GB2114542A - Tool box trays - Google Patents

Abstract

A generally cuboid tray is formed from a single pre-finished flat steel blank by bending up side walls 22, 24 and end walls 26 from an oblong rectangular central portion. Tabs 30, 32 of the end walls are turned inwards to overlap the side walls on the inside and are gripped by folded-over top edge portions 38, 40 of the side walls. A one-piece pre-finished steel lid 42 is pivotally mounted by means of rivets passing through the end walls of the tray and overlying hinge flaps 44 of the lid. Alternatively the lid, and parallel-linkage links for coupling a set of trays in a cantilever tool box, can be secured by means of integral eyelets pressed out from the end walls. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cantilever tool boxes A cantilever tool box comprises a plurality of tool-holding trays, commonlythree or five, which are coupled together by parallel-linkages. In a closed condition of the box the trays are stacked, with a wide tray atthe bottom ofthe stack and one or more pairs of narrow trays stacked on top of it. When the box is opened, the trays in each pair separate to expose the trayortrays beneath.

Traysfor such tool boxes are usually of steel and fabricated from several pressed sheet-metal com ponentswhich are welded (e.g. spot welded) together.

For example, the components for a tray may comprise a body pressing which provides a base and side walls of the tray, and two end caps which are welded to the body pressing and provide end walls of the tray.

Trays are usually finished by painting after con- struction. Clearly itwould be undesirableto painttray components before construction involving welding, since paint would have to be removed locallyto allow welding, and the welding operation would tend to mark and spoil sufrounding paintwork. Similarly, it is usually not practicable to use galvanised or other prefinished metal components.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method of making a tray for a cantilever tool box, which can enablethetrayto be made in one piece from a prefinished metal.

The invention provides in one of its aspects a method of making a trayfora cantilevertool box comprising bending a single sheet-metal blankto form the base, side walls and end walls of a generally cuboid open-topped tray, flaps ofthe blank providing side and end walls of the tray being secured together byfolding-overa top edge portion ofoneflap to grip an overlapping portion of an adjacentflap.

A complete tray can thus be made in one piece, and withoutanyneedforwelding. Not only can this reducethe number of manufacturing steps, leading to more effecient production, but it also facilitates the use of prefinished metals, which both eliminates the needfor painting after construction of the tray and allowsthe manufacturerto take advantage of the wide range of attractive pre-finishes available, which can enhance the appearance of his product.

In a preferred arrangement, top edge portions of side wall flaps are made to grip projecting tabs of end wall flaps adjacent corners ofthetray. A side wall flap may be folded-over along the whole of its length in orderto grip overlapping tabs adajcent its two ends.

Alternatively, in such an arrangement, the flap may be folded overfor only part of its length adjacent each end.

A pivoted lid is usually required to cover each ofthe two top trays in a cantilever tool box. Preferably the lid also is formed in one piece from sheet metal withoutwelding in order that advantage can be taken of the use of a prefinished material. In a preferred form the lid comprises hinge flaps which, assembled with a tray, partially overlie the end walls of the tray, a rivet or otherform of pivot pin pivotally coupling the hinge flap to the end wall.

Conventionally the end walls of a tray are apertured to receive rivets for coupling the parallel-linkages, and lids, to the trays in an assembled tool box.

In another of its aspects, the invention provides a cantilever tool box tray comprising an end wall formed from a sheet metal blank from which tubular portions have been pressed outto provide eyelets, integral with the wall, by means ofwhich links of a parallel-linkage can be pivotally mounted.

There now follows a description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a method of making a tray for a cantilever tool box, which illustrates the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 shows a sheet metal blank; Figure 2 is a side view of a tray formed from the blank; Figure 3 is an end view ofthe tray, with a lid fitted; and Figure 4 is a scrap section illustrating an integral eyelet of an alternative tray construction.

The blank (Figure 1) for the tray is of prefinished steel. It comprises an oblong rectangular central portion 10, and sidewall flaps 12, 14and end wall flaps 16,18 extend from the four notional edges of the central portion. There are three apertured bosses 20 pressed from each of the end wall flaps 16, 18.

To form the tray, the blank is bent to turn the flaps 12,14,16,18from the plane of the central portion 10.

A cuboid open-topped tray is formed, the central portion 10 of the blank providing the bottom ofthe tray, and the side wall flaps 12,14 and the end wall flaps 16,18 providing the side walls 22,24 and end walls 26,28 respectively.

The end wall flaps 16, 18 each comprise two portions providing tabs 30,32 which are turned from the plane ofthat portion providing the end wall of the constructed tray to project perpendicularly from the end wall into the tray, the tabs overlapping and closely overlying the side walls on the inside. To retain thefourflaps 12,14, 16, 18 in position, top edge portions 34,36,38,40 ofthe side wall flaps 12,14are folded-overto grip the fourtabs 30,32 (see Figure 3); as shown in the drawings, each side wall flap is folded over along the whole of its length,though it is only essential, for holding the tabs, to fold the flap for a small partofits length adjacent each end.

In Figure 3 is shown the tray assembled with a pivoted lid 42. The lid also is formed in one piece, from a single blank of prefinished sheet steel. The lid comprises hinge flaps 44which depend from each end ofthe lid top to overlie one of the apertures in an end wall 26 of the tray. Each hinge flap 44 is pivotally mounted by means of a rivet (not shown) passing through the aperture in the adjacent end wall. Afront edge portion 46 of the lid is formed with a raised portion 48, centrally of the length of the lid and tray, to provide an aperture (not shown); in an assembled tool box, comprising two similar lids having their front edges adjacent, the lids can be secured closed by such means as a padlock.

The other two apertured bosses 20 in each end wall are forth purposes of mounting parallel-linkages which couple together the trays of an assembled cantilever tool box. The bottom tray of the box can be constructed in a similar mannerto that described above.

In orderto avoid the necessityto use separate rivets, or similarfastenings, in conjunction with apertures inthe end walls,tubular portion 50 providing integral eyelets may be pressed out from an end-wall blankto provide lid and link mounting points. After mounting an apertured hinge flap or link on the eyelet, the free end of the eyelet would be turned outwards, as in setting a conventional eyelet, to securetheflap or link pivotally.

Claims (10)

1. Amethod of making atrayfora cantilevertool box comprising bending a single sheet-metal blank to form the base, side walls and end walls of a generally cuboid open-topped tray, flaps of the blank providing side and end walls ofthe tray being secured together by folding-over a top edge portion of one flap to grip an over-lapping portion of an adjacent flap.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which top edge portions of side wall flaps are made to grip projecting tabs of end wall flaps adjacent corners of the tray.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which the side wail flaps are folded-over along the whole of their lengths in orderto grip overlapping tabs adjacent their ends.

4. A method according to anyone ofthe preceding claims in which a lid formed in one piece from sheet metal is secured to the tray, hinge flaps of the lid which partially overlie the end walls of the tray being pivotallycoupled to the end walls by means of pivot pins.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which tubular portions are pressed out from the end walls to provide eyelets, integral with the walls, by means of which links of a parallel-linkage can be pivotally mounted.

6. A cantilever tool box tray made by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Amethodofmakingacantilevertool boxtray substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A cantilevertool box tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A cantilevertool boxtraycomprising sheet metal endwallsfrom which tubular portions have been pressed out to provide eyelets, integral with the walls, by means of which links of a parallel-linkage can be pivotally mounted.

10. Atray according to claim 9 in which three eyelets are so provided in each end wall.