초록 ▼

A tool container has a pair of housing members pivotally coupled with one another to provide an opened and closed position. At least one of the members defines a cavity to receive tools. The cavity is defined by a base and a wall extending from the base. A tool retaining insert is permanently secure

A tool container has a pair of housing members pivotally coupled with one another to provide an opened and closed position. At least one of the members defines a cavity to receive tools. The cavity is defined by a base and a wall extending from the base. A tool retaining insert is permanently secured in the cavity. The insert and wall include tenons and grooves to secure the insert in the housing member. Also, an arcuate locking mechanism is included to maintain the pair of housing members in a closed position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tool container, comprising:two housing members pivotally coupled with one another for opening and closing with respect to one another, at least one housing member defining a cavity for receiving tools, said cavity defined by a base and a wall extending from said base, said wall including a plur

1. A tool container, comprising:two housing members pivotally coupled with one another for opening and closing with respect to one another, at least one housing member defining a cavity for receiving tools, said cavity defined by a base and a wall extending from said base, said wall including a plurality of alternating dove-tail recesses and tenons;an insert for retaining tools, said insert having a surface with a plurality of alternating dove-tail recesses and tenons, said tenons cooperating with opposing recesses for securing with said wall; anda mechanism for locking said pair of housing members with respect to one another in a closed position. 2. The tool container according to claim 1, wherein said tenons each have a front face being angled at about one (1°) degree with respect to vertical. 3. The tool container according to claim 2, wherein said recesses have faces at angles corresponding to said tenon front faces for locking the tenons and recesses together. 4. The tool container according to claim 1, wherein said insert includes a plurality of tool-receiving members. 5. The tool container according to claim 4, wherein at least one retaining member being adjacent said tool-receiving member for retaining the tool in the receiving member. 6. The tool container according to claim 4, wherein said tool receiving members have a V-shaped cradle for receiving a tool. 7. The tool container according to claim 6, wherein said V-shaped cradle has an aperture forming two spaced V-shaped cradle portions. 8. The tool container according to claim 7, wherein two fingers are positioned adjacent said apertures for enabling flexing of said fingers to maintain the tool bit in said V-shaped cradle portions. 9. The tool container according to claim 4, wherein a wall member being positioned at an end of said insert adjacent said tool receiving members. 10. The tool container according to claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism includes a rail member on each housing member and a latch slidable on said rail members between a locked and unlocked position. 11. The tool container according to claim 10, wherein said rail members being arcuate. 12. The tool container according to claim 11, wherein said latch having a channel for receiving said rails, said channel defined by an arcuate base surface in said latch, two side walls extending from said base and two flanges extending from said side walls towards one another. 13. The tool container according to claim 12, wherein said base surface is arcuate along both a longitudinal and lateral axis. 14. The tool container according to claim 12, wherein one of said flanges including a cut-out enhancing coupling with said rails. 15. The tool container according to claim 11, wherein said rail members are longitudinally arcuate and laterally arcuate. 16. The tool container according to claim 10, wherein said latch including first indicia indicating a locked and unlocked position. 17. The tool container according to claim 16, wherein said latch includes a second indicia indicating direction of movement. 18. The tool container according to claim 17, wherein one of said indicia is in a contrasting color with respect to the other. 19. The tool container according to claim 18, wherein one indicia is yellow and the other black. 20. The tool container according to claim 10, wherein said latch is comprised of a first member covered by a second member. 21. The tool container according to claim 20, wherein said first member being rigid. 22. The tool container according to claim 20, wherein a portion of said first member extending through said second member providing an indicia member and said portion having a surface substantially flush with said second member. 23. The tool container according to claim 22, wherein said second member including a second indicia member. 24. The tool container according to claim 1, wherein said insert having a bit receiving mechanism for self-orientating a tool bit in said insert. 25. A tool retaining insert, comprising:a body member;a plurality of V-shaped tool receiving cradles; anda finger mechanism projecting from said body adjacent and spaced from said V-shaped tool receiving cradles for retaining tools in said cradles. 26. The insert according to claim 25, wherein said mechanism includes two fingers extending from said insert said two fingers, if necessary, rotating a tool bit to seat a tool bit apex in an apex of said V-shaped tool receiving channel. 27. The insert according to claim 25, wherein said V-shaped cradle has an aperture forming two spaced V-shaped cradle portions. 