U.S. patent application number 09/811912 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-19 for industrial tool chest with modular shelving.
This patent application is currently assigned to Montezuma Welding & Mfg., Inc.. Invention is credited to Schmidt, LaVern D..
Application Number | 20020130598 09/811912 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25207928 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020130598 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmidt, LaVern D. |
September 19, 2002 |
Industrial tool chest with modular shelving
Abstract
A mobile industrial tool chest having modular shelving is
provided. A frame having a top, a base and a rear wall therebetween
defines an interior of a first embodiment of the tool chest. A pair
of generally L-shaped doors are pivotally coupled to the frame on
opposite sides and adjacent to the rear wall. The doors are movable
between open positions where access to an interior of the tool
chest is permitted and closed positions where access to the
interior of the tool chest is prohibited. The shelving brackets are
preferably arranged in a plurality of vertical columns. A plurality
of variously shaped shelves are provided for removable coupling
with the shelf brackets. A second embodiment of the tool chest
defines an interior of the tool chest by a back wall and first and
second side walls. The interior of the second embodiment similarly
includes columns of shelving brackets accessible through an opening
in the front of the tool chest. A retractable roll-up door is
provided to control access to the interior of the second
embodiment.
Inventors: |
Schmidt, LaVern D.;
(Montezuma, KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Clinton G. Newton
SHOOK, HARDY & BACON L.L.P.
1200 Main Street
Kansas City
MO
64105-2118
US
|
Assignee: |
Montezuma Welding & Mfg.,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
25207928 |
Appl. No.: |
09/811912 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 46/00 20130101;
B25H 3/00 20130101; B62B 3/003 20130101; B62B 3/004 20130101; B62B
2202/48 20130101; B62B 3/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/324 |
International
Class: |
A47B 088/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An industrial tool chest comprising: a frame having a base and a
top, the frame defining an interior of the tool chest; a plurality
of shelf brackets supported on the frame intermediate the base and
the top and in the interior of the chest for supporting modular
shelving; and at least one door movable between an open position
whereby access to the interior of the tool chest is permitted and a
closed position whereby access to the interior of the tool chest is
prevented.
2. The tool chest of claim 1, wherein each shelf bracket includes a
pair of generally horizontal crossbars, wherein the pair of
crossbars are generally parallel to each other and wherein the pair
of crossbars are spaced apart from each other a predetermined
distance.
3. The tool chest of claim 2, further comprising a modular shelf
for removable connection with the shelf bracket, the shelf having a
rear wall with top and bottom edges and an attachment flange
extending rearwardly therefrom adjacent the top edge.
4. The tool chest of claim 3, wherein the pair of crossbars of the
shelf bracket include an upper crossbar and a lower crossbar,
wherein the attachment flange abuts the upper crossbar and
facilitates the removable connecting of the shelf to the bracket,
and wherein the lower crossbar abuts the rear wall adjacent the
bottom edge.
5. The tool chest of claim 4, wherein the attachment flange is
generally L-shaped, wherein the attachment flange and the rear wall
cooperate to define a generally upside down J-shaped portion, and
wherein the shelf is removably connected with the shelf bracket by
the upper crossbar being received in the upside down J-shaped
portion.
6. The tool chest of claim 1, wherein the door is supported on the
frame and wherein a plurality of the shelf brackets are supported
on the door whereby the shelf brackets on the door are not in the
interior of the tool chest when the door is in the open
position.
7. The tool chest of claim 6, further comprising a second door
movable between open and closed positions, wherein the second door
is supported on the frame and wherein a plurality of the shelf
brackets are supported on the second door whereby the shelf
brackets on the second door are not in the interior of the tool
chest when the second door is in the open position.
8. The tool chest of claim 7, wherein a plurality of the shelf
brackets are in the interior of the tool chest when both doors are
in their open position.
9. The tool chest of claim 1, wherein the base and top are
generally horizontal, wherein the frame includes a back wall which
extends between the base and top and which is generally vertical,
and wherein a plurality of the shelf brackets extend from the back
wall towards a front of the tool chest to define a divider.
