Patent Publication Number: US-2011073516-A1

Title: Stackable toolbox assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a toolbox assembly, more particularly to a stackable toolbox assembly. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Typically, tools are kept indifferent tool cabinets according to type. Since the tool cabinets are bulky and heavy, the user selects the tools he/she needs from the tool cabinets and then brings the tools that he/she selected to his/her workplace. This causes inconvenience for the user, particularly when bringing a lot of tools or different types of tools. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a stackable toolbox assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art. 
     According to the present invention, a stackable toolbox assembly comprises a parent toolbox and a child toolbox. The parent toolbox includes a top surface formed with a plurality of positioning grooves and defined by a plurality of regions. The child toolbox includes a bottom surface, which has an area identical to that one of the regions of the top surface of the parent toolbox, and a plurality of feet, each of which protrudes from the bottom surface of the child toolbox. When the child toolbox is disposed on the parent toolbox, each of the feet of the child toolbox extends into a corresponding one of the positioning grooves in the top surface of the parent toolbox, thereby interconnecting the parent and child toolboxes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a stackable toolbox assembly according to this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating a parent toolbox of the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating a first child toolbox of the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating a second child toolbox of the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating a third child toolbox of the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating two of the first child toolboxes when disposed on the parent toolbox; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating two of the second child toolboxes when disposed on the first child toolbox; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating two of the third child toolboxes when disposed on the second child toolbox; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating four of the second child toolboxes when disposed on the parent toolbox; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment illustrating four of the third child toolboxes when disposed on the first child toolbox; 
         FIGS. 11  is a schematic diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment when arranged in a stack; and 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are schematic views illustrating means for transporting the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment of a stackable toolbox assembly according to this invention is shown to include a parent toolbox  10 , and first, second, and third child toolboxes  20 ,  30 ,  40 . 
     Each of the parent toolbox  10 , and the first, second, and third child toolboxes  20 ,  30 ,  40  serves to hold tools (not shown). 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , the parent toolbox  10  is generally rectangular shape and includes top and bottom surfaces  11 ,  16 . The top surface  11  of the parent toolbox  10  has a middle portion that is formed with a positioning groove  13 , and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of the top surface  11  of the parent toolbox  10  and that is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves  12 . In this embodiment, the parent toolbox  10  has a length (L 1 ) of 576 millimeters and a width (W 1 ) of 380 millimeters. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 3 , the first child toolbox  20  is generally rectangular shape, and includes top and bottom surfaces  21 ,  24  and four feet  25 . The top surface  21  of the first child toolbox  20  has a middle portion that is formed with a positioning groove  23 , and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of the top surface  21  of the first child toolbox  20  and that is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves  22 . Each of the feet  25  of the first child toolbox  20  protrudes from a respective one of corners of the bottom surface  24  of the first child toolbox  20 . In this embodiment, the top surface  11  of the parent toolbox  10  is defined by a pair of rectangular regions that are of equal area. The bottom surface  24  of the first child toolbox  20  has an area identical to that one of the rectangular regions of the top surface  11  of the parent toolbox  10 . Preferably, the bottom surface  24  of the first child toolbox  20  has a length (L 2 ) equal to the width (W 1 ) of the parent toolbox  10 , i.e., 380 millimeters, and a width (W 2 ) one half the length (L 1 ) of the parent toolbox  10 , i.e., 288 millimeters. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4 , the second child toolbox  30  is generally rectangular shape, and includes top and bottom surfaces  31 ,  32  and four feet  35 . The top surface  31  of the second child toolbox  30  has a middle portion that is formed with a positioning groove  34 , and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of the top surface  31  of the second child toolbox  30  and that is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves  33 . Each of the feet  35  of the second child toolbox  30  protrudes from a respective one of corners of the bottom surface  32  of the second child toolbox  30 . In this embodiment, the top surface  21  of the first child toolbox  20  is defined by a pair of rectangular regions that are of equal area. The bottom surface  32  of the second child toolbox  30  has an area identical to that one of the rectangular regions of the top surface  21  of the first child toolbox  20 . Preferably, the bottom surface  32  of the second child toolbox  30  has a length (L 3 ) equal to the width (W 2 ) of the first child toolbox  20 , i.e., 288 millimeters, and a width (W 3 ) one half the length (L 2 ) of the first child toolbox  20 , i.e., 190 millimeters. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 5 , the third child toolbox  40  is generally rectangular shape, and includes top and bottom surfaces  41 ,  42  and four feet  45 . The top surface  41  of the third child toolbox  40  has a middle portion that is formed with a positioning groove  44 , and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of the top surface  41  of the third child toolbox  40  and that is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves  43 . Each of the feet  45  of the third child toolbox  40  protrudes from a respective one of corners of the bottom surface  42  of the third child toolbox  40 . In this embodiment, the top surface  31  of the second child toolbox  30  is defined by a pair of rectangular regions that are of equal area. The bottom surface  42  of the third child toolbox  40  has an area identical to that one of the rectangular regions of the top surface  31  of the second child toolbox  30 . Preferably, the third child toolbox  40  has a length (L 4 ) equal to the width (W 3 ) of the second child toolbox  30 , i.e., 190 millimeters, and a width (W 4 ) one half the length (L 3 ) of the second child toolbox  30 , i.e., 144 millimeters. 
