INTERLOCKING BASKET SYSTEM
20250206501 ยท 2025-06-26
Inventors
Cpc classification
B65D21/066
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B65D21/06
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D1/22
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A storage container includes: a plurality of sidewalls; a bottom wall operably coupled to the plurality of sidewalls, together defining a storage cavity; at least one support bracket coupled to the bottom wall, movable between a first position wherein an outer surface of at least one support bracket is flush with a perimeter of the bottom wall, and a second position wherein the outer surface of the at least one support bracket extends beyond the perimeter; and a plurality of guide walls extending parallel to one another and formed adjacent to the at least one support bracket that guide the movement of the at least one support bracket between the first position and second the position.
Claims
1. A storage container comprising: a plurality of sidewalls; a bottom wall operably coupled to the plurality of sidewalls, together defining a storage cavity; at least one support bracket coupled to the bottom wall, movable between a first position wherein an outer surface of at least one support bracket is flush with a perimeter of the bottom wall, and a second position wherein the outer surface of the at least one support bracket extends beyond the perimeter; and a plurality of guide walls extending parallel to one another and formed adjacent to the at least one support bracket that guide the movement of the at least one support bracket between the first position and second the position.
2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the at least one support bracket includes a coupling feature configured to engage a portion of another storage container.
3. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the at least one support bracket comprises: a bracket body including: a first portion, including the outer surface, that extends beyond the perimeter when the at least one support bracket is in the second position, and a second portion that does not extend beyond the perimeter when the at least one support bracket is in the second position; and the coupling feature includes a hook portion disposed at an end of the first portion and extending from the first portion toward the second portion.
4. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the portion of the another storage container comprises a top rim thereof.
5. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the at least one support bracket comprises a stop portion that defines a length of movement from the first position to the second position.
6. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sidewalls comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a left sidewall and a right sidewall, wherein the front wall is of a lower height than the rear wall and the left and right sidewalls each include respective angled transition portions connecting to the front wall.
7. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the guide walls each include a respective lip.
8. The storage container of claim 7, wherein the respective lips extend at least partially over the at least one support bracket.
9. The storage container of claim 8, wherein the respective lips constrain at least one of a lateral or a vertical movement of the at least one support bracket between the first position and the second position.
10. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a bottom edge defining a support surface for the container, wherein the at least one support bracket is received within a bracket cutout of the bottom edge when in the first position.
11. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the at least one support bracket includes a plurality of ribs extending from a bottom surface thereof.
12. A storage system comprising: a first storage container including: a plurality of sidewalls; a bottom wall operably coupled to the plurality of sidewalls; a support bracket movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein at least a portion of the support bracket is flush with a perimeter of the bottom wall in the retracted position and at least a portion of the support bracket extends beyond the perimeter in the deployed position; a plurality of guide walls extending parallel to one another and formed adjacent to the support bracket that guide the movement of the support bracket between the retracted position and deployed the position; a second storage container defining a storage cavity, wherein: when the support bracket is in the retracted position, the first storage container is nestable within the storage cavity of the second storage container; and when the support bracket is in the deployed position, the first storage container is stackable on the second storage container, positioning the first storage container above the storage cavity, wherein the support bracket engages a portion of the second storage container.
13. The storage system of claim 12, wherein the support bracket includes a coupling feature that engages the portion of the second storage container.
14. The storage system of claim 13, wherein the support bracket comprises: a bracket body including: a first portion that extends beyond the perimeter when the support bracket is in the deployed position, and a second portion that does not extend beyond the perimeter when the support bracket is in the deployed position; and the coupling feature includes a hook portion disposed at an end of the first portion and extending from the first portion toward the second portion.
15. The storage system of claim 12, wherein the portion of the second storage container comprises a top rim thereof.
16. The storage system of claim 12, wherein the support bracket comprises a stop portion that defines a length of movement from the first position to the second position.
17. The storage system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of sidewalls comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a left sidewall and a right sidewall, wherein the front wall is of a lower height than the rear wall and the left and right sidewalls each include respective angled transition portions connecting to the front wall.
18. The storage system of claim 12, wherein the guide walls each include a respective lip, the respective lips extend at least partially over the support bracket and constrain at least one of a lateral or a vertical movement of the support bracket between the retracted position and the deployed position.
19. The storage system of claim 1, wherein the support bracket includes a plurality of ribs extending from a bottom surface thereof.
20. A stackable storage container comprising: a front wall, a rear wall, a left sidewall and a right sidewall, wherein the front wall is of a lower height than the rear wall, and the left and right sidewalls each include respective angled transition portions connecting to the front wall; a support bracket coupled to the bottom wall, movable between a first position where an outer surface of the support bracket is flush with a perimeter of the bottom wall, and a second position where the outer surface extends beyond the perimeter; a plurality of guide walls extending parallel to one another and formed adjacent to the support bracket that guide the movement of the support bracket between the first position and second the position, wherein the guide walls each include a respective lip, the respective lips extend at least partially over the support bracket and constrain at least one of a lateral or a vertical movement of the support bracket between the first position and the second position.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] Various embodiments include a storage container stackable in multiple configurations, e.g., a nested configuration and a stacked configuration. The storage container may include one or more support brackets that move between a first or retracted position and a second or deployed position. In the retracted position the support bracket may be inset or positioned within an exterior perimeter of the storage container, e.g., arranged to be aligned with or interior of an outer wall or bottom edge of the storage container. In the deployed position the support bracket may extend past the exterior perimeter of the storage container, e.g., arranged to extend past the outer wall or outer edge of the storage container.
