Abstract:
A portable tray includes a formed plastic receptacle including various compartments with a circumferential retainer ring cooperating with a flexible bag that is filled with bag fill material to provide a tray assembly which can be fitted on an uneven surface.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 09/415,786, filed Oct. 8, 1999, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a portable tool tray, and more particularly to a portable tool tray which includes formed storage compartments supported on a bottom or underside which is capable of conforming to the shape of the surface upon which the tray is positioned. 
     Auto mechanics, workmen and the like often carry their tools from one job site to another, or when repairing a vehicle, from one vehicle to another. When at a worksite, tradesmen often find it necessary to place their tool tray on an uneven surface. If the tray has a rigid planar undersurface, balancing of the tray on a rigid undersurface is often difficult. Thus, it becomes necessary to find a flat or even surface. Alternatively, even if the tray is be carefully positioned, it may fall and the contents will spill. As a result, there has developed the need for a tool tray construction which obviates these problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention comprises a portable tool tray which includes a molded plastic upper section or receptacle with a circumferential rim. A retainer ring is provided which may be compatibly engaged with the rim. The retainer ring is attached to the rim to retain a bag filled with flexible bag fill material on the underside of the molded plastic receptacle or tray. The flexible, partially filled bag enables the bag to conform to an uneven surface when the tool tray is placed thereon. The bag, which may be filled with polystyrene beads, for example, or some other fill material, is partially filled so that the bag will assume the shape of the surface upon which it is placed thereby retaining the tray on that surface, even though the surface is somewhat uneven. 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved portable tool tray construction. A further object of the invention is to provide a portable tool tray which is easily assembled, easily repaired and may be used in a broad range of environments. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a portable tool tray which includes a flexible bag on its bottom side or surface, thereby enabling the tray to conform with uneven surfaces and retaining the receptacle in position for access by a workman who has placed the tray. 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a portable tool tray which is rugged, inexpensive, durable and highly portable. 
     Another object of the invention is to enable a user of the portable tool tray to place parts or hardware in the tray quickly and conveniently inasmuch as the tray may be located on any work surface close to a work area regardless of the type of work surface in contrast to magnetic tray holders which require a ferrous work surface; 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a tray which is non-magnetic and thereby a tray which does not attract small metal shavings and other similar items which can scratch a surface upon which the tray is supported; 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a tray which tends to absorb vibration when placed on a surface, for example, an engine housing or machine housing, or the like, thereby reducing or eliminating undesirable noise and/or movements of parts in the tray; A further object of the invention is to provide a tray which may be made from entirely non-magnetic, non-conducting materials to thereby avoid any electrical hazard; 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a tray which can be easily lifted and removed from a surface and does not require additional force for removal such as would be required for the magnetic tray; 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a tray which may be positioned on a level, or a very uneven surface, or a surface which has an angle thereto; 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a tray which accommodates uneven surfaces and thereby avoids sliding from a surface; 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures; 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the tool tray of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the tool tray of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tool tray of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the tray of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the tray of FIG. 3 taken along the line  5 — 5 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an alternative to the construction depicted in FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is a cut away isometric view of the ring holder depicted in FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the figures, the tool tray of the invention includes a molded plastic tray  10 . The tray  10  may be made by any desired plastic molding operation, such as injection molding or the like. Typically, the tray  10  includes a peripheral rim  12  including a ledge or edge  14  which extends generally radially, outwardly about the entire radius or side of the tray  10  from a side wall  11 . Side wall  11  connects to bottom wall  13 . The rim  12  further includes a downwardly extending peripheral lip  16  at the outward extent of the ledge  14  spaced from side wall  11 . A generally rectangular top plan view profile of the tray  10  is depicted. However, the profile of the tray  10  is not a limiting feature of the invention. 
     A handle  18  extending between opposite sides of the tray is integrally molded in the tray  10 . Various dividers, such as dividing wall  20 , define pockets  21  within the tray  10 . Again, the particular arrangement of pockets  21  or compartments  21  within the tray  10  and the configuration of the tray  10  are not limiting features of the invention. 
