Socket suspension rack assembly with quick release function

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6698600
  • Patent Number
    6,698,600
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 2, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 2, 2004
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Gibson, Jr.; Robert W.
    • Harris; Erica B
    Agents
    • Baxley; Charles E.
Abstract
A socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function includes a support rack, and a slide rack slidably mounted on the support rack. The support rack has a periphery provided with multiple positioning studs and has a side wall formed with multiple receiving channels. The support rack has multiple flexible positioning plates each retractably mounted in the positioning stud and each having an extension movably mounted in the receiving channel. The slide rack has a side wall provided with multiple flexible press blocks each rested on the extension of the flexible positioning plate. Thus, the socket maybe readily mounted on and removed from the positioning stud of the support rack, thereby facilitating the user employing the socket.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release funtion wherein the socket may be mounted on and removed from the square positioning stud of the support rack of the socket suspension rack assembly easily, quickly and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user employing the socket.




2. Description of the Related Art




A conventional socket suspension rack comprises a suspension bracket provided with multiple square positioning studs for retaining multiple sockets. However, each of the sockets is rigidly secured on each of the positioning studs by a positioning ball, so that each of the sockets cannot be removed from each of the positioning studs easily, quickly and conveniently, thereby causing inconvenience to the user when he needs to use the sockets.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional socket suspension rack.




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function, wherein the socket may be mounted on and removed from the square positioning stud of the support rack of the socket suspension rack assembly easily, quickly and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user employing the socket.




Another objective of the present invention is to provide a socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function, wherein the socket may be retained on the square positioning stud of the support rack of the socket suspension rack assembly rigidly and stably.




In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function, comprising a support rack, and a slide rack slidably mounted on the support rack, wherein:




the support rack has a first side wall and a second side wall, the support rack has a periphery provided with multiple positioning studs, the second side wall of the support rack is formed with multiple receiving channels each aligning with one of the multiple positioning studs of the support rack, the support rack is provided with multiple flexible positioning plates each retractably mounted in one of the multiple positioning studs of the support rack and each having an extension movably mounted in one of the multiple receiving channels of the second side wall of the support rack; and




the slide rack has a first side wall and a second side wall, the second side wall of the slide rack is formed with multiple flexible press blocks each having a first side rested on a first side of the extension of one of the multiple flexible positioning plates of the support rack.











Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a top plan cross-sectional view of the socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is an exploded perspective view of a socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a perspective assembly view of the socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function as shown in

FIG. 4

; and





FIG. 6

is a perspective assembly view of a socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to the drawings and initially to

FIGS. 1-3

, a socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a support rack


20


, and a slide rack


10


slidably mounted on the support rack


20


.




The support rack


20


is hollow and has a first side wall


21


formed with two elongated slide slots


210


, and a second side wall


22


provided with two slide blocks


220


. The slide rack


10


is hollow and has a first side wall


11


provided with two slide blocks


110


each slidably mounted in each of the two elongated slide slots


210


of the first side wall


21


of the support rack


20


, and a second side wall


12


formed with two elongated slide slots


120


, so that each of the two slide blocks


220


of the second side wall


22


of the support rack


20


is slidably mounted in each of the two elongated slide slots


120


of the second side wall


12


of the slide rack


10


. Thus, the slide rack


10


is slidably mounted on the support rack


20


.




The support rack


20


has a periphery provided with multiple square positioning studs


23


for supporting a socket


30


(see FIG.


4


). The second side wall


22


of the support rack


20


is formed with multiple receiving channels


222


each aligning with one of the multiple square positioning studs


23


of the support rack


20


. Each of the multiple square positioning studs


23


of the support rack


20


is formed with a receiving chamber


232


communicating with one of the multiple receiving channels


222


of the second side wall


22


of the support rack


20


. The support rack


20


is provided with multiple flexible positioning plates


24


each retractably mounted in the receiving chamber


232


of one of the multiple square positioning studs


23


of the support rack


20


and each having an extension


242


movably mounted in one of the multiple receiving channels


222


of the second side wall


22


of the support rack


20


. Each of the multiple flexible positioning plates


24


is integrally formed on the respective square positioning stud


23


of the support rack


20


. Each of the multiple flexible positioning plates


24


is provided with a positioning boss


240


for positioning the socket


30


on one of the multiple square positioning studs


23


of the support rack


20


.




