Patent Application
20200016737
The present application relates to a container that may function as a toolbox. More specifically, this application relates to a container that may function as both a toolbox and a stool/step stool.
Carpenters and handy persons are often looking for new ways to protect, organize and transport their tools. Toolboxes have become a common way to achieve that task. However, at a jobsite, a carpenter may need to have her tools off the ground at a convenient accessible height. Having a stool would be helpful in such a situation. Likewise, a carpenter may also need a stool to work above her head. The use of a stool is often a common solution for these situations. However, transporting a stool to a jobsite in addition to a toolbox is an extra burden for the carpenter. It would be good to have a single product that functions as both a toolbox and a stool or step stool.
The present invention overcomes one or more of the drawbacks discussed above.
The present application discloses a container having a body with a bottom connected a plurality of walls to define an interior space. The container also includes a lid having an upper surface connected to a plurality of walls to define a lid space. The lid is configured to engage the body to selectively provide or limit access to the interior space. The container also includes a leg assembly having a plurality of legs. The leg assembly is movable between a non-support position and a support position. When the leg assembly is in the non-support position it is disposed within the lid space. When the leg assembly is in the support position, the legs may engage a surface and provide support for the lid.
In another embodiment, the container may also include a step assembly that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, the step assembly is disposed within the lid space. In the deployed position, the step assembly provides a step beneath the upper surface of the lid when the leg assembly is in the support position.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:
Returning to
Container 10 also includes a leg assembly 32 comprising a plurality of legs 34. Leg assembly 32 is movable between a non-support position and a support position.
As shown more clearly in
Hinge 36 also includes two leg axles 50, 52 that extend from the flat sides 44 of the rotatable rib portions 44. Leg axles 50 and 52 may further include protrusions 54, 56 which facilitate engagement to the respective legs 34. Leg axles 50, 52 respectively extend along second and third axes Y, Y′. Moreover, leg axles 50, 52 are positioned such that they are parallel to one another and perpendicular to main axle 38. It follows that second and third axes Y, Y′ are also parallel to one another and perpendicular to first axis X.
Hinge 36 is considered to be a triple axis hinge because when legs 34 are connected thereto, movement along the first axis, second axis and third axis is possible. More specifically, the main axle facilitates simultaneous rotational movement of the legs about the first axis X, and leg axles 50, 52 allow the legs to be individually rotated about the respective second and third axes Y, Y′.
Leg assembly 32 may also include a foldable leg support 58 disposed between two legs 34. The foldable leg support is configured to be movable between a bent position and a horizontal position. As shown in
As best seen in
Support block 68 may be shaped to define a hinge receiving portion 70. By rotating hinge 36 about the X axis, the leg axle 50, 52 will come into contact with the hinge receiving portion 70. Hinge receiving portion 70 is configured to provide support to a leg axle 50, 52. Hinge receiving portion 70 may also include a locking carve out 72 that is configured to receive a protrusion 54, 56 of leg axle 50, 52. Locking carve out 72 is sized such that a protrusion 54, 56 may be secured by press fitting the same therein. By securing protrusion 54, 56 within locking carve out 72, the leg axle 50, 52 is also secured.
When a leg axle 50, 52 is secured within the hinge receiving portion 70, rotation of hinge 36 about the X axis is no longer possible. However, rotation of the legs 34 about the respective Y and Y′ axes is still permissible. Legs 34 may be rotated about the Y, Y′ axis until they come into contact with a leg receiving portion 74 of support block 68. Leg receiving portion 74 is configured to support a leg 34 when leg assembly 32 is in its support position. Leg receiving portion 74 may be sized such that leg 34 may be secured therein by press fitting. Once leg 34 is secured within the leg receiving portion 74, rotational movement of the leg about the Y, Y′ axis is limited. Those skilled in the art will recognize that leg assembly 32 can be secured even further in this support position by moving the foldable leg support 58 into its horizontal position.
