Patent Publication Number: US-2003227148-A1

Title: Tool organization system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] Not Applicable  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002] Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0004] This invention relates generally to tool organizers, and more particularly to a tool organization system that includes both a mobile tool cart and a tool organizer adapted to be removably attached to the mobile tool cart.  
       [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0006] The following art defines the present state of this field:  
       [0007] King, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. D257,090, teaches a tool holder constructed of a rigid material that includes an integral hook for hanging the tool holder from a worksurface.  
       [0008] Marinescu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,975, teaches a combination tool pouch and clip assembly. The tool pouch includes a clip that enables the user to hang the tool pouch on a belt.  
       [0009] Klimas, U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,080, teaches a tool box designed to be suspended from a ladder.  
       [0010] McGarrah, U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,615, teaches a storage box that includes a hangar that is adapted to hang the storage box from a truck bed. Similar storage boxes having different constructions are also taught in Basso et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,222, and Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 1,606,944.  
       [0011] The above-described references are hereby incorporated by reference in full.  
       [0012] The prior art teaches various storage devices for holding tools and other items, and the prior art also teaches the inclusion of a clip of hanging device for hanging the device from another surface such as a belt or a vehicle. However, the prior art does not teach a tool organization system that includes a tool organizer having the construction of the present invention. The prior art also does not teach the combination of the tool organizer with a mobile tool cart. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013] The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.  
       [0014] The present invention provides a tool organization system for organizing a plurality of tools. The tool organization system includes a mobile tool cart and a tool holder. The mobile tool cart includes a cart base having a base perimeter. A cart sidewall extends upwardly from the base perimeter to an upper sidewall lip. The cart base and the cart sidewall cooperating to form a tool storage compartment. The tool holder is adapted to hold and organize the plurality of tools for easy reference and access while hanging on the mobile tool cart. The tool holder includes a flexible body and a support plate. The flexible body has a front surface and an opposing rear surface that terminate in a body perimeter having a top edge. A plurality of tool pockets are attached to the front surface of the flexible body for holding the plurality of tools. The support plate is attached adjacent the top edge of the flexible body and is adapted for hanging the flexible body on the mobile tool cart.  
       [0015] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a tool organization system having advantages not taught by the prior art.  
       [0016] Another objective is to provide a tool organization system that includes a tool organizer that is adapted to fit either on or inside a mobile tool cart.  
       [0017] A further objective is to provide a tool organization system that enables a user to easily transport a plurality of tools while maintaining the plurality of tools in an organized display that allows the plurality of tools to be easily located, used, and returned to their proper position.  
       [0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
     [0019] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:  
     [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;  
     [0022]FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof; and  
     [0023]FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof taken along line  4 - 4  in FIG. 2.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0024] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a tool organization system  10  for organizing a plurality of tools  12 . As shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the tool organization system  10  includes a mobile tool cart  20  and a tool holder  40 . As shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 , the mobile tool cart  20  is useful for storing and transporting the plurality of tools  12  and other equipment. As shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the tool holder  40  is adapted to hold and organize the plurality of tools  12  for easy reference and access. The tool holder  40  is also adapted to hang on the mobile tool cart  20 , as shown in FIGS.  2 - 3 , or in the alternative, to be stored within the mobile tool cart  20 , as shown in FIG. 4, and as described in greater detail below.  
     [0025] As shown in FIGS.  2 - 3 , the mobile tool cart  20  includes a cart base  22  having a base perimeter  24 . A cart sidewall  26  extends upwardly from the base perimeter  24  to an upper sidewall lip  28 . The cart base  22  and the cart sidewall  26  cooperating to form a tool storage compartment  30 . The mobile tool cart  20  is preferably generally rectangular in shape such that the cart sidewall  26  includes a forward panel  32  and a rearward panel  34  connected by a pair of opposing side panels  36 . The mobile tool cart  20  is preferably constructed of plastic or similar strong yet lightweight material.  
     [0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile tool cart  20  preferably includes a pair of wheels  38  rotatably attached adjacent the cart base  22  for at least partially supporting the cart base  22  for rolling movement of the mobile tool cart  20 . While a single pair of wheels  38  is illustrated, it is understood that three or more wheels or equivalent elements could also be used, and should be considered within the scope of the claimed invention.  
     [0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile tool cart  20  preferably further includes a cart handle  39  attached to the forward panel  32  opposite the pair of wheels  38  which are positioned generally under the rearward panel  34 . The cart handle  39  is preferably pivotally attached to the forward panel  32  for pulling the mobile tool cart  20  on the pair of wheels  38 .  
     [0028] The tool holder  40 , shown in FIG. 1, is used in conjunction with the mobile tool cart  20  for organizing, carrying, storing, moving, displaying, and otherwise manipulating the plurality of tools  12 . The tool holder  40  includes a flexible body  42  and a support plate  44 . The flexible body  42  has a front surface  46  and an opposing rear surface  48  that together terminate in a body perimeter  50  having a top edge  52 . A plurality of tool pockets  54  are attached to the front surface  46  of the flexible body  42  for holding the plurality of tools  12 . The flexible body  42  is adapted for holding the plurality of tools  12 , and is preferably constructed of canvas or similar strong yet flexible material.  
