Granted Patent B2

US 12,559,287 · App. 18/444,989 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Inventors: Grant T. Squiers (Cudahy, WI); Matthew Vargo (Milwaukee, WI); Matthew W. Naiva (Wauwatosa, WI); George Barton (Mequon, WI); Christopher S. Hoppe (Midvale, UT); Scott Earl McKinster (Watertown, WI); Aaron S. Blumenthal (Shorewood, WI); Michael Stearns (Milwaukee, WI); Michael John Caelwaerts (Milwaukee, WI); Aaron M. Williams (Milwaukee, WI); Samuel A. Gould (West Allis, WI); Steven W. Hyma (Milwaukee, WI); Jason D. Thurner (Menomonee Falls, WI); Yaron Brunner (Kubbutz Gvat, IL)

Assignees: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation; Keter Plastic LTD.

B65D25/20A45F3/04A45F3/14B25H3/02B65D21/086A45F2003/144B62B1/16B62B1/20B62B3/005B62B3/10B62B3/102B62B5/0433

Abstract

Claims (29)

1 . A storage system comprising:

a first storage container comprising a first coupler, the first storage container comprising a latch member coupled to the first storage container; and

a hitch supported receptacle plate comprising:

an arm that engages with a hitch receptacle extending from a rear of a vehicle;

a plate coupled to the arm;

a plurality of plate cleats configured at a first top face of the plate, wherein the first coupler is detachably engaged with a first cleat of the plurality of plate cleats; and

a locking aperture defined by the plate, the locking aperture configured to receive the latch member, wherein disconnecting the first storage container from the plate can be performed only after disengaging the latch member from the locking aperture.

2 . The storage system of claim 1 , wherein the latch member is spring biased to engage with the locking aperture.

3 . The storage system of claim 2 , each of the plurality of plate cleats comprising two sidewalls, a back wall, and a wing, the back wall extending between the two sidewalls, the two sidewalls and the back wall projecting from a first coupling surface of the first top face, and the wing extending away from the back wall in a first direction above the first coupling surface.

4 . The storage system of claim 3 , the first storage container comprising:

a second cleat configured at a second top face of the first storage container;

a first lid pivotally attached to the first storage container;

a first toggle locking latch configured to latch the first lid of the first storage container in a closed position;

a front face;

a first side face;

an opposing second side face;

a first corner bumper coupled to the first storage container between the front face and the first side face, the first corner bumper defining a first outer surface that faces away from each of the front face and the first side face; and

a second corner bumper coupled to the first storage container between the front face and the second side face, the second corner bumper defining a second outer surface that faces away from each of the front face and the second side face.

5 . The storage system of claim 4 , the second cleat comprising two sidewalls, a back wall, and a wing, the back wall extending between the two sidewalls, the two sidewalls and the back wall projecting from a second coupling surface of the second top face, and the wing extending away from the back wall in the first direction above the second coupling surface.

6 . The storage system of claim 5 comprising a second storage container, the second storage container comprising:

a second coupler detachably engaged with a third cleat of the plurality of plate cleats; and

a fourth cleat configured at a third top face of the second storage container, the fourth cleat comprising two sidewalls, a back wall, and a wing, the back wall extending between the two sidewalls, the two sidewalls and the back wall projecting from a third coupling surface of the third top face, and the wing extending away from the back wall in the first direction above the third coupling surface;

a second lid pivotally attached to the second storage container;

a second toggle locking latch configured to latch the second lid of the second storage container in a closed position;

a second front face;

a third side face;

an opposing fourth side face;

a third corner bumper coupled to the second storage container between the second front face and the third side face, the third corner bumper defining a third outer surface that faces away from each of the second front face and the third side face; and

a fourth corner bumper coupled to the second storage container between the second front face and the fourth side face, the fourth corner bumper defining a fourth outer surface that faces away from each of the second front face and the fourth side face.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (10)

References Cited (400)