WO2002092288A2

WO2002092288A2 - Tool block

Info

Publication number: WO2002092288A2
Application number: PCT/GB2002/002106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graham John Martin; Andrew Mcpherson Rosie; Chris Gurr
Original assignee: Record Tools Limited
Priority date: 2001-05-11
Filing date: 2002-05-13
Publication date: 2002-11-21
Also published as: WO2002092288A3; AU2002257911A1; GB0111538D0

Abstract

A tool block (200) has pockets (214) for receiving chisels (30) radiating from a pivot point (222) about which a lock (224) is pivoted. The lock comprises an arcuate fork (234) sliding against an arcuate edge face (216) of the block (200). The fork (234) engages the bolster of a chisel (30) preventing it being withdrawn unless the lock is pivoted to release the chisel. The block (200) incorporates a blade sharpener (90) comprising an abrasion plate (110) mounted for transverse movement in a slider (100) when the blade (36) of a chisel is inserted in a longitudinal direction.

Description

TOOL BLOCK

This invention relates to a tool block for storing tools safely and conveniently.

GB-A-2134823 discloses a stand for chisels and plane irons, in which a housing has an inclined face and slots into which differently sized tools can be inserted for storage. Inside the housing is mounted a grinding disc adapted to be rotated by a motor to sharpen the tools in the stand. All the tools that are in the stand are sharpened.

US-A-4866845 discloses a knife block having several slots to receive knives, in each of which slot is disposed a blade sharpening arrangement to sharpen each knife as it is inserted. A similar arrangement is disclosed in US-A-2441690, but here only one slot has the sharpening arrangement .

US-A-4041651 and US-A-6224475 both disclose knife sharpeners in which the knife blade is biased towards the sharpener on insertion of the knife in the sharpener.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool mounting block that does not suffer the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least mitigates their effects.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a tool block comprising: a body; a series of slots to receive tools of different sizes; and said slots substantially radiating towards a pivot about which a tool lock is rotatable between release and locking positions, in said locking position the lock serving to lock any tool located in said slots in the block.

Preferably, said slots are in an arcuate face of said body centred on said pivot.

Preferably said tool lock comprises a radial spoke from the pivot and an arcuate fork adapted to slide over said arcuate face on rotation of said lock between its release and locking positions.

Preferably said fork slides in channels in said arcuate face of the body to retain the fork in contact with the arcuate face.

Preferably, the fork has catches at its end either or both to lock the fork in its locking position and/or prevent it detaching from the body at its opposite release position.

GB-A-2132930 discloses a knife scabbard having a sharpening device formed between mating halves of a clamshell-type pouch, which device is activated by inserting the knife blade transversely through sharpening windows in the clamshell halves.

GB-A-2132929 discloses a similar arrangement for a scissors sheath.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a tool block comprising: a body; a series of slots to receive tools of different sizes; and a pouch in the body receiving a blade sharpener having a mouth adjacent said slots and adapted to sharpen the blade of tools inserted in said mouth in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the tool and sharpener, in which the blade sharpener comprises: an abrasion plate disposed for movement against resilient bias in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal direction and inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis; and a slider in which said abrasion plate is mounted, the slider being slidable in the block in said longitudinal direction to permit selective sharpening of the blade of the tool when the tool is held in said pouch.

Preferably, said blade sharpener sharpens the blade of a tool on insertion of the tool into said mouth.

The block may be adapted to receive said tools in the form of chisels. Chisels comprise a blade having a sharp front edge in a bevel face thereof transverse a long axis of the tool, and a handle, the handle and blade being in line essentially along said long axis.

Preferably said plate is supported for movement maintaining the same attitude with respect to said longitudinal axis.

