IP Library Granted Patent US 11,523,665
Granted Patent B2
US 11,523,665 · App. 16/026,656 · Granted Dec 13, 2022

Modular storage

Inventors: Thomas Africa (Lebanon, OH); Ryan R. Berger (Columbus, OH); Raymond R. Harpham (Columbus, OH); James H. Lua (Columbus, OH); Clark P. McCune (Roanoke, TX); Ryan T. Olander (Oswego, IL); Emily K. Stokes (Columbus, OH); Sean W. Svendsen (Columbus, OH); John H. Whalen (Sheridan, IL)
Assignee: Plano Molding Company, LLC
A45C7/009A45C5/06A45C7/005A45C11/20A01K97/06A45C13/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,523,665
App. No.
16/026,656
Granted
Dec 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A soft-store having a storage compartment for holding one or more articles. The soft-store has a main body that can be inserted into and seated in a crate. The soft-store has a plurality of walls that form a portion of the storage compartment, a top body that attaches to the main body and covers the storage compartment, and a pair of ancillary bodies. Each of the ancillary bodies has an end portion that rotatably attaches to the main body and an opposite end portion that rotates away from the main body to allow the ancillary bodies to be moved to a single-hand transport configuration. The main body includes an attachment mechanism that attaches the main body to the crate.

Claims (60)

1. A soft-store and crate system, the soft-store having a storage compartment for holding one or more articles, the system comprising:

a crate having at least one opening on each of at least two opposing sides; and

a soft-store including:

a main body having a plurality of walls that form a portion of the storage compartment;

a top body that attaches to the main body and covers the storage compartment;

a pair of ancillary bodies, each having an end portion that rotatably attaches to the main body and an opposite end portion that rotates away from the main body to allow the ancillary bodies to be moved to a single-hand transport configuration; and

an attachment mechanism arranged, when the main body is removably seated in the crate, to pass through the at least one opening in the crate and attach the main body to the crate,

wherein the pair of ancillary bodies are arranged to be held when lowering the main body into or lifting the main body from a seated position in the crate wherein a substantial portion of the main body is inserted in the crate.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises four fasteners, including two fasteners attached to a first wall of the main body and two fasteners attached to a second, opposite wall of the main body.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:

a crate fastener arranged to pass through the opening in the crate and attach to a fastener on the top body to secure the main body to the crate.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:

a fastening member arranged to pass through the opening in the crate and attach to a fastener on a carrying strap,

wherein the fastening member is arranged to secure the main body to the crate.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:

a pair of fastening members that attach to a fastener; and

a crate strap that attaches to at least one of said pair of fastening members,

wherein one of the pair of fastening members is arranged to pass through the opening in the crate and attach to a fastener on a carrying strap to secure a portion of the crate between the pair of fastening members.

6. A soft-store and crate system, the soft-store having a storage compartment for holding one or more articles, the system comprising:

a crate having at least one opening on each of at least two opposing sides; and

a soft-store including:

a main body having a plurality of walls that form a portion of the storage compartment;

an attachment mechanism arranged, when the main body is removably seated in the crate, to pass through the at least one opening in the crate and attach a portion of the main body to the crate, and

a top body having a fastener that attaches to the attachment mechanism to secure the top body to the main body;

wherein the main body is arranged to be insertable in the crate such that the storage compartment is accessible while the main body is seated in the crate, and

wherein the main body is arranged such that a substantial portion of the main body is inserted in the crate when the main body is seated in the crate.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises four fasteners, including two fasteners attached to a first wall of the main body and two fasteners attached to a second, opposite wall of the main body.

8. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:

a top body that attaches to the main body,

wherein the top body covers the storage compartment to enclose the storage compartment.

9. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:

an ancillary body that attaches to the main body,

wherein the ancillary body includes an ancillary storage compartment.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the ancillary body pivots and lifts at one end with respect to the main body.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the ancillary body includes a handle at said one end to facilitate pivoting and lifting of the ancillary body to a single-hand transport configuration.

12. A soft-store and crate system, the soft-store having a storage compartment for holding one or more articles, the system comprising:

a crate having at least one opening on each of at least two opposing sides; and

a soft-store including:

a main body having a plurality of walls that form a portion of the storage compartment;

an attachment mechanism arranged, when the main body is removably seated in the crate, to pass through the at least one opening in the crate and attach a portion of the main body to the crate, and

a top body having a fastener arranged to attach to the attachment mechanism to secure the main body to the crate,

wherein the main body is arranged to be insertable in the crate such that the storage compartment is accessible while the main body is seated in the crate, and

wherein the main body is arranged such that a substantial portion of the main body is inserted in the crate when the main body is seated in the crate.

13. A modular storage system having a storage compartment for holding one or more articles, the modular storage system comprising:

a crate having a plurality of openings; and

a soft-store removably seated in the crate, wherein the soft-store comprises

a main body that includes the storage compartment, and

an attachment mechanism having a crate fastener that passes through one of the plurality of openings in the crate to removably attach the main body to the crate, and

a top body having a fastener that attaches to the attachment mechanism to secure the top body to the main body,

wherein a substantial portion of the main body is inserted in the crate.

14. The modular storage system of claim 13 wherein the top body covers the storage compartment to enclose the storage compartment.

15. The modular storage system of claim 13 , wherein the fastener of the top body attaches to the attachment mechanism to secure the main body to the crate.

16. The modular storage system of claim 13 , further comprising:

an ancillary body that attaches to the main body,

wherein the ancillary body includes an ancillary storage compartment.

17. The modular storage system of claim 13 , further comprising:

an ancillary body that attaches to the main body,

wherein the ancillary body pivots and lifts at one end with respect to the main body.

18. The modular storage system of claim 17 , wherein the ancillary body includes a handle at said one end to facilitate pivoting and lifting of the ancillary body to a singlehanded transport configuration.

19. The modular storage system of claim 13 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises four fasteners, including two fasteners attached to a first wall of the main body and two fasteners attached to a second, opposite wall of the main body.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENT COLLATERAL (FIRST LIEN), RECORDED AT REEL 069231, FRAME 0202 Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS RESIGNING AGENT
To: MONARCH FINANCE LLC, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 069898/0581 →
SHORT FORM FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2024
From: PURE FISHING, INC.; FRABILL, INC.; PENN FISHING TACKLE MFG. CO.; PLANO MOLDING COMPANY
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069231/0202 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT R/F 056911/0458 Recorded Oct 17, 2024
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS AGENT
To: PLANO MOLDING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 069180/0173 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2024
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: PLANO MOLDING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 069175/0587 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2021
From: PLANO SYNERGY HOLDING INC.; PLANO HOLDING LLC; PLANO MOLDING COMPANY, LLC; PJJL, LLC; FRABILL, INC.; PSV II, LLC; HHS IP, LLC; 431 EAST SOUTH LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ABL COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056951/0459 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2021
From: PLANO MOLDING COMPANY, LLC
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056910/0206 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (PATENTS) Recorded Jul 20, 2021
From: PLANO MOLDING COMPANY, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056911/0458 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT R/F 053414/0945 Recorded Apr 19, 2021
From: GOLUB CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, AS AGENT
To: PLANO MOLDING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 056464/0006 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2020
From: PLANO MOLDING COMPANY, LLC
To: GOLUB CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053414/0945 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2020
From: AFRICA, THOMAS J.; STOKES, EMILY K.; BERGER, RYAN R.; LUA, JAMES H.; MCCUNE, CLARK P.; WHALEN, JOHN P.; HARPHAM, RAYMOND R.; SVENDSEN, SEAN W.; OLANDER, RYAN T.
To: PLANO MOLDING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 053284/0426 →