Patent Application
20240017392
The present disclosure relates to storage systems, and more particularly to wall-mounted storage containers for tool accessories and the like.
Hand tools, power tools, and associated accessories such as batteries, tool bits, sockets, accessories, fasteners, and the like, may be moved frequently between a storage space and a work space. One aspect of accessibility is a user's ability to quickly store an object and remove the object from storage.
In one independent aspect, a storage container includes a first container portion including a first side; a second container portion including a second side, and a support feature configured to engage a wall support system. The second side is pivotably coupled to the first side of the first container portion by a hinge. The second container portion and the first container portion are pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position. The support feature includes a first partial mounting portion and a second partial mounting portion. The first partial mounting portion is positioned on the first container portion, and the second partial mounting portion is supported for movement relative to the first partial mounting portion. The second partial mounting portion is movable between a stowed position and an extended position. The first partial mounting portion and the second partial mounting portion cooperate to provide a mounting interface configured to engage a support member while the second partial mounting portion is in the extended position.
In another independent aspect, a storage system includes a panel secured to a support surface and a storage container removably supported on the panel. The panel includes a plurality of cleats spaced apart from one another. The storage container includes a first container portion including a first side, a second container portion including a second side, and a support feature engageable with the cleats. The second side is pivotably coupled to the first side of the first container portion by a hinge. The second container portion and the first container portion are pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position. The support feature includes a first partial mounting portion and a second partial mounting portion. The first partial mounting portion is positioned on the first container portion. The second partial mounting portion is supported for movement relative to the first partial mounting portion, and the second partial mounting portion is movable between a stowed position and an extended position. The first partial mounting portion and the second partial mounting portion cooperate to provide a mounting interface to engage at least one of the cleats while the second partial mounting portion is in the extended position.
In yet another independent aspect, a storage container includes: a first container portion; a second container portion; a hinge coupling a first side of the first container portion and a second side of the second container portion for pivoting movement about a pivot axis, a latch releasably securing the first container portion and the second container portion in the closed position, a first partial mounting portion positioned on the first container portion, and a second partial mounting portion supported on the hinge for pivoting movement relative to the first partial mounting portion and the second container portion. The first container portion and the second container portion are pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position. The second partial mounting portion is movable between a stowed position and an extended position. The first partial mounting portion and the second partial mounting portion cooperate to form a mounting interface while the first container portion and the second container portion are in the closed position and the second partial mounting portion is in the extended position. The mounting interface is configured to engage the wall support system.
Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limited. The use of “including,” “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “mounted,” “connected” and “coupled” are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mounting, connecting and coupling. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, whether direct or indirect. Terms of degree, such as “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” etc. are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the cleats 204 have a generally octagonal shape. Stated another way, in the illustrated embodiment each cleat 204 includes four inclined edges 220 that are oriented at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis 208 of the rail 200 and that substantially form a diamond shape. In other embodiments, the cleat 204 may have a profile that is a different shape (e.g., hexagonal, rectangular, an irregular polygonal shape, a curvilinear shape), and/or the cleat 204 may have a different number of inclined edges. Each of the cleats 204 is separated from an adjacent cleat by a gap or space 216. In the illustrated embodiment, partial gaps are located between the outermost cleats and the associated end of the rail 200, and the outermost cleats 204 will be spaced apart from a cleat of an adjacent panel or rail by the same distance as adjacent cleats 204 of the same rail 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage container 100 is supported within a gap 216 between two adjacent cleats 204. Other attachments and/or objects (not shown) may be located within the gaps 216 to engage one or more cleats 204.
Referring again to
In the illustrated embodiment, the first container portion 104 includes first lugs 142 and the second container portion 108 includes second lugs 144 aligned with the first lugs 142. The hinge 112 includes a pin 146 extending through the first lugs 142 and the second lugs 144 along a pivot axis 148 about which the container portions 104, 106 pivot relative to one another. In other embodiments, the first container portion 104 and the second container portion 108 may be coupled to one another in a different manner.
The container 100 also includes a support feature 152 for coupling the container 100 to the support panel 200. The support feature 152 includes a first partial mounting portion 156 and a second partial mounting portion 160. The first partial mounting portion 156 is positioned on one side of the first container portion 104 (e.g., the rear side 116). In the illustrated embodiment, the first partial mounting portion 156 is formed integrally with the rear side 116. In other embodiments, the first partial mounting portion 156 may be coupled to the rear side 116 in a different manner. The second partial mounting portion 160 is supported for pivoting movement relative to the first partial mounting portion 156 between a stowed position (
As shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, the collar 164 includes two portions 164a, 164b, and each side of the collar portions 164a, 164b includes protrusions (e.g., castellations 184a, 184b) that extend parallel to the pivot axis 148. Similarly, at least one of the lugs 142, 144 includes slots (e.g., castellations 188a, 188b) that are complementary with the collar castellations 184a, 184b. In the stowed position, one of the collar castellations 184a engages a first one of the lug castellations 188a. In the extended position, other collar castellations (e.g., castellations 184b protruding from an opposite side of the collar portions 164a, 164b) engage one of more second lug castellations 188b. The depth of the castellations 184a, 188a may correspond to the first distance D1, and the depth of the castellations 184b, 188b may correspond to the second distance D2. The engagement of the collar castellations 184a, 184b and lug castellations 188a, 188b inhibits undesired rotation, requiring a user to translate the second partial mounting portion 160 along the axis 148 before rotating it. In some embodiments, a detent may be provided to inhibit undesired translational movement of the second partial mounting portion 160 along the axis 148.
Although aspects of the disclosure have been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects as described.
