Abstract:
An elongated tool transport box comprised of two halves hingeably secured along a common edge, one half serving as a lid and the other half serving as the storage compartment for a plurality of power tools and accessories, there being positioned at one end thereof a handle and at the opposing end thereof, a pair of rotatable wheels for ease of transport. The compartmentalized section being adjustable to accommodate a variety of power tools of different shapes and sizes, and there further being an exterior securing means which allows the entire tool transport box to be secured to an immovable object.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Serial No. 60/466,182, filed Apr. 29, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to tool boxes, and in particularly, to a tool transport box having wheels mounted thereon which can accommodate a variety of different tools and in particular power tools used by a tradesman or homeowner, which allows them to transport multiple power tools to a work site in one trip.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    There are many types of tool boxes available to tradesman, craftsman, plumbers, and home owners, in which to store, organize and transport tools. Of these, one of the simplest would be the mechanics tool box used by most home owners to hold a variety of wrenches, pliers, screw drivers, fasteners, sockets and the like. This hand held tool box can be retrieved from its storage location and transported to the desired work place. A professional mechanics tool box serves the same purpose, although it would be multi-drawered to accommodate a greater variety of tools and would be mounted on a series of castors so that it could be moved about the garage or other facility wherein which vehicles were being repaired.  
           [0006]    However, there has been a need for a tool box having mobility which could simultaneously transport, store and maintain segregation of a variety of power tools. As an example, a tradesman such as a carpenter or framer working on new construction, such as a home, may require at various times during the work day, a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, a variety of power sanders, as well as a variety of hand tools. Similarly, a plumber may require a propane torch, a variety of hand tools and a variety of plumber specific tools for a particular job.  
           [0007]    Anyone who has observed these types of tradesman as they travel from their vehicle into the new construction or repair site will have observed that it requires several trips in order to transport the necessary power tools to the site. Still further, these tradesmen are oftentimes required to leave the site temporarily or leave the premises for a lunch hour, and need to secure their tools in that there may be a variety of unrelated tradesmen working on the site.  
           [0008]    Applicant&#39;s tool transport box provides a sturdy, lockable container which can be segmented to accommodate a variety of different power tools and accessories and which allows the tradesmen to pull the tool box with a handle while the opposing end is being supported on two wheels. In this relationship the tool box and the associated tools therewith can be locked in a secured fashion within the craftsman&#39;s vehicle, removed from the vehicle, wheeled onto the site and opened to allow access to the various power tools. When the tradesman must stop for a break, such as lunch, the tools can be returned to the tool box, the tool box itself can be locked and the tool box is affixed with an external bicycle like lock or retractable cable lock which allows it to be affixed or secured to a beam, wall stud or the like within the construction place during the absence of the tradesman. Upon his return, he can unsecure the tool box, open it and resume work. At the conclusion of the day, all of the power tools are packed in their segregated compartments within the tool transport box, it is locked, and transported to the vehicle and taken home with the tradesman.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel tool transport box for tradesmen which allows an assortment of power tools and accessories to be stored and secured within the tool transport box for transport to and from the work site and further allows the tool transport box to be secured within the work site to prevent theft.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel tool transport box which decreases time and labor costs by allowing a tradesman to transport all of the necessary power tools that he may require for a job to the site in one trip.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    An elongated tool transport box comprised of two halves hingeably secured along a common edge, one half serving as a lid and the other half serving as the storage compartment for a plurality of power tools and accessories, there being positioned at one end thereof a handle and at the opposing end thereof, a pair of rotatable wheels for ease of transport. The compartmentalized section being adjustable to accommodate a variety of power tools of different shapes and sizes, and there further being an exterior securing means which allows the entire tool transport box to be secured to an immovable object. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of the tool transport box of the present invention in an upright, open orientation;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the tool transport box of the present invention in an open, upright orientation;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective partially exploded view of the tool transport box of the present invention; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the tool transport box in a secured orientation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of the tool transport box of the present invention in an open, upright orientation, FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the tool transport box of the present invention in an open, upright orientation, and FIG. 3 is a perspective partially exploded view of the tool transport box of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a rear view of the tool transport box in a secured orientation.  
         [0018]    The tool box  10  is defined by a housing member  12  formed by two complimentary shell members, a lower shell member  14  and an upper shell member  16 , the lower shell member  14  and upper shell member  16  each having a base wall  18  and  20 , two end walls  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  respectively, and two longitudinal side walls  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  respectively. The upper shell member  16  and the lower shell member  14  define cavities  38  and  40  and when the upper shell member  16  and the lower shell member  14  are secured to define an enclosed storage cavity. Preferably, lower shell member  14  and upper shell member  16  are hinged  42  along common side walls  32  and  34 . The opposing common side wall  30  and  36  has secured thereto a plurality of hingeable engaging clamps  44  cooperable with the hinged side wall to secure the upper shell member  16  and the lower shell member  14  of the housing member  12  in a closed position. At least one of the hingeable clamps  44  has a key lock. Housing  12  comprised of lower shell member  14  and upper shell member  16  would preferably be fabricated from high impact polymer such as ABS or the like. In order to strengthen the tool transport box and provide increased structure integrity, lower shell member  14  and upper shell member  16  would be formed such that base walls  18  and  20  would have a corrugated or washboard-like surface. (See FIG. 2) Further, the outer surface of base wall  30  of lower shell member  14  would have integrally formed thereon a plurality of longitudinal skid plates  31  to further increase the life of the tool transport box.  
