Interlocking Stackable Storage Containers

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/656,973, filed Jun. 6, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Many items are acquired by individuals, families, businesses, local governments, and the like, the storage of which can be challenging, depending on the nature and quantity of the items. Decorative items can be particularly challenging, for example, due to their number, fragile nature, and variable sizes. The same is true for collectables, such as figurines, vases, glassware, and the like.

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purpose of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details can be made and are considered included herein. Accordingly, the following embodiments are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, any claims set forth. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Also, the same reference numerals appearing in different drawings represent the same element. Numbers provided in flow charts and processes are provided for clarity in illustrating steps and operations and do not necessarily indicate a particular order or sequence.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of layouts, distances, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that such detailed embodiments do not limit the overall concepts articulated herein but are merely representative thereof. One skilled in the relevant art will also recognize that the technology can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, layouts, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosure.

In this application, “comprises,” “comprising,” “containing” and “having” and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent law and can mean “includes,” “including,” and the like, and are generally interpreted to be open ended terms. The terms “consisting of” or “consists of” are closed terms, and include only the components, structures, steps, or the like specifically listed in conjunction with such terms, as well as that which is in accordance with U.S. Patent law. “Consisting essentially of” or “consists essentially of” have the meaning generally ascribed to them by U.S. Patent law. In particular, such terms are generally closed terms, with the exception of allowing inclusion of additional items, materials, components, steps, or elements, that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics or function of the item(s) used in connection therewith. For example, trace elements present in a composition, but not affecting the composition's nature or characteristics would be permissible if present under the “consisting essentially of” language, even though not expressly recited in a list of items following such terminology. When using an open-ended term in this written description, like “comprising” or “including,” it is understood that direct support should be afforded also to “consisting essentially of” language as well as “consisting of” language as if stated explicitly and vice versa.

As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is “substantially free of” particles would either completely lack particles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect would be the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, a composition that is “substantially free of” an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof.

As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a given term, metric, value, range endpoint, or the like. The degree of flexibility for a particular variable can be readily determined by one skilled in the art. However, unless otherwise expressed, the term “about” generally provides flexibility of less than 1%, and in some cases less than 0.01%. It is to be understood that, even when the term “about” is used in the present specification in connection with a specific numerical value, support for the exact numerical value recited apart from the “about” terminology is also provided.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.

Concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 1.5, 2, 2.3, 3, 3.8, 4, 4.6, 5, and 5.1 individually.

This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

Reference throughout this specification to “an example” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of phrases including “an example” or “an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example or embodiment.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Similarly, if a method is described herein as comprising a series of steps, the order of such steps as presented herein is not necessarily the only order in which such steps may be performed, and certain of the stated steps may possibly be omitted and/or certain other steps not described herein may possibly be added to the method.

The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

As used herein, comparative terms such as “increased,” “decreased,” “better,” “worse,” “higher,” “lower,” “enhanced,” and the like refer to a property of a device, component, or activity that is measurably different from other devices, components, or activities in a surrounding or adjacent area, in a single device or in multiple comparable devices, in a group or class, in multiple groups or classes, or as compared to the known state of the art. For example, a data region that has an “increased” risk of corruption can refer to a region of a memory device which is more likely to have write errors to it than other regions in the same memory device. A number of factors can cause such increased risk, including location, fabrication process, number of program pulses applied to the region, etc.

An initial overview of embodiments is provided below, and specific embodiments are then described in further detail. This initial summary is intended to aid readers in understanding the disclosure more quickly, and is not intended to identify key or essential technological features, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The present disclosure relates to devices and systems for storing and protecting items, including associated methods. Any conceivable item can be stored, including both breakable and non-breakable varieties; however, the disclosed devices and systems are particularly suited for the storage and protection of fragile items, such as, for example, fragile decorative items. Examples of fragile decorative items can include, without limitation, holiday ornaments, knickknacks, figurines, crystalline objects, glass objects, and the like, including combinations thereof. Fragile items can be stored in a storage device, or in multiple storage devices coupled together in a storage system. In one example, fragile items can be placed individually into isolated storage compartments that are adjustable in size, and the fragile item is surrounded by a protective liner material. It is additionally contemplated that in some examples the isolated storage compartments are fixed in size and are not adjustable.

