U.S. patent application number 10/924187 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-07 for tool receiving device.
Invention is credited to Hu, Bobby.
Application Number | 20050072702 10/924187 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34389133 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050072702 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hu, Bobby |
April 7, 2005 |
Tool receiving device
Abstract
A tool receiving device includes a deformable first member, a
deformable second member, and at least one retaining member. The
first member includes at least one tool receiving compartment and
at least one groove in a side thereof. The second member includes
at least one hole that is aligned with the groove when the second
member is engaged with the first member. A perimeter wall
delimiting the groove deform outward and in friction contact with
the retaining member when the retaining member is mounted in the
groove of the hollow protrusion of the second member, thereby
preventing the second member from being disengaged from the first
member. The second member is separable from the first member when
the retaining member is removed from the hole of the second
member.
Inventors: |
Hu, Bobby; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIKOLAI & MERSEREAU, P.A.
900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
SUITE 820
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
34389133 |
Appl. No.: |
10/924187 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/373 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/373 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 7, 2003 |
TW |
92127748 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tool receiving device comprising: a first member made of a
deformable material and including at least one tool receiving
compartment and at least one groove in a side thereof; a second
member made of a deformable material and including at least one
hollow protrusion defining a hole, said at least one hollow
protrusion of the second member being received in said at least one
groove when the second member is engaged with the first member and
thus covers said at least one tool receiving compartment and at
least one groove; and at least one retaining member separate from
the first member and the second member, said at least one retaining
member including a maximum width greater than that of said at least
one groove and that of the hole of said at least one hollow
protrusion; a perimeter wall delimiting the hole of said at least
one hollow protrusion of the second member and a perimeter wall
delimiting said at least one groove of the first member deforming
outward and in friction contact with each other when said at least
one retaining member is mounted in the hole of said at least one
hollow protrusion of the second member, thereby preventing the
second member from being disengaged from the first member; and the
second member being separable from the first member when said at
least one retaining member is removed from the hole of said at
least one hollow protrusion of the second member.
2. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 1, with said at
least one retaining member being a steel ball.
3. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 1, with the first
member being a plastic casing.
4. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 1, with the second
member being a plastic casing.
5. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 1, with said at
least one groove of the first member being square.
6. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 1, with the hole
of said at least one hollow protrusion of the second member being
square.
7. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 1, with the first
member including an outer perimeter bonded with an outer perimeter
of the second member by high frequency wave heat pressing.
8. A tool receiving device comprising: a first member made of a
deformable material and including a plurality of tool receiving
compartments and a plurality of grooves in a side thereof; a second
member made of a deformable material and including a plurality of
hollow protrusions each defining a hole, said hollow protrusions of
the second member being respectively received in said grooves of
the first member when the second member is engaged with the first
member and thus covers the tool receiving compartments and the
grooves; and a plurality of retaining members separate from the
first member and the second member, each said retaining member
including a maximum width greater than that of each said groove and
that of each said hole; a perimeter wall delimiting each said hole
of the second member and a perimeter wall delimiting an associated
one of said grooves of the first member deforming outward and in
friction contact with each other when an associated one of said
retaining members is mounted in the hole of the second member,
thereby preventing the second member from being disengaged from the
first member; and the second member being separable from the first
member when said retaining members are removed from the holes of
the second member.
9. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 8, with each said
retaining member being a steel ball.
10. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 8, with the first
member being a plastic casing.
11. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 8, with the
second member being a plastic casing.
12. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 8, with each said
groove of the first member being square.
13. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 8, with each said
hole of the second member being square.
14. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 8, with the first
member including an outer perimeter bonded with an outer perimeter
of the second member by high frequency wave heat pressing.
15. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 8, with the tool
receiving compartments and the grooves of the first member being
alternately disposed.
