WO2013062867A1 - Support structure and method for storing and transporting power equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A support fixture (e.g., 10) includes a tray structure (e.g., 12) and a corresponding standoff receptacle (e.g., 14) or clamp, mounted at a selected spacing from each other on at least one planar support (e.g., 16) configured for mounting on vertical storage surface such as a truck body or trailer wall, or a garage or storage shed wall. The two parts of the fixture cooperate to provide a light weight, corrosion resistant, multi-brand compatible, space-saving device to hold and secure portable power equipment for storage and for transport. The tray structure is secured in a substantially horizontal orientation to receive the engine of power equipment to be stored and a clamp structure compatible with the power tool being stored is provided and is also secured in a substantially horizontal orientation spaced from the tray structure to receive and secure the power equipment blades or power transfer arm.

Description

Support Structure and Method for Storing and Transporting

Power Equipment

Background of the Invention

[0001] This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/550,599, filed October 24, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application is also related to commonly owned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/442,024, filed February 11, 2011 , the disclosure of which is also incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to a structure and method for safely securing and transporting portable power equipment such as string trimmers, hedge trimmers, edge trimmers and related equipment. More particularly, the invention is directed to fixtures such as support trays and clamps for horizontally mounting and securing such equipment in an interior location in a truck or trailer, or on exterior locations on trailers or other transport vehicles.

[0003] It is common in the landscaping and lawn maintenance field to transport needed equipment to various job sites by a vehicle such as a pickup or larger truck and a towed open or closed trailer. At present, however, there is no convenient way to prevent damage to portable power tools such as gasoline-powered string trimmers, hedge shears, edge trimmers and the like, during storage and transportation in interior or exterior locations in a truck or trailer, or for garage storage of such equipment. There no adequate means to support them so as to prevent them from sliding around during transportation and being damaged or damaging other things also being transported.

[0004] Thus, there is a need for a method and a structure that will provide safe and secure storage or transport for tools such as powered hedge trimmers, shears and related items of portable power equipment in a fixture adapted for mounting in an interior location in a truck or trailer or on exterior locations on trailers or other transport vehicles. Brief Description of the Invention

[0005] Briefly, in accordance with the structure and method of the present invention, a tool support fixture includes a tray structure and a corresponding standoff receptacle, or clamp, mounted adjacent each other on a vertical storage surface, such as a truck body or trailer wall, or a garage or storage shed wall. The two parts of the fixture cooperate to provide a light weight, corrosion resistant, multi-brand compatible, space-saving device to hold and secure portable power equipment for storage and for transport. In one embodiment, the tray structure of the present invention is configured to be secured in a substantially horizontal orientation to receive the power source end of equipment such as hedge shears having a typical single or double trimmer blade configuration, while in other embodiments, the tray structure is configured to be secured in a substantially horizontal orientation to receive the power source end of other power equipment, such as string or blade-type edge trimmers or the like having a typical power transfer shaft and a blade or string-type cutting head. In each embodiment, a receptacle such as an elongated standoff stmcture compatible with the distal end of the power tool being stored is provided and is also secured in a substantially horizontal orientation adjacent, but spaced from, the tray structure to receive and secure the power equipment blades or power transfer shaft.

[0006] The tool support fixture of the present invention as described with respect to the embodiments illustrated herein is light weight and easy to instali, is corrosion resistant, and is configured to receive and support a wide variety of different power tools from a variety of manufacturers, The fixture is preferably constructed of aluminum and utilizes two supporting elements, a horizontal tray and a horizontal supporting clamp, or standoff arm, each being attachable to a suitable supporting structure such as a truck or trailer wall by way of a common vertical backing plate in one form of the invention, or separate backing plates in another form of the invention. The backing plate or plates are attachable to the vertical support wall in a location where the power tools are to be secured, so the tray and clamp arm extend horizontally from the support wall at spaced locations suitable for the equipment to be stored. The tray portion of this two-element horizontal support fixture forms a cradle for the near end of a portable power tool, which includes a power source such as a conventional gasoline engine, while the clamp portion serves as a receptacle and support for the distal end of the tool. The clamp arm incorporates slot with a securing pin to receive and hold the end portion of the tool, winch may be a hedge cutting blade, a power transfer shaft, or arm, carrying a trimmer blade or cutting head, or the like. In one form of the invention, the securing pin may be received in the standoff arm in either of two positions (e.g., for single or double blade hedge shears). The engine is secured in the tray member with a bungee or elastic support cord having a securing ball or other retaining feature that preferably is removably received in a hook or slot-like opening.

