Integrated tool carrier, work platform, debris capturing apparatus

Abstract

A storage bucket for tools is convertible to an integrated tool carrier, work platform and debris capturing apparatus through the release of a locking mechanism which allows its side walls to collapse outwardly with respect to its base in forming the platform, and where the debris is collected by a canvas, cloth or plastic webbing spanning the spaces between the adjacent side walls once opened.

1 . Integrated tool carrier, work platform, debris capturing apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a plurality of side walls;    a plurality of hinges coupling said side walls with said base;    a pair of tubular handles;    a length of tie-line traversing through each of said handles;    a plurality of tubular fasteners receiving said tie-line in tying said side walls together;    a pair of lock mechanisms operative with said tie-line in controlling the distance of each of said handles from adjacent fasteners;    and a substantially pie-shaped, outwardly collapsible flexible material of one of canvas, cloth and plastic composition coupled between each pair of adjacent side walls;    the apparatus being so constructed and arranged that in one arrangement of said locking mechanisms, raising the tubular handles allows for rotating the side walls upwardly with respect to the base in lengthening the distance of said handles from said adjacent fasteners, and in a second arrangement of said locking mechanisms, lowering the tubular handles allows for rotating the side walls downwardly with respect to the base in shortening the distance of said handles from said adjacent fasteners.    
   
   
       2 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said base is composed of a hard surface material with a smooth underside.  
   
   
       3 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said side walls are of a hard surface material, with at least one of an inside and outside surface thereof being smooth.  
   
   
       4 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said side walls are of a hard surface material, with at least one of an inside and outside surface thereof being smooth.  
   
   
       5 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 4 , including four side walls on one of a square or rectangular base.  
   
   
       6 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 4 , including four side walls of square configuration on a rectangular base.  
   
   
       7 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 4 , including eight side walls on an octagonal base.  
   
   
       8 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 7  wherein each side wall is of rectangular configuration.  
   
   
       9 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 5 , including a pair of tie-lines, each extending between opposing ones of said side walls and through one of said handles and a pair of said fasteners on a side wall between said opposing ones of said side walls.  
   
   
       10 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 7 , including a single tie-line extending through each of said handles, and through a tubular fastener at an outer edge of each of said side walls.  
   
   
       11 . The integrated apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said locking mechanisms are in the configuration of inverted J-clamps.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said locking mechanisms are the locations of included slidable push-spring clips on said pair of tie-lines.