CONTAINER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The present description describes container assemblies, comprising at least two containers (12, 20, 204, 214) detachably joined to each other by locking arrangements.

Description

CONTAINER ASSEMBLY zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi Field of Invention This description generally pertains to the field of multi-container assemblies. More specifically, it refers to a locking system for detachably coupling containers together. The term "multi-container assembly," as used here, refers to any set of containers configured to connect with one another, whether the assembly is stationary or mobile. The assembly can be used as a tool cart, workbench, travel case, etc. The term container, as used herein, indicates any type of container, used as a tool cart, organizer, travel bag, cosmetic bag, storage containers, containers with locomotion, etc. Brief Description of the Invention According to the present description, there exists a container assembly comprising at least a first container and at least a second container, each of which is configured with a top base portion and a bottom base portion, wherein a top base portion of a first container is configured to at least partially nest a bottom base portion of a second container, and wherein the first container is configured in a top portion thereof with a locking arrangement configured to block engagement with a bottom portion of the second container nested within the top base portion. According to a first aspect of the present description, the locking arrangement is a sliding locking mechanism, and according to a second aspect of the description of the locking mechanism, it is a pressure-type bolt mechanism. According to the first aspect of the present description, a container assembly is provided comprising at least a first container and at least a second container, detachably coupled to one another by means of a retractable locking mechanism. The retractable locking mechanism interacts between the at least one first container and the at least one second container, wherein the at least one first container is configured in an upper portion thereof with a first locking member and the at least one second container is configured in a lower portion thereof with a second locking member, such that when the second container rests upon the first container, the first locking member and the second locking member are aligned and configured to lock by interaction with one another. A lower container in the container assembly (also referred to herein as a base container) functions as a first container, wherein a container mounted on top of the base container is a second container. The arrangement is such that the container assembly may comprise additional containers, wherein each second container may be configured with a second locking member on a lower portion of the container and a first locking member on an upper portion of the container, whereby the additional containers may be mounted on top of and locked to one another. In other words, the container assembly may comprise a first container, functioning as a base container, upon which at least one second container is mounted, such that each second container is configured with both a first locking member on an upper portion and a second locking member on a lower portion thereof. When the container assembly includes only two containers, the second container is typically configured with a second locking member on its lower portion, and, optionally, with a first locking member on its upper portion. The sliding locking mechanism comprises a sliding unit, comprising a sliding member and at least one stopping member. The sliding unit is configured on one of the first and second containers and constitutes one of the first and second locking members. The sliding locking mechanism further comprises at least one corresponding static locking member configured on the other of the first and second containers, and which constitutes the other of the first and second locking members. The sliding unit can be slid between a locked position, in which at least one stopping member stops the corresponding static locking member, thereby locking the second container in position above the first container; and an unlocked position, in which the stopping member disengages from the corresponding static locking member, thereby allowing the second container to be removed from the first container. According to a particular example, the container assembly comprises a first, base container configured in an upper portion thereof with the sliding unit, and a second container configured in a lower portion thereof with the corresponding static locking element, so that by placing the zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi second container on the first container the sliding unit can be moved to enter locking, thereby stopping the static locking element. Any one or more of the following features, designs, and configurations may be implemented in a multi-container assembly of the first aspect, according to the present description, individually or in various combinations thereof: • The container assembly can be modular, so that a lower portion of any second container can be mounted on top of an upper portion of any first container. • A lower container in a container assembly is a base container. The container assembly can be configured as a portable container assembly, where the base container can be equipped with a locomotion system. Depending on the configuration, the base container has wheels. • A higher container, which functions as a second 20-unit container, can be configured with only a lower portion designed to be mounted on top of a first container positioned below it; for example, such a higher container can be devoid of the second locking member. An example of such a container is a 25-unit flexible transport container. zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi • The first locking member and the second locking member can be swapped; in this case, the first locking member and the second locking member can be set to either an upper portion or a lower portion of a respective container. • The sliding locking mechanism can be configured with a visible indicator showing its 'locked' or 'unlocked' position. The visible indicator can be independently associated with each locking mechanism. • The sliding member of the sliding unit can be configured with a fingerprint groove. • The sliding member of the sliding unit can be moved with a press fit between the respective locked / unlocked position 15. • The sliding member can move spontaneously in the static locking element's arrest, whereby one or both of the sliding unit's arresting element and the respective slab locking element can be configured with a beveled sliding surface, whereby placing the second container on the first container results in a spontaneous displacement of the sliding member in the static locking element's arrest. · The slider unit can be configured with a zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi tilting mechanism to tilt the slider member in the locked position. • The container assembly can be configured with an anti-unlock bar to simultaneously stop the sliding of the locking mechanisms of all respective containers in a locked position. The anti-unlock bar can be locked in an anti-unlock position. • The first locking member and the second locking member substantially do not project beyond, or below, a respective upper and lower edge of a respective first