The present invention relates to a hand tool accessory and, more particularly, to a tool box assembly.
A conventional tool box structure was disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,784, and comprises a tray 12, a base 52, and multiple sockets 50. The tray 12 is provided with multiple recessed openings 28. The base 52 has two ends each provided with a stud 46. The stud 46 is pivotally mounted in one of the recessed openings 28. The sockets 50 are mounted on the base 52. The base 52 and the sockets 50 are rotated in one of the recessed openings 28 about the stud 46. In use, the base 52 is rotated freely in one of the recessed openings 28 about the stud 46. In addition, the base 52 is removed from one of the recessed openings 28 so that the base 52 and the sockets 50 are used individually. However, the stud 46 is not locked by the recessed openings 28 so that the stud 46 is easily detached from one of the recessed openings 28 when the tray 12 is inclined relative to the horizontal plane more than ninety degrees. Thus, the base 52 and the sockets 50 will drop or fall from one of the recessed openings 28 when the tray 12 is opened, thereby causing inconvenience to the user.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tool box assembly comprising at least one case, at least one tool holder mounted in and rotated relative to the at least one case, and multiple hand tools mounted in the at least one tool holder. The at least one case has a first pivot portion and multiple locking elements. Each of the locking elements has a second pivot portion, a connecting portion, and a press portion. The at least one tool holder has a third pivot portion. When the press portion is pressed, each of the locking elements is rotated about the connecting portion, so that the third pivot portion is detached from the second pivot portion, and the at least one tool holder is detached from the at least one case. Thus, the at least one tool holder and the hand tools are used individually.
According to the primary advantage of the present invention, each of the locking elements is provided with a second pivot portion. The at least one tool holder has two sides each of which is provided with a third pivot portion. The third pivot portion is pivotally connected with the second pivot portion so that the at least one tool holder is rotated relative to the locking elements. Thus, the locking elements restrict the at least one tool holder so that the at least one tool holder will not be detached from the receiving space easily.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings and initially to
The at least one case 10 has an interior provided with a receiving space 11. The at least one case 10 is provided with a first pivot portion 12. The at least one case 10 is provided with multiple locking elements 13 located at two sides of the receiving space 11. The locking elements 13 at the two sides of the receiving space 11 are arranged symmetrically. The locking elements 13 are arranged linearly in a longitudinal direction of the receiving space 11. Each of the locking elements 13 is provided with a second pivot portion 131. The second pivot portion 131 is arranged at a middle position of each of the locking elements 13. Each of the locking elements 13 is provided with multiple first positioning portions 132. The first positioning portions 132 are arranged annularly about an axis of the second pivot portion 131 of each of the locking elements 13. Each of the locking elements 13 has an L-shaped profile in cross section. Each of the locking elements 13 is provided with a connecting portion 133 connected with the at least one case 10. The connecting portion 133 connects each of the locking elements 13 with the at least one case 10. The connecting portion 133 is arranged at a bottom of the receiving space 11. Each of the locking elements 13 is provided with a press portion 134. The second pivot portion 131 and the first positioning portions 132 are arranged between the press portion 134 and the connecting portion 133. The press portion 134 is distant from the connecting portion 133. A movable space 135 is defined between the press portion 134 and the at least one case 10 to allow movement of the press portion 134 when the press portion 134 is pressed, so that each of the locking elements 13 is deformed and rotated about the connecting portion 133. The movable space 135 has a width more than a length of the second pivot portion 131.
The second pivot portion 131 is a circular hole or a groove. Each of the first positioning portions 132 is a groove. Each of the first positioning portions 132 is connected to the second pivot portion 131. The second pivot portion 131 has a depth more than that of each of the first positioning portions 132. The first positioning portions 132 and the second pivot portion 131 construct a cross-shaped slot when each of the locking elements 13 has four first positioning portions 132.
The at least one tool holder 20 is mounted in the receiving space 11. The at least one tool holder 20 has two sides each of which is provided with a third pivot portion 21. The third pivot portion 21 is pivotally connected with the second pivot portion 131 so that the at least one tool holder 20 is rotated relative to the locking elements 13. Each of the two sides of the at least one tool holder 20 is provided with multiple second positioning portions 22. The second positioning portions 22 are positioned on the first positioning portions 132 so that the at least one tool holder 20 is positioned on the locking elements 13 when the at least one tool holder 20 is rotated relative to the locking elements 13. The second positioning portions 22 are arranged annularly about an axis of the third pivot portion 21 of the at least one tool holder 20. The at least one tool holder 20 is provided with multiple receiving grooves 23.
The third pivot portion 21 is a circular boss or a projection (or lump). Each of the second positioning portions 22 is a projection (or lump). Each of the second positioning portions 22 is connected to the third pivot portion 21. The third pivot portion 21 has a height more than that of each of the second positioning portions 22. The second positioning portions 22 and the third pivot portion 21 construct a cross-shaped projection when each of the two sides of the at least one tool holder 20 has four second positioning portions 22.
The hand tools 30 are mounted in the receiving grooves 23.
In practice, when the third pivot portion 21 is pivoted relative to the second pivot portion 131, the at least one tool holder 20 is positioned between a first position as shown in
In addition, when the press portion 134 is pressed, each of the locking elements 13 is slightly deformed and deflected and is rotated about the connecting portion 133, so that the third pivot portion 21 of at least one of the two sides of the at least one tool holder 20 is detached from the second pivot portion 131 of one of the locking elements 13, and the at least one tool holder is detached from the receiving space 11 as shown in
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tool box assembly comprises two cases 10. The first pivot portions 12 of the two cases are connected pivotally so that the two cases 10 are connected pivotally. Each of the two cases 10 is provided with a first snap-fit portion 14. The first snap-fit portion 14 is located opposite to the first pivot portion 12. The first snap-fit portion 14 is an elongate lug. The tool box assembly further comprises a switch member 40 provided with a fourth pivot portion 41 pivotally mounted on one of the two cases 10. The switch member 40 is provided with a second snap-fit portion 42 locked on the first snap-fit portion 14 of the other one of the two cases 10 so that the two cases 10 are closed and cannot be opened.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one case 10 is provided with multiple support elements 136. Two of the support elements 136 are arranged symmetrically at two sides of each of the locking elements 13. The support elements 136 are disconnected with and spaced from the locking elements 13.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the locking elements 13 at one of the two sides of the receiving space 11 is provided with the press portion 134 as shown in
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the receiving grooves 23 has a rectangular shape, a square shape, a hexagonal shape or a circular shape. The receiving grooves 23 are arranged linearly in a lengthwise direction of the at least one tool holder 20. Each of the receiving grooves 23 has a bottom provided with an opening 24. The opening 24 is connected to each of the receiving grooves 23.
In operation, referring to
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As shown in
Accordingly, the tool box assembly of the present invention has the following advantages.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the invention.