阅读说明：本技术 可转换为工具箱的支撑组件 (Supporting component capable of being converted into tool box ) 是由 B·J·弗兰西斯 于 2018-05-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种位置可调支撑组件可相对工具箱来回转换,以允许运输附接到其的多个制品。分段位置可调支撑组件具有中心组件以及左组件和右组件。所述左组件和所述右组件可围绕所述中心组件旋转,并且所述中心组件、所述左组件和所述右组件的垂直支撑件可保持在工具箱的底座接纳器和顶部接纳器中。保持器可将所述分段组件固定到所述底座和所述顶部。这允许用户在第一工作位置安装所述分段组件,然后将所述分段组件转换为工具箱,以便运输到第二工作位置。(A positionally adjustable support assembly is convertible back and forth relative to a tool box to allow transport of a plurality of articles attached thereto. The segmented positionally adjustable support assembly has a center assembly and left and right assemblies. The left and right assemblies are rotatable about the center assembly, and the vertical supports of the center assembly, the left assembly, and the right assembly are retainable in a base receiver and a top receiver of a tool box. A retainer may secure the segmented assembly to the base and the top. This allows a user to install the segmented assembly in a first work location and then convert the segmented assembly into a toolbox for transport to a second work location.)

1. A positionally adjustable support assembly, comprising:

a) a horizontal support member, the horizontal support member comprising:

i) a circular cross-sectional shape;

ii) a length from the first end to the second end;

iii) a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the horizontal support member;

iv) an outer surface;

v) a fin slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the support member;

b) a fin extending vertically from the outer surface of the support member by a fin height and extending a portion of the length of the support member;

c) a support extension coupled to and extending substantially perpendicular to the support member and comprising:

i) an attachment end coupled to the support member;

ii) an extension end extending from the support member;

iii) a length from the attachment end to the extension end;

d) an extension attachment attaching the attachment end of the support extension to the support member and comprising:

i) a semi-circular cylindrical support coupler, the semi-circular cylindrical support coupler comprising:

a length extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the support member longitudinal axis;

a gap opening extending along the longitudinal axis of the semi-circular cylindrical support coupler to allow the semi-circular cylindrical support coupler to extend around the horizontal support member in a concentric coupling arrangement;

an inner surface;

a retention slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the semi-circular cylindrical support coupler a groove depth along the inner surface;

wherein the groove depth is at least as great as the fin height

ii) an extension coupler attached to the attachment end of the support extension;

wherein the retaining slot is configured above the fin to secure the support extension to the support member and prevent rotation about the support member; and is

The support extension is removably attached to the support member and is adjustable in position along the length of the support member.

2. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 1, wherein the clearance opening has a radius that is less than the diameter of the horizontal support member, thereby requiring the support coupler to flex to engage about the horizontal support member.

3. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 1, wherein the gap opening extends through a radius of no more than about 120 degrees.

4. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 1, including a plurality of fins within the fin slots and a gap between two adjacent fins that is greater than the length of the support coupler, and wherein a support coupler is removably attached to the support member by the gap between adjacent fins.

5. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a plurality of retainer holes for receiving a coupler retainer, the coupler retainer extending from the support coupler to one of the plurality of retainer holes to retain the support coupler to the support member in a fixed position along the length of the support member.

6. A positionally adjustable support assembly, comprising:

a) a plurality of vertical supports spaced apart by an offset distance;

b) a horizontal support member coupled to and extending between the plurality of vertical support members, the horizontal support member comprising:

i) a circular cross-sectional shape;

ii) a length from the first end to the second end;

iii) a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the horizontal support member;

iv) an outer surface;

v) a fin slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the horizontal support member;

c) a fin extending vertically from an outer surface of the horizontal support member by a fin height and extending a portion of the length of the horizontal support member;

d) a support extension coupled to and extending substantially perpendicular to the support member and comprising:

i) an attachment end coupled to the horizontal support member;

ii) an extension end extending from the horizontal support member;

iii) a length from the attachment end to the extension end;

e) an extension attachment attaching the attachment end of the support extension to the support member and comprising:

i) a semi-circular cylindrical support coupler, the semi-circular cylindrical support coupler comprising:

a length extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the support member longitudinal axis;

a gap opening extending along the longitudinal axis of the semi-circular cylindrical support coupler to allow the semi-circular cylindrical support coupler to extend around the horizontal support member in a concentric coupling arrangement;

an inner surface;

a retention slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the semi-circular cylindrical support coupler a groove depth along the inner surface;

wherein the groove depth is at least as great as the fin height

ii) an extension coupler attached to the attachment end of the support extension;

wherein the retaining slot is configured above the fin to secure the extension attachment to the horizontal support member and prevent rotation of the extension attachment and the support extension about the horizontal support member; and is

Wherein the support extension is removably attached to the horizontal support member and is adjustable in position along the length of the horizontal support member.

7. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 6, wherein the clearance opening has a radius that is less than the diameter of the horizontal support member, thereby requiring flexure of the coupler for engagement about the horizontal support member.

8. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 6, wherein the gap opening extends through a radius of no more than about 140 degrees.

9. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 6, wherein the horizontal support member comprises two fins extending along a portion of the length of the horizontal support member, thereby creating a fin gap between the two fins that is at least as large as the length of the extension attachment.

10. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 9, wherein the fins are slidably engaged with the horizontal support member to slide along the length of the horizontal support member.

11. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 6, wherein the horizontal support member comprises a plurality of retainer holes for securing the extension attachment at fixed positions along the length of the horizontal support member by coupler retainers extending from the extension attachment into the retainer holes.

12. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 6, wherein the vertical support member comprises a plurality of retainer holes for securing the horizontal attachment member in a fixed position along the length of the vertical support member by coupler retainers extending from the horizontal attachment member into the retainer holes.

13. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 6, wherein the support extension is rotatably coupled with the extension attachment and wherein the attachment end of the support extension comprises a plurality of retainer holes configured around a circumference that are engaged by a coupler retainer extending from the extension attachment into the retainer holes.

14. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 6, wherein the horizontal support member is coupled to at least one of the vertical support members by a horizontal attachment, the horizontal attachment comprising a semi-circular cylindrical coupler comprising:

i) a length extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the vertical support member longitudinal axis;

ii) a gap opening extending along the longitudinal axis of the semi-circular cylindrical coupler, the semi-circular cylindrical coupler having a gap opening large enough to allow the semi-circular cylindrical coupler to extend around the vertical support member in a concentric coupling arrangement.

15. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 14, wherein the horizontal attachment comprises a horizontal attachment retainer and wherein the vertical support member comprises a plurality of apertures along the length of the vertical support member for receiving horizontal attachment retainers that extend into the apertures to secure the horizontal support member to the vertical support member.

16. The adjustable position support assembly of claim 6, comprising a mounting bracket having a pivot, wherein the adjustable position support assembly is rotatable about the pivot and rotatable from a mounting support.

17. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 16, wherein the mounting bracket is configured on a bottom end of the vertical support member and wherein an upper mounting bracket is a moveable engagement feature to enable a top portion of the vertical support member to be retained and released from the upper mounting bracket.

18. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 6, wherein the support coupler comprises an internal retainer that extends along a length of the support coupler and within the inner surface of the support coupler, and wherein the support coupler is a different material than the internal retainer.

19. A kit, comprising:

a) a segmentation component comprising

i) A hub assembly, the hub assembly comprising:

a left vertical support member; and

a right vertical support member;

a horizontal support member having a longitudinal axis and extending between the left and right vertical support members;

ii) a left side assembly rotatably attached to and extending from a left end of the center assembly and comprising:

a left extending vertical support member;

a horizontal support member having a longitudinal axis and extending from the left vertical support member to the left extending vertical support member;

wherein the longitudinal axis of the horizontal support member of the left side assembly extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal member of the center assembly;

iii) a right side assembly rotatably attached to the center assembly and extending from a right end of the center position adjustable support assembly, and comprising:

a right extending vertical support member;

a horizontal support member having a longitudinal axis and extending from the right vertical support member to the right extending vertical support member;

wherein the longitudinal axis of the horizontal support member of the right side assembly extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal member of the center assembly;

wherein the longitudinal axes of the horizontal support members of the left and right side assemblies extend to the same side of the center assembly;

iv) a support extension coupled to and extending substantially perpendicular to at least one of the horizontal support members of the center assembly, the left side assembly, or the right side assembly, wherein the support extension comprises:

an attachment end coupled to the horizontal support member;

an extension end extending from the horizontal support member;

a length from the attachment end to the extension end;

an extension attachment attaching the attachment end of the support extension to the horizontal support member;

b) a base having a plurality of base receivers:

c) a top having a plurality of top receivers:

wherein the left vertical support, the right vertical support, the left extending vertical support, and the right extending vertical support are retained in the plurality of base and top receivers to form the toolbox.

20. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 19, wherein at least one of the horizontal support members of the center assembly, the left side assembly, and the right side assembly is a positionally adjustable support assembly, wherein at least one of the horizontal support members of the center assembly, the left side assembly, and the right side assembly comprises a fin slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the support member; and is

Wherein the position adjustable support assembly further comprises a fin extending vertically from an outer surface of the horizontal support member by a fin height and extending a portion of the length of the horizontal support member;

wherein the horizontal support member has a circular cross-section, and wherein the extension attachment comprises a semi-circular support coupler comprising:

a length extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal support member;

a gap opening extending along the longitudinal axis of the semi-circular support coupler to allow the semi-circular support coupler to extend around the horizontal support member in a concentric coupling arrangement;

an inner surface;

a retaining slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the semicircular support coupler a groove depth along the inner surface;

wherein the groove depth is at least as great as the fin height;

wherein the retaining slot is configured above the fin to secure the support extension to the horizontal support member and prevent rotation about the horizontal support member; and is

Wherein the support extension is removably attached to the horizontal support member and is adjustable in position along the length of the horizontal support member.

21. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 19, wherein the plurality of base receivers comprises:

i) a left vertical support receiver for receiving the left vertical support member;

ii) a right vertical support receiver for receiving the right vertical support member;

iii) a left extending vertical support receiver for receiving the left extending vertical support member; and

iv) a right extending vertical support receiver for receiving the right extending vertical support member.

22. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of base receivers is a channel, and wherein the second end of a vertical support member is inserted into the channel.

23. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 21, wherein at least two of the plurality of base receivers are channels, and wherein the second ends of the vertical support members are inserted into the channels.

24. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of base receivers is retained to the base by a base retainer.

25. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 19, wherein the top receiver comprises:

a) a left vertical support receiver for receiving the left vertical support member;

b) a right vertical support receiver for receiving the right vertical support member;

c) a left extending vertical support receiver for receiving the left extending vertical support member; and

d) a right extending vertical support receiver for receiving the right extending vertical support member.

26. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of top receivers is a channel, and wherein the first end of a vertical support member is inserted into the channel.

27. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 25, wherein at least two of the plurality of top receivers are channels, and wherein the first end of a vertical support member is inserted into the channels.

28. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of top receivers is retained to the top by a top retainer.

29. The adjustable position support assembly of claim 19, wherein the support extension is removably attached to the horizontal support member.

30. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 29, wherein the support coupler comprises an extension coupler for removably attaching the support extension by inserting the attachment end of the support extension into the extension coupler.

31. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 19, wherein the gap opening extends through a radius of no more than about 120 degrees.

32. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 19, wherein the clearance opening has a radius that is less than the diameter of the support member, thereby requiring the support coupler to flex for engagement about the horizontal support member.

33. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 19, including a plurality of fins within the fin slots and a gap between two adjacent fins that is greater than the length of the support coupler, and wherein a support coupler is removably attached to the support member by the gap between adjacent fins.

34. The positionally adjustable support assembly of claim 19, wherein the support member comprises a plurality of retainer holes for receiving a coupler retainer, the coupler retainer extending from the support coupler to one of the plurality of retainer holes to retain the support coupler to the support member in a fixed position along the length of the support member.

35. A method of converting the kit of claim 19 into a wall-mounted segmented assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

a) removing the top portion from the segmented component,

b) removing the base from the segmented assembly;

c) rotating the left side assembly until the longitudinal axis of the left side assembly horizontal support member is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the center assembly;

d) rotating the right assembly until the longitudinal axis of the right assembly horizontal support member is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the center assembly;

e) attaching the segmented component to a wall.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the top portion comprises a top retainer and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: removing the top retainer prior to removing the top from the segmented assembly.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the base includes a base holder and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: removing the base retainer prior to removing the base from the segmented assembly.

