GB2406331A

GB2406331A - Toolbox and vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2406331A
Application number: GB0322207A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Julian Clifford Jeffries
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-23
Filing date: 2003-09-23
Publication date: 2005-03-30
Also published as: GB0322207D0

Abstract

A toolbox comprises a first housing module (1) for accommodating tools and a second housing module (2) within which is housed a vacuum cleaner the first module (1) lying against and being demountably coupled to the second module (2) so that the user may conveniently carry the vacuum cleaner assembled together with the first module (1) and, when required, the second module (2) may be demounted from the first module to enable the vacuum cleaner to be used wholly independently of the first module.

Description

240633 1

IMPROVED TOOLBOX

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an Improved toolbox that is especially useful for tradesmen such as plumbers and electricians who must carry their tools from site to site.

Backaround to the Invention

Tradesmen such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters all rely upon a range of different tools in order to carry out their trade and generally carry around a portable toolbox housing many of their most frequently used tools while having an even bigger selection of tools available in the rear of their van or workshop premises.

Since most jobs to be carried out are within domestic or commercial premises remote from the van or workshop, the portable toolbox is a vital piece of equipment to enable a job to be carried out efficiently, saving the tradesman from making repeated trips to and from his van or workshop.

The nature of the tools carried by the tradesman ranges from drills with assorted bits, screwdrivers, wrenches, clamps, bending and cutting equipment and the components or spare parts for common jobs, with the items required varying from trade to trade. One item of equipment that commonly is required by all trades, however, is a vacuum cleaner, which by its nature is normally bulky and would need to be carried by the workman either in one hand while carrying the toolbox in his other hand or else carried to or from the van in an additional trip.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a toolbox which comprises a rigid housing formed of a first housing module for accommodating tools and a second housing module within which is housed a vacuum cleaner, the first module lying against and being demountably coupled to the second module so that the user may conveniently carry the vacuum cleaner assembled together with the first module and, when required, the second module may be demounted from the first module to enable the vacuum cleaner to be used wholly independently of the first module.

Preferably the first housing module is an upper housing module that is mounted on top of the second / lower housing module.

Particularly preferably the upper module of the toolbox is adapted to serve as a stable level platform for the workman to stand on and suitably may be used as such when assembled to the lower module and when demounted from the lower module.

Suitably the toolbox further is provided with an electrical plug socket and the toolbox may serve as an electrical power extension unit to enable one or more electrical power tools to be coupled to mains electricity via the toolbox.

Suitably an electrical cable extending from the toolbox to plug into a mains socket to power the vacuum cleaner also supplies electrical power to the power extension socket of the toolbox.

Usefully, the power extension socket of the toolbox may also serve as a temporary home for parking the electrical plug of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner and electrical socket are otherwise not in use.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the toolbox with upper and lower modules assembled together; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lower module and of an overlying tray of the lower module, the upper module having been removed; and Figure 3 is an end elevation view of the assembled tool box.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

As shown in the figures, the preferred embodiment of the toolbox comprises an upper module 1 and a lower module 2 where the lower module 2 accommodates a vacuum cleaner 3 having a vacuum hose 4 extending from one end of the lower module 2 and an electrical mains power supply cable 5 with 13 amp plug extending from the other end of the lower module 2. One or both of the vacuum hose 4 and electrical power supply cable 5 may be retractable into the lower module 2. The lower module 2 has an air vent grille 12 in a sidewall.

The toolbox as a whole is suitably formed of a strong rigid plastics material construction and may, for example, be of nylon or ABS but could be a metal box construction. As assembled, the toolbox is carryable by means of a handle 6 on the upper face of the upper module 1 and may be carried by a user with only one hand instead of having to carry a toolbox and vacuum cleaner in separate hands.

The upper module 1 and the vacuum cleaner housed in the lower module 2 may be used entirely independently of each other when required so that the user may organise his resources to suit the workspace available and is able to far more easily move about the vacuum cleaner 3 for cleaning up than would be the case if the vacuum cleaner housing lower module 2 still remained coupled to the upper module 1. This ability to demount the primary tool-carrying upper module 1 from the vacuum cleaner-housing lower module 2 makes the improved toolbox a practical, versatile facility.

