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United States Patent Application	*20080000853*
Kind Code	A1
Huang; Jung Li	January 3, 2008

Holder for implements

Abstract

A holder includes a housing having two passages having inclined passage segments which include a lower portion located closer to each other, and an upper portion located and spaced farther away from each other, two arms each has a shaft rotatably received in the housing and movable and rotatable along the inclined passage segments of the housing and rotatable between an upwardly folding position and an outwardly working position, and the arms may be guided and forced to move toward each other when moving along the inclined passage segments of the housing for stably grasping and holding a tool between the arms.

Inventors:	Huang; Jung Li; (Changhua Hsien, TW)
Correspondence Address:	CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ. 90 JOHN STREET, THIRD FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10038 US
Serial No.:	452063
Series Code:	11
Filed:	June 13, 2006

Current U.S. Class:	211/70.6
Class at Publication:	211/70.6
International Class:	A47F 7/00 20060101 A47F007/00

Claims

1. A holder comprising:a housing including two passages formed therein and each having an inclined passage segment, said inclined passage segments of said housing including a lower portion located closer to each other, and an upper portion located and spaced farther away from each other, andtwo arms each including a shaft rotatably received in said housing and movable and rotatable along said inclined passage segments of said housing respectively, and rotatable relative to said housing between an upwardly folding position and an outwardly working position, andsaid arms being guided and forced to move toward each other when said arms are moved downwardly along said inclined passage segments of said housing and from said farther upper portion toward said closer lower portion of said inclined passage segments of said housing respectively, for grasping and holding a tool between said arms.

2. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes two lateral passage segments formed therein for rotatably receiving said shafts of said arms respectively.

3. The holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said housing includes at least one projection extended into each of said lateral passage segments of said housing for frictionally engaging with said shafts.

4. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arms each include a rounded portion for engaging with the tool.

5. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arms each include an outwardly extended and opened jaw portion for allowing the tool to be engaged into and grasped by said arms.

6. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arms each include a soft outer covering engaged on an outer peripheral portion for softly engaging with the tool.

7. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein an auxiliary holding member is rotatably attached to said housing for selectively holding and supporting the tool.

8. The holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein said auxiliary holding member includes a bar having two lateral passageways formed therein for slidably receiving said arms respectively.

9. The holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary holding member includes a lever extended from said bar and rotatably attached to said housing.

10. The holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein said housing includes a slit formed therein for slidably receiving said lever of said auxiliary holding member.

11. The holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein said auxiliary holding member includes an axle extended from said lever for rotatably attaching to said housing.

12. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a base plate attached thereto for rotatably retaining said arms to said housing.

13. The holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein said-base plate includes a swelling having two recesses formed therein for rotatably engaging with and supporting said arms.

14. The holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein said housing includes at least one hole formed therein, and said base plate includes at least one pin extended from said swelling and engaged into said at least one hole of said housing for anchoring said housing to said base plate.

15. The holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein said housing includes a chamber formed therein and defined by an outer peripheral wall for receiving said swelling of said base plate.

16. The holder as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rail having a channel formed therein for slidably receiving said base plate.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]1. Field of the Invention

[0002]The present invention relates to a tool retainer or holder, and more particularly to a holder including a foldable structure for stably holding and supporting and retaining tools or implements in place.

[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004]Typical tool holders comprise a number pairs of plates disposed between resilient blocks which may apply a resilient or spring biasing force against the pairs of plates to clamp and retain various tools or implements between the pairs of plates.

[0005]For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,591,805 to Gossett discloses one of the typical holders for implements comprising a number of resilient blocks for biasing or forcing-pairs of plates to clamp and retain various tools or implements. However, the resilient blocks may be hardened after aging and thus may not suitably bias or force the pairs of plates to clamp and retain various tools or implements between the pairs of plates.

[0006]U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,052 to Brown discloses another typical holder or rack comprising a number of spring clips each having a pair of curved arms for resiliently clamping and retaining various tools or implements between the curved arms of the spring clips.

[0007]However, the resilient curved arms of the spring clips are required to be formed into specifically designed shapes or configurations and to be formed into straight portions, rounded corner or angle portions, and jaw portions, and may be deformed after use and thus may no longer be used to suitably clamp and retain various tools or implements between the curved arms of the spring clips.

[0008]U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,285 to Bisping et al. discloses a further typical cable clip device comprising a number of clips slidably attached to a C-shaped sectional bar or support member, and each having a pair of curved clamping jaws for resiliently clamping and retaining various tools or implements between the clamping jaws of the clips. However, the resilient clamping jaws of the clips may also be deformed after use and thus may no longer be used to suitably clamp and retain various tools or implements between the clamping jaws of the clips.

[0009]The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional holders for tools or implements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010]The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a holder including a foldable structure for stably holding and supporting and retaining tools or implements in place.

