Magnetic tool stand

1 . A magnetic tool stand combination comprising:

a tool; and

a magnetic tool stand for supporting and securing the tool relative to a ferromagnetic body, the magnetic tool stand comprising:

(a) first and second on-off switchable magnet units, each of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units having at least one pair of oppositely polarisable pole shoes at a working face of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit, the pole shoes disposed to provide a closed magnetic circuit at each unit with and when contacting the ferromagnetic body and to magnetically attach the magnetic tool stand to the ferromagnetic body and each of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units having a handle to effect manual switching of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit into one of an active magnetic state and a deactivated magnetic state;

(b) a support having (i) a first side on which is provided a tool mount for releasable or permanent securing of the tool to the support, and (ii) a second side opposite the first side and which, in use of the magnetic tool stand, faces a ferromagnetic body on which the magnetic tool stand is to be secured, the support comprises a horizontally extending top and at least one pair of legs extending downward from the horizontally extending top and spaced apart from one another, the first and second on-off switchable magnet units located and supported between the at least one pair of legs, the handle of the first on-off switchable magnet unit extending above the first side of the support; and

(c) first and second mounts releasably securing the first and second on-off switchable magnet units, respectively, to the support, the first and second mounts located in spaced apart relationship to each other, the first and second mounts devised to provide at least one degree of freedom of rotational movement for the respective on-off switchable magnet units at the support and enable the working faces to be rotated into a range of operational positions including a first position in which the working faces of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are coplanar or parallel for resting the pole shoe pairs on at least one planar surface of the ferromagnetic body, and a second position in which the working faces of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are angled relative to each other for resting the pole shoe pairs of both the first and second on-off switchable magnet units on a curved surface of the ferromagnetic body, wherein the tool is a rotary power tool mounted to or integrated with the support.

2 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein a window in the support extends between the first and second sides and is located between the first and second on-off switchable magnet units, the window sized to allow a work piece interaction component of the tool to interact with the ferromagnetic body or a work piece located proximate the second side.

3 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein a cut-out extends between the first and second sides at an edge of the support and is located between the first and second on-off switchable magnet units, the cut out sized to allow a work piece interaction component of the tool to interact with the ferromagnetic body or a work piece located proximate the second side.

4 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are secured to the support and are rotatable about a respective swivel axis relative to the support.

5 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second mounts is further devised to additionally allow relative translatory displacement of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units towards and away from each other whilst secured at the support.

6 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 5 , wherein the translatory displacement is rectilinear, curved, or both.

7 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 3 , wherein the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are located and supported between the at least one pair of legs on either side of the cut out.

8 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second mounts comprises (a) a pair of slots, one slot in each opposing leg of the at least one pair of legs and (b) a pair of support bolts or pins secured at axially opposite end faces of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit and received within said congruent slots in a manner allowing (i) rotation of the respective magnet unit about a swivel axis extending between the support bolts or pins received in the slots and (ii) translatory displacement along said slots.

9 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second mounts comprises (a) a pair of through holes located coaxially in each opposing leg of the at least one pair of legs and (b) a pair of support bolts or pins secured at axially opposite end faces of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit and received within said through holes in a manner allowing rotation of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit about a swivel axis defined by the pair of coaxially aligned through holes.

10 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second mounts further comprises (a) a pair of curved slots in each opposing leg of the at least one pair of legs, the curved slots having as their respective center of curvature at a swivel axis of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit, and (b) a pair of follower pins or bolts secured at the axially opposite end faces of each respective on-off switchable magnet unit and received in said curved slots for rotation of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit about its swivel axis.

11 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein the first and second on-off switchable magnet units each comprise an external housing and wherein the pole shoes are provided by a pair of ferromagnetic pole rails which extend substantially along an axial length of the external housing in spaced apart relationship on the working face provided at one side of the external housing.

