Carriable and wall mountable tool storage system
According to the present invention there is provided a portable, wall mountable tool storage system and kit comprising a container formed with a substantially rigid base, two side walls, a front panel and a rear panel. Each of the panels is pivotally articulated to the base and each has a free end adapted for securing at a top side of the container. A plurality of various articles retaining elements is provided at least within the container. The tool storage system further comprises at least one carrying element for carrying the tool system at a substantially upright position, and at least one wall mounting arrangement for retaining the tool storage system at a substantially horizontal wall mounted position.
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This invention relates to a multipurpose, portable, wall mountable tool storage system deployable between different use-modes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPortable tool boxes have been used by different users such as craftsmen, mechanics and home handymen for many years. Such prior devices have attempted to provide such desirable features as a lightweight design for convenient and easy portability and handling, a wall-mounting capacity to save valuable floor space for other necessary tools or equipment and conveniently display the contents in the wall mounted position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,800 discloses a tool box adapted for wall-mounting and having an open mode permitting tool access and a closed mode for transport. A tool box is formed of two identical shallow halves hinged together to have an open position for use and a closed position for carrying. A set of supports permit the box to be temporarily attached to a wall, such as the rear cab wall of a pickup truck or the like, in the open position, providing access to tools held in a plurality of tool holders attached to planar walls of the box halves. The supports include resilient portions for quick release of the box halves. Handles on the tool box permit carrying thereof in closed position.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,202 discloses a portable, wall mountable tool box supply cabinet and work bench combination. A portable, wall-mountable tool box-supply cabinet and work bench combination consists of a tool housing having a back panel that is framed by a top panel, a bottom panel and two side panels to define a tool receiving well. The tool receiving well has tool-clasping and holding fixtures. A front panel for the tool housing is pivotally attached to the bottom panel and is rotatable from a vertical closure position covering the tool receiving well, to a horizontal work bench position providing a work platform, to a vertical position 180° from the closure position providing access to tools, parts, supplies and equipment in the tool box-supply cabinet. The tool box-supply cabinet and work bench is a unitary assembly of parts that are releasably interconnected, but that are not individually separable from the assembly. The tool box-supply cabinet and work bench is foldable to a thin, portable case that is capable of being easily handled, that is wall mountable for storage and/or use, and that is useful as a freestanding tool box-supply cabinet and/or work bench at locations where wall mounting is not possible or desirable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a carriable (i.e. portable) and wall-mountable tool storage system/toolbox deployable between at least one carriable position and at least one wall mounted position. The tool box being essentially light weight fitted with tools/utensils holding fixtures, pockets and holders.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the present invention there is provided a tool bag system (container) suited for storage, displaying and carrying articles. The system being suitable for carrying from one location to another at an essentially upright position, and for suspending at an essentially horizontal position (e.g. extending upright from a supporting wall) wherein the interior of the tool bag/container is easily accessible and the content thereof is conveniently and readily displayed.
The term ‘wall’ as used hereinafter in the specification and claims is used to denote any substantially vertical structure such as a wall, a door, a support panel, etc.
According to the invention there is provided a portable, wall mountable tool storage system comprising a container formed with a substantially rigid base; two rigid side walls; a front panel and a rear panel each pivotally articulated to the base and each having a free end adapted for securing at a top side of the container; a plurality of article retainers provided within the container; said tool storage system comprising at least one carrying element for carrying the tool system at a substantially upright position, and at least one wall mounting arrangement for retaining the tool storage system at a substantially horizontal wall mounted position.
