Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HAND TOOL RACK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool rack, and more particularly to a
hand tool rack that can be mounted on a wall easily and a distance between two
adjacent hand tools can be adjusted.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional hand tool rack is suspended on a wall, so that hand tools
can be organized to facilitate work efficiency and prevent loss of tools. The
conventional hand tool rack is provided with an elongated rack adapted for
connection to a wall and multiple clamping elements firmly formed on the
elongated rack. Each clamping element defines a through hole to hold a shank
of
the hand tool.
However, the clamping elements are firmly mounted on the rack and
cannot be moved to maximize utility of available space on the rack and when
the
rack is mounted on the wall, only limited space is available for inserting
hand
tools into the through holes in the clamping elements.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a hand tool rack
that can be mounted on a wall easily and a distance between two adjacent'hand
tools can be adjusted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The hand tool rack in accordance with the present invention has an
elongated base bracket and multiple clamping elements. The base bracket has a
baseboard and a rail bracket. The rail bracket is longitudinally formed on and
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protrudes from the baseboard. The clamping elements are movably mounted on
the rail bracket of the base bracket and each clamping element has a clamping
arm and a tool mount. The clamping arm is mounted slidably and clamps on the
rail bracket and has an upper holder and a lower holder. The tool mount is
formed on and protrudes from the clamping arm and has a tool hole, a mounting
slit and two recesses. The tool hole is formed through an upper surface and a
lower surface of the tool mount. The mounting slit is formed through the upper
surface, a front surface and the lower surface of the tool mount and
communicates with the tool hole. The recesses are respectively formed in the
sidewalls of the tool mount.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hand tool rack in accordance with the
present invention, showing hand tools clamped by the rack in phantom lines;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a clamping element
of the hand tool rack in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an operational perspective rear view of a base bracket of the
hand tool rack in Fig. 1 mounted on a wall;
Fig. 4A shows operational side views in partial section of the clamping
element of the hand tool rack in Fig. 1, showing removal of the hand tool from
the clamping element;
Fig, 4B is an enlarged side view in partial section of the clamping
element in Fig. 4A;
Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the hand tool rack in Fig. I mounted on
a wall by threaded bolts;
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Fig. 5B is an enlarged perspective view of the hand tool rack in fig. 5A;
Fig. 6 shows operational perspective views of a portion of the hand tool
rack in Fig. 1,showing insertion of the hand tool in the clamping element;
Fig. 7 is operational top views in partial section showing insertion of the
hand tool in the clamping element in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the hand tool
rack in accordance with the present invention, showing hand tools clamped by
the rack in phantom lines;
Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a hanging board with two hand
tool racks in Fig. 8;
Fig. 9A is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the hanging board
with one of the hand tool racks in Fig. 9;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the second embodiment of
tool mount of the hand tool rack in Fig. 8;
Fig. 11 is operational perspective views of the hand tool rack in Fig. 8;
Fig. 12 is operational top views in partial section of the hand tool rack in
Fig. 8;
Fig. 13 is an operational side view in partial section of the hanging board
with the hand tool racks in Fig. 9; and
Fig. 13A is an enlarged side view in partial section of the hand tool rack
in Fig. 8;
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a tool mount in
accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 15 is operational top views in partial section of the tool mount in Fig.
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14; and
Fig. 16 is operational perspective views of a tool suspension assembly
with the tool mounts in Fig. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to Figs. 1 to 4B, a first embodiment of a hand tool rack in
accordance with the present invention for holding hand tools (40) has an
elongated base bracket (10), multiple clamping elements (20) and two hangers
(30).
The base bracket (10) may be hung on a surface such as a wall or a tool
cart and has a baseboard (11) and a rail bracket (12).
The baseboard (11) may be elongated and has a front surface, a rear
surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, two ends and two bolt holes (111). The
bolt
holes (111) are respectively formed through the surfaces of the baseboard (11)
near the ends of the baseboard (11).
