TOOLBOX

Abstract

A toolbox includes first and second toolbox parts, and a pivot joint unit. The first toolbox part defines an accommodating space, and has an opening that is in spatial communication with the accommodating space. The pivot joint unit interconnects the first and second toolbox parts, and permits relative rotation between the first and second toolbox parts from a closed position, where the first and second toolbox parts overlap with each other such that the second toolbox part covers the opening in the first toolbox part, and an open position, where the first and second toolbox parts overlap with each other such that the second toolbox part uncovers the opening in the first toolbox part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a toolbox according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view to illustrate first and second toolbox parts of the first preferred embodiment disposed at a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view to illustrate the first and second toolbox parts of the first preferred embodiment disposed at an open position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view to illustrate a pivot joint unit of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view to illustrate the first and second toolbox parts of the first preferred embodiment disposed to form a hundred and eighty degree angle therebetween;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view to illustrate the second toolbox part rotated at a hundred and eighty degree angle relative to the first toolbox part; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded schematic view of the second preferred embodiment of a toolbox according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the first preferred embodiment of a toolbox 100 according to the present invention is shown to include first and second toolbox parts 3, 4, and a pivot joint unit 6.

The toolbox 100 of this embodiment serves to hold first and second sets of tools 200, 300 (see FIG. 5) in a manner that will be described hereinafter.

It is noted that each of the tools 200, 300 in the first and second sets is an Allen wrench and has a distinct size.

The first toolbox part 3 includes a base wall 31, a front wall 32, and a pair of lateral walls 33, 34. The base wall 31, the front wall 32, and the lateral walls 33, 34 of the first toolbox part 3 cooperatively define an accommodating space 30 thereamong. The first toolbox part 3 has an opening 301 that is in spatial communication with the accommodating space 30 in the first toolbox part 3.

The second toolbox part 4 includes a base wall 41, a front wall 42, and a pair of lateral walls 43, 44. The base wall 41, the front wall 42, and the lateral walls 43, 44 of the second toolbox part 4 cooperatively define an accommodating space 40 thereamong. The second toolbox part 4 has an opening 401 that is in spatial communication with the accommodating space 40 in the second toolbox part 4.

The toolbox 100 further includes first and second ears 51, 52, each of which extends from a respective one of opposite ends of the front wall 32 of the first toolbox part 3, and third and fourth ears 53, 54, each of which extends from a respective one of opposite ends of the front wall 42 of the second toolbox part 4.

The pivot joint unit 6 includes first and second pivot joints 61, 62. The first pivot joint 61 of the pivot joint unit 6 is disposed between the first and second ears 51, 52, and is coupled rotatably to the first and second ears 51, 52. On the other hand, the second pivot joint 62 of the pivot joint unit 6 is disposed between the third and fourth ears 53, 54, extends parallel and is coupled to the first pivot joint 61, and is coupled rotatably to the third and fourth ears 53, 54. The construction as such permits relative rotation between the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 about the first and second pivot joints 61, 62 of the pivot joint unit 6 between a closed position, where the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 overlap with each other such that the first toolbox part 3 covers the opening 401 in the second toolbox part 4 and such that the second toolbox part 4 covers the opening 301 in the first toolbox part 3, as best shown in FIG. 2, and an open position, where the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 overlap with each other such that the first toolbox part 3 uncovers the opening 401 in the second toolbox part 4 and such that the second toolbox part 4 uncovers the opening 301 in the first toolbox part 3, as best shown in FIG. 3. The toolbox 100 of this invention therefore occupies the same space regardless of whether the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 are disposed at the closed or open position.

