Stackable tool case
The stackable toolbox design with oblique angles and a rotatable closure provides stable stacking and transportation, addressing instability and wear issues in existing designs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102018214925
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2018-09-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2038-09-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing stackable toolboxes face issues with unstable stacking, difficulty in simultaneous transportation, and rapid wear of connecting mechanisms due to external forces.
A stackable toolbox design featuring oblique angles and convex/concave surfaces for stable stacking, combined with a rotatable closure that engages latching bodies for secure connection and transportation, and a handle for ease of carrying.
Enables stable stacking and simultaneous transportation of multiple toolboxes while minimizing wear and tear on connecting mechanisms, ensuring a longer service life and easy assembly.
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a tool case, in particular a stackable tool case.
[0002] Commercially available stackable tool cases essentially have the following designs: 1. The Taiwanese utility model TW M428033 discloses a tool case which has a first housing part and a second housing part, wherein a plurality of locking pieces are arranged on the outer housing surface of the first housing part and a plurality of support parts, each corresponding to the locking pieces, are arranged on the outer housing surface of the second housing part, wherein when the tool cases are lying flat and stacked on top of one another, the support parts of the second housing part are supported on the respective corresponding locking pieces such that the second housing part remains stable on the first housing part, wherein this type of arrangement only enables a stable stacking of the tool cases and does not enable the tool cases to be transported at once; 2. Taiwanese utility model TW M427245 discloses a tool case comprising two housing parts, on each of which positioning discs are arranged, each with a gap to the respective surface of the housing parts. To assemble two tool cases, the housing part is moved so that the positioning discs are positioned in the gaps of the other housing part and thus fastened. The positioning discs are usually screwed to the housing part by means of bolts. When lifting and transporting a unit comprising several of these tool cases, it may happen that the positioning discs break or the bolts come loose due to the heavy weight of the lower tool case, so that tool cases of this type are not suitable for being lifted and transported all at once. 3. Taiwanese utility model TW M500665 discloses a tool case comprising a main body and at least two connecting elements pivotally connected to the main body. In order to stack two tool cases, the connecting elements of the upper tool case are inverted and then snapped into the recesses of the lower main body, so that the vertically stacked main bodies remain stable and can thus be easily stored and transported. However, the structure of the pivot connection by means of which the connecting elements are pivotally connected to one main body is easily subjected to an external force striking or pulling on this structure, thereby damaging this structure. It is also possible that, when two main bodies are connected, the locking of one main body to the other main body is released under the influence of an external force.The connecting elements must be pressed into the recesses with force to engage them, and pulled out of the recesses with force to release them. Over time, the connecting elements wear out and break due to such use, thus losing their locking function. A tool case with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 20 2009 018 589 U1. Another tool case is known from WO 2017 / 016 573 A1.
[0003] The invention is based on the object of creating a stackable tool case which has a simple connecting structure by means of which a plurality of tool cases can be stably stacked on top of one another, connected to one another and lifted and transported at once, wherein corresponding bevel angles are arranged concavely and convexly on the respective housings and a rotatable closure is provided on the side opposite the bevel angles, wherein the connection of two tool cases of this type is effected by the bevel angles engaging with one another and by means of a rotatable closure.
