U.S. patent application number 10/264054 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-08 for tool case with a hinged cover that slides.
Invention is credited to Hernandez, Hector R. JR., Romeo, Vincent S..
Application Number | 20040065574 10/264054 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32042138 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040065574 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hernandez, Hector R. JR. ;
et al. |
April 8, 2004 |
Tool case with a hinged cover that slides
Abstract
A tool case adapted to store tools comprises a main body and at
least one cover member adapted to store tools. The cover member is
coupled to the main body such that when the cover is closed, a
portion of the cover member at least partially covers a storage
side of the cover member. The cover member, while in an open or a
closed position, may be positioned such that it covers differing
amounts of the storage side of the main body. The cover member may
also be detached from the main body.
Inventors: |
Hernandez, Hector R. JR.;
(Fullerton, CA) ; Romeo, Vincent S.; (Corona,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONNORS ASSOCIATES
1600 DOVE ST
SUITE 220
NEWPORT BEACH
CA
92660
|
Family ID: |
32042138 |
Appl. No.: |
10/264054 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/373 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/023 20130101;
B25H 3/027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/373 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/00 |
Claims
1. A tool case comprising: a main body having a base side and a
storage side adapted to store tools, and at least one cover member
having a face side, a tool side adapted to store tools, and opposed
edges, said cover member being coupled to the main body
substantially at one of said edges and manually moveable between an
open position and a closed position, in the open position at least
a portion of the face side faces the storage side and in the closed
position at least a portion of the tool side faces the storage
side, said cover member including a pair of knuckle elements, one
knuckle element along one edge and the other knuckle element along
the other edge, said knuckle elements enabling the cover member to
open by rotating in an arc, said cover member in the closed
position lying substantially parallel to the storage side and
covering at least partially the storage side.
2. The tool case of claim 1 where in the open position the face
side of the cover member covers at least half or less of the
storage side of the main body.
3. The tool case of claim 1 where in the open position the face
side of the cover member covers at least half or more of the
storage side of the main body.
4. The tool case of claim 1 where the cover member is detachable
from said main body.
5. The tool case of claim 1 where the cover member is mounted to
the slide along the main body.
6. A tool case comprising: a main body having a storage side
adapted to store tools; a pair of parallel, spaced apart walls
extending from the storage side, each wall having an inner side
with at least one indentation and an elongated slot extending from
the indentation along a portion of the wall, said slot being
parallel to the storage side; at least one cover member having a
face side and a tool side adapted to store tools that is attached
to the main body by a hinge member that enables the cover member to
be manually moved between an open position and a closed position;
said hinge member including a pair of coupling elements, one of
said coupling elements being connected to one of said walls and
moveable from the indentation in said one wall along the slot in
said one wall and the other coupling element being connected to the
other of said walls and moveable from the indentation in said other
wall along the slot in said other wall; said the coupling elements
when in said indentations enabling the cover member to be moved
between the open and closed positions, said cover member, when in
the open position with the tool side facing outward, said coupling
elements being moveable along said slots to enable the cover member
to move parallel to the storage side.
7. The tool case of claim 6 where the main body is substantially
rectangular.
8. The tool case of claim 6 where the slots are substantially
rectangular.
9. The tool case of claim 6 where each coupling element has a pair
of opposed parallel sides that are connected at opposed ends by
rounded sides.
10. The tool case of claim 9 where the indentations are
substantially circular shaped having a predetermined diameter and
the rounded sides of the coupling elements are segments of a circle
having a diameter substantially equal to said predetermined
diameter of said circular shaped indentations.
11. The tool case of claim 6 where, with the cover member in the
open position, a portion thereof covers the storage side of the
main body.
12. The tool case of claim 6 where said cover member is detachable
from said main body.
13. A tool case comprising: a substantially rectangular main body
having a storage side of a predetermined area for storing tools, a
pair of parallel, spaced apart walls extending from the storage
side at substantially a right angle, each wall having opposed outer
ends and an inner side, a cylindrical indentation with a
predetermined diameter at or near each said outer end of the walls,
an elongated slot extending from each indentation inward along at
portion of the wall, said slot being parallel to the storage side,
a pair of substantially rectangular cover members that each have a
tool side adapted to store tools with a predetermined area
substantially corresponding to a bisection of the predetermined
area of the storage side, a pair of opposed edges with outer ends,
each outer end in each edge carrying a knuckle element thereat;
each knuckle element being in one of said indentations to enable
the cover member to be moved between an open position and closed
positions, said cover member, when in the open position with the
tool side facing outward, said knuckle elements being moveable
along said slots to enable the cover member to move parallel to the
storage side; and each knuckle element having a pair of opposed
parallel sides that are connected at opposed ends by rounded sides
that correspond to segments of a cylinder having a diameter
substantially equal to said predetermined diameter of said
cylindrical indentation in which each knuckle element is
received.
