US20120211384A1

US20120211384A1 - Toolbox

Info

Publication number: US20120211384A1
Application number: US13/335,004
Authority: US
Inventors: Tsai-Ching Chen
Original assignee: Good Year Hardware Co Ltd
Current assignee: Good Year Hardware Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-17
Filing date: 2011-12-22
Publication date: 2012-08-23
Also published as: TWI385062B; DE102011100038A1; TW201235165A

Abstract

A toolbox includes a box body defining an accommodation chamber having an open side facing toward the front side of the box body, a cover member covered on the box body and slidable leftwards and rightwards relative to the box body between a close position and an open position, and a swivel tool bit holder pivotally mounted in the box body inside the accommodation chamber and biasable relative to the box body between a storage position and a service position and having multiple tool bit receiving portions for receiving tool bits. The tool bit receiving portions are kept inside the accommodation chamber when the swivel tool bit holder is in the storage position, or exposed to the outside when the swivel tool bit holder is in the service position. Thus, the toolbox has the characteristic of ease of operation and facilitates easy access to the storage items.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tool storage devices for storing tool accessories and more particularly, to a toolbox, which facilitates easy opening and quick access to the storage items.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many toolboxes for storing tool accessories, such as screwdrivers, have been disclosed. For example, US 2007/0251355 (equivalent to Taiwan Patent M305736), discloses a storage box for storing screwdriver bits, comprising a holder block mounted in a cover body for keeping screwdriver bits. When the cover body is opened, the holder block is lifted to the outside, facilitating access to the storage screwdriver bits.
Further, Taiwan Patent laid-open No. 200922758 discloses a screwdriver toolbox. The technical feature of this design of toolbox is that when the user presses the button, the two opposing holder blocks are turned upwards, facilitating access to the storage items.
Further, Taiwan Patent laid-open No. 201004757 discloses a toolbox, which comprises a linking mechanism coupled between a cover member and a tool holder block. When opening the cover member, the tool holder block is biased upwards. Thus, when the cover member is opened, the user can access to the storage items easily.
The aforesaid prior art toolboxes are characterized, if equipped with a cover member, by the coupling relationship between the tool holder block and the cover member for enabling the tool holder block to be biased to the outside when the cover member is opened, or, if without a cover member, by the control mechanism (control button) operable to bias the tool holder block toward the outside.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a toolbox, which has a unique structural design different from the prior art techniques, and facilitates easy access to the storage items.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a toolbox comprises a box body defining an accommodation chamber that has at least one open side facing toward the front side of the box body, a cover member covered on the box body and slidable leftwards and rightwards relative to the box body between a close position where the cover member closes the accommodation chamber and an open position where the accommodation chamber is opened, and a swivel tool bit holder pivotally mounted in the box body inside the accommodation chamber and biasable relative to the box body between a storage position and a service position. The swivel tool bit holder has a plurality of tool bit receiving portions for receiving tool bits. When the swivel tool bit holder is in the storage position, the tool bit receiving portions are kept inside the accommodation chamber. When the swivel tool bit holder is in the service position, the tool bit receiving portions face toward the outside of the box body. Thus, the toolbox has the characteristic of ease of operation and facilitates easy access to the storage items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which like reference signs denote like elements of the structure.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a toolbox in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the toolbox in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the toolbox in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, illustrating a status of the cover body at the initial stage when released from the constraint.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, illustrating the cover member in the open position.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, illustrating the cover member opened and the swivel tool bit holder biased to the service position.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of an alternate form of the present invention, illustrating the cover opening button and the release button made in integrity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1˜3, a toolbox 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a box body 11, a cover member 21 and a swivel tool bit holder 31.
The box body 11 defines therein an accommodation chamber 12 that has its open side located on the front side of the box body 11. Further, the box body 11 comprises a cover opening button 14 and a release button 16. Further, the box body 11 has a sliding way 18 located on the top side thereof.
The cover member 21 comprises a front cover body 22 and a rear cover body 24 respectively disposed at opposing front and rear sides and respectively downwardly extended from the top side thereof, and a sliding block 26 located on the bottom wall of the top side thereof and slidably supported on the sliding way 18. Subject to the arrangement between the sliding block 26 and the sliding way 18, the cover member 21 is coupled to the box body 11 and slidable in left and right directions relative to the box body between a close position and an open position. Further, the cover member 21 comprises a hook 28. When the cover member 21 is in the close position, the hook 28 is hooked on the cover opening button 14, prohibiting the cover member 21 from being opened accidentally. When the cover opening button 14 is pressed by a user, the hook 28 is released from the hooked status, allowing the cover member 21 to be moved toward the open position. When the cover member 21 reaches the open position, the accommodation chamber 12 is opened.
