Patent Publication Number: US-2003226779-A1

Title: Self-opening tool box

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of Invention  
       [0002] The present invention is related to a self-opening toolbox.  
       [0003] 2. Related Prior Art  
       [0004] A conventional toolbox includes a first shell, a second shell pivotally connected with the first shell and a buckle movable between a locking position for locking the second shell to the first shell and a releasing position for allowing the second shell to pivot from the first shell. To use a tool kit contained in the toolbox, a user puts the buckle in the releasing position and pivots the second shell from the first shell. The manual pivoting of the second shell could be inconvenient for the user.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005] It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a self-opening toolbox.  
       [0006] According to the present invention, a self-opening toolbox includes a first shell, a second shell pivotally mounted on the first shell, a retainer mounted on the first shell for retaining a tool kit and a pivot arranged between the first shell and the second shell for pivoting the second shell with respect to the first shell.  
       [0007] The pivot includes a first cylinder connected with the first shell, a second cylinder connected with the second shell and a torque element connected between the first and second cylinders. The torque element is received in the first cylinder and the first cylinder is received in the second cylinder. The first cylinder includes a closed end and a clip formed on an internal side of the closed end for clamping an end of the torque element. The second cylinder includes a closed end and a clip formed on an internal side of the closed end for clamping an end of the torque element.  
       [0008] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0009] The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the attached drawings wherein:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-opening toolbox in a closed position according to the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the self-opening toolbox shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the self-opening toolbox shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 except for showing the self-opening toolbox in an un-locked position;  
     [0014] FIGS.  5 ˜ 7  are side views of the self-opening toolbox in different positions in accordance with the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a self-opening toolbox according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first shell  12 , a second shell  20  pivotally mounted on the first shell  12 , a first retainer  11  mounted on the first shell  12  and a second retainer  40  pivotally mounted on the first shell  12 . A pivot  30  is arranged between the first shell  12  and the second shell  20  for pivoting the second shell  20  with respect to the first shell  12 . Two pivots  30  are arranged between the first shell  12  and the second retainer  40  for pivoting the second retainer  40  relative to the first shell  12 .  
     [0016] The first shell  12  includes two semi-lugs  14  formed on a side and two semi-lugs  14  formed on an opposite side. One of the semi-lugs  14  defines a semi-circular cutout  141  while the remaining ones of the semi-lugs  14  define a slit  142 .  
     [0017] The first retainer  11  includes various recesses  16  defined therein for retaining different tools of a tool kit. The first retainer  11  includes two semi-lugs  15  formed on a side and two semi-lugs  15  formed on an opposite side. One of the semi-lugs  15  defines a semi-circular cutout  151  while the remaining ones of the semi-lugs  15  define a slit  152 .  
     [0018] When the first retainer  11  is secured to the first shell  12 , the semi-lugs  14  match the semi-lugs  15  so that the semi-circular cutouts  141  and  151  together make a circular hole for receiving a stud  211  projecting from the second shell  20  and that each slit  142  and a corresponding slit  152  together make a slot for receiving a ridges  311  formed on one of the pivots  30 .  
     [0019] Each of the pivots  30  includes a first cylinder  31 , a second cylinder  32  and a torque element  33 . The torque element  33  is a spring in the preferred embodiment. The first cylinder  31  includes a closed end. A ridge  311  is formed on an external side of the closed end of the first cylinder  31 . A clip  312  is formed on an internal side of the closed end of the first cylinder  31 . The second cylinder  32  includes a closed end. A ridge  321  is formed on an external side of the closed end of the second cylinder  32 . A clip  322  is formed on an internal side of the closed end of the second cylinder  32 . The torque element  33  is received in the first cylinder  31  so that a first end of the torque element  33  is clamped by means of the clip  312 . The first cylinder  31  and the torque element  33  are received in the second cylinder  32  so that a second end of the torque element  33  is clamped by means of the clip  322 .  
     [0020] The second shell  20  includes a cylindrical portion  21  formed on an edge. The cylindrical portion  21  includes a closed end and an open end. A boss  211  extends from the closed end of the cylindrical portion  21 . A slit  213  is defined in a plate  212  formed on an internal side of the cylindrical portion  21 . The boss  211  is inserted in the circular hole consisting of the semi-circular cutouts  141  and  151 . One of the pivots  30  is inserted in the cylindrical portion  21  so that the ridge  321  is received in the slot  213 . The ridge  311  of this pivot  30  is received in one of the slots consisting of the slits  142  and  152 . Thus, the second shell  20  is pivotally mounted on the first shell  12  by means of the boss  211  and a pivot  30  that is arranged between the first shell  12  and the second retainer  40 .  
     [0021] The first shell  12  includes a semi-lug  120  formed on the first side. The first retainer  11  includes a semi-lug  110  formed on an edge. The second retainer  40  includes two cylindrical portions  41  formed on an edge. Each of the cylindrical portions  41  includes a closed end. A boss  44  extends from the closed end of each of the cylindrical portions  41 . When the first retainer  11  is secured to the first shell  12 , the semi-lugs  110  and  120  together make a lug with two open ends for receiving the bosses  44  so that the second retainer  40  is pivotally mounted on the first shell  12 . The second retainer  40  defines various recesses  43  for receiving different tools.  
     [0022] A slot  421  is defined in a plate  42  formed on an internal side of each of the cylindrical portions  41 . One of the pivots  30  is inserted in one of the cylindrical portions  41  so that the ridge  321  is received in the slot  421 . The ridge  311  of one of the pivots  30  is received in one of the slots consisting of the slits  142  and  152 . Thus, two pivots  30  are arranged between the first shell  12  and the second retainer  40 .  
     [0023] Referring to FIG. 7, when the shells  12  and  20 , the retainers  11  and  40  and the pivots  30  are assembled, the second retainer  40  is positioned from the first shell  12  by an angle between 90° and 180°, and the second shell  20  is positioned from the first shell  12  by an angle between 180° and 36°. The second retainer  40  can be pivoted so as to be against the first shell  12 , and the second shell  20  can be pivoted so as to be against the second retainer  40 , as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the torque elements  33  of the pivots  30  are twisted and torque is introduced into them. The torque will pivot the second shell  20  and the second retainer  40  relative to the first shell  12  to the position shown in FIG. 7. FIGS. 5 and 6 shows the self-opening toolbox in two different positions between the locked position shown in FIG. 1 and the completely extended position shown in FIG. 7.  
     [0024] Referring to FIG. 3, a locking device is used to keep the self-opening toolbox locked. The locking device includes a latch  132  mounted on the first shell  12  and a hook  221  formed on the second shell  20  for engagement with the latch  132 . The latch  132  is made as an extension from a button  13 . An elastic element  131  includes an end secured to the semi-lug  120  and an opposite end secured to the button  13 . The elastic element  131  is a spring in the preferred embodiment. The button  13  is accessible through a hole  111  defined in the semi-lug  110 .  
     [0025] Referring to FIG. 4, the button  13  can be pressed so as to disengage the latch  132  from the hook  221  so that the self-opening toolbox can be opened.  
     [0026] The present invention has been described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive many variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined in the attached claims.