COMBINED BUCKET AND TOOL HOLDER

Abstract

A combined bucket and tool holder apparatus is disclosed. Embodiments of the combined bucket and tool holder apparatus may include a bottom panel and three or more wall panels each having a bottom edge attached to the bottom panel, two side edges attached to adjacent wall panels, and a substantially flat outer surface. The bottom panel and wall panels may together form a cavity adapted to hold a liquid. Embodiments may also include a plurality of tool holders to receive and hold tools where each tool is permanently attached to an outer surface of one of the wall panels. Further embodiments may also include a pour spout integrated into one of the wall panels at a top edge of the wall panel to direct liquid being poured out of the cavity and a handle rotatably attached to two or more wall panels.

Description

FIELD

Embodiments are in the field of work tools. More particularly, embodiments are in the field of buckets and the storage of work tools.

BACKGROUND

Users of buckets, particularly those users who are in the construction trades, often have the need to carry tools with them in addition to the bucket while they are performing their work tasks. One example of this would be people who work with concrete who typically carry a number of trowels or other tools with them in addition to a bucket of water that they use for cleaning the tools during and after use. Similarly, people engaged in masonry or laying tile also have a need to have a bucket of water in addition to their tools. A person laying concrete, for example, might use a trowel to smooth out concrete and then wash the trowel in a bucket of water so that the concrete does not dry and solidify on his trowel.

Trying to carry a number of tools (such as trowels) as well as a bucket of water can present difficulties as such a combination can become unwieldy, resulting in potential discomfort, inefficiency, and accidents. One solution to this problem is to wear a tool belt or other device that allows one to carry tools on their body. This solution, however, may result in wet tools being positioned next to a person's clothes and the clothes becoming wet. Moreover, someone wearing a tool belt full of tools may have to repeatedly remove the belt when they wish to take a break, work on other tasks that require different tools, or other reasons. An improved solution for carrying both tools and a bucket may potentially provide benefits in efficiency, comfort, and/or safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems identified above are in large part addressed by a bucket toolbox apparatus with one or more tool holders. Embodiments may include a combined bucket and tool holder apparatus having a bottom panel, three or more wall panels each having a bottom edge attached to the bottom panel, two side edges attached to adjacent wall panels, and a substantially flat outer surface. The bottom panel and wall panels may together form a cavity adapted to hold a liquid. Embodiments may also include a pour spout integrated into one of the wall panels at a top edge of the wall panel to direct liquid being poured out of the cavity and a handle rotatably attached to two or more wall panels. Embodiments may further include a plurality of tool holders to receive and hold tools where each tool is permanently attached to an outer surface of one of the wall panels. Each tool holder may include two side panels attached to an outer surface of a wall panel and positioned substantially perpendicular to the attached outer surface. Each tool holder may also include two holder front panels each attached to one of the two holder side panels, and positioned substantially perpendicular to its attached holder side panels, where the two holder front panels are positioned to form a handle slot between them to receive a handle of a tool inserted into the tool holder. Embodiments of the tool holder may also include a holder bottom panel attached to the two holder side panels, the two holder front, panels, and the outer surface of the wall panel.

A further embodiment may include a combined bucket and tool holder apparatus having a bottom panel, three or more wall panels each having a bottom edge attached to the bottom panel, two side edges attached to adjacent wall panels, and a substantially flat outer surface. The bottom panel and wall panels may together form a cavity adapted to hold a liquid. Embodiments may also include one or more tool holders to receive and hold tools where each tool is permanently attached to an outer surface of one of the wall panels.

A further embodiment may include a combined bucket and tool holder apparatus having a bottom panel, three or more wall panels each having a bottom edge attached to the bottom panel, two side edges attached to adjacent wall panels, and a substantially flat outer surface. The bottom panel and wall panels may together form a cavity adapted to hold a liquid. Embodiments may also include one or more permanently attached tool holding means to receive and hold tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of various embodiments will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which like references may indicate similar elements:

FIG. 1 depicts a front, top, and side perspective view of a bucket toolbox with tool holders according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 depict depicts a front, top, and side perspective cut-away view of a bucket toolbox with tool holders according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 depicts a front, top, and side perspective view of a wall panel with a tool holder according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 depicts a front* top, and side perspective view of a bucket toolbox with tool holders and an inserted tool according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 depicts a front, top, and side perspective view of a bucket toolbox a varied configuration of tool holders according to some embodiments; and

FIGS. 6A-D depicts top views of various bucket toolbox embodiments with different configurations of tool holders and wall panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of the invention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are introduced in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, the embodiment(s) presented herein are merely illustrative, and are not intended to limit the anticipated variations of such embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide for a combined bucket and toolbox. The following description provides specific details of certain embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings to provide a thorough understanding of those embodiments. It should be recognized, however, that the present invention can be reflected in additional embodiments and may be practiced without some of the details in the following description. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. While specific embodiments will be described below with reference to particular configurations and systems, those of skill in the art will realize that the disclosed embodiments may advantageously be implemented with other substantially equivalent configurations and/or systems.

