EP2666596A2 - Tool box for working at heights - Google Patents

Abstract

The box has a set of faces and a door that is likely to be closed with a key. A scale is arranged on one of the set of faces. The scale allows a user such as electrician, to reach an upper surface of the box. An upper part of the scale is adapted to a side part (34) of the box by a set of articulation units. The set of articulation units is arranged to allow rotation of the scale at 45 degrees, and to modify the angle of the scale with regard to side part of the box. A set of horizontal housings (30, 31) is arranged with the side part.

Description

The present invention relates toolbox for containing tools of a user, such as painter, electrician or other brought to work at height, which chest has on one of its faces a door capable of being locked.

Is known from the document FR-A-2,627,533 a folding scaffold that can be used especially for domestic assembly or painting work. The purpose of this scaffolding is to impose the installation of a guardrail during its use.

On the other hand, the document FR-A-2,764,320 describes a work platform with a work floor adjustable in height. One of the goals of this work platform is to occupy a small volume when not in use.

Neither document describes the possibility of transporting a user's tools with the scaffolding or platform. Therefore, the user is forced to provide for the transport of his toolbox in addition to moving the scaffold or the platform that allow him to work at height.

The object of the invention is to avoid this drawback by proposing a toolbox of the type indicated in the preamble which has a compact multimodal structure. The compact structure of this toolbox includes means of access to its upper surface for the user to work at height, means of protection, means facilitating the activity of said user (tablet, tool locks and other ) as well as means facilitating the transport of the whole. This compact multimodal structure allows the user to transport all the necessary tools and means at one time to perform his tasks.

The toolbox according to the invention, intended to contain tools of a user, such as painter, electrician or other brought to work at height and having on one of its faces a door capable of being locked, comprises, on another of its faces other than that comprising the door, means allowing the user, so that he can work at height, to access the upper surface of the trunk.

According to one embodiment, the means allowing the user to access the upper surface of the trunk consist of a ladder, preferably associated with a side face of the trunk other than that of the door.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper part of the ladder is adapted to a lateral part of the box by means making it possible to obtain an angle of rotation of up to 45.degree. scale relative to said side portion of the trunk.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, horizontal housings are arranged in the upper and lower lateral parts of the trunk, along the faces adjacent to the face intended to receive the ladder, in which housings are capable of sliding means, perpendicular to the uprights of the ladder and arranged near the upper and lower parts of the ladder, these sliding means for moving the ladder relative to the face receiving the ladder so as to provide access to the upper part of the trunk.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the means perpendicular to the amounts of the scale are capable of at least partly sliding in their housing (30, 31) or even to be removed from their housing so as to allow all of said means and the scale to serve as a support to a work plane disposed between the upper part of the trunk, the ladder and the upper part of said means.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, on the upper part of the trunk is fixed a nacelle comprising peripheral protection means arranged above the three lateral faces of the trunk other than that intended to receive the ladder, thereby protecting the user of risks of falls.

The nacelle comprises at its four corners amounts capable of sliding in vertical housings formed at the four corners of the trunk, said uprights and at least two corresponding sides of the walls of the vertical housing having means capable of allowing the attachment in the up position of said nacelle .

Another object of the invention resides in that the base of the ladder comprises lateral means allowing an enlargement of the lift polygon of the entire boot, these widening means possibly being able to slide relative to the base. of the ladder and then being provided with fastening means both in the inner position and in the outer position.

The invention also relates to the lower part of the box which is provided with means for moving the box, these means consisting of wheels, wheels, trilobed wheel system, feet arranged to allow the passage of forklift forks or other suitable means.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the upper part of the nacelle comprises a guardrail.

One embodiment of the invention is to provide such means tank, shelf, attachment tools and the like are generally provided on the railing.

An embodiment of the invention also consists in providing a retractable writing tablet in a suitable housing disposed between the upper face of the trunk and the lower part of the nacelle.

• la figure 1, en perspective, un coffre à outils selon l'invention, en une version non déployée (ni l'échelle, ni la nacelle, ni la tablette ne sont déployées) ;
• la figure 2, le même coffre en version déployée ;
• la figure 3, une autre vue du même coffre muni de moyens permettant son déplacement ;
• la figure 4, un mode de réalisation différent : l'échelle est en liaison pivot par rapport au coffre et la nacelle est un ensemble distinct du coffre,
• la figure 5, la nacelle en tant qu'ensemble distinct est représentée pivotante par rapport au coffre.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings which represent:

• the figure 1 in perspective, a toolbox according to the invention, in an undeployed version (nor the ladder, the nacelle or the shelf are deployed);
• the figure 2 , the same chest in deployed version;
• the figure 3 another view of the same chest provided with means for its displacement;
• the figure 4 , a different embodiment: the ladder is in pivot connection relative to the trunk and the nacelle is a separate set of the trunk,
• the figure 5 , the nacelle as a separate unit is shown pivoting relative to the trunk.

Toolbox 10 according to the invention is intended to contain the tools of a user, such as painter, electrician or other who is brought to work at height. For obvious reasons, the user wants to protect his tools, sometimes expensive, often specific, possible flights. This is why the trunk 10 has, on one of its faces 28, a door that can be locked 12. The trunk has, on another of its faces 34, means 14 allowing the user to access at the upper surface 15 of the trunk 10 as shown in the figures.

Preferably, the face 34 which comprises the means 14 which allow the user to access the upper surface 15 is opposite the side of the box 10 which comprises the door 12.

The means 14 which allow the user to access the upper surface 15 of the trunk 10 consist of a ladder. The ladder can be linked to the trunk 10 in different ways.

According to the embodiment of the figure 1 the ladder 14 is permanently fixed on one of the faces of the tool box 10, preferably on the face opposite to that intended to receive the door 12. In this case, the steps of the ladder 14 are provided with a width equivalent to that of the half-length of the foot of a user to prevent the use of the scale 14 in this configuration gives rise to the risk of falling.

Another possibility, depending on the modes of figures 4 and 5 , consists in adapting the upper portion of the scale 14 to a lateral portion 34 of the box by means 16, 17 to obtain a rotation of an angle up to 45 ° maximum. These means 16, 17 are located at the top of each of the two uprights of the ladder 14 and provide a pivot connection between the lateral portion 34 of the box and said ladder 14. These means 16, 17 are in fact conventional joints (bearings to friction, rolling) which make it possible to modify the angle of the scale 14 with respect to the lateral part 34 of the box.

The angle of the ladder 14 with respect to the lateral part 34 of the box preferably reaches 30 °. This angle between the scale 14 and the surface 34 is and can be compensated by the lateral means 42 which serve to widen the support polygon of the entire box 10. The role of these lateral means 42 will be detailed below.

Another embodiment shown on the figure 2 It is possible to link the ladder 14 to the trunk 10. Struts 32, 33 perpendicular to the amounts of the ladder 14 are fixed thereto so as to form a right angle with the uprights. These beams 32, 33 are intended to penetrate into the horizontal housings 30, 31 of the box 10. These beams 32, 33 then serve as sliding means 32, 33 for moving the scale 14 relative to the face 34 of the box 10 in such a way that the scale 14 can in part be removed by a length equal to about half the length of the user's foot so that it can use the ladder 14 to access the upper surface 15 of the trunk 10 with improved security.

A person skilled in the art may provide other solutions to achieve such a connection between the ladder 14 and the trunk 10 without departing from the scope of the invention.

The means 32, 33 perpendicular to the uprights of the ladder 14 can be removed with the scale of their housings 30, 31 so as to allow all of said means 32, 33 and the ladder to serve as support to a work plane formed between the upper part 15 of the trunk 10 and the upper part of said means 32, 33. This allows the user to completely exit the ladder 14 and use it as a cleat on which a door , a window or a board can be laid. The purpose is to use as a work plane the assembly formed by the upper part 15 of the box 10 and the upper part of the means 32, 33 perpendicular to the amounts of the scale 14.

