Triple section zipper tool case

• US 5,423,404 A
• Filed: 02/02/1994
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.H. Ellis Company, Inc. (Materials Processing Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: C H Ellis Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Shaw, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/190,282
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 206/372, 206/373, 206/320, 206/315.1, 190/102, 190/103, 190/109, 190/111, 190/113, 190/119
• US Class Current: 190/102
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/00 Flexible luggage; Handbags collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/00 Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/00 Storage means or arrangements for workshops facilitating access to, or handling of, work tools or instruments containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00; nail dispensers B25C3/00

Abstract

A triple section tool case includes a center cargo bay and two outer sections. One of the outer sections has built-in tool-receiving compartments and the other of the outer sections is a slim-line attache case. The cargo bay is opened and closed by means of a dual zipper and hook and loop connector flap.

Claims

1. A tool case comprising

a top side,

a bottom wall in spaced apart confronting relation to the top side,

first and second end walls appended to the bottom wall and situated to lie in spaced apart confronting relation to one another, the first end wall including a first area and the second end wall including a second area,

first and second reinforced side walls appended to the bottom wall and situated to lie in spaced apart confronting relation to one another,

the first reinforced side wall being arranged to extend between the first and second end walls and including a first bottom perimeter edge along the bottom wall, a first three-sided perimeter edge along the first end wall, second end wall, and top side, and a third area,

the second reinforced side wall being arranged to extend between the first and second end walls and including a second bottom perimeter edge along the bottom wall, a second three-sided perimeter edge along the first end wall, second end wall, and top wall, and a second area,

the third and fourth areas being greater than the first and second areas, and the top side, first and second end walls, and first and second side walls cooperating to define a central cargo bay,

a first reinforced outside compartment wall appended to the first bottom perimeter edge of the first reinforced side wall,

a second reinforced outside compartment wall appended to the second bottom perimeter edge of the second reinforced side wall,

the first reinforced outside compartment wall and the first reinforced side wall cooperating to define a first outside compartment and the second reinforced outside compartment wall and the second reinforced side wall cooperating to define a second outside compartment,

the first reinformed outside compartment wall including a top edge, first side edge,

the second side edge cooperating to define a third three-sided perimeter edge and the second reinforced outside compartment wall including a top edge, first side edge, and second side edge cooperating to define a fourth three-sided perimeter edge,

a first fastener joining the first three-sided perimeter edge of the first reinforced side wall to the third three-sided perimeter edge of the first reinforced outside compartment wall, the first fastener being movable along the first three-sided perimeter edge to permit a user to gain access into the first outside compartment and to provide a closure for the first outside compartment, and

a second fastener joining the second three-sided perimeter edge of the second reinforced side wall to the fourth reinforced outside compartment wall, the second fastener being movable along the second three-sided perimeter edge to permit a user to gain access into the second outside compartment and to provide a closure for the second outside compartment.

6. The tool case of claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners are situated between the first and second reinforced outside compartment walls and the central cargo bay

7. The tool case of claim 1, further including a flap to cover the top side and a central cargo bay fastener that is movable to situate the flap between an open position and a closed position.

8. The tool case of claim 7, wherein the central cargo bay fastener includes spaced-apart zippers extending parallel to each other along the sides of the flap and a hook and loop attachment positioned at an end of the flap and arranged to connect the end of the flap to the tool case.

9. The tool case of claim 8, wherein the flap in its closed position extends from a position on the first end wall between the top side and bottom wall up the first end wall toward the top side then along the top side to the second wall and down the second end wall to a position between the top side and bottom wall.

10. The tool case of claim 1, wherein the first and second reinforced side walls include an inner surface facing into the central cargo bay and an outer surface facing into one of the first and second outside compartments.

11. The tool case of claim 10 wherein the first and second reinforced outside compartment walls pivot with respect to the first and second reinforced side walls.

12. The tool case of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second reinforced outside compartment walls and corresponding reinforced side wall include tool pockets formed to hold tools.

13. The tool case of claim 10, further including handles situated on the first and second reinforced outside compartment walls.

14. The tool case of claim 1, wherein the tool case is soft-sided.

2. A tool case comprising

a top side,

a bottom wall in spaced apart confronting relation to the top side,

first and second end walls appended to the bottom wall and situated to lie in spaced apart confronting relation to one another, the first end wall including a first area, and the second end wall including a second area,

first and second reinforced side walls appended to the bottom wall and situated to lie in spaced apart confronting relation to one another,

the first reinforced side wall being arranged to extend between the first and second end walls and including a first bottom perimeter edge along the bottom wall, a first three-sided perimeter edge along the first end wall, second end wall, and top side, and a third area,

the second reinforced side wall being arranged to extend between the first and second end walls and including a second bottom perimeter edge along the bottom wall, a second three-sided perimeter edge along the first end wall, second end wall, and top wall, and a second area, the third and fourth areas being greater than the first and second areas, and the top side, first and second end walls, and first and second side walls cooperating to define a central cargo bay,

a reinforced outside compartment wall appended to the first bottom perimeter edge of the first reinforced side wall,

the reinforced outside compartment wall and the first reinforced side wall cooperating to define an outside compartment,

the reinforced outside compartment wall including a top edge, first side edge, and second side edge cooperating to define a third three-sided perimeter edge, and

a fastener joining the first three-sided perimeter edge of the first reinforced side wall to the third three-sided perimeter edge of the reinforced outside compartment wall, the fastener being movable along the first three-sided perimeter edge to permit a user to gain access into the outside compartment and to provide a closure for the outside compartment.

3. The tool case of claim 2, further comprising:

an outside compartment first end wall substantially co-planar with the first end wall of the central cargo bay,

an outside compartment second end wall substantially co-planar with the second end wall of the central cargo bay, and

an outside compartment top wall substantially co-planar with the top side of the central cargo bay.

4. The tool case of claim 3, wherein the fastener extends through the outside compartment first end wall, outside compartment second end wall, and outside compartment top wall.

5. The tool case of claim 3, wherein the outside compartment first end wall, outside compartment second end wall, and outside compartment top wall extend between the first three-sided perimeter edge of the first reinforced side wall and the third three-sided perimeter edge of the first reinforced outside compartment wall.

15. The tool case of claim 2, wherein the location and attachment of the bottom, first and second end wall, first and second side walls provides means for stabilizing the tool case when the outside compartment is in an open position.

16. The tool case of claim 15, further comprising an outside compartment bottom wall substantially co-planer with the bottom wall of the central cargo bay, the bottom wall of the central cargo bay defines a first fifth area and the outside compartment bottom wall defines a sixth area, and

wherein the fifth area is substantially larger than the sixth area.

17. The tool case of claim 2, wherein the reinforced outside compartment wall includes an extra layer of construction for protecting the contents of the central cargo bay.

18. The tool case of claim 2, further comprising a flap extending from the first end wall along the top side to the second end wall, the flap includes means for fastening so that the flap can be positioned in one of an open and closed position.

19. The tool case of claim 18, wherein means the for fastening includes spaced-apart zippers extending parallel to each other along the sides of the flap and a hook and loop fastener positioned at an end of the flap and arranged to fasten the flap to the tool case.