14. The display tool case of claim 13 further comprising a handle
coupled to the main body.
15. A tool case comprising: a main body having a base side and a
storage side adapted to store tools, and at least one cover member
having a face side and a tool side adapted to store tools, said
cover member being detachably mounted to the main body and manually
moveable between a closed position where the tool side faces the
storage side and a multitude of open positions where, in any one of
said open positions, at least a portion of the face side faces the
storage side and the cover member lies substantially parallel to
the storage side, said cover member in the closed position lying
substantially parallel to the storage side and covering a
substantial portion of the storage side.
16. The tool case of claim 15 where said cover member is mounted to
the main body to slide and to rotate.
17. The tool case of claim 16 where said main body has a pair of
opposed slots therein, and said cover member has opposed edges with
each edge having knuckle element, each knuckle element being
received in one of the slots, said knuckle elements enabling the
cover member to slide along the slots and at a predetermined
position along the slots enabling the cover member to open by
rotating in an arc.
18. A tool case comprising: a main body having a base side and a
storage side adapted to store tools, and a pair of cover members,
each cover member having a face side and a tool side adapted to
store tools, said cover members mounted to the main body to side
and to rotate, being manually moveable between a closed position
where the tool side faces the storage side and an open position
where at least a portion of the face side faces the storage side,
said cover members in the closed position lying substantially
parallel to the storage side and covering a substantial portion of
the storage side.
19. The tool case of claim 18 where said cover members are
detachable from said main body.
20. The tool case of claim 18 where said main body has a pair of
opposed slots therein, and said cover members each have opposed
edges with each edge having knuckle element, each knuckle element
being received in one of the slots, said knuckle elements enabling
the cover member to slide along the slots and at a predetermined
position along the slots enabling the cover member to open by
rotating in an arc.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] Applicants incorporate herein by reference any and all U.S.
patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents cited or
referred to in this application or cited or referred to in the U.S.
patents and U.S. patent applications incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Portable tool cases are used to store tools as a person uses
and reuses the tools. Typically, they comprise a main body storage
area in which individual tools are retained with a cover that
encloses the tools. The main body storage area often has recesses
where individual tools are stored. The cover typically does not
have a portion that is usable to store tools. It would be
advantageous if a tool case had a cover that stores tools, allowing
more tools to be stored in a case having a particular profile. It
would be advantageous if this case with its cover could be oriented
such that the tools stored in the cover and in the main body
storage area were easily accessible. Furthermore, if the cover
could be separated from the main body, it would allow a user to
carry conveniently only a portion of the tools stored in the
case.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0003] This invention, with its several desirable features, is
summarized in the CLAIMS that follow. After reading the following
section entitled "DETAILED DESCRIPTION," one will understand how
the features of this invention provide its benefits. The benefits
of this invention include, but are not limited to providing a tool
case that has a cover that (1) stores tools and displays the tools
stored in the cover in a highly visible and easily accessible
manner, and (2) can be separated from the main body of the case,
allowing a user to conveniently carry only a portion of the tools
stored in the tool case.
[0004] With this invention, the tool case has a cover member that
is mounted to the main body of the case to either slid or rotate
about a hinge. The cover member has one side that is adapted to
carry tools and the cover member may be positioned on the main body
so this side either faces inward towards the main body or outward
exposing the tools stored therein.
[0005] Some, but not all, of the features of this invention
are:
[0006] A first feature of the tool case is a cover member that has
a face side and a tool side for storing tools. The tool side may
have recessed portions where the tools are stored within. The
recessed portions are shaped to the outline of the stored tools
such that when a tool is stored within a recess, the tool is
frictionally secure within the recess.
[0007] A second feature of the tool case is a coupling element for
the cover member that allows the cover member to be opened, and
also to be positioned while open, such that the tool side of the
cover member faces outward from, and is parallel to, the storage
side of the main body. In this open position, the cover member is
slideable parallel to the storage side of the main body.
