Compact Tackle And Utility Box

Abstract

A container box and a holder for receiving the box, the holder having a clip so to be conveniently supported from a belt which is worn by a person such as a fisherman, the box being used for containing tackle which is thus located in a convenient and handy location for quick and easy reach thereto.

Description

This invention relates generally to tackle boxes.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a tackle and utility box which incorporates self-contained means whereby it may be conveniently carried upon a person's belt where it will always be handy for quick and easy use to a fisherman.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact tackle and utility box which includes a box member that is removably supported within a holder which is removably secured to a belt worn by a fisherman or other person.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compact tackle and utility box wherein a utility box may be lifted upwardly from the holder for use, and which is accomplished by a single finger placed therebelow.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a compact tackle and utility box wherein the holder is secured over a person's belt by means of a clip integrally formed on the holder.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a compact tackle and utility box which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention showing the box and holder separated,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof shown assembled and secured upon a person's belt,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cork which may be carried within the box member of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified design of the holder member, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4 and showing the box being removed therefrom.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents a compact tackle and utility box assembly according to the present invention, wherein there is a box member 11 and a holder member 12.

The box member 11 comprises a generally rectangular container having parallel front and rear walls 13 and 14, parallel end walls 15, bottom wall 16 and a pivotable cover 17 supported on hinges 18 secured along an upper edge of the rear wall 14.

An upstanding partition 19 divides the interior of the box member 11 into a pair of compartments 20 and 21 into which tackle and other utility objects may be placed.

As is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, an insert 22 formed of cork is made of generally rectangular configuration and serves as a means of supporting artificial flies 23, hooks 24 and the like.

A holder member 12 may be made either from molded plastic or formed sheet metal, the holder member 12 comprising generally a cup-like member into which the box member is receivable. Accordingly the holder member includes a bottom wall 25, opposite end walls 26, a rear wall 27, a pair of front walls 28, and a rearwardly bent tab 29 that forms a clip for purpose of being fitted over a belt worn by a fisherman.

As is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, it is to be noted that the bottom wall 25 is provided with a notch 31 which opens out upon the front of the holder, the notch 31 communicating with a slot 32 formed between the front wall 28.

In operative use, it will thus be readily aparent that when a person desires to lift the box member from the holder member, he may accomplish the same by use of only one finger 33 as is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

The finger is placed below the holder in the area of the notch 31 and is then drawn upwardly through the slot 32, thus pulling the box member upwardly.

The clip 29 will be resilient whether the holder is made of plastic or metal so that it will snap over the belt 30 in an easy and quick manner.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing, there is shown a modified design of tackle and utility box 34 which includes a holder 35 for receiving the box-like container 36, as above described.

The holder includes an additional tab 38 struck out at 37 from the rear wall 27 which has a terminal end 40, the tab 38 being adaptable for bearing against a front side of the supporting belt 30 while the tab 29 bears against the rear side of the belt, as shown at 39 in FIG. 5. The terminal end 40 is forwardly bent so to fit into a slot 41 formed on rear wall 14 of the container 36 which thus serves to firmly retain the box member from falling out of the holder such as might occur when a fisherman brushes the device against a limb of underbrush while moving along a thicket adjacent a stream.

However, in order that the fisherman may remove the box member from the holder at his will, a means is provided so that the box member may be tilted away from the terminal end 40, as shown in FIG. 5 and which thus permits the box member to be pushed upwardly as indicated by the arrow 42. This means comprises the lower portion of the holder interior being made wider than the upper portion thereof so that the lower portion of the box member can be pivoted forwardly. This is accomplished by a person's palm 43 bearing against the upward extending front wall 13 so as to cause the box member to pivot about the fulcrum 44 formed by the upper portion of the rearwall 27. Thus the slot 41 disengages from the terminal end 40 and the box member can freely slide upwardly out of the holder.

It is to be noted that a pair of leaf springs 45 on the front walls 28 of the holder normally urge the box member 36 to remain in a vertical position as indicated by the phantom lines P so that the terminal end 40 is in engagement with the slot 41. Thus there is no danger of the box member falling out of the holder accidentally by brushing the device against a branch or other projection while moving in a thicket.

Thus there has been provided a handy lightweight, neat-looking compact tackle and utility box which may be used by fishermen for holding tackle and other objects, or wherein the device may be used by other persons such as factory workers or others who desire to maintain tools in a relatively handy position for immediate use.

The box member may be used for containing first aid equipment, insect repellent or other devices.

Claims

What I now claim is:

1. In a compact tackle and utility box assembly, the combination of a box member and a holder member, said box member being receivable within said holder member, and said holder member having self-contained means for being removably secured over a person's belt, said box member comprising a generally rectangular element having a parallel front and rear wall, opposite end walls, a bottom wall, a pivotable cover secured by hinges to an upper edge of said rear wall, and said box member having the interior thereof divided into two compartments by means of a central, upstanding partition, said holder member comprising a generally cup-like member having a bottom wall, opposite side walls, a pair of spaced apart front walls, a rear wall and a rearwardly extending tab that is downwardly bent to form a clip for being received over said person's belt, said bottom wall having a notch which communicates with a slot between said front walls so to provide means for a person's finger moving upwardly for lifting said box member from said holder member, an insert made of cork supporting artificial flies, hooks or tackle, said insert being receivable within said compartment of said box member, a tongue formed in said rear wall of said holder normally flexing toward said tab, a lower terminal end of said tongue being receivable into a slot on said rear wall of said box member, said box member being disengageable from said terminal end of said tongue by having a lower portion forwardly pivotable in an enlarged area in the lower portion of said holder so to permit said box member to be upwardly slideable therefrom.