Container assembly with adjustable mount structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10787186-B2
Application number	US-201715429662-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Sep 1, 2009
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

In an embodiment, an apparatus for storing articles includes: a frame; mount structures adjustably connectable to the frame so as to enable a height adjustment thereof on the frame; containers releasably connectable to the mount structures, thus enabling a height adjustment of each of the containers; and releasable connections between respective ones of the containers and the mount structures. Each of the releasable connections (between a container of the containers and a mount structure of the mount structures) is configured to enable the container to be releasably connected to the mount structure, where the releasable connection couples the container with the mount structure along a sidewall of the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for storing articles, comprising:
a frame;
mount structures adjustably connectable to the frame so as to enable a height adjustment thereof on the frame;
containers releasably connectable to the mount structures, thus enabling a height adjustment of each of the containers on the frame; and
releasable connections between respective ones of the containers and the mount structures, each of the releasable connections between a container of the containers and a mount structure of the mount structures being configured to enable the container to be releasably connected to the mount structure,
wherein each of the releasable connections comprises one or more protrusions, each of the one or more protrusions being constructed and arranged to have (i) a stop surface provided near a rear end thereof and (ii) a ramp surface provided on an opposite end, and
wherein at least one of the containers has a handle for transporting the at least one container after it has been released from one or more of the mount structures, wherein, with respect to each of the containers, at least one releasable connection for the container comprises a pair of spring-biased side handles on opposite sides of the container, the side handles being constructed and arranged to engage one or more of the mount structures.

2. An apparatus for storing articles, comprising:
a frame;
one or more mount structures adjustably connectable to the frame so as to enable a height adjustment thereof on the frame, the one or more mount structures being provided with a recess near a rear end of the one or more mount structures where the one or more mount structures are connected to the frame; and
a container releasably connectable to the one or more mount structures, thus enabling a height adjustment of the container on the frame, the container having a main body and a movable structure movable relative to the main body to permit access to contents within the container;
wherein the container has a handle for transporting the container after it has been released from the one or more mount structures,
wherein the main body comprises at least one elongated body surface configured to slidably engage a slide surface of the mount structure;
wherein the one or more mount structures comprises a first mount structure having the recess,
wherein the container has a protrusion configured to be releasably received in the recess of the first mount structure to secure the container to the first mount structure; and
wherein, when the container is mounted on the frame, the container is configured to be removed from a remainder of the apparatus by first releasing the container from the mount structure and then pulling the container outwardly away from the frame as the elongated body surface of the main body slidably engages the slide surface of the mount structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the protrusion is a spring-biased ball bearing structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the protrusion comprises an integrally formed projection on the container.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the protrusion comprises a spring-biased pin.

6. An apparatus for storing articles, comprising:
a frame;
mount structures adjustably connectable to the frame so as to enable a height adjustment thereof on the frame, the mount structures each comprising a slide surface;
at least two containers comprising a top container and a lower container; and
releasable connections between respective ones of the at least two containers and the mount structures enabling a height adjustment of each of the at least two containers on the frame, each of the releasable connections between a container of the at least two containers and a mount structure of the mount structures being configured to enable the container to be releasably connected to the mount structure, the releasable connection coupling the container with the mount structure along a sidewall of the container, each sidewall of the container comprising a slide surface configured to slidably engage the slide surface of one of the mount structures,
wherein each of the releasable connections comprises one or more protrusions, each of the one or more protrusions being constructed and arranged to have (i) a stop surface provided near a rear end thereof and (ii) a ramp surface provided on an opposite end,
wherein each of the at least two containers has a handle for transporting the respective container after it has been released from the respective ones of the mount structures, and
wherein, when the top container and the lower container are mounted on the frame such that the lower container is disposed below the top container, the lower container is configured to be removed from a remainder of the apparatus, while the top container remains connected with the apparatus, by first releasing the respective releasable connection and then pulling the lower container outwardly away from the frame from beneath the top container as the lower container's slide surfaces slidably engage the slide surfaces of the associated mount structures.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more protrusions on each of the releasable connections are provided on one or more of the mount structures.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the releasable connections comprise a releasable latch on each of the at least two containers, and, with respect to each of the at least two containers, the container's releasable latch is configured to engage at least one of the one or more protrusions to latch the respective container to at least one of the mount structures.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein, with respect to each of the at least two containers, the container's releasable latch is provided with a spring to bias the releasable latch in a closed position, and wherein, when the releasable latch is engaged with a respective one of the one or more protrusions, abutment between the stop surface of the respective protrusion and at least a portion of the releasable latch prevents removal of the respective container from at least one of the mount structures.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the spring is constructed and arranged to enable the releasable latch to rotate against the bias of the spring to an open position through an action of a user.

11. An apparatus for storing articles, comprising:
a frame;
mount structures adjustably connectable to the frame so as to enable a height adjustment thereof on the frame, the mount structures each comprising a slide surface; and
at least two containers comprising a top container and a lower container,
wherein each of the mount structures comprises a connection structure that includes a stop surface,
wherein each of the at least two containers comprises a spring-biased latch constructed and arranged to releasably engage with the stop surface of respective ones of the mount structure enabling a height adjustment of each of the at least two containers on the frame, each of the spring-biased latch of a container of the at least two containers and the stop surface of respective ones of the mount structure being configured to enable the respective container to be releasably latched with the respective ones of the mount structures, and
wherein each sidewall of the container comprising a slide surface configured to slidably engage the slide surface of one of the mount structures,
wherein each of the at least two containers has a handle for transporting the respective container after it has been released from the respective ones of the mount structures, and
wherein, when the top container and the lower container are mounted on the frame such that the lowe

Assignees

• Stanley Works Israel

Inventors

• Bar-Erez Sharon
• Vilkomirski Gil
• Sabbag Yosi
• Shitrit Elad Hay

Classifications

• B62B5/00

  Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts ({B62B3/1404} , B62B9/00 take precedence; wheels, axles, or axle bearings for vehicles B60B; castors for vehicles, castors in general B60B33/00) · CPC title

• B62B1/26

  characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape · CPC title

• B65D2525/283

  combined with container closing means, e.g. stopper · CPC title

• B25H3/023

  movable relative to one another for access to their interiors · CPC title

• A47B47/00

  Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features related to dismountability or building-up from elements (A47B43/00, A47B45/00 take precedence; features for adjusting shelves or partitions A47B57/00) · CPC title