Background

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a position adjustable support assembly including a support extension extending from a support frame. The support frame has a pair of vertical support members coupled together by one or more horizontal support members. The support extension is removably attached to the horizontal support member and is adjustable in position along the length of the horizontal support member. The support extension is attached to the horizontal support member by an extension attachment that includes a clearance opening that enables the extension attachment to be snapped over the horizontal support member. Any number of extension attachments and support extensions attached thereto may be attached to the horizontal support member.

The extension attachment may be t-shaped, having a support coupler having a length extending along a length of the horizontal attachment and configured for removable attachment to a horizontal support member, and an extension coupler for attaching the support extension. The extension coupler may have a length orthogonal to the support coupler length, resulting in a t-shaped extension attachment.

In an exemplary embodiment, the support coupler portion of the extension attachment has a circular inner surface that extends around the rod-like horizontal support member. The horizontal support member may further include a fin slot for retaining a fin extending into the support extension to prevent the fin from rotating about the horizontal support member. In an exemplary embodiment, the fins are slidably engaged within the fin slots of the horizontal support member, thereby enabling the fins and support extensions to be positioned along the length of the horizontal support member as desired. Multiple support extensions can be attached to and detached from the horizontal support member as needed and then slid to the desired position.

The gap between the fins may be large enough to allow the extension attachment to snap and attach to a horizontal attachment between the fins or between the fins and a vertical support member, or a horizontal attachment between a horizontal support member and a vertical support member. The extension attachment can then be slid over the fin, or the fin can be slid into the extension attachment along the fin slot. The extension attachment may have an internal retainer that enhances attachment to the horizontal member. For example, a sleeve may be inserted into an interior portion of the support coupler to improve attachment and retention of the extension attachment to the horizontal support member. The inner retainer may be made of a material having different properties than the rest of the extension coupling, such as being more malleable or stiffer. For example, the inner retainer may be CPVC and the remainder of the extension coupler may be PVC. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a thermoplastic polymer, and CPVC is a thermoplastic produced by chlorination of PVC resins. CPVC is more ductile than PVC and therefore has greater flexibility and pressure resistance.

The support coupler of the extension attachment may further include a coupler retainer extending from the extension coupler to the horizontal support member to secure the extension coupler and the support extension in a fixed position along the length of the horizontal support member. The horizontal support member may have a plurality of retainer holes for receiving the coupler retainer. Likewise, the extension coupler may have a retainer that extends through the extension coupler and into the support extension, thereby preventing the support extension from pulling out of or rotating from the extension attachment. An exemplary extension coupler may be a circular bore for receiving a rod-like support extension or a support extension having a circular cross-sectional outer surface.

The exemplary support frame may also be position adjustable. The horizontal support member is slidable up and down the length of the vertical support member and may be held in place by a horizontal attachment retainer that extends into a retainer hole in the vertical support member. The vertical support member may have a plurality of retainer holes configured along the length of the vertical support member to enable vertical adjustment and fixation of the horizontal support member. The horizontal attachment may couple the horizontal support member to the vertical support member. An example horizontal attachment has a circular hole for sliding along the rod-like vertical support member and may have a circular hole for receiving and retaining the rod-like horizontal support member. The horizontal attachment may be t-shaped similar to the extension attachment and may have a clearance opening to allow the horizontal attachment to snap onto the vertical support member.

An exemplary support frame may be attached to a support surface, such as a wall, by one or more brackets. These brackets may include pivots to allow the support frame and the adjustable position support assembly to rotate about the pivots or to be removed from the wall. The pair of upper brackets may be configured with a movable engagement feature to allow locking of the pivoting support frame to the upper brackets. The movable engagement feature can slide or rotate upward to allow the vertical support member to rotate into position on the upper bracket and then move downward to engage and lock the vertical support component into place.

An exemplary extension attachment or horizontal attachment may have a clearance opening that extends an effective radius to allow it to snap over the rod-like member. The extension attachment or horizontal attachment can flex or expand to allow detachable attachment to the rod-like member. The ends of the extension defining the gap attachment or horizontal attachment may be forked and expanded and then snapped around the rod-like member as the extension attachment or horizontal attachment is snapped into place. Thus, the gap radius may be about 70 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 80 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 90 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 100 degrees to about 140 degrees, about 110 degrees to about 140 degrees, and any range between or including the provided radius values (e.g., about 80 degrees to about 120 degrees). When the radius of the gap is small, it may be more difficult to snap the attachment into place around the rod-shaped member, and if the radius is too large, it may not provide sufficient holding force.

