Tool box drawing table

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6805417
  • Patent Number
    6,805,417
  • Date Filed
    Saturday, May 18, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 19, 2004
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Hansen; James O.
    Agents
    • Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts
Abstract
A method and structure to attach a table to a tool box. A table is pivotally attached to a first side of a tool box. An adjustable brace mechanism is used to support the table at a plurality of angular levels with respect to the first side of the tool box.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Technical Field




The present invention relates to an apparatus and associated method to pivotally attach a table assembly to a tool box or another type of structure.




2. Related Art




Viewing drawings such as blueprints or schematics at a job site typically requires a table so that the drawings may be spread out. The level of a table is not typically adjustable and a table may not be portable. Therefore there is a need for an adjustable and portable table so that drawings may be used at a work site.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a tool box structure, comprising:




a table,




a pivot device attached to a side of the table, wherein the pivot device is adapted to attach the side of the table to a first side of a tool box; and




an adjustable brace mechanism coupled to the table, wherein the adjustable brace mechanism is adapted to support the table at a plurality of angular levels with respect to the first side of the tool box.




The present invention provides a method for forming a tool box structure, comprising:




providing a table,




attaching a pivot device to a side of the table, wherein the pivot device is adapted to attach the side of the table to a first side of a tool box; and




coupling an adjustable brace mechanism to the table, wherein the adjustable brace mechanism is adapted to support the table at a plurality of angular levels with respect to the first side of the tool box.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

depicts a view of a tool box attachment structure, in an open working position, pivotally attached to a tool box, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.





FIG. 2

depicts a perspective view of

FIG. 1

showing the tool box attachment structure pivotally attached to the tool box, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.





FIG. 3

depicts a view of a tool box attachment structure, in a storage position, pivotally attached to a tool box, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.





FIG. 4

depicts

FIG. 3

using an alternate brace mechanism, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.





FIG. 5

depicts

FIG. 2

using legs for a brace mechanism, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.





FIG. 6

depicts a view of an adjustable brace, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.





FIG. 7

depicts a view of an adjustable brace pivotally attached to a frame, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.





FIG. 8

depicts a view of a tool box attachment structure, pivotally attached to a tool box using a hook, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.





FIG. 9

depicts

FIG. 8

using a rail to attach a hook to a tool box, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION





FIG. 1

illustrates a view of a tool box structure


99


comprising a tool box attachment structure


2


and a tool box


14


wherein the tool box attachment structure


2


is adapted to be pivotally attached to a tool box


14


, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. As an alternative the tool box attachment structure


2


may be attached to a structure other than a tool box such as, inter alia, a wall. The tool box attachment structure


2


shown in

FIG. 1

is in an open working position. The tool box attachment structure


2


comprises a table


1


, a pivot device


6


, and a brace mechanism


8


. The table


1


may be used as a surface to view working drawings, such as schematics or blueprints. The table


1


may comprise a flat surface mounted on a frame


4


and a frame


5


(i.e., as shown in FIG.


3


). The table


1


may comprise a metallic alloy or metal including, inter alia, steel or aluminum. Alternatively the table


1


may comprise plastic or wood. A piece of wood that is larger than the table


1


may be placed on the surface of the table


1


to create a larger surface area. The pivot device


6


is attached to a first side


38


of the table


1


. The pivot device


6


pivotally attaches the first side


38


of the table


1


to a first side


16


of the tool box


14


. The pivot device


6


may be a hinge or a plurality of hinges. The hinge may include, inter alia, a piano hinge. The pivot device


6


may be a hook


11


as shown in FIG.