A chisel inserted front edge first in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the sharpener encounters the abrasion plate across its path. Further insertion displaces the plate transversely but, since the chisel is moving longitudinally, the plate slides over the bevel face if the chisel and sharpens its edge. That is to say, a sharpening stroke occurs on insertion of the chisel into the sharpener. However, a similar effect occurs in reverse on withdrawal of the chisel from the sharpener. In other words, a return sharpening stroke is effected.

Preferably, the plate is inclined at about 25° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sharpener, that being the typical bevel angle of the bevel face of most chisels.

Preferably the plate comprises pins disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis , and adapted to slide in runners disposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to said longitudinal axis. The runners may be slots.

Preferably, there are at least two runners disposed parallel with respect to one another and spaced along said longitudinal axis so as to maintain said attitude of the plate with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Said runners may themselves be disposed in said slider. Said slider is preferably resiliently biased towards the mouth of the sharpener. Preferably the plate moves in said slider between engaged and disengaged limit positions and, on insertion of said chisel, the respective biases, firstly against movement of the plate in the slider, and secondly against movement of the slider in the body, are arranged so that the plate moves from the disengaged to the engaged position before the slider moves in the body.

The slider is arranged to have sufficient range of movement in the body to. permit further movement of the slider in the direction of insertion of the chisel after the chisel itself ceases its movement into the body when the chisel bolster has engaged the mouth of the sharpener. Clearly, this feature depends, not just on the design of the block of the present invention, but also on the length of the chisels stored and sharpened in it. However, said range of movement is arranged to accommodate a range of typical sizes of chisel commonly available .

As mentioned above, insertion of the chisel effects a first sharpening stroke. If the user then slides the slider further in the direction of chisel insertion, a return sharpening stroke is effected by that means, without removing the chisel from the sharpener.^' At the end of that return stroke, the user can release the slider and the bias on the slider will return it against the bias on the abrasion plate and effect a sharpening stroke equivalent to the first sharpening stroke. This cycle can be repeated as many times as desired to sharpen the chisel

With a sufficiently long permissible stroke of the slider in the body, the sharpener can accommodate a number of different lengths of chisels, and indeed shortening lengths of chisels as the sharpening process wears away the end of the chisel.

The slider preferably comprises a carrier portion to mount the plate and disposed internally of the pouch, and an actuator portion disposed externally of the pouch, a connector ligament between the carrier and actuator portions extending through a slot in the pouch. There may be two such slots parallel the longitudinal axis on either side of the pouch, a ligament extending through each slot between the carrier and actuator portions. The actuator portion may be in the form of a part-sleeve conforming to the surface of the pouch.

Preferably, a guide is disposed in the mouth of the sharpener to retain the blade parallel said longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, said guide may comprises a floor having upstanding fingers arranged side-by-side in said longitudinal direction, and a spring biased tongue facing said floor to press a tool inserted through the mouth against said floor, whereby fingers in the floor under the tool are pressed flat and fingers outside of the tool guide the tool longitudinally.

In a preferred embodiment, said guide comprises laterally adjustable guide elements arranged in said longitudinal direction and adapted to press the sides of a tool inserted between them. Said guide elements may be disposed in tracks for transverse movement only with respect to said longitudinal direction. Said elements may have pads actuatable by a user to squeeze a tool between the elements. Said elements may each have a toothed rack engaged by a pinion rotatable by a knob on the sharpener to open and close said elements together.

The invention in its different aspects is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figures la, b c are a perspective view, side view and top view respectively of a chisel block in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side section (shown with a chisel inserted) of the chisel block of Figure 1;

Figures 3a and b are perspective views respectively of the block of Figure 1 with its lock removed, and of the lock of the block of Figure 1;

Figures 3 a to e are respectively: a perspective view of a non-preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention; a perspective view of a lock; and a perspective view, a top view and a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figures 4a and b are side and top schematic/sectional views respectively of a tool guide for use in the block of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI in Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a view in the direction of VII . in Figure