An exemplary adjustable position support assembly may be a segmented adjustable position support assembly or a segmented assembly having a center position adjustable support assembly or a center assembly, a left position adjustable support assembly or a left assembly, and a right position adjustable support assembly or a right assembly. The segmented components may be converted into a toolbox, wherein the left and right components are rotatable about a central component and wherein the vertical support members are retained in the base and top receivers. The left assembly is coupled to the left vertical member of the center assembly by a horizontal attachment that enables the left assembly to rotate about the left vertical support member. Likewise, the right assembly is coupled to the right vertical member of the center assembly by a horizontal attachment that enables the right assembly to rotate about the right vertical support member. With the left and right side assemblies rotated to a substantially orthogonal orientation to the center assembly, four vertical support members (a left vertical support member, a right vertical support member, a left extending vertical support member, and a right extending vertical support member) may be placed in the receptacles of the base and top and secured with the base holder and top holder, respectively, to form a toolbox.

The receivers of the base and/or top may be channels for receiving the second and first ends of the vertical support member, respectively. As described herein, the receiver may have a hole for receiving a retainer (such as a pin). The receiver may have an automatic attachment arrangement wherein upon insertion, the vertical support member is locked or attached and not released until the release lever or feature is activated. The receiver may be or include a latch, such as a spring loaded latch or a living hinge latch. The receiver may include a cylindrical body having a clearance opening for receiving the vertical support member. One or more vertical support members (such as a left extending vertical support member and/or a right extending vertical support member) may be rotated into the clearance opening of the latch and snapped into the latch for attachment. The enlarged portion of the vertical support member prevents the vertical support member from sliding off the latch when the toolbox is moved or lifted. Likewise, the left and right vertical support members of the center assembly can snap into the clearance openings of the latch-type receiver.

This summary is provided as a general description of some embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Additional exemplary embodiments including variations and alternative configurations of the present invention are provided herein.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an example adjustable position support assembly including a pair of vertical support members having a horizontal support member extending therebetween. A pair of support extensions are attached to the horizontal support member by an extension attachment.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a horizontal attachment coupled to a vertical support member.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a support extension attached to a horizontal support member by a coupler that snaps onto the horizontal support member and is retained by a fin that extends into a fin slot of the horizontal support member and into a retainer slot of the coupler to retain the coupler in a fixed rotational position relative to the horizontal support member.

Fig. 4 shows a top-down view of an exemplary coupler attached to a horizontal support member.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the coupling shown in FIG. 3, taken along line 5-5.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of an example adjustable position support assembly having three horizontal support members extending between two vertical support members.

Fig. 7 illustrates a side view of an example adjustable position support assembly with one of the horizontal support members rotated upward and the vertical support member attached to a structure such as a wall by a bracket having a pivot.

FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of an exemplary segmented positionally adjustable support assembly or segment assembly, which includes three segments coupled together. The center section position adjustable support assembly or center assembly has a pair of vertical support members and a horizontal support member extending therebetween. Left and right segment position adjustable support assemblies, or left and right assemblies, respectively, are attached to left and right vertical support members of the central segment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of an exemplary segmented positionally adjustable support assembly comprising three segments coupled together. The center section position adjustable support assembly or center assembly has a pair of vertical support members and a horizontal support member extending therebetween. Left and right segment position adjustable support assemblies, or left and right assemblies, respectively, are attached to left and right vertical support members of the central segment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a bottom view of an exemplary segmented positionally adjustable support assembly wherein the right assembly is rotated to an orthogonal orientation wherein the longitudinal axis of the horizontal member of the right assembly is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the center assembly and wherein the left assembly is rotated to an orthogonal orientation.

FIG. 11 illustrates a bottom view of the exemplary segmented positionally adjustable support assembly illustrated in FIG. 10, wherein both the right assembly and the left assembly are rotated to an orthogonal orientation wherein the longitudinal axes of the horizontal members of the left assembly and the right assembly are substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the center assembly.

Fig. 12 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary segmented assembly configured above a base of a toolbox with vertical members aligned with base receivers.

