GB2403127A

GB2403127A - Tool holder

Info

Publication number: GB2403127A
Application number: GB0314902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Craig William Boddey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-26
Filing date: 2003-06-26
Publication date: 2004-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-26
Also published as: GB0314902D0; GB2403127B

Abstract

A tool holder 10 comprises retaining means such as magnets 16 for holding a tool against a holding member 12. The holder may have loops 18 or a clip for attaching to a belt for wearing or may be worn on the torso or arm by means of straps. The magnets which may be of the neodymium type may be embedded in a plastics sheet for ease of cleaning and resistance to wear. Ribs or recesses in the face of the holding member may help to retain the tool or clamping or covering means for the tool may be provided.

Description

The present invention relates to tool holders.

I 5 Conventional tool holders generally comprise a belt having pockets or loops in which tools can be placed ready for use when required. Pockets have the disadvantage that if a tool is being used for a job in which part of the tool will pick up material, either the tool must be cleaned before placing into the pocket, or the pocket will very quickly become dirty inside. An example of such a tool would be a bricklayer's trowel, in which the trowel is used to spread mortar. Loops are suitable for use with tools such as hammers, having a shaft and a head, the head being enlarged relative to the shaft so that the shaft passes through the loop and the loop catches and holds the head. However, the process of fitting the shaft through the loop can be fiddly and time consuming, and the tool is not readily available to hand but must be lifted out of the loop before use.

1 2403127 Tool Holder According to the present invention there is provided a tool holder comprising a holding member, and a retaining means arranged to retain a tool against the holding member when the tool is brought into association with the holding member.

Preferably attachment means are provided for attaching the tool holder to a user.

Preferably the retaining means is arranged to release the tool when the tool is moved away from the holding member and may be arranged to release the tool when the tool is moved in any direction. Preferably the holding member includes a holding face against which the tool is held. Preferably the retaining means retains the tool when the tool is brought into association with the holding face from any direction. The face may be substantially planar, and the tool may be released from the face by sliding the tool across the face.

Alternatively the face may comprise formations and the formations may aid alignment and/or retention of the tool. The formations may be in the form of ribs or recesses formed in or on the holding face.

Preferably the holding member is formed of a plastics material, which may be polypropylene. Preferably the holding member is formed of a sheet of plastics material, which may be between 5 and 15mm in thickness, and is desirably between 6-10mm in thickness.

Preferably the retaining means comprises a magnet, and may l O comprise a plurality of magnets, which may be arranged to provide a substantially evenly distributed magnetic force across the holding face.

Alternatively, the magnets may be arranged to provide a magnetic force of varying intensity across the holding face. Preferably the or each magnet is a neodymium magnet.

Preferably the or each magnet is located away from the holding face, and may be embedded within the holding member, and desirably may be embedded within a face opposite to the tool holding face.

Preferably the attachment means comprises loops or loop holes through which a belt or strap may pass. Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise a clip or hook.

A cover means may be provided to cover the tool retained on the holding face. A clamping means may be provided to hold the tool in position against the holding face.

Preferably a magnetic member is provided, which may be attachable to a non magnetic tool to allow the tool to be caught and held by the magnetic retaining means.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of a tool holder; Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the tool holder of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the tool holder of Figures 1 and 2 in use; Figure 4 is a side view of another tool holder; Figure 5 is a front view of another tool holder; Figure 6 is a front view of the tool holder of Figure 5 in use; Figure 7 is a front view of another tool holder; and Figure 8 is a front view of the tool holder of Figure 7 in use.

Figure 1 shows a tool holder 10 comprising a substantially planar holding member 12. The planar holding member 12 has two opposed planar faces 14, 15, one face 14 forming a tool holding face. A pair of neodymium magnets 16 are set into the other face 15, so that the magnets lie flush with the face 15. The holding member 12 includes a pair of spaced loop holes 18 positioned at one end of the holding member 12.

Figure 3 shows the tool holder 10 in use. A belt 20 passes through the loop holes 18 and around the user's waist, so that the tool holder hangs from the user's waist. The tool holding face 14 faces outwardly from the user. A tool such as a trowel 22 can be brought into association with the tool holding face 14 from any direction and the neodymium magnets 16 will catch and attract the blade of the trowel 22, holding the blade against the tool holding face 14. The user can then move freely with the trowel securely held against the tool holding face 14. To remove the trowel 22, the user slides the blade of the trowel 22 across the tool holding face 14 in any convenient direction and off and away from the tool holding face 14.

Figure 4 shows an alternative version of the tool holder of Figure 1 having a different attachment means. The tool holder 110 is provided with a clip 124, the clip allowing attachment to, for instance, the user's waistband or belt.

Figure 5 shows a tool holder 210, the features of which are in general similar to that of the arrangements previously described. The tool holder 210 comprises a holding member 212, having a tool holding face 214.

Neodymium magnets 216 are set into another face, being the rear face in use, (not shown) on the opposite side of the tool holder 212 to the tool holding face 214. The location of the magnets 216 is shown by dotted lines, since the magnets are not visible in this view. In this example, eight magnets 216 are provided, the eight magnets 216 being generally evenly distributed across the tool holding member 212 to provide a substantially evenly distributed magnetic force across the tool holding face 212. A pair of loopholes 218 are provided at each end of the tool holding member 212, and straps 220 pass through the loop holes 218.

In use, Figure 6 shows the tool holder 210 fitted to a user, so that the tool holder is positioned over the user's chest, with the straps 220 extending over the user's shoulders and under his arms. Figure 5 shows a variety of tools 222 being held by the tool holder 210. This arrangement might be particularly useful for a mechanic working on his back under a car, the tool holder retaining the tools 222 in a convenient position for use. The tools 222 are retained simply by the user positioning the tools near to the tool holding face 214, so that the magnetic attractive force of the magnets 216 catches and holds the tools 222 against the tool holding face 214. To release the tools 222, the user either slides the tools across the face 114 and off an edge of the holding member 212, or levers an end of the tool upwardly against the attractive force of the magnets 216.

