WO2022269282A1

WO2022269282A1 - Container

Info

Publication number: WO2022269282A1
Application number: PCT/GB2022/051625
Authority: WO
Inventors: O'Nion ADRIAN DENNIS; Milnthorpe THOMAS PATRICK FENTON; Bingham JAMES WILLIAM
Original assignee: Hampshire Design Solutions Limited
Priority date: 2021-06-25
Filing date: 2022-06-24
Publication date: 2022-12-29
Also published as: GB2610158B; GB202109211D0; GB2610158A; EP4359174A1

Abstract

A container (1) which comprises a connector (3), the connector arranged to allow the container to be brought into an attached condition with at least one of a second container and a fixture, which said at least one of second container and fixture is provided with a counterpart connector (4), and the connector comprises at least one of a socket and a socket-receivable structure, and the counterpart connector comprises the other of said socket and socket-receivable structure, and wherein the coupled attached condition is arranged to be brought about by a rotation of the container.

Description

CONTAINER

Technical Field

The present invention to containers which are arranged to be capable of being attached to one another. Background

In the field of the tradesperson, various tools, accessories, and fixings and fasteners are required in order to carry out a particular job. It is known to provided carry cases for tools (such as power tools), as well as compartmentalised organisers (which are arranged to hold different types of fasteners, for example). However, it can be cumbersome to carry multiple carry cases, organisers etc. which are separate.

We have devised a novel system which enables a container to be detachably connected to another container.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container which comprises a connector, the connector arranged to allow the container to be brought into a coupled condition with at least one of a second container and a fixture, which is provided with a counterpart connector, and wherein the coupled condition is arranged to be received by a relative rotation between said connectors.

The coupled condition may be such that the container and the at least one of the second container and fixture are attached together.

The coupled condition may be such that the connector and the counterpart connector physically engage.

The counter and the counterpart connector may be described as inter-engageable or co- operable. Engagement of the connector and the counterpart connector may be arranged to be achieved by way of mechanical engagement between the connector and the counter connector. Said engagement may be arranged to retain the connector to the counterpart connector. Said mechanical engagement may comprise at least one of frictional engagement and complementary feature engagement. The complementary feature engagement may comprise a recess formation which is arranged to receive a protrusion or detent formation. The connector and the counterpart connector may be interengageable. The connector and the counterpart connector may be interlockable.

The connector may be arranged to be rotatable relative to the counterpart connector.

The connector may comprise at least one of a socket and a socket-receivable structure.

The counterpart connector may comprise at least one of a socket and a socket-receivable structure.

The socket structure may comprise a lip or flange, an underside of which is arranged to receive a portion of the socket-receivable structure. The socket structure may comprise two opposed lips/flanges. The socket structure may comprise a recess which is arranged to receive the socket-receivable structure. The lip or flange may be inwardly facing (that is facing generally towards the container or structure to which it is secured).

The socket structure may be configured to receive and locate the socket-receivable structure in a locating condition prior to relative rotation to the coupled condition.

The socket-receivable structure may comprise a structure which extends away from a surface of the container. The socket receivable structure may be described as a boss or upstand. The socket-receivable structure may comprise a lip or flange which is arranged to be engaged with the socket structure. The lip or flange may be inwardly facing.

The socket-receivable structure may comprise four principal sides (when viewed in plan) which are substantially orthogonally arranged to one another.

A first connector may be provided on one side of the container and a second connector may be provided on an opposite side. One of said two sides may be an upper side of the container and the other of said two sides may be a lower or underside. Said two sides may be externally facing sides.

A plurality of first connectors may be provided on one side of the container. A plurality of second connectors may be provided on the opposite side of the container. The coupling may be arranged to be achieved by way of a manually applied rotational force.

The container may comprise a lid and a base. The lid may be connected to the base by a hinge. The container may comprise a number of storage compartments. An internal space of the container may be divided into a plurality of compartments.

The container may be one or more of:

-a tool container (for containing tools such as power tools)

-a tool accessory container -a container for holding fixtures, fittings and/or fasteners.

