Patent Publication Number: US-9850029-B2

Title: Cantilever box

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The presently disclosed subject matter relates to boxes, and more particularly to boxes having a cantilever mechanism. 
     The term ‘cantilever box’ as used herein the specification and claims denotes a box (e.g., a toolbox, a tackle box) in which a cantilever mechanism connecting a plurality of trays, is implemented. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cantilever boxes of different sizes and constructions are well known in the art. One well known type of a cantilever box is a tackle box. Cantilever boxes generally comprises a plurality of compartmentalized trays and linkage elements interconnecting the trays so that they can be moved from a superimposed stacked condition to an expanded cantilevered condition in which the trays are vertically offset whereby access can be obtained to each tray. The trays are designed to receive and store various tools, such as working tools, screws, nuts, small boxes, etc. 
     Cantilever boxes are basically designed to allow the storage of numerous items of varying size and shape in a convenient and orderly manner which provides maximum access to the items contained. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY DISCLOSED SUBJECT MATTER 
     According to the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a cantilever box comprising: 
     at least two trays, including a lowermost tray and an uppermost tray, interconnected therebetween by cantilever links pivotally secured to said trays. The trays are convertible at least between a stacked position, and an extended position; 
     a first gripping portion, disposed at the uppermost tray, configured for being gripped by a user for converting the trays between their extended position and their stacked position; and 
     a securing mechanism switchable between a locked state in which when the trays are at their extended position, the securing mechanism is configured for arresting a locking member, thereby locking the trays at their extended position; and an unlocked state in which the securing mechanism is disengaged from said locking member, thereby facilitating displacement of the trays from their extended position into their stacked position; 
     The securing mechanism is disposed in proximity to the first gripping portion, or integrated therein, so that the user is required to switch the securing mechanism from its locked state to its unlocked state by his first hand while gripping the first gripping portion by the same hand, thereby displacing the uppermost tray for converting the trays from their extended position to their stacked position. 
     The first gripping portion and the securing mechanism are located at a safe location in the cantilever box, i.e., at the uppermost tray, which allows the user to convert the trays from their extended position to their stacked position in a controlled and a safe manner. This manner eliminates or reduces the likelihood of jamming the fingers of the user&#39;s first hand between the trays during the conversion between the positions. 
     The uppermost tray can be configured with a top wall, a front wall and a bottom wall. The top wall and the front wall are configured with a front edge therebetween, having a longitudinal axis. 
     The first gripping portion can be disposed at the middle of the front edge along its longitudinal axis. 
     Alternatively, the first gripping portion can be disposed at the top wall of the uppermost tray. 
     The securing mechanism can be disposed at the front wall of the uppermost tray. 
     The first gripping portion can have a first gripping recess disposed at the top wall of the uppermost tray. 
     The first gripping recess can be configured with shape and size for accommodating one or more of the following fingers of the user&#39;s first hand: index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger. 
     The cantilever box can further include a cover member. 
     The cover member can be pivotally mounted to the uppermost tray and constitutes a portion of its top wall. 
     The first gripping recess can be disposed at the cover member. 
     The securing mechanism can be normally in its locked state. 
     The term ‘normally’ refers herein to usually, or most of the time. 
     The securing mechanism can comprise a sliding element having a first end configured with a biasing mechanism for outwardly biasing the sliding element by exerting thereon an outwardly biasing force and thereby causing it to be normally in its locked state; and a second end including a securing protrusion configured with a front face. 
     The first gripping portion can be configured with an interior section, which together with the sliding element constitutes the securing mechanism. 
     The sliding member can further comprise a middle portion configured with a thumb supporting element configured to provide support to a thumb of the user&#39;s first hand when switching the securing mechanism from its locked state to its unlocked state by applying an inwardly biasing force on the thumb supporting element. 
     The securing protrusion can be configured to be received at the locking member, and thereby arresting the locking member in the locked state of the securing mechanism. 
     The securing protrusion can normally project out of the surface of the bottom wall of the uppermost tray. 
