Tool kit structure

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6279744
  • Patent Number
    6,279,744
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, April 27, 2000
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 28, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Foster; Jim
    Agents
    • Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Abstract
A tool kit comprises a hollow case having a generally U-shaped storing space and a plurality of first spaced wave-shaped members provided on either opposing side, a hinged cover having a generally U-shaped section and second wave-shaped members formed as continuous ones with the corresponding first wave-shaped members when kit is closed, and a plurality of dividers removably provided between two opposed wave-shaped members. Such removeable adjustble dividers allow user to customize the division of storing space to suit the user's particular storing needs and access priorities. Further, an effective utilization of storing space is realized.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to tool kit and more particularly to a compartmented tool kit structure.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




A conventional tool kit has a generally U-shaped section with a storing space therein for keeping tools, a U-shaped divider put on edges for dividing storing space into two smaller storing spaces, and a cover hinged to a side such that cover may close the tool kit when not in use. But this is unsatisfactory for the purpose for which the invention is concerned for the following reasons: 1. Such simple upper and lower storing spaces are not enough. It is often messy and thus time consuming in finding the desired tool. In brief, it does not allow user to customize the division of storing space to suit the user's particular storing needs and access priorities. 2. It is impossible to store a tool having a larger end in upper or lower storing space. That is, the U-shaped divider must be removed in order to leave the whole space for storing such a single tool, thereby neutralizing the U-shaped divider.




In view of the foregoing, the storing space of conventional tool kit does not perform well. Thus improvement exists.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tool kit structure comprising two wave-shaped members on two opposed sides of storing space and a plurality of dividers removably provided between two opposed wave-shaped members. Such removeable adjustable dividers allow user to customize the division of storing space to suit the user's particular storing needs and access priorities. Thus a neat storing space is provided, resulting in an increase of the number of tools stored and a quick access. Moreover, a tool with a larger end may have the larger end penetrate through a hole of divider such that the other side of divider may still be employed to store other tools, thereby eliminating the conventional drawback of leaving the whole space for storing such a single large tool.




It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved tool kit structure wherein cover has two spaced cylindrical projections in the inner top surface and divider has two apertures corresponding and releasably secured to the cylindrical projections such that divider may not separate from cover when closing the tool kit. Further, divider may be provided between the wave-shaped members of cover when cover is opened, thereby forming a storing space in the cover.




The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of tool kit according to invention where cover open and divider separated;





FIG. 2

is similar to

FIG. 1

where cover closed;





FIG. 3

is a sectional view of

FIG. 1

illustrating how to employ a divider to adjust the storing space;





FIG. 4

is similar to

FIG. 3

where a plurality of small storing spaces formed by four dividers; and





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of tool kit according to the invention where cover open and a widthwise divider separated; and





FIG. 6

is similar to

FIG. 5

where a lengthwise divider separated.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring to

FIGS. 1

to


4


, there is shown a parallelepiped tool kit


10


constructed in accordance with the invention comprising a case


11


having a generally U-shaped section, a storing space


101


for keeping tools, at least two spaced wave-shaped members


12


vertically provided on either lengthwise side wherein the orientation of valley is parallel to the bottom surface of case


11


(FIG.


1


), and a cover


13


hinged to a side also having a generally U-shaped section. Cover


13


may close the case


11


when not in use. Similarly, cover


13


has two spaced wave-shaped members


14


vertically provided on either lengthwise side wherein the orientation of valley is parallel to the inner top surface


15


of cover


13


. One wave-shaped member


12


and the corresponding wave-shaped member


14


may form a single wave-shaped member when cover


13


is closed (FIGS.


1


and


2


). Further, Two spaced cylindrical projections


16


are provided on the inner top surface


15


of cover


13


. A handle


17


is provided on the outer top surface of cover


13


. Handle


17


is normally held flush with the outer top surface of cover


13


when not in use. One or more fastening members such as clasps (e.g., two)


18


are provided on the side opposite to the hinge for securing the closed case


11


.




