U.S. patent application number 10/151328 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-27 for single-stack tool rack.
Invention is credited to Yang, Qinghao.
Application Number | 20030218345 10/151328 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29400504 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030218345 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang, Qinghao |
November 27, 2003 |
SINGLE-STACK TOOL RACK
Abstract
A single-stack tool rack is constructed to include a base having
an upright pivot shaft, a plurality of tool boxes respectively
pivoted to the upright shaft and arranged into a stack for keeping
tools and/or accessories, a swivel case pivoted to the base and
turned in and out of a bottom open chamber of the base for keeping
tool bits, and a carrying handle formed of a handle body and a
detachable hand tool and coupled to the upright pivot shaft of the
base at the top.
Inventors: |
Yang, Qinghao; (New
Providence, BS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
Hart, Baxley, Daniels & Holton
5 Fl
59 John St.
New York
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
29400504 |
Appl. No.: |
10/151328 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
294/161 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 206/821 20130101;
A47B 49/00 20130101; B25H 3/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
294/161 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/00 |
Claims
What the invention claimed is:
1. A single-stack tool rack comprising: a base, said base
comprising an upright pivot shaft perpendicularly extended from a
horizontal top face thereof; a plurality of tool boxes respectively
pivoted to said upright pivot shaft of said base and arranged in a
stack, said tool boxes each comprising a coupling ring respectively
sleeved onto said upright pivot shaft of said base; a tool box
positioning structure provided in the coupling rings of said tool
boxes and the upright pivot shaft of said base for enabling said
tool boxes to be horizontally turned about said upright pivot shaft
and positioned in one of a series of angular positions; and a
handle coupled to a top end of said upright pivot shaft, said
handle comprising a handle body coupled to said upright pivot
shaft, said handle body having a first end mountable to said
upright pivot shaft and a second end, and a hand tool coupled to
the second end of said handle body.
2. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a tool box positioning structure, said tool box
positioning structure comprising a plurality of longitudinal
grooves equiangularly spaced around the periphery of said upright
pivot shaft of said base, and a plurality of spring strips
respectively formed integral with the coupling rings of said tool
boxes, said spring strips each comprising a projection adapted for
engaging said longitudinal grooves.
3. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
tool boxes each comprise a carrier frame and a box body carried in
said carrier frame; said coupling rings of said tool boxes are
respectively extended from the carrier frames of said tool boxes at
side.
4. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
box body of each of said tool boxes is comprised of a bottom shell
defining a plurality of compartments for keeping storage items, a
top cover hinged to one side of said bottom shell and adapted for
closing said compartments, and a snap fastener installed in said
bottom shell and said top cover and adapted for locking said top
cover when said top cover closed on said bottom shell.
5. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
carrier frame of each of said tool boxes has an opening in one side
wall thereof corresponding to the snap fastener of the box body of
the respective tool box.
6. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
upright pivot shaft of said base comprises a top open section
adapted for receiving said handle body of said handle.
7. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
handle body comprises a mounting block mountable to the top open
section of said upright pivot shaft of said base, a hollow shank
adapted for receiving said hand tool, and a collar connected
between said mounting block and said hollow shank and adapted for
stopping said hollow shank outside said upright pivot shaft after
connection of said mounting block to the top open section of said
upright pivot shaft.
8. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 7, further
comprising a handle fastening structure adapted to secure said
mounting block of said handle body to the top open section of said
upright pivot shaft of said base.
9. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
handle fastening structure comprises a plurality of angled
retaining slots disposed in the periphery of said mounting block of
said handle body, and a plurality of angled retaining ribs
respectively protruded from an inside wall of said top open section
of said upright pivot shaft of said base and adapted for engaging
into said angled retaining slots.
10. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
hand tool comprises a handle and a threaded shoulder disposed at
one end of the handle of said hand tool and adapted for detachably
holding a tool bit and threading into one end of said hollow shank
remote from said collar.
11. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
base comprises a bottom open chamber, and a swivel case mounted in
said bottom open chamber.
12. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 11 further
comprising a pivoting structure provided between said bottom open
chamber of said base and said swivel case for enabling said swivel
case to be turned in and out of said bottom open chamber, and a
tool case positioning structure for enabling said swivel case to be
positioned inside said bottom open chamber of said base.
13. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
pivoting structure comprises a downward pivot rod suspended inside
said bottom open chamber of said base, and pivot hole formed in one
end of said swivel case and coupled to said downward pivot rod.
14. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
pivoting structure further comprises fastening means fastened to
said downward pivot rod to secure said swivel case to said downward
pivot rod and to let said swivel case be turned in and out of said
bottom open chamber of said base about said pivot rod.
15. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 14, wherein said
fastening means is comprised of a screw and a washer.
16. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
swivel case positioning structure comprises a first locating rib
protruded from the periphery of said swivel case, and a second
locating rib formed integral with an inside wall of said base
inside said bottom open chamber and adapted for stopping said first
locating rib by friction resistance to hold said swivel case inside
said bottom open chamber of said base.
17. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
swivel case comprises a plurality of clamps adapted for holding
tool bits inside said swivel case.
18. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 1 further
comprising a hanging structure for hanging.
19. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 18, wherein said
hanging structure comprises a plurality of hanging holes arranged
in three corners in said base.
20. The single-stack tool rack as claimed in claim 19, wherein said
hanging holes include a first hanging hole and a second hanging
hole respectively disposed in a back sidewall of said base and
horizontally aligned, and a third hanging hole formed in a hanging
plate fastened to said upright pivot shaft of said base.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a tool rack and, more
particularly, to single-stack tool rack, which comprises an upright
pivot shaft, a plurality of tool boxes respectively pivoted to the
upright pivot shaft and arranged in a stack, and a carrying handle
provided at the top side of the upright pivot shaft. The carrying
handle is formed of a handle body mountable to the upright pivot
shaft, and a hand tool detachably connected to the handle body to
serve as a handgrip.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Various different designs of tool racks and boxes have been
disclosed for use to hold tools and accessories, and have appeared
on the market illustrates a clip according to the prior art. In
order to provide more compartments for holding more tools and/or
accessories, the dimension of the tool rack or box should be
relatively increased. However, it is inconvenient to carry a bulky
or heavy tool rack from place to place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to
provide a single-stack tool rack, which requires less installation
space. It is another object of the present invention to provide a
single-stack tool rack, which can easily be carried from place to
place by hand, or positively hung nails on the wall. It is still
another object of the present invention to provide a single-stack
tool rack, which enables the user to arrange storage items in good
order. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention,
the single-stack tool rack comprises a base, the base comprising an
upright pivot shaft perpendicularly extended from a horizontal top
face thereof; a plurality of tool boxes respectively pivoted to the
upright pivot shaft of the base and arranged in a stack, the tool
boxes each comprising a coupling ring respectively sleeved onto the
upright pivot shaft of the base; a tool box positioning structure
provided in the coupling rings of the tool boxes and the upright
pivot shaft of the base for enabling the tool boxes to be
horizontally turned about the upright pivot shaft and positioned in
one of a series of angular positions; and a handle coupled to a top
end of the upright pivot shaft, the handle comprising a handle body
coupled to the upright pivot shaft, the handle body having a first
end mountable to the upright pivot shaft and a second end, and a
hand tool coupled to the second end of the handle body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a single-stack tool rack
according to the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an oblique front elevation of the single-stack
tool rack according to the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is an oblique rear elevation of the single-stack tool
rack according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the handle according to the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.
2.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a box body for a tool box
according to the present invention, showing the top cover
opened.