container and second container. • The containers of a container assembly can be configured with at least two sliding locking mechanisms arranged on opposite side faces of each container. According to the second aspect of the description, the container assembly comprises a locking arrangement that 20 comprises at least one locking member and one locking receptacle.At least one side wall of the first container comprises at least one locking member pivotally secured to an upper portion of the first container, and the locking receptacle is configured to a base portion of the second container. The locking member is configured with at least one locking latch configured for a locking engagement within the locking receptacle. The locking member can pivot between a locked position in which the at least one locking latch engages radially within the locking receptacle, so that the second container is hinged in a lockable manner upon the first container, and an unlocked position in which the locking member pivots outward and the at least one locking latch disengages from the locking receptacle so that the second container can be separated from the first container. It should be noted that the 'first container' and 'second container' indicate the order of the containers mounted one on top of the other. Although, in fact, a similar container may constitute both a first container and a second container. Consequently, a container assembly according to the present description may comprise two containers, wherein the lower container is referred to as a first container, and a container mounted on the base container thus being referred to as a second container.However, when a container assembly comprises three or more containers, a lower container is called a first container, and a container mounted on top of the base container is called a second container. Although the second container becomes a 'first container' when dealing with a third container mounted on top of it - in that case the second container will be referred to as the 'first container' and the third container that contains it on top of it will in turn be referred to as a 'second container'. According to a particular configuration of the description, the first, lowest container is a base container, configured with a locomotion mechanism, for example, a wheel system, and a handling arrangement, for example, a telescopic handle that extends from it. According to another aspect, a container is provided comprising at least one receptacle (15 locks) configured in the base portion of the container, and at least one locking member configured with at least one locking bolt and pivotally secured in the upper portion of the container. The locking member can pivot between a locked position in which the at least one locking bolt projects radially inward in an upper base portion of the container, and an unlocked position in which the locking member pivots outward. The container is configured for use in conjunction with a container assembly as described here. zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi Any one or more of the following features, designs, and configurations may be implemented in a multi-container assembly of the second aspect, according to the present description, 5 individually or in various combinations thereof: • The locking member can pivot between its unlocked position and its locked position about an axis that extends substantially parallel to the upper base portion of the container; "The first container may be configured with a support flange that constitutes a nesting portion, which at least partially surrounds the upper base portion thereof, and in which the locking position, the at least one locking bolt, projects radially inwards 15 from the flange; • The support flange can be configured with one or more bolt passages, each of which slides a locking bolt from the locking member; • The one or more locking bolts of the 20 locking member extend below an upper surface of the support flange, by which it is protected; • In an assembled position, a base portion of the first container is at least partially nested within the support flange of the first container; · The second container can be configured in the zoccnn / rznz / E / YiAi lower base portion of the same with a nestable portion, shaped and sized for at least partial nesting within the limits of the support flange of the first container; • The second container may be configured in the inner base portion thereof with a seat portion that at least partially circumscribes the nestable portion; the seat portion configured to rest on an upper surface of the support flange of the second container; · One or both of the nestable portion and the support flange can be configured with a chamfered sliding surface to facilitate positioning of the nestable portion within the nesting portion; • The locking receptacle of the second container is configured in the seat portion and has an opening on one face of the seat portion, the opening being arranged in alignment with a respective latch of the locking member; • Any container can be a cube-like container configured with a top opening, or a container configured with a lid that can be closed (e.g., a pivoting lid), or the container can have a fixed top cover, configured with side openings; • A container can be a tactical unit, such as a power unit, an electric tool, a configuration with at least one locking receptacle configured in the base portion of the container, and at least one locking member configured with at least one locking bolt and pivotally secured in the upper portion of the container, the locking member pivotally moving between a locked position in which the at least one locking bolt projects radially inward in a top base portion of the container, and an unlocked position in which the locking member pivots outward; the container is configured for interlocking stacking with a similar container above or below it; • The locking member can be configured with several locking bolts; "The locking member can function as a carrying handle, either in the locked position or the unlocked position; therefore, the carrying handle is configured with a gripping part; • The gripping portion of the handle can be extended within a cavity configured within a lateral wall of the container, resulting in a gripping space that makes it easier for an individual to insert their fingers to grasp the gripping portion; • The locking array can be configured with a holding array to hold the locking member by at least zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi in the locking position, regardless of whether a second container is mounted on it; • The detention arrangement may be a pressure-type arrangement, wherein one of the at least one locking bolt and an upper portion of the container is contiguous with a projection and the other of the at least one locking bolt and an upper portion of the container is configured with a cavity, wherein the locking member can be pressure-moved at least to the 10 locking position; • The locking member can be pivotally restricted between the locked and unlocked positions; the pivotal restriction can be facilitated by a restraint projection, configured to prevent the locking bolt from disengaging from the support flange; • One or both of the one or more locking members and bolt passages can be configured with protrusions to substantially reduce or eliminate backlash of the 20 locking member and frictional arrest thereof; • One or more of the protrusions may protrude into a respective depression to stop the pressure of the