[0004] The object is achieved according to the invention by a stackable tool case having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0005] The stackable tool case according to the invention comprises the following: a housing comprising: a first surface; a second surface opposite the first surface; a plurality of adjacent surfaces adjacent to the first and second surfaces, one of the adjacent surfaces being defined as the first adjacent surface; two first recesses recessed on the first surface of the housing, the two first recesses being located on two opposite sides of the first surface facing away from the first adjacent surface, the respective first recess comprising a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, a first oblique angle being formed between the bottom wall and the side wall facing away from the first adjacent surface, the first oblique angle being an acute angle; two second recesses recessed on the first surface of the housing, the two second recesses being located on two opposite sides of the first surface facing the first adjacent surface; two first raised blocks formed in accordance with the position and shape of the two first recesses and thus arranged on the second surface of the housing, each raised block comprising a top wall and a plurality of side walls, a second oblique angle being formed between the top wall and the side wall facing away from the first adjacent surface, said second oblique angle being an acute angle and matching the first oblique angle of the corresponding first recess; two second raised blocks formed in accordance with the position and shape of the two second recesses and thus arranged on the second surface of the housing; and two locking bodies arranged at a distance from one another in the direction extending from the first surface to the second surface on the first adjacent surface of the housing, wherein one side of each locking body facing the other locking body is formed as a circular arc-shaped surface; and a rotatable closure rotatably connected to the first adjacent surface of the housing, comprising: a connecting part arranged in the center of the rotatable closure and rotatably connected to the first adjacent surface of the housing and located on a side of the other locking body facing away from one locking body; and two locking recesses which are recessed on the first adjacent surface of the rotatable closure and are each located on two opposite sides of the connecting part, wherein one side of the respective locking recess, which faces away from the other locking recess, is designed as a circular arc-shaped surface, wherein the rotatable closure has a connecting position and an initial position, wherein in the connecting position the locking body of the housing facing the rotatable closure is enclosed by the one locking recess of the rotatable closure, wherein a groove is arranged on each of the curved surfaces of the locking bodies of the housing and a projection is arranged on each of the curved surfaces of the locking recesses of the rotatable closure, wherein the respective projection fits together with the respective groove of the locking bodies, wherein a carrying handle receptacle is arranged in the center of the first surface or the second surface of the housing and a carrying handle is arranged in the carrying handle receptacle of the housing and connected thereto, wherein a honeycomb-shaped projection protrudes from the second surface, and the honeycomb-shaped projection is lower than the first raised blocks and the second raised blocks, wherein a plurality of first recesses are recessed in the first surface and arranged along the side wall of the first oblique angle of each of the first recesses and form a plurality of first ribs opposite the side wall of the first oblique angle, wherein each of the first raised blocks has a plurality of second recesses formed in the top wall of the first raised block and arranged along a side wall of the second slant angle of the first raised block and forming a plurality of second ribs opposite the side wall of the second slant angle, wherein the projections of the rotatable closure and the grooves of the locking bodies contact each other via inclined surfaces, wherein each of the locking bodies has a plurality of body recesses which are recessed into the locking body and form a plurality of body ribs opposite the groove of the locking body, wherein the carrying handle has a cross strut, two diagonal struts connected to opposite ends of the cross strut, two side struts each connected to one of the diagonal struts, a plurality of second carrying handle recesses and a plurality of third carrying handle recesses, wherein the second carrying handle recesses are recessed in the side struts and are arranged along the side ribs and form a plurality of second carrying handle ribs in each of the side struts, and wherein the third carrying handle recesses are recessed in the diagonal struts and are arranged along the diagonal ribs and form a plurality of third carrying handle ribs in each of the diagonal struts, and wherein a first handle is connected to the first adjacent surface, the first handle having a plurality of first handle recesses recessed on opposite sides of the first handle and arranged along the opposite sides of the first handle and forming a plurality of first handle ribs.
[0006] The above technical measures achieve the following advantages in the stackable tool case according to the invention: 1. the tool case according to the invention is simple in design and easy to manufacture and assemble; 2. the stacking structure of tool cases according to the invention makes it possible for several tool cases to be stably stacked on top of each other, connected to each other and carried and transported at the same time; 3. According to the invention, the connection of two tool cases can be carried out easily and a stable connection of two housings is achieved; and 4. It is possible to design the rotatable closure to have a larger-diameter pivot axis, so that a more stable rotatable connection of the rotatable closure to the housing is achieved by the interaction of the larger-diameter pivot axis with an axle hole on the housing; furthermore, the locking recesses of the rotatable closure advantageously enclose the locking bodies of two housings in such a way that this construction does not wear quickly and easily and thus has a longer service life.
