U.S. patent application number 10/895478 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for handle assembly for tool box.
Invention is credited to Pei-Ling Lee.
Application Number | 20060191946 10/895478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36931135 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060191946 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Pei-Ling |
August 31, 2006 |
Handle assembly for tool box
Abstract
A handle assembly for a tool box includes a first part and a
second part. A handle portion integrally connected to the base or
cover of the tool box is sandwiched between the first part and the
second part. Each of the first and second parts includes a stiff
inner layer and a soft outer layer which is mounted to an outer
surface of the stiff inner layer. Each of the first and second
parts includes a connection device and the two parts are connected
to each other by connecting the two respective connection
devices.
Inventors: |
Lee; Pei-Ling; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET
THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
36931135 |
Appl. No.: |
10/895478 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/755 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/02 20130101; A45C
13/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/755 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/10 20060101
B65D025/10 |
Claims
1. A tool box comprising: a cover and a base which is connected to
a side of the cover, a handle portion integrally connected to one
of the cover and the base; a first part including a first stiff
inner layer and a first soft outer layer which is mounted to an
outer surface of the first stiff inner layer, a first connection
device connected to the first stiff inner layer, and a second part
including a second stiff inner layer and a second soft outer layer
which is mounted to an outer surface of the second stiff inner
layer, a second connection device connected to the second stiff
inner layer, the handle portion being sandwiched between the first
and second parts and the first connection device being connected to
the second connection device.
2. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first stiff
inner layer has a recess in which a part of the handle portion is
received.
3. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second stiff
inner layer has a recess in which a part of the handle portion is
received.
4. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one
protrusion extends from the outer surface of the first and second
stiff inner layers, a top surface of the at least one protrusion
being not covered by the first and second soft outer layers.
5. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connection
device and the second connection device are located at a periphery
of the first and second stiff inner layers.
6. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connection
device is a tube extending from an inner bottom of the first stiff
inner layer and-the second connection device is an insertion
extending from an inner bottom of the second stiff inner layer, the
handle portion includes a through hole and the insertion of the
second connection device extends into the through hole and is
inserted in the tube of the first connection device which is
extends in the through hole.
7. The tool box as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tube of the
first connection device expands outward when the rod of the second
connection device is inserted into the tube from a free open end of
the tube, a plurality of hooks formed on an outer surface of the
tube and engaged with the engaging inner periphery of the through
hole of the handle portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a handle assembly composed
of two parts snapped with each other and the handle is sandwiched
between the two parts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional tool box 1 is disclosed in FIG. 1 and
generally includes a base 10 and a cover 11 which is pivotably
connected to the base 10 at a side thereof and two locking members
12 are connected to the cover 11 such that the base 10 and the
cover 11 can be locked by snapping the locking members 12 to
correspondent members on the base 10. Each of the base 10 and the
cover 11 includes a handle 13 which is integrally connected
thereto. The handles 13 are made by stiff material which cannot
provide a comfortable graspingness to the users. Besides, the
handle is integral to the tool box and the outer appearance of the
handle cannot be changed. If a new handle is to be made, the
manufacturers have to develop new molds for the whole tool box and
this costs much.
[0003] The present invention intends to provide handle assembly for
a tool box and the assembly includes two parts each with a soft
outer layer. The two parts are snapped from two sides of the handle
portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a tool box that comprises a
cover connected to a base. A handle portion is integrally connected
to the cover. A first part includes a first stiff inner layer and a
first soft outer layer which is mounted to an outer surface of the
first stiff inner layer. A first connection device is connected to
the first stiff inner layer. A second part includes a second stiff
inner layer and a second soft outer layer which is mounted to an
outer surface of the second stiff inner layer. A second connection
device is connected to the second stiff inner layer. The handle
portion is sandwiched between the first and second parts and the
first connection device is connected to the second connection
device.
[0005] The present invention will become more obvious from the
following description when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration
only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show a conventional tool
box;
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the handle assembly of
the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the handle assembly
of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the handle assembly of
the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 5 shows the first connection device extends through the
through hole of the handle portion, and
[0011] FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the connection of the
first and second connection device in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the tool box 2 of the present
invention comprises a cover 20 and a base 21 which is connected to
a side of the cover 20. A handle portion 22 is integrally connected
to the base 21 and is a curve bar whose two ends connected to the
cover 20.
[0013] A first part 30 includes a first stiff inner layer 301 and a
first soft outer layer 302 which is mounted to an outer surface of
the first stiff inner layer 301. At least one protrusion 3011
extends from the outer surface of the first stiff inner layer 301.
A top surface of the at least one protrusion 3011 is in flush with
the first soft outer layer 302 and not covered by the first soft
outer layer 302. The top surface of 10 the at least one protrusion
3011 can be put on a pattern or a mark thereon. A first connection
device 303 is connected to a periphery of the first stiff inner
layer 301.
[0014] A second part 31 includes a second stiff inner layer 311 and
a second soft outer layer 312 which is mounted to an outer surface
of the second stiff inner layer 311. At least one protrusion 3111
extends from the outer surface of the second stiff inner layer 311.
A top surface of the at least one protrusion 3111 is in flush with
the second soft outer layer 312 and not covered by the second soft
outer layer 312. The top surface of the at least one protrusion
3111 can be put on a pattern or a mark thereon. A second connection
device 313 is connected to a periphery of the second stiff inner
layer 311. The first stiff inner layer 301 has a recess 304 in
which a part of the handle portion 22 is received. The second stiff
inner layer 311 has a recess 314 in which a part of the handle
portion 22 is received. The handle portion 22 is sandwiched between
the first and second parts 30, 31 and the first connection device
303 is connected to the second connection device 313.
[0015] The soft outer layers 302, 312 provide a better graspingness
and the protrusions 3011, 3111 make the handle assembly have an
attractive outer appearance. The first and second part 30, 31 can
be made by small molds which means less cost is required and the
first and second parts 30, 31 can be replaced at a tow cost.
[0016] FIGS. 4 to 6 show another embodiment of the handle assembly
wherein the first connection device 303 is a tube extending from an
inner bottom of the first stiff inner layer 301 and the second
connection device 313 is an insertion extending from an inner
bottom of the second stiff inner layer 311. The handle portion 22
includes a through hole 23 and the insertion of the second
connection device 313 extends into the through hole 23 and is
inserted in the tube of the first connection device 303 which is
extends in the through hole 23. The tube of the first connection
device 303 can be expanded outward when the rod 313 of the second
connection device 313 is inserted into the tube from a free open
end of the tube. A plurality of hooks are formed on an outer
surface of the tube and engaged with the engaging inner periphery
230 of the through hole 23 of the handle portion 22.
[0017] While we have shown and described the embodiment in
accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those
skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *