GB2245255A

GB2245255A - Box for the storage of elongate articles

Info

Publication number: GB2245255A
Application number: GB9112172A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Georg Rau; Werner Hitzler; Gerhard Riess
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-06-19
Filing date: 1991-06-06
Publication date: 1992-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-06
Also published as: GB2245255B; FR2663254A1; DE4019487A1; GB9112172D0; FR2663254B1

Abstract

A box for the storage of elongate tools and tool portions such as twist drills, screw taps and bit inserts is provided with an insert member disposed inside the box and which has a plurality of receiving means (5) for the tools, arranged in a row with their axes parallel to each other. The receiving means (5) each have an upper receiving opening (5.1) for embracing the tool and a receiving bottom (5.2) forming an axial stop for the tool. A U-sectioned member extends in the direction of the row and in the one limb (5.3) are disposed the receiving openings (5.1) while the second limb (5.4) is provided with an outwardly directed angle portion which forms a connecting strip (6) parallel to the back (5.5) of the U-shaped member. The connecting strip (6) is in a plane intersecting the receiving openings (5.1) and is joined to a wall (8) of the remainder of the insert member (3). The limb (5.4) is provided with apertures which are aligned with respective ones of the receiving openings (5.1) and which extend into the connecting strip (6) to form the receiving bottoms (5.2). <IMAGE>

Description

1 BOX FOR THE STORAGE OF ARTICLES The invention relates to a box f or the

storage of articles, in particular elongate tools and tool portions such as twist drills, screw taps, bit inserts and the like, comprising at least one insert member which is provided in the interior of the box and which has a plurality of receiving means for the articles, the receiving means being arranged in a row and having their axes parallel to each other and each having an upper receiving opening which embraces the article and a receiving bottom forming an axial stop for the article.

The purpose of known boxes of that kind lies not only in storage of the articles disposed therein, but also putting the articles into a position which makes it easier for them to be removed, when.the box is in an open condition. That aim can be served f or example by the insert member which. in such boxes, is generally arranged pivotably and is connected to the cover member of the box by way of at least one connecting member which is pivotally connected at a respective end, so that when the box is opened the insert member is automatically pivoted upwardly. A further aspect of importance in that respect is that the articles are held in an orderly position in the insert member, irrespective of the position of the latter. That means that the elongate articles must be f ixed in two axially spaced-apart regions in a radial direction, that is to say they must generally be embraced. while in addition an axial stop configuration must be provided at their end which is remote f rom the side at which the articles are removed from the insert member. That makes it necessary to provide insert members of a comparatively complex configuration. which are provided with various intermediate plate portions or the like.

The invention is based on the problem ofso designing a box of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification that the insert member is of a

2 simple configuration and as a result is easy to produce and assemble, without the mounting of the articles being adversely affected thereby.

According to the invention that problem is solved in that the insert member has a U-shaped member which extends in the direction of the row of the receiving means and has one limb in which are arranged the receiving openings while the second limb is provided with an outwardly directed angle portion which f orms a connecting strip which is parallel to the back of the Ushaped member and which is disposed in a plane intersecting the receiving openings and is connected to a wall of the insert member, wherein the limb carrying the connecting strip is provided with apertures which are aligned respectively with the receiving openings and extend into the connecting strip so that each aperture which extends in the connecting strip forms the receiving bottom, corresponding to the associated opening.

The advantage achieved by the invention is essentially that the receiving means of the insert member are disposed in a U-shaped member which is simple to produce, wherein the two limbs provide for radial fixing of the articles while the connecting strip which at the same time serves to provide a securing action forms an axial stop.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the receiving openings are formed by round bores and the apertures in the limb and in the connecting strip also supplement each other to constitute a circular area, wherein the edge of the aperture in the limb, which is in the form of a portion of a circle, is aligned with the edge of the receiving opening, as viewed in the axial direction of the receiving means. That makes it possible in particular to receive articles which are of cylindrical or regularly polygonal cross- section. If in that arrangement the aperture in the limb occupies an i 3 area which is more than semicircular, the article is embraced by that aperture over more than half the periphery of the article, and is thus held radially.

It is also possible however for the apertures in the limb and the connecting strip each to be formed by semicircular areas. It is then further desirable if the wall of the insert member is of an S- shaped cranked configuration at its upper edge in the region of the receiving means, thereby forming an L-shaped support strip, the limb of which, which projects perpendicularly from the wall of the insert member, faces in a direction away from the back of the U- shaped member and jointly with the aperture in the connecting strip forms the bottom of the receiving means. In that arrangement, in a further advantageous configuration of the invention, the free limb of the L-shaped support strip may form a lateral guide surface which is disposed in opposite relationship to the edge of the aperture in the second limb of the U-shaped member.

In a particularly simple configuration the Lshaped support strip may be cut free from the wall of the insert member and shaped out at a right angle in each case. In order to avoid projecting securing elements which could impede insertion of the articles into the receiving means, it is further provided that the U-shaped member is joined to the wall of the insert member by spot welding.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect a box in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box in the opened condition; Figure 2 is a side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a detail from 4 the region indicated at III in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a partly broken-away perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 3.

The box illustrated in the drawing serves for the storage of tools and tool portions which are only indicated in Figures 1 and 2, such as twist drills, screw taps, bit inserts and the like. The box more specifically comprises a bottom member 1 and a cover member 2 which is pivotally connected thereto, and an insert member 3 which is provided in the interior of the box. The insert member 3 is mounted pivotably in the bottom member 1 and can be automatically pivoted out when the cover member 2 is opened by way of a connecting member 4 which is pivotably connected at a respective end.

