US-12623822-B2 - Stackable storage containers with stacking self-lock

Abstract

A method and a system are disclosed including a stackable storage container. In various embodiments, the stackable storage container includes stacking locks that may be deployed automatically to lock the stackable storage containers together when a first storage container is placed upon the top of a second storage container. A tri-state locking system is used to lock the containers in a stack configuration. Deep chamfers at bottom surfaces and top lids of storage containers allow automatic alignment of the containers. When storage containers are stacked and aligned, a lock status indicator is activated to indicate the state of the stacking locks. The lock status indicator may also have an added function to allow a user to unlock the stacked storage containers to detach and remove them from the stack. The user may not manually lock the storage containers but the user may unlock them manually.

Inventors

• Michael H Panosian
• Joshua M Keeler

Assignees

• Michael H Panosian
• Joshua M Keeler

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231101

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A portable storage system comprising: a first stackable container having a locking system; and a single lock status indicator on the first stackable container that automatically indicates a particular present state, as one of a locked state and an unlocked state, the lock status indicator indicating a locked state when the first stackable container is placed on top of a second stackable container and the first stackable container automatically locks to the second stackable container, and the lock status indicator indicating an unlocked state when the first stackable container is removed from the second stackable container, wherein movement of the lock status indicator actuates a plurality of cleats spaced across a front side of the first stackable container; wherein the locked state indicates that the first stackable container is locked to the second stackable container, and the unlocked state indicates that the first stackable container is unlocked from the second stackable container.
2. 2 . The portable storage system of claim 1 further comprising a lid with a protrusion on the first stackable container to activate a tri-state locking system of a third stackable container.
3. 3 . The portable storage system of claim 2 further comprising a cleat assembly to lock the first stackable container on top of the second stackable container.
4. 4 . The portable storage system of claim 1 wherein the locking system comprises a tri-state locking system and includes an unstacked unlocked state, a stacked locked state, and a stacked unlocked state.
5. 5 . The portable storage system of claim 4 wherein the lock status indicator is a sliding lever movable on a sliding path.
6. 6 . The portable storage system of claim 5 wherein the lock status indicator has three predefined positions, each position indicating one of three states of the tri-state locking system.
7. 7 . The portable storage system of claim 1 wherein the locking system includes a detent actuation mechanism, a lock actuation mechanism, and a lock mechanism.
8. 8 . The portable storage system of claim 1 wherein the locking system locks the first stackable container and the second stackable container using cleat receivers deployed within the second stackable container.
9. 9 . A stackable container comprising: a protrusion on a lid of the stackable container usable to stack and lock an upper stackable container and automatically align the upper stackable container with the stackable container when the stackable container and the upper stackable container are misaligned; wherein the protrusion on the lid of the stackable container fits into a self-aligning slot at a bottom of the upper stackable container.
10. 10 . The stackable container of claim 9 further comprising a lock mechanism assembly having three locking states indicated by a lock status indicator.
11. 11 . The stackable container of claim 10 further comprising a top chamfer around a perimeter of the lid to receive and align the upper stackable container.
12. 12 . The stackable container of claim 11 further comprising a chamfered bottom perimeter that forms a convex surface.
13. 13 . The stackable container of claim 12 wherein the top chamfer forms a concave surface.
14. 14 . The stackable container of claim 9 wherein the protrusion is inserted into the self-aligning slot of the upper stackable container to actuate locking the stackable container with the upper stackable container.
15. 15 . A container locking system comprising: a lock mechanism assembly having three locking states including an unstacked unlocked state, a stacked locked state, and a stacked unlocked state, wherein the lock mechanism assembly is deployed on a first container and is actuated by a second container stacked on the first container.
16. 16 . The container locking system of claim 15 further comprising top and bottom chamfers on the first and the second containers to align the first and the second containers when stacked.