The support rack


20


has two distal ends each provided with a mounting head


25


. The mounting head


25


of the support rack


20


is formed with an inverted T-shaped slot


252


.




The second side wall


12


of the slide rack


10


is formed with multiple receiving spaces


122


and provided with multiple flexible press blocks


13


each movably mounted in one of the multiple receiving spaces


122


. Each of the multiple flexible press blocks


13


is integrally formed on the slide rack


10


. Each of the multiple flexible press blocks


13


of the slide rack


10


has a first side rested on a first side of the extension


242


of one of the multiple flexible positioning plates


24


of the support rack


20


, and a second side protruded outward from the receiving space


122


.




The slide rack


10


has an inside provided with multiple positioning rods


14


each located between any two adjacent press blocks


13


of the multiple flexible press blocks


13


of the slide rack


10


. Each of multiple positioning rods


14


of the slide rack


10


may be axially moved with the slide rack


10


to abut a second side of the extension


242


of one of the multiple flexible positioning plates


24


of the support rack


20


.




In operation, the slide rack


10


may be axially moved on the support rack


20


to a first position as shown in

FIG. 1

where each of the multiple flexible press blocks


13


of the slide rack


10


is aligned with the extension


242


of the respective flexible positioning plate


24


of the support rack


20


.




At this time, the first side of each of the multiple flexible press blocks


13


of the slide rack


10


is rested on the first side of the extension


242


of the respective flexible positioning plate


24


of the support rack


20


, while each of the multiple positioning rods


14


located between any two adjacent press blocks


13


of the slide rack


10


is detached from the second side of the extension


242


of the respective flexible positioning plate


24


of the support rack


20


, so that the second side of each of the multiple flexible press blocks


13


of the slide rack


10


may be pressed inward by the user to press the extension


242


of the respective flexible positioning plate


24


of the support rack


20


, so as to retract the flexible positioning plate


24


into the square positioning stud


23


of the support rack


20


, thereby detaching and releasing the socket


30


(see

FIG. 4

) from the positioning boss


240


of the flexible positioning plate


24


, so that the socket


30


may be removed from the square positioning stud


23


of the support rack


20


easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user employing the socket


30


.




At the first position, as shown in

FIG. 1

, the lower end


15


of the slide rack


10


is stopped by the mounting head


25


of the lower distal end of the support rack


20


, thereby preventing from a further movement of the slide rack


10


.




Alternatively, the slide rack


10


may be axially moved on the support rack


20


to a second position (not shown) where each of the multiple flexible press blocks


13


of the slide rack


10


is detached from the extension


242


of the respective flexible positioning plate


24


of the support rack


20


.




At this time, the second side wall


12


of the slide rack


10


is rested on the first side of the extension


242


of the respective flexible positioning plate


24


of the support rack


20


, while each of the multiple positioning rods


14


is rested on the second side of the extension


242


of the respective flexible positioning plate


24


of the support rack


20


, so that the extension


242


of the respective flexible positioning plate


24


of the support rack


20


cannot be pressed, thereby preventing the flexible positioning plate


24


from being retracted into the square positioning stud


23


of the support rack


20


, so that the socket


30


(see

FIG. 4

) is retained by the positioning boss


240


of the flexible positioning plate


24


, an cannot be removed from the square positioning stud


23


of the support rack


20


, thereby retaining the socket


30


rigidly and stably.




At the second position, the upper end


16


of the slide rack


10


is stopped by the mounting head


25


of the upper distal end of the support rack


20


, thereby preventing from a further movement of the slide rack


10


.




Referring to

FIGS. 4 and 5

, the socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a suspension bracket


40


having an upper portion formed with a hole


41


for hanging the suspension bracket


40


on a wall. The suspension bracket


40


has a lower portion provided with a hollow support base


42


. The support base


42


of the suspension bracket


40


is provided with multiple inverted T-shaped insertion blocks


422


. Thus, after the slide rack


10


is combined with the support rack


20


, the support rack


20


. may be mounted on the support base


42


of the suspension bracket


40


, whereby one of the multiple inverted T-shaped insertion blocks


422


of the support base


42


of the suspension bracket


40


may be inserted into the inverted T-shaped slot


252


of the mounting head


25


of the support rack


20


, so that the support rack


20


may be mounted on the support base


42


of the suspension bracket


40


.




