# US 7,461,827 B2 · Serving terminal illuminator

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- Number: US 7,461,827 B2
- Document ID: US7461827B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/636,186
- Filed: 2006-12-08
- Published: 2007-04-12
- Granted: 2008-12-09
- Earliest claimed: 2004-01-30
- Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
- Inventors: Paul Brent Rivers; Frederick Diggle, III
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7461827B2

## CPC

- F21V 21/0885: {for portable lighting devices}
- A45F 5/00: Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
- B25H 3/006: {Storage means specially adapted for one specific hand apparatus, e.g. an electric drill}
- F16M 11/24: changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, {e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other}(F16M11/42 takes precedence)
- F16M 13/00: Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)}
- F16M 13/022: {repositionable}
- A45F 5/02: Fastening articles to the garment
- A45F 5/1516: {Holders or carriers for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. pagers or smart phones}
- A45F 2005/025: {with a holder or item rotatably connected to the fastening device, e.g. having a rotation axis perpendicular to the garment}
- A45F 2005/028: {with a vertical rotation axis}
- F21L 4/005: {the device being a pocket lamp (F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence)}
- F21V 21/145: {for portable lighting devices}
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- B25H: WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT, e.g. FOR MARKING-OUT WORK; STORAGE MEANS FOR WORKSHOPS (storing or packaging B65)
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- F21L: LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF, BEING PORTABLE OR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of a hanging tool support assembly provide a portable, adjustable support to hold and/or position a tool, such as a flashlight. For example, the hanging tool support assembly hangs or is otherwise suspended from a support line proximate to a work area. According to exemplary embodiments, the hanging tool support assembly includes a pair of inverted, J-shaped hangers, a downwardly extending arm, a movable support piece connecting the downwardly extending arm to a tool support base, the tool support base, and attachment means for supporting and/or holding a tool to the tool support base. In some embodiments, the hangers may further include additional safety and/or positioning components.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hanging tool support assembly comprising:
a pair of inverted, J-shaped hangers, each hanger having a free end and a downwardly extending end, each free end having an inner semi-circular surface about which the hanging tool support may be hung, the downwardly extending end substantially parallel to the free end and the downwardly extending end having a flared connecting portion, the flared connecting portion having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion connects both of the downwardly extending ends of the inverted, J-shaped hangers, wherein the bottom portion comprises a downwardly extending arm, the downwardly extending arm having a flared portion, and wherein a portion of the inner semi-circular surface extending from the free end to the downwardly extending end comprises a textured surface;
a movable support connecting the downwardly extending arm to a top portion of a tool support base;
the tool support base having the top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion comprises a tool support base plate having a means for securing a tool;
a rotational joint attaching the downwardly extending arm to the movable support to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the downwardly extending arm; and
a pivoting joint attaching the movable support to the top portion of the tool support base, the pivoting joint allowing the tool support base to pivot about a horizontal axis relative to the movable support.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 1, wherein the downwardly extending arm further comprises a carrying hook, the carrying hook comprising a passageway having a generally cylindrical side portion, a substantially planar base portion, and inner diameter, wherein the substantially planar base portion attaches to a portion of a surface of the downwardly extending arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 2, wherein the inner diameter is at least one centimeter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 1, the rotational joint comprising a ball and socket assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 1, the pivoting joint comprises a screw and nut assembly.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 1, the means for securing the tool comprising at least two engagement members, each of the two engagement members having a first end attached to the tool support base plate and having a second end, the second end of each of the two engagement members mating together to secure the tool to the tool base.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a flashlight.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 1, the means for securing the tool comprising a pair of aligned C-shaped clips.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for securing the free end of the inverted, j-shaped hanger about a support line.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 9, wherein the attachment means comprises a lever and a lip, wherein a first end of the lever attaches to the inner semi-circular surface of the free end and of the lip attaches to an inner portion of the downwardly extending end and wherein a second end of the lever horizontally extends to and mates with an interior portion of a second end of the lip.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 10, wherein the first end of the lever pivotally attaches to the inner semi-circular surface of the free end.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 1, the hanging tool support assembly comprises at least one of the following materials:
paper;
cloth;
metal;
polymer;
plastic;
ceramic;
glass; and
crystal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve extending about a portion of a surface of the inverted, J-shaped hanger.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 13, wherein the sleeve comprises of a non-conductive material, the non-conductive material comprising at least one of:
paper;
cloth;
polymer;
plastic;
ceramic;
glass; and
crystal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The hanging tool support assembly of claim 14, wherein the non-conductive material of the sleeve comprises a textured outer surface.

### Claim 16

A hanging tool support assembly, comprising:
a pair of inverted, J-shaped hangers, each hanger having a free end and a downwardly extending end, each free end having an inner semi-circular surface about which the hanging tool support may be hung, the downwardly extending end substantially parallel to the free end and the downwardly extending end having a flared connecting portion, the flared connecting portion having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion connects both of the downwardly extending ends of the inverted, J-shaped hangers, and wherein the bottom portion comprises a downwardly extending arm, the downwardly extending arm having a flared portion and a carrying hook, the carrying hook comprising a passageway having a generally cylindrical side portion, a substantially planar base portion, and an inner diameter, wherein the substantially planar base portion attaches to a portion of a surface of the downwardly extending arm;
a movable support connecting the downwardly extending arm to a top portion of a tool support base;
the tool support base having the top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion comprises a tool support base plate having means for securing a tool;
a rotational joint attaching the downwardly extending arm to the movable support to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the downwardly extending arm; and
a pivoting joint attaching the movable support to the top portion of the tool support base, the pivoting joint allowing the tool support base to pivot about a horizontal axis relative to the movable support.