Background Art Generally, a tool case is configured to be carried and moved while receiving a variety of tools, such as screwdrivers for turning screws, pinchers having jaws for severing wires or electric cord, a soldering iron, and a wrench for gripping and rotating the heads of bolts, or the like.

Tool cases having a diversity of configurations have been disclosed in the art.

A box-shaped tool case is typically used. The box-shaped tool case is divided into a plurality of compartments or has a plurality of pockets, so that tools can be received in the compartments or pockets and conveniently used.

Box-shaped tool cases are classified into a first type in which a plurality of receiving trays are installed so that they can be folded and unfolded in a stepwise manner, and a second type in which a plurality of pockets are defined. The second-

type tool case is constructed in such a way as to be opened or closed using a locker mechanism or a slide fastener, and is made of either reinforced plastic or synthetic rubber.

The conventional tool case made of synthetic rubber suffers from defects in that, since tools are received in a plurality of pockets defined on a case cover, in order to ensure appropriate use of the tools, the case cover must be completely opened and turned over. Consequently, inconvenience is caused when a worker takes and inserts tools out of and into the pockets with the case cover completely opened and turned over.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tool case which is constructed to allow a case cover to be held at a predetermined angle with respect to a case body and a tool support plate to be attached to and detached from the case cover as desired, so that a variety of tools can be securely maintained when they are received in the tool case and be conveniently taken out when they are needed.

In order to accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a tool case suitable for receiving a variety of tools, and including a case body which defines a receiving space of a predetermined volume and a case cover which is opened and closed by a slide fastener, the tool case comprising : a pair of connection members coupled at one ends thereof to both inner sidewall surfaces of the

case body; a pair of straps connected at one ends thereof to the other ends of the connection members and at the other ends thereof to both inner sidewall surfaces of the case cover, to hold the case cover at a predetermined angle with respect to the case body when the case cover is opened; a T-shaped Velcro fastener strip stitched to an inner surface of the case cover; and a tool support plate having a back surface to which a complementary Velcro fastener strip is fixed to be attached to and detached from the T-shaped Velcro fastener strip and a front surface which is defined with a plurality of tool receiving pockets.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an opened state of a tool case in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein a tool support plate is detached from an inner surface of a cover in the tool case according to the present invention; Figs. 3 and 4 are front views illustrating states wherein tools are inserted into the tool support plate in the opened state of the tool case according to the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein a book support plate is used in place of the tool support plate in another embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an opened state of a tool case in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein a tool support plate is detached from an inner surface of a cover in the tool case according to the present invention; Figs. 3 and 4 are front views illustrating states wherein tools are inserted into the tool support plate in the opened state of the tool case according to the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein a book support plate is used in place of the tool support plate in another embodiment of the present invention.

A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained through the following example which is set forth to illustrate, but is not to be construed as the limit of the present invention.

A tool case 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is adapted for receiving a variety of tools, designated by a reference character T. The tool case 10 has a case body 13 which defines a receiving space of a predetermined volume and a case cover 12 which is opened and closed by a slide fastener 11. A pair of connection members 14 are coupled at one ends thereof to both inner sidewall surfaces of the case body 13. A pair of straps 15 are connected at one ends thereof to the other ends of the connection members 14 and at the other ends thereof to both inner

sidewall surfaces of the case cover 12, to hold the case cover 12 at a predetermined angle with respect to the case body 13 when the case cover 12 is opened. The connection member 14 and the strap 15 have a predetermined width, respective predetermined lengths, and possess a configuration of a belt formed by weaving synthetic fiber. The other end of each connection member 14 is provided with one of male and female snap fasteners S, and one end of each strap 15 is provided with the other of male and female snap fasteners S, so that the male and female snap fasteners S can be locked to and unlocked from each other.

A T-shaped Velcro fastener strip 16 is stitched to an inner surface of the case cover 12 to have a pre-selected width. A tool support plate 17 is installed on the T- shaped Velcro fastener strip 16. The tool support plate 17 has a back surface to which a complementary Velcro fastener strip 17b is fixed to be attached to and detached from the T-shaped Velcro fastener strip 16 and a front surface which is defined with a plurality of tool receiving pockets 17a. Here, the complementary Velcro fastener strip 17b is fixed over the entire back surface of the tool support plate 17.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a book support element 17c is installed on a front surface of a book support plate 17.

The unexplained reference numeral 1 designates a handle of the tool case 10, and 2 designates a ring for allowing connection of a shoulder strap.

Hereafter, the working effects of the tool case according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described in detail.

First, when the tool case 10 is opened, it is to be noted that the snap fastener S provided to the other end of each connection member 14 which is coupled at one end thereof to the inner sidewall surface of the case body 13 and the snap fastener S

provided to one end of each strap 15, which is coupled at the other end thereof to the inner sidewall surface of the case cover 12, are locked with each other. A variety of tools T can be received in the receiving space of the case body 13.

As occasion demands, the tool support plate 17 may be installed on the inner surface of the case cover 12. The installation of the tool support plate 17 is affected by attaching the complementary Velcro fastener strip 17b fixed to the back surface of the tool support plate 17 to the T-shaped Velcro fastener strip 16 integrally stitched to the inner surface of the case cover 12.

That is to say, due to the fact that the Velcro fastener strip 16 has the T-shaped configuration and the complementary Velcro fastener strip 17b is fixed to the back surface of the tool support plate 17, it is possible to freely install the tool support plate 17 to a desired position on the case cover 12. If appropriate, with the case cover 12 opened, the tool support plate 17 can be placed at an upper position on the case cover 12 as shown in Fig. 4, so that the tools T can be easily taken out so as to render user convenience.

When the case cover 12 having installed thereon the tool support plate 17 is completely opened through the slide fastener 12, since the pair of straps 15 of the case cover 12 are respectively connected to the connection members 14 of the case body 13, as can be readily seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the case cover 12 is held at the predetermined angle with respect to the case body 13. With this in mind, a worker can conveniently take the tools T out of the pockets 17a of the tool support plate 17.

By the fact that the plurality of tools T are received in the pockets 17a of the tool support plate 17, while the tool case is carried and moved with the handle 1 grasped or the shoulder strap put around the shoulder, the tools T can be securely held

in a relatively quite manner.

In the meantime, in another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 5, the tool support plate 17 can be replaced with the book support plate 17. In this case, the book support element 17c is installed on the front surface of the book support plate 17 in a manner such that a book, such as a work manual, can be securely supported by the book support element 17c or the book support plate 17 may be independently employed as the conventional bookstand. Therefore, it is to be readily understood that the case according to the present invention can be used for multiple purposes. For example, the present case can be used as a brief case in which documents, books, writing implements, etc. are accommodated in place of tools.

Industrial Applicability As apparent from the above description, the tool case according to the present invention provides advantages in that a tool support plate for supporting tools or a book support plate for supporting a book can be attached to and detached from an inner surface of a case cover as desired, by means of Velcro fastener strips, and the case cover can be held at a predetermined angle with respect to a case body by a pair of straps which are connected at both ends thereof to inner sidewall surfaces of the case body and the case cover. Consequently, a variety of tools can be securely maintained when they are received in the tool case and be conveniently taken out when they are needed.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.