US1916918A - Container for wrenches and the like - Google Patents

Description

y 4, 1933. E. H. CARROLL CONTAINER FOR WRENCHES AND THE LIKE Filed March 4, 1932 J we W 2 Ai'iprneu Patented July 4, I933 ELBEET IE. CARROLL, OER/VEST BOYLSTON, MASSACHUSETTS CONTAINER FOR VfB-ENQHES AND THE LIKE Application filed March 4,

The invention-relates to an improved container for a socket wrench set comprising a plurality of sockets of graduated size and one or more common handles which are provided 5 for use selectively with any one of said socketed members.

The invention resides in the provision of a holder or container of a simple and inexpensive construction for the compact assemblage lfl-of a socket wrench set, .which container is adapted to prevent accidental displacement of the parts of the set, although permitting each part to be individually removed with ease when desired.

The present invention is an improvement on the container disclosed inv application Serial No. 524,917, filed by the present applicant on March 24, 1931. According to the present invention, the container embodies a plurality of tool containing compartments which are slidably connected together in such a manner that when the container is in closed position, none of the parts'of the wrench set are removable from the container and when in open 25 position, each part may be individually removed.

Further advantages and objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with 30 the accompanying drawing in which 1- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying the invention in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device in open position.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device in the position of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the device in the position of Fig. 8, showing the opposite end of Fig. 4.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

A socket wrench set of the type referred to provides, as is well known, a plurality of graduated similarly shaped socket members 1 each having a nut or bolt receiving socket, not shown, and a polygonal opening 2, the latter receiving one end of the handle 3, which 50 is common to all of the socket members. The

1932. Serial No. 536,785.

set includes, in addition to the handle 3, a ratcheting lever or handle 4 of the usual con struction, and a short extension member 5. All ofthe above parts of the wrench set are mounted within the container.

The container corresponds generally in form to the container of the above cited application. As disclosed in that application, a. shallow tray 6 is provided for the socket members, said tray having upstanding side walls 7 and 7a and parallel end walls 8 and 9 of substantially greater height than the side walls. The socket members are placed in the tray in a row and since the tray decreases in width toward one end, as seen from a comparison of Figs. 4 and 5, the sockets are held against transverse sliding movement, a tongue 10 struck up from the bottom of the tray holding said sockets in one end or" said tray.

The cover 11 for the tray receives the handies 3 and 4 and the extension 5 and comprises parallel top and bottom walls 12 and 13 respectively, the front edges of which are bent toward each other to define retaining flanges 14 and 15 parallel to the side wall 16 of the cover. The bottom wall 13 of the cover is provided at opposite ends with parallel downwardly extending flanges 17 and 18 which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the spacing oi the end walls 8 and 9 of the tray and are received between said walls in sliding engagement therewith.

The cover construction above described, provides a compartment with open ends for the reception of the handle member 3 and ratchet 4, which extend longitudinally within the compartment and are held against the top and bottom walls 12 and 13, respectively, of the cover by flanges or tongues 20 struck out from the material of the cover. The extension member 5 is similarly retained against the bottom wall 13 by a tongue 21. Each of the members within the cover compartment may be removed through the open ends of the compartment when the container is in open position. The cover decreases in width adjacent one end corresponding to the decreasing width of the tray so that the corresponding flanges on the tray and cover will be substantially the same width.

With the cover and tray in the closed position of Fig. 1, the bottom wall 13 of the cover extends adjacent the upper surfaces of the socket members to prevent removal of the socket members from the tray, and the end walls of the tray extending upwardly to the top of the cover portion, close the open ends of the compartment in the cover to prevent removal of the handles from said compartment.

. The cover and tray are slidably connected together so that the parts may be moved to the open position of Fig. 3 to permit removal of any of the sockets from the tray or the handles from the compartment in the cover. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the end walls 8 and 9 are provided with central vertical slots 22 and 23, respectively, for the reception of vertically elongated slides 24 and 25 formed on the depending flanges 17 and 18 of the covervand extending through the slots 22 and 9.3,respectively, said slides having flanges 26 and 27 extending beyond the edges of the slots to prevent said slides from being retracted through said slots. The slides 24 and 25 aresubstantially equal in width to the slots and are of sufficient length or height to prevent the cover portion from rotating relative to the tray, causing a direct sliding action as the parts are moved from one position to the other, said slides accordingly supporting the cover in proper position on the tray either in the closed position of Fig. 1 or the open position of Fig. 3.

The spacing of the upstanding ends 8 and 9 is substantially the same as the spacing of the flanges 17 and 18, as above pointed out, so that the end walls 8 and 9 are slightly sprung apart as the flanges 17 and 18 are placed therebetween, thereby establishing sufiicient frictional contact between corresponding flanges to prevent unintentional sliding movement of the cover relative to the tray. By this construction the container may be readily closed by downward sliding movement of the cover from the position of Fig. 3 and is securely held in closed position, Fig. 1 by the frictional engagement between the anges. Similarly the container is opened by raising the cover relative to the tray, the frictional engagement then supporting the cover in its open position.

From a consideration of the drawing, it will be apparent that all'of the parts of the wrench set are held within the container against displacement therefrom when the container is in the closed position of Fig. 1 and that each of the parts may be individually removed when desired when the container is in the open position of Fig. 3, the handles being slidable through the open ends of the compartment in the cover and the socket members being readily withdrawn from the tray, relative sliding movement of 80 the cover and tray permitting opening or closing of the tray and the cover compartment.

I claim,

1. A container for a socket wrench set comprising a tray having an open top and upwardly extending ends, a cover slidably connected to the ends of the tray, said cover having a compartment therein open at opposite ends, said cover when in closed position 99 preventing access to said tray and said upwardly extending .ends on the tray closing the opening to the compartment in the cover.

2. A container for a socket wrench set comprising a tray having upwardly projecting 1 ends, a cover for said tray having a compartment therein open at least at one end thereof, depending flanges at opposite ends of said cover, means connecting said depending flanges to the upwardly projecting ends of 1 said tray for vertical sliding movement of the cover relative to the. tray, the projecting ends of the tray acting to open or close the compartment in the cover.

3. A container for tools comprising a tray 3055 having an open top and upwardly extending ends, a cover slidably connected to the ends of the tray, said cover having a compartment therein open at least at one end thereof, said cover, when in closed position, prevent- .ing access to said tray, and said upwardly extending ends on the tray closing the compartment in the cover.

ELBERT H. CARROLL. 1

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