Tool kit mounting system

A tool cart assembly including a tool cart having a horizontal surface defining a mounting aperture, a first rail including a bottom wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls, a front edge of each sidewall defining a catch, and at least one projection depending downwardly from the bottom wall, the projection being configured to be received in the mounting aperture such that the first rail is secured to the horizontal surface. A tool kit includes a sidewall and a first elongated rib, the elongated rib is configured to be slidably received by the first rail. The tool kit is removably secured to the tool cart by positioning the elongated first rib in the first rail and sliding the tool kit rearwardly such that the catches defined by the first rail engage a first portion of the tool kit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to portable tool kits. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for releasably mounting a tool kit to a horizontal surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Frequently, tool kits used by governmental agencies, such as the military, fire departments, police departments, etc., are required to meet specifications for durability, strength, capacity, etc. Frequently, these tool kits have to be able to contain a full complement of tools to conduct a wide range of repairs in the field. As such, the tool kits tend to be both large and heavy. Moreover, to meet durability requirements, the tool kits often have external ribs disposed along the outer surfaces of their walls to lend rigidity to the kits. Additionally, the ribs often protect various components of the tool kits, such as hinges, latches, etc., from damage.

In use, it is common for these tool kits to be placed on elevated surfaces, such as the tops of benches, tool carts, etc., to facilitate access by the user. The act of placing the tool kits on these surfaces can prove problematic because of the size and weight of the tool kits, which often exceed 150 lbs when loaded with tools. As well, even after a tool kit is placed on an elevated surface, the tool kit can be a hazard if not positioned properly. More specifically, the tool kit can fall off the elevated surface or cause the entire component on which it is placed, such as a tool cart, to tip over.

The present invention recognizes and addresses considerations of prior art constructions and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention provides a tool cart assembly including a tool cart assembly having a horizontal surface defining at least one mounting aperture therein, a first rail including a bottom wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls depending upwardly therefrom and defining a channel, a front edge of each sidewall defining a catch, and at least one projection depending downwardly from a bottom surface of the bottom wall. The at least one projection is configured to be received in the at least one mounting aperture of the horizontal surface such that the first rail is removably secured to the horizontal surface. A tool kit includes a sidewall and at least a first elongated rib disposed along an outer surface of the sidewall, the at least one elongated rib is configured to be slidably received by the first rail. The tool kit is removably secured to the tool cart by positioning the at least one elongated first rib of the tool kit in the channel defined by the first rail and sliding the tool kit rearwardly relative to the first rail such that the catches defined by the sidewalls of the first rail engage a first portion of the tool kit.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a system for mounting a tool kit including an elongated rib and a lip to a horizontal surface defining a mounting aperture, having a first rail including a bottom wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls depending upwardly therefrom and defining a channel, a front edge of each sidewall defining a catch, and at least one projection depending downwardly from a bottom surface of the bottom wall, the at least one projection being configured to be received in and engage the at least one mounting aperture of the horizontal surface such that the first rail is removably secured to the horizontal surface. The tool kit is removably secured to the tool cart by engaging the lip of the tool kit with the catches of the first rail when the elongated rib is received in the channel defined by the first rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2Athrough2D, a tool cart assembly10including a tool kit mounting system in accordance with the present invention is shown. The tool kit mounting system includes a pair of elongated rails40and a pair of elastic cords such as, for example, bungee straps90. The tool kit mounting system is configured to facilitate removably securing a tool kit60(FIG. 4) to a horizontal surface such as, but not limited to, a top wall28of a tool cart20. As shown, tool cart20includes a plurality of drawers22slidably received within a frame24, and wheels26disposed at bottom corners of frame24. Additionally, top wall28of tool cart20defines two pairs of mounting apertures30, each pair of mounting apertures30is configured to removably receive a corresponding rail40of the tool kit mounting system, as discussed in greater detail below.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A,2B,2C and2D, top, side, bottom and front views, respectively, of an elongated rail40of the tool kit mounting system are shown. Rails40of the tool kit mounting system are identical and, as such, only one rail is described herein. As best seen inFIG. 2A, rail40includes a pair of opposed, parallel sidewalls42. A substantially planar bottom wall44extends between sidewalls42and is perpendicular to each, thereby forming a channel47between the pair of sidewalls42. A catch46depends outwardly from the top portion of a front edge of each sidewall42such that each sidewall42defines a notch48adjacent the bottom portion of its front edge. In the embodiment shown, a top edge43of each sidewall42is formed by folding over an upper-most portion if each sidewall42. As such, upper edges43of sidewalls42enhance structural rigidity of each rail40.

Bottom wall44defines a pair of rearwardly depending tabs50that depend outwardly from a bottom surface of bottom wall44and are configured to be inserted in corresponding mounting apertures30. In the embodiment shown, each tab50depends rearwardly from a front portion52that is integral to bottom wall44. An inner surface of each tab50is separated from the bottom surface of bottom wall44such that each tab50and bottom wall44are configured to slidably receive a portion of a mounting surface therebetween, as discussed in greater detail below. As shown, each tab50is unitarily formed from the corresponding rail40by a portion of bottom wall44, such as by a stamping process. Note, however, in alternate embodiments, the tabs may be formed separately and affixed to bottom wall44by welding, staking, fasteners, etc. Moreover, alternate embodiments may include variously configured projections, such as posts, that are configured to engage mounting apertures30.

