Tool-box (1) comprised of a female box (50) and a male box (10) which is retractable in the female box (50) or which may be rigidly set on the female box so as to form a workbench and/or a step-ladder. The male box (10) comprises two series (15, 16) of drawers (17) and, between those two series (15, 16), a tiltable and removable tray (20) having two compartments (25, 26). The tray (20) may be tilted on one side up to a stop and may be removed on the other side.

The present invention relates to a tool-box which can be transformed into a 
workbench and which can likewise serve as a step-ladder. 
The document No. BE-A-903,860 has disclosed a tool-box of the 
abovementioned type which comprises a male box and a female box, in which 
the male box is arranged in a sliding manner, the female box is provided 
with two open-worked opposite walls possessing a bottom case and, on the 
other two opposite walls, interior guide grooves and ribs, the male box 
provided with two openworked walls opposite walls being provided on two 
opposite walls with exterior guide grooves and ribs capable of engaging in 
the guide grooves and ribs of the female box in one position of the male 
box relative to the female box, the said guide ribs and grooves being 
arranged in a manner such that, in a position offset by 180.degree. 
relative to the previous position, the male box bears on the corresponding 
walls of the female box, the said male box further comprising two lateral 
series of drawers arranged one under the other, at a distance from one 
another, together with a working surface forming the top wall of the male 
box and the lid of the tool-box in the closed state. 
The bottom case of the female box advantageously projects slightly beyond 
the female box and can thus serve as a bottom step of a step-ladder, the 
base of the male box placed on the female box being capable of serving as 
a second step and the working surface as a third step. 
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved tool-box of 
the abovementioned type. 
According to the present invention, the male box comprises, in the space 
contained between the two lateral series of drawers, a tiltable and 
removable tray equipped with at least two means forming a tilting hinge on 
the base of the male box, arranged on two opposite sides, the said 
tiltable and removable tray being tiltable towards one side, up to a stop, 
and towards the other side until it can be retracted from the male box. 
Preferably, the removable and tiltable tray is provided with at least two 
feet arranged on two opposite sides and assuming the shape of a rib which 
is arranged in a manner such as to engage into corresponding grooves made 
in the base of the said male box. 
Advantageously, the tiltable and removable tray comprises four opposite 
feet, in pairs, which assume the shape of a rib engagable in corresponding 
grooves made in the base of the male box, in a manner such as to form two 
opposite tilting hinges. 
According to a preferred embodiment, the stop forming the check on tilting 
towards one side is arranged on the inner surface of the top wall of the 
male box. By virtue of this check, the user can tilt said tray to withdraw 
therefrom the tools which he requires without the tray tilting completely 
and moving out of its seating. On the other side, the user can tilt the 
tray and retract it from its seating without being inconvenienced by a 
checking stop, with a view to taking the tray with him. Advantageously, 
said tiltable and removable tray comprises two perforations in which the 
clasps of a strap can be inserted. In this manner, the user can suspend 
said tray from his shoulder. The strap is advantageously a strap which 
likewise serves to carry the tool-box in the closed state, with the aid of 
suitable locking members. 
Preferably, the said tiltable and removable tray comprises at least two 
compartments. It can likewise be provided on at least one of its front and 
rear faces with a handle or with a notch in said face acting as a handle.

With reference to the Figures, identical reference marks represent 
identical or similar elements. 
In FIG. 1, the tool-box 1 according to the present invention has been shown 
in the closed state, that is to say with the male box 10 introduced into 
the female box 50. 
In FIG. 4, on the other hand, the tool-box is shown in the open state, 
mainly with the male box placed on the female box. 
The female box 50 possesses an essentially parallelipipedal shape whose 
front 51 and rear 52 faces are open-worked and whose opposing lateral 
faces 53, 54 possess guide grooves 55 and 56, as shown in FIG. 2. Moreover 
the female box 50 possesses, in its lower part, a case 58 intended to 
receive heavy tools such as a heavy-duty drill, a keyhole saw, etc... The 
case 58 advantageously projects beyond the front 51 and rear 52 faces in 
order to widen the base of the tool-box to give it greater stability and 
in order to form a step of a step-ladder 59. 