[0011]In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a holder comprising a housing including two passages formed therein and each having an inclined passage segment, the inclined passage segments of the housing including a lower portion located closer to each other, and an upper portion located and spaced farther away from each other, and two arms each including a shaft rotatably received in the housing and movable and rotatable along the inclined passage segments of the housing respectively, and rotatable relative to the housing between an upwardly folding position and an outwardly working position, and the arms may be guided and forced to move toward each other when the arms are moved downwardly along the inclined passage segments of the housing and from the farther upper portion toward the closer lower portion of the inclined passage segments of the housing respectively, for grasping and holding a tool between the arms.

[0012]The housing includes two lateral passage segments formed therein for rotatably receiving the shafts of the arms respectively. The housing includes at least one projection extended into each of the lateral passage segments of the housing for frictionally engaging with the shafts.

[0013]The arms each include a rounded portion for engaging with the tool. The arms each include an outwardly extended and opened jaw portion for allowing the tool to be engaged into and grasped by the arms. The arms each include a soft outer covering engaged on an outer peripheral portion for softly engaging with the tool.

[0014]An auxiliary holding member may further be provided and rotatably attached to the housing for selectively holding and supporting the tool. The auxiliary holding member includes a bar having two lateral passageways formed therein for slidably receiving the arms respectively.

[0015]The auxiliary holding member includes a lever extended from the bar and rotatably attached to the housing. The housing includes a slit formed therein for slidably receiving the lever of the auxiliary holding member. The auxiliary holding member includes an axle extended from the lever for rotatably attaching to the housing.

[0016]The housing includes a base plate attached thereto for rotatably retaining the arms to the housing. The base plate includes a swelling having two recesses formed therein for rotatably engaging with and supporting the arms. A rail may further be provided and includes a channel formed therein for slidably receiving the base plate.

[0017]The housing includes at least one hole formed therein, and the base plate includes at least one pin extended from the swelling and engaged into the hole of the housing for anchoring the housing to the base plate. The housing includes a chamber formed therein and defined by an outer peripheral wall for receiving the swelling of the base plate.

[0018]Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a holder in accordance with the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the holder;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an inner structure of a housing of the holder;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the holder, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 5;

[0023]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the holder, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

[0024]FIG. 6 is a top plan schematic view illustrating the operation of the holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025]Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 4, a holder 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a track or rail 10 including longitudinal channel 11 formed therein and defined by a rear panel 12, an upper panel 13, a lower panel 14, and one or more flanges 15 extended from the free end portions of the upper panel 13 and the lower panel 14 respectively, for slidably receiving and supporting one or more supporting members 2 (FIG. 1). For example, each of the supporting members 2 includes a base plate 20 slidably engaged into and movable along the longitudinal channel 11 of the rail 10.

[0026]A swelling 21 is extended forwardly from the base plate 20 and includes two substantially L-shaped recesses 22 formed therein and arranged in a mirror symmetric status, a slot 24 also formed in the swelling 21 and located between the recesses 22, and the slot 24 of the swelling 21 includes a lower portion 25 communicating with the recesses 22 of the swelling 21. One or more pins 26 are extended forwardly from the swelling 21. It is preferable that the recesses 22 of the swelling 21 each include a substantially horizontal or lateral recess segment 23 and a substantially vertical or inclined recess segment 28 (FIG. 2).

[0027]A housing 30 is to be engaged onto the base plate 20 and to be secured onto the base plate 20 with such as fasteners 80, and includes a chamber 31 formed therein and defined by an outer peripheral wall 32 which will be engaged onto the base plate 20, and arranged to receive the swelling 21 of the base plate 20 within the chamber 31 of the housing 30. The housing 30 also includes a bulge 33 extended into the chamber 31 thereof for mating or engaging with the swelling 21 of the base plate 20, and includes one or more holes 34 formed in the bulge 33 (FIG. 3) for receiving the pins 26 and for anchoring or positioning the housing 30 to the base plate 20 and for preventing the housing 30 from being moved up and down and sidewise relative to the base plate 20.

[0028]The housing 30 also includes two substantially L-shaped passages 35 formed therein and arranged in a mirror symmetric status, and aligned with the recesses 22 of the swelling 21 of the base plate 20, and a slit 36 also formed in the bulge 33 and located between the passages 35, and the slit 36 of the bulge 33 includes a lower portion 37 communicating with the passages 35 of the bulge 33 (FIG. 3). It is also preferable that the passages 35 of the bulge 33 each also include a substantially horizontal or lateral passage segment 38 and a substantially vertical or inclined passage segment 39 (FIG. 3) for aligning with the horizontal or lateral recess segment 23 and the vertical or inclined recess segment 28 of the recesses 22 of the swelling 21 of the base plate 20 respectively. The slit 36 and the vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing 30 are formed forwardly through the housing 30.

