Tool storage devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086508-B2
Application number	US-201715448656-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2017
Priority date	Jul 22, 2014
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

Tool storage devices. A tool storage device may include a handle assembly including a support arm connected between a body and a handle portion and having a substantially rectangular cross section oriented with first walls extending transverse to the axis having a greater width than second walls extending parallel to the axis. A width of the handle portion may be at least about 50% of a width of the body. The body may include a frame assembly formed of a rigid material, a wall formed of a flexible material and at least partially defining the storage compartment with an open top, and a cover formed of a rigid material connected to the frame assembly to selectively close the open top. A wheel well portion receives each wheel and may cover the width of the wheel and a portion of the circumference of the wheel. A radial clearance between the wheel and a lower end of the wheel well may be no more than about 0.5 inches.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool storage device comprising:
a body defining a storage compartment, the body having a front, a rear, opposite sides, a top and a bottom, the body including
a frame assembly formed of a rigid material, the frame assembly including
a main frame portion, and
an axle support connected to the main frame portion,

a wall formed of a flexible material and at least partially defining the storage compartment with a top opening, the wall of flexible material providing the front, the rear, the opposite sides, and the bottom of the body, the main frame portion being connected to and providing support to the wall, the axle support being connected to the wall, and
a cover formed of a rigid material connected to the frame assembly and operable to selectively close the top opening, the cover providing the top of the body, the main frame portion being connected to and pivotally supporting the cover;

wheels supporting the body for movement over ground, a wheel being supported proximate each opposite side, each wheel being rotatable about an axis;
a rigid axle pivotally supporting both wheels, the axle being supported by the axle support; and
a handle assembly including a handle connected to the body and engageable by a user to pull the storage device, a first support arm connected between the body and one end of the handle, and a second support arm connected between the body and an opposite end of the handle;
wherein the frame assembly further includes a first support arm receiving portion operable to receive the first support arm and a second support arm receiving portion operable to receive the second support arm, each of the first support arm receiving portion and the second support arm receiving portion being connected to the main frame portion and being connected to and providing support to the wall, the axle support being connected between the first support arm receiving portion and the second support arm receiving portion.

2. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly and the cover include
inter-engaging hinge portions to pivotally support the cover on the frame assembly for movement between an open position and a closed position, and
inter-engaging stop surfaces engageable in the closed position of the cover to inhibit further movement of the cover beyond the closed position, the stop surfaces being positioned proximate the hinge portions.

3. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein each wheel has a circumference and an axial width, and wherein the frame assembly includes
a wheel well portion operable to receive each wheel, each wheel well portion defining an opening receiving the axle, each wheel well portion covering the width of the wheel and a portion of the circumference of the wheel, a radial clearance between the wheel and a lower end of the wheel well portion being no more than about 0.25 inches, each wheel well portion being connected to the wall.

4. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the cover defines a first groove and a second groove, and wherein, in an open position of the cover, the first groove receives a portion of the first support arm, and the second groove receives a portion of the second support arm, engagement of the first support arm in the first groove and the second support arm in the second groove releasably retaining the cover in the open position.

5. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly further includes a bottom support portion connected to and providing support to the wall, the bottom support portion being connected to the support arm receiving portions, the bottom support portion being engageable with the ground in an upright position of the storage device.

6. A tool storage device comprising:
a body defining a storage compartment, the body having a front, a rear, opposite sides, a top and a bottom;
wheels supporting the body for movement over ground, a wheel being supported proximate each opposite side, each wheel being rotatable about an axis;
a rigid axle pivotally supporting both wheels; and
a handle assembly including a handle connected to the body and engageable by a user to pull the storage device, a first support arm connected between the body and one end of the handle, and a second support arm connected between the body and an opposite end of the handle;
wherein the body includes
a wall formed of a flexible material and at least partially defining the storage compartment with a top opening, the wall providing the front, the rear, the opposite sides, and the bottom of the body,
a cover formed of a rigid material and operable to selectively close the top opening, the cover providing the top of the body, and
a frame assembly formed of a rigid material, the frame assembly including
a main frame portion connected to and providing support to the wall, the main frame portion being connected to and pivotally supporting the cover,
a first support arm receiving portion operable to receive the first support arm and a second support arm receiving portion operable to receive the second support arm, each of the first support arm receiving portion and the second support arm receiving portion being directly connected to the main frame portion and being directly connected to and providing support to the wall, and
an axle support supporting the axle, the axle support being connected to the wall, the axle support being connected between the support arm receiving portions and to the main frame portion.

7. The storage device of claim 6 , wherein the frame assembly and the cover include
inter-engaging hinge portions to pivotally support the cover on the frame assembly for movement between an open position and a closed position, and
inter-engaging stop surfaces engageable in the closed position of the cover to inhibit further movement of the cover beyond the closed position, the stop surfaces being positioned proximate the hinge portions.

8. The storage device of claim 6 , wherein each wheel has a circumference and an axial width, and wherein the frame assembly includes a wheel well portion operable to receive each wheel, each wheel well portion defining an opening receiving the axle, each wheel well portion covering the width of the wheel and a portion of the circumference of the wheel, a radial clearance between the wheel and a lower end of the wheel well portion being no more than about 0.25 inches, each wheel well portion being connected to the wall.

9. The storage device of claim 6 , wherein the cover defines a first groove and a second groove, and wherein, in an open position of the cover, the first groove receives a portion of the first support arm, and the second groove receives a portion of the second support arm, engagement of the first support arm in the first groove and the second support arm in the second groove releasably retaining the cover in the open position.

10. The storage device of claim 6 , wherein the frame assembly further includes a bottom support portion connected to and providing support to the wall, the bottom support portion being connected to the support arm receiving portions, the bottom support portion being engageable with the ground in an upright position of the storage device.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Hoppe Christopher S
• Hyma Steven W
• Squiers Grant T
• Stearns Michael

Classifications

• A45C13/02

  Interior fittings; Means, {e.g. inserts,} for holding and packing articles · CPC title

• A45C7/0086

  comprising a plurality of separable elements which can be used independently of one another · CPC title

• A45C7/0045

  comprising a plurality of separable elements which can be used independently of one another · CPC title

• B62B5/067

  Stowable or retractable handle bars · CPC title

• A45C13/005

  Hinges · CPC title