Patent Publication Number: US-2015068937-A1

Title: Milling cutter box

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to a milling cutter box configured to receive a milling cutter. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When a milling cutter is not in use, a user can store the milling cutter in a box to prevent from damage. The user can open the box and remove the milling cutter from the box for use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a milling cutter box and a milling cutter received in the milling cutter box in a first state. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the milling cutter box and the milling cutter of  FIG. 1  in a second state. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the milling cutter box of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the milling cutter box of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
     The present disclosure relates to a milling cutter box which can include a housing and a retaining member. The housing can include a box body and a box cover configured to couple with the box body. The retaining member can be configured to couple a milling cutter. The retaining member can be rotatably coupled to the box body and received in the box body. 
     The present disclosure is further in relation to a milling cutter box which can include a housing, a support member, and a retaining member. The housing can include a box body and a box cover configured to couple the box body. The support member can be received in the box body and detachably latched to the box body. The support member can include an engaging portion. The retaining member can be detachably pivoted to the support member and include a pivoting portion. The retaining member can define a receiving chamber and an opening communicating the receiving chamber with outer side of the retaining member. The pivoting portion can be pivoted to the engaging portion to enable the retaining member to be rotatable relative to the support member. 
     The present disclosure is further in relation to a milling cutter box which can include an elongate housing including a bottom, a support tray, and a retaining member. The support tray can be received in the housing and detachably attached to the bottom. The support tray can have a supporting portion at a distal end thereof. The supporting portion can define an opening. The retaining member can be detachably disposed on the supporting portion over the opening and rotatably coupled to the support tray. The retaining member can be configured for retaining a milling cutter. The retaining member can be rotatable relative to the support tray between a first position where the milling cutter is vertically oriented and a second position where the milling cutter is horizontally oriented and received in the housing. The opening can be configured for allowing an edge portion of the retaining member to pass therethrough when the retaining member moves between the first position and the second position. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a milling cutter box  100  configured to receive or couple a milling cutter  200 . The milling cutter box  100  can include a retaining member  10 , a support member  20 , a protection portion  30 , and a housing  40 . The retaining member  10  can be rotatably coupled to the support member  20  and configured to couple the milling cutter  200 . The protection member  30  can be fixed to the support member  20  and positioned opposite to the retaining member  10 . The housing  40  can be an elongate housing including a bottom. The retaining member  10  and the protection member  30  can be received in the support member  20 . The support member  20  can be received in the housing  40  and detachably attached to the bottom of the housing  40 . When the milling cutter box  100  is closed, the support member  20 , the retaining member  10 , and the protection member  30  can be received in the housing  40 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates that the milling cutter  200  can include a mounting portion  201  and a cutting portion  203  coupled to the mounting portion  201 . The mounting portion  201  can be substantially cylindrical and include a smooth outer surface. The cutting portion  203  can be positioned at a distal end of the mounting portion  201  and coaxial with the mounting portion  203 . The cutting portion  203  can include a cutting edge spiraling about a center axis of the cutting portion  203 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates that the retaining member  10  can be substantially hollow cuboid and define a receiving chamber  11  and an opening  12  communicating the receiving chamber  11  with outer side of the retaining member  10 . The retaining member  10  can include a bottom wall  15  and four sidewalls  14  extending from edges of the bottom wall  15 . Two of the sidewalls  14  can be parallel to each other and another two of the sidewalls  14  can be parallel to each other. The bottom wall  15  and the sidewalls  14  can define the receiving chamber  11 . Each sidewall  14  can include an inner surface  141  and an outer surface  143  parallel to each other. A position portion  145  can protrude from each inner surface  141  and substantially perpendicular to the corresponding inner surface  141  and the bottom wall  15 . The position portions  145  which respectively coupled to the parallel sidewalls  14  can be coplanar. The position portions  145  which respectively coupled to the adjacent sidewalls  14  can be perpendicular to each other. Each position portion  145  can include an arcuate guiding surface  146  adjacent to the opening  12 . 
     A pivoting portion  147 , a first positioning portion  148 , and a second positioning portion  149  can be coupled to each outer surface  143  of two parallel sidewalls  14  of the four sidewalls  14 . An imaginary connecting line of the pivoting portion  147  and the first positioning portion  148  can be substantially parallel to the bottom wall  15 . An imaginary connecting line of the pivoting portion  147  and the second positioning portion  149  can be substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall  15 . The first positioning portion  148  can be closer to the bottom wall  15  than the second positioning portion  149 . The pivoting portion  147  can be a latching shaft and can be positioned diagonally relative to the corresponding sidewall  14 . A diameter of a first end portion of the pivoting portion  147  away from the corresponding sidewall  14  can be larger than that of a second end portion of the pivoting portion  147  adjacent to the corresponding sidewall  14 . Thus, a latching portion  1471  can be formed at the first end portion of the pivoting portion  147 . The pivoting portion  147  can define a through groove  1473  along a center axis thereof. The through groove  1473  can extend through the latching portion  1471  towards a bottom of the pivoting portion  147 . Thus, the pivoting portion  147  can be elastically deformed. 
