ADAPTATIVE TOOL BOX

Abstract

A box for carrying tools, such as socket wrenches, screwdrivers and the like and interchangeable accessories thereof, to be used in a pre-established sequence, preferably for industrial or professional application, during sequential fastening of screws, nuts and the like operations, with a precise control of fastening torque and/or angle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a box for carrying tools, such as socket wrenches, screwdrivers, and the like and interchangeable accessories thereof, to be used in a pre-established sequence. More particularly, the invention is directed to a box for carrying tools preferably intended for industrial or professional use, of the type comprising a plurality of access holes to respective cavities provided to house the different tools according to their diameter, their size or the sequence in which they are to be used, thus keeping them in a proper arrangement, and holding them in such a way that they will remain attached to the box whatever its position, in order that they may not accidentally come out of the box or fall down. Thus, the box avoids the risk of misplacing or momentarily losing sight of the tools or altering the sequence of the industrial process underway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several models of socket wrench boxes are known in the art, which are particularly intended for industrial or professional use and designed to meet technical requirements such as detecting information on the tool in use and sending it by electronic or electric means, to a control unit related to the assembly, manufacture or mounting process of parts of machines, vehicles, structures and the like. During these processes, one of the most frequent operations comprises the fastening of a plurality of nuts and/or screws of different sizes. It is very important to have an accurate control of the applied torque and to be able to perform the necessary operation in the proper sequence, avoiding any circumstance that may imply an interruption of the continuous process and affect productivity of the industrial process involved.

As in any industrial production process, in which a predetermined sequence of operations must be followed, the precise selection of the proper tool for each step of the process is an essential factor for a normal development of the required operations, and any accidental or involuntary alteration of said sequence may considerably affect the productivity of the whole process.

In the specific case of this application, i.e. the selection and use of the required tool for fastening of nuts and bolts in a predetermined sequence, or bits or punching tools in a punching process, or markers in an identification process, it is essential to have the appropriate means to perform simple operations, such as: picking the proper tool for such step, performing the corresponding operation, putting the tool back in place, picking the next tool, and so on, as may be necessary until all the operations of the production stage involved have been completed. To this end, several types of tool boxes of varying configurations, versatility and technical complexity are currently available in the industry. Many of these boxes are associated with electronic devices used for controlling that the required sequence and torque are used. However those boxes, even those of advanced technology in terms of the electronic devices employed, have drawbacks in the way they house and contain each of the tools they contain. For example, such boxes are used in such a way that the cavities housing the tools are vertically arranged with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the upper portions thereof, thus facilitating the visualization of the tools as well as the actions of picking-up, using and replacing the tools back into their corresponding cavities. Although some conventional box types include means for holding the tools, such as magnets and/or expansion springs, practical experience has revealed that when the box tumbles down, leaving the tools in horizontal position, or even worse, pointing downwards, such holding means are not fully capable of keeping the tools properly held within the box. Particularly, if the tools are not magnetic, magnets are of no advantage to hold the tools in place. Consequently, practical experience has also taught that frequently one or more tools fall to the floor, remain hidden behind or below another object, and quite often it may be difficult to find them, and even be permanently lost. It is not necessary to explain again here the inconveniences this may cause during any assembly or manufacturing process in which each production stage of sequence is assigned a definite operation time.

The above summarized drawbacks are efficiently solved by the box of the present invention, as a result of its remarkable structural and functional aspects, as will be clearly demonstrated in the detailed description, making reference to the figures which illustrate an exemplary preferred embodiment thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a box for carrying tools, such as socket wrenches, screwdrivers and tools in general, and interchangeable accessories thereof, which are used in a predetermined sequence, preferably for industrial or professional applications in processes consisting of a sequence of operations in which the use of each tool is ordered and controlled, for example, in sequences of bolt and nut fastening and the like, by keeping a precise control of the required torque or angle in each adjustment, drilling or punching by means of bits or punches, etc. The box is of the type comprising a plurality of holes in its upper wall to provide access to cavities where the respective tools are held, in an orderly way according to their diameter, dimensions or required sequence of use, holding them in such a way that, whichever may be the position of the box, the tools are securely attached to the box, without coming out of it and accidentally being dropped to the floor, so that they may get lost or cause an interruption to the normal course of industrial production.

Besides providing a secure attachment of the tools, a remarkable feature of the present invention is that the size of the holding cavity can be adjusted between a complete closure position, that is 0 mm when a given cavity is completely closed, up to the maximum opening needed to hold a tool of maximum diameter or size. This remarkable feature allows for a quick adaptation of the box to changes in the process sequence, without the need for special parts or specific machining processes. This makes it possible to move the box from one to another work station, as it may be readily adjusted to the dimensions of each of the tools used at the different work stations, thus requiring a single backup unit, which will be adaptable to different work stations, irrespective of tool sizes or the number of holding cavities required. Such versatility of the box of the present invention is particularly useful for maintenance operations, and will also result in a lower cost in required backup materials when the box, for different reasons, is withdrawn from service, since it will only be necessary to adjust each position as needed, to leave the box in operation conditions again.