16. A tool receiving device comprising: a first member made of a
deformable material and including at least one tool receiving
compartment and at least one groove in a side thereof; a second
member made of a deformable material and including at least one
through-hole, said at least one through-hole of the second member
being aligned with said at least one groove when the second member
is engaged with the first member and thus covers said at least one
tool receiving compartment and at least one groove; and at least
one retaining member separate from the first member and the second
member, said at least one retaining member including an enlarged
first end having a diameter greater than a width of said at least
one groove, said at least one retaining member further including a
second end that is received in said at least one groove of the
first member, the second end of said at least one retaining member
having a diameter slightly greater than the width of said at least
one groove; a perimeter wall delimiting said at least one groove of
the first member deforming outward and in friction contact with the
second end of said at least one retaining member when said at least
one retaining member is mounted in said at least one groove of the
first member, thereby preventing the second member from being
disengaged from the first member; and the second member being
separable from the first member when said at least one retaining
member is removed from said at least one groove of the first
member.
17. A tool receiving device comprising: a first member made of a
deformable material and including at least one tool receiving
compartment and at least one groove in a side thereof; a second
member made of a deformable material and including at least one
through-hole, said at least one through-hole of the second member
being aligned with said at least one groove when the second member
is engaged with the first member and thus covers said at least one
tool receiving compartment and at least one groove; and at least
one retaining member separate from the first member and the second
member, said at least one retaining member including a maximum
width greater than a width of said at least one groove; a perimeter
wall delimiting said at least one groove of the first member
deforming outward and in friction contact with said at least one
retaining member when said at least one retaining member is mounted
in said at least one groove of the first member, thereby preventing
the second member from being disengaged from the first member; and
the second member being separable from the first member when said
at least one retaining member is removed from said at least one
groove of the first member.
18. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 17, with said at
least one retaining member being a steel ball.
19. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 17, with the
first member being a plastic casing.
20. The tool receiving device as claimed in claim 17, with the
second member being a plastic casing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to tool receiving devices of
the type including a first casing for receiving tools and a second
casing for covering the first casing.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a conventional tool
receiving device and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the tool
receiving device in FIG. 1. The tool receiving device includes a
bottom casing 1 and a cover casing 2 for covering the bottom casing
1. The bottom casing 1 includes a plurality of compartments 4 for
receiving tools 3 (e.g., wrenches) and a plurality of recesses 5
each having a square section. The cover casing 2 includes a
plurality of protrusions 6 integrally formed on an inner face
thereof. Each protrusion 6 has a diameter slightly greater than a
length of a side of each recess 5. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
respective protrusions 6 are force-fitted into the respective
recesses 5 to securely retain the cover casing 2 on the bottom
casing 1. Nevertheless, disengagement of the cover casing 2 from
the bottom casing 1 is difficult if the engagement therebetween is
too tight. The user has to apply a relatively large force to
separate the cover casing 2 and the bottom casing 1 from each
other, which is inconvenient and might cause injury to the fingers
of the user. On the other hand, if the engagement between the cover
casing 2 and the bottom casing 1 is not tight enough, the cover
casing 2 might be disengaged from the bottom casing 1 due to impact
during transport, vibrations during display, or falling of the tool
receiving device, resulting in scattering of the tools 3.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention,
a tool receiving device comprises a first member made of a
deformable material, a second member made of a deformable material,
and at least one retaining member. The first member includes at
least one tool receiving compartment and at least one groove in a
side thereof. The second member includes at least one hollow
protrusion defining a hole. The hollow protrusion of the second
member is received in the groove when the second member is engaged
with the first member and thus covers the tool receiving
compartment and the groove.
[0006] The retaining member is separate from the first member and
the second member. The retaining member includes a maximum width
greater than that of the groove of the first member and that of the
hole of the second member.
[0007] A perimeter wall delimiting the hole of the hollow
protrusion of the second member and a perimeter wall delimiting the
groove of the first member deform outward and in friction contact
with each other when the retaining member is mounted in the hole of
the hollow protrusion of the second member, thereby preventing the
second member from being disengaged from the first member.
