Case and organizer tray for a power tool

Abstract

A case for a power tool includes a cover member and base member coupled together along a hinge line. The cover and base members are configured to fold together along the hinge line to form an enclosed cavity. A first opening is provided in the case for receiving a first end of a power tool and a second opening is provided in the case for receiving a second end of a power tool. The handle of the power tool serves as the handle for the case. A storage tray includes a plate member having a first and a second half. A plurality of coupling elements are disposed on a surface of the plate member. The plate member is configured to fold along a hinge line such that the coupling elements face outwardly. A carrying case system is also described.

1 . A case for a power tool comprising: 
 a first casing section; and    a second casing section coupled to the first casing section along a casing hinge line,    wherein said first and second casing sections are configured to fold together along the casing hinge line to form an enclosed cavity between the first and second casing sections, with at least one of said first and second casing sections including a first opening and a second opening, said first opening configured to capture a first end of a power tool and said second opening configured to capture a second end of a power tool such that when a power tool is captured at its first and second ends by the first and second openings, the power tool serves as a handle for the case.    
   
   
       2 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second casing sections are made of a plastic material.  
   
   
       3 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the first casing is a cover member and the second casing is a base member, the first opening is defined in the base member, and the second opening is defined in the base member.  
   
   
       4 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein at least one capturing member is associated with one or both of the first and second openings for assisting in capturing the power tool in the corresponding opening.  
   
   
       5 . The case of  claim 4 , wherein the capturing member is a rib that is positioned inside the cavity and is configured to mate with a part of a power tool.  
   
   
       6 . The case of  claim 3 , wherein the first opening is defined on a side surface of the base member, near the top thereof, and the second opening is defined on an upwardly facing surface of the base member, near the bottom thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The case of  claim 3 , wherein the first opening is further defined in the cover member such that the first opening extends between the cover member and the base member.  
   
   
       8 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of hinges disposed along the casing hinge line and a plurality of latching components disposed between the first and second casing sections to lock the first and second casing sections together when the latching components are in a latched position.  
   
   
       9 . The case of  claim 8 , wherein each latching component includes a movable latch portion coupled to one of the first or second casing sections and a catch coupled to the other of the first or second casing sections, said catch having a surface for lockingly mating with the movable latch portion.  
   
   
       10 . The case of  claim 9 , wherein each latch portion is attached to the respective casing by a hinge, and each latch portion includes a lip for mating with the corresponding catch.  
   
   
       11 . The case of  claim 10 , wherein the hinges along the casing hinge line are living hinges, and the hinges of the latch portions are living hinges.  
   
   
       12 . The case of  claim 8 , wherein three latching components are provided in spaced relation to one another around at least a portion of an outer periphery of the case.  
   
   
       13 . The case of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one coupling member defined in the cavity, said at least one coupling member being associated with at least one of the first and second casing sections and being configured for receiving a storage tray.  
   
   
       14 . The case of  claim 13 , wherein the coupling member includes opposed channels configured to accept the ends of a storage tray to hold the tray in a fixed position within the cavity.  
   
   
       15 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity defined by the first and second casing sections in the vicinity of the second opening is configured to receive a battery pack of a power tool.  
   
   
       16 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the power tool is a cordless drill having a chuck and a collar at a first end and a battery pack at a second end, with a handle of the drill being positioned between the first and second ends, the first opening is configured to capture the chuck and collar of the drill, and the second opening is configured to capture the battery pack of the drill.  
   
   
       17 . The case of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes a plurality of recesses for storing accessories.  
   
   
       18 . A storage tray for use with a power tool comprising: 
 a plate member having a first half and a second half, with a plurality of coupling elements disposed on at least one of an outer surface of the first half and an outer surface of the second half, wherein a hinge line is defined between the first and second halves, with the first and second halves being configured to fold upon one another along the hinge line such that the outer surfaces of the first and second halves face away from one another, said plate member having an open position in which all the coupling elements are positioned in substantially the same plane and a folded position in which the coupling elements on the first half face away from the coupling elements on the second half.    
   
   
       19 . The storage tray of  claim 18 , wherein the plate member has an “H-shaped” profile, with a bridge member positioned in the center of the “H-shape,” with the hinge line being positioned on the bridge member, with the coupling elements being configured to accept tools; and 
 the plate member and coupling elements are made of a plastic material,    wherein when the plate is folded in half along the hinge line, the bridge member forms a tab that is configured for gripping by the user.    
   
   
       20 . A carrying case system for a power tool comprising: 
 the case of  claim 1;  and    at least one storage tray according to  claim 18 ,    wherein the case includes at least one coupling member defined in the cavity between the first and second casing sections that is configured to couple the at least one tray with the cavity when the tray is in a folded position.    
   
   
       21 . The carrying case system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one coupling member is a pair of channels disposed in the cavity, said channels being positioned in opposite relation to one another and configured to mate with first and second ends of the storage tray.