Tool storage devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9616562-B2
Application number	US-201514802539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2015
Priority date	Jul 22, 2014
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Tool storage devices. A tool storage device may include a handle assembly including a support arm connected between a body and a handle portion and having a substantially rectangular cross section oriented with first walls extending transverse to the axis having a greater width than second walls extending parallel to the axis. A width of the handle portion may be at least about 50% of a width of the body. The body may include a frame assembly formed of a rigid material, a wall formed of a flexible material and at least partially defining the storage compartment with an open top, and a cover formed of a rigid material connected to the frame assembly to selectively close the open top. A wheel well portion receives each wheel and may cover the width of the wheel and a portion of the circumference of the wheel. A radial clearance between the wheel and a lower end of the wheel well may be no more than about 0.5 inches.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool storage device comprising:
a body defining a storage compartment;
wheels supporting the body for movement over ground, the wheels being rotatable about an axis;
a telescoping handle assembly including
a handle portion engageable by a user to pull the storage device in a direction transverse to the axis, the handle portion having opposite ends,
a first support arm connected between the body and one end of the handle portion, and
a second support arm connected between the body and an opposite end of the handle portion, each of the first support arm and the second support arm having a substantially rectangular cross section oriented with first walls extending transverse to the axis having a greater width than second walls extending parallel to the axis; and

a cover formed of a rigid material operable to selectively open and close the storage compartment, the cover defining a first groove and a second groove, in an open position of the cover, the first groove receiving a portion of the first support arm, and the second groove receiving a portion of the second support arm, engagement of the first support arm in the first groove and the second support arm in the second groove releasably retaining the cover in the open position.

2. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a width of the first walls to a width of the second walls is between about 1.5:1 and about 4:1.

3. The storage device of claim 2 , wherein the ratio is about 1.6:1.

4. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein a width of the first walls is at least about 50% greater than a width of the second walls.

5. The storage device of claim 4 , wherein the width of the first walls is about 60% greater than the width of the second walls.

6. A tool storage device comprising:
a body defining a storage compartment;
wheels supporting the body for movement over ground, the wheels being rotatable about an axis;
a telescoping handle assembly connected to the body and engageable by a user to pull the storage device in a direction transverse to the axis, the handle assembly including a handle portion engageable by a user to pull the storage device in a direction transverse to the axis, the handle portion having opposite ends, a first support arm connected between the body and one end of the handle portion, and a second support arm connected between the body and an opposite end of the handle portion;
wherein the body has a body width in a direction parallel to the axis, and the handle has a handle width in a direction parallel to the axis, the handle width being at least about 50% of the body width; and
a cover formed of a rigid material operable to selectively open and close the storage compartment, the cover defining a first groove and a second groove, in an open position of the cover, the first groove receiving a portion of the first support arm, and the second groove receiving a portion of the second support arm, engagement of the first support arm in the first groove and the second support arm in the second groove releasably retaining the cover in the open position.

7. The storage device of claim 6 , wherein the handle width is about 50% of the body width.

8. The storage device of claim 6 , wherein the body has opposite side walls cooperating to partially define the compartment, wherein the handle has opposite ends, and wherein the handle is positioned relative to the body with a distance in a direction of the axis between each handle end and a plane of an associated side wall of the body being no more than about 50% of the handle width.

9. The storage device of claim 8 , wherein the distance is about 50% of the handle width.

10. The storage device of claim 6 , wherein the body has opposite side walls cooperating to partially define the compartment, wherein the handle has opposite ends, and wherein the handle is positioned relative to the body with a distance in a direction of the axis between each handle end and a plane of an associated side wall of the body being no more than about 7 inches.

11. The storage device of claim 10 , wherein the distance is about 6.25 inches.

12. A tool storage device comprising:
a body defining a storage compartment, the body having a front, a rear, opposite sides, a top and a bottom, the body including
a frame assembly formed of a rigid material,
a wall formed of a flexible material and at least partially defining the storage compartment with a top opening, the wall of flexible material providing the front, the rear, the opposite sides, and the bottom of the body, and
a cover formed of a rigid material connected to the frame assembly and operable to selectively close the top opening, the cover providing the top of the body;

wheels supporting the body for movement over ground; and
a handle connected to the body and engageable by a user to pull the storage device, and
wherein the frame assembly includes a main frame portion connected to and pivotally supporting the cover, the main frame portion being connected to and providing support to the wall, and an axle support connected to the main frame portion and to the wall, the axle support supporting the axle; and
further comprising a handle assembly including the handle, a first support arm connected between the body and one end of the handle, and a second support arm connected between the body and an opposite end of the handle, and wherein the frame assembly further includes a first support arm receiving portion operable to receive the first support arm and a second support arm receiving portion operable to receive the second support arm, each of the first support arm receiving portion and the second support arm receiving portion being connected to the main frame portion and being connected to and providing support to the wall, the axle support being connected between the first support arm receiving portion and the second support arm receiving portion, and
wherein the cover defines a first groove and a second groove, and wherein, in an open position of the cover, the first groove receives a portion of the first support arm, and the second groove receives a portion of the second support arm, engagement of the first support arm in the first groove and the second support arm in the second groove releasably retaining the cover in the open position.

13. The storage device of claim 12 , wherein the frame assembly and the cover include
inter-engaging hinge portions to pivotally support the cover on the frame assembly for movement between the open position and a closed position, and
inter-engaging stop surfaces engageable in the closed position of the cover to inhibit further movement of the cover beyond the closed position, the stop surfaces being positioned proximate the hinge portions.

14. The storage device of claim 12 , wherein a wheel is supported proximate each opposite side, each wheel being rotatable about an axis and having a circumference and an axial width, wherein the storage device further comprises a rigid axle pivotally supporting both wheels, and wherein the frame assembly further includes
a wheel well portion operable to receive each wheel, each wheel well portion defining an opening receiving the axle, each wheel well portion covering the width of the wheel and a portion of the circumference of the wheel, a radial clearance between the wheel and a lower end of the wheel well portion being no more than about 0.25 inches, each wheel well portion being connected to the wall.

15. The storage device of claim 12 , wherein the frame assembly further includes a bottom support portion connected to and providing support to the wall, t

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Hoppe Christopher S
• Hyma Steven W
• Squiers Grant T
• Stearns Michael

Classifications

• A45C13/36

  Reinforcements for edges, corners, or other parts · CPC title

• A45C13/262

  for wheeled luggage · CPC title

• B25H3/02 Primary

  Boxes · CPC title

• B62B2202/48

  Tools · CPC title

• A45C7/0086

  comprising a plurality of separable elements which can be used independently of one another · CPC title