Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a work box and, more particularly, to a work box carrying power tools mountable onto a work table.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Various types of work boxes or tool boxes exist in the art. These various boxes have varying features and appear to be satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, several of these work boxes or tool boxes do not lend themselves to ready attachment with a work table. Thus, it is desirable to have a work box which is readily attachable and supported by a work table.  
         [0003]     The present invention provides the art with a work box which is readily attachable to a work table. The work box is supported and mounted on the table support so that, when the table is collapsed, the box remains on the table support. Thus, the box may be wheeled with the table from one position to another. The invention provides a box which includes a base having an interruption forming a gap which is received onto a support on the work table. The box is secured to the work table support to enable the box to be coupled with the table during movement.  
         [0004]     In a first aspect of the invention, a work box comprises a base with at least one extending sidewall. This sidewall encloses a tool retaining area. An interruption is formed in the base. The interruption defines a gap on the exterior of the base to receive a support to mount the base and work box on the support. The work box may include a strap to further secure the box to the support. The interruption divides the tool retaining space. A power outlet is coupled on the exterior surface of the wall. Ordinarily, a top covers the at least one wall. Preferably, the box has an overall rectangular configuration.  
         [0005]     According to a second aspect of the invention, a work box in combination with a work table comprises a work table with a table positionable above the ground in a horizontal position. The support assembly is coupled with the table to support the table above the ground. Also, a horizontal support member is positioned at a desired distance above the ground. A work box has a base with at least one extending sidewall enclosing a tool retaining area. An interruption is formed in the base. The interruption defines a gap which is positioned about the horizontal support to mount the base and in turn the work box on the horizontal support. The horizontal support is positioned by a pair of vertical supports. The work table support assembly is collapsible and includes wheels to move the table from one position to another. The work box remains on the work table support assembly in the collapsed position. A strap on the work box passes around the vertical supports to secure the work box onto the support assembly. The base interruption divides the tool retaining space into two areas, one on one side of the horizontal support and one on the other. A power outlet is positioned on the exterior surface of the wall of the work box. The work box preferably has a rectangular shape with a cover covering the wall.  
         [0006]     From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a work box, in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is side plan view of the work box of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the work box coupled with a work table.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view of  FIG. 3 , along line  4 - 4  thereof.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the work box with the work table in a collapsed position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     Turning to  FIG. 1 , a work box is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral  10 . The work box has an overall rectangular configuration and includes a top  12 , walls  14 - 20 , and base  22 .  
         [0015]     The top  12  is usually made from cloth material and may include a foam inner layer. The top cover  12  is attached at the back wall  18 . A zipper  24  is positioned on walls  14 ,  16  and  20  to secure the top cover  12  to the walls  14 ,  16  and  20 . The top cover  12  has a first rectangular portion  26  continuous with a diverging portion having curved sides  28  which is continuous with a second rectangular portion  30 . The top cover follows the contour periphery of the walls  14 ,  16  and  20 .  
         [0016]     The sidewalls  16  and  20  are substantially identical to one another. The sidewalls  16  and  20  include a first  32  and second  34  rectangular portion separated by a gap  36 . A connecting portion  40  connects the first  32  and second  34  wall portions with one another.  
         [0017]     The front wall  14  is substantially rectangular and is continuous with the first portions  32  of the sidewalls  16  and  20 . The front wall  14  includes an electrical plug-in strip  50 . The plug-in strip  50  enables power tools to be plugged directly into the strip and to be utilized at the work site. A cord (not shown) is connected with the power strip to enable electricity to be brought to the work box.  
         [0018]     The base  22  includes two rectangular portions  52  and  54  divided by an interruption portion  56 . The two rectangular portions  52  and  54  include feet  58  and  60  which enable the work box to be positioned onto the ground or the like. The interruption portion  56  includes two angled walls  62  and  64  which converge at their apex  66 . Thus, the interrupt portion  56  defines the gap  36  which, when viewed from side plan, has an overall inverted U shape. The apex  66  has a desired width as seen in  FIG. 2  to enable the work box to rest on a support as defined herein.  
         [0019]     A strap  70  having two ends  72  and  74  extends from the angled wall  62 . The straps  72  and  74  include a buckle  76  which enable the strap portions  72  and  74  to be positioned around a support to secure the work box onto a work support as shown and described herein.  
         [0020]     Turning to  FIGS. 3-7 , a better understanding of the work box with a work table will be described.  
         [0021]     The work table  100  includes a table portion  102  and a support  104 . The work table  100  is generally like those sold under the Workmate® trademark by Black &amp; Decker Inc.  
         [0022]     The table  102  is generally positioned at a desired distance along a horizontal plane above the ground by the support  104 . The table  102  may include two pieces which may be connected by a vise-like device.  
         [0023]     The support  104  includes legs  106  and  108  as well as a U-shaped base  110 . The U-shaped base  110  includes wheels  112 , as well as feet  114 . The wheels  112  enable transport of the table as illustrated in  FIG. 7  when the table is collapsed. The feet  114  steady the work table when it is in a use position. The table includes a horizontal support  120  which is connected to the legs  106 ,  108  by vertical supports  122  and  124 . The vertical supports are secured to the legs  106  and  108 , respectively.  
         [0024]     The work box  10  is positioned onto the work table  100  so that the U-shaped gap  36  passes over the horizontal support  120 . The apex  66  of the angled walls  62  and  64  rest on the horizontal support  120 , as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The strap portions  72  and  74  are wrapped around the vertical supports  122  and  124  to further secure the work box  10  onto the work table  100  ( FIG. 5 ). The buckle mechanism  76  is secured together and, the straps  72  and  74  may be tightened to remove the slack.  
         [0025]     Once the work box  10  is secured onto the work table  100 , the work box  10  is maintained on the horizontal support  120  in an extended or use position as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . Also, the work box  10  remains on the work table  100  when the work table  100  is in a collapsed position as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Thus, the work box  10  is maintained on the work table  100  while it is moved from work area to work area, via the wheels  112 .  
         [0026]     While the above detailed descriptions provides a discussion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it can be understood that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and alteration without deviating from the scope of the attached claims.

Technology Category: 7