The socket suspension rack assembly further comprises a retaining bar


50


secured on the support base


42


of the suspension bracket


40


, for retaining the support rack


20


on the support base


42


of the suspension bracket


40


. The retaining bar


50


has two ends each formed with a positioning hole


52


. The support base


42


of the suspension bracket


40


has two ends each provided with a positioning block


424


inserted into the positioning hole


52


of the retaining bar


50


, so that the retaining bar


50


may be secured on the support base


42


of the suspension bracket


40


.




Referring to

FIG. 6

, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, two support racks


20


may be secured and suspended on the support base


42


of the suspension bracket


40


.




While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications are all within the scope of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function, comprising a support rack, and a slide rack slidably mounted on the support rack, wherein:the support rack has a first side wall and a second side wall, the support rack has a periphery provided with multiple positioning studs, the second side wall of the support rack is formed with multiple receiving channels each aligning with one of the multiple positioning studs of the support rack, the support rack is provided with multiple flexible positioning plates each retractably mounted in one of the multiple positioning studs of the support rack and each having an extension movably mounted in one of the multiple receiving channels of the second side wall of the support rack; and the slide rack has a first side wall and a second side wall, the second side wall of the slide rack is formed with multiple flexible press blocks each having a first side rested on a first side of the extension of one of the multiple flexible positioning plates of the support rack.
  • 2. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first side wall of the support rack is formed with two elongated slide slots, and the first side wall of the slide rack is provided with two slide blocks each slidably mounted in each of the two elongated slide slots of the first side wall of the support rack.
  • 3. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second side wall of the slide rack is formed with two elongated slide slots, and the second side wall of the support rack is provided with two slide blocks each slidably mounted in each of the two elongated slide slots of the second side wall of the slide rack.
  • 4. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the multiple positioning studs of the support rack is formed with a receiving chamber communicating with one of the multiple receiving channels of the second side wall of the support rack, and each of the multiple flexible positioning plates is retractably mounted in the receiving chamber of one of the multiple positioning studs of the support rack.
  • 5. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the multiple flexible positioning plates is integrally formed on the respective positioning stud of the support rack.
  • 6. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the multiple flexible positioning plates is provided with a positioning boss for positioning a socket on one of the multiple positioning studs of the support rack.
  • 7. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second side wall of the slide rack is formed with multiple receiving spaces, and each of the multiple flexible press blocks is movably mounted in one of the multiple receiving spaces.
  • 8. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 7, wherein each of the multiple flexible press blocks has a second side protruded outward from the receiving space.
  • 9. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the multiple flexible press blocks is integrally formed on the slide rack.
  • 10. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 1, wherein the slide rack has an inside provided with multiple positioning rods each located between any two adjacent press blocks of the multiple flexible press blocks of the slide rack, and each of multiple positioning rods of the slide rack may be axially moved with the slide rack to abut a second side of the extension of one of the multiple flexible positioning plates of the support rack.
  • 11. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support rack has two distal ends each provided with a mounting head for stopping one end of the slide rack, thereby preventing from a further movement of the slide rack.
  • 12. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 11, wherein the mounting head of the support rack is formed with an inverted T-shaped slot, and the socket suspension rack assembly further comprises a suspension bracket provided with a hollow support base which is provided with multiple inverted T-shaped insertion blocks, and one of the multiple inverted T-shaped insertion blocks of the support base of the suspension bracket may be inserted into the inverted T-shaped slot of the mounting head of the support rack, so that the support rack may be mounted on the support base of the suspension bracket.
  • 13. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a retaining bar secured on the support base of the suspension bracket, for retaining the support rack on the support base of the suspension bracket.
  • 14. The socket suspension rack assembly with a quick release function in accordance with claim 13, wherein the retaining bar has two ends each formed with a positioning hole, and the support base of the suspension bracket has two ends each provided with a positioning block inserted into the positioning hole of the retaining bar, so that the retaining bar may be secured on the support base of the suspension bracket.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number Name Date Kind
D443160 Ernst Jun 2001 S
6415933 Kao Jul 2002 B1
6450338 Chen Sep 2002 B1