8


. The pivot device


6


may comprise a metallic alloy or metal. The adjustable brace mechanism


8


may comprise a first adjustable brace


10


and a second adjustable brace


12


. The first adjustable brace


10


may comprise a first elongated member


40


slidably received within a second elongated member


42


. The first elongated member


40


may move in the direction


44


to decrease the length of the first adjustable brace


10


and opposite the direction


44


to increase the length of the first adjustable brace


10


. A pin


7


may be placed in a hole


34


to rigidly attach the first elongated member


40


to the second elongated member


42


thereby setting a specific length for the first adjustable brace


10


. Likewise the second adjustable brace


12


may be the same as the first adjustable brace


10


. The first adjustable brace


10


may be used to support the table


1


at a plurality of angular levels with respect to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


. A shock absorber device


65


may be placed between the table


1


and the first side


16


of the tool box


14


to assist with the raising of the table


1


to a specific angular level. The shock absorber device


65


may include, inter alia, a gas charged shock assist. A blocking device


28


may be placed on a section


95


of the table


1


to prevent items from sliding off the table


1


. A track


32


may be attached to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


. A first end


18


of the first adjustable brace


10


may be pivotally attached to the track


32


by placing the pin


7


in the hole


34


. As an alternative a hinge may be used to pivotally attach the first end


18


of the first adjustable brace


10


to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


. A second end


20


of the first adjustable brace


10


may be pivotally attached to the frame


5


as shown in

FIG. 7

, thereby supporting the table


1


. The second adjustable brace


12


may be used to provide support between the first side


16


of the tool box


14


and the ground


62


. A track


35


may be attached to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


at level that is higher with respect to the direction


59


than the level of the track


32


. A first end


22


of the second adjustable brace


12


may be pivotally attached to the track


35


by placing the pin


7


in the hole


34


. As an alternative a hinge may be used to pivotally attach the first end


22


of the second adjustable brace


12


to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


. A second end


24


of the second adjustable brace


12


may be pivotally attached to a track


37


by placing the pin


7


in the hole


34


. The second adjustable brace


12


may be extended so that a side


53


of the track


37


makes contact with the ground


62


. The first adjustable brace


10


and the second adjustable brace


12


may be pivotally attached to each other. As an alternative the second adjustable brace


12


may be omitted if a counter weight


67


is placed on a section


70


of the tool box


14


. Alternatively a plurality of adjustable braces may be used in various locations to support the table


1


. The first adjustable brace


10


and the second adjustable brace


12


may comprise a metallic alloy or metal including, inter alia, steel or aluminum. The pin


7


may include, inter alia, a spring pin or a bolt. The pin


7


may comprise metal or plastic.





FIG. 2

illustrates a perspective view of

FIG. 1

showing a tool box attachment structure


2


pivotally attached to a tool box


14


, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The surface of the table


1


is visible in FIG.


2


. The orientation of the brace mechanism


8


with respect to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


is also visible.





FIG. 3

illustrates

FIG. 1

in a folded storage position showing a view of the tool box attachment structure


2


pivotally attached to the tool box


14


, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The tool box attachment structure


2


may comprise a table


1


, a pivot device


6


, and a brace mechanism


8


. The table


1


may comprise a flat surface mounted on a frame assembly


4


and a frame assembly


5


. The frame assembly


4


may comprise a plurality of elongated members attached to each other. The plurality of elongated members may be assembled to form different shaped frame assemblies. The frame assembly


5


may be attached to the frame assembly


4


. Attachment methods may include, inter alia, welding. The table


1


, the frame assembly


4


, and frame assembly


5


may each comprise a metallic alloy or metal including, inter alia, steel or aluminum. Alternatively the table


1


may comprise plastic or wood. The pivot device


6


pivotally attaches a first side


38


of the table


1


to a first side


16


of the tool box


14


. The pivot device


6


may be a hinge or a plurality of hinges. The hinge may include, inter alia, a piano hinge. The pivot device