     In the configuration in which the sliding element is disposed at an interior section of the first gripping portion, the interior section can be configured with a biasing wall configured for engaging the biasing mechanism and providing support thereto for exerting the outwardly biasing force on the sliding element. 
     The biasing mechanism can include at least one bendable element. 
     The biasing mechanism can include two bendable elements, the ends of which are configured to move away from each other and to slide on the biasing wall when the securing mechanism is switched from its normally locked state to its unlocked state. 
     The ends of the bendable elements are further configured to approach each other and to slide on the biasing wall when the securing mechanism is switched from its unlocked state to its normally locked state. 
     The biasing mechanism can be a compression spring. 
     The sliding element and the biasing mechanism can be integrated in a single element. 
     The sliding element and the biasing mechanism can be made of the same material. 
     The cantilever box can further comprise a second gripping portion, disposed at the lowermost tray, configured for being gripped by a user&#39;s second hand for providing support to the cantilever box and holding it on place, when the trays are converted between their extended position and their stacked position. 
     The second gripping portion is located at a safe location in the cantilever box, i.e., at the lowermost tray, which allows the user to convert the trays between their extended position and their stacked position in a controlled and a safe manner. This manner eliminates or reduces the likelihood of jamming the fingers of the user&#39;s second hand between the trays during the conversion between the positions. 
     The lowermost tray can be configured with a front wall at which the second gripping portion can be disposed. 
     The second gripping portion can be configured with a second gripping recess configured with shape and size for accommodating one or more of the following fingers of the user&#39;s second hand: index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger. 
     The second gripping portion can further be configured with a second gripping supporting surface configured for providing support to a palm and a thumb of the user&#39;s second hand. 
     The locking member can be disposed at one of the trays. More particularly, the locking member can be disposed at a secondary tray below the uppermost tray. 
     The secondary tray can be configured with a top wall and a rear wall, configured with a rear edge therebetween, having a longitudinal axis. The locking member can be disposed in the middle of the rear edge along said longitudinal axis. 
     Alternatively, the locking member can be disposed at one of the cantilever links. 
     The locking member can be a recess or any other fixing element which is configured to engage with the securing mechanism, and thereby to be arrested by the securing mechanism in its locked state. 
     The secondary tray can be configured with a biasing protrusion configured to engage the front face of the securing protrusion for exerting an inwardly biasing force on the sliding element during the conversion of the trays from the stacked position to their extended position. 
     The biasing protrusion can project out of the surface of the top wall of the secondary tray. 
     In the process of the conversion of the trays from their stacked position to their extended position, the biasing protrusion can switch the securing mechanism from its normally locked state to its unlocked state upon the exertion of the inwardly biasing force on the sliding element, and then switching back to its normally locked state upon the exertion of the outwardly biasing force when it is greater than said inwardly biasing force. 
     The trays can include more than two trays, each of which is connected to at least two other trays by the cantilever links for allowing simultaneous displacement of the trays not including the lowermost tray, when converted between the stacked position and the extended position. Due to this simultaneous displacement, by arresting the securing mechanism to the locking member, all the trays can be locked in their extended position. 
     When the trays are at their stacked position, the securing mechanism can further be switchable between a locked state in which the securing mechanism is configured for arresting another locking member, thereby locking the trays at their stacked position; and an unlocked state in which the securing mechanism is disengaged from said another locking member, thereby facilitating displacement of the trays from their stacked position into their extended position. 
     The cantilever box can further comprise at least one latch configured for locking the trays at their stacked position. 
     The at least one latch can be pivotally mounted to the lowermost tray at a mounting portion. 
     The cover member can be configured with at least one first engagement portion and the mounting portion can be configured with at least one second engagement portion. When the cover is in its closed state, the latch can be mounted to the first and the second engagement portions, thereby locking the trays at their stacked position so that the uppermost tray and the middle tray are fixed between the cover member and the lowermost tray. 
     The cantilever box can further comprise at least one handle mounted to an uppermost tray of the trays. The handle can be used for holding and transporting the cantilever box from place to place. The handle can further be used for converting the trays from their stacked position to their extended position. 