10. The tool chest of claim 9, wherein shelf brackets in the
divider are aligned in a vertical column.
11. The tool chest of claim 10, wherein the divider includes two
columns of shelf brackets, wherein both columns are generally
perpendicular to the back wall of the frame, wherein both columns
of shelf brackets have back sides, and wherein the two columns of
shelf brackets are arranged in a back-to-back relationship whereby
shelves may be hung on opposite sides of the divider.
12. The tool chest of claim 11, wherein a plurality of the shelf
brackets in the divider include upper and lower generally
horizontal crossbars which are generally parallel to each
other.
13. The tool chest of claim 12, further comprising a second door
movable between open and closed positions, wherein both doors have
at least one of the plurality of shelf brackets mounted thereon,
wherein one of the doors is pivotally coupled with the frame
adjacent the back wall on one side of the divider, and wherein the
other door is pivotally coupled with the frame adjacent the back
wall on the opposite side of the divider.
14. The tool chest of claim 9, wherein the back wall includes a
rear door, wherein the back wall includes a rear storage area and
wherein the rear storage area is accessible by the rear door.
15. The tool chest of claim 1, further comprising an air
compressor, wherein at least a portion of the frame is constructed
of tubing which defines an interior chamber, and wherein the
interior chamber of the frame serves as a tank for storing air
compressed by the air compressor.
16. The tool chest of claim 1, further comprising an electrical
outlet connected to the frame, wherein the tool chest may be
connected to an electrical power source thereby providing power to
the electrical outlet, and whereby electrical tools or devices may
be plugged in to the electrical outlet of the tool box and receive
power therefrom.
17. A mobile industrial tool chest comprising: a frame having a
base, a top and a back wall, wherein the top is spaced apart from
the base by the back wall and wherein the base, top and back wall
define an interior of the tool chest; a plurality of castors
mounted on the base for mobility; a door mounted on the frame for
movement between open and closed positions, wherein the door
permits access to the interior of the tool chest when in the open
position and wherein the door prevents access to the interior of
the tool chest when in the closed position ; and a plurality of
shelf brackets supported on the frame in the interior of the chest
for supporting modular shelving, wherein a plurality of the shelf
brackets include an upper crossbar and a lower crossbar spaced
apart from each other in a generally parallel orientation.
18. The tool chest of claim 17, wherein a plurality of the shelf
brackets having upper and lower crossbars are arranged in a
vertical column whereby the upper and lower crossbars are contained
in a plane.
19. The tool chest of claim 18, wherein a plurality of the shelf
brackets having upper and lower crossbars are arranged in at least
two vertical columns and wherein one of the columns is a door
column supported on an interior of the door whereby the shelf
brackets in the door column are movable from the interior of the
tool chest to a location outside the interior of the tool chest
when the door is moved to the open position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a device for storing tools.
More particularly, this invention relates to a mobile industrial
tool chest having modular shelving.
[0004] Tool chests, of various shapes and sizes, are well known in
the art. Standard large industrial tool chests generally resemble a
chest of drawers. The chest generally has a plurality of heavy duty
drawers which may be pulled out to permit tools to be stored
therein. The chest are usually on wheels to provide mobility and
generally come with locks to prevent unwanted opening of the tool
chest. In order to increase the variety of tools which can be
stored in a chest, the chests are usually manufactured with a
number of different sized drawers. Generally, however, while a user
can buy different chests of drawers, users cannot change the
configuration of drawers in the tool chest to permit customization
of the chest depending on the items the user wishes to store.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a tool chest which permits a
user to readily modify the storage therein to allow the user to
customize the tool chest to their own needs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In order to overcome the above-stated problems and
limitations, and to achieve the noted objects, there is provided a
mobile industrial tool chest with modular shelving.
