Holder for closed end wrenches or similar articles

A wrench storage device for releasably supporting a wrench or similar article having an open socket formed at an end, the wrench storage device comprising:

• a clip wire extending in a loop configuration from a first clip wire end to a second clip wire end adjacent the first clip wire end;
• wherein the clip wire loop is formed substantially in a plane and along an axis adjacent the clip wire ends;
• a latch means on the clip wire at the ends thereof and comprised of an inclined latch surface at the first clip wire end and an inclined guide surface at the second clip wire end;
• wherein the latch and guide surfaces at the first and second clip wire ends converge angularly from spaced apart base ends to an apex spaced along the axis from the base ends thereby forming an inclined "v" shaped notch into the clip wire and within the cross section thereof, with the spaced apart base ends defining an open base of the "v" shaped notch and the apex spaced along the wire to one side of the open base;
• wherein the first and second surfaces, along with the open base end of the "v" shaped notch form an obtuse triangle with the base thereof corresponding to the open base end of the notch;
• wherein the first and second surfaces are resiliently separable relative to one another and laterally of the plane of the loop to an open position forming an opening in the loop of sufficient size to facilitate selective threading of the open socket of a wrench or similar article over the clip wire onto or off from the loop.

A wrench storage device for releasably supporting a wrench or similar article having an open socket formed at an end, the wrench storage device comprising:

• a clip wire extending in a loop configuration from a first clip wire end to a second clip wire end adjacent the first clip wire end;
• wherein the clip wire loop is formed substantially in a plane adjacent the clip wire ends;
• a latch means on the clip wire at the ends thereof and comprised of a latch arm pivotably mounted to the clip wire at one end thereof by a pivot pin, for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the plane of the loop to an open position at approximately 90.degree. from the plane.
• the latch arm including a circular notch formed therein and radially spaced from the axis of the pivot pin;
• a compression spring mounted to the clip wire;
• and
• a push rod mounted to the compression spring and having an end slidably engaging the circular notch, for urging the latch arm to the closed position.

A wrench storage device for releasably supporting a wrench or similar article having an open socket formed at an end along an axis through a thickness dimension, the storage device comprising;

• a handle;
• a clip wire affixed to the handle and extending in a loop configuration from the handle;
• the clip wire including ends spaced adjacent one another along the loop and outward of the handle;
• a latch means on the clip wire at the ends thereof responsive to selective forcible engagement by the open socket end of the wrench or similar article to move to an open position forming an opening in the loop and guiding the open socket of the engaged wrench or similar article over the clip wire onto or off from the loop, from a normally closed position wherein the latch means and clip wire are substantially continuous;
• wherein at least a portion of the loop formed by the clip wire lies substantially within a plane;
• and
• wherein the latch means includes a latch arm pivotably mounted to the clip wire, on an axis that is substantially parallel to the plane.