Abstract:
A storage container for housing drill bits can include a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. The front and rear housing portions can be pivotally connected through a hinge for moving between open and closed positions. The front and rear housing portions can define a body cavity therebetween in the closed position. A front bit holder can be pivotally connected to the hinge and lie adjacent to the front housing portion. A rear bit holder can be pivotally connected to the hinge and lie adjacent the rear housing portion. An intermediate bit holder can be pivotally connected to the hinge and lie between the front and rear bit holder.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/781,052, filed on Feb. 18, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,654. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to storage containers, and more particularly to a storage container having 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 drill bits according to the present teachings can include a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. The front and rear housing portions can be pivotally connected through a hinge for moving between open and closed positions. The front and rear housing portions can define a body cavity therebetween in the closed position. A front bit holder can be pivotally connected to the hinge and lie adjacent to the front housing portion. A rear bit holder can be pivotally connected to the hinge and lie adjacent the rear housing portion. An intermediate bit holder can be pivotally connected to the hinge and lie between the front and rear bit holder. 
   According to additional features, the front bit holder can extend upward a first distance from a bottom of the body cavity. The rear bit holder can extend upward a second distance from the bottom of the body cavity. The second distance can be greater than the first distance. The intermediate bit holder can extend upward from a bottom of the body cavity a third distance. The third distance can be less than the second distance and greater than the first distance. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a right perspective view of the storage container constructed in accordance to the present invention shown in the closed position; 
       FIG. 2  is a left perspective view of the storage container; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the outer surface of the rear clam shell housing portion; 
       FIG. 4  is a left side view of the storage container illustrating the hinge connecting the front and rear clam shell housing portions; 
       FIG. 5  is a right side view of the storage container illustrating the latch for releasably engaging the front and rear clam shell housing portions; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the storage container; 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the storage container; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial front perspective view of the storage container shown with the front cover removed for illustration; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the storage container shown in an open position; 
       FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a first metal sleeve of the storage container; 
       FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of a first frame body portion of the storage container; 
       FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of a second metal sleeve of the storage container; 
       FIG. 11B  is a perspective view of a second frame body portion of the storage container; 
       FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of a third metal sleeve of the storage container; 
       FIG. 12B  is a perspective view of a third frame body portion of the storage container; 
       FIG. 13A  is a partial cutaway view of the storage container illustrating a latch overextend prevention feature; 
       FIG. 13B  is the cutaway view of  FIG. 13A  shown with the latch urged into an open position; and 
       FIG. 13C  is the cutaway view of  FIG. 13B  shown with the storage container in a locked position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   With initial reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a bit container according to the present invention is illustrated and generally identified at reference  10 . The container  10  includes a front clam shell housing portion  12  and a rear clam shell housing portion  14 . The front clam shell housing portion  12  is connected to the rear clam shell housing portion  14  by a hinge pin  16  extending through hinge  17 . A latch  18  is connected to the front housing  12  and pivots to an engaged position to engage the rear housing portion  14 . With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , three page-like bit holders  19 A- 19 C are pivotally disposed within the container  10 . The page-like bit holders  19 A- 19 C generally include metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C which are each received within corresponding frame body portions  22 A- 22 C. The frame body portions  22 A- 22 C are formed as part of the hinge  17 . Each of the metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C include apertures  24 A- 24 C incorporated in the respective metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C for receiving various sized drill bits. The apertures may be configured to accept metric or English unit drill bits, or both. Preferably, the apertures  24 A- 24 C are arranged with increased diameter across each of the metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C for convenience and ease of identification. In addition, drill bit size indicators  26  are etched on both sides of the metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C (most clearly shown on  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The frame body portions  22 A- 22 C are pivotal relative to the front and rear clam shell housing portions  12 ,  14  to allow the page-like bit holders  19 A- 19 C to be flipped like pages relative to the housing portions  12 ,  14 . 
   With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and further reference to  FIGS. 4-7  and  9 , the front housing portion  12  will be described in greater detail. The front housing portion  12  generally includes a front outer face  30  and a front inner face  32  having an optional viewing passage  36  incorporated therethrough. A diagonal strip  38  is disposed across the viewing passage  36  and incorporates a depth D (most clearly shown in  FIG. 9 ) into an inner cavity of the container  10 . The diagonal strip  38  is arranged to align with the tips of a series of drill bits  40 A disposed in sleeve  20 A. In this way, the diagonal strip  38  precludes axial movement of the drill bits  40 A in sleeve  20 A from sliding toward a top surface  44  of the front housing portion  12  while the container is in a closed position or while in an open position with sleeve  20 A positioned against the front housing portion  12 . Viewing passage  36  may comprise an aperture, an aperture having a transparent panel fitted thereon or alternately the front outer face  30  of the front housing portion  12  may be solid to prevent viewing or otherwise access therethrough. 
