Wrench Socket Holder

This invention relates in general to article supporting devices and deals more particularly with improvements in wrench socket holders for storing a set of graduated wrench sockets in an organized manner.

Heretofore wrench socket holders have been available and examples of such holders are found in the following listed U.S. Pat. Nos.

The general aim of the present invention is to provide an improved wrench socket holder of lightweight durable construction for low cost manufacture.

In accordance with the present invention a unitary wrench socket holder made from resilient, flexible material includes an elongated support base, a plurality of resilient flexible wrench retaining members, each of said members having opposing side edges converging in a direction away from said support base, and attaching means for connecting each of said wrench retaining members in and upwardly projecting relation to said support base for flexure in generally tangential directions about an upwardly extending central axis relative to said support base.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wrench socket holder embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the wrench socket holder.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the wrench socket holder.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged end view of the wrench socket holder.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the wrench socket holder shown with a wrench socket element supported thereon, the socket element being shown in section.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary perspective view and shows the direction of flexure of a typical wrench socket retaining member.

Turning now to the drawing, a wrench socket holder embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The illustrated holder 10 is particularly adapted to support a set of wrench socket elements of graduated size adapted for selected use with a common drive handle. Consequently, each socket element in the set has a handle receiving opening of non-circular cross-section for receiving and substantially complementing an associated tang on a wrench drive handle. A typical wrench socket element shown in section in FIGS. 6 and 7 and indicated by the numeral 12 has a handle receiving opening 14 of square cross-section for receiving and complementing a square end portion of an associated wrench handle tang (not shown).

The wrench socket holder of the present invention may be made from a variety of materials and may take various forms, but preferably, and as shown, the socket holder 10 comprises a unitary structure molded from durable, resilient, flexible, lightweight plastic material and has a substantially uniform thickness. It includes an elongated base portion 16 which is preferably generally rectangular and rounded at one end, substantially as shown. At least one rib formed on the base stiffens it against longitudinal flexure, but preferably and as shown a plurality of ribs 18 and 20,20 project from the base portion 16 and stiffening it to resist flexure in both longitudinal and transverse directions. The central rib 18 extends longitudinally along the base portion 16 from one end thereof and terminates in spaced relation to the other end of the base portion. The ribs 20,20 extend transversely of the base in intersecting relation to the rib 18.

A plurality of resilient flexible socket retaining members indicated generally at 22 and 22' are mounted in longitudinally spaced apart series on the upper surface of the base portion 16. Preferably, and as best shown in FIG. 2, the socket retaining members are arranged in progressively increasing spaced apart relation to each other along the base. Each socket retaining member is adapted to be received within the handle receiving opening 14 of an associated wrench socket element, such as the socket element 12, to resiliently grip and frictionally engage the socket element within the opening 14 and thereby releasably retain the socket element in assembly with the holder 10. The wrench retaining members may be substantially identical in both size and shape. However, the retaining members 22',22' of the illustrated wrench holder 10 are of somewhat lesser height than the retaining members 22,22 to accommodate wrench socket elements of smaller size.

A typical wrench retaining member 22, best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is supported in spaced relation to the base portion 16 by an associated stem 24 which projects upwardly from the upper surface of the base portion and has a cruciform cross-section, as best shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, and as shown, the retaining member 22 has a quadrilateral form, a generally rectangular cross-section as viewed from above, and is generally symmetrical about a central axis A normal to the upper surface of the base portion 16 and passing centrally through the stem 24. The illustrated retaining member 22 has a right trapezoidal form and is characterized by opposite side edges 26,26 which converge in a direction away from the base portion 16, substantially as shown. The base width of the trapezoidal retaining member 22 is slightly greater than the major or diagonal dimension of the socket retaining opening 14 whereas the free end portion of the trapezoidal retaining member is of somewhat lesser width than the major or diagonal dimension of the socket retaining opening 14. The upper corners of the trapezoidal retaining member are preferaby slightly rounded, substantially as shown, to provide lead surfaces for smooth entry into the handle receiving opening 14 of associated wrench socket element. A slight axially extending recess or groove 28 is formed in at least one side of each wrench retaining member and defines a region of weakening to increase the flexibility of the member in tangential directions about its central axis or its axis of symmetry A. In FIG. 8 directions of tangential flexure of a typical wrench retaining member 22 about its central axis A are shown by directional arrows indicated by the numeral 29.

A hole 30 formed in one end of the base portion 16 facilitates hanging of the wrench socket holder 10 on a wall or the like.

Each wrench socket element is retained on the holder 10 by forcible assembly with an associated retaining member 22. When a socket element, such as the socket element 12, is forced downwardly over the retaining member, the retaining member enters the handle receiving opening 14 in the socket element and flexes about its axis A to a general position such as shown in FIG. 7 to resiliently grip and frictionally engage and releasably retain the socket element on the holder 10.