EP3814065B1 - Storage device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a storage device, with at least one storage container, which has a container housing which has an upper handle on a top side oriented in a height direction and a front handle which is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis on a front side oriented at right angles to the height direction, the Front handle can be pivoted as part of a pivoting movement either into a non-use position pivoted towards the front of the container housing or into a use position pivoted away from the container housing and projecting forward, the storage container having a front locking device assigned to the front handle, which is used for non-pivoting, releasable locking of the front -Handle is designed in its non-use position.

One from the EP 1 752 262 A1 Known storage device of this type contains a portable container which has a main handle that can be pivoted between a first set up position and a second folded position and at least one side handle arranged in the area of a side surface. The main handle can be locked in the first position and/or in the second position.

The US 2011/074262 A1 discloses a toolbox with a housing in which several drawers are arranged. Each drawer has a pivoting handle that can be used to releasably lock a drawer lid.

The EP 2 226 163 A2 describes a container system with a base unit in which several containers are arranged like a drawer. On an upper section of the base unit, a base handle is mounted in a recess on the outside, which can be pivoted relative to the base unit in order to assume either an upright use position that enables gripping or a non-use position that is pivoted towards the base unit in the recess.

One from the DE 10 2011 006 871 A1 Known storage device contains a storage container designed as a hand tool case, in the container housing of which a lighting device is integrated. The container housing is equipped with two carrying handles that can be used as handles, one of which is located on the top and the other on a narrow front.

The DE 20 2012 102 760 U1 also discloses a container-like transport device which is equipped with two carrying handles for the horizontal and vertical carrying positions for user-friendly handling.

The DE 197 06 413 A1 discloses a suitcase-like container which has a bow-shaped carrying handle on one top and a further carrying handle can also be attached to the front in a detachable manner using snap-in connection devices.

One from the EP 2 485 874 B1 Known storage device comprises a storage container, the container housing of which consists of a box-shaped housing base and a housing cover pivotably mounted thereon in the area of the rear. The housing cover can be pivoted into a closed position in which it rests on the lower housing part and closes an access opening for an internal storage space of the container housing. A pivoting top handle is attached to the outside of the top of the housing cover. In addition, coupling devices are formed in the area of the top and bottom of the container housing, which make it possible to stack several storage containers on top of each other and to releasably couple them to one another in a manner that cannot be removed from one another.

The invention is based on the object of taking measures to improve the handling comfort for a storage container of a storage device equipped with two handles.

To solve this problem, it is provided according to the invention in conjunction with the features mentioned at the outset that the upper handle is also pivotably mounted on the container housing, whereby it can be pivoted, as part of a pivoting movement, either into a non-use position which is pivoted towards the top of the container housing or into a position which is pivoted away from the container housing and upwards protruding position of use can be pivoted, the storage container having an upper locking device assigned to the upper handle for releasably locking the upper handle in its non-use position.

In this way, the front handle attached to the front of a storage container of the storage device can be in can be releasably locked in its non-use position when pivoted towards the container housing. The front handle is thereby prevented from uncontrolled pivoting relative to the container housing when the storage container is transported without using the front handle and in particular using the upper handle arranged on the top. This can prevent the front handle from swinging back and forth uncontrollably and hitting the outside of the container housing when the storage container is carried using the upper handle. This measure can also prevent the front handle from accidentally swinging out of the non-use position and possibly remaining in a position pivoted away from the container housing due to friction due to manufacturing tolerances, which could result in the front handle hitting the edge of a furniture when the storage container is being transported or collides with another object that could damage that object and/or the front handle. The ability to fix the non-use position of the pivoting front handle contributes significantly to improved handling comfort of the storage container. The upper handle is also pivotably mounted on the container housing and can be pivoted as part of a pivoting movement either into a non-use position which is pivoted towards the top of the container housing or into a use position which is pivoted away from the container housing and projects upwards. The upper handle is also assigned a locking device suitable for releasably locking the non-use position, which is referred to as the upper locking device to better distinguish it from the front locking device.

The upper handle, which is locked in the non-use position, is prevented from swinging away from the container housing when the container housing is carried using the front handle with the vertical axis aligned horizontally. In this respect, the same advantages apply here that were explained above in connection with the lockable front handle in connection with using the upper handle as a carrying handle.

Advantageous developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

The locking device, which is arranged on the front of the container housing and is therefore referred to as the front locking device, is designed in particular in such a way that it automatically enters an active operating state that locks the front handle non-pivotably on the container housing, when the front handle is deliberately pivoted from the use position to the non-use position. There is no need to operate the locking device separately.

The front handle is expediently unlocked automatically as soon as the front handle is pivoted from the non-use position towards the use position by manual force application. Here, too, it is not necessary to separately set the locking device into the inactive operating state, which no longer has a locking effect, using a special deactivation handle.

In both of the aforementioned cases, the locking and releasing of the locking take place virtually automatically when the user of the storage device grasps the front handle and pivots it in the direction of the non-use position or in the direction of the use position by applying appropriate force.

Particularly in the aforementioned context, it is advantageous if the front locking device is designed as a locking device that automatically engages or automatically disengages with a snap effect depending on the pivoting direction of the front handle. Such a locking device can be implemented cost-effectively and can expediently be integrated into these container components directly during the production of the container housing and the front handle.

It is considered particularly useful if the front locking device has one or more locking units, which are each referred to as a front locking unit for better differentiation. The locking device can, for example, only include a single such front locking unit, but expediently has two such front locking units, which are arranged at a distance from one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis of the front handle. Preferably, each end section of the front handle pointing in the axial direction of the pivot axis is assigned its own front locking unit. In this way, the front handle is held particularly securely in its non-use position.

Each front locking unit has a first locking element arranged on the container housing and a second locking element which cooperates with this first locking element and is arranged on the front handle. The second locking element follows the pivoting movement of the front handle. In the non-use position of the front handle, the first and second locking elements overlap in the axial direction of the pivot axis and thus transversely to the direction of the pivot movement. By gripping behind the two locking elements, the front handle is positively prevented from pivoting about the pivot axis. If the front handle is in the position of use, the aforementioned mutual engagement of the first and second locking elements is canceled and the front handle can be pivoted unhindered.

The first locking element arranged on the container housing is preferably designed as a locking projection projecting in the axial direction of the pivot axis, which is preferably designed in one piece with the housing wall of the container housing. The second locking element cooperating with this locking projection is preferably designed as a locking recess provided on the front handle, into which the locking projection intervenes in the active operating state of the locking device, in particular in a positive manner. A swapped arrangement of the locking projection and locking recess is also possible.

To save weight, the front handle can be at least partially designed as a hollow body. This applies in particular to a component of the front handle that can be grasped with one hand to carry the storage container. The existing cavity can then preferably be used as a locking recess of the locking unit. If it is a front handle designed as a bow handle, the component having the cavity is formed in particular by a connecting web extending between two handle legs.

The locking device is designed in particular in such a way that it blocks the front handle in a non-pivoting manner only in the non-use position. In all pivot positions of the front handle that are outside the non-use position and include the use position, the front handle can expediently be freely pivoted and the locking device is inactive. Consequently, despite the existing locking option, the front handle can be swiveled freely with a large swivel angle, which is, for example, only slightly smaller than 90 degrees. The result of this is that the front handle for handling the storage container can be used practically without restriction in the same way as a front handle that does not have a front locking device.

