U.S. patent application number 10/641417 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for packaging for tool sets.
This patent application is currently assigned to Felo Werkzeugfabrik-Holland-Letz GmbH. Invention is credited to Holland-Letz, Horst.
Application Number | 20050247587 10/641417 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35238466 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050247587 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holland-Letz, Horst |
November 10, 2005 |
Packaging for tool sets
Abstract
The invention concerns a packaging, mainly for tool sets,
consisting of a handle (5) and tool-inserts (12) to be inserted
into the handle and a box (1) to take the components of the tool
set. The box (1) is designed in such a way that either the handle
(5) extends with its front part (6) through an aperture (14a) in
the side wall of the box into the inner space of the box and with
its main part (7) protrudes free outside of the box (1) or the
handle (5) protrudes in full length outside of the box. At both
embodiments the handle may be encompassed by the hand whereas the
shank (9a) extends into the inner space of the box. Handle and
shank are held in their position by support and holding elements
(8a, 8b, 13, 16) at the lid (3) and bottom part (2) of the box.
Inventors: |
Holland-Letz, Horst;
(Neustadt/Hessen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
TWO PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, SUITE 4900
180 NORTH STETSON AVENUE
CHICAGO
IL
60601-6780
US
|
Assignee: |
Felo Werkzeugfabrik-Holland-Letz
GmbH
Neustadt/Hessen
DE
|
Family ID: |
35238466 |
Appl. No.: |
10/641417 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/373 ;
206/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/373 ;
206/349 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2003 |
EP |
03016845.4 |
Aug 17, 2002 |
DE |
102 37 734.0 |
Aug 30, 2002 |
DE |
102 40 792.4 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A package for a tool set, the tool set including a handle with
a gripping portion and a plurality of exchangeable tool-inserts to
be used with the handle, the package comprising: a box to store the
tool set the box having an open top, the box configured such that
the handle can be stored therein such that the gripping portion of
the handle protrudes from the box; and a lid made of a transparent
material, the lid mountable to the box to cover the open top of the
box, the lid including a magnifying element.
15. The package for a tool set according to claim 14, wherein the
lid is hingedly connected to the box.
16. The package for a tool set according to claim 14, wherein the
handle has a shank, the shank being disposed in the box, the shank
having a diameter, and the box has a side wall with an aperture
therein, the aperture having a width substantially the same as the
diameter of the shank of the handle, the shank extending through
the aperture of the side wall of the box.
17. The package for a tool set according to claim 16, wherein the
box includes at least one rib, and the lid includes at least one
rib, the shank of the handle being disposed between the at least
one rib of the box and the at least one rib of the lid when the lid
is mounted to the box.
18. The package for a tool set according to claim 17, wherein the
shank of the handle has a distal end and a proximate end, the
distal end having a headpiece, and wherein one rib is disposed
closely adjacent the headpiece to thereby fix the headpiece, the
shank and the handle in one longitudinal direction, and another rib
is disposed adjacent the proximate end of the shank to thereby fix
the headpiece, the shank and the handle in the other longitudinal
direction.
19. The package for a tool set according to claim 14, wherein the
handle has a shank, the shank being disposed in the box, the box
has a side wall with an aperture therein, the lid has a sidewall
with an aperture therein, the apertures of the box and the lid in
alignment with each other when the lid is mounted to the box, the
shank extending through the apertures of the lid and the box.
20. The package for a tool set according to claim 14, wherein the
box has an inner surface, the inner surface having a portion shaped
to conform to the shape of at least a portion of the handle.
21. The package for a tool set according to claim 14, wherein the
rnagnifying element is a unitary piece of the lid.
22. The package for a tool set according to claim 14, wherein the
lid includes a plurality of magnifying elements corresponding to
the number of exchangeable tool inserts of the tool set, each
exchangeable tool insert being associated with a respective
magnifying element of the lid when the lid is mounted on the
box.
23. The package for a tool set according to claim 14, wherein the
box comprises an injection-molded plastic material.
24. The package for a tool set according to claim 14, wherein the
box comprises an blow-molded plastic material.