     The cantilever box can further include at least one supporting element, mounted to one of the trays, configured, at the extended position of the trays, for leaning on a surface on which said cantilever box is disposed, and thereby preventing the cantilever box from rolling over. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be carried out in practice, the embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cantilever box in its stacked position, in accordance with one example of the presently disclosed subject matter; 
         FIG. 2  is the cantilever box of  FIG. 1  in its extended position; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an uppermost tray of the cantilever box of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 3B  is an enlarged view of a portion A 1  of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 3C  is the uppermost tray of  FIG. 3A  without a cover member and a handle of the cantilever box; 
         FIG. 3D  is a cross-section along line A-A in  FIG. 3C ; 
         FIG. 3E  is a perspective view of a sliding element of the securing mechanism of the cantilever box of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 3F  is a perspective view of a secondary tray of the cantilever box of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 3G  is an enlarged view of a portion A 5  of  FIG. 5E ; 
         FIG. 3H  is a perspective view of a lowermost tray of the cantilever box of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 3I  is a cross-section along line B-B in  FIG. 3H ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-section along line C-C in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of a portion A 2  of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-section along line D-D in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5B  is an enlarged view of a portion A 3  of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 5C  is a side view of  FIG. 5A ; and 
         FIG. 5D  is an enlarged view of a portion A 4  of  FIG. 5C . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Attention is first directed to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings illustrating a cantilever box in accordance with one example of the presently disclosed subject matter, generally designated  100 . The cantilever box comprises three trays as follows: an uppermost tray  10 , a middle tray  30  and a lowermost tray  50 . The trays of the cantilever box  100  are interconnected therebetween by cantilever links, which are pivotally secured to the sidewalls of the trays as follows: a cantilever link  12  and a cantilever link  23  connect the uppermost tray  10  with the middle tray  30 , a cantilever link  32  and a cantilever link  25  connect the uppermost tray  10  with the middle tray  30  and the lowermost tray  50 , and a cantilever link  52  and a cantilever link  27  connect the middle tray  30  with the lowermost tray  50 . 
     The trays  10 ,  30  and  50  have interior storage spaces  21 ,  31  and  51  therein, respectively, in which tools and other goods can be stored. The interior storage spaces  21 ,  31  and  51  can be divided to sub-sections by different dividers such as a divider  9  of the lowermost tray  50 . 
     The trays  10 ,  30  and  50  are convertible between a stacked position (shown in  FIG. 1 ), and an extended position (shown in  FIGS. 2, 5A and 5C ). By converting the trays  10 ,  30  and  50  from the stacked position to the extended position, the content of the interior storage spaces  31  and  51  can be exposed to the user. 
     The cantilever box  100  includes a cover  15  which is pivotally articulated to the uppermost tray  10 . In  FIG. 1  the cover  15  is illustrated in its closed state and in  FIG. 2  the cover  15  is illustrated in its open state. The cover has first engagement portions  11  and  13 . 
     The cantilever box  100  further includes two latches  2  and  3  which are configured for locking the trays at their stacked position by fixing the uppermost tray  10  to the lowermost tray  50 . 
     The latches  2  and  3  are povitally mounted to the lowermost tray  50  at mounting portions  4  and  5 , respectively (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The mounting portions  4  and  5  have second engagement portions  7  and  8 , respectively. 
     When the cover  15  is in its closed state, the latch  2  is mounted to the first and the second engagement portions  11  and  7 , respectively, and the latch  3  is mounted to the first and the second engagement portions  13  and  8 , respectively. This mounting of the latched  2  and  3  locks the trays at their stacked position so that the uppermost tray  10  and the middle tray  30  are fixed between the cover member  15  and the lowermost tray  50 . 
     The cantilever box  100  has a handle  6  pivotally mounted to the uppermost tray  10 . The handle  6  can be used for holding and transporting the cantilever box  100  from place to place when the latches  2  and  3  lock the trays at their stacked position. 
     When the latches do not fix the uppermost tray  10  to the lowermost tray  50 , the trays can be converted from their stacked position to their extended position. This can be performed by a user-actuated pulling force applied on the uppermost tray  10  in the direction of arrow P 1  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4A ) by one or two hands of the user. This pulling force can be applied on the handle  6  or on the uppermost tray  10 . 
