Reversible wrench rack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11590645-B2
Application number	US-202117332111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2021
Priority date	Mar 16, 2017
Publication date	Feb 28, 2023
Grant date	Feb 28, 2023

Abstract

A wrench rack includes a base portion having a first side and a second side, and a first rail and a second rail. Each of the first rail and second rail includes a plurality of wrench slots formed at a predetermined angle. The first rail and second rail are releasably coupled with the first side and second side of the base portion, respectively, in a first configuration and the first rail and second rail are releasably coupled to the second side and first side of the base portion, respectively, in a second configuration, such that an orientation of the predetermined angle of the wrench slots of the first configuration is reversed in the second configuration.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A wrench rack comprising:
a base portion comprising a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end; the first side being opposite the second side and the first end being opposite the second end; the base portion comprising a first base coupling means and a second base coupling means; and
a first rail and a second rail, each of the first rail and second rail comprising a plurality of wrench slots formed at a predetermined angle, the first rail comprising a first rail coupling means and the second rail comprising a second rail coupling means;
wherein a first spacing between the first base coupling means and the second base coupling means at the first end of the base portion is larger than a second spacing of between the first base coupling means and the second base coupling means at the second end;
wherein, in a first configuration, the first rail coupling means is releasably coupled to the first base coupling means and the second rail coupling means is releasably coupled to the second base coupling means;
wherein, in a second configuration, the first rail coupling means is releasable coupled to the second base coupling means and the second rail coupling means is releasably coupled first base coupling means;
wherein an orientation of the predetermined angle of the wrench slots of the first configuration relative to the first end is reversed in the second configuration.

2. The wrench rack of claim 1 , wherein the first rail coupling means or the second rail coupling means is releasably coupleable to first base coupling means or the second base coupling means via a tongue and groove connection.

3. The wrench rack of claim 1 , the first rail coupling means or the second rail coupling means is releasably coupleable to first base coupling means or the second base coupling means via a dove tail connection.

4. The wrench rack of claim 1 , the first rail coupling means or the second rail coupling means is releasably coupleable to first base coupling means or the second base coupling means via a pin and receiver connection.

5. The wrench rack of claim 1 , the first rail coupling means or the second rail coupling means is releasably coupleable to first base coupling means or the second base coupling means via a snap fit connection.

6. The wrench rack of claim 1 , wherein the first rail and the second rail or base portion comprise: a plurality of segments, wherein one or more segments may be removed to accommodate a predetermined number of wrenches.

7. The wrench rack of claim 6 , wherein base portion and the first and second rails each include multiple segments, and wherein at least one segment is disposed at each opposing end of both the base portion and the first and second rails.

8. The wrench rack of claim 6 , wherein the one or more segments are formed by perforations that facilitate breaking or cutting the one or more segments to separate the one or more segments from the base portion or the first and second rails.

9. The wrench rack of claim 1 , wherein the wrench rack is color coded to indicate a wrench type.

10. The wrench rack of claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises one or more mounting elements.

11. The wrench rack of claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of mounting elements disposed at opposing ends of the base portion such that the wrench rack is configured to be mounted in the first configuration and the second configuration via the mounting elements.

12. The wrench rack of claim 1 , the first rail coupling means or the second rail coupling means is releasably coupleable to first base coupling means or the second base coupling means via a tab and slot connection.

13. The wrench rack of claim 1 , wherein each of the first base coupling means and the second base coupling means comprises a plurality of connector positions defined by slots disposed at different distances from a longitudinal center axis of the base portion.

14. The wrench rack of claim 1 , wherein the first rail and the second rail are each defined by a base ridge including protrusions with slot apexes formed therebetween to define the wrench slots.

15. The wrench rack of claim 14 , wherein the first base coupling means comprises a first set of reception slots disposed proximate to the first side of the base portion, and the second base coupling means comprises a second set of reception slots formed proximate to the second side of the base portion.

16. The wrench rack of claim 15 , wherein the first and second sets of reception slots each include an edge slot and an interior slot, and wherein the first rail coupling means and second rail coupling means each include a quick release connection assembly configured to mate with the edge slot and the interior slot of a respective one of the first and second sets of reception slots.

17. The wrench rack of claim 14 , wherein an interior portion of the base ridge defines a reception slot, and wherein one or more magnets are disposed to extend along a longitudinal centerline of the base ridge within the reception slot.

Assignees

• Apex Brands Inc

Inventors

• Steinweg Paul
• Van Fossen Eric

Classifications

• F16B5/0052

  the interlocking key acting as a dovetail-type key · CPC title

• B25H3/04 Primary

  Racks · CPC title