locking member; • The locking arrangement can be configured in such a way that if a second container is placed on top of a first container, when the locking member of the first container is in the locked position, the positioning of the second container on top of the first container involves the spontaneous displacement of the locking member to the unlocked position; • The locking arrangement is such that when a second container is placed on top of a first container and the locking mechanism is in the respective locking position, the loads applied to the carrying handle 10 are substantially not applied to the locking latches; • The arrangement is such that one or more locking bolts of a locking mechanism travel through the bolt passage between a locked position in which the locking bolts project inwards from the support flange, configured to engage with a respective locking receptacle of the second container, and an unlocked position in which the locking bolts retract in an outwards direction, so that they substantially do not project inwards from the support flange, and are thereby disengaged from the locking receptacle of the second container; • According to a particular configuration, the container is rectangular and at least two opposite side walls are each configured with a zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi locking mechanism Any one or more of the following features, designs, and configurations can be implemented in any of the aspects described here, individually or in various combinations thereof: · The containers of the container assembly are interchangeable, where each container, apart from a container with wheels (in this case, the base container), can be mounted on each of the other containers; in this case, the container assembly can be modular. · The container assembly containers may comprise one or more cube-like containers, one or more drawer containers configured with a drawer housing container, one or more organizer containers configured with an organizer container. The containers of the container assembly may comprise one or more sliding containers. The sliding container comprises two sub-containers that are slidably associated with each other. • The containers of the container assembly may comprise one or more pivoting containers. The pivoting container is pivotally associated with the first container or any of the second containers. • The containers of the container assembly may comprise one or more parallel mechanism containers, such that a sliding movement of one container zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi with respect to the other container brings one of the containers into a parallel position with respect to the other container. • The container assembly can be configured with a handle. The handle can be fixed or detached. Handle 5 can be hinged to a base container and / or any other container in the assembly. • The containers of the container assembly can be stacked on top of each other, or be partially nested within each other. · The second container can be stopped on top of the first containers in any front or rear orientation, in this case, rotated 180° about a longitudinal axis that extends through the containers. · One or more of the containers in the container assembly can be detached and used as a carrier along the container, independently. Brief Description of the Figures In order to better understand the subject matter described herein and to exemplify how it can be carried out in practice, the modalities will now be described in a non-limiting, exemplary manner, with reference to the attached Figures, in which: Figure 1A is a top left perspective view of a container assembly according to zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi with an example of the present description, the locking arrangement in its locked position. Figure IB is an enlargement of the portion marked 1 in Figure 1A. Figure 2A is a front right top perspective view of a container assembly according to an example of the present description, the locking mechanisms in their open, unlocked position. Figure 2B is an enlargement of the portion marked 12 in Figure 2A. Figure 3 is a top left front perspective view of a container assembly according to another example. Figure 4A is an enlarged top view of a top container of the assembly in Figure 3. Figure 4B is an enlargement of the portion marked III in Figure 3. Figure 4C is an enlargement of the portion marked IV in Figure 4A. Figure 5A is an enlarged lower view of an upper container of the assembly in Figure 3. Figure 5B is a close-up view of the lower portion of the upper container in Figure 5A. Figure 6A is a plan view illustrating a portion of a container assembly, with two locking mechanisms, zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi, in a locked position and an unlocked position. Figure 6B is a schematic representation of Figure 6A, which exposes the locking arrangement. Figure 6C is an enlargement of the locking arrangement of Figure 6B in the unlocked position. Figure 6D is an enlargement of the locking arrangement of Figure 6B in the locked position. Figure 7A is a perspective view of an outer face of a locking slider member. Figure 7B is a perspective view of an inner face of a locking slider member. Figure 8A is a perspective view of a container assembly according to another example. Figure 8B is an exploded view of the main components of the container assembly in Figure 8A. Figure 8C is a modification of the container in Figure 8A. Figure 8D is another modification of the container in Figure 8A. Figure 9A is a portion of a section along line LL in Figure IB. Figure 9B is a portion of a section along line 0-0 in Figure 2B. Figure 10 illustrates the container assembly of the Figure 1A, equipped with a locking arrangement. zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi Figure 11A is a top front right side perspective view of a container assembly according to an example in the present description. Figure 11B is a longitudinal section along or the VV line of Figure 11A. Figure 11C is a close-up of the portion marked A in Figure 11B, showing a locking arrangement of a second aspect of the description, in its unlocked position. Figure 11D is a section along line VI VI in Figure 11C. Figure 11E is a section along line VII - VII in Figure 11C. Figure 12A is a top left rear perspective view of Figure 11A. Figure 12B is a close-up of the portion marked B in Figure 12A, showing a blocking arrangement of a second aspect of the description, in its blocked position. Figure 13A is a partial section of the locking arrangement, along line VIII - VIII in Figure 12B. Figure 13B is a partial section of the locking arrangement, along line IX - IX in Figure 12B. Figure 13C is a partial section of the locking arrangement, along line X - X in Figure 12B. Figure 13D is a partial section of the locking arrangement, along line XI - XI in Figure 12B. Figure 13E is a partial section of the locking arrangement, along line XII - XII in Figure 12B. Figure 14 is a partially exploded view of Figure 11A, illustrating a top container separated from the container assembly. zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi Figure 15A is a close-up of the portion marked D in Figure 14. Figure 15B is a close-up of the portion marked E in Figure 15A. Figure 15C is a bottom perspective view of the Figure 15B. Figure 16A is a similar approach to Figure 15A, however taken in the direction of arrow F in the Figure 15A. Figure 16B is a close-up of the portion marked G in Figure 16A. Figure 16C is a