The multimodal aspect of the trunk 10 according to the invention also has other advantages, particularly that of providing, on the upper part 15 of the trunk 10, a nacelle 20 having peripheral protection means 22. These peripheral protection means 22 protect the user of risks of falls when it is on the upper part 15 of the box 10. These peripheral protection means 22 are located above three of the side faces 24, 26, 28 of the box. These faces are those that are not intended to receive the scale 14.

The peripheral protection means 22 may be in tubular or rectangular form. They can also be in the form of panels (not shown in the figures) in the case where the nacelle 20 is fixed permanently above the toolbox 10. This case will be detailed below.

The nacelle 20, meanwhile, can be linked to the trunk in different ways.

A first possibility is, as it is visible on figures 1 and 2 , to have the vertical housing 38 at the four corners of the trunk 10. These vertical housing 38 are particular in that they are each able to accommodate an amount 36 able to slide in these vertical housing. When these amounts are deployed upward, they define the outer perimeter of the nacelle 20. Means 40 allow the attachment in the up position of said nacelle 20. These means 40 are through mechanical elements, pins, stop fingers or any other mechanical element performing the same function.

It is also conceivable to provide that the uprights 36 are each associated with a rack (not shown in the figures). Therefore, these amounts 36 would be deployed and folded by rotation of a pinion that the user would lead by a crank (not shown in the figures).

The nacelle 20 can also be fixed permanently above the toolbox 10.

Another way of linking the pod 20 to the chest 10 is, as it is visible on the figure 4 , to provide the nacelle 20 in the form of a separate set of the trunk 10. The nacelle 20 may be connected to said trunk 10 by means of hinges 16, 17 and, thus, foldable against the face 34 of the trunk 10 when the trunk is in non-deployed mode. Said face 34 is also that which is intended to receive the ladder 14.

The figure 5 schematically the pivoting of the nacelle 20 in the case where the nacelle 20 is foldable against the face 34 of the trunk 10 so that the lateral sides of the nacelle cover the two side faces of the face having the scale.

It is also possible for the means perpendicular to the uprights of the ladder to be at least partially slid into their housings (30, 31) or even to be removed from their housings so as to allow all of said means and the ladder to support a worktop disposed between the upper part of the trunk and the upper part of said means. It is still possible that the scale is double and, after being made independent of the trunk, it can be used as a ladder or serve as a support for a worktop disposed between the upper part of the trunk and the upper part of said means. Such worktops may consist of a door or other plan element available on the site.

A person skilled in the art will be able to provide other solutions for producing such a platform 20 provided with peripheral protection means 22 above the upper surface 15 of the box 10, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Other advantages are provided by this invention. Indeed, the user must be able to easily transport this toolbox 10 at his place of work. To this end, the invention proposes to provide the lower part of the trunk 10 with means 48 for moving the trunk. These means consist of casters, wheels, trilobed wheel systems, feet allowing the passage of forklift forks or other appropriate means.

Of course, the user needs to have his tools, normally contained in the safe, at hand when he performs his daily tasks. This is why it is provided on the rail 22, means 50 such tank, shelf, attachment tools and the like. Therefore, the painter, electrician or other who is brought to work at height has all his attention focused on his task because his tools are within his reach, this without disturbing him.

For the same purpose, the tool chest 10 according to the invention comprises a retractable writing tablet 52 for the comfort of the user mentioned above. This writing tablet 52 is retractable in a suitable housing 54 disposed between the upper face 15 of the trunk 10 and the lower part of the nacelle 20.

The base 44 of the scale 14 may comprise lateral means 42 in order to widen the support polygon of the whole of the box 10 and thus provide greater safety for the user who climbs on the box 10. These means of enlargement 42 are slidable relative to the base 44 of the scale 14 and are provided with fixing means 46 of said means 42 both in the inner position and outer position. These fastening means are traversing mechanical elements, pins, stop fingers or any other mechanical elements performing the same function.