In principle, it is possible to provide additional measures that also keep the front handle in the position of use fix releasably. The front handle then remains in the position of use when it is released and is particularly easy to grasp when used afterwards.

The front handle is pivotably mounted on the container housing preferably by means of at least one pivot bearing device defining the pivot axis. Only one such pivot bearing device or several, in particular exactly two, such pivot bearing devices can be assigned to the front handle. Several pivot bearing devices are expediently arranged at a distance from one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis.

It is considered particularly advantageous if the front locking device is arranged at a distance from the at least one pivot bearing device in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis of the front handle. This means that a slightly higher amount of force is required for locking and final locking, which counteracts unintentional actuation of the locking device. However, it is certainly possible to arrange the front locking device in the immediate vicinity of the pivot axis. This has the advantage that, in conjunction with a locking device, a relatively large lever arm is available for unlocking and locking.

The pivotable front handle is expediently bow-shaped with at least a substantially U-shaped shape, so that it can be referred to as a bow handle. It has two handle legs corresponding to the two U-legs, which are connected to each other by a connecting web to form the U-structure. Each handle shank is in the area of its free end section opposite the connecting web via a pivot bearing device in a pivotable manner on the container housing.

In conjunction with such a bow handle, it is advantageous if the front locking device is arranged in the area of the connecting web when the storage container is viewed in the non-use position of the front handle. The first and second locking elements of each optional front locking unit of the locking device are arranged here at a distance from the pivot axis of the front handle in the area of the connecting web. The cavity of a hollow connecting web can, as already mentioned above, be used as a locking recess. In principle, the component of the locking device formed on the front handle can also be formed, for example, on one of the handle legs.

Each of the two pivot bearing devices assigned to a front handle designed as a bow handle expediently has two first and second bearing elements which are inserted into one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis and can be rotated relative to one another. One of these storage elements is located on the container housing, the other on the free end section of one of the two handle legs of the front handle. The first bearing element formed on the container housing is preferably designed as a bearing eye, into which the second bearing element, preferably formed as a bearing pin, is inserted from the side facing the other pivot bearing device.

To ensure that the front handle, designed as a bow handle, even when carrying a heavy storage container does not accidentally slip out of the container housing and the storage container falls down, a safety device which assumes an active state at least in the use position of the front handle is expediently assigned to the free end section of each handle leg. In its active state, the safety device supports the handle leg assigned to it in the axial direction of the pivot axis with respect to the container housing in such a way that the handle leg cannot move in the direction of the other handle leg. As a result, the storage elements of the pivot bearing devices inserted into one another cannot carry out an axial relative movement by which they are pulled apart and separated from one another when the handle legs of the handle are acted upon by external forces acting in the sense of a mutual approach. Such external forces can arise, for example, when a heavily loaded storage container is lifted at the connecting bar of its handle and the handle bends elastically in the area of the connecting bar. The support by means of the safety devices prevents the handle legs from coming closer to one another due to elastic deformation of the front handle when the storage container is lifted using the connecting bar of its front handle.

The pivot bearing devices are preferably designed in such a way that each second storage element arranged on a handle leg is plugged together in a plug-in direction with the first storage element arranged on the container housing, which points away from the other handle leg in the axial direction of the pivot axis. The second storage elements are expediently designed in one piece with the handle legs and the first storage elements are expediently formed in one piece with the container housing.

The front handle is expediently mounted on the container housing by a latching process, which is accompanied by an elastic bending of the front handle, in which the two handle legs briefly approach each other. So that such a locking assembly is possible regardless of the position of use secured by the safety devices, the front handle can expediently be positioned in at least one pivoting position that deviates from the position of use, in which the safety devices are inactive and the handle legs are released in such a way that they can be moved towards each other are. This enables a relative movement between the two handle legs in the axial direction of the pivot axis required for the assembly process combined with a latching process.

Preferably, the front handle can also be removed from the container housing again if necessary in the at least one pivoting position combined with an inactive state of the safety devices. The handle legs then only have to be bent elastically to the side, for example supported by an attached lever tool, to such an extent that the bearing elements come out of engagement with one another.

Preferably, the front handle can be attached to the container housing by latching in any pivoting position in which the safety devices are inactive, during the initial assembly of the storage container or in the event of repairs. If it is a releasable locking connection, which is advantageous, the front handle can be pivoted into any of these pivoting positions again if necessary removed from the container housing by disengaging it.

Each safety device is expediently designed so that its inactive state is present at least in the area of the non-use position of the front handle, preferably exclusively in the area of the non-use position of the front handle. The latter offers optimal security against accidental loosening of the locking connection, regardless of which pivot position the front handle is currently pivoted to outside of the non-use position.

The container housing expediently has a housing wall in which a front wall recess is formed on the outside on the front, in which the front handle is pivotally mounted. If the front handle is pivoted into the non-use position, it is expediently completely recessed in this front wall recess, from which it protrudes in the use position. This means that the front handle is well shielded from external influences when not in use.

The upper locking device is expediently designed as a locking device.

It is advantageous if the upper locking device is designed in the same way as the front locking device and therefore works according to the same principle. This allows the storage container to be manufactured particularly cost-effectively.

The upper handle is expediently completely recessed in an upper wall recess when not in use recorded, which is formed outside in the top of the housing wall. On the one hand, this has the advantage that the upper handle does not protrude beyond the outer contour of the container housing when the front handle is used as a carrying handle. On the other hand, this has the advantage that the storage container can be stably stacked on top of one another in the height direction with other storage containers.

The container housing preferably has an at least essentially rectangular floor plan. This promotes space-saving storage of the receptacle, especially in Cases where the storage facility has multiple storage containers.

The container housing is preferably composed of a box-shaped lower housing part and a housing cover. The lower housing part has an access opening for an internal storage space on a top side pointing upwards in the height direction, to which the housing cover is assigned. The housing cover is pivotably mounted on the lower housing part in such a way that it can be pivoted either into a closed position covering the access opening and into at least one open position releasing the access opening. Objects can be stored in the storage space and removed again through the released access opening. The lower housing part expediently has a bottom wall and a peripheral peripheral wall which projects up from the edge of the bottom wall in the height direction of the container housing, both of which belong to the housing wall of the container housing. The upper end portion of the peripheral wall frames the access opening.

The upper handle is arranged at the top outside of the housing cover, while the front handle is attached to the outside of a front wall of the lower housing part, which is a component of the peripheral wall of the lower housing part which projects up from the bottom wall of the lower housing part.

Preferably, the container housing is designed such that the housing cover can be releasably locked to the lower housing part in the closed position. Corresponding locking means are expediently located on the outside of the front of the container housing, in particular above in the height direction of the front handle. The locking means contain, for example, a rotary latch.

In an advantageous embodiment, the storage device comprises a shelf structure in which the at least one storage container can be accommodated in a pull-out manner when not in use. In this context, it is advantageous if the storage container has a guide device on the outside of the container housing, which fits together with a counter-guide device arranged on the shelf structure and also belonging to the storage device. Both the guide device and the counter-guide device are preferably structured in a rail-like manner and engage in one another in a linearly displaceable manner, which facilitates the storage container being easily pulled out or pushed in or out of the shelf structure or into the shelf structure.