Figure 5 also shows a non magnetic tool 223, having a magnetic member in the form of a tag 226, the tag 226 being attached to the non magnetic tool 223 by a flexible connector 228. The magnetic tag 226 allows the tool holder 210 to catch and retain the non magnetic tool 223. l

Figures 7 and 8 show another tool holder 310 having similar features to the tool holders previously described, comprising a tool holding member 314 with magnets 316 set into a face of the tool holding member, the locations of the magnets again being shown by dotted lines. In this example, the tool holding member 312 is elongate in form, having a pair of long sides, and a pair of relatively short sides. A loop hole 318 is provided substantially in the l O middle of each long side, towards the edges of the holding member 312.

Figure 8 shows the tool holder 310 attached to the body of a user by means of a strap 320. In this example, the tool holder 310 is attached to a user's forearm. Figure 7 shows a number of tools 322 being held by the tool holder 310 the tools held and released by the tool holder 310 in a similar fashion to that described previously.

Neodymium magnets are relatively small but relatively powerful magnets, so that the use of a small number of magnets allows tools to be held practically and effectively against the tool holding face. The tools can be positioned against the tool holding face for capture in any orientation and from any direction, making capture extremely quick and easy. Likewise, the tools can be removed from the tool holding face in any direction, again facilitating ease and speed of use. The tool holding member can be used to hold dirty tools, since the tool holding face can simply be washed after use. The embedding of the magnets in the in-use rear face ensures that the magnets are protected from dust and abrasion.

The use of a plastics material such as polypropylene provides a hardwearing holding member resistant to damage and abrasion. The polypropylene can be between 5 and 15mm in thickness and a thickness of between 6 to 10mm has been found acceptable. In the example of a bricklayer using a trowel, the trowel can be easily placed against the tool holding face while the bricklayer picks up a brick or block, and the trowel then released from the tool holder to pick up or trim mortar.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The holding member could be of any suitable shape and size. The number and position of the magnets and loop holes may be varied as required, and the arrangement of the straps or belts may be different to that described. Different types of magnets may be used. The magnets could be completely encased within the holding member.

The tool holding face could comprise formations such as ribs or recesses to aid alignment and/or retention of the tools. A cover may be provided to cover the tools on the holding face if the tools are not in use, to protect the tools and/or the user. A clamping means may be provided to further aid retention of the tools. The clamping means may comprise a strap or may be incorporated in the cover.

The magnets could be arranged to provide a magnetic force of varying intensity across the holding face. e

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A tool holder comprising a holding member, and a retaining means arranged to retain a tool against the holding member when the tool is brought into association with the holding member.

2. A tool holder according to claim 1, in which attachment means are provided for attaching the tool holder to a user.

3. A tool holder according to claims 1 or 2, in which the retaining means is arranged to release the tool when the tool is moved away from the holding member.

4. A tool holder according to claim 3, in which the retaining means is arranged to release the tool when the tool is moved in any direction.

5. A tool holder according to any of the preceding claims, in which the holding member includes a holding face against which the tool is held.

6. A tool holder according to claim 5, in which the retaining means retains the tool when the tool is brought into association with the holding face from any direction.

7. A tool holder according to claims 5 or 6, in which the face is substantially planar, and the tool is released from the face by sliding the tool across the face.

8. A tool holder according to any of claims 5 to 7, in which the face comprises formations to aid alignment and/or retention of the tool.

9. A tool holder according to claim 8, in which the formations are in the form of ribs or recesses formed in or on the holding face.

10. A tool holder according to any of the preceding claims, in which the I holding member is formed of a plastics material.

11. A tool holder according to claim 10, in which the plastics material is polypropylene.

12. A tool holder according to claims 10 or 11, in which the holding member is formed of a sheet of plastics material.

lO

13. A tool holder according to claim 12, in which the sheet of plastics material is between 5 and 1 5mm in thickness.

14. A tool holder according to claim 13, in which the sheet of plastics material is between 6 and 10mm in thickness.

15. A tool holder according to any of the preceding claims, in which the retaining means comprises a magnet.

16. A tool holder according to claim 15, in which the retaining means comprises a plurality of magnets.

17. A tool holder according to claim 16, in which the magnets are arranged to provide a substantially evenly distributed magnetic force across the holding face.

18. A tool holder according to claim 16, in which the magnets are arranged to provide a magnetic force of varying intensity across the holding face.

19. A tool holder according to any of claims 15 to 18, in which the or each magnet is a neodymium magnet.

20. A tool holder according to any of claims 15 to 19, in which the or each magnet is embedded within the holding member.

21. A tool holder according to claim 20 when dependent on claim 5 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the or each magnet is located I away from the holding face.

22. A tool holder according to claim 21, in which the or each magnet is embedded within a face opposite to the tool holding face.

23. A tool holder according to claim 2 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the attachment means comprises loops or loop holes through which a l O belt or strap may pass.

24. A tool holder according to claim 2 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the attachment means comprises a clip or hook.

25. A tool holder according to claim 5 and any claim dependent thereon, in which a cover means is provided to cover the tool retained on the holding face.

26. A tool holder according to claim 5 and any claim dependent thereon, in which a clamping means is provided to hold the tool in position against the holding face.

27. A tool holder according to any of the preceding claims, in which a magnetic member is provided, which is attachable to a non magnetic tool to allow the tool to be caught and held by the magnetic retaining means.

28. A tool holder substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

29. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.