Fig. 13 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary segmented assembly configured and secured to a base of a tool box by vertical members retained in base receivers and secured by base attachments, and a tool box top configured above the segmented assembly.

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of an exemplary toolbox including a segmented assembly attached between a toolbox base and a toolbox top or a toolbox cover, wherein vertical support members are retained in a base receiver and a top receiver.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. The drawings represent illustrations of some embodiments of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Furthermore, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Detailed Description

As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having" or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, the use of "a" or "an" is used to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. The description is to be understood as including one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is stated otherwise.

Certain exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are for the purpose of illustrating the invention only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention and certain modifications, combinations, and improvements of the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art, and all such alternative embodiments, combinations, modifications, and improvements are within the scope of the invention.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the example positionally adjustable support assembly 10 includes a support frame 30 that includes a pair of vertical support members 20, 20' having a horizontal support member 40 extending therebetween. The two vertical support members are spaced apart by an offset distance 28. A pair of support extensions 70, 70 'are attached to the horizontal support members by extension attachments 80, 80'. The vertical support member has a longitudinal axis 25 that extends along the length of the vertical support member from the first end 22 to the second end 24. The horizontal support member is attached to the vertical support member by a horizontal attachment retainer 57 that extends into the vertical support retainer hole 27. There are a plurality of vertical support holder holes along the length of the vertical support member 23 to allow a user to hold the horizontal support member in a desired position along the length of the vertical support member. The vertical support member has a longitudinal axis 25 that extends along the length of the vertical support member from the first end 22 to the second end 24. The vertical support members have a width or diameter 26. The horizontal support member is held by a horizontal attachment 50, which may be a semi-circular collar or horizontal coupler 59 (shown in fig. 2) that fits completely around the vertical support member, and extends partially around the vertical support member and is held by a horizontal attachment holder 57. As shown in fig. 2, the horizontal attachment 50 extends around the vertical support 20. The horizontal attachment gap 57 allows the attachment to be snapped around the vertical support member and the horizontal support retainer 56 extends into the retainer hole 27 of the vertical support to hold the horizontal support in a fixed position on the vertical support member. As shown in fig. 2, the horizontal support member 40 may be rotated within the horizontal attachment member 50 and the dowel pin or screw 54 may lock the horizontal support member in a rotated position relative to the vertical support member 20.

Referring now to fig. 3 and 4, support extension 70 is coupled to horizontal support member 40 by extension attachment 80. The exemplary extension attachment 80 is t-shaped having a support coupler 82 portion that, when attached to the horizontal support member 40, has a length 83 parallel to the longitudinal axis 45 of the horizontal support member and a longitudinal axis 85. The support coupler is semi-circular with a clearance opening 87 for snapping the support coupler around the horizontal support member. The example extender attachment 80 has an extender coupler 84 portion that extends perpendicular to the extender coupler portion and has a hole for receiving the support extension 70. The support extension is inserted into the extension coupler 84 portion of the extension attachment 80, and the retainer 86' may extend through the extension attachment and into the support extension 70.

Referring now to fig. 1, 3, 4 and 5, support extension 70 is coupled to horizontal support member 40 by extension attachment 80. As shown in fig. 1, the two extension attachments are coupled to the horizontal support member and have a longitudinal axis 75 that is perpendicular to the horizontal support member longitudinal axis 45. The horizontal support member has a length 43 from a first end 42 to a second end 44. The support extension has a length from the attachment end 72 to the extension end 74. As best shown in fig. 3 and 4, the extension attachment 80 or support coupler 82 has a clearance opening 87 that allows the support coupler to be snapped over and onto the horizontal support member 40. The fin slot 91 extends along the horizontal support member and has a length from a first end 92 to a second end 93. The length may be substantially the length of horizontal support member 40. The fins 60 are retained in the fin slots 91 and are slidable within the slots along the length of the fin slots or horizontal members. The support coupler 82 has a retention slot 81 that allows the fin to slide into the support coupler to retain the support coupler in a fixed rotational position relative to the horizontal support member. However, support extension 70 and support coupler 82 may slide along the length of horizontal support member 40, as indicated by the double-headed bold arrow. This allows the support extensions to be positioned between the vertical supports as desired. A coupler retainer 86 may be used to secure support coupler 82 and support extension 70 in a fixed position along the length of the horizontal support member. The horizontal support member has a plurality of retainer holes 47 along the length of the horizontal support member 40. The fins and support coupler can be slid together to a desired position. The plurality of fins 60 may be configured within the fin slots 91 and the gap distance between them may allow the coupler to be snapped and attached to the horizontal support member, and then the fins repositioned within the retention slots 81 of the support coupler 82. As shown in fig. 4, the width 96 of the fin slot 91 is greater than the width 66 of the fin 60.