The storage facility can only contain a single storage container. However, it is advantageous if it comprises several storage containers, which can preferably be stacked on top of one another in the height direction of each storage container. This means they can be stored to save space.

It is advantageous if each of the several stackable storage containers has a lower coupling device on its container housing in the area of the underside and an upper coupling device in the area of the top, these two coupling devices being adapted to one another in such a way that storage containers stacked directly on top of one another in a height direction interact the upper coupling device of the respective lower storage container and the lower coupling device of the respective upper storage container can be releasably coupled to one another in a manner that cannot be detached from one another.

If the storage containers have a lower housing part and a housing cover that can be pivoted in this regard, these two components being releasably lockable to one another by locking means in a closed position of the housing cover, it is advantageous if the locking means fulfill a multiple function and are also designed as components of at least one of the coupling devices.

Figur 1

eine bevorzugte erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Aufbewahrungseinrichtung mit einem perspektivisch abgebildeten Aufbewahrungsbehälter, der mit der Schließstellung seines Gehäusedeckels abgebildet ist und der über zwei alternativ nutzbare Handgriffe verfügt, die in ihrer Nichtgebrauchsstellung gezeigt sind, wobei zu jedem Handgriff strichpunktiert seine Gebrauchsstellung angedeutet ist,

Figur 2

den Aufbewahrungsbehälter aus Figur 1 im in die Gebrauchsstellung verschwenkten Zustand seines an der Vorderseite befindlichen, als Front-Handgriff ausgebildeten Handgriffes,

Figur 3

eine Vorderansicht des Aufbewahrungsbehälters aus Figur 1 mit Blickrichtung gemäß Pfeil III aus Figur 1,

Figur 4

einen horizontalen Schnitt durch den Aufbewahrungsbehälter mit nach oben in Richtung zum Gehäusedeckel gerichteter Blickrichtung gemäß Schnittebene IV-IV aus Figur 3,

Figur 5

das in Figur 4 strichpunktiert umrahmte Detail VI in einer vergrößerten Einzeldarstellung,

Figur 6

einen vertikalen Schnitt des Aufbewahrungsbehälters gemäß Schnittebene VI-VI aus Figur 3,

Figur 7

das in Figur 6 strichpunktiert umrahmte Detail VII in einer vergrößerten Einzeldarstellung, wobei der Front-Handgriff in einer arretierten Nichtgebrauchsstellung gezeigt ist,

Figur 8

den Ausschnitt gemäß Figur 5 bei in eine Gebrauchsstellung verschwenktem Front-Handgriff, wobei eine bevorzugt vorhandene Sicherungseinrichtung ihren aktiven Zustand einnimmt,

Figur 9

den oberen Endabschnitt des Aufbewahrungsbehälters aus Figur 1 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung, wobei ein an der Oberseite angeordneter oberer Handgriff aus der Nichtgebrauchsstellung herausgeschwenkt ist, sodass der Blick auf eine die Nichtgebrauchsstellung arretierende obere Arretiervorrichtung freigegeben ist,

Figur 10

das in Figur 9 strichpunktiert umrahmte Detail X in einer vergrößerten Darstellung,

Figur 11

eine mit Figur 9 vergleichbare Darstellung im in die Gebrauchsstellung verschwenkten Zustand des oberen Handgriffes,

Figur 12

eine Draufsicht des Aufbewahrungsbehälters mit Blickrichtung gemäß Pfeil XII aus Figur 1,

Figur 13

einen vertikalen Schnitt des Aufbewahrungsbehälters gemäß Schnittebene XIII-XIII aus Figuren 1 und 12, sodass zwei momentan aktive Arretiereinheiten der die Nichtgebrauchsstellung des oberen Handgriffes fixierenden oberen Arretiervorrichtung sichtbar sind,

Figur 14

das in Figur 13 strichpunktiert umrahmte Detail XIV in einer vergrößerten Einzeldarstellung,

Figur 15

eine weitere perspektivische Darstellung des Aufbewahrungsbehälters im noch nicht montierten Zustand des verschwenkbaren Front-Handgriffes, wobei durch Pfeile der Montagevorgang angedeutet ist,

Figur 16

das in Figur 3 strichpunktiert umrahmte Detail XVI an der Vorderseite des Aufbewahrungsbehälters im Bereich des die Nichtgebrauchsstellung einnehmenden Front-Handgriffes, wobei der Front-Handgriff der besseren Übersichtlichkeit wegen nur strichpunktiert abgebildet ist,

Figur 17

eine Einzeldarstellung des Front-Handgriffes in einer Vorderansicht,

Figur 18

eine perspektivische Vorderansicht des Front-Handgriffes,

Figur 19

eine perspektivische Rückansicht des Front-Handgriffes, und

Figur 20

einen aus drei aufeinandergestapelten und vertikal unabhebbar lösbar miteinander gekoppelten Aufbewahrungsbehältern der Aufbewahrungseinrichtung bestehenden Behälterstapel, wobei die Aufbewahrungsbehälter abgesehen von einer unterschiedlichen Bauhöhe identisch ausgebildet sind und wobei der zuoberst auf dem Behälterstapel angeordnete Aufbewahrungsbehälter eine geringere Bauhöhe hat als die beiden darunter platzierten, untereinander eine gleiche Bauhöhe aufweisenden Aufbewahrungsbehälter.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. In this show:

Figure 1

a preferred first embodiment of the storage device according to the invention with a storage container shown in perspective, which is shown with the closed position of its housing cover and which has two alternatively usable handles which are shown in their non-use position, the position of use being indicated by dash-dotted lines for each handle,

Figure 2

the storage container Figure 1 when its handle located on the front and designed as a front handle is pivoted into the position of use,

Figure 3

a front view of the storage container Figure 1 with the viewing direction according to arrow III Figure 1 ,

Figure 4

a horizontal section through the storage container with the viewing direction pointing upwards towards the housing cover according to section plane IV-IV Figure 3 ,

Figure 5

this in Figure 4 Detail VI framed by dash-dotted lines in an enlarged individual representation,

Figure 6

a vertical section of the storage container according to section plane VI-VI Figure 3 ,

Figure 7

this in Figure 6 Detail VII framed by dash-dotted lines in an enlarged individual view, with the front handle shown in a locked non-use position,

Figure 8

according to the cutout Figure 5 with the front handle pivoted into a position of use, with a preferably present safety device assuming its active state,

Figure 9

the upper end section of the storage container Figure 1 in a perspective view, with an upper handle arranged on the top being pivoted out of the non-use position, so that the view of an upper locking device that locks the non-use position is released,

Figure 10

this in Figure 9 Detail X framed by dash-dotted lines in an enlarged view,

Figure 11

one with Figure 9 comparable representation with the upper handle pivoted into the position of use,

Figure 12

a top view of the storage container looking in the direction according to arrow XII Figure 1 ,

Figure 13

a vertical section of the storage container according to section plane XIII-XIII Figures 1 and 12 , so that two currently active locking units of the upper locking device that fixes the non-use position of the upper handle are visible,

Figure 14

this in Figure 13 Dash-dotted framed detail XIV in an enlarged individual representation,

Figure 15

a further perspective view of the storage container in the not yet assembled state of the pivoting front handle, the assembly process being indicated by arrows,

Figure 16

this in Figure 3 Dash-dotted framed detail

Figure 17

an individual representation of the front handle in a front view,

Figure 18

a perspective front view of the front handle,

Figure 19

a perspective rear view of the front handle, and

Figure 20

a stack of containers consisting of three storage containers of the storage device which are stacked one on top of the other and are coupled to one another in a vertically detachable manner, the storage containers being of identical design apart from a different height and the storage container arranged at the top of the container stack having a lower height than the two placed underneath, which have the same height among themselves having storage container.

