Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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ROLLING CONTAINER ASSEMBLY WITH ADJUSTABLE STORAGE UNITS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a rolling container assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Rolling tool container assemblies are commonly used to carry a
plurality of working
tools to the working location. However, such tool container assemblies
typically do not have
adjustable mount structures that enable containers to be releasably mounted to
the assembly. There is
a need in the art for an improved storage system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] One aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for transporting
articles between
working locations, comprising: one or more rotatable ground engaging wheels
mounted towards the
bottom of the apparatus for rotation about an axis to provide rolling support
for the apparatus; a
manually engageable pulling handle, the pulling handle and the one or more
ground engaging wheels
being arranged to enable a user to manually pull the pulling handle generally
rearwardly so as to tilt
the apparatus rearwardly to a tilted rolling movement position, thereby
enabling the user to roll the
apparatus to a desired location by pushing or pulling the pulling handle in a
desired direction; a frame;
one or more mount structures adjustably connected to the frame so as to adjust
a height thereof on the
frame; and a plurality of containers releasably connected to the one or more
mount structures that are
adjustably connected to the frame, thus enabling a height of the containers to
be adjusted on the frame,
wherein at least one of the containers comprises a toolbox having a storage
space and an upwardly
facing opening into the storage space, wherein the toolbox has a cover movable
between a closed
position wherein the cover substantially covers the upwardly facing opening
and an open position
wherein the cover exposes the upwardly facing opening, wherein the toolbox has
a handle connected
with the cover for carrying the toolbox after it has been released from the
mount structure, and
wherein the one or more mount structures are rotatable on the frame between a
folded position to
enable carrying and storage of the frame and an extended position in which the
containers are mounted
on the mount structures.
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[0004] Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for transporting
articles
between working locations, comprising: one or more rotatable ground engaging
wheels mounted
towards the bottom of the apparatus for rotation about an axis to provide
rolling support for the
apparatus; a manually engageable pulling handle, the pulling handle and the
one or more ground
engaging wheels being arranged to enable a user to manually pull the pulling
handle generally
rearwardly so as to tilt the apparatus rearwardly to a tilted rolling movement
position, thereby enabling
the user to roll the apparatus to a desired location by pushing or pulling the
handle in a desired
direction; a frame; one or more mount structures adjustably connected to the
frame so as to adjust a
height thereof on the frame; and a plurality of containers releasably
connected to the one or more
mount structures that are adjustably connected to the frame, thus enabling a
height of the containers to
be adjusted on the frame, wherein at least one of the containers comprises a
toolbox having a storage
space and an upwardly facing opening into the storage space, wherein the
toolbox has a cover movable
between a closed position wherein the cover substantially covers the upwardly
facing opening and an
open position wherein the cover exposes the upwardly facing opening, wherein
the toolbox has a
handle connected with the cover for carrying the toolbox after it has been
released from the mount
structure, wherein the plurality of containers comprises one or more coupling
elements, which provide
releasable connections with the one or more mount structures, and wherein the
one or more coupling
elements comprise a latch mechanism to latch the containers to the one or more
mount structures.
[0005] Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for transporting
articles
between working locations, comprising. one or more rotatable ground engaging
wheels mounted
towards the bottom of the apparatus for rotation about an axis to provide
rolling support for the
apparatus; a manually engageable pulling handle, the pulling handle and the
one or more ground
engaging wheels being arranged to enable a user to manually pull the pulling
handle generally
rearwardly so as to tilt the apparatus rearwardly to a tilted rolling movement
position, thereby enabling
the user to roll the apparatus to a desired location by pushing or pulling the
handle in a desired
direction; a frame; one or more mount structures adjustably connected to the
frame so as to adjust a
height thereof on the frame; and a plurality of containers releasably
connected to the one or more
mount structures that are adjustably connected to the frame, thus enabling a
height of the containers to
be adjusted on the frame, wherein at least one of the containers comprises a
toolbox having a storage
space and an upwardly facing opening into the storage space, wherein the
toolbox has a cover movable
between a closed position wherein the cover substantially covers the upwardly
facing opening and an
open position wherein the cover exposes the upwardly facing opening, wherein
the toolbox has a
handle connected with the cover for carrying the toolbox after it has been
released from the mount
structure, and wherein one of the plurality of containers comprises latches
constructed and arranged to
latch the one of the plurality of containers directly to another one of the
plurality of containers.
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[0005a] Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for transporting
articles
between working locations, comprising: one or more rotatable ground engaging
wheels mounted
towards the bottom of the apparatus for rotation about an axis to provide
rolling support for the
apparatus; a manually engageable pulling handle, the pulling handle and the
one or more ground
engaging wheels being arranged to enable a user to manually pull the pulling
handle generally
rearwardly so as to tilt the apparatus rearwardly to a tilted rolling movement
position, thereby enabling
the user to roll the apparatus to a desired location by pushing or pulling the
handle in a desired
direction; a frame; one or more mount structures adjustably connected to the
frame so as to adjust a
height thereof on the frame; and a plurality of containers releasably
connected to the one or more
mount structures that are adjustably connected to the frame, thus enabling a
height of the containers to
be adjusted on the frame, wherein at least one of the containers comprises a
toolbox having a storage
space and an upwardly facing opening into the storage space, wherein the
toolbox has a cover movable
between a closed position wherein the cover substantially covers the upwardly
facing opening and an
open position wherein the cover exposes the upwardly facing opening, wherein
the toolbox has a
handle connected with the cover for carrying the toolbox after it has been
released from the mount
structure, and wherein the frame comprises a rear latching assembly
constructed and arranged to latch
the plurality of containers to the frame so as to prevent the removal of the
plurality of containers
therefrom.
[0005b] Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for transporting
articles
between working locations, comprising: one or more rotatable ground engaging
wheels mounted
towards the bottom of the apparatus for rotation about an axis to provide
rolling support for the
apparatus; a manually engageable pulling handle, the pulling handle and the
one or more ground
engaging wheels being arranged to enable a user to manually pull the pulling
handle generally
rearwardly so as to tilt the apparatus rearwardly to a tilted rolling movement
position, thereby enabling
the user to roll the apparatus to a desired location by pushing or pulling the
pulling handle in a desired
direction; a frame; and a plurality of containers releasably connected to the
frame so as to enable a
height of the containers to be adjusted on the frame, wherein each of the
containers is independently
mounted on the frame via one or more mount structures connected to the frame
to enable removal of
one of the containers without removal of any of the other containers, wherein
at least one of the
containers comprises a toolbox having a storage space and an upwardly facing
opening into the
storage space, wherein the toolbox has a cover movable between a closed
position wherein the cover
substantially covers the upwardly facing opening and an open position wherein
the cover exposes the
upwardly facing opening, wherein the toolbox has a handle connected with the
cover for carrying the
toolbox after it has been released from the mount structure, and wherein the
one or more mount
structures are rotatable on the frame between a folded position to enable
carrying and storage of the
frame and an extended position in which the containers are mounted on the
mount structures.
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[0006] These and other aspects of the present invention, as well as the
methods of operation
and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of
parts and economies of
manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following
description and the
appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form
a part of this
specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts
in the various figures. In
one embodiment, the structural components illustrated herein can be considered
drawn to scale. It is
to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of
illustration and
description only and are not a limitation of the invention. In addition, it
should be appreciated that
structural features shown or described in any one embodiment herein can be
used in other
embodiments as well. As used in the specification and in the claims, the
singular form of "a", "an",
and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a rolling storage assembly in
accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rolling storage assembly with
containers
mounted thereto in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
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[0009] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a container being mounted to the
rolling
storage assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] Figure 4 is a perspective bottom view of a side handle of a container
in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a chassis of the rolling container
assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the chassis of the rolling container
assembly with mount structures folded in the storage position in accordance
with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] Figure 7 is a perspective rear view of the rolling storage assembly
with
containers mounted thereto in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
=
[0014] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a mount structure and attachment
structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] Figure 9a-913 are partial cross sectional views of a mount structure,
mounting bar, and attachment structure in accordance with an embodiment of the
present
invention;
[0016] Figure 10a-10b are perspective views of a large container of the
rolling
storage assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] Figure 1 la-1 lb are perspective views of a small container of the
rolling
storage assembly in accordance with an embodiment. of the present invention;
[0018] Figure 12a-12b are perspective views of a toolbox container of the
rolling
storage assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] Fig. 13 shows a front perspective view of the rolling container
assembly
in accordance with another embodiment;
[0020] Fig. 14 shows a rear perspective view of the rolling container assembly
of
the embodiment of Fig. 13;
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[0021] Fig. 15 shows the front perspective view of the chassis of the rolling
container assembly of the embodiment of Fig. 13;
[0022] Fig. 16 shows a detailed view of the mount structure attached to the
mounting bar in accordance with an embodiment;
[0023] Figs. 17A-17B show detailed perspective and partial cross-sectional
views, respectively, of the mount structure in accordance with an embodiment;
[0024] Figs. 18A-18B show detailed perspective and partial cross-sectional
views, respectively, of the mount structure in accordance with an embodiment;
[0025] Fig. 19 shows a front perspective view of the chassis with folded mount
structures in accordance with an embodiment;
[0026] Figs. 20A-20B show detailed views of a rear latching structure of the
rolling container assembly in the unlatched and latched positions,
respectively, in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0027] Figs. 21A-21B show a first container of the rolling container assembly
in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0028] Figs. 22A-22B show a second container of the rolling container assembly
in accordance with an embodiment;
[0029] Figs. 23A-23B show a third container of the rolling container assembly
in
accordance with an embodiment;
[0030] Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the first, second, and third
containers
latched directly together in accordance with an embodiment;
[0031] Fig. 25A-25C are detailed views of side latch structures of the first
container in accordance with an embodiment;
[0032] Fig. 26 is a detailed view of a rear latching assembly in accordance
with
an embodimeni;
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[0033] Figs. 27A-27B are detailed views of the rear latching assembly attached
to the chassis in accordance with an embodiment;
[0034] Fig. 28A-28C are detailed views of a docking assembly in accordance
with an embodiment; and
5 [0035] Figs. 29A-29B are partial cross sectional views of a mount
structure,
mounting bar, and attachment structure in accordance with an embodiment of the
present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] Figure 1 shows an apparatus 10 for transporting articles between
working
locations. The apparatus 10 includes one or more rotatable ground engaging
wheels 12
mounted towards the bottom of the apparatus 10 for rotation about an axis to
provide
rolling support for the apparatus 10 and a manually engageable pulling handle
14. The
pulling handle 14 and the one or more ground engaging wheels 12 are arranged
to enable
a user to manually pull the pulling handle 14 generally rearwardly so as to
tilt the
apparatus 10 rearwardly to a tilted rolling movement position, thereby
enabling a user to
roll the apparatus 10 to a desired location by pushing or pulling the pulling
handle 14 in a
desired direction. The apparatus 10 may also include a chassis 17, which may
comprise
a frame 16 and at least one or more mount structures 18 adjustably connected
to the
frame 16. The apparatus 10 further includes a plurality of containers 20, 22,
and 24 (see
Figure 3) releasably connected to the mount structures 18. In one embodiment,
at least
two of the containers 20, 22, and 24 are of a different configuration from one
another.
