Abstract:
A toolbox has a toolbox body with a tool storage compartment; a handle connected to the body; the handle having a light source, at least one battery, and a switch; the switch selectively energizing the light source by electrically connecting the battery and the light source. The light source may be first and second LEDs disposed on opposite sides of the handle&#39;s central grip area. The handle may be substantially longitudinally rigid and rotatably moveable relative to the storage compartment through an arc. The handle may be connected to the toolbox body by releasable mechanical connectors, such as by carabineers engaging opposing ends of the handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed generally to portable toolboxes, and more particularly to a portable toolbox with a handle having a built-in light.  
         [0002]     Portable toolboxes provide a convenient means to store hand tools and small power tools when not in use. Existing toolboxes are available in a wide variety of shapes, but typically take the form of a three-dimensional rectangular box with a hinged lid or cover. Such toolboxes are typically constructed of metal or other sturdy material.  
         [0003]     Portable toolboxes are frequently used at construction sites where lighting conditions are less than ideal. Due to the poor lighting conditions, it is sometimes difficult for a worker to identify the desired tool stored in the toolbox&#39;s main storage compartment. Of course, if the worker has a separate flashlight, the worker can use the flashlight to help illuminate the storage compartment, and thereby find the tool. However, use of a separate flashlight typically occupies one of the worker&#39;s hands, which is not always convenient. Also, having a separate flashlight requires the worker to keep track of and store the flashlight, which frequently leads to the flashlight becoming misplaced or lost.  
         [0004]     Thus, there remains a need for alternative portable toolbox designs, advantageously designs that incorporate a convenient light source for use in illuminating the toolbox&#39;s main storage compartment.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In one embodiment, the present invention provides a toolbox comprising: a toolbox body having a tool storage compartment; a handle connected to the body; the handle having a light source, at least one battery, and a switch; the switch selectively energizing the light source by electrically connecting the at least one battery and the light source. At least one releasable mechanical connector may releasably connect the handle to the body. The at least one releasable mechanical fastener may comprise at least first and second carabineers disposed on opposing ends of the handle. The light source may comprise at least one LED, such as first and second LEDs. The handle may have a central grip area, and wherein the first and second LEDs are disposed on opposite sides of the central grip area outboard of the central grip area. The switch may be disposed in the central grip area, and the central grip area may have a removable cover providing access to the battery. The handle may be substantially longitudinally rigid. The handle may be rotatably moveable relative to the body through an arc; with the light source disposed so as to direct light into the tool storage compartment throughout the arc when the storage compartment is open and the light source is energized. The toolbox body may be metallic or formed of fabric. The toolbox exterior may be a first color; with the tool storage compartment having walls of a second, lighter color than the first color. The storage compartment may comprise first and second substantially rigid end walls and/or may be substantially rectangular in cross-section. There may also be a shoulder strap for carrying the toolbox.  
         [0006]     In another embodiment, the present invention provides a toolbox comprising: a toolbox body having a tool storage compartment; a carrying and illuminating means for carrying the toolbox body and selectively illuminating the storage compartment; and first and second mechanical connectors releasably connecting the carrying and illuminating means to the toolbox body. The toolbox body may have a fabric exterior of a first color; with the tool storage compartment having walls of a second, lighter color than the first color. The storage compartment may be substantially rectangular in cross-section, have first and second substantially rigid end walls, with flexible sidewalls disposed between the first and second end walls.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, a method of assembling a toolbox comprises: providing a toolbox body having a tool storage compartment defined therein; providing a handle having a light source, at least one battery, and a switch; connecting the handle to the body; and selectively energizing the light source via the switch by electrically connecting the battery and the light source. The selectively energizing the light source advantageously comprises shining light from the light source into the tool storage compartment. The light source may be one, two, or more LEDs, and the toolbox may have other features as described above, such as a releasable handle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a toolbox constructed in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  shows the toolbox of  FIG. 1  with a main storage compartment open and with the shoulder strap removed.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  shows the handle of the toolbox of  FIG. 2  with the mechanical connectors attached thereto in the form of carabineers.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  shows further detail of the handle of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The toolbox  10  of the present invention includes a handle  50  with a built-in switch-controlled light source  76 . The presence of the light source  76  in the handle  50  allows the main storage compartment  40  of the toolbox  10  to be selectively illuminated by the handle  50 , thereby freeing the worker&#39;s hands from the need to hold a separate flashlight.  