[0007] The vertical backing plates and the tray preferably are fabricated from 1/8 inch aluminum sheet, with the plates being attachable to the internal or external surface of a truck, trailer, storage shed, garage, or the like by way of an array of predrilled fastening holes in a selected pattern on the backing plates. The bungee cord may be secured in various locations depending on the engine configuration, and if desired a strap with a one inch hook can be secured in two places to the backing plate to provide extra security for heavy equipment. A locking tab for receiving the bungee cord or other fastener is preferably integrally fabricated or built in to the tray. In an exemplary form of the invention, the tray was approximately one foot wide and 11 " deep, with 2" high side walls attached, as by welding, near one end of an 8" by 24" backing plate, while the standoff arm was about 6" long, 2" high and 1" wide, with a 3" deep slot mounted near the opposite end of the backing plate.

[0008] The motor shroud or power head of equipment such as a hedge trimmer is often configured to work with removable blade assemblies or attachments and certain attachments are very heavy. The laterally projecting or cantilevered standoff portion provides additional support for such heavy attachments.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a multi-unit vertical backing plate may be provided to support a plurality of horizontal trays, with the first tray being at the bottom of the substantially planar backing plate. The vertical spacing between the first tray at the bottom of the backing plate and a second unit or second tray thereabove preferably is approximately 12 inches, and the multi-unit tray backing plate is configured to be used with a matching multi-unit clamping arm, or standoff, support backing plate having a plurality of spaced standoffs, each of which is also offset by the selected vertical distance, 12 inches in the preferred form. In the multi-unit modification of the fixture of the present invention, the multi-unit tray supporting backing plate may be packaged or sold in a kit with the multi-unit standoff backing plate where the number of units is selected by the user. For example, in a three unit embodiment, the tray side backing plate would preferably be at least 32 inches tall with first, second and third transversely projecting trays, the first tray being very close to the bottom of the substantially planar backing plate. A matching three unit standoff support would also include spaced standoffs on a backing plate having a width of approximately 6 inches and a height of approximately 32 inches. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] The foregoing, and additional objects, features ad advantages of the present invention will be understood by those of skill in the art from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Fig. 1 is a top left perspective view of a power tool storage fixture in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the fixture of Fig. 1;

[0013] Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the fixture of Fig. 1 ;

[0014] Fig.4 is a top right perspective view of the power tool storage fixture of Fig. 1;

[0015] Figs. 5 and 6 are top right perspective views of power tool storage fixtures in accordance with second and third embodiments, respectively, of the present invention;

[0016] Fig. 7 is a front elevation view of the fixture of Fig. 6;

[0017] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

[0018] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

[0019] Fig. 10 illustrates a multi-unit fixture incorporating two storage trays and clamps in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020] Fig. 11 illustrates a multi-unit fixture incorporating three storage trays and clamps in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0021] Turning now to Figs 1 -11 and a more detailed description of the present invention, and referring to the accompanying Figures in which corresponding elements are similarly numbered for easy reference, Figs. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment of a power tool support fixture 10 which incorporates a support tray 12 and a receptacle clamp, or standoff arm 14 attached at spaced-apart locations to a planar backing plate 16. The plate includes a plurality of apertures 20 that are positioned to receive suitable festers, such as screws or bolts, for attaching the plate to a support such as a truck or trailer wall, a garage or storage shed wall, or other suitable location where it is desired to store a power tool. As illustrated, the tray 12 and the standoff arm 14 are generally perpendicular to the backing plate so that when the plate is secured to a vertical surface, the fixture has a generally horizontal storage tray and standoff arm for receiving a suitable power tool (not shown).

[0022] In this first illustrated embodiment, the tray 12 includes a generally rectangular bottom plate 22 and three upstanding side walls 24, 26 and 28 perpendicular to, and attached to corresponding left side, front side and right side edges 30, 32 and 34 of, the bottom plate. The back edge 36 of the bottom plate and the rear edges 38 and 40 of the side walls 24 and 28, respectively, are attached to the backing plate 16 so that the plate 16 forms a rear wall of the tray 12 to provide an enclosure 42 for receiving the power source end, typically a gasoline engine, of a power tool to be stored on the fixture 10. Preferably, the backing plate 16 and the bottom and side walls of the tray 12 are fabricated from 1/8* inch thick aluminum plate, and the components are welded together for strength. Optionally, the tray and standoff components may be fabricated as separate rigid members and bolted or fastened to a shared planar backing plate or to individual backing members.