     It is noted that the positioning groove  13 ,  23 ,  34 ,  44  in the middle portion of the top surface  11 ,  21 ,  31 ,  41  of each of the parent toolbox  10 , and the first, second, and third child toolboxes  20 ,  30 ,  40  is generally rectangular shape. 
     In use, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when two of the first child toolboxes  20  are disposed on the parent toolbox  10 , the bottom surfaces  24  of the first child toolboxes  20  abut against the top surface  11  of the parent toolbox  10 , and the feet  25  of the first child toolboxes  20  extend into eight of the positioning grooves  12  in the periphery of the top surface  11  of the parent toolbox  10 , thereby interconnecting the parent toolbox  10  and the first child toolboxes  20 . 
     In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when two of the second child toolboxes  30  are disposed on the first child toolbox  20 , the bottom surfaces  32  of the second child toolbox  30  abut against the top surface  21  of the first child toolbox  20 , and the feet  35  of the second child toolboxes  30  extend into eight of the positioning grooves  22  in the periphery of the top surface  21  of the first child toolbox  20 , thereby interconnecting the first child toolbox  20  and the second child toolboxes  30 . 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , when two of the third child toolboxes  40  are disposed on the second child toolbox  30 , the bottom surfaces  42  of the third child toolboxes  40  abut against the top surface  31  of the second child toolbox  30 , and the feet  45  of the third child toolboxes  40  extend into eight of the positioning grooves  33  in the periphery of the top surface  31  of the second child toolbox  30 , thereby interconnecting the second child toolbox  30  and the third child toolboxes  40 . 
     Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when four of the second child toolboxes  30  are disposed on the parent toolbox  10 , the bottom surfaces  32  of the second child toolboxes  30  abut against the top surface  11  of the parent toolbox  10 , one of the feet  35  of each of the second child toolboxes  30  extends into the positioning groove  13  in the middle portion of the top surface  11  of the parent toolbox  10 , and the remainder of the feet  35  of the second child toolboxes  30  extend into twelve of the positioning grooves  12  in the periphery of the top surface  11  of the parent toolbox  10 , thereby interconnecting the parent toolbox  10  and the second child toolboxes  30 . 
     Still further, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , when four of the third child toolboxes  40  are disposed on the first child toolbox  20 , the bottom surfaces  42  of the third child toolboxes  40  abut against the top surface  21  of the first child toolbox  20 , one of the feet  45  of each of the third child toolboxes  40  extends into the positioning groove  23  in the middle portion of the top surface  21  of the first child toolbox  20 , and the remainder of the feet  45  of the third child toolboxes  40  extend into twelve of the positioning grooves  22  in the periphery of the top surface  21  of the first child toolbox  20 , thereby interconnecting the first child toolbox  20  and the third child toolboxes  40 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the parent toolbox  10  further includes front, left, and right sides  14 , each of which is disposed between the top and bottom surfaces  11 ,  16  of the parent toolbox  10  and is formed with a pair of engaging grooves  15 . 
     From the above description, since the parent toolbox  10  and the first, second, and third child toolboxes  20 ,  30 ,  40  of the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention can be closely and firmly stacked, as best shown in FIG.  11 , the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention can be conveniently and easily transported from one place to another for example by first placing the toolbox assembly on a cart  200  and then by inserting a handle  100  into the engaging grooves  15  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the left side  14  of the parent toolbox  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , whereby the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention may be pushed or pulled via the handle  100 , or by simply inserting a pair of handles  100  into the engaging grooves  15  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in the left and right sides  14  of the parent toolbox  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , whereby the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention may be carried via the handles  100 . 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.