[0007] The invention is described in detail below using an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a stackable tool case according to the invention, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the stackable tool case according to the invention from a further viewing angle, Fig. 3 a front view of a first adjacent surface of the preferred embodiment of the stackable tool case according to the invention and a partial enlargement of a slot in section, Fig. 4 is a front view of a first surface of the preferred embodiment of the stackable tool case according to the invention and a partial enlargement of a rotatable closure in section, Fig. 5 is a side view of the process for assembling two tool cases according to the invention according to the preferred embodiment in partial section, Fig. 6 a side view of two assembled tool cases according to the invention according to the preferred embodiment in partial section, Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of the process for connecting two housings by means of a rotatable closure according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of the rotatable closure in assembled tool cases according to the invention in partial section, and Fig. 9 a perspective view of two assembled tool cases according to the invention according to the preferred embodiment.
[0008] The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings. The invention is not intended to be limited to the features apparent from the description and the drawings.
[0009] As from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the stackable tool case according to the invention comprises, according to a preferred embodiment, a housing 10 and a rotatable closure 20.
[0010] The housing 10 is substantially rectangular and includes a first surface 11, a second surface 12, a plurality of adjacent surfaces, two first recesses 14, two second recesses 15, two first raised blocks 16, two second raised blocks 17, and two detent bodies 18.
[0011] The first and second surfaces 11, 12 are located on opposite sides of the housing 10, with one of the adjacent surfaces being defined as the first adjacent surface 13. The housing 10 preferably comprises two housing parts 10A, 10B, which are pivotally connected to one another on the side facing away from the first adjacent surface 13, such that they form the housing 10 when joined together. The first and second surfaces 11, 12 are each located on the two housing parts 10A, 10B, with the adjacent side walls of the two joined housing parts 10A, 10B forming the adjacent surfaces of the housing 10, with connecting disks being arranged on the side of the first adjacent surfaces 13 of the two housing parts 10A, 10B.
[0012] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, the two first recesses 14 are recessed on the first surface 11 of the housing 10 and are located on two opposite sides of the first surface 11, facing away from the first adjacent surface 13. The respective first recess 14 comprises a bottom wall 141 and a plurality of side walls, wherein a first oblique angle 142, which is an acute angle, is formed between the bottom wall 141 and the side wall facing away from the first adjacent surface 13. The two second recesses 15 are recessed on the first surface 11 of the housing 10 and are located on two opposite sides of the first surface 11.
[0013] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, the two first raised blocks 16 are formed in accordance with the position and shape of the two first recesses 14 and are thus arranged on the second surface 12 of the housing 10, wherein the respective first raised block 16 comprises a top wall 161 and a plurality of side walls, wherein a second oblique angle 162 is formed between the top wall 161 and the side wall facing away from the first adjacent surface 13, which second oblique angle is an acute angle and matches the first oblique angle 142 of the corresponding first recess 14. The two second raised blocks 17 are formed in accordance with the position and shape of the two second recesses 15 and are thus arranged on the second surface 12 of the housing 10.
[0014] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, two locking bodies 18 are arranged at a distance from one another in the direction extending from the first surface 11 to the second surface 12 on the first adjacent surface 13 of the housing 10, wherein one side of the respective locking body 18, which faces the other locking body 18, is designed as a circular arc-shaped surface.
[0015] As in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the rotatable closure 20 is rotatably connected to the first adjacent surface 13 of the housing 10. The rotatable closure 20 comprises a connecting part 21 and two locking recesses 22, wherein the connecting part 21 is arranged in the center of the rotatable closure 20 and is rotatably connected to the first adjacent surface 13 of the housing 10, wherein the connecting part 21 is located on the side of one locking body 18, which side faces away from the other locking body 18. In the preferred embodiment, a round hole is arranged on the first adjacent surface 13 of the housing 10. The connecting part 21 of the rotatable closure 20 is cylindrical and extends from the rotatable closure 20 to one side of the first adjacent surface 13 of the housing 10. Engagement parts 211 are arranged on the connecting part 21 so as to project radially outward and can thus engage with the housing 10.A notch 212 is arranged on the connecting part 21, extending along the direction of the connecting part 21. Such a structure achieves the advantage of making the connecting part 21 more flexible and thus easier to attach to the housing 10. However, the connecting part 21 of the rotary shutter 20 is not limited to the above embodiment. Alternatively, the connecting part 21 of the rotary shutter 20 and the housing 10 can be connected to each other by means of a rotary connection arrangement with mating concave and convex structures. It is also conceivable that the connecting part 21 of the rotary shutter 20 and the housing 10 are connected to each other by means of a rotary shaft element.
