Abstract:
A combination toolchest and workbench has a base member with an upper surface, and front, back and side edges. An upright rear panel with lateral edges and a top edge, is affixed to the back edge of the base member. A pair of opposed upright side panels, each having a lower edge adjacent to one of the side edges of the base, an upper edge, a forward edge, and a rear edge, are each pivotably attached to one of the lateral edges of the rear panel. The inside surfaces of at least one of the rear and side panels have tool-holding device receptors. The combination toolchest and workbench has a top member and an openable front panel. The combination toolchest and workbench can thus present an array of tools in a securable enclosure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is related generally to toolchests and, more particularly, to which are toolchests which are in combination with a workbench surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Professional and amateur workers have two basic needs for their hand tools: having a storage space for the tools which is secure yet accessible, and having a surface on which to work. Workbenches provide the horizontal work surface for the serious tool users. 
     Generally, three separate strategies are used to address the storage need: wall storage, an independent chest, or storage within the workbench. Each strategy has its relative advantages and relative drawbacks. 
     The wall storage is most typically exemplified by common pegboard attached to a vertical surface. Hangers engage the holes of the pegboard allowing tools, such as hammers, screwdrivers, and the like, to be suspended. Such a system has the advantage of presenting the tools in a highly visual and easily accessible array. Between use, tools may be returned to the storage location for easy retrieval when necessary. While satisfactory for the home handyperson working at a stationary base, such as at a work station in a home basement, wall storage is not portable within a larger space, nor does it provide any security. 
     Independent chests provide potential security and some portability, but occupy independent space—either on the workbench taking up valuable work space, or apart from the workbench thereby taking up useful floor space. Moreover, independent chests do not allow for the arrayed display of project-related tools to enhance efficiency. 
     Workbench storage under the work surface makes more efficient use of space, but is limited by the dimensions of the workbench as to the storage volume and size of the tools it can accommodate. Additionally, during the execution of the project, necessary tools may not be arrayed in for easy access. 
     Three patents have been issued to separate inventions attempting to address the problem by combining a workbench with a toolchest, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,733,703 (Cimino), 2,525,208 (Clink), and 5,588,659 (Boes, et al.). Each are unsatisfactory solutions. 
     The invention of Cimino adds storage to the exterior surface of the cart below the workbench surface. While providing an additional exterior-storage surface, the invention fails to make the tools easily accessible. A worker must bend to take or return a tool. Further, to access tools, the worker must be willing and able to move around the unit. As with all understorage units, the size of the tools which the unit can accommodate is limited. Additionally, the locking procedure is cumbersome. 
     The Clink unit utilizes some of the advantages of a wall-storage portion, but fails to maximize its value by necessarily limiting the horizontal dimension of its wall-storage portion. Further, by effectively placing a toolchest on the surface of the workbench, the unit unsatisfactorily decreases the work surface. Even further, the pre-placement of tool holders limits the adjustability of the unit for the tools of the end user. 
     The invention of Boes, et al. has pivotable side racks, but lacks the flexibility of side walls. The invention also is limited in practice in size because its locking mechanism is a fitted box which must be capable of handling by an end user. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an improved toolchest/workbench overcoming some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide securable toolchest which is easily convertible to a workbench. 
     Another object is to provide a toolchest/workbench that maximizes upright, back-wall surface area onto which tools may be affixed and displayed. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a toolchest/workbench that maximizes the horizontal work surface. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a workbench which is easily convertible to a toolchest within which tools may be stored and secured. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a toolchest/workbench which has tool holders which are easily modified by an end user to accommodate the tools of the end user. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide pneumatic-tool holders which can hold pneumatic tools upright without the tool being coupled to the holder. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a toolchest/workbench which is supported by a wheeled cart containing additional, securable tool-storage space. 
     These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a combination toolchest/workbench. For purposes of this application, a toolchest is any device designed to contain tools within the device. This invention comprises: (a) a base member having front, back and side edges and an upper surface; (b) an upright rear panel affixed to the back edge of the base member and having lateral edges and a top edge; (c) a pair of opposed upright side panels each having a rear edge pivotably attached to one of the lateral edges of the rear panel, a lower edge adjacent to one of the side edges of the base, an upper edge, and a forward edge; (d) a top member; (e) an openable front panel; and (f) the inside surfaces of at least certain of the rear and side panels having tool-holding device receptors thereon. The tool-holding device receptors may be common peg board. The toolchest/workbench is assembled such that it presents an array of tools in an enclosure which may be secured when tools are not in use. 
     The combination toolchest/workbench is more useful when the front panel is pivotable with respect to the top panel. In a more preferred embodiment, the front panel is divided into two portions: an upper portion pivotable with respect to the top panel and a lower portion pivotable with respect to the upper portion. 