[0007] In general, a first embodiment of the tool chest includes a
frame having a top, abase and a back wall. The frame defines an
interior of the tool chest. The tool chest preferably also includes
first and second opposing doors and a plurality of shelf brackets
supported therein. A second embodiment of the tool chest includes a
frame having a top, a bottom, a back wall, and first and second
side walls. The frame of the second embodiment similarly defines an
interior of the tool chest. The tool chest further includes a
plurality of shelf brackets supported therein and a retractable
door. Modular shelves of a number of different configurations are
readily received and supported on the shelf brackets of both
embodiments.
[0008] Preferably, the shelf brackets include upper and lower
generally horizontal and parallel crossbars. A plurality of the
shelf brackets are arranged one on top of another whereby all of
the crossbars are contained in a single plane to provide a vertical
column of shelf brackets. The shelves, while being of numerous
different shapes and configurations, are all preferably removably
supported on the shelf brackets in a similar fashion. In that
respect, the shelves all include a rear wall with a rearwardly
depending attachment flange extending therefrom adjacent a top
edge. The rear wall and the attachment flange cooperate to define a
generally upside down J-channel which is sized to receive the upper
crossbar of a shelf bracket. The rear wall is designed to have a
bottom edge which abuts the lower crossbar of the bracket when the
upper crossbar is received in the channel. By providing a wide
variety of shelves having a similar attachment feature, the tool
chest can be readily customized by the user.
[0009] Further objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed
description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the
attached figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0010] The objects and features of the invention noted above are
explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which
like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tool
chest of the present invention with doors in closed positions;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool chest of the
present invention with the doors in open positions;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rear of the tool chest
illustrating a rear door in a closed position;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tool chest illustrating
the rear door in an open position;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the tool chest of the
present invention with the doors in the open position;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a door of the present
invention taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
[0017] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a door cylinder of the present
invention taken generally around the area 7 of FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the tool chest of the
present invention taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5 with
the second door removed for clarity;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modification of the first
embodiment of a tool chest of the present invention with doors in
closed positions;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the modification of the
first embodiment of a tool chest of the present invention with
doors in open positions;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
tool chest of the present invention with a retractable door in a
closed position;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the tool chest of FIG. 11
with the detachable door in the open position; and
[0023] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the tool chest of the
second embodiment taken generally along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12
and illustrating alternate shelf constructions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring now to the drawing in detail, and initially to
FIG. 2, numeral 10 generally designates first embodiment of a tool
chest of the present invention. The tool chest has a frame 12, a
plurality of shelf brackets 14, a first door 16, a second door 18
and modular shelves 20.
[0025] The frame 12 includes a top 22, a base 24, a back wall 26
and a front post 28. The top 22 preferably presents a generally
flat and horizontal upper surface 30. The top 22 may be fabricated
from a solid metal plate or, preferably, consists of square metal
tubing welded together to define a periphery with a piece of sheet
metal welded on an upper surface thereof.
[0026] The base 24 is preferably constructed of four sections of
large square metal tubing which have been welded together to form a
square. Casters 32 are preferably mounted to an underneath side of
the base to permit the tool chest to be rolled to various locations
during use. Preferably, the casters 32 are the type which, when
locked, not only prevent the wheel of the caster from rolling but
also prevent the casters from rotating about a vertical axis.
[0027] The base 24 preferably also includes a storage bin 34 to
permit storage of additional items in the tool chest. The storage
bin 34 is defined by four side walls 36 and a bottom 38. The side
walls 36 can be sheets of metal welded to interior surfaces of the
four square tubing sections which define the base. The bottom, in
turn, preferably consists of a sheet of metal welded around its
periphery to lower ends of the side walls. As illustrated, the side
walls preferably have a height dimension greater than a height
dimension of the square tubing which defines the base 24 to thereby
permit the bottom 38 to be lower than the underneath side of the
base upon which the casters are mounted to thereby provide for
greater storage in the storage bin 34.
[0028] The top 22 is spaced apart from the base 24 and is
preferably maintained in the spaced apart relationship by way of
the back wall 26 and the front post 28. The top 22, base 24 and
back wall 26 cooperate to define an interior 40 of the tool
chest.
