LUG CONNECTOR RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A receptacle assembly including a receptacle defining a storage volume and including a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls, and a magnet apparatus mounted to the rear wall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

1. Field of the Inventions

The present inventions relate generally to receptacles and, more specifically, relate to receptacles that hold lug nuts and lug bolts during vehicle repair.

2. Description of the Related Art

Lug nuts and lug bolts (collectively “lug connectors”), which are used to secure wheels to vehicles, are removed during many vehicle repair and/or maintenance procedures. The vehicles are typically hoisted on an automotive lift such as a single piston lift, a dual piston lift, a ramp lift or a scissor lift during procedures that require wheel removal. In many instances, there is no convenient spot to store the removed lug connectors until they are subsequently reinstalled. Most mechanics simply use the ground or the ledge on an arm of the automotive lift to store the lug connectors. The mechanics are forced to bend over to put them down and pick them up when the lug connectors are stored on the ground. In either case, the failure to properly store the lug connectors can result in them being misplaced.

One example of a part holder that may be secured to an automotive lift is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,744 to Calin (“Calin”). The Calin part holder includes a rectangular tray and a mounting bracket that is configured clamp onto one of the arms of a dual piston lift. The present inventor has identified a number of shortcomings associated with this type of part holder. For example, although the clamp is well suited for dual piston lifts where the lift arms are always on the outside of the vehicle being hoisted, the clamp is not well suited for single piston lifts where the vehicle is positioned above the lift arms with limited space between the arms and the bottom of the vehicle. The Calin part holder is also not capable of being mounted on a lift without arms, such as a ramp lift and a scissor lift. The configuration of the tray also makes removal of lug connectors therefrom somewhat difficult, especially given the fact that mechanics tend to reach into the tray with one hand while holding an air hammer with the other and focusing on the wheel.

Other part holders include relatively large, shallow trays. The present inventor has determined that such part holders are too big to fit into the small spaces that are available on certain vehicle lifts in the vicinity of the wheels. Moreover, the distance from clamp or other mounting device to the free end of the tray results in a relatively large moment when force is applied to the free end of the tray. The large moment can result in the tray being dislodged from the vehicle lift (or other structure) to which it is attached. It can also be difficult to locate a lug connector on a large, shallow tray without looking at the tray.

SUMMARY

A receptacle assembly in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention includes a receptacle defining a storage volume and including a bottom wall with an inner surface, a front wall with an inner surface that is oriented relative to the bottom wall such that obtuse angle is defined between the front and bottom walls, a rear wall, and side walls that extend from the front wall to the rear wall, the inner surfaces of the bottom and front wall defining a curved region. The receptacle assembly also includes a magnet apparatus mounted to the rear wall.

There are a number of advantages associated with the present receptacle assembly. By way of example, but not limitation, the present receptacle assembly may be mounted on a wide variety of automotive lifts that have a ferromagnetic surface, including single piston lifts, dual piston lifts, scissor lifts, ramp lifts, two post lifts, and four post lifts. The present receptacle assembly may also be easily attached to the lifts and removed from the lifts. The configuration of the receptacle also keeps the lug connectors close to one another in a relatively small volume, and makes the lug connector relatively easy to remove from the receptacle assembly by way of the curved inner surface and angled front wall. The configuration of the receptacle is also well suited for relatively small tools such as, for example, wheel locks and wheel lock keys.

The features of the present inventions will become apparent as the inventions become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Detailed description of embodiments of the inventions will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a lug connector receptacle in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the lug connector receptacle illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the lug connector receptacle illustrated in FIG. 1 adhered to a double piston ramp automotive lift.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the lug connector receptacle illustrated in FIG. 1 adhered to a two post automotive lift.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the lug connector receptacle illustrated in FIG. 1 adhered to a single piston automotive lift.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the best presently known modes of carrying out the inventions. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the inventions.

The exemplary lug connector receptacle assembly 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 includes a receptacle 11 and a magnet apparatus 11a that may be used to secure the receptacle to a ferromagnetic surface such as an automotive lift arm, as is discussed below with reference to FIGS. 4-6.

