TOOL CASE FOR AN AIR COMPRESSOR

Abstract

An apparatus includes a compressor. The compressor has an air pump and a tank configured to store air compressed by the air pump. The compressor is configured to be used while in an operating position in which the tank is in an upright position. In the upright position, the tank has a vertical cylindrical side surface and a rounded top surface. A storage case is configured to be removably mounted on top of the tank in a mounted position in which the case engages both the top surface and the side surface of the tank at different locations selected so as to prevent the case from sliding off the tank when a horizontal force in any horizontal direction is applied to the tank urging the case to slide off the tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compressor and a tool case.

FIG. 2 is a view of the tool case, taken at a different perspective than in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool case being mounted onto a tank of the compressor.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are, respectively, perspective and sectional views of the tool case shown mounted on the tank.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a compressor including an air pump and a tank configured to store air compressed by the air pump, the compressor being configured to be used while in an operating position in which the tank is in an upright position and has a vertical cylindrical side surface and a rounded top surface; anda storage case configured to be removably mounted on top of the tank in a mounted position in which the case engages the top surface and the side surface of the tank at locations selected so as to prevent the case from sliding off the tank when a horizontal force in any horizontal direction is applied to the case urging the case to slide off the tank.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case is configured to be brought into its mounted position by lowering the case down onto the tank.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lowering is in the directly downward direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case is configured to be removed from its mounted position by lifting the case upward off of the tank.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tank and the case lack a latch or fastener for securing the case to the tank.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case has a tank-contacting surface that has a rounded concave contour matching a rounded convex contour of the tank top surface and overlies the tank top surface in the mounted position of the case.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case has an tank-contacting surface that has a cylindrical contour matching the cylindrical contour of the tank side surface and engages the tank side surface in the mounted position of the case.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tank-contacting surface is configured to engage the tank side surface about over half the circumference of the tank.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case has a base and a lid, connected together by a hinge, that together define a storage cavity.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case holds items that are configured to be used with the compressor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the compressor includes wheels and a handle, for wheeling the compressor over a floor by the handle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the compressor includes feet and is configured to be supported on a floor by the feet and the wheels, and is configured to be tilted to raise the feet above the floor in order to wheel the compressor across the floor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case is a first case, and further comprising a second case, differing from the first case in its internal configuration, configured to be removably mounted on top of the tank in a mounted position from which the other case is prevented from sliding off the tank when a horizontal force in any horizontal direction is applied to the second case urging the other case to slide off the tank.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the outer shells of the first and second cases have the same outer appearance.