Toolbox

Abstract

A toolbox includes two shells, a lock and a plurality of tool holders. The shells are pivotally connected to each other. The lock can lock the shells to each other. The tool holders can be firmly attached to and easily removed from the shells, thus allowing various combinations of tool holders to be used together with the shells.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a toolbox with tool holders detachably but firmly positioned therein for neatly holding tools.

2. Related Prior Art

Almost every family keeps tools such as screwdrivers and/or socket wrenches so that family members can do some simple maintenance and repairing. Technicians carry tools such as screwdrivers and/or socket wrenches. For example, computer technicians, furniture deliverers and maintenance workers carry various tools so that they can conduct simple maintenance and/or repairing on site. To carry the tools, the technicians need toolboxes. Although screwdrivers and socket wrenches are made with different length, a technician often buys a toolbox based on the longest and the largest of the tools so that there is room for more tools. It is human nature to carry many tools just to fill the toolbox and prepare for possible use. The large amount of tools however renders it difficult to search the toolbox for needed tools.

There are toolboxes equipped with tool holders for neatly holding tools therein. The tool holders however tend to shift in the toolboxes and jeopardize their ability to neatly hold the tools.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a toolbox includes two shells, a lock and a plurality of tool holders. The shells are pivotally connected to each other. The lock can lock the shells to each other. The tool holders can be firmly attached to and easily removed from the shells, thus allowing various combinations of the tool holders to be used together with the shells.

An advantage of the toolbox of the present invention is enabling a user to easily find the tools as the tool holders neatly hold the tools.

Another advantage of the toolbox of the present invention is enabling a user to easily engage the tool holders with the shells and disengage them from one another without the use of tools.

Another advantage of the toolbox of the present invention is allowing a user to use various tool holders together with the shells.

Another advantage of the toolbox of the present invention is taking redundant burdens from a user by allowing the user to leave spare ones of the tool holders and tools at home or in offices, repair shops or factories.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings.

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

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the toolbox shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toolbox taken along a line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toolbox without tool holders shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the toolbox shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a toolbox according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the toolbox shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Shown in FIG. 1 is a toolbox according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The toolbox includes a first shell 10 and a second shell 20 pivotally connected to the first shell 10. The toolbox is rectangular as shown; however, the toolbox may be in any other appropriate shape.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the toolbox is equipped with a number of small tool holders 30 and a plurality of large tool holders 40. The first shell 10 includes two connectors 11 on a side. Each of the connectors 11 includes a C-shaped portion 111 as best shown in FIG. 3. The first shell 10 includes two restraints 12 and 13 on an opposite side and a gap 14 between the restraints 12 and 13. A track 141 is formed on the wall of the gap 14. A lock 142 is movably installed on the track 141. The first shell 10 includes a space 15 therein and a plurality of bosses 17 on the floor of the space 15. The bosses 17 are circular.

The second shell 20 includes two connectors 21 for connection to the connectors 11 of the first shell 10. The connectors 21 are pins for insertion in the C-shaped portions 111 of the connectors 11 of the first shell 10. Each of the connectors 21 of the second shell 20 and a related one of the connectors 11 of the first shell 10 together form a hinge for pivotally connecting the second shell 20 to the first shell 10.

The second shell 20 is otherwise identical to the first shell 10. That is, the second shell 20 includes two restraints 22 and 23 on an opposite side and a gap 24 between the restraints 22 and 23. A track 241 is formed on the wall of the gap 24. The second shell 20 includes a space 25 therein and a plurality of bosses 27 on the floor of the space 25. The bosses 27 are circular.

The lock 142 is movable on the track 141 of the first shell 10. The lock 142 can be engaged with the track 241 of the second shell 20 so as to lock the first shell 10 to the second shell 20. When the lock 142 is disengaged from the track 241 of the second shell 20, the first shell 10 can be lifted from the second shell 20.

Each of the small tool holders 30 includes a plurality of cavities 31 in the top for receiving tools, a larger cavity 32 in communication with the cavities 31 and a lot of recesses 34 in the bottom.

Each of the large tool holders 40 includes a plurality of cavities 41 in the top for receiving tools, a larger cavity 42 in communication with the cavities 41 and a lot of recesses 44 in the bottom. Referring to FIG. 5, the small tool holders 30 are positioned in the first shell 10, and the large tool holders 40 are positioned in the second shell 20. The recesses 34 receive the bosses 17 so that the small tool holders 30 are kept on the first shell 10.

Similarly, the recesses 44 receive the bosses 27 so that the large tool holders 40 are retained on the second shell 20.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a toolbox according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except a few things. Firstly, the first shell 10 includes recesses 18 instead of the bosses 17. Secondly, the second shell 20 includes recesses 28 instead of the bosses 27. Thirdly, each of the small tool holders 30 includes bosses 35 instead of the recesses 34. Fourthly, each of the large tool holders 40 includes bosses 45 instead of the recesses 44.

The toolbox according to the present invention exhibits several advantages. Firstly, it enables a user to easily find the tools as the tool holders neatly hold the tools in the shells. Secondly, it enables a user to easily engage the tool holders with the shells and disengage them from one another without the use of tools. Thirdly, it allows a user to use various tool holders together with the shells, i.e., the user can carry various tools in the toolbox. Fourthly, it takes redundant burdens from a user by allowing the user to leave spare ones of the tool holders and tools at home or in offices, repair shops or factories.

The present invention has been described through the illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A toolbox comprising:

two shells pivotally connected to each other;

a lock for locking the shells to each other; and

a plurality of tool holders that can be firmly attached to and easily removed from the shells, thus allowing various combinations of tool holders to be used together with the shells.

2. The toolbox according to claim 1 wherein each of the shells defines a space for receiving the tool holders.

3. The toolbox according to claim 2 wherein each of the shells comprises a number of bosses on the floor of the space, wherein each of the tool holders comprises a number of recesses for receiving the bosses to retain the tool holders in the shells.

4. The toolbox according to claim 2 wherein each of the shells comprises a number of recesses in the floor of the space, wherein each of the tool holders comprises a number of bosses that can fit in the recesses to retain the tool holders in the shells.

5. The toolbox according to claim 1 wherein each of the shells comprises a track thereon so that the first and second shells are locked to each other by the lock when both of the tracks are engaged with the lock.

6. The toolbox according to claim 1 wherein each of the shells comprises two restraints for retaining the movement of the lock.

7. The toolbox according to claim 1 comprising at least one hinge for pivotally connecting the first and second shells to each other.

8. The toolbox according to claim 7 wherein the hinge comprises a female connector on one of the shells and a male connector on the remaining shell for engagement with the female connector.

9. The toolbox according to claim 8 wherein the female connector comprises a C-shaped portion, wherein the male connector comprises a pin rotationally positioned in the C-shaped portion.