The tool system according to the present invention may comprise any one or more of the following features and characters:
the side walls are integral with the base and extend substantially at a right angle thereto;
a rigid connector bar extends between top ends of the side walls;
the connector bar is fitted with a carrying handle;
a rigid platform extends between at least a major portion of the side walls;
the base comprises at least one wall mounting element for securing the tool system on a substantially vertical surface at a substantially horizontal position, i.e. such that the base is parallel to the wall and where a rigid platform is provided it is substantially horizontal;
the base comprises a wall mounting bracket detachably attachable to the base;
one or both of the base and the wall mounting bracket comprise at least one wall mounting element for securing the tool system on a substantially vertical surface at a substantially horizontal position;
the free end of at least one of the front panel and the rear panel comprises a locking edge formed with wall mounting elements;
at least one of the back panel and the front panel is pivotally articulated to the common edge of the base through an integral hinge of the panel;
the back panel and the front panel are made of a sheet of material (unitary or separate) and are attached to the base;
the back panel and the front panel are a unitary sheet of material articulated to one of a top side and a bottom side of the base;
the front panel and the back panel comprise at their free end a rigid locking bar fitted for locking arresting at a top of the container;
at least one locking bar comprises a spirit level;
the locking bars are fitted with a locking arrangement for securing the case at the locked state and to prevent un-authorized access;
at least one locking bar comprises indicia selected from length and angular values;
the tool system comprises at least one locking fastener for securing the locking bars at their closed position;
the tool system may further comprise at least one restraining element extending from at least one side edge of the at least one of the front and rear panel, for supporting the container at a substantially horizontal position when the system is wall mounted;
the article retainers are selected from a group comprising pockets of different sizes and shapes, loops, hooks, T-hooks, straps and clips for holding and storing and displaying different tools and accessories in a neat, organized fashion;
the tool system may further comprise a tool rack articulated within the container and fixedly displaceable between at least two distinct angular positions for efficiently storing and displaying articles at the portable position and at the wall mounted position;
the tool rack is pivotally retained between the side walls of the container;
at least one of the front panel and the back panel are formed with a re-closable pocket accessible from the inside of the container and from the outside of the container;
the base, the side walls and the rigid platform are an integral solid structure;
the integral solid structure is a uniform plastic molding;
the solid structure has an inverted T-like cross section;
the solid structure further comprises a rigid top bar extending between top ends of the side walls, serving for securing the free ends of the panels at the closed position;
side edges of the front panel and of the rear panel are detachably attachable to corresponding edges of the rigid side walls;
edges of the front and back panels are detachably attachable to corresponding edges of the rigid side walls by magnetic strips;
edges of the front and back panels are detachably attachable to corresponding edges of the rigid side walls by hook and pile fasteners.
Other forms of securing the respective edges may be utilized too.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a positioning/mounting kit comprising a portable, wall mountable tool storage system having at least two distinct positions, wherein the tool storage system comprises:
-
- a substantially rigid base portion, back wall and a front wall having one engaged to the base portion end and at least one free end, the rigid base portion comprising a rigid base and two affixed rigid side panels, the back wall and the front wall frame said base portion to form a portable tool storage system, having the first un-deployed position and at least one second deployed position allowing easy access to the stored tools therein
a plurality of tool holding/clasping fixtures fitted on said front wall and said back wall;
elements on the tool storage system for carrying said tool storage system and for mounting said tool storage system on a wall; and a mounting sheet.
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, several embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Attention is first directed to
It is noticed that in
In
Turning now to
In accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention, as illustrated for example in
The rigid platform 40 is formed with a plurality of apertures and tool receptacles 41. Furthermore, platform 40, at the wall mounted position is substantially horizontal such that tools and other items may be placed thereon safely. This position facilitates also use of the platform as a shelf or working surface.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention (e.g. as seen in
According to an embodiment of the invention, the panels 16 and 18 are an integral sheet of material articulated to the base 12 (at either side thereof).
As mentioned above, the tool storage system is fitted with a pair of locking fasteners 20 displaceable between a locked position (
As can be seen in
Furthermore, in order to prevent small articles to fall from the tool system upon carrying thereof, closing arrangements may be provided for securing edges 56 of the panels 16 and 18 from detaching from the corresponding edges 58 of the side walls 14A and 14B respectively. Such means may be for example a magnetic strap extending along the respective edges 56 and 58 or hook and pile fasteners (Velcro™).