The insert member 3 is provided with a plurality of receiving means 5 for the articles, the receiving means 5 being arranged in a row with their axes parallel to each other. The receiving means 5 each comprise an upper receiving opening 5.1 for embracing the article and a receiving bottom 5.2 which forms an axial stop for the article.

The insert member 3 comprises a U-shaped member which extends in the direction of the row of the receiving means 5 and in the one limb 5.3 of which are disposed the receiving openings 5.1 while the second limb 5.4 is provided with an angle portion which is directed outwardly relative to the U-shaped member and which forms a connecting strip 6 parallel to the back 5.5 of the U- shaped member. The connecting strip 6 is disposed in a plane 7 which intersects the receiving openings 5.1 and is also connected to a wall 8 of the insert member 3. The limb 5.4 of the U-shaped member, which carries the connecting strip 6, is provided with apertures 9 which are aligned with respective ones of the receiving openings 5.1 and which extend into the connecting strip 6. In that arrangement the edge of the aperture which extends in the connecting strip 6 f orms the receiving bottom 5.2 for the articles.

As the example of Figure 1 shows, the receiving openings 5.1 are formed by round bores. The apertures 9 in the limb 5.4 and in the connecting strip 6 also complement each other to provide a circular area, while the edge of the aperture in the limb 5. 4, which is in the f orm of a portion of a circle, is aligned with the edge of the receiving opening 5. 1, as viewed in the axial direction of the receiving means S.

In the embodiment illustrated,, as shown in Figure 4, the apertures 9 in the limb 5.4 and the connecting strip 6 are of the same size, and are therefore each formed by semicircular areas.

The wall of the insert member 3 is of an S- shaped cranked configuration at its upper edge in the region of the receiving means 5 and thereby forms an Lshaped support strip 10. The limb 10. 1 of the support strip, which projects perpendicularly from the wall 8 of the insert member 3, faces in a direction away from the back 5.5 of the U- shaped member and jointly with the aperture 9 in the connecting strip 6 can form the bottom 5.2 of the receiving means, provided that they extend at a uniform height.

As generally the aperture 9 in the connecting strip 6 is adequate as a stop, the limb 10.1 may also be disposed at a lower position, as shown in Figure 3.

The free limb 10.2 of the L-shaped support strip 10 forms a lateral guide surface which is disposed in opposite relationship to the edge of the aperture 9 in the second limb 5.4 of the U-shaped member so that the articles are held in a radial direction by the aperture 9 in the limb 5.4 of the U-shaped member even if the aperture is smaller than a semicircular area.

The L-shaped support strip 10 is cut free from the wall 8 of the insert member 3 and is shaped out in a right-angled configuration.

6 The U-shaped member can be joined to the wall 8 of the insert member 3 using a conventional joining procedure, although spot welding presents itself more especially for that purpose as that procedure does not require any securing members which may possibly give rise to problems, while in addition it involves a rapid and simple operating procedure in the production process.

7

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A box for the storage of elongate articles, comprising at least one insert member which is provided in the interior of the box and which has a plurality of receiving means for the articles, the receiving means being arranged in a row and having their axes parallel to each other and each having an upper receiving opening which embraces the article and a receiving bottom forming an axial stop for the article, characterised in that the insert member has a U-shaped member which extends in the direction of the row of the receiving means and has one limb in which are arranged the receiving openings while the second limb is provided with an outwardly directed angle portion which forms a connecting strip which is parallel to the back of the U-shaped member and which is disposed in a plane intersecting the receiving openings and is connected to a wall of the insert member, wherein the limb carrying the connecting strip is provided with apertures which are aligned respectively with the receiving openings and extend into the connecting strip so that each aperture edge which extends in the connecting strip forms the receiving bottom corresponding to the associated opening.

2. A box according to Claim 1, in which the 25 receiving openings are formed by round bores and the apertures in the second limb and in the connecting strip also complement each other to constitute a circular area, wherein the edge of the aperture in the second limb, which is in the form of a portion of a circle, is aligned with the edge of the associated receiving opening, as viewed in the axial direction of the receiving means, the said edge of the associated receiving opening being in the form of a similar portion of a circle.

3. A box according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which 35 the apertures in the limb and the connecting strip are each formed by semicircular areas.

4. A box according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in 8 which the wall of the insert member is of an S-shaped cranked configuration at its upper edge in the region of the receiving means and thereby forms an L-shaped support strip whose limb, which projects perpendicularly from the wall of the insert member, extends in a direction away from the back of the U-shaped member and jointly with each aperture in the connecting strip forms the bottom of each receiving means.

5. A box according to Claim 4 in which the f ree 10 limb of the L-shaped support strip forms a lateral guide - surface which is disposed in parallel spaced relationship to the edges of the apertures in the second limb of the U-shaped member.

6. A box according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which 15 the L-shaped support strip is cut free from the wall of the insert member and is shaped out at a right angle.

7. A box according to one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the U-shaped member is joined to the wall of the insert member by spot welding.

8. A box for the storage of articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 Published 1991 at The Patent Office, Concept House, Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 I RH_ Further copies maybe obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cwrnfelinfach, Cross Keys. Newport. NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Marv Cray. Kent.