In one example, a storage container can generally be described as having a rectangular support frame that can include a plurality of top frame members, a plurality of bottom frame members, and a plurality of support members coupled therebetween. Additionally, a pair of upper handle locks extends in a uniform direction from an opposing pair of the plurality of top frame members and a pair of lower handle locks extend in opposing directions from each other from an opposing pair of the plurality of bottom frame members. It is noted that the opposing directions are orthogonal to the uniform direction such that the pair of bottom handle locks are positioned such that each bottom handle lock surrounds an upper handle lock of the pair of upper handle locks on three sides when resting on a subsequent storage container. Furthermore, a pair of handles each rotatably coupled to either the pair of upper handle locks or the pair of lower handle locks are positioned and configured to rotate and engage the other handle lock to which they are not rotatably coupled to and then rotate into a locking position adjacent to the locking handle that they are rotatably coupled to. This locking action secures the storage container to a subsequent storage container located either above or below, depending on the positioning of the handles

More specifically,shows an interlockable storage system including two storage containersin an interlocked configuration. It is noted that any number of storage containers can be interlocked to one another and that such is not limiting. Each storage containerincludes a rectangular support frameand an outer cover.

The outer covercan be made from any number of materials, such as, without limitation, fabrics, canvas, rubber materials, neoprene, polymeric materials, including flexible and nonflexible polymers, and the like. An inner lining may be used in some examples, which can include flexible or more rigid materials when breakability is not an issue. Nonlimiting examples of flexible materials include any conformable material, including, without limitation, both natural and synthetic cloths and fabrics, polymeric materials, rubber materials, neoprene, and the like.

additionally shows a pair of handleslocated at each end of the storage container. The handlesfunction to interlock one storage container to another while allowing the interlocked storage container to be lifted and/or otherwise moved by the handles when interlocked. It is noted that additional handles unrelated to the interlocking handlescan be included to further assist in lifting and moving the storage system.

shows a nonlimiting example of a rectangular support frame. The rectangular support frameincludes a plurality of top frame membersthat forms an upper support frame that supports the upper portion of the outer cover. It is noted that for a rectangular support frame that does not have a square configuration, the plurality of top frame members will include frame members of different lengths reflective of the dimensions of the rectangular support frame. The rectangular support frameincludes a plurality of bottom frame memberthat forms a lower support frame. A plurality of support membersextend from the plurality of top frame membersto provide the rectangular structure of the rectangular support frame. A pair of upper handle locksare coupled to and extend in a uniform direction from an opposing pair of the plurality of top frame members.

Furthermore, a pair of lower handle locksextend in opposing directions from an opposing pair of the plurality of bottom frame members, wherein the opposing directions are orthogonal to the uniform direction of the upper handle locks. The lower handle locksare positioned and structurally configured to surround the associated upper handle lockof the pair of upper handle locks on three sides when resting on a subsequent storage container. Said in another was that is likely of a different scope, a pair of top frame membersincludes an upwardly extending handle supportpositioned at opposite ends of the rectangular support framewhich are configured to engage and couple the handleto the top frame members. A pair of opposing bottom frame memberseach include a lower handle lockpositioned at opposing ends of the lower support frame, where the lower handle locksextend in opposite directions from one another which are both oriented orthogonally to the direction of the upper handle locks. The orthogonal orientations of the upper and lower handle locks relative to one another allow the pair of handlesto engage and lock the lower handle locksof one storage container to the upper handle locksof a subsequent storage container.

It is noted thatshows a rectangular support framewith four top frame membersand two bottom frame members. These top and bottom frame members are shown as they are for convenience and are not limited to the numbers of frame members shown.

