Storage Devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage device (1), comprising at least one storage container (2), which has an upper handle on the upper side (5) and a front handle (52) on the front side (6) which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis (51). The front handle (52) can be selectively pivoted into a non-use position (52a) pivoted toward a container housing (15) or into a use position (52b) pivoted away from the container housing (15). A front locking device (68) is associated with the front handle (52), which is designed to releasably lock the front handle (52) in its non-use position (52a) in a non-pivotable manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage device, which has at least one storage container, which has a container shell, which has an upper handle on the upper side oriented in the height direction and a front handle pivotably supported about a pivot axis on the front side oriented perpendicular to the height direction, wherein the front handle can be selectively pivoted within the range of the pivot movement into a non-use position pivoted at the front toward the container shell or into a use position pivoted away from the container shell and protruding forward. Background Art

[0002] A storage device of this type disclosed in DE 10 2011 006 871 A1 comprises a storage container designed as a hand tool box, in which a lighting device is integrated into the container housing of the storage container. The container housing is provided with two handles that can be used as grips, one of which is arranged on the upper side and the other on the narrow front side.

[0003] DE 20 2012 102 760 U1 likewise discloses a container-type transport device which, for the sake of user-friendly handling, is equipped with two handles for a horizontal and for a vertical carrying position.

[0004] DE 197 06 413 A1 discloses a container similar to a suitcase, which has a bow-shaped handle on the upper side and on whose front side a further handle can additionally be releasably attached by means of a latching connection.

[0005] The storage device disclosed by EP 2 485 874 B1 comprises a storage container, the container housing of which consists of a box-shaped housing lower part and a housing cover pivotably supported on the housing lower part in the area of ​​the back side. The housing cover can be pivoted into a closed position, in which the housing cover lies flat on the housing lower part and closes the access opening for the storage space inside the container housing. A pivotable upper handle is arranged outside the upper side of the housing cover. In addition, the following coupling device is constructed in the area of ​​the upper side and the lower side of the container housing, which enables a plurality of storage containers to be stacked on each other and to be releasably coupled to each other in a manner that they cannot be lifted from each other. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide measures for improving the handling convenience of a storage container of a storage device which is equipped with two handles.

[0007] To achieve this object, the invention provides in combination with the features mentioned at the outset that the storage container has a front locking device assigned to the front handle, which is designed to releasably lock the front handle in its non-use position in a non-pivotable manner.

[0008] In this way, the front handle of the storage container placed in the storage device at the front is in a non-use position in which it can be releasably locked to pivot toward the container housing. Therefore, when the storage container is transported without the front handle and in particular with the upper handle arranged on the upper side, the uncontrolled pivoting of the front handle relative to the container housing is prevented. Therefore, when the storage container is carried using the upper handle, the front handle can be prevented from pivoting back and forth uncontrolled and from hitting the container housing externally. By this measure, it can also be ruled out that the front handle is unintentionally pivoted out of the non-use position and may remain in a position pivoted away from the container housing due to manufacturing tolerances due to friction reasons, which may cause the front handle to hit the edge of furniture or another article during the transportation of the storage container, thereby possibly damaging the article and / or the front handle. Therefore, the locking property of the non-use position of the pivotable front handle significantly contributes to improving the operating comfort of the storage container.

[0009] Advantageous developments of the invention are revealed in the dependent claims.

[0010] The locking device arranged on the front side of the container housing and therefore referred to as the front locking device is particularly designed in such a way that when the front handle is intentionally pivoted from the use position to the non-use position, it automatically enters an activated operating state in which the front handle is non-pivotably locked on the container housing. There is no need for a separate actuation of the locking device.

[0011] Suitably, once the front handle is pivoted from the non-use position to the use position by manual force introduction, the unlocking of the front handle is also carried out automatically. It is also not necessary here to place the locking device in the non-activated operating state that no longer plays a locking effect by a special deactivation handle alone.

[0012] In both cases, locking and unlocking take place to a certain extent automatically when a user of the storage device grasps the front handle and pivots it into the non-use position or in the direction of the use position by a corresponding expenditure of force.

[0013] In the above case, it is particularly advantageous if the front locking device is designed as a latching device that automatically locks or releases with a snap action depending on the pivoting direction of the front handle. Such a latching device can be realized cost-effectively and can be conveniently integrated directly into the container part during the manufacture of the container housing and the front handle.

[0014] It is considered particularly expedient that the front locking device has one or more locking units, which are respectively referred to as front locking units for better differentiation. For example, the locking device can include only a single such front locking unit; however, it is also expedient to have two such front locking units, which are arranged spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the pivot axis of the front handle. Preferably, a separate front locking unit is assigned to each end section of the front handle pointing in the axial direction of the pivot axis. In this way, the front handle is particularly reliably held in its non-use position.

[0015] Each front locking unit has a first locking element arranged on the container housing and a second locking element arranged on the front handle that cooperates with the first locking element. The second locking element participates in the pivoting movement of the front handle. In the non-use position of the front handle, the first and second locking elements overlap in the axial direction of the pivot axis and thus transversely to the direction of the pivoting movement. By the engagement of the two locking elements from behind, the front handle is prevented from pivoting around the pivot axis in a form-locking manner. If the front handle is in the use position, the above-mentioned mutual engagement of the first and second locking elements is released and the front handle can be pivoted unhindered.

[0016] Preferably, the first locking element arranged on the container housing is configured as a locking projection protruding in the axial direction of the pivot axis, and the locking projection is preferably configured integrally with the housing wall of the container housing. The second locking element cooperating with the locking projection is preferably configured as a locking recess provided on the front handle, and the locking projection is engaged in the locking recess in a form-locking manner in the activated operating state of the locking device. An interchangeable arrangement of the locking projection and the locking recess is also possible.

[0017] The front handle can be designed at least partially as a hollow body for reasons of weight reduction. This relates in particular to the component of the front handle that can be grasped with one hand in order to carry the storage container. Preferably, the cavity that is already present can be used as a locking recess of the locking unit. If it is a front handle designed as a bow handle, the component with the cavity is formed in particular by a connecting web extending between the two handle legs.

[0018] The locking device is designed in particular so that it locks the front handle so that it cannot pivot only in the non-use position. In all pivot positions of the front handle, including the use position, outside the non-use position, the front handle can be freely pivoted and the locking device is not activated. Thus, despite the existing locking possibilities, the front handle can also be pivoted unhindered at large pivot angles, which are, for example, only slightly less than 90 degrees. As a result, the front handle for operating the storage container can be used virtually without restriction in the same way as a front handle without a front locking device.

[0019] In principle, there is such a possibility, that is, additional measures are provided, which can also releasably fix the front handle in the use position. So the front handle remains in the use position when released and can be easily caught in subsequent use.

[0020] The front handle is preferably pivotably supported on the container housing by means of at least one pivot bearing device defining a pivot axis. Only one such pivot bearing device or a plurality of, in particular exactly two such pivot bearing devices can be assigned to the front handle. A plurality of pivot bearing devices are expediently arranged spaced apart from one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis.

