Display unit for storing tool assembly

A display unit for storing a tool assembly, comprising a base, a moving-rotating mechanism and a support plate. The base has a front end, a rear end opposite the front end and two opposite sides. The moving-rotating mechanism comprises at least one moving-rotating device. The support plate has a front end and two opposite sides for supporting the tool assembly. At least one of the two opposite sides of the base is coupled to at least one of the two opposite sides of the support plate by at least one moving-rotating device, and the front end of the support plate is moveable and rotatable from a first position at the front end of the base to a second position at the rear end of the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display unit for storing a tool assembly, especially a support for a tool assembly (such as sleeves), where the support is moveable and rotatable with respect to a base (not about a fixed axis of rotation) such that the tool assembly can be easily retrieved to use and stored in the display unit safely and securely. The present application claims priority from ROC (Taiwan) Patent Application No. 093130251.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1shows a conventional display unit100for tool assembly. The display unit100comprises a base101with a plurality of slots102formed thereon for accommodating a plurality of tool assembly parts such as sleeves103. A fence104is disposed at the front end of the base101to prevent the sleeves103from falling or sliding out of the base101. A lid105is disposed at the top rear edge of the base101and two latches106are disposed at the front end of the lid105. A slot107is formed in each of the latches106to engage the corresponding protrusion108disposed at the front end of the base101such that the sleeves103are received in the slots102. A slot110is formed at opposite sides of the lid105to engage a corresponding protrusion109disposed at the top opposite sides of the base101. When retrieving sleeves103, a user has to manually disengage the two latches106with the protrusions108and the slots110with the protrusions109, respectively, to open the lid105first. With this configuration, if sleeves103are received in the slots102too loosely, the sleeves103may be likely to fall or slide out from the display unit100in the user's hand when shaking. If the sleeves103are received in the slots102too tightly, although the sleeves103can be secured to the base101effectively, it may not be easy to retrieve the sleeves103when in a rush as they may be stuck in the slots102. In addition, as the lid105engages the base101by way of latching, it is likely to break the latches106or protrusions108,109when closing the lid105, which render the lid105unable to secure the sleeves103and therefore makes the display unit100useless.

FIG. 2shows the other conventional display unit200for tool assembly comprising a base201. A shaft202spaced from and parallel to an inner surface of the base201is disposed in the base201for accommodating securing means203. Rotation means is disposed in the shaft202such that the securing means203can be rotated to a certain angle respect to the base201and shaft202. A fence205is disposed at one end of the base201for preventing sleeves204from falling or sliding out of the base201or inappropriate retrieval. A rod206is disposed between the securing means and the base201for preventing the securing means203from rotating when the sleeves204are in place and therefore ensuring a secured package. When the sleeves204are being retrieved, one end of the rod206has to be cut and removed first and the sleeves204are then rotated and retrieved. However, such configuration is considered complicated, inconvenient and spacey.

From the above, it is necessary for the industry to provide a display unit which is easier to use, less spacey and can overcome the defects mentioned in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display unit which is easier to use and less spacey.

According to the present invention, a display unit for storing a tool assembly comprises a base, a moving-rotating mechanism and a support plate. The base has a front end, a rear end opposite the front end and two opposite sides. The moving-rotating mechanism comprises at least one moving-rotating device. The support plate has a front end and two opposite sides for supporting the tool assembly. At least one of the two opposite sides of the base is coupled to at least one of the two opposite sides of the support plate by at least one moving-rotating device. And the front end of the support plate is moveable and rotatable from a first position at the front end of the base to a second position at the rear end of the base.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with the accompanying drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 3 to 5illustrate exploded and schematic views of a display unit for storing a tool assembly according to the present invention. The display unit1for storing a tool assembly comprises a base11, a moving-rotating mechanism and a support plate13. The base11has a front end111, a rear end112opposite the front end111and two opposite sides113. The moving-rotating mechanism comprises at least one moving-rotating device12. The support plate13has a front end131and two opposite sides132for supporting the tool assembly, such as sleeves14. At least one of the two opposite sides113of the base11is coupled to at least one of the two opposite sides132of the support plate13by at least one moving-rotating device12. As shown in the figures, preferably each of the two opposite sides113of the base11is coupled to the corresponding one of the two opposite sides132of the support plate13by the respective moving-rotating device12such that the front end131of the support plate13is moveable and rotatable from a first position at the front end111of the base11(referring toFIG. 5and the topmost view ofFIG. 6A) to a second position at the rear end112of the base11(referring toFIG. 4and the bottommost view ofFIG. 6A).

Now referring toFIG. 3, each of the moving-rotating devices12comprises a wing121, a guiding slot122and a protrusion123. The wing121is disposed perpendicularly at each of the two opposite sides113of the base11while the guiding slot122is formed in the wing121. The protrusion123is disposed transversely at each of the two opposite sides132of the support plate13. When each of the two opposite sides113of the base11is coupled to the corresponding one of the two opposite sides132of the support plate13, each protrusion123is then moveable and rotatable along the guiding slot122of the wing121. The guiding slot can be an arc curvedly extending upwards and backwards (referring toFIGS. 3 to 5), or can be a straight line shape extending backwards (referring to reference numeral122′ inFIG. 7). The guiding slot122comprises a front section1221and a rear section1222and each section has a narrowing neck1223formed thereof. When the protrusion123passes through the neck1223, the protrusion123is provided with a proper friction force such that the protrusion123of the support plate13can be properly positioned at the front section1221or the rear section1222.

As mentioned above, the support plate13is for supporting tool assembly parts such as sleeves14. The sleeves can be a set with continuous or different sizes. The support plate13can also comprise a plurality of supports133and each supports the corresponding sleeve14. Each of the sleeves14can be tightly fitted to the corresponding support133, or can be loosely fitted to the corresponding support133. Preferably, when the sleeves14are loosely fitted to the corresponding supports133, a stopping device114is further disposed at the front end111of the base11such that when the front end131of the support plate13is moved and rotated to the second position at the rear end112of the base11, because the sleeves14contact the stopping device114and press the stopping device114which generates an elastic force against the sleeves14, the stopping device114is then adapted to prevent the sleeves14from separating or sliding from the supports133(referring toFIGS. 4 and 6A), which in turn, secures the sleeves14to the base11. Similarly, when the front end131of the support plate13is moved and rotated to the first position at the front end111of the base11from the second position, because the sleeves14gradually disengage the stopping device114which releases the elastic force, the sleeves14can return to a free state from a secured state (referring toFIGS. 5 and 6B). The stopping device can be of any suitable design. As shown inFIG. 7, the stopping device can comprise a plurality of stoppers114′ and each substantially corresponds to the respective support (not shown in figure). The stoppers can also be removably mounted at the front end of the base (referring toFIG. 12), or slidably mounted at the front end of the base (referring toFIG. 13). The supports133as shown inFIG. 3can also be modified to adjustable supports134shown inFIG. 9, which can move along a slot135disposed in a support plate13′ to suit sleeves of different sizes or quantity. In addition, supports136of a convex type shown inFIG. 10or supports137of a concave type can also be employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

From the above descriptions, it is apparent that the present invention provides a display unit which has a simple configuration and stability and is easy to manufacture and use. Not only can it be used alone, but it can also be employed in conjunction with other tool display units. As shown inFIGS. 14 and 15, a tool display20can comprise a housing21having a bottom end11′ and two opposite sides defining two displaying spaces. A display unit1′ can be received in one of the displaying spaces, while the other displaying space can be used to receive tools such as wrenches, which in turn, forms an integral and complete tool package to enhance the value of the product and catch consumers' eyes. Preferably, the bottom end11′ of the housing21is an extension of the base of the display unit1′ and each of the two opposite sides of the tool display1′ is an extension of the corresponding wing121′. It is possible that the two displaying spaces can also be individually defined spaces where the bottom end and the opposite sites of each are coupled to each other.

While the invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognise that the invention can still be practiced with modifications, within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.