Utility assembly and connectivity system therefore

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11059631-B1
Application number	US-202016818562-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2020
Priority date	Jan 12, 2020
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a connectivity system for a utility module, including one or both of: a rigid base portion with at least one engaging tab projecting at a first edge portion of the rigid base portion, and at least one locking receptacle disposed at a second edge portion of the rigid base portion; and a rigid mounting platform comprising an upwardly extending perimetric rim defining a utility module arresting space, the rim being configured with at least one tab arresting receptacle at a first location, and at least one locking latch at a second location.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connectivity system for a utility module, comprising one or both of:
a rigid base portion with at least one engaging tab projecting at a first edge portion of the rigid base portion, and at least one locking receptacle disposed at a second edge portion of the rigid base portion, said at least one engaging tab and at least one locking receptacle extend substantially parallel to a surface of the rigid base portion, are disposed at opposite sides thereof, and face at an opposite sense; and
a rigid mounting platform comprising an upwardly extending perimetric rim defining a utility module arresting space, the rim being configured with at least one tab arresting receptacle at a first location, and at least one locking latch at a second location; said at least one locking latch axially slidingly displaceable between a locked position wherein said at least one locking latch projects into said utility module arresting space and is engageable with a locking receptacle, and an unlocked position wherein said at least one locking latch is retracted from said utility module arresting space and a slanted fore tip of the at least one locking latch extending substantially flush with an inside surface of the rim.

2. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid base portion of a first utility module is configured to be applied over the rigid mounting platform of a second utility module, such that the rigid base portion at least partially bears over at least a portion of the rigid mounting platform, and wherein the first utility module is detachably articulated to the second utility module by arresting the at least one engaging tab with a corresponding at least one tab arresting receptacle, and displacing the at least one locking latch into the locked position, such that the at least one locking latch arrests within corresponding at least one locking receptacle.

3. The connectivity system according to claim 2 , wherein (i) the at least one engaging tab and the at least one locking latch are disposed at opposite sides of the first utility module, or (ii) the at least one engaging tab is disposed at a rear side of the first utility module and the at least one locking latch is disposed at a front side of the first utility module.

4. The connectivity system according to claim 2 , wherein the second utility module is configured with an upwardly extending perimetric rim, at least partially bordering the rigid mounting platform, wherein the utility module arresting space resides within the boundaries of the rim.

5. The connectivity system according to claims wherein (i) the rigid base portion of the first utility module is configured for at least partially nesting within the perimetric rim of the second utility module, (ii) the at least one tab arresting receptacle is configured as an opening at the perimetric rim, said opening facing an inside surface of the perimetric rim, and/or (iii) the opening of the at least one tab arresting receptacle is a through-going aperture at the perimetric rim.

6. The connectivity system according to claim 4 , wherein at least portions of an inner wall of the perimetric rim are outwardly slanted, serving as a positioning aid in placing the rigid base portion of first utility module in register over the rigid mounting platform of the second utility module.

7. The connectivity system according to claim 2 , wherein the length of the base portion, measured in the direction of a path of insertion is substantially similar, or slightly less, than the length of the arresting space of a second utility module, measured in the same direction, and wherein the length of the base portion of the first utility module including protruding length of the engaging tabs is greater than the length of the arresting space of the second utility module.

8. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein the first utility module is configured with a rigid base plate configured with an upright portion extending at a rear side, said upright portion comprising at least one rigid engaging tab laterally projecting therefrom, and at least one locking receptacle disposed at a front wall of the a rigid base plate, where said at least one engaging tab is engageable with corresponding at least one tab arresting receptacle disposed in register at an upwardly extending rear rim of a second utility module, and said at least one locking receptacle is configured for arresting engagement with a corresponding at least one locking latch at a front rim portion of the second utility module.

9. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein (i) the at least one engaging tab and at least one locking receptacle extend substantially parallel to one another, coaxial or offset, (ii) the at least one tab receptacle and at least one locking latch extend substantially parallel to one another, coaxial or offset, (iii) the at least one tab receptacle and at least one locking latch extend substantially normal to one another, (iv) the locking latch is axially displaceable between its respective locked position and unlocked position, (v) the locking latch is pivotally displaceable between its respective locked position and unlocked position, (vi) the locking latch is rotationally displaceable between its respective locked position and unlocked position, or (vii) the locking latch is manually displaceable at least between its unlocked position and its locked position.

10. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein the locking latch is configured with a tapering engaging surface, whereby applying a force vector over said engaging surface results in retraction displacement of the locking latch.

11. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more locking latch is normally biased into the locked position.

12. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein the locking latch is configured with a gripping portion for manipulating between the respective locked position and unlocked position, said gripping portion extending exterior to said utility module arresting space.

13. The connectivity system according to claim 12 , wherein at a locked position of the locking latch, the gripping portion is received within a cutout portion at an exterior face of the perimetric rim of a second utility module.

14. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein (i) a bottom surface of the at least one tab arresting receptacle is flush with a bottom surface of the module arresting space at the rigid mounting platform, (ii) a bottom surface of the engaging tab is chamfered to facilitate easy insertion onto the corresponding tab arresting receptacle, (iii) a bottom surface of the at least one locking latch is displaceable coplanar with the bottom surface of the at least one tab arresting receptacle, or (iv) a bottom surface of the at least one locking latch is displaceable at a plane parallel with a plane of the bottom surface of the at least one tab arresting receptacle.

15. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid mounting platform is configured with depressions extending in direction between the at least one tab arresting receptacle and the at least one locking latch.

16. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking latch is spring biased into the locked position.

17. The connectivity system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking latch is displaceable between a distinct locked position and a distinct unlocked position, whereby the locking latch is prevented from spontaneous displacing bet

Assignees

• Keter Plastic Ltd

Inventors

• Brunner Yaron
• Bougay Ayala Vardi
• Hetzroni Oren

Classifications

• B65D21/0217

  Containers with a closure presenting stacking elements (B65D21/064 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B25H3/02 Primary

  Boxes · CPC title

• B65D21/0219

  the closure presenting projecting peripheral elements receiving or surrounding the bottom or peripheral elements projecting from the bottom of a superimposed container (B65D21/0222 and B65D21/0223 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D45/24 Primary

  incorporating pressure-applying means, e.g. screws or toggles · CPC title

• B65D21/02

  Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together {(stackable containers of polygonal cross-section formed by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/001)} · CPC title