Abstract:
A case for storing and displaying tools and other items. The case includes at least one door formed from transparent materials so that stored items can be viewed and inventoried.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/219,551, filed Dec. 17, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to cases for storing items and more particularly, to a case that stores, retains and displays tools or other components.  
         [0003]     Various forms of storage cases have been employed to store items over the years. Such storage cases have been used to hold a myriad of objects ranging from jewelry, important documents and tools. Moreover, storage devices or cases have been manufactured from every conceivable material.  
         [0004]     Generally speaking, tool cases have been produced from heavy duty materials such as steel. The heavy duty materials are typically robust and can both retain and protect its contents. These materials are also generally durable but are also heavy and can become difficult to transport. This can become a concern where the tool case is intended to be portable.  
         [0005]     Conventional tool cases also do not generally embody structures facilitating both storing and displaying the retained items. Efforts have also not been conventionally made to conveniently store the case itself apart from a working surface or to display the contents of the device in a manner intended to facilitate easy access to a particular item. Storing case devices also have not been typically equipped with structure permitting the device to be stored or mounted on a wall.  
         [0006]     There therefore exists a need for a case device intended for storing tools or other items in a manner facilitating both retention and display of the stored material. There is also a need for a light weight device that is both durable and portable. The present invention addresses these and other needs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Briefly and in general terms, the present invention is embodied in a storage device for tools or other components or items. In one aspect, the storage device is a tool case which provides easy access to stored contents as well as means for displaying the stored items.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment, the tool case of the present invention includes a frame and a pair of doors attached to the frame. Each of the doors are made from translucent material to thereby allow the items stored in the tool case to be viewed. An interior of the tool case includes a plurality of slots and recesses sized and shaped to store tool bits and the like.  
         [0009]     In one particular aspect, the doors have a smoothly curved profile. Each door extends approximately halfway across the tool case device and is rotatable relative to the tool case frame. A latching device functions to hold the doors in a closed configuration. The doors can also be provided with a projection for opening and closing one of the doors.  
         [0010]     It is also contemplated that the frame of the tool case device includes a backside configured with means for mounting the tool case on a wall or other vertical surface. In one embodiment, the mounting structure is in the form of recesses sized to receive a wall mount such as a nail or other fastener. Additionally, raised bosses can be provided on a back surface of the case. A foldable handle is provided for transport.  
         [0011]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective depicting a tool case apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view, depicting the tool case apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view, depicting the tool case apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front view, depicting the tool case apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a back view, depicting the tool case apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view, depicting the tool case apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a front view, depicting an interior of the tool case apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring now to the drawings which are provided by way of example and not limitation, there is shown a case device of the present invention. In one particular embodiment, the invention is embodied in a tool case incorporating both display and retention features. The tool case is also made of light weight and durable material lending itself to portability and product life.  
         [0020]     With specific reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , a tool case embodying aspects of the present invention is shown. In one particular aspect, the tool case  50  includes a body including a frame  52  and a pair of doors  54 . The body further includes a top end portion  56 , a bottom end portion  58  (See  FIG. 6 ), a rear side  60  (See  FIG. 5 ) and a pair of sidewalls  62 . Each of the components can be made from any suitable plastic having durable characteristics and robustness.  
         [0021]     Although various embodiments are contemplated, in one particular embodiment, the top end  56  and bottom end  58  portions can be configured to provide surfaces that are generally parallel to each other. Likewise, the sidewalls  62  can be configured to be in a parallel relationship. Further, the sidewalls  62  and the top end  56  and bottom end  58  portions are generally perpendicular to each other. The rear side  60  of the frame  52  is generally planar and defines a surface that is generally perpendicular to the sidewalls  60 .  
         [0022]     The frame  52  can also include structure that cooperates with the doors  54  for providing the tool case  50  with a rounded front surface. Each of the top end  56  and bottom end portions  58  include a curved portion  70  extending a width of the tool case  50  (best seen in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  6 ). The curved portion  70  can take on any form but in one intended embodiment, the curved portion  70  can define a portion of an arc. Larger tool cases and smaller tool cases can include curved portions having larger or smaller radii of curvature, respectively.  
         [0023]     The top end portion  56  can be equipped with a handle  72  that is conveniently located for grasping and ultimately for transporting the tool case  50 . The handle  72  in turn can be rotatably affixed to the top end portion  56 . The top end portion  56  is further equipped with a generally rectangular recess  74  (See  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) centered therein. The depth of the recess  74  is selected such that the rotatable handle  72  can be folded away in the recess  74 .  
