US-12617073-B1 - Expandable tool holder with modular magnetic assembly

US12617073B1US 12617073 B1US12617073 B1US 12617073B1US-12617073-B1

Abstract

The present invention provides an expandable tool holder with a modular magnetic assembly, comprising: a holder body including a tool holder section and two extension sides; two assembly positioning slots formed on the extension sides, each slot including an embedding space, a support wall, an insertion opening, a longitudinal stop, and a transverse stop, wherein the directions of the longitudinal and transverse stops intersect and maintain a distance therebetween; and a rigid magnetic assembly comprising two magnetic elements, each having a first and second end, assembled with the assembly positioning slots. Each magnetic element is inserted obliquely into the embedding space from the insertion opening, resulting in a secured positioning state in which the second end is contacted by the transverse stop, and a portion of the outer contact surface is contacted and limited by the longitudinal stop.

Inventors

Chih-Chien Hsieh

Assignees

Chih-Chien Hsieh

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20241104

Claims (7)

1 . An expandable tool holder with a modular magnetic assembly, comprising: a holder body made of a plastic material and including at least one tool holder section and two extension sides arranged in a mutually spaced configuration; two assembly positioning slots respectively formed on the two extension sides of the holder body, each assembly positioning slot including an embedding space, a support wall, an insertion opening, a longitudinal stop, and a transverse stop, wherein an inner side of the longitudinal stop forms a longitudinal guide wall, and an inner side of the transverse stop forms a transverse guide wall, the extending direction of the longitudinal guide wall and the transverse guide wall intersect and maintain a distance therebetween, thereby defining the insertion opening, with the support wall and the longitudinal guide wall being positioned on opposite sides of the embedding space having a stopping end; and a rigid magnetic assembly comprising two magnetic elements respectively assembled with the two assembly positioning slots, each magnetic element being made of a rigid material and having a first end, a second end, an inner contact surface, and an outer contact surface arranged in a mutually spaced configuration, each magnetic element being inserted with its first end obliquely into the embedding space from the insertion opening, resulting in a secured positioning state in which the second end is contacted and limited by the transverse stop, and a portion of the outer contact surface is contacted and limited by the longitudinal stop; and wherein, each longitudinal guide wall forms a guide slope section; the first end of the magnetic element and the stopping end of the embedding space are in a dimensionally matching relationship and defining a virtual extension line using the stopping end and the support wall junction point as a base point, the virtual extension line being parallel to the guide slope section of the longitudinal guide wall and passing through the transverse stop.
2 . The expandable tool holder with a modular magnetic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal stop forms a rounded corner at the end of the guide slope section.
3 . The expandable tool holder with a modular magnetic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein both of the magnetic elements of the rigid magnetic assembly are magnets.
4 . The expandable tool holder with a modular magnetic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the two magnetic elements of the rigid magnetic assembly include one magnetic element which is a magnet and the other magnetic element which is made of a magnetically conductive material.
5 . The expandable tool holder with a modular magnetic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal extension range of the longitudinal stop is between one-quarter and one-half of the longitudinal height of the magnetic element, and the transverse extension range of the transverse stop is between one-half and the full thickness of the magnetic element.
6 . The expandable tool holder with a modular magnetic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the two extension sides of the expandable tool holder are further provided with a mutually engaging male connector and a female connector.
7 . The expandable tool holder with a modular magnetic assembly according to claim 1 , wherein both the first end and the second end of each of the magnetic elements are formed with chamfers.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a tool holder and more particularly to an innovative expandable tool holder structure featuring a modular magnetic assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In conventional tool holder designs, whether magnetic structures are incorporated for positioning needs or for expansion and connection purposes, magnetic elements are typically integrated and fixed within the tool holder structure by insert injection molding. However, this structure of combining magnetic elements presents cost-related issues, both in terms of production molds and manufacturing processes. In addition, when the tool holder is damaged and needs to be disposed of, it becomes difficult to separate the plastic components from the magnetic elements during recycling, resulting in classification issues and failure to meet environmental protection standards. These issues and shortcomings are significant technical challenges that warrant industry attention and innovation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an expandable tool holder with a modular magnetic assembly, aiming to solve the technical problem of how to develop a novel tool holder with enhanced utility through innovative breakthroughs. To achieve this purpose, the technical features of the solution of the present invention include, in particular, an expandable tool holder comprising: A holder body is made of a plastic material and includes a tool holder section and two extension sides arranged in a mutually spaced configuration. Two assembly positioning slots are respectively formed on the two extension sides of the holder body, each assembly positioning slot comprising an embedding space, a support wall, an insertion opening, a longitudinal stop, and a transverse stop. The inner side of the longitudinal stop forms a longitudinal guide wall, while the inner side of the transverse stop forms a transverse guide wall. The extending directions of the longitudinal guide wall and the transverse guide wall intersect and maintain a distance therebetween, thereby defining the insertion opening. The support wall and the longitudinal guide wall are positioned on opposite sides of the embedding space, which has a stopping end. A rigid magnetic assembly comprises two magnetic elements respectively assembled with the two assembly positioning slots, each magnetic element being made of a rigid material and having a first end, a second end, an inner contact surface, and an outer contact surface arranged in a mutually spaced configuration, and each magnetic element being inserted obliquely from the insertion opening into the embedding space with the first end, resulting in a secured positioning state in which the second end is contacted and limited by the transverse stop and a portion of the outer contact surface is contacted and limited by the longitudinal stop. Each longitudinal guide wall forms a guide slope section; the first end of the magnetic element and the stopping end of the embedding space are in a dimensionally matching relationship and defining a virtual extension line using the stopping end and the support wall junction point as a base point, the virtual extension line being parallel to the guide slope section of the longitudinal guide wall and passing through the transverse stop. The effects and advantages of the present invention mainly lie in the fact that, due to the assembly positioning characteristics of the magnetic element, product mold and manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced, thereby improving industrial economic efficiency while maintaining utility. Furthermore, when the expandable tool holder is discarded due to damage, the magnetic element and the plastic holder body can be easily disassembled and separated, facilitating resource classification and recycling, thus better meeting environmental protection requirements. Another purpose of the present invention is achieved through the additional technical feature of forming a rounded corner at the end of the guide slope section of the longitudinal stop, thereby providing the advantage and utility improvement of enabling smoother and unobstructed insertion and assembly of the magnetic element into the positioning slot. Yet another purpose of the present invention is achieved by the additional technical feature of forming mutually engaging male and female connectors at corresponding positions on the two extension sides. When two expandable tool holders of the same type are placed side by side with one of their extension sides adjacent to each other, they can be coupled by mutual engagement of the male and female connectors, thereby achieving the advantage and utility improvement of increasing the stability of the combined expansion state of the two tool holders. A further purpose of the present invention is achieved through the additional technical feature of forming chamfers at both the first end and the second end of each magnetic ele