Covered self-locking air tool holder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage solutions for heavy air tools, such as lanyards and horizontal surfaces, are inefficient and prone to tool damage due to dangling or pile-ups, which lead to breakage and space inefficiency in labor-intensive environments.
Innovation Solution
A self-locking air tool holder with a rectangular housing and a hinge member that blocks the tool track when closed, allowing secure suspension of the tool by its spout, preventing collisions and providing efficient storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tools are hung on a hook using a lanyard, then the tool can be stored vertically, but the lanyard may not be strong enough to hold heavy tools and the tool may dangle leading to collision and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The holder divides the tool storage function into separate components: a rigid housing structure for support, a tool track for positioning, and a blocker mechanism for securing. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, with the rigid housing providing structural strength that a lanyard cannot offer.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool track acts as an intermediary between the tool and the holder body. The track receives and guides the tool spout, while the blocker secures it in place. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for a lanyard while preventing tool dangling through proper mechanical constraint.
2Ease of manufacture
If tools are placed on a flat horizontal surface, then storage is simple, but large space is expended and tools may pile up leading to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The holder transitions from horizontal surface storage to vertical wall-mounted storage. By utilizing the vertical dimension and mounting the holder on a wall or panel, horizontal space is conserved while maintaining simple tool placement through the open front design.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocker mechanism provides dynamic security: it automatically engages to secure the tool after insertion, yet can be easily disengaged by manual lifting for tool removal. This dynamic system maintains simplicity while preventing the piling up problem associated with static horizontal surfaces.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If tools are placed in a closed container, then tools are protected, but access and retrieval become less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The holder segments the protection function from the access function. The housing provides protective enclosure, while the open front with tool track and blocker mechanism provides efficient access. This segmentation allows both protection and quick access without the compromises of a fully closed container.
4Reliability
If the hinge member is biased towards closed position, then the tool track is securely blocked, but manual intervention is required to open it
Solution Approach 1:
The blocker mechanism is self-securing through the spring bias that automatically engages the blocker with the tool track after tool insertion. For removal, the system requires simple manual intervention (lifting the blocker) rather than complex unlocking procedures, achieving self-service security with minimal user effort for access.
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 self-locking air tool holder securely suspends heavy air tools, preventing collisions and optimizing storage space by ensuring tools are held firmly without dangling, thus reducing the risk of breakage and improving storage efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The hinge member comprises a spring, which is adapted to bias the hinge member towards the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a tool holder for releasingly holding an air tool. The holder comprises a housing comprising at least one horizontal tool track, each of which for slidably receiving the stepped annular spout of the tool therewithin through a track point, the housing adapted to be secured to a vertical surface about the rear thereof, which is perpendicular to the track, and at least one hinge member hingedly secured within the housing such that, the at least one hinge member is angularly movable between an open and a closed position, the at least one hinged member biased towards the closed position. Each of the at least one hinge member comprises at least one blocker, each of which for blocking and unblocking the track point in the closed and open positions respectively.