As further shown in Figure 1, the upper face of the upper module 1 incorporates foot pad surfaces 7a, 7b. The toolbox may serve as a stable level platform on which the workman may stand and this platform is functional even when the upper module 1 is demounted from the lower module 2 and used independently. Thus the toolbox of the present invention not only serves as a toolbox and as a vacuum cleaner but also as a dual height platform, being of maximal height when the upper and lower modules 1, 2 are assembled together or of lesser height when the upper module 1 is demounted from the lower module 2.

The Remountable nature of the upper module 1 and lower module 2 is suitably achieved through provision of latches/catches 8 with suitably one on each end or each side of the toolbox to extend between the upper module 1 and lower module 2.

These latches or catches 8 are easily disengagable when required but provide a firm and secure coupling of the upper and lower modules 1,2 when the toolbox is fully assembled. As shown in Figure 2, the latches/catches 8 are suitably provided on the lower module 2 to engage with the upper module 1. The latches/ catches 8 may also be part of or double as handles, or separate handles may be provided adjacent them to facilitate carrying the vacuum cleaner lower module 2 on its own.

In common with most toolboxes, this toolbox suitably has a number of toolholding trays that may be lifted out if required. One such tray 9 is generically illustrated as being provided in the upper module 1 and a second such tray 10 is illustrated as being provided to be mounted at the top of the lower module 2. Nevertheless, the primary tool holding capacity of the toolbox is in the upper module 1.

As mentioned, a further facility of the improved toolbox is the provision of an electrical plug socket 11 in one end of the toolbox and which enables the toolbox to function as an electrical power extension unit drawing power from a mains source via the electrical power cable 5. This electrical power socket 11 may also serve as a park for the electrical plug when it is uncoupled from the mains supply.

In light of the above description it will be appreciated that the toolbox of the present invention is highly efficient and in practice saves the workman a great deal of time and is far easier to carry and use than any conventionally available equipment. The capacity of the toolbox is maximised without compromising the portability of the vacuum cleaner through making the primary toolbox module 1 readily demountable from the vacuum cleaner holding lower module 2. Furthermore, the ability to use the upper module 1 as a two height platform simply by the act of mounting or demounting relative to the lower module 2 is also a great advantage.

As simple refinements of the toolbox, the lower module 1 suitably has a divider panel or sheet to lie atop the vacuum cleaner and provide capacity above the vacuum cleaner for storage for one or more items such as, for example, a dust sheet. The lower module 2 may have elongate handles provided in the middle of the major faces of the toolbox lower module 1 or even in the end faces to suit easy transportation of the lower module 2 and facilitate Remounting it from the upper module 1. The handle(s) of the base is/ are suitably adjustable to lie flat against the side of the base when not in use.

Claims

Claims 1 A toolbox which comprises a rigid housing formed of a first

housing module for accommodating tools and a second housing module within which is housed a vacuum cleaner, the first module lying against and being demountably coupled to the second module so that the user may conveniently carry the vacuum cleaner assembled together with the first module and, when required, the second module may be demounted from the first module to enable the vacuum cleaner to be used wholly independently of the first module.
2. A toolbox as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first housing module is an upper housing module that is mounted on top of the second / lower housing module.
3. A toolbox as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the upper module of the toolbox is adapted to serve as a stable level platform to stand on and may be used as such both when assembled to the lower module and when demounted from the lower module.
4. A toolbox as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the toolbox has an electrical cable extending from the toolbox to plug into a mains socket to power the vacuum cleaner and the toolbox is further provided with an electrical plug socket and may serve as an electrical power extension unit to enable one or more electrical power tools to be coupled to mains electricity via the toolbox.
5. A toolbox as claimed In Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the second module is provided with one or more handles whereby it may readily be carried independently of the first module.
6. A toolbox as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the second module is provided with two or more latches/catches, one on each end or opposing side thereof whereby the second module is demountably mounted to the first module.
7. A toolbox substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.