Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a carrying case and, more particularly, to a carrying case which includes storing facilities, as well as a tool viewing area. 
     Many power tools include carrying cases to protect the tools while the tools are not in use. The carrying cases vary from manufacture to manufacture but generally include a top and a bottom which are pivoted together to enable opening of the container to remove the tool. These containers are satisfactory for protecting the tool when the tool is moved from one place to another. Also, these containers generally require the container, when it is in its open position, to be such that, the top and bottoms rest against a horizontal surface. Thus, the carrying case in the open position does not provide additional functions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides the art with a power tool carrying case which, while providing storage of the power tool, provides additional storage areas in the carrying case. The present invention provides an area which enables visual inspection of the tool in the case. Also, the present invention enables the container to be mounted vertically while maintaining the tool in the container as well as enabling access to the storage compartments when the container is in an open condition. 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a tool storage container comprises a base member with a tool receiving member in the base. A cover is pivotally coupled with the base. An opening is in the cover. The opening ordinarily has a shape corresponding to a tool which is positioned in the base. However, the opening may have any desired shape which enables viewing of the tool. The opening only enables viewing of the tools within the container when the container is in a closed position. The base includes a mechanism to enable it to be mounted to a vertical surface. Accordingly, the cover is pivotal with respect to the base while it is mounted on the vertical surface. The base includes fingers which maintain the tool in the tool receiving member. The opening may include a transparent window covering to enable viewing of the tool. At least one storage area to store a battery or the like is present in the base. An additional finger is adjacent the storage area to maintain the item, such as a battery, in the storage area. The cover, includes at least one storage area. The storage area may include an additional cover pivotally coupled with the storage area. An additional storage device is pivotally mounted on the cover such that the storage device may be pivoted from a use to a non-use position. 
     According to a second embodiment of the invention, a power tool storage container comprises a base with the base including a tool receiving member. A cover is pivotally coupled with the base. A finger member is positioned adjacent to the tool receiving member. The finger member is movable between a first and second position. In one of the first or second positions, the finger maintains a tool in the tool receiving member. In the other position, the finger enables removal of the tool from the tool retaining member. The base also includes a battery storage area. A second finger member is adjacent the battery storage area to maintain a battery in the battery storage area. The base is adapted to be mounted on a vertical surface while the cover is pivotable with respect to the base while it is mounted. The cover includes a first storage area which may include a pivotal cover. Also, the cover may include a second storage member where the second storage member is pivotal from the use to a non-use position. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention, a tool storage container comprises a base with the base including a tool receiving member. A cover is pivotally coupled with the base. A storage area is on the cover. The storage area includes a pivotal cover movable between a covered and an uncovered position. The base includes a mechanism to mount the base to a vertical surface with the cover pivotal with respect to the base when it is mounted. A second storage member is coupled with the cover. The second storage member pivots with respect to the cover from a use to a non-use position. Also, the base includes fingers to maintain a tool in the tool receiving members. The fingers are pivotable to enable removal of the tool. The base includes a storage area to receive a battery or the like. A second finger is positioned adjacent to the storage area to retain the item within the area. 
     In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, a tool container comprises a base with the base including a tool receiving member. A cover is pivotally coupled with the base. A storage ledge is pivotal with the cover. The storage ledge pivots between a first position, where the ledge is substantially parallel to the cover, and to a second position, where the ledge is substantially perpendicular to the cover. The storage ledge includes members to retain tools on the ledge. The base includes a mechanism to mount the base on a vertical surface where the cover is pivotable with respect to the base while it is mounted. Fingers are mounted on the base to maintain the tool in the tool receiving member. The base includes a storage area with a finger adjacent the storage area. The cover includes an additional storage area. The additional storage area includes a pivotal cover. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base and cover of the storage container of FIG. 1 in an open condition. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view like FIG. 2, with the tool retained in the base. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section view of FIG. 3 along line  4 — 4  thereof. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Returning to the Figures, particularly FIG. 1, a power tool carrying case is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral  10 . The storage container  10  has a clamshell design with a base  12  and a cover  14 . A handle  16  is formed in both members. A hinge  18  couples the base  12  and cover  14  together. Latches  20  removably secure the cover  14  to the base  12 . The cover  14  includes an opening  22  which enables viewing of the power tool  24  positioned within the carrying case  10 . 
