HINGED CASE FOR A SET OF TOOLS, ESPECIALLY FLAT-HANDLED SPANNERS

• US 20100258465A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works (Europe) AG
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works (Europe) AG
• Inventors: Gomas, Herve
• Application Number:
  US12/676,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20100258465A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/378
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/003 Holders for drill bits or the like

Abstract

This case (10) for a set of tools provided with a handle comprises a first holder (17) and a second holder (18) which are hinged together by a hinge (19) between a first position and a second position, and the holders (17, 18) comprise two partitions (24) which are substantially parallel to one another and which define a channel (22) intended to receive and retain the handle of a tool, each housing comprising two partitions (24, 124) substantially parallel to one another defining a channel (22, 122) intended to receive and retain the handle (16) of a tool. Each channel has a slightly greater width than the smallest dimension of the handle (16) of the associated tool, the handle being arranged substantially vertically in each channel. Application to the storage of a set of open-ended spanners or ring spanners.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. Case for a set of tools, in particular for open-end spanners or ring spanners, each tool comprising at least one working head and a flat handle, the case comprising:

a first support and a second support which are articulated with one another by way of an articulation between a first, storage and transport position and a second, tool access position, each of the first and second supports comprising;

a base of generally substantially planar form;

a plurality of receivers, parallel to one another, each plurality of receivers being integral with the base of the corresponding support,

each receiver comprising two partitions which are substantially parallel to one another and delimit a channel for receiving and retaining the handle of a corresponding tool of the set in a given position in the first support or in the second support;

wherein the width of each channel is slightly greater than the smallest dimension of the handle of the associated tool so that, in each channel, the tool handle is disposed substantially vertically, and each support comprises a plurality of receiving and retaining means for the working head of the tool, each receiving and retaining means being associated with a receiver and being intended to receive and retain the working head of the corresponding tool in a given position in the support, the plurality of receiving and retaining means being integral with the base;

wherein, in the first, storage and transport position, the supports are folded on one another, the bases being disposed externally and opposed to each other and the channels of the receivers being superposed facing one another; and

wherein each support is a part moulded from plastics material.

15. Case according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of receiving and retaining means are formed in one piece with the base.

16. Case according to claim 14, wherein, in the second, tool access position, the first support and the second support are opened flat in the manner of a wallet, the bases being disposed substantially in the same plane, and, in the second, tool access position, the channels of the receivers of the first and second supports are disposed side by side, parallel to one another.

17. Case according to claim 14, wherein the first support and the second support are constituted by separate parts, the first support being a large support suitable for receiving a set of large tools and the second support being a small support suitable for receiving a set of small tools.

18. Case according to claim 17, wherein each support comprises at least one lateral wall, preferably two lateral walls, formed in one piece with each base, which delimit(s) externally a or the end receiver(s), the outer lateral wall of the small support located on the side of the largest of the small tools being articulated with the outer lateral wall of the large support located on the side of the smallest of the large tools.

19. Case according to claim 17, wherein the first support and the second support are articulated with one another by way of a separate metal pin.

20. Case according to claim 15, wherein a clipping device locks the first support to the second support in its first folded storage and transport position.

21. Case according to claim 20, wherein the first support comprises an outer lateral wall disposed opposite the articulation, on which outer wall of the first support there is provided on the inner side a boss formed in one piece with the wall carrying it, and the second support comprises an outer lateral wall, likewise disposed opposite the articulation, on which outer wall of the second support there is provided on the outer side a recess formed in one piece with the wall carrying it, said boss cooperating with said recess in order to allow the first support to be locked to the second support by a snap-fit.

22. Case according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the partitions comprises a means for positioning the handle, and at least one partition of each channel, formed in one piece with the base, is suitable for bending resiliently and transversely in order to allow the handle to pass over the positioning means for the handle.

23. Case according to claim 15, wherein each support comprises at least one lateral wall formed in one piece with each base, which delimit(s) externally a or the end receiver(s), and the lateral walls join the base to said plurality of receiving and retaining means.

24. Case according to claim 23, wherein each support comprises two lateral walls.

25. Case according to claim 15, wherein the receiving and retaining means comprise a stepped bar which extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the channels.

26. Tool set comprising a set of tools, in particular open-end spanners or ring spanners, each tool comprising at least one working head and a flat handle, the set of tools being arranged in a case, the case comprising:

a first support and a second support which are articulated with one another by way of an articulation between a first, storage and transport position and a second, tool access position, each of the first and second supports comprising;

a base of generally substantially planar form;

a plurality of receivers, parallel to one another, each plurality of receivers being integral with the base of the corresponding support,

each receiver comprising two partitions which are substantially parallel to one another and delimit a channel for receiving and retaining the handle of a corresponding tool of the set in a given position in the first support or in the second support;

wherein the width of each channel is slightly greater than the smallest dimension of the handle of the associated tool so that, in each channel, the tool handle is disposed substantially vertically, and each support comprises a plurality of receiving and retaining means for the working head of the tool, each receiving and retaining means being associated with a receiver and being intended to receive and retain the working head of the corresponding tool in a given position in the support, the plurality of receiving and retaining means being integral with the base;

wherein, in the first, storage and transport position, the supports are folded on one another, the bases being disposed externally and opposed to each other and the channels of the receivers being superposed facing one another; and

wherein each support is a part moulded from plastics material,

wherein, when the case is in the second position, the free ends of the tools substantially define, for each support, a sloping line, the two lines being offset relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the tools.