The plurality of containers 20, 22, 24 may be releasably connected to the
mount
structures 18 such that each of the plurality of containers 20, 22, 24 may be
independently removable from the mount structures 18 and the chassis 17. That
is, each
of the plurality of containers 20, 22, and 24 may be released and removed from
their
respective mount structures 18 and from the chassis 17 without releasing any
of the other
containers of the plurality of containers 20, 22, and 24. The plurality of
containers 20,
22, 24 may also be releasably connected to the mount structures 18 and
arranged such
that the containers 20, 22, 24 are spaced from one another. In other words,
the
containers 20, 22, and 24 may be connected to the mount structures 18 and
arranged on
the chassis 17 such that each container 20, 22, 24 does not contact or rest on
another
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container 20,22, and 24. As such, a lower container 20, 22, 24 may be removed
from
the chassis 17 without having to remove a container 20, 22, 24 located above
the lower
container 20, 22, 24.
[0037] It is contemplated that the mount structures 18 are not limited to the
configuration shown in the illustrated embodiment. The mount structures 18 may
have
any configuration that enables the containers 20,22, 24 to be mounted thereon.
The
mount structures 18 may be, just for example, trays or hooks connected to the
frame 16.
In some embodiments, the mount structures 18 may be removed from the frame 16.
Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the mount structures 18
may also be
optionally fixed to the frame 16.
[0038] As shown in Figure 1, the frame may comprise two vertically extending
mounting bars 26. The mounting bars 26 may be configured and arranged to
attach the
mount structures 18 to the frame 16 using attachment structures 28 (see Figure
7). The
attachment structures 28 may also be configured and arranged to enable the
mount
structures 18 to be adjusted on or removed from the frame 16. The attachment
structures
28 will be described in detail later. The apparatus 10 may optionally have a
rear
member 30 secured to the frame 16. The rear member 30 may be made from
suitably
molded plastic, although it is contemplated that other materials known in the
art may be
used, such as, for example, metal or wood. The rear member 30 may be formed
with ribs
29 (see Figure 5) that are deployed crosswise with respect to one another such
that
diamond and triangular shapes are formed. In this embodiment, the rear member
30
includes legs 32 (four are shown in Figure 6) and a base portion 34. The legs
32 may be
constructed and arranged to extend from the base portion 34 and attach to the
mounting
bars 26 of the frame 16. The base portion 34 may have recesses 35 (see Figure
6)
formed on the upper and lower halves of the base portion 34. The legs 32 may
have
recesses which may hold the mounting bars 26 therein. It is contemplated that
the legs
32 may be attached to the mounting bars 26 using other attachment mechanisms,
such as
adhesive bonding, pins, clamps, screws, fasteners, or other attachment
mechanisms
known in the art. In this embodiment, the mount structures 18 extend forwardly
of the
mounting bars 26 to enable the containers 20, 22, or 24 to be mounted to the
chassis 17.
The mounting bars 26 may be made of metal, plastic, wood, or other materials
known in
the art. The containers 20,22, and 24 may be made from plastic, although it is
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contemplated that other materials known in the art may be used, such as, for
example,
metal or wood, or a combination thereof.
[0039] As shown in Figure 1, the handle 14 may be a cylindrical rod extending
between handle attachment members 36 on each side. The handle attachment
members
36 are used to attach the handle 14 to the frame 16 of the chassis 17. In the
embodiment
shown in Figure 1, the L-shaped handle attachment members 36 has a main
portion 38
and a ledge 40, and the handle 14 is horizontally displaced from the mounting
bars 14 at
a distance equal to the length of the ledge 40. This placement of the handle
14 relative to
the rest of the chassis 17 facilitates access to the handle 14 and facilitates
the pushing
and pulling of the handle 14. The handle attachment members 36 may be hollow,
thus
enabling the handle attachment members 36 to receive the mounting bars 26 on
one end
(near the ledge 40) and the handle 14 on the other end (near the main portion
38). The
handle 14 may be made of metal, plastic, wood, or other materials known in the
art. In
some embodiments, rubber or other anti-slip material may be provided on the
surface of
the handle 14 to facilitate the grasping of the handle 14. Although the handle
14 shown
in Figure 1 is fixed relative to the chassis 17, it is contemplated that in
some
embodiments, the handle 14 may be constructed and arranged to be extendable.
It is also
contemplated that the handle 14 may have other configurations, shapes, and
arrangements. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the handle 14
may be
pivotally attached to the chassis 17 via pivot pins 41. The handle 14 may be
pivoted to a
position wherein the handle 14 is generally perpendicular to the mounting bars
26 to
facilitate the pulling and pushing of the apparatus 10. Alternatively, the
handle 14 may
be pivoted to the upright position for storage.
[00401 As shown in Figure 1, the ground engaging wheels 12 may be attached to
the chassis 17. In other embodiments, the ground engaging wheels 12 may be
attached to
the container 20, 22, or 24 mounted towards the bottom of the apparatus 10. In
one
embodiment, each of the wheels 12 is a molded structure reinforced by a
plurality of
wheel ribs 42 and each wheel 12 is mounted on an end of an elongated axle 44
by two
hubs 45 or other appropriate structure. The axle 44 may be an elongated
cylindrical shaft
that is snap fit into rotational engagement with a receiving structure of the
container 20,
22, or 24 or the chassis 17 in conventional fashion. Alternatively, the axle
44 can be
mounted to the apparatus 10 through a pair of axially aligned through-holes
(not shown)
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.=
formed in the container 20, 22, 24 or the chassis 17. The wheels 12 may have
rubber
treads or other anti-slip material provided on the surface to provide friction
with the
ground when the apparatus 10 is to be rolled from one location to another.
=
[0041] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus 10 with three
containers =
20, 22, and 24 mounted to the chassis 17. The containers 20, 22, and 24 may
have
coupling elements that provide releasable connection with the mount structures
18. In
this embodiment, the coupling elements take the form of pairs of side handles
98, 100, or
102 on each side of the containers 20, 22, and 24. The side handles 98, 100,
and 102 are
constructed and arranged to clamp or otherwise engage or couple or latch or
connect onto
the mount structures 18 to enable the containers 20, 22, and 24 to be
releasably or
removably connected to the chassis 17. This embodiment is not intended to be
limiting,
and it is contemplated that the coupling elements may have a variety of
configurations,
locations, and arrangements in other embodiments. Just for example, in some
embodiments, the coupling elements may be separate from the side handles 98,
100, and
102. Referring back to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the toolbox container 24
is
mounted to the mount structures 18 via side handles 98. The small container 22
is
releasably connected to the structures 18 via side handles 100. The large
container 20 is
releasably connected to the mount structures 18 via side handles 102. The
words "small"
and "large" are used here to relatively differentiate among the different
containers shown
in this embodiment and are not intended to be limiting. Thus, the small
container 22
may be equal or larger in size than the large container 20 in some
embodiments. The
arrangement and location of the containers on the chassis 17 may vary and may
be
customized according to user preferences. The toolbox container 24, the small
container
22, and the large container 20 will be described in detail later. It is
contemplated that the
number of mount structures 18 may vary, depending on the number of containers
that the
user would like to place on the chassis 17. It is also contemplated that
different
combinations of containers may be used. Just for example, there may be four
toolbox
containers 24 mounted to the chassis 17 or three large containers 20 mounted
to the
chassis 17. The apparatus 10 and the containers 20, 22, and 24 are generally
rectangular
in shape. However, any convenient shape may be used. In some embodiments, the
containers 20, 22, 24 may be constructed and arranged such that the containers
20, 22, 24
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may be placed in a stacked relation directly on top of one another without the
use of the
chassis 17.
[0042] In other embodiments, a structure different from (or in addition to)
the
handles 98, 100, and 102 may be used to latch the containers onto the mount
structures
26. In one embodiment, a clamp separate from the handles 98, 100, and 102 may
be
used to latch the containers 20, 22, and 24 to the mount structures 18. In one
embodiment, the mount structures 18 may include attachment members constructed
and
arranged to clamp or otherwise engage or couple or latch or connect onto mount
structure
engaging members on the containers 20, 22, and 24. For example, in one
embodiment,
the mount structures 18 may include a latching structure in the form of a
clamp that
engages with a portion of the containers 20, 22, and 24 to latch the
containers 20, 22, and
24 to the mount structures 18. In one embodiment, the containers 20, 22, and
24 may
include hooks to engage with the mount structures 18. In another embodiment,
multiple
mount structure engaging members may be provided on each of the containers 20,
22,
and 24 at various locations such that the position of the containers 20, 22,
24 on the
' chassis 17 may be changed by engaging the mount structures 18 with different
mount
structure engaging members on each of the containers 20, 22, or 24. In yet
another
embodiment, the mount structures 18 may be integrally formed with the handles
98, 100,
and 102 of the containers 20, 22, and 24 such that the position of the
containers 20, 22,
24 on the chassis 17 may be changed by adjusting the mount structures 18 on
the frame
16. The mount structures 18 may optionally be integrally formed with other
parts of the
containers 20,22, and 24.
[0043] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the side handle member 100 of the
small
container 22. The small container 20 may have an upper depression 92 and a
lower
depression 94 on each Of opposing side walls 60. The side handles 100 may be
pivotally
attached to each of the side walls 60 between the upper depression 92 and the
lower
depression 94. As shown in Figure 4, the side handle 100 may be attached to
the
container portion 52 using hinges 99 and pins 101, although it is contemplated
that snap-
fit connections, fasteners, and other attachment mechanisms may be used. The
side
handle 100 may include springs 109 (one is shown in Figure 4) that biases the
side
handle 100 in the retaining position such that the side handle 100 is
generally parallel
with the side wall 60, as shown in Figure 2. The side handle 100 may be
pivoted in a
=
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counterclockwise direction to a release position wherein the container 22 may
be
connected to or removed from the mount structures 18, as shown in Figure 3. In
the
release position, the side handle 100 may be generally perpendicular to the
side wall 60.
The side handle 100 may include a gripping portion 104 on an end opposite the
end
5 connected to the side wall 60. The gripping portion 104 may be
constructed and
arranged such that the gripping portion 104 contacts the surface of the lower
depression
94 when the side handle 100 is in the retaining position. hi this embodiment,
the
gripping portion 104 is made of rubber material with grooves formed therein to
facilitate
the grasping of the side handle 100. It is contemplated that the side handle
100 may be
10 made of other materials, or may have other shapes or arrangements
provided on the
surface thereof. A recess 106 may be formed in the side handle 100 to
facilitate grasping
of the side handle 100. As shown in Figure 3, the lower depression 94 may
create a
ledge 96 that surrounds the depression 94. The ledge 96 may include a cutout
103 (see
Figure 11 a) formed near the rear wall 60 of the container portion 52. The
cutout 103
may be sized and arranged so that the mount structures 18 may slide through
the cutout
103 to be received in the depression 94 when the container 22 is mounted to
the chassis
17.