An additional advantage of the box of the present invention is the fact that, since the box includes identical and independent tool holding modules, said modules are interchangeable. When any of said modules is worn out, it can be replaced by another module, and it is not necessary to replace the whole set of modules. This is undoubtedly a very advantageous cost benefit regarding both spare part inventory costs and maintenance work.

An additional advantage of this box is the fact that the electrical connections of sensors and light indicators incorporated to the modules in which tool housing and holding cavities are defined, reach the reception channel of an external control electronic device connector. In this way, several ways of connecting both the sensors and the light indicators are possible, according to the requirements or needs of the end user, without being limited to a single or special connection arrangement. On the other hand, conventional boxes, even those from well-known and prestigious manufacturers, require a communication module and can only be used in a single configuration, which implies the need to buy additional components.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a box for carrying tools, such as socket wrenches, screwdrivers and tools in general and their interchangeable accessories, to be used in a predetermined sequence, of the type comprising a plurality of cavities for housing and holding respective tools, in an orderly and easily accessible arrangement allowing the user to sequentially withdraw the tools as needed and then replace them into the box; the tools remaining held and attached to the box whatever its position. A set of housing and holding modules for each of the corresponding tools is removably attached within the box, and each of such modules comprises a main hollow compartment in which a tool holding clamp is slidably arranged in longitudinal arrangement in a cavity defined between a distal wall thereof and a distal wall of the module, wherein a clamp movement member is attached to said clamp for grasping or releasing the tool held within said cavity, being said clamp movement member operationally linked to an adjustment screw, wherein said adjustment screw is accessible from outside through the proximal end of the module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the clarity and a better understanding of the subject matter of the present invention, one of the preferred embodiments has been represented in several figures by way of example, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the tool box of the present invention, showing the box containing the holding modules for each tool.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box, from the opposite side of that illustrated in FIG. 1, showing one of the tool-holding modules and the side wall of the box where orifices have been made to allow the passage of an adjustment tool therethrough for the corresponding module.

FIGS. 3 to 7 are perspective views showing, sequentially, the assembly of one of the holding modules with the parts forming it.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing schematically the arrangement of each of the parts forming the holding module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring in the first place to the exploded view shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates the body of the box, and reference numeral 2 identifies the group of parts which, once mutually coupled, form the structure of one of the modules of the tool-housing set of modules to be arranged in the inner portion of said box body 1. As can be seen, the box body 1 presents a series of openings 4 in its upper wall 3 giving access to the corresponding cavity defined in each module 2 intended to house and hold in place a respective tool. In the proximity of each opening 4 a hole 5 is conformed through which a light indicator is shown, such as a two-color light-emitting diode (LED), which will indicate, as will be explained later on, the position of the holding and retention clamp for the corresponding tool, while in the back wall 6 of the box body 1 there is a window 7 to allow access of a terminal connector through which the necessary electrical connections between said light indicators and sensing means incorporated in each of the modules will pass.

FIG. 2 shows the modules arranged within the box body 1, and in particular one cavity 10 where the respective tool will be housed and held. In the front wall 8 of the box, matching with the proximal end of each of the modules 2, a corresponding orifice 9 is formed to allow passage of a screwdriver to be used for adjusting the amplitude of cavity 10 and, consequently, adjustment to either the diameter of the corresponding tool, or closing it into an out of service position.

Each module 2 comprises a main hollow body 11, which is open at its upper side and also at its proximal end, a clamp 12 for holding tools, a piece 13 for displacing said clamp 12, a plate 14 for closing the proximal end of the main body 11, and an adjustment screw 15 which proximal end 16 presents a recess to allow the screw to fit into a groove 17 formed on said closing plate 14. Each of the modules so formed is incorporated into the box independently from each other, and they are also mutually interchangeable.

The external face of the distal wall of clamp 12, which is the holding face for the tool to be held, has a central recess 18 defined between lateral protrusions 19, while the inner face of the distal wall of said main body 11 of module 2 presents a central convexity 20 defined between lateral recesses 21, which contributes to a firm housing and holding of the tool regardless of its diameter. The internal faces of the side walls 23 of each module 2 have longitudinal guides 24, corresponding to longitudinal protrusions 25 of the clamp 12 for an appropriate movement of the clamp along the main body 11. The front face of the distal wall of said main body 11 has a channel 26 with orifices to allow the passage of electrical connection cables between module 11 and an electronic control device, said cables extending along channels 27 formed in the external faces of the side walls 23 of main body 11, and orifices for the passage of said cables used to make the electrical connections with a connection channel 28 formed on the front of the body 11 and accessible through the window 7 of the box body 1 for the insertion of the corresponding connector.

In the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 7 it may be readily appreciated the manner in which clamp 12 is slidably arranged in the longitudinal arrangement in the main body 11 of module 2, the position of the clamp movement member 13 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and the outward projection of the adjustment screw 15 (FIG. 6), which proximal end 16 remains inserted and held within the groove 17 of closing plate 14 of module 2, which is in turn inserted via its opposed lateral edges into matching grooves or guides 42 formed on the internal faces of the side walls 23 of the body 11 (see FIG. 8).

In the longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 it will be appreciated that the inner face 29 of the upper wall of clamp 12 and the external face 30 of clamp movement member 13 have a matching stepped configuration, so that step 31 of said member 13, extending in front of step 32 of clamp 12, defines a pulling shoulder in the backwards travel of said clamp. In addition, a movement space 33 is defined between the distal end of said member 13 and the inner face of the front wall of the clamp 12, where a thrust spring 34 for the clamp 12 is arranged, in the forward direction for attachment and holding of the tool that will be housed into the adjustable cavity 35. Thus, clamp 12 can be adjusted from a totally closed position to a maximum opening of cavity 35, for example from 0 to 40 mm. A threaded longitudinal hole 36 is formed in clamp movement member 13 where the adjustment screw 15 is operatively coupled.

Clamp 12 includes a permanent magnet 37 that is operatively linked to a sensor 38 arranged in the clamp movement member 13, and a light indicator 39, or LED, preferably of the two-color type, which turns on and off according to the detected position of clamp 12, and/or changing colors indicating the sequence, according to an external command. Sensor 38, which may be, for example, a magnetic, inductive, mechanical or proximity sensor, among other possibilities, is connected to the connection channel 28 via cables passing through orifice 43 and channel 27.

The base for each of the modules 2 and the side walls of box body 1 have orifices 40 and 44, respectively, for the passage of linking rods between the modules and said body 1, and housings 41 to arrange means for the slidable attachment of the box to the work station or to a control device.

It should be emphasized that the tool-carrying box of the invention is capable of detecting any kind of elements housed in the cavity 35, either metallic, non-metallic, ferrous or non-ferrous.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A box for carrying tools such as socket wrenches and screwdrivers and interchangeable accessories of the tools, wherein the tools are use in a pre-established sequence, the box comprising:

a body having a front face, a back face, upper face, a lower face, a inner part, and an outer part;

a plurality of cavities located at the upper face of the body for housing and holding the tools;

a plurality of modules detachably coupled to the inner part of the body;

wherein each of said modules comprises:

a main hollow body having a longitudinally slidable tool-holding clamp in a cavity defined between a distal wall of the cavity and a distal wall of the module,

a clamp movement member coupled to said tool-holding clamp for grasping and releasing the tool housed in said cavity,

said clamp movement member having a bottom face and a top face and being operatively linked to an adjustment screw which is externally accessible through the proximal end of the module,

wherein the tools remaining held and attached to the box at any position.

19. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein said clamp is defined by a hollow body which is open at its base and at its proximal end, which slidably houses said clamp movement member in a longitudinal arrangement.

20. The box for carrying tools according to claim 19 wherein upper wall of the clamp has a upper face and a bottom face, wherein the bottom face of the upper wall of the clamp and the top face of the clamp movement member have a matching stepped configuration, so that the step of said clamp movement member, which extends in front of the clamp step, defines a pulling shoulder in the backward travel of said clamp.

21. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein a space is defined between the distal end of said clamp movement member and the inner face of the front wall of the clamp, which houses a thrust spring for said clamp in the forward direction thereof.

22. The box for carrying tools according to any of claim 18 wherein a hole is conformed in said clamp movement member, said hole being longitudinally threaded for coupling of said adjustment screw.

23. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein the proximal end of the module is closed by means of a plate having a groove which receives and retains the actuating end of the adjustment screw.

24. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein the inner faces of the side walls of the module have longitudinal guides for the movement of the clamp.

25. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein the outer face of the distal wall of the clamp has a central cavity defined between lateral protrusions.

26. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein the inner face of the distal wall of said main body of the module comprises a central convexity defined between lateral recesses.

27. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein said clamp can be moved between a completely closed position and a maximum opening position of the corresponding tool-housing and holding cavity.

28. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein the clamp includes a sensor disposed in the moving part of said clamp, and a light indicator, said sensor and said light indicator being connected to an externally controlled electronic device.

29. The box for carrying tools according to claim 28 wherein said sensor is selected from magnetic, inductive, mechanical or proximity sensors

30. The box for carrying tools according to claim 28 wherein the front face of the distal wall of the main body of the module further comprises a channel for electrical connection from the module to the electronic device, and the external faces of the side walls of said main body have orifices and grooves for the cables extending from said connection channel and said sensor.

31. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein each module included in the box is independent from the other modules and is interchangeable with any of them.

32. The box for carrying tools according claim 18 wherein said box body has orifices providing access to the corresponding adjustment screw.

33. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein the base of each module and the side walls of the box body have respective orifices for the coupling means between the modules and the tool box.

34. The box for carrying tools according to claim 18 wherein the base of each module includes housings for attachment means for slidable attachment either to a work station or to a control device.