Generally speaking, a combined bucket and tool holder apparatus is disclosed. Embodiments of the combined bucket and tool holder apparatus may include a bottom panel and three or more wall panels each having a bottom edge attached to the bottom panel, two side edges attached to adjacent wall panels, and a substantially flat outer surface. The bottom panel and wall panels may together form a cavity adapted to hold a liquid. Embodiments may also include a plurality of tool holders to receive and hold tools where each tool is permanently attached to an outer surface of one of the wall panels. Further embodiments may also include a pour spout integrated into one of the wall panels at a top edge of the wall panel to direct liquid being poured out of the cavity and a handle rotatably attached to two or more wall panels.

The disclosed apparatus may provide for an effective and efficient combined toolbox and bucket. As will be described in more detail subsequently, a user of the disclosed bucket and tool holder apparatus may use the apparatus to carry both liquid (such as water) and an assortment of tools. According to some uses, tools may be washed in the liquid in the bucket and then placed in a tool holder on the side of the apparatus, allowing the tools to remain close at hand while eliminating the need to carry dirty or wet tools on one's person. Many different combinations of tool holders and bucket shapes are disclosed, providing for flexibility in design and customization for particular types of crafts or work.

FIG. 1 depicts a front, top, and side perspective view of a bucket toolbox with tool holders according to one embodiment. The bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 1 includes a plurality of wall panels 108 that together form a wall 102. The wall 102 (and its constituent wall panels 108) may be attached at their bottom edges to a bottom panel (not shown in FIG. 1) to together form a cavity that is adapted to hold liquids (e.g., water, cleaning solution), solids (e.g., sand, gravel, etc.), or other items. The wall 102 and bottom panel thus may form a type of bucket for holding items. The depicted embodiment includes six wall panels 108 in the wall 102 for a roughly hexagonal shape. As will be described in more detail subsequently, fewer wall panels 108 may be used (e.g., three for a triangular shape, four for a square, and so on) or more wall panels 108 may also be used (e.g., eight for an octagonal shape). Each wall panel 108 may also have a substantially flat outer surface to facilitate addition of tool holders 104, carrying the bucket toolbox 100 (by resting a flat wall panel 108 against one's leg).

The bucket toolbox 100 may also include one or more tool holders 104 to receive and hold various tools. The tool holders 104 may each be permanently attached to an outer surface of one of the wall panels 108. In the depicted embodiment, a single tool holder 104 (similar to the type depicted in FIG. 3) is located on the two wall panels 108 facing the viewer of FIG. 1 that do not include the pour spout 106. Tool holders 106 may be permanently attached to wall panels 106 in any fashion, such as by being an integrated piece (e.g., part of the same injection molding form), via glue or other adhesive, via screws or bolts or other means of attachment, via magnetic force, via welding, or any other permanent attachment methodology. Permanent attachment shall mean any type of attachment that is intended for long-term use, such as the life of the product, and shall include attachment means that are able to be removed via action by the user of the bucket toolbox 100.

The tool holders 104 may use any type of design adapted to hold desired tools. In one example (such as the one described in more detail in relation to FIGS, 3-4), the tool holder 104 may include two side panels attached to an outer surface of a wall panel and positioned substantially perpendicular to the attached outer surface and two holder front panels each attached to one of the two holder side panels and positioned substantially perpendicular to its attached holder side panels. The side panels and front panels may be positioned to form a handle slot between them to receive a handle of a tool, such as a trowel, inserted into the tool holder. This design facilitates receiving and holding a tool with a handle, including many tools associated with construction trades such as laying concrete (e.g., trowel, edger, groover, hand floats,), laying tile (e.g., trowels, grout floats, rubbing brick, etc.), or masonry (e.g., trowel, edger, floaty corner tool, groover, mortarboard, brick, etc;). Other tool holder 104 designs may be adapted to receive and hold other types of items, such as levels, hammers, screwdrivers, small items (screws, tape, etc.) or other tools or hardware items. One example design would be a solid, single piece tool holder 104 without a handle slot that could hold smaller items without fear of the items falling out of the handle slot. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any other design of tool holder 104 suitable for receiving and/or holding any type of tool may also be used.