The storage device, designated overall by reference number 1, comprises one or more storage containers 2, the basic structure of which is from Figures 1 to 19 can be seen in an advantageous embodiment. The Figure 20 shows three storage containers 2 of the storage device 1 in a state stacked on top of one another to form a container stack 98, which are identical apart from a different height. The storage device 1 can in principle only contain a single storage container 2.

The storage container 2 has a container housing 15 with preferably an at least substantially rectangular floor plan, which consists of Figures 4 and 12 is clearly visible.

The container housing 15 has a vertical axis 16 extending between a bottom 4 and a top 5 Axial direction defines a height direction provided with the same reference numerals. It also has a longitudinal axis 17 which is perpendicular to the vertical axis 16 and runs between a front side 6 and a rear side 7 and furthermore a transverse axis 18 which is perpendicular to both the vertical axis 16 and the longitudinal axis 17. The axial direction of the longitudinal axis 17 defines one with the same reference number provided longitudinal direction, while the axial direction of the transverse axis 18 defines a transverse direction of the container housing 15 provided with the same reference number. By way of example, the dimensions in the height direction 16 determine a height, the dimensions in the longitudinal direction 17 determine a depth and the dimensions in the transverse direction 18 determine a width of the container housing 15.

The above-mentioned rectangular outline runs in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis 16.

The container housing 15 has a housing wall 22, which is formed in the interior of the housing, for example from Figures 4 , 6 and 13 visible storage space 23 limited. Any objects to be stored can be accommodated in the storage space 23, for example tools and in particular power tools.

The container housing 15 expediently has a lower housing part 24 and a housing cover 25 which is pivotably mounted on the lower housing part 24. In the Figures 9 and 11 Only the housing cover is visible. The housing wall 22 is composed of walls of the lower housing part 24 and the housing cover 25.

In the case of the preferably box-shaped lower housing part 24, the housing wall 22 consists of a bottom wall 26 closing off the storage space 23 on the underside 4 and an outer one Edge of this bottom wall 26 is a peripheral wall 27 which projects upwards in the height direction 16. The peripheral wall 27 encloses the storage space 23 around the vertical axis 16, with an upper end section 21 framing an access opening 28 for the storage space 23 on its upper side opposite the bottom wall 26 . Objects can be inserted into the storage space 23 and removed from the storage space 23 through the access opening 28.

The peripheral wall 27, which is in one piece with the bottom wall 26, is composed of a front wall 32 oriented at right angles to the vertical axis 16, a rear wall 33 opposite the front wall 32 in the longitudinal direction 17, and two side walls 34. The side walls 34 lie opposite each other in the transverse direction 18 and each connect the front wall 32 to the rear wall 33. The front wall 32 and the rear wall 33 each extend essentially in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 17. The side walls 34 each extend essentially in a plane perpendicular to the transverse axis 18.

The entire peripheral wall 27 and the bottom wall 26 are formed in one piece with each other.

The housing cover 25 is assigned to the access opening 28 and is, preferably in the area of the rear wall 33, pivotally mounted relative to the lower housing part 24 about a pivot axis 35 running in the transverse direction 18. The pivot bearing means 12 defining the pivot axis 35 are preferably arranged on the rear corner regions of the peripheral wall 27 which each connect a side wall 34 to the rear wall 33, in particular with only a small height distance to the access opening 28.

As part of an in Figure 2 By pivoting movement 36 indicated by a double arrow, the housing cover 25 can be positioned either in a closed position resting on the upper end section 21 of the peripheral wall 27 and thereby closing the access opening 28 or in various open positions pivoted more or less far upwards. In the open positions, the access opening 28 becomes accessible with a more or less large opening cross section depending on the selected opening pivot angle.

The closed position of the housing cover 25 can expediently be releasably locked. For this purpose, suitable locking means 38, which can be operated manually, can be found, for example, in the area of the front 6 on the outside of the container housing 15. The locking means 38 preferably comprise a rotary latch 42 which is rotatably mounted in the area of the front 6 on the housing cover 25 about an axis of rotation 44 parallel to the longitudinal axis 17 and a locking projection 43 arranged on the outside of the front wall 32 of the lower housing part 24. The rotary latch 42 can be in the closed position State of the housing cover 25 can be rotated so that it is either in or out of locking engagement with the associated locking projection 43.

The exemplary illustrated storage container 2 contains only a single storage space 23, which is closed by the housing cover 25 in an openable manner. In an unillustrated embodiment, at least one drawer which can be pulled out if necessary is additionally arranged in the lower housing part 24 and which provides an additional storage space provides. In an exemplary embodiment, also not shown, the container housing 15 has no lid on the top 5, but rather a ceiling wall formed in one piece with the peripheral wall 27, the storage container 2 being designed overall as a drawer container which can be pulled out of the container housing via one or more or has retractable drawers, the drawer spaces of which define the storage space 23 as a whole.

At least on the outside of the front 6, a handle 52 is arranged on the container housing 15, which is referred to as the front handle 52 for better differentiation. If the container housing 15 is composed of a lower housing part 24 and a housing cover 25 according to the exemplary embodiment, the front handle 52 is preferably attached to the outside of the front wall 32 of the lower housing part 24. This is the case in the illustrated embodiment. By using the front handle 52, the storage container 2 can be carried and transported in an orientation referred to below as a vertical orientation, in which the vertical axis 16 is aligned horizontally.

The storage container 2 preferably has a further handle 45 on the outside of its top 5 oriented in the height direction 16, which is referred to as the upper handle 45 for better differentiation. If the container housing 15 has a housing cover 25 according to the exemplary embodiment, the upper handle 45 is attached to the outside of an upper cover wall 79 of the housing cover 25 which extends at right angles to the vertical axis 16 in the closed position. By using the upper handle 45, the storage container 2 can be placed in a horizontal orientation carry and transport in which the vertical axis 16 runs vertically.

At least the front handle 52, but preferably also the upper handle 45, are pivotally mounted on the container housing 15, so that they can be positioned by pivoting relative to the container housing 15 either in a non-use position pivoted towards the container housing 15 or in a use position projecting away from the container housing 15.

The pivot axis 51 of the front handle 52 is referred to below as the front pivot axis 51, the associated pivoting movement 53 being indicated by a double arrow.

The pivot axis 49 of the upper handle 45 is referred to below as the upper pivot axis 49, the associated pivoting movement 41 also being indicated by a double arrow.

Both pivot axes 51, 49 run parallel to the transverse axis 18.

The non-use positions of the two handles 52, 45 pivoted towards the container housing 15 are shown at 52a and 45a, the use positions at 52b and 45b. The front handle 52 protrudes forward from the container housing 15 in its use position 52b, while the upper handle 45 protrudes upwards from the container housing 15 in its use position 45b.

