EP1044083A1

EP1044083A1 - Device for detachably fixing objects

Info

Publication number: EP1044083A1
Application number: EP98943733A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hermann Leguin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-17
Filing date: 1998-07-17
Publication date: 2000-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-17
Also published as: WO1999003648A1; ATE283149T1; US6634728B1; EP1044083B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for accommodating objects, in particular receptacles (12 to 12.11) in which tools or tool parts are sorted and kept, on a bottom part (8) in particular of a drawer. A support (9) is fitted between the object (12 to 12.5, 12.9) and the bottom part (8). Said support has elements (11) for fixing the object (12).

Description

Device for the detachable fixing of objects

The invention relates to a device for the detachable fixing of objects, in particular containers for assorted picking of tools or tool parts, on a floor of a drawer in particular.

In many cases of everyday life and in industrial areas, objects are used that are sorted. Although reference is made above all to tools or tool parts, the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto. It applies to a myriad of items.

If, for example, objects are placed in the drawers, these objects often move to an undesirable extent when the drawers are opened and closed. This applies above all to the tools mentioned above, such as drills, milling cutters, etc., which are size or other certain parameters are sorted. Therefore, there are already containers with troughs or the like in the known tool barriers in which these tools are located. However, most of these tool barriers are located away from a machine in which these tools are used. This means that the user first selects the tool in the tool cabinet and then equips the machine with this tool. If he determines on the machine that the tool is not the right tool, he has to go back to the tool cabinet and fetch a tool with a different diameter, for example. This takes time and is undesirable.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned above, with which the objects are kept neatly sorted and do not get mixed up, and in which the user can take a plurality of desired objects with them.

The solution to this problem is that the floor itself or a support arranged between the object, in particular the container, and the floor has elements for fixing the object.

This means that the object no longer slides back and forth on the floor of a drawer, for example, and there is a risk of objects getting mixed up. In the simplest exemplary embodiment, the elements of the floor or the support can also interlock. In this way, a part of the support could be cut off and glued to an object, the elements protruding from the object. The object is then placed on the support, the elements interlocking. This is for example intended for a calculator, a gauge block or a weight box. If the objects are preferably containers, they have individual troughs or compartments which are shaped depending on the configuration of the object. If, for example, drills are kept, the container should consist of an integral molded casting, into which elongated troughs with rounded trough walls are molded. This also makes it much easier to remove the drill, which can be pushed out of the recess with one finger.

An essential part of the present invention is the design of the floor or the above-mentioned edition. For example, this support can be a plate-shaped element which is inserted into a drawer of a tool cabinet, for example. The disadvantage here is that drawers are not standardized by tool cupboards and have different dimensions, so that often part of the drawer base is not covered by the plate-shaped element. For this reason, a flexible, preferably rollable material is used for the support in a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This is preferably plastic, which can be rolled up into a roll. The user then only needs to unroll and cut a piece from the wrap in accordance with the dimensions of the drawer, so that he can preferably completely line the drawer with the support.

A variety of configurations can be considered as a connecting element. In the simple exemplary embodiment, projections are provided on the support, which have corresponding container walls and / or recesses and / or projections in or on the container or the bottom of the container work together. The projections of the support can be LEGO-like cylindrical pins on or between which the container is placed.

The other way round, it is also possible to form recesses in the support, which in turn engage protrusions protruding from the bottom of the container. For example, these projections can be spherical elements which then sit in a corresponding pan-like depression in the position of use.

In a preferred embodiment, annular projections protrude from the bottom of the container, which engage when the container is placed on the support between four knobs. However, the actual holding of the container on the support takes place through circumferential side walls, so that it may even be possible to dispense with the projections on the container base. The side walls enclose a pick-up window, which is designed such that it encircles corresponding knobs tangentially on the support.

If there are annular projections between the rare walls of the container, these preferably do not protrude beyond the lower edge of the side walls, so that the container stands on the outer rare walls even when removed from the support.

The advantage of this configuration is that not only an object can be removed from the container, but the entire container from the drawer with a variety of sorted tools and transported to the machine. The machine then selects which tool is currently desired. This saves many ways. With many tools, the containers do not have to be formed very thick, so that several containers can also be stacked on top of one another in a drawer. So that these are also fixed in the drawer, the surface of the container should also be provided with projections or recesses into which projections protrude from the container base or recesses formed in the container base.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the projections are distributed over the edge of the container so that any variation is possible for stackability. Many possibilities are conceivable for this, which should also be encompassed by the present invention. Furthermore, the projections on the edge edges of the containers preferably form a different system than the latching system of the support or of the base.

The entire arrangement of the projections or recesses is selected such that the containers can be used not only in one direction, but also in the direction m turned by 90 ° to a drawer. Accordingly, the projections or recesses are arranged symmetrically. Of course, this also applies to the protrusions or recesses on the surface or the edge of the container.

Furthermore, it is also contemplated to arrange the projections and recesses in special configurations, so that only containers from a certain manufacturer can be used. The same applies to a diameter of the protrusions or the recesses and their height or depth. Larger projections could also be used in the lower area or the recesses larger be designed so that they can be found better by the protrusions when inserting the container.

In some cases it is also important that the support of a drawer size or the like is adjusted. In this case, it may be necessary to separate a section from the support and, if necessary, to place it elsewhere in the drawer. A special separation aid is provided for this separation, which simplifies the separation in a very simple manner. In the preferred exemplary embodiment, the separating aid consists of a strip, the width of which approximately corresponds to the spacing of the knobs on the support from one another. There is a slot in the strip into which a cutting tool can be inserted.

The strip can now be passed between the knobs together with the cutting tool, so that the cutting tool remains in line. The section to be separated is then broken, for example, over the edge of a table.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the separation aid is also designed at the same time as a teaching for adapting a connection piece to the support. Because the knobs of the connector should be aligned with the knobs of the support so that the containers can be positioned exactly.

For this purpose, a cover strip is also provided on the strip, in which depressions are formed at the edge, which maintain a distance from one another which corresponds to the distance of the knobs on the support. So that this separation aid and teaching is suitable for both functions, the strip of the separation aid should have a height that corresponds at least to the height of the knobs on the support. If the separation aid is then used as a separation aid, the cover strip passes over the knobs. If the separation aid is used as a gauge, it only needs to be turned so that the knobs engage in the recesses.

For some application examples, it has proven advisable to design the container from several parts so that its length is adapted to an object to be picked up. The container therefore consists, for example, of two end pieces, between which a middle piece is provided. This middle piece is adapted to the length of the object. Several middle pieces can also be provided.

A display should preferably be assigned to the holder in order to identify the inserted objects. The wear status of the inserted objects can also be identified by this display, as is described, for example, in DE 296 02 136 UI.

In a simple exemplary embodiment, a sign has hook-shaped extensions with which it is hooked into an upper edge of the side wall of the container. So that the shield is not lost, these hook-like extensions should have barbs. If the sign is to be removed or replaced, it is sufficient to lift the sign so that a predetermined breaking point between the sign under the hook-like extension breaks. Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and from the drawing; this shows m

Figure 1 is a side view of a tool cabinet, which includes an inventive device for holding objects;

Figure 2 is a plan view of an open drawer of the tool cabinet according to Figure 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a rolled up support for use in a drawer according to FIG. 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a container according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the container according to Figure 4;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of part of a further exemplary embodiment of a support according to the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of a further exemplary embodiment of a container;

Figure 8 is a side view of the container according to Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the container according to Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a plan view of a plurality of containers stacked one on top of the other;

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of part of an overlay according to the invention with a separating aid inserted; FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of a separating aid;

FIG. 13 shows a partially shown cross section through a support according to the invention with an inserted separating aid as a teaching for attaching parts;

FIG. 14 shows a partially shown cross section through a support according to the invention with an inserted separating aid in a different position of use than FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a plan view of a further exemplary embodiment of a container according to the invention in an exploded view;

FIG. 16 shows a plan view of part of a further exemplary embodiment of a container according to the invention with a display;

17 shows a cross section through the container according to FIG. 16 along line XVII -XVII.

