TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to storage containers, and more particularly to toolboxes.

BACKGROUND

Toolboxes and the other similar containers are commonly used in a variety of fields, such as construction, repairs, etc., to store and to transport tools to and from a jobsite or between locations at a jobsite.

Such containers are typically made from plastic or metal, and may be reinforced. In addition, they may comprise a base portion having a cavity to store therewithin tools, and a cover articulated thereto. Locking means are often provided so that the contents do not spill during transport.

Toolboxes are used primarily by specialized technicians, such as machinist, electricians, and carpenters etc, or by an average user for small repairs at home. Typically, the user of a toolbox carries the toolbox to places outside his workshop, and thus must have all the necessary tools available therein. However, since frequently the toolbox contains a large verity of tools, searching for the right tool might be time consuming, and doing so while working might be quite frustrating. Thus, toolboxes typically are formed with a plurality of compartments, each having a different size and shape adapted to hold certain tools and supplies, and configured for convenient access.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a toolbox comprising:

a base member having base walls defining a base interior space; and

a cover member having cover walls, said cover member being articulated to the base member by an articulation mechanism, the cover member being displaceable between a closed position in which the cover member extends over the base member, and an open position in which the cover member is displaced with respect to the base member so as to allow access to the base interior space;

the cover member having at least one cover engagement element associated with at least one of the cover walls, and the base member having at least one base engagement element associated with at least one respective base wall and configured, in the closed position of the cover member, to engage the cover engagement element for arresting the cover member to the base member, so as to establish engagement between the cover member and the base member for transmitting between the cover member and the base member internal forces generated by external forces applied on at least one member of the toolbox, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating transmission of internal forces to the articulation mechanism.

The arrangement of the toolbox can be such that in the closed position of the cover member, the articulation mechanism substantially does not bear any loads.

The term 'external forces' refers hereinafter to forces which can be applied to one or more members of the toolbox from its outside. The external forces can be, for example, gravity forces, pulling forces or pushing forces. The external forces can be applied on the cover member or on the base member when the toolbox is lifted, pushed, pulled, or transported from place to place (e.g., by gripping a handle connected to the cover member) in the closed position of the cover member.

The term 'internal forces' refers hereinafter to forces which can be applied between the components of the toolbox upon application of external forces thereon. The internal forces can be, for example, shear forces, tension forces, compression forces and torsion forces. According to a particular example, the internal forces are shear forces applied between the elements of the articulation mechanism, between the base member and the articulation mechanism, or between the articulation mechanism and the cover member. These shear forces may have a vertical vector component. Since these shear forces may cause structural deformation of the articulation mechanism and impair its function, they should be reduced or eliminated.

It is appreciated that the base member is not necessarily the lowermost member of the toolbox and that other members of the toolbox can be disposed under the base member. It is also appreciated that the cover member is not necessarily the uppermost member of the toolbox and that other members of the toolbox can be disposed above the cover member.

In order to reduce or eliminate application of internal forces to the slide mechanism, the cover engagement element and the base engagement element of the presently disclosed subject matter, which, according to one example, constitute portions of the cover member and the base member, are configured to engage each other upon displacement of the cover member to its closed position, thereby establishing engagement between the cover member and the base member. This engagement allows directly transmitting between the base member and the cover member internal forces generated by external forces applied on the base member or the cover member, and thereby transmitting these internal forces from the cover member to the base member, and respectively reducing or eliminating transmission of the internal forces to the articulation mechanism.

The articulation mechanism can be any mechanism which connects two members of a toolbox and allows linear or radial displacement of these members with respect to each other. This displacement can be, for example, a sliding displacement or a pivotal displacement.

According to one example, the articulation mechanism is a slide mechanism. According to other examples, the articulation mechanism is a hinged mechanism or a cantilever mechanism.

The base walls can include a front base wall, an opposing rear base wall and base sidewalls. The base walls can extend from a base bottom to a base rim, defining together the base interior space.

The cover walls can include a front cover wall, an opposing rear cover wall and cover sidewalls. The cover walls can extend from a cover top to a cover bottom, and defining together a cover interior space.