[0029] The back wall 26 preferably includes first and second
support columns 42, 44. The support columns are preferably
constructed of the same large square tubing as the base 24. A plate
46 is preferably welded between and to the support columns to
define the back wall 26. The plate 46 is preferably welded to the
support columns 42, 44 towards a front 48 of the tool chest. As can
be seen in FIG. 4, by attaching the plate 46 between the support
columns 42, 44 towards the front 48 of the tool chest, a storage
compartment 50 is provided in the back wall 26 that is accessible
from a backside 52 of the tool chest 10 via a rear door 54.
[0030] The plurality of shelf brackets 14 are all preferably
contained within the interior 40 of the tool chest 10 when the
doors 16 and 18 are in the closed positions illustrated in FIG. 1.
In a preferred embodiment, each shelf bracket 14 includes an upper
crossbar 56 and a lower crossbar 58. Preferably the crossbars are
formed of square bar or tubing stock. The upper and lower crossbars
56 and 58 are spaced apart from each other and are generally
parallel to each other and in a horizontal orientation. It should
be noted that while the shelf brackets 14 have been illustrated and
described as preferably including a pair of crossbars, it is within
the scope of the present invention to replace the pair of crossbars
with a metal plate having a height dimension sufficient to support
a shelf thereon.
[0031] Multiple shelf brackets 14 are preferably aligned one above
another to form a generally vertical column 60. In this
arrangement, all of the crossbars 56, 58 in the column 60 are
preferably generally contained within a single vertical plane. By
providing the shelf brackets 14 in this column type arrangement,
the tool chest 10 can accommodate numerous shelves at varying
heights. Each column 60 includes first and second generally
vertical support bars 62, 64 for supporting ends 66 of the
crossbars 56, 58. In addition to supporting the crossbars of the
shelf brackets 14, the support bars 62, 64 also space the crossbars
away from the items located behind each column 60 to permit the
upper crossbar 56 of the shelf brackets 14 to receive the modular
shelf 20 in the manner described in greater detail below.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the tool
chest 10 includes four columns 60 of shelf brackets 14. One column
60 is supported on an interior surface 68 of the first door, two
columns are supported intermediate the top 22 and base 24 in the
interior 40 of the tool chest and one column 60 is supported on an
interior surface 70 of the second door 18. Each column 60
preferably has a front side 72 which receives the modular shelves
20 and from which the modular shelves 20 extend outwardly therefrom
and a backside 74 opposite the front side 72.
[0033] The two columns 60 of shelf brackets 14 which are positioned
in the interior 40 of the tool chest are preferably arranged in a
back to back orientation. In this arrangement, the two columns
cooperate to define an interior wall or divider 76. Also in this
back to back arrangement, the two columns preferably share first
and second support bars 62, 64 with the first support bar 62 being
the front post 28 and the second support bar 64 being secured to a
front side of the plate 46 in the back wall 26. Preferably, the
divider 76 is in a vertical orientation, is perpendicular to the
back wall 26 and is equidistant from the sides of the tool chest
10.
[0034] The first and second doors 16, 18 are preferably identical
in construction. Each door is preferably generally L-shaped when
the tool chest is illustrated in a plan view. The doors 16, 18 have
a skeleton 78 which is preferably constructed of square tubing
welded together. The skeleton 78 is then covered on its exterior
surface by a panel 80 preferably made of sheet metal. Each door has
a bracket wall 82 and an end wall 84. The bracket walls 82 each
support a column 60 of shelf brackets 14 thereon. Each bracket wall
82 has a proximal edge 86 and a distal edge 88. The doors 16, 18
are pivotally mounted to the frame 12 of the tool chest 10 adjacent
the back wall 26 adjacent their proximal edges 86. The end walls 84
are preferably perpendicular to the bracket walls 82 and are
connected to the bracket walls adjacent their distal edges 88.
[0035] The doors 16 and 18 also each preferably include a handle 90
to permit a user to pull the tool chest around and a locking
mechanism 92 to permit the user to lock the doors in their closed
positions and thereby secure the tool chest. The handles 90 are
preferably mounted to an exterior surface of the panels 80 on the
end walls 84 which, when the doors 16 and 18 are in their closed
positions, is the front 48 of the tool chest 10. As can be readily
ascertained, the handles 90 need to be of heavy duty construction
to permit the user to pull around the tool chest, especially when
the tool chest is filled with tools and other items.
