Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02697876 2010-03-26
TOOL HANGER
Cross Reference to Related Applications
This application claims priority from United States provisional patent
application No. 61/202,680, and Canadian patent application No. 2,660,160,
filed March 26,
2009, entitled Tool Hanger.
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tool hanger apparatus, and more specifically to a
vertically suspended tool hanging device.
Background of the Invention
It is known that when using tools in the workshop or industrial environment, a
means of storing the tools in an easily accessible position is advantageous.
Similarly, storing
these tools in an organized fashion assists in improving productivity of the
workers using the
tools. Often tools are stored in a toolbox, which may require the user to
remove several tools
from the toolbox before locating the tool they were searching for. Alternately
tools may be
stored on the workbench, leading to a cluttered work area and less room to
perform the work
or place the parts to be worked upon. Pegboards with hook or arm extensions do
provide a
means for storing tools, but it requires the user to have adequate wall space,
and involves
much initial setup effort.
Because keeping tools in these aforementioned locations is undesirable or
requires special conditions, it is desirable to have an easy to set up system
of storing tools,
both in order to keep them readily available and at hand while performing the
work, and to
keep them organized for longer term storage.
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Some common devices, designed to provide solutions to these problems,
include horizontally disposed tool racks which mount to the wall and are
useful for holding
screwdrivers and other small hand tools. However devices capable of supporting
the weight of
many heavier tools such as cordless drills, electric saws, or vertically
suspended hanging
systems for other objects are not as common in the art. Applicant is aware of
patents regarding
such examples as:
US patent 6,688,568 which issued to Moufflet on February 10, 2004, titled
"Fixing Device Comprising a Rod Hooked on a Wall," teaches a vertical rod and
hook system
intended for mounting upon the wall, in order to hold objects at a vertically
adjustable height.
The mounting system of the Mouf let device is complicated and requires an
anchorage rail for
the vertical rod to be suspended from. The system involves the tightening and
loosening of
individual hook elements to move them vertically along the rod, requiring the
user to spend
time making adjustments each time a different tool is to be hung.
US patent 5,853,092 which issued to Goodman and Milman on December 29,
1998, titled "Self-Adapting Tool Rack," discloses a board of evenly spaced
hooks with each
hook able to fold flush with the board or extend out from the board. In this
fashion different
tool hanging arrangements can be made easily and quickly by folding or
extending the
appropriate hooks. However in applicant's view the strength of the rack may
not be suitable
for heavy tools, and because the hooks are attached to a board, larger tools
may not fit on the
hooks.
US patent 5,743,416 which issued to Yemini on April 28, 1998, titled "Tool
Rack", teaches a horizontally mounted tool rack which provides different
apertures for
differently shaped tools. The disadvantages in applicant's opinion of storing
tools using the
device include the requirement for wall mounting space, and the fact that this
device may not
easily support larger tools, for example drills and electric saws.
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US patent 5,603,418 which issued to Tellefsen on February 18, 1997, titled
"Hanger for Baby Care Products," teaches a hanging device with a plurality of
hook or ring
shaped extensions, suitable for holding baby care products. This device allows
easy access to
the objects stored on the extensions, but the strength of the construction may
be unsuitable for
heavy tools. In addition, in applicant's view, its design requires a large
area of open space to
store and hang the objects, while a tool hanger with a small footprint is more
desirable in the
workshop.
US patent 4,141,452 which issued to Martin et al. on February 27, 1979, titled
"Tool Hanger," teaches a device with a separate mounting bracket and gripping
member,
connected via chain or cable. The device is capable of holding a large and
heavy tool, such as
a garden fork or shovel. However the device is not adaptable for different
types of tools, such
as the ones found in the typical industrial setting, or home workshop.
Additionally the Martin
patent does not allow for multiple tools to be hung from the same mounting
bracket. This
means each tool is required to have a separate mounting bracket, which
requires in applicant's
opinion a large mount of initial setup time.
