U.S. patent application number 10/555424 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-14 for case, particularly a machine tool case.
Invention is credited to Manfred Lutz.
Application Number | 20060201834 10/555424 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34609416 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060201834 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lutz; Manfred |
September 14, 2006 |
Case, particularly a machine tool case
Abstract
A box, in particular a box for power tools, having a housing
(10) that has a storage space for transporting and/or storing a
power tool (20), in particular a hand power tool, that is capable
of driving an insert tool (22). A support structure (16) designed
for changing the insert tool (22) is provided.
Inventors: |
Lutz; Manfred; (Penang,
MY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Striker Striker & Stenby
103 East Neck Road
Huntington
NY
11743
US
|
Family ID: |
34609416 |
Appl. No.: |
10/555424 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 4, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/52791 |
371 Date: |
October 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/372 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/372 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/28 20060101
B65D085/28 |
Claims
1. A box, in particular a box for power tools, having a housing
(10) that has a storage space for transporting and/or storing a
power tool (20), in particular a hand power tool, that is capable
of driving an insert tool (22), wherein a support structure (16)
designed for changing the insert tool (22) is provided.
2. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure
(16) has a foamed form that is at least partially adapted to a
contour of the power tool (20).
3. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure
(16) has a supporting rib form that is at least partially adapted
to a contour of the power tool (20).
4. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing (10) is
comprised of a case manufactured by means of blow molding.
5. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing (10) is
comprised of a case manufactured by means of an injection
process.
6. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein at least part of the
support structure (16) is integral to the housing (10).
7. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure
(16) is partially unfoldable.
8. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein a transport receptacle
(18) is at least partially a component of the support structure
(16).
9. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure
(16) is situated in a box lid (12).
10. The box as recited in claim 1, wherein the support structure
(16) is embodied as removable.
11. The box as recited in claim 8, wherein the support structure
(16) is embodied as self-supporting.
Description
PRIOR ART
[0001] The present invention is based on a box, in particular a box
for power tools, according to the preamble to claim 1.
[0002] It is known to use boxes for transporting and/or storing
power tools and their accessories. Usually, ribs or walls serve to
hold the power tool and accessories and fix them in place in the
box bottom and the box lid holds them down in the appropriate
position and protects them from damage.
[0003] A box with a housing made of plastic is known from German
patent disclosure DE 84 27 020 U1 and has a housing part with a
storage space for transporting and/or storing various hand power
tools. The housing part has space-dividing elements and support
elements formed onto it in the form of intermediary pieces that
protrude into the storage space.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is based on a box, in particular a box
for power tools, having a housing that has a storage space for
transporting and/or storing a power tool, in particular hand power
tool, that is capable of driving an insert tool.
[0005] According to the present invention, a support structure
designed for changing the insert tool is provided. The support
structure can accommodate the power tool at least so that when a
power tool is placed therein, it is held in a stable enough fashion
to permit an easy changing of its insert tool. Since the support
structure need only absorb limited forces so that the power tool
can be set down in a stable fashion while its insert tool is being
changed, it is sufficient to meet relatively low requirements for
strength and stability, allowing the structure to be produced for a
correspondingly low price. By installing the support structure in a
box lid or in other positions that are otherwise unused, the power
tool can be placed in a secure, stable position in order to change
its insert tool, whether or not the power tool is provided with a
flat support surface. The box can be used as a cradle and as an
immobilizing device for the power tool. This additional use offers
increased safety and reduces the risk of injury to an operator when
changing an insert tool. The support structure can be accommodated
in any kind of box and essentially uses previously unused storage
space in the box. The support device is integrated into the box and
is therefore always carried along with it and is thus also always
available. It can be situated inside the housing or also be
accessible from outside the box. The support structure can be
designed so that the power tool lies essentially flat or so that
the power tool lies in an inclined position at an arbitrary angle
in relation to a box lid or box bottom. The inclined position also
facilitates handling of larger power tools or of insert tools that
have been removed during a tool change. The power tool and/or the
insert tool can protrude out from box in the process, provided that
this makes the insert tool easy to access and easy to change.
[0006] If the shape of the support structure is adapted to a
contour of the power tool in at least some regions, then this
yields a stable support of the power tool. The power tool has at
most a very slight amount of play in the support structure and is
suitably only embedded in it deep enough to reliably immobilize it
during the tool change. An adaptation of the support structure to
the contour of the tool can also be comprised of individual support
points. The support structure supports the power tool on the
support points and immobilizes the power tool to a degree
sufficient for a tool change.
