Patent Publication Number: US-8978924-B1

Title: Box equipped with dual-colored handle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a box and, more particularly, to a box equipped with a dual-colored handle. 
     2. Related Prior Art 
     People use tool boxes to contain various tools. The tools can easily be placed in the tool boxes for storage and transportation and taken from the tool boxes for use. 
     A first conventional tool box includes two shells. Each shell includes a first edge pivotally connected to the first edge of the other shell so that the tool box can be opened and closed. Each shell further includes a second edge that can be locked to the second edge of the other shell so that the tool box can be locked in the closed position. A handle is pivotally connected to the second edge of one of the shells. The shells are often made of a same color so that the first conventional tool box looks dull. 
     A second conventional tool box is identical to the first conventional tool box except including two handles each pivotally connected to the second edge of a corresponding one of the shells. The handles are often made of a same color so that the second conventional tool box looks dull too. 
     As disclosed in Taiwanese Patent M241195, a tool box includes a dual-colored buckle for locking two shells to each other. 
     As disclosed in Taiwanese Patent M271680, a tool box includes two shells made of different colors. More dual-colored tool boxes can be seen in Taiwan Patents D115800 and D152808. 
     Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a tool box with an aesthetically pleasant handle. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, the handle includes a frame of a color and a pad of another color. The frame is formed with two axles. The pad is formed with two rings each. Each of the rings is placed around and on a corresponding one of the axles as the frame and the pad are joined together. 
     Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tool box including a dual-colored handle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the tool box shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial view of the tool box shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the dual-colored handle shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged cut-away view of the tool box shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a tool box  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The tool box  10  includes two shells  11  and  20 , two buckles  12  and a dual-colored handle  30 . Each of the shells  11  is formed with two opposite edges. The first edge of the shell  11  is pivotally connected to the first edge of the shell  20 . 
     The shell  11  includes two hoods  13 , a recess  14 , and two lugs  17  at the second edge. Each hood  13  includes a space  15  for receiving an upper portion of a corresponding lug  17  while a lower portion of the lug  17  is placed out of the hood  13 . Each hood  13  includes a semi-circular cutout  16  that faces the semi-circular cutout  16  of the other hood  13 . The recess  14  is made between the hoods  13 . Each lug  17  includes an aperture  18 . 
     The shell  20  includes two hoods  21  and a recess  22  at the second edge. Each hood  21  includes a space  23  for receiving the lower portion of a corresponding lug  17 . Each hood  21  includes a semi-circular cutout  24  that faces the semi-circular cutout  24  of the other hood  21 . The recess  22  is made between the hoods  21 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the buckles  12  are pivotally connected to the second edge of the shell  11 . The buckles  12  are movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The buckles  12 , in the locking position, are engaged with the second edge of the shell  20 . The buckles  12 , in the unlocking position, are disengaged from the second edge of the shell  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the dual-colored handle  30  includes a frame  31  and a pad  40 . The frame  31  is made of a rigid material to provide rigidity and strength. The frame  31  is made of a color. The frame  31  includes two axles  33  each formed at an end, two semi-tubes  32  each formed on a corresponding one of the axles  33 , and two arched flanges  35  each formed on a corresponding one of the axles  33 . Each semi-tube  32  is formed next to the corresponding arched flange  35 . The arched flanges  35  extend beyond the semi-tubes  32  in a radial direction of the axles  33 . Each axle  33  includes an end  34 . 
     The pad  40  is made of a soft material to provide a soft feel for a user. The pad  40  is made of another color than that of the frame  31 . The pad  40  includes two semi-tubes  42  each formed at an end, two arched flanges  45  each formed next to a corresponding one of the semi-tubes  42 , and two rings  44  each formed next to a corresponding one of the arched flanges  45 . Each semi-tubes  42  includes an arched concave face  43 . The arched flanges  45  extend beyond the semi-tubes  42  in a radial direction. 
     The end  34  of each axle  33  is inserted in a corresponding ring  44  to connect the frame  31  to the pad  40 . An arched convex face of each axle  33  is in tight contact with the arched concave face  43  of a corresponding semi-tube  42 . The semi-tube  32  of each axle  33  and the corresponding semi-tube  42  together form an annular portion. The arched flange  35  of each axle  33  and a corresponding arched flange  45  together form an annular flange. Advantageously, the dual-colored handle  30  is robust, comfortable to use and aesthetically pleasant. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the rings  44  are inserted in the apertures  18  of the lugs  17  so that the dual-colored handle  30  is pivotally connected to the shell  11 . The annular flanges, which consist of the arched flanges  35  and  45 , are in contact with the lugs  17  to retain the position of the dual-colored handle  30  on the shell  11  in an axial direction of the apertures  18 . The second edge of the shell  11  is placed on the second edge of the shell  20  when the tool box  10  is closed. Each semi-circular cutout  16  and a corresponding semi-circular cutout  24  together become a circular aperture for receiving a corresponding annular portion, which consists of the semi-tube  32  of the corresponding axle  33  and the corresponding semi-tube  42 . Thus, the rings  44 , the flanges  45  and  35  are concealed by the hooks  13  and  23  when the tool box  10  is closed. 
     The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive 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 defined in the claims.