[0036] The locking mechanism 92 preferably includes a lever arm 94,
a body 96 and locking rods 98. The lever arms 94 are located
exterior of the tool chest 10 on the outer surface of the end walls
84 and are coupled with the body 96. Proximal ends 100 of the
locking rods 98 are also coupled with the body 96 of the locking
mechanism. Distal ends 102 of the locking rods are slidably
received in bores 104 in the skeleton 78 of the doors 16, 18.
Cavities 106 in the top 22 and base 24 align with the bores 104 in
the doors 16, 18 when the doors are in their closed positions such
that rotation of the lever arms 94 causes the locking rods 98 to
extend outwardly from the doors 16, 18 through the bores 104 and
into mating cooperation with the frame 12 to lock the doors in the
closed position.
[0037] The modular shelves, as best illustrated in FIG. 6, can take
many shapes and perform a variety of tasks. However, all of the
shelves preferably share a few similar features. Preferably each
shelf includes a rear wall 108 and an attachment flange 110. The
real wall has a top edge 112 and a bottom edge 114. The attachment
flange 110 is connected to a rear side 116 of the rear wall 108
adjacent the top edge 112 and depends rearwardly therefrom. The
attachment flange 110 can be a length of angle iron or,
alternatively, the rear wall 108 and attachment flange 110
combination can be constructed from a single piece of sheet metal
bent to form the attachment flange. The rear wall 108 and
attachment flange 110 combination define a generally upside down
J-shaped channel 118. The channel 118 is sized to receive the upper
crossbar 56 of a shelf bracket therein. Accordingly, each shelf 20
is supported on a shelf bracket 14 by the J-shaped channel 118
being slipped over the upper crossbar 56 of the shelf bracket 14. A
lower portion 120 of the rear surface of the rear wall 108 adjacent
the bottom edge 114 abuts the front side of the lower crossbar 58
when the shelf 20 is received on the shelf bracket 14. The lower
crossbar 58 prevents the bottom edge 114 of the rear wall 108 from
swinging back into the column 60 and thereby tilting the shelf 20
forward. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the square shaped upper crossbar
56 cooperates with the square shaped channel 118 to also prevent
the shelf 20 from rotating on the upper crossbar 56.
[0038] The attachment flange 110 also includes a downwardly
depending portion 122. As the modular shelves 20 are designed to be
easily removed from cooperation with the shelf brackets 14 to
permit a user to customize the types of shelves contained in the
tool chest, the distance between a lower crossbar 58 of one shelf
bracket and the upper crossbar 56 of shelf bracket immediately
below the column must be greater than the height dimension of the
downwardly depending portion 122 of the shelf 20 to permit the user
to easily remove a shelf from a shelf bracket.
[0039] As stated above, the shelves 20 can be of a wide variety of
shapes and perform a wide variety of functions. As illustrated in
FIG. 6, the shelves can take the shape of a lidded bin shelf 20a, a
reinforced shelf 20b, a bin shelf 20c, a deep bin shelf 20d, a
standard shelf 20e and a pegged shelf 20f. By virtue of the ease at
which a user can remove a shelf 20 from cooperation with a shelf
bracket 14 in the present tool chest, by providing the user with a
wide variety of shelves, the user can readily customize the
interior of the present tool chest to better serve their particular
needs. For example, the lidded bin shelf 20a can be used when a
user needs to store small items which the user desires to keep free
of contamination of dust. The lid of the shelf 20a could be formed
of a transparent material, such as plexiglass, to permit the user
to see the stored items yet still protect them from contamination.