US patent 4,071,146 which issued to Batts on January 31, 1978, titled
"Articulated Article Support," discloses a vertical hanging device consisting
of a spine and a
series of hooks attached to this spine. In applicant's view, the device was
designed for hanging
clothing articles, and not meant to, nor adapted to support the additional
weight and different
sizes and shapes of industrial tools.
US patent 2,609,104 which issued to Leach on September 2, 1952, titled
"Multiple Coat Hanger Support," teaches a device consisting of a wire bent
into a series of
consecutive loops, suitable for holding a plurality of coat hangers in a
vertical position. As
will the Batts device, this device is not in applicant's view suitable for
supporting some or all
industrial tools.
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The present invention serves to address the deficiencies in the art, by
providing
a device which can support multiple types of tools, which have varying sizes,
shapes and
weights, while allowing the user maximum flexibility to organize their tools
without spending
excessive setup and configuration time.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention may include a plurality of loops, hooks, arms or other
extensions of differing shapes and sizes that are well adapted to support
different shapes sizes
and weights of industrial tools. The extensions are attached, either rigidly
or so as to hang
free, to a length of chain, or flexible cable, tether or other flexible,
strong tensile, elongate
member in a vertically disposed fashion. In a preferred application, tools
such as handsaws
and clamps are suspended from hooks as well as other tools having eyelets such
as many
electric drills, electric saws, etcetera, while other tools such as
screwdrivers, ratchets,
hammers, pliers, axes are held by appropriately sized loops. The arms may also
be used to
support larger tools such as power drills or saws. Different shapes of
extensions may be
manufactured to support tools as required.
In summary, the tool hanger according to one aspect of the present invention
may be characterized as including an elongate flexible member, and a plurality
of tool supports
mounted spaced apart along the member, wherein the tool supports are chosen
from the group
of supports that include hooks, loops, and rings. A first end of the member is
adapted to be an
upper end when the member is vertical and so as to be mountable to a rigid
support to allow
the member to hang freely and downwardly by solely it's upper end.
The tool supports each have opposite first and second sides in diametrically
opposed relation. Each the tool support is mounted to a corresponding mounting
position
along the member by the mounting of the first side of the tool support to the
corresponding
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mounting position so as to dispose the second side of the tool support away
from the
corresponding mounting position on the member.
In one embodiment at least one of the plurality of tool supports is a free
hanging tool support mounted to the member so as to hang free from the member
thereby
allowing free movement of the free hanging tool support suspended by it's
first side from the
mounting position.
In one embodiment the flexible member is a length of chain comprising a
linked series of chain links, wherein the free hanging tool support is mounted
to a
corresponding link in the chain. In a further embodiment, all of the tool
supports are free
hanging tool supports.
At least one, or all of the free hanging tool supports may be releasably
mounted
to their corresponding links for example by the use of clasps or other
releasable fasteners. In
another embodiment none of the free hanging tool supports are releasable from
their chain
links, but instead are permanently affixed.
The tool supports are mounted along the chain in a spaced apart array. They
may be both spaced longitudinally along the chain and spaced apart radially
around the chain,
that is, radially spaced relative to the longitudinal axis of the chain when
linear, for example
when hanging free by it's upper end.
When the tool supports include rings, the rings may include rings of different
diameters. Such rings may include first rings having a first diameter and
second rings having a
second diameter, wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter,
whereby the first
and second rings are adapted to hold elongate parts of hand tools when the
elongate parts are
journalled therethrough, depending on the size of the tool.
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The tool supports may also include hooks chosen from the group comprising:
S-hooks, u-shaped hooks, single hooks, double-ended hooks. One of the hooks
may be
mounted at the second or lower end of the flexible member so as to hang below
the lower-most
end of the member when the member is hanging by the upper end and the member
is hanging
free. Another of the hooks may be mounted at the upper end of the flexible
member so that the
flexible member may be suspended thereby.
