US2589234A - Combination tool stand and case - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1952 L. H. DROHMAN COMBINATION TOOL STAND AND CASE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1947 INVENTOR LAURENCE H. DROHMAN ATTORNEY March 13, 1952 H. DROHMAN. 2,589,234

COMBINATION TOOL STAND AND CASE Filed Jan. 2, 1947 2 Sl'iEET$--S!'!EET 2 |7a |8a 2 I? 3O 22 fir: I6 25 30 f \\fj v 29 7 22a 26 29b l6a 3 0 23 29a n l np1 7 IOa I9 INVENTOR LAURENCE HDROHMAN ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED S TATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION TOL STAND AND CASE Laurence H. Dmhman, Chicago, Ill. Application January 2, 1947, Serial Nat 19,723

: C a ms- This invention relates to portable apparatus for transporting and displaying tools and more particularly it relates to a combination ,drill case and stand.

It is very desirable that a drill caseibecompact yet function as a stand while the drills are in use. iDrillcases heretofore proposed may be relatively compact when closed butdo not stand so that the drills are easily accessible to the operator. Likewise, drill stands now available which present the drills in a vertical, spaced position are not in compact unitary cases.

A principal object of this invention is to provied a unitary drill case and stand of novel and improved construction which is compact when closed, and by simply opening the case, a row or rows of tools such as drills carried therein are automatically moved into such position that each tool becomes readily accessible and upon closing the case, each row of tools is automatically aligned within the covers of the case.

It is also an object of this invention to provide atool case which can be used not only to carry tools'but also as a bench stand. Another object of the invention is to provide a casein which tools maybe securely carried and stored so as-to present the tools at all times for -use-in-pre-arrangedorderand to provide a stand for the arranged tools. These and other objects will become apparent as the description of my invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding elements in the various views'wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of mycase and stand with the covers open and showing the radially aligned panels or retainingmeans;

Figure 2 is a top view of the case and stand shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is-a side view of theclosedcase;

Figure 4 is a-top view with the caseclosed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in -perspective showing the details of the hinge assembly;

Figure dis a fragmentary .view of the hinge-assembly in Figure 5 with parts removed;

Figure ,7 is atop .viewof 'thestopmeans shown enerally at '29 in Figures .1, :2 and :4 which is adapted to aligntheholders inzthe open case; and

Figures Band 9 show details of modifications of the-spacer elements-adapted toalignthe panels or holders.

Broadly my device, which will :-be described dapted an. holdi drills. comprises :a air :of hinged covers having one zor more drill holders or :panels mounted upon the cover hinge. Means carried .by' the cover elements and the hinge can be provided to automatically position, space, and secure the drill holder or panels radially between the covers with the drills in a substantially vertical position .upon .opening the .case. The two halves of the case cooperate with a holder and together they give rigidity to the open stand.

As the case is opened spacers, carried by the covers or the holder but free to move with reference to .the other, swing the holders so that they are .in a fan-like position, :the spacing of which is determined by a stop key mounted on the .case hinge. When the case has been opened to the fullest degree, or so that the angular portion of the f-ront-andback halves of the cases are back-to back, the drill holdersare in a fixed open position, enabling the user easily to see and select any drill he wishes. Thus the device will stand in an upright vertical position with the drill stand exposed and the case is out of the way.

In the drawings, l0 and Il designate the two halves of a clam shell case hinged along adjacent edges l2 and l2a and pivoted about the hinge pin 13. Asportion of the edges l2 and IZa may be rolled to engage the pin 13 and these hinge portions are designated as Illa and Ila. in the drawing. The periphery of the one half of the case 10 is provided with ledge or bead 44 so that the edge I5 of H may clamp withthe front cover I0 to keep the case closed but adapted to be conveniently opened. The "two cover elements l0 and ll are designed and hinged so as to permit their opening more than 180 degrees before the inclined edges l2 and l2a. abut as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the edges 12 and I2a serving as stops forthe rearward swing of the clam shell covers.

Depending upon the number of drills ortools to be housed within the combination drill case and stand, one or more drill panels may be mounted with the case 19-4 I. 'The illustrated embodiment includes two panels l6 and I6a. In

any event, each panel is pivotally mounted on its rearward edgeon the hinge pin 13. A-portion of the-rearward edgeof the panel may be rolled to engage the pin 13.

In the illustrated embodiment eachof the-drill panels l6 and lfia has a ledge I? at its upper edge which is provided with an upper support comprising a series of drill sockets I8 of graduated diameter. The sets of holes or sockets 18 are formed in the metal of the exact sizeto re ceive readily the end of the tools intended tube placed therein. A lower support 19 is adapted 3 to retain the lower end of the drills within the sockets I8. Intermediate socket guide 20 having sockets 2I corresponding to those in the ledge I1, likewise may be disposed below the ledge I1 and above the inclined support I9. If desired sockets I8 may be provided by drilling a bar stock and fixing it to the panel I6 or Ilia. Likewise, the intermediate support 20 can be consolidated with either the upper or lower supports or omitted entirely. Likewise the lower support I9 may comprise a folded or crimped portion of the panel itself and may be substantially parallel to the socket means I8.