[0012] FIG. 7 is an applied view of the single-stack tool rack
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1 a single-stack tool rack is shown
comprising a base 10, a stack of tool boxes 20, a tool box
positioning structure, a handle 4, a handle fastening structure, a
swivel case 60, and a hanging structure.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 10 has a horizontal top
bearing face 11, a bottom open chamber 12, and an upright pivot
shaft 13 perpendicularly extended from the horizontal top bearing
face 11 near one side. The upright pivot shaft 13 has a top open
section 15.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the tool boxes 20 each
comprise a carrier frame 26', and a box body 27 carried in the
carrier frame 26. The carrier frame 26 comprises a coupling ring 22
horizontally outwardly protruded from one end thereof and sleeved
onto the upright pivot shaft 13 of the base 10 and secured in place
by friction resistance between the periphery of the upright pivot
shaft 13 and the inside wall of the coupling ring 22. The box body
27, as shown in FIG. 6, comprises a bottom shell 272 defining a
plurality of compartments 271 for holding tools and/or accessories,
a top cover 28 hinged to one side of the bottom shell 272 and
adapted for closing the compartments 271, and a snap fastener 29
adapted for locking the box body 27 when the top cover 28 closed on
the bottom shell 272. Further, each carrier frame 22 has a side
opening 221 or 221' corresponding to the snap fastener 29, for
enabling the user to access to the snap fastener 29
conveniently.
[0016] The aforesaid tool box positioning structure is provided for
controlling the positioning of the tool boxes 20. The tool box
positioning structure, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, comprises a
plurality of longitudinal grooves 14 equiangularly spaced around
the periphery of the upright pivot shaft 13, and a plurality of
retaining spring strips (see also reference sign 24) respectively
formed integral with the coupling rings 21 of the carrier frames 26
of the tool boxes 20 by cutting two axially extended cuts 22 in
each coupling ring of the carrier frames 26 of the tool boxes 20,
which retaining spring strips each having a projection 24 adapted
for engaging one longitudinal groove 14 of the upright pivot shaft
13 of the base 10. After installation of the tool boxes 20, the
projections 24 of the retaining springs are respectively engaged
into the longitudinal grooves 14 of the upright shaft 13 of the
base 10, preventing the tool boxes 20 from rotary motion relative
to the upright pivot shaft 13 of the base 10. However, when the
user turns one tool box 20 about the upright pivot shaft 13 of the
base 10 with the hand, the projection 24 is moved with the
respective coupling ring 21 away from the corresponding
longitudinal groove 14 of the upright pivot shaft 13 of the base
10, enabling the respective tool box 20 to be turned about the
upright pivot shaft 13 of the base 10 to the desired direction.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the aforesaid
handle 4 comprises a handle body 40 and a hand tool 50. The handle
body 40 comprises a mounting block 41 press-fitted into the top
open section 15.of the upright pivot shaft 13 of the base 10, a
hollow shank 42 extended from the mounting block 41 and smoothly
curved in one direction, and a collar 43 radially outwardly
extended around the connection area between the mounting block 41
and the shank 42 and stopped at the topmost edge of the upright
pivot shaft 13 of the base 10. The hollow shank 42 has an axial
hole 45 axially extended to the free end (the end remote from the
shoulder 43) and an inner thread 44 in the axial hole 45. The hand
tool 50 comprises a handle 51 and a threaded shoulder 53 disposed
at one end of the handle 51 and adapted for detachably holding a
tool bit 52 and threading into the inner thread 44 of the shank 42.
The axial hole 45 is large enough for receiving the tool bit 52 and
the threaded shoulder 53 of the hand tool 50.
[0018] The aforesaid handle fastening structure, as shown in FIG.
