Container for holding punches and dies

Abstract

A transport container for storing and transporting punches and dies having a hollow housing for receiving an insert housing that creates a first compartment for receiving punches and defining a second compartment for receiving dies where access to the second compartment is provided by a retractable door pivotally mounted to an end wall of the housing.

1 . A container for storing and transporting punches and dies comprising: 
 a housing having a bottom wall, side walls, end walls, and an open top that form a hollow interior for receiving an insert;    the insert creating a first compartment and defining a second compartment within the hollow interior of the housing; and    a retractable door positioned on an end wall of the housing to provide access to the second compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the insert is adapted to receive punches.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the second compartment is adapted to receive dies.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the bottom wall of the housing is sloped to facilitate the unloading of dies.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the housing is translucent.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a lid pivotally connected to the open top of the container.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the lid is translucent.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the lid has a plurality of recesses.  
   
   
       9 . A housing insert for placement in a container for storing and transporting punches and dies comprising: 
 a first and a second half detachably joined together along a vertical parting plane such that when joined the halves form a substantially hollow interior and a top wall having a plurality of apertures for receiving the punches; and    a means for releasably securing the insert within the container.    
   
   
       10 . The housing insert of  claim 9  wherein the apertures have a keyhole entry and sloped portions.  
   
   
       11 . The housing insert of  claim 9  wherein at least one aperture is adapted to receive a desicant tablet.  
   
   
       12 . The housing insert of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of apertures have support members to facilitate holding the punches.  
   
   
       13 . The insert of  claim 9  wherein the first and second halves are detachably joined by at least one latch securably connected to the first half of the insert engaging an opening in the second half of the insert.  
   
   
       14 . A container for storing and transporting punches and dies comprising: 
 a plurality of housings having hollow interiors for receiving inserts;    said inserts creating a first compartment and defining a second compartment within each housing;    a retractable door pivotally connected and positioned to an end wall of each housing to provide access to the second compartment; and    each housing being detachably connected to at least one other housing.    
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14  wherein at least one housing has a handle securably attached thereto.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 14  wherein a first housing has a clasp that releasably engages a slot of a second housing.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein a retaining lock is associated with the slot of the second housing and releasably secures the first and second housings together.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 14  wherein each housing has a lid pivotally connected to a top opening of the housing and having a plurality of notches that are formed to receive a protrusion extending from a bottom wall of a separate housing to facilitate the stacking of the separate housing on top of the lid of the housing.