The invention further comprises a cover-opening spring member 29, which has its two opposite ends respectively connected to the sliding block 26 and a pin 111 inside the box body 11. The cover-opening spring member 29 has a part of the body thereof disposed in the sliding way 18, and imparts a pressure to the cover member 21 and the sliding block 26 toward the open position.
The swivel tool bit holder 31 is pivotally mounted in the box body 11 and received inside the accommodation chamber 12, and biasable relative to the box body 11 between a storage position and a service position. Further, the swivel tool bit holder 31 comprises a plurality of tool bit receiving portions 32 for receiving tool bits 99. According to this embodiment, the tool bit receiving portions 32 are plugholes. The swivel tool bit holder 31 further has a hooked portion 34 hooked on the release button 16. When the release button 16 is pressed, the hooked portion 34 is released. At this time, the swivel tool bit holder 31 is biased to the service position. When reached the service position, the swivel tool bit holder 31 faces toward the outside of the box body 11 (in the drawing, the swivel tool bit holder 31 is tilted obliquely upwards toward the outside), enabling the user to access to the storage tool bits 99.
The invention further comprises a biasing spring member 39. According to this embodiment, the biasing spring member 39 is a torsion spring set between the swivel tool bit holder 31 and the box body 11 to bias the box body 11 toward the service position. Thus, when the release button 16 is pressed by the user and released from the constraint of the hooked portion 34, the swivel tool bit holder 31 is automatically biased by the biasing spring member 39 to the service position.
Further, the box body 11 defines a storage compartment 19 for receiving a tool handle 91 (see the imaginary line in FIG. 2). When the user picked up one tool bit 99 from the swivel tool bit holder 31, the user can attach the tool bit 99 to the tool handle 91 to form a hand tool.
Further, a foot stand 15 is located on the bottom side of the box body 11 for positioning on a flat surface positively.
After understanding of the structural details of the present invention, the use of the toolbox 10 will be described hereinafter.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, before use of the toolbox 10, the cover member 21 is kept in the close position, closing the box body 11. At this time, the accommodation chamber 12 is kept from sight.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, after the user pressed the cover opening button 14, the cover member 21 is released from the constraint and moved by the cover-opening spring member 29 toward the open position. At this time, the user can pull the cover member 21 completely to the open position. At this time, the accommodation chamber 12 is opened.
Referring to FIG. 6, when the cover member 21 is in the open position, the user can press the release button 16 to release the swivel tool bit holder 31 from the constraint, enabling the swivel tool bit holder 31 to be biased by the biasing spring member 39 to the service position. Thus, the user can access to the storage tool bits 99 in the swivel tool bit holder 31.
Further, the user can take the tool handle 91 out of the compartment 19, and attached to the selected tool bit 99 to the tool handle 91, forming a hand tool for application.
As stated above, the user can open the cover member 21 and enable the swivel tool bit holder 31 to be biased to the service position simply by pressing the cover opening button 14 and the release button 16. The operation and service of the toolbox are easy and convenient.
It is to be understood that the aforesaid embodiment is simply an example of the present invention and not intended as limitation of the invention. Various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
As an alternate form of the present invention, the cover-opening spring member 29 can be omitted. After pressed the cover opening button 14 during the use of the toolbox 10, the user can directly pull the cover member 21 to the open position with the hand.
As another alternate form of the present invention, the biasing spring member 39 can be omitted. After pressed the release button 16 during the use of the toolbox 10, the user can directly bias the swivel tool bit holder 41 to the service position with the hand.
Further, except the design in which the open side of the accommodation chamber 12 is disposed at the front side of the box body 11, the accommodation chamber 12 can be made having two open sides respectively facing toward the front and back sides of the box body 11. As this example is a simple modification of the invention and can be understood easily by written language, no further illustration is necessary in this regard.
Further, in still another alternate form of the invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the cover opening button 14′ and the release button 16′ are made in integrity, forming a single-piece cover opening button 17′; the hook 28′ of the cover member 21′ and the hooked portion of the swivel tool bit holder 31′ (not shown in FIG. 7; similar to that shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5) are made in integrity and hooked on the cover opening button 17′. When presses the cover opening button 17′, the cover member 21′ and the swivel tool bit holder 31′ are released at the same time.
As stated above, the invention is characterized by its unique structural design different from the prior art techniques and ease of access to the storage items.

