Patent Publication Number: US-2023148749-A1

Title: Adjustable top toolbox

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to boxes, chests, and cabinets for storing tools (collectively “toolboxes”) and more specifically to a top toolbox which provides additional storage on top of a toolbox and is adjustable to provide access to a toolbox workbench. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toolboxes, tool chests, and tool cabinets (collectively “toolboxes”) are used for storing tools and the top surface of a toolbox also provides a workbench. These toolboxes are often on wheels to enable them to be moved around, for example, in an auto mechanic garage or in a workshop. 
     An additional toolbox may be placed on top of a main toolbox for additional storage of tools and is referred to as a top toolbox. However, a top toolbox eliminates any workbench of the main toolbox. Alternatively, for additional storage a smaller toolbox may be placed beside the toolbox. While a side toolbox does not eliminate the main toolbox&#39;s workbench, it takes up more floor space and when it is desirable to move the main toolbox, the side toolbox must also be moved. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,838 discloses a toolbox that is vertically stackable with other identical toolboxes, with the aim of being easily stackable, portable, and occupying as little floor space as possible. However, the top part of said toolbox is not suitable for use as a workbench. Rather, the top part of said toolbox is only configured to connect and lock onto the bottom part of another identical toolbox. 
     In contrast, U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,571 discloses an all-in-one toolbox, transport, and workbench system. However, the reliance on a hand truck or dolly with vertical side rails for mounting toolboxes and workbench platforms is cumbersome and less versatile compared to stackable toolboxes that do not rely on side rails or additional mounting devices, and the workbench space is very limited. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,623,550 discloses a collapsible workstation with a workbench portion that can be raised above or lowered over a base toolbox. When raised this workbench portion forms a backboard for the top of the base toolbox, with optional side boards. This patent states that both the workbench portion and the base portion can be used to store tools. However, the workbench portion lowers over the base portion and so it is only suitable for hanging tools on a back pegboard or along the sides which does not provide substantial extra storage. The workbench portion is integral with the base toolbox. 
     What is needed is a top toolbox which provides additional storage and may be added to a base toolbox without eliminating a workbench. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an embodiment of the present invention there is a top toolbox comprised of a cabinet, a frame guide, and lifting means to adjust the cabinet from a resting position in which the cabinet covers the frame guide up to a raised position that exposes an interior of the frame guide. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lifting means comprises at least one lifting column under the top of the cabinet capable of raising the cabinet from the resting position to one of the raised positions. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet comprises an outer aspect comprised of a cabinet face, two outer side walls, an outer back wall, a floor and a top, and an inner aspect comprised of two inner side walls, an inner back wall, the top and the floor; and the frame guide comprises two frame guide side walls and a frame guide back wall; and wherein when the cabinet is in resting position, each of the frame guide side walls is between one of the inner side walls and one of the outer side walls of the cabinet and the frame guide back wall is between the inner back wall and the outer back wall of the cabinet. 
     The lifting columns may be comprised of two lifting columns wherein one lifting column is positioned between one frame guide side wall and one inner side wall and the other lifting column is between the other frame guide side wall and the other inner side wall. 
     Under the floor of the cabinet there may additionally be an undercabinet framed of the outer aspect of the floor, and the inner aspect of the outer side walls and the inner aspect of the outer back wall. 
     The lifting columns may be comprised of a telescoping upper column within a lower column, and the lifting means may additionally be comprised of a base and a pair of supports, and the lower columns attached to the base and the upper columns attached to a support and the supports attached to the top of the cabinet at the inner aspect. 
     The top toolbox may additionally comprise at least one light on the top of the cabinet. The top toolbox may additionally comprise a controller to control the at least one lifting column, wherein the at least one lifting column is electrically powered, for example by and AC or DC battery. The top toolbox of may additionally comprise at least one battery to power the at least one lifting column and the at least one light. 
     The top toolbox may additionally comprise at least one inner cabinet light in the inner aspect of the cabinet. The top toolbox may additionally comprise a power outlet. The top toolbox may additionally comprise at least one undercabinet light under the floor of the cabinet. 
     The top toolbox may additionally comprise at least one battery to power the at least one lifting column, the at least one light, the at least one inner cabinet light, the power outlet and the at least one undercabinet light. 
     The top toolbox may additionally comprise a column switch to control the at least one lifting column through the controller and a light switch to control the at least one light. 
     The controller may include an anti-collision feature to control the at least one lifting column. The cabinet face of the cabinet may comprise two openings with two corresponding lockable doors. 
     The top toolbox may additionally comprise a tool organizing and hanging system on at least one of the frame guide back wall and frame guide sides or at least one of the frame guide back wall and frame guide sides is a tool organizing and hanging system for hanging tools. 