The tools, accessories, fixtures, fittings and/or fasteners, may collectively be referred to as equipment. The equipment may be suitable for activities including but not limited to maintenance, servicing, repair, construction and installation in any context.

The container may be termed a carry case, or carry box. The container preferably facilitates transportation of its contents.

The container may be viewed as part of a modular system.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a fixture arranged to be secured to a host structure, which fixture comprises a connector which arranged to detachably secure a container of the first aspect of the invention in an attached condition. Such a fixture may be termed as being compatible with the container of the first aspect of the invention. The host structure may comprise a wall, a floor or a bulkhead, for example.

The invention may include one or more features as disclosed in the description and/or drawings, either individually or in combination. Brief Description of Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a first container embodiment, Figure 2 is a lower perceptive view of the first container embodiment,

Figure 3 is perspective view of two first container embodiments of Figure 1 one on top of the other, located by way of respective coupling features,

Figure 4 shows the two first container embodiments shown in Figure 3, located and locked to one another, Figure 5 is a partial view of Figure 3in which the lower first container embodiment and the coupling features of the upper first container embodiment are shown in the located but unattached condition,

Figure 6 is a partial view of Figure 5 in which the lower first container embodiment and the coupling features of the upper first container embodiment are shown in the located and locked condition,

Figure 7 is an upper perspective view of a second container embodiment,

Figure 8 is a lower perceptive view of the second container embodiment,

Figure 9 is perspective view of two second container embodiments of Figure 7 one on top of the other, located by way of respective coupling features, Figure 10 shows the two first container embodiments shown in Figure 9, located and locked to one another,

Figure 11 is a partial view of Figure 10 in which the lower first container embodiment and the coupling features of the upper first container embodiment are shown in the located and locked condition, Figure 12 is a perspective view of an underlying second container embodiment, on top of which are located a first embodiment container in a located and locked position and another first embodiment container in a located but unlocked position,

Figure 13 is an upper perspective view of a third container embodiment,

Figure 14 is a lower perceptive view of the third container embodiment,

Figure 15 is perspective view of two third container embodiments of Figure 13 one on top of the other, located by way of respective coupling features,

Figure 16 shows the two third container embodiments shown in Figure 15, located and locked to one another,

Figure 17 is a partial view of Figure 16 in which the lower first container embodiment and the coupling features of the upper first container embodiment are shown in the located and locked condition,

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a located and locked arrangement of three first embodiment containers, one second embodiment container and a third embodiment container, and

Figure 19 is a longitudinal cross-section of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Detailed Description

There is now described a modular system for detachably connecting containers securely together in a stacked manner, for ease of use and transportation. As will be illustrated below, the system comprises a two-part coupling arrangement, wherein, in broad terms, one part is arranged to be detachably locked to its counterpart.

Although reference above has been made to one container being attachable to another container, the a container may be connected instead to a counterpart coupling which is not part of a container, for example which may be secured or be part of a wearable item, such as a belt or webbing, or may be secured to a wall or a vehicle. Reference is made initially to Figures 1 and 2 which show a container 1 which is provided with the two -part coupling arrangement. The first part of said arrangement is shown by reference numeral 3, and comprises a boss which is provided on an upper side of the container 1. The counterpart is shown by reference numeral 4, and comprises a socket which is provided on an underside of the container 1.

The upper side of container is part of a hinged lid 1 A of the container, and the underside is part of a base IB of the container. Together, the base and the lid define an internal volume which permits for storage of one or more objects therein. The lid 1 A can be held locked to the base IB by way of latch 15. The connector 3 protrudes from the upper side of the lid and comprises a support portion 3b and a top portion 3a fixed atop the support portion. The top portion 3a is of generally oblong-rectangular shape when viewed in plan and comprises four orthogonal sides (albeit each of the corner regions has an angled or bevelled shape, the overall shape can still be described as oblong-rectangular). An inwardly-facing (i.e. facing back towards the lid) marginal surface of the top piece forms a lip 3c which extends around the underside of the periphery of the top portion 3 a.

Further provided on the upper side, there are provided two locating lands 6, situated at opposite ends of the lid. Each of the locating lands is defined by a recessed region. Neighbouring each of the locating lands there are also provided two opposed ramps 6a. Reference is now made to Figure 2 which shows the underside of the container 1, on which is provided the socket 4. The socket 4 comprises an enclosing formation comprising a wall, which defines a recess 4a. The socket 4 is located substantially geometrically centrally of the underside of the container 1. The enclosing formation defines various surface portions which are arranged to engage with the boss 4 (of another container or a fixture which comprises a boss) to enable attachment.

Two opposed formations 4a are provided which are of truncated triangular shape. Each defines two locating surfaces 4e. Adjacent to each of the locating surfaces 4e there is provided a further locating surface 4d, and overall the socket defines four such surfaces, and in use opposed pairs of which are engaged with by the boss 4. The socket 4 further comprises two lips 4c, which are situated intermediate of a respective two of the locating surfaces 4d. The lips 4c are orientated substantially orthogonally to the formations 4a. Each lip 4c comprises an inwardly facing surface portion (i.e. which faces towards the underside of the container).

The underside of the container further comprises two feet 5, each of which is located at a distal end of the underside. Each of the feet comprises two ramped end portions, 5a.

Figure 19 is a longitudinal view of the container 1 which slows the interlockable features of the socket and the boss. An internal storage space of the container 1 is referenced 50.

Reference is now made to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, which show how two containers 1 can be attached / locked together using the socket and boss structures which are provided on each. In a first stage, the two containers 1 are place one on the other and in so doing ensuring that the socket 3 of the underside of the upper container 1 receives the boss 4 of the underlying container 1, in the manner shown in Figure 3. In this condition, as further shown in Figure 5, respective portions of the top portion 4a of the boss 4 are located by a surface 4d and an adjacent surface 4e, as well as by another surface 4d and its adjacent surface 4e. In this located condition, the two containers are maintained at a relative orientation of approximately forty-five degrees.

The upper container 1 can now be manually urged into an attached condition to the lower container 1. As depicted by the arrow in Figure 3, a rotational force is applied to the upper container 1 by the user gripping said container and rotating said upper container in a sense so as to bring the containers 1 into alignment. In so doing, the surface 3c of the boss 3 engages with the surfaces 4f of the socket 4. The frictional engagement between these surfaces results in the upper container 1. being retained with the lower container 1.

During the step of rotating the upper container into an attached condition with the lower container, the ramps 5a of the feet 5 of the upper container allow the same to be received in the recesses 6. If it is required to detach the upper container from the lower container 1, then a manual rotational force can be applied (either clockwise or anticlockwise) so as to overcome the frictional engagement between the socket and the boss, and urge the upper container into the condition. Whilst the two containers are in an attached condition, advantageously the contents of either container can still be accessed (without needing to decouple the containers). This is because the boss 3 and the sockets 4 are located on the upper side and undersides of the containers, there is no inhibition to open the latches which retain the lid of a container 1 to the base in a closed condition, to an open condition. This is a feature of all embodiments disclosed here.

It is to be noted that the feet 5 of lower container 1 rest on the ground (or a surface on which it is placed).

Reference is now made to Figures 7 and 8 which show a second embodiment of the invention, a container 100. The container 100 is of greater principal dimensions than the container 1 (and therefore has a relative increase in volumetric storage capacity). Like the container 1, the container 100 comprises the system comprising a socket 3 and a boss 4 to enable it to be attached to another such container, and/or a fixture comprising a socket or boss. For this, and the further embodiments described below, like reference numerals are used to refer to the same, or very nearly so, features, or at least in the sense that whilst the features may not be physically identical, they perform substantially the same function in substantially the same manner.

The container 100 comprises a carry handle 17, and a lid 100A is pivotably mounted to a base 100B by way of a hinge 16. The upper side of the lid 100A comprises two spaced-apart bosses 3, and four locating recesses 6. The underside of the base 100B is provided with a socket 3, and a formation 30. The formation comprises a curved surface 30a, and a lip 30f.

