GB2366791A

GB2366791A - Case for dispensing fasteners

Info

Publication number: GB2366791A
Application number: GB0022769A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chi Pin Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-16
Filing date: 2000-09-16
Publication date: 2002-03-20
Also published as: FR2814922A1; GB0022769D0; DE20016786U1

Abstract

A fastener dispensing case 10 comprises a cavity (101, fig.1) for receiving fasteners 11 and a passage 102 extending from the bottom of the cavity (101, fig.1) trough which the fasteners 11 can pass. An output section 1032 at the bottom of the passage facilitates removal of the fasteners 11. A pivot member 104 is located at the bottom of the passage, and includes a pushing member 1041 protruding above the side of the case, and a toothed member 1042 abutting the bottom of the passage 102. View openings 105 are provided on the case 10 so the user can see how many fasteners are left. The output section preferably comprises a curved channel 1031 between the passage 102 and the bottom of the output section, and a support member 106 threaded onto the bottom of the case. Casting means, such as pneumatic means (20, fig.5), may be attached to the fastener case adjacent the output section.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> FASTENER CASE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cases and more particularly to a portable fastener case with improved features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, a plurality of fasteners (e.g., screws) are stored in case

attached to belt worn to the waist. As such, a user such as carpenter can pick screw(s) from the case while working- However, the previous design suffered a disadvantage as detailed below. Such screws are scattered in the case due to the shaking as hanged on the belt. That is, one screw may dispose at a random angle with respect to the other. Further, screws are heaped. It also means that not all screws have their pointed ends oriented in a single desired direction. As such, for example, the picked screw can be used immediately if the pointed end of the screw is forward. Otherwise, carpenter has to readjust the direction of picked screw (e.g., head portion of the screw is forward). Such frequent direction adjustments are not convenient for user. Further, it slows the work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a portable fastener case comprising a cavity inside the upper portion for receiving fasteners, a passage extended from the bottom of the cavity for permitting the fastener to slide through, an output section at the bottom of the passage for facilitating the removal of the fastener, a pivot member having a pushing member protruded above the side surface of the fastener case and a toothed member abutted on the bottom of the passage, and two opposed view openings on the upper surfaces of the fastener case abutted on the cavity. User can easily correctly pick the fastener by activating the pivot member.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. I is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of fastener case according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of assembled fastener case of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of fasteners in a cavity of the case prior to use, FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the process of conveying fastener to a use position; and FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the process of casting a fastener on wall in one implementation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the accompanying drawings, particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, there is shown a fastener case 10 constructed in accordance with the invention comprising a cavity 101 inside the upper portion for receiving fasteners (e.g., screws) 11, a passage 102 extended from the bottom of cavity 101 for permitting screw 11 to slide through, an output section 103 at the bottom of passage 102 for facilitating the removal of screw 11, a pivot member 104 having a pushing member 1041 protruded above the side surface of case 10 and a toothed member 1042 abutted on the bottom of passage 102, and two opposed openings 105 on the upper surfaces of case 10 abutted on cavity 10 1 such that user may view the quantity of screws 11, Referring to FIG. 3 specifically, all screws 11 are arranged in a predetermined direction (e.g., pointed ends pointing up) in a storage position wherein one screw 11 is disposed in passage 102 in a ready state. Also, the head portion of the ready screw 11 is in contact with the toothed member 1042 of pivot member 104.

Referring to FIG. 4 specifically, when in use, push the pushing member 1041 up to pivot the pivot member 104 so as to drop fastener 11 through output section 103 to a use position below the bottom of output section 103- As such, all screws 11 may drop the same positions In a predetermined orientation. It is quite convenient.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 again, a curve passage 1031 is through output section 103 in communication with passage 102. An output member 1032 is provided around curve passage 1031 within the case 10 for facilitating the removal of screw 11. A support member 106 is threadedly secured to the bottom of case 10. Support member 106 has a magnetic member 1061 for attracting dropped screw 11 in place.

Referring to FIG. 5 specifically, a casting means (e.g., a pneumatic casting means) 20 is attached to an opposed side of output section 103 adjacent to support member 106. Mith this casting means 20, screw 11 can be cast onto an object (e.g., wall) automatically for fastening the object.

Referring to FIG. 1 specifically, a clip member 107 is secured to the top of case 10 for facilitating the portability of case 10- While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments,- numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A fastener case comprising: a cavity inside the upper portion for receiving fasteners-, a passage extended from the bottom of the cav4 for permitting the fastener to slide through: an output section at the bottom of the passage for facilitating the removal of the fastener; a pivot member having a pushing member protruded above the side surface of the fastener case and a toothed member abutted on the bottom of the passage;and one or more opposed view openings on the upper surfaces of the fastener case abutted on the cavity.
2, The fastener case of claim 1, wherein the output section comprises a curve channel communicated between the passage and the bottom of the output section, an output member provided around the curve channel for facilitating the removal of the fastener, and a support member threadedly secured to the bottom of the fastener case having a magnetic member for attracting the dropped fasteners.
3. The fastener case of claim 1, further comprising a fastener casting means attached to the opposite side of the output section. 4- The fastener case of claim 1, further comprising a clip member secured to the top of the fastener case- 5. A fastener case constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.