Magnetic tool holder
AssigneeH. Dietz & Company, Inc.
InventorsHugh H. Dietz, Alfred G. Tienken, Leonard A. Dems, James D. Haskins, Richard F. Raymond
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved magnetic tool holder for tape measures is provided in which a spoked keeper plate is mounted on the tool to be held in the tool holder. This results in a uniform holding force around the circumference of the holder so that the tool can be securely held in the receptacle and can be readily and easily removed by application of a controlled force. The holding force can be varied by varying the number of spokes and the width of the spokes. A self-centering ring and receptacle is provided to produce an audible click when the tool is properly seated with the keeper plate in intimate contact with the magnet and pole piece.
Claims22
A magnetic tool holder for securing a tool to the belt of a user which comprises:
- a body member and a tool member;
- a magnet and a magnetic pole piece;
- a keeper member sized for cooperative engagement with said magnet and pole piece;
- a receptacle member for receiving said magnet and magnetic pole piece or keeper member therein, having a complementary size and shape for close sliding fit with said magnet and pole piece or keeper member;
- said receptacle member being located on said body member or tool member;
- said magnet and pole piece or keeper member not positioned in said receptacle member being mounted on the other one of said body or tool members from that on which said receptacle is located;
- a plurality of spaced apart tabs of ferromagnetic material extending outwardly from said keeper member;
- said keeper member tabs being formed to complete a magnetic circuit with said magnet and pole piece when positioned in magnetic engagement therewith;
- so that said tool member will be releasably secured in said tool holder by said magnet and keeper.
A magnetic tool holder for releasably securing a tool to an object comprising:
- a body member and a tool member;
- a magnet;
- a keeper member sized for operative magnetic engagement with said magnet;
- a receptacle member for receiving said magnet or keeper member therein, having a complementary size and shape for close sliding fit with said magnet or keeper member;
- said receptacle member being located on said body member or tool member;
- said magnet or keeper member not positioned in said receptacle member being mounted on the other one of said body or tool member from that on which said receptacle is located;
- said receptacle having a vertical side wall relative to the plane of said body member;
- said vertical side wall having a height greater than the thickness of said magnet and pole piece or keeper plate;
- and
- guide means positioned about said receptacle side wall in operative relation thereto;
- so that said tool member when operatively engaged with said guide means will be aligned with said receptacle and drop vertically into said receptacle until said magnet and keeper member are magnetically engaged with an audible click.
The method of varying the holding power of a magnetic tool holder for securing different size and weight tools to a tool holder on a user's belt which comprises the steps of:
- forming a holding magnet and pole piece with a selected magnetic gap;
- forming a keeper plate body with a plurality of tabs extending therefrom;
- sizing said keeper plate so that only said extending tabs bridge the selected magnetic gap of the holding magnet and pole piece;
- varying the physical parameter of said tabs to provide holding power corresponding to the size and weight of the tool to be positioned in the tool holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.