     The cantilever box  100  further has two supporting elements  99  (shown in  FIG. 5C ), mounted to the bottom wall of middle tray  30  and configured, at the extended position of the trays, for leaning on a surface on which the cantilever box  100  is disposed, and thereby preventing the cantilever box  100  from rolling over. 
     In general, one way of converting the trays from their extended position to their stacked position is by applying a user-actuated pulling force on the uppermost tray  10  in the direction of arrow P 2  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) by a first hand of the user, while his second hand supports the lowermost tray  50  and provides contra to the pulling force. 
     In order to eliminate or reduce the likelihood of jamming the user&#39;s fingers between the trays (e.g., between the middle tray and the lowermost tray) during the conversion of the trays from their extended position and the stacked position (e.g. by applying a user-actuated pulling force on the middle tray  30  instead of on the uppermost tray  10  in the direction P 2 ), it is important to lock the trays in the extended position, and to allow unlocking them from the extended position and converting them to the stacked position is a controlled and a safe manner. This controlled and safe manner includes forcing the user to locate his first hand (that actuates the pulling force in the direction P 2 ) in a specific location at the uppermost tray  10 , and his second hand (that supports the lowermost tray and provides contra to the pulling force) in a specific location at the lowermost tray  50 . 
     For this reason, the cantilever box  100  is provided with a first gripping portion  80  which, as detailed below, is disposed at a specific safe location at the uppermost tray  10 . The first gripping portion  80  is configured for being gripped by the first hand of the user for converting the trays from their extended position to their stacked position. 
     In addition, the first gripping portion  80  includes a securing mechanism  70  responsible for locking and unlocking the trays at their extended position. The securing mechanism  70  is switchable between a normally locked state (shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and an unlocked state (not shown), each of which is detailed below. 
     The securing mechanism  70  is integrated within the first gripping portion  80 , so that the user is required to switch the securing mechanism  70  from its normally locked state to its unlocked state by his first hand while gripping the first gripping portion by the same hand, thereby displacing the uppermost tray  10  for converting the trays  10 ,  30  and  50  from their extended position to their stacked position. 
     The integration of the securing mechanism  70  in the first gripping portion  80  forces the user that converts the trays from their extended position into their stacked position, to locate his first hand at the first gripping portion  80  because the trays must be unlocked from their extended position via the securing mechanism  70  before the actuation of the pulling force on the uppermost tray  10  in the direction P 2 . 
     In addition, the cantilever box  100  is provided with a second gripping portion  90  which is disposed at a specific safe location in the lowermost tray  10 , as detailed below with respect to  FIGS. 3H and 3I . The second gripping portion  90  is configured for providing space to the second hand of the user that supports the lowermost tray  50  and provides contra to the pulling force. 
     The fact that each one of the tray  10 ,  30  and  50  is connected by respective cantilever links to the other two trays results in an arrangement according to which the trays are convertible between the stacked position and the extended position in a simultaneous manner. According to this arrangement of the cantilever box  100 , the middle tray  30  cannot be displaced without displacement of the uppermost tray  10 , and vice versa. Therefore, by arresting the uppermost tray  30  with respect to another element of the cantilever box  100 , i.e., a locking member, in the extended position thereof, all the trays will be locked in this position. According to the present example, the securing mechanism  70  arrests a locking member in the form of a first recess  60  disposed at the middle tray  30  (shown in  FIGS. 5A to 5D ), thereby locking the trays at their extended position. 
     When the trays are converted from their stacked position to their extended position, due to its structure, the securing mechanism  70  is configured for automatically locking the trays at this position. This automatic manner of operation is explained below. 
     When the trays are disposed at their extended position, the securing mechanism  70  is in its normally locked state in which it arrests the first recess  60 , thereby locking the trays at this position. A detailed explanation of the extended position of the cantilever box  100  is detailed below with respect to  FIGS. 5A to 5D . 