According to FIG. 1, a tool cabinet 1 has a housing 2 in which a plurality of drawers 3.1 to 3.5 are arranged so that they can be pulled out. A corresponding drawer 3 is shown in more detail in Figure 2.

The drawer 3 has a front wall 4, a rear wall 5 and two side walls 6.1 and 6.2. A handle 7 is arranged on the front wall 4. Furthermore, front wall 4, rear wall 5 and side walls 6.1 and 6.2 enclose a floor 8.

On the floor 8 there is a support 9 which, according to FIG. 2, is designed in the form of a plate. As part of the However, the invention also lies in the fact that the support 9 can be cut off from a support winding 10, as shown in FIG. 3. This makes it possible to adapt the pad 9 to the outline of the bottom 8.

According to the invention, protrusions 11 protrude from the support 9, which can have any geometrical configuration. They are preferably designed as cylindrical pins or knobs. It is also conceivable that instead of or in addition to the projections 11, recesses are formed in the support 9 which serve the same purpose.

Containers 12 for holding objects, in particular tools, are inserted into the drawer 3. In Figure 2 four such containers 12.1 to 12. 4 are shown. Each container has compartments 13 in which appropriate tools or other objects can be inserted. In Figure 2 it can be seen that these containers 12.1 to 12.4 can also have a different size. However, they are preferably designed such that they can be distributed symmetrically in the drawer 3.

According to FIG. 5, each container 12 has recesses 15 on its container bottom, a plurality of such recesses being shown according to FIG. 5. It goes without saying that significantly fewer recesses are sufficient if the distribution is symmetrical. Instead of the recesses 15, which cooperate with the projections 11, projections could also protrude from the container base 14 and engage in corresponding recesses in the support 9. Also on its surface, which is formed according to FIG. 4 as a peripheral edge 16, the container 12 has projections 17 which can interact with corresponding recesses 15 in the container base 14 of another container. Here too, corresponding recesses can be provided instead of the projections 17, into which corresponding projections then protrude from the container bottom 14.

Instead of the protrusions and recesses, the corresponding connection between the container and the support could also be made by magnets.

The operation of the present invention is as follows:

First, a support 9 is cut from a support winding 10, which fits into a drawer 3. A desired number of containers 12 are then placed in this drawer 3 on the support 9, the projections 11 of the support 9 engaging in the corresponding recesses in the container base 14. As a result, the container 12 is secured against slipping in the drawer 3.

As soon as the drawer 3 is essentially filled with containers 12, a second layer of containers can be stacked on the first layer, with corresponding projections 17 projecting from the surface of the container 12 also engaging in corresponding recesses 15 in the container 12 lying thereon.

If, for example, a certain type of tool is desired, the container which contains these tools, but in different dimensions, can be removed from the drawer 3 and brought to the machine. This has the advantage that the The entire selection of the desired tools of a certain type is available, so that no dimension need be attached to the dimensioning of this tool when searching in the drawer.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 6 to 9, the support 9 is designed in the form of a plate. The cylindrical knobs 11 protrude from it at regular distances from one another, four knobs each forming a free space for receiving a ring 18 projecting from the container bottom 14.1. This container bottom 14.1 is part of a container trough 20, which is connected via reinforcing webs 21 to rare walls 19.1 to 19.4.

In FIG. 6, it is indicated in broken lines how the container 12 sits on the support 9. It can be seen that the rings 18 sit between four knobs 11 each. It can also be seen that the side walls 19.1 to 19.4 run around a plurality of knobs 11, so that the container 12 is held by the interplay of rings 18 and the rare walls 19.1 to 19.4 with the knobs 11.

It can be seen in FIG. 8 that the rings 18 do not protrude beyond the plane of the lower edge edges 22 of the side walls 19.1 to 19.4, so that the container sits on these lower edge edges 22. As a result, the stability of the container 12 is significantly improved.