Referring to the drawings, a chisel block 200 comprises a plastics moulding, most conveniently in the form of two clamshell halves 210, 212 retained together by screws 201. The clamshells define between them a number of pockets 214, opening on an arcuate side surface 216 of the block 200. The pockets 214 have mouths 218 in the arcuate surface 216 which vary in width in order to receive the blades 36 of chisels 30, the wider mouths being intended to receive wide bladed chisel (for example 25 or 32 mm) . Despite having varying blade widths, most chisels have a commonly shaped bolster 34 at the junction between the blade 36 and the handle 32 of the chisel 30, although there may be some variation between the largest and smallest sized chisels. This fact is employed in the present invention to be provide a convenient means by which the chisels received in the block 200 can be retained therein and prevented from falling out should, for example, the block be dislodged. The block has a base 220 on which it normally sits on a workbench or the like with an upright orientation. The pockets 214 radiate about a central axis 222 so that the handles 32 of a number of chisels stored on the block radiate out from the block and are easily grasped by a user.

Between the clamshell halves 210, 212 a lock 224 is captivated by an axle piece 226, being retained within hinge cups 228 formed in each clamshell half 210, 212. The lock 224 has a single spoke 230 extending up the rear face 232 of the block 200 and forming a handle by which the block may be carried, in use. The spoke 230 turns into an arcuate fork 234, the arcuate fork 234 having a centre of rotation at the pivot 222. The fork 234 therefore slides over the face 216 of the block 200 as the spoke 230 pivots about its axle 226. The fork present a gap 236 between its arms 234a 234b, which gap is arranged to be larger than the normal dimension of the bolster 34, but less than the width of the blades 36. Indeed, the width of the gap 236 changes, so that, near its top end 236a, it is narrow to fit the bolster of smaller chisels, whereas at its base 236b it is larger to fit larger bolsters. For this reason, the smaller chisels are intended to be in the upper most slots, whereas the larger chisels are in the lower pockets. This also has the advantage of putting the weightier chisels nearer the base 220 so that the centre of gravity of a full chisel block 200 remains near the base 220, and hence the block remains stable.

The chisel lock 224 has a gusseted corner region 240 to increase its strength and by means of which the user may grasp it in order to pivot the lock 224 about its axis 222. This serves to withdraw the fork 234 from the face 218 of the chisel block and fully open the mouths Preferably, the fork 234 is provided with a flange 242 (see Figure 5) adapted to slide in grooves 244 in the sides of face 216. This retains the fork against the face 216 and also serves to prevent the fork from spreading. To prevent the fork from closing, it is moulded with a spread bias, so that it is confined by the grooves. Indeed, this assists gripping the smaller chisels in the top end 236a of the fork gap 236, which may be provided with a keyhole profile at the very top to grip the thinnest chisels whose blades do not normally have a shoulder capable of being retained behind the fork 234.

Preferably, two catches 237 are provided to latch the lock 234 closed (in the position shown in the drawings) and so that a positive release is required before chisels can be withdrawn. This is provided by a tab 239, being formed integrally as a part of one of the clamshells 210,212. The tab is displaceable to release the catches, its connection to the clamshell forming a restoring moment. Likewise, the catches 237 serve to prevent complete disengagement of the fork 234 from the face 216 of the block 200 when the fork is fully opened. Complimentary catches 241 are formed in an insert 243 at the top of the block at the end of face 216. As opposed to the catches 241, or in addition thereto, the lock 224 is provided with a pivot limit stop 225 on a gusset 227, which stop is adapted to engage an internal wall of the clamshell 212 when the lock is pivoted fully open.

