US20130068644A1

US20130068644A1 - Pole engageable tool container

Info

Publication number: US20130068644A1
Application number: US13/239,381
Authority: US
Inventors: Adam Leo Berman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-21
Filing date: 2011-09-21
Publication date: 2013-03-21

Abstract

A tool container providing engagement to the distal end of a pole, such as a pool maintenance utility pole. The tool container being substantially tubular having an axial passage with a first and second cavity separated by an end wall. The first cavity being substantially larger than the second cavity as to receive one or a plurality of tools such as screwdrivers in secured engagement. The first end also having a removable cap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tool containers. More particularly it relates to a tool container that is removable to the distal end of a pole.
2. Prior Art
Toolboxes, containers, and carriers have provided service workers with easy and convenient ways to carry and transport tools. A tool belt, worn about the waist of a user, provides a conventional means to carry tools for on-the-go use wherein the user does not have to continually return to a stationary tool box for tools and equipment as needed. Often a tool belt is made of reinforced material such as leather and can carry a substantial amount of tools and therefore weigh quite a lot. However, such a tool-carrying device is not necessarily practical or comfortable if the working conditions do not easily permit such a device or when only few tools are required throughout the day.
Prior art has shown many attempts in the improvement of tool carrying and holding devices such as through the employment of small, sleek, carrying containers. One example is seen in US Pub. No. 2009/0183608 A1 to Johnson et al. wherein a compact cylindrical tool body is employed to hold a plurality of tools, such as hexagonal wrenches. The cylindrical body is additionally a handle. However, these and additional prior art tool carrying devices, although compact, do not additionally provide a means for the user to conveniently carry the device that may be desired throughout a busy work day. Furthermore, they do not provide a means to engage additional existing tools a service worker may concurrently be employing.
For a first example, pool maintenance and service workers are typically on their feet for an extended period of time when cleaning the pool or performing maintenance on equipment such as water pumps and filters. When cleaning a pool, workers almost always use the conventional telescoping utility pole wherein the distal end employs a brush, scoop, or the like for cleaning or removing debris. During use the worker is constantly bending and reaching to accommodate the variety of pool sizes and'depths. If the worker needs a tool they must put down the pole and walk out to their vehicle and search to obtain the tool they need. This of course can be quite tiring especially during a long day. Therefore, due to the widespread use, the utility pole would provide a convenient location to engage and contain tools as needed.
Further, the conventional tool belt or other worn tool carrying device may run the risk of dropping or losing tools into the pool due to constant bending and reaching off the edge of the pool and may get in the way when bending down or maneuvering tight places around shrubbery or other obstructions. Additionally, should the worker have to enter the pool for maintenance, the conventional tool belt or other worn device must be removed, defeating the purpose of having a worn tool carrying device in the first place.
In another example, car mechanics change tools quite often requiring them to continuously walk between workbenches and a vehicle. This task cannot only be tiring but also distracting and therefore potentially dangerous. A hydraulic floor jack is often employed at the location of the vehicle where work is being done. Therefore the jack, having a pole like handle, is already positioned in a convenient location close at hand to the worker. The jack already being in widespread use and having a pole-like handle would provide a convenient location to engage or contain tools as needed.
As such there is a continuing and unmet need for a tool carrying device that is easily engaged to a pole such as but not limited to pool maintenance utility poles or hydraulic floor jack handles. The device should be easily engageable to the existing poles or alternatively be formed as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device herein disclosed and described provides a solution to the shortcomings in prior art and achieves the above noted goals through the provision of a tool container device engaged to the end of a pole, such as but not limited to a pool maintenance utility pole or hydraulic floor jack handle. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the device can be similarly employed to any type pole and should not be limited to the descriptions and depictions set forth in the application.
