FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a toolbox adaptable onto wheel rims of spare wheels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, vehicle manufacturers provide a toolbox comprising of all essential tools in boots of almost all vehicles. The toolbox is provided to carry out basic maintenance and repair work on the vehicle. Owing to large sizes and plurality of the tools, the toolboxes tend to be bulky in size, thereby occupying a substantial space in the boot, which is undesirable, especially for smaller-size vehicles.
In order to overcome this problem, vehicle manufacturers started providing toolboxes that could be docked on to wheel rims which either snugly fit onto the wheel rims or could be tightly fastened to the wheel rims by using fastening means like belts, clips etc. The primary reason for the toolbox to be snuggly fit or to be fastened to the wheel rim was to avoid the contents of the toolbox and the toolbox itself being displaced during vehicle movement.
It is well known that size of wheels and the subsequent wheel rims vary as per type of the vehicle. Accordingly, small vehicles and hatchback cars may have wheel rim sizes measuring from 13 inches to 15 inches, mid-sized vehicles and sedan cars may have wheel rim sizes measuring from 15 inches to 16 inches, whereas, sports utility vehicles or multi utility vehicles may have wheel rim sizes measuring 17 inches and above. Thus, in view of having a snuggly fit toolbox in

the aforementioned wheel rims, the vehicle manufacturers have to design a new toolbox for every type of vehicle being manufactured. Additionally, if there is an upgrade in an existing variant, whereby along with other upgrades, there is an increase in the wheel size, the vehicle manufacturer would incur additional expenses not only in providing an additional set of tools, but also in view of providing a toolbox having the aforementioned characteristics. Moreover, this arrangement further adds up to inventory costs, maintenance costs, operational and manufacturing costs.
[005] In view of the above, there is a need for a toolbox which overcomes at least one of the aforementioned shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] Accordingly, the present invention in one aspect provides a toolbox, comprising a housing adaptable to a wheel rim. The housing comprises a cylindrical body, circumference thereof corresponding with an inner circumference of the wheel rim. Further the housing comprises at least one pair of opposing regions on bottom side of the housing. Furthermore, the toolbox comprises, at least one pair of adapters, each adapter extending from an inner end to an outer end, at the outer end, the adapter has an arched profile, the pair of adapters adaptable to the pair of opposing regions, whereby the adapters project outwards in opposing directions from the housing increasing overall circumference of the housing such that the increased circumference corresponds with an inner circumference of a larger wheel rim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[007] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a toolbox in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the toolbox in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the toolbox in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 shows a pair of adapters in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5A to 5D illustrates the toolbox for different rim sizes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6A to 6D illustrates cross sections of the toolbox with adapters fit into different rim sizes in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[008] The present invention is directed towards a toolbox adaptable to a wheel rim. The toolbox is configurable to be adapted to wheel rims of different sizes.

[009] Figure 1 through Figure 6 show a toolbox 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The toolbox comprises of a housing 140 and at least a pair of adapters 120, whereby the pair of adapters are mounted/adapted to the housing as per requirement. In an embodiment of the invention, the toolbox is adaptable to wheel rims of different sizes, and the pair of adapters enable the toolbox to be adapted to different size wheel rims.
[010] The housing has a cylindrical body with a top side and a bottom side. The cylindrical body of the housing allows the toolbox to be adapted to a wheel rim whereby, outer circumference/periphery of the housing corresponds with an inner periphery of the wheel rim. At the top side the toolbox has various compartments to receive different/accommodating different kind of tools. At the bottom side, as shown in figure 2, the toolbox comprises plurality of pairs of opposing regions – a first pair of opposing regions 142a, 142b, a second pair of opposing regions 144a, 144b and a third pair of opposing regions 146a, 146b.
[011] In an embodiment, each pair of opposing region are diagonally opposing regions, and configured to receive the pair of adapters 120, whereby the pair of adapters project outwards of the housing in diagonally opposing directions increasing overall circumference/diameter of the housing/toolbox. Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the toolbox 100 and the adapters 120. As shown, each pair of diagonally opposing regions 142a, 142b, 144a, 144b, and 146a, 146b is configured to receive respective pair of adapters 120 depending upon size of the wheel rim so as to enable the toolbox to be adapted to different rim sizes.