     The support member  20  can include a bottom plate  21 , two side plates  23  respectively extending from the bottom plate  21 , and an end wall  25  extending from the bottom plate  21 . The side plates  23  can be parallel to each other and perpendicular to the bottom plate  21 . The end wall  25  can be perpendicular to the bottom plate  21  and the side plates  23 . The bottom plate  21  can define an opening  211  adjacent to an end away from the end wall  25 . The bottom plate  21  can include a supporting portion  210  at a distal end thereof and the opening  211  can be defined on the supporting portion  210 . A first end portion of each side plate  23  adjacent to the opening  211  can be higher than a second end portion of each the side plate  23  away from the opening  211 . Each side plate  23  can define an engaging portion  231  adjacent to the opening  211 , a first latching portion  233 , and a second latching portion  235 . The first latching portion  233  and the second latching portion  235  can be respectively positioned at opposite sides of the engaging portion  231 . In the illustrated embodiment, the support member  20  can be a support tray. 
     The engaging portion  231 , the first latching portion  233 , and the second latching portion  235  can be arranged in a straight line. A distance between the engaging portion  231  and the first latching portion  233  can be equal to a distance between the pivoting portion  147  and the first positioning portion  148 . A distance between the engaging portion  231  and the second latching portion  235  can be equal to a distance between the pivoting portion  147  and the second positioning portion  149 . A distance between the first latching portion  123  (or the second latching portion  149 ) to a top of the corresponding side plate  23  can be less than a distance of the first positioning portion  148  (or the second positioning portion  149 ) and the pivoting portion  147 . 
     The bottom wall  15  of the retaining member  10  can be positioned on the bottom plate  21  and located between the side plates  23  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining member  10  can be detachably disposed on the supporting portion  210  over the opening  211  and rotatably coupled to the support member  20 . An edge portion of the bottom wall  15  adjacent to the end wall  25  can be located above the opening  211 . Thus, a connecting portion  17  of the bottom wall  15  and the corresponding side wall  14  can be positioned above the opening  211 . The pivoting portion  147  can be received in the engaging portion  231  and the latching portion  1471  can be latched to the engaging portion  231 . The first positioning portion  148  can be configured to latch the first latching portion  233  (shown in  FIG. 3 ), to enable the opening  12  to be away from the support member  20 . When the retaining member  10  is rotated 90 degrees around the pivoting portion  147 , the second positioning portion  149  can be latched to the second latching portion  235  and the first positioning portion  148  can get out of the first latching portion  233  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Then, the opening  12  can face to the end wall  25 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first positioning portion  148  and the second positioning portion  149  are both posts, though other suitable positioning elements can be substituted. The engaging portion  231 , the first latching portion  233 , and the second latching portion  235  both can be holes. In at least one embodiment, one of the first positioning portion  148  and the first latching portion  233  can be a hole and another one can be a post. One of the second positioning portion  149  and the second latching portion  235  can be a hole and another one can be a post. One of the engaging portion  231  and the pivoting portion  147  can be a shaft and another one can be a hole. 
     The protection member  30  can be coupled to the bottom plate  21  and positioned adjacent to the end wall  25 . When the second positioning portion  149  is latched with the second latching portion  235 , a distance between the bottom wall  15  and the protection member  30  can be larger than a length of the milling cutter  200 . The protection member  30  can be configured to protect the milling cutter  200 . In at least one embodiment, the protection member  30  can be made of a flexible material, such as foam. 
     The housing  40  can include a box body  41  and a box cover  43  rotatably coupled to the box body  41 . The box body  41  can include a bottom board  411 , two parallel side boards  413 , and two parallel end boards  415 . The bottom board  411 , the side boards  413 , and the end boards  415  can define a receiving room  417 , cooperatively. The receiving room  417  can be configured to receive the retaining member  10 , the support member  20 , and the protection member  30 . The support member  20  can be received in the box body  41  and detachably coupled to the box body  41 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates that two first protrusions  4151  can protrude from one end board  415  adjacent to the box cover  43  and received in the box body  41 . Another end board  415  can define a limiting groove  4152  and two through grooves  4153 . The limiting groove  4152  can recess from an outer surface of the corresponding end board  415 . The through grooves  4153  can pass through the outer surface and an inner surface of the corresponding end board  415 . An elastic portion  4154  can be received in each through groove  4153  and coupled to the corresponding end board  415 . 
