EP1116558A1

EP1116558A1 - Case for tool accessories, such as jigsaw blades or drills

Info

Publication number: EP1116558A1
Application number: EP01200074A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Colombo
Original assignee: Hardware Industrial Manufacturing Srl; Hardware Ind Manufacturing Srl
Current assignee: Hardware Industrial Manufacturing Srl; Hardware Ind Manufacturing Srl
Priority date: 2000-01-14
Filing date: 2001-01-11
Publication date: 2001-07-18
Also published as: ITMI20000015V0; ITMI20000015U1; IT249696Y1; US20010008215A1

Abstract

A case (10) for tool accessories, such as drills or jigsaw blades, comprises a base (11) having a closure lid (12) slidable on it. Present in the base are housings (13) for the accessories which are aligned and directed in the sliding direction of the lid. The base (11) has a hinged head end (15) susceptible of being overturned backward on opening of the lid.

Description

The present invention relates to an innovative case for tool accessories, in particular jigsaw blades or drills.
It is a general aim of the present invention to provide a case of reduced cost and practical use.
In view of the above aim, in accordance with the invention a case for tool accessories such as drills or jigsaw blades has been conceived which comprises a base on which a closure lid is slidable, housings for the accessories which are aligned and directed in the sliding direction of the lid being present in the base, characterised in that the base has a hinged head end capable of being overturned backward on opening of the lid.
For better explaining the innovatory principles of the present invention and the advantages it offers over the known art a possible embodiment applying such principles will be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with the aid of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of the case in a closed condition;
Fig. 2 is a perspective front view of the case in an open condition;
Fig. 3 is a view similar to that in Fig. 2 but seen from another angle;
Fig. 4 is a perspective rear view of the case;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing a first hinging means of the case portions;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a second possible hinging means;
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing coupling between the case base and lid.

With reference to the drawings, a case generally identified at 10 comprises a base 11 on which a lid 12 slides in the same manner as a drawer. The base has a portion projecting from the case and provided with a hole 16 for hanging.
As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the base has a plurality of housings 13 disposed parallel to the sliding direction of the lid to receive the tool accessories. Shown in the figure is for example a blade 14 for a jigsaw. Housings 13 can obviously be of any appropriate configuration as known, to receive other accessories such as drills for example. Advantageously, as shown in the figures, where jigsaw blades are concerned, the housings can be formed with a sloping shape to reduce the transverse extension of the case. Thus said housings show a "saw tooth" conformation in the transverse direction of the case.
As viewed from Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the head end 15 of the base is hinged on the remaining portion of the base along a line transverse to the sliding direction of the lid so that it can be overturned backward once the lid uncovers it, passing from the position shown in chain line to the position shown in solid line in Fig. 2. The overturned portion enables the end of the accessories contained in the case to be freed so that extraction of same by a user is made easier.
In addition, the overturned portion embodies a support foot to keep the case in a sloping position when the latter rests on a surface as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Shown in more detail in Fig. 4 is a possible embodiment of the hinging elements 17 between the fixed base and the tiltable portion. The hinging means 17 comprises two wings or hinge elements 18, 19 fitted into each other. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 6, the two hinged portions can be made of one piece construction, by use of a flexure hinge 20 having a bending line of appropriate thickness. This technical solution is applicable by making the base of an appropriate material such as polyethylene.
Shown in Fig. 7 is a possible conformation of the housings 13 and coupling between the lid and base. Each housing has a sloping bottom surface 21 on which the blade 14 rests. To prevent the blades from moving from one housing to the other, the base is provided with a rib 23 at each housing which is slidably received in a mating groove 24 in the lid. The lid is slidably in engagement with the base by means of mutual coupling side surfaces 22 sloping inwardly. At this point it is apparent that the intended aims have been achieved by providing a case of practical use and relatively low price. It is apparent from the drawings that the different parts can be easily moulded from plastic material. The lid can be advantageously made of transparent material.
Obviously, the above description of an embodiment applying the innovatory principles of the invention is given by way of example only and therefore must not be considered as a limitation of the scope of the invention as herein claimed. For instance, sizes, proportions and number of housings in the case may vary depending on practical specific requirements.

Claims

A case for tool accessories, such as drills or jigsaw blades, comprising a base on which a closure lid is slidable, housings for the accessories which are aligned and directed in the sliding direction of the lid being present in the base, characterised in that the base has a hinged head end capable of being overturned backward on opening of the lid.
A case as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the housings are shaped in a saw tooth conformation in a direction transverse to the case so that each of them defines a sloping bottom surface of the housing for rest of an accessory thereon.
A case as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that between side by side housings the base is provided with a rib projecting towards the lid to be slidably received in a corresponding groove in the lid.
A case as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the head end is made of one piece construction with the remaining portion of the base and the hinging means is embodied by a flexible region disposed between the head end and the remaining portion of the base.
A case as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the head end is hinged on the remaining portion of the base by respective pivot wings that are fitted into each other.
A case as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the head end has a portion projecting from the lid which is formed with a hole for hanging of the case.