Adjustable Tool Holder With Spring Loops for Secure Vertical Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pegboard hook systems are inefficient for securing and storing elongate tools, requiring significant user effort and often leading to tools falling or being misplaced, and horizontal storage is not ideal due to space issues and risk of breakage.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable tool holder with a rectangular base, a centrally disposed grove, a planar central bar divided into toothed and plain portions, a slider that slides along the toothed portion due to friction, and a D-shaped compression spring that adjusts the loop distance for secure tool retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tools are stored on a conventional pegboard with hooks, then tools can be hung and stored, but the hooks come off with the tools and require frequent re-securing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the tool-holding function from the wall-mounted pegboard system and relocates it to a self-contained holder that attaches to the tool itself. The holder with spring-loaded jaws grips the tool shaft directly, eliminating the need for separate hooks that can detach from the wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder acts as an intermediary device between the tool and the storage location. Instead of hooks attaching tools to the wall, the holder attaches to the tool and can be placed in various locations, providing a reliable connection without requiring wall-mounted fixtures.
2Reliability
If multiple hooks are used to support elongate tools on a pegboard, then tools can be securely supported, but the process becomes complex and requires careful placement
Solution Approach 1:
The holder automatically adjusts its spring-loaded jaws to grip the tool shaft at the appropriate position. The spring mechanism self-regulates the gripping force, eliminating the need for user intervention to position multiple hooks or adjust their spacing for different tool lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder incorporates a dynamic spring mechanism that automatically adapts to different tool dimensions. The spring-loaded jaws move to accommodate various shaft diameters and lengths, providing stable support without requiring manual adjustment or multiple fixed points.
3Ease of operation
If tools are stored on a flat horizontal surface, then tools can be placed without special fixtures, but storage space is expended and tools may fall or break
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from horizontal surface storage to vertical suspension storage. By attaching the holder to the tool shaft and suspending it vertically, the system eliminates the need for extensive horizontal workspace while maintaining easy access to tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder employs a flexible spring mechanism that can conform to different tool shapes and sizes. This flexible gripping system provides secure retention in a compact form factor, avoiding the need for large horizontal storage areas.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable tool holder is designed to accommodate various tool dimensions, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder achieves adjustability through a simple spring mechanism that changes its gripping parameters (force and position) based on the tool's dimensions. The spring constant and jaw geometry are designed to automatically adapt to different shaft sizes without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder is designed as a universal device that can accommodate various tool types through its spring-loaded jaws. The same basic structure handles different shaft diameters and lengths, eliminating the need for multiple specialized holders or complex adjustment systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tool holder provides a convenient, space-efficient, and secure way to store elongate tools of various dimensions, preventing them from falling or being misplaced, while allowing for easy adjustment and secure retention.
Implementation Method 1
a D-shaped compression spring, which, while wound around the central bar, extends between the slider and an extremity of the base member
Implementation Method 2
As force of the spring exerted on the slider is not enough to overcome the frictional lock between the slit and the teeth
Implementation Method 3
one of the longitudinal edges of the toothed portion comprises friction teeth. The slider is configured to non-freely slide along the length of the toothed portion, meaning, the slider, unless manually actuated, cannot slide along the length of the toothed portion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an adjustable tool holder for holding workshop tools and the like. The tool holder comprises an elongate, rectangular base member comprising a longitudinal central groove, the base member extending between proximal and distal extremities, an elongate, central bar disposed within the groove centrally, the central bar laterally divided into toothed and plain portions terminating at the proximal and distal portions respectively, a longitudinal edge of the toothed portion comprising teeth, a slider adapted to slide along the length of the toothed portion, and a compression spring, one end of which secured to the slider while the other end secured to a distal extremity, the spring wound around the central bar. Sliding the slider to any point on the toothed portion causes length of the spring to be automatically altered accordingly, while the teeth prevent the slider from freely sliding towards the proximal end. A tool is adapted to be held between two consecutive loops of the spring.