TWI465325B - Verschlussmechanismus - Google Patents

Description

Locking mechanism

The invention relates to a tool case according to the preamble feature of claim 1 for positionally accommodating a hand tool and its accessories.

Hand tools, in particular spiral hand tools, are manufactured and utilized in various different embodiments in practice. The most well-known embodiment is for example a plum wrench, an open end wrench, a socket wrench, a screwdriver or the like. It is often possible that many tool functions, especially the screw tool function, are met with a socket wrench kit.

To this end, socket wrenches and their tool heads or tool fittings are available in different sizes and combinations. There are also extensions, inserts or universal joints for expanding the function and use of the socket wrench kit.

In order to reduce manufacturing costs and to reduce the required installation space and thereby reduce the space requirements in the workshop, spiral tools, in particular torsion tools, are often made separately from the tool head or the kit and the lever or handle.

The most widely used form of sale is typically a set of tool heads and matching levers or additional handles in a tool box.

The tool box is often constructed to be openable such that it has an upper shell and a lower shell that are rotatably coupled to one another. In order that the housing consisting of the upper and lower casings does not open undesirably, the housing has a locking device.

Such a locking device is known, for example, from DE 193 80 32 U1. The locking device constitutes a non-pushable connection between the upper housing part and the lower housing part. It forms the form of a stop projection. Bayonet latches or clamped latches are also known from the prior art.

A disadvantage of these blocking devices is that they can only be manufactured cost-effectively. However, in the manufacturing costs of the socket wrench kit, in connection with the tool box and in particular with the locking device, it is required to produce a particularly inexpensive locking device.

However, if the locking device is manufactured at an inexpensive angle, the long life or robustness of the locking device is affected in the case of measures that may reduce costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a latching device that can be easily operated, has a long life, and can be manufactured at low cost.

The above object is achieved by a tool case having the features of claim 1 for positionally accommodating a hand tool and its accessories, the tool case comprising a locking device disposed on the tool case.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are part of the dependent claims.

The tool case of the present invention is used for positionally accommodating a hand tool and its accessories, in particular for a fixed position socket wrench, a socket wrench insert, a socket wrench set, a screw tool and/or a torque wrench, The toolbox comprises two housing parts which are embodied in the form of a basin and a rectangle, each having a front side, a rear side and two longitudinal sides, the two housing parts being pivotable about a pivot axis in the region of their rear side The ground is connected to each other. In addition, the two housing parts can be locked in the closed state on their front side by means of a locking device arranged there.

The latching device of the invention has a knob which is arranged on the front side in a receptacle of the two housing parts and is rotatably mounted on the first housing part in the case of a spring-elastic adjusting element. In addition, the knob of the present invention has a stop means that can be engaged on a seat section on the second housing part.

In order to accommodate the knob, it is essentially within the scope of the invention to define a gap in the two housing parts which essentially corresponds to the geometry of the knob in its geometrical configuration. However, it is also conceivable within the scope of the invention for the knob to be fitted to the two housing parts. The rotation couples the two housing parts such that they are locked in the closed state of the tool case, thus preventing the tool case from being accidentally opened. The advantages of the invention are in particular the particularly simple operational possibilities of the assembly of the locking device into the two housing parts and the use of the locking device.

In an advantageous embodiment, the knob is rotatably supported on the first housing part by means of a rotary lobe, the axis of rotation being oriented substantially perpendicular to the front side. This has the advantage that the fitter can simultaneously hold the knob under pretension by rotating the knob and then perform an opening motion, at which point the opening motion is directed to the direction of the force which is substantially perpendicular to the holding or direction of operation of the knob. This provides an advantage that is particularly advantageous for operation in terms of user economy, since slippage is avoided or avoidance of the opening movement of the toolbox is not performed by superimposing two operational movements in the same force direction. It is therefore possible for the fitter, especially at difficult working locations, to open the toolbox as quickly and safely as possible with only one hand.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the abutment section of the second housing part has a stop projection. For this purpose, it should be understood within the scope of the invention that the stop projection not only forms a seat section but also forms a stop function. Through the closing of the toolbox, the stop function ensures that the toolbox is reliably closed. The stop projection and the stop means on the knob constitute a snap function. In this case, the latching projection can have a beveled surface, so that by the closing, the spring action of the knob against the spring-elastic adjusting element is guided via the bevel and then automatically snaps into the carrier section. In this case, it is particularly advantageous for the production technology to be inexpensive, in that the stop projection can be formed directly during the production of the housing part. In a further embodiment of the invention, the guiding means can be formed on at least one of the housing parts. When the toolbox of the invention is closed or closed, these guiding means ensure a precise positioning of the two housing parts one above the other and ensure a precisely guided closing process, so that the locking mechanism snaps in reliably.

