US20120018327A1

US20120018327A1 - Protection strip for tool box

Info

Publication number: US20120018327A1
Application number: US12/841,820
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter Chiu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-22
Filing date: 2010-07-22
Publication date: 2012-01-26

Abstract

A tool box includes a case having a recessed area defined in an outside thereof, and the recessed area includes a first recessed corner, a second recessed corner and a connection recess portion connected between the first and second recessed corners. A stop is formed on at least one side of the connection recessed portion and two grooves are defined in the outside of the case. A protection strip is engaged with the recessed area and includes a first corner, a second corner and a connection portion is connected between the first and second corners. Each of the first and second corners has a hook which is engaged with the groove corresponding thereto so as to protect the corner of the tool box.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protection strip, and more particularly, to a protection strip for a tool box made by way of blowing molding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional tool box made by way of blowing molding is to pour thermoplastic material into molds and pressurized air is introduced into the mold to expand the thermoplastic material to contact against the inside of the molds. After the thermoplastic material is cooled, the molds are separated from the cooled thermoplastic material so as to form the tool box.
However, there are some drawbacks for the tool box made by way of blowing molding, the main concern is that the structural strength of the tool box is weak. The tool box is designed to receive metal tools such as screwdrivers, sockets, wrenches, pliers, hammers, nails or the like, which are heavy and some have sharp tips. If the tool box falls from a height and hits on the ground or an object, the corners of the tool box can easily be broken. Once there is a broken hole or even a crack, the tool box tends to be torn apart.
The present invention intends to provide a protection strip for a tool box and the protection strip protects the weakest area of the tool box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tool box which comprises a case having a recessed area defined in an outside thereof, and the recessed area comprises a first recessed corner, a second recessed corner and a connection recess portion which is connected between the first and second recessed corners. A stop is formed on at least one side of the connection recessed portion. Two grooves are defined in the outside of the case.
A protection strip comprises a first corner, a second corner and a connection portion which is connected between the first and second corners. Each of the first and second corners has a hook formed thereto which extends toward a top of the first/second corner. The protection strip is securely engaged with the recessed area wherein the hooks are engaged with the grooves of the case and the connection portion of the protection strip is engaged with the stop of the case.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a protection strip which is securely engaged with the recessed portion defined at the corner of the tool box so as to reinforce the structural strength of the tool box.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show two protection strips of the present invention and the tool box;

FIG. 2 is a top view to show that the two protection strips of the present invention are connected to the tool box;

FIG. 3 is an end cross sectional view of the two protection strips of the present invention connected to the tool box;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view to show the engagement of the hooks of the protection strip and the grooves of the tool box;

FIG. 5 is a front side cross sectional view of the two protection strips of the present invention connected to the tool box, and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view to show the engagement of the connection portion of the protection strip and the stop of the tool box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the tool box made by way of blowing molding includes two cases 1 which are the base part and the cover of the tool box. Each of the cases 1 has a recessed area 10 defined in an outside thereof, and the recessed area 10 comprises a first recessed corner 101, a second recessed corner 102 and a connection recess portion 103 which is connected between the first and second recessed corners 101, 102. The connection recessed portion 103 of the case 1 communicates with the first and second recessed corners 101, 102. At least one of the free ends of each of the grooves 105, 106 directly or indirectly communicates with a top surface or a bottom surface of the first and second recessed corners 101, 102. A stop 104 is formed on at least one side of the connection recessed portion 103. Two grooves 105, 106 are defined in the outside of the case 1.
Two protection strips 2 are securely engaged with the two respective recessed portions 10 of the two cases 1 and each protection strip 2 comprises a first corner 21, a second corner 22 and a connection portion 23 which is connected between the first and second corners 21, 22. Each of the first and second corners 21, 22 has a hook 25/26 formed thereto which extends toward a top of the first/second corner 21/22.
It is noted that the first and second corners 21, 22 of the protection strip 2 can be two individual parts and are individually connected to two different positions of the connection portion 23. The first and second corners 21, 22 of the protection strip 2 can also be integrally connected to two different positions of the connection portion 23. Alternatively, either one of the first and second corners 21, 22 of the protection strip 2 can be fixedly or movably connected to two different positions of the connection portion 23. The first and second corners 21, 22 of the protection strip 2 are rounded corners and matched with the first and second recessed corners 101, 102 of the case 1.
When connecting the protection strip 2 to the recessed area 10 of the case 1, the connection portion 23 of the protection strip 2 is engaged with the connection recessed portion 103 of the recessed area 10, and the hook 25 of the first corner 21 and the hook 26 of the second corner 22 of the protection strip 2 are respectively located corresponding to the first and second recessed corners 101, 102 of the case 1. Due to the flexibility of the material of the protection strip 2, the user pulls the first hook 25 and engages the first hook 25 with the groove 105. Therefore, the first corner 21 is securely mounted to the first recessed corner 101. Then, the user pulls the second hook 26 and engages the second hook 26 with the groove 106. Therefore, the second corner 22 is securely mounted to the second recessed corner 102. The connection portion 23 is stopped against the stop 104. The protection strip 2 is then securely engaged with the recessed area 10 of the case 1. Therefore, the corners of the case 1 are well protected by the protection strip 2.
It is noted that the protection strip 2 can be composed of three individual parts which are the first corner 21, the second corner 22 and the connection portion 23, the three parts are connected to each other by any known method.
The protection strip 2 can absorb impact force to protect the corners of the case 1 from being damaged.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tool box comprising:

a case having a recessed area defined in an outside thereof, the recessed area comprising a first recessed corner, a second recessed corner and a connection recess recessed portion which is connected between the first and second recessed corners, the connection recessed portion of the case communicating with the first and second used corners, a stop formed on at least one side of the connection recessed portion, two grooves defined in the outside of the case, free ends of the grooves directly or indirectly communicating with a top surface or a bottom surface of the first and, second recessed corners, and

a protection strip comprising a first corner, a second corner and a connection portion which is connected between the first and second corners, each of the first and second corners having a hook formed thereto, the protection strip engaged with the recessed area wherein the hooks are engaged with the grooves of the case and the connection portion of the protection strip is engaged with the connection recessed portion and stopped against the stop of the case.

2. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second corners of the protection strip are individually connected to two different positions of the connection portion.

3. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second corners of the protection strip are integrally connected to two different positions of the connection portion.

4. The tool box as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second corners of the protection strip are fixedly or movably connected to two different positions of the connection portion.

5. The tool box as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second corners of the protection strip is fixedly or removably connected to two different positions of the connection portion.

6. The tool box as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second corners of the protection strip are rounded corners and matched with the first and second recessed corners of the case.

7. The tool box as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second corners of the protection strip are rounded corners and matched with the first and second recessed corners of the case.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)