Tool cabinet

Abstract

A tool cabinet including an upper cover, a bottom board, a case body and a shelf accessory. The case body includes rotatably interconnected case boards, which are foldable with each other. The upper cover and the bottom board are loosely rabbetted into the case body. Without disconnecting each case board, each case board can be folded only by pulling out the pin in the upper cover, turning over the upper cover, then taking out the shelf and the upright column, releasing the block rabbeting, and folding the case boards. It is done after the shelf and the upright column are placed into a predetermined space of the right board and the back board during the folding process. It is very simple and convenient. Hence, it is convenient to carry the tool cabinet after it is folded. In another embodiment, a tool cabinet is also constructed with hinged panels and doors that after assembly can be easily folded into a compact unit for storage or shipping.

1 . A tool cabinet comprising: 
 an upper cover;    a bottom board; and    a case body;    wherein the case body is composed of loosely interconnected case boards, and both of the upper cover and the bottom board loosely connect with the case body.    
   
   
       2 . The tool cabinet according to  claim 1 , wherein the case body includes four case boards: 
 one front, one back, one left and one right connecting with each other in turn by hinges;    the right board, respectively, connects with the front on one side and with the back on the other side;    the other side of the back board connects with the left;    both the front and the left loosely and rotatably connect with door boards respectively by the hinges.    
   
   
       3 . A tool cabinet comprising: 
 an upper cover plate;    a bottom sole plate and    a case body having four corners to form a box-like body;    wherein the case body is composed of loosely interconnected case panels, and both of the upper cover and the bottom sole plate loosely connect with the case body.    
   
   
       4 . The tool cabinet according to  claim 3  wherein the case body includes three case boards: 
 one back panel, one left panel and one right panel connected to the back panel;    hinges connect the back panel and the left and right panels;    left and right doors connect respectively to the left and right panels; and    hinges connect the left and right doors to the left and right panels.    
   
   
       5 . The tool cabinet according to  claim 4  wherein hinges connect the upper cover plate and the bottom sole plate to the top and bottom respectively of the back panel, whereby the case body, the left and right doors and the upper cover plate and bottom sole plate are foldable together to form a compact unit.  
   
   
       6 . The tool cabinet according to  claim 5  wherein fortifying slats are removably affixed to the four corners of the case body when the tool cabinet is fully assembled.  
   
   
       7 . A method of assembling and disassembling a tool cabinet so as to create a rigid unit in the assembled condition and a compact unit in the disassembled condition, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a back panel, a left side panel, a right side panel, an upper cover plate and a bottom sole plate that form a case body;    connecting the left side panel and the right side panel to the back panel using hinges;    moving the left side panel and the right side panel forwardly;    providing a left door and a right door substantially the same height as the left panel and right panel;    connecting the left door to the left panel and the right door to the right door using hinges;    moving the left side panel and the right side panel to a position approximately at right angles forwardly from the back panel;    connecting the upper cover plate to the back panel using hinges;    moving the upper cover plate over the top of the left side panel and the right side panel;    connecting the bottom sole plate to the bottom of the back panel using hinges;    moving the bottom sole plate beneath the left side panel and the right side panel;    connecting fortifying slats to the left side panel, the right side panel, the bottom sole plate and the upper sole plate to provide a rigid cabinet.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7  including the steps of: 
 positioning one or more shelves at the desired level between the left side panel and the right side panel and in front of the back panel; and    supporting the shelves on the left side panel and the right side panel.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8  including the steps of: 
 affixing a drawer carrier beneath a shelf; and    placing a slidable drawer in the drawer carrier.    
   
   
       10 . A method disassembling a tool cabinet so as to create a compact unit in the disassembled condition, the tool cabinet having a back panel, a left side panel, a right side panel, an upper cover plate and a bottom sole plate all connected by hinges and fortifying slats that connect the panels and plates to form a case body, and the tool cabinet also having a left door and a right door substantially the same height as the left panel and right panel and pivotally connected to said right and left panels, said method comprising the steps of: 
 removing the fortifying slats from the left side panel, the right side panel, the bottom sole plate and the upper sole plate;    moving the upper cover plate rearwardly until it rests against the back of the back panel;    moving the left door and the right door inwardly until they rest against the left side panel and the right side panel, respectively;    moving the bottom sole plate downwardly;    folding the right side panel with the right door attached inwardly against the back panel;    folding the left side panel with the left door attached inwardly against the back panel; and    folding the bottom sole plate rearwardly until it rests against the back of the back panel to form a compact unit.