Toolbox with external compartment

Abstract

A tool box includes a container having a bottom wall structure and a plurality of side walls structures, the side wall structures being connected to the bottom wall structure and extending upwardly therefrom to define an interior storage space configured to receive one or more items for storage therein and to define an opening into the storage space. A lid structure is movable between a closed position in which the lid structure is mounted on the container in covering relation to the opening and an open position in which at least a portion of the lid structure is spaced from the opening to allow movement of items into and out of the storage space through the opening. A latch assembly releasably holds the lid structure in its closed position. Each of the container and the lid structure in its closed position have exterior surfaces that provide exterior surface portions of the toolbox. An external compartment is mounted on an exterior surface portion of the toolbox and provides a compartment storage space and a compartment cover.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toolbox for storing and transporting items, comprising: 
 a container including a bottom wall structure and a plurality of side walls structures, said side wall structures extending upwardly from said bottom wall structure to define an interior storage space configured to receive one or more items for storage therein and to define an opening into said storage space;    a lid structure pivotally connected to said container and being movable between (a) a closed position in which the lid structure is in covering relation to the opening and (b) an open position to allow placement of items into and out of the storage space through the opening;    a releasable latch assembly that can releaseably hold said lid structure in its closed position;    a handle mounted on said lid structure;    said container and said lid structure having exterior surfaces that provide exterior surface portions of the toolbox; and    an external compartment removably mounted on an exterior surface portion of the toolbox, said external compartment having a compartment storage space and a compartment cover, the compartment cover being movable between an open position in which the storage space is accessible and a closed position.    
     
     
         2 . A toolbox according to  claim 1 , wherein said external compartment is mounted on an exterior surface of said lid structure.  
     
     
         3 . A toolbox according to  claim 2 , wherein said lid structure includes a recess and wherein said external compartment is mounted in said recess.  
     
     
         4 . A toolbox according to  claim 1 , wherein said external compartment is mounted on an exterior side surface of said container.  
     
     
         5 . A toolbox according to  claim 4 , wherein one of said side wall structures of said container includes a recess and wherein said external compartment is mounted in said recess.  
     
     
         6 . A toolbox according to  claim 5 , wherein said recess is in a center of said one side of said wall structures.  
     
     
         7 . A toolbox according to  claim 1 , said external compartment comprising drill bit case configured to store a plurality of drill bits.  
     
     
         8 . A toolbox according to  claim 7 , wherein said drill bit case is removably mounted to said toolbox.  
     
     
         9 . A toolbox according to  claim 7 , wherein said drill bit case is pivotally mounted to said exterior of said toolbox for movement between an access position in which drill bits stored therein are accessible and a storage position.  
     
     
         10 . A toolbox according to  claim 9 , wherein said drill bit case is mounted on an exterior surface portion of said container.  
     
     
         11 . A toolbox according to  claim 9 , wherein said exterior of said container includes a recess and wherein said drill bit case is mounted within said recess of said container.  
     
     
         12 . A toolbox according to  claim 1 , said external compartment comprising a pouch.  
     
     
         13 . A toolbox according to  claim 12 , wherein said pouch is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of a cloth, a leather, a plastic, a vinyl, a nylon, a Kevlar, a textile, and a fabric.  
     
     
         14 . A toolbox according to  claim 13 , wherein said compartment cover is releasably held in its closed position.  
     
     
         15 . A toolbox according to  claim 12 , wherein said pouch is removably mounted to said exterior surface portion of said toolbox.  
     
     
         16 . A toolbox according to  claim 12 , wherein said exterior of said toolbox includes a recess, and wherein said pouch is mounted within said recess.  
     
     
         17 . A toolbox according to  claim 16 , wherein said pouch is removably mounted within said recess.  
     
     
         18 . A toolbox according to  claim 17 , wherein said recess is formed on said container.  
     
     
         19 . A toolbox according to  claim 1 , said external compartment comprising a foldable wallet structure.  
     
     
         20 . A toolbox according to  claim 19 , wherein said wallet structure is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of a cloth, a leather, a plastic, a vinyl, a nylon, a kevlar, a textile, and a fabric.  
     
