IP Library Granted Patent US 10,398,203
Granted Patent B2
US 10,398,203 · App. 15/283,981 · Granted Sep 3, 2019

Crash-ready, portable, compartmentalization device

Inventors: Timothy Paul Schroeder (Mason, OH); James C. West, III (Midland, OH)
Assignee: Ferno-Washington, Inc.
A45C5/00B60R11/06B60R2011/0019B60R2011/0057B60R2011/0078
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,398,203
App. No.
15/283,981
Granted
Sep 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A crash-ready, portable, item compartmentalization device may include a shell which includes a first half shell and a second half shell. The first half shell and the second half shell may have substantially similar dimensions and define an interior space and an exterior space. One or more pouches may be removably coupled to the shell in the interior space. The crash-ready, portable, item compartmentalization device may be relocated throughout the interior of an emergency vehicle when used with an equipment mounting system or taken to the field for use away from the emergency vehicle. The individual pouches may also be removed and replaced with stocked pouches to replenish the crash-ready, portable, item compartmentalization device.

Claims (44)

1. A portable, item compartmentalization device for use in an emergency vehicle, the portable, item compartmentalization device comprising:

a shell comprising:

a first half shell and a second half shell, the first half shell and the second half shell having similar dimensions and defining an interior space and an exterior space, the first half shell and the second half shell are hingedly coupled along a common side such that the first half shell and the second half shell can be positioned in a closed position in which the first half shell and the second half shell are disposed parallel to and stacked in relation to each other such that the interior spaces are combined, and an open position in which the first half shell and the second half shell are disposed adjacent to and coplanar with one another;

a first handle coupled to the first half shell along a side parallel to a central axis;

a second handle coupled to the first half shell along a side parallel to a mount axis and opposite from one or more feet; and

a seam fastener coupled to an outer edge of the first half shell and the second half shell and couples the first half shell to the second half shell together when the shell is in the closed position;

at least one securing device disposed within the interior space and selected from the group consisting of a removable means and magnetic pouch mount each of which comprises a latch mechanism;

at least one mount location coupled to an exterior wall of the first half shell and configured to secure the shell to a surface wall of an emergency vehicle;

at least one pouch removably coupled to the shell in the interior space through the at least one securing device, the at least one pouch comprising:

a container defining an interior compartment and having an opening for receiving items into the interior compartment;

a flap hingedly coupled to the container and sized to cover the opening and at least a portion of an outer surface of the container; and

means for securing the flap to the outer surface of the container.

2. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mount location is a stud configured to couple with a quick mount track coupled to the surface wall of an emergency vehicle.

3. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 2 , further comprising at least one spacer coupled to the exterior wall of the first half shell and the second half shell in the exterior space to maintain an alignment of the first half shell and the second half shell with the surface wall of an emergency vehicle while the shell is in the open position.

4. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mount location is a wedge interface configured to couple with a wedge mount coupled to a quick mount track coupled to the surface wall of an emergency vehicle.

5. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 4 , further comprising at least one spacer coupled to the exterior wall of the first half shell and the second half shell in the exterior space to maintain an alignment of the first half shell and the second half shell with the surface wall of an emergency vehicle while the shell is in the open position.

6. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 1 , wherein the removable means are coupled to at least one backing plate that is coupled within the interior space to the first half shell and the second half shell.

7. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 6 , wherein the removable means are arranged in a 4 by 2 grid.

8. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pouch is color coded to indicate their contents.

9. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 1 , wherein the portable, item compartmentalization device can withstand a g-force loading of up to 20g in order to retain functionality within an emergency vehicle after the emergency vehicle is subjected to an inertial force, impact, crash, or a sudden maneuver.

10. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting bracket cooperative with the magnetic pouch mount and the at least one pouch through at least one of an alignment peg, a catch and a fastening means.

11. The portable, item compartmentalization device of claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism of the removable means or magnetic pouch mount comprises a spring-biased latch handle and latch tooth such that the latch tooth is movable within a latch aperture in response to movement of the latch handle such that a catch formed as part of the at least one pouch may selectively engage the latch tooth.

12. A method of utilizing a portable, item compartmentalization device in an emergency vehicle, the method comprising:

mounting the portable, item compartmentalization device to a quick mount track that is secured to a surface wall of the emergency vehicle, the portable, item compartmentalization device comprising:

a shell comprising:

a first half shell and a second half shell, the first half shell and the second half shell having similar dimensions which defines an interior space and an exterior space, the first half shell and the second half shell are hingedly coupled along a common side such that the first half shell and the second half shell can be positioned in a closed position in which the first half shell and the second half shell are disposed parallel to and stacked in relation to each other such that the interior spaces are combined, and an open position in which the first half shell and the second half shell are disposed adjacent to and coplanar with one another;

a first handle coupled to the first half shell along a side parallel to a central axis;

a second handle coupled to the first half shell along a side parallel to a mount axis and opposite from one or more feet; and

a seam fastener is coupled to an outer edge of the first half shell and the second half shell and couples the first half shell to the second half shell when the shell is in the closed position;

at least one securing device disposed within the interior space and selected from the group consisting of a removable means and magnetic pouch mount each of which comprises a latch mechanism; and

at least one mount location coupled to an exterior wall of the first half shell;

securing the shell to the quick mount track; and

transitioning the portable, item compartmentalization device from the closed position to the open position.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising removably disposing at least one pouch to the shell in the interior space, the at least one pouch comprising:

a container defining an interior compartment and having an opening for receiving items into the interior compartment;

a flap hingedly coupled to the container and sized to cover the opening and at least a portion of an outer surface of the container; and

a fastener used to secure the flap to the outer surface of the container.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising unfastening the seam fastener before transitioning the portable, item compartmentalization device from the closed position to the open position.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

removing a pouch from the portable, item compartmentalization device; and

replacing the removed pouch with a stocked pouch.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

removing the portable, item compartmentalization device from the quick mount track; and

replacing the portable, item compartmentalization device with another portable, item compartmentalization device.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2026
From: FERNO GROUP, INC.; FERNO-WASHINGTON, INC.; FERNO CANADA INC.; TRAVERSE RESCUE, LLC
To: THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK
Reel/Frame 074229/0457 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2025
From: FERNO-WASHINGTON, INC., SUBSIDIARY OF FERNO GROUP, INC.
To: FERNO FINANCE I, LLC
Reel/Frame 071168/0422 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2019
From: SCHROEDER, TIMOTHY PAUL; WEST, JAMES C., III
To: FERNO-WASHINGTON, INC.
Reel/Frame 049536/0954 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2014050288 · Aug 8, 2014
Provisional Application 62026520 · Jul 18, 2014
Related Publication 20170020249A1 · Jan 26, 2017