US 11,952,167 B2
Utility assembly and coupling mechanism
Yaron Brunner, Kibbutz Gvat (IL); Grant T. Squiers, Cudahy, WI (US); Christopher S. Hoppe, Midvale, UT (US); and Steven W. Hyma, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Assigned to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US); and Keter Plastic LTD., Herzelyia (IL)
Filed by Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US); and Keter Plastic LTD., Herzelyia (IL)
Filed on Jun. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/330,972.
Application 18/330,972 is a continuation of application No. 18/051,749, filed on Nov. 1, 2022, granted, now 11,794,952.
Application 18/051,749 is a continuation of application No. 17/884,230, filed on Aug. 9, 2022.
Application 17/884,230 is a continuation of application No. 17/064,371, filed on Oct. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,427,382.
Application 17/064,371 is a continuation of application No. 16/752,441, filed on Jan. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,008,136.
Application 16/752,441 is a continuation of application No. 16/216,724, filed on Dec. 11, 2018, granted, now 10,583,962.
Application 16/216,724 is a continuation of application No. 15/826,232, filed on Nov. 29, 2017, granted, now 10,703,534.
Application 15/826,232 is a continuation of application No. PCT/IL2017/050481, filed on Apr. 30, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/459,076, filed on Feb. 15, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/330,334, filed on May 2, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0312173 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65D 21/02 (2006.01); A45C 5/14 (2006.01); A45C 7/00 (2006.01); A45C 13/02 (2006.01); A45F 3/10 (2006.01); B25H 1/04 (2006.01); B25H 3/02 (2006.01); B62B 1/14 (2006.01); B65D 21/028 (2006.01); B62B 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 21/0223 (2013.01) [A45C 5/14 (2013.01); A45C 7/005 (2013.01); A45C 13/02 (2013.01); A45F 3/10 (2013.01); B25H 1/04 (2013.01); B25H 3/02 (2013.01); B25H 3/021 (2013.01); B62B 1/14 (2013.01); B65D 21/0209 (2013.01); B65D 21/0228 (2013.01); A45C 7/0045 (2013.01); B25H 3/023 (2013.01); B62B 5/067 (2013.01); B65D 2255/00 (2013.01); B65H 2701/533 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A container assembly comprising:
a first container comprising:
a first lid pivotally attached to the first container;
a first female coupler at a top face of the first lid;
a first front face, a first side face, an second side face opposite the first side face, the first front face, the first side face, and the second side face collectively partially defining a storage compartment;
a first corner extending between the first front face and the first side face, and a second corner extending between the first front face and the second side face;
a first corner bumper extending outward from the first corner; and
a second corner bumper extending outward from the second corner;
wherein the first corner bumper defines an outer surface that extends past and faces away from each of the first front face and the first side face, and wherein the second corner bumper defines an outer surface that extends past and faces away from each of the first front face and the second side face; and
a first locking latch arresting location; and
a second container comprising:
a male coupler extending from a bottom face of the second container, the male coupler configured to slidingly engage with the first female coupler of the first container, wherein the first female coupler and male coupler engage each other when the first and second containers are slid with respect to each other;
a second lid pivotally attached to the second container; and
a locking latch positionable in a locked position engaging the first locking latch arresting location thereby limiting sliding displacement of the first container with respect to the second container;
wherein the first female coupler comprises two sidewalls, a back wall, and a first rib, the back wall located between the two sidewalls, the two sidewalls and the back wall projecting above a depressed surface of the top face of the first lid, and the first rib extending away from the back wall in a first direction towards the first front face of the first container;
wherein the second container comprises a second female coupler at a top face of the second lid, the second female coupler comprising two sidewalls, a back wall, and a second rib, the back wall located between the two sidewalls, the two sidewalls and the back wall projecting above a depressed surface of the top face of the second lid, and the second rib extending away from the back wall towards a front face of the second container and the first front face of the first container; and
wherein the first container defines a width axis parallel to the first front face of the first container and the second container defines a width axis parallel to the first front face of the first container, wherein the width axis of the second container is approximately one-half the width axis of the first container.