[00441 As shown in Figure 3, when the container 22 is to be mounted to or
removed from the chassis 17, the user may lift the container 22 by grasping
the side
handle members 100 of the container 22 so that the side handle members 100 are
in the
release position. The container 22 is then positioned such that the mount
structures 18
may slide through the cutouts 103 to be received in the lower depressions 94.
In this
embodiment, when the container 22 is mounted to the chassis 17, the container
22 is
supported by the mount structures 18, and an upper surface 108 of each mount
structure
18 is disposed against an upper portion 110 of the ledge 96 of the container
22. The side
handles 100 may then be released, whereby the spring 109 snaps the side
handles 100
pivotally to the retaining position. The mount structures 18 may then be
retained
between the upper portion 110 of the ledge 96 and the gripping portion 104 of
the side
handles 100. The other containers, such as the toolbox container 24 and the
large
container 20, may be mounted to the chassis 17 in a similar manner. The side
handles
98 of the toolbox container 24 and the side handles 102 of the large container
20 may be
constructed and arranged in a similar manner as side handles 100.
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[0045] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the chassis 17 may also include a chassis
support structure or frame 46 providing a generally downwardly facing fixed
ground
engaging surface, the ground engaging surface being located forwardly of said
one or
more rotatable ground engaging wheels 12 and being constructed and arranged to
engage
the ground. The chassis support structure 46 may comprise a middle portion 48
that
extends from one mount structure, in this embodiment taking the form of the
mounting
bar 26, to another mount structure; two side portions 50 (one is shown in
Figure 5) that
extend generally perpendicularly from the middle portion 48; and a front
portion 49 (see
Figure 2) constructed and arranged to attach to the two side portions 50 and
extend
generally parallel to the middle portion 48. In some embodiments, the
supporting frame
46 may have feet (not shown) attached to the bottom of the support structure
46 and
constructed and arranged to engage the ground. The feet may be made of rubber
or
other anti-slip material to provide friction when engaged with the ground. The
chassis
support structure 46 may generally be made of plastic, although it is
contemplated that
other materials known in the art may be used. It is contemplated that in one
embodiment, the chassis support structure 46 may be a frame including a
platform 51 (as
shown in Figure 7). The platform 51 may be used to carry a container 20, 22,
24
thereon.
[0046] As shown in Figure 5, the mount structures 18 may be in an extended
position wherein the mount structures 18 extend generally perpendicularly from
a plane
defined by the mounting bars 26 and the rear member 30. When the mount
structures 18
are in the extended position, containers 20, 22, and 24 may be releasably
connected to
the mount structures 18. Alternatively, the mount structures 18 may be folded
towards
the support structure 26 to a folded position for storage and portability, as
shown in
Figure 6. The attachment structures 28 for the mount structures 18 may be
constructed
and arranged to allow the mount structures 18 to be rotated to the folded
position.
[0047] Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus 10. In this
embodiment, the apparatus 10 includes the attachment structures 28 for
adjustably
connecting the two pairs of mount structures 18b, and 18c to the frame. In
this
embodiment, the pair of mount structures 18a are not releasably connected to
the
mounting bars 26 via the attachment structures 28, although the mount
structures 18a
may be rotated around the mounting bars 26 for storage. hi other embodiments,
the
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
12
mount structures 18a may be releasably connected to the mounting bars 26 using
the
attachment structures 28. Although wheels 12 are not shown in Figure 7, it is
contemplated that the wheels 12 may be attached to the bottom portion of the
chassis 17,
as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In one embodiment, there may be side support
structures =
53 extending perpendicularly from the rear member 30. The side support
structures 53
may be constructed and arranged to support the container 20, 22, or 24 that is
disposed
on the platform 51.
[0048] Figure 8 is a detailed view of the mount structure 18 and attachment
structure 28 in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 7. In this
embodiment,
the mount structure 18 has strengthening ribs 112 deployed crosswise relative
to one
another across the inner surface to provide extra support for the mount
structures 18
when the containers 20,22, and 24 are releasably connected to the mount
structures 18.
The attachment portion 114 of the mount structure 18 may include a rotatable
connection
that enables the mount structure 18 to be rotated between the folded position
and the
extended position. In this embodiment, the rotatable connection takes the form
of a
groove 116 profile formed in the attachment portion 114 and an insertion ring
118, The
groove 116 is constructed and arranged to receive the insertion ring 118 such
that the
groove 116 and the insertion ring 118 may be rotatably connected to one
another. The
insertion ring 118 may be constructed and arranged to remain stationary while
the mount
structure 18 is rotated between the extended and folded positions. In this
embodiment, a
recess 122 is formed in the insertion ring 116 and attachment portion 114 of
the mount
structure 18, and the recess 122 is constructed and arranged to receive the
mounting bar
26.
[0049] As shown in Figure 8, the attachment structure 28 includes a pull
member
112 that is constructed and arranged to release the attachment structure 28
from the
mounting bar 26. The pull member 112 may be connected to an engaging member
124,
in this embodiment taking the form of a finger 124, that is constructed and
arranged to
extend into the recess 122 when the pull member 112 is in a locked position
(as shown in
Figure 9a) wherein the position of the mount structure 28 on the mounting bar
26 may
not be adjusted. The pull member may be pulled to an unlocked position (as
shown in
Figure 9b) wherein the position of the mount structure 28 on the mounting bar
26 may be
adjusted. The attachment structure 28 may include a tension spring (not shown)
that
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
13
biases the pull member 112 in the locked position. Bolt nuts 126 may be used
to attach
the pull member 112 to the finger 124.
[0050] Figures 9a and 9b show the operation of the attachment structure 28 in
accordance with the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8. Openings 128 may be
provided along the length of the mounting bars 26 for the placement of the
attachment
structures 28. The openings 128 may be constructed and arranged to receive the
finger
124 when the attachment structure 28 is in the locked position, as shown in
Figure 9a.
To move the attachment structure 28 to the unlocked position so that the
finger 124 is no
longer in the opening 128, the user may simply pull the pull member 112 in a
direction
away from the mounting bar 26, as shown in Figure 9b. When the finger 124 is
outside
of the opening 128, as shown in Figure 9b, the attachment structure 28 may be
removed
from the mounting bar 26 or adjusted to another position on the mounting bar
26. In this
embodiment, the pulling of the pull member 112 away from the mounting bar 26
compresses the tension spring within the attachment structure 28. The tension
spring is
constructed and arranged to snap the finger 124 through the opening 128 when
the finger
124 is aligned with the opening 128 and the pull member 112 is released. Thus,
to lock
=
the mount structure 18 to a position on the mounting bar 26, the user may
simply align
the finger 124 with an opening 128 and then release the pull member 112 so
that the
finger 124 may snap into the opening 128. The attachment structure 28 may have
any
construction or configuration, and the illustrated embodiment is not intended
to be
limiting.
[0051] In one embodiment, the containers 20, 22, and 24 may be constructed
such that there is a common denominator among the vertical dimensions of the
containers 20, 22, and 24. In other words, the containers 20, 22, 24 may be
constructed
with vertical dimensions having a common denominator. In one embodiment, the
common denominator may be dependent on the spacing between the openings 128 on
the
mounting bar 26. For example, the spacing between each openings 128 may be a
selected distance (X), and each of the containers 20, 22, 24 may have a
vertical
dimension a certain number (A, B, C) of times more than X, where A, B, C may
represent different values. Thus, container 20 may have a vertical dimension
of AX,
container 22 may have a vertical dimension of BX, and container 24 may have a
vertical
dimension of CX. Just for example, in one embodiment, the mounting bar 26 has
thirty-
.
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
14
two openings 128 that are spaced at a distance of 25 mm (where X=25 /Tim)
apart from
one another. In this embodiment, the container 20 has a vertical distance of
150 mm
(where A=6), the container 22 has a vertical dimension of 175 mm (where B=7),
and the =
container 24 has a vertical dimension of 200 mm (where C=8). This example is
not
intended to be limiting and it is contemplated that the values of X, A, B, and
C may vary
in other embodiments. The configuration of the containers 20,22, and 24 having
a
common denominator described above enables optimal arrangement of the
containers 20,
22, 24 on the chassis. In other words, this configuration enables the user to
arrange the
containers 20, 22, 24 on the chassis 17a efficiently and with optimal use of
space on the
mounting bars 26.
[00521 As shown in Figure 10a, the large container 20 comprises a container
portion 52 and a drawer portion 54 that is constructed and arranged so that it
may be
received within the container portion 52. In this embodiment, the container
portion 52
has a top wall or side 56, two opposing side walls or sides 58, a rear wall or
side 140, and
a bottom wall or side 62 defining an interior space 63. The drawer portion 54
may be
held inside the interior space 63. The container portion 52 has a forward
facing front
opening 64 into the interior space 63 that allows access to the drawer portion
54. The
top wall 56 of the container portion 52 may have strengthening ribs (not
shown)
deployed across the inner surface of the top wall 56 facing the interior space
63. The
strengthening ribs help support the top wall 56 so that the top wall 56 may
provide a top
working surface for placing and sorting tools or objects. A container handle
71 may be
attached to the top wall 56 to facilitate the lifting of the container 26. The
handle 71 may
be pivotally attached to the top wall 56 of the container portion 52 using
pivot pins (not
shown), although it is contemplated that other attachment mechanisms, such as
rivets,
fasteners, and other attachment mechanisms known in the art may be used. The
container handle 71 may be disposed within a recess 69 (see Figure 10b) formed
in the
top wall 56 when the handle 71 is not in use and may be pivoted to an upright
position
when the handle 71 is in use. Grooves may be formed on the surface of the
container
handle 71 or rubber material or other anti-slip material may be provided on at
least a
portion of the container handle 71 to facilitate the grasping of the handle
71. It is
contemplated that in some embodiments, the container handle 71 may be fixed
such that
the container handle 71 may not be movable from one position to another. The
container
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
portion 52 may generally be made of suitably molded plastic. It is
contemplated that
other materials may be used, such as, for example, wood, metal, or other
materials
known in the art.
[0053] Each of the two opposing side walls 140 of the container portion 52 may
5 include an upper depression 61 and a lower depression 65. A cutout 67 may
be formed
in each of the lower depressions 65. As described previously with respect to
the small
container 22, the cutouts 67 and the side handles 100 of the large container
20 may be
used to releasably connect the large container 20 to the mount structures 18
in a similar
manner. The side handles 102 of the large container 20 may be constructed and
arranged
10 in a similar manner as: the side handles 100 of the small container 22
to enable the large
container 20 to be releasably connected to the mount structures 18.
[0054] In the embodiment shown in Figure 10a, the drawer portion 54 has a
front
wall or side 66, two opposing side walls 68, a rear wall (not shown), and a
bottom wall
or side 72 defining an upwardly facing opening 73 (see Figure 10b) into an
interior space
15 75 (see Figure 10b). The drawer portion 54 may slide into and out of the
container
portion 52 between an open position wherein the contents of the drawer portion
54 may
be accessed through the upwardly facing opening 73 and a closed position
wherein the
contents of the drawer may not be accessed through the upwardly facing opening
73.