As will be described in more detail subsequently, the tool holders 104 may be attached to the wall panels 108 in a variety of configurations. One or more tool holders. 104 may be attached to a particular wall panel 108, or a wall panel 108 may be without any tool holders 104. Different designs of tool holders 104 may also be used on the same bucket toolbox 100, providing for significant flexibility in designing a bucket toolbox 100 that is customized for a particular industry or use.

The optional pour spout 106 may be integrated into one of the wall panels 108 at its top edge. The pour spout 106 may direct liquid being poured out of the cavity. Pour spouts 106 are known in the art and any design now known or later developed may be utilized. Bucket toolbox 100 may also contain an optional handle 110 (which may include a grip 112 in some embodiments). The handle 110 may be rotatably attached to two or more wall panels 108 so that the handle 110 may lie flat when not being used to carry the bucket toolbox 100. The handle 110 and grip 112 may typically be formed separately from other components of the bucket toolbox 100 and, in these embodiments, may be attached at a later point in manufacturing. Handles 110 are known in the art and any design (and means of attachment) now known or later developed may be utilized.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the bucket toolbox 100 and its components may be made from any material or combination of materials. In one embodiment, the bucket toolbox 100 and its components are all made of a plastic material. The entire bucket toolbox 100, for example, may be injected-molded as a solid piece. A one-piece bucket toolbox 100 may have advantages in cost of production as well as strength and waterproofing. In other embodiments, bucket toolbox 100 may be composed of metal, and in yet other embodiments, other materials or combinations of materials (e.g., partially plastic and partially metal), such as fiberglass, may be used.

FIG. 2 depicts a front, top, and side perspective cut-away view of a bucket toolbox 100 with tool holders 104 according to a second embodiment. The bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 2 is similar to that of FIG. 1 and the description of the aspects remaining the same, between the two will not be repeated in the interest of brevity. In the bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 2, the bottom panel 202 can be seen in cut-away. The bottom panel edge 204 of the bottom panel 202 interfaces with the bottom edges of each wall panel 108 to form the waterproof cavity.

The tool holder 104 configuration of FIG. 2 varies from that of the bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 1. In the bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 2, there are two tool holders 104 that are asymmetrically placed on non-adjacent wall panels 108. The embodiment of FIG. 2 depicts only one alternative example of configuration of the tool holders 104.

FIG. 3 depicts a front, top, and side perspective view of a wall panel 108 with a tool holder 104 according to some embodiments. The wall panel 108 may have a top edge 302 and a bottom edge 304 as well as two side edges 324. In some embodiments, each side edge 324 may be connected or otherwise attached to the side edge 324 of adjacent wall panel 108, and the bottom edge 304 may similar be connected or otherwise attached to the bottom panel 202 of FIG. 2. The wall panel 108 may have a wall height 308 (i.e., distance between the top edge 302 and bottom edge 304) as well as a wall width 310;(i.e., distance between the two side edges 324). In some embodiments, the wall width 310 may vary between the top edge 302 and bottom edge 304. For example, the wall width 310 may, for example, be larger at the top edge 302 to reflect a larger “mouth” to increase storage capacity of the bucket while still maintaining adequate stability. In an example embodiment, the wall height 308 may be about sixteen (16) inches tall while the wall width 310 varies from approximately 7.5 inches at the top edge 302 to approximately 7 inches at the bottom edge 304. In some embodiments, the wall width 310 (or wall height 308) may vary between different wall panels 108 in accordance with a particular design of the bucket toolbox 100.

The wall panel 108 may have a wall thickness 306, which may vary from the top edge 302 to the bottom edge 304. For example, in some embodiments, the wall thickness 306 may be greater towards the bottom edge 304 than at the top edge 302 to provide for additional strength (with respect, to fluid pressure) when a full load of water is carried in the bucket toolbox 100. In one example, a plastic wall panel 108 may have a wall thickness 306 of 0.25 inch at the bottom edge 304 and a smaller thickness of 0.125 inch at the top edge 302.

FIG. 3 also depicts an example tool holder 104 according to some embodiments. Tool holder 104 may include two tool holder sections 312 that are each attached to the outer surface (i.e., the surface on the outside of the bucket toolbox 100) of the wall panel 108. Each tool holder section 312 may include a holder side panel 314 and a holder front panel 316. The holder side panels 314 may be attached to and positioned substantially perpendicular to the outer surface 326 of the wall panel 108 in some embodiments. The holder front panels 316 may each be attached to and positioned substantially perpendicular to the holder side panels 314. The holder side panels 314 and holder front panels 316 may be positioned to form a handle slot 316 between them to receive a handle of a tool, such as a trowel, inserted into the tool holder 304 to facilitate receiving and holding a tool with a handle. The tool holder section 312 may also include a holder bottom panel 322 attached to the holder front panel 316, holder side panel 314, and outer surface 326. The holder bottom panel 322 may assist in retaining some tools place in the tool holder 104 and prevent those tools from sliding through the tool holder 104. Two tool holder sections 312 may form the tool holder 104. The tool holder 104 may typically be shorter than the wall height 308 of the wall panel 108 so that it does not protrude past the wall panel 108. A typical handle slot 316 width may be 1.5 inches to accommodate standard-sized tools.

As described previously, the tool holder 104 of FIG. 3 is only one example embodiment and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any other shape or design of tool holder 104 may be used to facilitate receiving and holding a particular tool.

FIG. 4 depicts a front, top, and side perspective view of a bucket toolbox 100 with tool holders 104 and an inserted tool according to some embodiments. The bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 4 is similar to those previously described and the description Of the similar aspects will not be repeated in the interest of brevity. The bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 4 includes a plurality of tool holders 104 attached to different wall panels 108. A tool 402 (such as a trowel) may be inserted into the tool holder 104 by a user by placing the tool 402 into the region formed between the tool holder sections 310 and the wall panel 108 itself, as well as by aligning the handle of the tool with the handle slot 316. Once the tool 402 has been inserted, it should remain within the tool holder 104 during normal usage. The tool 402 may fall out of the tool holder 104 during abnormal usage, such as when the bucket toolbox 100 is held upside-down or subjected to a bouncy ride in a truck. An optional catch, lid, or other stop (not shown) may be provided to help hold a tool 402 in place if so desired.

FIG. 5 depicts a front, top, and side perspective view of a bucket toolbox 100 with a varied configuration of tool holders 104 according to some embodiments. The bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 4 is similar to those previously described and the description of the similar aspects will not be repeated in the interest of brevity. The bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 4 includes five wall panels 108 for a roughly pentagonal shape (as compared to the hexagonal shape of previous embodiments). The bucket toolbox 100 of FIG. 4 also includes an alternative configuration of tool holders 104 as compared to previous embodiments. In the depicted embodiment, the left-most wall panel 108 has a single tool holder 104 while the right-most wall panel 108 has two different tool holders 104. For the right-most wall panel 104, the left-most tool holder 104 is a typical tool holder 104 for a tool with a handle while the right-most tool holder 104 does not contain a handle slot and is thus suitable for other types of tools or items. As described previously, many possible configurations of wall panels 108 and tool holders 104 are contemplated.

FIGS. 6A-6D depicts top views of various bucket toolbox 100 embodiments with different configurations of tool holders 104 and wall panels 108. The bucket toolboxes 100 of FIGS. 6A-6D are similar to those previously described and the description of the similar aspects will not be repeated in the interest of brevity. The example, non-limiting examples of bucket toolbox 100 configurations may help depict some of the flexibility of the disclosed apparatus. Particular configurations of the bucket toolbox 100 may be developed for a particular industries or needs so that customers may purchase a bucket toolbox 100 designed for their particular application.

FIG 6A depicts a square bucket toolbox 100 With four equally-sized wall panels 108. One wall panel 108 has a single tool holder 104, a second wall panel 108 has two tool holders 104, and the other two wall panels 108 have no tool holder 104 or pour spout 106. The square bucket toolbox 100 also has a removable bucket 600 that may be stored within the cavity. The optional removable bucket 600 allows for the bucket portion of the bucket toolbox 100 to be easily changed without having to discard the main bucket toolbox 100 (including the tool holders 104).

FIG. 6B depicts a pentagonal bucket toolbox 100 with five wall panels 108. Two wall panels 108 include a single tool holder 104, two wall panels 108 are empty, and one wall panel 108 includes a pour spout 106. In the depicted embodiment, the two empty wall panels 108 are longer than the other wall panels 108.

FIG. 6C depicts a hexagonal bucket toolbox 100 with six wall panels 108. Five of the wall panels 108 include a tool holder 104, with two of the tool holders 104 having a design without a handle slot. The sixth wall panel 108 includes a pour spout 106.