     The base  12  includes a wall  26  which is surrounded by an extending perimeter skirt  28 . Thus the base has an overall rectangular tray shape. Side wall  30  includes a hinge portion which is coupled to the hinge portion of the cover. Side wall  34  includes catches  36  which receive the latches from the cover to hold the two together. The wall  26  includes a tool receiving member  40 . A plurality of posts  42  define an outline of the tool. The posts  42  define boundary to prohibit the tool  24  from moving around in the base. A shelf  44  is provided at the bottom of the outline of the tool so that the battery coupled with the power tool rests against the shelf  44 . One of the posts includes a finger  46 . The finger  46  is movable so that the finger may be positioned on top of the power tool to maintain the power tool in the base  12  as seen in FIG.  3 . The base  12  includes a screw channel  48  which enable passage of fasteners through the base to secure the base  12  to a surface. Ordinarily, the surface would be a vertical surface. 
     The base  12  also includes a storage area  50 . The storage  50  may include a wall  52  to define an area to receive an item such as a battery  54 . Also, a finger  56  is positioned adjacent to the storage area  50 . The finger  56  is movably retained on the base so that the finger may be pivoted to enable removal of the item from the storage area  50 . The fingers  46  and  56  enable the carrying case to be positioned such that the wall  26  is perpendicular to a horizontal surface. Thus, the carrying case can stand up on the skirt  28  without the tool falling out of the base  12 . Likewise, when the case is mounted to a vertical surface, the fingers  46  and  56  maintain the power tool as well as the storage item in the base. Also, the wall  58  includes feet  60  and  62  which enable the storage case to rest on the feet  60  and  62 . Further, the feet  60  and  62  enable the storage case  10  to be positioned perpendicular to a horizontal surface. 
     The cover  14  is similar to the base  12 . The cover  14  includes a wall  70  as well as an extending perimeter wall  72 . The side  74  of the wall  72  includes a hinge portion  76  to couple with the hinge portion  32  of the base  12 . A pivot pin  78  is slid between the hinge members to couple the two together. Side portion  79  includes latches  20  which removably couple with catches  36  to retain the two halves together. Also, bottom wall  80  includes a pair of feet  82  and  84  which provide a surface to enable the cover to stand alone. The feet  82  and  84  oppose, in a closed condition, the feet  60  and  62  to enable the case to stand while in a closed position. 
     A first storage container  86  is formed with the cover  14 . The storage container  86  has an overall rectangular configuration with a pivoting cover  88 . The cover  88  includes a base wall  90  as well as a peripheral extending wall  92 . Thus, the cover forms a tray that may hold tools such as bits or the like within the storage area  86 . The cover  90  on its wall  92  includes a latch  94  to couple with a catch  96  on the cover  14  to maintain the cover in a closed position. 
     A second storage member  100  is pivotally coupled with the cover  14 . The storage area  100  is a pivotal ledge which pivots from a use to a non-use position to hold tools such as screwdrivers, pliers or the like. The ledge  102  includes a plurality of apertures  104  to receive tools. When the ledge  102  is in a use position, the ledge  102  is perpendicular to the wall  70  as seen in FIG.  3 . When the base and cover are closed, the ledge  102  is moved upward to a position where it is substantially parallel with the wall  70  so that the base and cover may be closed as seen in FIG.  2 . 
     The cover opening  22  may have any desired configuration to enable only viewing of the tool. The opening may have a geometric shape such as an oval, circle, square, polygonal or the like. However, the opening is sized so that the tool may not be removed from the opening when the case is in a closed position. Also, the opening  22  may be configured like the tool in the container  10 . Likewise, the opening is smaller than the tool so that the tool may not be removed through the opening when the container is in a closed position. 
     The opening  22  includes a transparent window or cover  110 . The transparent cover  110  has a contour  112  which receives the contour of the power tool  24 . Thus, the transparent cover  110  enables viewing of only the power tool retained within the storage container  10 . The contour can be of any design to match the tool within the container. The contour would be a mold of the outer surface of the tool so that it neatly fits around the tool as illustrated in FIG.  1 . In the embodiment shown, the cover  110  is that of a drill such that the cover includes a handle portion  120 , a base portion  122  and a motor portion  124 . These portions cover the drill so that it may be viewed from the outside of the carrying case. Also, the transparent cover could be a flat planar sheet. Here the cover would still have the desired configuration. Further, in the event the opening is geometric or the like as mentioned above, a flat planar transparent cover could be used to enclose the opening. The transparent cover could likewise have a contour or curvature that is not the same as the tool but provides an aesthetic appearance. 
     While the detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 7