[0029]A pair of arms 50 each include an angled base portion 51 received in the passages 35 of the bulge 33 of the housing 30 and/or in the recesses 22 of the swelling 21 of the base plate 20 respectively, and having a substantially horizontal or lateral shaft 52 rotatably received in the horizontal or lateral passage segment 38 of the housing 30 and/or in the horizontal or lateral recess segment 23 of the swelling 21 of the base plate 20 respectively for allowing the arms 50 to be rotated relative to the housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 between an upwardly folding or receiving position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and an outwardly and substantially horizontal working position as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, in which the arms 50 are movable along the vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing 30 respectively as shown with arrows in FIG. 5.

[0030]It is preferable that the arms 50 each further include an angled or rounded portion 53 and an outwardly extended or opened jaw portion 54 for suitably engaging with or gripping or grasping various tools or implements 81, 83 therein (FIGS. 1, 6), and a soft or resilient outer covering 55 attached or engaged or molded on the outer peripheral portion of both the angled or rounded portion 53 and the jaw portion 54 of the arms 50 respectively for softly engaging with the tools or implements 81, 83 and for preventing the tools or implements 81, 83 from being scratched or damaged by the arms 50. The outwardly extended or opened jaw portions 54 of the arms 50 allow the tools or implements 81, 83 to be suitably engaged into and grasped by the arms 50.

[0031]As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing 30 include a lower portion 40 located closer to each other, and an upper portion 41 located distal to each other or spaced farther away from each other for guiding the angled or rounded portion 53 and the jaw portion 54 of the arms 50 to move toward each other when the arms 50 are moved downwardly along the vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing 30 respectively, and thus for allowing the angled or rounded portion 53 and the jaw portion 54 of the arms 50 to suitably grip or grasp and hold the tools or implements 81, 83 between the arms 50.

[0032]It is further preferable that the housing 30 may include one or more projections 88 (FIG. 3) extended into the horizontal or lateral passage segment 38 of the housing 30 for frictionally engaging with the lateral shaft 52 or the angled base portion 51 of the arms 50 respectively and for stably retaining the arms 50 to the housing 30 and the base plate 20, for example, for stably retaining the arms 50 to the housing 30 and the base plate 20 at the upwardly folding or receiving position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and for preventing the arms 50 from moving or rotating forwardly and downwardly relative to the housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 from the upwardly folding or receiving position to the horizontal working position as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6.

[0033]An auxiliary holding member 60 may further be provided and includes a lever 61 for movably or rotatably engaging in the slit 36 of the bulge 33 of the housing 30 and/or the slot 24 of the swelling 21 of the base plate 20, and also for allowing the auxiliary holding member 60 to be rotated relative to the housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 between an upwardly folding or receiving position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and an outwardly and substantially horizontal working position as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, in which the lever 61 of the auxiliary holding member 60 is also movable outwardly or downwardly along the slit 36 of the bulge 33 of the housing 30.

[0034]For example, the auxiliary holding member 60 includes an axle 62 extended from the lever 61 and rotatably engaged in the adjacent portions of the horizontal or lateral passage segment 38 of the housing 30 and/or of the horizontal or lateral recess segment 23 of the swelling 21 of the base plate 20 respectively for allowing the auxiliary holding member 60 to be suitably rotated relative to the housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 with the axle 62. The auxiliary holding member 60 further includes a bar 63 attached to or extended from the front or free end portion of the lever 61 and preferably perpendicular to the lever 61 and having a pair of outwardly opened and lateral passageways 64 formed therein for slidably receiving the arms 50 respectively and for further stably supporting the arms 50 at the horizontal working position as shown in FIGS. 1, and 4-6.

[0035]It is to be noted that the arms 50, particularly the angled or rounded portions 53 and/or the jaw portions 54 of the arms 50 may be suitably spaced farther away from each other by the upwardly and outwardly inclined vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing 30 when the arms 50 are rotated upwardly relative to the housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 to the upwardly folding or receiving position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, and thus for allowing the tools or implements 81, 83 to be engaged into or between the angled or rounded portions 53 and/or the jaw portions 54 of the arms 50.

[0036]When the arms 50 are rotated downwardly relative to the housing 30 and/or the base plate 20 from the upwardly folding or receiving position to the horizontal working position as shown in FIGS. 1, and 4-6, the angled or rounded portion 53 and the jaw portion 54 of the arms 50 may be guided and forced to move toward each other when the arms 50 are moved downwardly along the vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing 30 and from the farther upper portions 41 toward the closer lower portions 40 of the vertical or inclined passage segments 39 of the housing 30 respectively, in order to suitably grip or grasp and hold the tools or implements 81, 83 between the arms 50.

[0037]The angled or rounded portion 53 and the jaw portion 54 of the arms 50 may further be guided and forced to move toward each other by the weight of both the tools or implements 81, 83 and the arms 50 in order to suitably grip or grasp and hold the tools or implements 81, 83 of different size or width or thickness best shown in FIG. 6. It is to be noted that the base plate 20 may be formed or molded integral with the housing 30, or may be formed or acted as a retaining means for rotatably retaining the arms 50 to the housing 30.

[0038]Accordingly, the holder in accordance with the present invention includes a foldable structure for stably holding and supporting and retaining tools or implements in place.

[0039]Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

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