Patent Publication Number: US-11046480-B2

Title: Collapsible toolbox

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/620,104, filed on Jan. 22, 2018, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including all references and appendices cited therein, for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains generally to storage devices, and more particularly is a collapsible job box adapted to hold tools as, for example, on a construction site. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention disclosed is a collapsible storage box adapted to be used for the storage of tools and equipment. The job box can be easily disassembled into 3 sub-assemblies of roughly equal size for more efficient transportation and storage of the box. 
     The base is one of the three sub-assemblies. The thickness of the base is approximately double that of the other sides to insure strength and durability and allow transportation of the storage box by forklift if desired. 
     The front and sides of the box comprise a second sub-assembly. In some embodiments, the front and sides of the storage box are secured to the base by way of posts and cross pins. When disassembled, the sides hinge such that they collapse against the front. 
     The top and back of the box may constitute a third sub-assembly and are attached last during assembly of the box. 
     The back has features which lock into the sides when the back is slid vertically into place. The back is then secured to the base by way of posts and cross pins. A hinge between the top and back allows the top to hinge backwards such that the external portion of the top meets the external portion of the back. This creates a profile for the top and back of the disassembled box that is similar to the base and to the front and sides sub-assemblies so that transportation and storage are facilitated. Carry handles  105  are located on each sub-assembly to assist in lifting and carrying the sub-assemblies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed disclosure, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. 
         FIG. 1A  shows the assembled toolbox in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 1B  shows the assembled toolbox in an open configuration. 
         FIGS. 2A-2E  show the base sub-assembly. 
         FIGS. 3A-H  and  3 J-L and N show the front/sides sub-assembly. 
         FIGS. 4A-4F  show the top/back sub-assembly. 
         FIG. 5A  shows the base, front/sides, and top/back sub-assemblies in a collapsed and stacked configuration 
         FIGS. 6A-E  show the assembled toolbox with detail views of the locking mechanism between the top and front as well as the cross-pin retention mechanism between the front, sides, back, and base. 
         FIGS. 7A-C  show the assembled toolbox with detail views of the keyhole slot retention mechanism between the sides and rear. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the technology. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters. It will be further understood that several of the figures are merely schematic representations of the present disclosure. As such, some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for pictorial clarity. 
       FIG. 1A  shows the toolbox assembled and closed with base  100 , front/sides sub-assembly  200 , and top/back sub-assembly  300 .  FIG. 1B  shows the toolbox assembled and fully open. A securing mechanism such as a cord can be employed to hold the top in a desired position if the toolbox is to be other than fully opened. 
       FIGS. 2A-E  show the base  100  with the top surface  101  of the base  100  attached to the bottom surface  102  of the base  100 . Cross braces  104  may be utilized to add extra internal support. Posts  103  have holes for receiving a cross pin (described in further detail with reference to  FIG. 6D ) to fix the front/sides  200  and top/back sub-assemblies to the base  100 . 
       FIGS. 3A-F  show the front/side sub-assembly  200 . In some embodiments, the front  201  is attached to a first side  202  and a second side  203  with hinges  204  and  204 ′ respectively. Headed posts  205  (see  FIG. 3F ) are secured to the back edge of sides  202 ,  203 , and may be used to connect and affix the sides  202 ,  203  to the back  301 . A plurality of holes  215  on lower edges of both the front  201  and sides  202 ,  203  receive posts  103  from base  100  to secure the front  201  and the sides  202 ,  203  to the base  100 . One or more cross braces  207 ,  207 ′ may be employed to provide additional support. Handles  206  can be affixed to each sub-assembly of the storage box device to facilitate lifting of the sub-assemblies when the device is disassembled. 
       FIGS. 3G-H  and  3 J-L and  3 N show the front/side sub-assembly  200  with locking mechanism including lock  214 , actuation bar  210  pivoting on pin  211  and actuating slider  208 . In most embodiments, the locking mechanism will be situated on the right corner of the front/side sub-assembly  200 . Cross pin  213  retains a lock  214  (supplied by the user) in chamber  212 . When the lock  214  is unlocked by the user, release lever  209  can be actuated to release the locking mechanism so that the storage box can be opened. 
       FIG. 3M  shows the front/side sub-assembly  200  in a collapsed configuration with the sides folded in against the top for storage and transportation of the front/side sub-assembly  200 . 
       FIGS. 4A-E  show the top/back sub-assembly  300  with the top  302  hinged to the back  301  with hinge  303 . Keyhole features  306  engage with headed posts  205  to secure the back  301  to the sides  202 ,  203 . Holes  307  engage with posts  103  to secure the back  301  to the base  100  with cross pins. Catch bar  304  engages with actuating slider  208  to lock the box closed. Handle  305  can be used to open the top  302  of the storage box for access to the contents. 
       FIG. 4F  shows the top/back sub-assembly  300  in the collapsed configuration for storage and transportation. Handle  308  can be used to facilitate lifting and transport of the storage box in the collapsed configuration. 
       FIG. 5A  shows all 3 sub-assemblies  100 ,  200 , and  300  in the collapsed and stacked configuration, illustrating the space savings made possible by the storage box. 
       FIGS. 6A-E  show additional details of the locking mechanism and cross pins  601  installed in holes of posts  103  in base  100  that are used to retain the front  201 , sides  202 ,  203 , and back  301  to the base  100 . Cross pins  601  can be secured in the posts  103  with a clevis pin or the like inserted into a hole in the cross pin  601 . 
       FIGS. 7A-C  show detail of the engagement between the headed posts  205  in the sides  202 ,  203  and the keyhole features  306  in the back  301 . The headed posts  205  can engage the keyholes  306  when the back  301  is brought down over posts  103  in base  100  so that the sub-assemblies  100 ,  200 , and  300  are releasably attached to each other. 
     While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the system are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the system, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps in a different order, and some processes or steps may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or sub-combinations. Each of these processes or steps may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or steps are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or steps may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times. 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. The descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth herein. To the contrary, the present descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.