US3100275A

US3100275A - Magnetic tool holder

Info

Publication number: US3100275A
Application number: US157928A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emmett J Gantz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-12-08
Filing date: 1961-12-08
Publication date: 1963-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 1980-08-06

Description

1963 E. J. GANTZ 3,100,275

MAGNETIC TOOL HOLDER Filed Dec. 8, 1961 IN VEN TOR.

E MMETT I GANTZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,100,275 MAGNETIC TOOL HULDER Emmett .l. Gantz, 1007 S. 14th St, Burlington, Iowa Filed Dec. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 157,928 3 Claims. (Cl. 317-459) This invention relates to a magnetic holder which, while of general purpose, also has special adaptations. Magnetic holders have been proposed from early times, but for the most part these have consisted of simple bar or horseshoe magnets presenting little or no advance in function overthe well-known property of magnets of attracting and holding.

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a magnetic holder of functional form adapted to a variety of objects and tasks. More particularly it is an object to provide a magnetic holder specially adapted to hold a class of tools and accessories in common use among mechanics, and especially in connection with vehicles. In still greater particular, it is an object to provide a holder for such items as wrenches and like tools, flashlights, and mirrors.

These and other objects, which will be apparent, are attained by the present invention, which may be briefly described as comprising a set of cooperating magnetic elements including a 'block sectioned from polygonal stock and having an axial bore, and a slab having a pivot for mounting in said bore, with the slab in radial relation to the block, both the slab and the polygonal faces of the block having a central groove or channel, and the slab having an angularly disposed end section.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the following specification, as illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the block and radial slab,

FIGURE 2. is a sectional view, through the slab, taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, on reduced scale, of the parts of FIGURE 1, with the slab mounted radially of the spool, and supporting a flashlight,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the parts of FIGURE 3 turned through 90, and with a mirror substituted for the flashlight,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, on still further reduced scale, showing the block attached to a vehicle fender, and holding a flashlight, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, on about the scale of FIGURE 3, showing the slab holding a wrench, nut, screw and washer, the objects held being indicated in broken lines.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown, in FIGURE 1, a prismoidal block 10, and a slab 12, both strongly magnetic, which may be used separately or in conjunction. The block is cut from lengths of stock of polygonal section, and in the case shown the block has an axial bore 18, and the side faces 14 have central grooves or channels 20' which communicarte at the corners of the side faces of the block.

The slab 1:2 is formed from a length of flat stock, of oblong, rectangular cross section, and has a central groove or channel 22 throughout its length leaving marginal strips 23. The slab has a bent section 24 at one end, and at the other end has a corner notch defined by a shoulder 26, extending from one edge of the slab, and through groove 22 to its opposite side. The remaining portion 27 of the slab margin 23, in the form of a leg extending beyond shoulder 26, carries a pivot pin 28, adapted for insertion in axial bore 18 in the block.

One mode of use is illustrated in FIGURE 3, wherein one of the face-s 14 of the block is magnetically attached to a surface 30 of magnetically compatible material, the pin 28 of the slab is inserted in the bore 18 of the block, and the leg 27 is magnetically engaged with a face 16 of the block, with the slab 12 positioned for proper orientation of a flashlight 32, magnetically held in the groove in the bent section 24 of the slab. While the location of shoulder 26 of the slab may be such as to clear the corners of the block, it is also possible to locate the shoulder for interception by the corners, which thus provide extra holding power for arrangements such as shown in FIGURE 3. However, in cases where the axis of bore 18 is vertical, such as shown in FIGURE 4, wherein gravity is not acting to turn the slab, greater range of adjustment results if the shoulder of the slab is not interrupted by the corners of the block. In FIGURE 4, one face 14 of the block is in engagement with a vertical surface 34, which may be part of a vehicle, machine tool, or other structure. This is one arrangement wherein the holder is intended to extend the vision of a worker into places which are out of the line of normal sight, and, as shown, the bore of the block is vertical, with the thickness dimension of the slab, consequently, also vertical, and a mirror 36, with metallic frame 33 is magnetically adhered to the bent end 24 of the slab. With this atrangement, the worker may insert tools into regions of limited and devious access, and in this operation has visual guidance through the mirror 36.

