TOOL BAG
A tool bag is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the tool bag includes a plurality of tool fasteners, a plurality of tool indicia, and a means for attaching the tool bag to a tool organizer. Each tool indicia is associated with a tool fastener.
The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/166,903, filed Jun. 24, 2005, which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/667,251, filed Sep. 19, 2003, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,689. The entirety of the above-referenced applications are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to portable tool boxes, chests, containers and organizers for storing, transporting and organizing sets of tools. Specifically, the present invention relates to a tool bag for use in cooperation with a wheeled tool organizer having vertical tool supports which may be disposed in an open or closed configuration, facilitating a visual inspection of all tools when disposed in the open configuration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable tool boxes and tool cabinets are well known for storing and transporting tool sets. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,005 describes a portable tool truck invented by George Norton. The '005 device comprises a plastic body with a compartment formed in the front face of the body adapted to retain tools therein, and two doors mounted on either side of the body. The doors pivot in opposite directions into an overlapping arrangement that seals off the compartment formed by the face of the body. While the invention of Norton is adequate for retaining and transporting tools, it does not facilitate taking a visual inventory of all of the tools retained therein. Further, the invention of Norton fails to provide a specific place for each tool of a tool set.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Advantages of the InventionThe present invention provides numerous advantages and benefits over prior art tool bags and tool organizers. Such advantages and benefits will be readily ascertained by those of ordinary skill in the related arts.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a first example tool bag is provided. The tool bag includes a plurality of tool fasteners, a plurality of tool indicia, and a means for attaching the tool bag to a tool organizer. Each tool indicia is associated with a tool fastener.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a second example tool bag is provided. The second example tool bag includes a rigid frame. The frame comprises an integrated handle, at least one integrated hook disposed along the top of the frame, and at least one contour disposed along the top of the frame. The contour is capable of retaining an attachable shoulder belt.
The second example tool bag further includes a flexible covering. The flexible covering comprises a plurality of pockets and a plurality of tool indicia. Each tool indicia is disposed on an associated pocket.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a third example tool bag is provided. The third example tool bag includes a rigid frame. The frame comprises an integrated handle, two integrated hooks disposed along the top of the frame, and two contours disposed along the top of the frame.
The contours are capable of retaining an attachable shoulder belt. The shoulder belt comprises two connectors, each connector removably attached to a respective contour of the frame.
The third example tool bag further includes a flexible covering forming an interior cavity. The flexible covering has an exterior surface, and the flexible covering comprises a plurality of pockets disposed within the interior cavity and a plurality of pockets disposed along the exterior surface of the flexible covering.
The third example tool bag further includes a plurality of tool indicia. Each tool indicia is disposed on an associated pocket.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Comprehension of the invention is facilitated by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the associated drawings, in which:
The following reference characters identify the associated elements depicted in the drawings describing the present invention
Referring now to the drawing figures, there is illustrated in
Tool organizer 100 includes a set of storage panels or vertical tool supports 130 for storing a specific set of tools. The specific set of tools may be selected based on the typical activities of the user. For example, the tool organizer 100 may be populated with a first set of tools for a plumber, a second set of tools for an electrician, or a third set of tools for a general maintenance worker. In the illustrated embodiment, each vertical support includes a rigid inner structure and an outer fabric covering which forms one or more tool fasteners 140 to hold a tool 144. Each tool fastener 140 has a specific size and shape so as to properly contain a specific tool 144 and includes a tool indicia 142 indicating the specific tool 144 which is associated with the tool fastener 140. Each tool fastener 140 of the example tool organizer 100 is a pocket into which a specific tool 144 may be placed and stored. Of course, other types of tool fasteners 140 may be contemplated, such as loops, straps, velcro, and hooks, for example.
The tool organizer 100 may be disposed in a closed configuration, as illustrated in
Referring now to
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is presented for using the example tool organizer 100 to facilitate an inspection and/or inventory process to efficiently determine a first level of completeness, i.e. to identify any missing tools from the set of tools. The method begins with disposing the tool organizer 100 in an open configuration and visually inspecting each tool fastener 140 to determine whether a tool 144 is disposed therein. The visual inspection Her includes determining whether the each tool 144 disposed within a tool fastener 140 is associated with the tool indicia 142. Preferably, the tool indicia 142 is a printed tool name, although it may be an alpha-numeric code or other indicia such as bar-code.
The method also includes recording the first level of completeness of the tool set, such as by noting the missing tools or tool indicia. The further includes releasing the tool organizer and contents to a third party and, at some future time, receiving the tool organizer 100 and returned contents from the third party. Again, the user configures the tool organizer 100 in an open configuration and visually inspects the returned contents of the tool organizer 100 to determine a second level of completeness of the tool set. The first and second levels of completeness are compared to determine whether one or more tools 144 from the tool set were not returned with the tool organizer 100.
Referring now to
Referring now to
When integrated with the tool organizer, the retaining means 415 of belt end 414 cooperates with a corresponding strap 155 attached to the tool organizer. Likewise, belt end 412 cooperates with a retaining means (not shown) also attached to the tool organizer 100. The weight of the tools in the tool belt 400 is further supported by handle 418 which may be looped over a correspondingly place protrusion 150 formed within the frame 110 of tool organizer 100.