Referring first to the exemplary receptacle 11, the receptacle includes a bottom wall 14 (FIG. 3), with an inner surface 15 and an outer surface 16, and a walled perimeter 17 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that surrounds the inner surface of the bottom wall, thereby defining a storage volume 11b and opening into the storage volume. In the illustrated implementation, the bottom wall 14 has a generally rectangular shape and the walled perimeter 17 consists of a front wall 18, a rear wall 19, and side walls 20 and 21. The rear wall 19 supports the magnet apparatus 11a and abuts the ferromagnetic surface to which the assembly 10 is mounted. In the illustrated implementation, the rear wall 19 is perpendicular to the bottom wall 14. The front wall 18 is not parallel to rear wall 19 or perpendicular to the bottom wall 14. The front wall 18 is angled away from rear wall 19 and defines an obtuse angle α with the bottom wall 14 that may range from about 110° to about 135°, and is about 110° in the illustrated embodiment. In the context of angles, the word “about” means +/−10%. The height of the rear wall 19 is also greater than the height of the front wall 18, measured in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall. As a result, the top surfaces of the side walls 20 and 21 extend downwardly from the rear wall 19 towards the front wall 18 at an angle α that may range from about 10° to about 25°, and is about 10° in the illustrated embodiment. Additionally, the front wall inner surface 13 and bottom wall inner surface 15 intersect at a curved inner surface 22 that is defined by respective portions front wall inner surface and the bottom wall inner surface. Put another way, the front wall inner surface 13 includes a planar portion and a curved portion, and the bottom wall inner surface 15 includes a planar portion and a curved portion.

There are a variety of advantages associated with the configuration of the receptacle 11. For example, a user will most typically retrieve an object from the storage volume 11b within the receptacle 11 pull pulling the objects up and over the front wall 18. The angle α of the front wall 18 and the curvature of inner surface 22 make it easier for the user to retrieve lug connectors and other objects from the receptacle 11, as compared to a receptacle with a front wall that is perpendicular to the bottom wall and has a sharp corner where the inner surfaces of the bottom and front walls intersect. Additionally, locating the top surface of the front wall 18 below the top surface of the rear wall 19 creates additional room for the mechanic's hand to be inserted into the storage volume 11b in those instances where a portion of the automobile (or some other structure) is located above and in close proximity to the receptacle assembly 10.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 3, the exemplary magnet apparatus 11a includes a pair of magnet assemblies 27 and 28 that extend through the outer surface 24 of the rear wall 19 and partially into the rear wall. To that end, the rear wall 19 includes a pair of cavities 25 and 26 in which the magnet assemblies 28 and 27 are located and held. Magnet assembly 27 includes an annular magnet 31 and a ferromagnetic cup 32 to which the magnet is secured by, for example, adhesive. Taken together, the magnet 31 and cup 32 create a holding force that is significantly greater than the 31 magnet alone. The magnet assembly 27 is fastened to the receptacle 11 by a rivet 30. The magnet assembly 28, which is identical to the magnet assembly 27, includes an annular magnet 31a and a ferromagnetic cup 32a and is fastened to the receptacle 11 by a rivet 29. In other implementations, the magnets may be shapes other than annular or round, and/or the cups may be omitted, and/or the magnet assemblies may be other than identical, and/or the pair of magnet assemblies may be replaced by a single assembly or more than two assemblies. Regardless of the configuration, the magnet apparatus 11a must be strong enough to withstand the weight of the lug connectors, or other objects stored in the receptacle 11, and pulling forces in various directions (i.e., downward, lateral, perpendicular to the structure to which the magnets are adhered, or combinations thereof) that may occur when the mechanic removes the lug connectors or other objects from the receptacle 11.

With respect to dimensions, and referring first to FIG. 2, the respective widths W_F of the front wall 18 and W_R of the rear wall 19 may range from about 5 inches to about 7 inches. In the context of distances, the word “about” means +/−15%. Although they may be different in other embodiments, the front and rear wall widths W_F and W_R are equal in the illustrated embodiment and are about 6 inches. The width of the bottom wall is equal to the widths of the front and rear walls 18 and 19. Turning to FIG. 3, the height H_F of the front wall 18 may range from about 2 inches to about 2.7 inches while the height H_R of the rear wall 19 may range from about 2.6 inches to about 3.5 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the height H_F of the front wall 18 is about 2.4 inches, and the height H_R of the rear wall 19 is about 3 inches. The length L_B of the bottom wall 16 may range from about 2.6 inches to about 3.5 inches and, in the illustrated embodiment, is about 3 inches. The distance D from the rear surface 11c of the magnet apparatus 11a, i.e., the surfaces of the magnets 31/31a and cups 32/32a that contact the structure onto which the receptacle assembly 10 is mounted, to the free end 18a of the front wall 18 may range from about 3.3 inches to about 4.5 inches and, in the illustrated embodiment, is about 3.9 inches. The volume of the storage volume 11b may range from about 28.9 cubic inches to about 39.1 cubic inches and, in the illustrated embodiment, is about 34 cubic inches, which is well suited for storage of 16 typically sized lug nuts.

Referring to FIG. 1, the magnet assemblies 27 and 28 occupy the substantial majority of the rear surface of the receptacle 11. Although they may be different in other embodiments, the outer diameters OD of the magnets 31 and 31a are equal, may range from about 2 inches to about 2.7 inches and are about 2.4 inches in the illustrated embodiment. Each magnet is rated 80 pull lbs., i.e., can withstand 80 lbs. of force without sliding along the surface to which it is adhere. The exemplary receptacle assembly 10 does not include or require a clamp or other mechanical structure to mount the receptacle onto a vehicle lift or other structure.

So configured, the present receptacle assembly 10 defines various ratios and relationships that maximize its effectiveness, especially in the context of vehicle lifts and lug connectors. For example, the ratio of the rear wall height H_R to the distance D from the magnet apparatus rear surface 11c to the front wall free end 18a (H_R/D) may range from about 0.9 to about 1.7, or about 1.0 to about 1.6, to about 1.1 to about 1.5, or about 1.2 to about 1.4, and is about 1.3 in the illustrated embodiment. The ratio of the magnet outer diameter OD to the rear wall height H_R (OD/H_R) may range from about 0.7 to about 0.9 and is about 0.8 in the illustrated embodiment. The ratio of twice the magnet outer diameter OD to the rear wall width W_R (2OD/W_R) may range from about 0.7 to about 0.9 and is about 0.8 in the illustrated embodiment. In the context of ratios, the word “about” means +/−10%.

Turning to materials, suitable materials for the receptacle 11 include, but are not limited to, plastics such as polypropylene.

The present receptacle assembly 10 may be used in conjunction with, for example, lug connectors and other relatively small parts and tools as well as a wide variety of automotive lifts. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the exemplary receptacle assembly 10 may be magnetically (and removably) secured to the ramp 51 on a two piston ramp automotive lift 50, which can be utilized to lift vehicles such as cars, trucks, and buses. The receptacle assembly 10 may be magnetically (and removably) secured to the arm 52 of a two post automotive lift (FIG. 5), which can be utilized to lift vehicles such as cars, trucks, and buses. Turning to FIG. 6, the receptacle assembly 10 may also be magnetically (and removably) secured to the arm 53 of a single piston automotive lift, which can also be utilized to lift vehicles such as cars, trucks, and buses.

Although the present inventions have been described in terms of the preferred embodiments above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the above-described preferred embodiments would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the scope of the present inventions extend to all such modifications and/or additions.

Claims

1. A receptacle assembly, comprising: a receptacle defining a storage volume and including a bottom wall with an inner surface, a front wall with an inner surface that is oriented relative to the bottom wall such that obtuse angle is defined between the front and bottom walls, a rear wall, and side walls that extend from the front wall to the rear wall, the inner surfaces of the bottom and front wall defining a curved region; anda magnet apparatus mounted to the rear wall.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obtuse angle is about 110° to about 135°.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front and rear walls define respective heights, the height of the rear wall is greater than the height of the front wall, and the side walls define top surfaces that extend downwardly from the rear wall to the front wall.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the top surfaces extend downwardly at an angle that is about 10° to about 25°.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front, rear and side walls include top surfaces that define an opening into the storage volume.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle is formed from plastic.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear wall is about 6 inches wide; andthe rear wall is about 3 inches high.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear wall defines a height;the magnet apparatus defines a rear surface, the front wall defines a free end, and a distance is defined from the magnet apparatus rear surface to the front wall free end; andthe ratio of the rear wall height to the distance is selected from the group consisting of about 0.9 to about 1.7, about 1.0 to about 1.6, about 1.1 to about 1.5, about 1.2 to about 1.4, and about 1.3.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear wall defines a height;the magnet apparatus includes a magnet defining an outer diameter; andthe ratio of the magnet outer diameter to the rear wall height is selected from the group consisting of about 0.7 to about 0.9, and about 0.8.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear wall defines a width;the magnet apparatus includes a magnet defining an outer diameter; andthe ratio of twice the magnet outer diameter to the rear wall width is selected from the group consisting of about 0.7 to about 0.9, and about 0.8.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnet apparatus includes first and second annular magnets.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second annular magnets are at least partially embedded in the rear wall.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second annular magnets are respectively positioned in first and second ferromagnetic cups.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear wall defines a surface area and the magnet apparatus occupies the substantial majority of the rear wall surface area.