Container for tool bits

A storage container for housing bits includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion pivotally connected through a hinge for moving between open and closed positions. The first housing portion defines a first body cavity and the second housing portion defines a second body cavity in the closed position. At least one bit holder is pivotally connected to the hinge and arranged to fit within the first body cavity in the closed position. The bit holder includes a plurality of bit receiving portions formed thereon for accepting the bits. The bit receiving portions are generally parallel to the hinge. A cover is pivotally connected to the second housing portion and moveable between open and closed positions for accessing the second body cavity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to storage containers, and more particularly to a storage container having a unique divider system and independently hinged sleeves for retaining drill bits.

BACKGROUND

Storage containers exist in many varieties and may be used to store, organize and transport various items such as fasteners, tool bits and other accessories. Plastic storage containers can be typically manufactured fairly inexpensively, but often at the expense of being less rigid and providing less flexibility in adapting the storage container to store items of various sizes. When a storage container is used to store tool accessories such as drill bits on a job site, it is desirable for the user to be able to quickly identify and access the drill bit of interest. Sometimes however, a large collection of drill bits of random size are staggered within a storage container such that identification and access is cumbersome.

Furthermore, storage containers that incorporate organizational schemes often present the drill bits in a structured pattern such that the user may easily identify the drill bit of interest but do not allow the user convenient access to remove or replace the drill bit from its holding arrangement. In addition, a storage case must be built to be strong and durable so that if it is moved quickly or dropped, it will not allow smaller drill bits to slide out of their respective holding arrangements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A storage container for housing bits includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion pivotally connected through a hinge for moving between open and closed positions. The first housing portion defines a first body cavity and the second housing portion defines a second body cavity in the closed position. At least one bit holder is pivotally connected to the hinge and arranged to fit within the first body cavity in the closed position. The bit holder includes a plurality of bit receiving portions formed thereon for accepting the bits. The bit receiving portions are generally parallel to the hinge. A cover is pivotally connected to the second housing portion and moveable between open and closed positions for accessing the second body cavity.

According to other features, the second housing portion includes at least one internal lateral divider wall having a series of locating tabs extending therefrom. At least one adjustable spacer is provided for selectively positioning between the locating tabs. The adjustable spacer includes a first and second side having a first and second end. The first and second sides are flared outwardly at the first and second ends. A retaining member extends from the first housing portion into the first body cavity and is adapted to extend adjacent to predetermined bits of the bit holder to preclude movement of the drill bits out of the bit receiving portions while the first housing portion is in the closed position.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the FIGS., a bit container according to the present invention is illustrated and generally identified at reference10. The container10includes a front shell housing portion12and a rear shell housing portion14. The front shell housing portion12is connected to the rear shell housing portion14through a hinge16. A latch18is connected to the front housing12and pivots to an engaged position to engage the rear housing portion14.

With specific reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, two page-like bit holders19A and19B are pivotally disposed within the front shell housing position12of the container10. The page-like bit holders19A and19B generally include metal sleeves20A and20B which are each received within corresponding frame body portions22A and22B. The frame body portions22A and22B are formed as part of the hinge16. Each of the metal sleeves20A and20B include apertures24A and24B (FIG. 1) incorporated in the respective metal sleeves20A and20B for receiving various sized drill bits. The apertures24A and24B may be configured to accept metric or English unit drill bits, or both. Preferably, the apertures24A and24B are arranged with increased diameter across each of the metal sleeves20A and20B for convenience and ease of identification. In addition, drill bit size indicators26are etched on both sides of the metal sleeves20A and20B (most clearly shown onFIG. 2). The frame body portions22A and22B are pivotal relative to the front and rear shell housing portions12,14to allow the page-like bit holders19A and19B to be flipped like pages relative to the housing portions12,14.

With continued reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, the front housing portion12will be described in greater detail. The front housing portion12generally includes a front outer face30and a front inner face32having an optional viewing passage36incorporated therethrough. A diagonal strip38is disposed across the viewing passage36and incorporates a depth D (most clearly shown inFIG. 2) into an inner cavity of the front housing portion12of the container10. The diagonal strip38is arranged to align with the tips of a series of drill bits40A disposed in the sleeve20A. In this way, the diagonal strip38precludes axial movement of the drill bits40A in the sleeve20A from sliding toward a top surface44of the front housing portion12while the container is in a closed position or while in an open position with the sleeve20A positioned against the front housing portion12. The viewing passage36may comprise an aperture, an aperture having a transparent panel fitted thereon or, alternately, the front outer face30of the front housing portion12may be solid to prevent viewing or otherwise access therethrough.

The front housing portion12is further defined by a peripheral side wall including a side latch face46, a side hinge face48, a bottom face50(FIG. 1) and the top surface44(FIG. 2). A groove64(best shown inFIG. 2) extends around an inner edge of the top surface44and the side latch face46of the front housing portion12to cooperate with a complimentary lip66on the rear housing portion14in a closed position. The bottom face50of the front shell housing portion12incorporates an inset portion70, as illustrated inFIG. 2, for accommodating the frame body portions22A and22B while in a closed position. A ledge71provides vertical support for the page-like bit holders19A and19B when the container10is in a closed position.

