Information
-
Patent Grant
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6677845
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Patent Number
6,677,845
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Date Filed
Wednesday, January 19, 200024 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, January 13, 200420 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Renner, Kenner, Greive, Bobak, Taylor & Weber
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A magnetic pick-up tool, which preferably features a magnet retained on its non-exposed sides within a ferrous-containing carrier. The ferrous-containing carrier redirects the magnetic forces issuing from the magnet toward the exposed surface area, significantly increasing a magnet's strength without the need for increasing magnet size. In one embodiment, the pick-up tool features a threaded carrier, mated to a sleeve member in a manner allowing the sleeve member to be adjustably positioned relative to the magnet and carrier by rotation of the sleeve member in the desired direction.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to pick-up tools and, more specifically, to an improved magnetic pick-up tool having increased pick-up strength and flexibility of use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Magnetic pick-up tools are generally known in the art. Typically, these tools feature a cylinder-shaped magnet housed in an aluminum carrier or jacket, with a telescoping shaft being inserted into a rear portion of the magnet (or carrier) to allow the tools to be used in difficult-to-reach areas. The most common use for such tools is in the field of vehicle repair, although many other uses are possible.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,901 issued to Coleman illustrates one such tool. The tool of Coleman further features a ferromagnetic sleeve member that is slidably positioned about the magnet (or carrier), with the sleeve member being held in position by magnetic forces emanating from the sides of the magnetic. The Coleman tool further features an arrangement in which the sleeve member extends beyond the exposed surface area of the magnet, to eliminate or reduce the possibility that the exposed magnet surface will unintentionally attract radially positioned objects.
There are several drawbacks with the prior art tools, including the Coleman tool, however. With specific regard to the Coleman tool, it discloses a pick-up tool having a magnet holder (i.e., carrier) comprising a non-ferrous material, such as aluminum, brass, plastic, or non-magnetic stainless steel. Such a holder does not interfere with flux from the magnet, so that the sleeve member car still be retained in position by the magnet despite the presence of the holder/carrier.
However, because the non-ferrous magnet holder/carrier does not interfere with flux from the magnet, it does not redirect flux from the magnet in the direction of the exposed surface area and thus results in a magnet having less than optimal strength. Moreover, some users find the slidable sleeve member to be a nuisance, and want the flexibility of being able to adjust the amount by which the sleeve member extends beyond the surface of the magnet, or to retract the sleeve member so that it does not extend beyond the surface of the magnet at all.
A need therefore existed for a magnetic pick-up tool capable of using magnets of the size typically used in prior art tools, yet having significantly increased pick-up strength. A need further existed for a magnetic pick-up tool having an adjustable sleeve member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a magnetic pick-up tool capable of using magnets of the size typically used in prior art tools, yet having significantly increased pick-up strength.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a magnetic pick-up tool having an adjustable sleeve member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic pick-up tool assembly is disclosed. The assembly comprises, in combination: a magnet having an exposed pick-up area, a rear area opposite the exposed pick-up area, and side surface areas disposed between the exposed pick-up area and the rear area; a carrier fixedly coupled to the side surface areas of the magnet; wherein the carrier comprises a ferrous-containing material; and a shaft attached to at least one of the rear area and the carrier.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic pick-up tool assembly is disclosed. The assembly comprises, in combination: a magnet having an exposed pick-up area, a rear area opposite the exposed pick-up area, and side surface areas disposed between the exposed pick-up area and the rear area; a carrier fixedly coupled to the side surface areas of the magnet; wherein an exterior surface of the carrier is threaded; a ring adapted to engage the threaded exterior surface of the carrier so that a position of the ring relative to the magnet may be altered by rotating the ring about the carrier; and a shaft attached to at least one of the rear area and the carrier.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an embodiment of the magnetic pick-up tool assembly of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a side, cross-sectional view of the magnetic pick-up tool assembly of
FIG. 1
, taken along line
2
—
2
.
FIG. 3
is a side, cross-sectional view of the magnetic pick-up tool assembly of
FIG. 1
, taken along line
2
—
2
and illustrating the movement of the sleeve member from the position in
FIG. 2
to that shown in FIG.
3
.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic pick-up tool assembly of
FIG. 2
, taken along line
4
—
4
.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of another embodiment of the magnetic pick-up tool assembly of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to
FIGS. 1-3
, reference number
10
refers generally to one embodiment of the magnetic pick-up tool assembly of the present invention. The pick-up tool assembly
10
generally comprises a magnet
12
which is covered by a carrier
14
. (Preferably, the carrier is dimensioned to cover at least the side areas of the magnet
12
and the non-exposed rear surface of the magnet
12
as well, and is adhered to the magnet
12
using a glue-type adhesive.) As shown in this embodiment, the magnet
12
and carrier
14
are preferably cylindrical in configuration, although other shapes for each are certainly permissible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention—provided of course that the carrier
14
appropriately mates with the magnet
12
so as to redirect the side and rear magnetic forces of the magnet
12
to its exposed surface.)
Referring specifically to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the carrier
14
in one embodiment has threading
16
, which enables the carrier
14
to be coupled to a sleeve member
18
in a manner allowing the sleeve member
18
to be moved in either direction along the carrier
14
by rotating the sleeve member
18
. In this embodiment, the sleeve member
18
has a projection
20
that inserts into the threading
16
, so that upon rotation of the sleeve member
18
, the projection
20
travels along the threading
16
in the desired direction—causing the sleeve member
18
to change position, as desired, relative to the carrier
14
. In this manner, the sleeve member
18
can be positioned to extend beyond the exposed surface of the magnet
12
by the amount desired as shown in
FIG. 2
, or the sleeve member
18
can positioned so as to be flush with the exposed surface of the magnet
12
as shown in FIG.
3
. Also in this embodiment, because the sleeve member
18
is not retained in position by magnetic force from the magnet
12
, the sleeve member
18
can be manufactured from a non-ferrous material.
Referring now to
FIG. 5
, another embodiment of the pick-up tool assembly
10
is shown, referred to as the pick-up tool assembly
100
. Like the pick-up tool assembly
10
described above, the pick-up tool assembly
100
generally comprises a magnet
120
which is covered by a carrier
140
in the manner described above with respect to the magnet
12
and carrier
14
. In this embodiment, there is no equivalent for the sleeve member
18
.
As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, a telescoping shaft
22
is preferably coupled to the carrier
14
at a side opposite the exposed surface of the magnet
12
. The telescoping shaft
22
may be positioned, as desired, taking into account the distance needed to be covered by the pick-up tool assembly
10
. (While the shaft
22
is shown as being of the telescoping variety, a non-telescoping shaft
22
would also be suitable.) As shown in
FIG. 1
, a handle
24
is preferably positioned at the end of the telescoping shaft
22
opposite the carrier
14
. With respect to the pick-up tool assembly
100
, it also preferably features a telescoping shaft, identified in this embodiment by reference number
220
.
Referring to
FIGS. 1-5
, in a preferred embodiment the carrier
14
and carrier
140
is made of a ferrous-containing material, which will have the effect of redirecting side and, if the carrier covers the rear unexposed surface of the magnet
12
(or magnet
120
), rear magnetic forces toward the exposed surface of the magnet
12
(or magnet
120
). The ferrous-containing material is preferably any mild steel and, in the preferred embodiment, is C
12
L
14
low carbon re-sulfurized freemachining steel of the type available from British Steel Alloys. It is believed that any metal having a relatively high content of manganese and/or iron, when formed into the carrier
14
(or carrier
140
), will yield significant benefit over prior art non-ferrous carriers, and the term “ferrous-containing material” as used herein is to be construed broadly to encompass any such material.
Tests of a pick-up tool assembly
10
having a cylindrical magnet
12
with a thickness of 0.375″ and a diameter of 0.5″ and housed in a carrier
140
comprised of C
12
L
14
low carbon resulfurized free machining steel showed a maximum pick-up capacity for the magnet
120
of approximately 14.30 pounds. Using the same size and type of magnet
120
but with a carrier
140
comprised of
2011
TC aluminum—a material typical of that commonly used in carriers of the prior art assemblies—a maximum pick-up capacity of approximately 8.97 pounds resulted. Thus, the change in material in the carrier
140
of the present invention resulted in an increase in pick-up capacity of approximately 62.73%—without any change in the size of the magnet
12
used.
While in the embodiment of
FIG. 5
the carrier
140
comprises a ferrous-containing material, in the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-4
the carrier
14
may be of either the ferrous or non-ferrous variety. While use of a non-ferrous material in the manufacture of the carrier
14
will not result in the increased magnet strength described above, the adjustability of the sleeve member
18
relative to the carrier
14
having threading
16
will still yield substantial benefit over the prior art with respect to the ability to adjust the position of the sleeve member
18
as desired.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A magnetic pick-up tool assembly comprising, in combination:a magnet having an exposed pick-up area, a rear area opposite said exposed pick-up area, and side surface areas disposed between said exposed pick-up area and said rear area; a carrier fixedly coupled to said side surface-areas of said magnet; wherein said carrier comprises a ferrous-containing material; wherein an exterior surface of said carrier is threaded and wherein said assembly further comprises a ring adapted to engage said threaded exterior surface of said carrier so that a position of said ring relative to said magnet may be altered by rotating said ring about said carrier; and a telescoping shaft attached to at least one of said rear area and said carrier.
- 2. A magnetic pick-up tool assembly comprising, in combination:a magnet having an exposed pick-up area, a rear area opposite said exposed pick-up area, and side surface areas disposed between said exposed pick-up area and said rear area; a carrier fixedly coupled to said side surface areas of said magnet; wherein an exterior surface of said carrier is threaded; a ring adapted to engage said threaded exterior surface of said carrier so that a position of said ring relative to said magnet may be altered by rotating said ring about said carrier; and a telescoping shaft attached to at least one of said rear area and said carrier.
US Referenced Citations (6)