The reinforced shelf 20b can be used to store heavy items which
could not readily be supported on the standard shelf 20e. The deep
bin shelf 20d would be suitable for storing instruction manuals for
tools stored in the tool chest while the pegged shelf 20f could be
used to support hanging items such as combination wrenches, sockets
or apparel. As will be readily understood, a plurality of holes can
be placed in the bottom of the standard shelf 20e to receive
portions of hand tools. For example, the holes could be made large
enough to receive the shafts of screwdrivers, but small enough to
prevent the handles of the screwdrivers to go through. This would
allow the user to store a large number of screwdrivers in a
vertical orientation in a relatively small area. Such an
arrangement would be a vast improvement over simply piling all the
screwdrivers on top of each other in a horizontal orientation in a
drawer. Pliers and ratchets and other elongate tools could also be
hung in a similar fashion with appropriately sized holes in the
shelf.
[0040] The storage compartment 50 in the back wall 26 of the tool
chest 10 also preferably includes a plurality of shelf brackets 14
for supporting shelves 20. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the storage
compartment 50 containing a pegged shelf 20f and a deep bin shelf
20d is well suited for storing a lab coat and instruction
manuals.
[0041] The tool chest 10 can also be outfitted with safety and
custom features. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the doors
16 and 18 can be provided with cross bracing 124 to help support
the loads which will be put on the doors as they support the column
of shelf brackets. The doors 16, 18 can also be coupled with the
frame via a stroke cylinder 126. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the
stroke cylinder has a cylinder 128 which receives a piston 130 in
telescoping fashion. As illustrated, the cylinder 128 is mounted to
an underneath side of the top 22 of the frame and a piston 130 is
pivotally coupled with an interior surface of the skeleton 78 of
the doors 16, 18. The stroke cylinder preferably not only holds the
doors in their open positions but assists, when desired, in moving
the doors to and holding them in their closed positions.
[0042] Other features of the tool chest may include an outlet strip
132 mounted on an underneath side of the front 48 of the base 24. A
power cord (not shown) mates in from the rear of the tool chest and
may be plugged into a power source to provide power to the outlet
strip. A user of the tool chest may then plug power tools into the
outlet strip 132 to power the tools therefrom. In a modification of
the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the tool
chest may also be provided with an air compressor 134 for
compressing air to permit the use by pneumatic tools. In this
arrangement, the support columns 42,44 and a portion of the base
are preferably constructed out of large square pieces of hollow
steel tubing. The pieces are preferably arranged such that the
pieces define a continuous inner chamber or tank that can be used
for storing the compressed air. This arrangement prevents the
necessity of outfitting the tool chest 10 with an air tank
specifically designed to store the compressed air. In this
arrangement, a coupler or nipple 136 can be provided on the frame
12 to allow access to the compressed air stored in the frame 12 and
to permit a user to attach pneumatic tools thereto. Alternatively,
it is well within the scope of the present invention to enclose the
storage bin 34 to have the storage bin become an air tank.
[0043] A second embodiment of a tool chest of the present invention
is illustrated in FIGS. 11-13. The tool chest of the second
embodiment is generally designated as 138. The tool chest 138
includes a top 140, a bottom 142, aback wall 144 and first and
second sidewalls 146, 148. As with the tool chest 10 of the first
embodiment, the tool chest 138 of the second embodiment is built
around a frame 150. The frame 150 supports the shelf brackets 14 of
the present invention. Accordingly, the tool chest 138 includes a
column 60 of shelf brackets 14 supported on the first side wall
146, a column 60 of shelf brackets 14 supported on the back wall
144, and a column 60 of shelf brackets 14 supported on the interior
of the second side wall 148. In an effort to decrease the amount of
space taken up by the tool chest 138 during use, the tool chest 138
is provided with a retractable roll-up door 152. Unlike the doors
16 and 18 of the first embodiment which swing open during use to
permit access to the interior 40 of the tool chest 10, the roll-up
door 152 does not increase the footprint of the tool chest during
use and yet still provides complete access to the interior 40 of
the tool chest 138 while providing a means for locking the tool
chest in a closed position.
[0044] From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is
one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set
forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and
which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that
certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be
employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.
This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the
invention.
[0045] Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention
without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood
that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying
drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative of applications of
the principles of this invention, and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *