Patent ID: 11858724
Assignee: QT-SYSTEM LLC
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 17:
18. A modular portable storage container system comprising:
a first container section defining a first partial volume of storage space;
a second container section defining a second partial volume of storage space, each of the first and second container sections having a structural frame;
a blocking frame, the blocking frame sized and shaped to fit within a vehicle cargo compartment, wherein the blocking frame further comprises:
a front frame portion;
a rear frame portion connected to the front frame portion by a plurality of longitudinal bars having a planar and corrugated cross-sectional shape; and
one or more blocking members forming a narrow door frame in the front frame portion, the one or more blocking members preventing longitudinal movement of the first and second container sections within a vehicle while allowing a user to pass into a space between the first and second container sections when the first and second container sections are in a latched position, and
a mounting plate selectively rigidly connecting the blocking frame to the floor; and
wherein one or more of the longitudinal bars is connected to the front frame portion and the rear frame portion by a connector plate, wherein the rear frame portion defines a wide door frame, the wide door frame being larger than the narrow door frame, the wide door frame being sized to allow passage of the first and second container sections when the first and second container sections are in an unlatched position, and wherein the rear frame portion prevents longitudinal movement of the first and second container sections within a vehicle when the first and second containers sections are in the latched position; and

wherein the structural frame of each of the first and second container sections further comprises:
a front section; and
a rear section connected to the front section by one or more longitudinal members, wherein when the first and second container sections are in the latched position, the front section and the rear section nest within and substantially against the front frame portion and the rear frame portion, respectively, and wherein the longitudinal members have cross sectional shape that defines a channel sized to fit around and engage with the longitudinal bars of the blocking frame, and wherein at least a portion of the blocking frame is rotated at an angle of between about 5° and about 30° relative to other portions of the blocking frame to improve clearance between the first and second container sections and the blocking frame during movement of the first and second container sections;

a latch mechanism selectively retaining the structural frame of each of the first container section and the second container section in contact with the blocking frame, the latch mechanism including:
a spring latch having:
a latch mount rigidly disposed on the blocking frame;
a latch tongue;
a latch handle;
a latch rod extending from the latch tongue to the latch handle; and
a latch spring disposed within the latch mount and biasing the latch tongue inwardly towards the first container section and the second container section, wherein the latch handle is adapted to be grasped by a user's hand and selectively manipulated to retract the latch rod against the latch spring, thereby retracting the latch tongue into the latch mount;
a latch receiver, wherein one of the spring latch and the latch receiver is disposed on the blocking frame while the other of the spring latch and the latch receiver is disposed on the structural frames of each of the first container section and/or the second container section such that the spring latch and the latch receiver are disposed opposite one another and engage with one another when the first container section and/or the second container section are in the latched position; and
a retaining hook, wherein the retaining hook is rigidly disposed on the blocking frame longitudinally opposite the spring latch and engages with an outer vertical member of the structural frame to partially rotatably retain the structural frame, and when retaining hook engages with and retains the outer vertical member of the structural frame and the spring latch is also engaged with the latch receiver, the structural frame is immobilized and held rigidly within the blocking frame in an orientation substantially parallel to an orientation of the blocking frame; and

a brake mechanism affixed to each of the first container section and the second container section, the brake mechanism selectively engageable to prevent movement of the structural frame of each of the first container section and the second container section relative to a floor on which each of the first container section and the second container section rests.