The cover engagement element can be configured for engaging the base engagement element in a spontaneous and automatic manner upon displacement of the cover member from its open position to its closed position.

Engagement between the base engagement element and the cover engagement element can be accompanied by horizontal displacement of the cover engagement element with respect to the base member. The cover engagement element can be a protrusion extending from one of the cover member and the base member, and the base engagement element can be an opening formed in the other one of the cover member and the base member.

The cover engagement element can also be protrusion extending from each one of the cover member and the base member, and the base engagement element can be an opening formed in each one of the cover member and the base member, so that the opening is configured to receive its respective protrusion.

The cover engagement element can be a cover protruding member extending from the cover member, and the base engagement element can be a base wall opening formed within the respective base wall, and configured for receiving and accommodating the cover protruding member therein.

The base wall opening can have a downwardly engaging surface, and the cover protruding member can have an upwardly engaging surface, so that in the closed position of the cover member, the downwardly engaging surface rests on the upwardly engaging surface, thereby establishing the engagement between the cover member and the base member.

The toolbox can further comprise at least one cover sidewall extension configured with the cover engagement element.

The cover engagement element can extend from the cover sidewall extension.

The cover sidewall extension can extend from the cover bottom substantially parallel to the cover sidewall.

Alternatively, the cover sidewall extension can extend from its respective cover sidewall.

The articulation mechanism can comprise at least one slide arrangement configured with a first slide member mounted to one of the base sidewalls and a second slide member mounted to the respective cover sidewall and slidably secured to the first slide member.

The second slide member can be mounted to the cover sidewall extension, and particularly, to an internal surface thereof.

The slide arrangement can be configured with a telescopic arrangement having an intermediate slide member slidably disposed between the first and the second slide members. The intermediate slide member is configured for allowing full displacement of the cover member with respect to the base member at the open position of the cover member, to thereby facilitate full access to the base interior space.

For example, the toolbox can comprise two telescopic slide arrangements, each being associated with its corresponding cover sidewall and base sidewall.

The cover engagement element and the base engagement element can be disposed in proximity to the articulation mechanism.

The cover engagement element can be oriented parallel to the articulation mechanism.

Each of the base sidewalls can comprise an internal base sidewall, an external base sidewall parallel to the internal base sidewall, and an intermediate base sidewall spaced between and perpendicular to the internal and external base sidewalls. The internal base sidewall, the front base wall, the rear base wall and the base bottom can define together the base interior space.

The base wall opening can be formed within the intermediate base sidewall so as to face the cover engagement element.

The internal base sidewall can have an external sidewall surface along and in proximity to which the cover sidewall extension is configured to be displaced between the closed position and the open position of the cover member.

The first slide member can be mounted to the external sidewall surface of the internal base sidewall.

The external sidewall surface can have a supporting shelf protruding therefrom and the first slide member can be disposed above and adjacent to the supporting shelf, so as to allow the supporting shelf supporting to the first slide member in the closed position of the cover member.

The first slide member can pass through the base wall opening between and in proximity to the upper and lower edges thereof.

The toolbox can further comprise a wheeling arrangement mounted to the cover member for locomotion of the cover member with respect to the base member between its closed position and its open position.

The wheeling arrangement can comprise two wheels, each associated with its corresponding cover side. The cover member can be configured with two detachably attachable cover legs, each having a first end configured to be connected to the cover bottom and a second end configured for carrying the respective wheel.

The base member can be configured with two detachably attachable base legs, each having a first end configured to be connected to the base bottom and a second end configured to be positioned on a surface on which the toolbox is disposed.

The base legs and the cover legs can be replaced with other base legs and cover legs in accordance with the required distance of the base bottom from the surface on which the toolbox is to be disposed.

The toolbox can comprise a handle mounted to the cover member for transporting the toolbox and/or for displacing the cover member between its closed and open positions.

The handle can be pivotally connected to the cover member and displaceable between a deployed position in which one side of the handle lies on the cover member and an extended position in which the one side of the handle is disengaged from the cover member.

The handle can be configured with a telescopic mechanism configured for changing the length of the handle.

