STORAGE CONTAINER WITH RAISABLE CADDY AND METHOD | Patent Publication Number 20190111954
US 20190111954 A1A container and caddy system is disclosed herein. The container and caddy system includes a storage container and a caddy for supporting and transporting the storage container. The storage container has a receptacle, a lid, and one or more hinges. The hinges connect the lid to the receptacle, enabling easy access to the interior of the receptacle. The caddy has a frame dimensioned to accept the storage container, four wheels able to roll the caddy along the ground, and two or more lift members. The lift members are divided into first and second lift member assemblies. These mechanically connect the wheels to the frame and are connected to each other by a hinge pin which causes the first and second lift member assemblies to move in a scissoring action to raise or lower the frame relative to the wheels.
1. A container and caddy system comprising: a storage container having a storage receptacle, a storage lid, at least one hinge pivotably connecting the storage lid to the storage receptacle, such that when the storage lid is in a closed condition, the storage lid and the storage receptacle in combination enclose an interior space; and a caddy having a container frame able to accept and support the storage container, three or four wheels, and a lift member, corresponding to one or more of the wheels, connecting the corresponding wheels to the container frame, a lift member comprising a first lift-member assembly, a second lift-member assembly, and a hinge pin coupling the first lift-member assembly to the second lift-member assembly, such that the first lift-member assembly and the second lift-member assembly are able to pivot relative to each other in a scissoring fashion. 17. A storage container and raisable caddy system comprising: a storage container having a storage receptacle, a storage lid, at least one hinge pivotably connecting the storage lid to the storage receptacle, such that when the storage lid is in a closed condition, the storage lid and the storage receptacle in combination enclose an interior space; and a caddy having a container frame able to accept and support the storage container, four wheels, and at least two lift members, each of the at least two lift members corresponding to one or more of the four wheels, each of the at least two lift members mechanically connecting the corresponding ones of the four wheels to the container frame, the at least two lift members comprising a first lift-member assembly, a second lift-member assembly, and a pair of hinge pins coupling the first lift-member assembly to the second lift-member assembly, such that the first lift-member assembly and the second lift-member assembly are able to pivot relative to each other in a scissoring fashion; wherein the pair of hinge pins centrally bisect each of the first lift-member assembly and the second lift-member assembly; further comprising a wheel frame mechanically connecting the four wheels to each other, the wheel frame being substantially rectangular; wherein each of the first lift-member assembly and the second lift-member assembly are hingedly coupled to the wheel frame; wherein the container frame comprises at least one slide and each of the at least two lift members further comprise at least one yoke, wherein each of the at least one yoke are dimensioned to circumscribe and slide upon the at least one slide, thereby enabling the first lift-member assembly to pivot relative to the second lift-member assembly, such that when the first lift-member assembly and the second lift-member assembly together pivot, the container frame is either raised or lowered; further comprising an electric drive able to raise and lower the container frame relative to the four wheels; further comprising a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the electric drive, such that the rechargeable battery may provide power to the electric drive; wherein the electric drive is mechanically coupled to one of the at least two lift members, the electric drive being configured to raise and lower the container frame relative to the four wheels by scissoring the first lift-member assembly and the second lift-member assembly; wherein the container frame comprises a rectangular chassis, a left guide rail, and a right guide rail, the rectangular chassis having a chassis length and a chassis width each sufficiently large to support the storage container, the left guide rail mirroring the right guide rail across the rectangular chassis, the left guide rail and the right guide rail each being affixed rigidly and perpendicularly to the rectangular chassis such that the left guide rail and the right guide rail each stand upright, the left guide rail and the right guide rail being spaced wide enough to surround the storage container on opposite sides of the storage container when the storage container is placed upon the rectangular chassis; wherein the storage container further comprises a leg chassis, the leg chassis being hingedly attached to the storage receptacle of the container and alternatively to the storage lid of the storage container, the leg chassis including a rectangular leg receptacle defining a leg chassis interior; a leg chassis lid hingedly attached to the leg receptacle; a bottom surface integral to the leg receptacle and disposed opposite to the leg chassis lid; and at least one deployable table leg hingedly attached interior to the leg receptacle; wherein the storage lid is integral to the leg chassis; wherein the leg chassis is hingedly mounted to the storage receptacle of the storage container and alternatively to the storage lid of the storage container enabling one-hundred-and-eighty degrees of travel, such that the bottom surface of the leg chassis may be rotated to an inverted position adjacent