The front handle 52 is preferably designed as an at least substantially U-shaped bow handle. Appropriate applies to the upper handle 45. In the illustrated embodiment, both handles 52, 45 are implemented as bow handles.

The front handle 52, designed as a bow handle, has two handle legs 55 corresponding to the U-legs, spaced apart from one another in a handle longitudinal direction 54 and parallel to one another, which are connected to one another at one front end region by a connecting web 56. The longitudinal direction of the handle 54 runs in the axial direction of a longitudinal axis of the front handle 52 which has the same reference number.

The upper handle 45 similarly also has two handle legs 57 which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction 18 and which are connected to one another at one end by a connecting web 58.

The preferably rod-shaped connecting webs 56, 58 of the two handles 52, 45 expediently run parallel to one another. The upper handle 45 preferably has a greater length than the front handle 52. Both handles 52, 45 are arranged and designed mirror-symmetrically with respect to a central plane spanned by the vertical axis 16 and the longitudinal axis 17 and passing through the container housing 15 in the middle of the width.

The upper handle 45 is pivotably mounted on the housing cover 25 in the area of the free end sections 63 of its handle legs 57 opposite its connecting web 58. In the non-use position 45a, a grip plane of the upper handle 45 spanned by the connecting web 58 and the two handle legs 57 runs at right angles to the vertical axis 16.

The upper cover wall 79 of the housing cover 25 belonging to the housing wall 22 preferably has an upper wall recess 64 on the outside, in which the upper handle 45 is rotatably mounted and in which the upper handle 45 is preferably completely recessed when it assumes its non-use position 45a. The upper wall recess 64 is expediently also U-shaped. In the use position 45b, the upper handle 45 protrudes upwards from the upper wall recess 64, with the connecting web 58 being spaced sufficiently far from the upper lid end surface 48 to enable one hand to grip around it to carry the storage container 2.

As an alternative to the pivotable upper handle 45, the storage container 2 can also have an upper handle 45 attached to the container housing 15 in a non-pivoting manner.

The front handle 52 is pivotably mounted on the outside of the front wall 32 in the area of the free end sections 62 of its handle legs 55 opposite its connecting web 56 in order to carry out the pivoting movement 53. To define the assigned front pivot axis 51, each free end section 62 of the two handle legs 55 is assigned a suitable pivot bearing device 65.

The front wall 32 is expediently provided with a front wall recess 66 on its outside facing away from the storage space 32, in which the two pivot bearing devices 65 are arranged. The front wall recess 66 has such a depth that the front handle 52 is completely recessed in it when it assumes its non-use position 52a. In the use position 52b the front handle 52 protrudes sufficiently far from the front wall recess 66 to be able to grasp the connecting web 56 with one hand to carry the storage container 2.

A handle plane spanned by the two handle legs 55 and the connecting web 56 of the front handle 52 runs at right angles to the longitudinal axis 17 in the non-use position and at right angles to the vertical axis 16 in the use position.

The front wall recess 66 is delimited on its two sides, which are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction 18, by two side edge surfaces 67 which face one another and are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction 18. Each pivot bearing device 65 is preferably placed in the area of one of these two lateral edge surfaces 67.

The front handle 52 is expediently pivoted downwards in the non-use position 45a, that is, its U-opening points upwards in the height direction 16.

In the case of the upper handle 45, the non-use position 45a expediently manifests itself in the fact that the U-opening of the bow-shaped upper handle 45 points in the longitudinal direction 17 towards the back 7.

Appropriately, the front handle 52 is assigned a locking device of the storage container 2, referred to as a front locking device 68 for better differentiation, which is designed for the non-pivoting, releasable locking of the front handle 52 in its non-use position 52a.

It is advantageous if the upper handle 45 is also assigned a locking device suitable for releasably locking its non-use position 45a, which is referred to as the upper locking device 69 for better distinction. The storage container 2 of the illustrated embodiment has both the front locking device 68 and the upper locking device 69.

Each locking device 68, 69 prevents the handle 52, 45 located in the non-use position 52a, 45a from carrying out uncontrolled pivoting movements relative to the container housing 15 when the storage container 2 is used using the other handle 45 or 52 is transported.

The front locking device 68 is expediently designed as a locking device 70, which automatically engages or disengages with a snap effect depending on the pivoting direction of the pivoting movement 53 when a corresponding actuating force is introduced into the front handle 52. The intensity of the latching is sufficiently high to prevent automatic latching or unlatching when the storage container 2 is handled as intended. However, it is sufficiently low to be able to cause the locking to lock or to be released simply by using the hand without any extraordinary effort.

The upper locking device 69 is preferably also designed as a locking device 71, the functional properties of which correspond to those explained above with reference to the locking device 70.

In principle, it is possible to design the front and/or upper locking device 68, 69 in a manner that can be operated separately, so that their operating state does not cause a change in the operating state simply by manually introducing force into the associated handle 52, 45. For example, there could be at least one spring-loaded latch. However, the described embodiment with automatic locking or unlocking solely due to a corresponding introduction of force into the associated handle 52, 45 enables particularly comfortable handling while at the same time keeping production costs low.

The operating state assumed by the locking device 68, 69 with the non-pivotably locked non-use position 45a, 52a is also referred to below as the active operating state. The operating state of the locking device 68, 69 that no longer locks the non-use position is also referred to below as the inactive operating state.

The pivot angle of the front handle 52 and/or the upper handle 45 between the non-use position 52a, 45a and the use position 52b, 45b is expediently at least substantially 90 degrees. Each handle 52, 45 can be pivoted within this pivoting range, in particular continuously, into any intermediate positions, none of which are locked or lockable. In the Figure 20 There is such an intermediate pivoting position of the front handle 52 in the middle container 2. As soon as the handle 52, 45 has left the locked non-use position 52a, 45a, it can be pivoted freely at least up to the use position 52b, 45b. If the pivot bearing means are designed accordingly, the handle can be 52, 45 even pivot beyond the use position 52b, 45b.

The locking device 68, 69 can be locally limited to a single area of the handle 52, 45 in question. However, it is considered more advantageous if the front locking device 68 and/or the upper locking device 69 consists of several, in particular exactly two, locking units 68a, 68b; 69a, 69b, which are arranged at a spatial distance from one another. By way of example, the two locking units 68a, 68b and 69a, 69b of each locking device 68, 69 are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction of the associated pivot axis 51, 49.

The two locking units 68a, 68b of the front locking device 68, which are also referred to below as front locking units 68a, 68b for simplicity, are each arranged in the area of one of the two handle legs 55. They are preferably located in the area of one of the two lateral edge surfaces 67 of the front wall recess 66.

The front locking units 68a, 68b are arranged at a distance from the pivot bearing devices 65 transversely to the pivot axis 51. In particular, they are at a distance from the pivot axis 51 which corresponds to the distance of the connecting web 56 from the pivot axis 51. When viewed in the non-use position 52a of the front handle 52, both front locking units 68a, 68b are expediently located in the area of the connecting web 56.