The cover member can be further configured with a cover pivotally articulated thereto for respectively allowing and preventing access to the cover interior space. The cover can be configured with at least one cover latch configured, in the closed position of the cover member, to be received in a corresponding recess formed within the base rim for securing the cover to the cover rim in this position.

The toolbox can further comprise at least one latch assembly for locking engagement of the cover member to the base member in the closed position of the cover member.

The latch assembly can be a detachably attachable member.

The latch assembly can be attached to the cover member at the front cover wall.

The front cover wall can have two side channels configured to receive two respective elongate side members of the latch assembly for attaching the latch assembly to the front cover wall. The latch assembly can have at least one normally closed cover member latch configured to be received within a corresponding at least one base member recess formed within the base rim.

The cover member latch can be displaceable along a vertical axis oriented along the plane of the front cover wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1A is a front isometric view of a toolbox in its closed position, in accordance with one example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

Fig. IB is a rear isometric view of the toolbox of Fig. 1A;

Fig. 1C is the toolbox of Fig. 1A with its handle at an upright position;

Fig. 2A is a front isometric view of a base member of the toolbox of Fig. 1A;

Fig. 2B is a rear isometric view of the base member of Fig. 2A;

Fig. 2C is a horizontal cross-sectional view along line A-A in Fig. 2B;

Fig. 2D is the base member of Fig. 2 A with a respective member of an articulation mechanism;

Fig. 2E is an enlarged view of portion Ai of Fig. 2D;

Fig. 2F is an enlarged view of portion A5 of Fig. 2B;

Fig. 3A is a front isometric view of the cover member of the toolbox of Fig. 1A; Fig. 3B is a bottom isometric view of the cover member of Fig. 3A;

Fig. 4A is a vertical cross-sectional view along line B-B in Fig. 1A;

Fig. 4B is an enlarged view of portion A ₂ of Fig. 4A;

Fig. 4C is a rear isometric view of the toolbox of Fig. IB with the cover member removed therefrom;

Fig. 4D is an enlarged view of portion A3 of Fig. 4C;

Fig. 5A is a front isometric view of the toolbox of Fig. 1A in its open position;

Fig. 5B is a rear isometric view of the toolbox of Fig. 5A;

Fig. 5C is the toolbox of Fig. 5A with its cover being opened;

Fig. 6 is a partial exploded view of the cover member of the toolbox of Fig. 2A; Fig. 7 A is a vertical cross-sectional view along line C-C in Fig. 1A; and

Fig. 7B is an enlarged view of portion A ₆ of Fig. 7A;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Attention is first directed to Figs. 1A to 1C and 5A to 5C of the drawings illustrating a toolbox in accordance with one example of the presently disclosed subject matter, generally designated 1. The toolbox 1 comprises a base member 10 and a cover member 30 articulated thereto.

The cover member 30 is slidably displaceable with respect to the base member 10 along a horizontal axis X between a closed position (shown in Figs. 1A to 1C) in which the cover member 30 is disposed above the base member 10 and an open position (shown in Fig. 5A to 5C) in which the cover member 30 is displaced with respect to the base member 10. The cover member 30 is configured with a wheeling arrangement 60 mounted thereto. The wheeling arrangement 60 is configured for locomotion of the cover member 30 with respect to the base member 10 between its closed position and its open position, and for providing support to the toolbox 1 in the open position of the cover member 30.

The base member 10 and the cover member 30 are articulated to each other by an articulation mechanism in the form of slide mechanism constituted by two telescoping slide arrangements, i.e., a right slide arrangement and a left slide arrangement, each disposed at a respective side of the toolbox 1. The left slide arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 5A and 5B, and generally designated 50.

As shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the left slide arrangement 50 includes a first slide member 52 fixed to the base member 10, a second slide member 54 fixed to the cover member 54 and an intermediate slide member 56 slidably disposed between the first slide member 52 and the second slide member 54. During displacement of the cover member 30 between its closed position and its open position, the intermediate slide member 56 is configured to slide within the first slide member 52, and the second slide member 54 is configured to slide within the intermediate slide member 56.

The provision of the intermediate slide member 56 between the first slide member 52 and the second slide member 54 allows full displacement of the cover member 30 with respect to the base member 10 at the open position of the cover member 30, to thereby facilitate full access to the interior of the base member 10.

