US20060191946A1

US20060191946A1 - Handle assembly for tool box

Info

Publication number: US20060191946A1
Application number: US10/895,478
Authority: US
Inventors: Pei-Ling Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-21
Filing date: 2004-07-21
Publication date: 2006-08-31

Abstract

A handle assembly for a tool box includes a first part and a second part. A handle portion integrally connected to the base or cover of the tool box is sandwiched between the first part and the second part. Each of the first and second parts includes a stiff inner layer and a soft outer layer which is mounted to an outer surface of the stiff inner layer. Each of the first and second parts includes a connection device and the two parts are connected to each other by connecting the two respective connection devices.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a handle assembly composed of two parts snapped with each other and the handle is sandwiched between the two parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional tool box 1 is disclosed in FIG. 1 and generally includes a base 10 and a cover 11 which is pivotably connected to the base 10 at a side thereof and two locking members 12 are connected to the cover 11 such that the base 10 and the cover 11 can be locked by snapping the locking members 12 to correspondent members on the base 10. Each of the base 10 and the cover 11 includes a handle 13 which is integrally connected thereto. The handles 13 are made by stiff material which cannot provide a comfortable graspingness to the users. Besides, the handle is integral to the tool box and the outer appearance of the handle cannot be changed. If a new handle is to be made, the manufacturers have to develop new molds for the whole tool box and this costs much.
The present invention intends to provide handle assembly for a tool box and the assembly includes two parts each with a soft outer layer. The two parts are snapped from two sides of the handle portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tool box that comprises a cover connected to a base. A handle portion is integrally connected to the cover. A first part includes a first stiff inner layer and a first soft outer layer which is mounted to an outer surface of the first stiff inner layer. A first connection device is connected to the first stiff inner layer. A second part includes a second stiff inner layer and a second soft outer layer which is mounted to an outer surface of the second stiff inner layer. A second connection device is connected to the second stiff inner layer. The handle portion is sandwiched between the first and second parts and the first connection device is connected to the second connection device.
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 a perspective view to show a conventional tool box;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the handle assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the handle assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the handle assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 5 shows the first connection device extends through the through hole of the handle portion, and
FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the connection of the first and second connection device in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the tool box 2 of the present invention comprises a cover 20 and a base 21 which is connected to a side of the cover 20. A handle portion 22 is integrally connected to the base 21 and is a curve bar whose two ends connected to the cover 20.
A first part 30 includes a first stiff inner layer 301 and a first soft outer layer 302 which is mounted to an outer surface of the first stiff inner layer 301. At least one protrusion 3011 extends from the outer surface of the first stiff inner layer 301. A top surface of the at least one protrusion 3011 is in flush with the first soft outer layer 302 and not covered by the first soft outer layer 302. The top surface of 10 the at least one protrusion 3011 can be put on a pattern or a mark thereon. A first connection device 303 is connected to a periphery of the first stiff inner layer 301.
A second part 31 includes a second stiff inner layer 311 and a second soft outer layer 312 which is mounted to an outer surface of the second stiff inner layer 311. At least one protrusion 3111 extends from the outer surface of the second stiff inner layer 311. A top surface of the at least one protrusion 3111 is in flush with the second soft outer layer 312 and not covered by the second soft outer layer 312. The top surface of the at least one protrusion 3111 can be put on a pattern or a mark thereon. A second connection device 313 is connected to a periphery of the second stiff inner layer 311. The first stiff inner layer 301 has a recess 304 in which a part of the handle portion 22 is received. The second stiff inner layer 311 has a recess 314 in which a part of the handle portion 22 is received. The handle portion 22 is sandwiched between the first and second parts 30, 31 and the first connection device 303 is connected to the second connection device 313.
The soft outer layers 302, 312 provide a better graspingness and the protrusions 3011, 3111 make the handle assembly have an attractive outer appearance. The first and second part 30, 31 can be made by small molds which means less cost is required and the first and second parts 30, 31 can be replaced at a tow cost.
FIGS. 4 to 6 show another embodiment of the handle assembly wherein the first connection device 303 is a tube extending from an inner bottom of the first stiff inner layer 301 and the second connection device 313 is an insertion extending from an inner bottom of the second stiff inner layer 311. The handle portion 22 includes a through hole 23 and the insertion of the second connection device 313 extends into the through hole 23 and is inserted in the tube of the first connection device 303 which is extends in the through hole 23. The tube of the first connection device 303 can be expanded outward when the rod 313 of the second connection device 313 is inserted into the tube from a free open end of the tube. A plurality of hooks are formed on an outer surface of the tube and engaged with the engaging inner periphery 230 of the through hole 23 of the handle portion 22.
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 cover and a base which is connected to a side of the cover, a handle portion integrally connected to one of the cover and the base;

a first part including a first stiff inner layer and a first soft outer layer which is mounted to an outer surface of the first stiff inner layer, a first connection device connected to the first stiff inner layer, and

a second part including a second stiff inner layer and a second soft outer layer which is mounted to an outer surface of the second stiff inner layer, a second connection device connected to the second stiff inner layer, the handle portion being sandwiched between the first and second parts and the first connection device being connected to the second connection device.

2. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first stiff inner layer has a recess in which a part of the handle portion is received.

3. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second stiff inner layer has a recess in which a part of the handle portion is received.

4. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one protrusion extends from the outer surface of the first and second stiff inner layers, a top surface of the at least one protrusion being not covered by the first and second soft outer layers.

5. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connection device and the second connection device are located at a periphery of the first and second stiff inner layers.

6. The tool box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connection device is a tube extending from an inner bottom of the first stiff inner layer and-the second connection device is an insertion extending from an inner bottom of the second stiff inner layer, the handle portion includes a through hole and the insertion of the second connection device extends into the through hole and is inserted in the tube of the first connection device which is extends in the through hole.

7. The tool box as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tube of the first connection device expands outward when the rod of the second connection device is inserted into the tube from a free open end of the tube, a plurality of hooks formed on an outer surface of the tube and engaged with the engaging inner periphery of the through hole of the handle portion.