     The top toolbox may additionally comprise a workbench. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the brief description of the drawings and the following detailed description in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a top toolbox in a raised position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the top toolbox of  FIG.  1    on a toolbox. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the top toolbox of  FIG.  1    in a resting position on a toolbox. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the top toolbox of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a front view of the top toolbox on a toolbox of  FIG.  2    with a partial cut-away portion. 
         FIG.  6    is a side view of the top toolbox on a toolbox of  FIG.  5    showing a cross-section of the top toolbox at  6 - 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention is a top toolbox  10  comprised of a cabinet  20  and a frame guide  30  with lifting means to adjust the cabinet  20  from a resting position in which it covers the frame guide  30  to a raised position or raised positions exposing an interior of the frame guide  30 . In all the figures except for  FIG.  3   , the cabinet  20  is in a fully raised position.  FIG.  3    shows the top toolbox  10  on a toolbox  40 , and the top toolbox  10  is in a resting position with the cabinet  20  lowered over the frame guide  30  (not visible). The toolbox  40  may or may not have wheels  42 ; however, a toolbox with a lid (not shown) or a toolbox that otherwise prevents the top toolbox from resting on it or being adjustable is not suitable for use with the adjustable top toolbox  10  of the present invention. 
     In the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS.  2 ,  3 ,  5  and  6   , the size of the top toolbox  10  corresponds with the toolbox  40  so that the surface area of the workbench  45  on the toolbox  40  is substantially maintained. 
     As seen in  FIG.  1   , the cabinet  20  has a cabinet face  21 , floor  22 , inner sides  23 , outer sides  24 , inner back wall  25 , outer back wall (not shown), top  27 , doors  28  and optional locks  29 .  FIGS.  2  and  4    show the bottom perimeter  26  of the cabinet  20 . It will be understood that the cabinet  20  may have various configurations of shelves, cupboards, doors and/or drawers similarly to a toolbox  40  which may have various configurations of shelves, cupboards, doors and/or drawers. 
     As seen in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  4  and  6   , the frame guide  30  has frame guide sides  34  and frame guide back wall  35 . 
     The top toolbox  10  has lifting means for the cabinet  20  to be raised and lowered electronically, powered by a battery or from an external source. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the cabinet  20  is raised or lowered through lifting means which provide support underneath top  27  and which raise or lower the top  27  and thereby the cabinet  20  is raised or lowered. As seen in  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the lifting means is comprised of two telescoping lifting columns  50 , 51  each having a lower column  50  and upper column  51 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the lifting means further comprises supports  57 , top bar  59  and a base  58 . At the top of each upper column  51  is a support  57 , and between supports  57  there is the top bar  59  connecting them. 
     The upper columns  51  are activated to rise or lower by pressing a column switch  55  which sends directions to a controller  52  (see  FIG.  4   ) to extend or retract the upper columns  51  in synchrony. When the upper columns extend upwardly, the supports  57  and top bar  59  push up the top  27  of the cabinet  20 . While each of the two lifting columns  50 , 51  are shown alongside each of the frame guide sides  34 , it will be understood that other varieties of lifting columns  50  could be used, for example one lifting column in the middle or multiple lifting columns along the back, provided that the cabinet is raised or lowered safely and securely. 
     On either side of the top toolbox  10 , the frame guide side  34  is sized to fit alongside the inner side wall  23  and between the inner side wall  23  and outer side wall  24  of the cabinet  20 . At the back, the frame guide back wall  35  fits between inner back wall  25  and an outer back wall (not shown) of the cabinet  20 . Each of the lifting columns  50 , 51  fit between the frame guide side  34  and the inner side wall  23 . The column switch  55  may have buttons (not shown) to press to raise, lower, or stop/pause in lowering or raising the cabinet  20 . It will be understood that a remote control or mobile application etc. could be used to activate the controller to cause the lifting columns  50 , 51  to move the cabinet  20  up and down. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the lifting columns  50 , 51  include an anti-collision feature. With the anti-collision feature, if an object is encountered that provides resistance before the lifting column  50 , 51  retracts to the resting position at which the cabinet  20  covers the frame guide  30  (and the bottom perimeter  26  reaches the surface of the workbench  45 ), this triggers the controller to cause the lifting columns  50 , 51  to raise the cabinet  20  to free the object and stop above it. This anti-collision feature is useful to avoid crushing items, such as a hand, tools or a computer  94  on the workbench  45 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4 ,  5  and  6   , in an embodiment of the invention, the cabinet has an undercabinet  60  since the floor  22  is raised rather than being flush with the bottom perimeter  26  of the cabinet  20 . In alternative embodiments the floor  22  may be flush with the bottom perimeter  26 . This undercabinet  60  allows items to remain on the workbench  45  that fit within the cavity of the undercabinet  60  when the top toolbox  10  is in resting position.  FIGS.  1 , 2 ,  5  and  6    show how the top  26  is on the supports  57  and top bar  59  which enables the cabinet  20  to be raised and lowered by the extension and retraction of the upper columns  51 . It will be understood that in an embodiment of the invention there is no top bar  59  but in the embodiment shown in the figures the top bar  59  adds stability.  FIG.  6    shows the outer back wall  31  of the cabinet  20  and the undercabinet  60 . 
