Patent Application
20050077198
The present invention relates generally to storage containers, and more particularly to a storage container having a unique divider system and independently hinged sleeves for retaining drill bits.
Storage containers exist in many varieties and may be used to store, organize and transport various items such as fasteners, tool bits and other accessories. Plastic storage containers can be typically manufactured fairly inexpensively, but often at the expense of being less rigid and providing less flexibility in adapting the storage container to store items of various sizes. When a storage container is used to store tool accessories such as drill bits on a job site, it is desirable for the user to be able to quickly identify and access the drill bit of interest. Sometimes however, a large collection of drill bits of random size are staggered within a storage container such that identification and access is cumbersome.
Furthermore, storage containers that incorporate organizational schemes often present the drill bits in a structured pattern such that the user may easily identify the drill bit of interest but do not allow the user convenient access to remove or replace the drill bit from its holding arrangement. In addition, a storage case must be built to be strong and durable so that if it is moved quickly or dropped, it will not allow smaller drill bits to slide out of their respective holding arrangements.
A storage container for housing bits includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion pivotally connected through a hinge for moving between open and closed positions. The first housing portion defines a first body cavity and the second housing portion defines a second body cavity in the closed position. At least one bit holder is pivotally connected to the hinge and arranged to fit within the first body cavity in the closed position. The bit holder includes a plurality of bit receiving portions formed thereon for accepting the bits. The bit receiving portions are generally parallel to the hinge. A cover is pivotally connected to the second housing portion and moveable between open and closed positions for accessing the second body cavity.
According to other features, the second housing portion includes at least one internal lateral divider wall having a series of locating tabs extending therefrom. At least one adjustable spacer is provided for selectively positioning between the locating tabs. The adjustable spacer includes a first and second side having a first and second end. The first and second sides are flared outwardly at the first and second ends. A retaining member extends from the first housing portion into the first body cavity and is adapted to extend adjacent to predetermined bits of the bit holder to preclude movement of the drill bits out of the bit receiving portions while the first housing portion is in the closed position.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
With reference to the FIGS., a bit container according to the present invention is illustrated and generally identified at reference 10. The container 10 includes a front shell housing portion 12 and a rear shell housing portion 14. The front shell housing portion 12 is connected to the rear shell housing portion 14 through a hinge 16. A latch 18 is connected to the front housing 12 and pivots to an engaged position to engage the rear housing portion 14.
With specific reference to
With continued reference to
The front housing portion 12 is further defined by a peripheral side wall including a side latch face 46, a side hinge face 48, a bottom face 50 (
With continued reference to
With particular reference to
The front and rear housing portions 12, 14 are preferably comprised of hard plastic such as high impact ABS. As shown in
Referring now to
Both frame body portion 22A and 22B incorporates a stepped surface 126A and 126B thereon. The stepped arrangement provides increased structural integrity consistent with the aforementioned inset and outset portions 110 and 112 of the front and rear housing portion 10, 12. Side surfaces 130A and 130B of each of the frame body portions 22A and 22B include ridges 132A and 132B formed therealong. The ridges 132A and 132B provide an improved gripping surface to facilitate indexing through the page-like bit holders 19A and 19B.
The storage container 10 incorporates a variety of surfaces that allow the storage container to free-stand thereon. Specifically, the outset portions 112 (see, e.g.
Feet 148A and 148B extend from each respective frame body portion 22A and 22B in a lateral direction with respect to the ledge 71 of the front housing portion 12. The foot 148A and a portion of the foot 148B overlap the ledge 71 when the page-like bit holders 19A and 19B are rotated against the front inner face 32 of the front housing portion 12. The ledge 71, aligned beneath the feet 148A and 148B, inhibits downward vertical deflection of the page-like bit holders 19A and 19B thereby enhancing structural robustness and reducing stress on the hinge 16 in the event of dropping or otherwise jolting the container 10. It should be understood that the overlapping feet of the frame body portions of the page-like bit holders do not need to extend laterally from the bit holders, but instead can be formed in any manner to cause a portion of the bit holders to simply overlap the ledge 71.
With reference now to
The storage container 10 includes removable spacers 160 that may be selectably positioned within the storage cavity of the rear housing portion 14 to customize the interior space. An inner surface 162 of the rear housing portion 14 includes parallel dividers 168 extending between the top wall 84 and the bottom wall 88. The parallel dividers 168 and an inner side wall 170 include tabs 174 extending therefrom. The tabs 174 are configured to engage fingers 178 of the removable spacers 160 in an installed position. The opposing tabs 174 are laterally offset a predetermined distance such that a readily available piece of material may be substituted for a spacer 160, in the event a spacer is misplaced. The predetermined distance is configured to be a distance common to readily available scrap pieces of material such as, but not limited to, {fraction (1/8)} inch plywood.
A series of spacers 160 will be included for the user to customize the size of the interior space of the rear housing portion 14. The fingers 178 include flared arms on opposite ends and have slots that are adapted to slidably engage the tabs 174. The spacers 160 are made from a flexible material such as soft rubber or other elastomeric material. The flared arms of the spacers 160 are contoured such that an object may be easily removed from the rear housing portion 14 without becoming caught in a 90 degree corner of an inner compartment. The internal configuration also provides shock resistance in the event of a drop or sudden impact.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/781,052 filed on Feb. 18, 2004 and application Ser. No. 10/694,472 filed on Oct. 27, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/126,500 filed on Apr. 19, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,609, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/840,278 filed on Apr. 23, 2001. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10126500 | Apr 2002 | US |
| Child | 10694472 | Oct 2003 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10781052 | Feb 2004 | US |
| Child | 10990305 | Nov 2004 | US |
| Parent | 10694472 | Oct 2003 | US |
| Child | 10990305 | Nov 2004 | US |
| Parent | 09840278 | Apr 2001 | US |
| Child | 10126500 | Apr 2002 | US |