[0021] It is considered particularly advantageous if the front locking device is arranged at a distance from the at least one pivot bearing device in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis of the front handle. This requires a slightly higher force expenditure for locking and final locking, which prevents unintentional manipulation of the locking device. Nevertheless, it is entirely possible to arrange the front locking device in the immediate vicinity of the pivot axis. This has the advantage that, in combination with the latching device, a relatively large lever arm is provided for unlocking and latching.

[0022] The pivotable front handle is expediently designed in an arched shape in an at least substantially U-shaped configuration, so that it can be referred to as a bow handle. It has two handle legs corresponding to the two U-shaped legs, which are connected to one another via a connecting web to form a U-shaped structure. Each handle leg is pivotably supported on the container housing in the region of its free end section opposite the connecting web via a pivot bearing arrangement.

[0023] In combination with such a bow handle, it is advantageous if the front locking device is arranged in the region of the connecting web when the storage container is viewed in the non-use position of the front handle. The first and second locking elements of each optionally present front locking unit of the locking device are arranged in the region of the connecting web at a distance from the pivot axis of the front handle. As described above, the cavity of the hollow connecting web can be used as a locking recess. In principle, the part of the locking device which is arranged on the front handle can also be arranged, for example, on one of the handle legs.

[0024] Each of the two pivot bearing devices assigned to a front handle configured as a bow handle expediently has two first and second bearing elements inserted into each other in the axial direction of the pivot axis and rotatable relative to each other. One of these bearing elements is located on the container housing, and the other is located on the free end section of one of the two handle legs of the front handle. The first bearing element configured on the container housing is preferably configured as a bearing eye, into which the second bearing element, preferably configured as a bearing pin, is inserted from the side facing the respective other pivot bearing device.

[0025] In order to ensure that the front handle, which is constructed as a bow handle, does not accidentally slip out of the container housing and the storage container falls even when carrying a heavy storage container, a locking device that occupies an activated state at least in the use position of the front handle is appropriately assigned to the free end section of each handle leg. The locking device supports the handle leg assigned to it in the axial direction of the pivot axis relative to the container housing in its activated state so that the handle leg cannot move in the direction of the other handle leg. Thus, when the handle legs of the handle are subjected to external forces acting in the sense of approaching each other, the supporting elements of the pivot bearing device inserted into each other cannot perform axial relative movement, through which they are pulled apart or separated from each other. Such external forces may occur, for example, when a heavily loaded storage container is lifted on the connecting tab of its handle and the handle is elastically bent in the area of ​​the connecting tab. The support by means of the locking device prevents the handle legs from approaching each other due to the elastic deformation of the front handle when the storage container is lifted on the connecting tab of its front handle.

[0026] Preferably, the pivot bearing device is configured such that each second bearing element arranged on the handle leg is plugged together with a first bearing element arranged on the container housing in the plug-in direction, and the first bearing element points away from the other handle leg in the axial direction of the pivot axis. The second bearing element is expediently configured integrally with the handle leg and the first bearing element is expediently configured integrally with the container housing.

[0027] The front handle is advantageously mounted on the container housing by a snap-in process with elastic bending of the front handle, wherein the two handle legs briefly approach each other. In order to be able to achieve this snap-in assembly independently of the use position locked by the locking device, the front handle can be advantageously positioned in at least one pivot position different from the use position, in which the locking device is not activated and the handle legs are released so that they can move toward each other. This makes it possible for the relative movement between the two handle legs in the axial direction of the pivot axis, which is required for the assembly process combined with the snap-in process.

[0028] Preferably, in at least one pivot position in conjunction with the inactive state of the locking device, the front handle can also be removed from the container housing if necessary. The handle leg then has to be bent elastically to one side only to such an extent, for example with the aid of an arranged lever tool, that the bearing elements are disengaged from one another.

[0029] Preferably, the front handle can be positioned in any pivot position in which the locking device is inactive during initial assembly of the storage container or during maintenance on the container housing by latching. It is advantageous if this is a releasable latching connection, so that the front handle can be removed from the container housing again by a release process when pivoted into any pivot position, if necessary.

[0030] Each locking device is preferably designed in such a way that its inactive state exists at least within the non-use position of the front handle, wherein it preferably exists only within the non-use position of the front handle. The latter provides optimal security against accidental release of the latching connection, regardless of which pivot position outside the non-use position of the front handle is currently pivoted.

[0031] The container housing expediently has a housing wall in which a front wall recess is formed on the outside on the front side, in which the front handle is pivotably mounted. If the front handle is pivoted into the non-use position, the front handle is expediently completely sunken in the front wall recess, but in the use position it protrudes from the front wall recess. This provides good shielding of the front handle from external influences when not in use.

[0032] In principle, the upper handle can be immovably mounted on the container housing. Preferably, however, the upper handle can also be pivotally mounted on the container housing and can be selectively pivoted within the scope of the pivoting movement into a non-use position in which the upper part is pivoted toward the container housing or into a use position in which it is pivoted away from the container housing and protrudes upward.

[0033] Suitably, a locking device suitable for releasably locking the non-use position is also assigned to the upper handle, which locking device is referred to as the upper locking device in order to better distinguish it from the front locking device. The upper locking device is suitably configured as a latching device.

[0034] Advantageously, the upper locking device is constructed in the same manner as the front locking device and therefore operates according to the same principle. This allows a particularly cost-effective production of the storage container.

[0035] When the container housing is carried by means of the front handle with a horizontally oriented vertical axis, the upper handle locked in the non-use position is prevented from pivoting away from the container housing. In this regard, the same advantages occur here as explained above in connection with the lockable front handle in connection with the use of the upper handle as a carrying handle.

[0036] The upper handle is expediently received in the non-use position completely recessed in an upper wall recess which is formed externally on the upper side of the housing wall. This has the advantage, on the one hand, that the upper handle does not protrude beyond the outer contour of the container housing when the front handle is used as a handle. On the other hand, this results in the advantage that the storage container can be stacked on top of other storage containers in a securely supported manner in the height direction.

[0037] Preferably, the container housing has an at least substantially rectangular basic contour. This is conducive to the space-saving storage of the storage container, especially also when the storage device has a plurality of storage containers.

[0038] Preferably, the container housing is composed of a box-shaped housing lower part and a housing cover. The housing lower part has an access opening for an internal storage space on an upper side pointing upward in the height direction, and the housing cover is assigned to the storage space. The housing cover is pivotably supported on the housing lower part so that the housing cover can be selectively pivoted to a closed position covering the access opening and to an open position releasing at least one access opening. Through the released access opening, objects can thus be placed in the storage space and can also be taken out again. Suitably, the housing lower part has a bottom wall and a peripheral circumferential wall protruding from the edge of the bottom wall in the height direction of the container housing, both of which belong to the housing wall of the container housing. The upper end section of the circumferential wall surrounds the access opening.

[0039] The upper handle is arranged externally on the housing cover at the top, while the front handle is attached externally on a front wall of the housing lower part, which is part of a circumferential wall of the housing lower part that protrudes from the bottom wall of the housing lower part.