The rail bracket (12) is longitudinally formed on and protrudes from the
front surface of the baseboard (11) and has an upper rail (121), a lower rail
(122)
and a channel (123). The upper rail (121) is longitudinally formed on and
protrudes from the front surface of the baseboard (11) near the bolt holes
(111).
The lower rail (122) is longitudinally formed on and protrudes from the front
surface of the baseboard (11) and is parallel to the upper rail (121). The
channel
(123) is formed in the rail bracket (12) between the rails (121, 122) and the
front
surface of the baseboard (11) to allow elastic deformation of the rails (121,
122)
of the rail bracket (12).
With further reference to Fig. 2, the clamping elements (20) are movably
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mounted on the rail bracket (12) of the base bracket (10) and each clamping
element (20) is hollow and has a rear end, a front end, a clamping arm (21)
and a
tool mount (22).
The clamping arm (21) is formed on the rear end of the clamping
element (20), is mounted slidably and clamps on the rail bracket (12) of the
base
bracket (10) and has an upper holder (211) and a lower holder (212). The
holders
(211, 212) are respectively clamped on the rails (121, 122) of the rail
bracket (12)
and each holder (211, 212) may be a hook or a cylinder to clamp on or mount in
the rails (121, 122) of the rail bracket (12).
The tool mount (22) is formed on the front end of the clamping element
(20), is formed on and protrudes from the clamping arm (21) for holding hand
tools (40) and has an upper surface, a lower surface, a front surface, two
sidewalls, a tool hole (221), a mounting slit (222), a guiding face (223) and
two
recesses (224).
The tool hole (221) may be circular or U shaped, is formed through the
upper surface and the lower surface of the tool mount (22) near the front
surface.
The mounting slit (222) is formed through the upper surface, the front
surface and the lower surface of the tool mount (22) and communicates with the
tool hole (221).
The guiding face (223) is formed on the front surface of the tool mount
(22) to guide and aid mounting of the hand tools (40) in the tool hole (221)
via
the mounting slit (222).
The recesses (224) may be arc shaped and are respectively formed in the
side walls of the tool mount (22) to allow elastic deformation of the tool
mount
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(22). With reference to Fig. 7, the minimum distance between the recess (224)
and the tool hole (221) is A, the minimum distance between the sidewall of the
tool-mount (22) and the mounting slit (224) is B and A is smaller than B, to
allow
elastic deformation of the mounting slit (222) of the tool mount (22).
With reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 4B, the hangers (30) are movably
mounted on the base bracket (10) and each hanger (30) has a body (31), two
mounting arms (32) and a hanging arm (33). The body (31) may be a panel and
has a front side and a rear side. The mounting arms (32) are formed on and
protrude from the front side of body (31) and are clamped on the top edge and
the
bottom edge of the baseboard (11). The hanging arm (33) is formed on and
protrudes from the rear side of the body (31) for hanging on a wall.
With reference to Figs. 3, 5A and 5B, the base bracket (10) of the hand
tool rack can be mounted on a wall by the hanging arms (33) of the hangers
(30)
for clamping hand tools (40). Furthermore, bolts are mounted through the bolt
holes (111) of the baseboard (11) and fastened with nuts after the base
bracket
(10) of the hand tool rack has been mounted on the wall by the hangers (30),
such
that the base bracket (10) can be securely mounted on the wall.
With reference to Figs. 1, 6, and 8, each clamping element (20) can be
moved to change a position relative to the base bracket (10) with the clamping
arm (21) of the clamping element (20) being slid relative to the rails (121,
122)
of the rail bracket (12).
With reference to Fig. 7, the clamping element (20) may undergo elastic
deformation when the hand tool (40) is mounted into the tool hole (221) via
the
mounting slit (222) to clamp the shank (41) of the hand tool (40) securely in
the
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tool hole (221).