         [0024]     The rear side  60  further includes a number of structural components. Referring specifically to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there is shown a plurality of raised formations or bosses  80  extending from the generally planar rear side. The raised formations or bosses  50  can take on a myriad of forms. In one embodiment, the bosses  50  are rounded projections which provide feet for the tool case  50  when it is placed horizontally on the rear side  60 .  
         [0025]     The rear side  60  is also equipped with one or more mounting structures  82 . In one particular form, the mounting structures  82  include a keyhole for receiving a nail or other fastener. Thus, the mounting structures  82  provide the tool case  50  with the means to hang the tool case  50  from a vertical surface or on a hook or other component extending horizontally such as from a rack or display. Since the bottom end portion  58  of the tool case  50  is generally planar, the tool case  50  can also be stored vertically standing on the bottom end portion  58 .  
         [0026]     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , the doors  54  have a rounded profile which matches the rounded portions  70  of the of the top end  56  and bottom end  58  portions. As stated, the rounded portions  70  of the top end  56  and bottom end  58  portions can assume various portions of an arc and can embody any suitable radii of curvature. In one preferred embodiment, the doors  54  will have a radii of curvature that both match each other as well as that of the rounded portions  70 . It is also contemplated, however, that the doors  54  and the rounded portions  70  can have curves that do no match.  
         [0027]     The doors  54  are each shown to extend approximately half of the width of the tool case  50 . It is to be recognized that the tool case  50  of the present invention also contemplates a device employing a single door or doors having a width that is less than or more than half the width of the tool case  50 . In one preferred embodiment, the doors  54  are formed from translucent material but again, opaque material can be utilized. Where the doors are clear, an inventory of the contents of the tool case  50  can be taken. The translucent door  54  also provide a means for displaying the contents of the tool case device  50 .  
         [0028]     With reference in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the doors  54  are intended to rotate with respect to the frame  52 . Although various conventional approaches are contemplated, each door  54  can be attached to a pair of hinges  88 . One of the doors  54  also includes a tab  90  conveniently located for grasping by hand. Such a tab  90  can be positioned at the juncture where the doors  54  meet. The other of the doors  54  can include a cut-out  92  sized to correspond to the tab  90 .  
         [0029]     Additionally, the tool case  50  can include one or more latches for locking the doors  54  in a closed position. A first latch  92  can be attached at one end to the curved portion  70  of the top side portion  56  and a second latch  94  can be similarly attached to the curved portion  70  of the bottom side portion  58 . In one preferred embodiment, the latches  92 ,  94  are centered along a width of the tool case  50  to thereby be positioned to be capable of latching both doors in a closed configuration.  
         [0030]     With the doors  54  open, one can observe an interior of the tool case  50 . The interior can also be viewed through doors  54  formed from translucent material. A retaining insert  96  is positioned within the interior of the tool case  50 . The retaining insert  96  can be a molded component of the frame  52  or can form a separate component which is affixed to the frame  52 .  
         [0031]     The retaining insert  96  includes a plurality of structures for holding and displaying tools or other items. Clip devices  98  having spaced retaining surfaces  100  can be placed or formed into the retaining insert  96  at various locations. Likewise, looped structures  102  and various wells and recesses  104  can be formed in the retaining insert  96 . The clip devices  98 , looped structures  102  and wells or recesses  104  can take on a myriad of forms and locations so that any conceivable tool having a size compatible with the tool case  50  can be stored therein.  
         [0032]     In one particular embodiment, the retaining insert  96  curves or bows outwardly in a manner corresponding to the curvature of the doors  54 . That is, retaining insert  96  has a base curvature into which recesses are formed or from which loops or clip devices can be made to extend. In this way, tools or other items that are stored in the tool case  50  can be better displayed and accessed.  
         [0033]     As stated, various sized and curved or planar configurations of the tool case of the present invention are contemplated. Various of the disclosed configurations can be embodied in a case made in accordance with the present invention which provides one or more of an easily portable device having both useful displaying and retaining characteristics. Moreover, the tool case disclosed can be stored vertically on mounting structure or on a generally planar base as well as horizontally on feet extending from a rear surface.  
         [0034]     Furthermore, while several particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims or future claims based upon the disclosure.