     When the trays are at their stacked position shown in  FIG. 1 , the securing mechanism  70  is in its normally locked state, but in this position the trays are not locked. A detailed explanation of the stacked position of the cantilever box  100  is detailed below with respect to  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     When the trays are at their extended positions, by being switched to its unlocked state, the securing mechanism  70  disengages the first recess  60 , thereby unlocking the trays from their extended position, and facilitating displacement of the trays from their extended position to their stacked position. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3A to 3E , in which the first gripping portion  80  and the securing mechanism  70  are presented in a detailed manner.  FIGS. 3A to 3E  illustrate an example of a safe location at which first gripping portion  80  and the securing mechanism  70  can be disposed in the cantilever box  100 . This safe location allows the user to convert the trays from their extended position to their stacked position in a controlled and a safe manner, which eliminates or reduces the likelihood of jamming the fingers of the user&#39;s first hand between the trays during the conversion between the positions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , the uppermost tray  10  has a top wall  16 , a front wall  18 , a bottom wall  20 , an upper perimetric edge  14  and a perimetric bottom edge  19 . The top wall  16  includes the cover  15 . The top wall  16  and the front wall  18  are configured with a front edge  17  therebetween. The front edge  17  constitutes a portion of the top edge  14 . The first gripping portion  80  is disposed at a portion of the top wall  16  and at a portion of the front wall  18 . Moreover, the first gripping portion  80  is disposed at the middle of the front edge  17 , so that the line A-A, which is taken at the middle of the uppermost tray, passes in the middle of the first gripping portion  80 . The first gripping portion  80  is disposed in the middle of the front edge  17  so that when gripped and pulled by the user, a substantially equal and symmetrical force will be applied to the uppermost tray  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , in which an enlarged view of the first gripping portion  80  is presented, the first gripping portion  80  includes a first gripping recess  82  which is formed within the cover  15 , and it includes the securing mechanism  70  that is formed within a portion of the front wall  18 . The first gripping portion  80  is configured to be gripped by a first hand of the user, and particularly by five fingers of this hand. In particular, the first gripping recess  82  is configured to be gripped by the following four fingers of the user&#39;s first hand: the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger. The securing mechanism  70  is configured to be gripped by the fifth finger, i.e., the thumb, as detailed below with respect to  FIG. 3E . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the first gripping recess  82  is characterized by shape and size which allow accommodation of the above four fingers along the length of the first gripping recess  82 . It should be indicated that although the first gripping recess  82  is configured to accommodate all the four fingers, not all of them are always required for the gripping and the pulling of the first gripping portion  80 . In addition, since the first gripping recess  82  is formed within the cover  15 , when the cover is in its open state, an internal portion  85  (shown in  FIG. 3D ) can be used instead of the first gripping recess  82  for accommodating the above four fingers therein. 
     The first gripping portion  80  further includes an interior section  84  (shown in  FIG. 3D ) which, together with a sliding element  71  constitutes the securing mechanism  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3E , the sliding element  71  has a first end  74 , a second end  75  and a middle portion  78  therebetween. The first end  74  is configured with a biasing mechanism in the form of two bendable elements  76  and  77 , which act as a compression spring. The bendable elements  76  and  77  have a first end  76 ′ and a second end  77 ′, respectively. When the sliding element  71  is tightly received within the interior section  84 , the first end  76 ′ and the second end  77 ′ are engaging with and supported by an upper biasing wall  86  of the interior section  84 . This engagement outwardly biases the sliding element  71  in a downward direction indicated by an arrow Z 1  (in  FIG. 3D ) by exerting thereon an outwardly biasing force and thereby causing the securing mechanism to be normally in its locked state. The sliding element and the biasing mechanism can be integrated in a single element. The sliding element  71  and the bendable elements  76  and  77  are integrated in a single element and made of the same material. 
     The middle portion  78  includes a thumb supporting element  72  having a bottom wall  73  (shown in  FIG. 3D ). The bottom wall  73  is shaped so as to accommodate the fifth finger of the user&#39;s first hand, i.e., its thumb, when the first gripping portion  80  is gripped by the user&#39;s first hand. 
