Tool Holder Through Cavity Design for Secure Tool Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tool holders with metal brackets are prone to tool dislodging due to improper installation or bumping, posing safety risks and increasing manufacturing costs, while also being costly to produce.

Innovation Solution

A tool holder with a one-piece design featuring a through opening cavity that securely receives tool handles, providing vertical support and eliminating the need for separate metal brackets, thus preventing accidental dislodging and reducing manufacturing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal bracket is used to support tools, then the tool holder can hold tools, but the tool may easily fall forward and dislodge from the holder when bumped or improperly installed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool holding stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support function and tool holding function into a single integrated cavity structure. The cavity is formed directly in the holder body, eliminating the need for separate metal brackets. This integration simplifies the overall structure while maintaining reliable tool holding through the cavity's geometry that accommodates and secures the tool extension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the unnecessary metal bracket component from the tool holder system. By removing this separate supporting element and integrating its function directly into the holder body cavity, the design eliminates the complexity and potential failure points associated with additional components while achieving the same support function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If a metal bracket is used in the tool holder, then the tool can be supported, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure and tool holding cavity are merged into a single integrated component formed directly in the holder body. This eliminates the need for separate metal brackets and reduces the total number of components, thereby simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing production costs while maintaining the necessary support function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cavity in the holder body serves multiple functions: it supports the tool, holds the tool extension, and provides structural integration. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated separate components like metal brackets, reducing both manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If tools are stored in conventional holders, then they can be kept accessible, but they may be inadvertently dislodged causing safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool accessibilityVSAvoidsafety risk from falling tools
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity geometry is designed in advance to prevent tool dislodging before it can occur. The cavity accommodates the tool extension in a manner that provides preliminary stabilization and prevents the tool from falling forward or being inadvertently dislodged, thereby eliminating safety risks before they can manifest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harmful effect of tool dislodging into a beneficial securing mechanism. The cavity structure, which could simply be an opening, is designed to actively engage and secure the tool extension, transforming what would be a vulnerability into a safety feature that prevents falling tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP4157588B1Tool holder
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 HUSQVARNA AB
  • EP4157588B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4157588B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4157588B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tool holder (100, 100') for holding one or more tools (110, 110'). The tool holder (100, 100') includes a body (101). The body (101) includes at least one cavity (130, 130') to hold the one or more tools (110, 110'). Each of the at least one cavity (130, 130') defines a central axis (Y-Y'), and the tool holder (100, 100') defines a longitudinal axis (X-X'), wherein the central axis (Y-Y') is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X-X'). The at least one cavity (130, 130') is configured to removably receive an extension (116, 116') of a handle (112, 112') of the one or more tools (110, 110') such that when the extension (116, 116') is removably received in the cavity (130, 130'). At least a part of the tool (110, 110') extends along the longitudinal axis (X-X') below the at least one cavity (130, 130'). The tool holder (100, 100') is characterized in that the cavity (130, 130') is defined as a through opening, and wherein the cavity (130, 130') is configured to receive at the same time two tools (110, 110') on two opposing sides of the cavity (130, 130') seen along the central axis (Y-Y').