to the storage lid of the storage container, such that the bottom surface is coplanar with the storage lid, enabling the bottom surface and the storage lid to be used in combination as a singular work surface; wherein the storage lid and the storage receptacle in combination enclose a substantially prismatic interior space; wherein the storage container comprises a recess and the container frame comprises a hooked member able to engage the recess of the storage container, such that a terminal end of the hooked member is substantially parallel to the container frame, thereby preventing the storage container from being lifted from the container frame when the terminal end of the hooked member is inserted into the recess of the storage container; wherein the container frame comprises at least one screw aperture having internal threading able to accept a machine screw; and further comprising at least one leveling member interposed between the container frame and the at least two lift members, the at least one leveling member including at least two captive screws, the at least two captive screws being fastenable into the at least one screw aperture of the container frame, such that turning the at least two captive screws adjusts a distance between the at least one leveling member and the container frame. 18. A method of using a container and caddy system, the method comprising the steps of: providing storage container and raisable caddy system comprising a storage container having a storage receptacle, a storage lid, at least one hinge pivotably connecting the storage lid to the storage receptacle, such that when the storage lid is in a closed condition, the storage lid and the storage receptacle in combination enclose an interior space; and a caddy having a container frame able to accept and support the storage container, four wheels, and at least two lift members, each of the at least two lift members corresponding to one or more of the four wheels, each of the at least two lift members mechanically connecting the corresponding ones of the four wheels to the container frame, the at least two lift members comprising a first lift-member assembly, a second lift-member assembly, and a pair of hinge pins coupling the first lift-member assembly to the second lift-member assembly, such that the first lift-member assembly and the second lift-member assembly are able to pivot relative to each other in a scissoring fashion; pushing the caddy proximal to the storage container; raising and alternatively lowering the container frame until the container frame is substantially level with the storage container; sliding the storage container onto the container frame; lowering and alternatively raising the container frame to a desired height for transport; and conveying the caddy to a desired location.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/572,749 filed Oct. 16, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of containers of existing art and more specifically relates to vehicle-adaptable tool boxes.
Many individuals, such as carpenters, construction workers, repair personnel, etc. use the rear seat of their vehicle to transport items. These untethered objects can be thrown around in the backseat and become flying projectiles in the event of an accident, potentially causing injuries. Individuals that transport items for work may waste significant time returning back to the vehicle to retrieve items they need on their work site. This is not only time consuming and inconvenient but can also lead to injuries when carrying heavy or awkward items repeatedly. An effective alternative is needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,641 to Richard Duk Wong Hahn relates to a portable combination toolbox, workbench, and dispensing crib. The described portable combination toolbox, workbench, and dispensing crib includes a portable toolbox having a top, bottom, front and rear panels forming a box structure with opposing sides tilted off-vertical so as to converge upwardly. A plurality of hinged drawers and fixed bins are arranged on each side of the toolbox. The rear panel terminates at a pair of supporting feet for resting the apparatus on a supporting surface and a pair of wheels for moving the toolbox. By lifting the toolbox from its forward end, the toolbox moves from resting on its rear legs, to resting on its rear wheels. The top panel provides an upwardly facing work surface with a pair of hand holes separated by a hand grip for carrying the apparatus. A forward and a rearward sliding retractable work surface extender frames are positionable between a retracted position, secured within the box structure and an extended position directed outwardly from the box structure for resting a workpiece.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known vehicle-adaptable tool box art, the present disclosure provides a novel storage container with a raisable caddy and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a storage container with a raisable caddy and method.
This document discloses a container and caddy system. The container and caddy system includes a storage container and a caddy for supporting and transporting the storage container. The storage container has a receptacle, a lid, and one or more hinges. The hinges connect the lid to the receptacle, enabling easy access to the interior of the receptacle. The caddy has a frame dimensioned to accept and support the storage container, four wheels able to roll the caddy along the ground, and two or more lift members. The lift members are divided into first and second lift member assemblies. These mechanically connect the wheels to the frame and are connected to each other by a hinge pin that causes the first and second lift member assemblies to move in a scissoring relation to raise or lower the frame relative to the wheels.