In this case, the knob can enter the blocking position via a spring-elastic adjusting element. The spring-elastic adjustment element exerts a force on the knob so that the knob is always in the closed position. The use of the snap function between the knob and the support section just in terms of the closing function provides the advantage that the knob always returns to its initial position, ie its closed position, after operating the knob. It is thus ensured that in the closed position of the knob, the tool box is always locked and avoids undesired opening and, for example, avoids the falling of the tool.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the knob has a stop lug that engages in a form-fitting manner in a limiting groove on the first housing part and the knob can be closed from the stop by the stop bead The position is rotated all the way to the open position. The knob can therefore only be rotated within an angle range of preferably 5 to 60 degrees, in particular 10 to 40 degrees. In this case, the stop projections are positively engaged in the limiting groove, so that no excessive rotation of the knob takes place. The undesired damage of the spring-elastic adjusting element or the latching mechanism or the moving mechanism is thus further avoided.

By reaching the open position, the assembler is tactilely notified that he can now open the toolbox. Therefore, unintentional over-opening is also avoided to the greatest extent and thus the drop of the toolbox associated with it and the simultaneous falling of the tool are avoided. After operating the knob, the knob is again brought into the closed position by the spring force of the spring-elastic adjusting element. In the event of an unintentional opening, a direct latching of the two housing parts is ensured, or when the toolbox is opened and the closing process is followed, the latching mechanism is thus realized.

The knob additionally has at least one latching tongue which can engage the slot in the first housing part. The advantage of the first assembly or complete realization of the housing of the toolbox, in particular in terms of manufacturing technology, is achieved by the locking tongue. On the one hand, the knob is supported as a rotatable loose support by a receptacle in the first housing part or by a receptacle formed by the two housing parts.

In order to be unable to move in the direction of the support of the housing part on the axis of rotation, the knob has a stop tongue. In the context of the invention, the stop tongue is in particular a stop tongue which conforms to the barb principle. On the other hand, the knob is blocked on the side by a stop on the housing part and on the other hand by a kinematic coupling with the stop tongue. In the case of the first assembly, the knob is advantageously inserted into the first housing part, which is thus rotatably fixed in position as a loose support.

It is also possible within the scope of the invention to form two stop tongues. This in particular advantageously affects the long life of the knob. In addition, it is particularly advantageous in the scope of the invention for the rotational movement of the stop tongue in the groove by the rotary tooth not to be guided all the way to an end stop but by the stop projection and the limiting groove. Therefore, it is just a matter of considering the long-term use of many years to avoid the breakage of the stop tongue. The stop tongue thus fixes the knob in a form-locking manner in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the knob.

Within the scope of the invention, the spring-elastic adjusting element acts between the abutment and the stop tongue in the first housing part. The spring-elastic adjusting element preferably relates to a helical spring which has two spring continuations on its two ends, which spring nips are particularly advantageously applied in the aforementioned position, so that the knob and the first housing part A spring action is established between them.

Torsion springs or other springs can also be used within the scope of the invention. For example, an elastomer spring can also be considered. The springs are also mounted directly together during the first assembly in a manufacturing-famous angle and are fixed by snapping into the receptacle by means of a knob.

It is particularly advantageous for the spring-elastic adjusting element to surround the rotary projection with a spring body. It is thus ensured that the spring-elastic adjusting element is held in a fixed position so that the spring force is also ensured during the perennial use of the tool case. Therefore, the movement or slipping is avoided to the utmost extent and thus the malfunction is avoided. This in particular affects the long life of the locking mechanism of the invention.

In another particularly preferred embodiment, the knob is configured in the shape of a disk. In addition, it advantageously has a slat on its front side, which slats are particularly advantageously formed in the shape of a serpentine. Therefore, a particularly simple operation of the assembler using it is produced by the circular structure and the serpentine slats at the angle of humanized use. It is also possible to obtain a technically optimised appearance and the possibility of the knob being particularly advantageously integrated into the tool case such that the knob does not protrude outwards and thus does not pose, for example, a risk of injury or the like.

For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous for the receptacle to be formed as a recess, the geometry of which is suitable for the insertion of the knob.

Further advantages, features, characteristics and aspects of the invention result from the following description, in which advantageous embodiments are described. They are used in the simple understanding of the invention.

The same reference numerals are used in the drawings for the same or similar components, even if the description is omitted for the sake of simplicity.

Figure 1 shows the toolbox of the present invention in an open state. For this purpose, the toolbox has a first housing part 2 and a second housing part 3 . The housing parts 2, 3 each have a front side 4, two longitudinal sides 5 and a rear side 6. The two housing parts 2 , 3 are pivotally coupled to one another on the rear side on a pivot axis 7 . A knob is provided on the front side 4 of the first housing part 2 , which can engage in a positive-locking manner with the abutment section 9 on the second housing part 3 . For this purpose, the abutment section 9 on the second housing part 3 has a stop projection 10 .

Figure 2 shows a front view and a rear view of the knob 8 of the present invention. A rear view is shown here in Figure 2a and a front view is shown in Figure 2b. Figure 2a shows a rear view with a rotating bead 12 centrally located on the rear side 11 of the knob 8. Furthermore, the stop means 13 shown here in the form of a bump are provided for engagement with a seat section of the housing part which is not described in detail. A stop projection 14 is also provided which, in combination with a restriction groove not shown in detail here, limits the rotational movement of the knob 8. Also provided on the rear side 11 of the knob 8 are two stop tabs 15. The latching tongue 15 engages with a slot-like engagement on the housing parts 2, 3, which is not described in detail here, such that the knob 8 is rotatably mounted in a fixed position on the first housing part as a loose support.

