Tool storage devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9539722-B2
Application number	US-201314134468-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2012
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A tool storage device and a tool box. The device may include flexible walls cooperating to define a storage area, and a rigid frame supported in the storage area and including a central portion extending in a direction from a bottom wall toward a top wall, one base portion extending from one side of the central portion, along the bottom wall and toward one side wall, and another base portion extending from an opposite side of the central portion, along the bottom wall and toward an opposite side wall. The tool box may include a body defining a storage compartment; a lid defining a groove in its outer surface to support an elongated work piece; and a handle engageable with a work piece supported in the groove. The lid may be attachable to the top of the body in a closed position and to the bottom in a stowed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool box comprising:
a body defining a storage compartment;
a lid movable relative to the body between an open position to permit access to the storage compartment and a closed position to close the storage compartment, the lid having an outer surface, opposite walls and a length defined between the opposite walls, a groove being defined in the outer surface, the groove extending the length of the lid and opening through the opposite walls, the groove being configured to support an elongated work piece; and
a handle having a first handle end and a second handle end pivotally coupled to the lid, the handle being pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to the length of the lid to engage a work piece supported in the groove, each handle end having opposite sides along the pivot axis and being pivotally supported by the lid on both opposite sides of each handle end;
wherein the groove has a proximal groove wall positioned closer to the pivot axis than an opposite distal groove wall, the proximal groove wall having a first portion positioned axially between the first handle end and one of the opposite walls of the lid, an intermediate portion positioned axially between the first handle end and the second handle end, and a second portion positioned axially between the second handle end and the other of the opposite walls of the lid, the first portion, the intermediate portion and the second portion extending to a position above the pivot axis.

2. The tool box of claim 1 , wherein the groove has an asymmetric, generally V-shaped cross-section.

3. The tool box of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes an elastomeric material engageable with the work piece.

4. The tool box of claim 1 , wherein the distal groove wall has a width transverse to the length greater than a width of the proximal groove wall.

5. The tool box of claim 1 , wherein the handle is pivotable between a raised position, in which the handle extends outwardly from the outer surface, and a storage position, in which the handle is at least partially received by the groove.

6. The tool box of claim 5 , wherein, in the storage position, the handle is flush with or recessed into the outer surface.

7. The tool box of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the body and the lid defines a side handle.

8. The tool box of claim 7 , wherein the side handle is a first side handle, wherein at least one of the body and the lid defines a second side handle, and wherein the first side handle and the second side handle are on opposite sides of the tool box.

9. The tool box of claim 7 , wherein the body defines the side handle, the body having a plurality of walls defining an outer periphery with a recessed area, the side handle extending across the recessed area, the recessed area providing clearance for gripping the side handle.

10. The tool box of claim 9 , wherein the groove at least partially overlaps the recessed area.

11. The tool box of claim 9 , wherein the storage compartment includes a pocket at least partially defined by the recessed area.

12. The tool box of claim 11 , wherein an interior partition cooperates with at least one of the plurality of walls to define the pocket.

13. The tool box of claim 12 , wherein the pocket is a corner pocket, and wherein three of the plurality of walls and the partition cooperate to define the corner pocket.

14. The tool box of claim 7 , wherein the body defines a first portion of the side handle, and wherein the lid defines a second portion of the side handle.

15. The tool box of claim 1 , wherein the first handle end is spaced from the one of the opposite walls of the lid and the second handle end is spaced from the other of the opposite walls of the lid.

16. A tool box comprising:
a body defining a storage compartment;
a lid movable relative to the body between an open position to permit access to the storage compartment and a closed position to close the storage compartment, the lid having an outer surface, opposite walls and a length defined between the opposite walls, a groove being defined in the outer surface, the groove extending the length of the lid and opening through the walls, the groove being configured to support an elongated work piece; and
a handle pivotally coupled to the lid and extending along an axis parallel to the length of the lid, the handle being pivotable about a pivot axis to engage a work piece supported in the groove, the handle being pivotable between a raised position, in which the handle extends outwardly from the outer surface, and a storage position, in which the handle is at least partially received by the groove;
wherein the groove has a generally V-shaped cross-section defined by a proximal groove wall positioned closer to the pivot axis than an opposite distal groove wall, the distal groove wall being planar and extending to the outer surface, and wherein, when the handle is in the storage position, the handle extends from the pivot axis to a position beyond the distal groove wall and into a handle receiving recess defined by the outer surface of the lid.

17. The tool box of claim 16 , wherein the body defines, on opposite sides of the tool box, at least a portion of a first side handle and at least a portion of a second side handle.

18. The tool box of claim 17 , wherein the body has a plurality of walls defining an outer periphery with, on opposite sides of the tool box, a first recessed area and a second recessed area, the first side handle extending across the first recessed area, the second side handle extending across the second recessed area, each recessed area providing clearance for gripping an associated side handle.

19. The tool box of claim 16 , wherein the storage compartment includes a first corner pocket at least partially defined by the first recessed area and a second corner pocket at least partially defined by the second recessed area.

20. The tool box of claim 16 , wherein the outer surface defines a recess receiving the handle in the storage position, the recess having a recess wall extending parallel to the pivot axis and to the outer surface.

21. The tool box of claim 20 , wherein the lid has an inner surface opposite the outer surface and includes a rib extending from the inner surface along the length of the lid and parallel to the groove, the rib being positioned farther from the pivot axis than the groove and the recess and between the groove and one of the opposite longitudinal walls, the rib having a uniform height defined between an end of the rib and the inner surface of the lid.

22. A tool box comprising:
a body defining a storage compartment, the body having an outer periphery defining a recessed area;
a lid movable relative to the body between an open position to permit access to the storage compartment and a closed position to close the storage compartment, the lid having an outer surface, an opposite inner surface, opposite side walls defining a length and opposite longitudinal walls extending along the length, a groove being defined in the outer surface, the groove extending the length of the lid and opening through the opposite side walls, the groove being configured to support an elongated work piece, the groove at least partially overlapping the recessed area; and
a handle pivotally coupled to the lid and extending along an axis parallel to the length of the lid, the handle being pivotable about a pivot axis to engage a work piece supported in the groove;
wherein the lid includes a rib extending from

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Martinez Mark R
• Allen joel
• Miller Brandon
• Moks Whitney M
• Hoppe Christopher S
• Hyma Steven W
• Steele Michael S
• Melnyk Steven G
• Burch Wade F
• Naiva Matthew W
• Mackey Eric

Classifications

• B25H3/022 Primary

  in fixed relationship · CPC title

• B25H3/023

  movable relative to one another for access to their interiors · CPC title

• B65D33/06

  Handles {(forming part of the closing arrangement B65D33/16)} · CPC title

• B65D43/165

  these elements being assembled by a separate pin-like member · CPC title

• B25H3/026

  by displacement in a direction substantially perpendicated to th base · CPC title