[0008] A third feature of the tool case is a coupling element that
allows the cover member to be detached from the main body. The
detachable cover member allows the user to conveniently carry only
a portion of the tools stored in the tool case.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] The preferred embodiment of this invention, illustrating all
its features, will now be discussed in detail. This embodiment
depicts the novel and non-obvious tool case of this invention as
shown in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative
purposes only. These drawings includes the following figures
(Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tool case, with one
cover member in an open position and a second cover member
closed.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool case with the two
cover members in an open position.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool case with two cover
members moved into a position that exposes the tools stored in the
cover members, and the tool case resting on the tool case's
handle.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tool case with two cover
members in different open positions.
[0014] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the tool case with the
cover members detached.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a knuckle
coupled to a cover member.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the tool case taken along line
6-6 of FIG. 4 with a cover member moved into a slid open
position.
[0017] FIG. 6A is a view of the tool case similar to that of FIG. 6
with a cover member in a partially slid closed position.
[0018] FIG. 6B is a view of the tool case similar to that of FIG. 6
with a cover member in a partially slid open position.
[0019] FIG. 7 is view of the tool case similar to that of FIG. 6
with a cover member in a hinged position and partially opened.
[0020] FIG. 8 is base side view of the tool case with both cover
members in a slid open position.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tool case with the cover
members detached from the main body of the tool case.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
One Preferred Embodiment
[0022] As best shown in the FIGS. 1, 2, and 8, the tool case 10
comprises a rectangular shaped main body 11 defined by opposed
pairs of sidewalls 42 and 44 and 15a and 15b, and two cover members
22, 24. Each cover member 22, 24 is connected to the main body 11
and each has a closed position (FIG. 1 shows cover member 22 in the
closed position), an open position (FIG. 1 shows cover member 24 in
the open position), and a multitude of slide positions (FIG. 3
shows cover members 22, 24 both in the slide positions where the
main body is completely covered).
[0023] The main body 11 has a base side 10a, a storage side 10b
having a number of recesses 12 where the tools are stored. These
main body recesses 12 usually have an overall shape that conforms
to the shape of the tool to be stored therein. An individual tool
is placed within its designated recess 12, fitting snugly therein
to secure by friction a tool within a recess, so that it will not
be dislodged unless manually pulled from the recess 12. The
sidewalls 42 and 44 and 15a and 15b connect the storage side 10b to
the base side 10a. There is handle 30 along the one side 44 of the
main body 11.
[0024] The sidewalls 42 and 44 are larger in height than the
sidewalls 15a and 15b. Sidewalls 42 and 44 form a channel 16
between them in which the cover members 22, 24 move laterally
therein over a pair of spaced apart parallel ledges 52 and 54 that
have planar surfaces 52a, 54a that lie in a common plane. The
storage side 10b lies below the common plane of the planar surfaces
52a, 54a of the ledges 52, 54 and the ledges 52, 54 are below top
edges 42a, 44a of the extended wall portions 42, 44. These top
edges 42a, 44a are parallel and lie in a common plane. Also
referring to FIGS. 4 and 4A, below these top edges 42a, 44a and
along the inside of the extended walls 42, 44 are coupling
elements, such as, for example, knuckles, 70, 72, 74, 76 that
provides hinge components to connect the two cover members 22, 24
to the extended walls 42, 44. The knuckles 74 and 76 project
outwardly from opposed corners of the cover member 24 and the
knuckles 70 and 72 project outwardly from opposed corners of the
cover member 22.
[0025] The ledges 52, 54 position the cover members 22, 24 over the
storage area 10b. When the tool case 10 is laid on its base side
10a, the ledges 52, 54 support the cover members 22, 24 when
closed. As shown in FIG. 3, when the cover members 22, 24 are
manually moved into a slide position (discussed infra), the tool
sides 22b, 24b of each the cover member 22, 24 is flush with the
top of the extended walls 42a, 44a.
