Granted Patent B2

US 12,525,825 · App. 18/436,736 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Inventor: Beth E. Cholst (Wauwatosa, WI)

Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation

H02J50/12B25H3/021H01M10/44H02J1/10

Abstract

Claims (43)

1 . A modular storage container comprising:

a housing defining a compartment, the housing comprising:

a bottom surface; and

a first interface positioned on the bottom surface, the first interface configured to couple the housing to a second modular storage container;

a panel coupled to the housing, the panel comprising:

an upper surface comprising:

a second interface comprising a recessed charging surface, the second interface configured to couple the housing to the second modular storage container; and

an inductive charger positioned below the recessed charging surface.

2 . The modular storage container of claim 1 , wherein the inductive charger is positioned within the panel.

3 . The modular storage container of claim 1 , wherein the inductive charger includes inductive charging coils supported within the housing.

4 . The modular storage container of claim 1 , wherein the inductive charger includes inductive charging coils that are positioned under the recessed charging surface.

5 . The modular storage container of claim 1 , the second interface further comprising a plurality of coupling recesses, the coupling recesses configured to couple the housing to the second modular storage container.

6 . The modular storage container of claim 5 , wherein each of the coupling recesses define a first depth from the upper surface of the panel and the recessed charging surface defines a second depth from the upper surface of the panel.

7 . The modular storage container of claim 6 , wherein the first depth is equal to the second depth.

8 . A container comprising:

a housing that defines a compartment, the housing comprising:

a bottom surface; and

a first interface extending from the bottom surface, the first interface configured to couple the housing to a modular tool storage device; and

a panel coupled to the housing, the panel comprising:

an uppermost surface comprising:

a recessed surface, the recessed surface configured to receive a first electronic device; and

a coupling recess;

wherein the coupling recess defines a first depth from the uppermost surface of the panel and the recessed surface defines a second depth from the uppermost surface of the panel.

9 . The container of claim 8 , wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth.

10 . The container of claim 8 , wherein the panel includes a tab that projects over the coupling recess, and wherein the recessed surface is uncovered by the panel.

11 . The container of claim 8 , wherein the panel includes a tab that projects over the recessed surface to define a charging recess, and wherein the charging recess is configured to couple the housing to the modular tool storage device.

12 . The container of claim 8 , wherein the recessed surface is configured to receive and charge a second electronic device.

13 . The container of claim 8 , further comprising an inductive charger coupled to the panel.

14 . The container of claim 8 , the container comprising a power input configured to receive AC power.

15 . A container comprising:

a housing that defines a compartment, the housing comprising:

a first surface; and

a first interface extending from the first surface, the first interface configured to couple the housing to a modular tool storage device;

a housing panel coupled to the housing, the housing panel comprising:

a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface comprising:

a coupling interface configured to couple the housing to the modular tool storage device; and

a charging recess configured to receive and charge a first electronic device; and

an inductive charger associated with the charging recess.

16 . The container of claim 15 , wherein the housing panel comprises a tab that projects over the charging recess.

17 . The container of claim 15 , further comprising a battery interface configured to couple to a rechargeable power tool battery, wherein the inductive charger is electrically coupled to the battery interface and configured to receive power from the rechargeable power tool battery.

18 . The container of claim 15 , wherein the charging recess is configured to couple the housing to the modular tool storage device.

19 . The container of claim 15 , wherein the charging recess is adapted to receive and charge a second electronic device in addition to the first electronic device.

20 . The container of claim 15 , the container comprising a power input configured to receive AC power.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (171)