As shown in fig. 5, the example coupler 86 is inserted through the wall of the support coupler 82 and into the horizontal support member 40. The fins 60 are shown configured within the fin slots 91 of the horizontal support member 40 and the retention slots 81 of the coupler 82. The height or depth 18 of the retention slot is shown and extends beyond the inner retainer 100. Also shown in fig. 5 is a clearance opening 87 that extends a certain radius around the support coupler 82. The inner surface 89 of the support coupler 82 is configured around the outer surface 49 of the horizontal support member. The internal retainer 100 is configured on the inner surface of the support coupler portion of the extension attachment 80. As described herein, the internal retainer may be a different material than the rest of the extension attachment or support coupler. The retention slot may extend into or through the inner retainer. The support coupler 82 portion of the extension attachment is concentrically coupled about the horizontal support member 40.

Referring now to fig. 6 and 7, the support frame 30 is coupled to a support surface 101, such as a wall. As shown in fig. 6, the example positionally adjustable support assembly 10 has three horizontal support members 40, 40 'and 40 "extending between two vertical support members 20, 20'. There are two support extensions 70, 70' attached to the top horizontal support member 40. One of the horizontal support members 70 is held in a rotated position by the fins 60 while the other horizontal support member 70' has been snapped onto the horizontal support member, but the fins have not yet been slid into the retention slots of the extension attachment 80. The intermediate horizontal support extension 40 'has a plurality of fins 60 in the fin slots 91' that are offset from one another to create a fin gap that enables attachment of the horizontal support extension within the fin gap. The fins 60 extend upwardly from the outer surface of the horizontal support member by a fin height 67. The bottom horizontal support member 40 "has two support extensions 70" and 70 "' attached thereto. The adjustable position support assembly 10 is coupled to a support such as a wall by a bracket 110 and the bracket has a pivot 116 to allow the assembly to be rotated away from the wall as shown in fig. 7. As also shown in fig. 7, the bottom support extension 70' rotates upward. As shown in fig. 6, the bottom horizontal support member 40 "may be rotatable relative to the vertical support member and may be held in place, for example, by set screws. The support frame 30 rotates about a pivot 116 in the bottom bracket 110. The upper bracket 110' has a moveable engagement feature 119 to allow the support frame 30 to pivot back to the wall and then be retained by the moveable engagement feature. The movable engagement features may slide upward or may rotate to allow the support frame to pivot into position, and then may slide downward to engage and retain the support frame. Further, the positionally adjustable support assembly 10 may be removed from the support surface or bracket by removing the pin 117 in the lower bracket 110.

Referring now to fig. 8-14, an exemplary segmented assembly has left and right assemblies attached to a center assembly that are rotatable about the center assembly. Vertical support members may be retained in the base and top to form a tool base as shown in fig. 14. The segment assembly may be coupled to the wall and may have any number of tools or articles coupled thereto, and may be removed from the wall and converted to a tool box for transport to the second location. This enables a user to quickly and easily obtain an article in multiple locations.

As shown in FIG. 8, the exemplary segmented positionally adjustable support assembly or segmented assembly 300 includes three segments coupled together. The center section position adjustable support assembly or center assembly 13 has a pair of vertical support members 20, 20' and a horizontal support member 40 extending therebetween. Left and right segment position adjustable support assemblies, or left and right assemblies 133 and 233, are attached to left and right vertical support members 20 and 20' of the center segment. The horizontal support members of the left and right assemblies 140, 240 are coupled to the vertical support members 20, 20' by horizontal attachment members 150, 250, respectively. The left and right horizontal support members are rotatable about the vertical support member. It should also be noted that the left and right components may be moved up or down relative to the center component by sliding of the horizontal attachments 150, 250, respectively. The left assembly 133 has a left extending vertical support member 120 and the right assembly 233 has a right extending vertical support member 220. The left and center assemblies 13 share vertical support members 20, and the right and center assemblies share vertical support members 20'.