[0040] Preferably, the container housing is configured such that the housing cover can be releasably locked with the housing lower part in the closed position. The corresponding locking mechanism is conveniently located externally at the front side of the container housing, in particular vertically above the front handle. The locking mechanism comprises, for example, a rotary latch.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment, the storage device comprises a support structure in which the at least one storage container can be accommodated in a pull-out manner when the at least one storage container is not in use. In this case, it is advantageous if the storage container has a guide device on the outside of the container housing, which cooperates with a mating guide device arranged on the support structure and also belonging to the storage device. Preferably, the guide device and the mating guide device are both designed in a rail-like manner and engage with each other in a linearly movable manner, which facilitates the smooth pulling out of the storage container from the support structure or the smooth pushing of the storage container into the support structure.

[0042] The storage device may contain only a single storage container. However, if it comprises a plurality of storage containers, it is advantageous that these storage containers can be stacked on top of each other in the height direction of each storage container. Thus, they can be stored in a space-saving manner.

[0043] Advantageously, each of a plurality of stackable storage containers has on its container shell a lower coupling device in the region of the lower side and an upper coupling device in the region of the upper side, wherein the two coupling devices are matched to one another in such a way that storage containers stacked directly on one another in the height direction can be releasably coupled to one another in a manner such that they can be lifted or not by the cooperation of the upper coupling device of the corresponding lower storage container and the lower coupling device of the corresponding upper storage container.

[0044] If the storage container has a housing lower part and a housing cover that can be pivoted relative to the housing lower part, wherein the two parts can be releasably locked to each other by a locking mechanism in the closed position of the housing cover, it is advantageous if the locking mechanism fulfills multiple functions and is also designed as a component of at least one coupling device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The present invention will be explained in detail below with the aid of the accompanying drawings. It is shown in the drawings:

[0046] Figure 1 A preferred first embodiment of a storage device according to the invention is shown with a perspectively drawn storage container, which is shown in the closed position of its housing lid and has two interchangeably usable handles, which are shown in their non-use position, wherein the use position of each handle is indicated by a dash-dotted line,

[0047] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 The storage container in the embodiment of the present invention is in a state in which its handle located at the front side and configured as a front handle is pivoted into the use position,

[0048] Figure 3 Based on Figure 1The viewing direction of arrow III shows Figure 1 Front view of the storage container in

[0049] Figure 4 Based on Figure 3 The viewing direction of the section plane IV-IV pointing upward in the direction of the housing cover shows a horizontal section through the storage container,

[0050] Figure 5 The enlarged single diagram shows Figure 4 The detail VI is outlined with dotted lines.

[0051] Figure 6 Show according to Figure 3 A vertical section of the storage container at the cutting plane VI-VI,

[0052] Figure 7 The enlarged single diagram shows Figure 6 Detail VII, outlined in dashed lines, showing the front handle in a locked non-use position,

[0053] Figure 8 Shown when the front handle is pivoted into the use position according to Figure 5 a portion of which the preferably present locking device assumes its activated state,

[0054] Fig. 9 Shown in perspective Figure 1 an upper end section of a storage container in the embodiment of the present invention, wherein an upper handle arranged on the upper side is pivoted out of a non-use position, thereby releasing access to an upper locking device that locks the non-use position,

[0055] Fig.10 The enlarged image shows Fig. 9 The detail X is outlined by dashed lines.

[0056] Fig.11 Shown with Fig. 9 A similar illustration shows the upper handle pivoted into the use position.

[0057] Fig.12 Based on Figure 1 The viewing direction of the arrow XII in FIG. 1 shows a top view of the storage container,

[0058] Fig.13 Shown according to Figure 1 and 12 A vertical section through the storage container in the section plane XIII-XIII, so that the two currently activated locking units of the upper locking device that secure the upper handle in the non-use position can be seen,

[0059] Fig.14 The enlarged single diagram shows Fig.13 Detail XIV outlined in dashed lines,

[0060] Fig.15 Another perspective view of the storage container showing the pivotable front handle in a state not yet assembled, wherein the assembly process is indicated by arrows,

[0061] Fig.16 The front side of the storage container is shown in the area of ​​the front handle in the non-use position. Figure 3 Detail XVI is outlined with dashed lines, where the front handle is only drawn with dashed lines for better clarity.

[0062] Fig.17 A single illustration of the front handle is shown from a front view,

[0063] Fig.18 A perspective front view showing the front handle,

[0064] Fig.19 A perspective rear view showing the front handle, and

[0065] Fig. 20 A container stack of a storage device is shown, consisting of three storage containers stacked on top of one another and vertically non-liftable and detachably coupled to one another, wherein the storage containers are designed identically except for different structural heights, and wherein the structural height of the storage container arranged uppermost on the container stack is smaller than two storage containers arranged therebelow and having the same structural height relative to one another. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] The storage device, generally indicated by reference numeral 1, comprises one or more storage containers 2, which are Figures 1 to 19 The advantageous embodiment of its basic structure can be seen. Fig. 20 Three storage containers 2 of a storage device 1 are shown, which are identical in design except for their different heights, in a state stacked on top of one another to form a container stack 98. The storage device 1 can in principle also contain only a single storage container 2.

[0067] The storage container 2 has a container housing 15 which preferably has an at least substantially rectangular basic contour, which is composed of Figure 4 and 12 Can be seen clearly.

[0068] The container housing 15 has a vertical axis 16 extending between the bottom side 4 and the top side 5, the axial direction of which defines the height direction provided with the same reference numeral. In addition, it has a longitudinal axis 17 extending between the front side 6 and the back side 7 perpendicular to the vertical axis 16, and also has a transverse axis 18 perpendicular to both the vertical axis 16 and the longitudinal axis 17. The axial direction of the longitudinal axis 17 defines the longitudinal direction provided with the same reference numeral, while the axial direction of the transverse axis 18 defines the transverse direction of the container housing 15 provided with the same reference numeral. By way of example, the dimension in the height direction 16 determines the height of the container housing 15, the dimension in the longitudinal direction 17 determines the depth of the container housing 15, and the dimension in the transverse direction 18 determines the width of the container housing 15.

[0069] The aforementioned rectangular contour extends in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis 16 .

[0070] The container housing 15 has a housing wall 22 which defines a housing interior formed, for example, by Figure 4 , 6 And 13 visible storage space 23. In the storage space 23, any object to be stored can be placed, such as tools and in particular electric tools.

[0071] The container housing 15 expediently comprises a housing lower part 24 and a housing cover 25 which is mounted pivotably on the housing lower part 24. Fig. 9 and 11 Only the housing cover can be seen in the figure. The housing wall 22 is composed of the walls of the housing lower part 24 and the housing cover 25.

[0072] In the preferably box-shaped housing lower part 24, the housing wall 22 is formed by a bottom wall 26 which closes the storage space 23 on the bottom side 4 and a circumferential wall 27 which protrudes upward from the outer edge of the bottom wall 26 in the height direction 16. The circumferential wall 27 surrounds the storage space 23 around the vertical axis 16, wherein the circumferential wall has an upper end section 21 on its upper side opposite the bottom wall 26, which surrounds an access opening 28 for the storage space 23. Objects can be placed into the storage space 23 and removed from the storage space 23 through the access opening 28.

