Patent Application
20060104835
The present invention relates generally to the field of portable air compressors, and more particularly to a tool carrier for a portable air compressor.
Portable air compressors, because of their mobility, are widely used in household and industrial applications for operating air-powered tools such as nailers, socket driving tools, material shapers, sanders, sprayers, inflation chucks, and the like. Consequently, portable air compressors require various accessories such as fittings, nozzles, hoses or the like. Transportation of air compressor components and other materials necessary to perform a particular job is often cumbersome due to the lack of a storage compartment on the air compressor assembly. Such limitation causes the user to have to carry components separate from the air compressor assembly as well as find storage space for such components once at the worksite. Further, since these accessories are detachable, if a user is required to store such parts separately, the accessories may become lost, and actual operational difficulties may arise. For example, it is not uncommon for an operator to first transport a portable air compressor for a long distance to a worksite and then to realize that the desired operation may not be performed because the necessary accessory was not brought to the worksite. This may result in work time losses, added labor cost, and the like. Moreover, the benefit of the mobility of the portable air compressor may be offset by the operator's inability to access the desired accessory.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a portable air compressor assembly with a tool carrier for carrying and storing air compressor accessories such as air hoses, power cords, tools, and the like.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a portable air compressor assembly including a tool carrier which may be used to store and transport air compressor accessories, components, and work material. In exemplary embodiments, the portable air compressor assembly includes a compressor for supplying compressed air to an air storage tank and the compressor is mounted in a frame. In such embodiment, a pair of wheels are pivotally mounted to the frame allowing for inclined transportation of the air compressor assembly. In an embodiment, the tool carrier assembly includes a pan support coupled to the frame for providing a support surface for an air compressor accessory and work material. In addition, a tool support is coupled to the pan support for providing an additional support surface for the air compressor accessory and work material. The tool support includes at least one strap.
In specific embodiments of the invention, the tool support may include a rack and/or a back support. Further, in one embodiment, the at least one strap includes a system of flexible straps formed of material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, nylon, vinyl, and hook and loop fastening material. In further exemplary embodiments, a nylon mesh material may be coupled to the system of flexible straps.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Referring specifically to
As shown in
In the exemplary embodiment, the air storage tank 104 as well as the manifold assembly 108 may be mounted to the roll cage 110 (e.g., welded, or the like). As shown in
Two or more wheels 112 and a handle assembly 114 may be mounted to the roll cage 110 for allowing an operator to easily lift and transport the air compressor assembly 100 between worksites. It is contemplated that the handle assembly 114 may be mounted to the roll cage 110 by welding or through the use of fasteners such as screws, nuts, bolts, and the like, to the roll cage 110. In exemplary embodiments, the handle assembly 114 may include a grip for easy grasping. It is contemplated that the handle assembly 114 may be extendable as disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/517,644, filed on Nov. 5, 2003 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/982,395, filed on Nov. 5, 2004. The two wheel 112 configuration allows a user to control assembly mobility. For example, in order to move the air compressor assembly 100 to a desired location, a user extends the handle assembly 114 and tilts air compressor assembly 100 backwards so that the weight of the assembly 100 rests upon the two wheels 112. Upon reaching the desired location, a user may move the air compressor assembly 100 from a tilted position to one which is flush with the ground allowing a user to leave the assembly 100 without concern about any further movement. The extended handle assembly 114 may be retracted so to prevent the user from tripping over the handle assembly 114 while using the air compressor assembly 100.
As illustrated in
As shown in
Referring now to
In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the cover 212 is made of fabric. For example, the cover 212 may be a net or web formed of durable knit fabrics such as nylon, and the like, and may have small holes that are of sufficient size to capture small parts such as small tools and generally used air compressor accessories (e.g. nozzles, fasteners, and the like) while allowing dirt, debris, and water to escape. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cover 212 may be made of plastic. For example, the cover 212 may be made of transparent or translucent plastic, allowing an operator to visually see the contents of the storage compartment from outside the compartment and/or preventing small parts from falling out. It is contemplated that the cover may be secured to the rack 202 via fasteners including hooks, snaps, hook and loop fastening material, and the like. Alternatively, the plastic cover may be secured to the rack 202 via fasteners including screws, nuts, and bolts, as well as adhesive (e.g. glue, tape, etc.).