12 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 7 , wherein the horizontally extending top of the support is U-shaped and the cut-out is located between a pair of first web portions joined by a traverse web portion extending between the pair of first web portions, and wherein the at least one pair of legs comprise (i) a pair of first terminal webs extending perpendicular to and at the terminal ends of said pair of first web portions of the U-shaped horizontally extending top, and (ii) a second terminal web extending perpendicular to and located at a terminal end of the traverse web portion, wherein the pair of first terminal webs and the second terminal web extend in parallel spaced apart relationship, each said first and second on-off switchable magnet unit are supported at the second terminal web portion and one of said first terminal webs, respectively.

13 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , further comprising an arrester operative between the first and second on-off switchable magnet units and the support to releasably secure the magnet units against movement when in said operational positions.

14 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 13 , wherein the arrester includes a clamp operable by a handle.

15 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are permanent magnet units switchable between the on state in which magnetic flux passes between the respective first and second on-off switchable magnet unit through the pole shoes into the ferromagnetic body, and the off state in which no magnetic flux is present at the pole shoes of the respective first and second on-off switchable magnet unit.

16 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 3 , wherein the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are located and supported between the at least one pair of legs on either side of the cut-out.

17 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 3 , wherein the tool mount extends away from said first side of the support.

18 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 17 , wherein said tool mount allows fixing a defined position at said side supports.

19 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein the first and second mounts are configured to releasably secure the first and second on-off switchable magnet units in any of a plurality of operation positions including the first position and the second position.

20 . The magnetic tool stand combination of claim 1 , wherein the handle of the first on-off switchable magnet unit is positioned between the at least one pair of legs.

21 . A combination comprising:

a rotary power tool; and

a magnetic base for securing the rotary power tool to a ferromagnetic body, comprising:

first and second magnet units each having a working face by way of which each magnet unit is capable of resting on and is magnetically attachable in releasable manner to the ferromagnetic body when in contact therewith;

a support carrying the first and second magnet units and including a tool mount adapted to secure the rotary power tool to the support, wherein the support has an opening through which a work piece engagement or measuring implement may extend from a first side of the support to a second side of the support; and

first and second mounts releasably securing the first and second magnet units to the support; wherein the first and second magnet units are secured to the support in spaced apart relationship and rotatable about respective swivel axes enabling changing the orientation of the working faces of the respective first and second magnetic units relative to the support between a plurality of operational positions that include a first position in which the working faces of the first and second magnet units are generally in a common plane or parallel planes for resting on a flat surface of the ferromagnetic body, and a second position in which the working faces of the first and second magnet units are angled relative to each other for resting on a curved surface of the ferromagnetic body, wherein the support comprises at least one pair of legs extending parallel and spaced apart from one another, the first and second magnet units located and supported between the at least one pair of legs; wherein at least one of the first and second mounts is further devised to additionally allow relative translatory displacement of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units towards and away from each other whilst secured at the support.

22 . A power tool system capable of being supported on and releasably fixed to a surface of a ferromagnetic body, the power tool system comprising:

a rotary power tool; and

a stand, comprising

a support at which a motor of the rotary power tool is supported or carried, the motor serving to impart motion onto a material cutting implement of the rotary power tool;

at least two on-off switchable magnet units for magnetically securing and fixing the rotary power tool in releasable manner on the ferromagnetic body, each on-off switchable magnet unit of the at least two on-off switchable magnet units having at least one pair of oppositely polarisable pole shoes at a working face of the unit that serve to stand the support on a surface of the ferromagnetic body and create a closed magnetic circuit with the ferromagnetic body in an on state of the on-off switchable magnet unit and switchable to an off state, each on-off switchable magnet unit of the at least two on-off switchable magnet units further comprising a handle to manually switch the respective on-off switchable magnet unit between the on state and the off state; and

a plurality of mounts releasably securing the at least two on-off switchable magnet units to the support, the plurality of mounts releasably securing the at least two on-off switchable magnet units to the support, the plurality of mount located in spaced apart relationship at the support on opposite sides of an opening extending between an upper and a lower side of the support, each mount of the plurality of mounts devised to provide at least one degree of freedom of rotational movement about a swivel axis for the respective on-off switchable magnet unit secured at the support, whereby the pole shoe pairs of the at least two on-off switchable magnet units are rotatable into and securable at a plurality of operational positions including a first position in which the pole shoe pairs of the at least two on-off switchable magnet units are located in a common plane and may rest on a planar surface of the ferromagnetic body, and a second position in which the pole shoe pairs of the at least two on-off switchable magnet units are angled relative to each other and may rest on a curved surface of the ferromagnetic body; and fasteners for selectively and releasably fixing a selected one of the plurality of operational positions of each of the at least two magnet units at the support, wherein the support comprises at least one pair of legs extending parallel and spaced apart from one another, the at least two on-off switchable magnet units located and supported between the at least one pair of legs.

