Portable toolbox

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a portable toolbox.

2. Related Prior Art

In Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 258066, a portable toolbox includes a holder 1 and a cover 10 . The holder 1 includes a plurality of sockets 5 formed on upper end thereof and two hooks 3 formed on a lower end thereof. The sockets 5 receive bits 30 . The hooks 3 hold a spanner 40 . The holder 1 includes a balcony 4 formed on a front end thereof and a clip 2 formed on a rear end thereof. The balcony 4 supports the cover 10 when the cover 10 is in a retreated position relative to the holder 1 . The clip 2 is used for hanging the portable toolbox on a belt 50 worn on a user's waist. The holder 1 includes two sides formed thereon. Each of the sides includes a joint 6 formed thereon and a recess 7 defined therein. The cover 10 includes two lateral walls 12 and a cross wall 11 formed between the lateral walls 12 . Each of the lateral walls 12 includes an aperture 13 defined therein and a boss 15 formed thereon. Each of the joints 6 of the holder 1 is inserted into corresponding one of the apertures 13 of the cover 10 so that the cover 10 is pivotally connected with the holder 1 . The bosses 15 are put in the recesses 7 so that the cover 10 is kept in position relative to the holder 1 . The cross wall 11 abuts the bits 30 in order to avoid the bits 30 escaping from the holder 1 . The bits 30 are often dropped from the sockets 5 when a user stoops to take a bit 30 from the holder 1 while the cover 10 is opened. In addition, the spanner 40 is exposed outside of the holder 1 . However, the spanner 40 easily contacts an object and drops because there is no cover to protect it from falling off the holder 1 .

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,154, a box 1 is disclosed for receiving bits 27 and a corresponding chuck 14 or 39 of a screwdriver. The box 1 includes a bottom part 2 and a top part 3 . A wall 12 is formed in the bottom part 2 . The top part 3 is integrated with a shaft 11 installed on the bottom part 2 . A ledge 24 is integrated with the shaft 11 . The ledge 24 defines holes 25 each for receiving an end of a related bit 27 . The wall 12 ensures the ends of the bits 27 in the holes 25 via blocking the opposite ends of the bits 27 . However, taking the chuck 14 or 39 from the bottom part 2 may cause accidental falling of one or some of the bits 27 from the ledge 24 as they are all accessed to from a same side of the bottom part 2 .

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

According to the present invention, a portable toolbox includes a frame and a holder. The holder can hold a plurality of bits. The holder is put in the frame so that the holder can be pivoted between a retreated position and an extended position relative to the frame. In the retreated position, the bits are kept in the holder in cooperation with the frame. In the extended position, the bits and tool can be put onto and taken from the holder from two opposite sides of the frame.

The primary advantage of the portable toolbox is that the bits are kept in the holder by the frame when the holder is in the retreated position.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable toolbox according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explode view of the portable toolbox shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows a holder in an extended position relative to a frame.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the portable toolbox shown in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a top view of the portable toolbox shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows a plurality of bits held by means of the holder.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 , a portable toolbox according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The portable toolbox includes a frame 10 and a holder 20 .

The frame 10 includes two short members and two long members formed between the short members. The frame 10 includes a board 13 formed on an internal side next to one of the long members and a plurality of partitions 12 formed on the board 13 in order to define a plurality of rooms each for receiving a bit 90 . The board 13 includes a chamfered edge 31 .

A hole 18 is defined in the internal side of each short member of the frame 10 . A boss 14 is formed on the internal side of each short member of the frame 10 . A stop 16 is formed on the internal side of each short member of the frame 10 .

A hook 30 is connected with a loop 19 formed on an external side of one of the short members of the frame 10 for hanging the portable toolbox on a belt worn on a user's waist. The hook 30 is elastic.

In the internal side of each long member of the frame 10 is defined a recess 15 for receiving a head of a spanner 91 . On an internal side of each long member of the frame 10 are formed two non-slip sections 17 in order to facilitate the holding of the frame 10 .

The holder 20 is pivotally put in the space 11 of the frame 10 . The holder 20 includes two joints 26 inserted in the holes 18 of the frame 10 so that the holder 20 is pivotally connected with the frame 10 . The holder 20 can be pivoted to about 90 degrees relative to the frame 10 .

The holder 20 includes a base 25 formed thereon. The base 25 includes a tapered edge 29 formed thereon for matching the chamfered edge 31 of the board 13 of the frame 10 so that the holder 20 is kept in a retreated position relative to the frame 10 . The base 25 includes two protrusions 33 formed thereon each for contact with the board 13 of the frame 10 so that the holder 20 is kept in the retreated position relative to the frame 10 . The base 25 of the holder 20 abuts the bosses 14 of the frame 10 so that the holder 20 is kept in the retreated position relative to the frame 10 .

The holder 20 includes an end plate 35 formed thereon for abutment against one of the stops 16 of the frame 10 so that the holder 20 is kept in the retreated position relative to the frame 10 . The holder 20 includes three clips 27 formed thereon for pinching a spanner 91 in order to avoid the spanner 91 escaping from the holder 20 .

The holder 20 includes a plurality of sockets 21 formed thereon each for receiving corresponding one of the bits 90 . Each of the sockets 21 includes a detent 23 formed on an internal (see FIG. 4 ) for abutment against one of the bits 90 in order to avoid the bit 90 escaping from the socket 21 when the user stoops. A gap 24 exists between any adjacent sockets 21 in order to allow the deformation of the sockets 21 , thus improving the flexibility of the sockets 21 .

The holder 20 includes a mark plate 28 formed thereon. The mark plate 28 can be printed or written by characters or a pattern.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the holder 20 is in an extended position relative to the frame 10 .

Referring to FIG. 5 , the holder 20 is in the retreated position relative to the frame 10 .

Referring to FIG. 6 , bits 90 are put in the sockets 21 .

The present invention has been described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variation from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.