In a first preferred mode, the device is removable engaged to the pole via frictional engagement or setscrew type engagement. In,another mode the device is integrally formed with the pole such as an OEM device. Generally, the device is a cylindrical body, such as a tubular pipe or pole, and includes a container cavity for storing tools such as a screw driver or crescent wrench to name a few.
In an additional particularly preferred means of employment, the device operatively engaged to a pool maintenance utility pole. A pool maintenance pole conventionally consists of two or more segments of, concentrically telescopically engaged tubular pole members. The pole typically made of aluminum, plastic, or other lightweight durable material includes a distal end wherein a removable engaged cleaning device such as a scrubbing brush or net is employed providing the user with an extended reach for deep and/or wide pools as needed. The proximal end typically includes a handle or gripping portion to allow the user to grip as needed for maneuvering the distal end of the pole.
In a further preferred means of employment, the device is engaged to the proximal end of a hydraulic floor jack handle. Conventionally a hydraulic floor jack handle is engaged to a hydraulic actuator at the distal end. The user typically grips and vertically reciprocates the proximal end as needed for translating the jack platform and raising a vehicle.
The device generally includes a cylindrical body member having an axial passage formed within further defining a cylindrical sidewall of the body. The device is preferably made of aluminum or other material suited for the intended purpose of the device as will become apparent shortly. The body further employs an end wall recessed a substantial distance into a second of two ends of the body member such as that of a portion of the cylindrical sidewall extends along the length of the device past the end wall.
In use the extending portion of the cylindrical sidewall at the second end is circumferentially engaged over the proximal end of the pole such that the proximal end of the pole abuts the recessed end wall of the device. The axial passage of the body member may be formed slightly larger than the exterior circumference of the pole such that the device may be frictionally engaged to the pole upon circumferential engagement. However, the device may additionally employ a setscrew or other means for biased removable engagement.
A first interior cavity or container is defined by the interior of the sidewall of the device from the end wall to a first end of the body, opposite the previously mentioned second end. The cavity provides a storage space to contain one or a plurality of tools such as, but not limited to, screw driver, crescent wrench, hexagonal wrenches, to name a few. The first end may additionally include a cap to enclose the interior cavity. Further, the interior cavity may employ a means to securely engage the tool such as a screwdriver within the cavity. Even further, the exterior surface of the body member may be formed as a grip and employ additional apertures for holding additional tools as needed.
Since the utility pole and hydraulic jack are widely used in their respective industry, great advantage is found in that the tool container of the present invention is maintained in engagement to the pole for easy access. Tools are now readily available to the user due to the engagement of the device on the pole.
In another mode, the device may be unitarily formed with the pole such as an OEM product. Furthermore, it is within the intended scope of the present invention to be adapted for engagement to any elongated pole-like member such as a rod, shaft, or the like. Further, the device may employ additional cavities for containing additional tools.
With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail; it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways that will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is an object of the invention to provide a tool container engaged to the end of a pole such as a pool maintenance utility pole or hydraulic floor jack handle, providing quick and easy access to tools contained within.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a tool container that is removable from an existing pole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a view of the device operatively engaged to a conventional pool maintenance utility pole.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the device of FIG. 2 along cut 3-3.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the device.