     As depicted in FIG. 3, for example, the bottom of one or more of the pockets  21  may include a flat planer sheet or plate  23  of the magnetic material. The flat planer sheet will fit in the bottom of a pocket  21  and serves to maintain magnetic items such as nails and fasteners or tools within the pockets  21  so that they will not accidentally spill. Thus, the flat magnetic plate  23  is shaped and configured to conform to the bottom of a pocket  2 land is retained therein by means of adhesive on the bottom side of the plate  23  or by some other fastening means such as a rivet  25  depicted in FIG.  5 . 
     Depending downwardly from the ledge  14  is a molded clip  22 . The clip  22  is integrally molded and made from a plastic material. The clip  22  includes a tab or lip  24 . 
     A separate, molded or formed circumferential ring  26  is provided and shaped in size so as to fit within the space or region between the downwardly extending lip  16  and the side wall  11  of the tray receptacle  10 . The ring  26  has a generally rectangular cross section with an outside surface  28  and an inside surface  30 . A circumferential recess  32  is defined along an upper edge at the inside surface  30  of the ring  26 . A series of slots, such as slot  34 , are defined in the ring  26  at spaced intervals congruent in position with the downwardly depending clips  22  of ledge  14 . Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the clips  22  fit through the slots  34  thereby allowing lips  24  to grip or retain the ring  26  within the space between the lip  16  and the side wall  11 . 
     A flexible bag  38  filled with bag fill material, such as polystyrene beads  40 , includes a peripheral or closed loop edge  42 . The closed loop edge  42  has a thickness greater than the thickness of the bag material. Thus, the loop edge  42  may be formed from the bag material or may be formed by folding the top edge of the bag material over a chord, wire  41  or the like. The loop edge  42  of the bag  38  is retained by the ring  26 , and, more particularly, the recess  32  of the ring  26  holds or retains the edge  42 . The bag  38  then fits between the inside edge or surface  30  of the ring and the wall  11 . 
     The bag  38  may then be easily replaced by detaching clips  22  and removing the ring  26 . Thus, if the bag  38  becomes worn or the fill  40 , for some reason, degrades, the component parts may be replaced or repaired. 
     In use, the bag  38  being flexible and being partially filled (perhaps forty percent filled) with bag material  40 , will conform to the uneven surface, for example, an automobile fender or the like. Thus, tools placed in the receptacle or tray  10  can be easily maintained in a safe and non-slidable position by the tool tray construction. The tray can be easily moved from place to place. The bag  38  may be easily replaced if it is damaged. Otherwise, the bag  38  is tightly retained in combination with tray receptacle  10 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative to the construction of the ring  26 . A ring  50  has a shape or configuration which permits it to cooperate with a peripheral, horizontally outwardly extending ledge  52  of a rim  54  for a tray or container  56 . The outwardly extending ledge  52  includes a downwardly depending peripheral lip  58 . The lip  58  is spaced from side wall  60  of container  56 . Downwardly depending locking clips or legs  62  with locking tabs  64  are provided at space intervals about the periphery of the container  56 . The peripheral lip  58  further includes an upwardly extending slot or recess  66  on the inside thereof in opposed relation to the wall  60 . 
     The retaining rim or ring  50  cooperates with the clip or legs  62  and also with fabric  68  having a formed loop  70  about a cord  72  to retain the fabric in position and locked against the outside face of the wall  60  of the container. The cross-sectional shape of the rim or ring  50  is designed and has tolerances to insure that the legs  62  retain the rim or ring  50  tightly and further effectively retains the fabric  68 . Thus as depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rim or ring  50  includes a rib  74  which projects outwardly and engages in the recess  66 . The ring  50  further includes a cut-out section or passage  76  adapted to receive the clip or leg  62 . The ring  50  further includes a cut out or recess  78  into which the projecting tab or foot  64  of clip  62  fits to facilitate guided retention of the ring  50 . The ring  50  further includes a recess section  80  on its inside for receipt and holding of the fabric  68  and cord  72 . 
     The downward extent of the clip  62  and the position of the tab or foot  64  in combination with the recess  78  and the dimension of the ring  50  serve to tightly retain the ring  50  and thus tightly retain the bag  68  attached to the container. 
     As explained, the construction of the ring  26 , the loop edge  42 , the clips  22 , and the relationship of the clips  22  to the ring  26  may be altered. For example, the clips  22  may be placed on the ring  26  and fit into receptacles in the ledge  14 . Other parts may be reversed. Thus, while in the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.