Tool kit mounting system

• US 8,454,036 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apex Brands Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apex Brands Inc.
• Inventors: Cowie, Charles Henry, Bridges, Tobias Mckay, Bottles, Richard Rex
• Primary Examiner(s): Ebner, Katy M
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOLLMAN, BRODIE J
• Application Number:
  US13/109,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20120292870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 280/79.3, 280/47.34, 280/79.11, 280/79.7, 211/70.6, 211/126.2, 211/188, 211/194, 211/4, 312/349, 312/321, 312/280, 248/499, 248/500, 248/505, 248/506, 248/224.8
• US Class Current: 280/79.3
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/02 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/12 Boxes, Crates
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/24 Suit-cases, other luggage
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/10 characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape

Abstract

A tool cart assembly including a tool cart having a horizontal surface defining a mounting aperture, a first rail including a bottom wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls, a front edge of each sidewall defining a catch, and at least one projection depending downwardly from the bottom wall, the projection being configured to be received in the mounting aperture such that the first rail is secured to the horizontal surface. A tool kit includes a sidewall and a first elongated rib, the elongated rib is configured to be slidably received by the first rail. The tool kit is removably secured to the tool cart by positioning the elongated first rib in the first rail and sliding the tool kit rearwardly such that the catches defined by the first rail engage a first portion of the tool kit.

Claims

1. A tool cart assembly, comprising:

a tool cart including a horizontal surface defining at least one mounting aperture therein;

a first rail including a bottom wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls depending upwardly therefrom and defining a channel, a front edge of each sidewall defining a catch, and at least one projection depending downwardly from a bottom surface of the bottom wall, the at least one projection being configured to be received in the at least one mounting aperture of the horizontal surface such that the first rail is removably secured to the horizontal surface; and

a tool kit including a sidewall and at least a first elongated rib disposed along an outer surface of the sidewall, the at least one elongated rib being configured to be slidably received by the first rail,

wherein the tool kit is removably secured to the tool cart by positioning the at least one elongated first rib of the tool kit in the channel defined by the first rail and sliding the tool kit rearwardly relative to the first rail such that the catches defined by the sidewalls of the first rail engage a first portion of the tool kit.

2. The tool cart assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting aperture of the tool cart'"'"'s horizontal surface further comprises a first pair of mounting apertures, the at least one projection of the first rail further comprises a first pair of projections, and the first pair of projections is received by the first pair of mounting apertures such that the first rail is removably secured to the tool cart.

3. The tool cart assembly of claim 2, wherein each projection of the first pair of projections further comprise a rearwardly depending tab that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the bottom wall such that a portion of the horizontal surface of the tool cart is slidably received between each tab and the bottom wall of the first rail.

4. The tool cart assembly of claim 3, wherein the first portion of the tool kit that is engaged by the catches of the first rail is a lip that is transverse to the elongated rib.

5. The tool cart assembly of claim 4, wherein each catch of the first rail projects outwardly from the front edge of the corresponding sidewall such that a notch is defined between each catch and the horizontal surface of the tool cart, each notch being adapted to slidably receive a portion of the lip of the tool kit.

6. The tool cart assembly of claim 4, further comprising a handle disposed on the tool kit.

7. The tool cart assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

a handle disposed on the tool kit;

an elongated member having a first end affixed to the tool cart and a second end that is configured to selectively engage the tool kit,

wherein the elongated member biases the tool kit rearwardly relative to the first rail such that the lip of the tool kit is biased into engagement notches of the first rail.

8. The tool cart assembly of claim 7, wherein the second end of the elongated member engages the handle of the tool kit.

9. The tool cart assembly of claim 8, wherein the elongated member further comprises one of a strap, a chain, a rope and a wire.

10. The tool cart assembly of claim 7, wherein the elongated member further comprises an elasticized strap.

11. The tool cart assembly of claim 3, further comprising:

a second pair of mounting apertures defined by the horizontal surface of the tool cart;

a second rail including a second pair of downwardly and rearwardly depending tabs that are configured to be received by the second pair of mounting apertures such that the second rail is removably secured to the tool cart'"'"'s horizontal surface; and

a second elongated rib disposed on the outer surfaces of the sidewall of the tool kit,

wherein the first elongated rib is slidably received in the first rail and the second elongated rib is slidably received in the second rail.

12. The tool cart assembly of claim 11, wherein the first and second elongated ribs are substantially parallel.

13. A system for mounting a tool kit including an elongated rib and a lip to a tool cart having a horizontal surface including at least one mounting aperture, comprising:

a first rail including a bottom wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls depending upwardly therefrom and defining a channel, a front edge of each sidewall defining a catch, and at least one projection depending downwardly from a bottom surface of the bottom wall, the at least one projection being configured to be received in and engage the at least one mounting aperture of the horizontal surface such that the first rail is removably secured to the horizontal surface,

wherein the tool kit is removably secured to the tool cart by engaging the lip of the tool kit with the catches of the first rail when the elongated rib is received in the channel defined by the first rail.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one mounting aperture of the tool cart'"'"'s horizontal surface further comprises a first pair of mounting apertures, the at least one projection of the first rail further comprises a first pair of projections, and the first pair of projections is received by the first pair of mounting apertures such that the first rail is removably secured to the tool cart.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each projection of the first pair of projections further comprise a rearwardly depending tab that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the bottom wall such that a portion of the horizontal surface of the tool cart is slidably received between each tab and the bottom wall of the first rail.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a handle disposed on the tool kit; and

a strap having a first end affixed to the tool cart and a second end that is configured to selectively engage the handle of the tool kit,

wherein the strap biases the tool kit rearwardly relative to the first rail such that the lip of the tool kit is biased into engagement with notches of the first rail.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a second pair of mounting apertures defined by the horizontal surface of the tool cart;

a second rail including a second pair of downwardly depending projection configured to be received by and engage the second pair of mounting apertures such that the second rail is removably secured to the tool cart'"'"'s horizontal surface; and

a second elongated rib disposed on the outer surfaces of the sidewall of the tool kit,

wherein the first elongated rib is slidably received in the first rail and the second elongated rib is slidably received in the second rail.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein each catch of the first rail projects outwardly from the front edge of the corresponding sidewall such that a notch is defined between each catch and the horizontal surface of the tool cart, each notch being adapted to slidably receive a portion of the lip of the tool kit.