Magnetic socket holder

Claim 2

An improved magnetic socket holder comprising, in combination: a molded socket tray including a mounting surface, opposite ends, a tray cross member connecting the ends, a plurality of parallel troughs arrayed between the ends along at least one side of the cross member and extending from the tray cross member, each adjacent parallel trough being laterally separated from the next adjacent parallel trough, said tray cross member defining a magnet support channel which is open to an end of each trough; at least one magnet mounted in the support channel, said magnet exposed to at least one trough at the end open to the cross member, said magnet including a first region of one polarity and a second region of another polarity, said magnet positioned in the channel so as to magnetically interact with a magnetizable metal socket in the trough to complete a magnetic circuit between the regions with said socket.

Claim 3

The holder of claim 1 further including a first keeper plate in the channel adjacent the first region of the magnet and a second keeper plate adjacent the second region, said plates projecting into the trough to mechanically engage a socket in the trough and complete a magnetic circuit.

Claim 4

The holder of claim 2 wherein the keeper plates are movable relative to the magnets.

Claim 5

The holder of claim 1 including a handle molded integrally with the socket tray.

Claim 6

An improved magnetic socket holder comprising, in combination: a non-magnetic material tray having opposite ends, a plurality of generally parallel troughs, the top of each trough being open to receive a socket, said tray further including a transverse magnet support channel abutting one end of each trough, said channel being open at said one end of each trough; a first magnet in the magnet support channel, said first magnet having a top surface, a bottom surface, said first magnet extending across the one end of at least one trough, said first magnet having one pole along the top surface and another pole along the bottom surface; a pole piece for the top surface of the first magnet positioned at the open end of the trough; and a separate pole piece for the bottom surface of the first magnet positioned at the open end of the trough.

Claim 7

An improved magnetic socket holder comprising, in combination: a non-magnetic material tray having opposite ends, a plurality of generally parallel troughs, the top of each trough being open to receive a socket, said tray further including a transverse magnet support channel abutting one end of each trough, said channel being open at said one end of each trough; a first magnet in the magnet support channel, said first magnet having a top surface, a bottom surface, said first magnet extending across the one end of at least one trough, said first magnet having one pole along the top surface and another pole along the bottom surface; a pole piece for the top surface of the first magnet positioned at the open end of the trough; and a separate pole piece for the bottom surface of the first magnet positioned at the open end of the trough.

Claim 8

The socket holder of claim 5 including a second magnet in the support channel abutting a pole piece and further including a bottom face positioned in a mounting surface of the socket holder, said bottom surface of the second magnet defining a plurality of poles along the length of the second magnet whereby the holder may be mounted on a magnetizable surface.

Claim 9

The socket holder of claim 5 including friction means on the bottom surface.

Claim 10

An improved magnetic socket holder comprising, in combination: a non-magnet material tray having opposite ends, a plurality of generally parallel troughs, the top of each trough being open to receive a socket, said tray further including a transverse magnet support channel abutting one end of each trough; an integrally molded handle in the tray at one of the said opposite ends; the first magnet in the magnet support channel, said first magnet having a top region and a bottom region, said first magnet extending across the one end of at least one trough, said first magnet having one pole along the top region and another pole along the bottom region; a pole piece for the top surface of the first magnet; a separate pole piece for the bottom surface of the first magnet; and a second magnet in the support channel abutting the separate pole piece and further including a bottom face positioned in a mounting surface of the socket holder, said bottom surface of the second magnet providing a plurality of poles along the length of the second magnet whereby the holder may be mounted on a magnetizable surface.

Claim 11

An improved magnetic socket holder comprising, in combination: a non-magnet material tray having opposite ends, a plurality of generally parallel troughs, the top of each trough being open to receive a socket, said tray further including a transverse magnet support channel abutting one end of each trough; an integrally molded handle in the tray at one of the said opposite ends; the first magnet in the magnet support channel, said first magnet having a top region and a bottom region, said first magnet extending across the one end of at least one trough, said first magnet having one pole along the top region and another pole along the bottom region; a pole piece for the top surface of the first magnet; a separate pole piece for the bottom surface of the first magnet; and a second magnet in the support channel abutting the separate pole piece and further including a bottom face positioned in a mounting surface of the socket holder, said bottom surface of the second magnet providing a plurality of poles along the length of the second magnet whereby the holder may be mounted on a magnetizable surface.