Wheeled Tool Case

The present invention relates to a tool or instrument carrier or case. More particularly this invention concerns a wheeled case suitable for storage and transport of tools and the like.

A repair person frequently has to transport a considerable quantity of tools and instruments from place to place. If the amount of equipment needed is small it can simply be placed in a fitted tool case that is set down and opened at the job site for access to the tools and instruments inside. When the quantity of equipment becomes more considerable, the tool case is typically transported in a luggage cart or dolly that can be rolled. Once at the job site, the case is separated from the cart, raised, and set on a desk or table so that it can be opened to give access to the tools.

Tool cases are also known that are provided with wheels. Such a system is good in a shop or where limited movement is necessary, but cannot normally be actually taken on the road.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable tool or instrument case.

Another object is the provision of such an improved portable tool or instrument case which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which is simple, which allows the tools or instruments to be transported easily, which gives good access to the tools or instruments once the job site is reached.

A carrier for tools and the like has according to the invention a base normally adapted to sit on a floor surface, a frame extending upward from the base, and a hollow case adapted to hold the tools and having bottom, top, and side walls displaceable on the frame between a lower position sitting on the base and an upper position on the frame spaced above the base. This frame includes at least one generally vertical post and the case is vertically slidable along the post. A latch or the like is provided for retaining the case in the upper position on the post.

Thus with this arrangement it is possible to move the case which actually holds the tools, parts, or other supplies into an upper position which can readily be accessed by a standing or sitting person. Of course if the user is working on the floor, the case can be left in the lower position.

In accordance with the invention the retainer includes a spring-loaded latch that automatically secures the case in the upper position when it is slid into the upper position. In addition the frame includes two such posts parallel to each other and the upper wall is provided generally centrally with a handle. Each post includes an upper tube and a lower tube telescoping therewith. The lower tubes are fixed in the base and each post projects through the lower wall and through the upper wall of the case. Normally the base is provided with floor-engaging wheels, typically two of them at a rear edge of the base. In addition the frame includes a crosspiece connecting upper ends of the upper tubes.

The crosspiece and upper tubes according to the invention are movable relative to the case in the upper position thereof. For ease of handling the handle is formed with an upwardly open seat and the crosspiece is receivable complementarily in the seat. To stabilize the assembly the base is provided with at least one support foot. This foot can be displaceable relative to the base between a position extending therefrom and a position retracted thereunder. The carrier can have a mechanism connected between the case and the foot for displacing the foot automatically into its extended position on displacement of the case out of its lower position. In another system the foot telescopes between a position extending from the base and a position retracted underneath the base. This foot can also be formed as a tool-holding drawer. It can pivot about an upright axis between a position extending from the base and a position retracted underneath the base.

Formations in accordance with the invention are provided on the base and case that interengage and lock the two parts together in the lower position of the case. These formations are complementary. In addition the base is provided with a pull-out part displaceable between and extended position projecting from underneath the case and a retracted position directly underneath the case. The pull-out part is formed with one of the formations and is prevented from moving from the retracted to the extended position by interengagement of the formations in the lower position of the case. The formations extend crosswise of a movement direction of the pull-out part.

The base of the carrier according to the invention forms a horizontal support surface exposed when the case is in the upper position. More particularly the base includes a pull-out part forming a front portion of the support surface and displaceable between an extended position projecting from underneath the case and a retracted position directly beneath the case. This pull-out part is formed as a compartment having a removable and normally pivoted cover forming the front portion of the support surface. The pull-out part is formed as a drawer forming the compartment. The support surface has a rear portion fixed relative to the base and the two surface portions are generally coplanar and meet each other substantially without a gap in the extended position of the pull-out part.

In accordance with the invention a retaining flap is provided on the base extending upward from the support surface. This flap is at a rear edge of the support surface and is pivoted on the base. More particularly it is pivotal between an upright position and a down position lying on the support surface. interengaging formations on the flap and on the case automatically pivot the flap into the down position on movement of the case in to the lower position.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, it being understood that any feature described with reference to one embodiment of the invention can be used where possible with any other embodiment and that reference numerals or letters not specifically mentioned with reference to one figure but identical to those of another refer to structure that is functionally if not structurally identical. In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable wheeled tool case according to the invention in the partially raised travel position;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the case in the fully collapsed travel position;

FIG. 3 is a large-scale view of a detail of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the case in the fully extended travel position;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section through the case in the partially raised and extended condition;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through the case in the fully raised and extended position;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section through the case with the handle partially retracted and the case itself open;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the drawer-type base of the case;

FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 2 of another case according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 6 of the case of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a large-scale view of a detail of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a larger-scale view of a detail of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third case according to the invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the case of FIG. 13 in the opened and fully raised and extended position;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a detail of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 16 is a view like FIG. 15 but showing the outrigger feet extended.

As seen in FIGS. 1 through 8, a portable tool or instrument carrier 10 according to the invention is basically comprised of a box-like case 11 supported on a base 12. The case 11 has a lower wall or floor 13, a top or upper wall 14, and four side walls 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d. These walls form a forwardly open body 40 and a front door-like cover or lid 37 connected together at a hinge 55 on the front wall 15d, with sides 39 of the cover 37 forming continuations of the side walls 15a and 15c. The lid 37 can be pivoted out as shown in FIG. 7 so that its inner face 41 is horizontal for use as a work area or a place to set or store tools or parts. A pair of cable lanyards 38 connected between the side walls 39 of the cover 37 and the side walls 15a and 15b of the body 40 limit pivoting of the cover 37. An axle 56 in the base member 43 carries on its ends a pair of wheels 23 permitting the carrier 10 to be rolled on a floor or ground surface 36.

