Wrench Rack Clamp Assembly for Secure Multi-Size Tool Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wrench support rack assemblies rely on friction and vertical stops, which fail to securely hold wrenches due to manufacturing tolerances and allow for unwanted movement, limiting the range of wrenches that can be accommodated.
Innovation Solution
A wrench support rack with a base and clamp assemblies featuring a vertical stop and push member forming a groove to engage wrench stems, with pennant-shaped upper ridges and inward protrusions to prevent vertical and horizontal movement, and additional support ribs to prevent material bending, along with a retention door for enhanced security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If friction and vertical stops are used to hold wrenches, then the structure is simple, but the wrenches cannot be securely held and allow unwanted movement
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a vertical stop member with upper ridge portions for limiting vertical movement, and a push member with inward protrusions for limiting horizontal movement. This segmentation allows each component to address specific movement directions independently, achieving secure wrench holding through coordinated action of multiple specialized elements rather than a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove formed between the vertical stop and push member acts as an intermediary structure that receives and positions the wrench stem. This groove mediates the interaction between the clamp components and the wrench, providing a defined engagement space that ensures proper positioning and secure holding while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Device complexity
If friction-based retention is used, then the design is simple, but only a limited range of wrenches can be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly design with its groove-based engagement system and adjustable components serves multiple functions: it secures wrenches of varying sizes through the same basic mechanism, accommodates different wrench orientations, and provides both vertical and horizontal retention. This universal approach allows a single clamp design to handle diverse wrench types without requiring size-specific configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes parameter changes in the groove dimensions and component spacing to accommodate different wrench sizes. By adjusting the width and depth parameters of the groove formed between the vertical stop and push member, the same clamp assembly can securely hold wrenches across a range of sizes, achieving versatility through parametric adjustment rather than multiple specialized designs.
3Device complexity
If vertical stops alone are used, then the structure is simple, but manufacturing tolerances cause wrench movement and shaking
Solution Approach 1:
The push member with inward protrusions performs a preliminary action by pressing the wrench stem horizontally into the vertical stop before final positioning. This preliminary horizontal engagement ensures that the wrench is firmly seated against the vertical stop, eliminating gaps and movement caused by manufacturing tolerances. The inward protrusions pre-position the wrench stem to ensure accurate alignment and stable engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure between the vertical stop and push member provides beforehand cushioning by accommodating minor dimensional variations and manufacturing tolerances. The groove acts as a tolerance buffer that absorbs dimensional variations while maintaining secure wrench engagement, preventing the shaking and movement that would otherwise result from tolerance accumulation in rigid stop-based designs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wrench support rack including a base, and at least one clamp assembly attached to the base and comprising a vertical stop spaced apart from a push member. The space in between the vertical stop and the push member forms a groove configured to receive a stem of a wrench. The vertical stop includes an upper ridge portion configured to engage a stem of a wrench and limit vertical movement of a wrench disposed in the groove. The push member includes an inward protrusion configured to press a stem of a wrench in to the vertical stop and limit horizontal movement of a wrench disposed in the groove.