Portable air compressor

Abstract

A portable air compressor having a compressor, a motor and a housing. The motor is coupled to the compressor and provides a source of power thereto. The housing defines an air compressor storage cavity in which the compressor and motor are stored. The housing has a first portion and a second portion that are hingedly coupled to one another to permit access to at least a portion of the interior of the housing.

1 . A pneumatically-powered tool kit comprising: 
 an air compressor with a compressor and a motor;    a pneumatically-powered tool;    a case with first and second portions that cooperate to define an air compressor storage cavity and a tool storage cavity, the air compressor being housed in the air compressor storage cavity and the pneumatically-powered tool being removably housed in the tool storage cavity, the first and second portions being positionable in a first position, which closes at least the tool storage cavity, and a second portion, which permits access to at least the tool storage cavity; and    a handle that is coupled to at least one of the case and the air compressor, the handle being configured to be grasped by a hand of a user to permit the pneumatically-powered tool kit to be hand carried.    
   
   
       2 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 1 , wherein the pneumatically-powered tool is selected from a group consisting of staplers, brad nailers, finish nailers and framing nailers.  
   
   
       3 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 1 , wherein the air compressor includes a storage tank.  
   
   
       4 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 3 , wherein the storage tank has a capacity that is less than 1.5 gallons.  
   
   
       5 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 4 , wherein the capacity of the storage tank is greater than or equal to 0.06 gallon and less than or equal to 1 gallon.  
   
   
       6 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 3 , wherein the storage tank has a tubular body with opposite necked down ends that define an inlet and an outlet.  
   
   
       7 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 1 , wherein the air compressor includes an output regulator and wherein positioning of the first and second portions in the second position permits a user to access the output regulator.  
   
   
       8 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 1 , wherein the air compressor includes a pressure gauge and wherein positioning of the first and second portions in the second position permits a user to view the pressure gauge.  
   
   
       9 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 1 , wherein the air compressor includes a pressure tap.  
   
   
       10 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure tap is accessible when the first and second portions are in the first position.  
   
   
       11 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 1 , wherein the case includes at least one damping member that is configured to dampen noise and vibrations emanating from the air compressor.  
   
   
       12 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions includes first and second shell members between which the damping member(s) is/are disposed.  
   
   
       13 . The pneumatically-powered tool kit of  claim 1 , wherein each damping member is adhesively coupled to an associated one of the first and second portions.  
   
   
       14 . A portable air compressor comprising: 
 a compressor;    a motor coupled to the compressor and providing a source of power thereto; and    a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the housing defining an interior that includes an air compressor storage cavity, the compressor and the motor being stored in the air compressor storage cavity, the first and second portions being hingedly coupled to one another to provide access to at least a portion of the interior of the housing.    
   
   
       15 . The portable air compressor of  claim 14 , wherein the interior further includes a tool storage cavity that is segregated from the air compressor storage cavity.  
   
   
       16 . The portable air compressor of  claim 14 , wherein the air compressor further includes a storage tank.  
   
   
       17 . The portable air compressor of  claim 16 , wherein the capacity of the storage tank is greater than or equal to 0.06 gallon and less than or equal to 1 gallon.  
   
   
       18 . The portable air compressor of  claim 14 , wherein the air compressor includes a control package with a regulator and at least one gauge.  
   
   
       19 . The portable air compressor of  claim 18 , wherein pivoting of the first and second portions to an open condition provides access to at least one of the regulator and the gauge.  
   
   
       20 . A portable air compressor kit comprising: 
 a compressor;    a motor coupled to the compressor and providing a source of power thereto;    a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the housing defining an air compressor storage cavity in which the compressor and motor are stored, the housing defining at least one power tool storage cavity that is adapted to receive therein an associated power tool for storage of the associated power tool in the housing, the first and second portions being hingedly coupled to one another to provide access to the at least one power tool storage cavity; and    at least one pneumatically-powered tool disposed in the power tool storage cavity.