Description
CLAIM FOR PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to European patent
application 03016845.4, filed on Jul. 24, 2003, and German patent
applications 102 40 792.4 and 102 37 734.0, filed on Aug. 30, 2002,
and Aug. 17, 2002, respectively. The contents of European patent
application 03016845.4, filed on Jul. 24, 2003, and German patent
applications 102 40 792.4 and 102 37 734.0, filed on Aug. 30, 2002,
and Aug. 17, 2002, respectively, are incorporated in their
entireties herein by this reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a packaging for Tool Sets,
consisting of a box to receive the parts of the set--a handle and
exchangeable tool inserts to be used with the handle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Packaging of that kind as known from the market consist of a
lower or bottom part of the box which takes the handle and the tool
inserts, the parts laying in moulded in cavities or are held by
clamping-elements, and the upper part or lid of the box. The lid
may be connected with the lower part by a joint or be a separate
part stuck to the bottom part. The lid is normally made of a
transparent material so that the contents of the box can be seen
without opening the box. Other boxes show windows in the lid which
also allow the contents of the box to be seen. Boxes of that kind
are used for tool sets of high quality but also of low quality.
[0004] To avoid that individual parts are stolen out of the box
when they are displayed in the store, the lid of the box cannot be
opened. A person interested in possibly buying a tool set cannot
have a closer look at the parts or test the grip on the handle. On
the market there are boxes which contain a handle and exchangeable
tool inserts at which the lid has an aperture through which the
handle partly rises above the outer plane of the lid. The aperture
may follow the contour of the handle at a plane given by the plane
of the lid and it is possible to touch parts of the handle's
surface with fingers but it is not possible to fully grip with the
hand. Because a well designed ergonomic handle indicates that the
whole set is of good quality and that it may be expected to work
well with a comfortable handle, it would be advantageous for the
presentation and helpful to improve sales if the customer could
have a full grip on the handle and test it without opening the
box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a packaging or box
which meets such a requirement. According to the invention, into a
side-wall of the box an aperture is formed in the bottom part and
lid, or only into the bottom part, which is formed to fit with the
handle at its front region at the point of smallest diameter and
hold the handle when the box is closed. A short section of the
handle's front region reaches into the box but the main part which
is encompassed by the hand when working with the tools, protrudes
completely free outside of the box. In a variation of the
arrangement of box and handle, the handle protrudes free in its
full length out of the box. Details will become apparent when taken
into consideration with the following drawings and
specifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top view of a packing with the handle protruding
out of the box with its main region.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-section along line A-A of FIG. 1, handle
not cut.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of the short side of the box only,
without handle, according to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the aperture to
hold the handle.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a top view of a packaging with the handle
protruding completely free in its full length out of the box.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross-section along line A-A of FIG. 4, handle
not cut.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a side view of the short side of the box only,
without handle, according FIG. 4 showing the aperture to hold the
handle at the shank.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a packaging according to
FIG. 1 to 3 with lid open.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a packaging according to
FIG. 4 to 6 with lid open.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a top view of a box, the lid partly broken open,
with handle and exchangeable long screwdriver blades.
[0015] FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 is a packing according to FIG. 1 to 8,
however with magnifying elements at the lid.
[0016] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a packaging with another
embodiment of the box with lid open.
[0017] FIG. 14 is a top view of a packaging according to FIG. 13
with lid closed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The box (1) according to FIG. I consists of the lower or
bottom part (2) which normally is made of a non-transparent
material. At the short side of the box apertures (14a, 14b) are
formed into the side walls through which the handle (5) with its
front region (6) reaches into the box (1) whereas the main region
(7) of the handle protrudes free out of the box and can be
encompassed by the hand.
