Utility assembly and coupling mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12330839-B2
Application number	US-202418628427-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2024
Priority date	May 2, 2016
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a coupling mechanism for detachably attaching two or more utility modules to one another, utility assembles, mobile carriers and other attachable modules and articles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container assembly comprising:
a first container comprising:
a first coupler configured at a top face of the first container, the first coupler comprising two sidewalls, a back wall, and a rib, the back wall extending between the two sidewalls, the two sidewalls and the back wall projecting from a first coupling surface of the top face, and the rib extending away from the back wall in a first direction above the first coupling surface;
a first lid pivotally attached to the first container; and
a first toggle locking latch configured to latch the first lid of the first container in a closed position; and

a second container comprising:
a second coupler extending from the second container, the second coupler comprising a tongue extending in a second direction opposite the first direction, the tongue of the second container is engageable with the rib of the first container such that the tongue engages between the rib and the first coupling surface, wherein attaching engagement between the second container and the first container takes place when the tongue and the rib are engaged, thereby restricting separation between the second container and the first container;
a second lid pivotally attached to the second container;
a second toggle locking latch configured to latch the second lid of the second container in a closed position;
a front face;
a first side face;
an opposing second side face;
a first corner bumper coupled to the second container between the front face and the first side face, the first corner bumper defining a first outer surface that faces away from each of the front face and the first side face; and
a second corner bumper coupled to the second container between the front face and the second side face, and the second corner bumper defining a second outer surface that faces away from each of the front face and the second side face;

a locking latch arresting location defined by the first container; and
a locking latch coupled to the second container, the locking latch positionable in a locked position engaging the locking latch arresting location, wherein disengaging the second container from the first container can be performed only after disengaging the locking latch from the locking latch arresting location.

2. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking latch is spring biased to engage with the locking latch arresting location.

3. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rib extends from the back wall between the two sidewalls in the first direction towards the front face of the second container, wherein the first container defines a first width parallel to the front face of the second container and the second container defines a second width parallel to the front face of the second container, wherein the second width is approximately half the first width.

4. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first container comprises a first handle pivotally coupled to a front face of the first container.

5. The container assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second container comprises a second handle pivotally coupled to the front face of the second container above the first handle.

6. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second coupler of the second container extends from a bottom face of the second container that faces downward such that the tongue is offset from at least a portion of the bottom face of the second container and wherein the rib engages between the tongue and the bottom face of the second container.

7. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first container comprises a pair of rear wheels and a telescoping handle extending upwards from a rear wall of the first container.

8. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lid of the first container can be opened when the second container is articulated and locked in position thereabove.

9. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rib extends from the back wall between the two sidewalls in the first direction towards the front face of the second container, wherein the locking latch is closer to the front face of the second container than the second coupler.

10. The container assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second container comprises a release latch for displacing the locking latch into disengagement from the locking latch arresting location, wherein the release latch is disposed at the front face of the second container.

11. The container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rib extends from the back wall between the two sidewalls in the first direction towards the front face of the second container, wherein the locking latch is spring biased to engage with the locking latch arresting location, wherein the locking latch is closer to the front face of the second container than the second coupler, wherein the first container comprises a first handle pivotally coupled to a front face of the first container, wherein the second container comprises a second handle pivotally coupled to the front face of the second container above the first handle, and the second container comprises a release latch for displacing the locking latch into disengagement from the locking latch arresting location, and wherein the release latch is disposed at the front face of the second container.

12. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first container defines a first width parallel to the front face of the second container and the second container defines a second width parallel to the front face of the second container, wherein the second width is approximately half the first width.

13. The container assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second coupler of the second container extends from a bottom face of the second container that faces downward such that the tongue is offset from at least a portion of the bottom face of the second container and wherein the rib engages between the tongue and the bottom face of the second container.

14. The container assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first container comprises a pair of rear wheels and a telescoping handle extending upwards from a rear wall of the first container.

15. The container assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first lid of the first container can be opened when the second container is articulated and locked in position thereabove.

16. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first container comprises a pair of rear wheels and a telescoping handle extending upwards from a rear wall of the first container.

17. The container assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second coupler of the second container extends from a bottom face of the second container that faces downward such that the tongue is offset from at least a portion of the bottom face of the second container and wherein the rib engages between the tongue and the bottom face of the second container.

18. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first lid of the first container can be opened when the second container is articulated and locked in position thereabove.

19. The container assembly of claim 18 , wherein the second coupler of the second container extends from a bottom face of the second container that faces downward such that the tongue is offset from at least a portion of the bottom face of the second container and wherein the rib engages between the tongue and the bottom face of the second container.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp
• Keter Plastic Ltd

Inventors

• Brunner Yaron
• Squiers Grant T
• Hoppe Christopher S
• Hyma Steven W

Classifications

• B65D2255/00

  Locking devices · CPC title

• B65D21/0228

  Containers joined together by screw-, bayonet-, snap-fit or the like, (B65D21/0211, B65D21/0231 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62B5/067

  Stowable or retractable handle bars · CPC title

• B62B1/14

  involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment · CPC title

• B25H3/023

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