6


may comprise a metallic alloy or metal. The adjustable brace mechanism


8


may comprise a first adjustable brace


10


and a second adjustable brace


12


. A track


32


may be attached to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


. A first end


18


of the first adjustable brace


10


may be pivotally attached to the track


32


by placing a pin


7


in a hole


34


. As an alternative a hinge may be used to pivotally attach the first end


18


of the first adjustable brace


10


to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


. A track


33


may be attached to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


at a level that is higher than the track


32


with respect to the direction


59


. A second end


20


of the first adjustable brace


10


may be pivotally attached to the track


33


. The aforementioned attachments of first adjustable brace


10


to the track


32


and the track


33


simultaneously will produce a folded storage position for the first adjustable brace


10


. The first adjustable brace


10


will lie flat against the first side


16


of the tool box


14


and parallel to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


in the folded storage position. A track


35


may be attached to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


. A first end


22


of the second adjustable brace


12


may be pivotally attached to the track


35


by placing the pin


7


in the hole


34


. As an alternative a hinge may be used to pivotally attach the first end


22


of the second adjustable brace


12


to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


. A track


37


may be attached to the first side


16


of the tool box


14


at level that is lower with respect to the direction


59


than the level of the track


35


. A second end


24


of the second adjustable brace


12


may be pivotally attached to a track


37


by placing the pin


7


in the hole


34


. The aforementioned attachments of second adjustable brace


12


to the track


35


and the track


37


simultaneously will produce a folded storage position for the second adjustable brace


12


. The second adjustable brace


12


will lie flat against the first side


16


of the tool box


14


and parallel to the first adjustable brace


10


in the folded storage position. The adjustable brace mechanism


8


will be in a folded storage position when the first adjustable brace


10


and the second adjustable brace


12


are simultaneously in the folded storage position. The tool box attachment structure


2


will be in a folded storage position when the table


1


is placed over the adjustable brace mechanism


8


in the folded storage position as shown in FIG.


2


. The table


1


may be parallel to the first side of the tool box when the table


1


is in a folded storage position. The table


1


may be locked in place to prevent the tool box attachment structure


2


from moving or opening when in the folded storage position. The table


1


may be locked in place by attaching a latch mechanism


36


to the table


1


and securing it to the tool box


14


. A collar


81


may be placed on the first adjustable brace


10


to prevent the first adjustable brace


10


from fully collapsing. The collar


81


may comprise a weld bead. The first adjustable brace


10


and the second adjustable brace


12


may comprise a metallic alloy or metal including, inter alia, steel or aluminum. The pin


7


may include, inter alia, a spring pin or a bolt. The pin


7


may comprise metal or plastic.





FIG. 4

illustrates a variation of

FIG. 3

showing a tool box attachment structure


2


pivotally attached to a tool box


14


in a folded storage position, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In contrast with

FIG. 2

the first adjustable brace


10


and the second adjustable brace


12


are placed in different locations on the first side


16


of the tool box


14


.





FIG. 5

illustrates a variation of

FIG. 2

showing a view of a tool box attachment structure


2


pivotally attached to a tool box


14


, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The adjustable brace mechanism


8


comprises two leg assemblies


72


to support the table


1


. The leg assembly


72


may comprise a leg


74


and a leg brace


76


. The leg assembly


72


may alternatively be an adjustable brace


3


as shown in

FIG. 6. A

single leg assembly


72


or a plurality of leg assemblies


72


may be used at various locations to support the table


1


. A single leg


74


may be used at various locations to support the table


1


. A shock absorber device


65


(i.e., as shown in

FIG. 1

) may be used as a brace between the single leg


74


and a first side


16


the tool box


14


.





FIG. 6

illustrates a cross sectional view of an adjustable brace


3


that may be used as the first adjustable brace


10


and the second adjustable brace


12


as shown in FIG.


1


. The adjustable brace


3


comprises a first elongated member


40


slidably received within a second elongated member


42


. The first elongated member


40


may move in the direction


41


to increase the length of the adjustable brace


3


and opposite to the direction


41


to decrease the length of the adjustable brace


3


. A pin


7


may be placed in a hole


34


to rigidly attach the first elongated member


40


to the second elongated member


42


thereby locking a specific length for the adjustable brace


3


. Alternative holes


34


may be lined up with each other (i.e., superimposed) so that different lengths may be locked for the adjustable brace


3


. A track


78


and


79


may be pivotally attached to the adjustable brace by using the pin


7


. The track


78


corresponds to the track


32


and the track


35


in FIG.