The large gaps between the knobs 11, which can be seen in FIG. 6, also allow the pad 9 to be cleaned easily. Furthermore, the knobs 11 are preferably produced by deep-drawing, in which case, also preferably, the pad 9 is made of plastic is. The arrangement of the rings 18 in the position of use between knobs 11 also has the advantage that the rings 18 do not have to be arranged too close to the rare walls 19.1 to 19.4, which in turn has advantages in terms of stability.

It can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 that crenellated projections are located on the peripheral edges 16 of the container 12.5. Corner pinnacles 23 are provided in the corner areas, a pair of tines 24.1 / 24.2 extending between two corner pinnacles 23. A distance al between the battlements 24.1 and 24.2 of a pair of battlements should be smaller than a distance a2 between the pair of tongues 24.1 / 24.2 and a corner battlement.

According to FIG. 10, it can be seen that in this way four different containers 12.6 to 12.9 can be stacked on top of one another, the content of the respective container below remaining recognizable. It can be seen from the symmetrical arrangements shown in FIG. B. the smallest container 12.6 could also be placed on the container 12.8 in addition to the container 12.7, but that it is also possible to arrange a second container 12.6 on the container 12.7 or on the container 12.8. Likewise, a second container with the dimensions of the container 12.7 could also be placed on the container 12.8. Furthermore, a further container 12.7 could be placed on the container 12.8 following the container 12.8, or two containers 12.6 can be placed on the container 12.9, which then follow the container 12.8. The arrangement of the battlements allows these diverse possibilities.

As mentioned above, the support 9 should be adapted to a drawer, for example. That is why it is in many emergencies necessary that the edition 9 is cut. For this purpose, a very simply designed separation aid 25 is provided. This consists of a strip 26 which has a width b which corresponds to a distance a between two knobs 11. With this configuration, the strip 26 can be pushed between a row of knobs 11, as indicated by the arrow x.

A slot 27 is formed in the strip 26, into which, for example, a knife can be inserted. The knife is thus guided through the strip 26 and in a straight line between the knobs 11.

After the support 9 has been scratched with the knife, the strip to be separated can be broken off from the support 9.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 12 to 14, a separating aid 25.1 is at the same time also designed as a gauge when attaching a strip of a support. For this purpose, a cover strip 28 is placed on the strip 26, which has centering troughs 29.1 to 29.4 on the edge, the distance from which corresponds to the distance a of the knobs 11 from one another.

If an additional support strip is now applied to a support 9 for filling, for example, a drawer, the connection point between the support and the contact strip can be bridged by the separating aid 25, as is indicated in FIG. 13. The corresponding knobs 11 engage in the centering recesses 29.1 to 29.3. The actual definition of support 9 and connecting strips is preferably carried out using adhesive sticks or the like. If the separation aid 25.1 is then used again as the actual separation aid, the separation aid 25.1 is turned over, the height of the strip 26 being selected such that the cover strip 28 passes over the knobs 11.

For long objects, such as rods, shafts, drills or the like, it has proven advisable to develop a container 12.10 which consists of at least three parts. Two end pieces 30.1 and 30.2, which are open on one side, receive between them a middle piece 31 which is open on both sides.

Any number of middle pieces 31 or one middle piece 31 of a certain length can be provided between the two end pieces 30.1 and 30.2.

DE 296 02 136.9 discloses a wear indicator relating to a tool which is located in a container. This idea can also be applied to the present invention. For this purpose, according to FIGS. 16 and 17, a shield 32 is connected to a container 12.11. This plate 32 can be attached to the inside or outside of the container 12.11. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the shield 32 is suspended in a side wall 19.5 of the container 12.11. For this purpose, two slots 33.1 and 33.2 are formed in an upper edge 16.1, the shield 32 engaging in the slot 33.1 and 33.2 with a hook-shaped extension 34. The hook-shaped extension 34 preferably has a barb 35 with which it is anchored in the slot 33.1 or 33.2. Furthermore, a predetermined breaking point can be provided near the extension 34. If the shield 32 is to be removed, it is lifted upwards in the direction z, so that the The predetermined breaking point breaks and the extension 34 is detached from the shield 32.