The locking units 69a, 69b of the upper locking device 69, also referred to below as upper locking units 69a, 69b, are in relation to the upper handle 45 in arranged in a comparable manner to the front locking units 68a, 68b with respect to the front handle 52. One of the upper locking units 69a, 69b is located in the area of one of the handle legs 57, in particular in the area facing away from the other handle leg 57. They are each located in the area of one of two mutually facing side edge surfaces 72 of the upper wall recess 66, which are arranged at a distance from one another in the transverse direction 18 and which, in the exemplary embodiment, are each close to one of the two side walls 34. In the non-use position 45a, one of the handle legs 57 of the upper handle 45 extends next to each of these two side edge surfaces 72. The upper locking units 69a, 69b are preferably each arranged in the area of the connecting web 58 of the upper handle 45.

Each front locking unit 68a, 68b preferably contains a locking projection 73 which is arranged on the housing wall 22 of the container housing 15 and is in particular formed in one piece with the housing wall 22 and is, for example, knob-shaped. It represents a first locking element 73a of the front locking unit 68a, 68b. Each locking projection 73 is preferably formed on one of the two lateral edge surfaces 67 of the front wall recess 66 so that it protrudes from the side into the front wall recess 66.

Each upper locking unit 69a, 69b expediently also includes a correspondingly designed locking projection 75, these locking projections 75 expediently each being formed on one of the two lateral edge surfaces 72 of the upper wall recess 66.

Each locking projection 73 of the front locking units 68a, 68b engages in the non-use position 52a in a locking recess 74 of the respective front locking unit 68a, 68b formed in the front handle 52. This locking recess 74 represents a second locking element 74a of the respective front locking unit 68a, 68b.

Advantageously, the two locking recesses 74 in the exemplary embodiment are formed by the end regions assigned to the two handle legs 55 of a cavity 81 which passes through the connecting web 56 in its longitudinal direction. In the non-use position 52, each locking projection 73 dips into the cavity 81 from one end face and engages behind a wall section 82 of the connecting web 56 that peripherally surrounds this cavity 81. This is in Figure 7 clearly visible. The wall section 82 can be moved past the locking projections 73 with a snap effect by the pivoting movement 53 of the front handle 52.

In a comparable manner, each upper locking unit 69a, 69b expediently also includes a locking recess 76 formed on the upper handle 45, which is formed by one of the two opposite end regions of a cavity 83 longitudinally passing through the connecting web 58 of the upper handle 45. In the non-use position 45a, the two locking projections 75 engage into the cavity 83 from opposite sides and overlap a wall section 84 of the connecting web 58 which peripherally encloses the cavity 81. When the upper handle 45 pivots 41, said wall section 84 is attached to the associated one with a snap effect Locking projection 75 can be moved past.

It goes without saying that the assignment of the locking projections 73, 75 and the locking recesses 74, 76 with respect to the container housing 15 and the respective handle 52, 45 can also be reversed.

In a non-illustrated exemplary embodiment, each locking recess 74, 76 is designed to be complementary to the shape of the locking projection 73, 75 and has, for example, the shape of a small trough into which the knob-like locking projection 73, 75 can snap.

It goes without saying that the first and second locking elements 73a, 74a of the front handle 52 can also be designed in a way other than in the form of a locking recess and a locking projection. The same applies to the components of the upper locking unit 69a, 69b.

Overall, it is advantageous if the upper locking device 69 is designed in the same way as the front locking device 68, which is achieved in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the fastening measures for the front handle 52 that allow a pivoting movement 53 is explained below.

As already mentioned, the front handle 52 is pivotably fixed to the front wall 32 by means of two pivot bearing devices 65, each of which is assigned to one of the free end sections 62 of the handle legs 55.

Each of these pivot bearing devices 65 has a first storage element 85 arranged on the container housing 15 and a second storage element 86 arranged on the handle leg 55.

These two bearing elements 85, 86 are inserted into one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis 51 and can be rotated relative to one another.

The pivot bearing devices 65 are preferably designed such that each second storage element 86 arranged on a handle leg 55 is plugged together in a plug-in direction with the first storage element 85 arranged on the container housing 15, which points away from the other handle leg 55 in the axial direction of the pivot axis 51.

The second storage elements 86 are expediently designed in one piece with the handle legs and the first storage elements 85 are expediently designed in one piece with the container housing 15.

By way of example, the first bearing element 85 is designed as a bearing eye 85a, which has an insertion opening 87 facing the adjacent handle leg 57. The bearing eye 85a is realized in particular as a wall recess or wall recess in the front wall 32. In the exemplary embodiment, it is formed in one of the two lateral edge surfaces 67 of the front wall recess 66. The two insertion openings 87 face each other and are aligned coaxially with one another.

The second bearing element 86 arranged on the front handle 52 is designed in the exemplary embodiment as a bearing pin 86a, which dips through the insertion opening 86 into the associated bearing eye 85a. The two bearing pins 86a are also aligned coaxially with one another, pointing in opposite directions, i.e. pointing away from one another. They are located in particular on the outer sides of the two handle legs 55 facing away from each other. This means that everyone dives Bearing pin 86a from the front wall recess 66 into the associated bearing eye 85a.

The pivot bearing devices 65 are therefore preferably arranged in the area of the outer sides of the two handle legs 55 of the front handle 52 that face away from one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis 51.

Like in particular Figures 7, 8 and 9 As can be clearly seen, the bearing journals 86a have, for example, a non-round cross-sectional contour. However, they can also be circular.

It goes without saying that the arrangement of the bearing eyes 85a and bearing pins 86a with respect to the container housing 15 and the front handle 52 can also be reversed.

With a non-round cross-sectional contour of the bearing pins 86a, it can easily be achieved that the front handle 52 is fixed non-pivotably in the use position 52b in an easily releasable manner by positive contact with the housing wall 22. By way of example, the bearing pin 86a has a flattening 88 at one point on its peripheral circumference, which rests and is supported on a flat wall surface of the housing wall 22 in the use position 52b. Since the individual components are made of a plastic material, they can yield to one another when torque is applied to the front handle 52. In this respect, the use position 52b fixed by means of the bearing pins 86a can be canceled again very easily.

The front handle 52 expediently consists of a plastic material. This preferably also applies to the upper handle 45 and the entire container housing 15.

If the storage container 2 is carried in the vertical orientation by means of the front handle 52, the front handle 52 has a tendency to bend in the sense of the two handle legs 55 moving closer together. These bending forces are in Figure 3 at 90 indicated by arrows. If the front handle 52 is not particularly stable, this can in principle result in the bearing pins 86a slipping out of the bearing eyes 85a and the container housing 15 becoming detached. This danger is particularly great when the storage room 23 is heavily loaded.

In the illustrated storage container 2, safety measures have been taken which exclude this potential risk despite the lightweight construction of the front handle 52. The front handle 52 can thus be produced cost-effectively, with the possibility implemented in the exemplary embodiment in particular of making the connecting web 56 tubular as a hollow body.

The security measures consist in that the free end section 62 of each handle leg 55 is assigned a security device 91 arranged on the storage container 2. Each safety device 91 is designed so that it assumes an active state at least in the use position of the front handle 51, in which it can support or supports the associated handle leg 55 in the axial direction of the pivot axis 51 with respect to the container housing 15 in order to be able to do so in the event of the Bending forces 90 prevent the two handle legs 55 from coming closer together and thus the storage elements 85, 86 inserted into one another from becoming detached from one another.