[0008] The second member is separable from the first member when
the retaining member is removed from the hole of the hollow
protrusion of the second member.
[0009] The retaining member is preferably a steel ball. In an
embodiment of the invention, each of the first member and the
second member is a plastic casing. The groove of the first member
and the hole of the second member are square.
[0010] The first member includes an outer perimeter bonded with an
outer perimeter of the second member by high frequency wave heat
pressing.
[0011] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,
a tool receiving device comprises a first member made of a
deformable material, a second member made of a deformable material,
and a plurality of retaining members separate from the first member
and the second member. The first member includes a plurality of
tool receiving compartments and a plurality of grooves in a side
thereof. The second member includes a plurality of hollow
protrusions each defining a hole. The hollow protrusions of the
second member are respectively received in the grooves of the first
member when the second member is engaged with the first member and
thus covers the tool receiving compartments and the grooves. Each
retaining member includes a maximum width greater than that of each
groove and that of each hole.
[0012] A perimeter wall delimiting each hole of the second member
and a perimeter wall delimiting an associated groove of the first
member deform outward and in friction contact with each other when
an associated retaining member is mounted in the hole of the second
member, thereby preventing the second member from being disengaged
from the first member.
[0013] The second member is separable from the first member when
the retaining members are removed from the holes of the second
member.
[0014] Preferably, the tool receiving compartments and the grooves
of the first member are alternately disposed.
[0015] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention,
a tool receiving device comprises a first member made of a
deformable material, a second member made of a deformable material,
and at least one retaining member. The first member includes at
least one tool receiving compartment and at least one groove in a
side thereof. The second member includes at least one through-hole
that is aligned with the groove when the second member is engaged
with the first member and thus covers the tool receiving
compartment and the groove.
[0016] The retaining member is separate from the first member and
the second member. The retaining member includes an enlarged first
end having a diameter greater than a width of the groove. The
retaining member further includes a second end that is received in
the groove of the first member. The second end of the retaining
member has a diameter slightly greater than the width of the
groove.
[0017] A perimeter wall delimiting the groove of the first member
deforms outward and in friction contact with the second end of the
retaining member when the retaining member is mounted in the groove
of the first member, thereby preventing the second member from
being disengaged from the first member.
[0018] The second member is separable from the first member when
the retaining member is removed from the groove of the first
member.
[0019] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention,
a tool receiving device comprises a first member made of a
deformable material, a second member made of a deformable material,
and at least one retaining member separate from the first member
and the second member. The first member includes at least one tool
receiving compartment and at least one groove in a side thereof.
The second member includes at least one hole that is aligned with
the groove when the second member is engaged with the first member
and thus covers the tool receiving compartment and the groove.
[0020] The retaining member includes a maximum width greater than a
width of the groove. A perimeter wall delimiting the groove of the
first member deforms outward and in friction contact with the
retaining member when the retaining member is mounted in the groove
of the first member, thereby preventing the second member from
being disengaged from the first member.
[0021] The second member is separable from the first member when
the retaining member is removed from the groove of the first
member.
[0022] Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
tool receiving device.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the tool receiving device in
FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tool
receiving device in accordance with the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the tool receiving
device in FIG. 3.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along plane 5-5 in FIG.
3.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating
removal of retaining elements.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a top view of the tool receiving device in FIG.
3.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
tool receiving device in accordance with the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the tool receiving
device in FIG. 8.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along plane 10-10 in FIG.
8.
[0033] FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10, illustrating
removal of retaining elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tool
receiving device 10 in accordance with the present invention. FIG.
4 is an exploded perspective view of the tool receiving device 10
in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along plane 5-5 in FIG.
3. FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating
removal of retaining elements. FIG. 7 is a top view of the tool
receiving device 10 in FIG. 3.