At its top, and running down the back face 232 of the block 200, is disposed a blade sharpener 90. The insert 243 forms a mouth 240 for the sharpener and that is exposed only when the fork is fully opened. A blade 36 of a chisel can be inserted through the mouth 240 into a pouch 91. The pouch 91 is defined by the clamshells 210,212 forming, when mated, two channel sections 92,94 connected at their ends by a root 96 of each clamshell and the insert 243. The insert 243 is snapped into the open ends of the pouch 91, barbs 105 thereof catching in windows 107 in the sides of channel 94. The channel sections 92,94 have their side walls 92a, 94a facing one another and separated so as to define a slot 98 between them. The slot captivates a ligament 102 of a slider 100 forming the sharpener 90. The slider is inserted between the channels before the insert 243 closes them. The ligament 102 extends between an inner carrier portion 104 of the slider 100 and an outer actuator 106. The actuator 106 is grasped, in use, by the user to slide the slider 100 back and forth along the sections 92, 94 between the root 96 and insert 243. To reduce friction between the slider 100 and the channel sections 92, 94, the sides 92a, 94a of the sections and top 94b of the top channel section 94, are provided with ribs 108 against which the slider runs. Alternatively, the ribs may be disposed on the slider.

The internal carrier 104 therefore runs within a pouch defined by the channels 92,94, largely free of contact with the internal surfaces of the channels.

The carrier portion 104 carries an inclined abrasion plate 110, best seen in Figure 2. The abrasion plate 110 has four pins 112, one at each corner of the plate. The pins 112 are retained in slots 114 in the carrier portion 104 of the slider 100. The slots 114 are oriented perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis 150 of the sharpener 90, which axis is also the direction of insertion of a chisel 30. Moreover, the separation of the slots 114 in the longitudinal direction is less than the separation between pins 112 on the same side of the abrasion plate 110. This has the effect of forcing the abrasion plate 110 to adopt and maintain an inclined attitude^" with respect to the longitudinal axis 150. Indeed, the dimensions are chosen so that the angle of inclination is about 25°, being the normal angle of inclination of chisel bevel faces 38.

A spring cup 116 is formed on the reverse side of the abrasion plate 110, and this is adapted to house a spring 118 whose other end is received in a cup 120 in the roof 104b of the carrier portion 104 of the slider

100.

In Ficjure 2, the slider is shown in two positions 100a, 100b. A slider spring (not shown) can be arranged to urge the slider towards the position 100b. However, it is preferred that the slider is entirely free, for reasons described below. The abrasion plate spring 118 urges the abrasion plate 110 downwardly (that is, to the position shown in position 100b of the slider 100) .

A chisel 30 is inserted through the mouth 240 of insert 243 until the blade 36, or rather its bevel face

38, contacts the under surface of abrasion plate 110.

The slider is in^' the position 100b with the abrasion plate 110 being urged to its bottom most positions with the pins 112 engaging the base of the slots 114. The strength of the slider spring, versus the abrasion plate spring 118, is so arranged that, as the blade 36 of the chisel 30 is inserted further into the sharpener along the longitudinal axis 150, the plate 110 rises first in the slots 114, compressing the plate spring 118, before the slider 100 begins to move. However, when the plate

110 has moved to an upper limit position, in which the pins 112 contact the top ends of the slots 114, further insertion of the chisel 30 into the sharpener now begins to move the slider 100 to the position 100a, compressing the slider spring.

The sharpener is dimensioned so that, for typical chisels 30, the chisel is fully located in it (that is to say, its bolster (not shown) abuts the mouth 240 and halts further insertion) when the slider 100 has moved to a position intermediate the positions 100a, 100b.

When the chisel moves the plate 110 upwardly in the drawings on its insertion into the sharpener, the bevel face 38 must slide down the abrasion plate 110. The abrasion plate 110 is constructed from a resinous material impregnated with hard, abrasive particles such as Carborundum (registered trade mark) . Thus, in sliding down the plate 110 ^'a sharpening action is effected oh the bevel face 38.

