Handheld tool carrying case

Abstract

A handheld tool carrying case having a carrying case base and a carrying case cover and at least one electronic system. The carrying case base is connected to the carrying case cover in a detachable fashion.

Claims

1. A handheld tool carrying case, comprising: a carrying case base; a carrying case cover; and at least one electronic system; wherein the carrying case base is connected to the carrying case cover in a detachable fashion such that the carrying case base and the carrying case cover are configured to be completely separated from each other without the use of a tool, wherein the carrying case cover has at least one battery interface which is at least partly fixedly connected to the carrying case cover, wherein the at least one battery interface is disposed on an inner surface of the carrying case cover such that an at least one battery is insertable only when the carrying case is at least in a partially open state with respect to the carrying case body, wherein at least one of the carrying case base and the carrying case cover has at least one lighting device which is at least partly fixedly connected to the at least one of the carrying case base and the carrying case cover, wherein the lighting device includes a plurality of light emitting elements embodied as LEDs and a plurality of diffusers which emit a light flux emitted by the light emitting elements through a light emission surface of the lighting device, wherein the lighting device emits a light flux that is greater than 100 lumens.

2. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a lighting device; and an orientation device to fixate at least one part of one of the carrying case base or of the carrying case cover pivotably in various orientations relative to a resting plane of the one of the carrying case base or of the carrying case cover.

3. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting device forms at least part of an outer side of the carrying case.

4. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, wherein the lighting device has a light emission surface which is greater than 50 cm.sup.2.

5. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a stacking arrangement configured to transmit a force in a direction of at least one of the carrying case base and the carrying case cover.

6. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the carrying case base and the carrying case cover has at least one add-on module fastener to fasten a functional add-on module.

7. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one battery interface is configured to supply the electronic system with electrical power.

8. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a power input configured to take up energy from a power network.

9. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an electrical operating element situated so as to be operable when the carrying case cover is closed.

10. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 9, wherein the operating element is situated to be actuated by stacking multiple handheld tool carrying cases.

11. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, wherein the carrying case base is detachably connected to the carrying case such that it may be detached in a non-destructive manner.

12. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 7, wherein the battery interface is fixedly connected to the carrying case cover.

13. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 2, wherein the resting plane faces away from the light emission surface in at least one operating state by more than 150 degrees.

14. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an electrical operating element embodied as a switch, wherein the electrical element is configured to switch on and switch off the light device.

15. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 6, wherein the add-on module fastener has latch elements and electrically conductive contact elements.

16. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 2, wherein the orientation device comprises: a connecting element; a fastening element; and a latching element, wherein the fastening element is configured to fix the connecting element relative to the carrying base or the carrying case cover, and the latch element is configured to fixate the connecting element to the carrying case base or the carrying case cover.

17. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, wherein the handheld tool carrying case has a media playback unit.

18. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 1, wherein the carrying case base has at least one fastener for a handheld tool.

19. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 17, further comprising: an electrical operating element embodied as a switch, wherein the electrical element is configured to switch on and switch off the media playback unit.

20. A handheld tool carrying case, comprising: a carrying case base; a carrying case cover; a lighting device which forms at least a part of an outer side of the carrying case cover; at least one electronic system configured to supply power to the lighting device; and at least one battery interface configured to supply power to the electronic system, the at least one battery interface disposed on an inner surface of the carrying case cover such that an at least one battery is insertable only when the carrying case is at least in a partially open state with respect to the carrying case body; wherein the carrying case base is connected to the carrying case cover in a detachable fashion such that the carrying case base and the carrying case cover are configured to be completely separated from each other without the use of a tool, wherein the lighting device includes a plurality of light emitting elements embodied as LEDs and a plurality of diffusers which emit a light flux emitted by the light emitting elements through a light emission surface of the lighting device, wherein the lighting device emits a light flux that is greater than 100 lumens.

21. The handheld tool carrying case as recited in claim 20, wherein the light emission surface of the lighting device is greater than 200 cm.sup.3.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages may be derived from the description below of the figures. The figures show three exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The figures and the description contain numerous features in combination. The features may also be considered individually, and may also be combined into useful further combinations.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an open handheld tool carrying case according to an example embodiment of the present invention having a lighting device in a perspective representation.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an inner side of the handheld tool carrying case from FIG. 1 in a partly schematic representation.

(4) FIG. 3 shows an inner side of a second exemplary embodiment of the handheld tool carrying case from FIG. 1 in a partly schematic representation.