close-up of the portion marked G 20 in Figure 16A. Detailed Description of the Invention Attention is first directed to Figures 1A and 2B, which address a first example of a container assembly according to the present description. The container assembly, generally designated as 10, is a wheeled tool cart assembly comprising an open upper portion of a wheeled base, a cube-like container 12 fitted with wheels 14 on a lower rear portion of the base container, and a telescopic handle 5 extending from the base container and operable between a fully retracted position (not shown) and at least one extended position for locomotion of the container assembly shown in Figures 1A-1B. The container assembly 10 further comprises a second cube-like container 20 mounted on top of the container 12. The container 20 is configured with a pivoting lid 22 (the lid 22 is equipped with a carrying handle 24 as will be described with reference to Figure 8C), the lid 22 being secured by a pair of latches 26 on a front side of the container 20. Above the container 20 is an organizer-type container 30 housing a plurality of removable storage boxes (not shown). The container 30 is configured with a pivoting lid 32 (the lid 32 is equipped with a carrying handle 34), the lid 32 being secured by a pair of latches 36 on a front side of the container 30. Above the container 30 is provided yet another organizer container 40, which is a double-deck cantilever-type organizer, equipped with a top cover 44 and which can be secured in a closed position by a pair of zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi locking bolts 46. The arrangement is such that the containers are stacked one on top of the other and locked together to provide a stable, evenly rolling tool cart. The containers are securely locked to one another by a sliding-type locking mechanism, generally designated as 60, as will be discussed in more detail below. Accordingly, the second cube-type container 20 is locked onto the base container 10; the organizer-type container 30 is locked onto the second cube-like container 20; and the cantilever-type organizer container 40 is in turn locked onto the organizer-type container 30. When the containers are stacked one on top of the other and in the locked position, the assembly 15 of container 10 is stable and can be rolled safely and easily on the wheels 14. The sliding locking mechanism 60 comprises a sliding member 64 configured in an upper portion of each container, and configured to cooperate together with a locking element 90 (see Figure 5A) projecting into a lower portion of the respective containers, as will become evident herein. The sliding member 64 is retained in a sliding manner beneath a protective lip 69 (e.g., Figure 4; 2 5 on an upper edge of each of the respective containers 12, 20 and 30, the lip protector is configured with an opening 71 that extends in correspondence with the locations of the retaining elements 66 (when in the locked position) and that can be reciprocally displaced along the edge along the arrow 63, between a locked position (Figure 1B), and an unlocked position (Figure 2B). The sliding member 64 is in the form of a bar 69 configured on its inner face 65 with a pair of retaining elements 66 that protrude laterally and that define an opening 68 on an upper edge / 0 of the sliding member, beneath the elements of Figure 7B shows that the element, a lower edge of the same stop 69, which produces the can be used for a mounting of the is configured on its fingerprint face in the form of a with a relief area 72 by stop 66. It is seen in the slider is configured on with another pair of slider element elements 64 that are left or right side. The outer sliding member 64 75 with a depression indentation / ti, and a locking indicator (e.g., marked at 82) and an unlocking indicator (e.g., marked at 84), which during its use, only one of which projects from either side of the receiving slot, indicative as to the locked / unlocked position respectma. The locking mechanism 60 further comprises a static locking element in the form of an L-shaped locking lug 90 extending into a lower portion of a second container (in this case, containers 20, 20, 40), resulting in a relief area 92 above the locking lug 90. In operation, when a so-called second container (in this case, containers 20, 30, 40) is placed on top of any other so-called first container 10 (containers 12, 20, 30), with the locking mechanism 60 in its open, unlocked position, the locking lug 90 protrudes into the opening 71 of the protective lip 69, with a free-end tip 67 of the detention element 66 disposed opposite the relief area 92 (Figure 6C). In this 15 position, the sliding member 64 can be slidably displaced, in the direction of arrow 91 in Figure 6B, into the locking engagement with the locking lug 90, so that the detent element 66 is now disposed within the relief area 92, with the detent element 66 extending parallel above the corresponding locking lug 90 (Figure 6D), thereby preventing the containers from being detached from each other. The unlocking of container assembly 10 takes place by moving the detent element 66 in an opposite direction 25, in this case, in the direction of arrow 93 in the zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi Figure 6B, resulting in the displacement of the free-end tip 67 away from the relief area 92, in this case, the disengagement of the detent element 66 from the locking lug 90, facilitating the decoupling of the containers. zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi It should be noted that the lower portion of the locking tabs 90 does not project below a corresponding lower portion 89 of the second respective container (for example, container 30 in the Figure 5A). This is facilitated by locating the locking lugs 90 on a lower portion of the side walls 99 of the second containers, and likewise by providing an upward projection on the top of the first containers (in fact, a peripheral projection 100 on the lid 32 according to one example). Similarly, the uppermost portion of the arresting elements 66 does not project onto a corresponding upper portion of the first respective container, which minimizes potential damage to the arresting elements and the locking lugs. Furthermore, it is shown that the container assembly is configured with two locking mechanisms 60, one on each respective side of the containers. However, it should be noted that a container assembly can be configured with more or fewer of these locking mechanisms 60. According to a particular example, the locking mechanisms 60 are arranged symmetrically, whereby the second container can be mounted on the respective first container in any orientation facing forward or backward (in this case, a front face of one container coextends a rear face of the container arranged above). In the described arrangement, the retaining elements 66 and the locking lugs 90 extend substantially parallel to each other, and the retaining elements 66 can be slidably displaced parallel to the locking lugs 90. Similarly, in the illustrated description, the sliding elements 64 with the retaining elements 66 can be displaced parallel to the respective protective lip 69. Furthermore, as best seen in Figures 6A and 6B, the sliding members 64 are slidably supported within a support space between two parallel surfaces 104 and 108 (Figures 5A, 6A, 9A and 9B). Although in the illustrated examples the first container (in this case, a lower container of a pair of a container assembly) is configured with the first locking member (in this case, in