[0073] The circumferential wall 27, which is integral with the bottom wall 26, consists of a front wall 32 oriented perpendicularly to the vertical axis 16, a rear wall 33 lying opposite the front wall 32 in the longitudinal direction 17, and two side walls 34. The side walls 34 are opposite one another in the transverse direction 18 and each connect the front wall 32 to the rear wall 33. The front wall 32 and the rear wall 33 each extend substantially in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 17. The side walls 34 each extend substantially in a plane perpendicular to the transverse axis 18.

[0074] The entire circumferential wall 27 and the bottom wall 26 are designed integrally with one another.

[0075] The housing cover 25 is associated with the access opening 28 and is preferably mounted in the region of the rear wall 33 so as to be pivotable relative to the housing lower part 24 about a pivot axis 35 extending in the transverse direction 18. Preferably, the pivot bearing arrangement 12 defining the pivot axis 35 is arranged in the rear corner region of the circumferential wall 27, which respectively connects one side wall 34 to the rear wall 33, in particular only at a small height spacing relative to the access opening 28.

[0076] exist Figure 2 Within the scope of the pivoting movement 36 indicated by the double arrow in FIG. 2 , the housing cover 25 can be selectively positioned in a closed position, which lies flat on the upper end section 21 of the circumferential wall 27 and thereby closes the access opening 28, or in different open positions, which are pivoted more or less far upwards. In the open position, the access opening 28 becomes accessible with a larger or smaller opening cross section, depending on the selected opening pivoting angle.

[0077] The closed position of the housing cover 25 can be locked in a releasable manner. For this purpose, a suitable manually actuatable locking mechanism 38 can be found, for example, in the region of the front side 6 outside the container housing 15. Preferably, the locking mechanism 38 comprises a rotary latch 42 rotatably mounted about a pivot axis 44 parallel to the longitudinal axis 17 on the housing cover 25 in the region of the front side 6 and a locking projection 43 arranged externally on the front wall 32 of the housing lower part 24. When the housing cover 25 is in the closed position, the rotary latch 42 can be rotated in such a way that it can be selectively brought into locking engagement or out of locking engagement with the associated locking projection 43.

[0078] The storage container 2 shown by way of example only contains a single storage space 23 which is locked by a housing cover 25 in a manner to be opened. In an embodiment not shown, at least one drawer which can be pulled out when necessary is additionally provided in the housing lower part 24, which drawer provides additional storage space. In an embodiment also not shown, the container housing 15 does not have a cover on the upper side 5, but has a top wall which is integrally formed with the circumferential wall 27, wherein the storage container 2 is generally configured as a drawer container, which has one or more drawers which can be pulled out or pushed in from the container housing as required, and the drawer space of the drawer generally defines the storage space 23.

[0079] At least outside the front side 6, a handle 52 is arranged on the container housing 15, which for better distinction is referred to as a front handle 52. If, according to the embodiment, the container housing 15 consists of a housing lower part 24 and a housing cover 25, the front handle 52 is preferably arranged externally on the front wall 32 of the housing lower part 24. This is the case in the illustrated embodiment. By using the front handle 52, the storage container 2 can be carried and transported in an orientation referred to below as a vertical orientation, in which the vertical axis 16 is oriented horizontally.

[0080] Preferably, the storage container 2 has a further handle 45 on the outside on its upper side 5 oriented in the height direction 16, which handle 45 is referred to as the upper handle 45 for better distinction. If the container housing 15 according to this embodiment has a housing cover 25, the upper handle 45 is arranged on the outside on the upper cover wall 79 of the housing cover 25 which extends perpendicularly to the vertical axis 16 in the closed position. By using the upper handle 45, the storage container 2 can be carried and transported in a horizontal orientation in which the vertical axis 16 extends vertically.

[0081] At least the front handle 52, but preferably also the upper handle 45, is pivotably supported on the container housing 15 so that they can be selectively positioned in a non-use position pivoted toward the container housing 15 or in a use position protruding from the container housing 15 by pivoting relative to the container housing 15.

[0082] The pivot axis 51 of the front handle 52 is referred to below as front pivot axis 51 , wherein the associated pivot movement 53 is indicated by a double arrow.

[0083] The pivot axis 49 of the upper handle 45 is referred to below as upper pivot axis 49 , wherein the associated pivot movement 41 is likewise indicated by a double arrow.

[0084] The two pivot axes 51 , 49 extend parallel to the transverse axis 18 .

[0085] The non-use position of the two handles 52, 45, which are pivoted toward the container housing 15, is shown at 52a and 45a, and the use position is shown at 52b and 45b. The front handle 52 protrudes forward from the container housing 15 in its use position 52b, while the upper handle 45 protrudes upward from the container housing 15 in its use position 45b.

[0086] The front handle 52 is preferably designed as a bow handle which is at least substantially U-shaped. The same applies to the upper handle 45. In the illustrated embodiment, the two handles 52, 45 are designed as bow handles.

[0087] The front handle 52, which is designed as a bow handle, has two handle legs 55 corresponding to the U-shaped legs, which are spaced apart from each other and parallel to each other in the handle longitudinal direction 54 and are connected to each other at their end regions on one end side by a connecting web 56. The handle longitudinal direction 54 extends in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis of the front handle 52, which is provided with the same reference numeral.

[0088] In a corresponding manner, the upper handle 45 also has two handle legs 57 which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction 18 and which are connected to one another at one end by a connecting web 58 .

[0089] The preferably rod-shaped connecting tabs 56, 58 of the two handles 52, 45 extend expediently parallel to each other. The upper handle 45 preferably has a greater length than the front handle 52. The two handles 52, 45 are arranged and constructed mirror-symmetrically with respect to a center plane spanned by the vertical axis 16 and the longitudinal axis 17 and passing through the container housing 15 in the middle of the width direction.

[0090] The upper handle 45 is pivotably supported on the housing cover 25 in the region of the free end section 63 of its handle legs 57 opposite its connecting web 58. In the non-use position 45a, the handle plane of the upper handle 45, which is spanned by the connecting web 58 and the two handle legs 57, extends perpendicularly to the vertical axis 16.

[0091] Preferably, the upper cover wall 79 of the housing cover 25, which belongs to the housing wall 22, has an upper wall recess 64 on the outside, in which the upper handle 45 is rotatably mounted and in which the upper handle 45 is preferably completely submerged when it assumes its non-use position 45a. The upper wall recess 64 is expediently also designed in a U-shaped manner. In the non-use position 45b, the upper handle 45 protrudes upward from the upper wall recess 64, wherein the connecting tab 58 is spaced far enough from the upper cover closure surface 48 to allow gripping by hand in order to carry the storage container 2.

[0092] As an alternative to a pivotable upper handle 45 , the storage container 2 can also have an upper handle 45 which is fixedly mounted on the container housing 15 so as not to be pivotable.

