardly provide a planar surface that allows magnetically attaching extra long bits that may be needed with mounting and which would be cumbersome in the holders. The flat surface also makes it easier to grip bits with winter gloves that are otherwise difficult with other holders.
An example in the form of an embodiment of the invention will be described below in connection with the figures schematically shown in the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows the back side of a bit holder according to the invention with bits in holders placed at an angle,
FIG. 2 shows the front of a bit holder with bits and
FIG. 3 shows a bit holder from a short side with an exposed magnetic core.

From Figure 1 it can be seen that a bit holder according to the invention has a housing 12 which substantially encloses a magnetic core 5, which has two long sides and two short sides and between them a body having the shape of a parallelepiped, preferably perpendicular. The housing 12 has two rows of holders 2 for bits 1, one row on each side of the long sides of the core 5 in the housing 12. The holders each have an open end out of the bit holder and a closed end opposite the open one, a bottom. In addition to openings in the bottom of the holders 2, the housing 12 has further openings 13 in which the core 5 is exposed to the surroundings.
Figure 1 also shows a bracket 4 attached to the core 5, which is primarily intended for attaching a necklace 3, which, when using the bit holder and its bits, is suitably applied around the neck of the user so that the bits holder is kept on the user's chest where the bits 1 are easily accessible.
The core 5 has a longitudinal direction 14, and the bit holders, in turn, individually have a longitudinal axis 15A, B on each side. The bit holders are arranged with their longitudinal axes 15A and 15B, respectively, in parallel on each side, with an angle relative to the normal to the longitudinal direction of the core. The angle is suitably in the range of 45 ± 15 degrees, but is not critical as long as the bits are accommodated and are easily retrieved in the best-in-use mode of the bit holder with the bit pointing obliquely upwardly.
The magnetic core 5 pulls the bits 1 inserted in the holders 2 against the core until the bits bottom against the core inside the holders 2, which means that the bits 1 do not fall out of their position. The holders 2 guide the bit 1 in the right direction towards the magnetic core 5. The bit 1 is thus always fixed equally hard; the holding force is not appreciably affected by wear. The bit holder will last longer and you do not need to get a new one so often, which is good for the environment.
From Figure 2 it can be seen that the front side of the bit holder has a flat surface 11 with an electric light source 9, to be used in work in dark spaces. Around the light source 9 there is a reflective area 10 for the light to be better reflected. The bit holder also includes a battery 7 and a switch for the light source, a push button 8.
In Fig. 2, bits 1 are also visible in holders 2 which are placed at an angle to the core 5, which makes it more readily accessible for a user to remove or insert the bits 1.
Figure 3 shows that the core 5 is exposed with a short side at one short end 16 of the bit holder 12. The core 5 is also exposed in a similar manner at the second short end (not shown in figure). Here, the user can thus apply bits or other objects of magnetic material. Other reference numerals in Figure 3 show the same things as in Figures 1 and 2.
The portions of the magnetic core 5 exposed in the openings 13 of the housing 12, which openings are shown primarily in Figures 1 and 3, are, when the bit holder is in use, working surfaces for the user. On these parts of the core 5, users can magnetically attach bits that are primarily used in the work so that they steady stay in place, both bits that have been picked out of their holders in the bit holder, and other bits, perhaps with larger or longer dimensions which would be cumbersome to put in any of the holders 2, or special bits, which the user temporarily brings with him for his work. There, other magnetic things can also be temporarily attached, e.g. screws or other fasteners. If something made of magnetic material is dropped onto the floor, it can easily be picked up from it, as well as magnetic chips from drilling or the like. The openings 13 in the housing 12 thus allow the same magnetic core holding bits in the holders 2 to be used to hold other things, i.e. the magnetic core 5 is used not only to hold the bits in their holder but its magnetic properties are used more broadly, for several purposes.
The present invention is not limited to the example shown and described in connection with the drawings, but the invention is to be interpreted and defined by the claims contained in the application. For example, the bracket for the collar can cover an entire opening 13 in the housing 1, and be magnetically conductive so well that the magnetic force is transmitted so that outside of the bracket, it can easily be applied, for example, to bits which are securely held. It is also possible, through additional bodies of magnetic material, to "extend" the magnetic core's attracting magnetic field or increase the magnetically attracting surface, in or outside the housing. The casing is suitably made of a plastic which allows magnetic fields to pass through, which means that there is a magnetically attractive force even outside the casing.

Claims

A bit holder, having a magnetic core (5) which attracts bits (1) in holders (2); the magnetic core (5) being singular with attraction surfaces exposed to bits located in the holders, and substantially enclosed in a housing (12) comprising the holders (2) for the bits (1) and which further has one or more openings (13) through which the magnetic core (5) is openly exposed outwards, towards the surroundings and wherein the magnetic core (5) has a first longitudinal direction (14) and wherein the holders (2) individually have a second longitudinal direction (15A, 15B), characterized in that the longitudinal direction of the holders forms an angle less than 90 degrees to the longitudinal direction (14) of the magnetic core (5).
A bit holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the openings (13) expose at least 25% of the attractive surfaces of the magnetic core.
A bit holder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the angle is in a range of 45 ± 15 degrees.
A bit holder according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnetic core (5) is connected to a bracket (4) for a necklace (3).
A bit holder according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a light source (9) driven by a battery (7).
A bit holder according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the magnetic core (5) attracts bits (1) at an angle (6) via holders (2), and by that the magnetic core (5) is connected to a collar fastener (4), and by a flat surface (11) provided with a reflecting area (10) at a battery driven light source (9), actuated by a pushbutton (8).
A bit holder according to claim 6, characterized in that the reflecting area (10) consists of a sticker or is printed with reflective paint, which has luminescent properties.
A bit holder according to any one of claims 6-7, characterized in that the flat surface (11) has a rubber coating.
A bit holder according to any one of the preceding claims 4-8, characterized in that the necklace (3) is elastic.
A bit holder according to any one of claims 5-8, characterized in that the battery (7) is rechargeable.
A bit holder according to any one of claims 4-10, characterized in that the bracket (4) consists of metal which is attractable by the magnetic core (5).