US20110073516A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20110073516A1
Application number: US12/567,568
Authority: US
Inventors: Konstantin Zelinskiy
Original assignee: WORKMAN CORP
Current assignee: WORKMAN CORP
Priority date: 2009-09-25
Filing date: 2009-09-25
Publication date: 2011-03-31

Abstract

A stackable toolbox assembly includes a parent toolbox and a child toolbox. The parent toolbox includes a top surface formed with a plurality of positioning grooves and defined by a plurality of regions. The child toolbox includes a bottom surface, which has an area identical to that one of the regions of the top surface of the parent toolbox, and a plurality of feet, each of which protrudes from the bottom surface of the child toolbox. When the child toolbox is disposed on the parent toolbox, each of the feet of the child toolbox extends into a corresponding one of the positioning grooves in the top surface of the parent toolbox, thereby interconnecting the parent and child toolboxes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a toolbox assembly, more particularly to a stackable toolbox assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Typically, tools are kept indifferent tool cabinets according to type. Since the tool cabinets are bulky and heavy, the user selects the tools he/she needs from the tool cabinets and then brings the tools that he/she selected to his/her workplace. This causes inconvenience for the user, particularly when bringing a lot of tools or different types of tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a stackable toolbox assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

According to the present invention, a stackable toolbox assembly comprises a parent toolbox and a child toolbox. The parent toolbox includes a top surface formed with a plurality of positioning grooves and defined by a plurality of regions. The child toolbox includes a bottom surface, which has an area identical to that one of the regions of the top surface of the parent toolbox, and a plurality of feet, each of which protrudes from the bottom surface of the child toolbox. When the child toolbox is disposed on the parent toolbox, each of the feet of the child toolbox extends into a corresponding one of the positioning grooves in the top surface of the parent toolbox, thereby interconnecting the parent and child toolboxes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a stackable toolbox assembly according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a parent toolbox of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a first child toolbox of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a second child toolbox of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a third child toolbox of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating two of the first child toolboxes when disposed on the parent toolbox;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating two of the second child toolboxes when disposed on the first child toolbox;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating two of the third child toolboxes when disposed on the second child toolbox;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating four of the second child toolboxes when disposed on the parent toolbox;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating four of the third child toolboxes when disposed on the first child toolbox;

FIGS. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment when arranged in a stack; and

FIGS. 12 and 13 are schematic views illustrating means for transporting the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of a stackable toolbox assembly according to this invention is shown to include aparent toolbox10, and first, second, and

third child toolboxes

20,30,40.

Each of theparent toolbox10, and the first, second, and

third child toolboxes

20,30,40 serves to hold tools (not shown).

With further reference toFIG. 2, theparent toolbox10 is generally rectangular shape and includes top and

bottom surfaces

11,16. Thetop surface11 of theparent toolbox10 has a middle portion that is formed with apositioning groove13, and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of thetop surface11 of theparent toolbox10 and that is formed with a plurality ofpositioning grooves12. In this embodiment, theparent toolbox10 has a length (L1) of 576 millimeters and a width (W1) of 380 millimeters.

With further reference toFIG. 3, thefirst child toolbox20 is generally rectangular shape, and includes top and

bottom surfaces

21,24 and fourfeet25. Thetop surface21 of thefirst child toolbox20 has a middle portion that is formed with apositioning groove23, and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of thetop surface21 of thefirst child toolbox20 and that is formed with a plurality ofpositioning grooves22. Each of thefeet25 of thefirst child toolbox20 protrudes from a respective one of corners of thebottom surface24 of thefirst child toolbox20. In this embodiment, thetop surface11 of theparent toolbox10 is defined by a pair of rectangular regions that are of equal area. Thebottom surface24 of thefirst child toolbox20 has an area identical to that one of the rectangular regions of thetop surface11 of theparent toolbox10. Preferably, thebottom surface24 of thefirst child toolbox20 has a length (L2) equal to the width (W1) of theparent toolbox10, i.e., 380 millimeters, and a width (W2) one half the length (L1) of theparent toolbox10, i.e., 288 millimeters.

With further reference toFIG. 4, thesecond child toolbox30 is generally rectangular shape, and includes top and

bottom surfaces

31,32 and fourfeet35. Thetop surface31 of thesecond child toolbox30 has a middle portion that is formed with apositioning groove34, and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of thetop surface31 of thesecond child toolbox30 and that is formed with a plurality ofpositioning grooves33. Each of thefeet35 of thesecond child toolbox30 protrudes from a respective one of corners of thebottom surface32 of thesecond child toolbox30. In this embodiment, thetop surface21 of thefirst child toolbox20 is defined by a pair of rectangular regions that are of equal area. Thebottom surface32 of thesecond child toolbox30 has an area identical to that one of the rectangular regions of thetop surface21 of thefirst child toolbox20. Preferably, thebottom surface32 of thesecond child toolbox30 has a length (L3) equal to the width (W2) of thefirst child toolbox20, i.e., 288 millimeters, and a width (W3) one half the length (L2) of thefirst child toolbox20, i.e., 190 millimeters.

With further reference toFIG. 5, thethird child toolbox40 is generally rectangular shape, and includes top and

bottom surfaces

41,42 and fourfeet45. Thetop surface41 of thethird child toolbox40 has a middle portion that is formed with apositioning groove44, and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of thetop surface41 of thethird child toolbox40 and that is formed with a plurality ofpositioning grooves43. Each of thefeet45 of thethird child toolbox40 protrudes from a respective one of corners of thebottom surface42 of thethird child toolbox40. In this embodiment, thetop surface31 of thesecond child toolbox30 is defined by a pair of rectangular regions that are of equal area. Thebottom surface42 of thethird child toolbox40 has an area identical to that one of the rectangular regions of thetop surface31 of thesecond child toolbox30. Preferably, thethird child toolbox40 has a length (L4) equal to the width (W3) of thesecond child toolbox30, i.e., 190 millimeters, and a width (W4) one half the length (L3) of thesecond child toolbox30, i.e., 144 millimeters.

