US20020180318A1

US20020180318A1 - Combination workshop and tool storage cabinet

Info

Publication number: US20020180318A1
Application number: US09/871,843
Authority: US
Inventors: Mike Bitner; Anna Bitner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-01
Filing date: 2001-06-01
Publication date: 2002-12-05

Abstract

A combination workshop and tool storage cabinet including a main compartment having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front. The open front is divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider. An inner surface of the back wall and sidewalls within the upper section is defined by a peg board. A pair of side compartments is coupled with respect to the opposed side walls of the main compartment. Each of the side compartments has a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front. The opposed side walls include an interior side wall hingedly coupled with the opposed side walls of the main compartment. The open front is divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider. The lower section has an elongated lateral slot formed therein. A pair of side tables is adapted for coupling with the pair of side compartments.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combination workshop and tool storage cabinet and more particularly pertains to allowing a person to have a complete workshop that requires a reduced amount of space.

Many handymen liked to accumulate tools to perform a variety of tasks out of their garage, attic, or basement. The problem most handymen encounter is the lack of storage space available to hold all of their tools. A further problem exists in that most handymen do not have a desirable work space due to these space restrictions. Thus, the handyman is usually confined to a limited work space and cannot afford the luxury of spreading his work out over a large area. What is needed is a device that will hold a plurality of tools, take up a limited amount of space, and provide ample work space for a handyman to perform a variety of tasks.

The present invention attempts to solve the abovementioned problem by providing a space saving, multi-use device that will allow handymen the luxury of having a complete workshop in their garage, attic or basement, but only requires a fraction of the space necessitated by traditional facilities.

The use of workbenches and tool cabinets is known in the prior art. More specifically, workbenches and tool cabinets heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of providing storage and work areas are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 402,133 to Abderson discloses the ornamental appearance for a portable storage tool cabinet. U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,703 to Cimino discloses a combination tool chest and workbench. U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,441 to Torena discloses a toll back pack apparatus having shoulder straps in order to allow one to carry the same on his or her back. U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,659 to Boes et al. discloses a tool cart having a plurality of tool supports. U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,649 to Breining discloses means for making available tools and materials. U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,037 to Faulhaber discloses a mobile tool storage box and work bench combination. U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,129 to Stein discloses a construction for a toolbox.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a combination workshop and tool storage cabinet for allowing a person to have a complete workshop that requires a reduced amount of space.

