Patent Publication Number: US-7210578-B2

Title: Display unit for storing tool assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a display unit for storing a tool assembly, especially a support for a tool assembly (such as sleeves), where the support is moveable and rotatable with respect to a base (not about a fixed axis of rotation) such that the tool assembly can be easily retrieved to use and stored in the display unit safely and securely. The present application claims priority from ROC (Taiwan) Patent Application No. 093130251. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIG. 1  shows a conventional display unit  100  for tool assembly. The display unit  100  comprises a base  101  with a plurality of slots  102  formed thereon for accommodating a plurality of tool assembly parts such as sleeves  103 . A fence  104  is disposed at the front end of the base  101  to prevent the sleeves  103  from falling or sliding out of the base  101 . A lid  105  is disposed at the top rear edge of the base  101  and two latches  106  are disposed at the front end of the lid  105 . A slot  107  is formed in each of the latches  106  to engage the corresponding protrusion  108  disposed at the front end of the base  101  such that the sleeves  103  are received in the slots  102 . A slot  110  is formed at opposite sides of the lid  105  to engage a corresponding protrusion  109  disposed at the top opposite sides of the base  101 . When retrieving sleeves  103 , a user has to manually disengage the two latches  106  with the protrusions  108  and the slots  110  with the protrusions  109 , respectively, to open the lid  105  first. With this configuration, if sleeves  103  are received in the slots  102  too loosely, the sleeves  103  may be likely to fall or slide out from the display unit  100  in the user&#39;s hand when shaking. If the sleeves  103  are received in the slots  102  too tightly, although the sleeves  103  can be secured to the base  101  effectively, it may not be easy to retrieve the sleeves  103  when in a rush as they may be stuck in the slots  102 . In addition, as the lid  105  engages the base  101  by way of latching, it is likely to break the latches  106  or protrusions  108 ,  109  when closing the lid  105 , which render the lid  105  unable to secure the sleeves  103  and therefore makes the display unit  100  useless. 
     FIG. 2  shows the other conventional display unit  200  for tool assembly comprising a base  201 . A shaft  202  spaced from and parallel to an inner surface of the base  201  is disposed in the base  201  for accommodating securing means  203 . Rotation means is disposed in the shaft  202  such that the securing means  203  can be rotated to a certain angle respect to the base  201  and shaft  202 . A fence  205  is disposed at one end of the base  201  for preventing sleeves  204  from falling or sliding out of the base  201  or inappropriate retrieval. A rod  206  is disposed between the securing means and the base  201  for preventing the securing means  203  from rotating when the sleeves  204  are in place and therefore ensuring a secured package. When the sleeves  204  are being retrieved, one end of the rod  206  has to be cut and removed first and the sleeves  204  are then rotated and retrieved. However, such configuration is considered complicated, inconvenient and spacey. 
   From the above, it is necessary for the industry to provide a display unit which is easier to use, less spacey and can overcome the defects mentioned in the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a display unit which is easier to use and less spacey. 
   According to the present invention, a display unit for storing a tool assembly comprises a base, a moving-rotating mechanism and a support plate. The base has a front end, a rear end opposite the front end and two opposite sides. The moving-rotating mechanism comprises at least one moving-rotating device. The support plate has a front end and two opposite sides for supporting the tool assembly. At least one of the two opposite sides of the base is coupled to at least one of the two opposite sides of the support plate by at least one moving-rotating device. And the front end of the support plate is moveable and rotatable from a first position at the front end of the base to a second position at the rear end of the base. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with the accompanying drawings, in which: 

   
     DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of a conventional tool display unit; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of the other conventional tool display unit; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of a tool display unit according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic view showing sleeves rotated to a secured position; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic view showing the sleeves rotated upwards to a retrievable position and ready for retrieval; 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate the tool display unit of  FIGS. 3 to 5  switched between the secured position and the retrievable position; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic view of an alternative embodiment according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a schematic view of the other embodiment showing a different configuration of the stoppers of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a schematic view showing adjustable supports; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a schematic view showing supports of a convex type; 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a schematic view showing supports of a concave type; 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a schematic view showing insertable stoppers; 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a schematic view showing slidable stoppers; 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a one-piece tool display unit package showing the tool display unit according to the present invention integrated with the other tool assembly; and 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a schematic view of  FIG. 14  showing the sleeves rotated upwards to a retrievable position and ready for retrieval. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 3 to 5  illustrate exploded and schematic views of a display unit for storing a tool assembly according to the present invention. The display unit  1  for storing a tool assembly comprises a base  11 , a moving-rotating mechanism and a support plate  13 . The base  11  has a front end  111 , a rear end  112  opposite the front end  111  and two opposite sides  113 . The moving-rotating mechanism comprises at least one moving-rotating device  12 . The support plate  13  has a front end  131  and two opposite sides  132  for supporting the tool assembly, such as sleeves  14 . At least one of the two opposite sides  113  of the base  11  is coupled to at least one of the two opposite sides  132  of the support plate  13  by at least one moving-rotating device  12 . As shown in the figures, preferably each of the two opposite sides  113  of the base  11  is coupled to the corresponding one of the two opposite sides  132  of the support plate  13  by the respective moving-rotating device  12  such that the front end  131  of the support plate  13  is moveable and rotatable from a first position at the front end  111  of the base  11  (referring to  FIG. 5  and the topmost view of  FIG. 6A ) to a second position at the rear end  112  of the base  11  (referring to  FIG. 4  and the bottommost view of  FIG. 6A ). 
