Reactionary Tool Holder Device

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a tool holder having a tool support member rotationally coupled to a outwardly deflecting member, the tool holder configured to transition between a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode, the tool support member protrudes away from the rest of the tool holder and the outwardly deflecting member extends longitudinally downward, and where in the second mode, the weight of a stowed tool causes the tool support member to rotate in a downward direction while simultaneously rotating/deflecting the outwardly deflecting member away from a downwardly extending back member. In an illustrative example, the tool holder may push a bottom end of a tool away from a user in response to storage of the tool in the tool holder, thus advantageously mitigating or preventing injury or discomfort from the tool banging or brushing up against the user's leg.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reactionary tool holder comprising:
 a base member ( 110 ,  210 );   an object support member ( 120 ,  220 ) rotatably coupled with the base member to rotate about a first lateral axis (A 1 ), the object support member comprising a torque imparting member ( 130 ,  230 ); and,   an outwardly deflecting member ( 125 ,  225 ) rotatably coupled with the base member to rotate about a second lateral axis (A 2 ) parallel to the first lateral axis, the outwardly deflecting member comprising a torque receiving surface ( 134 ),   wherein:
 in a transition from a first mode to a second mode, the object support member is rotated counterclockwise about the first lateral axis to cause the torque imparting member to apply a counterclockwise torque to the torque receiving surface to cause the outwardly deflecting member to rotate clockwise about the second lateral axis, 
 the torque receiving surface is (1) not directly connected to the torque imparting member, and (2) arranged to receive the applied torque imparted by the torque imparting member when the torque imparting member physically engages with the torque receiving surface in the second mode, and, 
 the torque imparting member comprises a roller rotatably coupled to the object support member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second lateral axes are spatially offset from one another. 
     
     
         3 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein the torque imparting member is not integrally formed with the torque receiving surface, such that the torque imparting member is freely movable relative to the torque receiving surface in an open state. 
     
     
         4 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein in the transition from the first mode to the second mode, the object support member is caused to rotate counterclockwise by a gravity force vector associated with an object being supported by the object support member. 
     
     
         5 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein in the first mode, the base member extends along a first longitudinal axis, the outwardly deflecting member extends along a second longitudinal axis parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and the object support member extends along a forward axis substantially orthogonal to the first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first laterally extending member ( 142 ,  242 ) that rotatably couples the base member to the object support member; and,   a second laterally extending member ( 145 ,  245 ) that rotatably couples the base member to the outwardly deflecting member.   
     
     
         7 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein the outwardly deflecting member comprises a pair of laterally opposed side rails ( 140 ,  240 ) extending along a length of the outwardly deflecting member. 
     
     
         8 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein the object support member comprises a flexible member ( 122 ) having a hole ( 123 ), the flexible member configured to support the weight of an object when the object is inserted into the hole. 
     
     
         9 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein the object support member comprises a rigid member ( 223 ) having a hole ( 223 ), the rigid member configured to support the weight of an object when the object is inserted into the hole. 
     
     
         10 . A reactionary tool holder comprising:
 a base member ( 110 ,  210 );   an object support member ( 120 ,  220 ) rotatably coupled with the base member to rotate about a first lateral axis (A), the object support member comprising a torque imparting member ( 130 ,  230 ); and,   an outwardly deflecting member ( 125 . 225 ) rotatably coupled with the base member to rotate about a second lateral axis (A 2 ) parallel to the first lateral axis, the outwardly deflecting member comprising a torque receiving surface ( 134 ),   wherein:
 in a transition from a first mode to a second mode, the object support member is rotated counterclockwise about the first lateral axis to cause the torque imparting member to apply a counterclockwise torque to the torque receiving surface to cause the outwardly deflecting member to rotate clockwise about the second lateral axis, and, 
 the torque receiving surface is (1) not directly connected to the torque imparting member, and (2) arranged to receive the applied torque imparted by the torque imparting member when the torque imparting member physically engages with the torque receiving surface in the second mode. 
   
     
     
         11 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second lateral axes are spatially offset from one another. 
     
     
         12 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 10 , wherein the torque imparting member is not integrally formed with the torque receiving surface, such that the torque imparting member is freely movable relative to the torque receiving surface in an open state. 
     
     
         13 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first laterally extending member ( 142 ,  242 ) that rotatably couples the base member to the object support member; and,   a second laterally extending member ( 145 ,  245 ) that rotatably couples the base member to the outwardly deflecting member.   
     
     
         14 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein the outwardly deflecting member comprises a pair of laterally opposed side rails ( 140 ,  240 ) extending along a length of the outwardly deflecting member. 
     
     
         15 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein the object support member comprises a flexible member ( 122 ) having a hole ( 123 ), the flexible member configured to support the weight of an object when the object is inserted into the hole. 
     
     
         16 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein the object support member comprises a rigid member ( 223 ) having a hole ( 223 ), the rigid member configured to support the weight of an object when the object is inserted into the hole. 
     
     
         17 . A reactionary tool holder comprising:
 a base member ( 110 ,  210 );   an object support member ( 120 ,  220 ) rotatably coupled with the base member to rotate about a first lateral axis (A), the object support member comprising a torque imparting member ( 130 ,  230 );   an outwardly deflecting member ( 125 ,  225 ) rotatably coupled with the base member to rotate about a second lateral axis (A 2 ) parallel to the first lateral axis, the outwardly deflecting member comprising a torque receiving surface ( 134 ); and,   a user coupling member ( 105 ) rotatably coupled to the base member, the user coupling member comprising a user attachment mechanism ( 20 ) configured to attach the user coupling member to a user's belt,   wherein:
 in a transition from a first mode to a second mode, the object support member is rotated counterclockwise about the first lateral axis to cause the torque imparting member to apply a counterclockwise torque to the torque receiving surface to cause the outwardly deflecting member to rotate clockwise about the second lateral axis, and, 
 the torque receiving surface is (1) not directly connected to the torque imparting member, and (2) arranged to receive the applied torque imparted by the torque imparting member when the torque imparting member physically engages with the torque receiving surface in the second mode. 
   
     
     
         18 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 17 , wherein the outwardly deflecting member comprises a pair of laterally opposed side rails ( 140 ,  240 ) extending along a length of the outwardly deflecting member, and the torque imparting member comprises a roller rotatably coupled to the object support member. 
     
     
         19 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 17 , wherein the user coupling member comprises a wedge-shaped cross section having a wedge surface configured to physically engage with a back surface of the base member. 
     
     
         20 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 17 , further comprising a wedge ( 250 ) releasably coupled to the user coupling member and disposed between the user coupling member and the base member. 
     
     
         21 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 1 , wherein the outwardly deflecting member is spring biased against the base member in the first mode. 
     
     
         22 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 10 , wherein the outwardly deflecting member is spring biased against the base member in the first mode. 
     
     
         23 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 17 , wherein the outwardly deflecting member is spring biased against the base member in the first mode. 
     
     
         24 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 10 , wherein the torque imparting member comprises a first gear, and the torque receiving surface is comprised in a second gear, wherein the first gear and the second gear are intermeshed with one another. 
     
     
         25 . The reactionary tool holder of  claim 17 , wherein the torque imparting member comprises a first gear, and the torque receiving surface is comprised in a second gear, wherein the first gear and the second gear are intermeshed with one another.