In FIGURE 5 the block is shown mounted on the side of a car fender 40, and one of the polygonal faces of the block is utilized to hold the flashlight 24 at a suitable angle for illuminating the hub region of a wheel 42 of the vehicle.

In FIGURE 6, the slab alone is shown as mounted on a surface 44, convenient to a scene of operations, and shown in dotted lines are a variety of work implements adhered thereto, including a wrench, a nut, a screw and a washer, which are representative.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a magnetic holder which is adapted to a variety of uses and environments, While maintaining all of the useful features of the conventional, simple, bar or horseshoe magnet. In particular, the block component has a plurality of faces which can be used selectively, for attaching the block itself, and at the same time holding an implement in selective positions of orientation, and in a variety of planes. Also the groove in both components is specially adapted for round-bodied objects such as flashlights, and the bent end of the slab provides a further degree of selective orientation of an implement. In addition to the foregoing features, the pivotal arragement of the slab on the axis of the block further extends the range of adjustment, and the shoulder feature on the slab may be employed to advantage in cooperation with the corners between the block faces.

Generally speaking, whereas a certain, preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications will become apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A magnetic, holding device comprising a block of magnetic material having parallel end faces, and a polygonal cross section with side faces perpendicular to said end faces, said side faces having communicating central grooves, and said block having a central bore, perpendicular to said end faces, and an elongate, flat slab of magnetic material, having an oblong, generally rectangular cross section and having a section adjacent one end bent away from the plane of the slab, said slab having central, longitudinally disposed channels in its opposite faces,

bordered by marginal strips, one of said strips extending beyond the other end of said slab opposite said bentaway end section, and having a transversely extending pin removably engagedin the bone in said block.

2. A magnetic holding device comprising a block of magnetic material having a pair of opposite end faces, a plurality of side faces With central grooves, and a bore transverse rto said end faces, and an elongate slab having central, longitudinal grooves in opposite faces and having a section adjacent one end bent away from the plane of the slab, a leg extending longitudinally from the other end of said slab, and a pin extending transversely from said leg, and removably engaged in the bore in said block.

3. A magnetic, holding device comprising an elongate,

flat: slab of magnetic material, having an oblong, gen- 15 3,005,458

erally rectangular section and having a section adjacent one end bent away from the plane of the slab, said slab having central, longitudinally disposed channels in its opposite faces, and having a corner notch bordered by marginal strips, one of said strips extending beyond the other end of said slab opposite said bent-away end section, and having a transversely extending pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,143 Piercy Q. Oct. 24, 1933 2,449,255 Sneckner Sept. 14, 194-8 2,975,497 Budreck Mar. 21, 1961 Brook et a1. Oct. 24, 1961

Claims

1. A MAGNETIC, HOLDING DEVICE COMPRISING A BLOCK OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL HAVING PARALLEL END FACES, AND A POLYGONAL CROSS SECTION WITH SIDE FACES PERPENDICULAR TO SAID END FACES, SAID SIDE FACES HAVING COMMUNICATING CENTRAL GROOVES, AND SAID BLOCK HAVING A CENTRAL BORE, PERPENDICULAR TO SAID END FACES, AND AN ELONGATE, FLAT SLAB OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL, HAVING AN OBLONG, GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION AND HAVING A SECTION ADJACENT ONE END BENT AWAY FROM THE PLANE OF THE SLAB, SAID SLAB HAVING CENTRAL, LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED CHANNELS IN ITS OPPOSITE FACES, BORDERED BY MARGINAL STRIPS, ONE OF SAID STRIPS EXTENDING BEYOND THE OTHER END OF SAID SLAB OPPOSITE SAID BENT-