Work structure for use with modular storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12446683-B2
Application number	US-202318537140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2023
Priority date	Feb 1, 2021
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

One or more devices are provided that are configured to detachably engage within a modular system. The one or more devices are expandable to provide a surface to perform work.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable work platform configured to couple to a modular storage unit, the foldable work platform comprising:
a first housing comprising a first work surface;
a second housing comprising a second work surface, the second housing pivotally coupled to the first housing such that the first housing and the second housing are configured to actuate between an open configuration and a closed configuration;
a first support structure pivotally coupled to the first housing;
a second support structure pivotally coupled to the second housing, the first support structure and the second support structure configured to collectively support the first housing and the second housing when the first housing and the second housing are positioned in the open configuration; and
a first plurality of male couplers coupled to a first surface of the first support structure, the first plurality of male couplers configured to couple the foldable work platform to a first surface of a stackable storage unit, each of the first plurality of male couplers comprising a first rib and a second rib extending away from each other, wherein the first rib and the second rib are offset from and parallel to the first surface.

2. The foldable work platform of claim 1 , each of the male couplers of the first plurality of male couplers comprising the first rib and the second rib each also extending in a first direction.

3. The foldable work platform of claim 2 , the first support structure configured to actuate between an extended position in which the first support structure extends from the first housing and a retracted position in which the first support structure is at least partially retracted within the first housing, the second support structure configured to actuate between an extended position in which the second support structure extends from the second housing and a retracted position in which the second support structure is at least partially retracted within the second housing.

4. The foldable work platform of claim 3 , comprising a second plurality of male couplers coupled to the second support structure, the second plurality of male couplers configured to couple the foldable work platform to the first surface of the stackable storage unit, each of the male couplers of the second plurality of male couplers comprising a first rib and an opposing second rib each extending in a second direction.

5. The foldable work platform of claim 4 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite each other when the first support structure and the second support structure are each in the retracted position and the first housing and the second housing are in the open configuration.

6. The foldable work platform of claim 5 , wherein the first direction and second direction extend in the same direction parallel to each other when the first support structure and the second support structure are each in the retracted position and the first housing and the second housing are in the closed configuration.

7. The foldable work platform of claim 1 , wherein the first work surface defines a first planar work surface, and wherein the second work surface defines a second planar work surface.

8. The foldable work platform of claim 1 , comprising a latch configured to couple the first housing to the second housing when the first housing and the second housing are in the closed configuration.

9. The foldable work platform of claim 1 , wherein the first work surface and the second work surface are coplanar when the first housing and the second housing are in the open configuration.

10. A foldable work platform configured to couple to a modular storage unit, the foldable work platform comprising:
a first housing comprising a first work surface;
a second housing comprising a second work surface, the second housing pivotally coupled to the first housing such that the first housing and the second housing are configured to actuate between an open configuration and a closed configuration;
a first support structure pivotally coupled to the first housing;
a second support structure pivotally coupled to the second housing, the first support structure and the second support structure configured to collectively support the first housing and the second housing when the first housing and the second housing are positioned in the open configuration;
a first plurality of coupling components coupled to a third work surface of the first support structure, the first plurality of coupling components configured to couple the foldable work platform to a stackable storage unit, each of the first plurality of coupling components comprising a first rib and a second rib extending away from each other, wherein the first rib and the second rib are offset above and parallel to the third work surface; and
a second plurality of coupling components coupled to the second support structure, the second plurality of coupling components configured to couple the foldable work platform to the stackable storage unit, wherein the first plurality of coupling components extend from the first housing in a first direction and the second plurality of coupling components extend from the second housing in a second direction opposite the first direction when the first housing and the second housing are in the closed configuration.

11. The foldable work platform of claim 10 , the first plurality of coupling components comprising a first front row of at least two coupling components and a first rear row of at least two coupling components parallel to the first front row, and the second plurality of coupling components comprising a second front row of at least two coupling components and a second rear row of at least two coupling components parallel to the second front row.

12. The foldable work platform of claim 11 , comprising a latch configured to engage with the stackable storage unit and thereby prevent sliding disengagement of the foldable work platform from the stackable storage unit when the first plurality of coupling components are engaged with a third plurality of coupling components of the stackable storage unit.

13. The foldable work platform of claim 10 , wherein the first work surface and the second work surface are coplanar when the first housing and the second housing are in the open configuration.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Blumenthal Aaron S
• Williams Aaron M
• Dick Ryan C
• Smith Tyler J
• Jones Benjamin T
• Barton George
• Lownik Matthew A

Classifications

• B62B2205/33

  stowed in a vertical position · CPC title

• B62B2202/30

  Furniture · CPC title

• B25H3/022

  in fixed relationship · CPC title

• B25H1/10

  with provision for adjusting holders for tool or work · CPC title

• B25H1/08

  with provision for attachment of work holders · CPC title