In this respect, the combination workshop and tool storage cabinet, according to the present invention, substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a person to have a complete workshop that requires a reduced amount of space.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet which can be used for allowing a person to have a complete workshop that requires a reduced amount of space. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of workbenches and tool cabinets now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a main compartment having a generally rectangular configuration. The main compartment has a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front. The open front is divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider. An inner surface of the back wall within the upper section is defined by a peg board. The open front of the lower section has a pair of doors hingedly coupled thereto. The lower section has a shelf disposed therein. The bottom wall has four locking swivel casters disposed thereon. A pair of side compartments is coupled with respect to the opposed side walls of the main compartment. Each of the side compartments has a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front. The opposed side walls include an interior side wall hingedly coupled with the opposed side walls of the main compartment. The open front is divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider. An inner surface of the back wall and sidewalls within the upper section is defined by a peg board. The lower section has an elongated lateral slot formed therein. The lower section has a plurality of slidable drawers disposed therein. The bottom wall has four locking swivel casters disposed thereon. The back walls of the side compartments have corresponding locking hardware thereon. A pair of side tables is adapted for coupling with the pair of side compartments. The side tables are defined by an elongated top having an inner edge and an outer edge. The inner edge is receivable within the elongated lateral slot of the side compartment. The elongated top has a foldable inverted U-shaped leg coupled thereto inwardly of the outer edge. The outer edge has a lip extending outwardly therefrom. The elongated top has an opening therethrough inwardly of the inner edge. The opening has a cover member removably positioned therein.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet which has all the advantages of the prior art workbenches and tool cabinets and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet which is susceptible to a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a combination workshop and tool storage cabinet economically available to the buying public.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet for allowing a person to have a complete workshop that requires a reduced amount of space. The workshop is completely self contained so that it may be stored neatly and compactly between uses.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet including a main compartment having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front. The open front is divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider. An inner surface of the back wall and sidewalls within the upper section is defined by a peg board. A pair of side compartments is coupled with respect to the opposed side walls of the main compartment. Each of the side compartments has a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front. The opposed side walls include an interior side wall hingedly coupled with the opposed side walls of the main compartment. The open front is divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider. The lower section has an elongated lateral slot formed therein. A pair of side tables is adapted for coupling with the pair of side compartments.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: [0021]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the combination workshop and tool storage cabinet constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. [0022]
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention. [0023]
FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention illustrated in a partially opened orientation. [0024]
FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention illustrated in a fully opened orientation. [0025]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrated in the fully opened orientation with the work benches positioned in place. [0026]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 5, except wherein the work benches have been removed from the position shown in FIG. 5, and wherein one of the work benches is being stored in a recess in the front of the main compartment.[0027]
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures. [0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS. [0029] 1 through five thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved combination workshop and tool storage cabinet embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.
Specifically, it will be noted in the various Figures that the device relates to a combination workshop and tool storage cabinet for allowing a person to have a complete workshop that requires a reduced amount of space. In its broadest context, the device consists of a main compartment, a pair of side compartments, and a pair of side tables. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. [0030]
The [0031] main compartment 12 has a generally rectangular configuration. The main compartment 12 has a top wall 14, a bottom wall 16, a back wall 18, opposed side walls 20 and an open front. The open front is divided into an upper section 22 and a lower section 24 by a horizontal divider. An inner surface of the back wall 18 and the sidewalls 20 within the upper section 22 is defined by a peg board. The open front of the lower section 24 has a pair of doors 26 hingedly coupled thereto. The doors 26 are recessed from the open front to facilitate storage of the side tables as will be described and shown hereinafter. The doors 26 are provided with the requisite hardware to allow the doors to be easily opened and closed and, optionally, locked. The lower section 24 has a shelf 28 disposed therein. The bottom wall 16 has four locking swivel casters 30 disposed thereon.
The pair of side compartments [0032] 32 are coupled with respect to the opposed side walls 20 of the main compartment 12. Each of the side compartments 32 has a top wall 34, a bottom wall 36, a back wall 38, opposed side walls 40 and an open front. The opposed side walls 40 include an interior side wall hingeably coupled with the opposed side walls 20 of the main compartment 12. Thus, the side compartments 32 can be fully opened whereby the interior side walls thereof are flush against the opposed side walls 20 of the main compartment 12. Note FIGS. 3-5. In a closed orientation, the side compartments 32 will be folded inwardly whereby the open fronts of the side compartments 32 and the open front of the main compartment 12 will be in a facing relationship with exterior side walls of the side compartments 12 flush against each other. The open front is divided into an upper section 42 and a lower section 44 by a horizontal divider. An inner surface of the back wall 38 the sidewalls 40 within the upper section 42 is defined by a peg board. The peg board allows for tools to be hung within the main compartment 12 and the side compartments 32. The peg board 15 include on the opposed side walls 20 and 40 inside both the main compartment 12 and side compartments 32, so that all vertical surfaces of upper sections 22 and 42 can be used to maximize tool hanging capability therein.
The [0033] lower section 44 of the side compartments 32 each have an elongated lateral slot 46 formed therein. Each lower section 44 also has a plurality of slidable drawers 48 disposed therein. The bottom wall 36 has four locking swivel casters 50 disposed thereon. The casters 50 provide stability and allow the user to easily situate, maneuver and/or relocate the device 10. The back walls 38 of the side compartments 32 have corresponding locking hardware 52 thereon. The locking hardware 52 will allow the device 10 to be locked in the closed orientation.
The pair of side tables [0034] 54 are adapted for coupling with the pair of side compartments 32. The side tables 54 are defined by an elongated top 56 having an inner edge 58 and an outer edge 60. The inner edge 58 is receivable within the elongated lateral slot 46 of the side compartment 32. The elongated top 56 has a foldable inverted U-shaped leg 62 coupled beneath the elongated top 56, inwardly of the outer edge 60. Once the inner edge 58 has been positioned within lateral slot 46, the leg 62 can be lowered to support the elongated top 56 in an orientation essentially parallel to a ground surface to provide a work surface. The outer edge 60 has a lip 64 extending outwardly therefrom. The lip 64 allows the side tables 54 to be joined together to provided a longer work surface. In this orientation, one of the side tables 54 is positioned with respect to the side compartment 32 in a standard orientation. The inner edge 58 of the other side table 64 is then positioned on the lip 64 of the other table 54 to provide a work surface that is twice as long. The elongated top 56 has an opening 66 therethrough inwardly of the inner edge 58. The opening 66 allows the user access to the slidable drawers 48 without having to remove the elongated top 56. The opening 66 has a cover member 68 positioned therein, wherein the cover member 68 is attached to the elongated top 56 with a hinge 69, which allows the cover member 68 to be selectively pivoted upward to provide access to the slidable drawers, or positioned flush with the elongated top 56 to act as a contiguous work surface. The hinges 69 may be placed above or below the elongated top 56.
Just prior to folding the side compartments [0035] 32 against the main compartment 12, the side tables 54 and 64 are removed from the elongated lateral slots 46 of the side compartments 32. Once so removed, the side tables 54 are stowed within the main compartment 12. In particular, in FIG. 6, one of the elongated tops 56 is shown stored vertically within the recess into the open front of the main compartment. Appropriate provision is also made for storage of the U-shaped legs 62, to meet the goal that the combination workshop and tool storage cabinet be fully self-contained.
Alternately, the [0036] device 10 can be outfitted with a vice, electrical outlets, drill press, bench grinder, auxiliary lighting, and any number of optional tools, devices, and equipment to suit the needs of the user.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. [0037]
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. [0038]
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. [0039]