When the tool belt 400 is not integrated with tool organizer 100, retaining means 415 may cooperate with belt end 412 to form a loop which may be placed around a user's waist or over a user's shoulder, as illustrated in
There is illustrated in
Upper frame component 1116 includes a handle 1012 and a tray 1014. Handle 1012 and tray 1014 are integrated into the upper frame 1116 by a hinge 1018, and they may be adjusted to any of several positions using an adjustment mechanism, such as a spring-loaded pin 1016. For example, handle 1012 may be positioned at a roughly 45 degree angle to accommodate moving and tilting the fully assembled tool organizer 1000, as shown in
Referring back to
Lower frame component 1118 includes two rear wheels 1020 and two front casters 1022. The lower frame component 1118 supports several parts storage boxes 1024 for holding various machine parts, work pieces and/or accessories that may be commonly needed by the user, but are typically not considered part of the tool inventory. Lower frame component 1118 includes two apertures for receiving two corresponding prongs 1308A and 1308B of upper frame component 1116. When the upper frame component 1116 is received by lower frame component 1118, the two may be secured by tightening corresponding knobs 1120A and 1120B. These attachment mechanisms enable the tool organizer 1000 to be assembled and disassembled as desired.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Removable tool carrier 1402 includes a handle 1502, two attachment hooks 1504A and 1504B and an adjustable shoulder strap 1506. Removable tool carrier 1402 further includes a plurality of tool fasteners. Each tool fastener has a specific size and shape so as to properly contain a specific tool. Each tool fastener further includes a tool indicia indicating the specific tool which is associated with the tool fastener.
Method for Using Tool OrganizerReferring now to
Upon or during the visual inspection, a level of completeness of the tool set is recorded (1615). The level of completeness may be any of a number of representations of the tool set, including a list of tools missing from the tool set, a list of tools present in the tool set, a grade according to a predetermined scale, or a set of check marks in an inventory list, for example. At block 1620, the tool organizer may be checked out or released to the third party for use.
Once the third party returns the tool organizer (1625), the contents are once again visually inspected to determine a level of completeness at the time of check-in (1630). The first and second levels of completeness are then compared to determine any changes in the tool set (1635). Appropriate actions may be taken by the owner of the tool set based on any changes to the tool set. For example, the third party may be charged for any missing tools.
Foldable Tool OrganizerThere is illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring now to
To prepare the tool organizer 1700 to be transported in a vehicle or for storage in a more space efficient manner, it may be configured into a more compact shape. Namely, the handle 1820 and tray 1822 may be folded to be roughly parallel with the upper frame component 1818, as previously described, and the upper frame component 1818 may be folded forward and down as illustrated in
In order to fold the upper frame component 1816 of tool organizer 1700, the pin 2116 securing the upright position of the upper frame component may be removed from the aperture in the lower frame component 1818. To remove the pin, spring 2118 may be retracted by lifting release rod 2120 using release handle 2122. Once pin 2116 is removed, the upper frame component 1816 is free to rotate about hinge 2130. Forward rotation of the upper frame component causes the lock plate 2110 to slide downward relative to the guide bolt 2114 attached to the lower frame component 1818. Once the upper frame component has been sufficiently folded forward, a notched portion of the lock plate cooperates with the guide bolt 2114 to secure the upper frame component 1816 in the folded or closed configuration. The tool organizer 1700 may be reconfigured into the open position by reversing the process.
Foldable tool organizer 1700 further includes an integrated cover 1950 and alarm 1952 illustrated in
Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art can, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.
Claims
21. A tool bag comprising:
- a plurality of tool fasteners;
- a plurality of tool indicia, each tool indicia associated with a tool fastener; and
- a means for attaching the tool bag to a tool organizer.
22. The tool bag of claim 21, wherein the means for attaching comprises a hook.
23. The tool bag of claim 21, wherein the tool fasteners comprise a plurality of pockets formed of fabric.
24. The tool bag of claim 23, further comprising an interior portion and an exterior portion, and wherein the plurality of pockets includes at least one pocket disposed in the interior portion and at least one pocket disposed along the exterior portion.
25. The tool bag of claim 21, wherein the plurality of tool fasteners include a first pocket and a second pocket, the first pocket and the second pocket comprising a common portion of fabric.
26. The tool bag of claim 21, further comprising an adjustable shoulder belt attached to the tool bag by a connector.
27. The tool bag of claim 26, further comprising at frame that forms a rigid contour and wherein the connector is attached to the rigid contour.
28. The tool bag of claim 21, further comprising at frame that forms a handle.
29. A tool bag comprising:
- a rigid frame, the frame comprising: an integrated handle, at least one integrated hook disposed along the top of the frame, at least one contour disposed along the top of the frame, the contour capable of retaining an attachable shoulder belt; and
- a flexible covering comprising: a plurality of pockets; a plurality of tool indicia, each tool indicia disposed on an associated pocket.
30. The tool bag of claim 29, wherein the flexible covering forms an interior portion and an exterior portion.
31. The tool bag of claim 30, wherein the plurality of pockets includes at least one pocket disposed in the interior portion and at least one pocket disposed along the exterior portion.
32. The tool bag of claim 29, wherein the plurality of pockets includes a first pocket and a second pocket, the first pocket and the second pocket comprising a common portion of fabric.
33. The tool bag of claim 29, further comprising a shoulder belt.
34. The tool bag of claim 33, wherein the shoulder belt is adjustable.
35. A tool bag comprising:
- a rigid frame, the frame comprising: an integrated handle, two integrated hooks disposed along the top of the frame, two contours disposed along the top of the frame, the contours capable of retaining an attachable shoulder belt;
- a shoulder belt comprising two connectors, each connector removably attached to a respective contour of the frame; and
- a flexible covering forming an interior cavity, the flexible covering having an exterior surface, the flexible covering comprising: a plurality of pockets disposed within the interior cavity; a plurality of pockets disposed along the exterior surface of the flexible covering; a plurality of tool indicia, each tool indicia disposed on an associated pocket.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 11, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 5, 2008
Inventor: Edward G. Guirlinger (New Albany, OH)
Application Number: 12/029,173
International Classification: B65D 85/00 (20060101); A45F 5/00 (20060101); A45F 3/14 (20060101);