Illuminated utility box

• US 5,459,648 A
• Filed: 09/02/1994
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glenn H. Courtney
• Original Assignee: Glenn H. Courtney
• Inventors: Courtney, Glenn H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US08/299,948
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 362/154, 362/155, 362/183, 362/189, 362/191, 362/234, 362/236, 362/242, 362/269, 362/287, 362/288, 362/427, 43/54.1, 43/57.1, 43/17.5, 206/373, 312/902
• US Class Current: 362/154
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/06 with illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/02 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0084 Hand tools; Toolboxes

Abstract

A utility box for containing and illuminating objects present therein. The inventive device includes a main body having a lid pivotally mounted thereto. A compartmented tray is mounted to the lid and remains horizontal during movement of the lid. A lid light is movably mounted to an interior of the lid for illuminating both an interior and exterior of the box. The device may further include compartment lights for illuminating each compartment of the tray, and a main body light for illuminating the interior of the main body. Further, a telescoping light may be mounted to the interior of the main body and extended therefrom to further illuminate the area around the box.

Claims

1. An illuminated utility box comprising:

a main body having a bottom wall, a front wall spaced from a rear wall, and a pair of opposed sidewalls which project orthogonally from said bottom wall to define a main body interior within said main body;

a lid pivotally mounted to said rear wall of said main body, said lid including a lid front wall spaced from a lid rear wall and a pair of opposed lid sidewalls which project from a lid top wall;

a lid light pivotally mounted to an interior of said lid, wherein said lid light comprises a bracket mounted to said sidewall of said lid with

a length of flexible tubing having an inner and outer distal end, said inner distal end pivotally mounted to said bracket;

a bulb receptacle interconnected to said outer distal end of said flexible tubing;

a light bulb engaged to said bulb receptacle;

a switch coupled to said bulb receptacle and operable to effect selective energization of said light bulb;

a shade extending around and mounted to said bulb receptacle; and

a tray having a plurality of compartments, said tray being pivotally mounted to said lid by a plurality of levers which cooperate to maintain said tray in a substantially horizontal position during opening and closing of said lid relative to said main body, said tray comprises a plurality of compartment lights, each of said lights separately illuminates each of said compartments, and said tray further comprises a main body interior light which mainly illuminates said main body interior.