Patent Publication Number: US-6988616-B2

Title: Tool box with a pivotable part

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a tool box including a base, a pivotable part for receiving tools therein, and a cover. The pivotable part is pivoted together with the opening of the cover. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A conventional tool box generally includes a base and a cover which is pivotably mounted to the base which includes receiving recesses for receiving tools therein. The tools lie on the inside of the base when the cover is opened so that the user has to pick the tools at an angle with his or her fingers. This is not convenient and consumes too much time on picking the tools. Another tool box includes an inner layer for receiving tools and a groove is defined in the inner layer. A drive piece has a protrusion which is slidably engaged with the groove. When the cover is opened, the protrusion moves in the groove and pivots the inner layer at an angle. Nevertheless, the whole weight of the inner layer and the tools are supported on the protrusion which tends to be broken after a period of use. The drive piece, the protrusion and the groove are exposed and do not meet the esthetic purpose. 
   The present invention intends to provide a tool box that includes two rotatable shafts which are rotated together with the opening of the cover so as to pivot the pivotable part in the tool box. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a tool box that includes a base having two first holes in two sides thereof and each first hole has a first notch defined in an inner periphery thereof. A pivotable part has two arms on two sides thereof and each arm has a second hole. Each second hole has a second notch defined in an inner periphery thereof. The pivotable part is received in a space defined in the base and includes recesses for receiving tools. A cover has two lugs and each lug has a third hole. Each third hole has a protrusion extending from in an inner periphery thereof. The two lugs are located between the two arms of the pivotable part and the two sides of the base. The third holes are located in alignment with the first holes and the second hole so that two shafts extend through the first holes, the third holes and the second holes. Each shaft includes a ridge on an out side thereof and the ridges extend through the first notches and the second notches. The ridges is located to be only engaged with the second notches and pushed by the protrusions when the cover is pivoted from a close position to an open position. 
   The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view to show the tool box of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view to show the tool box of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  shows that the pivotable par is pivoted when the cover is opened; 
       FIG. 4  shows the protrusion of the cover pushes the ridge on the shaft; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view to show the shaft extending through the first hole, the second hole and the third hole; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken from the line A—A in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken from the line B—B in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 8  shows the position of the protrusion when the cover is in close position, and 
       FIG. 9  shows the position of the protrusion when the cover is in open position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5 , the tool box  10  of the present invention comprises a base  20  having two first holes  22  defined in two sides thereof and each first hole  22  has a first notch  221  defined in an inner periphery thereof. A space  21  is defined between the two sides and a front end of the base  20 . A pivotable part  30  has two arms on two sides thereof and each arm has a second hole  32 . Each second hole  32  has a second notch  321  defined in an inner periphery thereof. A plurality of recesses  31  is defined in a front end thereof so as to receive bits  60  therein. A tubular recess  33  is defined in a side of the pivotable part  30  and a section of the tubular recess  33  opens to a surface of the pivotable part  30 . A connection rod  70  can be inserted in the tubular recess  33 . The pivotable part  30  is received in the space in the base  20  and the two arms are located between the two sides of the base  20 . 
   A cover  40  has two lugs and each lug has a third hole  41 . Each third hole  41  has a protrusion  411  extending from in an inner periphery thereof. The two lugs are located between the two arms of the pivotable part  30  and the two sides of the base  20 . The third holes  41  are located in alignment with the first holes  22  and the second hole  32 . 
   Two shafts  50  each have a ridge  51  longitudinally on an out side thereof and each shaft has an enlarged head and an enlarged end opposite to the enlarged head. The ridge  51  of each shaft  50  extends from the enlarged end thereof and the enlarged end is split into two parts by a slit so that the two parts of the enlarged end can be pushed toward each other when the two shafts  50  extend through the first holes  22 , the third holes  41  and the second holes  32 . The two parts are engaged with the two respective insides of the two arms of the pivotable part  30  after the enlarged ends of the shafts  50  extend beyond the second holes  32 . The ridges  51  extend through the first notches  221  and the second notches  321 . The ridges  51  are sized to be only engaged with the second notches  321  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   Further referring to  FIG. 8 , when the cover  40  is in close position, the pivotable part  30  lies on an inside of the space of the base  20  and the protrusions  411  are located at an angular distance from the ridges  51  on the shafts  50 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  6  and  9 , when the cover  40  is pivoted from the close position to the open position, the protrusions  411  are moved and contacts the ridges  51  at an angle as shown in  FIG. 9 . When the cover  40  is kept on pivoting, the ridges  51  are pushed by the protrusions  411  and the pivotable part  30  is then pivoted upward. 
   While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.