Patent Application
20240025602
Chains are commonly used throughout various industries for transferring energy and for decorative purposes, for example. Storing chains, whether for transport or stationary storage, has been commonly associated with the usage of chains. While various types of containers for storing such chains have been made and used, it is believed that that no one prior to the inventors has made or used the invention described herein.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.
The following description of certain examples of the invention should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Other examples, features, aspects, embodiments, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which is by way of illustration, one of the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
For clarity of disclosure, the terms “proximal” and “distal” are defined herein relative to a user. The term “proximal” refers to the position of an element arranged closer to the user, and the term “distal” refers to the position of an element arranged further away from the user. To the extent that spatial terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” or the like are used herein with reference to the drawings, it will be appreciated that such terms are used for exemplary description purposes only and are not intended to be limiting or absolute. In that regard, it will be devices such as those disclosed herein may be used in a variety of orientations and positions not limited to those shown and described herein.
Furthermore, the terms “about,” “approximately,” and the like as used herein in connection with any numerical values or ranges of values are intended to encompass the exact value(s) referenced as well as a suitable tolerance that enables the referenced feature or combination of features to function for the intended purpose described herein.
I. Exemplary Chain Storage Case
As used herein, the term “chain” generally refers to a chain in a closed configuration such that the chain has no free ends and is configured to assume various closed shapes, such as an elliptical shape, for example. In some instances, it may be desirable to provide a storage case for a chain that keeps the chain untangled in an expanded state, and thus readily available for immediate use. If left uncontained, chains, and particularly chains built for high stress applications such as chainsaw chains or drive chains, may become tangled which can make them unsuited for their intended purpose until they are untangled. Untangling a chain may take an extended period of time depending on such factors as the length of the chain, the number of tangles in the chain, the size of the chain, the area available to untangle the chain, and any other limitations that a user may have when untangling the chain, such as limited dexterity while wearing gloves.
Each of the exemplary chain storage cases (100, 200) described below in connection with the figures is configured to securely contain one or more chains, which may be in the form of chainsaw chains, other cutting chains, power transmission chains, security chains, decorative chains, jewelry chains, or any other types of closed-loop chains. Furthermore, while storage cases (100, 200) are shown and described herein in connection with storing chains, it will be appreciated that storage cases (100, 200) may be utilized for storing various other types of non-chain articles having a closed-loop configuration similar to that of a chain. In that regard, it will be understood that each storage case (100, 200) may be suitably sized, for example with the depicted dimensional proportions, to contain any desired types of chains or other closed-loop articles.
Upper and lower case portions (110, 150) are hingedly coupled together to provide chain storage case (100) with a generally elongated configuration having a stadium shape with rounded longitudinal ends. At least one hinge (153) is positioned along mating edges of case portions (110, 150). Hinge (153) pivotably couples upper case portion (110) with lower case portion (150) along the edge and enables upper case portion (110) to pivot relative to lower case portion (150) between an open position (
Chain storage case (100) may include a mount tab (115) on an exterior portion of either or both of upper case portion (110) and lower case portion (150), such as the longitudinal ends of case portions (110, 150). Each mount tab (115) is configured to both support chain storage case (100) when it is hung and to secure it from opening unintentionally. Each mount tab (115) may be configured with enough structural material to support chain storage case (100) when hung in a vertical orientation and with chains loaded inside chain storage case (100). Each mount tab (115) may include a hole (117) for hanging chain storage case (100) on a wall-mounted peg or other hanging support structure for securing chain storage case (100) in a hung state. Mount tabs (115) may be formed integrally with upper case portion (110) and lower case portion (150), and holes (117) are configured to coaxially align when case (100) is in a closed state such that a hanging support structure or a locking member may be directed through holes (117).