FIG. 5 shows an end view of the device.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of another mode of the intermediate support of the device employing a plurality of apertures.

FIG. 6 a shows front view of still another mode of the intermediate support of the device employing a plurality a substantially rectangular aperture.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the device of FIG. 2 showing the as used mode with a screw driver enclosed within and the device engaged over the exterior surface of the distal end of the pole.

FIG. 7 a is a cross sectional view of the device of FIG. 2 showing the as used mode with a screw driver enclosed within and the device engaged to the within the interior cavity of the distal end of the pole.

FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of another mode of the device employing an additional passage formed on the exterior surface of the device for containing additional tools.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the device of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of still yet another mode of the device employing a writing surface on the exterior.

FIG. 11 is an end view of the mode of the device of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of the device in yet another preferred mode employing griping means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-12, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 an isometric view of the tool container device 10 operatively engaged to a pool maintenance utility pole 100. Although the following depictions show the device 10 engaged to a pool utility pole 100, it must be understood that the pole 100 can any type pole, rod, or pipe as would be obvious to a person skilled in the art. As such the following description is meant to merely provide the simplest description to set forth the intended scope and purpose of the device 10 and should therefore not be considered limiting by the figures.
A typical pole 100 includes a distal end 102 and gripping proximal end 104 of concentrically telescopically engaged segments allowing a user to extend and retract the distal end 102 as needed for reaching areas of a pool. In use the device 10 in the as-used position, engaged to the proximal end 104 of the pole 100 where the user conventionally grips the pole 100.
As such the operative employment of the device 10 at the gripping end 104 of the pole 100 allows the user to access tools enclosed within the device 10 while concurrently holding the pole 100. A great amount of utility is found in that a substantial amount of time and effort is saved allowing the user to more effectively clean the pool. Furthermore, if the user must enter the pool for any reason, the device 10 is simply placed on the ground or stored with the pole 100.
Still further utility is found through the employment of the device 10 with a hydraulic floor jack handle (not shown). Vehicle service often requires many tools as well as requires the user to elevate the vehicle such as with a hydraulic floor jack. Often the location of the part to be serviced will dictate the location of the floor jack, therefore already positioning the jack in a convenient location to house or contain tools.
As shown in the side view of FIG. 2 the device 10 includes a cylindrical tubular body portion 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16. The body portion 12 can be a pipe, tube, or the like extruded or generally formed of a plastic, rubber, aluminum or the like. There is also included a cap member 18 of similar material for threaded removable engagement to the first end 14. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the cap 18 may be removed from the first end 14 by any means known in the art such as snap fit, bayonet, twist, twist-and-lock, or frictional engagement to name a few. Further, the sidewall of the body 12 having an exterior surface 22 may include threads 20 at the first end 14 if threaded engagement is employed.
Additionally the exterior 22 may be formed, shaped, or otherwise adapted to provide a gripping means 54 by conforming to the grip of a user, shown and described in more detail later in FIG. 12. Briefly, this will allow the user to grip the device 10 as they normally would the end of a pole 100 during use.
FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the device 10 of FIG. 2 along cut 3-3. The sidewall of the body 12 has an interior surface 23 that defines an axial passage that extends in between the first end 14 and second end 16. An end wall 28 is engaged within the axial passage, such as by frictional engagement with, the interior surface 23, located preferably at or near the second end 16 of the body 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate various means for engagement of the end wall 28 within the axial passage such as press fit; adhesive, welding, or the like. As such, the end wall 28 may be formed of any material suitable for such engagement such as plastic, metal, ceramic, or other material one skilled in the art would recognize as suitable for the intended purpose.
A first cavity 30 of the axial passage is formed by the interior wall 23 between the first end 14 and end wall 28 and is preferably the majority of the axial passage to accommodate a tool as will be shown shortly in FIG. 7. In addition, the first cavity 30 may be sealed water tight upon employment of the end wall 28 and cap 18 on the first end 14.
Again, the end wall 28 can be plastic or other material inserted, press fitted, or otherwise formed into the interior 23 of the device 10. The second cavity 32 is formed by the interior wall 23 between the second end 16 and the end wall 28 and provides a means for engagement of the device 10 to the distal end 104 of the pole 100 as will also become apparent upon further disclosure of FIG. 7 below.
Although the first cavity 30 can readily house any tool or tools without a support 24, it is preferred that the device 10 additionally include an intermediate support 24 located substantially midway between the first end 14 and end wall 28. The support 24 may similarly be a plastic or other material inserted, press-fitted, or other wise formed into the interior 23 of the device 10.
In the preferred mode of the device 10, the support 24 includes an aperture 26 communicating there through along the direction of the length of the device 10. In a preferred mode, the device 10 is intended to receive a screwdriver 200 into the first cavity 30 of the body 12 as is shown in more detail shortly in FIG. 7. Briefly, the aperture 26 provides a means to secure the screwdriver or tool from movement when housed in the cavity 30 and prevents rattling within the provided secured engagement. Front and rear views of the device 10 can be seen in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 respectively. It must be noted that the aperture 26 can be formed of any shape as need to receive any sized or shaped tool handle for secured engagement as will become obviously to a person skilled in the art upon further disclosure.