[0093] The front handle 52 is externally pivotably supported on the front wall 32 in the region of the free end sections 62 of its handle legs 55 opposite its connecting webs 56 for the purpose of carrying out the pivoting movement 53. To define the associated front pivot axis 51, a suitable pivot bearing device 65 is assigned to each free end section 62 of the two handle legs 55.

[0094] The front wall 32 is expediently provided on its outer side facing away from the storage space 32 with a front wall recess 66 in which two pivot bearing devices 65 are arranged. The front wall recess 66 has such a depth that when it occupies the non-use position 52a, the front handle 52 is completely submerged and accommodated therein. In the use position 52b, the front handle 52 protrudes far enough from the front wall recess 66 so that the connecting tab 56 can be grasped with one hand in order to carry the storage container 2.

[0095] The handle plane spanned by the two handle legs 55 and the connecting web 56 of the front handle 52 extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 17 in the non-use position and perpendicularly to the vertical axis 16 in the use position.

[0096] The front wall recess 66 is delimited on its two sides spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction 18 by two lateral edge surfaces 67 facing each other and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction 18. Each pivot bearing arrangement 65 is preferably arranged in the region of one of the two lateral edge surfaces 67.

[0097] In the non-use position 45 a , the front handle 52 is expediently pivoted downward, ie its U-shaped opening points upward in the height direction 16 .

[0098] In the upper handle 45 , the non-use position 45 a is expediently formed in that the U-shaped opening of the arcuate upper handle 45 points in the longitudinal direction 17 toward the rear side 7 .

[0099] The front handle 52 is expediently assigned a locking device of the storage container 2 , referred to for better distinction as a front locking device 68 , which is designed to releasably lock the front handle 52 in its non-use position 52 a in a non-pivotable manner.

[0100] Advantageously, a locking device for releasably locking its non-use position 45a is also assigned to the upper handle 45, which is referred to for better distinction as upper locking device 69. The storage container 2 of the illustrated embodiment has a front locking device 68 and an upper locking device 69.

[0101] Each locking device 68 , 69 prevents the handle 52 , 45 in the non-use position 52a , 45a from performing an uncontrolled pivoting movement relative to the container housing 15 when the storage container 2 is transported using the respective other handle 45 or 52 which is now in the use position 45b , 52b .

[0102] The front locking device 68 is expediently designed as a latching device 70 which automatically engages or disengages with a snap action depending on the pivoting direction of the pivoting movement 53 when a corresponding actuating force is introduced into the front handle 52. The strength of the latching is sufficiently large to prevent automatic engagement or disengagement when the storage container 2 is handled in accordance with the specification. However, the force is sufficiently small to enable engagement or disengagement without unusual force action alone by action with the hand.

[0103] The upper locking device 69 is preferably also designed as a latching device 71 , the functional properties of which are identical to those explained above with reference to the latching device 70 .

[0104] In principle, the front and / or upper locking devices 68, 69 can be designed to be individually actuated so that their operating state does not change by merely manually introducing force into the associated handle 52, 45. For example, at least one spring-loaded latch can be present. However, the described design of automatic locking or unlocking based solely on the corresponding introduction of force into the associated handle 52, 45 allows particularly comfortable operation at low manufacturing costs.

[0105] The operating state assumed by the locking device 68, 69 when the locked non-use position 45a, 52a cannot be pivoted is also referred to as the activated operating state below. The operating state of the locking device 68, 69 in which the non-use position is no longer locked is also referred to as the deactivated operating state below.

[0106] The pivot angle of the front handle 52 and / or the upper handle 45 between the non-use position 52a, 45a and the use position 52b, 45b is preferably at least substantially 90 degrees. Each handle 52, 45 can be pivoted within this pivot range, in particular steplessly, into any intermediate position, none of which can be locked or not locked. Fig. 20 In the embodiment of the embodiment of the invention, for the central container 2, there is such an intermediate pivot position of the front handle 52. As soon as the handle 52, 45 has left the locked non-use position 52a, 45a, it can be freely pivoted at least into the use position 52b, 45b. In the case of a corresponding design of the pivot bearing arrangement, the handle 52, 45 can even be pivoted beyond the use position 52b, 45b.

[0107] The locking devices 68, 69 can be locally limited to a single area of ​​the relevant handle 52, 45. However, it is considered to be advantageous if the front locking device 68 and / or the upper locking device 69 consists of a plurality of, in particular exactly two, locking units 68a, 68b; 69a, 69b, which are locally arranged at a distance from one another. For example, the two locking units 68a, 68b or locking units 69a, 69b of each locking device 68, 69 are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction of the associated pivot axis 51, 49.

[0108] The two locking units 68a, 68b of the front locking device 68 (hereinafter also referred to as front locking units 68a, 68b for simplicity) are each arranged in the region of one of the two handle legs 55. Preferably, the locking units are each located in the region of one of the two lateral edge surfaces 67 of the front wall recess 66.

[0109] The front locking units 68a, 68b are arranged transversely to the pivot axis 51 at a distance relative to the pivot bearing device 65. In particular, they are located at a distance from the pivot axis 51 that corresponds to the distance of the connecting web 56 from the pivot axis 51. When viewed in the non-use position 52a of the front handle 52, the two front locking units 68a, 68b are expediently located in the region of the connecting web 56.

[0110] The locking units 69a, 69b of the upper locking device 69, also referred to below as upper locking units 69a, 69b, are arranged with respect to the upper handle 45 in a manner similar to the front locking units 68a, 68b with respect to the front handle 52. One of the upper locking units 69a, 69b is located in the region of one of the handle legs 57, in particular in the region thereof facing away from the respective other handle leg 57. They are located in the region of one of the two mutually facing lateral edge surfaces 72 of the upper wall recess 66, which are arranged spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction 18 and in the embodiment are located in the vicinity of one of the two side walls 34. In the non-use position 45a, one of the handle legs 57 of the upper handle 45 extends beside each of the two lateral edge surfaces 72. The upper locking units 69a, 69b are preferably arranged in the region of the connecting web 58 of the upper handle 45.

[0111] Preferably, each front locking unit 68a, 68b comprises a locking projection 73 arranged on the housing wall 22 of the container housing 15 and in particular constructed integrally with the housing wall 22, which is constructed, for example, in the form of a granule. It represents a first locking element 73a of the front locking unit 68a, 68b. Each locking projection 73 is preferably constructed on one of the two lateral edge surfaces 67 of the front wall recess 66, so that the locking projection extends from one side into the front wall recess 66.

[0112] Each upper locking unit 69 a , 69 b expediently also comprises a correspondingly designed locking projection 75 , wherein the locking projections 75 are expediently each formed on one of the two lateral edge surfaces 72 of the upper wall recess 66 .

[0113] Each locking projection 73 of the front locking unit 68a, 68b engages in the non-use position 52a in a locking recess 74 of the respective front locking unit 68a, 68b formed in the front handle 52. The locking recess 74 represents a second locking element 74a of the respective front locking unit 68a, 68b.