         [0019]    Formed on end wall  22  of the lower shell member  14  is a handle means  46  positioned proximate to the joinder seam formed when upper shell member  16  and lower shell member  14  are in a secure position. Positioned proximate the opposing end wall  24  and proximate the joinder intersection of the lower shell member  14 , base wall  18 , and side walls  32  and  34  are a pair of spaced apart wheels  48 , the diameter of which is such that they extend beyond the plane of the lower shell member  14  and base wall  18 . In this configuration, when the housing member  12  is closed and secure, the user can grip the handle means  46  and lift that end of the housing member  12  off of the ground such that housing member  12  can be wheeled from location to location via the pair of spaced apart wheels  48  at the opposing end of the housing member. This allows housing member  12  to be oriented in a vertical position if so desired, or a horizontal position on the floor. It also allows the user to traverse stairs with housing member  12  and to easily position housing member  12  in the bed of a vehicle. Additional handles could also be provided. A handle could be located on end wall  24  of lower shell member  14  and a handle  47  would be located on side wall  30  of lower shell member  14 .  
         [0020]    Several embodiments of the housing member  12  are proposed. A first embodiment would define a single cavity when upper shell member  16  and lower shell member  14  were in the open position. This would permit the user to store power tools within the lower shell member  14  cavity  40  before closure in any configuration so desired. In a second embodiment of the housing member  12 , there would be multiple preformed cavities defined within the lower shell member, by a plurality of fixed divider walls  50 . See FIG. 1. This embodiment could be utilized when a tool manufacturer custom designed the housing member  12  to the tool manufacturer&#39;s specific tools. In many instances, a power tool will come within its own hardened plastic case so as to include the power tool and accessories thereto. In this second embodiment, the tool manufacturer may design the preformed cavities to accept specific cases enclosing their particular power tool.  
         [0021]    In the third and preferred embodiment, the housing member  12  would be formed with lower shell member  14  having a single cavity  40 , but include multiple adjustable dividers  52  securable within the cavity  40  to allow the user to custom design the arrangement of cavities within lower shell member  14  for the tools specific to that individual user. Dividers  52  would be selectively engaged in slots  54  formed on the inner surface of base wall  18  of lower shell member  14 . Slots  54  would be parallellely disposed between side walls  30  and  32 . Provision within lower shell member  14  would also allow for a divider  53  perpendicularly disposed to a divider  52  for accommodation of smaller tool or a parts box or to further subdivide the compartment.  
         [0022]    As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cavities formed in upper shell member  16  and lower shell member  14  allow for the positioning of tools in the lower shell member  14  which may extend above the periphery of the cavity of the lower shell member. However, the cavity defined in the upper shell member  16  allows for the upper shell member to close over these tools in order to secure the housing  12  in a closed configuration. Upper shell member  16  may also be fitted with a plurality of adjustable straps  56  with hook and loop fasteners to secure longer tools such as levels.  
         [0023]    Housing member  12  would also include a securing means  60  to secure the housing member when in a closed and locked position, to an immovable object so as to prevent theft. This securing means  60  might be engaged when the housing member  12  was positioned in the bed of a pick up truck for transportation or alternatively the need might arise when at the work site when the user must leave the immediate work site for some reason. The housing member  12  would have formed therein a retractable security cord  62 , preferably constructed of steel cable, which would allow the user to wrap the security cord  62  around an immovable object, such as a wall stud  64  or plumbing pipe, and secure the cord. Thus with the upper shell member  16  and the lower shell member  14  of the housing member  12  secured in a closed and locked position, the entire housing member  12  can then be secured to an immovable object to prevent its theft or relocation.  
         [0024]    In the embodiments of the tool transport box as disclosed herein, the user can transport a variety of power tools, hand tools, equipment and the like to a job site in one trip. In that embodiment wherein the lower shell member  14  is provided with a plurality of fixed divider walls  50 , the divider walls would be formed in the molding process and be secured to the base and side walls of the lower shell member  14 . The divider walls  50  would serve to define the compartments within lower shell  14  and also to support the power tools to a certain extent when the housing member  12  was in a vertical orientation.  
         [0025]    In the preferred embodiment wherein the dividers are not fixed, but adjustable dividers  52 , the dividers snap fit within the lower shell member. These dividers  52  serve to define the compartmentalized areas within lower shell member  14  and cooperate with the power tools and hand tools and other parts and equipment stored therein to maintain the equipment in its desired location when either in a horizontal, angular, or vertical orientation.  
         [0026]    While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.