Abstract:
A soldering station system for transporting, utilizing, and storing the unique tools required for soldering electrical wiring assemblies, printed circuit boards, and other small electronic sub-assemblies is provided. The soldering station system includes a tool case with a bottom portion, a plurality of side portions, and a top portion, a tool pallet assembly which is coupled to an interior surface of the tool case, the tool pallet has a plurality of interior recesses, and a plurality of tools adapted for working on electronic assemblies and positioned in the interior recesses of the tool pallet assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to tool carriers and more particularly pertains to a new soldering station system for transporting, utilizing, and storing the unique tools required for soldering electrical wiring assemblies, printed circuit boards, and other small electronic sub-assemblies. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of tool carriers is known in the prior art. More specifically, tool carriers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,624; U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,597; U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,170; U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,739; U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,325; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 383,905. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new soldering station system. The inventive device includes a tool case with a bottom portion, a plurality of side portions, and a top portion, a tool pallet assembly which is coupled to an interior surface of the tool case, the tool pallet has a plurality of interior recesses, and a plurality of tools adapted for working on electronic assemblies and positioned in the interior recesses of the tool pallet assembly. 
     In these respects, the soldering station system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of transporting, utilizing, and storing the unique tools required for soldering electrical wiring assemblies, printed circuit boards, and other small electronic sub-assemblies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of tool carriers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new soldering station system construction wherein the same can be utilized for transporting, utilizing, and storing the unique tools required for soldering electrical wiring assemblies, printed circuit boards, and other small electronic sub-assemblies. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new soldering station system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the tool carriers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new soldering station system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tool carriers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a tool case with a bottom portion, a plurality of side portions, and a top portion, a tool pallet assembly which is coupled to an interior surface of the tool case, the tool pallet has a plurality of interior recesses, and a plurality of tools adapted for working on electronic assemblies and positioned in the interior recesses of the tool pallet assembly. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new soldering station system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the tool carriers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new soldering station system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tool carriers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new soldering station system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new soldering station system which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new soldering station system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such soldering station system economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new soldering station system which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new soldering station system for transporting, utilizing, and storing the unique tools required for soldering electrical wiring assemblies, printed circuit boards, and other small electronic sub-assemblies. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new soldering station system which includes a tool case with a bottom portion, a plurality of side portions, and a top portion, a tool pallet assembly which is coupled to an interior surface of the tool case, the tool pallet has a plurality of interior recesses, and a plurality of tools adapted for working on electronic assemblies and positioned in the interior recesses of the tool pallet assembly. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new soldering station system that allows hot soldering irons to be stored and transported without damage to the case or other tools. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new soldering station system that provides an organization of tools and materials promoting an efficient flow of work. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new soldering station system according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view of the tool case of the present invention, particularly the removable hinging feature. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the central portion of the tool case of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the tool pallet present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the tool pallet of the present invention deployed on a surface. 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the worktop pallet of the present invention taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG.  5   
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new soldering station system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the soldering station system  10  generally comprises a tool case  20 , a tool pallet assembly  40 , and a plurality of tools  60 . 
     The tool case  20  includes a bottom portion  22 , a plurality of side portions  24 , and a top portion  26 . 
     The tool pallet assembly  40  is coupled to and interior surface of the case  20 . The tool pallet assembly  40  includes a plurality of interior recesses  42 . 
     Each one of the plurality of tools  60  is positioned in an associated one of the interior recesses  42  of the tool pallet assembly  40  such that each of the plurality of tools  60  is readily available and its presence or absence is visually apparent to the operator. Thus the probability of losing one of the plurality of tools  60  is reduced. 