For example, in another mode of the device 10, the support 24 can include a plurality of apertures 27 communicating there through providing a means to secure a plurality of screwdrivers or other tool employing elongated shafts. A front view of this mode of the support 24 is shown in FIG. 6.
In still yet another mode of the device 10, the support 24 may employ a substantially rectangular aperture 27′ communicating there through providing a means to secure a crescent wrench or other tool having a substantially rectangular handle of shaft portion. A front view of this mode of the support 24 is shown in FIG. 6 a.
FIG. 7 shows again a side cross sectional view of the device 10 of FIG. 2 showing the as-used mode wherein a screwdriver 200 is engaged within (cap element 18 has been omitted for clarity). Also shown is the device 10 operatively engaged to the proximal end 104 of a pool utility pole 100. In use, the second end 16 of the device 10 is intended to be removable from the proximal end 104 of the pole 100 such as via frictional engagement. As such the interior diameter of the second cavity 32 may be operatively sized slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the conventional pole 100 as to permit secured frictional engagement.
However, the device 10 may alternatively or in combination employ a setscrew 34 extending from the exterior of the sidewall 22 through to the interior 23 to biasly engaged the pole 100 as shown. Additionally, those skilled in the art will appreciate various other means for biasly engaging the pole 100 into the second cavity 32 of the device 10 and are anticipated in this disclosure.
As can be seen in the figure, the shaft 204 of the screwdriver 200 passes through the aperture 26 of the support 24 insofar as the handle 202 abuts the stopper 24 to maintain the handle 202 substantially near the first end 14 for easy retrieval from the first cavity 30. In the other mode of the device 10 employing the support 24 of FIG. 6, a plurality of screwdrivers 200 or other tools can me secured within the cavity 30 of the device 10.
In yet an additional preferred means of employment of the device 10 the second end 16 is cooperatively engaged into the hollow cavity 106 of the pole 100, should the pole be hollow, as is seen in FIG. 7 a. As such, the exterior surface 22 engages in biased frictional engagement with the interior of the cavity 106 of the pole 100. This mode may be particularly preferred if the pole 100 is substantially large as to easily receive the second end 16 of the device 10 in biased frictional engagement. In this mode the end wall 28 may alternatively be positioned at the second end 16 insofar as the second cavity 32 is no longer necessary for engagement to the pole 100. As such in this mode the first cavity 30 would be defined as the axial passage communicating from the first end 14 to the end wall, and substantially the entire length of the body 12 of the device 10.
Furthermore, it is within the intended scope of the present invention that the support 24 of the device 10 may be formed to secure a variety of other tools possible not having elongated shafts or similar components and is anticipated within the disclosure. However, since tools come in many shapes, sizes, and forms, it is not within the present application to disclose each and every possible means for securing other tools as intended with the device 10. With that it must be noted that the descriptions and depictions set forth should not be considered limiting: In addition, the stopper 24 may be completely removed as needed.
Yet another particularly preferred mode of the device 10 is shown in a side view of FIG. 8 wherein the exterior surface 22 of the body 12 is shaped, extruded, or generally formed to include an additional cavity 40 adjacent the first and second cavities 30,32 to additional secure other tools as needed. A front view is shown in FIG. 9.
The cavity 40 extends from a first end 41 to a second end 42 that is preferably capped or closed by an end Wall 43. The device 10 may include a plurality of such additional cavities 40 formed in an array about the exterior 22 of the body 12 as needed and should not be considered limiting by the depiction. Further, additional cavities 40 may include a removable cap (not shown) at the first end 41 that can provide waterproof sealed engagement of the cavity 40 as needed for keeping contents within dry.
FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of still yet another particularly preferred mode of the device 10 wherein the exterior surface 22 of the body 12 is shaped, extruded, or generally formed to include a protrusion 52 having a flat writing surface 52. The surface 52 is preferable a dry erase surface, such as those found in classroom whiteboards, employable with erasable dry erase markers. However the surface 52 can be any surface to receive writing from a conventional writing implement and should not be considered limiting. For example the surface may be paper stationery with a strip of adhesive on the back.
This mode provides the user with a means to impart writing on the device 10 as needed to keep notes or write reminders. Often during a days work there are many tasks to be accomplished and this provides a convenient means to keep track of the daily tasks or remember client information for example.
It must be noted that this mode may be employable with any and all other modes of the device 10 previously disclosed. It may be additionally advantageous to employ the current mode of the device 10 with that of FIG. 9 as the additional cavity 40 provide can provide a storage means for a marker or other writing implement.
FIG. 12 shows a still yet additional preferred mode of the device 10 wherein the exterior surface 22 of the body of the device 10 is formed, shaped, or otherwise adapted to include a gripping means 54. Such gripping means 54 may be any means known in the art providing a means to conform to the grip of a user. Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that the gripping means 54 may be easily modified to conform to one or a combination of a large grip, small grip, and left hand or right hand oriented grip. Further those skilled will appreciate the various modifications necessary to provide a gripping means 54 accommodating any of the former grip types and as such the gripping means 54 should not be considered limiting by the depiction.
Further noting that the provision of a gripping means 54 may be employed separately or in combination with any of the other preferred modes of the device 10 previously disclosed. One skilled in the art would immediately recognize means to combine any or possibly all preferred modes of the device 10 and as such should not be considered limiting to any one such mode.
While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such variations are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A tool container comprising;