[0023] In order to accommodate various commercially available power tools, the side walls 24 and 28 of the tray preferably are shaped to receive components of the tool. As an example, the tray 12 is adapted to receive a power hedge trimmer, having a small gasoline engine at the near end and an elongated reciprocating blade arm extending from and driven by the engine. For storage, the engine is placed on the tray, with a depression, or notch SO on the top edge 52 of the side wall 24 accommodating the shape of the engine and a stepped depression, or notch 54 on the top edge 56 of side wall 28 receiving the near end of the tool blade arm, allowing the distal end of the blade arm to extend toward and through the standoff arm 14, to be described.

[0024] To secure a tool engine in the tray 12, a suitable fastener such as an elastic cord, or bungee cord 60 preferably is secured at a first end 62 to an aperture 64 in a tab 66 that is attached to plate 16, as by welding. The free end 68 of cord 60 carries a ball 70 by which the cord may be secured in a slot 72 formed in a tab 74 attached, as by welding, to front wall 26, by stretching the cord and placing the end 68 of the cord through the slot 72 so that the ball secures the cord in place to hold the engine in the tray.

[0025] It will be noted that in a preferred form of this embodiment, the rear ends of side walls 24 and 28 are tapered upwardly toward the plate 16, as best seen in Fig. 4, to provide greater strength for supporting the tray in a horizontal position when carrying a tool. Also, the stepped notch in this sidewall has shallow and deep portions 80 and 82 to accommodate different tool blade configurations, and it will be understood that variations in the notch configuration may be provided to accommodate conventional trimmers of different brands or manufacturers. Finally, it is noted that the tray 12 may incorporate one or more drain holes 84. [0026] The standoff arm 14 includes a generally U-shaped shell 90, preferably of aluminum and having an inner end 90 secured to the backing plate 16 at a location spaced apart from the location of the tray 12. The shell is formed with an upper wall 94, a lower wall 96, and a side wall 98 containing a slot 100 extending about half the length of the arm and centered at a height about level with the notch 54 on tray wall 28, and opening forwardly, or outwardly away from the backing plate. Secured in the shell 90, between the top and bottom walls 94 and 96 and adjacent the side wall 98, is a receptacle block 102, best seen in Fig. 4. Block 102 is fabricated from plastic, fiberglass or other suitable material and is shaped to have a forwardly, or outwardly opening slot 104 that is substantially coextensive with slot 100 to form upper and lower ringers 106 and 108 above and below the slot. Through holes 110 and 112 pass through the shell 90 and the upper and lower fingers, and are aligned to receive a pin 120 that preferably is secured to the arm 14, as by a ring 122, lanyard 124 and screw 126. It will be understood that the dimensions of the standoff and the slots 100 and 104 may be adjusted to accommodate the equipment being stored, with the slot being deep enough to receive, for example, the width of a trimmer blade.

[0027] In use, the fixture 10 is secured to a storage surface, such as a vertical wall, by fasteners through the backing plate. The near end, or power unit of a conventional power tool to be stored is placed on the horizontal tray 12, and the distal end, such as the blade end, of the tool is placed in the slot 104 of horizontal standoff 14, with the slot serving as a receptacle, or clamp, to receive the distal end. In the configuration illustrated in Figs. 1-4, the tray 12 and the standoff 14 are particularly suited to receive the gasoline engine and the blade arm of a hedge trimmer. The bungee cord 60 is positioned over the engine and secured in slot 72 to hold the engine in the tray, and the pin 120 is insertable into one or the other of the holes 110 and 1 12 to secure the blade in place. The slot 104 in the plastic receptacle block, or insert 102 is shaped and sized as needed to receive the blade of any desired tool, and the block is of a material that will not damage the blades.

[0028] Fig. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein a power tool fixture 150 includes a tray 152 and a standoff arm, or receptacle 154 mounted at spaced-apart locations on a single contiguous planar backing plate 156. As was the case with the first embodiment of Figs. 1-4, the backing plate includes a number of apertures 158 spaced around the plate for use in mounting it on a suitable vertical storage wall, such as the wall of a truck, trailer, garage, shed or the like. The tray 152 incorporates side walls 160 and 162, an end wall 164 and a bottom wall 166, with the side walls being attached, as by welding, to the backing plate 156 at edges 170, and 172 to form a horizontal tray enclosure 174 for receiving the near end of a power tool. A bungee cord 180is secured at one end to an aperture 182 in side wall 162 and carries a ball-type fastener 184 at its free end for securing the cord through a slot 186 in a downwardly curving fastener plate 188 secured to the side plate 162 near the front wall 164.