The cover member 30 further has a handle 60 pivotally connected thereto. The handle 60 can be used for transporting the toolbox 1 from place to place by pulling or lifting the toolbox and/or for displacing the cover member 30 between its closed and open positions.

The handle 60 is displaceable between a deployed position (shown in Figs. 1A, IB, and 5 A to 5D) in which one side of the handle lies on a cover rim 42 and an extended position in which said one side of the handle 60 is disengaged from the cover rim 42 and is ready to be gripped by a user.

The cover member 30 has two cover engagement elements constituted by right and left cover protruding members 48b and 49b (shown for example in Fig. 3B). The base member has two base engagement elements constituted by right and left base wall openings, each of which corresponds to its cover protruding member. The left base wall opening is shown, for example, in Fig 2E, and generally designated 19, while the right base wall opening is not seen in the drawings.

Upon slidable displacement of the cover member 30 to its closed position, the right and left cover protruding members 48b and 49b are configured to automatically be introduced into their respective base wall openings for arresting the cover member 30 to the base member 10, so as to establish engagement therebetween. The engagement between the cover member 30 and the base member 10 allows directly transmitting to the cover member 30 internal forces generated by external forces being applied on the base member 10 or directly transmitting to the base member 10 internal forces generated by external forces being applied on the cover member 30, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating transmission of internal forces to the slide mechanism.

As shown in Fig. 1C, an example of an external force which may be applied on the cover member 30 is a vertically directed pulling force F along a vertical axis Y, which can be applied on the cover member 30 by a user that grips the handle 60 and lifts the toolbox 1. The pulling force F produces internal forces within the toolbox 1 and particularly between the cover member 30 and the base member 10. If no engagement between the cover member 30 and the base member 10 was provided by the first and the second support members of the presently disclosed subject matter, these internal forces could include, for example, shear forces S (shown in Fig. 1C) which could be associated with the slide mechanism. In particular, the shear forces S could be generated between the elements of the slide mechanism, between the base member 10 and the slide mechanism, or between the slide mechanism and the cover member 30.

Due to the provision of the right and left cover protruding members 48b and 49b and the right and left base wall openings which engage each other and thereby establish engagement between the cover member 30 and the base member 10, the shear forces S are reduced or eliminated with respect to the slide mechanism. As a result of that, the internal forces that are produces within the toolbox 1 are transmitted directly between the cover member 30 and the base member 10, and not via the slide mechanism.

Reference is now made Figs. 2 A to 2F, in which different views of the base member 10 are illustrated. The base member 10 has a front base wall 12, an opposing rear base wall 14, a right base sidewall 16 and a left base sidewall 18. The front base wall 12, the rear base wall 14 and the base right and left sidewall 16 and 18 extend from a base bottom 20 to a base rim 22, and define together a base interior space 24. The base interior space 24 is configured to accommodate various tools and goods.

As shown in Figs. 2B, 2D and 2F, the base rim 22 has a first recess 22a and a second recess 22b, the details of which are described below.

Description is now made particularly with respect to the left base sidewall 18 which is shown in a detailed manner in Figs. 2A to 2E. Due to the symmetrical structure of the toolbox 1, this description is also relevant for the right base sidewall 16 which is symmetrical to that of left base sidewall 18.

The left base sidewall 18 has an internal base sidewall 18a, an external base sidewall 18c spaced apart from the internal base sidewall 18a and parallel thereto, and an intermediate base sidewall 18b disposed between the internal base sidewall 18a and the external base sidewall 18c and perpendicularly to them.

The internal base sidewall 18a constitutes a sidewall of the base interior space 24. The internal base sidewall 18a, the intermediate base sidewall 18b and the external base sidewall 18c define a sidewall interior space 18d (shown in Fig. 2C). The base wall opening 19 is formed in the intermediate base sidewall 18b so as to provide access to the sidewall interior space 18d. The base wall opening 19 has a lower edge 19a and a downwardly engaging surface in the form of an upper edge 19b. The internal base sidewall 18a has an external sidewall surface 18e to which the first slide member 52 is mounted. The external sidewall surface 18e has an elongated supporting shelf 18f protruding therefrom. The first slide member 52 is disposed above the supporting shelf 18f and adjacent thereto. As shown in Figs. 2D and 2E, first slide member 52 is mounted to the base member 10 while passing through the base wall opening 19 between and adjacent to the lower edge 19a and the upper edge 19b.

