U.S. patent application number 10/895237 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-19 for tool box assembly.
Invention is credited to Tsai Chien Shih.
Application Number | 20060011624 10/895237 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35598373 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060011624 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shih; Tsai Chien |
January 19, 2006 |
Tool box assembly
Abstract
A tool box assembly includes a first case, and a second case
pivotally mounted on the first case. The first case and the second
case respectively have the same structure. Thus, the first case and
the second case have the same structure, so that the manufacturer
only needs to prepare a single mold to make the tool box assembly,
thereby decreasing costs of fabrication.
Inventors: |
Shih; Tsai Chien; (Taichung
County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET
THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
35598373 |
Appl. No.: |
10/895237 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/004.24 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/28 20060101
B65D006/28 |
Claims
1. A tool box assembly, comprising a first case, and a second case
pivotally mounted on the first case, wherein: the first case has a
side having a first end provided with a pivot member and a second
end provided with a pivot seat; and the second case has a side
having a first end provided with a pivot member pivotally mounted
on the pivot seat of the first case and a second end provided with
a pivot seat on which the pivot member of the first case is
pivotally mounted.
2. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the
pivot seat of the second case is formed on and protruded outward
from the second case and has an inside formed with a clamping
recess; and the pivot member of the first case includes a
protruding rib having a first end formed on and protruded outward
from the first case, and a pivot shaft integrally formed on a
second end of the protruding rib and pivotally mounted in the
clamping recess of the pivot seat of the second case.
3. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
protruding rib of the pivot member of the first case is
substantially wedge-shaped.
4. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
pivot shaft of the pivot member of the first case is parallel with
the side of the first case.
5. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
protruding rib of the pivot member of the first case is located at
a mediate portion of the pivot shaft.
6. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
clamping recess of the pivot seat of the second case is
substantially arcuate shaped.
7. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
clamping recess of the pivot seat of the second case has an opening
facing outward.
8. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
clamping recess of the pivot seat of the second case encompasses
the pivot shaft of the pivot member of the first case to an extent
exceeding half of a diameter of the pivot shaft of the pivot member
of the first case.
9. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
pivot seat of the second case has a mediate portion formed with a
cutout extended through the mediate portion of the pivot seat of
the second case.
10. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein the
protruding rib of the pivot member of the first case is aligning
with the cutout of the pivot seat of the second case.
11. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
second case has a structure the same as that of the first case.
12. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
pivot seat of the first case is formed on and protruded outward
from the first case and has an inside formed with a clamping
recess; and the pivot member of the second case includes a
protruding rib having a first end formed on and protruded outward
from the second case, and a pivot shaft integrally formed on a
second end of the protruding rib and pivotally mounted in the
clamping recess of the pivot seat of the first case.
13. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
protruding rib of the pivot member of the second case is
substantially wedge-shaped.
14. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
pivot shaft of the pivot member of the second case is parallel with
the side of the second case.
15. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
protruding rib of the pivot member of the second case is located at
a mediate portion of the pivot shaft.
16. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
clamping recess of the pivot seat of the first case is
substantially arcuate shaped.
17. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
clamping recess of the pivot seat of the first case has an opening
facing outward.
18. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
clamping recess of the pivot seat of the first case encompasses the
pivot shaft of the pivot member of the second case to an extent
exceeding half of a diameter of the pivot shaft of the pivot member
of the second case.
19. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
pivot seat of the first case has a mediate portion formed with a
cutout extended through the mediate portion of the pivot seat of
the first case.
20. The tool box assembly in accordance with claim 19, wherein the
protruding rib of the pivot member of the second case is aligning
with the cutout of the pivot seat of the first case.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a tool box assembly, and
more particularly to a tool box assembly that decreases costs of
fabrication and maintenance.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional tool box comprises a first case, a second
case pivotally mounted on the first case, and a flexible strip
connected between the first case and the second case. Thus, the
first case and the second case are pivoted relative to each other
by flexibility of the flexible strip so as to expand and fold the
conventional tool box. However, the manufacturer needs to prepare
two molds to make the first case and the second case respectively,
thereby increasing costs of fabrication. In addition, the flexible
strip is easily worn out during a long-term utilization, thereby
shortening the lifetime of the conventional tool box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a tool box assembly, comprising a first case, and a second case
pivotally mounted on the first case, wherein:
[0006] the first case has a side having a first end provided with a
pivot member and a second end provided with a pivot seat; and
[0007] the second case has a side having a first end provided with
a pivot member pivotally mounted on the pivot seat of the first
case and a second end provided with a pivot seat on which the pivot
member of the first case is pivotally mounted.
[0008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a tool box assembly, wherein the first case and the second case
have the same structure, so that the manufacturer only needs to
prepare a single mold to make the tool box assembly, thereby
decreasing costs of fabrication.
[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
tool box assembly, wherein the first case and the second case have
the same structure, so that either one of the first case and the
second case can be replaced when being worn out, thereby decreasing
costs of maintenance.
[0010] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
tool box assembly, wherein the first case is pivoted relative to
the second case by pivot of the pivot shafts in the clamping
recesses, so that the connection between the first case and the
second case is not worn out easily, thereby enhancing the lifetime
of the tool box assembly.
