Abstract:
A sliding type tool storage structure comprises an open-close switching unit clamped between a first storing element and a second storing element that can slide relative to each other. When the first storing element slides relative to the second storing element to change their relative position, the stopping portions of the open-close switching unit will open or close the tool storing grooves of the respective storing elements. Being a simple structure, the sliding type tool storage structure is easy to carry. Furthermore, since the tool storage structure can be operated simply by sliding of two elements, it is very convenient to use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a tool box, and more particularly to a sliding type tool storage structure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Conventional tool boxes are mostly of flip type and comprise plural grooves therein for storage of tools. However, such a tool box has a large volume and is difficult to carry and inconvenient to use. 
         [0005]    The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a sliding type tool storage structure which has a simple structure and is easy to carry and convenient to use. 
         [0007]    To achieve the above objective, a sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention comprises: 
         [0008]    a first storing element including an outer surface, an inner surface, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side and the second side being connected between the outer surface and the inner surface, the first storing element being formed with plural spaced tool storing grooves in the outer surface thereof, the first storing element being further formed in the inner surface thereof with a first control groove, the first control groove being formed with plural through-hole-shaped displacement spaces which are located adjacent to the respective tool storing grooves, respectively, the first storing element being further provided with a slidable positioning element on the inner surface thereof; 
         [0009]    an open-close switching unit including plural first stopping portions on a first surface thereof and plural second stopping portions on a second surface opposite the first surface thereof, the first stopping portions and the second stopping portions extending in opposite directions, each of the first and the second stopping portions including a stopping end, the respective first stopping portions being inserted into the displacement spaces of the first control groove; and 
         [0010]    a second storing element including an outer surface, an inner surface, a first side and a second side opposite the first side thereof, the second storing element being formed with plural tool storing grooves in the outer surface thereof and formed with a slide corresponding element on the inner surface thereof, the slidable positioning element of the first storing element being slidably assembled to the slide corresponding element of the second storing element, the open-close switching unit being clamped between the first storing element and the second storing element, the first side and the second side of the first storing element being arranged opposite the first side and the second side of the second storing element, respectively, the second storing element being formed in the inner surface thereof with a second control groove, the second control groove being formed with plural through-hole-shaped displacement spaces which are located adjacent to the respective tool storing grooves of the second storing element, the respective second stopping portions of the open-close switching unit being inserted into the respective displacement spaces of the second control groove, between a first side of the open-close switching unit and a second groove surface of the first control groove adjacent to the second side of the first storing element being defined a first control clearance, between a second side of the open-close switching unit and a first groove surface of the first control groove adjacent to the first side of the second storing element being defined a second control clearance. 
         [0011]    The first storing element is allowed to slide in a direction of the first side thereof through the first control clearance, and the second storing element is allowed to slide in a direction of the second side thereof through the second control clearance. The siding of the first storing element and the second storing element changes a relative position of the respective tool storing grooves with respect to the respective stopping ends, thus opening or closing the respective tool storing grooves. As known from the above-mentioned, the sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention has a simple structure, so it is easy to carry. Furthermore, the tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention can be opened or closed by sliding of two elements, so it is very convenient to use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is another exploded view of the sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side assembly view of the sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention along the line A-A of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention along the line B-B of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing that tool heads are stored in the closed sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing how the first storing element slides relative to the second storing element; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing that the tool storing grooves of the sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention are completely opened; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of another sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , a sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted for storing tool heads and comprises a first storing element  10 , an open-close switching unit  20 , and a second storing element  30 . 
         [0023]    The first storing element  10  includes an outer surface  11 , an inner surface  12 , a first side  13  and a second side  14  opposite the first side  13 . The first side  13  and the second side  14  are connected between the outer surface  11  and the inner surface  12 . The first storing element  10  is formed with plural spaced tool storing grooves  111  in the outer surface  11 . In the present embodiment, the first storing element  10  is formed with three polygon tool storing grooves  111  for storing hexagonal column-shaped hand tools. Of course, the tool storing grooves  111  can also be configured in other forms for storing other forms of hand tools. The respective tool storing grooves  111  of the first storing element  10  are formed with an abdominal portion  112  in a direction of the second side  14 . The first storing element  10  is further formed in the inner surface  12  with a first control groove  121 . The first control groove  121  is formed with plural through-hole-shaped displacement spaces  122  penetrating the respective abdominal portions  112 . The first storing element  10  is further formed in the inner surface  12  with a second control groove  123 . Between the first control groove  121  and the second control groove  123  is connected a connecting groove  124 . The first storing element  10  is provided on the inner surface  12  with a slidable positioning element  125  at each of two opposite sides of the connecting groove  124 . The slidable positioning element  125  in the present embodiment is a clamping hook. 
