US-20260124737-A1 - Securing Compartments for Modular Storage

US20260124737A1US 20260124737 A1US20260124737 A1US 20260124737A1US-20260124737-A1

Abstract

Various storage units that stack with other units, such as in a modular system, are provided. Various embodiments include a cover and a latch, the cover restricting one or more drawers from being opened. The storage unit includes an internal storage compartment defined at least in part by the drawer.

Inventors

George Barton

Assignees

MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251230

Claims (17)

1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A container comprising: a housing; a first coupler extending from a top face of the container, the first coupler configured to couple the housing to a modular tool storage device; a plurality of drawers slidably coupled to the housing, each of the plurality of drawers enclosing a compartment and actuating between an open position and a closed position; and a retainer pivotally coupled to the housing, wherein the retainer comprises an elongate, metal bar, wherein the retainer actuates between at least two positions: a locked position, in which each of the plurality of drawers is restricted from being moved from the closed position to the open position; and a stowed position, in which the retainer permits the plurality of drawers to be moved from the closed position to the open position.
22 . The container of claim 21 , the housing comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a side panel, and an interior space defined by the top panel, the bottom panel, and the side panel, the side panel extending from the top panel to the bottom panel, the container comprising a latch coupled to the top panel, the latch configured to secure the retainer in the locked position.
23 . The container of claim 22 , wherein when the retainer is in the stowed position, then the retainer is positioned at least partially within the bottom panel, and wherein when the retainer is in the locked position the retainer extends across a front surface of each drawer of the plurality of drawers thereby limiting sliding movement of the plurality of drawers.
24 . The container of claim 23 , wherein, the retainer extends along a longitudinal axis such that when the retainer is in the locked position the longitudinal axis is generally parallel to the front surfaces of the plurality of drawers.
25 . The container of claim 22 , wherein, when the retainer actuates from the locked position to the stowed position, the retainer pivots with respect to housing about a first axis.
26 . The container of claim 25 , wherein the first axis extends through the bottom panel.
27 . The container of claims 26 , wherein the first coupler comprises two sidewalls, a back wall, and a wing, the back wall located between the two sidewalls, the two sidewalls and the back wall projecting from a depressed surface of the top face, and the wing extending away from the back wall.
28 . The container of claim 27 , wherein the two sidewalls comprise a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein the wing extends from one of the back wall and the first sidewall in a first direction that is parallel to the first axis.
29 . The container of claim 28 , wherein the wing extends from the first sidewall in the first direction that is parallel to the first axis.
30 . The container of claim 21 , the retainer comprising protrusions that extend laterally away from each other and which pivotally couple the retainer to the housing.
31 . The container of claims 21 , the first coupler comprising two sidewalls, a back wall, and a wing, the back wall located between the two sidewalls, the two sidewalls and the back wall projecting from a depressed surface of the top face, and the wing extending away from the back wall.
32 . The container of claim 21 , comprising a plurality of couplers comprising the first coupler, the plurality of couplers comprising a front row of at least two couplers aligned with each other in a direction parallel to a front face of the housing and a rear row of at least two couplers aligned with each other in the direction parallel to the front face of the housing, wherein each of the plurality of couplers comprises two sidewalls, a back wall, and a wing, the back wall located between the two sidewalls, the two sidewalls and the back wall projecting above a depressed surface of the top face, and the wing extending away from the back wall.
33 . The container of claim 21 , wherein when the retainer is in the stowed position the retainer is at least partially received within the housing.
34 . The container of claim 33 , wherein when the retainer is in the locked position a first length of the retainer is received within the housing, and when the retainer is in the stowed position a second length of the retainer is received within the housing, and wherein the second length is greater than the first length.
35 . The container of claim 21 , wherein the retainer comprises two vertical bars extending vertically when the retainer is in the locked position and a cross-bar extending between the vertical bars that engages with a latch coupled to the housing when the retainer is in the locked position.
36 . The container of claim 21 , wherein, when the retainer actuates from the locked position to the stowed position, the retainer pivots with respect to housing about a first axis that is perpendicular to a movement along which a first drawer of the plurality of drawers slides when actuating from the closed position to the open position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/463,694, filed Sep. 8, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/116,837, filed Dec. 9, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,780,075, which is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/US 2020/061962, filed Nov. 24, 2020, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/940,393, filed Nov. 26, 2019, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure is directed generally to the field of tool storage systems and related devices. The present disclosure relates specifically to a device or tool storage container that includes a covering panel to secure storage compartments, and a coupling mechanism to detachably couple the device or tool storage container to another such device or container, such as in a modular tool storage system. Tool storage units are often used to transport tools and tool accessories. Some storage units are designed to incorporate into a modular storage system. Within a modular storage system, different units, devices and/or containers may provide varying functions, such as being adapted to secure contents within the storage unit for transportation or security. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a container including a housing, a first interface located along an upper surface of the housing, the first interface configured to couple the housing to a modular tool storage device, a drawer slidably coupled to the housing, a cover pivotally coupled to the housing, and a latch coupled to the housing that detachably engages with the cover. The drawing encloses a compartment. The latch is engaged with the cover when the cover is in the locked position and retains the cover in the locked position. The cover interfaces with an outer surface of the drawer to restrict the drawer from opening when the cover is in a locked position. Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to a container including a housing, a first interface located along an upper surface of the housing, the first interface configured to couple the housing to a modular tool storage device, a drawer slidably coupled to the housing that actuates between an open position and a closed position, and a retainer pivotally coupled to the housing. The drawer encloses a compartment. The retainer actuates between at least two positions including a locked position and a stowed position. When in the locked position, the drawer is restricted from being moved from the open position to the closed position. When in the stowed position, the retainer is retracted within the housing and the drawer can be moved from the open position to the closed position. The drawer encloses a compartment. Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to a modular storage system including a container and a storage unit. The container includes a top panel, a bottom panel, a sidewall extending between the top panel and the bottom panel, and an interior space defined by the top panel, the bottom panel and the sidewall. The container includes a first interface located along an upper surface of the housing, the first interface configured to couple the housing to a modular tool storage device. The container includes a drawer slidably coupled to the housing, the drawing extending and retracting through the sidewall from the interior space. The drawer encloses a compartment. The storage unit includes a lower surface, a second interface located along the upper surface. The second interface is configured to detachably engage with the first interface of the container. The storage unit includes a housing defining a storage compartment. Another embodiment of the disclosure relates to a tool storage device that includes a housing, a first coupler extending from a top face, a top panel coupled to the housing, a compartment within the housing, a drawer that encloses the compartment when the drawer is in a closed position, a cover that restricts the drawer from opening when the cover is in a secured position, a handle that is coupled to and extends from the cover, and a latch that engages with the handle when the cover is in the secured position. The first coupler is engageable with another tool storage device. Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and, in part, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the written description included, as well as the appended drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary. The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or