US 4,643,494 AGranted

Frameless, interlocking, multi-tray box

OwnerGilles Marleauinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

An interlocking box is disclosed. The box has no frame and may have as many horizontally sliding trays as desired. Each tray is slidably interlocked with the tray below (and/or above) and the box includes a unique lock/latch device in one end whereby it is interlockable with vertically adjacent trays, the lock/latch device permitting easy opening to the interior of any selected tray or trays. The box permits selective removal of one or more trays which may themselves be interlocked, with remaining trays also left in interlocked relationship.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A frameless, interlocking, multi-tray box comprising:

a plurality of trays having front and rear walls and opposed side walls;
each tray being interlockable on top of any other tray so as to be vertically attached therewith and horizontally slidable thereon, each tray having a groove and lip in the outer and inner surfaces of each of its side walls cooperating with a correspondingly formed and situated groove and lip in adjacent trays;
lock/latch means in at least one of said side walls of each tray;
said lock/latch means in each tray cooperating to maintain said adjacent trays in locked, vertical alignment, and having release means whereby a tray may be slidably moved horizontally to permit access to the tray below;
said lock/latch means comprising a pair of lock/latch members contained within a recess provided within said at least one side wall of each tray, the first of said lock/latch members including a pair of downwardly projecting beveled fingers engageable in notches provided in the upper surface of said at least one side wall of the tray interlockably engaged therebelow, the second of said lock/latch members being T-shaped, the horizontal stem of said T being engageable within a notch provided in said first lock/latch member, said first lock/latch member having a projecting finger whereby it may be manually raised to elevate said T-shaped member, said T-shaped member projecting upwardly above said first lock/latch member, and being engageable within a notch provided on the underside of the tray interlockably engaged thereabove, each of said T-shaped members when manually elevated, elevating all T-shaped members thereabove and temporarily latching said trays together so that they may be moved together as a unit;
said first lock/latch member including unitary spring means normally urging said first lock/latch member downwardly;
each of said trays being selectively positioned so as to be locked in vertical alignment with the trays above and below, horizontally movable to a latched position with the tray above exposing the interior of the tray therebelow, and to be completely removable from said box.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

A frameless, interlocking, multi-tray box comprising:

a plurality of trays having front and rear walls and opposed side walls;
each tray being interlockable on top of any other tray so as to be vertically attached therewith and horizontally slidable thereon, each tray having a groove and lip in the outer and inner surfaces of each of its side walls cooperating with a correspondingly formed and situated groove and lip in adjacent trays;
lock/latch means in at least one of said side walls of each tray;
said lock/latch means in each tray cooperating to maintain said adjacent trays in locked, vertical alignment, and having release means whereby a tray may be slidably moved horizontally to permit access to the tray below;
said lock/latch means comprising a pair of lock/latch members contained within a recess provided within said at least one side wall of each tray, the first of said lock/latch members including a pair of downwardly projecting beveled fingers engageable in notches provided in the upper surface of said at least one side wall of the tray interlockably engaged therebelow, the second of said lock/latch members being T-shaped, the horizontal stem of said T being engageable within a notch provided in said first lock/latch member, said first lock/latch member having a projecting finger whereby it may be manually raised to elevate said T-shaped member, said T-shaped member projecting upwardly above said first lock/latch member, and being engageable within a notch provided on the underside of the tray interlockably engaged thereabove, each of said T-shaped members when manually elevated, elevating all T-shaped members thereabove and temporarily latching said trays together so that they may be moved together as a unit;
said first lock/latch member including unitary spring means normally urging said first lock/latch member downwardly;
each of said trays being selectively positioned so as to be locked in vertical alignment with the trays above and below, horizontally movable to a latched position with the tray above exposing the interior of the tray therebelow, and to be completely removable from said box.

4 more elements