[0019] The rib (8a, 8b) supports and holds the shank (9a) which is
fixed in the handle (5). At the end of the shank (9a) there is a
headpiece or a holding device (9b) to take the exchangeable tool
inserts, the example shows screwdriver-bits. The handle (5) is
being held in position in a way that the lid (3) encompasses at the
apertures (14a, 14b) the front region (6) of the handle and pins or
ribs (13) at the inner side of the lid press onto the shank (9a)
when the lid is closed. Another possibility to hold the handle may
be that onto the upper side of the ribs (8a, 8b) sidewardly elastic
extensions with clamps are moulded, which grip the shank, or, to
make the width (b) of the apertures in the ribs (8a, 8b) somewhat
smaller than the diameter of the shank (9a) so that the shank is
clamped. At the bottom part (2) of the box as shown by the example
a hanger-tab (11) is fixed or moulded with the bottom and may be
removed after sale. The tool-inserts, as shown by FIG. 1 to 8 short
screwdriver bits (12), are held in the bottom part (2) of the box
by a kind of clamping elements in the inner side of the bottom
part. Because the fixing or holding elements for the tool inserts
are not a part of the invention, they are not shown and described
in detail. The lid (3) of the box is connected with the bottom part
(2) by joints (10). A snap-lock (4) keeps lid and bottom part shut.
A sealing element may be attached on lid and bottom part to prevent
an opening of the box and stealing parts out of it. Such an element
is not described in detail.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows the packaging according FIG. 1 in a view of the
long side cut along line A-A. The main region (7) of the handle (5)
protrudes out of the box (I), the shank (9a) is supported by the
ribs (8a, 8b). The lid (3) of the box presses on the front region
(6) of the handle at its largest diameter and keeps the handle in
position. Pins or ribs (13) on the inner side of the lid press onto
the shank (9a). The screwdriver-bits are held in a kind of quivers
or by clamping elements on the inner side of the bottom part. The
lid contacts the tips of the screwdriver-bits when the box is
closed and by this way holds the bits in their position.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a view of the short side of the box (1) without
handle. The width (B) of the apertures (14a, 14b) has the same
diameter as the front part (6) of the handle at its smallest
diameter. The aperture in the bottom part allows to put the handle
into its position in the bottom part (2) from above and to take it
out in the same direction when the box is opened. The rib (8a)
supports the shank (9a) and has an aperture which has the same
diameter as the shank (9a). The ribs (8a, 8b) shown in FIG. I and 2
are positioned and are shaped to also fix the handle in the
longitudinal direction.
[0022] At the embodiment according to FIG. 4 the wall at the short
side of the bottom part (2) of the box (1) has an aperture (14)
with a width (b) corresponding to the diameter of the shank (9a).
The ribs (8a, 8b) support the shank (9a), the rib (8b) is placed to
protrude directly behind the headpiece or holding device (9b).
[0023] Because the headpiece (9b) is larger in diameter than the
shank and the aperture in the rib (8b) has a width corresponding to
the diameter of the shank the handle is held in one axial direction
by the rib. In the other axial direction the handle is held by the
side wall of the box contacting the front side of the handle which
is larger in diameter than the aperture (14) in the side wall.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of the box according to FIG. 4 cut
along line A-A at FIG. 4.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a front view of the small side of the box
according to FIG. 4 and 5 without handle. The width (b) of the
aperture (14) has the same dimension as the diameter of the shank
(9a).
[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view on the packaging according to
FIG. 1 to 3 with lid open.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view on the packaging according to
FIG. 4 to 6 with lid open.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a top view of a box, the lid partly broken open,
with handle and exchangeable long screwdriver-blades.
[0029] At embodiments of the box according to FIG. 11 to 12 the lid
(3) is preferably made of transparent plastic material and its
upper side and/or long side show magnifying elements (17,18) which
are moulded into the lid and serve to magnify the tips of the
screwdriver-inserts to enable a better view of the type of the bit.
The magnifying elements may be shaped as lenses or longitudinal
cylinder-sections. The magnifying elements are placed above or
beside the position of the bit tips.
[0030] A box with a further embodiment according to FIG. 13 and 14
box 1 consists of the bottom part (2) and the lid (3). In the
bottom part the screwdriver inserts (12) are imbedded in cavities,
furthermore into the bottom part a cavity is moulded and shaped
according to the shape of the shank (9a) and the headpiece (9b) so
that these parts will fit into this cavity. There is a step from
the cavity for the headpiece (9b) to the cavity for the shank (9a).
This step holds the headpiece in one longitudinal direction. The
front side of the handle (5) contacts the side wall of the box as
described before and holds the handle in the other longitudinal
direction. The lid (3) has an aperture (I 9) through which the
headpiece (9b) of the shank can be seen when the box is closed.