     To support the lifting columns  50 , 51  there is a base  58 , and in this embodiment the base  58  runs along the inner perimeter of the entire frame guide  30  to add additional stability, but in an alternative embodiment the base  58  may only run along the frame guide sides  34 . The base  58  may have base holes  62  through which bolts  64  may be inserted to attach the top toolbox  10  to a toolbox  40  (with nuts, not shown, on the end of the bolts  64  within the toolbox  40 ) to prevent the top toolbox  10  from tipping off of the toolbox  40 . In an alternative embodiment the base  58  is positioned only under any lifting columns  50 , 51  and there may be enough length in the base  58  for base holes  62  adjacent and on either side of the lifting columns  50 , 51 . 
     The lifting columns  50 , 51  may be powered by an external power source, however in the embodiment shown in  FIGS.  1  and  4   , there is a column battery  56  to provide power for the lifting columns  50 , 51  to extend and retract. Having an internal battery means that the ability to raise and lower the cabinet  20  is not dependent on an external source of electricity, and thus the toolbox  40  can be moved to where it is needed, even if there is no external power source in that location. 
     In an embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG.  1   , the top toolbox has outer lights  70  turned on by a light switch  72  and powered by lights battery  74 . Again, the lights could be powered by an external electrical source, but having the lights battery  74  means that the ability to light up the surrounding area is not dependent on finding an external source of electricity. The outside lights  70  may be used to light the area around the top toolbox  10 . In a further embodiment, the top toolbox  10  may have inner cabinet lights  76  (see  FIG.  4   ) to light the inside of the cabinet  20  and/or undercabinet lights  78  to light the workbench  45 , which lights may be powered by the lights battery  74 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , in an embodiment of the invention there is a power outlet  80  for one or more plugs which may be powered by battery  56  or an external power source (not shown). The power outlet  80  may be used to provide charge for power tools, a computer  94  or cell phone charger etc. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the frame guide back wall  35  and frame guide sides  34  may be used to hang tools  90 . Tools may be hung with hooks or on a tool organizing and hanging system (not shown) which is either attached to any of the frame guide back wall  35  and frame guide sides  34 . Alternatively, any of the frame guide back wall  35  and frame guide sides  34  may themselves be a tool organizing and hanging system (not shown). While the cabinet  20  is in raised position, larger tools  92  may be hung and a computer  94  may be in open position on the workbench  45 . While the top toolbox  10  is in resting position, the size of tools left hanging will be limited by the clearance room between the inner back wall  25  and the frame guide back wall  35  and between the inner side walls  23  and frame guide sides  34 , respectively. While the top toolbox  10  is in closed position, the size of items left on the workbench  45  will be limited by the size of any undercabinet  60 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  1   , the doors  28  have locks  29 . To prevent activating the lights and adjust the cabinet position, a master switch for the column switch  55  and light switch  72  could be located within the locked cabinet  20  or the column switch  55  and light switch  72  could be positioned so that when the doors  28  are locked the column switch  55  and light switch  72  can not be accessed and used. It is understood that with different configurations of shelves, cupboards, doors and/or drawers in the cabinet  20 , the light switch  72  and column switch  55  may be moved so that they are not accessible when the cabinet is locked up. 
     The top toolbox  10  may be sized for any toolbox  40  for which it will used. There are various sizes of toolboxes  40  and the top toolbox  10  may correspond to the size of the toolbox  40  or may be smaller, however it is understood that the top toolbox  10  should rest securely on top of the toolbox  40 . 
     The frame guide  30  of the top toolbox  10  may additionally comprise a top toolbox workbench (not shown), for example, if a more durable or cut resistant workbench is desired this may be provided by the top toolbox  10 . In such an embodiment the top toolbox workbench (not shown) of the top toolbox  10  would rest on top of the workbench  45  of the toolbox  40 . Further in an embodiment of the present invention with a top toolbox workbench, the lifting columns  50 , 51  may be attached to and resting on the top toolbox workbench rather than on the base  58 , which would then no longer be necessary. 
     The top toolbox  10  may also be constructed without inner sides  23  or without an inner back  25  and in such a case any battery  56 ,  74  and controller  52  could be located on the floor  22  or inside the top  27  of the cabinet  20 . 
     While embodiments of the invention have been described in the detailed description, the scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.