[0029] In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the side wall 162 is illustrated as incorporating a curved depression, or saddle 1 0 which is adapted to accommodate a different power tool than that used with the embodiment of Figs. 1-4. In this case, the tray is adapted to hold an edge trimmer tool, such as a string-type or bladed trimmer having a power source such as a gasoline engine at a near end and an elongated power transfer shaft carrying a trimmer head at its distal end. The curved saddle 190 allows the tray to receive the engine with the transfer shaft extending over the side wall to the standoff arm 154, which incorporates a semicircular slot 200 to receive and secure the shaft.

[0030] The standoff arm 154 includes a U-shaped shell 202, preferably of aluminum and having an inner end 204 secured to the backing plate 156 at a location spaced apart from the location of the tray 1 2. The shell is formed with an upper wall 206, a lower wall 208, and a side wall 210 containing a forwardly, or outwardly facing slot 212 extending along a portion of the length of the arm and centered at a height about level with the saddle 190 on tray wall 162. Secured in the shell 202, between the top and bottom walls 206 and 208 and adjacent the side wall 210, is a receptacle block 220 preferably fabricated from plastic, fiberglass or other suitable material and shaped to incorporate the forwardly, or outwardly facing slot 200. This slot is substantially coextensive with slot 212 to form upper and lower fingers above and below the slot, and incorporates a semicircular inner end portion 201. A through hole 222 passes through the shell 202 and the upper and lower fingers, and are aligned to receive a pin 224 that preferably is secured to the arm 154, as by a ring 226, lanyard 228 and a screw (not shown). The slot 200 is shaped to receive the distal end of the power tool to be stored, in this case having a generally semicircular inner end to receive the power transfer shaft of a conventional edge trimmer, wherein the shaft has a substantially circular cross-section.

[0031] In use, backing plate 156 is secured to a suitable vertical wall in a desired storage location so that the tray and the standoff arm are substantially horizontal, and the near end, including the power source, of a power tool such as a conventional edge trimmer is positioned in the tray 152 and secured by the bungee cord 180 or other suitable fastener. The power transfer shaft extends from the tray to the standoff arm and is inserted in the slot 200, with a portion of the shaft and the trim head extending beyond the standoff. The pin 224 is inserted in aperture 222, extending downwardly through the arm to secure the shaft in place. [0032] Although in the embodiments described thus far the power source support tray is illustrated as being on the left hand edge of the backing plate, with the standoff receptacle to the right of the tray, it will be understood that the positions of the tray and the standoff can be reversed, if desired, for convenience in placement of the fixture of the invention in desired storage locations. Such a reversed location is illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 6-9, to which reference is now made. In this embodiment, fixture 240 incorporates a tray 242, which is the reverse of tray 152 illustrated in Fig. 5, and a standoff arm, or receptacle 244, which is the same as standoff 154, but is located to the left of the tray 242. Although the tray 242 and the standoff 244 could be mounted on a single planar backing plate, as in the embodiment of Fig. 5, in this form of the invention, these two components of the fixture are attached to two separate backing plates, 246, and 248, respectively (or, as in Fig. 5, shown with optional break line). The plates each include multiple mounting holes 250 and 252, respectively, for mounting the fixture components on a suitable support wall, as described above with respect to prior embodiments.

[0033] As illustrated in Figs. 7-9, the tray 242 includes a bungee cord 260 carrying a ball 262, with the cord being secured to the tray by way of aperture 264. A fastener plate 266 is attached to the tray 242 and includes a slot 268 for receiving the free end of the bungee cord. The standoff 244 is the same as standoff 154 illustrated in Fig. 5 and thus carries a securing pin 224 attached by a ring 226, a lanyard 228 and a screw 270, the pin being insertable in the hole 222 to secure a trimmer tool power transfer shaft, as previously described. As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the standoff incorporates shell 202 carrying block 220, in which is formed the receiving, or clamping slot 200. The separate backing plates allow flexibility in positioning the fixture on its supporting wall, but otherwise the fixture functions the same way as the embodiment of Fig. 5.