   Now referring to  FIG. 3 , each of the moving-rotating devices  12  comprises a wing  121 , a guiding slot  122  and a protrusion  123 . The wing  121  is disposed perpendicularly at each of the two opposite sides  113  of the base  11  while the guiding slot  122  is formed in the wing  121 . The protrusion  123  is disposed transversely at each of the two opposite sides  132  of the support plate  13 . When each of the two opposite sides  113  of the base  11  is coupled to the corresponding one of the two opposite sides  132  of the support plate  13 , each protrusion  123  is then moveable and rotatable along the guiding slot  122  of the wing  121 . The guiding slot can be an arc curvedly extending upwards and backwards (referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 ), or can be a straight line shape extending backwards (referring to reference numeral  122 ′ in  FIG. 7 ). The guiding slot  122  comprises a front section  1221  and a rear section  1222  and each section has a narrowing neck  1223  formed thereof. When the protrusion  123  passes through the neck  1223 , the protrusion  123  is provided with a proper friction force such that the protrusion  123  of the support plate  13  can be properly positioned at the front section  1221  or the rear section  1222 . 
   As mentioned above, the support plate  13  is for supporting tool assembly parts such as sleeves  14 . The sleeves can be a set with continuous or different sizes. The support plate  13  can also comprise a plurality of supports  133  and each supports the corresponding sleeve  14 . Each of the sleeves  14  can be tightly fitted to the corresponding support  133 , or can be loosely fitted to the corresponding support  133 . Preferably, when the sleeves  14  are loosely fitted to the corresponding supports  133 , a stopping device  114  is further disposed at the front end  111  of the base  11  such that when the front end  131  of the support plate  13  is moved and rotated to the second position at the rear end  112  of the base  11 , because the sleeves  14  contact the stopping device  114  and press the stopping device  114  which generates an elastic force against the sleeves  14 , the stopping device  114  is then adapted to prevent the sleeves  14  from separating or sliding from the supports  133  (referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6A ), which in turn, secures the sleeves  14  to the base  11 . Similarly, when the front end  131  of the support plate  13  is moved and rotated to the first position at the front end  111  of the base  11  from the second position, because the sleeves  14  gradually disengage the stopping device  114  which releases the elastic force, the sleeves  14  can return to a free state from a secured state (referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6B ). The stopping device can be of any suitable design. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the stopping device can comprise a plurality of stoppers  114 ′ and each substantially corresponds to the respective support (not shown in figure). The stoppers can also be removably mounted at the front end of the base (referring to  FIG. 12 ), or slidably mounted at the front end of the base (referring to  FIG. 13 ). The supports  133  as shown in  FIG. 3  can also be modified to adjustable supports  134  shown in  FIG. 9 , which can move along a slot  135  disposed in a support plate  13 ′ to suit sleeves of different sizes or quantity. In addition, supports  136  of a convex type shown in  FIG. 10  or supports  137  of a concave type can also be employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
   From the above descriptions, it is apparent that the present invention provides a display unit which has a simple configuration and stability and is easy to manufacture and use. Not only can it be used alone, but it can also be employed in conjunction with other tool display units. As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a tool display  20  can comprise a housing  21  having a bottom end  11 ′ and two opposite sides defining two displaying spaces. A display unit  1 ′ can be received in one of the displaying spaces, while the other displaying space can be used to receive tools such as wrenches, which in turn, forms an integral and complete tool package to enhance the value of the product and catch consumers&#39; eyes. Preferably, the bottom end  11 ′ of the housing  21  is an extension of the base of the display unit  1 ′ and each of the two opposite sides of the tool display  1 ′ is an extension of the corresponding wing  121 ′. It is possible that the two displaying spaces can also be individually defined spaces where the bottom end and the opposite sites of each are coupled to each other. 
   While the invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognise that the invention can still be practiced with modifications, within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.