A plurality of dividers


20


are removably provided between two opposed wave-shaped members


12


in the case


11


for customizing the division of storing space


101


. User may easily hold the recesses


21


(

FIG. 1

) to put and secure divider


20


between opposed wave-shaped members


12


and


14


(FIG.


3


). As shown, there are four compartments formed in the storing space


101


by dividers


20


(FIG.


4


). Further, a hole


22


and two apertures


23


are provided on divider


20


(FIG.


1


). These apertures


23


are corresponding and releasably secured to cylindrical projections


16


on the inner surface


15


of cover


13


(FIG.


3


). With the provision of hole


22


, a tool with a larger end may have the larger end penetrate through hole


22


such that the other side of divider


20


may be employed to store other tools without having to remove the divider


20


. That is, both sides of divider


20


may store tools, resulting in an effective utilization of storing space


101


. Further, with apertures


23


secured to cylindrical projection


16


, divider


20


may not separate from cover


13


when closing the case


11


. Furthermore, divider


20


may be provided between the wave-shaped members


14


of cover


13


when cover


13


is opened. That is, a storing space may be formed in the cover


13


by suitably adjusting the position of divider


20


with respect to wave-shaped members


14


(FIG.


4


).




Referring to

FIGS. 5 and 6

, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from the first one in that a continuous wave-shaped members


12


fully occupies the four inner sides of tool kit


10


wherein the orientation of valley is perpendicular to the bottom surface of tool kit


10


. Similarly, a continuous wave-shaped members


14


fully occupies the four inner sides of cover


13


wherein the orientation of valley is perpendicular to the inner top surface


15


of cover


14


. With the provision of these wave-shaped members


12


, a widthwise divider


20


may be provided between wave-shaped members


12


(

FIG. 5

) or a lengthwise divider


20


may be provided between wave-shaped members


12


(

FIG. 6

) for customizing the division of storing space


101


. A similar division of the storing space of cover


13


is also possible.




The benefits of this invention are summarized as follows.




Such removeable adjustable dividers allow user to customize the division of storing space to suit the user's particular storing needs and access priorities. Thus a neat storing space is provided, resulting in an increase of the number of tools stored and a quick access.




A tool with a larger end may have the larger end penetrate through a hole of divider such that the other side of divider may still be employed to store other tools, thereby eliminating the conventional drawback of leaving the whole internal space of tool kit for storing such a single large tool.




While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.



Claims
  • 1. A parallelepiped tool kit comprising:a hollow case having a generally U-shaped storing space; a plurality of spaced first wave-shaped members provided on either opposite side of the inside of the case; a cover hinged to one side of the case having a generally U-shaped section; a handle provided on the outer top surface of the cover; one or more fastening members provided on the side of the tool kit opposite to the hinged side for securing the closed tool kit; a plurality of spaced second wave-shaped members provided on either opposite side of the inside of the cover formed as continuous ones with the corresponding first wave-shaped members when the tool kit is closed; and a plurality of dividers removably provided between two opposed wave-shaped members for forming a plurality of first sub-storing spaces; wherein the orientations of the valleys of the first and the second wave-shaped members are parallel to the bottom surface of the case.
  • 2. The tool kit of claim 1, wherein the orientations of the valleys of the first and the second wave-shaped members are perpendicular to the bottom surface of the case.
  • 3. The tool kit of claim 1, wherein the divider includes two recesses on two opposite sides and a hole.
  • 4. The tool kit of claim 1, wherein the cover includes two spaced projections on the inner top surface of the cover.
  • 5. The tool kit of claim 4, wherein the divider further includes two apertures corresponding and releasably secured to the projections such that divider does not separate from the cover when closing the tool kit and the divider is secured between the second wave-shaped members of the cover when the tool kit is opened, thereby forming a second sub-storing space in the cover.
  • 6. The tool kit of claim 1, wherein the handle is capable of being held flush with the outer top surface of the cover when not in use.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
4884689 Su-Chin Dec 1989
5004103 Connors et al. Apr 1991
5472110 Boyd et al. Dec 1995
5601206 Haas et al. Feb 1997