         [0024]    The open-close switching unit  20  includes a first control portion  21 , a second control portion  22  and a connecting portion  23  connected between the first control portion  21  and the second control portion  22 . The first control portion  21  includes a first panel  211  formed correspondingly to the first control groove  121  of the first storing element  10 . The first panel  211  is further formed with plural first stopping portions  212  extending therefrom. The first stopping portions  212  in the present embodiment are L-shaped. The number of the first stopping portions  212  is the same as that of the displacement spaces  122  of the first storing element  10 . Each of the first stopping portions  212  includes a stopping end  213 . The second control portion  22  includes a second panel  221  formed correspondingly to the second control groove  123  of the first storing element  10 . The second panel  221  is formed with plural second stopping portions  222  extending therefrom. The second stopping portions  222  in the present embodiment are L-shaped. The first stopping portions  212  and the second stopping portions  222  extend in opposite directions. The first panel  211  of the first control portion  21  of the open-close switching unit  20  is disposed in the first control groove  121  of the first storing element  10 , and the first stopping portions  212  of the first control portion  21  are inserted into the respective displacement spaces  122  of the first control groove  121 . The stopping ends  213  of the first stopping portions  212  of the first control portion  21  are stopped outside the respective tool storing grooves  111 . The connecting portion  23  is disposed in the connecting groove  124  of the first storing element  10 , and the second control portion  22  is disposed in the second control groove  123  of the first storing element  10 . 
         [0025]    The second storing element  30  includes an outer surface  31 , an inner surface  32 , a first side  33  and a second side  34  opposite the first side  33 . The first side  33  and the second side  34  are connected between the outer surface  31  and the inner surface  32 . The second storing element  30  is formed with plural polygon tool storing grooves  311  in the outer surface  31 . The respective tool storing grooves  311  of the second storing element  30  are formed with an abdominal portion  312  in a direction of the first side  33 . The second storing element  30  is further formed in the inner surface  32  with a first control groove  321 , a sliding groove  322  and a second control groove  323 . The first control grooves  121 ,  321  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  are arranged opposite each other, the connecting groove  124  of the first storing element  10  is arranged opposite the sliding groove  322  of the second storing element  30 , and the second control grooves  123 ,  323  of the second are arranged opposite each other. The open-close switching unit  20  is clamped between the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30 . The first panel  211  of the first control portion  21  of the open-close switching unit  20  is disposed between the first control groove  121  of the first storing element  10  and the first control groove  321  of the second storing element  30 . The connecting portion  23  is disposed between the connecting groove  124  of the first storing element  10  and the sliding groove  322  of the second storing element  30 . The second control portion  22  is disposed between the second control groove  123  of the first storing element  10  and the second control groove  323  of the second storing element  30 . The second control groove  323  of the second storing element  30  is further formed with plural displacement spaces  324 . The number of the displacement spaces  324  of the second storing element  30  is the same as that of the second stopping portions  222  of the second panel  221  of the open-close switching unit  20 . By such an arrangement, the inner surfaces  12 ,  32  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  are arranged opposite each other, and the first side  13  of the first storing element  10  is arranged opposite the first side  33  of the second storing element  30 , and the second side  14  of the first storing element  10  is arranged opposite the second side  34  of the second storing element  30 . The first stopping portions  212  of the first panel  211  of the open-close switching unit  20  are inserted into the respective displacement spaces  122  of the first storing element  10 , and the stopping ends  213  of the first stopping portions  212  of the first panel  211  are stopped outside the respective tool storing grooves  111  of the first storing element  10 . Furthermore, the first panel  211  is disposed between the first control groove  121  of the first storing element  10  and the first control groove  321  of the second storing element  30  while the second panel  221  is disposed between the second control groove  123  of the first storing element  10  and the second control groove  323  of the second storing element  30 . The second stopping portions  222  of the second panel  221  are inserted into the respective displacement spaces  324  of the second storing element  30 , and the stopping ends  213  of the respective second stopping portions  222  on the second panel  221  are stopped outside the respective displacement spaces  324  of the second storing element  30 . The second storing element  30  is formed with slide corresponding elements  325  on an edge of the sliding groove  322  correspondingly to the slidable positioning elements  125  in such a manner that the slidable positioning elements  125  of the first storing element  10  can be slidably hooked at the slide corresponding elements  325  of the second storing element  30  to make the first storing element  10  be slidably positioned on the second storing element  30 . When the respective stopping portions  212 ,  222  of the open-close switching unit  20  are disposed in the corresponding displacement spaces  122 ,  324  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30 , and the slidable positioning elements  125  of the first storing element  10  are slidably disposed on the slide corresponding elements  325  of the second storing element  30 , the assembly of the present invention is finished. 