     In addition to having a front panel pivotable with respect to the top panel, the toolchest/workbench is more preferred if the top panel is pivotable with respect to the top edge of the rear panel. To help in opening the front panel and then to help in keeping the top panel in an open position, least one gas-filled chamber/piston combination can be attached with respect to the top panel and with respect to the rear panel. 
     To present a larger back surface onto which tools may be placed, the combination toolchest/workbench may have side panels which each independently pivot out into a rear-panel-extension position, each thereby forming an obtuse angle with respect to the rear panel. The combination toolchest/workbench is more useful when it further comprises at least one horizontal, wedge-shaped, base-extension member having a leading edge attached at about the lower edge of at least one of the side panels, and a trailing edge; then when either side panel is in the rear-panel-extension position, the respective base-extension member substantially forms a horizontal extension of the base. The base-extension members may be arranged on the side panels such that the base-extension members can be stored under the upper surface of the base member when the combination toolchest/workbench is in the closed position. A further preferred embodiment of the toolchest/workbench is the inclusion of an interlocking device attached with respect to either or both sides of the base member such that the trailing edge of the wedge-shaped base-extension members may engage and disengage the interlocking member. 
     Another embodiment of the invention includes the addition of a wheeled cart to support the toolchest/workbench. Such an addition raises the working surface of the workbench aspect of the invention to a useful height while at the same time making the entire unit mobile. The cart has a plurality of drawers. It is preferred that the cart has an interior storage space with a door for accessing the space and securing items within the space when the workbench is not in use. It is more preferred that the cart has at least one rack within the interior storage space which is configured for receiving tools. The rack may be a pair of rigid, parallel, spaced horizontal members whereby a plurality of tools may be suspended therebetween. It is preferable that the rack is slidably attached to the interior of the cart in order that the rack with tools may be pulled out of the interior of the cart to provide easier access to the tools on the rack. 
     It is preferable that the interior surface of the door be covered with a plurality of receptors set at a predetermined spacing. In this way, tool-holding devices may be repositioned from one location to multiple other locations on the interior surface of the door. 
     Another embodiment of the toolchest/workbench further comprises a base-member tool-holding device located on the upper surface of the base member. In one preferred embodiment, the base-member tool-holding device is capable of receiving a pneumatic tool. It is more preferred that the base-member tool-holding device has a concavity designed to mate snugly receive with a connecting end of a pneumatic tool. 
     Yet another embodiment of this invention comprises a locking mechanism whereby the combination toolchest/workbench may be locked in a closed position securing the contents inside when the workbench portion of the invention is not in use. 
     Another aspect of this invention is a tool-holding device for supporting a tool with a pneumatic couple. This portion of the invention is a rigid shell having a cylindrical cavity dimensioned to snugly receive the male portion of the pneumatic tool and hold the tool in an upright position. The receipt of the pneumatic tool, however, is without coupling. In this manner, the pneumatic tool may be removed from the non-horizontal position at which it is held by the tool-holding device without the necessity of using two hands for de-coupling. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments which include the above-noted characteristics and features of the invention. The invention will be readily understood from the descriptions and drawings. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the unit in a closed position. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper-cabinet portion of the preferred toolchest/workbench in accordance with this invention in a fully-open position, containing tools as it could be in use. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the upper portion of the unit of FIG. 1 in an open position. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the upper-cabinet portion of the unit of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the left horizontal base-extension piece of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a partial cut-away front view of the left horizontal base-extension piece of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the pneumatic-tool holder. 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the cart portion of the unit of FIG. 1 shown in an open position. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the cart portion of the unit of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the combined tool chest/work bench  10 . The combined tool chest/work bench  10  has two major parts: the upper cabinet  12  and the lower cabinet  14 . Upper cabinet  12  provides convenient and secure storage of tools, provides a useful and extendable work surface, and provides a convenient array for easy access of tools when upper cabinet  12  is in a fully opened position. Lower cabinet  14  satisfies three distinct purposes: it provides mobility by means of four, single-axle casters  16 , it provides storage for tools, and elevates the work space portion of upper unit  12  to a useful work height of approximately 33 inches. Both upper and lower cabinets,  12  and  14  respectively, may be looked or unlocked by a conveniently located keyhole  18 . As shown, upper cabinet  12  and lower cabinet  14  are in a closed or secure position. 