However, should the user of the chisel and sharpener wish to effect further sharpening strokes on the bevel face 38, it is not necessary to withdraw and reinsert the chisel 30. Instead, the range of movement in the drawings of the slider 100 with respect to the insert 243 is arranged sufficient so that, even though the chisel is fully inserted, further movement of the slider 100 is possible to its limit position 100a. Thus, from the intermediate position (not shown) when the blade 36 is fully inserted the slider can be pulled to position 100a by the user, against the pressure of the slider spring

(not shown) . In doing this, the abrasion plate 110 slides down the bevel face 38 under the action of the spring 118, and so as to effect a sharpening return stroke. Should the user now release the slider 100 from the position 100a, the slider spring will push the slider towards position 100b effecting a further . sharpening stroke on the bevel face 38. This occurs as the plate 110 moves back up the slots 114, against the bias of plate spring 118. Movement stops when the pins 112 engage the upper ends of the slot 114, whereupon further movement of the slider 100 is prevented.

With this arrangement, a balance has to be achieved between the strengths of the slider return spring and the plate spring. This balance may result in the latter not being strong enough to exert an effective abrasion action on the bevel face, or the slider spring being undesirably strong from a user's perspective. This balance is required when it is desired to displace the abrasion plate before the slider moves when a chisel is first inserted. Thus it may be preferred to dispense with the slider spring altogether (this also represents a potential cost saving) , and rely entirely on a user manually moving the slider back and forth to effect sharpening strokes.

A guide element 80 comprises a tongue 86 that is a separate metal component press fitted into the roof of insert 243. On the floor of the insert, a spring steel plate 84 (see Figure 7) is retained, having a number of longitudinally arranged upstanding fingers 85. The floor 84, like the tongue 86, is a separate component to the insert, the fingers 85 have been punched and deformed from the plate. Indeed, the components 84,86 may be integral and formed from a single sheet of spring steel. The fingers 85 are each about 5mm wide so that a particularly narrow chisel of only 5mm width, when inserted into the mouth of the insert 14" will ride over central tongue 85a but not depress tongues 85b on either side of it. Instead, those tongues will serve to guide the chisel and retain it centrally on tongue 85a and also parallel the longitudinal axis 150. If the chisel is 10mm wide, then it can be inserted over fingers 85a and one of fingers 85b, the chisel then being guided by the other finger 85b and an outer finger 85c. The same situation can be seen to pertain with chisels of 15mm, 20mm and 25mm widths. For the latter two, the external rim of the floor 84 may be deformed upwardly at 85d in order to retain chisels of sufficient width to compress either or both of the fingers 85c.

Alternatively, a more active guide element 80' (see Figures 4a, b) may be provided, comprising two side guides 51,53 guided by means not shown for transverse movement only with respect to the longitudinal axis 150. Each guide has a side wall 55 adapted to be pressed against the sides of a chisel blade 36. Arms 57 extend sidewardly terminating in buttons 59 extending through the sides of insert (shown schematically only in Figure lb) . When a user squeezes the buttons together with one hand, the blade 36 is oriented more precisely in parallel with the longitudinal axis 150. In addition, each guide 51,53 may be provided with a rack 61, guided in an eye 63 in the other guide. A pinion 67 may be disposed between teeth 69 on each rack, and a knob 65 may be accessible through the back of the insert 243. Turning the knob 65 serves to drive the racks 61 transversely of the longitudinal axis. Indeed, the arms 57 and buttons 59 may be omitted if a means of releasably locking the pinion is provided.

Thus the present invention provides a convenient store in which chisels can be kept and carried safely, and protected from damage. The chisels can be locked in place to avoid dislodgement, either during transportation or simply when the block is knocked over, for instance, on a workshop bench. Moreover, a convenient, easy-to- use, blade sharpener is provided to keep chisel blades sharp.

Claims

Claims :

1. A tool block comprising:

a body;

a series of slots to receive tools of different sizes; and

said slots substantially radiating towards a pivot about which a tool lock is rotatable between release and locking positions, in said locking position the lock serving to lock any tool located in said slots in the block.

