Tool holder

Abstract

A tool holder has a holder body with a rear end, a top side, a lower side spaced beneath the top side a distance to define a body height, and a free front end. A storage space extends rearward into a part of the body and originates at an entry opening. The entry opening is open from the top side to the lower side in the free front end. The storage space terminates at a storage region in the body and is oriented extending between the top side and the lower side. The storage region defines a tool handle storage reference axis extending between the top side and the lower side. The entry opening defines a tool handle insertion axis generally within a plane of the free front end at an acute angle relative to the tool handle storage axis. A tool inserted into the storage space must rotate end to end from the insertion axis orientation to the storage axis orientation.

1 . A tool holder comprising: 
 a holder body having top side, a lower side spaced beneath the upper side, a rear end, and a free front end;    a tool storage space having an entry opening in the free front end providing access to a storage region in the holder body rearward of the front end, the storage region defining a tool handle storage orientation axis;    an upper slot positioned at the top side of the body, the upper slot having an upper slot opening at the entry opening of the storage space and terminating at an upper slot end at the storage region of the storage space; and    a lower slot positioned at the lower side of the body, the lower slot having a lower slot opening at the entry opening of the storage space and terminating at a lower slot end at the storage region, the upper and lower slot ends aligned with one another along the tool handle storage axis, the upper and lower slot openings positioned laterally offset relative to one another to define a tool handle insertion axis that is oriented at an acute angle relative to the tool handle storage axis.    
   
   
       2 . A tool holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the top side includes a top surface in which the upper slot is formed.  
   
   
       3 . A tool holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool handle storage axis is oriented generally perpendicular to a plane parallel to the top and lower sides.  
   
   
       4 . A tool holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transition surface connecting the upper and lower slots over the distance between the upper and lower slots, the transition surface extending from the upper and lower slot openings rearward to the upper and lower slot ends, the orientation of the tool handle insertion axis being defined by the orientation of the transition surfaces at the entry opening.  
   
   
       5 . A tool holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an upper extension extending laterally inward into the storage space in a plane of the top side of the body; and    a lower extension extending laterally inward into the storage space in a plane of the lower side of the body from a side of the storage space opposite the upper extension,    wherein the upper slot opening is defined in part by the upper extension, and wherein the lower slot opening is defined in part by the lower extension.    
   
   
       6 . A tool holder comprising: 
 a holder body having a rear end, a top side, a lower side spaced beneath the top side a distance to define a body height, and a free front end; and    a storage space extending rearward into a part of the body, the storage space originating at an entry opening being open from the top side to the lower side in the free front end, the storage space terminating at a storage region in the body, the storage region oriented extending between the top side and the lower side,    wherein the storage region defines a tool handle storage reference axis extending between the top side and the lower side, and wherein the entry opening defines a tool handle insertion axis generally within a plane of the free front end at an acute angle relative to the tool handle storage axis.    
   
   
       7 . A tool holder according to  claim 6 , wherein the tool handle storage reference axis is oriented generally perpendicular to a horizontal reference plane of the body.  
   
   
       8 . A tool holder according to  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of the storage spaces in the body.  
   
   
       9 . A tool holder according to  claim 6 , wherein the body is a shelf and the free front end of the body is a front shelf edge.  
   
   
       10 . A tool holder according to  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of the storage spaces in the front shelf edge.  
   
   
       11 . A tool holder comprising: 
 a holder body having a rear end and a free front end;    an upper slot extending rearward into a part of the holder body from an upper slot opening in the free front end to a closed upper slot end, the upper slot opening having an upper center; and    a lower slot spaced a distance downward relative to the upper slot and extending rearward into a part of the holder body from a lower slot opening in the free front end to a closed lower slot end, the lower slot insertion opening having a lower center,    the closed upper and lower slot ends vertically aligned and overlying one another forming a tool handle storage region arranged to store a tool handle therein along a generally vertical storage axis, and    the upper and lower slot openings positioned generally in a reference plane of the free front end and being laterally offset relative to one another, the upper and lower slot openings together defining a tool handle insertion axis along a reference passing through each of the upper and lower centers and oriented at an acute angle relative to the storage axis.