The carrier 10 has a frame comprised mainly of a pair of posts 17a and 17b having lower ends seated in a horizontal frame member 43 forming part of the base 12 and upper ends interconnected by a handle-forming crosspiece 22. More specifically, each post 17a and 17b can telescope and to this end is formed of an outer or lower tube 19 fixed in the base member 43, an intermediate tube 20 slidable in the tube 19, and an upper inner tube 21 slidable in the tube 20. Outer stops 24 and 25 on the tubes 20 and 19 interact with inner stops 26 and 27 on the tubes 19 and 21 so that the posts 17a and 17b can be extended from the fully collapsed position of FIG. 2 through a partially extended position shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 to a fully extended position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

The upper tubes 21 and crosspiece 22 form a U-shaped frame member 35 and the crosspiece 22 has a cylindrical outer surface 53. The body part 40 has on its upper wall 14 a handle 16 with a cylindrically concave upper surface 52 forming a seat complementary to the surface 53 of the crosspiece 22 so that same can fit in it and form a convenient and very strong handle, having an opening 54 through which the fingers of a person manipulating or lifting the assembly can extend.

The lower ends of the outer tubes 19 ride in cylindrical lower guides or sleeves 58 formed in the lower wall 13 and the intermediate tubes 20 ride in cylindrical upper guides 59 in the top wall 14. In addition the tubes 19 are each formed at their lower end with a rearwardly open hole 34 and at their upper end with another rearwardly open hole 31. A pair of pins 29 of a retainer 28 are urged by springs 30 through the rear wall 15b adjacent a lower rear corner 57 of the case 11 and through the lower guide sleeves 58 so that they can fit in either of these holes 31 or 34. When engaged in the holes 34 they hold the case 11 in the lower position of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, and when in the holes 31 they retain it in the upper position of FIGS. 6 and 7. A lever 33 on the upper wall 14 adjacent the handle 16 is effective through a linkage 32 on the two pins 29 to retract them rearward and pull them out of the holes 31 and 34, thereby freeing the case 11 to move along the extended posts 17a and 17b.

The base 12 as best shown in FIG. 8 comprises a drawer 42 which is mounted on telescoping arms 44 whose rear ends are set in the massive frame member 43. This drawer 42 has a front wall 45 with an edge 46 (FIG. 5) adapted to sit on the ground surface 36 and stabilize the carrier 10 when the drawer 42 is extended.

Thus the carrier 10 according to the invention can be compacted to the shape shown in FIG. 2 with the posts 17a and 17b in their fully compressed position, the case 11 sitting in its lower position on the base 12, and the drawer 42 retracted. In this position the carrier 10 can basically be handled like a suitcase, although of course it can also be rolled on the wheels 23.

If the posts 17a and 17b are extended fully in direction A as shown in FIG. 4 the case 11 can, like a hand truck, be wheeled along the ground 36 easily by tipping it back on its wheels 23 and pulling or pushing the handle 22.

Once the job site is reached, the case 11 is slid up the posts 17a and 17b through the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6, and the drawer 42 is pulled out to stabilize the carrier and grant access to whatever is stored in the drawer 42. Then as shown in FIG. 7 the cover 37 can be flopped down, after releasing an unillustrated lock or catch, to provide access to its contents and to provide a level storage or work surface 41 at a convenient height. In addition when the case 11 is in this upper position, it is also possible to dolly it around like a hand truck without having to lower it to the position of FIG. 4.

The system of FIGS. 9 through 12 has, instead of a pull-out drawer 42 that is used to stabilize the carrier 10, a pair of elongated feet 47 pivoted about vertical axes 48 on the outer front corners of the base 12 so that outer ends 49 of these feet 47 can engage the ground 36 with longitudinal axes L of these feet 47 extending horizontally. The pivot of each foot 47 is connected via a one-flight screwthread to a plunger 50 urged upward by a spring 51. Thus as the case 1 is dropped down it will push down the plungers 50 and pivot the feet 47 into the retracted positions of FIGS. 9 and 11 underneath the base 12, while when the case 11 is lifted the springs 51 will push up the plungers 50 and automatically extend these feet 47.

In the carrier 10 of FIGS. 13 through 16 the bottom of the case 11 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending and downwardly tapering bumps or feet 60 that can engage in complementary pockets 61 of the base 12. More particularly this base 12 has a movable front part 62 and defines a surface 63 formed by a pair of panels 63a and 63b whose upper surfaces can extend coplanar with each other. A cover 65 forming the surface 63b can engage over a drawer cavity 64 used to store tools or parts and is hinged at its rear end on the base. A flap 66 pivoted about a horizontal axis at a rear edge 68 has a front face 67 that can extend horizontally or vertically. When vertical this flap 66 acts as a rear wall or stop so that anything set atop the surfaces 63a and 63b will not slide off the back. A cam edge 73 of the case 11 engages the flap 66 to push it down when in the lower position, and an unillustrated spring erects it when the case 11 is raised. During normal use the front part 62 is pulled out to leave a gap 70 between the surfaces 63a and 63b and so that the member forming the rear surface 63a can pivot down atop the telescoping arms 44, then the part 62 is pushed back against a front edge 69 of the surface 63a to close up this gap 70.

In addition the case 11 here is provided with an insert 71 that has pockets 72 in which tools or the like can be stored.