(5) FIG. 4 shows an inner side of a third exemplary embodiment of the handheld tool carrying case from FIG. 1 in a partly schematic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an open handheld tool carrying case 10a having a carrying case base 12a, a carrying case cover 14a and two connecting devices 36a. Connecting devices 36a connect carrying case base 12a and carrying case cover 14a in such a way that an operator is able to separate them without use of a tool. In addition, connecting devices 36a support carrying case cover 14a so as to be movable about an axis of rotation 38a between a shown open state and a closed state. Moreover, in this exemplary embodiment, connecting devices 36a connect carrying case base 12a and carrying case cover 14a in a partially conductive manner for transmitting electrical energy. Carrying case base 12a and carrying case cover 14a are developed in a shell-shaped manner. Carrying case base 12a has a handle 40a.

(7) Carrying case cover 14a has a lighting device 18a. Lighting device 18a comprises multiple lighting elements, light guides and advantageously diffusers (not shown). The lighting elements are developed as LEDs. The light guides transmit a light flux emitted by the LEDs to the diffusers. The diffusers emit the light flux through a light emission surface 22a of lighting device 18a. Light emission surface 22a forms a part of an outer side 20a of carrying case cover 14a. A seal (not shown) is disposed between a component having the light emission surface 22a and a component surrounding the light emission surface 22a. Light emission surface 22a is greater than 200 cm.sup.2. Lighting device 18a emits a light flux that is greater than 100 lumens.

(8) Carrying case cover 14a has an add-on module fastener 27, which in an operating state fastens a functional add-on module, in this case lighting device 18a. For this purpose, add-on module fastener 27a has latch elements and electrically conductive contacts (not shown).

(9) Handheld tool carrying case 10a has an orientation device 24a. Orientation device 24a fixates carrying case cover 14a relative to a resting plane 26a of carrying case base 12a pivotably in various orientations. For this purpose, orientation device 24a has a connector 42a, a fastening element 44a and a latch 46a. Fastening element 44a fixates connector 42a pivotably on carrying case cover 14a. Latch 46a fixates connector 42a in different possible orientations with respect to carrying case base 12a. When carrying case cover 14a is open, connector 42a effects a fastening force between carrying case base 12a and carrying case cover 14a, which prevents an automatic closure of carrying case cover 14a. Other orientation devices are also possible.

(10) Carrying case cover 14a has stacking arrangement 23a. Stacking arrangement 23a is developed as reinforcements of carrying case cover 14a. When multiple handheld tool carrying cases are stacked or when another force acts on carrying case cover 14a, stacking arrangement 23a transmits a force from a center of carrying case cover 14a to a side wall 47a of carrying case cover 14a. Side wall 47a of carrying case cover 14a transmits the force further in the direction of carrying case base 12a. Furthermore, handheld tool carrying case 10a has an electronic system 16a, battery interfaces 17a, 28a, a power input 30a, an electrical operating element 32a, a sealing arrangement 34a, a media playback unit 48a, a power distributor 50a and a device and accessory module 52a.

(11) Electronic system 16a has a constant voltage source. Electronic system 16a supplies lighting device 18a with a power which is transmitted by a voltage that is constant in operation. Alternatively, electronic system 16a could have a constant current source. Electronic system 16a furthermore has a power switch which in an operating state interrupts a current supply of media playback unit 48a. For this purpose, electronic system 16a is connected in an electrically effective manner to operating element 32a.

(12) Operating element 32a comprises two switches. It is disposed on outer side 20a of carrying case cover 14a. One switch switches lighting device 18a on and off. The other switch switches media playback unit 48a on and off. Operating element 32a furthermore comprises a magnetically operable switch (not shown) and a magnet. The magnetically operable switch is disposed on carrying case cover 14a. The magnet is disposed on carrying case base 12a. The magnetically operable switch of handheld tool carrying case 10a is actuated by a magnet of another handheld tool carrying case when multiple handheld tool carrying cases are stacked. In the process, electronic system 16a switches lighting device 18a and media playback unit 48a so as to be voltage-free.