The drawer portion 54 may be locked to the container portion 52 using latches
77 when
the drawer portion 54 is in the closed position. Details of the latches 77
will be
described later.
[00551 At least portions of the large container 20, such as for example, the
side
handles 102 and latch 77, may be made of both metal and plastic. As shown in
Figure
10b, the drawer portion 54 may slide into and out of the container portion 52
through the
front opening 64 of the container portion 52. The large container 20 may have
ball
bearing slides 74 that enable the drawer portion 54 to be slideable relative
to the
container portion 52 so that the drawer portion 54 can slide between the
closed position
and the open position. When the drawer portion 54 is in the closed position,
the opening
73 is disposed below the top wall 56 of the container portion 52. Each
opposing side
walls 68 of the drawer portion 54 has sliding members 76 of the ball bearing
slides 74
located thereon. Their associated sliding members (not shown) are located on
inner
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
16
surfaces of the opposing side walls 58 of the container portion 52. The ball
bearing slides
74 may have stop members (not shown) that limit the distance the drawer
portion 54 may
be pulled from the container portion 52, thus preventing the sliding members
76 from
being dislocated from the sliding members attached to the container portion
52. It is
contemplated that in other embodiments, other sliding mechanisms may be used
instead
of the ball bearing slides, such as guides or slide rails. The ball bearing
slides may be
attached to the drawer portion 54 and the container portion 52 using pins,
screws,
adhesive bonding, or other attachment mechanisms known in the art.
[0056] In the embodiment shown in Figure 10a, the front wall 66 comprises an
upper section 78 and a lower section 80, the upper section 78 being pivotally
connected
to the lower section 80 using hinges 82. It is contemplated that other forms
of
connections may be used, such as pins, fasteners, or other connection
mechanisms
known in the art. The upper section 78 and the lower section 80 may be
approximately
the same size, although it is contemplated that the sizes of the upper section
78 and the
lower section 80 may vary. In this embodiment, the lower section 80 remains
fixed to
the opposing side walls 68 and the bottom wall 72 of the drawer portion 54,
while the
upper section 78 is pivotally connected to the drawer portion 54 by the hinges
82. The
upper section 78 may be pivoted in a downward direction and towards the lower
section
80 so that the upper section 78 may be "folded down", as shown in Figure 10b.
As
such, a side facing opening 81 (see Figure 10b) in the drawer portion 54 is
exposed and =
the contents of the drawer portion 54 may be accessed through the side facing
opening
81 even when the drawer portion 54 is in the closed position relative to the
container
portion 52.
[0057] The hinges 82 may be located in a connection region 84 defined by a
portion of the upper section 78 and a portion of the lower section 80. In this
embodiment, a depression 86 (see Figure 10a) is formed in the proximate area
where the
upper section 78 and the lower section 80 are connected to each other. As
shown in
Figure 10b, when the lower section is "folded down", the depression 86 formed
in the
upper section 78 of the front wall 66 and in the lower section 80 of the front
wall 66
define a recess 90 that provides a handgrip such that the user can insert
fingers into the
recess 90 and use the handgrip to pull the drawer portion 54 away from the
container
portion 52 to move the drawer portion 54 to the open position. The user may
pull the
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
17
drawer portion 54 away from the container portion 52 by placing fingers into
the recess
90 and by pulling against the upper section 78 (see Figure 10b) near the
recess 90 to slide
the drawer portion 54 to the open position. Alternatively, the user may pull
the drawer
portion 54 to the open position by pulling against the lower section 80
without having to
place fingers into the recess 90. Dividers and/or inserts (not shown) may
optionally be
placed into the drawer portion 54 to customize and divide the interior space
75 of the
drawer portion 54.
[0058] The top portion 78 of the drawer portion 54 may include a latch handle
79. As shown in Figure 10a, the latch 77 used to latch the drawer portion 54
to the
container portion 52 may include a latch protrusion 81 disposed on top of the
latch
handle 79. The latch protrusion 81 may be constructed and arranged to engage a
latch
engaging portion (not shown) disposed on the container portion 52 when the
drawer
portion 54 is locked to the container portion 52. The latch engaging portion
may also be
a protrusion or may be an aperture in which the protrusion 81 is received. The
latch
engaging portion may engage a portion of the protrusion 81 so that the drawer
portion 54
is prevented from being pulled out of the container portion 52.
[0059] When the drawer portion 54 is being unlatched, the latch handle 79 is
pulled so as to be pivoted in an upwards direction against the bias of an
internal spring
(not shown). The handle 79 may be attached via various mechanisms, such as,
for
example, screws, pins, bolts, fasteners, or any other mechanism or hinges as
appreciated
by one skilled in the art. In one embodiment, when the latch handle 79 is
pulled
upwards against the spring bias, the latch handle 79 pivots and the latch
protrusion 81 of
the handle 79 is disengaged from the latch engaging portion. The drawer
portion 54 is
thus able to be slid to the open position, as shown in Figure 10a. To once
again close
and lock drawer portion 54, drawer portion 54 is simply manually slid back
towards the
closed position. During this movement, the latch engaging portion may engage a
cam
surface on the protrusion 81. The latch engaging portion may engage and move
the cam
surface on the latch protrusion 81 against the bias of the internal handle
spring so as to
move the handle 79 in a pivotal direction (clockwise in Figures 10a) until the
protrusion
81 engages with the latch engaging portion, whereupon the handle 62 springs
back to the
locked configuration with the latch protrusion 81 engaged to the latch
engaging portion.
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
1
18
[0060] Figure 11 a shows an embodiment of the small container 22 of the
present
invention. The small container 22 may comprise a container portion 120, a
drawer
housing portion 130 (see Figure 1 lb), and drawers 132a, 132b (two are shown
in this
embodiment). The container portion may include a top wall or side 138, two
opposing
side walls 60, a rear wall or side 142, and a bottom wall or side 144 defining
an interior
space 143 (see Figure 1 lb). As shown in Figure 1 lb, the drawer housing
portion 130
may slide in and out of the interior space 143 through a front opening 144 to
the interior
space 143. The drawer housing portion may include two opposing side walls 146,
a rear
wall (not shown), and a bottom wall 148 defining an interior space 150. It is
contemplated that in other embodiments, the number and arrangement of the
drawers
may vary. For example, in one embodiment, there may be three drawers arranged
in a
stacked relation. In another embodiment, there may be three drawers arranged
in a
horizontal row.
[0061] A container handle 121 may be attached to the top wall 138 to
facilitate
the lifting of the container 26. The handle 121 may be pivotally attached to
the top wall
138 of the container portion 120 using pivot pins (not shown), although it is
contemplated that other attachment mechanisms, such as rivets, fasteners, and
other
attachment mechanisms known in the art may be used. The container handle 121
may be
disposed within a recess 123 formed in the top wall 138 when the handle 121 is
not in
use and may be pivoted to an upright position when the handle 121 is in use.
Grooves
may be formed on the surface of the container handle 121 or rubber material or
other
anti-slip material may be provided on at least a portion of the container
handle 121 to
facilitate the grasping of the handle 121.
[0062] The top wall 138 of the container portion 120 may have strengthening
ribs
(not shown) deployed across the inner surface of the top wall 138 facing the
interior
space 143. The strengthening ribs help support the top wall 120 so that the
top wall 138
may provide a top working surface for placing and sorting tools or objects. As
previously described, the cutouts 103 and the side handles 100 may be used to
mount the
small container 22 to the mount structures 18.
[0063] As shown in Figure 1lb, ball bearing slides 134 may be disposed on the
drawer housing portion 130 and the inner surface of the container portion 120
to enable
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
19
the drawer housing portion 130 to slide in and out of the container portion
120. Ball
bearing slides 136 may also be disposed on the lower drawers 132b to enable
the drawers
to slide in and out of the drawer housing portion 130. The ball bearing slides
134, 136
may have stop members (not shown) that limit the distance the drawer housing
portion
130 and the lower drawer 132b may be pulled from the container portion 52 and
the
drawer housing portion 130, respectively. It is contemplated that in other
embodiments,
other sliding mechanisms may be used instead of the ball bearing slides, such
as guides
or slide rails. The ball bearing slides 134, 136 may be attached to the drawer
housing
portion 130 and the lower drawer 132b using pins, screws, adhesive bonding, or
other
attachment mechanisms known in the art.
[0064] The upper drawer 132a may disposed within the drawer housing portion
130 such that the contents of the upper drawer 132a may be accessed when the
drawer
housing portion 130 is pulled out of the container portion 120 via the ball
bearing slides
134, as shown in Figure jib. In this embodiment, to access the contents of the
lower
drawer 132b, the lower drawer 132 must be pulled out of the drawer housing
portion
130 via the ball bearing slides 136, as shown in Figure 1 lb. However, the
lower drawer
132b may optionally be pulled to the open position wherein the contents of the
lower
drawer 132b may be accessed even when the drawer housing portion 130 is not
pulled
out of the container portion 120. None, one, or both of the drawers 132a, 132b
may
optionally be in the open position at the same time.
[0065] Each of the drawers 132a, 132b may include a latch handle 152a, 152b.
The latch handles 152a, 152b may include latch protrusions 154a, 154b that may
be used
to latch the drawer housing portion 130 to the container portion 120 and the
lower
drawer 152b to the drawer housing portion 130, respectively. The drawers 132a,
132b
may be latched to latch engaging portions (not shown) in the same manner as
described
previously with respect to the drawer portion 54 of the large container 20.
Inserts 156
may optionally be placed into the drawers 132a, 132b, and the inserts 156 may
optionally
be divided into various compartments.
[0066] As shown in Figure 12a, the toolbox container 24 may have a lid 158 and
a handle 160 located on the lid 158. The handle 160 may be pivotally attached
to the lid
158 using pivot pins (not shown), although it is contemplated that other
attachment
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
mechanisms, such as rivets, fasteners, and other attachment mechanisms known
in the art
may be used. The container handle 160 may be disposed within a recess (not
shown)
formed in the lid 158 when the handle 160 is not in use and may be pivoted to
an upright
position when the handle 160 is in use. Grooves may be formed on the surface
of the
5 container handle 160 or rubber material or other anti-slip material may
be provided on at
least a portion of the container handle 160 to facilitate the grasping of the
handle 160. It
is contemplated that in some embodiments, the container handle 160 may be
fixed such
that the container handle 160 may not be movable from one position to another.