     
         21 . A toolbox according to  claim 19 , wherein said wallet structure is an elongated structure, said compartment cover being mounted to a first end of said elongated structure and a portion of said first end of said elongated structure being mounted on the exterior of said toolbox, said wallet structure being constructed and arranged such that when said wallet structure is in its closed position, a second end of said elongated structure is secured to said compartment cover and such that when said wallet structure is in its open position, the second end of said elongated structure extends outwardly from said toolbox; 
 said elongated structure including a tool holding members mounted thereon, said tool holding member being constructed and arranged to hold a series of tools on said elongated structure for storage.    
     
     
         22 . A toolbox according to  claim 21 , wherein said toolbox includes a recess on the exterior thereof and wherein said wallet structure is mounted within said recess in its closed position.  
     
     
         23 . A toolbox for storing and transporting items, comprising: 
 a container including a bottom wall structure and a plurality of side walls structures, said side wall structures including a front side wall, said side wall structures extending upwardly from said bottom wall structure to define an interior storage space configured to receive one or more items for storage therein and to define an opening into said storage space;    a lid structure pivotally connected to said container and being movable between (a) a closed position in which the lid structure is in covering relation to the opening and (b) an open position to allow placement of items into and out of the storage space through the opening;    a releasable latch assembly that can releaseably hold said lid structure in its closed position;    a handle mounted on said lid structure;    said container and said lid structure having exterior surfaces that provide exterior surface portions of the toolbox;    said front side wall structure of said container including a recess;    an external compartment mounted in said recess, said external compartment having a compartment storage space and a compartment cover, the compartment cover being movable between an open position in which the storage space is accessible and a closed position.    
     
     
         24 . A toolbox according to  claim 23 , wherein said recess is in a center of said front side wall of said container.  
     
     
         25 . A toolbox according to  claim 24 , said external compartment comprising tool bit case configured to store a plurality of bits.  
     
     
         26 . A toolbox according to  claim 25 , wherein said tool bit case is removably mounted in said recess.  
     
     
         27 . A toolbox according to  claim 25 , wherein said tool bit case is pivotally mounted in said recess for movement between a storage position in which said tool bit case is within said recess and an access position in which a portion of said tool bit case extends out of said recess.  
     
     
         28 . A toolbox according to  claim 23 , said external compartment comprising a pouch.  
     
     
         29 . A toolbox according to  claim 28 , wherein said pouch is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of a cloth, a leather, a plastic, a vinyl, a nylon, a kevlar, a textile, and a fabric.  
     
     
         30 . A toolbox according to  claim 29 , wherein said compartment cover is releasably held in its closed position.  
     
     
         31 . A toolbox according to  claim 28 , wherein said pouch is removably mounted to said exterior surface portion of said toolbox.  
     
     
         32 . A toolbox according to  claim 23 , said external compartment comprising a foldable wallet structure.  
     
     
         33 . A toolbox according to  claim 32 , wherein said wallet structure is constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of a cloth, a leather, a plastic, a vinyl, a nylon, a kevlar, a textile, and a fabric.  
     
     
         34 . A toolbox according to  claim 33 , wherein said wallet structure is an elongated structure, said compartment cover being mounted to a first end of said elongated structure and a portion of said first end of said elongated structure being mounted on the exterior of said toolbox, said wallet structure being constructed and arranged such that when said wallet structure is in its closed position, a second end of said elongated structure is secured to said compartment cover and such that when said wallet structure is in its open position, the second end of said elongated structure extends outwardly from said toolbox; 
 said elongated structure including a tool holding members mounted thereon, said tool holding member being constructed and arranged to hold a series of tools on said elongated structure for storage.    
     
     
         35 . A toolbox according to  claim 34 , wherein said toolbox includes a recess on the exterior thereof and wherein said wallet structure is mounted within said recess in its closed position.  
     
     
         36 . A toolbox for storing and transporting items, comprising: 
 a container including a bottom wall structure and a plurality of side walls structures, said side wall structures extending upwardly from said bottom wall structure to define an interior storage space configured to receive one or more items for storage therein and to define an opening into said storage space;    a lid structure pivotally connected to said container and being movable between (a) a closed position in which the lid structure is in covering relation to the opening and (b) an open position to allow placement of items into and out of the storage space through the opening;    a releasable latch assembly that can releaseably hold said lid structure in its closed position;    a handle mounted on said lid structure;    said container and said lid structure having exterior surfaces that provide exterior surface portions of the toolbox; and    a tool bit case mounted on an exterior surface portion of said container.    
     