     The securing mechanism  70  is convertible from its normally locked state to its unlocked state when the sliding element  71  slides within the interior section  84  along an upward direction indicated by an arrow Z 2 . The securing mechanism  70  can be switched from its locked state to its unlocked state upon application of an inwardly biasing force on the bottom wall  73  of the thumb supporting element  72  in the direction Z 2 . Upon the sliding of the sliding element  71  in the direction Z 2 , the bendable elements  76  and  77  are forced by the upper biasing wall  86  to be bent such that their ends  76 ′ and  77 ′ are forced to move in the directions Z 3  and Z 4 , respectively while sliding along the upper biasing wall  86  and moving away from each other. 
     When the inwardly biasing force is ceased from being applied, the bendable elements  76  and  77  revert to their original shape, thereby forcing the sliding element  71  to slide in the direction Z 1 , and thereby causing the securing mechanism  70  to assume its normally locked state. 
     The first gripping portion  80  has dimensions which are configured to fit the size of an average hand of a user. These dimensions include a reasonable distance between the thumb supporting element  72  and the first gripping recess  82 . 
     The second end  75  has a securing protrusion  79  configured with a front face  79 ′. As clearly shown in  FIG. 3D , in the normally locked state of the securing mechanism  70 , the securing protrusion  79  protrudes out of the surface of the bottom wall  20 . 
     The securing protrusion  79  is configured to be received within the first recess  60  of the middle tray  30 , thereby locking the trays at their extended position. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3F and 3G  in which the middle tray  30  is illustrated. The middle tray  30  is configured with a top wall  36 , a front wall  37 , a rear wall  38 , a perimetric bottom edge  34  and a perimetric top edge  35 . The top wall  36  and the rear wall  38  are configured with a rear edge  39  therebetween. The rear edge  39  constitutes a portion of the top edge  35 . The first recess  60  is disposed in the middle of the rear edge  39 , so that when the trays are in their extended position, the first recess  60  is located underneath the first gripping portion  80 , and more particularly under the securing protrusion  79 . The top wall  36  and the front wall  37  are further configured with a front edge  40  therebetween. The middle tray  30  further has a second recess  62 . The second recess is disposed in the middle of the front edge  40 , so that when the trays are in their stacked position, the second recess  62  is located underneath the first gripping portion  80 , and more particularly under the securing protrusion  79 . In this position of the trays, the second recess  62  is configured to accommodate the securing protrusion  79  therein. 
     The middle tray  30  is further configured with a biasing protrusion  41  which protrudes out of the surface of the top wall  39 . Since securing protrusion  79  and the biasing protrusion  41  protrude out of their respective trays, they engage each other during the conversion of the trays from their stacked position to their extended position. When this engagement takes place, the biasing protrusion  41  exerts an inwardly biasing force on the front face  79 ′, and thereby on the whole sliding element  71 , in the direction Z 2 . This biasing force causes the sliding element  71  to be inwardly biased. When the front face  79 ′ passes through the securing protrusion  79  and disengaged therefrom, the outwardly biasing force applied by the bendable elements  76  and  77  is greater than said inwardly biasing force, which causes the sliding element  71  to slide downwards to its natural state. This results in causing the securing protrusion  79  to jump into the first recess  60 , thereby allowing the securing mechanism to arrest the first recess  60 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3H and 31 , in which the lowermost tray  50  is illustrated with the second gripping portion  90 .  FIGS. 3H and 31  illustrate an example of a safe location at which second gripping portion  90  is located in the cantilever box  100 . This safe location allows the user to convert the trays from their extended position to their stacked position in a controlled and a safe manner which eliminates or reduces the likelihood of jamming the fingers of the user&#39;s second hand between the trays during the conversion between the positions. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3H and 3I , the lowermost tray  50  has a front wall  56 , a rear wall  57 , a bottom wall  58 , a perimetric top edge  54  and a perimetric bottom edge  55 . The second gripping portion  90  is formed within the front wall  92 . The second gripping portion  90  has a second gripping recess  92  and a second gripping supporting surface  93 . 
