Abstract:
A double-stack tool rack is constructed to include a base having an upright pivot shaft, a plurality of tool boxes respectively pivoted to the upright shaft and arranged into two stacks, and a carrying handle coupled to the upright pivot shaft of the base at the top.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a tool rack and, more particularly, to double-stack tool rack, which comprises an upright pivot shaft, and a plurality of tool boxes respectively pivoted to the upright pivot shaft and arranged in two stacks.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Various different designs of tool racks and boxes have been disclosed for use to hold tools and accessories, and have appeared on the market. illustrates a clip according to the prior art. In order to provide more compartments for holding more tools and/or accessories, the dimension of the tool rack or box should be relatively increased. However, it is inconvenient to carry a bulky or heavy tool rack from place to place.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a double-stack tool rack, which requires less installation space. It is another object of the present invention to provide a double-stack tool rack, which can easily be carried from place to place by hand, or positively hung nails on the wall. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a double-stack tool rack, which enables the user to arrange storage items in good order. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the double-stack tool rack comprises a base, the base comprising an upright pivot shaft perpendicularly extended from the center of a top side thereof; a first tool box set and a second tool box set respectively pivoted to the upright pivot shaft of the base, the first and second tool box sets each comprising a plurality of tool boxes disposed at different elevations, the tool boxes each having at least one coupling ring respectively sleeved onto the upright pivot shaft of the base; a tool box positioning structure provided in the coupling rings of the tool boxes and the upright pivot shaft of the base for enabling the tool boxes to be horizontally turned about the upright pivot shaft and positioned in one of a series of angles; and a handle coupled to a top end of the upright pivot shaft. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a double-stack tool rack according to the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is an oblique front elevation of the double-stack tool rack according to the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is an oblique rear elevation of the double-stack tool rack according to the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a front view of the double-stack tool rack according to the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 2.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a box body for a tool box according to the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is an applied view of the double-stack tool rack according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a double-stack tool rack is shown comprising a base  10 , a tool box positioning structure, a handle  30 , a handle fastening structure, and a hanging structure.  
         [0014]    The base  10  has an upright pivot shaft  13  at the center. The upright pivot shaft  13  has a top open section  15 . A first tool box set  20  and a second tool box set  20 ′ are respectively pivoted to the upright pivot shaft  13 , each box set  20  or  20 ′ including a number of tool boxes  21  or  21 ′. Each tool box  21  or  21 ′ comprises a carrier frame  22  or  22 ′, and a box body  27  carried in the carrier frame  22  or  22 ′. The carrier frame  22 ′ of each tool box  21 ′ of the second tool box set  20 ′ comprises two coupling rings  23 ′ horizontally outwardly protruded from one end thereof at different elevations and sleeved onto the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10 . The carrier frame  22  of each tool box  21  of the first tool box set  20  comprises a coupling ring  23  horizontally outwardly protruded from one end thereof and sleeved onto the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10 . When the carrier frames  22  of the tool boxes  21 ; 21 ′ are coupled to the upright shaft  13  of the base  10 , the coupling ring  23  of the carrier frame  22  of one tool box  21  of the first tool box set  20  is supported between the coupling rings  23 ′ of the carrier frame  22 ′ of one tool box  21 ′ of the second tool box set  20 ′. The box body  27 , as shown in FIG. 6, comprises a bottom shell  272  defining a plurality of compartments  271  for holding tools and/or accessories, a top cover  28  hinged to one side of the bottom shell  272  and adapted for closing the compartments  271 , and a snap fastener  29  adapted for locking the box body  27  when the top cover  28  closed on the bottom shell  272 . Further, each carrier frame  22  has a side opening  221  or  221 ′ corresponding to the snap fastener  29 , for enabling the user to access to the snap fastener  29  conveniently.  
         [0015]    The aforesaid tool box positioning structure is provided for controlling the positioning of the tool boxes  21 ; 21 ′. The tool box positioning structure, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves  14  equiangularly spaced around the periphery of the upright pivot shaft  13 , and a plurality of spring strips  24 ; 24 ′ respectively formed integral with the coupling rings  23 ; 23 ′ of the carrier frames  22 ; 22 ′ of the tool boxes  21 ; 21 ′ (the spring strips  24  are formed by cutting two axially extended cuts in each coupling ring of the carrier frames  22 ; 22 ′ of the tool boxes  21 ; 21 ′). The spring strips  24  or  24 ′ each have a projection  25  or  25 ′ adapted for engaging one longitudinal groove  14  of the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10 . After installation of the tool boxes  21 ; 21 ′, the projections  25 ; 25 ′ are respectively engaged into the longitudinal grooves  14  of the upright shaft  13  of the base  10 , preventing the tool boxes  21 ; 21 ′ from rotary motion relative to the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10 . However, when the user turns one tool box  21  or  21 ′ about the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10  with the hand, the projection  25 ; 25 ′ is moved with the respective spring strip  24  or  24 ′ sideways from the corresponding longitudinal groove  14  of the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10 , enabling the respective tool box  21  or  21 ′ to be turned about the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10  to the desired direction.  
         [0016]    The aforesaid handle  30 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a mounting block  31  press-fitted into the top open section  15  of the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10 , a stop flange  33  extended around the periphery of the mounting block  31  and stopped at the topmost edge of the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10 , and a handgrip  32  pivoted to the mounting block  31 .  
         [0017]    The aforesaid handle fastening structure, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises at least one, for example, two angled retaining slots  311  symmetrically formed in the periphery of the mounting block  31  of the handle  30  below the top flange  33 , and two angled retaining ribs  16  protruded from the inside wall of the top open section  15  of the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10  and adapted for engaging into the angled retaining slots  311  of the mounting block  31  of the handle  30 . When inserting the mounting block  31  of the handle  30  into the top open section  15  of the upright pivot shaft  13 , the angled retaining slots  311  are respectively aimed at the angled retaining ribs  16 . After the mounting block  31  of the mounting block  31  of the handle  30  press-fitted into the top open section  15  of the upright pivot shaft  13 , the handle  30  is rotated through an angle to force the angled retaining ribs  16  into engagement with the angled retaining slots  311 , stopping axial movement of the mounting block  31  of the handle  30  relative to the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10 .  
         [0018]    The aforesaid hanging structure, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, comprises a plurality of keyway-like hanging holes  40 ; 41 ; 42 . The hanging holes  40 ; 41  are respectively provided in the back sidewall of the base  10 , and spaced from one another at a pitch in a line. The hanging hole  42  is formed in the angled rear end  422  of a hanging plate  421 , which is coupled to the upright pivot shaft  13  and stopped between the stop flange  33  of the mounting block  31  of the handle  30  and the topmost edge of the upright pivot shaft  13  of the base  10 . By means of the hanging holes  40 ; 41 ; 42 , the double-stack tool rack can be positively hung on nails in the wall of the working place.