[0035] The tool receiving device 10 in accordance with the present
invention includes a first member 20, a second member 30 for
covering the first member 20, and a plurality of retaining members
40 for retaining the second member 30 in place. The first member 20
is made from a plastic material and includes a plurality of
compartments 22 for receiving tools 21 (such as wrenches) and a
plurality of grooves 23. In this embodiment, the first member 20 is
a plastic thin casing formed by means of injection molding. Each
groove 23 has a square section. Preferably, the grooves 23 and the
compartments 22 are alternately disposed.
[0036] The second member 30 is made from a plastic material and
includes a plurality of hollow protrusions 31 on a side thereof
that cases the first member 10. Each hollow protrusion 31 has a
square section with a length slightly smaller than that of the
associated groove 23. Further, each hollow protrusion 31 includes a
hole 32 facing away from the first member 20. Each hole 32 has a
square section. In this embodiment, the second member 30 is a
plastic thin casing formed by means of injection molding. Each hole
32 is a blind hole delimited by an end wall (not labeled).
Alternatively, each hole 32 is a through-hole.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 6, the second member 30 is mounted on top
of the first member 20 and thus covers the first member 20, with
the hollow protrusions 31 of the second member 30 being received in
the respective grooves 23 of the first member 20. The retaining
members 40 are then inserted into the holes 32 of the respective
hollow protrusions 31, as shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, each
retaining member 40 is a steel ball having a diameter greater than
a length of each groove 23 and than a side of each hole 32. Since
the first member 20 and the second member 30 are made of a plastic
material and thus deformable, a perimeter wall delimiting each
groove 23 and a perimeter wall delimiting each hole 32 are
deformed, resulting in an increase of the friction between the
perimeter wall delimiting each groove 23 and the perimeter wall
delimiting the associated hole 32. Thus, the second member 30 is
reliably engaged with the first member 20. Disengagement of the
second member 30 from the first member 20 is avoided. Access to the
tools 21 can be easily achieved by means of removing the retaining
members 40 from the hollow protrusions 31 and then disengaging the
second member 30 from the first member 20, as shown in FIG. 6.
[0038] The outer perimeter of the first member 20 and the outer
perimeter of the second member 30 can be bonded together by means
of high frequency wave heat pressing. Thus, the tools 21 in the
tool receiving device 10 can be prevented from being stolen during
display, and the user may cut the bonded area before use.
[0039] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
tool receiving device in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the tool receiving device
in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along plane 10-10 in
FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10,
illustrating removal of retaining elements.
[0040] In this embodiment, the hollow protrusions 31 are omitted,
yet the holes 32 (in the form of through-holes) in the second
member 30 are kept. Further, each retaining member 70 includes an
enlarged first end 71 and a second end 72. The enlarged first end
71 of each retaining member 70 has a diameter greater than a width
of an associated through-hole 32 of the second member 30 that is
equal to a width of an associated groove 23 of the first member 20.
The second end 72 of each retaining member 70 is preferably arcuate
and has a diameter slightly greater than the width of the
associated groove 23 of the first member 20.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the respective retaining members
70 are inserted through the respective holes 32 of the second
member 30 into the respective grooves 23 of the first member 20,
with the enlarged first end 71 of each retaining member 70 being
located outside the associated through-hole 32 of the second member
30. Since the diameter of the second end 72 of each retaining
member 70 is slightly greater than the width of the associated
groove 23 of the first member 20, the perimeter wall delimiting the
associated groove 23 deforms outward. Thus, the second member 30 is
reliably retained in place by the friction between the perimeter
wall delimiting each groove 23 of the second member 20 and the
circumference of the second end 72 of the associated retaining
member 70. Disengagement of the second member 30 from the first
member 20 is prevented by the enlarged first ends 71 of the
retaining members 70.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 11, access to the tools 21 can be easily
achieved by means of removing the retaining members 70 from the
grooves 23 of the first member 20 and then disengaging the second
member 30 from the first member 20.
[0043] It is noted that the hollow protrusion 31 in the first
embodiment 30 can be used in this embodiment without affecting the
retaining function by friction.
[0044] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *