US20080041746A1

US20080041746A1 - Toolbox

Info

Publication number: US20080041746A1
Application number: US11/504,033
Authority: US
Inventors: Fu-Jui Hsiao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-15
Filing date: 2006-08-15
Publication date: 2008-02-21

Abstract

The present invention discloses a toolbox that includes a turnable containing base in the toolbox for accommodating several screwdriver heads of different sizes and specifications, such that users can access the required screwdriver head easily. The screwdriver head is sheathed onto the socket joint exposed from the toolbox, and the toolbox includes one or more socket joints installed at different directions, such that users can select the most appropriate socket joint to connect the screwdriver head and hold the toolbox directly to drive the screwdriver head to secure a fixture or a component. The socket joint can be connected to an extension socket first and then to the screwdriver head to increase the operating depth of the screwdriver head, so as to provide a convenient-to-store and easy-to-use toolbox to satisfy user's requirements.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toolbox, and more particularly to a convenient-to-store and easy-to-use toolbox.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, hand tools such as screwdrivers and wrenches are necessary tools for securing fixtures and components, when equipments and devices are maintained and repaired. However, there are many different specifications of components, and thus users usually have to prepare various kinds of hand tools with different screwdriver heads or specifications to fit different kinds of fixtures and components. Such arrangement not only causes inconvenience, but also wastes natural resources.
To solve the aforementioned problem, a set of socket joints for screwdriver heads as disclosed in R.O.C. Patent Publication No. 134755 entitled “Improved structure applicable for socket joints of various hand tools” allows users to change a screwdriver head of a different specification in order to secure a different fixture, so that users simply need to prepare hand tools having a socket and screwdriver heads of regular specifications for securing a vast majority of fixtures. Although such prior art is convenient, users may lose the hand tools easily due to users' bad using habits. As a result, a screwdriver head no longer can work with a respective hand tool, or a hand tool does not have a respective screwdriver head, and thus causing troubles to users for using these tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing shortcomings and avoid the existing deficiencies by providing a convenient-to-store and easy-to-use toolbox, so that users just need to hold the toolbox to secure various different kinds of fixtures and components
The present invention relates to a toolbox, comprising: a base, an external cover, a containing base and a socket joint, wherein an end of the external cover is pivotally coupled to an end of the base, such that the toolbox can be opened or shut and a containing space is formed. The containing base is disposed in the containing space, and the containing base has a plurality of insert slots for inserting a plurality of screwdriver heads with different specifications. The socket joint has a socket, and the socket joint is fixed in the containing space, such that if the base and the external cover are closed, the socket will be exposed from the base and the external cover for connecting the screwdriver head.
Therefore, a user simply needs to select an appropriate screwdriver head to fit a fixture of a different specification and connect the screwdriver head onto the socket, and then the user can hold the toolbox to secure all kinds of fixtures and components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toolbox of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a toolbox of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an open toolbox of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of using a toolbox of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is another schematic view of using a toolbox of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To make it easier for our examiner to understand the technical characteristics, objective and performance of the invention, we use a preferred embodiment together with the attached drawings for the detailed description of the invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a toolbox 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a base 20, an external cover 30, a containing base 40 and two socket joints 50, wherein an end of the external cover 30 is pivotally coupled to an end of the base 20 to define a structure that can be opened and shut vertically and to form a containing space 25 between the base 20 and the external cover 30.
The containing base 40 is disposed in the containing space 25, and the containing base 40 has a plurality of insert slots 41 for inserting a plurality of screwdriver heads 60 with different specifications, and the containing base 40 is pivotally coupled to the base 20 (or pivotally coupled to the external cover 30) for turning the direction of the containing base 40.
The socket joint 50 has a socket 51, and the socket joint 50 is fixed in the containing space 25, such that when the base 20 and the external cover 30 are closed, the socket 51 is exposed from the base 20 and the external cover 30 for sheathing and connecting a screwdriver head 60. The two socket joints 50 of this embodiment are disposed at different directions of the containing space 25. In general, the directions of the two socket joints 50 are preferably perpendicular to each other, and one of the two socket joints 50 (or both socket joints 50) can be shifted and fixed to a position proximate to an edge of the containing space 25.
The containing space 25 of this embodiment can contain an extension socket 70, and a male end and a female end are formed at both ends of the extension socket 70 respectively, and the male end of the extension socket 70 is sheathed onto the socket 51 of the socket joint 50.
The base 20 has a latch structure 80 disposed on an external side of the base 20 and a latch structure 90 disposed at a position away from the base 20 and the external cover 30. The latch structure 90 can have two hooks 91 and two latch grooves 92 formed on the base 20 and the external cover 30 respectively.
When this embodiment is used, the toolbox 10 is opened first, so that the base 20 and the external cover 30 are opened, and then a user can turn the direction of the containing base 40 to facilitate the user to select and access the required screwdriver head 60. After the user has selected an appropriate screwdriver head 60, the toolbox 10 can be shut, such that the base 20 and the external cover 30 are closed to sheath the screwdriver head 60 onto the socket joint 50. Thus, the user can hold the toolbox 10 directly to secure a fixture or a component. Since the two socket joints 50 of this embodiment are set to different directions and can be shifted and fixed at positions proximate to edges of the containing space 25, therefore a user can select the most appropriate socket joint 50 based on the requirements of different occasions (such as the occasions for a large moment of force or for a narrow space) or the user can select to use the extension socket 70, if needed for increasing the operating depth of the screwdriver head 60. Thus, the invention can be used in different ways, and two common ways are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and these ways can be changed freely by users according to the actual requirements.
The latch structure 80 is provided for a user to buckle the toolbox 10 directly onto the user's belt to facilitate the carrying of the toolbox 10. Further, the present invention includes a latch structure 90 comprised of two hooks 91 and two latch grooves 92, wherein the hooks 91 can be opened only if the user presses the hooks 91 simultaneously, so as to constitute a protection mechanism to prevent users from pressing a single hook 91 by mistake, and the toolbox 10 will be opened unintentionally if the user buckles the toolbox 10 on the user's belt. As a result, the screwdriver heads 60 may fall out from the toolbox 10 or may be lost or missing.
In summation of the description above, the socket joints 50 are fixed directly onto the toolbox 10 of the present invention. After a socket joint is sheathed onto the screwdriver head 60, a user can hold the toolbox 10 directly to drive the screwdriver head 60 to secure a fixture or a component. Therefore, the invention is convenient to store and easy to use. In addition, the invention can prevent components from missing or losing due to a user's bad using habits, and thus the invention can further meet the user's requirements.

Claims

1. A toolbox, comprising:

a base;

an external cover, with an end pivotally coupled to an end of said base, such that said external cover can be opened or shut, and defining a containing space;

a containing base, disposed in said containing space, and having a plurality of insert slots for inserting a plurality of screwdriver heads with different specifications;

a socket joint, having a socket, and fixed in said containing space, such that when said base and said external cover are closed, said socket is exposed from said base and said external cover for connecting said screwdriver head.

2. The toolbox of claim 1, wherein said containing base is pivotally coupled to said base.

3. The toolbox of claim 1, wherein said containing space further contains an extension socket, and a male end and a female end are defined on both ends of said extension socket, such that said male end of said extension socket can be coupled to said socket of said socket joint.

4. The toolbox of claim 1, wherein said base has a latch structure disposed on an external side of said base.

5. The toolbox of claim 1, further comprising a latch structure disposed at a position away from a pivotal connection of said base and said external cover.

6. The toolbox of claim 5, wherein said latch structure forms two hooks and two latch grooves disposed on said base and said external cover respectively.

7. The toolbox of claim 1, wherein said containing space includes another socket joint disposed at a different direction, such that the directions of said two socket joints are perpendicular to each other.

8. The toolbox of claim 1, wherein said socket joint is shifted and fixed at a position proximate to an edge of said containing space.