an elongated sidewall having a first end and a second end; said sidewall having an interior surface defining an axial passage therein extending in between said first and second end;

said sidewall having an exterior surface;

means for engagement of said second end to a proximal end of a pole thereby positioning said tool container in an as-used position;

a cap;

means for removable engagement of said cap to said first end whereby a tool may be removed or positioned within said cavity for storage and transport while said tool container in said as-used position.

2. A tool container of claim 1 further comprising;

said end wall being disposed at location between said first end and said second end;

a first cavity within said axial passage defined by the space within said axial passage from said end wall to said first end;

a second, cavity within said axial passage defined by the space within said axial passage from said end wall to said second end; and

whereby said tool is stored within said first cavity and said second cavity is configured to provide said means for engagement to said proximal end of said pole.

3. A tool container of claim 1 further comprising;

said end wall disposed at said second end;

a first cavity within said axial'passage defined by the space within said axial passage from said end wall to said first end; and

whereby said tool is stored within said first cavity.

4. A tool container of claim 2 further comprising;

a support element, said support element engaged within said interior surface between said first end and said end wall;

one or a plurality of apertures communicating through said support element in said first direction; and

a portion of said tool communicating through one of said apertures providing means to support said tool in between opposing portions of said interior surface.

5. A tool container of claim 3 further comprising;

said support element positioned to receive components of said tool through said apertures providing secured engagement thereof.

6. A tool container of claim 2 wherein said means to engage said body to a pole comprises;

said pole having an exterior surface and a distal end;

said second cavity positioned to receive said distal end; and

said interior surface providing biased fractional engagement of said exterior surface of said pole.

7. A tool container of claim 4 wherein said means to engage said body to a pole comprises;

said pole having an exterior surface and a distal end;

said second cavity positioned to receive said distal end; and

8. A tool container of claim 5 wherein said means to engage said body to a pole comprises;

said pole having an interior surface, and a distal end;

said distal end positioned to receive said second end; and

said exterior surface of said body providing biased fractional engagement of said interior surface of said pole.

9. A tool container of claim 6 further comprising;

a set screw communicating from said exterior surface of said sidewall to said interior surface; and

said screw engaged to said exterior surface of said pole proving secured engagement thereof.

10. A tool container of claim 7 further comprising;

11. A tool container of claim 8 further comprising;

a cap; and

means for removable engagement of said cap to said first end.

12. A tool container of claim 9 further comprising;

a cap; and means for removable engagement of said cap to said first end.

13. A tool container of claim 10 further comprising;

a cap; and means for removable engagement of said cap to said first end.

14. A tool container of claim 1 further comprising;

said exterior surface of said sidewall formed with an additional passage communicating from said first end to said second end along said first direction;

said second end of said additional passage being capped; and

whereby said additional passage is engaged with an additional tool.

15. A tool container of claim 11 further comprising;

said second end of said additional passage being capped; and

whereby said additional passage is engaged with an additional tool.

16. A tool container of claim 12 further comprising;

said second end of said additional passage being capped; and

whereby said additional passage is engaged with additional tool.

17. A tool container of claim 13 further comprising;

said second end of said additional passage being capped; and

whereby said additional passage is engaged with an additional tool.

18. A tool container of claim 13 further comprising;

said exterior surface of said sidewall formed with a writing surface.

19. A tool container of claim 17 further comprising;

said exterior surface of said sidewall formed with a writing surface.

20. A tool container of claim 2 further comprising;

said exterior surface of said sidewall formed with a gripping means,

said gripping means being one or a combination of large grip, small grip, right handed grip, and left handed grip; and

whereby said gripping means conforms to a user grip.

21. A tool container of claim 11 further comprising;

said exterior surface of said sidewall formed with a gripping means,

whereby said gripping means conforms to a user grip.

22. A tool container of claim 13 further comprising;

said exterior surface formed with a gripping means,

whereby said gripping means conforms to a user grip

23. A tool container of claim 16 further comprising;

said exterior surface of said sidewall formed with a gripping means,

whereby said gripping means conforms to a user grip.