Title:

Tool display board

United States Patent Application 20030183591

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

A tool display board includes a test device on which a wrench can be tested in a realistic manner. The test device includes a nut secured to the tool display board and a bolt to be driven by the wrench for engagement with the nut. The tool display board includes a hole defined therein. Many teeth are formed on an periphery surrounding the hole. The nut includes a plurality of teeth formed on an internal surface thereof for engagement with the teeth formed on the board. The bolt includes a head and a thread. The nut includes a thread formed on an internal surface thereof for engagement with the thread of the bolt.

Inventors:

Ling, David (Taichung, TW)

Application Number:

10/112737

Publication Date:

10/02/2003

Filing Date:

04/02/2002

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

LING DAVID

Primary Class:

211/70.6

Other Classes:

206/376

International Classes:

A47F7/00; (IPC1-7): A47F7/00

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20030183591

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Primary Examiner:

HARRIS, ERICA B

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE (ELLICOTT CITY, MD, US)

Claims:

1. A tool display board (10; 10′) including a test device (30) on which a wrench can be tested in a realistic manner.

2. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 1 wherein the test device (30) includes a nut (31) of a thickness secured to the tool display board (10; 10′) and a bolt (32) to be driven by the wrench for engagement with the nut (31).

3. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 2 wherein the nut (31) is embedded in the tool display (10; 10′).

4. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 3 wherein the tool display board (10; 10′) includes a hole (15) defined therein and a plurality of teeth (151) formed on an periphery surrounding the hole (15) and the nut (31) includes a plurality of teeth (311) formed on an internal surface thereof for engagement with the teeth (151) formed on the board (10; 10′).

5. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 2 wherein the bolt (32) includes a head (321) and a thread (323) and the nut (31) includes a thread (312) formed on an internal surface thereof for engagement with the thread (323) of the bolt (32).

6. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 5 wherein the bolt (32) includes a shank (325) formed between the head (321) and the thread (323).

7. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 6 wherein the shank (325) is made of a length identical to the thickness of the nut (31).

8. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 6 wherein the bolt (32) includes a second shank (326) formed next to the thread (323).

9. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 8 wherein the second shank (326) is made of a length longer than the thickness of the bolt (31).

10. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 6 wherein the bolt (32) includes a second thread (324) formed next to the second shank (326).

11. The tool display board (10) according to claim 1 including a retaining device (20) for retaining at least one wrench.

12. The tool display board (10) according to claim 11 wherein the retaining device (20) includes at least one clamp (22).

13. The tool display board (10) according to claim 12 wherein the clamp (22) includes two claws (23).

14. The tool display board (10) according to claim 13 wherein each of the claws (23) includes a wedge-shaped tip.

15. The tool display board (10) according to claim 14 wherein the wedge-shaped tip includes a receiving surface (24) on and beyond which the wrench can be slid so that the wrench can be moved to a position between the claws (23).

16. The tool display board (10) according to claim 15 wherein the wedge-shaped tip includes a trapping surface (26) for trapping the wrench between the claws (23).

17. The tool display board (10) according to claim 13 wherein each of the claws (23) includes a hole (25) defined therein for receiving a bar for locking the wrench between the claws (23).

18. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 1 including a frame (16) formed thereon for retaining the wrench engaged with the test device (30).

19. The tool display board (10; 10′) according to claim 18 wherein the frame (16) includes a hole (161) defined therein for receiving the wrench.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a tool display board.

[0003] 2. Related Prior Art

[0004] There are a lot of tool kits on the market. A tool kit includes a lot of tools contained in a box equipped with a cover. A retaining device is formed on a bottom of the box in order to retain the tools in position. The cover can be opened in order to display such tools retained on the bottom of the box. In other cases, the tools are mounted on a board. A retaining device is formed on the display board in order to retain the tools in position. Of course, the tools retained on such a display board are open to observation. The tools of a tool kit should all work. To be sure, a customer may want to test every one of the tools before he or she buys the tool kit. However, the boxes and the boards mostly are not equipped with any device on which the tools can be tested.

