Patent Publication Number: US-2005133394-A1

Title: Tool head template for a toolbox

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to a tool head template, and particularly to a tool head template for a toolbox to organize and hold tool heads inside a toolbox, which has a simple structure and is easily manufactured.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      With reference to  FIG. 5 , a conventional tool head template for a toolbox for organizing and holding multiple tool heads ( 60 ) is composed of a board ( 50 ), multiple recesses ( 52 ) and multiple cylindrical constraint bodies ( 54 ). The recesses ( 52 ) have bottoms (not numbered) defined in the board ( 50 ), and the cylindrical constraint bodies ( 54 ) extend upward respectively from the bottoms of the recesses ( 52 ). Each cylindrical constraint body ( 54 ) defines an insert opening ( 542 ) to hold one tool head ( 60 ). The insert opening ( 542 ) has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the tool head ( 60 ) and has multiple slots ( 544 ) longitudinally defined in the cylindrical constraint body ( 54 ). When the tool head is inserted into the insert opening ( 542 ), the cylindrical constraint body ( 54 ) securely clamps the tool head ( 60 ), and the multiple slots ( 544 ) allow the cylindrical constraint body ( 54 ) to expand in breadth.  
      According to above description, the conventional tool head template for organizing and holding multiple tool heads ( 60 ) has a complex structure for each tool head ( 60 ) including the recess ( 52 ), the insert opening ( 542 ) and the multiple slots ( 544 ) to achieve the tool head template. Therefore, the tool head template has a high possibility of a low yield in manufacturing or expensive manufacturing procedures.  
      Because the cylindrical constraint body ( 54 ) extends upward and is divided into multiple sections (not numbered) by the slots ( 544 ), edges (not numbered) of the sections of the cylindrical constraint body ( 54 ) obstruct the tool head ( 60 ) when the tool head ( 60 ) is inserted into the insert opening ( 542 ). Therefore, inserting the tool heads ( 60 ) is inconvenient and wastes time.  
      The present invention has arisen to provide a tool head template for a toolbox for organizing and holding multiple tool heads to obviate the drawbacks of the conventional tool head template.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The main objective of the present invention is to provide a tool head template for a toolbox for organizing and holding multiple tool heads, which has a simply structure to make manufacturing the tool head template easy and to make inserting tool heads convenient.  
      Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toolbox with a tool head template in accordance with the present invention to organize and hold multiple tool heads;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the toolbox and the tool head template in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of funnel-shaped tubes in the tool head template in  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged operational cross-sectional side plan view of a funnel-shaped tube in  FIG. 3  with a tool head being inserted into the funnel-shaped tube; and  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side plan view of a conventional tool head template for a toolbox in accordance with prior art for organizing and holding multiple tool heads. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      A tool head template for a toolbox in accordance with the present invention for organizing and holding multiple tool heads is mounted inside a toolbox to hold multiple tool heads or optional tool sockets.  
      With reference to FIGS.  1  to  3 , a preferred embodiment of the tool head template for a toolbox in accordance with the present invention for organizing and holding multiple tool heads comprises a board ( 10 ), multiple funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ) and optional multiple slots ( 14 ). The funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ) extend downward from the board ( 10 ). The optional slots ( 14 ) are defined longitudinally in each funnel-shaped tube ( 12 ).  
      The board ( 10 ) has a shape corresponding to the toolbox, edges (not numbered), a bottom face (not numbered), an erect sidewall ( 104 ) and multiple openings ( 122 ). The shape of the board ( 10 ) may be rectangular, square, triangular, circular, etc. The erect sidewall ( 104 ) has an outer face (not numbered) and a transverse flange (not numbered) and extends up from the edges of the board ( 10 ). The transverse flange extends out from the outer face of the erect sidewall ( 104 ) to suspend the board ( 10 ) in a bottom of a toolbox so a lower space (not shown) is defined between the toolbox ( 20 ) and the board ( 10 ) for the funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ).  
      The funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ) are made of resilient material, extend respectively down from and progressively restrict the openings ( 122 ) in the board ( 10 ) into the lower space and respectively have proximal ends (not numbered), distal ends (not numbered) and varying inner diameters (not shown). The proximal ends of the funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ) are attached to the bottom surface of the board ( 10 ) respectively around the openings ( 122 ). The varying inner diameters of the funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ) are largest at the proximal ends and smallest at the distal ends. The inner diameters at the distal ends are smaller than outer diameters of the corresponding tool heads ( 30 ). Thereby, the tool heads ( 30 ) can be firmly clamped by the corresponding funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ).  
      Additionally, multiple slots ( 14 ) are defined longitudinally in each funnel-shaped tube ( 12 ) to allow the inner diameters of the funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ) at and near the distal ends to expand to accommodate insertion of tool heads ( 30 ). Preferably, four slots ( 14 ) are evenly spaced in each funnel-shaped tube ( 12 ).  
      With reference to  FIG. 4 , a tool head ( 30 ) is mounted in the tool head template by aligning the tool head ( 30 ) with a corresponding opening ( 122 ) and pushing the tool head ( 30 ) into the funnel-shaped tube ( 12 ). The distal end of the funnel-shaped tube ( 12 ) expands to accommodate the insertion of the tool head ( 30 ) and, the tool head ( 30 ) is clamped by the resilient funnel-shaped tube ( 12 ). Therefore, inserting tool heads ( 30 ) into the tool head template is quick and convenient.  
      According to above description, the tool head template for a toolbox for organizing and holding multiple tool heads has the following advantages:  
      1. The tool head template has a simple structure and does not have recesses ( 52 ) that are necessary in the conventional tool head template. Therefore, the tool head template in accordance with the present invention is easily manufactured and has a high manufacturing yield.  
      2. Since the funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ) extend down, the tool heads ( 30 ) are inserted into the funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ) through the openings ( 122 ) and are not blocked by edges of the funnel-shaped tubes ( 12 ). Therefore, insertion of the tool head ( 30 ) is convenient and quick.  
      Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.