US3171566A - Utility chest - Google Patents

Description

0. J. METCHELL UTILITY CHEST March 2, 1965 Filed- Oct. 2,- 1962 lmnm mman AT TO 2N EYS United States Patent 3,171,566 UEL'HTY EET Orrin 5. Mitchell, Le Roy, N.Y., assignor to Union Steel Chest (Jorporatlon, Le Roy, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Get. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 227,322 1 Claim. or. 220-31) The present invention relates to a new and novel utility chest, and more particularly to a utility chest which is provided with a weather-proof construction so as to prevent the entry of water into the interior of the chest.

T he chest according to the present invention is adapted to be utilized in many types of applications such as a tackle box, a tool box, an ammunition box, and similar applications, wherein the chest may be utilized outdoors where it is exposed to the elements, and particularly wherein it may be exposed to rain or spray. In cases where the chest is subjected to these types of conditions, it is important to provide a weather-proof arrangement which will protect the contents of the chest, and particularly which will shed water.

In this type of item, it is important to maintain the structural arrangement as simple and inexpensive in construction as possible in order to provide a commercially competitive device, it also being a requirement that the arrangement be quite strong and safe to use. Accordingly, in order to provide this type of construction in the prior art, it has not been possible to provide a truly weather-proof arrangement which would successfully shed water under adverse weather conditions.

The present invention accomplishes the purposes by firstly providing a lower portion and a cover, each of which are formed of a leak-proof seamless construction. In addition, all of the hardware fittings are machine riveted so as to provide a lealeproor" arrangement. Accordingly, it is apparent that the only possible place where leakage can occur is around the edge between the lower portion and the cover, and in particular along the hinge portion. This is true since the hinge construction of these types of chests are of the so-called piano hinge type wherein the hinge portions are formed integral with the members. This particular type of hinge construction is difficult to render weather-proof, and the present invention incorporates a novel construction which does in fact render this type of hinge construction substantially weatherproof so that it will shed water even when subjected to rain and spray.

The hinge portions formed on the lower portion of the chest are of relatively conventional construction, but the cover is on the other hand provided with a novel shielded design wherein an elongated outwardly offset portion is provided along a lower edge portion of the cover. Spaced integral hinge portions depend from this outwardly offset portion, and in addition, spaced depending portions are disposed in overlying relationship to the integral hinge portions formed on the lower portion of the chest.

With this arrangement, the elongated outwardly oliset portion as well as the last-mentioned depending portions serve as a shield which will shed water as it either drops downwardly on the elongated outwardly ofi set portion or the depending portions, or which may run down ofi of the upper surface and the side surface of the cover. The oilset portion and the last-mentioned depending portions serve to cause the water to drain downwardly and outwardly of the lower integral hinge portions formed on the lower portion of the chest such that the water will not enter the chest through these hinge portions, and the hinge area of the chest is thereby rendered substantially weather-proof.

In order to effectively prevent the entry of water between the cover and the lower portion, the remaining upper edge portion of the lower portion is provided with an integral bead or lip. The lower edge portion of the cover is in turn provided with an outwardly offset portion which is disposed in overlying relationship to the lip or bead on the lower portion. These portions cooperate to prevent the entry of water between the cover and the lower portion.

To further assist in shedding water and preventing the accumulation of water on the upper portion of the device, the upper surface of the cover is of an arcuate configuration which is such that it is highest in the middle and lowest at the ends whereby the water will tend to drain oil from the central portion of the cover towards the ends thereof and thence outwardly and down the sides of the chest. it will be apparent that the outwardly offset lower edge portion of the cover serves as a shield for the joint between the cover and the lower portion whereby the water will drain downwardly and outwardly over this joint portion and will not tend to drop into the interior of the chest.

The top surface of the cover is also provided with an embossed scale which serves as a handy measuring means which may be utilized in many ditierent manners. Additionally, a snap catch is provided between the cover and the lower portion for normally retaining the cover in locked position, the snap catch being readily releasable by manually pulling outwardly thereon as will be hereinafter explained.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel utility chest which is of a substantially weatherproof construction and which prevents entry of water into the interior thereof when exposed to rain or spray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a utility chest which is of simple and inexpensive construction, and yet which is quite strong and safe to use.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a utility chest according to the present invention showing the device with the cover in closed relationship to the lower portion thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the chest shown in FIG. 1 with the cover in its open position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a rear View of the utility chest of the invention illustrating the hinge structure thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line -d of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is seen particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2 the utility chest of the present invention which includes a lower portion indicated generally by reference numeral lit, and an upper portion indicated generally by reference numeral 11. Each of members 10 and 11 have in common the fact that they are integral one-piece full drawn leak-proof seamless bodies of a suitable metallic substance such as steel or the like, and may be provided with a suitable finish such as a hard baked blue enamel finish. All edges formed on these members are fully returned for safety and strength.

Additionally, it will be apparent that the corners of each of these members are rounded. A conventional tray indicated generally by reference numeral 13 is pivotally interconnected with the lower portion and the cover in a well-known manner so as to pivot into the operative position shown in FIG. 2 when in its open position.