23 . A combination comprising:

a rotary power tool; and

a magnetic tool stand for supporting and securing the rotary power tool relative to a ferromagnetic body, comprising:

(a) first and second on-off switchable magnet units, each of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units having at least one pair of oppositely polarisable pole shoes at a working face of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit, each pair of the oppositely polarisable pole shoes disposed to provide a closed magnetic circuit at each respective on-off switchable magnet unit with and when contacting the ferromagnetic body and to magnetically attach the magnetic tool stand to the ferromagnetic body and each of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units having a handle to effect manual switching of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit into one of an active magnetic state and a deactivated magnetic state;

(b) a support having (i) a first side supporting the rotary power tool, and (ii) a second side opposite the first side and which, in use of the magnetic tool stand, faces the ferromagnetic body on which the magnetic tool stand is to be secured, the handle of the first on-off switchable magnet unit extending above the first side of the support; and

(c) first and second mounts releasably securing the first and second on-off switchable magnet units, respectively, to the support, the first and second mounts located in spaced apart relationship to each other, the first and second mounts devised to provide at least one degree of freedom of rotational movement for the respective on-off switchable magnet unit at the support and to enable the working faces of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units to be rotated into a range of operational positions including a first position in which the working faces of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are coplanar or parallel for resting the pole shoe pairs on at least one planar surface of the ferromagnetic body, and a second position in which the working faces of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are angled relative to each other for resting the pole shoe pairs of both of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units on a curved surface of the ferromagnetic body, wherein the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are secured to the support and are respectively rotatable about a respective swivel axis.

24 . A magnetic tool stand for supporting and securing a tool relative to a ferromagnetic body, comprising:

(a) first and second on-off switchable magnet units, each of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units having at least one pair of oppositely polarisable pole shoes at a working face of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit, the least one pair of oppositely pole shoes disposed to provide a closed magnetic circuit at each respective on-off switchable magnet unit with and when contacting the ferromagnetic body and to magnetically attach the magnetic tool stand to the ferromagnetic body;

(b) a support having (i) a first side on which is provided a tool mount adapted for releasable or permanent securing of the tool to the support, and (ii) a second side opposite the first side and which, in use of the magnetic tool stand, faces the ferromagnetic body on which the magnetic tool stand is to be secured; and

(c) first and second mounts releasably securing the first and second on-off switchable magnet units, respectively, to the support, the first and second mounts are located in spaced apart relationship to each other, the first and second mounts devised to provide at least one degree of freedom of rotational movement for the respective on-off switchable magnet units at the support and enable the working faces to be rotated into a range of operational positions including a first position in which the working faces of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are coplanar or parallel for resting the pole shoe pairs on at least one planar surface of the ferromagnetic body, and a second position in which the working faces of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units are angled relative to each other for resting the pole shoe pairs of both on-off switchable magnet units on a curved surface of the ferromagnetic body, wherein at least one of the first and second mounts is further devised to additionally allow relative translatory displacement of the first and second on-off switchable magnet units towards and away from each other whilst secured at the support and wherein each of the first and second mounts comprises (a) a pair of slots in the support, and (b) a pair of support bolts or pins secured at axially opposite end faces of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit and received within said pair of slots in a manner allowing (i) rotation of the respective on-off switchable magnet unit about a swivel axis extending between the support bolts or pins received in the pair of slots and (ii) translatory displacement along said pair of slots, wherein each of the respective on-off switchable magnet units includes a handle extending above the support in the first position of the respective on-off switchable magnet.