[0114] In this embodiment, the two locking recesses 74 are advantageously formed by the end regions of the cavity 81 which extends through the connecting web 56 in the longitudinal direction of the connecting web 56 and is associated with the two handle legs 55. In the non-use position 52, each locking projection 73 engages in the cavity 81 from the end side and engages behind a wall section 82 of the connecting web 56 which surrounds the cavity 81 on the periphery. Figure 7 The wall section 82 can be moved past the locking projection 73 by a pivoting movement 53 of the front handle 52 in a snap-action manner.

[0115] In a similar manner, each upper locking unit 69a, 69b also expediently comprises a locking recess 76 formed on the upper handle 45, which is formed by one of the two opposite end regions of the cavity 83 of the connecting web 58 that passes longitudinally through the upper handle 45. In the non-use position 45a, the two locking projections 75 engage in the cavity 83 from opposite sides and overlap with the wall section 84 of the connecting web 58 that surrounds the cavity 81 on the periphery. During the pivoting movement 41 of the upper handle 45, the wall section 84 moves past the associated locking projection 75 with a snap-action effect.

[0116] It should be understood that the assignment of the locking projections 73 , 75 and the locking recesses 74 , 76 to the container housing 15 and the corresponding handles 52 , 45 may also be interchanged.

[0117] In an exemplary embodiment not shown, each latching recess 74 , 76 is designed complementary to the shape of the latching projection 73 , 75 and has, for example, the shape of a small groove into which the knob-like latching projection 73 , 75 can be snapped.

[0118] It should be understood that, in addition to the form of a locking recess and a locking projection, the first and second locking elements 73a, 74a of the front handle 52 can also be implemented in other ways. The same applies to the components of the upper locking unit 69a, 69b.

[0119] Overall, it is advantageous if the upper locking device 69 is designed in the same manner as the front locking device 68 , which is achieved in the exemplary embodiment described.

[0120] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the fastening means for the front handle 52 which allows the pivoting movement 53 is described below.

[0121] As already mentioned, the front handle 52 is pivotably fastened to the front wall 32 by means of two pivot bearing devices 65 , which are each assigned to one of the free end sections 62 of the handle legs 55 .

[0122] Each pivot bearing device 65 has a first bearing element 85 arranged on the container housing 15 and a second bearing element 86 arranged on the handle leg 55. The two bearing elements 85, 86 are inserted into each other in the axial direction of the pivot axis 51 and can rotate relative to each other.

[0123] Preferably, the pivot bearing device 65 is designed so that each second support element 86 arranged on a handle leg 55 is plugged together with a first support element 85 arranged on the container shell 15 along a plug-in direction, and the first support element points away from the corresponding other handle leg 55 along the axial direction of the pivot axis 51.

[0124] The second bearing element 86 is expediently formed in one piece with the handle leg and the first bearing element 85 is expediently formed in one piece with the container housing 15 .

[0125] By way of example, the first bearing element 85 is designed as a bearing eye 85a having an insertion opening 87 facing the adjacent handle leg 57. The bearing eye 85a is realized in particular as a wall recess or wall recess of the front wall 32. In this embodiment, the bearing eye is respectively formed in one of the two lateral edge faces 67 of the front wall recess 66. The two insertion openings 87 face each other and are oriented coaxially with respect to each other.

[0126] The second bearing element 86 arranged on the front handle 52 is designed in this embodiment as a bearing pin 86a, which is inserted into the corresponding bearing eye 85a through the insertion opening 86. The two bearing pins 86a are also oriented coaxially with each other, wherein the two bearing pins point in opposite directions, that is, away from each other. The bearing pins are located in particular on the outer sides of the two handle legs 55 facing away from each other. Therefore, each bearing pin 86a is inserted into the corresponding bearing eye 85a starting from the front wall recess 66.

[0127] The pivot bearing arrangement 65 is therefore preferably arranged in the outer region of the two handle legs 55 of the front handle 52 facing away from one another in the axial direction of the pivot axis 51 .

[0128] Especially from Figure 7 , 8 As can be clearly seen in FIG. 9 , the bearing pins 86 a have, by way of example, a non-circular cross-sectional profile. However, they can also be designed to be completely circular.

[0129] It goes without saying that the arrangement of the bearing eye 85a and the bearing pin 86a relative to the container housing 15 and the front handle 52, respectively, can also be interchanged.

[0130] The non-circular cross-sectional profile of the bearing pin 86a can be easily achieved that the front handle 52 is fixed in a non-pivotable manner in the use position 52b by a form-locking contact with the housing wall 22 in an easily releasable manner. By way of example, the bearing pin 86a has a flattened portion 88 at one position of its circumference, which in the use position 52b rests on the flat wall surface of the housing wall 22 and is supported. Since the individual components are made of plastic material, the individual components can bend relative to each other when a torque is applied to the front handle 52. In this regard, the use position 52b fixed by means of the bearing pin 86a can be released again very easily.

[0131] The front handle 52 is suitably made of plastic material. This also preferably applies to the upper handle 45 and the entire container housing 15.

[0132] If the storage container 2 is carried with the front handle 52 in a vertical orientation, the front handle 52 has a tendency to bend as the two handle legs 55 approach each other. These bending forces are Figure 3 Indicated by an arrow at 90. If the front handle 52 is not particularly stable, this can basically lead to the bearing pin 86a slipping out of the bearing eye 85a and the container housing 15 coming loose. This risk is particularly great when the storage space 23 is heavily loaded.

[0133] For the storage container 2 shown, such safety measures are taken, although the front handle 52 is a lightweight structure, but this safety measure excludes this potential danger. Therefore, the front handle 52 can be manufactured cost-savingly, wherein, in particular, the possibility of realizing in the embodiment is that the connecting tab 56 is implemented as a hollow body in a tubular shape.

[0134] The safety measure consists in that a locking device 91 arranged on the storage container 2 is assigned to the free end section 62 of each handle leg 55. Each locking device 91 is designed so that it assumes an activated state at least in the use position of the front handle 51, in which the locking device can support or support the associated handle leg 55 in the axial direction of the pivot axis 51 relative to the container housing 15, so as to prevent the two handle legs 55 from approaching each other when bending forces 90 occur, and thus prevent the mutually inserted bearing elements 85, 86 from loosening from each other.

[0135] In the exemplary embodiment, each locking device 91 comprises a first supporting projection 92 which is fixedly arranged on the container housing 15 in the region of the pivot axis 51 and which projects from the front wall 32 toward the front side 6 transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the pivot axis 51. In addition, each locking device 91 has a second supporting projection 93 which is arranged on the free end region 62 of the associated handle leg 55 and which is arranged offset relative to the first supporting projection 92 in the axial direction of the pivot axis 91, more precisely in the direction of the outer side of the associated handle leg 55 facing away from the respective other handle leg 55. The clearance between the first supporting projections 92 arranged on the container housing 15 measured in the transverse direction 18 is therefore smaller than the clearance between the two second supporting projections 93 formed on the front handle 52 measured in the longitudinal direction 54 of the handle.