the form of the slider locking member) and the second container (in this case, a 25 upper container of a pair of a container assembly) is configured with the second locking member (in this case, in the form of the static locking element), it should be noted that these can be configured in another way, in this case, with the second locking member configured in the first container and with the first locking member configured in the second containers, respectively. According to a particular configuration, either or both of a surface of the sliding member and of the wall surfaces that slideably support the sliding member are configured with protrusions and / or depressions (not seen), thereby preventing the sliding member from spontaneously moving between its respective locked and unlocked positions, as it requires a certain degree of force to move it, optionally in a 'click' manner. Although in the illustrated examples the second containers are stacked on top of the respective first containers, it should be appreciated that according to yet another example of the description, the second container may be at least partially nested within the respective first container, however, with a projection portion of the second container extending above a top edge of the respective first container, where the second locking member is thus configured on the projection portion of the second container. zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi In order to ensure smooth and easy locking of the locking mechanism, it is required that the second locking member, in this case the static locking lug 90, extends opposite the relief area 72 below the 5 retaining elements 66. This is facilitated by providing a true positioning arrangement of the second container over the first container, whereby the locating arrangements are configured, i.e., the groove 135 (Figure 5B) which surrounds at least partially a lower portion of the respective second container, and configured to facilitate mounting over the peripheral projection 100 on the lid 32. According to a different example of the description, the sliding member is normally tilted in the locked position 15, so displacement in the open position requires overcoming the tilting force.This can be facilitated by manually displacing the sliding member in the open position, or by configuring the facing edges of the corresponding free end tip 67 of the restraint element 66 (Figures 6C and 6D) and the free end of the locking lug 90 with a beveled portion (138 and 140, shown in Figures 6C and 6D), whereby positioning the second container over the first container in a 25 engagement position generates a reactionary force between the beveled portions 138 and 140, which has a resultant force component in a lateral direction, implying the corresponding momentary lateral displacement of the sliding member 64 in the open position, facilitating the 5 locking lug 90 to snap into place underneath. detention element 66 with the sliding member returning to its locking position under the effect of tilting (Figure 6D). Returning now to Figure 3, the container assembly 10 of Figures 1A and 2B is illustrated, however, with the organizer container 40 removed. It can be seen (also in Figure 4A) that the top cover 156 of the top container 30 has a top face substantially similar to the top face of cover 44 of the organizer container 40. This arrangement applies to other containers as well; for example, container 20 has a top face 158 (Figures 8B and 8C) substantially similar to the top cover 156 of container 39. Similarly, the bottom faces of such containers reproduce the core of the container assembly. Consequently, the containers in the container assembly have corresponding top and bottom faces, so that any of the second containers in the assembly can be mounted on any 25 of the first container, in any order. The above applies zoccnn / rznz / E / YiAi 0 also in the case of a cube-like container (for example, container 12 of the assembly), whereby the upper peripheral portion 100 mimics the top of any other container in the assembly. An example of the modular assembly is shown in Figure 8A, wherein the wheeled base container 12 functions as a first container and wherein a second container in the form of an organizer container 30 is mounted on top of the open cube-like upper portion of the container 12, with the locking mechanism 60 securely fastening the two. In addition to the above, container 30 functions as a first container where a second container now takes shape from container 20, locked onto container 30 by locking mechanism 66. It is observed that container 20 is configured with a locking mechanism 60 of the configuration described above and has a modular top face 158, which makes it ready to receive any other container of the assembly locked onto it. In Figure 8C, a container 20 with cover 22 is mounted on top of the open cube-like container 12, with the locking mechanism 60 securely fastening the second container 20 onto the first container 12. It should be noted that the second container 20 is configured with a mechanism 60 of the configuration described above and a modular top face 158, making it ready to receive any other container of the assembly in a locked position. In this case, the assembly can be rolled on the wheels 14 by the telescopic handle assembly 16 (eliminated in this Figure 8C) or with the aid of a carrying handle 24 mounted on the cover 22. Another example is illustrated in Figure 8D, where a second container is now in the form of an organizer container 30 mounted on top of the similar open-top cube container 10 12, with the locking mechanism 60 securely fastening the second container 30 onto the first container 12. Note that the second container 30 is configured with a locking mechanism 60 of the configuration described above and has a modular top face 156, whereby it is ready to receive, by locking onto it, any other container of the assembly. Returning now to Figure 10, a container assembly 10' is illustrated according to the description, wherein a release mechanism is provided in the form of a bar 174 extending through the openings 178 of the respective containers. The bar 174 is secured in place, for example, by a padlock (not shown). The arrangement is such that the bar 174 extends in close proximity to the housing portion of each container that houses the locking mechanism 66, whereby when the bar 174 is in place, all the sliding members 64 of the locking mechanisms are stopped in their locked position, implying their sliding displacement 5 to the open position, whereby all the containers of the assembly are locked one upon the other.An optional locking configuration is obtained by applying a padlock across each or on selective openings 178, resulting in a selective locking stop of 10 locking mechanisms 66. With further reference to Figures 11A–16C, a container locking mechanism is described in accordance with the second aspect of this description. In the illustrated example, the container assembly, generally designated 15200, comprises three substantially rectangular containers, namely, a base container 204 provided with a pair of locomotion wheels 206 and a telescopic handling handle 210 (Figure 12A; illustrated in a retracted, collapsed position). Container 204 is a cube-like container 20, in this case configured with a top opening and typically adapted for carrying large items, such as hand tools and the like. A second base container, mounted on the base container 204, in the form of a toolbox container 214 25 (of the type comprising a lid secured in a