As can further be seen in
In
With further reference now to
The tool rack 70 may comprise a tool holding arrangement to retain tools received therein. Such an arrangement could be, for example, a magnet 5 associated therewith or some foamed material filled in a cavity of the tool rack, or resilient material formed with retention winglets, such that when tools like screw-drivers, bits and the like are inserted into the receptacles 72 they will retain their location and not fall out of said receptacles.
The tool rack 70 is pivotally displaceable between at least two distinct positions namely a first position as in
As indicated hereinabove, the tool storage system 10, in accordance with the present invention, is deployable between a carriable position wherein tools may be easily carried by an individual to a work site or alternatively the tool system may be used for hanging on a substantially vertical support, e.g. wall, door, etc., for conveniently displaying the tools and the articles contained therein. Articulating the storage system to the support wall may be facilitated by a wall mounting kit for use in association with the tool storage system 10, said kit comprising a mounting sheet 80 (
Optionally, one or both of the rigid locking bars 46 and 48 as well as surface of the platform 40 may be provided with different indicia 47 e.g. for measuring length or angles which often come useful for a craftsman, as illustrated in
In order to mount the tool storage system 10 in accordance with the present invention, a marking 90 (
It is however appreciated that the tool storage system may be secured by other means as well, such as, for example, one or more hooks (not shown) extending from the locking bar 48 etc.
If so desired the tool storage system may be suspended at its deployed position by either of straps 50A or 50B.
In the embodiment of
The embodiment illustrated in
In
The embodiment of
The embodiment of
The tool carrying system in accordance with any of the embodiments of the present invention may be used for a variety of purposes and by a variety of individuals for example, it may be used for carrying work tools, crafts, make-up kits (in which case one of the panels may also comprise a mirror), etc.
An advantage of the system in accordance with the present invention is that tools and any other articles may be conveniently and easily carried between one location and another location and at a carriable position (where the tool storage system is substantially upright, i.e. vertically extending position) and is radially deployable into a wall mounted position (at a substantially horizontally extending positions) for conveniently displaying the goods stored within the tool storage system allowing easy access to the contents of the bag. Even more so, different locomoting arrangements may be integrated with or articulated to the tool storage system such as a wheeled base (not shown) optionally a telescopic towing handle.
The tool system may comprise one or more detachable pouches or containers to be carried in association with the tool system (i.e. attached to the container or within it) or separately therefrom by an individual.
While there have been shown several embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, whilst in the description reference has been made to carrying the tool system over one's shoulder, it may also be carried by other ways, e.g. back-pack mounting, hand carrying, wheeled locomoting, etc.
Claims
1. A portable, wall mountable tool storage system comprising a container formed with a substantially rigid base; two side walls; a front panel and a rear panel each pivotally articulated to the base and each having a free end adapted for securing at a top side of the container; a plurality of article retainers provided within the container; said tool storage system comprising at least one carrying element for carrying the tool system at a substantially upright position, and at least one wall mounting arrangement for retaining the tool storage system at a substantially horizontal wall mounted position.
2. A tool system according to claim 1, wherein the side walls are integral with the base and extend substantially at a right angle thereto.
3. A tool system according to claim 2, wherein a rigid connector bar extends between top ends of the side walls.
4. A tool system according to claim 3, wherein the connector bar is fitted with a carrying handle.
5. A tool system according to claim 3, wherein a rigid platform extends between at least a major portion of the side walls.
6. A tool system according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one wall mounting element for securing the tool system on a substantially vertical surface at a substantially horizontal position.
7. A tool system according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a wall mounting bracket detachably attachable to the base.
8. A tool system according to claim 7, wherein one or both of the base and the wall mounting bracket comprise at least one wall mounting element for securing the tool system on a substantially vertical surface at a substantially horizontal position.
9. A tool system according to claim 1, wherein the free end of at least one of the front panel and the rear panel comprises a locking edge formed with wall mounting elements.