Claims

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A combination workshop and tool storage cabinet for allowing a person to have a complete workshop that requires a reduced amount of space comprising, in combination:

a main compartment having a generally rectangular configuration, the main compartment having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front, the open front being divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider, an inner surface of the back wall and sidewalls within the upper section being defined by a peg board, the open front of the lower section having a pair of doors hingeably coupled thereto, the lower section having a shelf disposed therein, the bottom wall having four locking swivel casters disposed thereon;

a pair of side compartments coupled with respect to the opposed side walls of the main compartment, the side compartments each having a generally rectangular configuration, each of the side compartments having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front, the opposed side walls including an interior side wall hingeably coupled with the opposed side walls of the main compartment, the open front being divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider, an inner surface of the back wall and sidewalls within the upper section being defined by a peg board, the lower section having an elongated lateral slot formed therein, the lower section having a plurality of slidable drawers disposed therein, the bottom wall having four locking swivel casters disposed thereon, the back walls of the side compartments having corresponding locking hardware thereon; and

a pair of side tables adapted for coupling with the pair of side compartments, the side tables being defined by an elongated top having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being receivable within the elongated lateral slot of the side compartment, the elongated top having a foldable inverted U-shaped leg coupled thereto inwardly of the outer edge, the outer edge having a lip extending outwardly therefrom, the elongated top having an opening therethrough inwardly of the inner edge, the opening having a cover member removably positioned therein.

2. A combination workshop and tool storage cabinet for allowing a person to have a complete workshop that requires a reduced amount of space comprising, in combination:

a main compartment having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front, the open front being divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider, an inner surface of the back wall and sidewalls within the upper section being defined by a peg board;

a pair of side compartments coupled with respect to the opposed side walls of the main compartment, each of the side compartments having a top wall, a bottom wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an open front, the opposed side walls including an interior side wall hingeably coupled with the opposed side walls of the main compartment, the open front being divided into an upper section and a lower section by a horizontal divider, the lower section having an elongated lateral slot formed therein; and

a pair of side tables adapted for coupling with the pair of side compartments.

3. The combination workshop and tool storage cabinet as set forth in claim two, wherein the open front of the lower section of the main compartment has a pair of doors hingeably coupled thereto, the lower section having a shelf disposed therein.

4. The combination workshop and tool storage cabinet as set forth in claim two, wherein the bottom walls of the main compartment and the side compartments each have four locking swivel casters disposed thereon.

5. The combination workshop and tool storage cabinet as set forth in claim two, wherein the lower sections of the side compartments each have a plurality of slidable drawers disposed therein.

6. The combination workshop and tool storage cabinet as set forth in claim two, wherein the back walls of the side compartments each have corresponding locking hardware thereon.

7. The combination workshop and tool storage cabinet as set forth in claim five, wherein the side tables are defined by an elongated top having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being receivable within the elongated lateral slot of the side compartment.

8. The combination workshop and tool storage cabinet as set forth in claim seven, wherein the elongated top has a foldable inverted U-shaped leg coupled beneath the elongated top, inwardly of the outer edge.

9. The combination workshop and tool storage cabinet as set forth in claim seven, wherein the outer edge of the elongated top has a lip extending outwardly therefrom.

10. The combination workshop and tool storage cabinet as set forth in claim seven, wherein the elongated top has an opening therethrough inwardly of the inner edge, the opening having a cover member removably positioned therein.