[0026] As best shown in FIGS. 4, 4A and 6B the inner sides 42b, 44b
of each of the extended wall portions 42, 44 have outer cylindrical
indentations 80, 82, 84, 86 and inner cylindrical indentations 91,
92, 93 94 therein. One pair of outer indentations 80, 82 are spaced
apart with each indentation at or near sidewall 15b, and the other
pair of outer indentations 84, 86 are spaced apart with each
indentation at or near the sidewall 15a. Each outer cylindrical
indentation 82, 84 on the extended wall 42 lies opposite of the
cylindrical indentation 80, 86 on the other extended wall 44,
respectively. There are a pair of slots 62, 64 and 66, 68,
typically rectangular, extending along the inner sides 42b, 44b of
each sidewall with extended portions 42, 44. Each slot 62, 64, 66,
68 has one end terminating at an indentation 80, 82, 84, 86,
respectively, and an opposed end terminating about midway along the
extended wall portion at inner indentations 91, 92, 93, 94,
respectively. Each slot 62, 64, 66, 68 is parallel to the storage
side 10b of the main body 11. The depth of the slots 62, 64, 66, 68
are typically the same as the depth of the indentations 80, 82, 84,
86 and 91, 92, 93, 94, and each slot has a width w2 (FIG. 6B). Each
inner indentation 91, 92, 93, 94 has a slotted portion 91a, 92a,
93a, 94a, respectively. The slotted portions 91a, 92a, 93a, 94a are
at least as wide as the width w2 of the slots 62, 64, 66, 68. The
slotted portions 92a, 93a and 91a, 94a extend from the inner
indentations 92, 93 and 91, 94, respectively, to the top of the
extended walls 44a, 42a, respectively.
[0027] As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 4A, the cover member 22
has a face side 22a, a tool side 22b for storing tools, and inner
opposed edges 22c, 22d, and outer opposed edges 22e, 22f that
define the area of the face side 22a and tool side 22b. The cover
member 24 has a face side 24a, a tool side 24b for storing tools,
and inner opposed edges 24c, 24d, and outer opposed edges 24e, 24f
that define the area of the face side 24a and tool side 24b. As
shown in FIG. 1, when the cover members 22, 24 (cover member 22
shown closed) are in the closed position, face sides 22a, 24a of
the cover members 22, 24, respectively, are flush with the top
edges 42a, 44a of the extended walls 42a, 44a. The tool sides 22b,
24b have recessed portions 21, 23, respectively, that are shaped to
the outline of a tool, such that, when a tool is placed within the
recessed portions 21, 23, the tool is frictionally secure within
the recess 21, 23.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 4A, the knuckle 70 is along the
edge 22e nearby by the junction between the edges 22e and 22d, the
knuckle 72 is along the edge 22f nearby the junction between the
edges 22f and 22d, the knuckle 74 is along the edge 24f nearby by
the junction between the edges 24f and 24d, and the knuckle 76 is
along the edge 24e nearby by the junction between the edges 24e and
24d.
[0029] Each knuckle 70, 72, 74, 76 may be of similar size, shape
and is used in the same manner to couple a cover member 22, 24 to
the main body 11. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6B, and using knuckle 70
for purposes of illustration, knuckle 70 has an insertion side 70e,
a pair of opposed rectangular edges 70a, 70b, and a pair of opposed
rounded edges 70c, 70d. The rounded edges 70c, 70d have a diameter
d1 (FIG. 5) that is substantially as the same the diameter d2 of
indentation 80. Indentions 82, 84 and 86 may also have a diameter
of d2. Referring to FIG. 4A, cover members 22 and 24 are coupled to
the main body 11 by inserting knuckles 70, 72, 74, 76 into
indentions 80, 82, 84, 86, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 4A, 5,
and 6A, and using knuckle 70 as an example, knuckle 70 is disposed
in indentation 80 by inserting the insertion side 70e into
indentation 80.
[0030] When knuckle 70 is disposed in an indentation 80, the
rounded edges 70c, 70d are in frictional contact with the inner
wall 80a of indentation 80. The friction rotationally biases
knuckle 70 causing the cover 22 to also be rotationally biased. The
rotational bias allows cover member 22 to be positioned into a
multitude of open positions, such as, a position where the tool
side 22a of cover member 22 and the storage side 10b form an angle
less than ninety degrees (not shown), and as shown in FIG. 4, a
position where the angle .alpha. between the tool side of 22a of
cover member 22 and the storage side 10b is between ninety and 180
degrees.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6B, the distance w1 between
rectangular edges 70a, 70b is substantially the same as the width
w2 of the slot 68, in which knuckle 70 may be disposed. The
distance between the rectangular edges of knuckles 82, 84 and 86
may also equal w1. The width of slots 62, 64 and 66 may also equal
w2. Again using knuckle 70 as an example, knuckle 70 is disposed in
slot 68 such that the rectangular edges 70a and 70b are in contact
with the inner walls 68a, 68b of the slot 68. The rectangular edges
70a, 70b are in frictional contact with the inner walls 68a, 68b of
the slot such that the knuckle 70, and thus the cover member 22, is
frictionally biased from sliding in slot 68. The frictional bias
prevents the cover member 22 from moving in the slot, allowing the
cover member 22 to be held in a desired position. Similarly,
knuckles 72, 74, 76 may be frictionally biased in slots 82, 84 and
86, respectively.