10. A tool system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the back panel and the front panel is pivotally articulated to the edge of the base through an integral hinge of the panel.
11. A tool system according to claim 1, wherein the back panel and the front panel are a unitary sheet of material articulated to one of a top side and a bottom side of the base.
12. A tool system according to claim 6, wherein the front panel and the rear panel comprise at their free end a rigid locking bar fitted for locking arresting at a top of the container.
13. A tool system according to claim 12 wherein at least one locking bar comprises a spirit level.
14. A tool system according to claim 12 wherein at least one locking bar comprises indicia selected from length and angular values.
15. A tool system according to claim 12, comprising at least one locking fastener for securing the locking bars at their closed position.
16. A tool system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one restraining element extending from at least one side edge of the at least one of the front and rear panel, for supporting the container at a substantially horizontal position when the system is wall mounted.
17. A tool system according to claim 1, wherein the article retainers are selected from a group comprising pockets of different sizes and shapes, loops, hooks, T-hooks, straps and clips for holding and storing and displaying different tools and accessories in a neat, organized fashion.
18. A tool system according to claim 1 further comprising a tool rack articulated within the container and fixedly displaceable between at least two distinct angular positions for efficiently storing and displaying articles at the portable position and at the wall mounted position.
19. A tool system according to claim 18, wherein the tool rack is pivotally retained between the side walls of the container.
20. A tool system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the front panel and the rear panel are formed with a re-closable pocket accessible from the inside of the container and from the outside of the container.
21. A tool system according to claim 5, wherein the base, the side walls and the rigid platform are an integral solid structure.
22. A tool system according to claim 21, wherein the integral solid structure is a uniform plastic molding.
23. A tool system according to claim 22, wherein the solid structure has an inverted T-like cross section.
24. A tool system according to claim 23, wherein the solid structure further comprises a rigid top bar extending between top ends of the side walls, serving for securing the free ends of the panels at the closed position.
25. A tool system according to claim 1, wherein side edges of the front panel and of the rear panel are detachably attachable to corresponding edges of the rigid side walls.
26. A tool system according to claim 24, wherein the side panels are detachably attachable to corresponding edges of the rigid side walls by magnetic strips.
27. A tool system according to claim 24, wherein the side panels are detachably attachable to corresponding edges of the rigid side walls by hook and pile fasteners.
28. A portable, wall mountable tool storage system having at least two distinct positions, wherein the tool storage system comprises a substantially rigid base portion, front panel and a rear panel having one engaged to the base portion end and at least one free end, the rigid base portion comprising a rigid base, two affixed rigid side panels and a perpendicularly extending the rigid base rigid platform therebetween, said side panels, the front panel and the rear panel frame said base portion to form a portable tool storage system, having at least one carrying position and at least one deployed position allowing easy access to the stored tools therein; a plurality of tool holding/clasping fixtures fitted on said front panel and said back panel and said rigid panel; and arrangements attached to the tool storage system for carrying said tool storage system and for mounting said tool storage system on a wall.
29. A wall mounting kit comprising a portable, wall mountable tool storage system having at least two distinct positions, wherein the tool storage system comprises a substantially rigid base portion, back wall and a front wall having one engaged to the base portion end and at least one free end, the rigid base portion comprising a rigid base and two affixed rigid side panels, the back wall and the front wall frame said base portion to form a portable tool storage system, having the first un-deployed position and at least one second deployed position allowing easy access to the stored tools therein; a plurality of tool holding/clasping fixtures fitted on said front wall and said back wall; elements on the tool storage system for carrying said tool storage system and for mounting said tool storage system on a wall; and a mounting sheet.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 2, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 17, 2008
Applicant: Keter Plastic Ltd. (Herzelyia)
Inventor: Ruth Goldenberg (Rakefet)
Application Number: 12/003,859
International Classification: A47F 5/08 (20060101); A47B 96/00 (20060101); B65D 85/00 (20060101);