[0067] As shown in Figure 12a, the lid 158 may be pivotally connected to a
10 container portion 162. The lid 158 can be latched onto the container
portion 162 of the
toolbox container 24 via latches 164. The container latches 164 may vary in
numbers
(there may be one or more) and may be pivotable latches, buckles, or any other
latching
mechanism as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art. The lid 158 may
be
pivotally connected to the container portion 162 using hinges, pins, screws,
fastenings,
15 bolts, or any other connection mechanism as would be appreciated by one
skilled in the
art. The lid 158 may also be a slide-on lid which is slid on to container
portion 162 or a
snap-on lid that is snapped on to the container portion 162. It is
contemplated that the
methods of mounting the lid 158 on to the container portion 162 may vary and
the
number of lids 158 may vary. For example, there may be two lids 158 pivotally
20 connected to the container portion 162 wherein each lid 158 may be
opened or closed
independently of the other. The container portion may include two opposing
side walls
or sides 168, a front wall or side 170, a rear wall or side 172, and a bottom
wall or side
174 defining an interior space 175 (see Figure 12b). A cutout 176 may be
formed in
each opposing side wall 168. The cutouts 176 and the side handles 98 may be
used to
releasably connect the toolbox container 24 to the mount structures 18 in the
same
manner described previously with respect to the small container 22. The side
handles 98
of the toolbox container 24 may be constructed and arranged in a similar
manner as the
side handles 100 of the small container 22 to enable the toolbox container 24
to be
releasably connected to the mount structures 18.
[0068] The latches 164 (or a single latch) of the toolbox container 24 may
comprise latch members 166 that are constructed and arranged to engage with
latch
receiving portions (not shown) located on the lid 158. The latch members 166
may be
1
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
21
pulled to disengage from latch engaging portions of the lid 158 so that the
lid 158 may be
opened to allow access to the contents of the toolbox container 24. In the
embodiment
shown in Figure 12b, the latch members 166 may be pulled upwards in the
counterclockwise direction to engage the latch members 166 with the latch
receiving
portions.
[0069] As shown in Figure 12b, a removable tray 178 having a handle 180 may
be carried within the toolbox container 24. The removable tray 178 may be held
within
the interior space 175 of the toolbox container 24 and may optionally be
rethoved
therefrom to be carried separately. A removable container 182 with partitions
may also
be held in the toolbox container 24. The removable container 182 with
partitions may be
constructed and arranged to hold various kinds of screwdrivers and other
tools. In one
embodiment, the width of the removable tray 178 may be two-thirds the width of
the
toolbox container 24. The removable tray 178 and the removable container 182
may be
made of plastic, wood, metal, or other materials known in the art, or
combinations
thereof.
[0070] Fig. 13 shows another embodiment of the apparatus 10a for transporting
articles between working locations. The apparatus 10a of Fig. 13 has similar
components as apparatus 10 shown in and described with respect to Fig. 1, and
the
similar components of apparatus 10a will be labeled similarly as those of
apparatus 10,
but with an "a" appended thereto.
[0071] As shown in Fig. 13, the apparatus 10a includes the chassis 17a and the
. one or more rotatable ground engaging wheels 12a mounted toward the
bottom of the
apparatus 10a for rotation about an axis to provide rolling support for the
apparatus 10.
The wheels 12a may be molded structure reinforced by a plurality of wheel ribs
42a and
each wheel 12a is mounted on an end of the elongated axle 44a of the chassis
17a by two
hubs 45a or other appropriate structure. The chassis 17a also includes the
manually
engagable handle 14a that, when used with the ground engaging wheels 14,
enable the
user to manually pull the pulling handle 14a generally rearwardly so as to
tilt the
apparatus 10a rearwardly to a tilted rolling movement position. The handle 14a
may be
considered to be part of the chassis 17a or may be a separate component from
the chassis
17a. The chassis 17a comprises the frame 16a and the at least one or more
mount
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
22
structures 18a adjustably connected to the frame 16a. The frame 16a also
includes the
vertically extending mounting bars 26 that are configured and arranged to
attach the
mount structures 18a to the frame 16a using the attachment structures 28a.
[0072] The handle 14a of the embodiment of the apparatus 10a shown in Fig. 13
is connected to the rest of the chassis 17a via an extending portion 198 that
extends from
a connecting portion 200, which may be connected to at least a portion of the
mounting
bar 26a of the chassis 17a. The handle 14a, the extending portion 198, and the
connecting portion 200 may form a handle structure 201 of the apparatus 10a.
The
handle structure 201 may also include a rear portion 208 (see Fig. 14). Any
combination
of the extending portion 198, the connecting portion 200, and the handle 14a
may be
integrally formed. It should be appreciated, however, that any combination of
the
extending portion 198, connecting portion 200, and the handle 14a may be
separate
pieces.
[00731 The chassis 17a may optionally be provided with a docking assembly 404
= (see Fig. 28a). The docking assembly 404 may be used to receive at least a
portion of
the handle 14a of the apparatus 10a. The base structure 406 of the docking
assembly 404
may be attached to a surface, such as, just for example, a wall of a vehicle.
The docking
assembly 404 may be attached to the surface using bolts, screws, pins, clamps,
or other
attachment mechanisms. In one embodiment, the bolts or other attachments may
be
received in openings 405 provided on the base structure 406 to attach the
docking
assembly 404 to the vehicle or other surfaces. The docking assembly 404 may
thus
facilitate the transport or storage of the apparatus 10a.
100741 In the embodiment shown in Fig. 28a, the docking assembly 404 includes
a base structure 406 and a movable structure 408. The base structure 406
includes a
receiving space 407 constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of
the movable
structure 408. The movable structure 408 may be pivotally attached to the base
structure
406 using pins, screws, or any other attachment mechanism. The base structure
406 also
includes a recess 409 constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion
of the handle
14a to retain the handle 14a therein. The movable structure 408 includes a
handle
portion 410 and a retaining portion 412 (see Fig. 28b). The movable structure
408 may
be moved between a closed position wherein the handle 14a is prevented from
being
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
23
removed or inserted into the recess 409 and an open position wherein the
handle is
permitted to be removed or inserted into the recess 409. Thus, in the closed
position, the
retaining portion 412 of the movable structure 408 blocks the recess 409 , as
shown in
Fig. 28b. In the open position, the retaining portion 412 is removed from the
recess 409
and thus does not block the recess 409. The docking assembly 404 may be moved
between the open and closed positions via the handle portion 410.
[0075] It is contemplated that the docking assembly 404 may also include an
internal spring (not shown) constructed and arranged to bias the movable
structure 408
either in the closed position or in the open position. For example, in one
embodiment
where the docking assembly 404 is biased in the closed position, the user may
move the
docking assembly 404 to the open position by pushing or pulling the handle
portion 410
upwards until the retaining portion 412 is no longer blocking the recess 409,
as shown in
Fig. 28c. In such embodiment, the docking assembly 404 may be moved to the
closed
position by releasing the handle portion 412 such that the bias of the spring
moves the
movable structure 408 to the closed position and the retaining portion 412
blocks the
recess 409, as shown in Fig. 28b. hi embodiments without the internal spring
that biases
the docking assembly 404 in either the closed or open position, the user may
simply push
the handle portion 412 downwards to move the docking assembly 404 to the
closed
position (shown in Fig. 28b) or pull the handle portion 412 upwards to move
the docking
assembly 404 to the open position (shown in Fig. 28c). The docking assembly
404 may
also optionally be provided with a lock (not shown) that locks the movable
structure 408
either in the closed position or in the open position.
[0076] First, second, and third containers 113, 115, and 117 may be releasably
mounted to the chassis 17a. Each of the containers 113, 115, and 117 has a
pair of side
handles 125, 127, 129 that are constructed and arranged to clamp or otherwise
engage or
couple or latch or connect onto the mount structures 18a to enable the
containers 113,
115, and 117 to be releasably connected to the chassis 17a. The plurality of
containers
113, 115, and 117 may be releasably connected to the mount structures 18a such
that
each of the plurality of containers 113, 115, and 117 may be independently
removable
from the mount structures 18a and the chassis 17a. That is, each of the
plurality of
containers 113, 115, and 117 may be released and removed from their respective
mount
structures 18a and from the chassis 17a without releasing any of the other
containers of
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
24
the plurality of containers 113, 115, and 117. The plurality of containers
113, 115, and
117 may also be releasably connected to the mount structures 18a and arranged
such that
the containers 113, 115, and 117 are spaced from one another. In other words,
the
containers 113, 115, and 117 may be connected to the mount structures 18a and
arranged 1
on the chassis 17a such each of the containers 20,22, 24 does not contact or
rest on
another container 113, 115, and 117.
[0077] It is contemplated that the mount structures 18a are not limited to the
configuration shown in the illustrated embodiment. The mount structures 18a
may have
any configuration that enables the containers 113, 115, and 117 to' be mounted
thereon.
The mount structures 18a may be, just for example, trays or hooks connected to
the
frame 16a. In some embodiments, the mount structures 18a may be removed from
the
frame 16a. Alternatively or additionally', in some embodiments, the mount
structures 18a
may also be optionally fixed to the frame 16a.
[0078] In this embodiment, the third container 117 is mounted to the mount
structures 115 via the side handles 129. The second container 115 is
releasably
connected to the structures 18a via the side handles 127. The first container
113 is
releasably connected to the mount structures 18a via the side handles 125.
However,
as mentioned above, it is contemplated that the arrangement and location of
the
containers on the chassis 17a may vary and may be customized according to user
preferences. The number and size of containers may also vary, and are not
limited to the
containers 113, 115, and 117 shown in Fig. 13. The handles 125, 127, and 129
may
have similar configurations as handles 98, 100, and 102, and may be clamped to
the
mount structures 18a in a similar manner.
[0079] Fig. 14 shows a rear perspective view of the apparatus 10a. The
apparatus 10a may optionally have the rear member 30a secured to the frame 16a
and
constructed and arranged to support the frame 16a. The rear member 30a is
configured to
be connected to the rear portions 208 of the handle structure 201. The
apparatus 10a
may also include a lower rear portion 210, which may also be constructed and
arranged
to support the frame 16a. The lower rear portion 210 may be operatively
connected to
the mounting bars 26a of the chassis 17a. The lower rear portion 210 may also
be
constructed and arranged to receive the elongated axle 44a on which the wheels
12a are
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
attached. The lower rear portion 210 may be constructed and arranged to
receive
supporting bars 202 (two are shown in this embodiment). The supporting bars
202 may
be connected to a rear extending portion 212 of the chassis 17a. The mounting
bars 26a
and the supporting bars 202 may be arranged to extend parallel to one another.
5 [0080] In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus 10a may also include
a rear
latching assembly 203 having a latch bar 204 constructed and arranged to latch
the
containers 113, 115, and 117 to the chassis 17a when the containers 113, 115,
117 are
mounted on the mount structures 18a. The latch bar 204 may be configured to
extend
parallel to the supporting bars 202. The rear latching assembly 203 may
include a latch
10 member 206. The latch bar 204 may be connected to the latch member 206
that is
constructed and arranged to move the latch bar 204 from a latched position
wherein the
latch bar 204 is latched to the containers 113, 115, and/or 117 and an
unlatched position
wherein the latch bar 204 is not latched to the containers 113, 115, and/or
117. When
the latch bar 204 is in the latched position, the containers 113, 115, and/or
117 are
15 prevented from moving forward in the direction of A (away from latch bar
204). When
the latch bar 204 is in the unlatched position, the containers 113, 115,
and/or 117 are
permitted to be moved forward away from the latch bar 204 to be removed from
the
chassis 17a.
