Toolbox
Patent Number: US 9796077 Grant Date: 2017-10-24 Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Overview
This patent describes an engineered toolbox that transitions between a compact closed profile and a taller, fully expanded working configuration. Filed in November 2015 and granted in October 2017, the application — prosecuted on behalf of inventors based in Sudan, NM — claims a mechanically sophisticated pivoting rack integrated with the toolbox body, guided by paired front and rear arms, multi-hinge geometry, and track-mounted wheels. The arrangement transfers load to the wheels and tracks during deployment, reducing stress on the hinge arms while enabling a controlled four‑axis motion that raises the rear of the rack and rolls the front back toward the toolbox rear. The specification also captures practical user features: a faceplate that opens in the closed position for low-profile access, a sliding drawer on perpendicular tracks, support arms that hold the lid open, and a latching/locking system compatible with stacking and heavy loads on the lid.
Our firm’s drafting preserved both the mechanical nuance of the linkage and the practical usability advantages, securing claims that emphasize kinematic guidance, load-bearing wheel support, and convenient access in a compact form factor.
Key Features
- Compact closed profile that provides low‑height access without full expansion
- Pivoting rack on track-mounted wheels to bear load and guide motion
- Paired front and rear arm linkages with multi-hinge kinematics
- Drawer and faceplate design for access while stacked or under load
- Latching/locking system and reinforced lid for stackable durability
This invention strengthens mobile storage and field‑service tool systems by combining robust structural mechanics with user-centered access in a compact package.
Invention Details
Abstract: A toolbox is disclosed. The toolbox comprises a body, a one or more supports and a pivoting rack. The body comprises a lid, a bottom plate, a faceplate, a back plate, a first side, a second side. The toolbox is configured for selectively transitioning between an expanded configuration and a closed configuration. The expanded configuration of the toolbox comprises an expanded height. The body selectively opens and closes between the expanded configuration and the closed configuration. With the toolbox in the closed configuration the body comprises a substantially rectangular shape and encases the tool box with the first side and the second side on it sides, the lid and a bottom plate at its top and bottom, and the faceplate and a back plate at its front and back sides. The lid selectively rotates on a first hinge relative to the back plate. The faceplate selectively rotates on a second hinge relative to the lid rack. with the toolbox in the expanded configuration, the one or more supports a portion of the toolbox. With the toolbox in the closed configuration the faceplate selectively rotates on the second hinge to provide access within the toolbox. A portion of the body wraps around the pivoting rack including the bottom plate which is attached to the back plate, the lid which is rotateably attached to the back plate, and the faceplate which is rotateably attached to the lid.
Summary of the Invention: A toolbox is disclosed. The toolbox comprises a body, a one or more supports and a pivoting rack. The body comprises a lid, a bottom plate, a faceplate, a back plate, a first side, a second side. The toolbox is configured for selectively transitioning between an expanded configuration and a closed configuration. The expanded configuration of the toolbox comprises an expanded height. The body selectively opens and closes between the expanded configuration and the closed configuration. With the toolbox in the closed configuration the body comprises a substantially rectangular shape and encases the tool box with the first side and the second side on it sides, the lid and a bottom plate at its top and bottom, and the faceplate and a back plate at its front and back sides. The lid selectively rotates on a first hinge relative to the back plate. The faceplate selectively rotates on a second hinge relative to the lid. With the toolbox in the expanded configuration, the one or more supports a portion of the toolbox. With the toolbox in the closed configuration the faceplate selectively rotates on the second hinge to provide access within the toolbox. A portion of the body wraps around the pivoting rack including the bottom plate which is attached to the back plate, the lid which is rotateably attached to the back plate, and the faceplate which is rotateably attached to the lid.
Patent Document
Related: Mechanical Engineering | Consumer Products | Shannon Warren, Patent Attorney