     The second gripping portion  90  is configured to be gripped by a second hand of the user, and particularly by the five fingers and the palm of this hand, when the trays are converted from their extended position to their stacked position. This gripping is performed simultaneously the gripping of the first gripping portion  80  by the user&#39;s first hand. In particular, the second gripping recess  92  is configured to receive the following four fingers of the user&#39;s first hand: the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger. The second gripping recess  92  is characterized by shape and size which allow accommodation of these four fingers along the length of the second gripping recess  92 . While the above four fingers are received within the second gripping recess  92 , the thumb and the palm of the user&#39;s second hand are configured to engage the second gripping supporting surface  93  so as to provide contra to the pulling force applied to the uppermost tray  10 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5A to 5D  which schematically illustrate different views of the cantilever box  100  in its stacked position and its extended position, respectively. The description below is provided for summarizing the operation of the cantilever box  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the trays are in their stacked position, and the latch  3  is fixing the uppermost tray  10  to the lowermost tray  50 . In this position, the bottom edge  19  of the uppermost tray  10  rests on the top edge  35  of the middle tray  30 , and the bottom edge  34  of the middle tray  30  rests on the top edge  54  of the lowermost tray. As shown in  FIG. 4B , the securing mechanism  70  is in its normally locked state while the securing protrusion  79  is freely accommodated within the second recess  62 . 
     In order to convert the trays from their stacked position to their extended position, the latches  2  and  3  have to be opened. Afterwards, the user can apply a pulling force on the uppermost tray  10  in the direction of arrow P 1  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) by one or two hands of the user. This pulling force can be applied while the user pulls the handle  6  or while he grips the first gripping portion  80 . The user can also grip the second gripping portion  90  for holding the whole arrangement on place and preventing it from rolling over. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5A to 5D , the trays  10 ,  30  and  50  are locked at their extended position. At this position of the trays, a front portion of the bottom edge  19  rests on the rear edge  39  and a front portion of the bottom edge  34  rests on the rear edge  39 . In addition, the securing protrusion  79  is received within the first recess  60 , thereby locking the trays in their extended position. If the user will try to convert the trays to their stacked position without switching the securing mechanism to its unlocked state, the securing protrusion  79  will try to move in the direction P 3  (shown in  FIG. 5D ) and will immediately engage an internal wall  61  of the first recess  60 . This will arrest the securing protrusion  79  on place, and thereby will prevent displacement of the uppermost tray  10  with respect to the middle tray  30 , and consequently the conversion of the trays into their stacked position. 
     In order to close the cantilever box  100  by converting the trays  10 ,  30  and  50  to their stacked position in a controlled and a safe manner, the following steps have to be performed by a user:
         a. closing the cover  15  (if it was previously opened). As indicated above, the cover can be left opened, and in this case the internal portion  85  will be used instead of the first gripping recess  82  in step ‘b’ below;   b. gripping the first gripping portion  80  the user&#39;s first hand. The gripping is performed by placing the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger within the first gripping recess  82 , and by engaging the bottom wall  83  of the thumb supporting element  72  by the user&#39;s thumb of the first hand;   c. gripping the second gripping portion  90  by the user&#39;s second hand. The gripping is performed by placing the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger within the second gripping recess  92 , and by engaging the second gripping supporting surface  93  by the thumb and the palm of the second hand;   d. applying an inwardly biasing force on the bottom wall  83  by the thumb of the first hand in the direction Z 2 , thereby switching the securing mechanism to its unlocked state and facilitating displacement of the trays from their extended position into their stacked position;   e. while tightly gripping the second gripping portion  90  by the second hand and maintaining the application of the inwardly biasing force on the bottom wall  83 , applying a pulling force on the first gripping portion  80  in the direction P 2 , and thereby displacing the uppermost tray  10  and the middle tray  30  towards the lowermost tray  50  until these trays are brought into their stacked position.       

     It should be indicated that the above description and its corresponding drawings present only one example of the location of the first gripping portion, the securing mechanism, and the second gripping portion at the cantilever box of the presently disclosed subject matter, for allowing safe and controlled conversion of the trays between their extended and their stacked positions.