In an exemplary embodiment, each securing device 91 contains a first support projection 92 which is fixedly arranged on the container housing 15 in the area of the pivot axis 51 and which projects transversely and in particular at right angles to the pivot axis 51 from the front wall 32 to the front 6. Each safety device 91 also has a second support projection 93 arranged on the free end region 62 of the associated handle leg 55, which is arranged offset in the axial direction of the pivot axis 91 from the first support projection 92, namely offset in the direction of the outside of the assigned handle facing away from the other handle leg 55 Handle leg 55. The clear distance measured in the transverse direction 18 between the first support projections 92 arranged on the container housing 15 is therefore smaller than the clear distance measured in the longitudinal direction 54 between the two second support projections 93 formed on the front handle 52.

Every second support projection 93 follows the pivoting movement 53 of the front handle 52 and is designed in such a way that it overlaps the adjacent first support projection 92 arranged on the front wall 32 of the container housing 15 at right angles to the pivot axis 51, at least during the active state of the safety device 91. Due to this overlap, the second support projection 93 can be supported with an inner support surface 94, which is formed on its end face facing the U-opening of the bow-shaped front handle 52, on an oppositely oriented outer support surface 95 of the first support projection 92 facing it.

The safety devices 91 can be designed so that the active state is present in every pivoting position of the front handle 52.

However, especially in connection with a particularly favorable mounting option for the front handle 52, it is advantageous if the safety devices 91 develop their effect selectively, namely depending on the pivot angle of the front handle 52 with respect to the container housing 15. In the exemplary embodiment, each safety device 91 has an inactive state in at least one other pivot position that deviates from the use position 52b of the front handle 52, in which it uses the associated handle leg 55 for a mutually directed relative movement between the two handle legs 55 in the axial direction of the pivot axis 51 releases. Thus, in the inactive state of the safety devices 91, the two handle legs 55 can be elastically bending the front handle 52, in particular its connecting web 56, in the direction of the arrows 90 Figure 3 be brought closer together.

By way of example, this selective effect of the safety devices 91 is achieved by a special design of the second support projections 93 arranged on the handle legs 55. They have only a limited circumferential extent around the pivot axis 51, with their circumferential extent being approximately 90 degrees in the exemplary embodiment. The support projections 93 therefore assume a position that overlaps with the first support projections 92 only in the active state of the safety devices 91 ( Figure 8 ), while in other pivoting positions of the front handle 56 this overlap is eliminated ( Figure 7 ).

It is advantageous if the inactive state of the safety device 91 only exists when the front handle 52 is positioned in the area of the non-use position 52a, or in a limited pivoting range of the handle of a maximum of 10 degrees starting from the non-use position 52a, the non-use position 52a is included. Such a configuration is present in the exemplary embodiment.

The design with a selective effect of the safety device 91 offers the possibility used in the illustrated exemplary embodiment of mounting the front handle 52 on the container housing 15 by means of a locking process and preferably also dismantling it again, while at the same time ensuring the safety function when carrying the storage container 2 by means of the front -Handle 52.

In Figure 15 the front handle 52 is shown in the dismantled state. Double arrows 96 indicate the possible relative movements of the two handle legs 55 in the grip plane of the front handle 52 when the front handle 52 is bent elastically. For mounting on the container housing 15, the front handle 52 is held in a relative position to the container housing 15, which corresponds to a pivoting position in which the safety devices 91 are inactive. In the exemplary embodiment, this is a relative position corresponding to the non-use position 52a.

In this orientation, the front handle 52 is pressed against the front wall 32 of the container housing 15 with an assembly movement indicated by arrows 97 in the longitudinal direction 17, so that the second storage elements 86 are in the frame Snap into the first storage elements 85 during a latching process.

In the exemplary embodiment, this locking process is made possible by the fact that each bearing pin 86a has an oblique sliding surface 99 on the front side, with which it can slide during the assembly movement 97 on a border structure 100 of the container housing 15 surrounding the bearing eye 85a. As a result of this sliding, the two handle legs 55 are briefly moved towards each other according to the arrows 96 with elastic deformation in order to move away from each other again after passing the border structure 100 according to the arrows 96 and thereby snap into the bearing eyes 85a.

If necessary, the front handle 52 can be easily dismantled again by engaging a lever tool in the gap between a handle leg 55 and the side edge surface 67 and bending the associated handle leg 55 elastically in the direction of the U-opening.

The second support projection 93 expediently delimits a first groove 101, which is formed on the front side on the free end section 62 of the handle leg 55 and is open transversely to the pivot axis 51. The first support projection 92, which is formed on the container housing 15, dips into this first groove 101.

Additionally or alternatively, the first support projection 92 formed on the container housing 15 delimits a second groove 102, which is also open transversely to the pivot axis 91 and into which the second support projection 93 is immersed. The immersion of the support projections 92, 93 into the grooves 102, 101 occurs selectively to the same extent as the mutual supporting effect of the two support projections 92, 93. Through the grooves 101, 102 results there is even better support and/or guidance for the handle legs 55.

An advantageous embodiment of the storage device 1 contains an in Figure 3 Shelf structure 103, indicated only schematically by dash-dotted lines, which is designed to store at least one storage container 2 when not in use. The shelf structure 103 offers the possibility of holding the at least one storage container 2 in a drawer-like manner. Such a shelf structure 103 can be installed, for example, in a workshop or in a service vehicle.

In this context, the storage container 2 has a guide device 104 on the outside of the lower housing part 24, via which it can be brought into engagement in a detachable, linearly displaceable manner by means of an adapted counter-guide device 105 of the storage device 1 arranged on the shelf structure 103. By way of example, the guide device 104 includes one guide rail 104a, 104b on the outside of each side wall 34 in the area of the underside 4. The counter-guide device 105 has two counter-guide rails 105a, 105b, which are arranged at a distance from one another on the shelf structure 103 in such a way that the Storage container 2 can be brought into engagement with them from one end side by means of its guide rails 104a, 104b. The guide rails 104a, 104b and the counter-guide rails 105a, 105b are coordinated with one another in such a way that the storage container 2 can be inserted into the shelf structure 103 in its longitudinal direction 17 and can be pulled out of the shelf structure 103. The front handle 52 can be used for this handling.

The guide device 104 is expediently integrated in one piece into the lower housing part 24 made of plastic material.

Preferably, several storage containers 2 can be stacked on top of each other in the height direction 16, so that a container stack 98 consisting of two or more storage containers 2 stacked on top of one another results, as shown in FIG Figure 20 is shown as an example. When stacked, an upper container 2 sits with its underside 4 on the top 5 of another container 2 arranged underneath.

Each storage container 2 expediently has a lower coupling device 106 in the area of its underside 4, for example in the Figure 3 is designed in an obvious manner. In addition, each storage container 2 has an upper coupling device 107 on the top 5, the preferred embodiment of which Figure 1 is visible. The two coupling devices 106, 107 are adapted to one another in such a way that, through their interaction, the storage containers 2 stacked directly on top of one another can be releasably coupled to one another in a manner that cannot be separated from one another. Such a coupled state is in Figure 20 shown. The stack of containers 98 can then be carried and transported uniformly using the upper handle 45 of the top storage container 2.

