Laser emitter with a modular storage unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12092457-B2
Application number	US-202217836584-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2022
Priority date	Jul 23, 2019
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

Various aspects of a laser level interfacing with a modular storage system are shown. The laser level couples to a storage unit and/or a stand that itself couples to the storage unit. The stand extends past the front of the storage unit and permits the laser level to emit line in the downward direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of using a modular storage system including a laser level comprising:
providing a first storage unit, the first storage unit comprising a top surface and a first plurality of coupling mechanisms located along the top surface;
providing a laser level comprising a laser level coupling mechanism configured to detachably engage with one of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms of the first storage unit; and
engaging the laser level coupling mechanism to a first coupling mechanism of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms such that the laser level is detachably supported from the top surface of the first storage unit.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
disengaging the laser level coupling mechanism from the first coupling mechanism, thereby disengaging the laser level from the first storage unit; and
engaging the laser level coupling mechanism to a second coupling mechanism of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms such that the laser level is detachably supported from the top surface of the first storage unit.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
disengaging the laser level coupling mechanism from the first coupling mechanism, thereby disengaging the laser level from the first storage unit;
providing a stand comprising an upper coupling mechanism configured to detachably engage with the laser level coupling mechanism, a bottom surface, and a lower coupling mechanism located along the bottom surface, the lower coupling mechanism configured to detachably engage with one of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms of the first storage unit;
engaging the lower coupling mechanism to one or more of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms such that the stand is detachably supported from the top surface of the first storage unit; and
engaging the laser level coupling mechanism to the upper coupling mechanism such that the laser level is detachably supported from the stand.

4. The method of claim 3 , the first storage unit comprising a front surface and the stand comprising a front surface, wherein engaging the lower coupling mechanism to one or more of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms such that the stand is detachably supported from the top surface of the first storage unit comprises positioning the stand such that the front surface of the stand extends past the front surface of the first storage unit.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising the laser level projecting a light downward in front of the front surface of the first storage unit.

6. The modular storage system of claim 4 , comprising the laser level projecting a light downward through an aperture in the stand.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first storage unit comprises a housing defining the front surface of the first storage unit and a top panel pivotably coupled to the housing, the method comprising:
pivotally rotating the front surface of the top panel away from the front surface of the housing as the top panel moves from a closed position to an open position.

8. The method of claim 1 , the modular storage system further comprising a frame coupled to the first storage unit, a handle coupled to the frame, and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
disengaging the laser level coupling mechanism from the first coupling mechanism, thereby disengaging the laser level from the first storage unit;
providing a second storage unit comprising an upper surface, an opposing lower surface, a second plurality of coupling mechanisms located along the upper surface of the second storage unit, and a third plurality of coupling mechanisms located along the lower surface of the second storage unit;
engaging one or more of the third plurality of coupling mechanisms to one or more of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms such that the second storage unit is detachably supported from the top surface of the first storage unit; and
engaging the laser level coupling mechanism to one or more of the second plurality of coupling mechanisms such that the laser level is detachably supported from the upper surface of the second storage unit.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
providing a stand comprising an upper coupling mechanism configured to detachably engage with the laser level coupling mechanism, a bottom surface, and a lower coupling mechanism located along the bottom surface, the lower coupling mechanism configured to detachably engage with one of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms of the first storage unit;
engaging the lower coupling mechanism to one or more of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms such that the stand is detachably supported from the top surface of the first storage unit; and
engaging the laser level coupling mechanism to the upper coupling mechanism such that the laser level is detachably supported from the stand.

11. The method of claim 10 , the first storage unit comprises a front surface and the stand comprises a front surface, wherein engaging the lower coupling mechanism to one or more of the first plurality of coupling mechanisms such that the stand is detachably supported from the top surface of the first storage unit comprises positioning the stand such that the front surface of the stand extends past the front surface of the first storage unit.

12. The method of claim 10 , comprising the laser level projecting a light downward in front of the front surface of the first storage unit.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser level is a self-leveling laser level, the method comprising the laser level emitting light at a predetermined angle relative to gravity.

14. The method of claim 1 , the first storage unit comprising a storage compartment.

15. A modular storage system comprising:
a storage unit comprising:
a top surface; and
a female coupler located along the top surface; and

a laser level comprising a male coupler that detachably engages with the female coupler of the storage unit.

16. The modular storage system of claim 15 , the male coupler comprising two ribs on opposing sides of the male coupler, the two ribs extending below and offset from a bottom surface of the laser level.

17. The modular storage system of claim 15 , the storage unit comprising a storage compartment.

18. The modular storage system of claim 15 , the female coupler comprising a recessed surface and two tongues on opposing sides of the female coupler, the two tongues extending above and offset from the recessed surface.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Millane Christopher R

Classifications

• B25H3/021

  comprising a number of connected storage elements · CPC title

• G01C15/002 Primary

  Active optical surveying means (optical plumbing G01C15/105) · CPC title

• G01C15/004 Primary

  Reference lines, planes or sectors · CPC title