The tool support of the tool carrier assembly 210 may further include a strap or pull to provide additional methods of securing air compressor components. In such embodiment, the strap may be formed of plastic, fabric (e.g. hook and loop fastening material), vinyl, rubber, and the like. For example, the strap may be secured to either the sides or the back of the rack 202. Further, in use, a user may place the desired item(s) onto the pan support 204 and then, secure the item(s) by pulling the strap over the item(s) and fastening the strap to the front of the pan support 204. The strap may be secured to the pan support 204 via fasteners including grommets, eyelets, hooks, ratchets, and the like. In additional embodiments, the strap may include an aperture allowing the strap to be secured to the pan support 204 by tying or inserting a fastener into the aperture. It will be appreciated that more than one strap may be utilized to secure the item(s) to the pan support 204.
Referring now to
In the exemplary embodiment, the pan support 306 may be welded to a roll cage 308. Alternatively, the pan support 306 may be mounted to the roll cage 308 via fasteners such as screws, bolts, and the like. The pan support 306 may be formed of metal such as steel, aluminum and the like, plastic, or any other suitable material known in the art. In addition, the pan support 306 may be stamped or formed to include raised portions. Such configuration may impart rigidity to the pan support 306 or assist in the holding of various air compressor accessories such as hoses, nozzles, and the like.
In an exemplary embodiment, the pulls 304 are fastened to the upper edges of the pan support 306 allowing for a secure fit of such pulls 304. It is contemplated that alternative configurations of fastening the pulls 304 to the pan support 306 may be employed. During use, a user may place items to be secured onto the pan support. 306. The items may then be secured by fastening the pulls 304 to the pan support 306. It is contemplated that the instant pulls 304 may be implemented with other embodiments of the presently disclosed tool carrier (e.g. in the presence of a rack and a back support). It is further contemplated that the pulls 304 may be fastened to additional components within the air compressor assembly 300 including the roll cage 308.
Referring to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In further exemplary embodiments of the tool carrier 410, an additional strap 414 or straps may be employed to secure the item(s) within the carrier 410. It is contemplated that the pulls or straps may be formed of hook and loop fastening material, nylon, elastic, vinyl, rubber, and the like.
Referring now to
As shown in
As illustrated in
In further exemplary embodiments, as described above, the tool support 514 may include a rack or at least one flexible pull or strap 516. The use of the rack or strap provides a user with additional methods of securing desired tools, components, and work material to the air compressor assembly 500. Additionally, it is contemplated that an open box tool carrier molded out of plastic may be mounted to the pan support 512 wherein certain types of tools, components, and other supplies may be received. In even further exemplary embodiments, it is contemplated that the tool support 514 may include a hose reel assembly as shown in
It is contemplated that the tool carrier of the present invention may be implemented within additional devices which require the use of a long connector and the ability to be mobile without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
A portable air compressor assembly having a tool carrier in accordance with the present invention makes it possible to transport the portable air compressor assembly together with air compressor accessories such as hoses, nozzles, and the like, as well as other job-specific work material and tools. Thus, after being transported to a new worksite, the air compressor assembly is available for immediate operation without waiting for the arrival of air compressor accessories since the portable air compressor assembly and air compressor accessories (e.g. hoses, nozzles, and the like) are transported together.
It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/540,755, entitled “Air Compressor Tool Carrier,” filed Jan. 30, 2004 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The present application is a continuation-in-part under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. applications Ser. Nos. 10/410,129, filed on Apr. 9, 2003, 29/179,391, filed on Apr. 9, 2003, and 10/444,708, filed on May 23, 2003. The present application incorporates the following applications by reference in their entirety: U.S. application Ser. No. 10/410,129, filed Apr. 9, 2003; U.S. Application Ser. No. 29/179,391, filed Apr. 9, 2003; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/469,645, filed May 12, 2003; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/444,708, filed May 23, 2003; China Patent Serial No. 2L 03358051, filed Aug. 27, 2003; China Application Serial No. 03156352.X, filed Sep. 4, 2003; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/517,644, filed Nov. 5, 2003; and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/982,395, filed Nov. 5, 2004.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60540755 | Jan 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10410129 | Apr 2003 | US |
| Child | 11048639 | Jan 2005 | US |
| Parent | 29179391 | Apr 2003 | US |
| Child | 11048639 | Jan 2005 | US |
| Parent | 10444708 | May 2003 | US |
| Child | 11048639 | Jan 2005 | US |
