Abstract:
A container, such as a tool box, has an interior storage compartment and a cover with a light opening therein. A light is mounted within the compartment and is selectively positionable to shine through the light opening or to illuminate the interior of the storage compartment. Preferably, the light is mounted on an articulated hinge allowing movement between a plurality of discrete positions and locks in place in a stored position. The light may be battery operated and may be removable if desired.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application serial no. 60/437,063 filed Dec. 31, 2002. The entirety of the provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention is directed to a tool box. In particular, this invention is directed to a tool box with a light.  
           [0004]    2. Discussion of Related Art  
           [0005]    Typically, tool boxes are used to store tools or other items for portability. A user can transport the items to any desired location. As a result, the chosen location may or may not have adequate lighting to use the stored items. Areas under repair or construction often have inadequate lighting.  
           [0006]    Poor lighting can pose several problems for the user. First, it may be difficult to locate items stored in the box. This is especially dangerous when the items are sharp. Second, it is difficult to properly use the items when the surrounding area is dark or not sufficiently illuminated.  
           [0007]    For example, an automobile driver can experience a flat tire anywhere, which includes dark or poorly light roadways. On a dark roadway, it would be difficult to find the necessary tools in the box without the aid of a light. Even with a hand held flashlight, it would be difficult to use the tools while holding the flashlight. In such a situation, a conventional tool box may be rendered useless.  
           [0008]    Thus, there is a need for a container, such as a tool box, that has a self contained light, especially a light that can be used when the tool box is open or closed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    An aspect of this invention is to provide a container with a self contained illumination device.  
           [0010]    Another aspect of this invention is to provide a container with a light that can be used when the container is open and closed.  
           [0011]    A further aspect of the invention is to provide a container that has an interior storage compartment suitable for storing tools and has an integral light.  
           [0012]    An additional aspect of the invention is to provide a tool box with a light that can be positioned to illuminate surrounding areas and the interior of the tool box.  
           [0013]    The invention relates to a tool box comprising a base having a bottom and side walls, and a cover having a top and side walls. The cover is movably mounted to the base to move between a closed position and an open position, and the base and the cover define a storage compartment therein. One of the side walls has a light permeable lens mounted therein. A light is mounted in the storage compartment and includes a power source and an illumination device. The illumination device is oriented toward the light permeable lens.  
           [0014]    The light can be movably mounted in the cover on an articulated support such that the light is movable between a first position directed to the light permeable lens and a second position directed within the base. The box may have a pivoting handle mounted to the cover and a removable tray disposed within the box.  
           [0015]    The invention also relates to a container comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, and an outer side wall extending between the bottom wall and the top wall to form a fully contained interior storage compartment. The outer side wall has a light transmitting opening therethrough. A light is mounted within the interior storage compartment and includes a power source and an illumination device. The illumination device is positioned at the light transmitting opening.  
           [0016]    The container may have an articulated support coupled to the light such that the light may be moved from a first position directed at the light transmitting opening to a second position directed within the interior storage compartment.  
           [0017]    These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent taken with the detailed description below.  
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    Features of the invention are shown in the drawings in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is perspective front view of the container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention in a closed position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a front view of the container of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a perspective front view of the container of FIG. 1 in an open position;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the light in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified container in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    This invention relates to a container and is described with particular reference to a container used as a tool box  10 . However, it should be understood that the invention can be applied to any storage container, not necessarily intended to store tools. For example, the container could be used for make-up, art supplies, gardening tools, or any desired items. Thus, the reference to a tool box used herein is intended to generically cover any portable storage container.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 1, tool box  10  includes a base  12  and a cover  14 , both preferably made of molded plastic. Of course, other materials could be used, including metal, wood, or composites.  
         [0027]    Base  12  has a bottom wall  16 , seen in FIG. 2, and an exterior side wall  18  formed as four side walls extending from each edge of the bottom wall  16 . The side walls  18  and bottom wall  16  can have various depressed or raised portions  20  for strengthening ribs or for aesthetic reasons. The bottom wall  16  may have protrusions  22  to slightly elevate the bottom wall  16  from a support surface, thus protecting the bottom wall  16  and making it easier to lift the container  10 . The bottom wall  16  and side walls  18  define an interior storage compartment  24 , seen in FIG. 4. The front side wall  18  has a pair of hook portions  26  to latch the cover  14 , as described below.  
         [0028]    The cover  14  has a top wall  28  and an exterior side wall  30  formed as four side walls extending from each edge of the top wall  28 . The top wall  28  and side walls  30  form an internal compartment  32 , seen in FIG. 4. Compartment  24  and compartment  32  join to form an interior storage space.  
         [0029]    Top wall  28  has a handle  34  pivotally mounted thereon in a handle depression  36 . By this configuration, handle  34  can pivot between an upright lifting position and a folded position flush with the top surface of the container. A storage compartment  38  with a cover  40  is optionally provided in the top wall  28  of the cover  14 . The compartment cover  40  snaps to the side wall  30  to securely store items. Preferably, the compartment cover  40  is translucent so that objects stored in the compartments  38  can be seen without opening the compartment cover  40 . As seen in FIG. 1, a storage compartment  38  is provided on each side of the cover  14 . Any configuration of storage compartments  38  may be provided.  
         [0030]    Cover  14  is coupled to base  12  with a hinge  42 , seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Any type of hinge may be used that allows the cover  14  to open with respect to the base  12 . Latches  44  are mounted to cover  14  to selectively secure cover  14  to hooks  26  on base  12 . Again, any type of latch may be used. A locking formation  46  may be provided to mount a lock to the container  10  if desired. The locking formation  46  includes a pair of aligned slots formed on the edge of cover  14  and base  12  through which a lock may be inserted.  
         [0031]    A generally cylindrical protrusion  48  is formed in the front side wall  30  of cover  14  that has a light permeable lens  50 . As seen in FIG. 3, preferably the protrusion  48  is flush with the outer surface of the tool box  10 . However, the size of the protrusion  48  and the extent to which it extends from the cover  14  can vary based on design choice. It is even possible to mount the lens  50  flush with the side wall  30  of cover  14  without a protrusion  48 . The lens  50  is preferably clear, transparent plastic, but could also be a colored lens if desired. Any material may be used that permits light transmission.  
         [0032]    As seen in FIG. 4, the protrusion  48  is designed to mate with a light  52  that is retained within the cover  14  inside the box  10 . The light  52  is seen in detail in FIG. 5. Preferably, the light  52  includes a body  54  with a power source  56 , in this case batteries, contained in a compartment therein and an illumination device  58 , such as an incandescent bulb. The body  54  is preferably made of lightweight material, such as plastic. Of course, any type of power source may be used, including conventional alkaline batteries or rechargeable batteries.  
         [0033]    The illumination device  58  may be any know device that generates light, including various known types of light bulbs. The illumination device  58  is preferably covered with a lens  60 . The compartment for the power source is covered with a pivotal compartment cover  62  that may be opened with a releasable latch  64  for easy access to the power source. By this, for example, batteries may be quickly and easily changed when necessary. An ON/OFF switch  65  is provided on the body  54  to connect the power source  56  to the illumination device  58 . The back end of the body  54  has a pivot rod  66  with a serrated gear  68 , the purpose of which is described below. The compartment cover  62  is carried on the pivot rod  66  for easy pivoting with respect to the body  54 .  
         [0034]    Referring back to FIG. 4, the light  52  is mounted in the cover  14  on a pair of flanges  70  that retain pivot rod  66  and create an articulated support. At least one of the flanges  70  also has a serrated gear similar to gear  68  designed to engage gear  68  when the body  54  of the light  52  is rotated. By this engagement, each serration defines a discrete position at which the light  52  may be disposed. This enables the light  52  to be securely positioned at any desired angle to illuminate the interior storage compartment  24  or the environment surrounding the tool box  10 .  
         [0035]    The internal compartment  32  of the cover  14  also has a locking formation  72  in the form of a pair of hooked fingers  74  that protrude outwardly from the cover  14 . The hooked fingers  74  are positioned to surround and engage the body  54  of the light  52  when the light  52  is pivoted upwardly into the internal compartment  32 . The hooked fingers  74  lock the light  52  in place into alignment with the lens  50  so that the illumination device  58  is directed outward through the lens  50 . In this position, the cover  14  can be closed while the light  52  is turned ON to illuminate the environment around the tool box  10 . The light  52  can also remain ON when the tool box  10  is transported.  
         [0036]    A removable tray  76 , for storing small items for example, may be mounted in the internal compartment  24 . Tray  76  has a handle  78  and can be lifted from the box  10  to hold and transport tools or other items. Base  12  has an inner flange that supports the lip of the tray  76 . When the cover  14  is closed, tray  76  does not interfere with light  52 . It is also possible to form internal non-removable compartments in the internal compartment  24 .  
         [0037]    It can be seen by above description that tool box  10  includes a light  52  that can used when the cover  14  is open or closed. The position of light  52  can also be selectively adjusted to shine out of the box  10  or within the box  10  at various locations in the compartment  24 . This allows a user to use the box  10  to illuminate an object that the user is working on, such as an automobile tire, and to illuminate the interior of the box  10  to locate a tool when insufficient external light is available, such as at a roadside.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 6 shows a modified storage container  80  having a larger base  82  and a cover  84  with a light opening  86 . Cover  84  has partitioned compartments  88  on each side that have compartment covers. As can be appreciated from the various compartment arrangements, any shape or number of compartments can be provided if desired. In this case, base  82  is significantly larger and may constitute a workbench type of storage container. A light within the container  80  works in the same manner as box  10 .  
         [0039]    Various modifications and changes can be made to the invention and remain within the scope of the invention. It is possible to mount the light in the base, rather than the cover. It is also possible to modify the position of the light transmitting opening to be in the base or in another position on the cover.  
         [0040]    It is also contemplated that the light can be removable, in which case the body of the light can be formed as a sleeve that the light is removably retained in so that a user can remove the light and use it as a hand held flashlight. Alternatively, the body of the light can be released from the hinge, such as by a snap fit, for hand held use. These and other modifications are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.