     Two panels comprise the front of the upper cabinet, an upper panel  28  and a lower panel  26 . Each panel is of a dual-wall, sheet-metal construction, creating two faces to the panel, and a space between the walls thereby reducing weight. Panels  26 ,  28  are attached to each other through a hinge  30 . Once unlocked, upper cabinet  12  is opened by means of two circular pull rings  20  located near the bottom and toward the sides of the outer face  27   a  of lower panel  26  of upper cabinet  12 . The pull rings  20  have pull-ring hinges  22  for easy use. Pull rings  20  are recessed within a concave depression  24 . In response to outward force on pull rings  20 , lower panel  26  will rotate about hinge  30  until the outer face of lower panel  27   a  comes into near contact, parallel with the outer face of the upper panel  29   a.  The lower panel  26  is held in place as a stud  32  located on outer face of upper panel  29   a,  snaps into a complementary receptor  34  on outer face of lower panel  27   a  thereby holding two panels  26 ,  28  together. When a user decides to close the unit, the user can pull on the edge of lower panel  26  opposite hinge  30  and thereby gently dislodging the receptor  34  from stud  32  allowing lower panel  26  to rotate about hinge  30  back to its original, closed position. 
     Lower cabinet  14  as shown consists of a shell  36 . A door  38  is attached to the shell  36  by a shell hinge  40 . Door  38  is openable by pulling on a handle  42 . In addition to a space described in FIG. 8, lower cabinet  14  provides tool storage through a series of drawers  44 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, upper cabinet  12  may be seen in a fully opened position. The top edge of upper panel  28  is attached to the lid  46  by a lid hinge  48 . Lid  46  is of a single-wall, sheet-metal construction. Lid  46  is attached to the back panel  50  by a back-panel hinge  52 . Back panel  50  is of a dual-wall, sheet-metal construction similar to that of upper and lower panels  26 ,  28 . As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, by cooperation of the hinge  30 , lid hinge  48  and back-panel hinge  52 , upper and lower panels  26 ,  28  are easily removed from the work area when the upper cabinet  12  is fully open. To hold lid  46  in its fully-opened position, two pneumatic controls  54  are provided. One end of pneumatic control  54  is attached to lid  46 , the other end of the pneumatic control is attached to the front of the shelf  56 . Shelf  56  is in turn fixedly attached to back panel  50  such that shelf  56  thereby provides a stationary support for the pneumatic control  54 . Two shelves  56  are provided. Shelves  56  decline from back panel  50  toward the user at about a 25° angle. 
     The upper cabinet  12  has a base consisting of an upper base portion  58  and a lower base portion  60 . The lower base portion  60  is of tubular steel construction. The tubular steel has a square cross-section. The tubes of lower base portion  60  are welded in a U-shape, with arms of equal length perpendicular to the cross piece. The cross piece is of substantially the same linear dimension as the bottom edge of the inner face of back panel  50 ; the arms are each of substantially the same linear dimension as the bottom edge of side panels  62 . The ends of the arms of lower portion of base  60  opposite the cross piece are welded to the bottom of back panel  50 , perpendicular to the inner face of back panel  50 . In this manner, when lower base portion  60  sets on a horizontal surface, back panel  50  will extend vertically up from the horizontal surface. 
     The upper base portion  58  is a horizontal deck of heavy-gauge sheet-metal, welded perpendicularly to the inner face of back panel  50  such that the upper base portion  58  is dispensed approximately ¼ inch above the side arms of lower base portion  60 . For added structural strength, upper base portion  58  is attached to the cross piece of lower base portion through a ¼ inch spacer piece  61 . 
     From FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that two side panels  62  are attached to back panel  50  by virtue of separate side-panel hinges  64 . Side-panel hinges  64  allow side panels  62  to be rotated out from a start position of 90° with respect to back panel  50  to an open position of approximately 140° with respect to back panel  50 . Side panels  62  are securable to the lower base portion  60  in a closed position perpendicular to back panel  50  (seen in FIGS. 1 and 4) as the side-panel-locking pin  65   a  snaps into the side-panel-locking-pin aperture  65   b  located on the outer surfaces of the arms of the of lower base portion  60   
     Located near the edge of each side panel  62  on the inner face, opposite side panel hinge  64  are two side latches  66 . One side latch  66  is located in the upper half of side panel  62  and the other side latch  66  is located on the lower half of side panel  62 . Their location is pre-determined in order to be received by latch slots  68  located on the inner face of lower panel  27   a  and the inner face of the upper panel  29   a  (latch slots  68  on the inner face of upper panel  28  are not visible on the diagrams). As each of side, upper, lower and back panels  62 ,  28 ,  26  and  50  respectively, are of a double wall sheet metal construction, a cavity is provided between the walls of each panel. Within the cavity of lower panel  26  is a locking mechanism (not shown) by which a rod may extend out from the sides of lower panel  26  to engage the lock aperture  70  found on lower side latch  66  on each of side panels  62 . 
     For side and back panels  62  and  50 , respectively, the double wall construction allows the inner wall to be perforated with a regular spacing of holes  100  thereby creating a peg board onto which standard peg board holders  72  may be placed. Non-pneumatic-type tools  74  may thus be stored in upper cabinet  12  on shelves  56  or hung on peg board holders  72 . Pneumatic tools  76  may also be stored within upper cabinet  12  on pneumatic-tool holders  78  which are better seen in FIG.  7 . 