Two such containers 100 can be secured together in stacked fashion as shown in Figures 9 and 10. An upper container 100 is first placed on top of a lower container 100 in a locating condition in this condition the arrangement of one of the bosses 3 to the socket 3 as that as described above. Additionally, the second boss 3 engages with the curved surface 30a. By manually rotating the upper container relative to the lower container 100, the first boss 3 comes into retaining engagement with socket 3, in the same manner as described above in relation to the container 1. Also, the lip 3c of the second boss 3, engages with the underside surface of the lip 30f.

Figure 12 demonstrates how two containers 1 can be attached to the lid of the container 100. In the condition shown, one of the containers 1 is in the attached condition and the other container 1 is in the locating condition.

Figure 13 shows a third embodiment, which comprises a container 200. Provided on a lid 200 A of the container are provided five bosses 3, with four bosses arranged a quadrangular manner and a fifth (and larger) boss 3, located substantially geometrically centrally thereof. The lid 200A is also provided with a number of locating surfaces 206 (for receiving the feet of another container).

Figure 14 shows the underside of the base 200B of the container 200, which is provided with a socket 3 and four feet 205.

With reference to Figures 15 and 16, two containers 200 are shown one on top of the other in a locating condition and in an attached condition, respectively.

Figure 18 shows how all three embodiments can be combined in an attached condition, demonstrating the versatility of the modular system. In the example, a container 100 is attached to a container 200, and atop the container 100 is attached a container 1. Also attached to the container 200 are two containers 1. It will be appreciated that a multitude of other permutations are possible.

In the embodiments of the novel system, a user can conveniently move all tools, accessories etc in their respective containers, with said containers connected together. The connected stack of containers may be loaded onto a wheeled base such as a trolley for further ease of transportation, such as from a user’s vehicle to the location of the work do done using the equipment held in the containers. Furthermore, the interchangebilty of the containers enables different permutations of containers to be connected together, dependent on the equipment required for a particular job. A user’s vehicle may be provided with one or more bosses 3 or sockets 4, fixed attached to a wall, floor or other part of the vehicle, which conveniently allows containers to be attached thereto when not in use and/or being transported in the vehicle. Similarly, a building or storage structure may serve as a host structure in which a wall or floor, or other structural member or part, is provided with a fixture which allows a novel container to be attached thereto.

Claims

1. A container which comprises a connector, the connector arranged to allow the container to be brought into an attached condition with at least one of a second container and a fixture, which said at least one of second container and fixture is provided with a counterpart connector, and the connector comprises at least one of a socket and a socket-receivable structure, and the counterpart connector comprises the other of said socket and socket-receivable structure, and wherein the attached condition is arranged to be brought about by a rotation of the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the coupled condition is such that the container and the at least one of the second container and fixture are attached together.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 which comprises at least one socket and at least one socket-receivable structure.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the socket comprises a lip or flange, a surface portion of which is arranged to receive a portion of a socket-receivable structure of the least one of the second container and the fixture.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4 in which the socket comprises two opposed lips or flanges.

6. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the socket structure comprises a recess which is arranged to receive the socket-receivable structure of the least one of the second container and the fixture.

7. A container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the connector is arranged to so-operate with the counterpart connector to bring about a locating condition to be achieved prior to bringing about an attached condition by rotation of the container.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7 in which in the locating condition the container located an offset position relative to the attached condition.

9. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the socket-receivable structure comprises a structure which extends away from a surface of the container.

10. A container as claimed in any preceding claim in which a first connector is provided on one side of the container and a second connector is provided on an opposite side of the container.

11. A container as claimed in claim 10 in which the first connector is provided on an upper side and the second connector is provided on the lower side.

12. A container as claimed in claim 11 in which the first connector and the second connector are the connector and a counterpart connector.

13. A container as claimed in any preceding claim which is one or more of a tool container, a power tool container, a tool accessory container and a container for holding fixtures, fittings and/or fasteners.

14. A system comprising a container and at least one of a second container and a fixture, the container comprises a connector, and the at least of the second container and the fixture the connector comprises a counterpart connector, the connector and the counterpart connector comprise a socket and socket-receivable structure, wherein the connector arranged to allow the container to be brought into an attached condition with the counterpart connector, and wherein the attached condition is arranged to be brought about by a rotation of the container.