Advantageously the tool supports are adjustably positionable along the length
of the member. They may also be adjustably positionable radially about the
longitudinal axis
of the member.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is, in isometric view, one embodiment of the tool hanger of the
present
invention.
Figure 1 a is, in front perspective view, an example of a tool being stored in
the
tool hanger.
Figure 2 is, in isometric view, an alternative embodiment of the tool hanger
of
the present invention, using freely suspended hooks, both single and double-
ended mounted on
links of the chain links.
Figure 2a is a side elevation view of a further hook embodiment mounted so as
to hang freely from a link of the chain of Figure 2.
Figure 2b is a side elevation view of a single ring embodiment mounted so as
to
hang freely from a link of the chain of Figure 2.
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Figure 2c is a side perspective view of a double ring embodiment mounted so
as to hang freely from a link of the chain of Figure 2.
Figure 2d is an elevation view of the hook of Figure 2a mounted to a spring-
loaded clasp for releasably mounting the hook to the chain of Figure 2.
Figure 2e is an elevation view of the ring of Figure 2b mounted to a spring-
loaded clasp for releasably mounting the ring to the chain of Figure 2.
Figure 3 is, in isometric view, a further alternative embodiment of the tool
hanger of the present invention, with a cable and double cylindrical
connectors in the place of
the chain links.
Figure 4 is, in isometric view, a further alternative embodiment of the tool
hanger of the present invention, using 'hooks in the place of loops or other
tool attachment
means.
Figure 5 is, in isometric view, a further alternative embodiment of the tool
hanger of the present invention, which includes keyhole rings mounted to
bumps, knots or the
like formed along the length of a rubber bungee or rubber cord or the like.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
As seen in Figure 1, tool hanger 1 is suspended from a nail (not shown) or the
like mounted into a wall, stud, joist, etcetera by S-hook 2a. Hanger I
includes chain links 3 on
which are mounted rings 6 spaced apart along the length of chain. In one
embodiment, the
rings are attached to the links by welding. As seen in Figure la, a
screwdriver 9 is suspended
in a ring 6 by the thin end 9a of the screwdriver being inserted downwardly
through the ring.
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The length of the chain may be varied depending on the mounting location. For
example the
chain may be two feet long.
Figure 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of tool hanger 1. Instead of
rings
6 being welded to links 3, or for example hooks 2b being rigidly welded to
links 3, hooks
including for example single hooks 2b and double-ended hooks 2c are mounted to
links
spaced-apart along the chain so that the hooks are free to swing. Thus hook 2b
may be in the
form of an S-hook with the upper end of the S bent so as to fold down upon the
shank of the
hook to thereby secure the hook 2b for example at the lower-most link 3 while
still allowing
hook 2b to swing freely. Hook 2c may be mounted for example by means of a
removable
carabiner or fixed link 3a to links 3 which are spaced along the length of the
chain. The hooks
may include rubber tips 2'.
As seen in Figures 2b and 2c, rings 6 may be mounted to a link 3, eitheras a
single ring or multiple rings so as to hang freely from the link. As seen in
Figures 2d and 2e,
either the hooks or the rings may alternatively be mounted to releasably
engagable clasps, for
example, spring-loaded lobster-claw hooks 3b. The use of releasable clasps
allows the
selectively positionable mounting of hooks and rings onto convenient links 3
so that the
arrangement of hooks and rings may be easily adjusted by the user to
accommodate the type
and positioning of the various tools being hung.
Without intending to be limiting, double-ended hooks 2c may be used to hang
shovels, rakes, and like implements having elongate heads which extend in
opposite directions
perpendicularly from the handle. Smaller diameter rings 6, for example 1 inch
diameter rings,
may be employed to hang ratchets, screwdrivers as in the manner illustrated in
Figure I a,
etcetera. Larger rings such as for example 2 inch diameter rings 6 may be used
to hang larger
hand tools such as hammers, axes, pliers, etcetera. Single hooks such as hooks
2b and 2d, may
be used for example to hang hand saws or like tools having a loop handle
through which the
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hook may be engaged, or for hanging for example power tools on which are
provided eyelets
such as now commonly found, in which case, the hooks are journalled through
the eyelets.
