Tool case

• US 5,918,741 A
• Filed: 02/03/1998
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxtech Consumer Products, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: MaxTech, Inc.
• Inventors: Vasudeva, Kailash C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US09/018,015
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: D 3/284, D 3/282, 206/372, 206/374, 206/379, 206/234, 220/339
• US Class Current: 206/376
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/003 Holders for drill bits or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 73/00 Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs B65D85/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 73/0021 by means of cut-out or marginal tabs, tongues or flaps

Abstract

The case has a molded plastic card member, and a lid specifically configured to mate with the card member to define an enclosed area. The lid is connected to the card member by a hinge adjacent one edge thereof so as to be foldable between an open position away from the card member, and a closed position against the card member to define the enclosed area. The card member and the lid preferably each have tabs extending from side edges opposite the hinge, each tab having a hole generally alignable with a corresponding hole in the other tab, for the installing of a closure such as a thick plastic loop not generally severable without a tool. The card member and lid define between them a number of openings through the enclosed area particularly sized for portions of tool components and/or extra tool components to extend therethrough generally parallel to the card member, for visibility and preferably manipulation, without it being possible to remove them as long as the case is closed. At least one of the enclosed area and an area of the card member outside the enclosed area have tool components and/or extra tool components receivers configured such that removal of a tool component and/or extra tool components through the openings from the enclosed area is prevented when the lid is in the closed position, by a wall of a recess, or by a raised stop or the like.

Claims

1. A tool case for tool components, comprising:

a card member, and a lid specifically configured to mate with said card member to define an enclosed area, said lid being hinged to said card member adjacent one edge thereof so as to be foldable between an open position away from said card member, and a closed position against said card member to define said enclosed area;

said card member and lid further defining between them a plurality of openings through said enclosed area particularly sized for stored tool components to extend partially therethrough;

tool component receiving means on said card member;

at least one of said enclosed area and an area of said card member outside said enclosed area having at least one stop surface separate from surfaces defining said openings, each said stop surface positioned so as to block removal of a tool component through said openings from said enclosed area when said lid is in said closed position.

2. A tool case as recited in claim 1, where said tool component receiving means comprises a plurality of recesses depending from said card member, generally sized to accommodate tool components, with portions of said tool components extending through said openings into said enclosed area, removal of said tool components when said lid is in the closed position being prevented by said stop at least one stop surface and by said lid bearing against said portions to hold said tool components within said recesses.

3. A tool case as recited in claim 2, where said lid further comprises a plurality of clip projections therefrom, each to snugly accommodate additional tool components, with portions of said additional tool components extending from said enclosed area through further openings provided through said lid.

4. A tool case as recited in claim 2, where said tool component receiving means comprises a plurality of recesses in said card member outside said enclosed area, generally sized to accommodate socket portions of sockets with portions of said sockets extending through said openings into said enclosed area, removal of said sockets when said lid is in the closed position being prevented by said at least one stop surface and by said lid bearing against said socket portions to hold said socket portions within said recesses.

5. A tool case as recited in claim 2, where said tool component receiving means comprises a plurality of recesses in said card member outside said enclosed area, generally sized to accommodate socket portions of bit-sockets, with bit portions of said bit-sockets extending through said openings into said enclosed area, removal of said sockets when said lid is in the closed position being prevented by said at least one stop surface and by said lid bearing against said bit portions to hold said socket portions within said recesses.

6. A tool case as recited in claim 5, wherein at least one of said at least one stop surface comprises an end wall of one said recess.

7. A tool case as recited in claim 6, wherein said recess is arcuate-shaped.

8. A tool case as recited in claim 5, where said tool component receiving means further comprises opposing projections from said card member within said enclosed area, configured to snugly accommodate bit portions of said bit-sockets between them.

9. A tool case as recited in claim 8, where there are three said recesses in said card member outside one end of said enclosed area and two said recesses outside an opposite end of said enclosed area, whereby five bit-sockets may be accommodated with bit portions extending into said enclosed area, said enclosed area having five pairs of said opposing projections, each to accommodate a bit portion of one of said five bit-sockets.

10. A tool case as recited in claim 9, where said lid further comprises a plurality of clip projections therefrom, each to snugly accommodate additional tool components, with portions of said additional tool components extending from said enclosed area through further openings provided through said lid, towards said end of said card member having said two arcuate recesses, laterally outwardly from said card member.

11. A tool case as recited in claim 1, where said tool component receiving means comprises a plurality of arcuate recesses in said card member within said enclosed area, generally sized to accommodate socket portions of bit-sockets, with bit portions of said bit-sockets extending through said openings out of said enclosed area, removal of said sockets when said lid is in the closed position being prevented by said at least one stop surface and by said lid bearing against said socket portions.

12. A tool case as recited in claim 11, where said arcuate recesses and said openings are aligned such that said bit portions of installed bit-sockets extend laterally from opposite side edges of said enclosed area.

13. A tool case as recited in claim 1, where said tool component receiving means comprises a plurality of recesses in said card member, generally sized to accommodate sockets, some said recesses each having a tab extending from an edge thereof so as to extend into a cavity of a said socket when positioned therein, with portions of some said sockets extending through said openings out of said enclosed area, removal of said sockets when said lid is in the closed position being prevented by said at least one stop surface and by said lid bearing against said some sockets.

14. A tool case as recited in claim 1, where said card member includes a portion extending substantially beyond any area of said card member configured for tool components to be positioned, said portion having an opening therethrough to permit hanging said card member on a peg.

15. A tool case as recited in claim 1, where said card member and lid each having tabs extending from side edges opposite the hinged edge, each said tab having a hole generally alignable with a corresponding hole in the other tab.

16. A tool case as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one stop surface comprises a projection from said card member.

17. A tool case as recited in claim 1, wherein said lid includes at least one window thereon.