floating manner which can be closed by ear latches 216 (Figure 11A)).An organizer-type container 220 is mounted on the toolbox 214, with a pivoting carrying handle articulated to it. Thus, the described arrangement illustrates three containers mounted one on top of the other, where the base container 204 is referred to as a first container and the toolbox container 214 mounted on top of it is referred to as a second container. However, when referring to the relationship between toolbox container 214 and organizer container 220, toolbox container 214 is referred to as a first container, and the organizer container 220 mounted on it is referred to as a second container. That is, the described locking arrangement refers to a locking engagement between any first container and the second container mounted on it. It is also noted that the container assembly is modular in that any container can be mounted and locked onto any other container, even without the base container 204 (with the exception that the base container always functions as a first container). As can be seen in the accompanying Figures, each first container (in the present example, each of the three containers 204, 214, and 216) is equipped with an upper base portion 230 and a lower base portion 234 (with the exception of the base container 204). Each of the three containers is configured with an upwardly projecting support flange 238, which at least partially encircles one of its upper faces, yet extends at least into the side wall portions of the respective containers. The support flange thus constitutes a nesting portion, which at least partially encircles the upper base portion of the containers. The toolbox container 214 and the organizer-type container 220 are configured at their base with a nestable portion 240 (in this case, a basin-like portion extending downwards) of shape and size to nest at least partially, within the limits of the nesting portion defined by the support flange 238, however, where in the assembled position, a shoulder-seat portion 242 of the nestable portion 240 is carried on at least portions of the support flange 238. Each of the three containers 204, 214, and 216 is configured on two opposite side walls with a locking mechanism generally designated as 245, which comprises a locking member 248 pivotally secured in the upper portion 230 of the so-called first container (however, each of the illustrated containers is noted), the locking member 248 being configured with at least one locking bolt 230 configured for a locking engagement within a locking receptacle 254 formed in the base portion 234 of each second container (containers 214 and 216 in the present case). The locking member 248 can pivot between a locked position (Figures 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A to 13E), in which at least one locking bolt 250 is engaged within the respective locking receptacle 254 of the second container mounted thereon, and an unlocked position (Figures 11B to 11E, 15A to 15C) in which the locking member 248 is pivoted outward and at least one locking bolt 250 is disengaged from the respective locking receptacle 254, where the second container can be separated from the first container. According to a particular configuration, the pivoting displacement of the locking member between its respective locked position and the unlocked position is approximately 15°. The locking bolts 250 can be moved through 25 of the bolt passages 280 that extend through the support flange 238, wherein the locking bolts 250 can be moved between the locked position in which they project radially inwards from an inner edge of the support flange 238, and the unlocked position in which the bolts 250 are concealed, in this case they do not project from the support flange 238, so that the bolts are protected and not exposed to unwanted impact. As can be seen, the pivoting displacement of the locking member 248 results in a radial displacement of the locking bolt 250. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, each locking member is configured with two locking bolts 250. The locking member 248 is hinged to the upper portion of the containers and can pivot about approximately a horizontal axis designated as X (when the respective container is placed on a level surface, parallel to its upper / lower base). In order to facilitate easy and trouble-free placement of a second container on top of a first container, in the nesting arrangement as described above, the nestable portion 240 and the support flange 238 of the nesting portion are configured with beveled sliding surfaces 260 and 262, respectively. The locking member 248 also has a carrying handle 266, and is configured with a gripping portion, thereby allowing a container to be carried in either the locked position and the unlocked position. The carrying handle 266 extends into a cavity 268 formed in or on the side wall of the container, thereby providing a gripping space that makes it easy for an individual to insert their fingers to grasp the gripping portion. The locking bolts 250 are configured with an upward projection 270, and the upper face of the support flange 10 in the vicinity of the bolt passages 280 is configured with a stopping opening 274, wherein the pivoting displacement of the locking member 248 is restricted in its unlocked position and the locking member is prevented from losing its position. Furthermore, the locking member 248 is configured on its upper face with several protrusions 278 to substantially reduce or eliminate backlash of the locking member and frictional stopping thereof, and wherein at least one protrusion is configured to project into a respective depression 280 configured in an inner upper wall of the support flange, to press-stop the locking member in the locked position and prevent spontaneous displacement of the locking member in an unlocked position. Returning now to the locking receptacle 254 zoccnn / eznz / E / YiAi configured in the respective lower base portion 234 of each second container, it should be noted that the locking receptacle 254 is configured in the seat portion and has an opening 284 on a side face of the seat portion 5, the opening being arranged in alignment with a respective locking bolt 250 of the locking member 248. Furthermore, the locking bolt 250 is configured in a front lower end portion thereof, with a projection 288 (better seen in Figure 11D), 10 configured in turn to be pressure-stopped within a corresponding opening 290 in a lower wall portion of the locking receptacle 254, to stop the bolt and therefore the locking member in the locked position, for which manual manipulation is required for the 15 displacement of the locking handle to the unlocked position. With further reference to Figures 11D, 13A and 13E, it should be noted that the flat upper rim 294 of the locking latches 250 is beveled and configured so that it can be engaged by a lower rim 296 of the locking receptacle 254, so that in the case of a second container being placed on top of a first container, when the locking member 248 of the first container is in the locked position (Figures 13A and 13B), positioning the second container on top of the first container involves the spontaneous displacement of the locking member into the unlocked position (Figure 11D) because the lower rim 296 is on the upper rim 294 of the locking latches 250 and pivots outwards into the unlocked position. It is hereby stated that, with regard to this date, the best method known to the applicant to put the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