[0007] Preferably, the housing is comprised of a case manufactured
by means of blow molding, in particular a plastic case. It is
particularly advantageous to use a blow mold for manufacturing
double-walled bodies that constitute the top part and/or bottom
part of the box. In this process, a parison is blown out to form an
inner wall and an outer wall of a box part with a cavity between
the inner wall and outer wall. The inner wall can be shaped
independently of the outer wall and, for example, can also
constitute an integrated support structure, while the outer wall
can be embodied in a smooth form, e.g. as the outside of the box
bottom. In addition to the blow mold for manufacturing the support
structure, other advantageous manufacturing types are also
conceivable such as deep drawing in which, for example, a plastic
plate with a contour that corresponds to the support structure is
deep drawn and can be advantageously inserted into a conventional
box. Another possibility is to injection mold individual ribs onto
a box mold, which makes it possible, for example, to obtain
individual support points and/or support surfaces. It is also
possible for a contour corresponding to the support structure to be
foamed in place.
[0008] If the support structure has a support rib form that is
adapted to a contour of the power tool in at least some regions,
then this achieves a stable support of the power tool. The form can
be manufactured by means of injection processes such as injection
molding or transfer molding. Preferably the housing is also a case
manufactured by means of an injection process, in particular a
plastic case. The housing and support structure can be produced in
a single process step or in succeeding process steps.
[0009] If the support structure is let into a housing surface, then
it is also possible for this to be accessible on the outside of the
box when the box is closed and can offer an additional support
function during a tool change.
[0010] If the support structure can be partially unfolded, then it
is also possible for it to hold a large-format power tool in a
stable fashion. In this case, the receiving depth of the support
structure can be greater than the depth of the box, the box bottom,
or the box lid.
[0011] If a transport receptacle is at least a component of the
support structure, then it can be arranged in a particularly
space-saving manner.
[0012] If the support structure is situated in a box lid, then an
unused space can be made available without having to change the
usual transport brackets for the power tool and its
accessories.
[0013] If the support structure is embodied as removable, then it
can be easily exchanged after long periods of use or removed for
cleaning. It can also be removed from the box for a tool
change.
[0014] If the support structure is embodied as self-supporting,
then it can also be removed from the box, which is useful when
space is limited. For example, the box lid can be provided with a
mat that holds the support structure. It can easily be removed from
the box and placed in a suitable location for the tool change.
DRAWINGS
[0015] Other advantages ensue from the following description of the
drawings. The drawings show an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. The drawings, the specification, and the claims contain
numerous characterizing features in combination. Those skilled in
the art will also suitably consider the characterizing features
individually and unite them into other meaningful combinations.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a conventional box for a power tool,
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a box with a support structure in
the example of a plane,
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a plane in the transport position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0019] The depiction of a conventional box for a power tool 20 in
FIG. 1 shows the power tool 20 in the form of a drill with a number
of insert tools 22 in a housing 10. Parts that are the same in the
different figures are labeled with the same reference numerals. The
housing 10 has a box lid 12 and a box bottom 14 in which the power
tool 20 is kept for transport. If an insert tool 22 is to be
inserted or changed, the support surface on the drill in the
position suitable for the tool change is insufficient for it to be
safely placed in a stable position on a surface for this
procedure.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a support structure 16 for supporting a power
tool 20 in a box lid 12. The support structure 16 is embodied as a
form, in particular as a blow-molded form, which is adapted to the
contour of the power tool 20 and has a cavity between the outer
wall and inner wall, which is situated inside a housing 10 and at
least partially accommodates the power tool 20, for example a plane
with a blade clamp 26 and a planing blade as an insert tool 22. The
support structure 16 is designed so that it can absorb the
relatively limited forces during a tool change and essentially
prevents the power tool 20 from turning or tilting so that the
operator can hold, loosen, or tighten screws, corresponding chucks,
or holding fixtures that hold the insert tool 22. The support
structure can therefore be relatively lightweight in design.
[0021] The plane rests with a handle 30 embedded in the support
structure 16 so that the tool side 24 with the planing shaft 28
faces upward. In this position, the blade clamp 26 can easily be
released with a tool, e.g. an Allen wrench for loosening an Allen
screw on the blade clamp 26, without the operator having to
manually immobilize the plane. This leaves both hands available for
the tool change.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows the power tool 20 in the usual transport and
storage position in the box bottom 14. The handle 30 of the plane
points upward so that the plane can easily be removed for use. The
box lid 12 with the support structure 16 can easily be closed over
the power tool 20. The support structure 60 is suitably positioned
in the box lid 12 so that when the box lid 12 is closed, the power
tool 20 protrudes into the cavity of the support structure 16 and
is simultaneously held down during transport.
[0023] The present invention can preferably be used when changing
plane blades and/or belts in planes, when changing saw blades in
circular saws, when changing sanding belts in belt sanders, when
changing sanding sheets in finishing sanders and eccentric-orbit
sanders, and when changing grinding disks in angle grinders.
[0024] Even when changing grinding blades, e.g. in corner sanders,
it can be helpful to immobilize the power tool, which allows the
grinding blade or grinding paper to be more precisely
positioned.
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