US 12,466,056 B2
Modular storage unit including sub-units
Caleb C. Adams, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Assigned to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed by Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed on Jan. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/157,340.
Application 18/157,340 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2023/060892, filed on Jan. 19, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/301,721, filed on Jan. 21, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0234211 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. B25H 3/02 (2006.01); B65D 51/00 (2006.01)
CPC B25H 3/028 (2013.01) [B25H 3/026 (2013.01); B65D 51/00 (2013.01); B65D 2555/02 (2013.01); B65D 2590/0066 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A storage device comprising:
a housing defining a front surface and an opposing rear surface;
a plurality of male couplers extending from the rear surface, each of the male couplers are configured for arresting engagement with an upper surface of a first utility module;
a plurality of female couplers extending from the front surface, each of the female couplers are configured for arresting engagement with a lower surface of the first utility module opposite the upper surface;
a plurality of containers each defining a storage compartment, the plurality of containers each slidably coupled to the housing;
a locking mechanism slidably coupled to the housing, the locking mechanism configured to secure the plurality of containers within the housing when the locking mechanism is arranged in a locked configuration; and
a handle coupled to a top of the housing, wherein the locking mechanism is positioned between the plurality of containers and the top of the housing.
 
12. A storage device comprising:
a housing defining a front surface, an opposing rear surface, and an upper surface extending between and connecting the front surface and the rear surface;
a housing axis extending along the upper surface;
a plurality of male couplers extending from the rear surface, the plurality of male couplers each comprising a body extending from the rear surface, a first tongue, and a second tongue, the first tongue and the second tongue both extending from the body and both offset from and above the rear surface, the first tongue defining a first channel between the rear surface and the first tongue, the second tongue defining a second channel between the rear surface and the second tongue, the first channel and second channel each extending on opposing sides of the body, each channel comprising a front open end and a back closed end;
a plurality of containers each defining a storage compartment, the plurality of containers each slidably coupled to the housing; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the housing, the locking mechanism extending in an orientation of the housing axis, the locking mechanism comprising:
an actuator, the actuator slidable with respect to the front surface of the housing;
an arm coupled to the actuator, the arm slidable with respect to the housing;
wherein the locking mechanism is configured to secure the plurality of containers within the housing when the locking mechanism is arranged in a locked configuration.
 
16. A storage device comprising:
a housing defining a front surface, an opposing rear surface, and an upper surface extending between and connecting the front surface and the rear surface;
a housing axis extending along the upper surface;
a plurality of female couplers extending from the front surface, each of the plurality of female couplers comprising a recessed surface, a front wall, a back wall, a first sidewall, and a first rib extending above and offset from the recessed surface, the back wall, the first sidewall, and the front wall extending upward from the recessed surface, the first rib extending from the back wall towards the front wall and extending from the first sidewall;
a plurality of containers each defining a storage compartment, the plurality of containers each slidably coupled to the housing; and
a locking mechanism slidably coupled to the housing, the locking mechanism extending in an orientation of the housing axis and configured to secure the plurality of containers within the housing when the locking mechanism is arranged in a locked configuration.