Leg assembly 32 may also include a leg snap 76. Leg snap 76, which may be disposed within the lid space 28, is configured to engage a leg 34 and secure leg assembly 32 in its non-support position. Leg snap 76 may define an opening 78 that is suitable for receiving a screw 80. As shown in
The container assembly 10 may further include a step assembly 90. Step assembly that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. As shown in
Step assembly 90 comprises a step surface 92 and at least one step hinge 94. Step hinge 94 facilitates movement of the step assembly 90 between the step assembly between stowed position and the deployed position. Step hinge 94 may be rotatably engaged to the lid 22 at one end and rotatably engaged to the step surface 92 at the other. To achieve this rotational engagement, step hinge 94 may define circular openings 96 at its respective ends. As shown in
Step surface 92 may further include leg engaging portions 106 that are configured to be received in a step receiving portion 108 of legs 34. As shown in
Step assembly 90 may further include a step surface lock 110. Step surface lock 110 may include a body 112 and a tab 114. Tab 114 may further include a step surface engaging portion 116. Step surface lock 110 is configured to be disposed within the lid space 28. Body 112 may define an opening 118. Opening 118 is may be suitable for receiving a screw to secure the step surface lock 110 to the interior surface of lid 22. Tab 114, and more specifically the step surface engaging portion 116 thereof is configured to engage an opening 120 in step surface 92. Step surface engaging portion 116 may be angled. When step assembly 90 is moved toward its stowed position, opening 120 is positioned such that tab 114 will be disposed therein. As step surface is pressed further within the lid space, an edge 122 that defines opening 120 will come into contact with the angled step surface engaging portion 116. As the operator applies additional pressure to the step surface, tab 114 will move out of the way until edge 122 moves under the step surface engaging portion 116. At this point, the step assembly 90 will be secured in its stowed position. When an operator desires to remove the step assembly 90 from its stowed position, pressure is applied to the tab 114 to allow edge 122 to disengage from underneath the step surface engaging portion 116. When this happens, the step assembly 90 may be moved from its stowed position toward its deployed position.
The container 10 described herein contains a body 12 defining an interior space 18 and a lid 22 defining a lid space 30. The container 10 also includes a leg assembly 32 disposed within the lid space 30. In a preferred embodiment, the container 10 also includes a step assembly 90 also disposed within the lid space 30. The interior space 18 of the body may be sized to hold a variety of tools. The lid 22 is configured to engage the body 12 to selectively provide or limit access to the tools contained within the interior space 18. When the lid 22 is engaged to the body 12 such that access is limited to the interior space 18, as seen in
There may come a time when an operator is in need of a stool, and more specifically, a step stool. The lid 22 of the present disclosure is unique in that it can also function as a stool or a step stool. When an operator wishes to transform the lid 22 into a step stool, she will undo the latches 30 and remove the lid 22 from the body 12. As shown in
By applying pressure on the tab 114 of the step surface lock 110, the step surface 92 may be disengaged from the step surface engaging portion 116. At this point, an operator can rotate the step surface 92 out of the lid space 18. Hinge 92 is configured to rotate at both the lid end the step surface end. At the lid end, this rotation is facilitated by a pin 98 coupled to an opening 96 in the hinge 92 and an opening 100 in the lid 22. At the step surface end, this rotation is achieved by an axle 102 disposed within both an opening 104 in the step surface 92 and another opening 96 in the hinge 94. The rotational movement allows the step assembly to be moved to its deployed position.
Moving the leg assembly 32 into its support position is a similar process. By applying pressure to the bent tab 82 of the leg snap 76, legs 34 may be disengaged from their secured position within the lid space. Once free, hinge 36 facilitates the movement of the leg assembly into its support position. In a preferred embodiment, hinge 36 is a triple axis hinge that is connected to two legs 34. The main axle 38 of hinge 36 allows the two legs 34 to simultaneously rotate about the X axis out of the lid space 18. As this rotation, leg axles 50, 52 of the hinge 36 will come into contact with the hinge receiving portion 70 of a support block 68. A protrusion 54, 56 on leg axles 50, 52 may engage a locking carve out 72 to secure the leg axles 50, 52 to the respective support blocks 68. Thereafter, legs 34 may be rotated individually about the Y and Y′ axes of the leg axles. The legs may be rotated until they come into contact with leg receiving portions 74 of the support blocks 68. Leg receiving portions 74 may be sized to allow the legs to be secured therein by press fitting. When the legs 34 are engaged to the leg receiving portions 74, the legs are in their support position.
For added support a foldable leg support 58 may also be disposed between the legs 34. The foldable leg support 58 is configured to move between a bent position when the leg assembly 32 is in its non-support position and a horizontal position with the leg assembly 32 is in its support position. Once the legs 34 are in engaged to the leg receiving portions 74, an operator can apply pressure to the foldable leg support 58 and move the same into its horizontal position. Thus, leg assembly 32 is held even more securely in their support position.
When both the leg assembly and step assembly are in their respective support and deployed positions, leg engaging protrusions 106 on the step surface 92 may come into locking contact with openings 108 on legs 34 to provide added stability.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the latch 30 may be configured to secure lid 22 to the body in a variety of different ways. For example, as shown in
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangement included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation of the attached claims so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