     In an embodiment the tool case  20  includes a central portion  28  and a lower portion  34 . The lower portion  34  includes a lower portion bottom wall  36  and four lower portion side walls  38  extending upwardly from a perimeter edge of the lower portion bottom wall  36 . The central portion  28  includes a central portion bottom wall  30  and four central portion side walls  32  extending upwardly from a perimeter edge of the central portion bottom wall  30 . A rear one of the lower portion side walls  38  is removablly hingably coupled to a rear one of the central portion side walls  32  such that a bottom surface of the central portion  28 , along with the lower portion side walls  38  and the lower portion bottom wall  36 , form a cavity when the lower portion  34  is hinged in a closed portion relative to the central portion  28 . 
     Optionally, a worktop pallet  44  is removably coupled to an interior of the lower portion  34 . The worktop pallet  44  includes a plurality of keyed sockets  46 . Each one of the plurality of keyed sockets  46  includes a cavity  48 . The cavity  48  includes at least one grooved portion  50 . The cavity  48  and the grooved portion  50  are for receiving and retaining one of the plurality of tools  60  in a static vertical position relative to the worktop pallet  44 . 
     The plurality of tools  60  includes a soldering iron  62 , a solder dispensing spool  64 , a plurality of wire clamps  66 , and a printed circuit board clamp  68 . The tools  60  are designed for working on wiring and electronic assemblies. 
     The tool pallet assembly  40  includes a soldering iron storage compartment  52 . The soldering iron storage compartment  52  includes a bottom surface  53 , a plurality of side surfaces  54 , and a top surface  55 . The top surface  55  is hingably coupled to one of the plurality of sides  54 . Each of the plurality of side surfaces  54 , the bottom surface  53 , and the top surface  55  are porcelain for storing a soldering iron  62  in the soldering iron storage compartment  52  when the soldering iron  62  is hot. Thus the soldering iron  62  is prevented from damaging the case  20 , the tool pallet assembly  40 , or any one of the plurality of tools  60  by burning or melting when the soldering iron  62  is stored in the soldering iron storage compartment  52 . 
     Optionally a plurality of wheels  70  is coupled to the lower portion  34  for facilitating transport of the soldering station system  10  by rolling. 
     In an embodiment shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the worktop pallet  44  may be coupled to the top portion  26  of a tool case  20  without wheels. 
     FIG. 7 of the drawings shows the pallet  44 , soldering iron  62 , circuit board clamp  68 , and solder dispensing spool  64  deployed on a surface. 
     Preferably the system  10  includes a handle portion  72 . The handle portion  72  may include at least one telescopic assembly  74 . The telescopic assembly  74  comprising a plurality of cylindrical portions coupled telescopically. The handle portion  72  may be coupled to an outer surface of the lower portion bottom wall  36 . The handle portion  72  is for facilitating transport of the soldering station system  10 . 
     The worktop pallet  44  may include a backing member  43 , a main portion  45  and a rotating portion  56 . 
     The main portion  45  preferably is substantially rectangular. The main portion  45  includes a hole  47 . The hole  47  is substantially circular for receiving the rotating portion  56 , such that a top surface of the main portion  45  is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the rotating portion  56 . The main portion  45  includes a plurality of keyed sockets  46  for receiving the tools  60 . 
     The rotating portion  56  is substantially circular and includes a plurality of keyed sockets  46  positioned in a spaced relationship adjacent to a perimeter edge of the rotating portion  56 . The rotating portion  58  includes a center keyed socket  58  positioned along a longitudinal axis of the rotating portion  56 . The rotating portion  56  is rotatably coupled to the backing member  43 , such that the top surface and the plurality of keyed sockets  46  of the rotating portion  56  can be rotated with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotating portion  56 . 
     In use, the system is transported, by the user, to the desired work area. The tool case is opened. If a suitable work surface is available the worktop pallet is removed and placed on the work surface. If no suitable work surface is available the worktop pallet is left in the case. The tools are positioned on the worktop plated such that an orderly flow of materials is provided. The soldering iron is removed from the soldering iron storage compartment and power is applied. The wiring assembly, printed circuit board, or other electronic sub-assembly is clamped into position as desired and the repair or assembly work is performed in the conventional manner. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.