Claims

1. A toolbox (10), comprising:

a box body (11) defining therein an accommodation chamber (12), said accommodation chamber (12) having at least one open side facing toward a front side of said box body (11);

a cover member (21) covered on said box body (11) and slidable leftwards and rightwards relative to said box body (11) between a close position where said cover member (21) covers said accommodation chamber (12) and an open position where said accommodation chamber (12) is opened to the outside; and

a swivel tool bit holder (31) pivotally mounted in said box body (11) inside said accommodation chamber (12) and biasable relative to said box body (11) between a storage position and a service position, said swivel tool bit holder (31) comprising a plurality of tool bit receiving portions (32) for receiving tool bits (99), said tool bit receiving portions (32) being kept inside said accommodation chamber (12) when said swivel tool bit holder (31) is in said storage position, said tool bit receiving portions (32) facing toward the outside of said box body (11) when said swivel tool bit holder (31) is in said service position.

2. The toolbox (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body (11) comprises a cover opening button (14) and said cover member (21) comprises a hook (28), said hook (28) being hooked on said cover opening button (14) when said cover member (21) is in said close position, said hook (28) being disengaged from said cover opening button (14) when said cover opening button (14) is pressed by a person.

3. The toolbox (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said swivel tool bit holder (31) comprises a hooked portion (34) hooked on said cover opening button (14); the hooked portion (34) of said swivel tool bit holder (31) is disengaged from said cover opening button (14) when said cover opening button (14) is pressed by a person.

4. The toolbox (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said box body (11) comprises a sliding way (18) located on a top side thereof; said cover member (21) comprises a sliding block (26) located on a bottom side thereof and slidably and supported on said sliding way (18) and movable with said cover member (21) leftwards and rightwards along said sliding way (18) relative to said box body (11).

5. The toolbox (10) as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a cover-opening spring member (29) set betweens aid sliding block (26) and said box body (11) and partially positioned in said sliding way (18) to impart a pressure to said sliding block (26) and said cover member (21) toward said open position.

6. The toolbox (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said accommodation chamber (12) has two open sides respectively facing toward front and back sides of said box body (11); said cover member (21) comprises a front cover body (22) and a rear cover body (24) downwardly extended from a top side thereof and respectively disposed at opposing front side and rear side thereof.

7. The toolbox (11) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body (10) comprises a release button (16); said swivel tool bit holder (31) comprises a hooked portion (34), said hooked portion (34) being hooked on said release button (16) when said swivel tool bit holder (31) is in said storage position, said hooked portion (34) being disengaged from said release button (16) when said release button (16) is pressed by a person.

8. The toolbox (10) as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a biasing spring member (39) set between said swivel tool bit holder (31) and said box body (11) and adapted for biasing said swivel tool bit holder (31) toward the outside.

9. The toolbox (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said box body (11) comprises a storage compartment (19) adapted for storing a tool handle (91); said box body (11) comprises a foot stand (15) located on a bottom side thereof.