1. A container assembly (10) comprising at least a first container (12, 20, 30, 40, 204, 214, 220) and at least a second container (12, 20, 30, 40, 204, 214, 220), which can be detachably coupled to one another by a sliding locking mechanism (60); the sliding locking mechanism (60) interacts between the at least one first container and the at least one second container, wherein the at least one first container is configured in an upper portion thereof with a first locking member and the at least one second container is configured in a lower portion thereof with a second locking member;so that when the second container rests on the first container, the first locking member and the second locking member are aligned and configured to interact in locking with each other, wherein the sliding locking mechanism (6C) comprises a sliding unit comprising a sliding member (64) and at least one stopping member, the sliding unit being configured on one of the first container and the second container, and constituting one of the first locking member and the second locking member;and at least one corresponding static locking element configured on the other of the first container and the second container and constituting the other of the first locking member and the second locking member, the sliding member (64) being press-movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, characterized in that the first locking member and the second locking member substantially do not project beyond or below a respective upper edge and lower edge of the respective first container and second container.

2. The container assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one additional container (12, 20, 30, 40, 204, 214, 220), the at least one additional container being configured with a second locking member in a lower portion thereof and with a first locking member in an upper portion thereof, such that the at least one additional container can be mounted on the second container and is thereby locked.

3. The container assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sliding unit can be slidably displaced between a locked position, in which the at least one stopping member stops the corresponding static locking element, thereby locking the second container in a position above the first container; and an unlocked position, in which the stopping member disengages from the corresponding static locking element, thereby allowing the second container to be removed from the first container.