         [0013]     A toolbox according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  and generally designated  10 . The toolbox  10  includes a toolbox body  20 , a handle  50 , and mechanical connectors  80  connecting the handle  50  to the main toolbox body. The toolbox body  20  has peripheral walls forming a generally rectangular shape, with respective sidewalls  22 , endwalls  23 , and a bottom  24 . The toolbox body  20  may be metallic, but a fabric based body is believed to be advantageous. If formed of fabric, it may be advantageous to have a reinforcing elements (not shown) embedded in the fabric. For example, the two longitudinal endwalls  23  and bottom  24  may have substantially full-size reinforcing panels embedded therein, with the lateral sidewalls  22  having limited size reinforcing ribs embedded therein. The reinforcing elements may be formed of any suitable rigid material, such as plastic, wood, or other rigid material. It should be noted that the limited size reinforcing ribs in the sidewalls  22  may be advantageously located proximate the upper edge of the sidewalls  22 , leaving the lower portions of the sidewalls  22  relatively flexible. This arrangement allows the toolbox to be “soft-sided,” which is desirable to some consumers. For further discussion on embedded reinforcing elements in portable toolboxes, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,992, which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0014]     The sidewalls  22 , endwalls  23 , and other portions of the exterior  28  of the toolbox body  20 , may have various pockets  30  and the like defined thereon for storing tools and other work materials. In addition, the endwalls  23  and/or sidewalls  22  may include a clip  32  for attaching a conventional tape measure, various tethered clips  36 , and other tool attachment means. Suitable reinforced grommets  38  are disposed on upper portions of the longitudinal endwalls  23 , for connecting the handle  50  as discussed further below. The bottom section  24  of the toolbox body  20  may be reinforced and/or padded, as the bottom section  24  of the toolbox body  20  is expected to be subjected to significant loading and wear. In addition, there may be a plurality of metal “D” rings  34 , or similar structures, disposed about the periphery of the toolbox body  20 , for attaching keys, straps, and other items. And, if desired, the exterior  28  of the toolbox body  20  may have suitable areas defined thereon for supplier logos, instructional information, or the like. Further, in some embodiments, the exterior  28  of the toolbox  10  may include reflectors or other means to highlight the toolbox  10  in poorly lit environments. For example, some form of reflective thread may be used with a fabric-based exterior  28  to highlight the toolbox  10 .  
         [0015]     The toolbox body  20  has a centrally located main tool storage compartment  40  that is accessed from above. The storage compartment  40  is defined by interior walls  42  of the toolbox body  20 , and is advantageously generally rectangular in top view. The interior walls  42  forming the storage compartment  40  may advantageously have suitable tool storage pockets  44  and retaining straps  46  attached thereto. In addition, the tool storage compartment&#39;s walls  42  may advantageously be in a light color, particularly a lighter color than the exterior of the toolbox body  20 , so as to increase visibility in the tool storage compartment  40 . In some embodiments, the tool storage compartment  40  may be closed via a top flap  26 . The flap  26  may be secured in place using any conventional means, such as snaps, zippers, and the like.  
         [0016]     The handle  50  provides a convenient means for carrying the toolbox  10 . The handle  50  is advantageously elongate, extending along a longitudinal axis  52  that may be straight or curved. It is believed that some curve in the handle  50 , either a continuous bending curve or in a series of bends, is more advantageous than a purely straight handle configuration. The handle  50  is advantageously substantially rigid along its longitudinal axis  52 , so as to provide a mechanical reinforcement to keep the longitudinal endwalls  23  of the toolbox body  20  from collapsing inward when the toolbox  10  is being carried by the handle  50 . The handle  50  includes a central area  54  and respective end portions  60 . The central area  54  includes a grip structure  55 , and may therefore be referred to herein as the central grip area  54 . The grip structure  55  provides an expanded area contoured and designed to be gripped by a worker. For example, the grip structure  55  may be covered in an elastomeric material, with the underside of the grip structure  55  having suitable ridges or other grip enhancing surface features. The handle&#39;s end portions  60  include suitable holes  62  for mating with the mechanical connectors  80  that connect the handle  50  to the toolbox body  20 . These holes  62  are advantageously suitably reinforced, and are sized to provide a sliding fit with the connectors  80 , as discussed further below.  
         [0017]     The handle  50  also includes a built-in light source  76  and associated electronics  72 ,  74 . The light source  76  advantageously takes the form of two high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs), one disposed on each side of the central grip area  54 . That is, the LEDs  76  are advantageously located slightly outboard of the area  54  typically gripped by a worker when carrying the toolbox  10  via the handle  50 . The LEDs  76  are oriented to shine their light downward, directly into the main storage compartment  40 . The LEDs  76  may, if desired, be disposed in protective bump-like  78  projections on the underside of the handle  50 , although this is not required.  