With respect to the embodiments where the hooks and rings are, however
mounted, free to swing from the link 3 to which they are mounted, applicant
has found that
when supporting tools including heavy tools, the length of chain only
minimally kinks as
compared to the kinking of the chain when heavy tools are mounted into rings
and hooks
which are rigidly mounted to links 3.
It is understood that although the upper most end and the lower most end of
the
chain are shown having an S-hook 2a or not having a hook or ring at all,
respectively, it is
intended to be within the scope of the present invention to provide either
hooks or rings or
other tool supports at either end of the chain or for example to provide an
eyelet at the upper
end of the chain in order to accommodate ease of mounting of the chain to for
example a stud
or joist.
It is also intended to be within the scope of the present invention that
instead of
the use of a length of chain, other elongate flexible members which are strong
in tension may
be employed for example lengths of cable, resilient bungees or resilient
cords, or tethers or
lengths of leather, or rope, etcetera.
Thus the further embodiment shown in Figure 3 uses a cable 7 in place of chain
links 3. A series of spacers 5 and double cylindrical connectors 4 are
slidably mounted along
cable 7. A loop of cable 2e is secured by a connector 4 at the upper end of
the cable. The
spacers 5 and double cylindrical connectors 4 may alternate, or be arranged in
other
configurations, in order to best suit the user of the tool hanger. These
configurations will vary
based on the tools being hung. Arms 6 may be mounted in double cylindrical
connectors 4,
again according to the preference of the user and dependent upon the tools
being hung. A loop
of cable may be formed at the bottom end of cable 7 so as to prevent the
spacers 5 and double
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cylindrical connectors 4 from sliding off the cable. Double cylindrical
connectors 4 are
rotatably mounted upon cable 7 so that tools may be placed at any orientation
around the axis
of the cable 7. This allows the user of the tool hanger the maximum
flexibility in organizing
and storing the tools.
Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment where a multitude of U-shaped hooks 2f are
rigidly mounted to links 3 in radically spaced apart, staggered array along
the length of the
chain formed by links 3. Hooks 2f are spaced apart both radially about the
longitudinal axis of
the chain, when linear, and along the length of the chain again to accommodate
tools of
different shapes, sizes etcetera.
Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the substantially vertically
disposed
tool hanger 1. A knotted rubber cord or bungee 10, which may also be formed
with bumps
I Oa (instead of being knotted) supports keyhole rings 11. Rings 11 secure the
tools. Each
keyhole ring 11 has one end having a small aperture 12 and a larger aperture
13. Larger
aperture 13 is slightly larger than bumps 1 Oa. Smaller aperture 12 is smaller
than the diameter
of bumps lOa but larger than the thickness of bungee 10. Thus keyhole ring 11
may be slid up
and down the bungee, with the larger aperture 13 passing over the bumps. When
the desired
position is reached along the bungee, the keyhole ring 11 is laterally shifted
to move the
bungee into the smaller aperture and so that the smaller aperture 12 then
engages down upon
one of the bumps. A tool may then be hung in the larger aperture 13. The
engagement of the
smaller aperture 12 down on the bump prevents ring 11 from sliding down along
the bungee.
Tool hanger 1, may be attached by a screw, hook, nail or other suitable
fastener
to a suitable structure, for example a wall stud or ceiling joist. The tool
hanger 1 is allowed to
hang vertically, ready to receive tools. Applicant has found that it's not
necessary to weight
down the lower-most , that is, the free end of the chain or other flexible
member in order to
allow ease of hanging tools in the tool supports.
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As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of
the invention is
to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following
claims.
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