With further reference to FIG. 4, the pivot joint unit 6 further includes a third pivot joint 63 that extends transversely relative to the first and second pivot joints 61, 62 and that is rotatably coupled to an engaging groove 620 in the second pivot joint 62. The construction as such permits relative rotation between the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 about the third pivot joint 63 between a first position, where the opening 301 in the first toolbox part 3 and the opening 401 in the second toolbox part 4 face in the same direction, as best shown in FIG. 5, and a second position, where the opening 301 in the first toolbox part 3 and the opening 401 in the second toolbox part 4 face in opposite directions, as best shown in FIG. 6. The toolbox 100 further includes a first pair of abutting protrusions 71, 72, each of which is provided on a respective one of opposite end portions of the first pivot joint 61 of the pivot joint unit 6, and a second pair of abutting protrusions 73, 74, each of which is provided on a respective one of opposite end portions of the second pivot joint 62 of the pivot joint unit 6. The abutting protrusions 71, 72 abut against the front wall 32 of the first toolbox part 3 and the abutting protrusions 73, 74 abut against the front wall 42 of the second toolbox part 3 when the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 are disposed at one of the closed and open positions. As such, it is ensured that the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 wholly overlap each other when disposed at the closed or open position. In an alternative embodiment, the toolbox 100 maybe dispensed with the first and second pairs of abutting protrusions 71, 72, 73, 74.

The toolbox 100 further includes first and second tool retainer units 8, 9. The first retainer unit 8 is disposed in the accommodating space 30 in the first toolbox part 3, is provided on the first toolbox part 3, and retains the first set of tools 200 in the accommodating space 30 in the first toolbox part 3. In this embodiment, the first tool retainer unit 8 includes a plurality of resilient clamps 81, each of which clamps releasably a first end portion 2001 of a respective one of the tools 200 in the first set, as best shown in FIG. 5. On the other hand, the second retainer unit 9 is disposed in the accommodating space 40 in the second toolbox part 4, is provided on the second toolbox part 4, and retains the second set of tools 300 in the accommodating space 40 in the second toolbox part 4. In this embodiment, the second tool retainer unit 9, like the first tool retainer unit 8, includes a plurality of resilient clamps 91, each of which clamps releasably a first end portion 3001 of a respective one of the tools 300 in the second set, as best shown in FIG. 5.

The toolbox 100 further includes first and second slot-defining wall units 35, 45, each of which is disposed in the accommodating space 30, 40 in a respective one of the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 and each of which is formed on the respective one of the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4. In this embodiment, the first slot-defining unit 35 includes a plurality of slot-defining walls 351, each of which defines a slot 350 that receives a second end portion 2002 of a respective one of the tools 200 in the first set and that has a diameter corresponding to a cross-section of the second end portion 2002 of the respective one of the tools 200 in the first set and each of which is provided with a mark 352 that indicates the size of the respective one of the tools 200 in the first set. Moreover, the second slot-defining wall unit 45, like the first slot-defining wall unit 35, includes a plurality of slot-defining walls 451, each of which defines a slot 450 that receives a second end portion 3002 of a respective one of the tools 300 in the second set and that has a diameter corresponding to a cross-section of the second end portion 3002 of the respective one of the tools 300 in the second set and each of which is provided with a mark 452 that indicates the size of the respective one of the tools 300 in the second set.

The toolbox 100 further includes a latch unit for retaining the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 at the closed position. The latch unit includes a pair of latching grooves 36, each of which is formed in a respective one of the lateral walls 33, 34 of the first toolbox part 3, and a pair of hooks 46, each of which is provided on a respective one of the lateral walls 43, 44 of the second toolbox part 4 and each of which engages releasably a respective one of the latching grooves 36 when the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 are disposed at the closed position.

In use, when it is desired to retain the first set of tools 200 in the accommodating space 30 in the first toolbox part 3 and the second set of tools 300 in the accommodating space 40 in the second toolbox part 4, the first and second toolbox parts 3,4 are first disposed at the open position. Then, the second end portion 2002 of each of the tools 200 in the first set is inserted into the respective one of the slots 350 in the first slot-defining wall unit 35 and, subsequently, the first end portion 2001 of each of the tools 200 in the first set is clamped by the respective one of the clamps 81 of the first tool retainer unit 8. Furthermore, the second end portion 3002 of each of the tools 300 in the second set is inserted into the respective one of the slots 450 in the second slot-defining wall unit 45 and, subsequently, the first end portion 3001 of each of the tools 300 in the second set is clamped by the respective one of the clamps 91 of the second tool retainer unit 9. Thereafter, the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 are restored to the closed position.