The shield 32 can have a wear indicator, as mentioned above. Any lettering is also possible.

It is not shown in the figures that the containers 12 to 12.11 can also be provided with a lid. These lids can have a shape similar to that of a container placed on them, but are designed much deeper. However, it is also possible to seal the containers 12 to 12.11, for example after inserting tools, with a film or the like skin, which is only removed from the container before the tools are used. Many possibilities are conceivable here and are intended to be encompassed by the invention.

Item number list

Claims

P atent claims

1. Device for detachably securing objects, in particular containers (12 to 12.11) for sorting tools or tool parts, on a base (8) of in particular a drawer,

characterized,

that the floor itself or a support (9) arranged between the object, in particular the container (12 to 12.5, 12.9 - 12.11), and the floor (8) has elements (11) for fixing the object.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (9) consists of a plate-shaped element.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (9) consists of a flexible, preferably rollable material.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base (8) or the support (9) has locking elements (11) and the object, in particular (12 to 12.11), counter-elements (15, 18) for the Has locking elements (11).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that projections protrude from the container base and engage in recesses in the base (8) or the support.

6. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that recesses (15) are formed in the container base (14). are into which projections (11) projecting from the base (8) or the support (9) engage.

7. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that on the floor or the support (9) knobs (11) are arranged evenly spaced, between which projections (18) projecting from the container base (14) can be inserted, with adjacent knobs being at a distance (a) to each other, which is smaller than the knob diameter, while the distance between opposing knobs is larger than the knob diameter.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the projections (18) projecting from the container base (14) are annular and disappear between the rare walls (19.1 to 19.5).

9. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the container (12 to 12.11) has recesses (17) and / or projections (23, 24) on its surface (16), which have projections and / or Recesses (15) of a second container work together.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking between two containers (12 to 12.11), i.e., the projections and recesses (23, 23, 15) are designed and configured differently than the locking elements (11) and counter-elements of the support and Object.

11. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the container forms side walls (19.1 to 19.5) with upper edge edges (16) on which crenellated projections (23, 24.1, 24.2) are arranged so that they em Recording window for one Form the inner wall of a container placed on top (12 to 12.11).

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the projections (23) are designed angularly in the corner regions.

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that at least two further projections (24.1, 24.2) are arranged between the projections (23) in the corner regions on the side wall edge strips.

14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the distance (al) of the projections (24.1, 24.2) of a pair of projections is smaller than the distance (a2) of pairs of projections (24.1, 24.2) from one another or from the corner projections (23) .

15. Device according to at least one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the projections (24) are elongated.

16. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to

15, characterized in that the connecting elements, projections and / or recesses are arranged symmetrically.

17. Device according to at least one of claims 10 to

16, characterized in that the projections (23, 24.1, 24.2) have a different design and/or arrangement than the locking elements (11) and the counter-elements (15, 18).

18. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to

17, characterized in that the containers are formed in one piece from plastic using an injection molding process.

19. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to

18, characterized in that the size of the plate-shaped element (9) can be changed.

20. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that for separating parts of the plate-shaped element

(9) a separation aid (25, 25.1) is provided.

21. The device according to claim 20, characterized in that the separating aid (25) consists of a strip (26), the width (b) of which is approximately the distance (a) between two

Projections (11) or knobs correspond and one

Has slot (27) for inserting a cutting tool.

22. Device according to claim 19 or 21, characterized in that the separating aid (25.1) is simultaneously designed as a gauge for attaching parts of the plate-shaped element (9).

23. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to

22. characterized in that the container (12.10) consists of several parts (30.1, 30.2, 31).

24. Device according to claim 23, characterized in that the container consists of two end pieces (30.1, 30.2) open on one side and at least one middle piece (31) open on both sides.

25. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the container (12.11) is assigned a display (32).

26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that the display has a shield (32) which engages with hook-like extensions (34) in slots (33.1, 33.2) in the edge (16.1) of the side wall (19.5).

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that the extensions (34) have barbs (35) and are connected to the shield (32) via predetermined breaking points.