Chain storage case (100) may also include one or more latches (121) configured to releasably retain upper case portion (110) and in the closed position relative to lower case portion (150). Each latch (121) may be affixed to either upper case portion (110) or lower case portion (150) and may be configured as a single throw latch, a double throw latch, a slide latch, a draw latch, a bolt latch, a spring latch, a cam latch, a gate latch, a magnetic latch, a hasp, a hook and eye latch, a lockable latch, or various other types suitable to releasably maintain case (100) in a closed state. In the current example, chain storage case (100) includes two latches (121) on lower case portion (150) which are configured to engage with corresponding features of upper case portion (110) to maintain chain storage case (100) in the closed position. Each latch (151) may include a pivot pin (125) (shown in
Lower case portion (150) includes a base wall (160), a sidewall (165) extending upwardly from and surrounding base wall (160) to define an elongate cavity (103), and a plurality of protrusions (170) extending upwardly from base wall (160) within elongate cavity (103). The plurality of protrusions (170) is fixed relative to base wall (160) and may be configured in a linear array along a longitudinal centerline of base wall (160) such that protrusions (170) are separate from and spaced inwardly of sidewall (165). Additionally, protrusions (170) are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction with a gap (173) between each longitudinally adjacent pair of protrusions (170). Protrusions (170) may vary in size and shape relative to one another. In the present version, each protrusion (170) is formed with a generally elongate cross-sectional shape having at least one rounded longitudinal end. The rounded longitudinal end of each protrusion (170) is configured to reduce friction between the protrusion (170) and a chain (105) wrapped around the protrusion (170). Additionally, as shown in
An upper lip of lower case portion (150) further includes a first sealing feature in the form of a ridge (176) configured to engage a corresponding second sealing feature in the form of a groove formed in a lower lip of upper case portion (110) to create a seal between upper case portion (110) and lower case portion (150) when chain storage case (100) is in the closed state. This engagement may keep water and debris out of cavity (103) of chain storage case (100) or may keep oil or other lubricating fluids inside cavity (103). In some versions, though not shown, a gasket may be positioned within the groove to create a more secure seal, such as an air-tight seal, when case (100) is in the closed state.
Upper case portion (110) may include a recessed portion (130) which is centrally located along a centerline of upper case portion (110) and is configured to add structural rigidity to chain storage case (100). As shown in
II. Exemplary Alternative Chain Storage Case
In some instances, it may be desirable to alter one or more features of chain storage case (100) described above to additional and/or longer chains.
Chain storage case (200) includes an upper case portion (210) and a lower case portion (250) coupled together with a pair of hinges (253) and configured to transition between an open state (
Lower case portion (250) includes a base wall (260) and a sidewall (265) that surrounds base wall (260) and defines a cavity (203). Lower case portion (250) further includes first and second arrays of protrusions (270) disposed within cavity (203), with each array of protrusions (270) being linear and divided by a median (263) (i.e., a dividing wall) extending upwardly from base wall (260) along a longitudinal centerline of base wall (260). Median (263) divides cavity (203) into longitudinal first and second cavity portions that extend parallel to one another, with the first array of protrusions (270) disposed within the first cavity portion and the second array of protrusions (270) disposed within the second cavity portion. At opposite ends of median (263) within cavity (203) are end protrusions (272). Each end protrusion (272) is arc shaped with the inner radius of the arc being positioned towards the center of chain storage case (200). End protrusions (272) are configured to accommodate chains (205) having an expanded length that is longer than a single linear array of protrusions (270). An example of this is shown in
Protrusions (270) of each linear array may be configured in the same or different orientations, shapes, and sizes as protrusions (170) of chain storage case (100). In the present version, the first linear array of protrusions (270) arranged nearest to hinge (253) have a similar size, orientation, and spacing as protrusions (170). By comparison, the second linear array of protrusions (270) nearest latch (221) have a different size, orientation, and spacing than the first array. While case (200) of the present version is shown having two linear arrays of protrusions (270) separated by a single median (263) and having a single pair of end protrusions (272) disposed at the ends of median (263), cases (200) of other versions may include any suitable quantity of linear arrays of protrusions (270), medians (263), and end protrusions (272).
As shown best in
Protrusions (170) of chain storage case (100) and protrusions (270, 272) of chain storage case (200) may be sized and spaced to accommodate one or more particular chain (205) sizes that are common in a particular industry. By way of example only, protrusions (170) of case (100) may be configured to constrain chainsaw chains configured for use with chainsaw bar sizes ranging from 6 inches to 20 inches in length, with case (100) being configured to hold 8 or more such chainsaw chains. Protrusions (270, 272) of case (200) may be configured to constrain chainsaw chains configured for use with chainsaw bar sizes ranging from 6 inches to 42 inches or longer, with case (200) being configured to hold at least one such chain depending on the length of chain(s) being stored. For visual guide purposes, each protrusion (270) of case (200), moving clockwise starting with the upper left circularly shaped protrusion (270) of
1-B
As shown in
While each of
III. Miscellaneous
It should be understood that any one or more of the teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. described herein may be combined with any one or more of the other teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. that are described herein. The above-described teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. should therefore not be viewed in isolation relative to each other. Various suitable ways in which the teachings herein may be combined will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.
Having shown and described various embodiments of the present invention, further adaptations of the methods and systems described herein may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Several of such potential modifications have been mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the examples, embodiments, geometrics, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings.
