Tool storage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12286267-B2
Application number	US-202217736749-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2022
Priority date	Jan 24, 2018
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

Described herein are various coupling systems to be used with storage units that are selectively coupled and decoupled. The coupling systems may be used with storage units that are stackable and/or transportable, thus allowing the storage units to function well within a large stationary environment, such as a basement, and also for a subset of the storage units to be selected and easily moved to another location.

First claim

We claim:

1. A first container comprising:
a continuous top surface;
a first inner coupling wall extending upward from the continuous planar top surface, the first inner coupling wall comprising:
a first rib wall that extends from the first inner coupling wall in a first direction above the continuous top surface, wherein the first rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with a first coupler of a second container; and
a second rib wall that extends from the first inner coupling wall in a second direction opposite the first direction above the continuous top surface, wherein the second rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with a second coupler of the second container distinct from the first coupler;

a latch receptacle configured to interface with a latch of the second container, the interface between the latch receptacle and the latch preventing sliding disengagement of the first coupler from the first rib wall and the second coupler from the second rib wall; and
a first rear wall that extends downward from the first rib wall and upward from the continuous top surface.

2. The first container of claim 1 , wherein the first rear wall also extends downward from the second rib wall.

3. The first container of claim 1 , comprising a second inner coupling wall extending upward from the continuous top surface, the second inner coupling wall comprising a third rib wall that extends from the second inner coupling wall in the first direction above the continuous top surface, wherein the third rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with a third coupler of the second container.

4. The first container of claim 3 , comprising a second rear wall that extends downward from the third rib wall and upward from the continuous top surface.

5. The first container of claim 3 , the second inner coupling wall comprising a fourth rib wall that extends from the second inner coupling wall in the second direction above the continuous top surface, wherein the fourth rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with a fourth coupler of the second container.

6. The first container of claim 1 , comprising a first outer coupling wall extending upward from the continuous top surface, the first outer coupling wall comprising a fifth rib wall that extends from the first outer coupling wall in the first direction above the continuous top surface.

7. The first container of claim 6 , wherein the fifth rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with the second coupler of the second container.

8. The first container of claim 6 , the first outer coupling wall comprising a sixth rib wall that extends from the first outer coupling wall in the first direction above the continuous top surface.

9. A first container comprising:
a top surface;
a first outer coupling wall extending upward away from the top surface, the first outer coupling wall comprising:
a first rib wall that extends from the first outer coupling wall in a first direction above a first portion of the top surface, wherein the first rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with a first coupler of a second container; and
a second rib wall that extends from the first outer coupling wall in the first direction above a second portion of the top surface that is continuous with the first portion, wherein the second rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with a second coupler of the second container distinct from the first coupler;

a latch receptacle configured to interface with a latch of the second container, the interface between the latch receptacle and the latch preventing sliding disengagement of the first coupler from the first rib wall and the second coupler from the second rib wall; and
a first inner coupling wall extending upward from the top surface, the first inner coupling wall comprising a third rib wall that extends from the first inner coupling wall in a second direction opposite to the first direction above a third portion of the top surface, wherein the third portion is continuous with the first portion and the second portion.

10. The first container of claim 9 , wherein the third rib wall extends towards the first rib wall.

11. The first container of claim 9 , wherein the third rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with the first coupler of the second container.

12. The first container of claim 9 , comprising a second inner coupling wall extending upward from the top surface, the second inner coupling wall comprising a fourth rib wall that extends from the second inner coupling wall in the second direction above a fourth portion of the top surface, wherein the fourth portion is continuous with each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion.

13. The first container of claim 12 , wherein the fourth rib wall extends towards the second rib wall.

14. The first container of claim 12 , wherein the fourth rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with the second coupler of the second container.

15. The first container of claim 12 , wherein the second inner coupling wall is distinct from the first inner coupling wall.

16. A first container comprising:
a top surface;
a first outer coupling wall extending upward away from the top surface, the first outer coupling wall comprising a first rib wall that extends from the first outer coupling wall in a first direction above a first portion of the top surface, wherein the first rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with a first coupler of a second container;
a second outer coupling wall extending upward away from the top surface, the second outer coupling wall comprising a second rib wall that extends from the second outer coupling wall in a second direction opposite the first direction above a second portion of the top surface that is continuous with the first portion, wherein the second rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with a second coupler of the second container distinct from the first coupler; and
a latch receptacle configured to interface with a latch of the second container, the interface between the latch receptacle and the latch preventing sliding disengagement of the first coupler from the first rib wall and the second coupler from the second rib wall.

17. The first container of claim 16 , comprising a first inner coupling wall extending upward from the top surface, the first inner coupling wall comprising:
a third rib wall that extends from the first inner coupling wall in the second direction above a third portion of the top surface towards the first rib wall, wherein the third rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with the first coupler of the second container, and wherein the third portion is continuous with the first portion and the second portion; and
a fourth rib wall that extends from the first inner coupling wall in the first direction above a fourth portion of the top surface towards the second rib wall, wherein the fourth rib wall is configured to slidingly engage with the second coupler of the second container, and wherein the fourth portion is continuous with each of the first portion, the second portion and the third portion.

18. The first container of claim 17 , comprising a first rear wall that extends downward from the second rib wall and upward from the top surface.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp
• Keter Plastic Ltd

Inventors

• Hoppe Christopher S
• Caelwaerts Michael John
• Gould Samuel A
• Williams Aaron M
• Blumenthal Aaron S
• Stearns Michael
• Squiers Grant T
• Hyma Steven W
• Thurner Jason D
• Brunner Yaron

Classifications

• B25H3/023

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

• B65D21/0223

  the closure and the bottom presenting local co-operating elements, e.g. projections and recesses (B65D21/0222 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D21/0216

  Containers with stacking ribs in the side walls · CPC title

• B65D21/0215

  Containers with stacking feet or corner elements (B65D21/0211, B65D21/023 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D21/0212

  Containers presenting local stacking elements protruding from the upper or lower edge of a side wall, e.g. handles, lugs, ribs, grooves (B65D21/0211, B65D21/0215, B65D21/023 take precedence) · CPC title