It is noted that the

positioning groove

13,23,34,44 in the middle portion of the

top surface

11,21,31,41 of each of theparent toolbox10, and the first, second, and

third child toolboxes

20,30,40 is generally rectangular shape.

In use, as illustrated inFIG. 6, when two of thefirst child toolboxes20 are disposed on theparent toolbox10, thebottom surfaces24 of thefirst child toolboxes20 abut against thetop surface11 of theparent toolbox10, and thefeet25 of thefirst child toolboxes20 extend into eight of thepositioning grooves12 in the periphery of thetop surface11 of theparent toolbox10, thereby interconnecting theparent toolbox10 and thefirst child toolboxes20.

In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 7, when two of thesecond child toolboxes30 are disposed on thefirst child toolbox20, thebottom surfaces32 of thesecond child toolbox30 abut against thetop surface21 of thefirst child toolbox20, and thefeet35 of thesecond child toolboxes30 extend into eight of thepositioning grooves22 in the periphery of thetop surface21 of thefirst child toolbox20, thereby interconnecting thefirst child toolbox20 and thesecond child toolboxes30.

Moreover, as illustrated inFIG. 8, when two of thethird child toolboxes40 are disposed on thesecond child toolbox30, thebottom surfaces42 of thethird child toolboxes40 abut against thetop surface31 of thesecond child toolbox30, and thefeet45 of thethird child toolboxes40 extend into eight of thepositioning grooves33 in the periphery of thetop surface31 of thesecond child toolbox30, thereby interconnecting thesecond child toolbox30 and thethird child toolboxes40.

Further, as illustrated inFIG. 9, when four of thesecond child toolboxes30 are disposed on theparent toolbox10, thebottom surfaces32 of thesecond child toolboxes30 abut against thetop surface11 of theparent toolbox10, one of thefeet35 of each of thesecond child toolboxes30 extends into thepositioning groove13 in the middle portion of thetop surface11 of theparent toolbox10, and the remainder of thefeet35 of thesecond child toolboxes30 extend into twelve of thepositioning grooves12 in the periphery of thetop surface11 of theparent toolbox10, thereby interconnecting theparent toolbox10 and thesecond child toolboxes30.

Still further, as illustrated inFIG. 10, when four of thethird child toolboxes40 are disposed on thefirst child toolbox20, thebottom surfaces42 of thethird child toolboxes40 abut against thetop surface21 of thefirst child toolbox20, one of thefeet45 of each of thethird child toolboxes40 extends into thepositioning groove23 in the middle portion of thetop surface21 of thefirst child toolbox20, and the remainder of thefeet45 of thethird child toolboxes40 extend into twelve of thepositioning grooves22 in the periphery of thetop surface21 of thefirst child toolbox20, thereby interconnecting thefirst child toolbox20 and thethird child toolboxes40.

As best shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, theparent toolbox10 further includes front, left, andright sides14, each of which is disposed between the top and

bottom surfaces

11,16 of theparent toolbox10 and is formed with a pair ofengaging grooves15.

From the above description, since theparent toolbox10 and the first, second, and

third child toolboxes

20,30,40 of the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention can be closely and firmly stacked, as best shown in FIG.11, the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention can be conveniently and easily transported from one place to another for example by first placing the toolbox assembly on acart200 and then by inserting ahandle100 into the engaging grooves15 (seeFIG. 1) in theleft side14 of theparent toolbox10, as illustrated inFIG. 12, whereby the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention may be pushed or pulled via thehandle100, or by simply inserting a pair ofhandles100 into the engaging grooves15 (seeFIGS. 1 and 2) in the left andright sides14 of theparent toolbox10, as illustrated inFIG. 13, whereby the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention may be carried via thehandles100.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A stackable toolbox assembly, comprising:

a parent toolbox including a top surface formed with a plurality of positioning grooves and defined by a plurality of regions; and

a child toolbox including a bottom surface, which has an area identical to that one of said regions of said top surface of said parent toolbox, and a plurality of feet, each of which protrudes from said bottom surface of said child toolbox,

wherein when said child toolbox is disposed on said parent toolbox, each of said feet of said child toolbox extends into a corresponding one of said positioning grooves in said top surface of said parent toolbox, thereby interconnecting said parent and child toolboxes.

2. The stackable toolbox assembly as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said regions of said top surface of said parent toolbox are of equal area.

3. The stackable toolbox assembly as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said top surface of said parent toolbox has a middle portion in which one of said positioning grooves is formed, and a periphery which surrounds said middle portion and in which the remainder of said positioning grooves are formed,

one of said feet of said child toolbox extending into said positioning groove in said middle portion of said top surface of said parent toolbox and the remainder of said feet of said child toolbox extending into said positioning grooves in said periphery of said top surface of said parent toolbox when said child toolbox is disposed on said parent toolbox.

4. The stackable toolbox assembly as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said parent toolbox further includes a bottom surface, and a side disposed between said top and bottom surfaces of said parent toolbox and formed with a pair of engaging grooves for engaging a handle.

5. The stackable toolbox assembly as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said bottom surface of said child toolbox abuts against said top surface of said parent toolbox when said child toolbox is disposed on said parent toolbox.

6. The stackable toolbox assembly as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each of said parent and child toolboxes is generally rectangular shape.