[0081] Fig. 15 shows a front perspective view of the chassis 17a of the
apparatus
20 10a with the containers 113, 115, and 117 removed. In this embodiment,
the chassis 17a.
includes the support structure or platform 51a. The support structure or
platform 51a
may be connected to the rear extending portion 212 of the chassis 17a via
screws.
However, it is contemplated that the support structure 51a may be connected
via pins,
snap-fit connections, adhesives, welding, or other attachment mechanisms. The
support
25 structure or platform 51a may be used to support at least one of the
containers 113, 115,
and 117. It is contemplated that the support structure or platform 51 may be
used with
- the chassis 17 to enable the chassis 17 to function as a trolley or a
handcart. It is also
contemplated that the support structure or platform 51a may be used with the
chassis 17
to support and transport the stacked and connected containers 113, 115, and
117 shown
in Fig. 24.
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
26
=
[0082] Fig. 16 shows a detailed view of the mount structures 18a attached to
the
mounting bars 26a of the apparatus 10a via the attachment structures 28a. The
mounting
bars 26a include the openings 128a provided along the length thereof. In this
embodiment, each attachment structure 28a includes a pivoting portion 214, a
receiving
portion 216, and an attachment portion 218. The attachment portion 218 is
constructed
and arranged to attach the attachment structure 28a to the mounting bar 26a.
The
pivoting portion 214 and the receiving portion 216 are constructed and
arranged to be
attached to an opening 128a in the mounting bars 26a. The pivoting portion 214
and the
receiving portion 216 may be generally curved, thus enabling a mounting bar
26a to be
received therebetween. In one embodiment, the receiving portion 216 includes a
screw
220 configured to be received in a receiving region 222 of the pivoting
portion 214 so as
to connect the receiving portion 216 and the pivoting portion 214 to retain
the mount
structure 18a at a selected location on the mounting bar 26a. However, it is
contemplated that the receiving portion 216 and the pivoting portion 214 may
be
connected via other connecting mechanisms, such as, just for example, pins,
rivets, or
fasteners. In this embodiment, the pivoting portion 214 is provided with an
insertion =
receiving structure 219 having an opening 217 that is constructed and arranged
to receive
an insertion structure 224 (see Fig. 17A), such as a pin, screw, or other
attachment
mechanisms. The insertion structure 224 is constructed and arranged to be
inserted into
one of the openings 128 of the mounting bar 26a to retain the mount structure
18a at a
selected position on the mounting bar 26a.
[0083] As shown in Fig. 16, each of the mount structures 18a includes an
elongated protrusion 207 provided thereon. The protrusion 207 may have a stop
surface
209 provided on an end near the mounting bar 26a and may have a slanted
surface 211
on the opposite end. The protrusion 207 may be constructed and arranged to
retain the
containers 113, 115, 117 and prevent the containers 113, 115, 117 from being
moved
forward or in the direction of A (see Fig. 14) when the side handles 125, 127,
129 of the
containers 113, 115, 117 are clamped onto the mount structures 18a. For
example, the
side handles 125, 127, 129 of containers 113, 115, and 117 may have a similar
construction and arrangement as the side handle 100 described above. Thus, the
side
handles 125, 127, 129 may each have a recess 106a (see Fig. 13) formed
therein. When
the containers 113, 115, 117 are mounted on the mount structures 18a, the
elongated
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
27
protrusion 207 may be received in the recesses 106a of the side handles 125,
127, 129, as
shown in Fig. 13. Accordingly, in this embodiment, when the side handles 125,
127, 129
of the containers 113, 115, and 117 are clamped onto the mount structures 18a,
abutment between the stop surface 209 and at least a portion of the side
handles 125,
127, 129 prevents the movement of the containers 113, 115, 117 in the
direction of A,
thus preventing the containers 113, 115, 117 from sliding off of the mount
structures 18a.
In contrast, the slanted surface 211 of the protrusion 207 enables the side
handles 125,
127, 129 of the containers 113, 115, 117 to slide onto the mount structures
18a without
requiring movement of the side handles 125, 127, 129 to the release position.
Accordingly, the containers 113, 115, 117 may be pushed onto the mount
structures 18a
such that the protrusion 207 is retained in the recesses 106a of the side
handles 125, 127,
129.
[0084] Fig. 17A illustrates details of an embodiment of the mount structure
18a
and the attachment structure 28a. In this embodiment, the mount structure 18a
may
have an inner surface 221 (see Fig. 17A) and an outer surface 223 (see Fig.
18A). The
inner surface 221 of the mount structure 18a may be provided with a plurality
of
strengthening ribs 225 deployed crosswise relative to one another.
[0085] In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment structure 28a includes
the
insertion structure 224 constructed and arranged to be inserted into one of
the openings
128 of the mounting bar 26a to retain the mount structure 18a at a selected
position on
the mounting bar 26a. The pivoting portion 214 and the receiving portion 216
may be
pivotally connected to each other via a pivot pin 228. The pivoting portion
214 and the
receiving portion 216 may thus be pivoted between an open position wherein the
mounting bar 26a may be inserted or removed from between the pivoting portion
214
and the receiving portion 216 and a closed position wherein the mounting bar
26a may
not be inserted or removed-from between the pivoting portion 214 and the
receiving
portion 216. The receiving portion 216 may be pivotally attached to the mount
structure
18a via a pivot pin 230, although it is contemplated that other structures
that enable
pivotal or rotational movement may be used. The receiving portion 216 may have
a
front surface 226 configured to face in a direction away from the rear member
30a when
the receiving portion 216 is attached to the mounting bar 26a. The attachment
portion
218 may be configured to attach the receiving portion 216 to the mount
structure 18a.
=
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
28
The attachment portion 218 may be integral with the receiving portion 216 or
may be
separately attached to the receiving portion 216.
[0086] Fig. 17B illustrates a cross sectional view of the mount structure 18a.
The
attachment portion 218 of the attachment structure 28a may include an internal
pin 232,
or other structure, that is received in a receiving portion 234 of the mount
structure 18a.
The internal pin 232 may optionally extend or retract relative to the
attachment portion
218 when the mount structure 18a is pivoted between an extended position (see
Fig.
17A) and a folded position (see Fig. 18A). In one embodiment, when the mount
=
structures 18a are in the extended position, the containers 113, 115, or 117
may be
mounted on the mount structures 18a. In such embodiment, when the mount
structures
18a are in the folded position, the containers 113, 115, or 117 may not be
mounted
thereon. However, moving the mount structures 18a to the folded position, as
shown in
Fig. 19, enables easy carrying and storage of the chassis 17a.
[0087] Fig. 18A shows a detailed view of the mount structure 18a and the
attachment structure 28a in the folded position. In the illustrated
embodiment, when the
mount structure 18a is in the folded position, a portion of the inner surface
221 of the
mount structure 18a is in front of or disposed against the front surface 226
of the
receiving portion 216 of the attachment structure 28a. In this embodiment,
when the
mount structure 18a is moved to the folded position, an extension portion 236
of the
attachment portion 218 of the attachment structure 28a is constructed and
arranged to
stay in place. That is, the extension portion 236 of the attachment portion
218 does not
= move with the attachment structure 28a. Accordingly, in one embodiment,
the extension
portion 236 may extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction
that the
mount structure 18a is extending when the mount structure 18a is in the folded
position,
as shown in Fig. 18A. In one embodiment, the extension portion 236 may act as
a stop
structure that limits the further movement of the mount structure 18a when the
mount
structure 18a is being moved to the extended position.
[0088] Fig. 18B shows a cross sectional view of the mount structure 18a when
the mount structure 18a is in the folded position. In this embodiment, the
inner surface
221 of the mount structure 18a is disposed against the front surface 226 of
the receiving
portion 216 of the attachment structure 28a, and the internal pin 232 is
received in the
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
29
receiving region 234 of the mount structure 18a. The mount structure 18a may
be
attached to the mounting bar 26a as follows in accordance with an embodiment.
The
user may select an opening 128 on the mounting bar 26a corresponding to a
desired
height of the mount structure 18a. The receiving portion 216 and the pivoting
portion
214 may be in the open position wherein the mounting bar 26a may be inserted
therebetween. The receiving portion 216 may be placed against the mounting bar
26a at
the desired height, as shown in Fig. 16. After the insertion structure 224 has
been
aligned with an opening 128, the pivoting structure 214 may then be pivoted
towards the
closed position relative to the receiving portion 216. Accordingly, when the
pivoting
structure 214 is pivoted towards the receiving portion 216, the insertion
structure 224 is
inserted into the insertion receiving structure 219 and into the selected
opening 128, as
shown in Fig. 29A. In one embodiment, when the receiving portion 216 and the
pivoting portion 214 are in the closed position, the screw 220 of the
receiving portion
216 is received in the receiving region 222 of the pivoting portion 214. The
screw 220
may be tightened to retain the attachment structure 28a at the selected
position on the
mounting bar 26a.
[0089] To detach the mount structure 18a to the mounting bar 26a, the screw
220
of the receiving portion 216 may be unscrewed from the receiving region 222 of
the
pivoting portion 214. The insertion structure 224 may also be removed from the
opening 128 and the insertion receiving structure 219, as shown in Fig. 29B.
After the
screw 220 has been unscrewed, the pivoting portion 214 may be pivoted towards
the
open position relative to the receiving portion 216. Once the receiving
portion 216 and
the pivoting portion 214 are in the open position, for example as shown in
Fig. 16, the
attachment structure 28a may be removed from the mounting bar 26a.
[00901 In one embodiment, to move the mount structure 18a to the folded
position from the extended position, the mount structure 18a may be rotated in
the
direction of B (see Fig. 17A) along the pin 230 until the mount structure 18a
is in the
position shown in Fig. 18A. In one embodiment, the direction that the mount
structure
18a extends when the mount structure 18a is in the folded position (see Fig.
18A) is
generally perpendicular to the direction in which the mount structure 18a
extends when
the mount structure 18a is in the extended position (see Fig. 17A). When the
mount
structure 18a is in the folded position, the front surface 226 of the
receiving portion 216
1
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
30
=
1
of the attachment structure 28a prevents further movement of the mount
structure 28a in 1
the direction B. To move the mount structure 18a to the extended position from
the
folded position, the mount structure 18a may be rotated in the direction
opposite of B
along the pin 230 until the mount structure 18a is in the position shown in
Fig. 17A. The
extension portion 236 may prevent the further rotation of the mount structure
18a in the
direction opposite of B. Thus, the extension portion 236 may help position the
mount
structure 28a in the extended position.
[0091] Fig. 20A shows the rear latching structure 203 of the apparatus 10 in
accordance with an embodiment. The rear latching structure 203 includes the
rear latch
bar 204 and the latch member 206. The rear latch member 206 is constructed and
arranged to be rotatable along point 238 to rotate the latch bar 204 between
an unlatched
position (see Fig. 20A) and a latched position (see Fig. 20B). Thus, when the
latch
member 206 is rotated, the latch bar 204 is also rotated. When the latch
structure 203 is
in the unlatched position, the containers 113, 115, and/or 117 are permitted
to be moved
forward in the direction of A (see Fig. 14). When the latch structure 203 is
in the latched
position, the containers 113, 115, and/or 117 are prevented from being moved
forward in
the direction of A. In other words, the latch structure 203 in the latched
position locks
the containers 113, 115, and 117 to the chassis 17a.
