Abstract:
A toolbox includes two shells, a lock and a plurality of tool holders. The shells are pivotally connected to each other. The lock can lock the shells to each other. The tool holders can be firmly attached to and easily removed from the shells, thus allowing various combinations of tool holders to be used together with the shells.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a toolbox with tool holders detachably but firmly positioned therein for neatly holding tools. 
         [0003]    2. Related Prior Art 
         [0004]    Almost every family keeps tools such as screwdrivers and/or socket wrenches so that family members can do some simple maintenance and repairing. Technicians carry tools such as screwdrivers and/or socket wrenches. For example, computer technicians, furniture deliverers and maintenance workers carry various tools so that they can conduct simple maintenance and/or repairing on site. To carry the tools, the technicians need toolboxes. Although screwdrivers and socket wrenches are made with different length, a technician often buys a toolbox based on the longest and the largest of the tools so that there is room for more tools. It is human nature to carry many tools just to fill the toolbox and prepare for possible use. The large amount of tools however renders it difficult to search the toolbox for needed tools. 
         [0005]    There are toolboxes equipped with tool holders for neatly holding tools therein. The tool holders however tend to shift in the toolboxes and jeopardize their ability to neatly hold the tools. 
         [0006]    The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to the present invention, a toolbox includes two shells, a lock and a plurality of tool holders. The shells are pivotally connected to each other. The lock can lock the shells to each other. The tool holders can be firmly attached to and easily removed from the shells, thus allowing various combinations of the tool holders to be used together with the shells. 
         [0008]    An advantage of the toolbox of the present invention is enabling a user to easily find the tools as the tool holders neatly hold the tools. 
         [0009]    Another advantage of the toolbox of the present invention is enabling a user to easily engage the tool holders with the shells and disengage them from one another without the use of tools. 
         [0010]    Another advantage of the toolbox of the present invention is allowing a user to use various tool holders together with the shells. 
         [0011]    Another advantage of the toolbox of the present invention is taking redundant burdens from a user by allowing the user to leave spare ones of the tool holders and tools at home or in offices, repair shops or factories. 
         [0012]    Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toolbox according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the toolbox shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the toolbox taken along a line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the toolbox without tool holders shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the toolbox shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a toolbox according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the toolbox shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Shown in  FIG. 1  is a toolbox according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The toolbox includes a first shell  10  and a second shell  20  pivotally connected to the first shell  10 . The toolbox is rectangular as shown; however, the toolbox may be in any other appropriate shape. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the toolbox is equipped with a number of small tool holders  30  and a plurality of large tool holders  40 . The first shell  10  includes two connectors  11  on a side. Each of the connectors  11  includes a C-shaped portion  111  as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The first shell  10  includes two restraints  12  and  13  on an opposite side and a gap  14  between the restraints  12  and  13 . A track  141  is formed on the wall of the gap  14 . A lock  142  is movably installed on the track  141 . The first shell  10  includes a space  15  therein and a plurality of bosses  17  on the floor of the space  15 . The bosses  17  are circular. 
         [0023]    The second shell  20  includes two connectors  21  for connection to the connectors  11  of the first shell  10 . The connectors  21  are pins for insertion in the C-shaped portions  111  of the connectors  11  of the first shell  10 . Each of the connectors  21  of the second shell  20  and a related one of the connectors  11  of the first shell  10  together form a hinge for pivotally connecting the second shell  20  to the first shell  10 . 
         [0024]    The second shell  20  is otherwise identical to the first shell  10 . That is, the second shell  20  includes two restraints  22  and  23  on an opposite side and a gap  24  between the restraints  22  and  23 . A track  241  is formed on the wall of the gap  24 . The second shell  20  includes a space  25  therein and a plurality of bosses  27  on the floor of the space  25 . The bosses  27  are circular. 
         [0025]    The lock  142  is movable on the track  141  of the first shell  10 . The lock  142  can be engaged with the track  241  of the second shell  20  so as to lock the first shell  10  to the second shell  20 . When the lock  142  is disengaged from the track  241  of the second shell  20 , the first shell  10  can be lifted from the second shell  20 . 
         [0026]    Each of the small tool holders  30  includes a plurality of cavities  31  in the top for receiving tools, a larger cavity  32  in communication with the cavities  31  and a lot of recesses  34  in the bottom. 
         [0027]    Each of the large tool holders  40  includes a plurality of cavities  41  in the top for receiving tools, a larger cavity  42  in communication with the cavities  41  and a lot of recesses  44  in the bottom. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the small tool holders  30  are positioned in the first shell  10 , and the large tool holders  40  are positioned in the second shell  20 . The recesses  34  receive the bosses  17  so that the small tool holders  30  are kept on the first shell  10 . 
         [0028]    Similarly, the recesses  44  receive the bosses  27  so that the large tool holders  40  are retained on the second shell  20 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , there is shown a toolbox according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except a few things. Firstly, the first shell  10  includes recesses  18  instead of the bosses  17 . Secondly, the second shell  20  includes recesses  28  instead of the bosses  27 . Thirdly, each of the small tool holders  30  includes bosses  35  instead of the recesses  34 . Fourthly, each of the large tool holders  40  includes bosses  45  instead of the recesses  44 . 
         [0030]    The toolbox according to the present invention exhibits several advantages. Firstly, it enables a user to easily find the tools as the tool holders neatly hold the tools in the shells. Secondly, it enables a user to easily engage the tool holders with the shells and disengage them from one another without the use of tools. Thirdly, it allows a user to use various tool holders together with the shells, i.e., the user can carry various tools in the toolbox. Fourthly, it takes redundant burdens from a user by allowing the user to leave spare ones of the tool holders and tools at home or in offices, repair shops or factories. 
         [0031]    The present invention has been described through the illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.