The male box 10 likewise possesses an essentially parallelipipedal shape 
and is so designed as to be able to slide into the female box so as to 
retract into the latter as far as the level of the case 58. On two 
opposite lateral faces 11 and 12, it possesses guide ribs 13 and 14 which 
can engage into the corresponding grooves 55 and 56 of the female box 50 
in one position of the male box 10 relative to the said female box 50. 
The grooves 55 and 56 and also the ribs 13 and 14 are designed in the 
manner such that, in one position of the male box 10 relative to the 
female box 10, in which the male box 10 is offset by an angle of rotation 
of 180.degree. about a vertical axis relative to the position in which it 
engages into the female box 50, said male box 10 no longer engages into 
said female box 50 but rests thereon. In this case the ribs 13 and 14 of 
the male box 10 rest on the projecting parts 60 and 61 of the female box. 
It is likewise possible to provide similar devices on the front and rear 
faces of the male and female boxes with a view to ensuring a good seat of 
the male box on the female box. 
The male box 10 likewise possesses two lateral series 15 and 16 of drawers 
17 arranged one below the other, the two series 15 and 16 being at a 
distance from one another. The upper face of the male box constitutes the 
working surface 18 of a workbench and, when the male box is retracted into 
the female box 50, the lid of the tool-box. It can likewise serve as the 
last step in a step-ladder. 
Advantageously, the working surface 18 is fitted with a retractable handle 
or an aperture 19 allowing the passage of a hand, which facilitates 
transportation of said tool-box according to the present invention. Said 
working surface 18 can likewise possess a notch 18' which facilitates 
access to the last step when it is used as a step-ladder. 
In the upper part of each series of drawers 15 or 16 is provided an empty 
position 19 intended to facilitate the installation of a vise or of a 
clamp, for example. 
According to the present invention, the male box 10 possesses, in the 
spacing comprised between the two sets of drawers 15 and 16, a removable 
and tiltable tray 20. The latter is shown in detail in FIG. 6. It is 
fitted with four opposing feet 21, in pairs, which engage into 
corresponding grooves 22 (FIG. 5) made in the base of said male box 10. 
The rib-shaped feet 21 and the corresponding grooves 22 are arranged in a 
manner such as to form two opposing tilting hinges, arranged on the front 
face and on the rear face of the tool-box. 
While working, the user can readily tilt the removable tray 20 on a hinge 
21-22, taking it by an appropriate handle or an aperture 23, to withdraw 
therefrom a tool which is placed therein. Advantageously, said tipping is 
blocked, on the side of the front face, by a stop 31 provided on the inner 
face of the working surface 18. On the other hand, if the user intends to 
move away from his workbench to carry out a job, he can remove the tray 20 
via the rear of the male box 10 and take the tray 20 with him. 
Advantageously, said removable and tippable tray 20 is provided with two 
perforations 24 into which can be introduced clasps fixed to the ends of a 
strap, in a manner such that said tray 20 can be suspended, for example, 
from the user's shoulder. Said strap (not shown) can likewise be used for 
carrying the tool-box in the closed state, for example by hooking it to 
rings or similar means fixed to the female box 50. 
According to a preferred embodiment, the tray 20 comprises two compartments 
25 and 26 for the storage of tools or other articles. 
With a view to ensuring good stability of the whole, particularly in the 
open state, the female box can be fitted with two or more rapid fastening 
devices 62 (for example tailpieces or box clasps) which can engage in the 
notches 27 made in the male box 10. These rapid fastening means 62 can 
likewise fix the whole in the closed state by engag-ing in notches 28 made 
in the working surface 18. 
Advantageously, the working surface 18 can also comprise a slot 29 intended 
to receive a hand support 30 which is preferably removable and is intended 
to provide a support point when the whole is being used as a stepladder. 
The tool-box according to the present invention can be composed of various 
materials, as for example a plastic such as PVC. 
As a function of the material selected, it may be expedient to provide a 
reinforcement 63, particularly at the back of the female box. 
It is clear that the present invention is not restricted to the preferred 
embodiment described but extends to the scope defined by the claims.