[0011] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
tool box assembly, wherein the first case and the second case are
fully expanded by provision of the cutouts, thereby facilitating
the user expanding and operating the tool box assembly.
[0012] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool box assembly in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tool box
assembly as shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a locally perspective enlarged view of the tool
box assembly as shown in FIG. 1; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic expanded view of the tool box assembly
as shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a tool
box assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention comprises a first case 10, and a second case 50
pivotally mounted on the first case 10.
[0018] The first case 10 has a side having a first end provided
with a pivot member 20 and a second end provided with a pivot seat
30.
[0019] The pivot member 20 of the first case 10 includes a
wedge-shaped protruding rib 21 having a first end formed on and
protruded outward from the first case 10 to enhance the strength of
the pivot member 20 of the first case 10, and a pivot shaft 25
integrally formed on a second end of the protruding rib 21. The
pivot shaft 25 of the pivot member 20 of the first case 10 is
parallel with the side of the first case 10. The protruding rib 21
of the pivot member 20 of the first case 10 is located at a mediate
portion of the pivot shaft 25.
[0020] The pivot seat 30 of the first case 10 is formed on and
protruded outward from the first case 10 and has an inside formed
with a clamping recess 32. The clamping recess 32 of the pivot seat
30 of the first case 10 is substantially arcuate shaped and has an
opening facing outward. The pivot seat 30 of the first case 10 has
a mediate portion formed with a cutout 35 extended through the
mediate portion of the pivot seat 30 of the first case 10.
[0021] The second case 50 has a structure the same as that of the
first case 10. The second case 50 has a side having a first end
provided with a pivot member 60 pivotally mounted on the pivot seat
30 of the first case 10 and a second end provided with a pivot seat
70 on which the pivot member 20 of the first case 10 is pivotally
mounted.
[0022] The pivot member 60 of the second case 50 includes a
wedge-shaped protruding rib 61 having a first end formed on and
protruded outward from the second case 50 to enhance the strength
of the pivot member 60 of the second case 50, and a pivot shaft 65
integrally formed on a second end of the protruding rib 61 and
pivotally mounted in the clamping recess 32 of the pivot seat 30 of
the first case 10. The clamping recess 32 of the pivot seat 30 of
the first case 10 encompasses the pivot shaft 65 of the pivot
member 60 of the second case 50 to an extent exceeding half of a
diameter of the pivot shaft 65 of the pivot member 60 of the second
case 50. The protruding rib 61 of the pivot member 60 of the second
case 50 is aligning with the cutout 35 of the pivot seat 30 of the
first case 10 to prevent from incurring interference between the
first case 10 and the second case 50 during expansion. The pivot
shaft 65 of the pivot member 60 of the second case 50 is parallel
with the side of the second case 50. The protruding rib 61 of the
pivot member 60 of the second case 50 is located at a mediate
portion of the pivot shaft 65.
[0023] The pivot seat 70 of the second case 50 is formed on and
protruded outward from the second case 50 and has an inside formed
with a clamping recess 72. The pivot shaft 25 of the pivot member
20 of the first case 10 is pivotally mounted in the clamping recess
72 of the pivot seat 70 of the second case 50. The clamping recess
72 of the pivot seat 70 of the second case 50 is substantially
arcuate shaped and has an opening facing outward. The clamping
recess 72 of the pivot seat 70 of the second case 50 encompasses
the pivot shaft 25 of the pivot member 20 of the first case 10 to
an extent exceeding half of a diameter of the pivot shaft 25 of the
pivot member 20 of the first case 10. The pivot seat 70 of the
second case 50 has a mediate portion formed with a cutout 75
extended through the mediate portion of the pivot seat 70 of the
second case 50. The protruding rib 21 of the pivot member 20 of the
first case 10 is aligning with the cutout 75 of the pivot seat 70
of the second case 50 to prevent from incurring interference
between the first case 10 and the second case 50 during
expansion.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the pivot shaft 25 of the pivot member
20 of the first case 10 is pivoted in the clamping recess 72 of the
pivot seat 70 of the second case 50, and the pivot shaft 65 of the
pivot member 60 of the second case 50 is pivoted in the clamping
recess 32 of the pivot seat 30 of the first case 10, so that the
first case 10 is pivoted relative to the second case 50 freely.
Thus, the tool box assembly is disposed at an expanded state.
[0025] Accordingly, the first case 10 and the second case 50 have
the same structure, so that the manufacturer only needs to prepare
a single mold to make the tool box assembly, thereby decreasing
costs of fabrication. In addition, the first case 10 and the second
case 50 have the same structure, so that either one of the first
case 10 and the second case 50 can be replaced when being worn out,
thereby decreasing costs of maintenance. Further, the first case 10
is pivoted relative to the second case 50 by pivot of the pivot
shafts 25 and 65 in the clamping recesses 72 and 32, so that the
connection between the first case 10 and the second case 50 is not
worn out easily, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the tool box
assembly. Further, the first case 10 and the second case 50 are
fully expanded by provision of the cutouts 35 and 75, thereby
facilitating the user expanding and operating the tool box
assembly.
[0026] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood
that many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is,
therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will
cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true
scope of the invention.
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