Storage tote with electrical outlets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10897149-B2
Application number	US-201715857031-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2017
Priority date	Dec 28, 2016
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A storage tote assembly includes a lower storage bin, an upper storage tote that is selectively attachable to the lower storage bin, and at least one electrical power outlet inside the lower storage bin. The lower storage bin has a bottom panel and at least one bin sidewall that extends up from the bottom panel to define the lower storage chamber. The upper storage tote has a lower portion that selectively engages the bin sidewall at an open top thereof. The lower portion of the storage tote and at least one tote sidewall cooperate to define an upper storage area for loose articles. The power outlet is energized by an external power source or an onboard power supply, to provide electrical power to a portable electrical or electronic device.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A storage tote assembly comprises:
a lower storage bin having a bottom panel and at least one bin sidewall extending upwardly from said bottom panel and cooperating with said bottom panel to define a lower storage chamber, wherein said lower storage chamber is configured to store loose articles;
an upper storage tote having a lower portion and at least one tote sidewall defining an outer perimeter and cooperating with said lower portion to define an upper storage area, wherein said upper storage tote is supported by said at least one bin sidewall, and wherein said lower portion of said upper storage tote is releasably coupled to said at least one bin sidewall at said open top, and wherein said upper storage tote is configured to support loose articles in said upper storage area;
a plurality of divider walls extending through and subdividing said upper storage area, at least a subset of said divider walls spanning fully across said upper storage area between different regions of said at least one tote sidewall, said divider walls comprising a center divider wall extending centrally through said upper storage area;
a single carry handle extending upwardly from said center divider wall, said carry handle projecting above said at least one tote sidewall and said plurality of divider walls, wherein said carry handle is configured to permit carrying said upper storage tote and said lower storage bin together as a unit when said storage tote is releasably coupled to said lower storage bin;
a securing element for releasably attaching said upper storage tote to said at least one bin sidewall at said open top;
at least one electrical power outlet mounted inside said lower storage chamber at one of said bottom panel and said at least one bin sidewall, and operable to supply electrical power to a portable electrical or electronic device;
an electrical storage device disposed in said lower storage chamber, wherein said electrical storage device is in electrical communication with said at least one electrical outlet;
a wireless power receiver positioned along said bottom panel or said at least one bin sidewall and operable to wirelessly receive electrical power from a remotely located wireless power transmitter, and to convey the electrical power to said electrical storage device to thereby recharge said electrical storage device; and
an internal wireless power transmitter disposed in said lower storage chamber and operable to receive electrical power from said electrical storage device and wirelessly convey the electrical power to at least one portable electrical or electronic device positioned in said lower storage chamber;
wherein said at least one electrical power outlet, said internal wireless power transmitter, and said lower storage chamber are accessible via said open top upon separation of said upper storage tote from said lower storage bin.

2. The storage tote assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a portable electrical power monument supported at said internal wireless power transmitter, said portable electrical power monument comprising:
a low voltage DC electrical outlet;
a rechargeable battery; and
a monument wireless power receiver operable to receive electrical power from said internal wireless power transmitter and to convey the electrical power to at least one of said rechargeable battery and said low voltage DC electrical outlet;
wherein said portable electrical power monument is accessible and removable through said open top upon separation of said upper storage tote from said lower storage bin.

Assignees

• Byrne Norman R
• Stathis Peter

Inventors

• Byrne Norman R
• Stathis Peter

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H02J7/731 Primary

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J50/40

  using two or more transmitting or receiving devices (H02J50/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title