TW202411029A - Hard-core container with fabric pouches and toolbox - Google Patents

Abstract

A toolbox is disclosed including a rigid hard body having side walls and a bottom floor defining an internal cavity, one or more soft panels permanently coupled with at least one of the side walls and a handle coupled with the hard body.

Description

Hard core container with fabric bag

The present application generally relates to a container. More specifically, the present application relates to a rigid core container having a fabric bag.

Although the present disclosure is described with reference to several illustrative embodiments and exemplary devices described herein, it should be clear that the present disclosure should not be limited to these embodiments. Therefore, the description of the embodiments provided herein is illustrative of the present disclosure and should not limit the scope of the present disclosure as claimed. In addition, although the following description refers to a specific configuration of a container, such as a tool box, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be applied to other types of container configurations, such as a small cabinet.

Briefly described, a system and method are disclosed that include a tool box for storing items such as tools and equipment. The container or tool box can have a hard polymer body or other hard and rigid material such as aluminum, magnesium, steel, laminate and the like, making the container lightweight and waterproof. The container can also have a fabric bag connected thereto for storing additional items and a closable top for protecting the stored items.

In various embodiments, the container may include a rigid body having a plurality of side walls and a bottom panel, the side walls and the bottom panel defining an internal cavity. A flexible panel or panels may be connected to at least one of the side walls. A handle may also be connected to the rigid body.

In various embodiments, the container may also include a closable top connected to the rigid body. The closable top includes a closure to protect the contents in the interior cavity of the rigid body.

Building contractors, construction workers, carpet installers, DIY people, transport operations and warehouses often use tools and containers, tool storage boxes and tool bags to store their tools. Most tool storage boxes are bulky and difficult to carry because of their weight. Some tool storage boxes are made entirely of metal and will rust if exposed to moisture. Most tool bags will tear and are difficult to clean.

Therefore, there is a need for a container that is lightweight, waterproof, easy to clean, and flexible to better protect the user's tools and/or equipment.

Fig. 1 shows an example exploded view of a tool box according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the container 100 includes a hard bottom body or base 101, one or more soft bags or panels 102, 103 and 104, a closable top 106, a handle 107, wheels 108, a clip 109 and a clamp 110.

In various embodiments, the rigid body 101 is a rigid container that can maintain its shape relatively intact under the force of its own weight and the weight of its contents. In a rigid body, any deformation caused by weight, such as bent side walls, disappears when these forces are removed and the container returns to its original shape. Includes side walls extending from a bottom floor. The side walls and the bottom floor define an internal cavity that is used to store items, such as tools and/or equipment. The rigid body 101 can be formed using a plastic injection molding process. Specifically, a molten polymer material is pushed into a mold to form the rigid body 101 shown in Figure 1. In other embodiments, different materials can be used to form a rigid body for a container or tool box, such as aluminum, magnesium, steel, laminated plates and similar materials. In various embodiments, the container 100 is made of a waterproof material, such as a plastic sheet or a metal sheet, which is impermeable to water. This facilitates easy cleaning with water (e.g., by hose down after work), and also allows the container 100, such as a tool box, to be placed in a puddle or humid environment without the contents of the container 100 getting wet.

In various embodiments, the flexible one or more panels (or pockets) 102, 103 and/or 104 may be permanently and non-removably attached to the side walls of the rigid body 101, or may be removably connected to the side walls of the rigid body 101. The flexible panels 102, 103, 104 may be formed of fabric and provide one or more pockets for storing items such as hand tools, power tools and/or other equipment, such as flashlights and stud finders. In other embodiments, the flexible panels 102-104 may be made of other soft materials, such as soft plastics, mesh materials, leather or other suitable materials. One or more soft pockets or panels may be externally connected to the walls of the rigid body 101. The flexible panel or panels may also be attached within the interior cavity defined by the walls of the rigid body 101. The flexible panels may be fixedly sewn to the walls of the rigid body 101 using thread. The flexible panels may also be non-removably riveted to the rigid body 101 using rivets 105. In other embodiments, the flexible panels or bags may be removably attached (e.g., detachable by a user) to the rigid body 101, or directly or indirectly connected to the rigid body 101. For example, the flexible panels may be attached to the interior (inside the container 100) or exterior (outside the container 100) of the rigid body by means of locking clips, screws or bolts, hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro®), etc. that may be attached to the rigid body. In various embodiments, the flexible panels 102-104 can be connected to the top edge of the side walls of the rigid body 101. The flexible panels can also be attached at the top or other points, such as the middle of the wall of the rigid body 101. In some embodiments, the inner and outer panels can be separate and independent, while in other embodiments, the inner and outer flexible panels can be integrated into a single component and span one or more side walls of the rigid body 101.

In various embodiments, the closable top 106 can be permanently or removably connected to the top edge of the side wall of the rigid body 101. The closable top 106 is formed of fabric and provides a closure to protect items in the interior cavity of the rigid body 101. The closure can be, for example, a zipper, Velcro®, button, snap, eyelet, screw and/or hook. The closable top 106 can be sewn to the rigid body 101 using thread. The closable top 106 can also be riveted to the rigid body 101 using rivets 105. The closeable top 106 may include one or more handles for shipping the container 100. In various embodiments, the closeable top 106 is connected along the entire top perimeter of the rigid body 101. As described above, in some embodiments, the closeable top 106 may be permanently and non-removably attached to the rigid rigid body 101, while in other embodiments, the closeable top 106 may be removably attached to the rigid body 101 via various techniques, such as zippers, Velcro®, snaps, spring hooks, or other similar techniques that may be used to attach the closeable top to the rigid edge of the rigid body 101.

In various embodiments, the handle 107 is connected to one of the walls of the rigid body 101. The handle 107 can be folded to facilitate evaporation and/or storage of the container 100. The handle 107 can be externally connected to one of the walls of the rigid body 101. The handle 107 can be formed of a rigid material. The rigid material can be a polymer and/or a metal.

In various embodiments, wheels 108 are connected to the rigid body 101. A handle 107 can be connected to the exterior of the rigid body 101 to easily transport the container 100. The wheels 108 can be formed of a rigid material. The rigid material can be a polymer and/or a metal.

In various embodiments, the clip 109 is connected to one of the side walls of the rigid body 101. The clip 109 can be formed of a rigid material and provides a way to hang items, such as tools and/or equipment. The rigid material can be a polymer and/or a metal. The clip 109 can be externally connected to one of the walls of the rigid body 101. The clip 109 can be riveted to the rigid body 101 using rivets 105.

In various embodiments, a clip 110 is connected to the clip bar 109. The clip 110 can slide along the clip bar 109. The clip 110 provides a way to hang items, such as tools and/or equipment.

Fig. 2 shows another example tool box according to some embodiments disclosed at present.In various embodiments, container 200 can be a tool box, and comprises hard body 201, soft one or more panels 202,203,204 and handle 206.

In various embodiments, the rigid body 201 includes side walls extending from a bottom floor. The side walls and the bottom floor define an internal cavity for storing items, such as tools and/or equipment. The rigid body 201 can be formed using a plastic injection molding process. Specifically, a molten polymer material is pressed into a mold to form the rigid body 201 shown in FIG. 2 .

In various embodiments, one or more flexible panels (or pockets) 202, 203, and/or 204 are connected to the side walls of the rigid body 201. The flexible panels are formed of fabric and provide one or more pockets for storing items, such as tools and/or equipment. The flexible one or more panels can be permanently and non-removably connected to the walls of the rigid body 201 externally. In some embodiments, the flexible panels 202-204 can be separated by the user, for example, using screws, hooks, locking clamp mechanisms, Velcro attachments, etc. The flexible one or more panels can also be connected within an internal cavity defined by the walls of the rigid body 201. The flexible panels can be sewn to the rigid body 201 using thread. The flexible panels may also be riveted to the rigid body 201 using rivets 205. In various embodiments, the flexible panels are connected to the top edge of the side walls of the rigid body 201. The flexible panels 202-204 may also be attached at the top or any other point along the wall of the rigid body 201, such as the middle. In some embodiments, the inner and outer panels may be separate and independent, while in other embodiments, the inner and outer flexible panels may be integrated into a single component and span one or more side walls of the rigid body 201.

In various embodiments, the handle 206 is connected to two opposing side walls of the rigid body 201. The handle 206 can be riveted to the rigid body 201 using rivets 205. The handle 206 can be formed of a rigid material. The rigid material can be a polymer and/or a metal. In some embodiments, the handle 206 is fixedly attached to the rigid body 201 so that it does not pivot and remains in the same position on the rigid body 201, as shown in Figure 2. In other embodiments, the handle 206 can be pivotally connected to the rigid body 201 so that it can pivot around its attachment point to the rigid body 201 to be removed and allow easier access to the interior cavity of the tool box or container 200.

In various embodiments, a clip (not shown in FIG. 2 ), similar to the clip 109 of FIG. 1 , can be connected to the rigid body 201. As described above, a clip 110 can be attached to the clip for hanging various tools and implements on the tool box 201.

It should be understood that unless expressly stated or specified, the steps described in the processes are not sequential and need not be performed or occur in the order described or depicted. For example, step A in a process described before step B in the same process may actually be performed after step B. In other words, a set of steps in a process to achieve an end result may occur in any order unless otherwise stated.

The claimed invention may be modified in light of the above detailed description. Although the above description details specific embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode, no matter how detailed the above text shows, the claimed invention may be implemented in many ways. The details of the system may vary considerably in implementation details and still be covered by the claimed invention disclosed herein.