With continued reference toFIG. 2and further reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the outer structure of the rear housing14will be further described. The rear shell housing portion14is defined by a peripheral side wall extending from an intermediate face76(FIG. 2). The peripheral side wall of the rear housing portion14includes a side latch face80, a top wall84, a side hinge wall86and a bottom wall88(FIG. 3). The groove66(FIG. 2) is formed on an inner edge of the top wall84and the side latch face80of the rear housing portion14.

With particular reference toFIG. 2, the latch18will be described in greater detail. A catch90extends from the side latch face80of the rear housing portion14for catching a tooth81incorporated on an underside of the latch18in an engaged position. The latch18is pivotally rotatable about a pivot post92connected to the front housing portion12.

The front and rear housing portions12,14are preferably comprised of hard plastic such as high impact ABS. As shown inFIG. 1, various inset and outset portions110,112are incorporated on the side hinge face48of the front housing portion12for structural integrity. While not specifically shown, the rear housing portion14includes similar inset and outset portions formed on the side hinge face96. The side latch faces46,80of the front and rear housing portions12,14incorporate indentations114thereon, to improve structural integrity and robustness.

Referring now toFIG. 2, the metal sleeves20A and20bwill be described in greater detail. The metal sleeves20A and20B are preferably arranged in increasing height from front to rear of the front housing portion12of the storage container10. Likewise, a series of smaller drill bits40A are received within the shorter front sleeve20A while a series of larger drill bits40B are received within the taller rear sleeve20B. This arrangement allows convenient viewing of the drill bits to properly identify the drill bit of interest. In addition, the hinged configuration of the metal sleeves20A and20B allows a user to index freely through the page-like bit holders19A and19B to gain adequate access to remove or insert a particular drill bit.

Both frame body portion22A and22B incorporates a stepped surface126A and126B thereon. The stepped arrangement provides increased structural integrity consistent with the aforementioned inset and outset portions110and112of the front and rear housing portion10,12. Side surfaces130A and130B of each of the frame body portions22A and22B include ridges132A and132B formed therealong. The ridges132A and132B provide an improved gripping surface to facilitate indexing through the page-like bit holders19A and19B.

The storage container10incorporates a variety of surfaces that allow the storage container to free-stand thereon. Specifically, the outset portions112(see, e.g.FIG. 1) arranged on the hinge faces48and86present a favorable side plane having a sufficient footprint to rest thereon. Furthermore, protruding sections116are formed on the front and rear housing portions12and14(see e.g.FIGS. 1 and 3) and cooperate with the lower faces of the stepped surfaces126A and126B incorporated on the bit holders19A and19B to present a common plane of which the storage container may free-stand thereon (see e.g.FIG. 2). In this way, the protruding sections116and the lower faces of the stepped surfaces126A and126B communicate with the common plane at a fully open position and a fully closed position and throughout all positions between providing a plurality of free standing conditions on the common plane.

Feet148A and148B extend from each respective frame body portion22A and22B in a lateral direction with respect to the ledge71of the front housing portion12. The foot148A and a portion of the foot148B overlap the ledge71when the page-like bit holders19A and19B are rotated against the front inner face32of the front housing portion12. The ledge71, aligned beneath the feet148A and148B, inhibits downward vertical deflection of the page-like bit holders19A and19B thereby enhancing structural robustness and reducing stress on the hinge16in the event of dropping or otherwise jolting the container10. It should be understood that the overlapping feet of the frame body portions of the page-like bit holders do not need to extend laterally from the bit holders, but instead can be formed in any manner to cause a portion of the bit holders to simply overlap the ledge71.

With reference now toFIGS. 3 and 4the rear housing portion14will be described in greater detail. A transparent cover plate150is provided for selectively enclosing the storage cavity defined by the rear housing portion14. A latch154releaseably secures the transparent cover plate150to a hook156on the rear housing portion14. A cover hinge158allows the transparent cover plate150to pivot about the rear housing portion14. It is appreciated that the latch154is merely exemplary and any latch or securing member may similarly be incorporated to secure the transparent cover plate150to the rear housing portion14.

The storage container10includes removable spacers160that may be selectably positioned within the storage cavity of the rear housing portion14to customize the interior space. An inner surface162of the rear housing portion14includes parallel dividers168extending between the top wall84and the bottom wall88. The parallel dividers168and an inner side wall170include tabs174extending therefrom. The tabs174are configured to engage fingers178of the removable spacers160in an installed position. The opposing tabs174are laterally offset a predetermined distance such that a readily available piece of material may be substituted for a spacer160, in the event a spacer is misplaced. The predetermined distance is configured to be a distance common to readily available scrap pieces of material such as, but not limited to, ⅛ inch plywood.

A series of spacers160will be included for the user to customize the size of the interior space of the rear housing portion14. The fingers178include flared arms on opposite ends and have slots that are adapted to slidably engage the tabs174. The spacers160are made from a flexible material such as soft rubber or other elastomeric material. The flared arms of the spacers160are contoured such that an object may be easily removed from the rear housing portion14without becoming caught in a 90 degree corner of an inner compartment. The internal configuration also provides shock resistance in the event of a drop or sudden impact.