     Two second protrusions  4155  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) can protrude from the end board  415  away from the first protrusions  4151  and positioned at an inner surface of the elastic portions  4154 . Two latching protrusions  4156  can protrude from the outer surface of the end board  415  which defining the through grooves  4153  thereon. Each latching protrusion  4155  can be positioned above the corresponding elastic portion  4154 . The support member  20  can be detachably received in the box body  41  and positioned between the first protrusions  4151  and the second protrusions  4155 . The first protrusions  4151  can be latched to a top surface of the end wall  25 . The second protrusions  4155  can be latched to a top surface of the bottom plate  21 . 
     The box cover  43  can define a receiving space  430  and rotatably coupled to an end of the bottom board  411  of the box body  41  away from the latching protrusions  4156 . The box cover  43  can be configured to cover the box body  41 , thereby receiving the retaining member  10 , the protection member  30 , and the support member  20  therein. The box cover  43  can include a latching wall  431  at an end away from a connection of the box cover  43  and the box body  41 . An outer side surface of the latching wall  431  can define three anti-slip grooves  433  (shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ). Two locking protrusions  435  can protrude from an inner side surface of the latching wall  431  and configured to couple the latching protrusions  4156 . A limiting portion  437  can be fixed within the receiving space  430  and configured to couple limiting grooves  4152 . In the illustrated embodiment, the limiting portion  437  can be ribs. In at least one embodiment, the first protrusions  4151 , the second protrusions  4155 , the through groves  4153 , the elastic portion  4154 , the latching protrusions  4156 , and the locking protrusions  435  each can be designed to a desired number as needed, such as one or more than two. 
     In assembly, the support member  20  can be placed into the receiving room  417  of the box body  41 . The first protrusions  4151  and the second protrusions  4155  can be respectively latched to the support member  20 . The retaining member  10  can be mounted on the support member  20 . The pivoting portion  147  can be pivoted with the engaging portion  231 . The first positioning portion  148  can be latched to the first latching portion  233 . The protection member  30  can be mounted in the support member  20  and positioned opposite to the retaining member  10 . 
     In use, the mounting portion  201  of the milling cutter  200  can be inserted into the receiving chamber  11  via the opening  12  of the retaining member  10  and positioned in a first position by the positioning portions  145  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). When the milling cutter  200  is in the first position, the milling cutter  200  can be vertically oriented. Then, the retaining member  10  can be forced to rotate about the pivoting portion  147  in 90 degrees (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Thus, the bottom wall  15  can be perpendicular to the bottom plate  21  of the support member  20  and one of the side wall  14  can substantially contact the bottom plate  21 . The opening  12  can face to the protection member  30 . The first positioning portion  148  can release from the first latching portion  233  and the first portioning portion  148  can be positioned above the second positioning portion  149 . The second positioning portion  149  can be latched to the second latching portion  235 . The milling cutter  200  can be in a second position of substantially parallel to the bottom plate  21 . When the milling cutter  200  is in the second position, the milling cutter  200  can be substantially horizontally oriented and received in the housing  40 . The opening  211  can be configured for allowing an edge portion of the retaining member  10  to pass therethrough when the retaining member  10  moves between the first position and the second position. The box cover  43  can be rotated to cover the box body  41 . The locking protrusions  435  can be latched to the latching protrusions  4156 . The limiting portions  437  can be respectively received in the limiting grooves  4152  and resist against the corresponding end board  415 . Thus, the milling cutter  200  can be received in the milling cutter box  100 . When the box cover  43  is opened and the retaining member  10  is rotated, the milling cutter  200  can be convenient to be taken out. 
     In at least one embodiment, the support member  20  can be omitted and then the opening  211 , the engaging portion  231 , the first latching portion  233 , and the second latching portion  235  can be directly formed on the cover box  41 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the engaging portion  231 , the first latching portion  233 , and the second latching portion  235  can be only coupled to one side plate  23  of the support member  20 . The engaging portion  231 , the first latching portion  233 , and the second latching portion  235  can be not in a straight line. The position portion  145  can be omitted and then the milling cutter  200  can be positioned by inner side surfaces of the retaining member  10 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the first positioning portion  148 , the second positioning portion  149 , the first latching portion  233 , and the second latching portion  235  both can be omitted. The pivoting portion  147  can be in a shape of a gear. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a milling cutter box. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.