[0136] Each second support projection 93 follows the pivoting movement 53 of the front handle 52 and is designed so that it overlaps with the adjacent first support projection 92 arranged on the front wall 32 of the container housing 15 perpendicularly to the pivot axis 51 at least during the activation state of the locking device 91. By this overlap, the second support projection 93 can be supported with an inner support surface 94 on an oppositely oriented and outer support surface 95 of the first support projection 92, which is formed on its end face facing the U-shaped opening of the arched front handle 52.

[0137] The locking device 91 can be designed in such a way that the activated state is present in every pivoted position of the front handle 52 .

[0138] Firstly, in conjunction with the particularly advantageous assembly possibility for the front handle 52, it is advantageous on the other hand if the locking device 91 exerts its effect selectively, i.e., as a function of the pivot angle assumed by the front handle 52 relative to the container housing 15. In the exemplary embodiment, each locking device 91 has an inactive state in at least one further pivot position different from the use position 52b of the front handle 52, in which the locking device releases the associated handle leg 55 for a relative movement directed toward each other between the two handle legs 55 in the axial direction of the pivot axis 51. Thus, in the inactive state of the locking device 91, the two handle legs 55 are in a position to bend elastically when the front handle 52, in particular its connecting tab 56, is elastically bent. Figure 3 approaching each other in the direction of arrow 90.

[0139] By way of example, this selective effect of the locking device 91 is achieved by a special design of the second support projection 93 arranged on the handle leg 55. This has only a limited circumferential extension around the pivot axis 51, wherein its circumferential extension is approximately 90 degrees in this exemplary embodiment. Therefore, the support projection 93 only assumes a position overlapping with the first support projection 92 in the activated state of the locking device 91 ( Figure 8 ), while in the other pivoted positions of the front handle 56 the overlap is released ( Figure 7 ).

[0140] Advantageously, the inactive state of the locking device 91 is present only when the front handle 52 is positioned in the region of the non-use position 52a, or in a limited pivoting range of the handle of up to 10 degrees from the non-use position 52a, including the non-use position 52a. In this embodiment, such a design is present.

[0141] The design with the optional function of the locking device 91 provides the possibility used in the illustrated embodiment to mount the front handle 52 on the container housing 15 by means of a locking process and preferably also to remove the front handle 52 again, while ensuring the locking function when carrying the storage container 2 by means of the front handle 52.

[0142] exist Fig.15 9 shows the front handle 52 in the disassembled state. The double arrow 96 indicates the possible relative movement of the two handle legs 55 in the handle plane of the front handle 52 when the front handle 52 is elastically bent. For assembly on the container housing 15, the front handle 52 is held in a relative position relative to the container housing 15, which corresponds to a pivot position in which the locking device 91 is not activated. In this exemplary embodiment, this is a relative position corresponding to the non-use position 52a.

[0143] In this orientation, the front handle 52 is pressed in a mounting movement indicated by arrow 97 in the longitudinal direction 17 against the front wall 32 of the container housing 15 , so that the second support element 86 snaps into the first support element 85 as part of a locking process.

[0144] In this exemplary embodiment, the latching process is achieved in that each bearing pin 86a has an inclined sliding surface 99 on the end side, with which the bearing pin can slide on an edge structure 100 of the container housing 15 surrounding the bearing eye 85a during the assembly movement 97. Due to this sliding, the two handle legs 55 are briefly moved toward each other according to arrow 96 while being elastically deformed, so that after passing the edge structure 100, they are moved away from each other again according to arrow 96 and latch into the bearing eye 85a.

[0145] If necessary, the front handle 52 can be removed again very easily by engaging with a lever tool in the gap between the handle leg 55 and the lateral edge surface 67 and elastically bending the associated handle leg 55 in the direction of the U-shaped opening.

[0146] The second supporting projection 93 expediently delimits a first groove 101 formed at the end face on the free end section 62 of the handle leg 55 and open transversely to the pivot axis 51. The first supporting projection 92 formed on the container housing 15 engages in this first groove 101.

[0147] Additionally or alternatively, the first support projection 92 formed on the container housing 15 defines a second groove 102 which is also open transversely to the pivot axis 91, into which the second support projection 93 engages. The engagement of the support projections 92, 93 in the grooves 102, 101 is selectively performed to the same extent as the mutual support of the two support projections 92, 93. Better support and / or guidance of the handle leg 55 is achieved by the grooves 101, 102.

[0148] An advantageous design of the storage device 1 comprises Figure 3 The support structure 103 is only shown in a schematic diagram with dotted lines, and is configured to store at least one storage container 2 during non-use. The support structure 103 provides the possibility of accommodating at least one storage container 2 in the form of a pull-out drawer. Such a support structure 103 can be installed in a workshop or a maintenance vehicle, for example.

[0149] In this case, the storage container 2 has a guide device 104 on the outer side of the housing lower part 24, through which the storage container can be releasably linearly movably engaged with the storage device 1 by means of a matching guide device 105 arranged on the support structure 103. By way of example, the guide device 104 comprises a guide rail 104a, 104b on the outer side of each side wall 34 in the region of the lower side 4. The matching guide device 105 has two matching guide rails 105a, 105b, which are arranged on the support structure 103 at a distance from each other so that the storage container 2 can be engaged with them by means of its guide rails 104a, 104b from one end side. The guide rails 104a, 104b and the matching guide rails 105a, 105b are coordinated with each other so that the storage container 2 can be moved into the support structure 103 along its longitudinal direction 17 and can be pulled out from the support structure 103. The front handle 52 can be used in this operation.

[0150] The guide device 104 is expediently integrated in one piece into the housing lower part 24 which is produced from a plastic material.

[0151] Preferably, a plurality of storage containers 2 are stackable on top of one another in the height direction 16, so that a container stack 98 consisting of two or more storage containers 2 stacked on top of one another is obtained, such as in Fig. 20 In the stacked state, each upper container 2 lies with its lower side 4 on the upper side 5 of another container 2 arranged below it.

[0152] Each storage container 2 expediently has a lower coupling device 106 in the region of its underside 4, which is provided, for example, with a coupling device 106 extending from the bottom of the storage container 2. Figure 3 In addition, each storage container 2 has an upper coupling device 107 on the upper side 5, the preferred design of which is as follows: Figure 1 The two coupling devices 106, 107 are matched to each other in such a way that, through their cooperation, the storage containers 2 stacked directly on each other can be releasably coupled to each other in such a way that they cannot be lifted off each other. Fig. 20 The container stack 98 can then be carried and transported in a unified manner by means of the upper handle 45 of the uppermost storage container 2 .

[0153] The locking mechanism 38 described above preferably belongs at least partially to the two coupling devices 106, 107. For example, the rotary latch 22 can be rotated to Fig. 20 In the coupling position indicated at 108 , the rotary latch couples two storage containers 2 stacked on top of one another in the region of the front side 6 in a manner that prevents them from being lifted.

[0154] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the other components of the coupling device 106, 107 are formed by a projection formed on the bottom side 4 and a recess formed on the top side 5. When the two storage containers 2 are stacked on top of each other, the projection and the recess at least partially engage with each other, wherein they overlap transversely to the height direction 16 or engage from behind and also bring about a coupling of the two stacked storage containers 2 that cannot be lifted off each other, especially in the area of ​​the back side 7. The projection is expediently a foot for placing the storage container 2 on the ground.

