Apparatus for releasably holding a socket
OwnerStandley D. Winnardinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A socket organizer for releasably and adjustably holding socket holders is provided. The organizer has a longitudinally extending rail assembly characterized by a generally U-shaped channel. A plurality of socket holders are positioned in and slidingly engage the channel. Each socket holder has a detent assembly for releasably locking a socket. A plurality of clip members are attached to the rail assembly or to mounting posts. The clip members have socket identification indicia and are positioned over the mounting posts by way of an aperture. A positioning mechanism is provided for selectively positioning individual socket holders in the channel.
Claims17
A socket organizer for releasably and adjustably holding a plurality of socket holders, the organizer comprising:
- a longitudinally extending rail assembly having a body defining an interior channel;
- a plurality of socket holders, each socket holder having a base member slidingly engaged within the interior channel of the rail assembly, and a rotationally movable mounting post for releasably holding a socket;
- each mounting post movable between a locked position in which a socket is held in place on the mounting post, and an unlocked position in which the socket is released from the socket holder;
- and
- each socket holder having a locking tab extending from the mounting post and engaging a cooperating slot defined in the base member, a recess defined in the slot, wherein the locking tab is positioned in the recess when the mounting post is in the locked position;
- and
- a socket holder positioning mechanism for securing socket holders at selected positions along the rail assembly, wherein the socket holder positioning mechanism further comprises:
- a plurality of laterally extending, longitudinally spaced-apart ridges extending along the rail assembly, and
- for each socket holder, at least one positioning tab extending from the socket holder base for selectively engaging the ridges.
A socket organizer for releasably and adjustably holding a plurality of socket holders, the organizer comprising:
- a longitudinally extending rail assembly having a body defining an interior channel;
- a plurality of socket holders, each socket holder having a base member slidingly engaged with the interior channel of the rail assembly, and a mounting post for releasably holding a socket;
- each mounting post rotationally movable between a locked position in which a socket is held in place on the mounting post, and an unlocked position in which the socket is released from the socket holder;
- and
- each socket holder having a locking tab engaging a cooperating slot, a recess defined in the slot, and wherein the locking tab is positioned in the recess when the socket holder is in the locked position;
- a socket holder positioning mechanism for securing socket holders at selected positions along the rail assembly, wherein the socket holder positioning mechanism further comprises:
- a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart ridges extending from the rail assembly, and
- for each socket holder, at least one positioning tab selectively movable into an engaged position in which the positioning tab engages at least one of the ridges.
A socket organizer for releasably and adjustably holding a plurality of socket holders, the organizer comprising:
- a longitudinally extending rail assembly having a body defining an interior channel;
- a plurality of socket holders, each socket holder having a base member slidingly engaged within the interior channel of the rail assembly, and a mounting post for releasably holding a socket;
- each mounting post rotationally movable between a locked position in which a socket is held in place on the mounting post, and an unlocked position in which the socket is released from the socket holder;
- and
- wherein the rail assembly further comprises an alignment mechanism which cooperates with a corresponding alignment feature defined on the base member of each socket holder, the alignment mechanism and alignment feature cooperating to prevent:
- insertion of the socket holder into an open end of the interior channel of the rail assembly unless the alignment feature and the alignment mechanism are cooperatively aligned;
- and
- rotation of the base member once positioned on the rail assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.