   Front housing portion  12  is further defined by a peripheral side wall including a side latch face  46  ( FIG. 5 ), a side hinge face  48  ( FIG. 4 ), a bottom face  50  ( FIG. 7 ) and the top surface  44 . The side hinge face  48  (best illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) includes cutouts  54  for accommodating hinge arms  60 A- 60 C of the hinge  17 , as will be described in greater detail. A groove  64  (best shown in  FIG. 9 ) extends around an inner edge of the top surface  44  and the side hinge face  48  of the front housing portion  12  to cooperate with a complimentary lip  66  on the rear housing portion  14  in a closed position. The bottom face  50  of the front clam shell housing portion  12  incorporates an inset portion  70 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , for accommodating the frame body portions  22 A- 22 C while in a closed position. A ledge  68  provides vertical support for the page-like bit holders  19 A and  19 B when the container  10  is in a closed position. With reference to  FIG. 4 , the side hinge face  48  of the front housing portion  12  includes hinge posts  71  separated by void portions  72  formed thereon for accommodating hinge posts  74  of the rear housing portion  14 . 
   The rear clam shell housing portion  14  is defined by a peripheral side wall extending from a rear face  76  ( FIG. 3 ). The peripheral side wall of the rear housing portion  14  includes a side latch face  80  ( FIG. 5 ), a top face  84  ( FIG. 6 ), a side hinge face  86  ( FIG. 4 ) and a bottom face  88  ( FIG. 7 ). The groove  66  ( FIG. 9 ) is formed on an inner edge of the top face  84  and the side latch face  80  of the rear housing portion  14 . Similar to the front housing portion  12 , the bottom face  88  of the rear housing portion  14  incorporates an inset  94  ( FIG. 7 ) for accommodating the frame body portions  22 A- 22 C while in a closed position. A ledge  69  provides vertical support for the page-like bit holders  19 B and  19 C when the container  10  is in a closed position. The side hinge face  86  of the rear housing portion  14  includes void portions  96  disposed between the hinge posts  74  for accommodating the hinge posts  71  of the front housing portion  12 . 
   With particular reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  8 ,  9  and  13 A- 13 C, the latch  18  will be described in greater detail. A catch  90  extends from the side latch face  80  for catching a tooth  81  ( FIGS. 13A-13C ) incorporated on an underside of the latch  18  in an engaged position. First and second shoulders  98  extend on opposite ends of the latch  18  and function to prevent the latch  18  from over-rotating in an inward direction when the container  10  is in an open position. Specifically the shoulders  98  abut a wall  102  ( FIG. 13A ) formed on the front body portion  12  to preclude the latch  18  from becoming trapped between the front and rear housing portions  12  and  14  when a user rotates the front and rear housing portions  12  and  14  from an open position to a closed position. As the user rotates the rear housing portion  14  toward the front housing portion  12 , the surface to surface interaction of tooth  81  and the catch  90  influences the latch  18  counterclockwise as viewed from  FIG. 13B . In particular, the front surface  82  of the tooth  81  is angled and/or otherwise configured so as to cause the tooth  81  to ride upward when contacted by the catch  90 , thus causing the counterclockwise rotation of the latch  18 . Once the front and the rear housing portion are touching ( FIG. 13C ), the tooth  81  of the latch  18  may be located into the locked position with the catch  90 . 
   The front and rear housing portions  12 ,  14  are preferably comprised of hard plastic such as high impact ABS. As shown in the drawings ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), various inset and outset portions  110 ,  112  are incorporated on the side hinge faces  48 ,  86  of the front and rear housing portions  12 ,  14  for structural integrity. Furthermore, the inset portions  110  and the outset portions  112  are alternatively placed whereby an inset portion  110  of one of the front and rear housing portions  12 ,  14  accepts an outset portion  112  of the other front and rear housing portion in an open position. The side latch faces  46 ,  80  of the front and rear housing portions  12 ,  14  incorporate indentations  114  thereon, to improve structural integrity and robustness. The hinge pin  16  is preferably comprised of durable metal having a smooth surface such as zinc plated steel. In addition, the hinge pin  16  may be coated with a clear chromate surface. 
   Turning now to FIGS.  4  and  7 - 9 , the metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C will be described in greater detail. The metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C are preferably arranged in increasing height from front to rear of the storage container  10 . Likewise, a series of smaller drill bits  40 A are received within the shorter front sleeve  20 A while a series of larger drill bits  40 C are received within the taller rear sleeve. 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 sleeves  20 A- 20 C allows a user to index freely through the page-like bit holders  19 A- 19 C to gain adequate access to remove or insert a particular drill bit. 
