Slide tray for storage of modular toolboxes

A slide tray has a rectangular tray bottom having a left side, a right side, a front and a back. The rectangular tray bottom has a matrix of cutouts. This matrix of cutouts is configured such that slide tray may receive any one of several different modular toolboxes, regardless of the footprint of the modular toolbox. A plurality of slide trays may be attached between a left wall and a right wall, with each slide tray being attached to the left wall and right wall by telescoping slide rails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the organization and storage of tools, hardware, and accessories.

Modular toolboxes, such as the MILWAUKEE PACK Out, the DeWALT TOUGH SYSTEM 2.0 and the RIGID PRO ORGANIZER provide a convenient way of transporting tools, hardware, and accessories to and from a shop to a job site utilizing modular toolboxes. These modular organizers, toolboxes and totes (collectively referred to as “modular toolboxes”) typically have sectioned interiors provide for the storage and transport of a plurality of tool and hardware caddies contained within a single case. The cases within each system may be stacked in an interlocking configuration, which allows the stack of cases to be transported without risk of the stack falling.

While the above-described modular toolboxes function very well, the organizing, storing and securing of a number of modular toolboxes in a shop when the job has been complete can be a challenge. The modular toolboxes may contain valuable, expensive and/or irreplaceable items such as power tools, drill bits, blades, wrench and socket sets, or rare expensive mechanical components, such as automobile components. Organizing, storing, and securing of the modular toolboxes is a greater challenge when different models of toolboxes are stored together, because different models of the modular toolboxes typically do not interlock together, such that placing different models upon one another typically results in an unstable and wobbly stack. Securing the modular toolboxes can also be a challenge. While the modular toolboxes might be secured in a locked storage facility, such a solution is inconsistent with the simple elegance provided by the modular toolboxes themselves.

Another problem presented by the stacked modular toolboxes is that access to each box requires that the box have nothing on top of it. Therefore, if a user requires access to a modular toolbox which has other boxes stacked on top of it, the user must lift those boxes off the desired box to gain access to it. Because the weight of a box filled with hardware or tools may be significant, gaining access to a desired toolbox may involve lifting several heavy boxes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a solution to the above-described problems which is as elegant as the modular toolboxes themselves. Embodiments of the present invention comprise one or more slide trays configured such that each slide tray has a rectangular tray bottom having a left side, a right side, a front and a back. Each tray bottom further has a unique matrix of cutouts. This matrix of cutouts is configured such that each slide tray may receive any one of several different modular toolboxes, regardless of the footprint of a particular modular toolbox.

The left side of a first rectangular tray bottom as described in the above paragraph is attached to a sliding member of a left-side telescoping slide rail, the left-side telescoping slide rail having a base member attached to an inside face of a left-side wall. Likewise, the right side of the first rectangular tray bottom is attached to a sliding member of a right-side telescoping slide rail, the right-side telescoping slide rail having a base member attached to an inside face of a right-side wall, wherein the inside face of the left-side wall is in opposite facing relation with the inside face of the right-side wall, and the left-side telescoping slide rail and the right-side telescoping side rail are in opposite facing and parallel configuration, thereby allowing the first rectangular tray bottom to be inserted and withdrawn from between the left-side wall and the right-side wall with the first rectangular tray bottom maintained in a level orientation.

Additional rectangular tray bottoms having the described unique matrix of cutouts may each be mounted on parallel and facing telescoping slide rails, with the additional rectangular tray bottoms being disposed in a stacked configuration. This configuration allows a plurality of stacked slide trays for any configuration of the available modular toolboxes offered by MILWAUKEE PACK Out, the DeWALT TOUGH SYSTEM 2.0 and the RIGID PRO ORGANIZER. This embodiment allows a user to withdraw any one of the slide trays from between the left-side and right-side walls and access the contents of a modular toolbox set upon the slide tray without the necessity of removing any of the upper modular toolboxes.

Units of the above-described embodiment may be connected is side-to-side configuration or stacked on upon another and mounted within a garage, truck or warehouse. In a stacked configuration, a lowermost unit of the above-described embodiment may comprise casters or wheels for ease of mobility. Alternatively, stacks of the above-described embodiment may be placed on a hand truck or dolly.

In another embodiment of the invention a plurality of slide trays may be configured to be attached within a lockable storage cabinet having a left-side wall and an opposite facing right-side wall, where the left-side wall has a left-side rear facing edge and a left-side front facing edge and the right-side wall has a right-side rear facing edge and a right-side front facing edge. A back wall having an inside facing surface is attached to the left-side rear facing edge and the right-side rear facing edge such that the left-side wall and the right-side wall are normal to the inside facing surface.

In another embodiment of the invention, a first plurality of telescoping slide rails is disposed in a first parallel and spaced apart placement along an inside face of the left-side wall. Likewise, a second plurality of telescoping slide rails is disposed in a second parallel and spaced apart placement along an inside face of the right-side wall, so configured such that each slide rail of the first plurality is in opposite and facing relation with a counter-part slide rail of the second plurality. A slide tray as described above is received within each pair of opposite facing telescoping side rails. In this embodiment, each slide tray may be retracted from the storage cabinet for easy placement, removal and access to a modular toolbox.

Another embodiment of the present invention has a single front panel assembly which is hingedly attached to either the left-side wall or the right-side wall, an a locking mechanism on the opposite wall A variation of this embodiment may have a left-side front panel hingedly attached to the left-side wall and a right-side front panel hingedly attached to the right side wall, with a locking mechanism which secures the left-side panel to the right-side panel when the panels are in a closed position.

Thus, embodiments of the present invention allow the secure storage of a mixture modular toolboxes from different model lines and manufacturers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the Figures,FIG.1depicts an embodiment of the present slide tray10having a left side12Slide tray10has a left side12, a right side14, a front side16, and a backside18. Slide tray10also has a rectangular bottom20. Rectangular bottom20has a matrix (or pattern) of cutouts which fully penetrate through rectangular bottom20. Left side12may be attached to a slide member22of a left-side telescoping rail24. Right side14may be attached to a slide member26of a right-side telescoping rail28. Left-side telescoping rail24may be attached to an inside face30of left-side wall32and right-side telescoping rail28may be attached to an inside face34of a right-side wall36, with the completed structure forming slide tray structure40.

FIG.2shows a slide tray structure40which has received modular toolboxes100,102,104. It is to be appreciated that modular toolboxes of a particular manufacturer and model will have bases with downwardly facing male locking members which will be received into corresponding female apertures set within the top of an underlying modular toolbox of the same manufacturer and model, such as top106depicted inFIG.2. This feature allows modular toolboxes of the same model and manufacturer to be configured in a secure stack. However, modular toolboxes of a different manufacturer cannot be securely stacked because of the different configuration or pattern of the male locking members and female apertures.

As depicted in the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG.2, a slide tray structure40may have multiple slide trays10set at different levels within the structure. The slide tray structure40depicted inFIG.2has closely spaced slide trays10with each tray attached to left-side telescoping rail24and right-side telescoping rail26. As indicated byFIG.2, the left-side wall32and right-side wall34may comprise pre-set apertures for setting the levels of the different left-side telescoping rails24and right-side telescoping rails26to adjust the spacing between the different slide trays10and thus the spacing between the modular toolboxes100,102,104. Slide tray structure40may also comprise flanges42and multiple apertures which are configured to facilitate the attachment of an additional structures to either side, or to stack multiple slide tray structures.

FIG.3shows an embodiment of a slide tray10of the present invention, showing the configuration of the matrix of cutouts for receiving the downwardly facing male locking members on the base of a modular toolbox100,102,104. As shown inFIG.3, the matrix may comprise a first row of three equivalent shaped and sized rectangular cutouts50.

The matrix may further comprise a second row of four polygonal cutouts comprising, in order from the left side12to the right side14, a second row left outside cutout52adjacent to the left side12, a second row left inside cutout54, a second row right inside cutout56, and a second row right outside cutout58adjacent to the right side14. The second row left outside cutout52and the second row right outside cutout58may be mirror images of each other and have equivalent sizes and shapes. The second row left inside cutout54and the second row right inside cutout56may be equivalent in size and shape.

The matrix may further comprise a third row of six polygonal cutouts comprising a third row left rectangular cutout60, a third row left outside cutout62, a third row left inside cutout64, a third row right inside cutout66, a third row right outside cutout68and a third row right rectangular cutout70. The third row left rectangular cutout60and the third row right rectangular cutout70may be equivalent in size and shape, and the remaining four cutouts62,64,66,68of the third row may also be equivalent in size and shape.

The matrix may further comprise a fourth row of four polygonal cutouts comprising a fourth row left outside cutout72adjacent to left side12, a fourth row left inside cutout74, a fourth row right inside cutout76, and a fourth row right outside cutout78adjacent to the right side14. The fourth row left outside cutout72and the fourth row right outside cutout78may be mirror images of each other and have equivalent sizes and shapes. The fourth row left inside cutout74and the fourth row right inside cutout76may be equivalent in size and shape.

FIGS.4-5show different views of a slide tray10, depicting dimensions of the slide tray and cutouts which have been found to accommodate the patterns of the downwardly facing male locking members of a variety of different modular toolboxes, including the MILWAUKEE PACK Out, the DeWALT TOUGH SYSTEM 2.0 and the RIGID PRO ORGANIZER.

FIG.7shows a bottom view of a slide tray10upon which modular toolbox100has been placed, showing how the male downwardly facing locking members110on the base of the modular toolbox are respectively received within cutouts50,52,54,56,58,62,64,66,68,72,74,76,78.

FIG.8shows a bottom view of a slide tray10upon which a modular toolbox102has been placed, showing how the male downwardly facing locking members112on the base of the modular toolbox are respectively received within cutouts50,52,54,56,58,62,64,66,68,72,74,76,78.

FIG.9shows a bottom view of a slide tray10upon which a modular toolbox104has been placed, showing how the male downwardly facing locking members114on the base of the modular toolbox are respectively received within cutouts52,58,72,78.

FIG.10shows a bottom view of a slide tray10upon which a modular toolbox106has been placed, showing how the male downwardly facing locking members116on the base of the modular toolbox are respectively received within cutouts52,58,60,70,72,78.

FIG.11shows a plurality of slide trays10disposed within cabinet80, wherein cabinet80has a back panel82. Cabinet80may be mounted on wheels or casters (not shown) for ease of transport. Slide trays10may be used to store a plurality of modular toolboxes100,102,104,106, etc. have been placed. As indicated inFIG.12, access to a particular modular toolbox104may be gained by simply pulling out on the handle108of the toolbox.

While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited according to these factors, but according to the claims of the forthcoming non-provisional patent application.