[0034] Fig. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a multi-unit fixture which incorporates two backing plates 282 and 284, mountable on a vertical wall at spaced-apart locations. In the illustrated version, backing plate 282 carries two trays 286 and 288, with the lowest being attached at the bottom of the plate 282, and the other being attached, for example 12" above the bottom tray. These trays may be either of the trays illustrated and described hereinabove, may be a combination of the two, or may be trays having slightly different side wall configurations to accommodate different brands of conventional power tools. The backing plate 284 carries two standoffs 292 and 294, which correspond to, and are aligned with, the trays 286 and 288, respectively, and incorporate clamp receptacle slots adapted to the equipment being stored. [0035] Similarly, Fig. 11 illustrates another multi-unit fixture 300, this time mounted on a single backing plate 302 and carrying three vertically spaced and aligned trays 304, 306, and 308 of the type described above, and three corresponding standoffs 310, 312, and 314, vertically spaced and aligned with each other and horizontally spaced from and aligned with corresponding trays. Again, the trays and the standoffs may all be the same, or may be different, as required for the tools that are to be stored.

[0036] It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the present invention may be characterized broadly as a power tool or equipment storage fixture 10 comprising a horizontal tray (e.g., 12) for receiving a power source end of a power tool and a horizontal standoff arm (e.g., 14) for receiving a distal end portion of the power tool, both supported by at least one substantially planar rigid vertical backing plate (e.g., 1 ) where the tray and the arm being are attached to the backing plate and are horizontally spaced apart to support the tool. The storage fixture's tray and said arm are optionally attached at spaced locations to a single backing plate (as shown in Fig. 1). Alternatively, the tray and said arm may each be attached to a corresponding one of two backing plates (see, e.g., Figs 5-9).

[0037] The storage fixture's tray (e.g., 12) incorporates a bottom wall and upstanding side and front walls to define an enclosure for receiving and supporting the near end of the power tool, and the standoff arm incorporates a horizontal, forwardly opening slot positioned to receive the distal end of the power too). The standoff arm's slot is optionally adapted for use with trimmers or saws and is elongated to receive a blade-like portion of a tool.

Alternatively, the slot has a semicircular inner end portion to receive a circular tool portion. At least one of said tray sidewalls is preferably shaped to incorporate one or more depressions (e.g., SO, 54) to accommodate the shape of a power tool to be stored.

[0038] In accordance with the method for storing power tools of the present invention, the user first provides at least one horizontal tray and a backing plate and then provides at least one horizontal standoff arm adapted for attachment to the backing plate, where each tray is aligned with and spaced from a corresponding standoff arm. Next, the user attaches each corresponding tray and standoff arm at a selected horizontally spaced location on the backing plate; and then mounts the backing plate on a support wall or surface in a building or a transportation vehicle or trailer.

[0039] Although the invention has been described with respect to a number of embodiments, it will be understood the numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A power tool storage fixture, comprising: a horizontal tray for receiving a power source end of a power tool; a horizontal standoff arm for receiving a distal end portion of the power tool; and at least one vertical backing plate, said tray and said arm being attached to said backing plate and being horizontally spaced apart to support the tool.

2. The storage fixture of claim 1 , wherein said tray and said arm are attached at spaced locations to a single backing plate.

3. The storage fixture of claim 1, wherein said tray and said arm are each attached to a corresponding one of two backing plates.

4. The storage fixture of claim 1 , wherein said tray incorporates a bottom wall and upstanding side and front walls to define an enclosure for receiving and supporting the near end of a power tool, and

wherein said standoff arm incorporates a horizontal, forwardly opening slot positioned to receive the distal end of the power tool.

5. The storage fixture of claim 4, wherein said slot is elongated to receive a blade-like portion of a tool.

6. The storage fixture of claim 4, wherein said slot has a semicircular inner end portion to receive a circular tool portion.

7. The storage fixture of claim 4, wherein at least one of said tray sidewalls is shaped to incorporate one or more depressions to accommodate the shape of a power tool to be stored.

8. A method for storing power tools, comprising:

(a) attaching at least one horizontal tray to a backing plate;

(b) attaching at least one horizontal standoff arm to said plate, each said at least one tray corresponding to at least one standoff arm;

(c) attaching each corresponding tray and standoff arm at horizontally spaced locations on said backing plate; and

(d) mounting said backing plate on a support wall.