[0005] Referring to FIG. 10, a board 1 equipped with a test device 2 is used to display a ratchet wrench 3. The board 1 includes a stud (not numbered) and many marks (not numbered) formed on a same surface thereof so that the stud is surrounded by the marks. The test device 2 is a cylinder including an internal surface and an external surface. The internal surface of the test device 2 is for engagement with the stud formed on the board 1. The external surface of the test device 2 is hexangular for engagement with the ratchet wrench 3. A pointer (not numbered) is formed on the external surface of the test device 2. In test, the external surface of the test device 2 is engaged with the ratchet wrench 3. Then, the internal surface of the test device 2 is engaged with the stud formed on the board 1. Thus, a person can test use the ratchet wrench 3 to rotate the test device 2 mounted on the board 1 in a rotational manner. However, the engagement of the stud formed on the board 1 with the internal surface of the test device 2 is different from the engagement of a bolt with a nut. The feeling of test using the ratchet wrench 3 is nothing like really using the ratchet wrench 3 to drive a nut (or a bolt) on a bolt (or a nut).

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a tool display board with a realistic test device.

[0007] In the present invention, a tool display board includes a test device on which a wrench can be tested in a realistic manner. The test device includes a nut secured to the tool display board and a bolt to be driven by the wrench for engagement with the nut. The tool display board includes a hole defined therein. Many teeth are formed on an periphery surrounding the hole. The nut includes a plurality of teeth formed on an internal surface thereof for engagement with the teeth formed on the board. The bolt includes a head and a thread. The nut includes a thread formed on an internal surface thereof for engagement with the thread of the bolt.

[0008] The bolt may include a shank formed between the head and the thread in order to avoid over drive of the bolt in the nut. The shank is made of a length identical to the thickness of the nut.

[0009] The bolt may include a second shank formed next to the thread. The second shank may be made of a length longer than the thickness of the bolt.

[0010] The bolt may include a second thread formed next to the second shank in order to avoid the bolt escaping from the bolt.

[0011] The tool display board may include a retaining device for retaining at least one wrench. The retaining device includes at least one clamp. The clamp includes two claws. Each of the claws includes a wedge-shaped tip. The wedge-shaped tip includes a receiving surface on and beyond which the wrench can be slid so that the wrench can be moved to a position between the claws. The wedge-shaped tip includes a trapping surface for trapping the wrench between the claws.

[0012] A hole may be defined in each of the claws in order to receive a bar for locking the wrench between the claws.

[0013] The tool display board may include a frame formed thereon for retaining the wrench engaged with the test device. The frame includes a hole defined therein for receiving the wrench.

[0014] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention is described through detailed illustration of embodiments referring to the attached drawings wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool display board with a test device according to the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the tool display board shown in FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective of the tool display board shown in FIG. 1 hung on a wall, showing a ratchet wrench under test;

[0019] FIG. 4 is an elevation of the tool display board shown in FIG. 3;

[0020] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but showing the ratchet wrench under test in another angular position;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the tool display board taken along a line 6-6 in FIG. 4, clearly showing the test device;

[0022] FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6, but showing the test device in another position;

[0023] FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but showing the test device in another position;

[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective of a tool display board according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0025] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a conventional tool display board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, a tool display board 10 according to the present invention is used to display a tool kit including a plurality of ratchet wrenches such as those shown in FIGS. 3 to 9.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the tool display board 10 includes two slots 17 defined therein. Two nails 40 on a wall can be inserted in the slots 27 so that the tool display board 10 can be hung on the wall for display.

[0028] The tool display board 10 includes a series of bosses 13 formed thereon. The bosses 13 are of different sizes for engagement with ratchet wrenches of different sizes (only two are shown in FIGS. 3 to 9). Thus, each of the ratchet wrenches can be put in a specific position.

[0029] The tool display board 10 includes a retaining device 20 formed thereon. The retaining device 20 includes a plurality of clamps 22 corresponding to the bosses 13. Each of the clamps 22 consists of two claws 23 separated from each other by a gap (not numbered). The gap between the claws 23 of a clamp 22 is different from the gap between two claws 23 of another clamp 22, corresponding to the width of the handle of a specific ratchet wrench. Each of the claws 23 is formed with a wedge-shaped tip including a receiving surface 24 and a trapping surface 26. Thus, the handle of a ratchet wrench can be easily slid on and moved beyond the receiving surfaces 24 of the claws 23 of a clamp 22 into a position between the claws 23 of that clamp 22. That ratchet wrench is retained between the claws 23 of that clamp 22 by means of the trapping surfaces 26 of the claws 23 of that clamp 22.