Claims

1. A storage device comprising at least one storage container (2), the storage container having a container housing (25), the container housing having an upper handle (45) on an upper side (5) oriented in a height direction (16) and a front handle (52) pivotably mounted about a pivot axis (51) on a front side (6) oriented perpendicularly to the height direction (16), wherein: The front handle (52) can be selectively pivoted within the scope of a pivoting movement (53) into a non-use position (52a) pivoted at the front toward the container housing (15) or into a use position (52b) pivoted away from the container housing and protruding forward, wherein the storage container (2) has a front locking device (68) assigned to the front handle (52), which is configured to releasably lock the front handle (52) in its non-use position (52a) in a non-pivotable manner, characterized in that the upper handle (45) is also pivotably supported on the container housing (15), wherein the upper handle can be selectively pivoted within the scope of a pivoting movement (41) into a non-use position (52a) pivoted at the top toward the container housing. The storage container (2) is a storage container comprising a housing (15) and a storage container housing (15) configured to be pivoted into a non-use position (45a) or into a use position (45b) pivoted away from the housing (15) and protruding upward, wherein the storage container (2) has an upper locking device (69) associated with the upper handle (45) for releasably locking the upper handle (45) in its non-use position (45a), wherein the front handle (52) is pivotably supported on the housing (15) by means of at least one pivot bearing device (65) defining a pivot axis (51), wherein the front locking device (68) is arranged spaced apart from the at least one pivot bearing device (65) in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis (51) of the front handle (52).

2. The storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that The front locking device (68) is designed in such a way that it automatically enters an activated operating state in which the front handle (52) is locked so as not to be pivotable when the front handle (52) is pivoted from a use position (52b) to a non-use position (52a) caused by manual force introduction.

3. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The front locking device (68) is designed in such a way that when the front handle (52) is pivoted from the non-use position (52a) toward the use position (52b) by manual force introduction, the front locking device (68) automatically enters an inactive operating state in which the front handle (52) is no longer locked.

4. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The front locking device (68) is constructed as a locking device (70) which automatically engages or disengages according to the pivoting direction by a snap action when the front handle (52) is pivoted by manual force introduction.

5. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The front locking device (68) has at least one front locking unit (68a, 68b), the front locking unit having a first locking element (73a) arranged on the container housing (15) and a second locking element (74a) arranged on the front handle (52), wherein the first and second locking elements (68a, 68b) are in mutual engagement in an axial direction of a pivot axis (51) of a pivoting movement (53) in a non-use position (52a) of the front handle (52) so as to overlap and thereby prevent the front handle (52) from pivoting, and are disengaged from each other in a use position (52b) of the front handle (52).

6. The storage device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first locking element (73a) is designed as a locking projection (73) and the second locking element (68b) is designed as a locking recess (74), or vice versa.

7. The storage device according to claim 5, characterized in that The front locking device (68) has two front locking units (68a, 68b) spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of a pivot axis (51) of the pivot movement (53).

8. The storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that The pivotable front handle (52) is designed as an at least essentially U-shaped bow handle and has two handle legs (55) connected to each other by a connecting web (56) that can be grasped with one hand, wherein the pivotable front handle is pivotably supported on the container housing (15) in the region of the free end sections (62) of the handle legs (55) opposite the connecting web (56) by each pivot bearing device (65).

9. The storage device according to claim 8, characterized in that The front locking device (68) is arranged in the region of the connecting web (56) when viewed in the non-use position (52a) of the front handle (52).

10. The storage device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: Each pivot bearing device (65) has a first supporting element (85) arranged on the container housing (15) and a second supporting element (86) arranged on one of the handle legs (55) of the front handle (52), wherein the first supporting element and the second supporting element are inserted into each other in the axial direction of the pivot axis (51) and can be rotated relative to each other relative to the pivot axis (51), wherein a locking device (91) which is activated at least in the use position (52b) of the front handle (52) is assigned to the free end section (62) of each handle leg (55), by which the corresponding handle leg (55) can be supported relative to the container housing (15) in its activated state in the axial direction of the pivot axis (51) so as to prevent the mutually inserted supporting elements (85, 86) of the two handle legs (55) from loosening and approaching each other.

11. The storage device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The two supporting elements (85, 86) of each pivot bearing device (65) are inserted into each other during the assembly of the front handle (51) by a locking process accompanied by elastic bending of the front handle (52) when the two handle legs (55) approach each other, wherein each locking device (91) occupies an inactive state in at least one other pivot position of the front handle (52) different from the use position (52b), in which the locking device releases the handle leg (55) assigned to the locking device to allow relative movement between the two handle legs (55) in the axial direction of the pivot axis (51) required for the locking process and directed toward each other.

12. The storage device according to claim 11, characterized in that The inactive state of the locking device (91) exists at least in the range of the non-use position (52a) of the front handle (52).

13. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The container housing (15) has a housing wall (22) and a front wall recess (66) is provided on its front side (6) outside the housing wall (22), wherein the front handle (52) is pivotably supported in the front wall recess, wherein the front handle (52) is completely submerged in the front wall recess (66) in its non-use position (52a) and protrudes forward from the front wall recess (66) in its use position.

14. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The upper locking device (69) is designed as a latching device (71).

15. The storage device according to claim 14, characterized in that The upper locking device (69) is designed in the same manner as the front locking device (68).

16. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The container housing (15) has a housing wall (22) which is provided with an upper wall recess (64) on the outside on the upper side (5), in which the upper handle (45) is pivotably supported, wherein the upper handle (45) is completely submerged in the upper wall recess (64) in a non-use position (45a) and protrudes upward from the upper wall recess (64) in its use position (45b).

17. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The container housing (15) comprises a box-shaped housing lower part (24) having an access opening (28) for a storage space (23) on an upper side (5) pointing upward in a height direction (16), and a housing cover (25) assigned to the access opening (28) and pivotably supported on the housing lower part (24) for opening and closing the access opening (28), wherein an upper handle (45) is arranged externally on the upper part of the housing cover (25), and the front handle (52) is arranged externally on a front wall (32) of the housing lower part (24) protruding from a bottom wall (26) of the housing lower part (25).

18. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The storage container (2) has a guide device (104) on the outer side of the container housing (15), by means of which the storage container can be accommodated in a pull-out manner in a support structure (103).

19. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The storage device comprises a plurality of storage containers (2), each of which has a lower coupling device (106) in the region of a lower side (4) on its container housing (15) and an upper coupling device (107) in the region of an upper side (5), wherein the two coupling devices (106, 107) are matched to one another in such a way that storage containers (2) stacked directly on one another in a height direction (16) can be releasably coupled to one another in a manner that they cannot be lifted away from one another by the cooperation of the upper coupling device (107) of the respective lower storage container (2) and the lower coupling device (106) of the respective upper storage container (2).

20. The storage device according to claim 12, characterized in that The inactive state of the locking device (91) exists only within the range of the non-use position (52b) of the front handle (52).

Images