Moreover the lid has further apertures (20) which open the view of
the tips of the screwdriver inserts also when the box is closed.
The long side of aperture (20) has tongue-shaped extensions (21 )
which are shaped to contact the bits when the lid is shut and hold
the bits in their cavity.
[0031] The elements with the same particular function may differ
only in shape at the various embodiments therefore they are marked
with the same identification figures on the different Figures.
[0032] A tool set may not only consist of a handle with shank (9a)
and headpiece (9b) and screwdriver inserts (12) but also of a
handle with a bush inserted in the handle and long blades (15) as
shown by FIG. 15. The blades lie in individual cavities moulded
into the bottom part (2). To hold the front region (6) of the
handle (5) firmly it is suitable to mould a cavity (16) with the
shape of the front region (6) of the handle into the bottom part
(2) so that the handle is held when the box (1) is shut and the lid
(3) presses onto the front part of the handle--as it does at
embodiments shown by FIG. 1 to. 8.
[0033] Boxes according to the described FIGS. 1 to 14 are
preferably injection-moulded of plastic material, the ribs (8a, 8b,
13), the cavity (16), quivers and other cavities or fixing elements
to hold the handle and the tool inserts are moulded in one piece,
either with the lid or the bottom part. Suitable for the purpose
may also be a box shown by FIGS. 1 to 12 at which the bottom part
(2) and the lid (3) are injection-moulded but a tray made of
plastic foil is fixed in the bottom part, in that tray cavities are
formed to take the tool inserts. These cavities may be shaped and
have dimensions to hold the tool inserts by clamping. In the same
manner a cavity is formed to hold the front region (6) of the
handle.
[0034] Boxes as described with lid and bottom part made by
injection moulding are durable boxes for long lasting use. Boxes
for this purpose may also be produced by blow-moulding of plastic
material. By this method of production the bottom part (2) will be
blown as a hollow two-walled body in which cavities and apertures
(14, 14a) to take the tool-inserts (12), the shank (9a) the
headpiece (9b) are formed as those formed into the same part
produced by injection moulding. The lid (3) will be produced by the
same method and may be connected with the bottom part by a
film-joint. The lid will be provided with the aperture (14b) in the
short side wall as well as with elements to hold the shank and the
front part (6) of the handle (5). It is suitable to insert into the
lid a plate of transparent plastic so that the contents of the box
can be seen if the box is shut. The box in total may be blow
moulded from transparent plastic material leaving a part of the box
for example above the shank (9a) and the magnifying elements (17,
18), with smooth transparent surface whereas the remaining surface
may have a texture given by a textured surface of the blow-mould so
that these areas of the box appear opaque.
[0035] In addition to the preceding description boxes may be
mentioned which are intended to be used only as sales packaging.
These boxes normally consist of a bottom part made of cardboard and
a lid or cover made of transparent plastic foil. The bottom part
has an aperture similar to aperture (14) in FIG. 3 formed by
punching to hold the front part/region of the handle. The ribs
correspond to the ribs (8a, 8b) and may be formed by cutting a
U-like contour into the cardboard bottom and bending the cardboard
so that it protrudes rib--like in the inner space of the bottom
part. Alternatively into the bottom part made of cardboard a tray
of plastic foil with the cavities and fixing elements may
inserted.
[0036] The advantage of packaging or boxes as described according
to the invention is not only that the handle protrudes free outside
of the box and helps to improve sales but also that the box itself
is much smaller than it would have to be if the handle had to be
placed inside the box. Therefore a box according to the invention
is also much lower in cost. Packaging and boxes as described may be
used not only for tool-sets but also for other sets consisting of
exchangeable inserts and a handle if the design or shape of the
handle is important for the function.
[0037] The invention covers of course not only the variations and
combinations of embodiments as described but also other variations
and combinations of parts or elements of the box characterized by
the fact that a handle with its main part protrudes free outside of
the box. Under this aspect, for example, a packaging for
screwdriver sets may be considered, containing several screwdrivers
in a box but with one screwdriver protruding with the main part of
the handle free outside of the box.
* * * * *