Patent Application
20250042013
The present invention relates to a storage rack to carry objects such as hand held tools, although the rack of the present invention can carry a variety of objects.
Storage racks are used to store a wide variety of objects either vertically or horizontally. A storage rack is formed with slots or compartments specially designed to hold and display objects such as tools. These slots can vary in size, accommodating various sized articles.
Prior art storage racks for storing objects are known. One common example of a storage rack for tools such as pliers is a formed wire rack, which shares structural similarity to racks commonly found in a dishwasher. Another common example of a rack is a base which carries a series of vertical walls, between which are defined bays for storing objects.
The slots or walls of the racks are spaced apart to prevent overcrowding and allow easy access to the articles. This prevents cluttering of a toolbox.
The present invention provides a pliers rack crafted preferably from heavy-duty material such as steel, which is intended to hold tools such as pliers, preferably horizontally, in a toolbox or a rack, the tools held between in individual riser nests.
The rack is formed from an initially flat sheet of metal cut to size (e.g., 30″×6″). Void spaces are then created in the flat sheet (e.g., by punching/stamping/lasering). A variety of different sized and shaped void spaces can be provided, for instance variable width and length or various profiles, in order to accommodate different shaped and sized tools.
The still flat sheet—with voids cut out—is then presented to a secondary former such as a bending die, where bends are created to provide a third dimension (height) to the rack. Material left from the punching/stamping/lasering step that is left between adjacent void spaces creates risers once the height dimension is formed, and spaces between adjacent risers create riser nests to cradle tools.
The rack may then be coated, for instance dipped in a rubberized material to provide grip and to soften the edges of the flanges and risers. In a preferred embodiment, the rack is dipped in a heated suspension of PVC or other polymer particles in a liquid plasticizer. The coated rack is then allowed to cool and cure so that the coating remains flexible and permanently adhered to the metal portion of the formed rack. This coating retains a smooth rubbery consistency, which provides good grip to surfaces that the rack is carried by.
Tools ranging from small screwdrivers to pliers to larger hammers and power tools can be stored, ensuring that every item has a designated place for easy retrieval.
The rack provides tool accessibility, allowing a user to view all stored tools at a glance, making it easy to locate the desired tool without rummaging through cluttered toolbox drawers.
The wide base and depth of the rack, horizontal flange orientation, and rubberized frictional surface provide secure anchoring to help prevent accidental tipping, ensuring that the rack remains stable, even when heavily loaded with tools. With a dedicated spot for each tool, the rack prevents tools from coming into contact with each other, reducing the risk of scratches, dents, or other damages.
The horizontal design of the rack optimizes the use of space within a toolbox, and eliminates the clutter that often plagues toolboxes, providing a clean and organized environment that fosters productivity and creativity.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In a preferred embodiment, void spaces 20 are formed with rounded tops and bottoms to form rounded riser bases 24, towards both the top and the bottom edges 12 and 14. The rounded riser base 24 configuration is preferred in order to cradle tools.
Predetermined bending lines 28, 30, 32, and 34 are lines upon which the base material 10 will be bent, as described in reference to
Referring now to
In a preferred construction technique, a bending die, also known as a press brake die or simply a die, is used in conjunction with a press brake machine to bend or shape the base material 10. The bending die applies a precise force to deform the base material 10 along predetermined bending lines 28, 30, 32, and 34 as shown in
Before the bending process, an operator sets up the press brake machine by installing an appropriate bending die into a die holder (not shown). The base material 10 is then accurately positioned between a punch and a die block (not shown), ensuring that, sequentially, the bend lines 28, 30, 32, and 34 align with the bending point on the punch. When the press brake is activated, the ram, along with the attached punch, descends towards the die block (not shown). As the punch presses against the base material 10, it exerts significant force, sequentially, along the bend lines 28, 30, 32, and 34 as shown in
Bending along the bend lines 28, 30, 32, and 34 provides tool rack 26 with a height dimension H. In a preferred embodiment, riser nests 36, which are void spaces 20 provided with a height dimension H, are created wide enough to accommodate the desired tool, yet narrow enough so the desired tool does not list or lean. Due to the bending process, initial length L of base material 10 results in a shorter final length of the tool rack L′.
Between bottom edge 14 and first bend line 28, a first flange 38 is created. Between fourth bend line 34 and top edge 12, second flange 40 is created. Although the first flange 38 is depicted parallel and coplanar with the second flange 40, in an alternate embodiment the first flange 38 could be nonparallel with the second flange 40, or the first flange 38 and second flange 40 could be at different elevations in height dimension H (not shown).
Referring now to
Referring now to
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