     Shelf  56  is covered with an elastic shelf liner  80 . Shelf liner  80  not only provides protection to shelf  56  from damage by tools  74 , but in addition, provides a gripping surface inhibiting tools  74  from sliding down the declined shelf  56 . 
     Immediately apparent from FIG. 4 is the cooperation of lower panel, upper panel  26  and  28 , and lid  46 , hinge  30 , back-panel hinge  52 , and lid hinge  48 . Upper and lower panels  26 ,  28  are folded together along the hinge  30  and tacked together by stud  32  and receptor  34  (not shown). Lower panel  26  and upper panel  28  are thus removed from the work area to a position above the top edge of back panel  50 . 
     Also apparent from this depiction is the relative gap between the upper portion of base  58  and lower portion of the base  60 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show the base-extension wing  82 . Base-extension wing  82  is a roughly pie-shaped section of sheet-metal. Base-extension wing  82  is attached along one of its linear edges to the bottom of the inner face of each side panel  62 . Base-extension wing  82  is attached perpendicularly to side panel  62  and thus parallel to upper base  58 . When upper cabinet  12  is in a closed position, side panel  62  is in contact with lower base  60 . In the closed position, base-extension wing  82  is stored under upper base  58 , between upper base portion  58  and lower base portion  60 . As side panel  62  is pulled out into an open position, lower surface of base-extension wing  82  rides over the upper surface of lower base  60  until the wing lock  84  encounters the top surface of lower base  60 . At that point, base-extension wing  82  is displaced upward as the inclined wing lock  84  rides up over lower base  60  until the exterior surface of lower base  60  encounters the apex of inclined wing lock  84 . As side panel  62  is still further rotated out about side-panel hinge  64 , wing lock  84  completes its passage over upper surface of lower base  60 , and lower base  60  enters the inverse well created between wing lock  84  and base-extension-wing lip  86 . Base-extension-wing lip  86  that runs along the length of the linear edge of base-extension wing  82  opposite the edge welded to side panel  62 , prevents further opening of side panel  62 . 
     To close side panel  62 , base-extension wing is lifted to a point at which the lowest point of wing lock  84  is above lower base  60  and at that point side panel  62  may be rotated back in toward a closed position as wing lock  84  rides back over the top of lower base  60 . 
     The upper surfaces of base-extension wings  82  and the upper surface of upper base  58  are covered with the non-slip shelf liner  80 . 
     FIG. 7 shows pneumatic-tool holder  78  in more detail. Pneumatic tools  76  have particularly shaped male, pneumatic-tool couplings  88  designed to be received into a standardized fittings on air compressors. While other pneumatic-tool couplings exist which are in effect the female-receptor component found on the air compressor, these existing holders require that the pneumatic tool being held be coupled to the holder and hence when it requires two hands of a user to then de-couple the pneumatic tool from the pneumatic-tool holder. As can be seen from the present invention, pneumatic-tool holder  78  presents a cavity corresponding to the male end of the pneumatic tool coupling thereby allowing it to be inserted into the cavity of holder  78  without coupling. In this manner, the pneumatic tool may be removed in a one-handed manner by lifting the tool from holder  78 . The pneumatic-tool holder  78  is placed in position on upper base  58  or as seen in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , to lower shelf  56  by means of a bolt  90 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show lower cabinet  14  in more detail. Lower cabinet  14  is integrated with upper cabinet  12  to create the full invention. As indicated above, lower cabinet  14  provides mobility and also height at which activities may be carried out conveniently. The door  38  is attached to base  36  by hinge  40  better seen in FIG.  1 . Once door  38  is opened, a compartment  92  is apparent into which tools  74  may be placed for storage. Of particular utility in storage is tool holder  96  which can slide out of lower unit  14 . A longitudinal C-shaped, ball-bearing-containing member  94  has length approximating the depth of the cavity. Attached to the C-shaped member  94  is a slotted tool-holding member  96 . Tools  74 , such as screwdrivers or hammers, may be placed into the slotted portion of the slotted tool-holding member  96 . The tool-holding member provides a large surface on which tools of a similar type but of various sizes may be organized. In a similar manner, other slidable tool holders  96  may be attached to interior of storage compartment  92 , particularly the upper surface of the compartment  92 , to slide out of the lower cabinet  14 . Such additional slidable members are not shown. The inside surface of the door  38  is composed of a multitude of perforated holes  100  of the same dimension and spacing as the holes found on the side and back panels  62  and  50  in order that tool holder  72  may be installed at the user&#39;s discretion on the door. 
     A series of drawers  44  provide a substantial amount of additional securable, storage space. 
     While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.