[0030] A slot 25 is defined in the wedge-shaped tip of each of the claws 23. After the ratchet wrenches are retained in position by means of the clamps 22, a bar (not shown) can be inserted in the slots 25 defined in the claws 23 so as to prevent disengagement of the ratchet wrenches from the clamps 22 accidentally or deliberately.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, the tool display board 10 is equipped with a test device 30 on which the ratchet wrenches can be tested. The test device 30 includes a nut 31 and a bolt 32. The nut 31 includes a plurality of teeth 311 formed on an external surface thereof and a thread 312 formed on an internal surface thereof. The nut 31 is embedded in a raised portion 14 formed on the tool display board 10 as best shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. In the raised portion 14, there is defined a hole 15 with a periphery on which a plurality of teeth 151 are formed. The nut 31 is received in the hole 15. The teeth 311 are engaged with the teeth 151, thus preventing rotation of the nut 31 in the hole 15.

[0032] The bolt 32 includes a head 321 in which a hole 322 is defined, a first shank 325 formed next to the head 321, a thread 323 formed next to the first shank 325, a second shank 326 formed next to the thread 323 and a thread 324 formed next to the second shank 326. The threads 323 and 324 are for engagement with the thread 312 formed on the nut 31. A cap 33 includes a plug (not numbered) formed thereon. The plug of the cap 33 is received in the hole 322 defined in the head 321 of the bolt 32 for protective and aesthetic purposes.

[0033] The tool display board 10 includes a frame 16 formed thereon. A window 161 is defined in the frame 16. As best shown in FIG. 3, a ratchet wrench engaged with the head 321 of the bolt 32 is inserted in the window 161. Thus, the handle of the ratchet wrench is restricted by means of the frame 16, thus retaining the ratchet wrench engaged with the head 321 of the bolt 32.

[0034] How the test device 30 works will be described in detail referring to FIGS. 6 to 8. For simplicity of description, it is assumed that the threads 312, 323 and 324 are dextrorotary. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the engagement of the thread 312 with the thread 323 or 324 can be tightened by clockwise rotation of the bolt 32 relative to the nut 31 and can be released by counterclockwise rotation of the bolt 32 relative to the nut 31.

[0035] Before display, the bolt 32 is rotated clockwise relative to the nut 31 so that the thread 324 is engaged with the thread 312. Continuous clockwise rotation of the bolt 32 relative to the nut 31 moves the thread 324 from the thread 312 so that the second shank 326 is received in the nut 31. The bolt 32 is moved downward as shown in FIG. 6 until when the thread 31 is ready for engagement with the thread 321. Then, the bolt 32 is rotated clockwise relative to the nut 31 so that the thread 323 is engaged with the thread 312. Continuous clockwise rotation of the bolt 32 relative to the nut 31 moves the thread 323 from the thread 312 so that the second shank 325 is received in the nut 31. On the first shank 325, there is no thread for engagement with the thread 312. Thus, no matter how hard the bolt 32 is driven, no torque is exerted on the nut 31. Accordingly, no force is exerted on the teeth 151 by the teeth 311, thus protecting the teeth 151 which are made of a plastic material from fracture.

[0036] A person can test the ratchet wrench on the test device 30 by pivoting the handle of the ratchet wrench. Thus, the bolt 32 can be driven counterclockwise relative to the nut 31 so that the bolt 32 is moved relative to the nut 31 from a position shown in FIG. 6 to a position as shown in FIG. 7. Continuous counterclockwise rotation of the bolt 32 relative to the nut 31 further moves the bolt 32 upward relative to the nut 31 until the thread 323 is disengaged from the thread 312 as shown in FIG. 8. In this position, the shank 326 is received in the nut 31. On the first shank 326, there is no thread for engagement with the thread 312. Thus, continuous counterclockwise rotation of the bolt 32 relative to the nut 31 cannot move the bolt 32 further upward relative to the nut 31. This indicates that a test drive is over. To prevent accidental engagement of the thread 324 with the thread 312, the length of the shank 326 would better be longer than the thickness of the nut 31. The thread 324 avoids escape of the bolt 32 from the nut 31.

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a tool display board 10′ for displaying a single ratchet wrench according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The tool display board 10′ includes a raised portion 14 and a frame 16 formed thereon, and is equipped with a test device 30. The raised portion 14, the frame 16 and the device 30 have been described in relation to the first embodiment and therefore will not be further described. A slot 19 is defined in the tool display board 10′. Similar to the slots 17, the slot 19 is for receiving a nail such as the nails 40 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0038] Embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from these embodiments after a study of this patent specification. Therefore, these embodiments shall by no means limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention can only be defined in the attached.

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