     [0029] The support plate  44  is attached adjacent the top edge  52  of the flexible body  42  and is adapted for hanging the flexible body  42  on the mobile tool cart  20 . The support plate  44  has an outwardly extending portion  56  that terminates in a downwardly extending portion  58 . The support plate  44 , together with the outwardly extending portion  56  and the downwardly extending portion  58 , are shaped to fit around the upper sidewall lip  28  of the mobile tool cart  20  for removably hanging the tool holder  40  on the mobile tool cart  20 , as shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0030] The support plate  44  is preferably rigid, elongate, and shaped to fit along the entire top edge  52  of the tool holder  40 . It is preferred that the support plate  44  is rigid because this enables the support plate  44  to provide lateral support to the flexible body  42 , holding it in an open configuration and preventing it from collapsing in on itself. The rigid support plate  44  also provides a good handle for grasping, carrying, and hanging the tool holder  40 , as described in greater detail below. In the preferred embodiment, the support plate  44  is constructed of steel, although similar materials such as aluminum, durable plastic, or the like, can also be used.  
     [0031] As shown in FIGS.  3 - 4 , the mobile tool cart  20  preferably further includes a lid  60  having a top lid surface  62  and an opposing bottom lid surface  64  that terminate in a lid perimeter  66 . The lid perimeter  66  is shaped to engage the upper sidewall lip  28 . In the preferred embodiment, there is enough space between the lid perimeter  66  and the upper sidewall lip  28  so that the outwardly extending portion  56  and the downwardly extending portion  58  of the support plate  44  can fit therebetween, enabling the tool holder  40  to be hung from the mobile tool cart  20  without interfering with the placement of the lid  60 .  
     [0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the tool holder  40  preferably includes a ring aperture  68  through the flexible body  42  of the tool holder  40 , the ring aperture  68  being positioned adjacent the body perimeter  50 . The ring aperture  68  is adapted for removably hanging the tool holder  40  from a hook (not shown). In an equivalent embodiment, not shown, the ring aperture  68  can also be an aperture through the support plate  44 , and this should be considered within the scope of the claimed invention.  
     [0033] The tool holder  40  preferably further includes a first pair of hanging straps  70  and a second pair of hanging straps  72 . Each of the hanging straps has a first end  74  attached to the tool holder  40  adjacent the top edge  52 , and a second end  76 . Each of the first and second pairs of hanging straps  70  and  72  is preferably a canvas strap that includes hooks and loops fasteners  78  for removably connecting the second ends  76  of each of the first and second pairs of hanging straps  70  and  72  to each other for removably attaching the tool holder  40  to a horizontal bar  80 , as shown in FIG. 5. The first and second pairs of hanging straps  70  and  72  are preferably laterally spaced from each other by the rigid support plate  44 . Equivalent strap arrangements can also be used, such as a pair of single straps (not shown) that include hooks and loops, snaps, or equivalent fasteners. The pair of single straps can be removably joined to themselves, or to the tool holder  40 , or otherwise attached to removably hang the tool holder  40  on the horizontal bar  80 . Such equivalents should be considered within the scope of the claimed invention.  
     [0034] Finally, as shown in FIG. 1, the tool holder  40  preferably further includes a handle strap  82  having a first handle end  84  and a second handle end  86 . The first handle end  84  and the second handle end  86  are each attached to the tool holder  40  adjacent the top edge  52 , and the first handle end  84  is laterally spaced from the second handle end  86  by the rigid support plate  44 . The handle strap  82  is constructed of a strong and preferably flexible material such as canvas or similar material, although in some embodiments the handle strap  82  can be constructed of a rigid material such as plastic or steel.  
     [0035] The invention includes a method for storing a plurality of tools  12  in either a working configuration or a storage configuration using the tool organization system  10  described above. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of tools  12  are inserted into the plurality of tool pockets  54 . While this element is described as pockets, this term specifically includes all manner or fasteners, holders, boxes, compartment, and the like that are suitable for holding, storing, and organizing tools and tool-related items. The tool holder  40  is then hung on the upper sidewall lip  28  of the mobile tool cart  20 , as shown in FIG. 2, such that the plurality of tools  12  are positioned for easy access, in the working configuration. In this configuration, the outwardly extending portion  56  and the downwardly extending portion  58  are positioned over the upper sidewall lip  28  of the mobile tool cart  20 .  
     [0036] When the plurality of tools  12  are no longer required, the tool holder  40  is removed from the mobile tool cart  20  and inserted into the tool storage compartment  30  such that the plurality of tools  12  are stored in the storage configuration, as shown in FIG. 4. In this configuration, the flexible body  42  can bend and fold as necessary to fit within the tool storage compartment  30 . In this configuration, the lid  60  can be positioned on the mobile tool cart  20  such that the lid perimeter  66  engages the upper sidewall lip  28 , thereby sealing the tool holder  40  within the tool storage compartment  30 .  
     [0037] While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.