1, comprises at least one, for example, two angled retaining slots
411 symmetrically formed in the periphery of the mounting block 41
of the handle body 40, and two angled retaining ribs 16 protruded
from the inside wall of the top open section 15 of the upright
pivot shaft 13 of the base 10 and adapted for engaging into the
angled retaining slots 411 of the mounting block 41 of the handle
body 40 through a rotary motion. When inserting the mounting block
41 of the handle body 40 into the top open section 15 of the
upright pivot shaft 13, the angled retaining slots 411 are
respectively aimed at the angled retaining ribs 16. After the
mounting block 41 of the mounting block 41 of the handle body 40
press-fitted into the top open section 15 of the upright pivot
shaft 13, the handle body 40 is rotated through an angle to force
the angled retaining ribs 16 into engagement with the angled
retaining slots 411, stopping axial movement of the mounting block
41 of the handle body 40 relative to the upright pivot shaft 13 of
the base 10.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 7 and FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the swivel case
60 is mounted in the bottom open chamber 12 of the base 10. A
pivoting structure and a positioning structure are provided between
the swivel case 60 and the bottom open chamber 12 of the base 10
for enabling the swivel case 60 to be moved in and out of the
bottom open chamber 12 of the base 10 and positioned in the inside
or outside of the bottom open chamber 12 of the base 10. The
pivoting structure comprises a downward pivot rod 17 downwardly
extended from the top sidewall of the bottom open chamber 12, a
pivot hole 61 extended through top and bottom sidewalls of the
swivel case 60 near one side and coupled to the downward pivot rod
17, and a fastening device (screw and washer) 65 mounted in the
pivot hole 61 and fastened to the downward pivot rod 17 to secure
the swivel case 60 to the downward pivot rod 17, enabling the
swivel case 60 to be turned in and out of the bottom open chamber
12 of the base 10 about the downward pivot rod 17. The positioning
structure comprises a first locating rib 62 protruded from the
periphery of the swivel case 60, and a second locating rib 18
respectively formed integral with the inside wall of the base 10
inside the bottom open chamber 12 and adapted for stopping the
first locating rib 62. When the swivel case 60 received inside the
bottom open chamber 12 of the base 10, the first locating rib 62 is
stopped at one side, namely, the inner side of the second locating
rib 18, holding the swivel case 60 positively in the bottom open
chamber 12 of the base 10. When pulling the swivel case 60 outwards
from the bottom open chamber 12 of the base 10 with force, the
first locating rib 62 is moved over the second locating rib 18,
enabling the swivel case 60 to be turned about the downward pivot
rod 17 to the outside of the bottom open chamber 12 of the base 10.
The swivel case 60 comprises a plurality of clamps 63 disposed on
the inside and adapted for holding a set of tool bits 52.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the aforesaid
hanging structure comprises a plurality of keyway-like hanging
holes 70;71;72. The hanging holes 70;71 are provided in the back
sidewall of the base 10 and horizontally aligned. The hanging hole
72 is formed in the angled rear end 722 of a hanging plate 721,
which is coupled to the upright pivot shaft 13 and stopped between
the collar 43 of the handle body 40 and the topmost edge of the
upright pivot shaft 13 of the base 10. By means of the hanging
holes 70;471;72, the single-stack tool rack can be positively hung
on nails in the wall of the working place.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, through the handle 4, the
single-stack tool rack can conveniently be carried from place to
place by hand. Further, the user can turn every selected tool box
20 horizontally about the upright pivot shaft 13 to the desired
angle convenient for picking up storage items from the compartments
271 of the respective box body 27.
[0022] As indicated above, the single-stack tool rack of the
present invention achieves the following advantages:
[0023] a) Because the tool boxes 20 are arranged in a stack, the
tool rack requires less installation space.
[0024] b) The hand tool 50 serves as a handgrip when fastened to
the handle body 40, and can be detached from the handle body 40 for
independent use.
[0025] c) The tool boxes 20 can horizontally be turned about the
upright pivot shaft 13 and quickly positively positioned in the
desired angular position convenient for enabling the user to pick
up storage items.
[0026] d) The box bodies 27 of the tool boxes 20 can be made
transparent and marked with sings convenient for classification of
storage items.
[0027] e) Because the swivel case 60 is provided with clamps 63 for
holding tool bits 52 positively in position, storage tool bits 52
do not move when the user carrying the single-stack tool box from
one place to another.
[0028] f) The box bodies 27 and the carrier frames 26 of the tool
boxes 20 are detachable so that the user can carry the box bodies
27 away from the carrier frames 26 for arranging storage items.
[0029] g) The single-stack tool rack can conveniently positively
hung on nails in the wall.
[0030] A prototype of single-stack tool rack has been constructed
with the features of FIGS. 1.about.7. The single-stack tool rack
functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed
earlier.
[0031] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *