STACKABLE TOOLBOX ASSEMBLY

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a toolbox assembly, more particularly to a stackable toolbox assembly.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Typically, tools are kept indifferent tool cabinets according to type. Since the tool cabinets are bulky and heavy, the user selects the tools he/she needs from the tool cabinets and then brings the tools that he/she selected to his/her workplace. This causes inconvenience for the user, particularly when bringing a lot of tools or different types of tools.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a stackable toolbox assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

[0006] According to the present invention, a stackable toolbox assembly comprises a parent toolbox and a child toolbox. The parent toolbox includes a top surface formed with a plurality of positioning grooves and defined by a plurality of regions. The child toolbox includes a bottom surface, which has an area identical to that one of the regions of the top surface of the parent toolbox, and a plurality of feet, each of which protrudes from the bottom surface of the child toolbox. When the child toolbox is disposed on the parent toolbox, each of the feet of the child toolbox extends into a corresponding one of the positioning grooves in the top surface of the parent toolbox, thereby interconnecting the parent and child toolboxes.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of a stackable toolbox assembly according to this invention is shown to include a parent toolbox 10, and first, second, and third child toolboxes 20, 30, 40.

[0021] Each of the parent toolbox 10, and the first, second, and third child toolboxes 20, 30, 40 serves to hold tools (not shown).

[0022] With further reference to FIG. 2, the parent toolbox 10 is generally rectangular shape and includes top and bottom surfaces 11, 16. The top surface 11 of the parent toolbox 10 has a middle portion that is formed with a positioning groove 13, and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of the top surface 11 of the parent toolbox 10 and that is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves 12. In this embodiment, the parent toolbox 10 has a length (L1) of 576 millimeters and a width (W1) of 380 millimeters.

[0023] With further reference to FIG. 3, the first child toolbox 20 is generally rectangular shape, and includes top and bottom surfaces 21, 24 and four feet 25. The top surface 21 of the first child toolbox 20 has a middle portion that is formed with a positioning groove 23, and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of the top surface 21 of the first child toolbox 20 and that is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves 22. Each of the feet 25 of the first child toolbox 20 protrudes from a respective one of corners of the bottom surface 24 of the first child toolbox 20. In this embodiment, the top surface 11 of the parent toolbox 10 is defined by a pair of rectangular regions that are of equal area. The bottom surface 24 of the first child toolbox 20 has an area identical to that one of the rectangular regions of the top surface 11 of the parent toolbox 10. Preferably, the bottom surface 24 of the first child toolbox 20 has a length (L2) equal to the width (W1) of the parent toolbox 10, i.e., 380 millimeters, and a width (W2) one half the length (L1) of the parent toolbox 10, i.e., 288 millimeters.

[0024] With further reference to FIG. 4, the second child toolbox 30 is generally rectangular shape, and includes top and bottom surfaces 31, 32 and four feet 35. The top surface 31 of the second child toolbox 30 has a middle portion that is formed with a positioning groove 34, and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of the top surface 31 of the second child toolbox 30 and that is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves 33. Each of the feet 35 of the second child toolbox 30 protrudes from a respective one of corners of the bottom surface 32 of the second child toolbox 30. In this embodiment, the top surface 21 of the first child toolbox 20 is defined by a pair of rectangular regions that are of equal area. The bottom surface 32 of the second child toolbox 30 has an area identical to that one of the rectangular regions of the top surface 21 of the first child toolbox 20. Preferably, the bottom surface 32 of the second child toolbox 30 has a length (L3) equal to the width (W2) of the first child toolbox 20, i.e., 288 millimeters, and a width (W3) one half the length (L2) of the first child toolbox 20, i.e., 190 millimeters.

[0025] With further reference to FIG. 5, the third child toolbox 40 is generally rectangular shape, and includes top and bottom surfaces 41, 42 and four feet 45. The top surface 41 of the third child toolbox 40 has a middle portion that is formed with a positioning groove 44, and a periphery that surrounds the middle portion of the top surface 41 of the third child toolbox 40 and that is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves 43. Each of the feet 45 of the third child toolbox 40 protrudes from a respective one of corners of the bottom surface 42 of the third child toolbox 40. In this embodiment, the top surface 31 of the second child toolbox 30 is defined by a pair of rectangular regions that are of equal area. The bottom surface 42 of the third child toolbox 40 has an area identical to that one of the rectangular regions of the top surface 31 of the second child toolbox 30. Preferably, the third child toolbox 40 has a length (L4) equal to the width (W3) of the second child toolbox 30, i.e., 190 millimeters, and a width (W4) one half the length (L3) of the second child toolbox 30, i.e., 144 millimeters.

[0026] It is noted that the positioning groove 13, 23, 34, 44 in the middle portion of the top surface 11, 21, 31, 41 of each of the parent toolbox 10, and the first, second, and third child toolboxes 20, 30, 40 is generally rectangular shape.

[0027] In use, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when two of the first child toolboxes 20 are disposed on the parent toolbox 10, the bottom surfaces 24 of the first child toolboxes 20 abut against the top surface 11 of the parent toolbox 10, and the feet 25 of the first child toolboxes 20 extend into eight of the positioning grooves 12 in the periphery of the top surface 11 of the parent toolbox 10, thereby interconnecting the parent toolbox 10 and the first child toolboxes 20.

[0028] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when two of the second child toolboxes 30 are disposed on the first child toolbox 20, the bottom surfaces 32 of the second child toolbox 30 abut against the top surface 21 of the first child toolbox 20, and the feet 35 of the second child toolboxes 30 extend into eight of the positioning grooves 22 in the periphery of the top surface 21 of the first child toolbox 20, thereby interconnecting the first child toolbox 20 and the second child toolboxes 30.

[0029] Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when two of the third child toolboxes 40 are disposed on the second child toolbox 30, the bottom surfaces 42 of the third child toolboxes 40 abut against the top surface 31 of the second child toolbox 30, and the feet 45 of the third child toolboxes 40 extend into eight of the positioning grooves 33 in the periphery of the top surface 31 of the second child toolbox 30, thereby interconnecting the second child toolbox 30 and the third child toolboxes 40.

[0030] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when four of the second child toolboxes 30 are disposed on the parent toolbox 10, the bottom surfaces 32 of the second child toolboxes 30 abut against the top surface 11 of the parent toolbox 10, one of the feet 35 of each of the second child toolboxes 30 extends into the positioning groove 13 in the middle portion of the top surface 11 of the parent toolbox 10, and the remainder of the feet 35 of the second child toolboxes 30 extend into twelve of the positioning grooves 12 in the periphery of the top surface 11 of the parent toolbox 10, thereby interconnecting the parent toolbox 10 and the second child toolboxes 30.

[0031] Still further, as illustrated in FIG. 10, when four of the third child toolboxes 40 are disposed on the first child toolbox 20, the bottom surfaces 42 of the third child toolboxes 40 abut against the top surface 21 of the first child toolbox 20, one of the feet 45 of each of the third child toolboxes 40 extends into the positioning groove 23 in the middle portion of the top surface 21 of the first child toolbox 20, and the remainder of the feet 45 of the third child toolboxes 40 extend into twelve of the positioning grooves 22 in the periphery of the top surface 21 of the first child toolbox 20, thereby interconnecting the first child toolbox 20 and the third child toolboxes 40.

[0032] As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the parent toolbox 10 further includes front, left, and right sides 14, each of which is disposed between the top and bottom surfaces 11, 16 of the parent toolbox 10 and is formed with a pair of engaging grooves 15.

[0033] From the above description, since the parent toolbox 10 and the first, second, and third child toolboxes 20, 30, 40 of the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention can be closely and firmly stacked, as best shown in FIG. 11, the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention can be conveniently and easily transported from one place to another for example by first placing the toolbox assembly on a cart 200 and then by inserting a handle 100 into the engaging grooves 15 (see FIG. 1) in the left side 14 of the parent toolbox 10, as illustrated in FIG. 12, whereby the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention may be pushed or pulled via the handle 100, or by simply inserting a pair of handles 100 into the engaging grooves 15 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) in the left and right sides 14 of the parent toolbox 10, as illustrated in FIG. 13, whereby the stackable toolbox assembly of this invention may be carried via the handles 100.

[0034] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.