FIG. 6D depicts an octagonal bucket toolbox 100 with eight equally-sized sides. For the, octagonal bucket toolbox 100, three wall panels 108 have tool holders 104 and one wall panel 108 has a pour spout 106. In between each of these wall panels 108 is a blank wall panel 108.

Many other wall panel 108, pour spout 106, and tool holder 104 configurations are possible, hi some embodiments. For example, tool holders 104 may be placed on wall panels 108 somewhat opposite that of the pour spout 106 so that in usage the weight from carried tools will help tilt the bucket toolbox 100 away from the pour spout 106 to help prevent leakage.

While certain operations have been described herein relative to a direction such as “above” or “below” it will be understood that the descriptors are relative and that they may be reversed or otherwise changed if the relevant structure(s) were inverted or moved. Therefore, these terms are not intended to be limiting.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that the present invention contemplates embodiments of a combined bucket and toolbox apparatus. It is understood that the form of the invention shown and described in the detailed description and the drawings are to be taken merely as examples. Although the present invention and some of its advantages have been described in detail for some embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Accordingly the inventive embodiments are not limited by the specific disclosure above, but rather should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted broadly to embrace all the variations of the example embodiments disclosed.

Although an embodiment may achieve multiple objectives, not every embodiment falling within the scope of the attached claims will achieve every objective. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Claims

1. A combined bucket and tool holder apparatus, comprising:

a bottom panel;

three or more wall panels each having a bottom edge attached to the bottom panel, two side edges attached to adjacent wall panels, and a substantially flat outer surface, the bottom panel and the wall panels together forming a cavity adapted to hold a liquid;

a pour spout integrated into one of the wall panels at a top edge of the wall panel to direct liquid being poured out of the cavity;

a handle rotatably attached to two or more wall panels; and

a plurality of tool holders to receive and hold tools, each tool holder being permanently attached to an outer surface of one of the wall panels, each tool holder comprising; two holder side panels attached to an outer surface of a wall panel and positioned substantially perpendicular to the attached outer surface; two holder front panels each attached to one of the two holder side panels and positioned substantially perpendicular to its attached holder side panels, the two holder front panels being positioned to form a handle slot between them to receive a handle of a tool inserted into the tool holder; and a holder bottom panel attached to the two holder side panels, the two holder front panels, and the outer surface of the wall panel.

2. A combined bucket and tool holder apparatus, comprising:

a bottom panel;

three or more wall panels each having a bottom edge attached to the bottom panel and two side edges attached to adjacent wall panels, and a substantially flat outer surface, the bottom panel and the wall panels together forming a cavity adapted to hold a liquid; and

one or more tool holders adapted to receive: and hold tools, each tool holder being permanently attached to an outer surface of one of the wall panels.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a handle rotatably attached to two or more wall panels.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a pour spout integrated into one of the wall panels at a top edge of the wall panel to direct liquid being poured but of the cavity.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the three or more wall panels comprise four wall panels, and wherein further each wall panel without a pour spot has at least one permanently attached tool holder.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the three or more wall panels comprise five wall panels, and wherein further each wall panel without a pour spot has at least one permanently attached tool holder.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the three or more wall panels comprise six wall panels, and wherein further each wall panel without a pour spot has at least one permanently attached tool holder.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the three or more wall panels comprise eight wall panels, and Wherein further each wall panel without a pour spot has at least one permanently attached tool holder.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one wall panel has two permanently attached tool holders.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the one or more tool holders comprises two holder side panels and two holder front panels positioned to form a handle slot between them to receive a handle of a tool inserted into the tool holder.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more tool holders further comprises a holder bottom panel attached to the two holder side panels and the two holder front panels.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein there are two or more tool holders and at least one tool holder is a different size than at least one other tool holder.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one tool holder is adapted to receive a trowel.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bottom panel, wall panels, and tool holders are integrated into one piece.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the integrated bottom panel,, wall panels, and tool holders are injection-molded plastic.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bottom panel, wall panels, and tool holders are plastic.

17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bottom panel, wall panels, and tool holders are metal.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wall panels have a wall thickness that is thicker at a bottom edge of the wall panels than at a top edge of the wall panels.

19. A combined bucket and tool holder apparatus, comprising:

a bottom panel;

three or more wall panels each having a bottom edge attached to the bottom panel, two side edges attached to adjacent wall panels, and a substantially flat outer surface, the bottom panel and the wall panels together forming a cavity adapted to hold a liquid; and

one or more permanently attached tool holding means to receive and hold tools.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising pouring means to direct liquid pouring out of the cavity.