Figure 2b shows the front side 16 of the knob 8 of the present invention. The knob 8 has a serpentine slat 17 extending substantially along the center of its front side 16. The knob 8 can be operated by the fitter's limbs through the slats 17.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the tool case 1 of the present invention when the knob 8 is first assembled. The knob 8 is arranged in a recess 18 formed by the closed housing parts 2, 3. The knob is engaged into the rotating bump support 19 with a rotating bump not described in detail herein. A spring-elastic adjusting element 20 is provided around the rotary bump support 19 and the rotary bump 12, which is in the form of a helical spring. The spring-elastic adjusting element 20 has on its two ends a continuation 21 which transmits a spring force between the first housing part 2 and the knob 8.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the first housing part 2 and the second housing part 3, respectively. It can be seen in FIG. 4a that approximately 2/3 of the gap 18 is formed on the first housing part 2 and an additional 1/3 of the gap 18 is formed on the second housing part 3 in FIG. 4b.

Thus, by the mutual engagement of the two housing parts 2, 3 of the closed tool case of the invention, the entire gap 18 is formed for a knob not described here. The portion of the recess 18 on the first housing part 2 has a rotary bump support 19, two slots 22 and a restriction groove 23 for engaging a stop tab not described in detail herein. The limiting groove is for engaging a stop bump not described in detail herein. In addition, the first housing part 2 has a support table 24 for forming a bearing on the housing side of the continuation of the spring-elastic adjusting element which is not described here.

The second housing part 3 shown in FIG. 4 b has a seat section 9 of the form of the projecting projection 10 in the section of the recess 18 . In the stop projection 10, a latching means for a knob, not described in detail here, is positively engaged. The locking function of the two housing parts 2, 3 between the rotary bump support 19 and the stop projection 10 is thus obtained during free cutting, the force being transmitted by a knob not described in detail here.

1. . . Toolbox

2. . . First housing part

3. . . Second housing part

4. . . Front side

5. . . Longitudinal side

6. . . Back side

7. . . Pivot axis

8. . . Knob

9. . . Support section

10. . . Stop projection

11. . . Back side

12. . . Rotating bump

13. . . Stop device

14. . . Stop bump

15. . . Stop tongue

16. . . Front side

17. . . Slat

18. . . Void

19. . . Rotating bump support

20. . . Spring-elastic adjustment element

twenty one. . . Continuation

twenty two. . . groove

twenty three. . . Limit slot

twenty four. . . Support table

Figure 1 shows the tool case of the present invention in an open position;

Figure 2 shows a front view and a rear view of the knob of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the tool case of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a front view of the lower and upper housing parts of the tool case of the present invention.

2. . . First housing part

3. . . Second housing part

8. . . Knob

18. . . Void

20. . . Spring-elastic adjustment element

twenty one. . . Continuation

Claims (9)

A tool case (1) for positionally receiving a hand tool and its accessories, in particular for positionally receiving a socket wrench, a socket wrench insert, a socket wrench set, a screw tool and/or a torque wrench The tool case has two housing parts (2, 3) which are embodied in the form of a basin and are rectangular, the two housing parts each having a front side (4), a rear side (6) and two longitudinal sides ( 5) and the two housing parts (2, 3) are pivotally coupled to each other about the pivot axis (7) in the region of the rear side (6) and can be locked by a locking device provided on the front side (4) In the closed state, the latching device has a knob (8), which is characterized in that the knob (8) is spring-elastic on the front side (4) on the first housing part (2) in a receptacle. The adjusting element (20) is rotatably disposed and rotatably supported on the first housing part (2) by a rotating bead (12), the axis of rotation being oriented substantially perpendicular to the front side (4), The abutment section (9) of the two housing part (3) has a stop projection (10), and the stop means (13) on the knob (8) can be in the second housing part Engaged in the abutment section (9) on the piece (3), the knob (8) can enter the closed position by the spring-elastic adjusting element (20), and the spring-elastic adjusting element (20) substantially surrounds the rotation with the spring body Bump (12). Tool kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the knob (8) has a stop lug (14) which is positively coupled to the first housing part (2) In the restricting groove (23), and the knob (8) can be rotated from the closed position to the open position by the restriction of the stop bump (14). Tool kit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knob (8) has at least one stop tongue (15), the stop tongue being able to The slots (22) in the housing part (2) engage in a form-locking manner. Tool kit according to claim 3, characterized in that the stop tongue (15) is formed as a loose support in the groove (22) in the direction of rotation of the knob (8). Tool kit according to claim 3, characterized in that the stop tongue (15) fixes the knob (8) in a form-locking position in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation. Tool kit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring-elastic adjusting element (20) acts between the abutment in the first housing part (2) and the stop tongue (15). A tool case according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knob is formed in the shape of a disk. Tool kit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving portion is a recess (18) whose geometry is suitable for the insertion of the knob (8). Tool kit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a serpentine slat (17) is formed on the front side (4) of the knob (8).