[0016] The two locking recesses 22 are recessed on the first adjacent surface 13 of the rotatable closure 20 and are each located on two opposite sides of the connecting part 21, wherein one side of the respective locking recess 22, which faces away from the other locking recess 22, is designed as a circular arc-shaped surface that mates with the circular arc-shaped surface of the respective locking body 18 of the housing 10, wherein the distance from the circular arc-shaped surface of the respective locking recess 22 to the axis of the connecting part 21 is substantially equal to the distance from the circular arc-shaped surface of the locking body 18 of the housing 10 facing the rotatable closure 20 to the connecting part 21. The rotatable closure 20 has a connecting position and an initial position.When the rotatable closure 20 is in the connecting position, the locking body 18 of the housing 10 facing the rotatable closure 20 is enclosed by one locking recess 22 of the rotatable closure 20. The rotatable closure 20 preferably comprises a long side and a short side. When the rotatable closure 20 is in the initial position, it does not protrude beyond the first surface 11 or the second surface 12 of the housing 10, wherein the two locking bodies 18 are arranged on one housing part 10B and the rotatable closure 20 is rotatably mounted on the other housing part 10A. When the rotatable closure 20 is in the connecting position, the two housing parts 10A, 10B can be connected to one another by means of the rotatable closure 20.
[0017] For stacking two tool cases according to the invention on top of each other, as in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, two first raised blocks 16 of the housing 10 of a tool case shown on the left side of the drawing are inserted into two first recesses 14 of the housing 10 of a tool case shown on the right side of the drawing such that the first raised blocks 16 of the left housing 10 are each received in the two first recesses 14 of the right housing 10 and thus abut against the first recesses 14. Further, the second bevel angles 162 of the first raised blocks 16 of the left housing 10 are brought into engagement with the first bevel angles 142 of the first recesses 14 of the right housing 10; at the same time, the second raised blocks 17 of the left housing 10 are brought into contact with the second recesses 15 of the right housing 10. Thus, the two tool cases are stacked on top of one another. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the rotatable closure 20 facing the contact surfaces of the two housings 10 is rotated into the connecting position such that the two locking recesses 22 of the rotatable closure 20 each enclose a locking body 18 of the two housings 10 and thus connect the two housings 10 to one another. Preferably, a groove 181 is arranged on each of the arcuate surfaces of the locking bodies 18 of the respective housing 10, and a projection 221 is arranged on each of the arcuate surfaces of the locking recesses 22 of the rotatable closure 20, which projection mates with the respective groove 181 of the locking bodies 18. The rotatable closure 20 and the locking bodies 18 thus engage with one another in the connecting position.
[0018] As from Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 9, a carrying handle receptacle 19 is preferably arranged in the center of the first surface 11 or the second surface 12 of the housing 10, and a carrying handle 30 is rotatably mounted in the carrying handle receptacle 19 of the housing 10. Once two housings 10 are connected to each other, the user can carry and transport the two housings 10 together using the carrying handle 30.
[0019] Further is from Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 that the housing 10 can also be designed such that a U-shaped slot 101 is arranged on the side wall of one housing part 10B, the opening of which faces the other housing part 10A, with a stopper 102 protruding from the other housing part 10A, the stopper 102 being formed in correspondence with the opening of the slot 101. Thus, with the housing 10 open, the user can insert business cards into the slot 101.