A snap catch means is provided for retaining the cover in its operative position, the snap catch including a hasp element which is pivotally connected to the cover and which may be provided with suitable spring means for normally urging it into locking position, and a staple means or element 16 is connected to the lower portion 10. The snap catch is shown in its operative locking position in'FlG. 1, and it will be apparent that a suitable locking means such as a padlock or the like may be inserted through the staple means to lock the chest when desired.

As seen particularly in FIG. 1,,a handle 20 is pivotally connected to a handle plate 21 which in turn is connected with the cover by machine riveting as are the members 15 and 16 of the snap catch so as to provide a waterproof interconnection between these various components and the cover or the lower portion respectively. The cover is also provided with an embossed scale indicated by reference numeral 23 which for convenience may define a 12 inch rule.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing, the upper edge portion of one side of the lower portion 1% of the utility chest is provided with a plurality of integral spaced hinge portions 25, each of these hinge portions being bent over as seen particularly in FIG. 5.to provide a substantially circular channel therethrough. This construction is relatively conventional in the art.

The cover 11 is provided along one side thereof with an integral elongated outwardly oifset portion or shield indicated by reference numeral 39, it being noted that this offset portion may extend out substantially normally to the depending side wall of the cover. There extends downwardly from this elongated outwardly oifset portion a plurality of integral hinge portions indicated by refer ence numerals 3i, these integral hinge portions as seen particularly in FIG. 6 being bent around to define a substantially circular channel therewithin. As seen in FIG. 6, the channel is spaced below the shield 3d a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the material from which the box is made. i

As will be clearly evident from FIG. 4, the integral hinge portions 31 of the cover are disposed in staggered relationship to the integral hinge portions of the lower portion and are adapted to be nested therebetween with the circular channels of the various hinge portions being aligned with one another so as to receive a hinge pin 35 which extends through these various hinge portions so as to hingedly interconnect the cover with the lower portion.

Referring to F168. 4 and 5, it will be noted that integral depending portions 37 extend downwardly from the offset portion 3%, portions 3''? being disposed between the integral hinge portions 31 previously described. it will be apparent that the depending portions 37 extend downwardly a substantial distance less than depending hinge portions 31, and furthermore, it will also be apparent that depending portions 37 are disposed directly over the integral hinge portions 25 of the lower portion, and in fact partly curve therearound as will be clearly evident from FIG. 5. it is obvious that the offset portion 34 and the integral depending portions 3'7 disposed in overlying relationship to the integral portions 25 will serve to deflect any water so as to prevent the water from running down through the hingepo'rtions into the interior of the chest. This arrangement accordinglyrenders this portion of the chest substantially weather-proof.

Except for the upper edges between the hinge portion as seen in FIG. 4, the remaining upper edge portion of the lower portion 10 is provided all the way around with an integral turne -over portion 40 which defines a lip. or head at the upper edge of the lower portion. The lower edge portion of the cover 11 is provided substantially all the way around except for the hinge portions with an outwardly offset lower edge portion 41. As seen in FIG. 3,

. around the remainder of the utility chest for preventing offset portion 41 is adapted to cooperate with the lip 44) so as to prevent'the entry of water into the interior of the utility chest around the remaining portions of the cover and lower portion.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided a new and novel utility chest which is of a substantially weather-proof construction, and which prevents entry of water when exposed to rain or spray. The outwardly offset portion of the cover in combination with the depending portions in overiyin'g relationship to the lower hinge portions 25 prevent entry of water through the hinge area, and the lip at the upperedge of the lower portion cooperates with the o'fi'set lower edge portion of the cover entry of water in this area. The construction of the utility chest is quate simple and inexpensive, and yet at the same time is quite strong and the device is safe to use.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claim, all changes'that fall within the metes and bounds of the claim or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by this claim.

I claim:

A utility chest or the like comprising an integral onepiece metal body having a bottom and four major u standing sides, the uppcr edges of all major surfaces being folded outwardly, downwardly and fully returned inwardly to provide a lip integral with said major side portions, the lip of one major side having alternate spaced portions thereof removed to provide hinge sections between the'spaces, an integral one-piece metal cover having a top and four major downwardly extending sides, the lower edges of three of said four major sides terminating in an offset portion in which the metal has been formed to extend outwardly and downwardly, the lower inner surface of said offset portion being formed to loosely overlay the upper portion of the lip of said body when the cover is closed, the fourth major side of said cover terminating in a central edge portion and two marginal edge portions, said marginal edge portions having cross-sec tional configurations identical to the offset portion of said other three major sides of said cover, the metal of said central portion extending outwardly, downwardly and inwardly and then upwardly and outwardly to underlie the initial outwardly extending section of said central portion, said central edge portion in the lower section of its downward extent and ali of its dependent inward, upward and outward extent hcving laterally alternate spaced portions thereof removed, said central edge portion between said removed spaces forming cover hinge sections, a hinge pin extending through the hinge sections of said body and cover, the cover hinge sections together with the body hinge sections and hinge pin constituting a piano hinge, the central edge portion between said hinge sect-ions constituting a cover for the body hinge sections, catch means comprising elements mounted on said cover and body located on those major faces thereof opposite to the major faces which are most adjacent said piano hinge.

'Reterences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 208,343 9/78 Somers 220 31 1,388,187 8/21 Marie 43 54.s 2,681,201 6/54 Grunwald 43-545 FOREIGN PATENTS 357,894 10/31 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

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