Method and apparatus for storing clamps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11154133-B2
Application number	US-201916409978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2019
Priority date	May 13, 2019
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

A tool storage system has a universal mounting bracket coupled to a support surface formed with a plurality of apertures that align with differently sized support arms that support a tool therefrom. The apertures are aligned along a common horizontal plane and the support arms have different heights that allow tools to be hung therefrom in a nesting relationship so that more tools can occupy less space or area relative to the support surface. The nesting relationship of the tools provides for a first tool supported by the first arm to fit within a space defined by the second tool supported by the second arm. In some instance, the first and second arms may be part of a pair of support arms, respectively.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool storage system comprising:
a bracket adapted to be mounted to a support surface and having a central wall defining a front surface;
a first support arm coupled to the bracket and having a first rear wall that is the rearmost part of the first support arm defining a first rear surface directly abutting the front surface of the central wall and a first major portion of the first support arm defining a first side surface and a second side surface; and
a second support arm coupled to the bracket and having a second rear wall that is the rearmost part of the second support arm defining a second rear surface directly abutting the front surface of the central wall and a second major portion of the second support arm defining a first side surface and a second side surface;
a major portion of the first support arm having an upper edge and a lower edge defining a first height;
a major portion of the second support arm having an upper edge and a lower edge defining a second height that is greater than the first height;
a first horizontal row of apertures formed in the bracket; and
a second horizontal row of apertures formed in the bracket that are below the first horizontal row; and
wherein the first and second support arms are connected to the bracket along a vertical plane intersecting one aperture in the first horizontal row of apertures and one aperture in the second horizontal row of apertures.

2. The tool storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first support arm at least partially nests adjacent the second support arm.

3. The tool storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a length of the first support arm measured from a rear end to a forward end thereof; and
a length of the second support measured from a rear end to a forward end thereof, wherein the length of the second support arm is greater than the length of the first support arm.

4. The tool storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first pair of support arms, wherein the first support arm is one half of the first pair of support arms;
a second pair of support arms, wherein the second support arm is one half of the second pair of support arms; and
wherein the second pair of support arms are offset to one side of the first pair of support arms.

5. The tool storage system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a first height associated with the first pair of support arms that is less than a second height associated with the second pair of support arms; and
wherein the first height being lower than the second height.

6. The tool storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first horizontal row of apertures formed in the bracket; and
a row of mounting apertures formed in the bracket above, wherein a ratio of apertures from the first horizontal row to apertures in the row of mounting apertures is in a range from about 7:1 to about 12:1.

7. The tool storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first tool supported by the first support arm;
a second tool supported by the second support arm adjacent the first support arm, wherein the second tool has a pair of crossbars and a first clamp bar that collectively define a first space, wherein the first tool is at least partially disposed within the first space defined by the second tool; and
a first member on the first tool;
wherein the first member of the first tool nests with the first clamp bar in the first space defined by the second tool that is shaped complementary to the first member and receives the first member within the first space adapted to reduce a length or width dimension of the tool storage system by storing the first tool in the first space defined by the second tool.

8. The tool storage system of claim 7 , further comprising:
wherein the first tool is a first woodworking clamp and the second tool is a second woodworking clamp having a larger clamping dimension than that of the first woodworking clamp;
a first crossbar on the first woodworking clamp; and
wherein the pair of crossbars further comprises a second crossbar and a third crossbar on the second woodworking clamp defining a portion of the first space;
wherein the first crossbar is placed within the first space adapted to reduce a dimension of the tool storage system by storing the first woodworking clamp in the first space defined by the second tool.

9. The tool storage system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first edge on the first crossbar of the first woodworking clamp;
a second edge on the second crossbar and a third edge on the third crossbar of the second woodworking clamp; and
wherein the first edge is spaced parallel to the second and the third edges within the first space.

10. The tool storage system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first upper edge on the first support arm;
a second upper edge on the second support arm;
the first crossbar on the first woodworking clamp supported by the first upper edge;
the second crossbar on the second woodworking clamp supported by the second upper edge; and
wherein the second crossbar is vertically above the first crossbar in the first space and the third crossbar is vertically below the first crossbar in the first space.

11. The tool storage system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a second clamp bar on the first tool; and
the bracket connected to the first and second support arms, wherein the bracket has first and second ends;
wherein the first clamp bar is closer the first end of the bracket; and
a cross bar of the pair of crossbars on the second tool, wherein a terminal end of the cross bar is closer the second end of the bracket than an edge of the second clamp bar.

12. A tool storage system comprising:
a bracket adapted to be mounted to a support surface;
a first support arm coupled to the bracket and having a first major portion defining a first side surface and a second side surface, a first major arm wall that has a top edge and an opposing lower edge disposed between the first and second side surfaces, and a first lower wall extending orthogonally outwardly from the lower edge of the first major arm wall and configured to provide rigidity to the first major arm wall as a strengthening rib; and
a second support arm coupled to the bracket and having a second major portion defining a first side surface and a second side surface, a second major arm wall that has a top edge and an opposing lower edge disposed between the first and second side surfaces, and a second lower wall extending orthogonally outwardly from the lower edge of the second major arm wall and configured to provide rigidity to the second major arm wall as a strengthening rib;
the first major portion of the first support arm having an upper edge and a lower edge defining a first height;
the second major portion of the second support arm having an upper edge and a lower edge defining a second height that is greater than the first height;
a first pair of support arms, wherein the first support arm is one half of the first pair of support arms; and
a second pair of support arms, wherein the second support arm is one half of the second pair of support arms;
wherein the second pair of support arms are offset to one side of the first pair of support arms;
wherein each of the first lower wall and the second lower wall is adapted to act as a shelf; and
wherein each of the first lower wall and the second lower wall is continuous and uninterrupted.

13. The tool storage system of claim 12 , wherein the first support arm at least partially nests adjacent the second support arm.

14. The tool storage system of claim 12 , further comprising:

Assignees

• Woodpeckers Llc

Inventors

• O'Halloran Edward A

Classifications

• A47B57/58

  with means for adjusting partitions horizontally (book-ends A47B65/00) · CPC title

• F16B12/34

  using keyhole-shaped slots and pins · CPC title

• B25H3/04

  Racks · CPC title

• A47B96/067

  Horizontal rails as suspension means in a cantilever arrangement (suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls A47B95/008) · CPC title

• A47F5/0853 Primary

  Rail constructions; Brackets · CPC title