Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/943,129, filed Jun. 11, 2007, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed generally to tool totes, and more particularly to tool totes configured to support tools. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Tool totes have been used to effectively store a tradesman&#39;s tools such that the tools are easily accessible. The tool totes have typically been rigid containers formed from resilient materials capable of enduring use in rugged conditions, such as at construction sites and at other locations as well. While rigid tool totes have effectively contained the tools, the rigid tool totes often present storage difficulties because the rigid tool totes are typically nonconforming. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a tool tote configured to be self supporting when in use and to be collapsible when stored. The tool tote may include a rigidity enhancement device pivotably attached to a tool tote body within the tool storage compartment and positioned in contact with a bottom wall and two end walls. The rigidity enhancement device may be positioned in contact with the bottom wall and the two end walls to provide enhanced rigidity to the tool tote to prevent walls of the tool tote from collapsing on themselves. The tool tote may be made smaller for storage by pivoting the rigidity enhancement device to be generally aligned with a side wall and collapsing the end walls such that the side walls are moved close together. 
     In one embodiment, the tool tote body may be formed from a bottom wall, two opposing side walls, and two opposing end walls that are generally orthogonal to the bottom wall and the side walls, which together form a main storage compartment. A rigid handle may extend from an upper portion of one end wall to an upper portion of the other opposing end wall. At least one pocket may extend from an outer surface of one of the two end walls and the two side walls, thereby adding additional storage capacity. In addition, at least one pocket may extend from an inner surface of one of the two end walls and the two side walls. A rigid support member may also be positioned inside of each of the side walls and positioned at an upper edge of the side walls. A rigid support member may also extend vertically between the first and second foldable section of each end wall for providing strength and stability to the end walls. 
     The tool tote may also include a rigidity enhancement device pivotably attached to the tool tote body and positioned in contact with the bottom wall and the two end walls. In particular, a side edge of the bottom wall portion of the rigidity enhancement device may be pivotably attached to the tool tote at the intersection of the bottom wall and a side wall within the main storage compartment. Each end wall of the rigidity enhancement device may be formed from first and second foldable sections that are positioned adjacent to each other and may include fold lines that extend generally vertically from a bottom edge to a top edge so that the end walls can fold to reduce a width of the tool tote body for storage. The rigidity enhancement device may include a bottom wall section separating two end wall sections. The rigidity enhancement device may also include a releasable connector on a bottom surface of the bottom wall section and on bottom surfaces of the two end wall sections. In one embodiment, the releasable connector may be a hook and loop connector system. The bottom section and side wall sections each include a stiffener to add additional stiffness to the tool tote. 
     An advantage of the tool tote is that the tool tote may be collapsible such that the internal, tool-containing compartment may be reduced in size for shipping to reduce costs and to reduce storage costs. 
     Another advantage of the tool tote is that the tool tote is formed from flexible fabric enabling the tool tote to be easily folded from an open, usable position to a folded, storable position. 
     These and other embodiments are disclosed below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the presently disclosed invention and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tool tote with a rigidity enhancement device in a folded, storage position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tool tote of  FIG. 1  with a rigidity enhancement device as the rigidity device is moved from a folded, storage position to a support position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tool tote of  FIG. 1  with a rigidity enhancement device in a support position. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the tool tote. 
         FIG. 5  is a left side view of the tool tote. 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view of the tool tote. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the tool tote. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the tool tote with a partial cut-away of the rigidity enhancement device. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the tool tote. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the tool tote in a collapsed position in which the rigidity enhancement device is in a storage position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-10 , this invention is directed to a tool tote  10  configured to be self supporting when in use and to be collapsible when stored. The tool tote  10  may include a rigidity enhancement device  12  pivotably attached to a tool tote body  14  and positioned in contact with a bottom wall  16  and two end walls  18 ,  20 . The rigidity enhancement device  12  may be positioned in contact with the bottom wall  16  and the two end walls  18 ,  20  to provide enhanced rigidity to the tool tote  10  to prevent walls of the tool tote  10  from collapsing on themselves. The tool tote  10  may be made smaller for storage by pivoting the rigidity enhancement device  12  to be generally aligned with a side wall  22 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . In such a portion, the end walls  18 ,  20  may be folded to reduce the size of the main storage compartment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tool tote  10  may be formed from a tool tote body  14  formed from a bottom wall  16 , two opposing side walls  22 ,  24 , and two opposing end walls  18 ,  20  that are generally orthogonal to the bottom wall  16  and the side walls  22 ,  24 . The components forming the tool tote  10  may be formed from fabric covered sheets of a support board, which may be, but is not limited to, a polyethylene (PE) board. The fabric may be a nylon fabric or other appropriate durable fabric configured to endure harsh environments. The rigidity enhancement device  12  may be pivotably attached to the tool tote body  14 . The rigidity enhancement device  12  may be pivotably attached at the intersection between one of the side walls  22 ,  24  and the bottom wall  16 . The rigidity enhancement device  12  may be moved between a position in contact with the bottom wall  16  and the two end walls  18 ,  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , and a stored position in which the rigidity enhancement device  12  enables the end walls  18 ,  20  to be collapsed, as shown in  FIG. 10 . The rigidity enhancement device  12  may include a bottom wall section  26  separating two end wall sections  28 ,  30 . The bottom wall section  26  may be sized to be slightly smaller than the bottom wall  16  of the tool tote body  14 . The bottom wall section  26  and the end wall sections  28 ,  30  may each have stiffeners  53 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , to increase the rigidity of the rigidity enhancement device  12 . In one embodiment, the bottom wall section  26  and the end wall sections  28 ,  30  may each be formed from a flexible fabric pocket containing a semi-rigid polyethylene (PE) board. 