With further reference to Figs. 1 and 7, each clamping element (20) can
be moved relative to the baseboard (11) by the clamping arm (21) clamping on
the rail bracket (12). Then, the distance between two adjacent clamping
elements
(20) can be adjusted to mount different kinds of hand tools (40).
Furthermore, a minimum distance between the recess (224) and the tool
hole (221) is smaller than a minimum distance between the sidewall of the tool
mount (22) and the mounting slit (224), to allow elastic deformation of the
mounting slit (222) of the tool mount (22).
With reference to Figs. 8 to 10 and 14 to 16, a second and a third
embodiments of the hand tool rack in accordance with the present invention may
be hung on a hanging panel or a wall and comprises a base (I OA), multiple
tool
holders (20A,20B) and two hanging elements (30A).
The base (1 OA) is elongated and comprises a back board (11 A) and a rail
(12A). The back board (11 A) has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side, a
rear
side and two hanging holes (111A). The hanging holes (111A) are defined
through the back board (1 I A) respectively near two ends of the back board
(11 A).
The rail (12A) is elongated and is longitudinally formed on and protrudes from
the front side of the back board (11 A).
With reference further to Fig. 13A, the rail (12A) may comprise two rail
elements separately mounted on and protruding from the front side of the back
board (11A). The rail elements each have a T-shaped cross section to define a
rail
channel (121A,122A) opposite to each other. The rail elements are separated
from each other, so a guiding channel (123A) is defined between the rail
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elements to make the rail elements being resilient.
With reference to Figs. 8, 10 and 14, the tool holders (20A,20B) are
slidably mounted on the rail (12A) on the base (1 OA), and each tool holder
(20A,20B) has a clamp (21 A,21 B), a tool mount (22A,22B), two oblique guiding
tabs (222A,222B) and two lateral tabs (223A,223B). The clamp (21A,21B) is
mounted slidably on the rail (12A) on the base (1 OA) and has two rail hooks
(211A,212A) formed respectively on the top and bottom of the clamp (21A,21B)
and respectively held slidably in the rail channels (121 A,122A).
The tool mount (22A,22B) is tubular, is connected to the clamp
(21A,21B) and has a body having C-shaped cross section, a first part and at
least
one second part. With the C-shaped cross section, an opening (221A,221B) is
defined in a side of the tool mount (22A,22B) opposite to the clamp (21A,22B).
The at least one second part has a thickness smaller than that of the first
part to
make the tool mount (22A,22B) being resilient and easily expandable.
The tool mount (22A,22B) has two second parts formed respectively at
the sides of the opening (221A,221B).
In the second embodiment as shown in Figs. 10 and 12, the tool mount
(22A) has two second parts formed respectively at the sides of the opening
(221A). In the third embodiment, with reference to Figs. 14 and 15, the tool
mount (22B) has two recesses (2212B) defined longitudinally in an inner
surface
of the tool mount (22B) to define two second parts on the tool mount (22B)
respectively at positions in which the recesses (2212B) are defined.
The oblique guiding tabs (222A,222B) are respectively and obliquely
formed on and protrude outward from two sides of the opening (221A,221B) of
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the tool mount (22A,22B).
The lateral tabs (223A,223B) are respectively connected to the oblique
guiding tabs (222A,222B) and are parallel with the back board (1 IA) of the
base
(10A).
In the second embodiment, each tool holder (20A) may further have two
connecting tabs (224A) and a reinforced tab (225A). The connecting tabs (224A)
are respectively connected to the lateral tabs (223A) and to the clamp (21A)
of
the tool holder (20A). The reinforced tab (225A) is laterally formed between
and
connected to middle portions of the clamp (21A), the tool mount (22A) and the
connecting tabs (224A). With the arrangement of the reinforced tab (225A), the
structural strength of the tool holder (20A) is enhanced. With the arrangement
of
the connecting tabs (224A) and the reinforced tab (225A), the tool mount (22A)
is connected to the clamp (21A).