The use of a particular term when describing a particular feature or aspect of the present disclosure should not be considered to imply a redefinition of the term herein to limit the term to any particular feature, characteristic, or aspect of the present disclosure to which the term relates. In general, the words used in the following claim items should not be construed to limit the claimed invention to the particular embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above detailed description section expressly defines such words. Accordingly, the actual scope of the claimed invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent implementations or embodiments of the claimed invention.

Those skilled in the art will understand that, in general, the words used herein, particularly in the additional claims (e.g., the body of the additional claims), are generally intended to be "open" words (e.g., the words "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the words "having" should be interpreted as "at least," the words "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," etc.). Those skilled in the art will further understand that if a specific number of introduced claim statements is intended, such intent will be expressly stated in the claim, and in the absence of such a statement, no such intent exists. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following additional claims may contain the use of introductory phrases such as "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim statements. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed as implying that any particular claim containing such introduced claim statements is limited to inventions containing only one such statement by the indefinite article "a" or "an" introducing such claim statements, even if the same claim includes an introductory phrase such as "one or more" or "at least one" and an indefinite article such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be construed to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same applies to the use of definite articles used to introduce claim statements. In addition, even if a specific number of claim statements is explicitly stated, one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains will recognize that such a statement typically should be interpreted as meaning at least the number of statements (e.g., a simple statement "two statements," without other qualifiers, typically means there are at least two statements, or two or more statements). In addition, where a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, generally speaking, such construction is intended to allow a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs to understand the convention (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" will include but is not limited to a system with only A, a system with only B, a system with only C, a system with A and B together, a system with A and C together, a system with B and C together, and/or a system with A, B, and C together, etc.). Where a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, generally, such construction is intended to allow one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains to understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include, but not be limited to, a system having only A, a system having only B, a system having only C, a system having A and B together, a system having A and C together, a system having B and C together, and/or a system having A, B, and C together, etc.). One of ordinary skill in the art would further understand that almost any exclusive word and/or phrase that indicates two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibility of including one, either, or both of the terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A," "B," or "A and B." It is further understood that any phrase in the form of "A/B" will mean any of "A," "B," "A or B," or "A and B." This construction includes the phrase "and/or" itself.

The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the claimed invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, the invention resides in the following additional claims. It is further understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation, to cover all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

100: container 101: body 102: panel 103: panel 104: panel 105: rivet 106: closable top 107: handle 108: wheel 109: clip 110: clip 200: container 201: body 202: panel 203: panel 204: panel 205: rivet 206: handle

When considered in conjunction with the following description, the drawings are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter for which protection is sought. FIG. 1 illustrates an example exploded view of a toolbox according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and FIG. 2 illustrates another example toolbox according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

without

100:Container

101:Entity

102: Panels

103: Panels

104: Panel

105: Rivets

106: Closable top

107:Handle

108:Wheels

109: Clip

110: Clamp

Claims (20)

A container comprises: a rigid body having a plurality of side walls and a bottom plate, wherein the side walls and the bottom plate define an internal cavity; one or more flexible panels connected to at least one of the side walls; and a handle connected to the rigid body. A container as described in claim 1, wherein the rigid body is formed using a plastic injection molding process. A container as described in claim 1, wherein the flexible one or more panels are riveted to the rigid body. A container as described in claim 1, wherein the flexible one or more panels are sewn to the rigid body. The container as described in claim 1 further includes a closable top connected to the rigid body, and the closable top includes a sealing member for protecting the items in the internal cavity of the rigid body. A container as described in claim 5, wherein the closable top is riveted to the rigid and hard body. A container as described in claim 5, wherein the closable top is sewn to the rigid body. A container as described in claim 5, wherein the handle is foldable. The container as described in claim 8 further comprises a plurality of wheels connected to the rigid body. The container as described in claim 5 further includes a clip connected to the rigid body. A container as described in claim 10, wherein the clip is irremovably riveted to the rigid body. The container as described in claim 11 further includes a clamp connected to the clip. A tool box comprises a rigid body having a plurality of side walls and a bottom plate, wherein the side walls and the bottom plate define an internal cavity; one or more flexible bags connected to at least one of the side walls inside or outside the rigid side walls; and a handle connected to the rigid body. In the toolbox as described in claim 13, the rigid body is made of one of injection molded plastic and metal. A toolbox as described in claim 13, wherein the soft one or more panels are made of fabric, soft plastic or leather. A toolbox as described in claim 13, wherein the flexible one or more panels are connected to the rigid body using rivets. A toolbox as described in claim 1, wherein the flexible one or more panels are connected to the rigid main body using stitches. The tool box as described in claim 13 further includes a clip that is permanently attached to the tool box. A tool box as described in claim 18, wherein the clip can be used with a clamp to hang tools. A toolbox as described in claim 18, wherein the handle is pivotally attached to the rigid body.

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