Tool box having latching device

Abstract

A tool box having a latching device is described. The tool box includes a first housing, a second housing and a latching device. The first housing has a first containing space and a first side surface enclosing the first containing space. The second housing has a second containing space and a second side surface enclosing the second containing space. Opposing edges of the first and second housings are rotatably connected to each other to pivot the first housing to the second housing about a pivot axis therebetween. The latching device is movably mounted on the first side surface and the second side surface to selectively lock the first and the second housings to form an aligned arrangement with the first housing co-planar with the second housing. A skid-proof member is attached to the side surfaces to induce a friction with a fixture surface for holding the tool box on the fixture surface in an open status.

1 . A tool box, comprising: 
 a first housing having a first containing space and a first side surface comprising at least one segment enclosing the first containing space, and a first jointing edge;    a second housing having a second containing space and a second side surface comprising at least one segment enclosing the second containing space, and a second jointing edge opposing the first jointing edge, wherein the jointing edges are connected to each other in a rotatable manner to pivot the first housing to the second housing about a pivot axis therebetween; and    at least one latching device arranged on both the first side surface and the second side surface to be movable to a locked position, wherein the latching device locks the first and the second housings to form an aligned arrangement with the first housing co-planar with the second housing.    
   
   
       2 . The tool box of  claim 1 , wherein the latching device comprises a fastening unit slidably received in a latching slot partially extending along the segments of the first side surface and the second side surface, and when the first side surface is aligned to the second side surface in the aligned arrangement of the first and second housings, the fastening unit slides along the latching slot to the locked position to lock the first and the second housings in the aligned arrangement.  
   
   
       3 . The tool box of  claim 2 , wherein one of the first and the second containing spaces comprises a plurality of cavities for containing tool accessories.  
   
   
       4 . The tool box of  claim 3 , wherein another of the first and the second containing spaces comprises a plurality of recessed regions corresponding in position to the cavities of said one of the first and the second containing spaces.  
   
   
       5 . The tool box of  claim 4 , wherein the cavities are of different sizes and wherein the recessed regions are of different sizes.  
   
   
       6 . The tool box of  claim 5 , wherein the sizes of the cavities and the recessed regions are decreased progressively from one side surface to an opposite side surface of the first and the second housings.  
   
   
       7 . The tool box of  claim 6 , wherein the cavities and the recessed regions of the first and the second housings are alternated and spaced.  
   
   
       8 . The tool box of  claim 1 , further comprising a skid-proof part attached to at least one of the first and second side surfaces.  
   
   
       9 . The tool box of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second side surfaces forms notches for easy handling of the tool box.  
   
   
       10 . The tool box of  claim 1 , wherein a back surface of the tool box opposite to at least one of the first and the second containing spaces forms a recessed space and a cover openably closing the recessed space.