[0092] As shown in Fig. 20A, the latch member 206 may include an opening
244. A locking structure 246 may be attached to the chassis 17a, and an
opening 248
may be provided in the locking structure 246. In one embodiment, the opening
244 of
the latch member 206 is constructed and arranged to be aligned with the
opening 248 of
the locking structure 246 when the latch member 206 is in the latched
position, as shown
in Fig. 20B. A padlock, combination lock, a rod, or other locking mechanisms
or
structures may be inserted into the aligned openings 248 and 244 to lock the
latch
structure 203 in the latched position, thereby preventing removal of the
containers 113,
115, 117 from the chassis 17a.
[0093] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 20A, the rear latching structure 203
includes a retaining portion 240. The retaining portion 240 may be generally
arcuate and
may be formed near one end of the latch member 206, opposite that of an
actuating end
245 of the latch member 206. The opening 244 may be formed on or near the
actuating
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
31
end 245 of the latch member 206. In one embodiment, the pivot point 238 may be
provided between the retaining portion 240 and the actuating end 245. The
retaining
portion 240 may be constructed and arranged to be latched with a rear
receiving structure
of the containers 113, 115, and 117, taking the form of a rear extension
structure 242 in
this embodiment. In one embodiment, the rear extension structure 242 may be
generally
L- shaped so as to be engageable with the retaining portion 240. Accordingly,
when the
rear extension structure 242 of the container 113, 115, or 117 is engaged with
the
retaining portion 240 of the rear latching structure 203, the rear latching
structure 203 is
in the latched position and the container 113, 115, or 117 is latched to the
latch structure
203. In contrast, when the rear extension structure 242 of the container 113,
115, or 117
is not engaged with the retaining portion 240, the rear latching structure 203
is in the
unlatched position and container 113, 115, or 117 is not latched to the latch
structure
203.
[0094] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 20B, the latch bar 204 and the latch
member 206 are integrally formed. It is contemplated that in other
embodiments, the
latch bar 204 and the latch member 206 may be separate components that are
operatively
connected to one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch bar 204 has
a =
retaining side 250 and a third side 252 opposite the retaining side 250. A
middle side
254 (see Fig. 20A) may also be provided and may be constructed and arranged to
connect the retaining side 250 and the third side 252. The retaining side 250,
the third
side 252, and the middle side 254 may form a generally U-shaped configuration
with an
interior space 247 and an opening 249 thereto. The retaining side 250 is
constructed and
arranged to engage with the rear extension structure 242 of the container 113,
115, or
117 when the latch structure 203 is in the latched position (see Fig. 20B).
When the
latch structure 203 is in the unlatched position, the opening 247 is forward
facing (e.g., in
the direction of A of Fig. 14, towards the rear extension structure 242 of the
container
113, 115, or 117). In such position, the retaining side 250 of the latch bar
204 and the
retaining portion 240 are not engaged with the rear extension structures 242
of the
containers 113, 115, or 117. In some embodiments, the retaining side 250 of
the latch
bar 204 and the retaining portion 240 are integrally formed and may be formed
from one
piece of material. In one embodiment, the retaining portion 240 may be
separated from
the retaining side 250 of the latch bar 204 by a recess 205, as shown in Fig.
15. In this
=
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
32
embodiment, the recess 205 provided between the retaining portion 240 and the
retaining
side 250 is constructed and arranged to receive a portion of the rear portion
208 of the
handle structure 201.
[0095] An embodiment of the rear latch assembly 203 can be seen in more detail
in Fig. 26. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the retaining side 250 may
be
provided along the length of the latch bar 204. Thus, the latch bar 204 may be
used to
retain a plurality of containers 113, 115, and 117 simultaneously.
[0096] As shown in Fig. 27a, the latch member 206 is connected to the latch
bar
204 via a first pin 400. A second pin 402 may be provided on the opposite end
of latch
bar 204. In some embodiments, the first pin 400 and the second pin 402 may
either be
separate or integral. The first pin 400 may be attached to the latch member
206 and the
latch bar 204 via welding, riveting, adhesives, screws, or any other
attachment
mechanisms. Similarly, the second pin 402 may be attached to the latch bar 204
via
welding, riveting, adhesives, screws, or any other attachment mechanisms.
[0097] As shown in Fig. 27a, the pin 402 may be received in a portion of the
latch member 206, in a portion of the handle 14a, and in a portion of the
latch bar 204.
This configuration enables the latch bar 204 and the latch member 206 to be
pivotally
retained on the chassis 17a. Fig. 27b shows the pin 402 also pivotally
retaining the latch
bar 204 on the chassis 17a. The pin 402 is received in another portion of the
latch bar
204 and in the rear extending portion 212 of the chassis 17a.
[0098] An operation of latching the containers 113, 115, and/or 117 to the
latch
structure 203 in accordance with an embodiment will be described as follows.
The latch
structure 203 may initially be in the unlatched position, as shown in Fig.
20A. The
containers 113, 115, and/or 117 may be mounted on the mount structures 18a.
Each of
the containers 113, 115, and/or 117 may have the rear extension structure 242.
The user
may push the actuating end 245 of the latch member 206 in the counterclockwise
direction. The latch member 206 may then be rotated in the counterclockwise
direction
along the point 238. Accordingly, the latch bar 204, which is operatively
attached to the.
latch member 206, is also rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, the
retaining
portion 240 and the retaining side 250 of the latch bar 204 are rotated in the
counterclockwise direction towards the rear extension structures 242 of the
containers
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
33
113, 115, and/or 117 until the latch structure 203 is in the latched position,
as shown in
Fig. 20B. In such a position, the retaining portion 240 and the retaining side
250 of the
latch bar 204 are engaged with the rear extension structures 242 of the
containers 113,
115, and/or 117. Thus, the movement of the containers 113, 22, and/or 117 in
the
direction of A is prevented. As mentioned above, a padlock or rod may be
inserted
through the aligned openings 244 and 248 to retain the latch structure 203 in
the latched
position.
[0099] To unlatch the latch structure 203, the user may push the actuating end
245 of the latch member 136 in the clockwise direction away from the locking
structure
246. The retaining portion 240 and the retaining side 250 of the latch bar 204
may thus
be disengaged from the rear extension structures 242 of the containers 113,
115, and/or
117. The latch structure 203 may then be in the unlatched position. In such a
position,
the opening 2-47 of the latch bar 204 of the latch structure 203 may be facing
generally in
the direction of A. The containers 113, 115, and/or 117 may then be moved in
the
direction of A to be removed from the chassis 17a.
[00100] It is contemplated that the examples described are not
limiting,
and other structures or any combination of structures may be used to latch the
containers
113, 115, and/or 117 to the latch bar 204. It is also contemplated that the
number,
location, and configuration of the latch bar(s) 204 may vary.
[00101] It is contemplated that the containers 113, 115, and 117 may be
constructed with vertical dimensions having a common denominator as described
above
with respect to containers 20,22, and 24. The mounting bar 26a may also be
constructed
similarly as mounting bar 26, described above. Thus, the containers 113, 115,
and 117
may be constructed with vertical dimensions having a common denominator that
is
dependent on the spacing between the openings 128a.
[00102] Figs. 21A-21B, 22A-22B, and 23A-23B illustrate various
embodiments of the containers 113, 115, and 117. As shown in Figs. 21A-21B,
the
container 117 may have a lid 258 and a container portion 260. The container
portion
may include a left side or wall 262, a right side or wall 264, a front side or
wall 266, a
rear side or wall 268, and a bottom side or wall 270 that define a storage
space 270 (see
Fig. 21B) for storing items. The lid 258 may be pivotally connected to the
container
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
34
portion 260 and may be moved between a closed position preventing access to
the
storage space 270 and an open position permitting access to the storage space
270. The
lid 258 can be latched onto the container portion 260 of the container 117 via
latches
272. The container latches 272 may vary in numbers (there may be one or more)
and
may be pivotable latches, buckles, or any other latching mechanism as would be
appreciated by one skilled in the art. The latches 272 (or a single latch) of
the container
117 may comprise latch members 276 that are constructed and arranged to engage
with
latch receiving portions 278 (see Fig. 21B) located on the lid 258. The latch
members
276 may be pulled to disengage from latch engaging portions 278 of the lid 258
so that
the lid 258 may be opened to allow access to the contents of the container
117. In the
illustrated embodiment, the lid 258 is provided with a left side latching
structure 263 and
a right side latching structure 265 constructed and arranged to enable the
containers 117
to be latched directly to other containers (see Fig. 24). The container 117
may also be
provided with a left side receiving structure 267 and a right side receiving
structure 269
(see Fig. 21B) on the container portion 260. The side receiving structures
267, 269 are
constructed and arranged to receive side latches of other containers. The side
latches
263, 265 and the operation of latching the container 117 directly to other
containers will
be described in more detail later. It is contemplated that the number and
location of the
side latches 263, 265 and side receiving structures 267, 269 may vary.
[00103] The lid 258 may be pivotally connected to the container portion
260 using hinges, pins, screws, fastenings, bolts, or any other connection
mechanism as
would be appreciated by one skilled in the art. The lid 258 may also be a
slide-on lid
which is slid on to container portion 260 or a snap-on lid that is snapped on
to the
container portion 260. It is contemplated that the methods of mounting the lid
258 on to
the container portion 260 may vary and the number of lids 258 may vary. A
handle 261
may be pivotally attached to the container portion 260 using pivot pins (not
shown),
although it is contemplated that other attachment mechanisms, such as rivets,
fasteners,
and other attachment mechanisms known in the art may be used. It is also
contemplated
that the handle 261 may be attached to the lid 258 of the container 117 in
other
embodiments. It is also contemplated that in some embodiments, the container
handle
261 may be fixed such that the container handle 260 may not be movable from
one
position to another.
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
[00104] In the illustrated embodiment, the container 117 is
provided with
the side handles 129 on the left side 262 and the right side 264. The handles
129 may be
used to releasably connect the container 117 to the mount structures 18a in
the same
manner as the side handles 98, 100, 102 of the containers 20, 22, and 24,
which are
5 described above. That is, the side handles 129 of the container 117 may
be constructed
and arranged in a similar manner as the side handles 100 of the small
container 22
described above to enable the container 117 to be releasably connected to the
mount
structures 18a.
[00105] In the illustrated embodiment, the storage space 270 of the
10 container 117 has a removable tray 280 disposed therein. The removable
tray 280 is
divided into a plurality of compartments 282. An upper tray 284 may also be
provided
and may be pivotally attached to the container portion 260 via attachment
structures 286.
The attachment structures 286 may pivot to enable the upper tray 284 to move
upwards
and to the right (as shown in Fig. 21B) to enable access to the compartments
282 of the
15 removable tray 280. The attachment structures 286 may also pivot to
enable the upper
tray 284 to be disposed on top of the removable tray 280 so as to prevent
access to the
compartments 282 thereof.
