Patent Application
20090145791
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to hand tools and, more specifically, to a drill and driver bit organizer and storage case.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Drill and driver bit storage cases have been used extensively, especially when numerous drill bits and/or driver bits are involved, to avoid such bits becoming disorganized, misplaced and/or lost. The problem with many prior art storage cases for such bits is that such cases are typically relatively bulky. In order to accommodate an extensive number of bits, apertured trays are frequently used with a series of holes to receive appropriately sized bits. However, when many such bits are used they are frequently stacked in rows that are densely populated to optimize the space within the case. This makes it difficult, in many cases, to clearly see the major lengths of the bits or to access them as they are surrounded by other bits. In most cases, only the upper ends of the bits, such as be cutting tips of drill bits, are visible. This makes it difficult or impossible to read the legends or indicia typically printed or embossed on the shanks of such bits that provide information about the size or other attributes of such bits. To find the right bit, frequently, it is necessary to remove the bits from the case in order to read the legends and, if the wrong bit was removed, to replace the bit and try another. This frequently makes it cumbersome and tedious for a worker especially when there is little time to complete a project.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a case that does not have the disadvantages inherent in known storage cases of this type.
It is another object of the invention to a provide a case that can be used to store, carry and organize a variety of drill and driver bits.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a case for drill and driver bits that is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a case for drill and driver bits as in the previous objects which allows an end-user to carry and organize a variety of drill and driver bits at a worksite.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a case for drill and driver bits as in the previous objects which allows quick access to any of the drill or driver bits stored within the case.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a case for drill and driver bits of the type aforementioned which can optimize the number of bits in a limited space.
It is yet to further object of the invention to provide a case for drill and driver bits of the type under discussion which fully or substantially fully exposes each of the drill and driver bits stored therein to facilitate the reading of any indicia printed or embossed on such bits, such as size or any other suitable parameter.
These and other objects will become apparent when the present invention is considered in detail in the below specification, taken in conjunction with the drawings as follows:
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in which the identical is similar parts will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout, and first referring to
Also referring to
The end panels 12, 17 have a covering wall on the outwardly facing side when all of the panels are collapsed or closed as shown in
The hinges 23 of the panel 17 allow a locking latch 24 to move between locking and releasing positions. The free end of the locking latch 24 includes a snap or detent 25 dimensioned to mate with and lock with recess 26 on the panel 12 when all of the panels are collapsed as shown in
Each of the panels 12-17, in the form of the open rectangular frames, includes a space 27, also rectangular, suitable for receiving and storing drill and driver bits. It should be clear, however, that while the housing 10 is shown to be generally rectangular it can be square or any other suitably desired shape as long as the individual panels can be hinged to each other to form a zigzag or fan-fold configuration and individual panels can receive drill and/or driver bits. Each space 27 has a thickness, in the direction transverse to the planes of the frames, selected to accommodate driver and drill bits having given dimensions. While some frames, therefore, may be thinner to accommodate smaller bits or thicker to accommodate larger bits, it is also possible to make all of the walls of the frames of equal thickness for aesthetic or structural reasons.
Within each space 27 there may be provided one or more racks 28-35 each having suitable recesses or openings to receive and secure drill and/or driver bits as shown. In
It will be understood from the above that the storage case and organizer for drill and driver bits in accordance with the invention, using a zigzag or fan-fold wall construction essentially lays out all of the bits and makes them clearly visible and accessible. The zigzag or fan-fold wall construction allows the unit to be collapsed and closed into an extremely compact condition that makes it easy to hold and handle. In use, such wall construction allows the entire unit to be opened and laid flat on a surface. The individual panels or frames may be made of plastic or metal, or may be made from any other suitable material with the outside walls of the end panels covered by a thin layer or shell of a light weight metallic or other material.
While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that the there is no intention to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is the intention to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