Each of panels IB and Mia is mounted upon the common hinge pin I3 by means of the folded hinge elements 22 and 23 and 22a and 23a which are integral with the panels I6 and Ifia. These hinge elements are spaced on the panel so that they may be interchangeably mounted on the hinge rod or pin I3. Thus, panel I6 is provided with hinge elements 22 and 23 and panel IBa includes complemental hinge elements 22a and 23a. Each panel includes slits or Ways 24, 25 and 28 which are adapted to receive the aligning spacers and stop key designated generally by the numerals 21, 28 and 29, respectively. The spacers and stop key include a tongue or equivalent means 30 adapted to engage each respective panel and coact to dispose the panels radially between the covers I and II. The spacers 21 and 28 are fixed by'upstanding portion 33 to edges I2a and I2, respectively, and stop key 29 is pivotally mounted on the hinge rod I3.

Referring to Figures and 6 the panels I1 and Ila are mounted on hinge rod I 3. The spacer element 28 has one end 33 fixed to the cover II along the edge I2. The disc portion or arm 32 of the spacer 28 is in the plane of the slit or key way 26 in panel I6 and the tongue or stop 30 engages the end of the slit 26 thereby serving to rotate the panel I6 about the hinge rod I3 when the covers III and II are separated. The complemental panel IBa is likewise mounted upon the hinge rod I3 and is provided with a spacer or aligning means 21 which is a mirror image of the spacer 28. This spacing means 21 is fixed or carried by the rear cover II] on the edge I2a. The disc portion of the spacer 21 is in the plane of the slit 24 in the lower part of the panel I6a. As in the case of the spacing element 28 a tongue or stop 30 on the spacing element 21 engages thepanel or an extension thereof and rotates the panel about the hinge rod I3 when the covers are separated.

A stop element or key 29 is rotatably carried by the hinge rod I3 in the plane of the slots and 25a in the panels I6 and H511. Although the embodiment illustrates the quadrant stop or key 29 intermediate the aligning elements 21 and 28, it is contemplated that the stop means 29 may be in either the upper or lower position. The extremities of the key 29 have stops or tongues 30 which are adapted to engage the face of the panels I6 and IGa for example, adjacent the end of the slots 25. This quadrant spacing device 30 limits the spacing of the panels I6 and Ilia, which are then spaced equidistant when the covers I0 and II are rotated about the hinge rod I3 and the spacers 21 and 28 tend to separate the panels. It will be recognized that when more than two panels are mounted upon the same hinge rod, a spacing element will be necessary for each panel and a stop means corresponding to key 29 having stops 39 which subtend greater or esser angles than shown will be used.

If desired, one or more additional panels may be supported on the upper portion of the hinge rod I3 between the drills mounted in the sockets I8 and I8a of the panels I6 and [6a. Thus the smallest graduated set of drills might be carried conveniently in such an auxiliary panel and increase the capacity and usefulness of the combination case and stand. Such auxiliary panel would be spaced by a pair of elements corresponding to spacers 21 and 28.

Figure 6 illustrates the details of the spacer 28 in position and corresponds to the spacer 28 in Figures 1 and 4. This spacer comprises upstanding edge 33, arm 32 and stop or arm extension 30.

In Figure 7 the details of one embodiment of the stop means 29 are shown. The illustrated stop means includes a quadrant or' disc-like section 29a pivoting means 291) and tongues or stops 30. It should be understood, however, that means equivalent to the tongues 39 such as the raised portions 36 of Figures 8 and 9, may be substituted so long as they function to restrict the movement of the key 29 through the slot or slots on the panels.

Figures 8 and 9 are two views of another modification of the spacer 21 and 28. These spacers comprise an arm 34, an upstanding edge 35 adapted to be tack-welded or otherwise fixed to the inner edges I2'and I2a of the covers I0 and II, and also includes a second upturned portion 35 which serves to engage the face of the panels adjacent the slots or extensions carried by the panels.

If desired the stock in the region of the hinge pin I3 can be of substantial thickness or diameter and the functions of the spacers 2128 and the key stop 29 can be performed by cut-away portions of the cover and panel hinge assembly. Thus complemental portions of adjacent hinge elements being suitably undercut will permit rotation relative to the other for a predetermined extent to swing the holders out between the covers and to control the spacing of the holders in fixed relation.