In the open position of the cover member 30, the first slide member 52 is configured to rest on the lower edge 19a and on the supporting shelf 18f, and thereby being supported by these elements.

As shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, the base member 10 is further configured with two detachably attachable base legs: a right base leg 11a and a left base leg lib, each having a first end 11c and lid configured to be connected to the base bottom 20 and a second end lie and llf configured to be positioned on a surface on which the toolbox 1 is disposed.

Reference is now made Figs. 3A and 3B, in two different views of the cover member 30 are illustrated. The cover member 30 has a front cover wall 32, an opposing rear cover wall 34 (shown in Fig. IB), a cover right sidewall 36 and a cover left sidewall 38. The front cover wall 32, the rear cover wall 34 and the cover right and left sidewall 36 and 38 extend from a cover bottom 40 to the cover rim 42, and define together a cover interior space 44 (shown in Fig. 5C). The cover interior space 44 is configured to accommodate various tools and goods.

The cover member 30 has a cover 46 pivotally articulated the cover rim 42 and displaceable between a closed state and an open state, for respectively preventing and allowing access to the cover interior space 44. In Fig. 3A the cover member 46 is presented in its closed state, and in Fig. 5C the cover is presented in its open state. The cover 46 has a first cover latch 47a and a second cover latch 47b, the entire structure of which can be seen in Fig. 5C.

The first cover latch 47a has a first shoulder 47c which is configured to be received under a restricting portion 23c of the first recess 22a upon displacement of the cover member from its open to its closed position when the cover 46 is disposed in its closed state. This engagement of the first shoulder 47c with the restricting portion 23c arrests the first cover latch 47a within the first recess 22a, and thereby secures the cover 46 to the cover rim 42 in the closed position of the cover member 30. The second cover latch 47b is configured to engage the second recess 22b in a similar manner.

As shown in Figs. 3 A and 3B, the cover member 30 further comprises a right cover sidewall extension 48a and a left cover sidewall extension 49a associated the right and the left cover sidewalls 36 and 38, respectively. The right and the left cover sidewall extensions 48a and 49a extend downwardly from the cover bottom 40, substantially under and in parallel to the right and the left cover sidewalls 36 and 38, respectively.

The right cover sidewall extension 48a is configured with the above mentioned right cover protruding member 48b protruding therefrom in the direction of the axis X, and the left cover sidewall extension 49a is configured with the above mentioned left cover protruding member 49b protruding therefrom in the same direction. The right the left cover sidewall extensions 48a and 49a and their respective right and left cover protruding members 48b and 49b constitute integral portions of the cover member 30.

Description is now made particularly with respect to the left cover sidewall extension 49a and its respective left cover protruding member 49b. Due to the symmetrical structure of the toolbox 1, this description is also relevant for the cover sidewall extension 48a and its respective right cover protruding member 48b the structure of which is symmetrical to that of the left cover sidewall extension 49a and its respective left cover protruding member 49b.

As mentioned above, upon displacement of the cover member 30 to its close position, the left cover protruding member 49b is automatically introduced into the base wall opening 19, thereby establishing engagement between the cover member 30 and the base member 10.

Upon application of the above mentioned pulling force F, the upper edge 19b of the base wall opening 19 is configured to rest on the left cover protruding member 49b that constitutes an upwardly engaging surface, thereby transmitting internal forces between the base member 10 and the cover member 30, and respectively minimizing transmission of the internal forces to the left slide arrangement 50.

The cover member 30 further has two detachably attachable legs: a right cover leg 70a and a left cover leg 70b, each of which is attachable to a corresponding connecting element 41a and 41b extending from the cover bottom 40. Each of the right and left legs 70a and 70b has a first end 71a and 71b, and a second end 72a and 72b. The first ends 71a and 71b are introduced into the connecting elements 41a and 41b, respectively. The wheeling arrangement 60 includes two wheels: a right wheel 61a and a left wheel 61b. The second ends 72a and 72b are carrying the right and left wheels 61a and 62a, respectively.