Fig. 9 illustrates a top view of an exemplary segmented positionally adjustable support assembly, namely, a segmented assembly 300, which includes three segments coupled together. The center section position adjustable support assembly or center assembly 13 has a pair of vertical support members 20, 20' and a horizontal support member 40 extending therebetween. Left and right segment position adjustable support assemblies, or left and right assemblies 133 and 233, respectively, are attached to the left and right vertical support members of the center segment. Each of the center, left and right assemblies has at least one support extension 70, 170, 270, respectively, for holding and supporting an article. These support extensions are slidable along their respective horizontal support members and may be held in place by fins configured in fin slots. The center assembly has fins 60 and fin slots 91. The left assembly has fins 160 and the right assembly has fins 260, each slidable along the horizontal support members 140, 240, respectively. The fins maintain the support extension in a rotational position relative to the horizontal support member.

Referring now to fig. 10 and 11, the left and right assemblies 133, 233 may rotate about the center assembly 13, or may rotate about the vertical support members 20, 20' of the center assembly. As shown in fig. 10 and 11, the example segmented positionally adjustable support assembly 300 is configured to rotate the right assembly to an orthogonal orientation wherein the longitudinal axis 245 of the horizontal support member 240 of the right assembly 233 is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 45 of the horizontal support member 40 of the center assembly 13. As shown in fig. 10, the left assembly 133 is rotated to an orthogonal orientation wherein the longitudinal axis 145 of the horizontal support member 140 is substantially non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 45 of the horizontal support member 40 of the center assembly 13. As shown in fig. 11, the left component 133 is now substantially orthogonal to the center component and substantially parallel to the right component. Vertical support members 20, 20', 120, and 220 are now configured in a rectangular orientation, each oriented with the corners of the rectangle.

As shown in fig. 12, the exemplary segment assembly 300 is configured above a base 310 of the toolbox by vertical support members 20, 20', 120, and 220 that are aligned with base receivers 320-320 "', respectively. Receiver 320 is a left receiver, receiver 320 'is a right receiver, receiver 320 "is a left extending receiver, and receiver 320'" is a right extending receiver; reference is made to the vertical support members they receive. The vertical support member or a second end of the vertical support member may be retained in the base receiver and secured by base retainer 329. The base retainer may be configured within the interior of the base 310 or may extend through the base to retain the vertical support member. The base receiver may be a tube or a receiving enclosure that may form a channel for receiving the vertical support member and may have a receiver opening 322 for inserting the second end of the vertical support member. The base retainer may extend through the wall of the base receiver and into the retainer holes 27, 27' of the vertical support members. The base retainer may be, for example, a pin, and the pin may have a ball that deflects upon insertion to hold the retainer in place. A release button or feature may allow the ball to deflect for insertion and removal of the seat holder. The base 310 may include a base floor 312 and one or more sides 314 extending upwardly from the base floor.

As shown in fig. 13, the exemplary segment assembly 300 is constructed in and secured to the base of the toolbox 390 by vertical support members 20 that are retained in the base receiver 320 and secured by a base retainer 329. The toolbox top 340 is configured above the segment assembly 300. The top includes a top cap 342 and a plurality of sides 344 extending downwardly from the top cap. The top portion includes top receivers 346, 346 ', 346 ", and 346 '" for receiving the tops of the first ends of the vertical support members 20, 20', 120, 220, respectively, of the segment assemblies. The receiver may be a tube or channel as described for the base receiver and may have an opening 348 for inserting a first end or top of the vertical support member. The top may have a handle 370 to allow easy manual transport of the toolbox 390.

As shown in fig. 14, the exemplary tool case 390 includes a segmented assembly 300 that is attached between a tool base 320 and a tool top 340, with vertical support members 20, 20', 120, 220 retained in the base receiver 320 and the top receiver 340 and secured by a base retainer 329 and a top retainer 349, respectively. It should be understood that the base side 314 and the top side 344 may extend and meet or overlap each other to form an enclosure for holding the segmented component therein.

As described herein, the left and right assemblies may rotate substantially orthogonal to the center assembly, and this includes any angle of about 80 to 100 degrees, and may be 90 degrees in order to remain in the base and/or top.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The particular embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications, combinations, and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.