The locking means 38 explained above preferably belong at least partially to the two coupling devices 106, 107. For example, the rotary lock 22 can be in one Figure 20 The coupling position shown at 108 can be rotated in which the two are stacked on top of each other Storage container 2 in the area of the front 6 is irremovably coupled to one another.

Further components of the coupling devices 106, 107 are formed in the illustrated embodiment by projections formed on the underside 4 and by depressions formed on the top 5. When two storage containers 2 are stacked on top of each other, the projections and recesses at least partially engage one another, overlapping or reaching behind each other transversely to the height direction 16 and also effecting a coupling of two storage containers 2 stacked on top of one another that cannot be separated from one another, in particular in the area of the back 7. The projections are These are expediently feet used to place the storage container 2 on a surface.

Claims (16)

1. Storage device, with at least one storage container (2) which comprises a container housing (25) which on an upper side (5) which is orientated in a height direction (16) comprises an upper handle (45) and on an a front side (6) which is orientated at right angles to the height direction (16) comprises a front handle (52) which is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis (51), wherein the front handle (52) in the course of a pivoting movement (52) is selectively pivotable into a position of non-use (52a) pivoted onto the container housing (15) at the front or into a position of use (52b) pivoted away from the container housing and projecting to the front, wherein the storage container (2) comprises a front arresting device (68) which is assigned to the front handle (52) and is designed for the non-pivotable releasable arresting of the front handle (52) in its position of non-use (52a), characterized in that the upper handle (45) is likewise pivotably mounted on the container housing (15), wherein in the course of a pivoting movement (41) it is selectively pivotable into a position of non-use (45a) pivoted onto the container housing (15) at the top or into a position of use (45b) pivoted away from the container housing (15) and projecting upwards, wherein the storage container (2) comprises an upper arresting device (69) and which is assigned to the upper handle (45) for the releasable arresting of the upper handle (45) in its position of non-use (45a).
2. Storage device according to claim 1, characterised in that the front arresting device (68) is designed in a manner such that given the pivoting of the front handle (52) out of the position of use (52b) into the position of non-use (52a), caused by a manual introduction of force, it automatically gets into an active operating state non-pivotably arresting the front handle (52).
3. Storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the front arresting device (68) is designed in a manner such that given the pivoting of the front handle (52) out of the position of non-use (52a) in the direction of the position of use (52b), caused by a manual introduction of force, it automatically gets into an inactive operating state no longer arresting the front handle (52).
4. Storage device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the front arresting device (68) is designed as a latching device (70) which, given the pivoting of the front handle (52) which is caused by a manual introduction of force, with a snap effect automatically latches in or automatically latches out depending on the pivoting direction.
5. Storage device according to one of the claim 1 to 4, characterised in that the front arresting device (68) comprises at least one front arresting unit (68a, 68b) which comprises a first arresting element (73a) which is arranged on the container housing (15) and a second arresting element (74a) which is arranged the front handle (52), wherein in the position of non-use (52a) of the front handle (52) the first and the second arresting element (68a, 68b) are in overlapping engagement with one another overlapping in the axis direction of the pivot axis (51) of the pivoting movement (53) and thereby preventing a pivoting of the front handle (52), and in the position of use (52b) of the front handle (52) are out of engagement with one another, wherein expediently the first arresting element (73a) is designed as an arresting projection (73) and the second arresting element (68b) as an arresting deepening (74) or vice-versa and/or expediently the front arresting projection (68) comprises two front arresting units (68a, 68b) which are distanced to one another in the axis direction of the pivot axis (51) of the pivoting movement (53).
6. Storage device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the front handle (52) is pivotably mounted on the container housing (15) by way of at least one pivot bearing device (65) which defines the pivot axis (51).
7. Storage device according to claim 6, characterised in that the front arresting device (68) is arranged distanced to the at least one pivot bearing device (65) in a direction which is at right angles to the pivot axis (51) of the front handle (52).
8. Storage device according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the pivotable front handle (52) is designed as an at least essentially U-shaped bow grip and comprises two grip limbs (55) which are connected to one another by way of a connection web (56), around which a hand can grip, wherein in the region of the free end sections (62) of the grip limbs (55) which are opposite to the connection web (56) the front handle is pivotably mounted on the container housing (15) via a pivot bearing device (65).
9. Storage device according to claim 8 in combination with claim 7, characterised in that the front arresting device (68), considered in the position of non-use (52a) of the front handle (52), is arranged in the region of the connection web (56).
10. Storage device according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that each pivot bearing device (65) comprises a first bearing element (85) which is arranged on the container housing (15) and a second bearing element (86) which is arranged on one of the grip limbs (55) of the front handle (52), said bearing elements being inserted into one another in the axis direction of the pivot axis (51) and being rotatable relative to one another with respect to the pivot axis (51), wherein a securing device (91) which assumes an active state at least on the position of use (52b) of the front handle (52) is assigned to the free end section (62) of each grip limb (55), by way of which securing device in its active state the assigned grip limb (55) is supportable with respect to the container housing (15) in the axis direction of the pivot axis (51), in order to prevent a mutual approach of the two grip limbs (55) which would permit a release from one another of the bearing elements (85, 86) which are inserted into one another.
11. Storage container according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the container housing (15) comprises a housing wall (22) and on its front side (6) at the outside in the housing wall (22) is provided with a front wall deepening (66), in which the front handle (52) is pivotably mounted, wherein the front handle (52) in its position of non-use (52a) is received in the front wall deepening (66) in a completely sunk manner and in its position of use projects to the front out of the front wall deepening (66).
12. Storage device according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the upper arresting device (69) is designed as a latching device (71) and/or that the upper arresting device (69) is designed in the same manner as the front arresting device (68).
13. Storage device according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the container housing (15) comprises a housing wall (22) which on the upper side (5) at the outside is provided with an upper wall deepening (64), in which the upper handle (45) is pivotably mounted, wherein the upper handle (45) in the position of non-use (45a) is received in the upper wall deepening (64) in a completely sunk manner and in its position of use (45b) projects upwards out of the upper wall deepening (64).
14. Storage device according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the container housing (15) has a box-like housing lower part (24) which on an upper side (5) which faces upwards in the height direction (16) comprises an access opening (28) for a storage space (23) and has a housing lid (25) which is assigned to the access opening (28) and for opening and closing the access opening (28) is pivotably mounted on the housing lower part (24), wherein the upper handle (45) is arranged at the top at the outside on the housing lid (25) and the front handle (52) ) is arranged at the outside on a front wall (32) of the housing lower part (24) which projects upwards from a base wall (26) of the housing lower part (25).
15. Storage device according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the storage container (2) on the outside of the container housing (15) comprises a guide device (104), via which it can be received in a shelf structure (103) in a manner in which it can be pulled out.
16. Storage device according to one of the claims 1 to 15, characterised in that it comprises several storage containers (2) which each on their container housing (15) in the region of the lower side (4) comprise a lower coupling device (106) and in the region of the upper side (5) comprise an upper coupling device (107), wherein these two coupling devices (106, 107) are adapted to one another in a manner such that storage containers (2) which are directly stacked onto one another in the height direction (16), by way of the interaction of the upper coupling device (107) of the respective lower storage container (2) and of the lower coupling device (106) of the respective upper storage container (2) can be releasably coupled to one another in a manner in which they cannot be lifted from one another.

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