According to another embodiment, this document also discloses a method of using a container and caddy system. The method of using a container and caddy system includes providing a container and caddy system, pushing the caddy towards the storage container, raising or lowering the container frame until the container frame is level with the storage container, sliding the storage container onto the container frame, lowering or raising the container frame to a desired height for transport, conveying the caddy to a destination, and optionally, opening the container lid of the storage container to access contents stored within the storage container.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a storage container with raisable caddy and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle-adaptable tool box and more particularly to a storage container with raisable caddy and method as used to improve the maneuverability and flexibility of a storage solution.
Generally, the storage container with raisable caddy provides a container that may serve as a combination rolling work station and tool bench and may be removed from a storage location within a vehicle and used portably at a worksite. The container may deploy by being rolled out from a rear vehicle seat or other convenient storage location. However, the container may be stored in other locations, as well. The container may include modular table attachments to extend the workspace of the system. An interior cavity is useful as storage space for tools, files, and other equipment for use on a work site. The storage container with raisable caddy eliminates the need for users to go back and forth between a vehicle and their work site, as is commonly necessary with fixed vehicular storage systems. This is accomplished by making the container and an accompanying caddy modular, specifically structured to accept the container and conveniently transport it from a storage location to a jobsite or other destination.
The container of the storage container with raisable caddy is designed to be slid out of a vehicle onto the caddy, which may be conveniently positioned and angled to make deployment of the container simple. The caddy includes a scissor-lifting mechanism with a frame and surface for supporting the container attached to the top. It may have wheels allow movement from place to place. A manually adjustable articulating mechanism may allow a user to change the angle of the top surface, making it easier to slide the container onto the caddy. Side rails on the caddy may prevent the container from slipping off the caddy during transport. The caddy may be constructed of a lightweight aluminum. In some embodiments the container may include a second cavity, possibly taking the form of a drawer, comprising a storage area for files, tools, and more. The exact specifications may vary.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
Caddy 120 may itself include container frame 122, four wheels 124, at least two lift members 126, and one or more of hinge pin 136. Container frame 122 may be able to accept and support storage container 110 and may be structured and arranged to prevent lateral displacement of storage container 110 from caddy 120, thereby safely supporting and retaining storage container 110. In this way, storage container 110 may most conveniently be removed from caddy 120 by sliding storage container 110 onto container frame 122 lengthwise. Each of at least two lift members 126 may correspond to one or more of 2, 3, or 4 wheels 124. Each of at least two lift members 126 may mechanically connect the corresponding wheels 124 to container frame 122. At least two lift members 126 may themselves be divided into first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132. In some embodiments, first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 may each include multiple integral appendages working together to support container frame 122 above wheels 124. For example, in one embodiment each of first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 may comprise a substantially rectangular, unitary frame constructed of tubular stock having rounded corners. One or more hinge pins 136 may operatively and mechanically couple first lift-member assembly 130 to second lift-member assembly 132 in such a way that first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 can pivot relative to each other in a scissoring fashion. Preferably, one or more hinge pins 136 centrally bisect each of first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132, such that hinge pin 136 sits near a halfway location along a length of each of first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132. While hinge pin 136 may not be exactly central to each of first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132, hinge pin 136 is positioned in such a way that there is substantial length available to each of first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 on either side of hinge pin 136. In this way sufficient leverage may be applied towards rotating first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 on either side while also maintaining a balanced assembly.
Caddy 120 may also include wheel frame 140 mechanically connecting 2, 3, or 4 wheels 124 to each other. Wheel frame 140 may be substantially rectangular. Wheel frame 140 may be constructed of multiple fastened components or may be of a unitary or monolithic construction. Wheel frame 140 may have rounded or chamfered corners and may include additional structural features. Preferably, first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 connect directly to wheel frame 140, and may further include pins, hinges, or other pivoting devices for enabling first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 to rotate relative to wheel frame 140. In some embodiments, wheel frame 140 may include tracks or slides for first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 to translate relative to wheel frame 140. However, in a preferred embodiment first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 merely pivot relative to wheel frame 140. In some embodiments, first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 translate relative to wheel frame 140, just as first lift-member assembly 130 and second lift-member assembly 132 to translate relative to container frame 122.
Container frame 122 may further include rectangular chassis 160, left guide rail 162, and right guide rail 164. Rectangular chassis 160 may have chassis length 166 and chassis width 168, each being sufficiently large to support storage container 110 (
It should be noted that step 507 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.