Finally, as represented on the figure 2 , an element 56, or on the figure 3 , an element 56 'is provided to be placed on the guardrail 22 by cooperation of form, latching or any other mechanical assembly performing the same function. The element 56, 56 'is intended to protect the user from the risk of falling on the side of the face 34 intended to receive the scale 14. Indeed, the element 56, 56' is preferably tubular and closes the perimeter of guardrail 22.

The element 56, 56 'can be a metal rod, chain or any other means whose ends engage, for example, in holes or notches provided in the upper ends of the rail 22 on the side 34 where is adapted the Scale 14. In the case where the element 56 'is a metal rod, the user once mounted on the trunk 10, engages the ends of this element 56' in said holes to thereby ensure its safety. The element 56 'is an extension of the railing whose ends are fixed to the ends of the railing 22 on the side where the scale is fitted.

On the figure 2 , the median part of this element 56 projects towards the outside of the trunk 10 sufficiently to allow the rising user the ladder 14 to pass in the upper position on the upper face 15 of the trunk 10. This embodiment 56 is to be used particularly when the ladder is of the type shown in FIG. figure 4 that is to say, forms an angle of the order of 30 ° with the corresponding face of the trunk.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment presented above, it can be implemented by the skilled person in other applications that seem obvious.

Claims (9)

Tool chest (10) intended to contain tools of a user, such as a painter, electrician or other person having to work at height, which chest (10) has on one of its faces (28) a door that can be closed at key (12) and comprises, on another of its faces (34), a ladder (14) allowing the user to access the upper surface (15) of the trunk (10), so that he can work in height, the upper part of the ladder (14) being adapted to a lateral part (34) of the box by means (16, 17) for obtaining a rotation of an angle of up to 45 ° and thus modify the angle of the ladder (14) with respect to said side portion (34) of the trunk. Chest according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises horizontal housings (30, 31) arranged in the upper and lower side portions of the trunk, along the adjacent faces (24, 28) to the face intended to receive the scale (34), in which recesses (30, 31) are slidable means (32, 33), perpendicular to the amounts of the ladder (14) and arranged near the upper and lower parts of the ladder, these sliding means (32, 33) for moving the ladder (14) relative to the face (34) receiving the ladder so as to allow access to the upper part (15) of the trunk (10). Chest according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises horizontal housings (30, 31) arranged in the upper and lower lateral parts of the trunk, along the adjacent faces (24, 28) to the face intended to receive the ladder (34), in which recesses (30, 31) are slidable means (32, 33), perpendicular to the amounts of the ladder (14) and in that said perpendicular means (32, 33), attached to the uprights of the ladder (14) are capable of at least partially sliding in their housings (30, 31) or even to be removed from their housings so as to allow all of said means (32, 33 ) and the ladder to support a worktop disposed between the upper part (15) of the trunk (10), the ladder and the upper part of said means (32, 33). Safe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the upper part (15) of the trunk (10) is fixed a nacelle (20) having peripheral protection means (22) arranged above the three faces side (24, 26, 28) of the safe other than that intended to receive the ladder (34), thus protecting the user from risks of falls. Chest according to claim 4, characterized in that said nacelle (20) is fitted on the upper part (15) of the box (10) and has at its four corners uprights (36) slidable in vertical housings (38) formed at the four corners of the trunk, said uprights (36) and at least two sides (24, 28) corresponding to the walls of the vertical housing having means (40) capable of allowing the attachment in the up position of said nacelle (20). Chest according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the base (44) of the ladder (14) comprises lateral means (42) allowing an enlargement of the lifting polygon of the entire trunk (10), these enlargement means (42) possibly being slidable relative to the base (44) of the scale (14) and then being provided with fixing means (46) both in the inner position and in the outer position. Safe according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lower part of the box (10) is provided with means (48) for moving the box, these means consisting of wheels, wheels, trilobed wheel system, feet arranged in such a way as to allow the passage of forklift fork or other suitable means. Safe according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a railing (22) provided with means (50) such tank, shelf, attachment means of tools and others. Safe according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises on the upper part (15) of the trunk (10) a nacelle (20) whose lower part forms with the upper part (15) of the trunk (10). ) a housing (54) adapted to hold a retractable writing tablet (52).

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