4. The container assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first container is configured in an upper portion thereof with the sliding unit, and the second container is configured in a lower portion thereof with the corresponding static locking element.

5. The container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sliding member (64) can be spontaneously displaced while detained by the static locking element, whereby both of (i) the detent member of the sliding unit and (ii) the respective static locking element are configured with a beveled sliding surface (260, 262), whereby placement of the second container on the first container results in spontaneous displacement of the sliding member (64) while detained by the static locking element.

6. The container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a slider unit is configured with a tilting mechanism for tilting the slider member (64) into the locked position.

7. The container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first locking member and the second locking member are interchangeable, optionally wherein the first locking member and the second locking member are configured in either an upper portion or a lower portion of a respective container (12, 20, 30, 40, 204, 214, 220).

8. The container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each container (12, 20, 30, 40, 204, 214, 220) in the assembly is configured with at least two sliding locking mechanisms (60) arranged on opposite side faces of each container.

9. The container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the container assembly is configured as a portable container assembly.

10. The container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a lower container of the assembly is equipped with a locomotion arrangement (14, 206).

11. The container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the assembly comprises one or more cube-like containers (12, 20, 204), one or more drawer containers configured with a drawer-housing container, one or more organizer containers (30, 40, 220), one or more sliding containers, one or more pivot containers, and / or one or more parallel mechanism containers.

12. The container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the container assembly is configured with a handle (16, 24, 210, 266).

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