One nonlimiting example of a handlecan include one such as shown in.show front, right side, front isometric, and rear isometric views of the handle, respectively. The handleincludes a hand gripfor grasping the handle. and an engagement slotconfigured to rotatably couple to the upper handle lock. The handlefurther includes an interlock slotpositioned to interlockably couple the handleto an associated lower handle lockof a storage containerbeing positioned above the handle. The handlefurther includes interlocking extensionsto interlock the handleto side portions of the upper handle lockto prevent rotation of the handlewhen interlocked.

show nonlimiting examples similar to that ofof rectangular support frames. The rectangular support frameincludes a plurality of bottom frame memberthat forms a lower support frame. A plurality of support membersextend from the plurality of top frame membersto provide the rectangular structure of the rectangular support frame. A pair of upper handle locksare coupled to and extend in a uniform direction from an opposing pair of the plurality of top frame members. Furthermore, a pair of lower handle locksextend in opposing directions from an opposing pair of the plurality of bottom frame members, wherein the opposing directions are orthogonal to the uniform direction of the upper handle locks. Handlesare shown in the interlocked position at the upper handle locks.

shows is an example of a support frame whereby the plurality of support membersare coupled between the top frame membersand the bottom fame membersat positions offset from the corners of the rectangular support frame.is an example of a support frame whereby the plurality of support membersare coupled between the top frame membersand the bottom fame membersat corners of the rectangular support frame.

shows a system of 3 storage container rectangular support frames(coverings not shown for clarity) with the bottom rectangular support framehaving handlesinterlocked to the middle rectangular support frame. The handlesof the middle support frameare rotated upwardly to engage the lower handle locksof the rectangular support frameof the upper storage container.

show examples of an interlocking mechanism to attach two storage containers together.shows a handleinterlocked to upper handle lockby the interlocking extensions. A lower handle lockof a separate storage container positioned above the lower storage container frame is shown above the handle.shows the handleunlocked from the upper handle lockand rotated upwards to engage the upper handle lockat the interlock slot. As the handleis rotated downward, the interlock slotpulls the upper handle lockand thus the upper storage container is pulled downward against the lower support frame (not shown).shows the handlepositioned in the interlocked position with the upper support frame interlocked with the lower support frame.

shows an example of a rectangular support frameattached to a base support frame. The base support frame, in this example, includes four castorsto allow the interlocked storage containers to be easily moved from place to place.

The storage containers of the present disclosure can be used to store any type of item, including fragile keepsakes, hobby collections, holiday ornaments, and the like. The inside lining and configuration can thus vary to accommodate various sized items.shows one example of a storage container having an outer coverand handlesfor interlocking and maneuvering. The storage container also shows one or more trayshaving individual item compartments. The sizes of the item compartments can be fixed or adjustable depending on the storage compartment design. In one aspect, the tray can have a soft lining hanging down into each storage compartmentin order to suspend the item off of the bottom surface and sides of the storage compartment. In one example, multiple trayscan be stacked upon each other in the storage container. In other examples, trays can be attached to one another on telescopic rods that lift the trays upward for ease of use.

In examples where the item compartments are adjustable,shows a plurality of compartmentsformed by a grid of a first plurality of compartment rodsspaced apart from one another and extending across a top surface of the one or more traysand a second plurality of compartment rodsspaced apart from one another and spaced across the top surface of the one or more traysin an orthogonal orientation with respect to the first plurality of compartment rods. As each of the first plurality of compartment rodsand each of the second plurality of compartment rodsis slidably coupled to the top surface of the one or more trays, such action of the various compartment rods relative to one another will alter the size of the item compartments defined by the adjacent compartment rods

shows an example of a storage container having an opening, such as, and without limitation, a zippered opening, in the front of the outer coverwhereby access can be afforded to inner storage areas. In one example, drawers can be mounted and slid out of the opening. It is noted that the storage containers can include top covers which have not been shown for clarity.