With reference to Figs. 14 to 16, in the third embodiment, each tool
holder (22B) further has two connecting tabs (224B) mounted between the tool
mount (22B) and the clamp (21B) of the tool holder (20B) to connect the tool
mount (22B) to the clamp (21B).
With reference to Figs. 13 and 13A, the hanging elements (30A) are
attached to the rear side of the back board (11A), and each hanging element
(30A)
having a hanging board (31A), two base hooks (32A) and a panel hook (33A).
The hanging board (31A) has a top, a bottom, a front side attached to attached
to
the rear side of the back board (11A) and a rear side. The base hooks (32A)
are
formed respectively on the top and bottom of the hanging board (31 A),
protrude
from the front side of the hanging board (31A) and are mounted over and hook
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on a top edge and a bottom edge of the back board (11 A) in respective: The
panel
hook (33A) is formed on and protrudes from the rear side of the hanging board
(31 A) to be inserted into or engage a hole defined in a hanging panel or a
wall.
To attach the hand tool rack onto a hanging panel or a wall, with
reference to Figs. 9, 9A, 13 and 13A, the panel hooks (33A) are inserted
respectively into holes defined in the hanging panel or the wall. Fasteners,
such
as bolts or nails are mounted through the hanging holes (111A) in the back
board
(11A) and into the hanging panel or the wall. Consequently, the hand tool rack
can be held securely on the hanging panel or the wall.
With reference to Figs. 9, 11 to 13, 15 and 16, to hang tools (40A,50A),
such as a screwdriver (40A,50A), wrench or the like on the hand tool rack, the
shank (41A,51A) of a tool is inserted into and held on the tool mount (22A) of
one of the tool holders (20A). Take a screwdriver (40A,50A) for an example,
the
shank (41A,51A) of the screwdriver (40A,50A) can be inserted into the tool
mount (22A,22B) from the top of the tool holder (20A,20B) in longitudinal
direction or via the opening (221A,221B) in a horizontal direction.
When the screwdriver (40A,50A) is inserted into the tool mount
(22A,22B) from the opening (221A,221B), the oblique guiding tabs (222A,222B)
can provide a guiding effect to the shank (41A,51A) of the screwdriver
(40A,50A) to allow the shank (41A,51A) into the opening (221A,221B) easily.
When the shank (41A,51A) enters the opening (221A,221B), the C-shaped tool
mount (22A,22B) will be expanded to allow the shank (41A,51A) entering into
the tool mount (22A,22B). Consequently, the screwdriver (40A,50A) can be
securely held on the tool mount (22A,22B) of the tool holder (20A,20B) for
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storing or displaying.
When a user wants to use a tool, the tool is pulled outward from the top
of the tool mount (22A,22B) directly or from the opening (221A,221B). When
the tool is pulled out the tool mount (22A,22B) from the opening (221A,221B),
the tool mount (22A,22B) is expanded to allow the shank of the tool to escape
from the tool mount (22A,22B). Accordingly, to take the tool into or out from
the
tool holder (20A,20B) is easy and convenient. In addition, with the
arrangement
of the second parts having a thickness smaller than that of the first part of
the tool
mount (22A,22B), the tool mount (22A,22B) is easily expanded to allow the tool
to enter into or escape from the tool mount (22A,22B).
Additionally, because the tool holders (20A,20B) are slidable along the
rail (12A) on the back board (1 IA), the distance between adjacent tool holder
(20A,20B) is adjustable to fit with different kinds of tools. Thus, the hand
tool
rack in accordance with the present invention is versatile in use.
Furthermore, with reference to Fig. 9, because the tools can be put into the
tool
mounts (22A,22B) in a horizontal direction, so the distance between two
adjacent hand tool racks on a hanging panel or a wall can be minimized.
Accordingly, more tools can be hung on the hanging panel or the wall with the
compact arrangement of the hand tool racks.