         [0018]     The LEDs  76  are selectively powered via battery  74  and switch  72 , which are housed in the central grip area  54  of the handle  50 . The battery  74  typically takes the form of a small disc-shaped battery of the type typically found in watches, but other types of batteries may be used, and there may be more than one battery  74  if desired. The battery  74  is advantageously replaceable. In order to facilitate this, the central grip area  54  may include a battery access cover  56  on its lower side. The battery access cover  56  may be secured to the remainder of the handle  50  via snaps, screws  58 , or the like. Removal of the battery access cover  56  allows the user to access the battery  74  for inspection or replacement. The switch  72  is advantageously disposed on an upper portion of the central grip area  54  and oriented to point upward, generally away from the main storage compartment  40 . The switch  72  may be of any type known in the switch art. For example, the switch  72  may be of the momentary type (requiring constant pressure activate) or may be of the push/release type. The switch  72  controls the electrical power supply to the LEDs  76  from the battery  74 , and thus the energization station of the LEDs  76 . When closed, the switch  72  closes the electrical circuit from the battery  74  to the LEDs  76 . Accordingly, the user may selectively control the electrical connection to the LEDs  76 , and thus the on/off state of the light source  76 , via the switch  72 .  
         [0019]     The handle  50  is connected to the main toolbox body  20  via mechanical connectors  80 . The mechanical connectors  80  may take any form known in the art, such as rivets, snap connections, or the like. However, in some preferred embodiments, these mechanical connectors  80  take the form of carabineers. The carabineers  80  extend through corresponding holes  62  in the handle end portions  60  and the grommets  38  on the main toolbox body  20 . The use of carabineers  80  allows the handle  50  to be readily removable, but provides a mechanical link between the handle  50  and the main toolbox body  20  that resists longitudinal compressive loads. To this end, the holes  62  on handle ends  60  are advantageously sized to provide a sliding fit with the carabineers  80 . This type of mechanical connection allows the handle  50  to rotate about a theoretical line connecting the grommets  38  on the main toolbox body  20  through a limited arc A. This type of limited movement is believed to provide improved access to the main storage compartment  40 , while limiting longitudinal movement of the handle  50  relative to the toolbox body  20 . Further, the carabineers  80  provide a convenient means to clip on other items, such as key chains and the like. Advantageously, a carabineer  80  is used on each end  60  of the handle  50 , but some less preferred embodiments may only use only one carabineer  80  on one end  60  of the handle  50 ; or, as pointed out above, other mechanical connector means (releasable or otherwise) may be employed.  
         [0020]     The toolbox  10  may be used to carry tools by placing the tools in the main storage compartment  40 , the optional pockets  30 , etc. When used in a poorly lit environment, the user may turn on the LEDs  76  via switch  72 . The LEDs  76  then shine light into the main storage compartment  40 . This light may directly shine on the tools in the main storage compartment  40 , and may be reflected onto the tools from the light-colored sidewalls  42  of the main storage compartment  40 . Because the LEDs  76  are built into the handle  50 , the LEDs  76  shine light into the main storage compartment  40  even when the handle  50  is rotated from one position to another through arc A. Further, due to the location of the LEDs  76  relative to the main gripping area  54  in some embodiments, the  76  LEDs may shine their light into the main storage compartment  40  even when the worker is supporting the toolbox  10  via handle  50 . In addition, the handle  50  may, in come embodiments, be removed from the main toolbox body  20  so as to provide a light source  76  for illuminating a nearby workspace, and then reattached for transport.  
         [0021]     The discussion above has assumed that the light source  76  takes the form of two LEDs. However, the light source  76  may, in some embodiments, be only a single LED  76 , include more than two LEDs (such as four or more), and/or may be formed of conventional incandescent light bulbs, electroluminescent panels, or other types of visible light emitting light sources known in the art.  
         [0022]     While the handle  50  provides a convenient means for carrying the toolbox  10  and illuminating the storage compartment  40 , the toolbox  10  may include a supplemental shoulder strap  90  for carrying the toolbox  10  on the worker&#39;s shoulder, if desired. Such a shoulder strap  90  may connect to the lower portion of the main toolbox body  20  via suitable “D” ring  34  connections or the like, and should advantageously be readily removable.  
         [0023]     The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.