2


. The track


79


corresponds to the track


33


and the track


37


in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 7

illustrates a partial view of

FIG. 1

showing the second end


20


of the first adjustable brace


10


pivotally attached to the frame


5


. The pin


7


is inserted in the hole


34


to pivotally attach the first adjustable brace


10


to the frame


5


. The table


1


is mounted on the frame


4


and the frame


5


.





FIG. 8

illustrates an alternative embodiment of

FIG. 1

showing a table


1


pivotally attached to a tool box


14


, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The table


1


is pivotally attached to a side


16


of the tool box


14


using a hook


11


. A first end


90


of the hook


11


is attached to a side


38


of the table


1


. A second end


88


of the hook


11


goes through a cutout


85


in the first side


16


of the tool box


14


thereby pivotally attaching the table


1


to the tool box


14


.





FIG. 9

illustrates a variation of

FIG. 8

showing a table


1


pivotally attached to a tool box


14


, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In contrast to

FIG. 8

, the second end


88


of the hook attaches to a rail


82


to pivotally attach the table


1


to the tool box


14


.




While embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.



Claims
  • 1. A tool box attachment structure, comprising:a table, a pivot device attached to a side of the table, wherein the pivot device is adapted to attach the side of the table to a first side of a tool box; and an adjustable brace mechanism coupled to the table, wherein the adjustable brace mechanism is adapted to support the table at a plurality of angular levels with respect to the first side of the tool box, wherein the plurality of angular levels comprises at least one angular level that is greater than 0 degrees wherein the adjustable brace mechanism comprises a first adjustable brace and a second adjustable brace, wherein a first end of the first adjustable brace is adapted to be pivotally attached to the first side of the tool box and a second end of the first adjustable brace is adapted to support the table, and wherein a first end of the second adjustable brace is adapted to be pivotally attached to the first side of the tool box and a second end of the second adjustable brace is adapted to support the tool box from a ground surface and less than 90 degrees.
  • 2. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, further comprising the tool box, wherein the adjustable brace mechanism supports the table at the plurality of angular levels with respect to the first side of the tool box.
  • 3. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, further comprising the tool box, wherein the pivot device attaches the side of the table to the first side of the tool box.
  • 4. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, further comprising the tool box, wherein the pivot device attaches the side of the table to the first side of the tool box, and wherein the adjustable brace mechanism supports the table at the plurality of angular levels with respect to the first side of the tool box.
  • 5. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein the table is adapted to be placed in a folded storage position that is parallel to the first side of the tool box.
  • 6. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein the table comprises a flat surface mounted on a frame.
  • 7. The tool box attachment structure claim 6, wherein the frame comprises elongated members that are attached to each other to form a shape.
  • 8. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein the pivot device is a hinge.
  • 9. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein the pivot device is a piano hinge.
  • 10. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable brace is adapted to provide support between the tool box and the table, and wherein the second adjustable brace is adapted to provide support between the tool box and a ground surface.
  • 11. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable brace is pivotally attached to the second adjustable brace.
  • 12. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable brace has a folded storage position that is parallel to the first side of the tool box.
  • 13. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein the second adjustable brace has a folded storage position that is parallel to the first side of the tool box.
  • 14. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first adjustable brace and second adjustable brace comprises a first elongated member slidably received within a second elongated member.
  • 15. The tool box attachment structure of claim 14, wherein the at least one of the first adjustable brace and second adjustable brace comprises at least one pin adapted to rigidly attach the first elongated member to the second elongated member.
  • 16. The tool box attachment structure of claim 1, wherein the table comprises a blocking device mechanically attached to the table, and wherein the blocking device is adapted to prevent items from sliding off of the table.
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