Patent Publication Number: US-7219969-B2

Title: Storage container and storage system including a stack of the same

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/449,875 filed Feb. 27, 2003. The entirety of the provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
   The present application relates to a storage container and a storage system including a stack of such storage containers. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   One aspect of the present invention relates to a storage system comprising a plurality of stackable storage containers arranged in a vertical stack. The number of containers in the stack may be as few as two, and there is no upper limit. Each of the containers comprises (i) a drawer having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall defining a storage space for receiving articles, and an upwardly facing opening for accessing the storage space, and (ii) a drawer housing having at least an upper wall. The drawer is slidably mounted to the drawer housing for movement between (a) a retracted position wherein the drawer is positioned beneath the upper wall and (b) an extended position wherein the drawer is moved outwardly from beneath the upper wall, thereby allowing access to the storage space therein through the upwardly facing opening. The drawer housing is constructed to enable at least the upper wall of the drawer housing to be pivoted between (a) a closed position closing the upwardly facing opening of the drawer in its retracted position and (b) an open position uncovering the upwardly facing opening of the drawer in its retracted position. Each container also further comprises at least one upper coupling on an upper portion of the storage container, at least one lower coupling on a lower portion of the storage container, and a carrying handle for enabling the user to carry the storage container. The upper and lower couplings of each container are constructed such that, for each pair of vertically adjacent storage containers in the stack, (a) the upper coupling of a lower storage container of the pair is engaged in an interlocked relation with the lower coupling of an upper storage container of the pair to secure the storage containers of the pair together, and (b) the upper and lower couplings of the vertically adjacent storage containers of the pair can be disengaged to enable separation of the storage containers of the pair. 
   Another aspect of the invention relates to a storage container for stacking together with one or more similar storage containers. The storage container comprises a drawer having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall defining a storage space for receiving articles, and an upwardly facing opening for accessing the storage space. A drawer housing has at least an upper wall and the drawer is slidably mounted to the drawer housing for movement between (a) a retracted position wherein the drawer is positioned beneath the upper wall and (b) an extended position wherein the drawer is moved outwardly from beneath the upper wall, thereby allowing access to the storage space therein through the upwardly facing opening. The drawer housing is constructed to enable at least the upper wall of the drawer housing to be pivoted between (a) a closed position closing the upwardly facing opening of the drawer in its retracted position and (b) an open position uncovering the upwardly facing opening of the drawer in its retracted position. 
   The container also includes at least one upper coupling on an upper portion of the storage container and at least one lower coupling on a lower portion of the storage container. The upper coupling is constructed to be (a) engaged in an interlocked relation with a lower coupling of a similar storage container stacked atop the storage container to thereby secure the storage container and the similar storage container stacked atop thereof together, and (b) disengaged from the lower coupling of the similar storage container stacked atop the storage container, thereby allowing the storage container and the similar storage container stacked atop the storage container to be separated. The lower coupling is constructed to be (a) engaged in an interlocked relation with an upper coupling of a similar storage container stacked below the storage container to thereby secure the storage container and the similar storage container stacked below the storage container together, and (b) disengaged from the upper coupling of the similar storage container stacked below the storage container, thereby allowing the storage container and the similar storage container to be separated. The container also further comprises a carrying handle for enabling a user to carry the storage container. 
   Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage container according to the invention with the drawer housing open; 
       FIG. 1A  is a side view of the storage container of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the storage container of  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section taken along line A—A in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3A  is a close-up view showing details of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the storage container of  FIG. 1 , but with the drawer housing closed; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the storage container with the drawer in the extended position; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the subject matter of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a stack of storage containers; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the subject matter of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a stack of storage containers; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the subject matter of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of a stack of storage containers; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-section taken along line A—A of  FIG. 11 ; and 
       FIG. 13  is a close-up view showing details of  FIG. 12 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT  
     FIG. 1  shows a storage container, generally indicated at  10 , constructed in accordance with the present invention. In general, the storage container  10  comprises a drawer  12  and a drawer housing  14 . The drawer  12  is formed from plastic by injection molding. The drawer  12  has a bottom wall  16  and a peripheral wall  18  defining a storage space  20  for receiving articles and an upwardly facing opening  22  for accessing the storage space  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the drawer  12  has internal vertical partitions  24  separating the drawer into a series of smaller compartments. However, the drawer  12  may have any suitable construction or configuration and the invention is not limited to the one illustrated. 