[012] Figure 4 shows the adapter 120. The adapter extends from an inner end to an outer end. As shown in the figure, the outer end has a circular/arced profile. Further, a locking arrangement is provided for the locking the adapter with the housing. The locking arrangement comprises of at least one male member 148 provided on the region (shown in figure 2), and a corresponding female member 122 provided on the adapter (shown in figure 4). The male member is a stud and the female member is a groove. Accordingly, the groove receives the stud and interlocks the adapter with the housing.
[013] As mentioned hereinbefore, outer circumference of the housing corresponds with inner periphery of the wheel rim. Accordingly, the housing is adaptable to a wheel rim of a particular size. Each pair of opposing regions is configured to receive the pair of adapters such that the pair of adapters increases the overall circumference of the toolbox to corresponding with a bigger/larger wheel rim. In an embodiment, the housing and/or at-least one pair of adapter snap-fits with inner circumference of the wheel rim. Accordingly, the adapters enable the toolbox to be adapted to wheel rims of different sizes. By way of an example, the housing is adaptable to a wheel rim of 14”, and the adapters enable the toolbox to be adapted to wheel rims of 15”, 16” and 17”. In this regard, the first pair of opposing regions is provided for a wheel rim of 15” as shown in figure 5B, the second pair of opposing regions is provided for a wheel rim of 16” as shown in figure 5C, the third pair of opposing regions is provided for a wheel rim of 17” as shown in figure 5D. Figure 6A to 6D illustrate cross-section views of the toolbox adapted to different rim sizes. The toolbox shown in figure 6A is without any

adapters whereby the housing of the tool-box is snap-fitted with a 14”rim. As shown in figure 6B, the adapters are adapted to first pair of opposing regions whereby adapters on the toolbox are snap-fitted with a 15” rim. Figure 6C shows the adapters adapted to second pair of opposing regions whereby adapters on the toolbox are snap-fitted with a 16” rim. Figure 6D shows the adapters adapted to third pair of opposing regions whereby the adapters on the toolbox are snap-fitted with a 17” rim. Thus, the toolbox of the present invention is compatible with various rim sizes.
[014] Advantageously, the present invention provides a toolbox that can be adapted to varying sizes of wheel rims, thereby cutting the additional manufacturing expenses, reducing the inventory, maintenance, operational and manufacturing costs and design iterations.
[015] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

WE CLAIM:
1. A toolbox (100), comprising:
a housing (140) adaptable to a wheel rim, the housing comprising a cylindrical body, circumference thereof corresponding with an inner circumference of the wheel rim, and at least one pair of opposing regions on bottom side of the housing(142a, 142b, 144a, 144b, 146a, 146b); and
at least one pair of adapters (120), each adapter extending from an inner end to an outer end, at the outer end, the adapter has an arched profile, the pair of adapters adaptable to the pair of opposing regions, whereby the adapters project outwards in opposing directions from the housing increasing overall circumference of the housing such that the increased circumference corresponds with an inner circumference of a larger wheel rim.
2. The toolbox as claimed in claim 1, wherein a locking arrangement is provided
for coupling the pair of adapters with the regions of the housing.
3. The toolbox as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking arrangement comprises of at least one male member (148) provided on the region, and a corresponding female member (122) provided on the adapter.
4. The toolbox as claimed in claim 3, wherein the male member is a stud.
5. The toolbox as claimed in claim 3, wherein the female member is a groove.

6. The toolbox as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing and/or the at-least one pair of adapter snap-fits with inner circumference of the wheel rim.