28. The insert according to claim 27, wherein two fingers are positioned adjacent said apertures for enabling flexing of said fingers to maintain the tool bit in said V-shaped cradle portions. 29. The insert according to claim 25, wherein a wall member being positioned at an end of said insert adjacent said tool receiving members. 30. The insert according to claim 25, wherein said insert includes a mechanism adapted to couple with a container for positioning said insert in a plurality of positions in the container. 31. The insert according to claim 30, wherein said mechanism being dove-tail tenons and recesses. 32. The insert according to claim 25, wherein said insert includes eight V-shaped tool receiving cradles. 33. The insert according to claim 25, wherein said body member includes five V-shaped tool receiving cradles. 34. A tool container, comprising:a housing member defining a cavity for receiving tools, said cavity defined by a base and a wall extending from said base, said wall including a plurality of securement members;a plurality of inserts for retaining tools, said plurality of inserts being multi-positionable in said housing member said inserts having a surface with at least one securement member for cooperating with said wall securement members for securing with said housing member wall in said plurality of positions. 35. The tool container according to claim 34, wherein said wall having alternating tenons and grooves. 36. The tool container according to claim 35, wherein said inserts have alternating tenons and grooves for mating with said wall. 37. The tool container according to claim 34, wherein said wall and inserts having either cut-outs or projecting members for coupling with one another to position said inserts in one of a plurality of positions in said cavity. 38. The tool container according to claim 34, wherein said wall has said projecting members and said inserts have said cut-outs. 39. The tool container according to claim 34, wherein a second housing member defining a cavity for receiving inserts is hingedly coupled with said first housing member, said members moving from an open to a closed position. 40. A method of making a tool container, comprising:providing a housing member having a cavity defined by a base and a wall extending from said base, said wall including a plurality of mating mechanisms;providing at least one tool receiving insert having a plurality of tool receiving members, said tool receiving insert having at least one mating mechanism for cooperating with said wall mating mechanisms;positioning said at least one insert in one of a plurality of predetermined positions in said cavity wherein said mating mechanism mate with one another; andsecuring said at least one insert in said cavity. 41. The method according to claim 40, wherein said mating mechanisms are projecting members and recesses. 42. The method according to claim 40, wherein said mating mechanisms are dove-tail tenons and grooves. 43. The method according to claim 40, further comprising providing a plurality of inserts and positioning and securing said plurality of inserts in said cavity. 44. The method according to claim 40, wherein said securing is by said mating members. 45. The method according to claim 40, further comprising hingedly securing a second housing member with a cavity to said first housing member. 46. The method according to claim 45, further comprising positioning and securing at least one insert into said second housing member. 47. A method of securing a tool bit in a tool retaining insert, comprising:providing a tool retaining insert having at least one V-shaped tool receiving cradle and two fingers projecting from said insert adjacent said at least one tool receiving cradle;providing a tool having a polygonal cross-section;positioning said tool on said fingers;applying a force on said tool to spread said fingers;forcing said tool past said fingers into said V-shaped cradle wherein upon forcing past said finger, said fingers, if necessary, rotating and orientating said tool such that an apex of said tool seats in an apex of said V-shaped cradle. 48. The method according to claim 47, wherein if rotating of the tool is not necessary, said tool apex seats directly in said apex of said V-shaped cradle. 49. A tool container, comprising:two housing members pivotally coupled with one another for opening and closing with respect to one another, each housing member defining a cavity for receiving tools, said cavity defined by a base and a closed peripheral wall extending from the base;at least one insert for retaining tools permanently secured in each cavity, said insert having at least one recess or projecting member for mating with an opposing projecting member or recess in said wall;an arcuate rail on each of said housing members; anda latch for coupling with said rail, said latch including an arcuate channel for receiving said arcuate rail, said latch having a first rigid member and a soft outer covering with a first indicia member from said first rigid member projecting through said second soft member and a second indicia member being on said second member and said first and second indicia member being of contrasting colors. 50. A tool container comprising:two housing members pivotally coupled with one another for opening and closing with respect to one another, at least one housing member defining a cavity for receiving tools, said cavity defined by a base and a wall extending from said base, at least one of said housing bases having a roughed surface;an insert for retaining tools, said insert permanently secured in said cavity, said insert having a surface for securing with said member base or wall;a mechanism for locking said pair of housing members with respect to one another in a closed position; andsaid insert surface being a rouged surface in contact with said base roughed surface, and wherein the roughed surfaces are ultrasonically welded together.