         [0026]    After the assembly of the first storing element  10 , the open-close switching unit  20  and the second storing element  30 , the first panel  211  of the first control portion  21  of the open-close switching unit  20  will be clamped by a first groove surface of the first control groove  121  adjacent to the first side  13  of the first storing element  10  and a second groove surface of the first control groove  321  adjacent to the second side  34  of the second storing element  30 . Between the first panel  211  and a second groove surface of the first control groove  121  adjacent to the second side  14  of the first storing element  10  is defined a first control clearance D 1 , and between the first panel  211  and a first groove surface of the first control groove  321  adjacent to the first side  33  of the second storing element  30  is defined a second control clearance D 2 . The second panel  221  of the second control portion  22  of the open-close switching unit  20  is clamped by a first groove surface of the second control groove  123  adjacent to the first side  13  of the first storing element  10  and a second groove surface of the second control groove  323  adjacent to the second side  34  of the second storing element  30 . Between the second panel  221  and a second groove surface of the second control groove  123  adjacent to the second side  14  of the first storing element  10  is defined a third control clearance D 3 , and between the second panel  221  and a first groove surface of the second control groove  323  adjacent to the first side  33  of the second storing element  30  is defined a fourth control clearance D 4 . 
         [0027]    As known from the above-mentioned, after the assembly of the first storing element  10 , the open-close switching unit  20  and the second storing element  30 , the tool storing grooves  111 ,  311  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  are used to store tool heads X, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  are slidably positioned, and the open-close switching unit  20  is clamped by the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30 . However, since between the first control portion  21 , the second control portion  22  of the open-close switching unit  20  and the second sides  14 ,  34  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  are defined the first control clearance D 1  and the third control clearance D 3 , and between the first control portion  21 , the second control portion  22  of the open-close switching unit  20  and the first sides  13 ,  33  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  are defined the second control clearance D 2  and the fourth control clearance D 4 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Therefore, it shall be known that the first control clearance D 1  and the third control clearance D 3  between the first storing element  10 , the second storing element  30  and the open-close switching unit  20  are both adjacent to the second sides  14 ,  34 , and the second control clearance D 2  and the fourth control clearance D 4  are both adjacent to the first sides  13 ,  33 , so that the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  are allowed to slide relative to each other. The first storing element  10  is allowed to slide toward the first sides  13 ,  33  through the first and the third clearances D 1 , D 3  adjacent to the second sides  14 ,  34 , and the second storing element  30  is allowed to slide toward the second sides  14 ,  34  through the second and the fourth clearances D 2 , D 4  adjacent to the first sides  13 ,  33 . For a better understanding of the relative movement of these elements, reference should be made to  FIGS. 7-9 . The control clearances D 1 , D 2 , D 3 , D 4  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  with respect to the open-close switching unit  20  are simplified on the same plane for facilitating description. As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , due to the first and the third control clearances D 1 , D 3  between the open-close switching unit  20  and the first storing element  10  adjacent to the second sides  14 ,  34 , the first storing element  10  can be moved toward the first sides  13 ,  33 . Due to the second and the fourth control clearances D 2 , D 4  between the open-close switching unit  20  and the second storing element  30  adjacent to the first sides  13 ,  33 , the second storing element  30  can be moved toward the second sides  14 ,  34 . When the first storing element  10  is moved toward the first sides  13 ,  33 , and the second storing element  30  will move toward the second sides  14 ,  34 , without movement of the open-close switching unit  20 , the stopping ends  213 ,  223  which were originally stopped outside the tool storing grooves  111 ,  311  will retract into the displacement spaces  122 ,  324  due to the movement of the first and the second storing elements  10 ,  30  and make the tool storing grooves  111 ,  311  in a complete open state for facilitating storing the tool heads X. However, when the stopping ends  213 ,  223  are stopped outside the tool storing grooves  111 ,  311 , the tool storing grooves  111 ,  311  will be in a closed state for preventing the disengagement of the tool heads X. To summarize, the tool storing grooves  111 ,  311  can be opened or closed by making the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  slide relative to each other, so that it can be found that the sliding type tool storage structure of the present invention is convenient to operate and has a simple structure and a relatively small volume. As a result, the sliding type storage structure of the present invention is easy to carry. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 10  showing a sliding type tool storage structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, an open-close switching unit  40  in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention includes a first control element  41  and a second control element  42  that are two separate parts. The first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30  are not formed with the connecting groove  124  and the sliding groove  322 . The first control element  41  is clamped by the first control grooves  121 ,  321  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30 . The second control element  42  is clamped by the second control grooves  123 ,  323  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30 . The first control element  41  also includes a first panel  411  which is formed with plural first stopping portions  412 , and each of the first stopping portions  412  includes a stopping end  413 . The second control element  42  also includes a second panel  421  which is formed with plural second stopping portions  422 , and each of the second stopping portions  422  includes a stopping end  423 . In the same way, the stopping ends  413 ,  423  of the first control element  41  and the second control element  42  can also be used to open and close the tool storing grooves  111 ,  311  of the first storing element  10  and the second storing element  30 . 
         [0029]    While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.