(13) Battery interfaces 17a, 28a fasten and contact a battery (not shown) when charging and discharging. The battery is developed as an handheld tool battery. First battery interface 17a is fixedly connected to carrying case cover 14a. Second battery interface 28a is fixedly connected to carrying case base 12a. In battery operation, battery interfaces 17a, 28a supply electronic system 16a with electrical power that is taken from the battery when discharging. Functional units supplied by electronic system 16a, in this case lighting device 18a and media playback unit 48a, may thus be utilized independently of a power network. In addition, battery interfaces 17a, 28a have a electronic charging circuitry (not shown) for charging the battery.

(14) In network operation, power input 30a takes up energy from a power network. For this purpose, power input 30a has a power supply unit 54a and a cable extension 56a. Power supply unit 54a converts various network voltages into a direct voltage, which in network operation transmits electrical power to electronic system 16a and to battery interfaces 17a, 28a. Cable extension 56a has a power cable 58a, which in network operation is connected directly to a power network. An automatic system of cable extension 56a automatically retracts power cable 58a into carrying case base 12a when triggered to do so by an operator.

(15) Sealing arrangement 34a is developed as a labyrinth seal. It is situated on an end face of carrying case cover 14a toward carrying case base 12a. When carrying case cover 14a is closed, sealing arrangement 34a effects a sealing action in accordance with protective class IP 52 between carrying case base 12a and carrying case cover 14a. This prevents to the greatest possible extent an intrusion of dirt and moisture into an accommodating region 62a of carrying case base 12a.

(16) Media playback unit 48a comprises two loudspeakers 60a and an operating unit (not shown). Media playback unit 48a may output various sound media such as radio transmissions and/or digital audio formats.

(17) Power distributor 50a has a multi-outlet strip 64a. Multi-outlet strip 64a connected directly to power input 30a. Power distributor 50a additionally has protective electronic circuitry (not shown).

(18) Device and accessory module 52a comprises three fasteners 66a. Fasteners 66a are developed in a shell-shaped manner. One of fasteners 66a is provided for fastening a cordless drill 68a. Two of fasteners 66a are provided for fastening batteries 70a.

(19) FIGS. 3 and 4 show two additional exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The descriptions below and the figures are limited generally to the differences between the exemplary embodiments. Regarding components that are designated in the same way, particularly regarding components having identical reference numerals, it is fundamentally possible to refer also to the figures and/or the description of the other exemplary embodiments, especially of FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to differentiate the exemplary embodiments, the letter a is added after the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, the letter a is replaced by the letter b or by the letter c, respectively.

(20) FIG. 3 shows a handheld tool carrying case 10b according to the present invention having a carrying case base 12b and a carrying case cover 14b. Carrying case cover 14b has an electronic system 16b. Carrying case base 12b is detachably connected to carrying case cover 14b. Carrying case cover 14b additionally has a lighting device 18b. Lighting device 18b forms a part of an outer side 20b of carrying case cover 14b. Electronic system 16b supplies lighting device 18b with electrical energy.

(21) Carrying case base 12b has a power input 30b. In addition, carrying case base 12b has a power distributor 50b and an accessory module 52b for storing and fastening a battery. Carrying case base 12b fastens the modules in a mechanically and electrically separable fashion, the modules being electrically connected to power input 30b via their power plugs (not shown). Thus, it is possible to charge batteries while carrying case cover 14b is closed. The modules may be substituted with other modules. Power input 30b has a power supply unit 54b, a cable extension 56b and a power cable 58b.

(22) Handheld tool carrying case 10b has stacking arrangement 23b. Stacking arrangement 23b is partly molded onto carrying case base 12b and partly onto carrying case cover 14b. Stacking arrangement 23b is developed as stacking domes. Stacking arrangement 23b transmits a force applied on a stacking surface directly onto carrying case base 12b.

(23) FIG. 4 shows a handheld tool carrying case 10c according to the present invention having a carrying case base 12c and a carrying case cover 14c. Carrying case base 12c has an accommodating region 62c for handheld tools, handheld machine tools and/or accessories. Carrying case cover 14c has an electronic system 16c, a power input 30c and a power distributor 50c. Carrying case base 12c is connected to carrying case cover 14c in a separable and electrically effectively insulated fashion. Carrying case cover 14c additionally has a lighting device 18c. Lighting device 18c forms a part of an outer side 20c of carrying case cover 14c. Electronic system 16c supplies lighting device 18c with electrical energy. Power input 30c has a power supply unit 54c, a cable extension 56c and a power cable 58c. As an alternative to power input 30c, handheld tool carrying case 10c could also have a battery interface, which is only provided to discharge a rechargeable battery and/or a battery and to supply electronic system 16c.