   The drawer housing  14  in the illustrated embodiment is formed from plastic by injection molding and has at least an upper wall  26 . The drawer  12  is slidably mounted to the drawer housing  14  for movement between (a) a retracted position wherein the drawer  12  is positioned beneath the upper wall  26  and (b) an extended position wherein the drawer  12  is moved outwardly from beneath the upper wall  26 , thereby allowing access to the storage space  20  therein through the upwardly facing opening  22 . The retracted position is shown, for example, in  FIG. 4 , and the extended position is shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The drawer housing  14  is also constructed to enable at least the upper wall  26  of the drawer housing  14  to be pivoted between (a) a closed position closing the upwardly facing opening  22  of the drawer  12  in its retracted position and (b) an open position uncovering the upwardly facing opening  22  of the drawer in its retracted position. The open position is shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1–3 , and the closed position is shown for example, in  FIGS. 4–6 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the drawer housing  14  has a pair of side walls  28  extending downwardly from the upper wall  26  on opposing sides of the drawer  12 . Further, in the illustrated embodiment the upper wall  26  and the side walls  28  of the drawer housing  14  are fixed together, preferably by being molded together as a single piece, so that the side walls  28  are pivoted along with the upper wall  26  between the open and closed positions thereof. A recess  30  is provided on each side wall  28  to act as handles for facilitating carrying the container  10  in two hands, or for raising the housing  14  to establish the open position of the upper wall  26 . As an alternative, the upper wall could be pivotally mounted to the side walls  28 . Also, the presence of the side walls  28  is not necessary, and instead is only preferred. Thus, the drawer housing  14  may have any suitable construction or configuration and the invention is not limited to the one illustrated. 
   As seen for example in  FIGS. 3 and 3A , in the illustrated embodiment, the drawer  12  includes a pair of pivot pins  32  extending from opposing sides thereof and the side walls  28  of the drawer housing  14  include a pair of inwardly facing tracks  34 . The pins  32  may be formed integrally with the drawer  12  by injection molding, or may be attached as separate pieces. The pivot pins  32  are slidably and pivotably received in the tracks  34  to enable (a) the upper wall  26 , along with the remainder of the drawer housing  14 , to be pivoted about the pivot pins  32  between the open and closed positions, and (b) the drawer  12  to be moved between the retracted and extended positions with the pivot pins  32  riding rectilinearly within the tracks  34 . The presence of the pins and tracks is not necessary, and instead is only preferred. Thus, the drawer  12  and drawer housing  14  may have any suitable construction or configuration and the invention is not limited to those illustrated. 
   Each side wall  28  of the drawer housing  14  also includes a support flange  36  extending inwardly adjacent a front end of the drawer housing  14 . These flanges  36  are provided by plate-like walls that extend inwardly from the front end of the drawer housing  14 . The drawer  12  also has a pair of support ridges  38  extending longitudinally on each side thereof. The support ridges  38  are supported by the support flanges  36  to support the drawer  12  as it moves between the retracted and extended positions thereof Because the flanges  36  are made of plastic material and have a plate-like wall construction, the support flanges  36  are resiliently deflectable for clearing the support ridges  38  as the drawer housing  14  is pivoted to establish the open position of the upper wall  26 . Specifically, the flanges  36  engage the ridges  38  and inhibit pivoting of the drawer housing  14  even when the latches  40  (discussed below) are in their released position, but will be deflected by forcing the drawer housing  14  upward. Conversely, upon moving the drawer housing  14  back down to the closed position of the upper wall  26 , the angled lower surfaces of the flanges  36  will engage the ridges  38  and the flanges  36  will deflect inwardly and resiliently return to their supporting relation beneath the ridges  38 . The presence of the flanges  36  and ridges  38  is not necessary, and instead is only preferred. Thus, the drawer  12  and drawer housing  14  may have any suitable construction or configuration and the invention is not limited to those illustrated. 
   The container  10  further comprises a pair of latches  40 . The latches  40  are movable between (a) a latching position releasably latching the drawer  12  in the retracted position thereof, and (b) a released position enabling the drawer  12  to be moved to the extended position thereof. Further, the latches  40  in the latching position thereof also releasably latch the upper wall  26  in its closed position, and in the released position thereof enables the upper wall  26  to be moved to its open position. In the illustrated embodiment, the latches  40  are slidably mounted on a front face of the drawer  12  for lateral movement between the latched and released positions thereof. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the structure which the latches  40  engage is the upper wall  26  on the drawer housing  14 . The upper wall  26  has a front edge  42  with (a) latch engaging portions  44  each having a lip  46  protruding upwardly therefrom and (b) recesses  48  adjacent the latch engaging portions  44 . The recesses  48  are positioned such that, when the drawer  12  is in the retracted position thereof and the upper wall  26  is in the closed position thereof, the latches  40  in their released positions are received in the recesses  48 , and then can be moved laterally outwardly onto the latch engaging portions  44  and the lips  46  thereof to affect the latched positions thereof. Any suitable construction or configuration may be used for securing the drawer  12  in its retracted position, and/or the upper wall  26  in its closed position, and the invention is not intended to be limited to the illustrated embodiment. 