     In another embodiment, the rigidity enhancement device  12  may include storage collapsible sections  32  between the bottom wall section  26  and each end wall section  28 ,  30 . The storage collapsible sections  32  may be about an inch in length and may extend the width of the bottom wall section  26 . The combined length of the bottom wall section  26  and a storage collapsible section  32  at each end may be approximately equal to a length of the bottom wall  16 . As such, the bottom wall section  26  and storage collapsible sections  32  may be positioned in contact with the bottom wall  16 , and to facilitate easy pivoting, the storage collapsible sections  32  may be pivoted upwardly, thereby enabling the bottom wall section  26  to be pivoted away from the bottom wall  16 . The end wall sections  28 ,  30  may be sized approximately equal to the size of the end walls  18 ,  20  of the tool tote body  14 , though slightly smaller to facilitate moving the end wall sections  28 ,  30  to a storage position. 
     In one embodiment, the rigidity enhancement device  12  may include a releasable connector  34  on a bottom surface  36  of the bottom wall section  26  and on bottom surfaces  36  of the two end wall sections  28 ,  30  for attaching the rigidity enhancement device  12  to the tool tote body  14 . The releasable connector  34  may be attached to a portion of the bottom wall section  26 , such as on the four corners of the bottom wall section. The releasable connector  34  may also be attached to upper regions  38  of the end wall sections  28 ,  30 . The releasable connector  34  may be a hook and loop connector system or other appropriate connector. 
     The end walls  18 ,  20  of the tool tote body  14  may include first and second foldable sections  40 ,  42  that are positioned adjacent to each other and include fold lines  44  extending generally vertically from a bottom edge  46  to a top edge  48  so that the end walls  18 ,  20  can fold to reduce a width of the tool tote body  14  for storage. The first and second foldable sections  40 ,  42  may be separated by a rigid support member  51  extending vertically between the first and second foldable section  40 ,  42  of each end wall  18 ,  20  and may be covered by fabric or other material. The first and second foldable sections  40 ,  42  of the end walls  18 ,  20  collapse to enable the side walls  22 ,  24  of the tool tote body  14  to be moved closer together to reduce the volume of the tool tote  10 , thereby enabling the tool tote  10  to be shipped and stored more efficiently. 
     The tool tote  10  may also include a handle  52  extending between the end walls  18 ,  20 . In at least one embodiment, the handle  52  may be formed from a rigid handle extending from an upper portion of one end wall  18  to an upper portion of the other opposing end wall  20 . The handle  52  may be formed from metal tubing or other appropriate material. The handle  52  may include a foam grip  62  or other appropriate grip. 
     The tool tote  10  may also include one or more pockets  54  extending from one or more of an outer surface  56  or an inner surface  58  of the two end walls  18 ,  20  and the two side walls  22 ,  24 . The pockets  54  may have any appropriate configuration. The size of the pockets  54  may vary based upon the size of the items desired to be placed inside the pockets  54 . 
     The tool tote  10  may also include a rigid support member  50  positioned inside of each of the side walls and positioned at an upper edge  64  of the side walls  22 ,  24 . The rigid support member  50  may be formed from any appropriate material capable of supporting the side walls  22 ,  24 . 
     During use, the rigidity enhancement device  12  may be moved from a storage position into contact with the bottom wall  16  and the end walls  18 ,  20 . The rigidity enhancement device  12  may be attached to the bottom wall  16  and the end walls  18 ,  20  with the releasable connectors  34 . The rigidity enhancement device  12  may provide support to prevent the side walls  22 ,  24  from collapsing onto each other. In particular, the rigidity enhancement device  12  may prevent the first and second foldable sections  40 ,  42  from folding along the fold lines  44 . In this condition, the tool tote  10  is capable of remaining open in a generally box like configuration with opening  66  facilitating access to the main storage compartment  68  to store items. 
     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.

Technology Category: 7