2. A block as claimed in claim 1, in which said slots are in an arcuate face of said body centred on said pivot .

3. A block as claimed in claim 2, in which said tool lock comprises a radial spoke from the pivot and a arcuate fork adapted to slide over said arcuate face on rotation of said lock between its release and locking positions.

4. A block as claimed in claim 3, in which said fork is flanged and runs in a groove in said arcuate face so as to retain said fork against said face.

5. A block as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which said radial spoke is terminated with a cylindrical axle received in a cup in said body.

6. A block as claimed in any preceding claim, in which clip means are provided to prevent disengagement of said fork from said arcuate face in said release position.

7. A block as claimed in any preceding claim, in which clip means lock the fork in its locking position.

8. A block as claimed in 6 and 7, in which said clip means preventing release and said clip means locking the fork are the same components of the fork.

9. A block as claimed in any preceding claim in which said body comprises two clamshell halves separated along a plane perpendicular to said pivot.

10. A block as claimed in claims 5 and 9, in which a said cup is provided in each clamshell half, captivating said cylindrical axle between them.

11. A tool block comprising: a body; a series of slots to receive tools of different sizes; and a pouch in the body receiving a blade sharpener having a mouth adjacent said slots and adapted to sharpen the blade of tools inserted in said mouth in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the tool and sharpener, in which the blade sharpener comprises: an abrasion plate disposed for movement against resilient bias in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal direction and inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis; and a slider in which said abrasion plate is mounted, the slider being slidable in the block in said longitudinal direction to permit selective sharpening of the blade of the tool when the tool is held in said pouch.

12. A block as claimed in claim 11, in which said plate is supported for said movement maintaining the same attitude with respect to said longitudinal axis.

13. A block as claimed in claim 11 or 12, in which said blade sharpener sharpens the blade of a tool on insertion of the tool into said mouth.

14. A block as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, in which the plate is inclined at about 25° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sharpener.

15. A block as claimed in any of claims 11 to 14, in which the plate comprises pins disposed tranversely of the longitudinal axis and adapted to slide in runners disposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to said longitudinal axis.

16. A block as claimed in claim 15, in which there are at least two of said runners disposed parallel with respect to one another and spaced along said longitudinal axis so as to maintain said attitude of the plate with respect to said longitudinal axis.

17. A block as claimed in claim 15 or 16, in which said runners are slots in the slider.

18. A block as claimed in claim 17, in which said slider is resiliently biased towards the mouth of the sharpener .

19. A block as claimed in claim 18, in which the plate moves in said slider between engaged and disengaged limit positions and, on insertion of said tool, the respective biases, firstly against movement of the plate in the slider, and secondly against movement _f- of the slider in the sharpener, are arranged so that the plate moves from the disengaged to the engaged position before the slider moves in the sharpener.

20. A block as claimed in claim 17, 18 or 19, in which said tool is a chisel and in which the slider is arranged to have sufficient range of movement in the sharpener to permit further movement of the slider in the direction of insertion of the chisel after the chisel bolster has engaged the mouth of the sharpener, said chisel being at least of a length sufficient to move the abrasion plate in the slider to effect a sharpening stroke.

21. A block as claimed in any of claims 17 to 20, in which the slider comprises a carrier portion to mount the plate and disposed internally of the sharpener, and an actuator portion disposed externally of the pouch, a connector ligament between the carrier and actuator portions extending through a slot in the sharpener.

22. A block as claimed in- claim 21, in which there are two such slots parallel the longitudinal axis on either side of the sharpener, a said ligament extending through each slot between the carrier and actuator portions.

23.^' A block as^' claimed in claim 21 or 22, in which the actuator portion has the form of a part-sleeve conforming to the surface of the sharpener.

24. A block as claimed in any preceding claim adapted for chisels.

25. A tool . block according to any of claims 1 to 10 in combination with a tool block according to any of claims 11 to 24.

26. A chisel block, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.