[0032] Each cover member 22, 24 has a closed position where the
tool sides 22b, 24b face the storage side 10b of the main body 11,
and each cover member 22, 24 covers a portion of the storage side
10b. FIG. 1 shows cover member 22 in a closed position. Cover
members 22 and 24 are opened by first moving each of the knuckles
70, 72 and 74, 76, into a respective indentation 80, 82, and 84,
86. Next, each cover member 22, 24 is opened by rotating the cover
members 22, 24 in an arc about the knuckles 70, 72, 74, 76 as each
knuckle 70, 72, 74, 76 rotates in the indentations 80, 82, 84,
86.
[0033] Each cover member 22, 24 is positionable into a multitude of
open positions. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, in one open
position, each knuckle 70, 72, 74, 76 of a cover member lies in
indentations 80, 82, 84, 86, respectively, the face sides 22a and
24a of each cover 22, 24 faces the storage side 10b of the main
body 11, and a small portion of a cover member 22 or 24 covers the
storage side 10b. The open position disclosed is used for
illustrative purposes, and is not exhaustive of all open positions
possible.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 6A, cover members 22, 24 may be
placed in a slide position. Each knuckle 70, 72 and 74, 76 of a
cover member lies in a slot 68, 64 and 62, 66, respectively, is
slid proximate to an indentation 80, 82 and 84, 86, respectively.
The face side 22a, 24a of each cover member 22, 24 faces the
storage side 10b of the main body 11, a small portion of each cover
member 22, 24 covers the storage side 10b, and the cover members 22
and 24 are parallel to the storage side 10b of the main body
11.
[0035] In another slide position, and as best shown in FIG. 3, the
cover members may be placed in a slide position where each knuckle
70, 72 and 74, 76 of cover members 22 and 24 lies in slots, 68, 64
and 62, 66, respectively, substantially midway along the length of
a respective extended wall 42, 44. The face side 22a, 24a of each
cover 22, 24 faces the storage side 10b, a majority of either, or
both cover members 22 and 24, covers the storage side 10b, and the
tool sides 22b, 24b of cover members 22 and 24 are parallel to the
storage side 10b. While a slide position is shown where the
knuckles 70, 72 and 74, 76 of cover members 20 and 24 lie
substantially midway along the extended walls 42 and 44, the
knuckles 70, 72 and 74, 76 may be slid along slots 68, 64 and 62,
66, respectively, in a number of slide positions.
[0036] As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in one aspect of the
invention, a handle 30 is used to carry the tool case 10. The
handle 30 comprises two feet members 34 and 36, and a leg 32
disposed between, and connecting the two feet members 34, 36. A
user holds the handle 30 by wrapping his or her fingers around the
leg 32. FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment where the tool case 10 is
positioned upright and a flat surface of the the handle 30 rests on
a supporting surface 100.
[0037] In one aspect of the invention, each cover member 22, 24 is
detachable from the main body 11. Using cover member 22 for
purposes of illustration, and as best shown in FIGS. 4A, 9 and 9,
cover member 22 is detachable from the main body 11, from a closed
position, by first sliding knuckles 70 and 72 into indentations 80
and 82, respectively. Cover member 22 is then rotated in an arc
about indentions 80 and 82 into an open position where the tool
side 22b of the cover member 22 is parallel to storage side 10b.
While in the open position, knuckles 70 and 72 are slid along slots
68 and 64, respectively to inner indentions 91 and 92,
respectively. Cover member 22 is then rotated in an arc about the
inner indentations 91 and 92 to a position where the tool side 22b
is perpendicular to the storage side 10b of the man body. Knuckles
70 and 72 are then slid through the upper grooves 91a and 92a of
inner indentations 91 and 92, respectively, until the cover member
22 is detached from the main body 11.
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
[0038] The above presents a description of the best mode
contemplated of carrying out the present invention, and of the
manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear,
concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art
to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention
is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate
constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent.
Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention to
the particular embodiment disclosed. On the contrary, the intention
is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming
within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed
by the following claims, which particularly point out and
distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention:
* * * * *