Referring now toFIG. 3A through 3C, to mount each rail40of the tool kit mounting system to the corresponding horizontal support surface, in the instant case that being top wall28of tool cart20shown inFIG. 1, the pair of tabs50is aligned above the corresponding pair of mounting apertures30defined by top wall28. As shown inFIG. 3B, each tab50is inserted in the corresponding mounting aperture30such that the bottom surface of bottom wall44abuts the top surface of top wall28, and front portion52and rear portion54of each tab50are adjacent a front edge32and a rear edge34, respectively, of corresponding mounting aperture30. As shown inFIG. 3C, rail40is urged rearwardly such that each tab50slidably receives a portion of top wall28between an inner surface of each tab50and the bottom surface of bottom wall44. In this position, catch46of each sidewall42cooperates with top wall28of tool cart20to define a notch48that is configured to slidably receive a portion of tool kit60(FIG. 4) when it is removably secured to tool cart20, as discussed in greater detail below. Preferably, the width of the gap defined by the inner surface of each tab50and the bottom surface of bottom wall44is substantially the same as the width of the portion of top wall28that is slidably received therein. As such, each tab50frictionally “grips” the portion of top wall28received therein such that each rail40is securely, yet removably, mounted on top wall28. Where necessary, a tool such as a rubber mallet, or like tool, can be used to urge each rail40rearwardly when mounting the rails to the top wall of the tool cart. The tool kit mounting system is now configured to removably receive the corresponding tool kit.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 through 7, mounting a tool kit to a corresponding support surface with the disclosed tool kit mounting system is addressed. An example tool kit60for use with the present tool kit mounting system is shown inFIG. 4. Tool kit60includes a pair of sidewalls62, a front wall64and a back lid66, each extending upwardly from a bottom wall68. A top wall70of tool kit60is pivotably connected to an upper edge of front wall64by a pair of hinges78. A handle72is pivotably mounted to each sidewall62adjacent its top edge to facilitate lifting tool kit60. Additionally, a pair of elongated ribs74extend along the outer surface of front wall64from its lower edge adjacent bottom wall68to its top edge adjacent top lid70. Preferably, a downwardly depending lip76extends along the length of the top edge of front wall64between the opposed pair of sidewalls62. Such elongated ribs74and lips76are known in the art to lend rigidity to tool kits, protect components such as hinges78, etc., especially with tool kits that are often used by governmental agencies, such as the military, fire departments, police departments, etc.

For the embodiment shown, to mount tool kit60to top surface28of tool cart20, tool kit60is lifted such that elongated ribs74are each disposed, at least partially, above a corresponding rail40. As shown inFIG. 7, each elongated rib74extends at least partially along the bottom surface of bottom wall68, thereby forming a bottom corner74aon each elongated rib74. Next, tool kit60is lowered such that bottom corner74aof each elongated rib74is received within the channel formed by opposed sidewalls42of each rail40. Preferably, each bottom corner74ais received in each rail40closer to the back end than the front end of each rail. Next, tool kit60is tilted forwardly such that front wall64moves downwardly toward top wall28of tool cart20and each elongated rib74is therefore received between sidewalls42of the corresponding rail, as best seen inFIG. 5A. As shown, the outermost surface of each elongated rib74abuts the top surface of bottom wall44of the corresponding ribs74. Note, however, in alternate embodiments the outer surface64aof front wall64abuts top edges43of the corresponding rail40such that each elongated rib74is supported slightly above the top surface of bottom wall44.

As shown inFIG. 5B, tool kit60is slid rearwardly relative to top wall28of tool cart20until lip76of tool kit60is slidably received in notches48defined by top wall28and catches46of each guide rail40. So positioned, catches46engage corresponding portions of lip76, thereby preventing upward rotation of tool kit60relative to top wall28of tool cart20. As best seen inFIGS. 6 and 7, a pair of hooks, each disposed on a free end of a corresponding bungee strap90, are engaged with a corresponding handle72of tool kit60. The opposite end of each bungee strap90includes a hook (92) that engages a portion of the tool cart to removably attach each bungee strap90. Alternate embodiments may include bungee straps that are affixed to the corresponding tool cart with threaded fasteners, rivets, etc. Bungee straps90provide rearward biasing force that helps insure catches46of each guide rail40remain engaged with lip76of tool kit60until it is desired to remove tool kit60from tool cart20. Although it is preferable to retain tool kit60with elasticized straps, such as bungee straps90, the straps need not be elasticized in all embodiments. As well, the straps used to retain the tool kit may be connected to portions of tool kit60other than handles72.

While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are described above, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For example, alternate embodiments may include rails that are affixed to a horizontal surface with threaded fasteners, rivets, welding, etc. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.