In summary, the covers I0 and II are mounted on the hinge rod I3 and carry spacer 21 on the front cover and spacer 28 on the rear cover fixed to edges I2a and I2. These spacers are adapted to pass through the slots 24, and 25 in the panels I6 and Ifia until the tongues 30 engage the face of the panel adjacent the slot. The stop means 29 is rotatably mounted upon the hinge rod I3 and also is provided with tongues 30 which engage the reverse side of the panels I6 and Mia and restrict the movement of the panels as they are urged apart by the spacers 21 and 28.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided a combined tool stand and case which is compact when closed, requiring the minimum amount of space for storing; it opens into an upright stand with the drills all in a vertical position and with the holders so spaced that all the drills are easily distinguishable and accessible to the user; and due to the radial spacing there is no tendency for the open stand to fall. However, if the user wishes to select a'drill without setting the case down, he can merely open the case and hold it by either the front or back section of the case. A particular advantage is that the case cannot be opened without spreading the holders apart.

Although specific embodiments of my invention have been described, it should be understood that this is by way of illustration only and that the invention is not limited thereto. From the above description, modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art and such modifications and alternatives are contemplated as coming within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a combination tool stand and case, a first cover member comprising a flat right quadrilateral wall with a peripheral flange extending inwardly from the top, front, bottom and rear edges thereof, the flange on the bottom edge extending perpendicular to the wall and the flange on the rear edge extending obtusely to the wall, a second cover member comprising a second flat right quadrilateral wall with a peripheral flange extending inwardly from the top, front, bottom and rear edges thereof, the flange on the bottom edge extending perpendicular to the wall and the flange on the rear edge extending obtusely to the wall, the flanges extending inwardly from the bottom edges of said walls providing a footing for the stand and case, an axial hinge means including a hinge rod joining adjacent edges of said obtusely extending flanges, drill support panel means hinged by one edge to the said hinge rod for rotation thereon between said cover members and adapted to be enclosed wholly within said cover members when said peripheral flanges are in juxtaposition, at least two open-ended slots in said support panel means and spaced longitudinally of said hinge means, a first arcuate web means having one end fixed to said first cover member and passing through a first of said slots, a stop means on said arcuate web means remote from said first cover member and adapted to engage a portion of said panel means adjacent said first slot, a second arcuate web means fixed to said second cover member and passing through a second of said slots, and stop means on said second arcuate web means remote from said second cover member and adapted to engage a portion of said panel means adjacent said second slot.

2. In a combination drill'stand and case, a pair of cover members each comprising a flat right trapezoidal wall with a peripheral flange means extending inwardly therefrom, the flanges at the top, front, and bottom edges of said walls being perpendicular to the wall and the flange at the rear edge of each said wall extending obtusely thereto, the flanges along the bottom edges of said walls forming a base for said case, a vertical hinge means including a hinge rod joining said obtusely extending flanges on the rear edges of said walls, a pair of drill support panels hinged to said rod and adapted to be wholly enclosed within said cover members, vertically spaced open slots in each of said support panels extending in planes perpendicular to the axis of said hinge rod, at least one slot in each support panel being in alignment in the same plane with a corresponding slot in the other panel, a floating arcuate web means pivoted to said hinge rod and passing within said aligned slots, a second arcuate web means fixed to the first of said cover members and passing within another of said slots in a first of said panels, a third arcuate web means fixed to the second of said cover members and passing within another of said slots in a second of said panels, the length of said slots being greater than the radial extent of the respective arcuate web in said slots, a pair of angularly spaced stop means carried by said floating arcuate web adapted to engage the remote surfaces of the said drill support panels, and stop means carried by each of said fixed arcuate web means adapted to engage the respective panel on a surface remote from the cover member to which the corresponding arcuate web is fixed.

3. A combination drill case and stand comprising a pair of hinged cover members, each of said cover members comprising a flat right quadrilateral wall with peripheral flange means extending inwardly therefrom, the flange extending from top, front, and bottom edges of said walls being perpendicular to the said wall and the flange at the rear edge of each said wall extending obtusely thereto, a hingerod joining the obtusely extending flanges of said cover members, a plurality of drill support panels disposed between said cover members, said panels being pivotally mounted on said hinge rod and being adapted to be rotated about an axis colinear with said hinge rod, vertically spaced open slots in each of said support panels extending in planes transverse to the axis of said hinge rod, an additional slot .in each support panel in alignment with a corresponding additional slot in another support panel, spacer means fixed to each of said cover members and adapted to become operative for rotating said support panels about said hinge rod after the cover members have been separated at their front flanges a predetermined angular distance, and angular stop means freely pivoted to said hinge rod and operating in said additional aligned slots to oppose the rotation of said support panels toward the respective cover member by said spacer means, whereby upon separating the cover members, the support panels are disposed angularly from said members and from each other in a rigid spaced array, thereby exposing the drill support panels.

LAURENCE H. DROHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 374,589 Davis Dec. 13, 1887 730,493 Van Valkenburg June 9, 1903 906,153 Von Ohlen Dec. 8, 1908 1,018,729 Sine Feb. 27, 1912 1,622,818 Wismer et a1 Mar. 29, 1927 2,269,637 Palkosnik Jan. 13, 1942 2,305,021 Meier Dec. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 154,997 Great Britain Dec. 6. 1920

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