US 12,415,558 B1Granted

Containers having lever-based actuation of brakes and locks

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorAdam Joseph Greenbaum

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for containers having lever-based actuation of brakes and locks. In one embodiment, an example container may include a first container wall, a second container wall, a third container wall, a fourth container wall, a first wheel, a second wheel, and a wheel lock assembly configured to prevent swiveling of the first wheel. The wheel lock assembly may include a first wheel lock, a first lever configured to actuate the first wheel lock, and a first cable that is coupled to the first wheel lock and the first lever, where the first lever is disposed on the third container wall, and a wheel brake assembly configured to prevent rotation of the second wheel, the wheel brake assembly including a first wheel brake, a second lever configured to actuate the first wheel brake, and a second cable coupled to the first wheel brake and the second lever.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A foldable container comprising:

a rear wall;
a first sidewall coupled to the rear wall, the first sidewall configured to rotate outwards in a first direction with respect to the rear wall;
a second sidewall coupled to the rear wall;
a front wall comprising:
a first portion coupled to the first sidewall, wherein the first portion rotates with respect to the first sidewall;
and
a second portion coupled to the second sidewall, wherein the second portion rotates with respect to the second sidewall;
a bottom container platform configured to rotate from an upwards position adjacent to the rear wall to a flat position that is perpendicular to the rear wall;
a set of castor wheels comprising:
a first castor wheel and a second castor wheel disposed on a first side of the foldable container;
and
a third castor wheel and a fourth castor wheel disposed on a second side of the foldable container;
a first castor lock configured to prevent swiveling of the first castor wheel;
a second castor lock configured to prevent swiveling of the second castor wheel;
a first brake configured to prevent rotation of the third castor wheel;
a second brake configured to prevent rotation of the fourth castor wheel;
a castor lock engagement assembly comprising:
a first lever disposed about a lower portion of the first sidewall;
and
a first cable coupled to the first lever, the first castor lock, and the second castor lock, wherein actuation of the first lever causes the first castor lock and the second castor lock to respectively engage the first castor wheel and the second castor wheel;
a brake engagement assembly comprising:
a second lever disposed about the lower portion of the first sidewall;
and
a second cable coupled to the second lever, the first brake, and the second brake, wherein actuation of the second lever causes the first brake and the second brake to respectively engage the third castor wheel and the fourth castor wheel;
and
a disengagement assembly comprising:
a third lever disposed about the lower portion of the first sidewall;
and
a third cable coupled to the third lever, the first castor lock, the second castor lock, the first brake, and the second brake, wherein actuation of the third lever causes the first castor lock, the second castor lock, the first brake, and the second brake to disengage.

26 more elements

A container comprising:

a first container wall;
a second container wall coupled to the first container wall, the second container wall configured to rotate outwards in a first direction with respect to the first container wall;
a third container wall coupled to the first container wall;
a fourth container wall configured to move from an open position to a closed positon;
a bottom container platform;
a first wheel disposed on a first side of the container;
a second wheel disposed on a second side of the container;
a wheel lock assembly configured to prevent swiveling of the first wheel, the wheel lock assembly comprising a first wheel lock, a first lever configured to actuate the first wheel lock, and a first cable that is coupled to the first wheel lock and the first lever, wherein the first lever is disposed on the third container wall;
and
a wheel brake assembly configured to prevent rotation of the second wheel, the wheel brake assembly comprising a first wheel brake, a second lever configured to actuate the first wheel brake, and a second cable that is coupled to the first wheel brake and the second lever, wherein the second lever is disposed on the third container wall.

7 more elements

A container comprising:

a first container wall;
a second container wall coupled to the first container wall, the second container wall configured to rotate outwards in a first direction with respect to the first container wall;
a third container wall coupled to the first container wall;
a fourth container wall configured to move from an open position to a closed positon, the fourth container wall comprising:
a first portion coupled to the second container wall;
and
a second portion coupled to the third container wall, wherein the first portion and the second portion are coplanar when the fourth container wall is in the closed position;
a first wheel disposed on a first side of the container;
a second wheel disposed on a second side of the container;
a wheel lock assembly configured to prevent swiveling of the first wheel, the wheel lock assembly comprising a first wheel lock, a first lever configured to actuate the first wheel lock, and a first cable that is coupled to the first wheel lock and the first lever, wherein the first lever is disposed on the third container wall;
and
a wheel brake assembly configured to prevent rotation of the second wheel, the wheel brake assembly comprising a first wheel brake, a second lever configured to actuate the first wheel brake, and a second cable that is coupled to the first wheel brake and the second lever, wherein the second lever is disposed on the third container wall.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/064,560Filed 12 Dec 2022
Granted: 16 Sep 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B62B 5/0457
Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement: by locking in a braking position
B62B 3/004
Characterised by a rectangular shape, involving sidewalls or racks: details of doors or cover lids
B62B 3/022
Involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible: folding down the body to the wheel carriage or by retracting…
B62B 3/025
Involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible: foldable roll containers