[0020] The above technical measures achieve the following advantages in the stackable tool case according to the invention: 1. the tool case according to the invention is simple in design and easy to manufacture and assemble; 2. the stacking structure of tool cases according to the invention makes it possible for several tool cases to be stably stacked on top of each other, connected to each other and carried and transported at the same time; 3. According to the invention, the connection of two tool cases can be carried out easily, and a stable connection of two housings 10 can be achieved; and 4. It is possible to design the rotatable closure 20 such that the connecting part 21 of the rotatable closure 20 has a larger-diameter rotation axis, so that a more stable rotatable connection of the rotatable closure 20 to the housing 10 is achieved by the interaction of the larger-diameter rotation axis with an axle hole on the housing 10; moreover, the locking recesses 22 of the rotatable closure 20 advantageously enclose the locking bodies 18 of two housings 10 in such a way that this construction does not wear quickly and easily and thus has a longer service life.
[0021] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Rather, modifications are possible such that individual features can be omitted or different combinations of features can be implemented, as long as the scope of the appended claims is not exceeded. The disclosure of the present invention includes all combinations of the individual features presented. List of reference symbols 10 housings 10A housing part 10B Housing part 101 slot 102 stoppers 11 first surface 12 second surface 13 first adjacent areas 14 first recesses 141 Lower wall 142 first oblique angle 15 second recesses 16 first raised blocks 161 upper wall 162 second oblique angle 17 second raised blocks 18 locking bodies 181 groove 19 Carrying handle holder 20 rotating closure 21 Connecting part 211 engaging part 212 incision 22 Recess 221 lead 30 carrying handle
Claims
[1] Stackable tool case, comprising: - a housing (10) comprising: a first surface (11); a second surface (12) opposite the first surface (11); a variety of adjacent areas located on the first and second surface (11, 12), wherein one of the adjacent surfaces is defined as the first adjacent surface (13); two first recesses (14) which are recessed on the first surface (11) of the housing (10), wherein the two first recesses (14) are located on two opposite sides of the first surface (11) facing away from the first adjacent surface (13), wherein the respective first recess (14) comprises a bottom wall (141) and a plurality of side walls, wherein a first oblique angle (142) which is an acute angle is formed between the bottom wall (141) and the side wall facing away from the first adjacent surface (13); two second recesses (15) recessed on the first surface (11) of the housing (10), wherein the two second recesses (15) are located on two opposite sides of the first surface (11) facing the first adjacent surface (13); two first raised blocks (16) formed in accordance with the position and shape of the two first recesses (14) and thus arranged on the second surface (12) of the housing (10), each raised block (16) comprising a top wall (161) and a plurality of side walls, a second oblique angle (162) being formed between the top wall (161) and the side wall facing away from the first adjacent surface (13), said second oblique angle being an acute angle and matching the first oblique angle (142) of the corresponding first recess (14); two second raised blocks (17) formed in accordance with the position and shape of the two second recesses (15) and thus arranged on the second surface (12) of the housing (10); and two locking bodies (18) which are arranged at a distance from one another on the first adjacent surface (13) of the housing (10) in the direction extending from the first surface (11) to the second surface (12), wherein one side of the respective locking body (18) which faces the other locking body (18) is designed as a circular arc-shaped surface; and - a rotatable closure (20) rotatably connected to the first adjacent surface (13) of the housing (10), comprising: a connecting part (21) arranged in the center of the rotatable closure (20) and rotatably connected to the first adjacent surface (13) of the housing (10) and located on a side of the other locking body (18) facing away from the one locking body (18); and two locking recesses (22) which are recessed on the first adjacent surface (13) of the rotatable closure (20) and are each located on two opposite sides of the connecting part (21), wherein one side of the respective locking recess (22), which faces away from the other locking recess (22), is designed as a circular arc-shaped surface, wherein the rotatable closure (20) has a connecting position and an initial position, wherein in the connecting position the locking body (18) of the housing (10) facing the rotatable closure (20) is enclosed by one locking recess (22) of the rotatable closure (20), characterized bythat a groove (181) is arranged on each of the curved surfaces of the locking bodies (18) of the housing (10) and a projection (221) is arranged on each of the curved surfaces of the locking recesses (22) of the rotatable closure (20), wherein the respective projection (221) fits together with the respective groove (181) of the locking bodies (18), wherein a carrying handle receptacle (19) is arranged in the middle of the first surface (11) or the second surface (12) of the housing (10) and a carrying handle (30) is arranged in the carrying handle receptacle (19) of the housing (10) and is connected thereto, wherein a honeycomb-shaped projection (125) projects from the second surface (12), the honeycomb-shaped projection (125) being lower than the first raised blocks (16) and the second raised blocks (17), wherein a plurality of first recesses (115) are recessed in the first surface (11) and are arranged along the side wall of the first oblique angle (142) of each of the first recesses (14) and form a plurality of first ribs (113) opposite the side wall of the first oblique angle (142), wherein each of the first raised blocks (16) has a plurality of second recesses (165) formed in the top wall (161) of the first raised block (16) and arranged along a side wall of the second bevel angle (162) of the first raised block (16) and forming a plurality of second ribs (163) opposite the side wall of the second bevel angle (162), wherein the projections (221) of the rotatable closure (20) and the grooves (181) of the locking bodies (18) contact each other via inclined surfaces, wherein each of the locking bodies (18) has a plurality of body recesses (185) which are recessed into the locking body (18) and form a plurality of body ribs (183) opposite the groove (181) of the locking body (18), wherein the carrying handle (30) has a cross strut (31), two diagonal struts (33) connected to opposite ends of the cross strut (31), two side struts (35), each connected to one of the diagonal struts (33), a plurality of second carrying handle recesses (355) and a plurality of third carrying handle recesses (335), wherein the second carrying handle recesses (355) are recessed in the side struts (35) and are arranged along the side ribs (35) and form a plurality of second carrying handle ribs (353) in each of the side struts (35), and wherein the third carrying handle recesses (335) are recessed in the diagonal struts (33) and are arranged along the diagonal ribs (33) and form a plurality of third carrying handle ribs (333) in each of the diagonal struts (33), and wherein a first handle (40) is connected to the first adjacent surface (13), the first handle (40) having a plurality of first handle recesses (45) recessed on opposite sides of the first handle (40) and arranged along the opposite sides of the first handle (40) and forming a plurality of first handle ribs (43) of the first handle (40). [2] Tool case according to claim 1, characterized by that the connecting part (21) of the rotatable closure (20) is cylindrical and extends from the rotatable closure (20) to one side of the first adjacent surface (13) of the housing (10). [3] Tool case according to claim 2, characterized by that engagement parts (211) are arranged on the connecting part (21) of the rotatable closure (20) so as to project radially outwards. [4] Tool case according to claim 3, characterized bythat an incision (212) is arranged on the connecting part (21) which extends along the direction of the connecting part (21). [5] Tool case according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by in that the housing (10) comprises two housing parts (10A, 10B) which are pivotally connected to one another on one side so that, when joined together, they form the housing (10), wherein the first and second surfaces (11, 12) are each located on the two housing parts (10A, 10B), wherein the adjacent side walls of the two joined housing parts (10A, 10B) form the adjacent surfaces of the housing (10), wherein the first handle (40) is connected to one of the housing parts (10a, 10b). [6] Tool case according to claim 5, characterized by that the two locking bodies (18) are arranged on one housing part (10B) and the rotatable closure (20) is arranged on the other housing part (10A). [7] Tool case according to claim 6, characterized by that the first adjacent surface (13) of the housing (10) is arranged on the side opposite the connecting side of the two housing parts (10A, 10B).
Citation Information
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Container arrangement
DE202009018589U1
Stackable container
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Stacked type toolbox assembly
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Tool box with stacking engagement structure
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Toolbox with combining and stacking function
TWM500665U