     
         37 . A toolbox according to  claim 36 , wherein one of said side wall structures of said container includes a recess and wherein said tool bit case is mounted in said recess.  
     
     
         38 . A toolbox according to  claim 37 , wherein said recess is in a center portion of a front side wall of said container.  
     
     
         39 . A toolbox according to  claim 38 , wherein said tool bit case is removably mounted to said toolbox.  
     
     
         40 . A toolbox according to  claim 38 , wherein said tool bit case is pivotally mounted in said recess for movement between a storage position in which said tool bit case is within said recess and an access position in which a portion of said tool bit case extends out of said recess.  
     
     
         41 . A toolbox according to  claim 36 , wherein said tool bit case is configured to store a plurality of drill bits.  
     
     
         42 . A toolbox for storing and transporting items, comprising: 
 a container including a bottom wall structure and a plurality of side walls structures, said side wall structures extending upwardly from said bottom wall structure to define an interior storage space configured to receive one or more items for storage therein and to define an opening into said storage space;    a lid structure pivotally connected to said container and being movable between (a) a closed position in which the lid structure is in covering relation to the opening and (b) an open position to allow placement of items into and out of the storage space through the opening;    a releasable latch assembly that can releaseably hold said lid structure in its closed position;    a handle mounted on said lid structure;    said container and said lid structure having exterior surfaces that provide exterior surface portions of the toolbox; and    a pouch mounted on an exterior surface portion of the container.    
     
     
         43 . A toolbox according to  claim 42 , wherein a front side wall structure of said container includes a recess and wherein said pouch is mounted in said recess.  
     
     
         44 . A toolbox according to  claim 43 , wherein said pouch is removably mounted to said toolbox.  
     
     
         45 . A toolbox for storing and transporting items, comprising: 
 a container including a bottom wall structure and a plurality of side walls structures, said side wall structures extending upwardly from said bottom wall structure to define an interior storage space configured to receive one or more items for storage therein and to define an opening into said storage space;    a lid structure pivotally connected to said container and being movable between (a) a closed position in which the lid structure is in covering relation to the opening and (b) an open position to allow placement of items into and out of the storage space through the opening;    a releasable latch assembly that can releaseably hold said lid structure in its closed position;    a handle mounted on said lid structure;    said container and said lid structure having exterior surfaces that provide exterior surface portions of the toolbox; and    a foldable wallet structure on an exterior surface portion of said container.    
     
     
         46 . A toolbox according to  claim 45 , wherein a front side wall structure of said container includes a recess and wherein said wallet structure is mounted in said recess.  
     
     
         47 . A toolbox according to  claim 46 , wherein said wallet structure is removably mounted to said toolbox.  
     
     
         48 . A toolbox for storing and transporting items, comprising: 
 a container including a bottom wall structure and a plurality of side walls structures, said side wall structures extending upwardly from said bottom wall structure to define an interior storage space configured to receive one or more items for storage therein and to define an opening into said storage space;    a lid structure pivotally connected to said container and being movable between (a) a closed position in which said lid structure is in covering relation to the opening and (b) an open position to allow placement of items into and removal of items from the storage space through the opening;    a releasable latch assembly that can releaseably hold said lid structure in its closed position;    a handle mounted on said toolbox;    said lid structure including a plurality of storage wells therein;    a plurality of containers removably mounted in said storage wells; and    a secondary cover member movable between (a) a closed position in which said secondary cover member is mounted on said lid structure in covering relation to said storage wells and to said containers therein and (b) an open position to allow placement of said containers into said storage wells and removal of said containers from said storage wells.    
     
     
         49 . A toolbox according to  claim 48 , wherein said secondary cover member is pivotally mounted to said lid structure.  
     
     
         50 . A toolbox according to  claim 49 , wherein each of said container, said lid structure, said secondary cover member and each said container structure is constructed of a molded plastic.  
     
     
         51 . A toolbox according to  claim 50 , wherein each said storage well is integrally molded in said lid structure.  
     
     
         52 . A toolbox according to  claim 48 , wherein each container structure is mounted in a respective storage well and wherein each container structure has a shape corresponding to the shape of the storage well in which it is removably mounted.  
     
     
         53 . A toolbox according to  claim 48 , wherein each container structure is constructed and arranged to stand in an upright position on a ground surface.  
     
     
         54 . A toolbox according to  claim 48 , wherein said secondary cover member can be releasably latched in its closed position.