17. 17 . The container locking system of claim 15 wherein the lock mechanism assembly comprises three separate mechanisms including detent actuation mechanism, lock actuation mechanism, and lock mechanism.
18. 18 . The container locking system of claim 15 further comprising a lock status indicator that indicates a present locking state of the lock mechanism assembly.
19. 19 . The container locking system of claim 15 further comprising a cleat assembly to lock the first and the second containers together.
20. 20 . The container locking system of claim 18 wherein the lock status indicator is further used to unlock the first and the second containers when stacked.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/422,398, entitled “STACKABLE STORAGE CONTAINERS WITH STACKING SELF-LOCK,” filed on 3 Nov. 2022, the contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates generally to storage containers. More specifically, this application relates to a system of multiple storage boxes that easily stack and automatically lock in place. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected. FIG. 1A shows an example stack of multiple storage boxes with sliding lock indicator levers; FIG. 1B shows an example base box having a drawer, handle and wheels; FIG. 1C shows an example base box having multiple drawers, handle and wheels; FIG. 1D shows example detached upper and lower boxes; FIG. 1E shows a bottom view of a storage box with locking latches or cleats; FIG. 1F shows an example storage box with a rotating lock indicator lever; FIG. 2A shows example misaligned upper and lower boxes; FIG. 2B shows example aligned upper and lower boxes; FIG. 2C shows an example closeup view of detent actuation mechanism with no protrusion inserted; FIG. 2D shows an example closeup view of detent actuation mechanism with a protrusion inserted; FIG. 3A shows an example abstract structure of a lock mechanism assembly; FIG. 3B shows an example lock mechanism assembly as part of an upper box and a lid of a lower box; FIG. 3C shows an example back side of the lock mechanism assembly of FIG. 3B; FIG. 3D shows an example view of the sliding lock lever of FIG. 1A; FIG. 3E shows the example lock mechanism assembly of FIG. 3B in locked state; FIG. 3F shows the example lock mechanism assembly of FIG. 3B in an unlocked state; FIG. 4A shows an example closeup view of the back side of the lock mechanism assembly in unlocked state and with slider removed; FIG. 4B shows an example closeup view of the back side of the lock mechanism assembly in locked state and with slider removed; FIG. 4C shows an example closeup view of the cleat assembly; FIG. 4D shows an example underside of the slider and cleat assemblies in unlocked position with lower and upper boxes touching (stacked); FIG. 4E shows an example underside of the slider and cleat assemblies in unlocked position with lower and upper boxes not touching (unstacked); FIG. 4F shows an example underside of the slider and cleat assemblies in locked position with lower and upper boxes touching (stacked); FIG. 5A shows an example arrangement of lower box and upper lock mechanism assembly; FIG. 5B shows an example cross-section of the lock mechanism assembly and a first detent actuation mechanism; FIG. 6A shows an example second detent actuation mechanism with one part in a first functional state useable with the storage boxes of FIGS. 1A-1F; FIG. 6B shows the example detent actuation mechanism of FIG. 6A in a second functional state; FIG. 6C shows the example detent actuation mechanism of FIG. 6A in a third functional state; FIG. 6D shows the example detent actuation mechanism of FIG. 6A in a fourth functional state; FIG. 6E shows the example detent actuation mechanism of FIG. 6A in a fifth functional state; FIG. 7A shows an example storage box third type front latch mechanism in an open state; FIG. 7B shows the example storage box third type front latch mechanism in a closed state; FIG. 7C shows an example storage box fourth type front latch mechanism in a closed state; FIG. 7D shows the example storage box fourth type front latch mechanism in an open state; FIG. 7E shows an example storage box fifth type front latch mechanism in an open state; FIG. 7F shows the example storage box fifth type front latch mechanism in a closed state; FIG. 7G shows an example storage box sixth type front latch mechanism in an open state; FIG. 7H shows the example storage box sixth type front latch mechanism in a closed state; FIG. 8A shows an example large base cart; FIG. 8B shows an example small base cart; FIG. 8C shows an example storage box with corner attachment slots; FIG. 9A shows an example single stack of storage boxes on a small base cart with a maintenance table at top; FIG. 9B shows an example single stack of storage boxes on a large base cart with a maintenance table at top; FIG. 9C shows an example double stack of storage boxes on a large base cart with a maintenance table at top; FIG. 9D shows an example stack of storage boxes with a detachable stack handle; FIG. 9E shows an example stack of storage boxes with a long-handle tool attached; FIG. 10A shows an example storage box with a device holder attached to corner attachment slots; FIG. 10B shows an example storage box with a work light attached to corner attachm