[0056] The support bracket may include a coupling feature, e.g., one or more grooves or tangs, configured to couple the support bracket to another storage container. For example, in one embodiment, the support bracket may include a groove configured to receive an outer rim of another storage container. In these instances, the support bracket may couple the storage container to be arranged above the other storage container, e.g., in a manner that does not substantially decrease a storage volume of the other storage container. In instances where the support bracket is retracted, however, the storage container may be configured to seat at least partially within the other storage container, e.g., nested. In other words, the storage container can be connected, e.g., stacked, with other storage containers, in two or more configurations, where one configuration may be configured to increase or maximize the storage volume accessible in a bottom storage container and one configuration may be configured to decrease the storage volume accessible and reduce the overall height and/or volume of the stacked storage containers.
[0057] In one example, the storage container may include two support brackets that extend from opposing sides, e.g., left and right sides, and may balance and support the storage container when in the stacked configuration. Similarly, the storage container may also include one or more securing features that may be defined on another side of the storage container from the support bracket, e.g., rear side. The securing features may assist in preventing relative movement of the storage container to an adjacently stacked storage container.
[0058] The various stackable configurations allow a volume of two or more storage containers to be reduced for storage, shipping, and/or display, without requiring substantial modification of the storage containers after assembly. For example, conventional shipping solutions that reduce volume may require assembly of the storage container for use at the end point (such as at a user's house), which can be difficult and time consuming. On the contrary, the present disclosure allows the storage containers to be easily and quickly compacted for storage, shipping, display on a shelf, or the like, and readily and easily deployed for use, without requiring assembly of the product.
[0059] Turning now to the figures, the storage container and storage system will be discussed in more detail.
[0060] The walls 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may optionally be formed of a weave or basket pattern that may provide strength at a low weight to the storage container 100 (See
[0061] The walls 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may terminate at a top edge to define a rim 106 for the storage container 100. The rim 106 may define the top surface or edge of the storage container 100 and in some embodiments may define a maximum perimeter of the storage container 100 in the first configuration. In some embodiments, such as shown in
[0062] In some embodiments, the rim 106 may include coupling features, such as one or more grooves or tracks that may receive a coupling or securing element from another storage container 100. More specifically, with reference to
[0063] In some embodiments, the storage container 100 may include one or more handle apertures 112a, 112b, that may define a gripping area for a person. For example, in one embodiment, the storage container 100 may include two handle apertures 112a, 112b defined in opposing walls, e.g., in sidewalls 102a, 102b. The handle apertures 112a, 112b may be defined as cutouts of any shape, such as oblong oval/ovoid or circular cutouts that allow a user to more easily position his or her hand in a manner to lift, slide, or otherwise move the storage container 100. It should be noted that while the handles in
[0064] With continued reference to
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[0066] The bottom edge 116 may also include a bracket cutout 124a, 124b that may be configured to receive a portion of a support bracket. In one example, the bottom edge 116 may include two bracket cutouts 124a, 124b, which may be defined on opposing sides of the bottom edge 116, e.g., adjacent to the two sidewalls 102a, 120b. In the retracted position, an outer surface of the support brackets (discussed below) may fill the cutouts.
[0067] With continued reference to
[0068] The storage container 100 may also include one or more support brackets 120a, 120b that act to support the storage container 100 on a surface or component, such as on an adjacent storage container 100. The support brackets 120a, 120b may be moveable between first and second (or retracted and extended) positions. In one example, the storage container 100 may include two support brackets 120a, 120b positioned adjacent to the sidewalls 102a, 102b, but other configurations are envisioned, e.g., a single support bracket, support brackets extending from the front and/or rear sides or the like. As such, the discussion of any particular configuration is meant as illustrative only.
[0069] The support brackets 120a, 120b may be similar to one another and, in one example, include a bracket body 127 that acts to define a support structure for the storage container 100. The bracket body 127 may be defined as a generally rectangular shaped element and may include one or more stops 128 at a first or interior end. For example, the bracket body 127 may include a stop 128 on each side at the edge or near the first end of the body 127. The stops 128 may be defined as prongs or tangs that may be defined by a cutout or recess within the bracket body 127. The stops 128 act to define an increased width for the bracket body 127 to limit a movement, e.g., horizontal movement, of the bracket body 127. In one example, the stops 128 may be defined as flexible tabs, such as to allow installation of the bracket body 127.
[0070] Additionally, one or more ribs 130 may be defined on another end of the bracket body 127, such as a bottom surface of the bracket body 127. The ribs 130 may include coupling features 132 on an exterior or second end thereof. The coupling features 132 may be defined as grooves or recesses and configured to engage another element, such as the top rim 106, of an adjacent storage container 100 (see,
[0071] With continued reference to
[0072] With reference to
[0073] With reference to
[0074] With reference to
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[0077] More specifically, with reference to
[0078] Further, with reference to
[0079] With the dual anchors, e.g., support brackets 120a, 120b and the securing elements 122a, 122b, the stacked storage containers 100, 202, 204 may be relatively fixed to one another and rigid, e.g., interlocked together, helping to support the system and prevent accidental decoupling of the storage containers.
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[0081] It should be noted that while the various examples are described with reference to storage containers or systems, they may also be applicable other devices, such as, but not limited to, shelving, soft goods, or the like. As such, the discussion on any particular implementation is meant as illustrative only.
[0082] The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of as defined in the claims. Although various embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, other embodiments using different combinations of elements and structures disclosed herein are contemplated, as other iterations can be determined through ordinary skill based upon the teachings of the present disclosure. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only of particular embodiments and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the basic elements as defined in the following claims.