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US 5,855,284 AGranted
Locking holder for interchangeable bit members
OwnerAndrew E. Dembicksinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for the secure storage of sockets for ratchet wrenches and other types of interchangeable bit members for tools such as screwdrivers, nut drivers, routers, etc., having integral shafts or shaft receiving members. The invention includes a system for securely holding one or more of a set of detachable bits, used with ratchet wrenches or other tools, by means of a cam-actuated rotator member mounted within a channel guide. Further, a novel socket display apparatus is disclosed which provides a secure mounting system for the cam actuated receiving unit. The socket display apparatus provides for snap lock engagement of the display apparatus with a ratchet wrench socket or other tool bit whereby the socket or bit may only be removed by destroying the display unit.
Claims28
A holder system for securely storing one or more interchangeable bit members having integral shaft receiving members, said system comprising:
- (a) a rotator member comprised of
- a base portion formed transverse to a central axis and having an eccentric cam surface defined on its outer periphery;
- a lower body formed on top of said base portion and projecting axially upward therefrom, the perimeter defined by said lower body inwardly offset from said eccentric cam surface and having a bevel defined thereon;
- a receiving member projecting upwardly from said lower body;
- said base portion, said lower body, and said receiving member divided along said central axis to form two opposing sides separated by a gap, said two sides joined by a resilient bridge member;
- and
- (b) channel guide means comprised of a pair of opposing channel sidewalls formed on an elongated channel base, said base of said rotator member positioned within said channel guide means between said opposing side walls, whereby rotation of said rotator member about said central axis causes a first one of said sidewalls to selectively engage a primary cam locking face of said eccentric cam surface, and causes a retaining lip defined on a second one of said sidewalls to selectively engage said bevel, whereby said resilient bridge member is caused to flex so that the two opposing sides of said receiving member pivot outwardly from said central axis to engage a shaft receiving member of a bit.
4 more elements
A holder system for securely storing one or more bits for a tool, said system comprising:
- (a) a rotator member comprised of:
- a base portion formed transverse to a central axis and having an eccentric cam surface defined on its outer periphery, said eccentric cam surface having a primary cam locking face;
- a cylindrical lower body formed on top of said base portion and projecting axially upward therefrom, the perimeter defined by said lower body inwardly offset from said eccentric cam surface;
- a receiving member projecting upwardly from said lower body, said receiving member comprised of a box member formed on said lower body and a cylindrical alignment head projecting upwardly from said box member;
- said base portion, said lower body, and said receiving member divided along said central axis to form two opposing sides separated by a gap, said two sides joined by a resilient bridge member at one of said lower body portion and said receiving member;
- and
- (b) channel guide means, comprised of opposing channel sidewalls formed parallel to one another and projecting upwardly from an elongated channel base along the length thereof, and an inwardly projecting retaining lip defined on an upper edge of said side walls for retaining said rotator member in position between said side walls;
- said base portion of said rotator member positioned within said channel guide means between said opposing side walls, whereby rotation of said rotator member about said central axis causes a first one of said sidewalls to selectively engage a primary cam locking face of said eccentric cam surface, and causes a retaining lip defined on a second one of said sidewalls to selectively engage said bevel, whereby said resilient bridge member is caused to flex so that the two opposing sides of said receiving member pivot outwardly from said central axis to engage a shaft receiving member of a bit.
5 more elements
A bit holder system for securely storing one or more interchangeable bit members having integral shaft members, said system comprising:
- (a) a rotator member comprised of
- a base portion formed transverse to a central axis and having an eccentric cam surface defined on its outer periphery;
- a lower body formed on top of said base portion and projecting axially upward therefrom, and having an engagement surface defined thereon;
- a shaft receiving member axially aligned with and projecting upwardly from said lower body;
- said base portion, said lower body, and said shaft receiving member divided along said central axis to form two opposing sides separated by a gap, said two sides joined by a resilient bridge member;
- and
- (b) channel guide means comprised of opposing channel sidewalls formed on a channel base;
- said base of said rotator member positioned within said channel guide means between said opposing side walls, whereby rotation of said rotator member about said central axis causes at least one of said eccentric cam surface and said engagement surface to engage opposing sidewalls of said channel guide means, whereby said resilient bridge member is caused to flex so that the two opposing sides of said shaft receiving member flex inwardly toward said central axis to engage a shaft.
5 more elements
A holder system for securely storing one or more interchangeable bits having integral shaft receiving members, said system comprising:
- (a) a rotator member having eccentric cam means defined on a base portion thereof;
- lower body means formed on top of said base portion and projecting axially upward therefrom;
- bit receiving means projecting upwardly from said lower body means;
- said base portion, said lower body means, and said bit receiving means divided along a central axis to form two opposing sides separated by a gap, said two sides joined by a resilient bridge member;
- and
- (b) channel guide means comprised of a pair of opposing channel sidewalls formed on an elongated channel base, said base of said rotator member positioned within said channel guide means between said opposing side walls;
- whereby rotation of said rotator member within said channel guide means causes at least a portion of said opposing sides of said rotator member to selectively engage a portion of said opposing channel side walls, thereby causing said resilient bridge member to flex so that at least a portion of each of the two opposing sides of said bit receiving means engage a shaft receiving member of said bit.
4 more elements
A holder system for securely storing one or more interchangeable bits having integral shaft members, said system comprising:
- (a) a rotator member having eccentric cam means defined on a base portion thereof;
- lower body means formed on top of said base portion and projecting axially upward therefrom;
- bit receiving means projecting upwardly from said lower body means;
- said base portion, said lower body means, and said bit receiving means divided along a central axis to form two opposing sides separated by a gap, said two sides joined by a resilient bridge member;
- and
- (b) channel guide means comprised of a pair of opposing channel sidewalls formed on an elongated channel base, said base of said rotator member positioned within said channel guide means between said opposing side walls;
- whereby rotation of said rotator member within said channel guide means causes at least a portion of said opposing sides of said rotator member to selectively engage a portion of said opposing channel side walls, thereby causing said resilient bridge member to flex so that at least a portion of each of the two opposing sides of said bit receiving means engage a shaft member of said bit.
4 more elements
A holder system for securely storing one or more interchangeable bit members, said system comprising:
- (a) a channel guide comprised of a pair of opposing channel sidewalls formed on an elongated channel base, at least one of said side walls having a retaining lip;
- (b) a rotator member mounted in said channel guide for rotation into a locking position engaging said at least one retaining lip and one of said sidewalls, and configured for locking engagement with at least one of said interchangeable bit members when rotated to a locking position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.