The base legs 11a and lib and the cover legs 70a and 70b together with their wheels 61a and 61b have one length. These legs and cover legs together with their wheels can be replaced with other base legs 11a and lib and other cover legs 70a and 70b together with their wheels 61a and 61b in accordance with the required distance of the base bottom 20 from the surface on which the toolbox 1 is to be disposed.

Reference is now made to Figs. 4A to 4D, to describe in a detailed manner the engagement between the left cover protruding member 49b and the base wall opening 19 in the closed position of the cover member 30.

Figs. 4A and 4B illustrate a cross-sectional view along line B-B of Fig. 1A, and particularly a cross-sectional view of the sidewall interior space 18d along the same line. According to these figures, the first slide member 52 is adjacent to the external sidewall surface 18e, the intermediate slide member 56 is disposed within the first slide member 52, and the second slide member 54 is disposed within the intermediate slide member 56. Moreover, these figures illustrate the manner according to which the left slide arrangement 50 and the left cover protruding member 49b are received within the base wall opening 19, and in particular, between the lower edge 19a and the upper edge 19b. The first slide member 52 engages the lower edge 19a and the upper edge 19b, and the left cover protruding member 49b engages only the upper edge 19b, while there is no engagement between the left cover protruding member 49b and the lower edge 19a.

As explained above, the engagement between the first slide member 52 and the lower edge 19a can allow the lower edge 19a to provide support to the first slide member 52, in the open position of the cover member 30.

Figs. 4C and 4D illustrate the toolbox 1 in the closed position of the cover member 30, while the cover member 30 is not shown for explanation purposes. In these figures the base wall opening 19 together with its upper and lower edges 19a and 19b can be clearly seen. In particular, Fig. 4D illustrates the location into which the left cover protruding member 49b can be introduced in the closed position of the cover member 30. Figs. 4C and 4D further illustrate the second slide member 54 with its slide fixing members 54a and 54b which are configured for engaging corresponding cover fixing members 49d and 49e for fixing the second slide member 54 to the cover member 30.

Reference is now made to Figs. 6, 7A and 7B in which a latch assembly 80 of the toolbox 1 is illustrated. The latch assembly 80 is configured for locking engagement of the cover member 30 to the base member 10 in the closed position of the cover member 30.

As shown in Fig 6, the latch assembly 80 is a detachably attachable member which is configured to be attached to the front cover wall 32 of the cover member 30. In particular, the latch assembly 80 has two elongate side members, one of which is a side member 81a (shown in Fig. 6). The side members are configured to engage two respective side channels formed within the front cover wall 32, one of which is a side channel 32a (shown in Fig. 6). The side members are configured to slide within the side channels, thereby attaching the latch assembly 80 to the cover member 30.

As shown in Fig. 6, the latch assembly 80 has a cover member latch 82 which is seated on a compression spring (not shown) within a housing 83. The cover member latch 82 is normally disposed at a downwardly biased closed position. The cover member latch 82 has two latches 82a and 82b and an actuating portion 82c.

Reference is now made additionally to Fig. 2B in which two base member recesses 22c and 22d which are formed within the front base wall 12 are illustrated. The base member recess 22c is configured to vertically receive the latch 82a and the base member recess 22d is configured to vertically receive the latch 82b. When the latches 82a and 82b are received within the base member recesses 22c and 22d, the cover member 30 is locked at its closed position. In order to unlock the cover member 30 from this position, the user has to apply an upwardly directed force on the actuating portion 82c, thereby vertically ejecting the latches 82a and 82b from the respective base member recesses 22c and 22d and consequentially allowing displacement of the cover member 30 to its open position. Figs. 7A and 7B, illustrate a cross-sectional view in which it is shown how the latch 82b is received within the base member recess 22d. In these figures it can also be seen that displacement of the latch 82b (and the latch 82a) along a distance Di, ejects the latch 82b from the base member recess 22d (and the latch 82a from the base member recess 22c), thereby unlocking the cover member 30 from its closed position.