Tool-element holding case

Abstract

Tool trays ( 46, 48, 50, 52 ) are fittable into inner compartments ( 18, 20 ) in carrying case parts ( 12, 14 ). A plurality of lugs (L) on the side walls of inner compartments ( 18, 20 ) in the carrying case parts ( 12, 14 ) cooperate with a light number of sockets (S) in wall portions of the tool trays ( 46, 48, 50, 52 ). The tool trays are snap-fitted downwardly into the inner compartments ( 18, 20 ). As the tool trays ( 46, 48, 50, 52 ) move downwardly, the lugs (L) move into the sockets (S). When the trays ( 46, 48, 50, 52 ) are within the compartments ( 18, 20 ) the upper end portions ( 44 ) of the lugs (L) will be above end wall portions ( 66 ) of the sockets (S). They will be positioned to block unwanted movement of the holders ( 46, 48, 50, 52 ) out from the inner compartments ( 18, 20 ). However, the trays ( 46, 48, 50, 52 ) can be easily pulled out from the compartments ( 18, 20 ). The lugs (L) and sockets (S) act as detents for removably securing the trays ( 46, 48, 50, 52 ) within the inner compartments ( 18, 20 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tool-element holding case, comprising: 
 first and second outer case parts together forming at least one inner compartment having a bottom and side walls;    at least one tool-element holding tray fittable in said inner compartment;    a plurality of lug-and-socket connectors for releasably connecting the tool-element tray to sidewall portions of the inner compartment when the tool-element tray is in the compartment, said lugs being on one of said tool-element tray and said sidewall portions of the compartment, and said sockets being on the other; and    wherein the tool-element tray is pushed downwardly into the compartment to move the lugs into holding engagement with the sockets;    wherein the tool-element tray can be pulled out from the compartment and in response to such pulling the lugs will move out from the sockets and allow the tool-element tray to move out from the compartment.    
     
     
         2 . A tool-element holding case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second outer case parts are hinge-connected together and are moveable between an open position in which they are in coplanar parallelism and a closed position in which one of the case parts is positioned on the other.  
     
     
         3 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 1 , comprising two tool-element holding trays fittable in a side-by-side position within the compartment.  
     
     
         4 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 3 , wherein the tool-element holding trays are hinged together and are moveable between a first position in which they are side-by-side in coplanar parallelism within the compartment and a second closed position in which one of the tool-element holding trays is positioned on the other.  
     
     
         5 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 1 , wherein said lugs are on said side wall portions of said compartment and said sockets are formed in outer side wall portions of the tool-element holding tray.  
     
     
         6 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 1 , further including a handle that is connected to at least one of said outer case parts.  
     
     
         7 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 6 , comprising two handle parts, one connected to the first outer case part and the second connected to the second outer case part, and a hinge connecting the first and second outer case parts together so that they are moveable between an open position in which they are in coplanar parallelism and a closed position in which one of the case parts is positioned on the other, and wherein where the case parts are in the closed position the two handle parts are together and together form a handle.  
     
     
         8 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 1 , wherein each outer case part includes at least one inner compartment having a bottom and sidewalls.  
     
     
         9 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second outer case parts are hinge-connected together and are moveable between an open position in which they are in coplanar parallelism and a closed position in which one of the case parts is positioned on the other and its inner compartment is directed towards the inner compartment of the other case part.  
     
     
         10 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 8 , comprising two tool-element holding trays for each compartment, said trays being fittable in a side-by-side position within their compartment.  
     
     
         11 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 10 , wherein the tool-element holding trays are hinged together and are moveable between a first position in which they are side-by-side in coplanar parallelism within their compartment and a second closed position in which one of the tool-element holding trays is positioned above the other.  
     
     
         12 . The tool-element holding case of  claim 11 , wherein each outer case part includes a handle part and when the case parts are in a closed position the two handle parts come together to form a handle.