   Each of the frame body portions  22 A- 22 C includes a pair of laterally offset hinge arms  120 A,  120 B, and  120 C, respectively so as to cooperatively interfit with the hinge  17  (see e.g.  FIG. 4 ). Preferably one of the hinge arms  120 A cooperate with the hinge  17  at an area proximate to the bottom face  50 . Accordingly, the hinge arms  120 B are offset toward the top face  44  a predetermined distance from hinge arms  120 A and hinge arms  120 C are offset toward the top face  44  a predetermined distance from hinge arms  120 B. Such an alignment provides structural balance for the page-like bit holders  19 A- 19 C consistent with the increasing height from the page-like bit holders  19 A- 19 C. It is appreciated however that alternative hinge arrangements may be employed. 
   Each frame body portion  22 A- 22 C incorporates a stepped surface  126 A- 126 C thereon. The stepped arrangement provides increased structural integrity consistent with the aforementioned inset and outset portions  110  and  112  of the front and rear housing portion  10 ,  12 . The side surfaces  130 A- 130 C of each of the frame body portions  22 A- 22 C include ridges  132 A- 132 C formed therealong. The ridges  132 A- 132 C provide an improved gripping surface to facilitate indexing through the page-like bit holders  19 A- 19 C. 
   The storage container  10  incorporates a variety of surfaces that allow the storage container to free-stand thereon. Specifically, the outset portions  112  (see e.g.  FIG. 2 ) arranged on the hinge faces  48  and  86  present a favorable side plane having a sufficient footprint to rest thereon. Furthermore, protruding sections  116  are formed on the front and rear housing portions  12  and  14  (see e.g.  FIG. 1 and 3 ) and cooperate with the lower faces of the stepped surfaces  126 A- 126 C incorporated on the bit holders  19 A- 19 C to present a common plane of which the storage container may free-stand thereon (see e.g.  FIG. 9 ). In this way, the protruding sections  114  and the lower faces of the stepped surfaces  126 A- 126 C 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. 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 9  and further reference to  FIGS. 10A-12C  additional features of the page-like bit holders  19  will be described. Passages  140 A- 140 C ( FIGS. 10A ,  11 A and  12 A) are incorporated in the metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C for receiving complementary teeth  142 A- 142 C disposed on the respective frame body portions  22 A- 22 C in an engaged position ( FIG. 9 ). The passages  140 A- 140 C and complementary teeth  142 A- 142 C provided on the metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C and frame body portions  22 A- 22 C are preferably configured to prohibit the metal sleeves from being placed backward or on the wrong frame body portion. In this way, the passages  140 A- 140 C are distinctly spaced on each of the frame body portions  22 A- 22 C and will only accommodate similarly spaced teeth  142 A- 142 C on the respective metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C. 
   Feet  148 A- 148 C extend from each respective frame body portion  22 A- 22 C in a lateral direction with respect to the ledges  68  and  69  of the front and rear housing portions  12  and  14 . The foot  148 A and a portion of the foot  148 B overlap the ledge  68  when the page-like bit holders  19 A and  19 B are rotated against the front inner face  32  of the front housing portion  12 . The ledge  68  disposed beneath the feet  148 A- 148 B inhibits downward vertical deflection of the page-like bit holders  19 A and  19 B thereby enhancing structural robustness and reducing stress on the hinge arms  120 A- 120 C in the event of dropping or otherwise jolting the container  10 . Similarly, the ledge  69  of the rear housing portion  14  laterally supports the foot  148 C and a portion of the foot  148 B to inhibit downward vertical deflection of the page-like bit holders  19 B and  19 C. 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 ledges  68 ,  69 . 
   Radial support members  150 A- 150 C are formed along each of the frame body portions  22 A- 22 C. The radial support members  150 A- 150 C and the complementary apertures  24 A- 24 C in the metal sleeves  20 A- 20 C are collectively referred to as bit receiving portions. The radial support members  150 A- 150 C facilitate smooth insertion and retraction of the drill bits  40 A- 40 C by providing partial radial boundaries for the drill bits  40 A- 40 C. As shown in the drawings, the radial support members  150 B and  150 C of the frame body portions  22 B and  22 C occupy a partial circumferential boundary of the apertures  24 B and  24 C. Preferably, complimentary radial support members  150 A- 150 C are disposed at axially offset locations of the apertures and occupy an unbounded circumferential portion of the apertures. The axial offset of the radial support members  150 A- 150 C on opposite sides of the frame body portions  22 A- 22 C facilitate the molding of the frame body portions  22 A- 22 C. 
   The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.