[00106] Figs. 22A-22B illustrate an embodiment of the container
115. In
this embodiment, the container 115 includes a lid 288 and a handle 290 located
on the lid
20 288. The handle 290 may be pivotally attached to the lid 288 using pivot
pins (not
shown), although it is contemplated that other attachment mechanisms, such as
rivets,
fasteners, and other attachment mechanisms known in the art may be used. The
container handle 290 may be disposed within a recess (not shown) formed in the
lid 288
when the handle 290 is not in use and may be pivoted to an upright position
when the
25 handle 290 is in use. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the
container handle
290 may be fixed such that the container handle 290 may not be movable from
one
position to another.
[00107] As shown in Figure 22A, the lid 288 may be pivotally
connected
to a container portion 292. The lid 288 can be latched onto the container
portion 292 of
30 the container 115 via latches 294. The container latches 294 may vary in
numbers (there
may be one or more) and may be pivotable latches, buckles, or any other
latching
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
36
mechanism as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art. The lid 288 may
be
pivotally connected to the container portion 292 using hinges, pins, screws,
fastenings,
bolts, or any other connection mechanism as would be appreciated by one
skilled in the
art. The lid 288 may also be a slide-on lid which is slid on to container
portion 162 or a
snap-on lid that is snapped on to the container portion 292. It is
contemplated that the
methods of mounting the lid 288 on to the container portion 292 may vary and
the
number of lids 288 may vary. The container portion 292 may include two
opposing side
walls or sides 296, 298, a front wall or side 300, a rear wall or side 302,
and a bottom
wall or side 304 defining an interior space 306 (see Figure 12b). The side
handles 127
may be used to releasably connect the container 115 to the mount structures
18a in the
same manner as the side handles 98, 100, 102 of the containers 20, 22, and 24
described
above. That is, the side handles 127 of the container 115 may be constructed
and
arranged in a similar rammer as the side handles 100 of the small container 22
described
above with respect to Figs. 3-4 to enable the container 115 to be releasably
connected to
the mount structures 18a. The container 115 may also be provided with a left
side
latching structure 287 and a right side latching structure 289 constructed and
arranged to
enable the container 115 to be latched directly to other containers (see Fig.
24). The
container 115 may also be provided with a left side receiving structure 291
and a right
side receiving structure 293 (see Fig. 22B) on the container portion 292. The
side
receiving structures 291, 293 are constructed and arranged to receive side
latches of other
containers. The side latches 287, 289 and the operation of latching the
container 115
directly to other containers will be described in more detail later. It is
contemplated that
the number and location of the side latches 287, 289 and side receiving
structures 291,
293 may vary.
[00108] The latches 294 (or a single latch) of the container 115 may
comprise latch members 308 that are constructed and arranged to engage with
latch
receiving portions 310 (see Fig. 22B) located on the lid 288. The latch
members 308
may be pulled to disengage from latch engaging portions of the lid 288 so that
the lid 288
may be opened to allow access to the contents of the container 115.
[00109] As shown in Figure 22B, a removable tray 312 having a handle
314 may be carried within the container 115. The removable tray 312 may be
held
within the interior space 306 of the container 115 and may optionally be
removed
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
37
therefrom to be carried separately. An inner container 316 with a plurality of
partitions
318 may also be held in the container 115. The inner container ,316 with
partitions 318
may be constructed and arranged to hold various kinds of screwdrivers and
other tools.
In one embodiment, the partitions 318 may be provided with rubber or other
memory
retention material that facilitates the positioning and retention of
screwdrivers and/or
other tools in the partitions 318. The removable tray 312 and the inner
container 316
may be made of plastic, wood, metal, or other materials known in the art, or
combinations thereof.
[00110] Figs. 23A-23B show an embodiment of the first container
113. In
this embodiment, the container 113 may have a similar configuration as
container 115
described with respect to Figs. 22A-22B. However, the container 113 may be
larger than
the container 115. For example, the container 113 may include a lid 320
latched to a
container portion 322 with latches 324. A handle 326 may be provided on the
lid 320.
In this embodiment, a left side latch 325 and a right side latch 327 are
provided on the
container 113 and are constructed and arranged to enable the container 113 to
be latched
directly to other containers (see Fig. 24). The container 113 may also be
provided with a
left side receiving structure 329 and a right side receiving structure 331
(see Fig. 23B) on
the container portion 322. The side receiving structures 329, 331 are
constructed and
arranged to receive side latches of other containers. The side latches 325,
327 and the
operation of latching the container 113 directly to other containers will be
described in
more detail later. It is contemplated that the number and location of the side
latches
325, 327 and the side receiving structures 329, 331 may vary.
[00111] The container portion 322 may include two opposing side
walls
326, 328, a front wall 330, a back wall 332, and a bottom wall 334 defining an
interior
space 335 (see Fig. 23B) for storing items. As shown in Fig. 23B, a removable
tray 336
may be provided in the interior space 335. An inner container 338 with
partitions 340
may also be provided in the interior space 335. The removable tray 336 and the
inner
container 338 may have similar configurations as the removable tray 312 and
the inner
container 316 of the container 115 shown in Figs. 22A-22B. The container 113
may also
be provided with the side handles 125 that may be used to releasably connect
the
container 113 to the mount structures 18a in the same manner as the side
handles 98,
100, 102 of the containers 20, 22, and 24 described above. That is, the side
handles 125
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
38
=
of the container 115 may be constructed and arranged in a similar manner as
the side
handles 100 of the container 22 described above with respect to Figs. 3-4 to
enable the
container 113 to be releasably connected to the mount structures 18a.
[00112] In the embodiment of Fig. 24, the side latches 325
(obstructed
from view in this embodiment) and side latch 327 can be moved between a
latched
position wherein the container 115 is prevented from being removed from the
container
113 and an unlatched position wherein the container 115 is permitted to be
removed
from the container 113. Similarly, the side latch 287 (obstructed from view in
this
embodiment) and side latch 289 can be moved between a latched position wherein
the
container 117 is prevented from being removed from container 115 and an
unlatched
position wherein the container 117 is permitted to be removed from the
container 115.
In this embodiment, for the container 115 to be removable from container 113,
both side
latches 327, 329 should be in the unlatched position. For the container 117 to
be
removable from container 115, both side latches 325, 327 should be in the
unlatched
position. The latching of the containers 113, 115, and 117 shown in this
embodiment is
not intended to be limiting. For example, any combination and number of
containers
113, 115, and 117 may be latched, and the containers 113, 115, and 117 may be
latched
in any order and are not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 24.
[00113] The configuration and operation of the side latch 327 of
the
container 113 will be described with respect to Figs. 25A-25C. It is
contemplated that the
side latches 263, 265 of the container 117, the side latches 287, 289 of the
container 115,
and the side latch 325 of the container 113 may have similar configurations.
as the side
latch 327 and may operate in a similar manner.
100114] As shown in Fig. 25A, the latch 327 may include a middle
portion
348 and two upper portions 350, 352 extending from the middle portion 348. The
upper
portions 350, 352 may facilitate the latching and unlatching of the latch
structure 327.
Grooves may be provided on the upper portions 350, 352 to facilitate the
grasping of the
upper portions 350, 352. An elongated protrusion 354 may be provided on the
middle
portion 348. The elongated protrusion 354 may have an elongated groove 353
disposed
underneath thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated protrusion
354 is
provided on the middle portion 348 near the upper portions 350, 352. The
elongated
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
39
protrusion 354 may be constructed and arranged to engage with the right side
receiving
structure 293 of the container 115. The container 113 may include a depression
349
formed on the lid 320. A bottom surface 351 may be formed in the depression
351. In
one embodiment, the side latch structure 327 may be pivotally connected to the
lid 320
near or in the depression 351. When the side latch structure 327 is not being
used to
latch container 113 to another container, the side latch structure 327 may be
pivoted to a
stored position (see Fig. 23A) in the depression 349 wherein the elongated
protrusion
354 is facing or disposed against the bottom surface 351. It is contemplated
that a
biasing member, such as a spring, may be used to bias the side latch structure
327
towards the depression 349, or in any position.
[00115] In this embodiment, the right side receiving
structure 293 is an
elongated ridge provided in a depression 356 formed near the right wall 298 of
the
container 115. The right side receiving structure 293 may extend upwards from
a bottom
surface 358 of the depression 356. In one embodiment, the bottom surface 358
of the
depression may be situated lower than the bottom wall 304 of the container
115. The
containers 117 and 113 may also have a similar configuration. The side latch
327 may
optionally be provided with a second elongated protrusion 360 disposed beneath
the
elongated protrusion 354.
100116] The latch 327 of container 113 may be latched
to the side
receiving structure 293 of container 115 to latch container 113 and 115 in
accordance
with an embodiment as follows. Before the container 115 is stacked on
container 113,
the side latch 327 may be pivoted away from the stored position (see Fig. 23A)
wherein
the side latch 327 is disposed in the depression 349 to a position outside of
the
depression 349 (see Fig. 25A). As shown in Fig. 20A, the container 115 may
then be
stacked on top of container 113 such that the side latch 327 of container 113
is disposed
beneath the side receiving structure 293 of container 115. The latch structure
327 may
be pivoted upwards in the counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 25B.
The
elongated protrusion 354 of the side latch 327 may be pushed against the side
receiving
structure 293 until the side receiving structure 293 is disposed in the groove
353
underneath the elongated protrusion 353 and a portion of the elongated
protrusion 353 is
disposed to the left of the side receiving structure 293, as shown in Fig.
25C. The
elongated protrusion 354 and the side receiving structure 293 may have
resilient
CA 02714163 2010-08-30
properties that enable the elongated protrusion 354 to move over the side
receiving
structure 293 so that the side receiving structure 293 may be received in the
groove 353.
In this position, the latch 327 and the side receiving structure 293 are in
the latched
position that prevents container 115 from being removed from container 113.
5. [00117] To unlatch the side latch 327 from the side
receiving structure
293, the user may pull on the upper portions 305, 352 of the latch 327 to move
the latch
327 downward in the clockwise direction. The resilient properties of the
elongated
protrusion 354 and the side receiving structure 293 enables the side receiving
structure
293 to move out of the groove 354 when sufficient force has been applied. The
side
10 latch 327 may then be pivoted downwards to the position shown
in Fig. 25A so that the
container 115 may be unlatched and removed from container 113. As mentioned
above,
for container 115 to be removed from container 113, the side latch 325 (see
Fig. 23A) of
container 113 should also be unlatched from the side receiving structure 291
of container
115. As also mentioned above, the side latches 263,265 of the container 117,
the side
15 latches 287, 289 of the container 115, and the side latch 325
of the container 113 may
have similar configurations as the side latch 327 and may operate in a similar
manner. It
should be appreciated that the configuration, location, and number of side
latches and
side receiving structures may vary in other embodiments.
[00118] Although the invention has been described in
detail for the
20' purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered
to be the most practical and
preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for
that purpose
and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on
the contrary,
is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within
the spirit
and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the
present
25 invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or
more features of any
embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.
