GB2420963A

GB2420963A - Tool suspension device

Info

Publication number: GB2420963A
Application number: GB0426890A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jui-Chien Kao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-08
Filing date: 2004-12-08
Publication date: 2006-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-08
Also published as: GB2420963B; GB0426890D0

Abstract

A tool suspension device has a bracket 10 and multiple holders 20. The bracket 10 has an upper rail, a lower rail and two mounting holes 12. Each holder 20 slidably clamps onto the bracket 10 and has a clamp 21 and a support arm 22 . The clamp 21 has an upper groove 211 and a lower groove 212 that clamp 21 respectively on the upper and lower rail. The support arm 22 is formed on and extends out from the clamp 21 and has two sides, a distal end, optional jaws 221 and an optional lip (222 fig 4). The jaw 221 on one holder 20 faces a jaw 221 on an adjacent holder 20 to hold a tool between the jaws 221 . The lip (222 fig 4) is formed on the distal end of the arm 22 to keep a hanging tool from slipping off.

Description

TOOL SUSPENSION DEVICE

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a suspension rack, especially to a suspension device used to hold and display tools.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, conventional perfboards (70) with multiple holes (71) are often mounted on wall in workshops or stores to hold and display tools. A conventional tool suspension device comprises a bracket (40) and multiple resilient elements (50). The bracket (40) is mounted securely on the perfboard (70) and has two ends, a longitudinal slot (41) and two mounting holes (42). The longitudinal slot (41) is formed in the bracket (40). The two mounting holes (42) are formed in the bracket (40) near opposite ends, and two screws, pegs or the like pass respectively through the mounting holes (42) and the holes (71) in the perfboard (70) to mount the bracket (40) on the perfboard (70) . The resilient elements (50) are mounted slidably against each other in the longitudinal slot (41). A tool (60) is mounted on the conventional tool suspension device by pressing the tool (60) between adjacent resilient elements (50). The conventional tool suspension device uses elasticity to hold tools.

Because the resilient elements (50) press against each other, restitution forces generated by pressing multiple tools between different adjacent resilient elements (50) are cumulative, which may result in large tools easily dislodging from the conventional tool suspension device or the number of tools mounted on the conventional tool suspension device being limited. Therefore the type, size and quantity of tools held by the conventional tool suspension device is limited. I.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an improved tool suspension device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved tool suspension device that can hold more and different kinds of tools in position on the tool suspension device.

A tool suspension device in accordance with the present invention has a bracket and multiple holders. The bracket can be mounted on a perfboard, a flat surface or vertical supports and has an upper rail, a lower rail, two mounting holes and optional ratchets. The ratchets are formed respectively on the upper and lower rails and have multiple notches. Each holder slidably clamps onto the bracket and has a clamp and a support arm. The clamp has an upper groove, a lower groove and optional pawls. The upper and lower grooves slide and clamp respectively on the upper and lower rail. The pawl on the holder engages a notch on the ratchet to hold the holder in position. The support arm is formed on and extends out from the clamp and has two sides, a distal end, optional jaws and an optional lip. The jaw on one holder faces a jaw on an adjacent holder to hold a tool between the jaws. The lip is formed on the distal end of the arm to keep a hanging tool from slipping off the arm.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tool suspension device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view in partial section of a holder and a bracket of the tool suspension device in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an operational perspective view of the tool suspension device in Fig. 1 mounted on a perfboard; Fig. 4 is an operational perspective view of another embodiment of a tool suspension device in accordance with the present invention mounted on a periboard; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional tool suspension device in

accordance with the prior art; and

Fig. 6 is an operational view of the conventional tool suspension device in Fig. 5 mounted on a perfboard.

With reference to Fig. 1, a tool suspension device in accordance with the present invention comprises a bracket (10) and multiple holders (20).

The bracket (10) has two ends, an upper rail, a lower rail, two mounting holes (12) and optional ratchets (11). The mounting holes (12) are formed through the bracket (10) respectively near the two ends. The ratchets (11) are formed respectively on the upper rail and the lower rail and have multiple notches.

Each holder (20) slidably clamps onto the bracket (10) and has a clamp (21) and a support arm (22).

With further reference to Fig. 2, the clamp (21) has an inside surface, an outside surface, an upper groove (211), a lower groove (212) and optional pawis (213). The upper and lower grooves (211, 212) are formed on the inside surface and slide and clamp respectively on the upper and lower rail. The pawls (213) are formed respectively in the grooves (211, 212) and correspond to and engage notches in the corresponding ratchets (11).

With further reference to Fig. 4, the support arm (22) is formed on and extends out from the outside surface of the clamp (21) and has two sides, a distal end, at least one optional jaw (221) and an optional lip (222). The jaw (221) is formed on one side of the support arm (22) and faces ajaw (221) on an adjacent holder (20). The lip (222) is formed on the distal end of the support arm (22).

With further reference to Fig. 3, screws pass through the fastening holes (12) and the perfboard (70) to mount the bracket (10) on the perfboard (70). A tool (30) is held between the jaws (221) on adjacent holders (20). Because the holders (20) do not limit the size of the tool (30) held, the tool suspension device as described can hold many and different kinds of tools.

The user adjusts the distance between two holders (20) to hold a specific tool (30). The pawls (213) engage notches in the ratchets (11) to keep the holders (20) in position. When the tool (30) is rotated or lifted a little bit to remove the tool (30), the holders (20) will stay in position because the pawls (213) will not disengage from the notches in the ratchets (11). Replacing a tool (30) between the same adjacent holders (20) does not require the user to adjust the distance between the adjacent holders (20) because the holders (21, 22) are still in position.

To hang a tool (31) with an eye (311), a user simply places the eye (311) over the support arm (22), and the lip (222) will keep the too! (31) from slipping off the support arm (22).

Claims

C

CLAIMS: 1. A tool suspension device comprising a bracket (10) having two ends; an upper rail; a lower rail; and two mounting holes (12) formed through the bracket (10) respectively near the two ends; multiple holders (20) slidably clamping onto the bracket (10) to hold tools and each holder (20) having a clamp (21) having an inside surface; an outside surface; an upper groove (211) formed on the inside surface and sliding and clamping on the upper rail of the bracket (10); and a lower groove (212) formed on the inside surface and sliding and clamping on the lower rail of the bracket (10); and a support arm (22) formed on and extending out from the outside surface of the clamp (21) to hold tools and having two sides; and a distal end.
2. The tool suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket (10) has ratchets (11) formed respectively on the upper rail and the lower rail, and each ratchet (11) having multiple notches; and the clamp (21) of the holder has pawis (213) formed respectively in the grooves (211, 212) and corresponding to and engaging notches in the ratchets (11).
3. The tool suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support arm (22) has at least one jaw (221) formed respectively on one side of the support arm (22) and faces ajaw (221) on an adjacent holder (20).
4. The tool suspension device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support arm (22) has at least one jaw (221) formed respectively on one side of the support arm (22) and faces ajaw (221) on an adjacent holder (20).
5. The tool suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support arm (22) has a lip (222) formed on the distal end of the support arm (22).
6. The tool Suspension device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support arm (22) has a lip (222) formed on the distal end of the support arm (22).
7. The tool suspension device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support arm (22) has a lip (222) formed on the distal end of the support arm (22).
8. The tool suspension device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support arm (22) has a lip (222) formed on the distal end of the support arm (22).