   The container  10  also includes at least one upper coupling  50  on an upper portion of the storage container  10  and at least one lower coupling  52  on a lower portion of the storage container  10 . As can be appreciated best from  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the upper coupling  50  is constructed to be (a) engaged in an interlocked relation with a lower coupling  52  of a similar storage container stacked atop the storage container  10  to thereby secure the storage container  10  and the similar storage container stacked atop thereof together, and (b) disengaged from the lower coupling  52  of the similar storage container stacked atop the storage container  10 , thereby allowing the storage container and the similar storage container stacked atop the storage container to be separated. Likewise, the lower coupling  52  is constructed to be (a) engaged in an interlocked relation with an upper coupling  50  of a similar storage container stacked below the storage container  10  to thereby secure the storage container  10  and the similar storage container stacked below the storage container  10  together, and (b) disengaged from the upper coupling  50  of the similar storage container stacked below the storage container  10 , thereby allowing the storage container  10  and the similar storage container to be separated. In this context, a similar storage container is meant to be a storage container identical to storage container  10 , or having a similar construction with suitable upper and lower couplings  50  and  52  for enabling the stacking and interlocking. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one lower coupling includes  52  a plurality of hooks  54  on lower portions of the storage container  10  and the at least one upper coupling  50  includes a plurality of receptacles  56  on upper portions of the storage container  10 . The receptacles  56  are constructed to be (a) engaged in an interlocked relation with hooks  54  of a similar storage container stacked atop the storage container  10  to thereby secure the storage container  10  and the similar storage container stacked atop thereof together, and (b) disengaged from the hooks  54  of the similar storage container stacked atop the storage container  10 , thereby allowing the storage container  10  and the similar storage container stacked atop the storage container  10  to be separated. Likewise, the hooks  54  are constructed to be (a) engaged in an interlocked relation with receptacle  56  of a similar storage container stacked below the storage container  10  to thereby secure the storage container  10  and the similar storage container stacked below the storage container  10  together, and (b) disengaged from the receptacles  56  of the similar storage container stacked below the storage container  10 , thereby allowing the storage container  10  and the similar storage container to be separated. 
   As can be appreciated from  FIGS. 12 and 13 , disengaging the hooks  54  from the receptacles  56  is affected by shifting the upper container of a stacked pair forward, and the upper container can be lifted off the lower one. To secure the upper container in place, the upper container is stacked atop the lower container so that the hooks  54  are aligned with the receptacles  56 , and then the upper container is shifted rearwardly to engage the hooks  54  in the receptacles. 
   Further, integrally formed plastic in the illustrated embodiment, the upper portions of the side walls  28  each include upstanding walls  58  defining recessed wells  60  and the receptacles  56  are formed through walls  62  located within the recessed wells  60 . The hooks  54  are integrally formed plastic and extend downwardly from lower portions of the side walls  28 . Any suitable construction or configuration may be used for securing storage containers  10  in a stack, and the invention is not intended to be limited to the illustrated embodiment. 
   The container  10  also further comprises a carrying handle  64  for enabling a user to carry the storage container  10 . Preferably, the carrying handle  64  is pivotably connected to a front wall of the drawer  12  for facilitating movement of the drawer  12  between the retracted and extended positions thereof. 
   With this general construction, a plurality of storage containers  10 , which may be any number of two or more containers  10 , may be vertically arranged in a stack  100  to define a storage system  102  as shown in  FIGS. 7–13 . Each container  10  may be individually removed from the stack  100  for transportation by its carrying handle  64  separate from the stack  100 . The stack  100  is held together by the upper and lower couplings  50 ,  52  so that, for each pair of vertically adjacent storage containers  10  in the stack  100 , (a) the upper coupling  50  of a lower storage container  10  of the pair is engaged in an interlocked relation with the lower coupling  52  of an upper storage container  10  of the pair to secure the storage containers  10 ,  10  of the pair together, and (b) the upper and lower couplings  50 ,  52  of the vertically adjacent storage containers  10 ,  10  of the pair can be disengaged to enable separation of the storage containers  10 ,  10  of the pair. The user thus may opt to take the container  10  from the top, or remove one or more containers  10  to enable one in the middle or on the bottom of the stack  100  to be removed. The user may also opt to access any given container  10  by moving its drawer  12  to the extended position thereof. 
   The invention is particularly advantageous for use in modular storage whereby a user can store a number of articles in the containers  10  and have the advantages of a system  102  that stores a wide variety of articles, but enables each container  10  to be separated for transporting only selected articles in any given container  10 . For example, a user could store a number of different tools and tool accessories in the storage containers  10 , and when the user needs to access the tools, he can either (a) leave the containers  10  in the stack  100  and access the containers  10  by the drawers  12 , or (b) separate a desired container  10  with the particular tools he/she needs and transport that container  10  to a work location. The tool context is not limiting, and the invention could be applied to contexts such as children&#39;s toys, arts and crafts, sewing and other domestic activities, or fishing and other recreational activities, etc. 
   The foregoing illustrated embodiment has been provided solely for illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting. To the contrary, the present invention is intended to encompass all modifications, substitutions, alterations, and equivalents encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.