Patent Application
20220061471
The present disclosure relates to a tool organizer for fastening and organizing tools having a through-hole.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Tools having a through-hole can include knifes, hand tools, keys, and even, volumetric measurement devices like measuring cups. To organize and retain multiple tools together, a single or multipiece fastener may be employed. Common fastening components include rings, screws, bolts, rods, key rings, and/or straps, among other.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
In one form, the present disclosure is directed to a tool organizer for holding one or more tools having a through-hole. The tool organizer includes at least two braces and a a resilient band. Each of the at least two braces includes a neck and defines at least two slots provided on either side of the neck. The resilient band is configured to attachably couple to and detachably couple from the at least two braces. Each of the at least two slots defines a retainment portion and a channel portion extending from the retainment portion to define an opening along an outer perimeter of the brace. A dimension of the channel portion is less than that of the retainment portion, and a section of the retainment portion is defined by the neck. The resilient band is attachable to wrap around the necks of the at least two braces and extend through the retainment portions of the slots and between the at least two braces.
In one form, the each of the at least two braces has an upper section and a lower section. The upper section and the lower section are connected via the neck and define a contour of the slots.
In another form, the at least two braces have a disc-shaped body, a rectangular-shaped body, or a combination thereof.
In yet another form, at least one dimension of each of the two braces is greater than a dimension of the through-hole of the tool.
In one form, the resilient band includes elastic properties to elastically deform in response to a force exerted on the resilient band and to create tension between the at least two braces.
In another form, each of the at least two braces includes two slots, and the two slots extend radially from the neck in opposite directions from one each other.
In yet another form, each of the at least two braces defines two slots and has a divider extending from the neck. The two slots extend parallel to one another on either side of the neck with the divider provided between the two slots.
In one form, the channel portion is configured to have a transition fit with the resilient band and the retainment portion is configured to have a clearance fit with the resilient band.
In another form, tool organizer further includes two resilient bands. Each of the at least two braces have an elongated body with two opposed end portions and a support portion extending between the end portions. Each of the end portions includes the neck and defines the at least two slots provided on either side of the neck, and the two resilient bands are attachable to wrap around the necks of the end portions.
In one form, the present disclosure is directed toward a tool assembly that includes at least one tool defining a through-hole, and a tool organizer configured to compressably retain the at least one tool. The tool organizer includes at least two braces, where each of the at least two braces include a neck and defines at least two slots provided on either side of the neck. The tool organizer further includes a resilient band configured to attachably couple to and detachably couple from the at least two braces. Each of the slots defines a retainment portion and a channel portion extending from the retainment portion to define an opening along an outer perimeter of the brace. A dimension of the channel portion is less than that of the retainment portion, and a section of the retainment portion is defined by the neck. The resilient band is attachable to wrap around the necks of the at least two braces and extend through the retainment portions of the slots and between the at least two braces. The at least one tool is disposable between the at least two braces with the resilient band extending through the through-hole of the at least one tool.
In one form, the tool organizer includes at least one closed brace defining two holes, where the resilient band extends through the two holes.
In another form, the at least one tool includes a knife, a scissor, a ruler, a bottle opener, a corkscrew opener, a volumetric measuring device, a hand tool, or a combination thereof.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
Referring to
In one form, the tool organizer 100 includes a resilient band 108 configured to extend through the through-hole 106 of the tools 104 and a first brace 110-1 and a second brace 110-2 (collectively “braces 100”). In one form, the braces 110 have a planar body such as a disc-shaped body. The braces 110 are configured to hold the resilient band 108 and constrict movement of the tools 104. In one form, to inhibit the braces 110 from fitting through the through-hole 106, at least one dimension of the braces 110 is greater than a diameter of the through-hole 106 of the tools 104. For example, with the disc-shaped body, the diameter of the braces 110 (DB) is greater than the diameter of the through-hole 106 of the tool (DT). In one form, the braces 110 is formed of a rigid material that does not elastically deform. For example, the braces 110 may be made of metal, a high-density polyethylene, or other suitable stiff material.
Referring to
In one form, the channel portion 214 is configured to have a transition fit with the resilient band 108 while the retainment portion 212 is configured to have a clearance fit with the resilient band 108. More particularly, a height of the channel portion 214 (HCP) defined between a surface of the upper section 204 and a surface of the lower section 206 of the body 202 is less than a height of the retainment portion 212 (HRP) defined between the surface of the upper section 204 and the surface of the lower section 206. With this configuration, the resilient band 108 may translate through the channel portion 214 with a small amount of force applied to the resilient band 108 and may move within the retainment portion 212. The translation fit and the varying height of the slot 210 further inhibits the resilient band 108 from slipping out of the slot 210 and disconnecting from the braces 110. In one form, the contour of the slots 210 are the same. That is, the brace 110 is symmetrical about a central axis through the neck 208. In another form, the contour of the slots may be different from one another. For example, the height of the channel portion of a first slot may be different from that of a second slot.
While the braces 110 are provided as having a disc-shaped body, the braces 110 may be configured in other suitable shapes. For example, with reference to
While only two braces 110 are illustrated, more than two braces 110 may be provided. Additional braces 110 may be referred to as intermediate braces 110 that are disposed between two braces to support the tools 104 and/or form dividers between adjacent tools 104.
In one form, the resilient band 108 has elastic properties to stretch and extend about the braces 110 while creating tension between the braces 110 and further, the tools 104. For example,
With continuing reference to
With additional reference to
In the braces 110 and 302, the slots 210 and 304 extend radially outwards in opposite directions from the neck 208 and 306, respectively. Referring to
In one form, some tools may have an elongated shape that may be retained within the tool organizer using elongated braces. Specifically, with reference to
Similar to the braces 110, 302, and 400, the resilient band 108 is configured to attachably couple to and detachably couple from the end portions 504 of the elongated brace 500. More particularly, when assembled, the tool organizer includes at least of two of the elongated braces 500 and at least two resilient bands 108 for the end portions 504. The resilient band 108 is attachable to wrap around the necks 508 of the elongated braces 500 and extend through the retainment portions 512 of the slots 510 and between the elongated braces 500.
The length of the elongated brace 500 is determined based on the length of the tool being held. More particularly, in one form, the length of the elongated brace is set to be longer than the tool to be held if the only one end of the tool is to have the through-hole. Thus, with the tools disposed between two elongated braces 500, one resilient band 108 may extend through the through-hole of the tool, while the other resilient band extends through a gap defined between the two braces 500. In another form, if the tool includes through-holes on both ends, the elongated braces 500 are adapted such that the resilient band 108 extends through respective through-holes. Accordingly, the elongated brace 500 may provide structural support and control of the tool throughout the length of the tool.
While the slots 510 of the elongated brace 500 is configured in a similar manner as that of braces 110 and 302, an elongated brace may have a similar configuration as that of brace 400. For example,
While the end portions 504 of the elongated brace 500 are the same and the end portions 524 of the elongated brace 520 are the same, an elongated brace may have different style end portions. For example, one end portion of an elongated brace may be like end portion 504 and the other end portion of the elongated brace may be like the end portion 524.
In addition, a tool organizer may employ at least one elongated brace 500 and one elongated brace 520. That is, the elongated braces do not have to be same.
With reference to
Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word “about” or “approximately” in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and testing capability.
As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”
The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