It is noted that the base wall 31, 41 of each of the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 is formed with a cutout at a free end portion 310, 410 thereof so as to permit viewing of the first end portions 2001 of the tools 200 in the accommodating space 30 in the first toolbox part 3 and the first end portions 3001 of the tools 300 in the accommodating space 40 in the second toolbox part 4 when the first and second toolbox parts 3, 4 are disposed in the closed position.

FIG. 7 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a toolbox 100 according to the present invention. When compared to the previous embodiment, the pivot joint unit 6 is dispensed with the third pivot joint 63 (see FIG. 1), and the first and second pivot joints 61, 62 of the pivot joint unit 6 are formed integrally as one single piece.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A toolbox, comprising: a first toolbox part defining an accommodating space, and having an opening that is in spatial communication with said accommodating space;a second toolbox part; anda pivot joint unit interconnecting said first and second toolbox parts, and permitting relative rotation between said first and second toolbox parts from a closed position, where said first and second toolbox parts overlap with each other such that said second toolbox part covers said opening in said first toolbox part, and an open position, where said first and second toolbox parts overlap with each other such that said second toolbox part uncovers said opening in said first toolbox part.

2. The toolbox as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot joint unit includes a first pivot joint coupled rotatably to said first toolbox part, anda second pivot joint that extends parallel and that is coupled to said first pivot joint, and that is coupled rotatably to the second toolbox part.

3. The toolbox as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: first and second ears extending from said first toolbox part, said first pivot joint being disposed between and being coupled rotatably to said first and second ears; andthird and fourth ears extending from said second toolbox part, said second pivot joint being disposed between and being coupled rotatably to said third and fourth ears.

4. The toolbox as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pivot joint unit further includes a third pivot joint that extends transversely relative to and that is coupled to said first and second pivot joints so as to permit relative rotation between said first and second pivot joints.

5. The toolbox as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of said first and second pivot joints is formed with an engaging groove, said third pivot joint being formed on the other of said first and second pivot joints and engaging rotatably said engaging groove.

6. The toolbox as claimed in claim 3, further comprising first and second abutting protrusions, each of which is provided on a respective one of said first and second pivot joints, each of said first and second abutting protrusions abutting against a respective one of said first and second toolbox parts when said first and second toolbox parts are disposed at either one of the closed and open positions.

7. The toolbox as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tool retainer unit disposed in said accommodating space in said first toolbox part, provided on said first toolbox part, and adapted to retain a set of tools in said accommodating space in said first toolbox part.

8. The toolbox as claimed ion claim 7, wherein said tool retainer unit includes a plurality of resilient clamps, each of which is adapted to clamp releasably a first end portion of a respective one of the tools.

9. The toolbox as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a slot-defining wall unit disposed in said accommodating space in said first toolbox part, formed on said first toolbox part, and including a plurality of slot-defining walls, each of which defines a slot that is adapted to receive a second end portion of a respective one of the tools.

10. The toolbox as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said slot-defining walls is provided with a mark that indicates the size of the respective one of the tools.

11. The toolbox as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a latch unit for retaining said first and second toolbox parts at the closed position, said latch unit including a latching groove that is formed in one of said first and second toolbox parts, anda hook that is provided on the other of said first and second toolbox parts, and that engages releasably said latching groove when said first and second toolbox parts are disposed at the closed position.

12. The toolbox as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said first and second toolbox parts has a free end portion that is formed with a cutout so as to permit viewing of the first end portions of the tools in said accommodating space in said first toolbox part when said first and second toolbox parts are disposed at the closed position.

13. The toolbox as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second pivot joints of said pivot joint unit are formed integrally as one single piece.