CA1221065A - Vertical storage toolbox - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

VERTICAL STORAGE TOOLBOX (SLOPED) The underlying defines a receptacle with a sloped face of 5 - 85 degrees from the horizontal, with a preferable slope of 15 - 65 degrees; containing a series of compartments inside, speciflcally designed for the holding of tools and materials of various sizes. This series of compartments may or may not be removable. The compartments also recede in a sloped fashion with not necessarily the same slope as the terminating margin of the upper edge of the toolbox. The design facilitates the user to see all the tools in the sloped compartments at once and store his materials more easily.
The toolbox may contain a top, wedge shaped, nesting section which slides along the sloped face of the lower section of the toolbox assisted by a longitudinal slot on either side of the bottom section of the toolbox, running parallel to the sloped face. The receptacle in its preferable form is made from metal or plastic. Additions such as folding wheels and framework may be present on some units.

SPECIFICATION
1) This invention relates to a receptacle for holding tools or other items of a solid dry nature (ie. not liquids).
2) It is common for toolboxes of previous design tohave the bulk of the tools thrown on the bottom and smaller tools stored in folding trays at the top. There is also another type which is comprised of a series of drawers.
In both of those designs there can be a considerable loss of time in looking for tools if one doesn't know where the tool is or where lt has been put; since all the tools are not visible at the same time. Also when the toolboxes

Description

~22~0~;5 SPECIFICATION
1) Thiæ lnvention relates to a receptacle for holdlng tools or other items of a solld dry nature (ie. not liqulds).

2) It lq common for toolbo~es of prevlous design tohav~
the bulk of the tools thrown on the bottom and smaller tools stored in folding trays at the top. There is also another type whi¢h is comprised of Q series of drawers.
In both of those designs there can be a conslderable loss of tlme ln looking for tools if one doesn't know ~here the tool ls or where it has been put; since all the tools are not vlsible at the same tlme. Also when the toolboxes ~2Z1~6S

become quite full there can be loss of time in remoring tools on top to get at tools on the bottom.

3) I have found that these d1sadvantages may be overcome by designing the toolbox in a different manner; having a high back and a low front, with sloped sides. On the inside are a series of compartments that rise in a gradual fashion from the front to the back allowing the user to put large tools at the back and small tools at the front. The compart-ments are acces~ible easily and when the tools are stored properly (with the tool or item sticking an inch or so above the compartment edge) they are quicXly accessible and all the tools are easlly ~isible to make inventory simple.
To further accomodate afficient space utilization the bottom section can have (riding on top of it) a receptacle resembling a wedge, on some units. Also as an option, for toolboxes carrying heavier materials, (folding) wheels and framework will ald in transportation and field use.
L~st of drawings:
FIG.1 is the side view of one embodiment in the closed position 0 FIG 2 is a partially open view of the embodiment showing internal sections FIG 3 is an isometric view showing the inner compartments.
Section B and most items from section A (e~cept bar for sliding tray or pouch) have been removed to give clearer view of compartments.
FIG 4 is a side view of another embodiment having additional accessories.

4) The preferred embodiment of the receptacle illustrated is comprised of a bottom section A, and a top sliding section B, which ne~ts on top of section A. The slope on the terminatins margin of the upper sidewalls of the toolbox isl5-85 de~rees from the horizontal; with a preferred form of 15-65 degrees from the horizontal. 2 ~22~L065 The preferred material mater~al for the receptacle is metal or plastic. The receptacle can be lifted or pulled by means of a handle (1) which may or may not have a pulling strap attached to it. The handle may be comprised of roundbar formed to four right angles and attached to the toolbox by means of a cotter pin (or nut for ends that have been threaded). A~so it can be a wooden handle supported by flatbar or channel iron, and bolted to the toolbox in such a way that it pivots.
The llds (4) are fastened by means of hinges (2) which can be secured to respective sections A and B by either welding or bolting.
The top section B being a wedge shaped receptacle (with one or more compartments) may be locked to bottom section A for transportation, by means of a hasp or key lock (not illustrated~
Section B when unlocked from its nesting position, slides along a longitudinal slot(5) in section A, by means of pivoting linkages(3).
The pivoting linkage ln the preferred embodiment illustrated is comprised of flatbar, with two threaded posts welded onto either end of the flatbar.
One threaded post is placed into the longitudinal slot(5) and another threaded post goes ~nto a hole drilled into section B. The threaded posts are then prevented from coming out of the slot(5) and hole in section B, by a cotter pin, or nut or both.
A bar(6), and channel or angleiron(8) hold up a sliding tray (7), secured by welding. (7) can also be a sliding pouch in which case the channel or angleiron(8) is not needed.
Section A is filled with compartments(9) which are arranged 3o in a sloped fashion; not necessarily having the same slope as the terminating margin of the toolbox~ (secured by we~ding or bolting). 3 The lid(4) may also contaln clips or bands(10) to place small tools or ob~ects in.
On the embodiment in figure 4, possible additions are shown. A sliding support base(11) will slide into four support plpes(12) by means of four smaller diameter pipes(13), held in plaoe by knock out pins(14). The support pipes(12) wlll generally be fastened to section A by welding. Stability will be ~dded by support feet(1~) either being slidable, (bolted or pinned on) or fixed, (welded on).
Compar-tments(16) contain folding wheels(17) which are hinged onto section A and held in place by a sliding bridge or a knockout pin. The wheels(17) on some units may be fi~ed into a rigld position by welding or bolting and not be foldable.

~2~0~;
The drawtngs serve as an ~llustration of possible embodiment only, and there may be additions and/or retractions and/or changes made in construction, that are different from the illuætrationstand the dexcriptions in the claims and specifications whtle ~eeping to the initial concept.

'5 -

Claims (4)

The Embodiments Of The Invention In Which An Exclusive Property Or Privilege Is Claimed Are Defined As Follows:

1) A receptacle comprised of a bottom section and a top wedge shaped section, said bottom section having a floor, back wall, front wall of lesser height than said back wall, sidewalls of roughly quadrilateral shape, with the top angle of the quadrilateral sidewall being smaller than any of the other three angles; a plurality of compartments in said bottom section, some or all of which extend in a vertical fashion, said top wedge-shaped section adapted to slide along the bottom section via longitudinal slot means provided in said bottom section, said top wedge-shaped section being provided with one or more compartments.

2) A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein retractable wheels are provided on said bottom section to facilitate transportation of said receptacle.

3) The receptacle of claims 1 and 2 including handles to assist in lifting said receptacle.

4) The receptacle of claims 1 and 2 wherein trays and pouches are provided to accommodate contents of the receptacle.