Cylindrical utility box with rotating storage trays

Abstract

A cylindrical utility box includes a circular floor with a central cylindrical shaft extending perpendicularly from the center of the floor. One or more storage trays, each having a wedge-shaped section removed therefrom, are fitted over the shaft. A rotatable cover substantially is fitted over the uppermost storage tray, and a handle is secured to the cylindrical shaft to carry the utility box. Additional storage trays can be added to the utility box by extending the length of the cylindrical shaft, with one or more shaft extension sections.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A storage container comprising: 
 (a) a bottom floor having a central cylindrical shaft that extends substantially perpendicularly from the floor, the cylindrical shaft adapted to mate with a shaft extension that lengthens the shaft to increase the storage capacity of the container;    (b) at least one storage tray having a section removed from its periphery, an annular side wall extending upward from the periphery, and an inner diameter defining an opening located in the center of the storage tray, said storage tray being vertically stackable on said floor when the opening in said storage is positioned over said central cylindrical shaft;    (c) a cover disposed over and rotatable around the shaft; and    (d) a handle for transporting the storage container.    
     
     
         2 . The utility box of  claim 1 , wherein the central cylindrical shaft has a first end connected to the floor and a second end, having a stepped shoulder section that mates with a corresponding stepped section in said handle; wherein the stepped should sections in the cylindrical shaft and handle have channels therein that align, the aligned channels accepting a key that locks the cylindrical shaft to the handle.  
     
     
         3 . The utility box of  claim 2 , wherein said handle has an opening to permit installation of the key into the aligned channels.  
     
     
         4 . The utility box of  claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical shaft includes a notch that receives a tab on the handle or on a shaft extension to prohibit relative rotational movement between said handle and said cylindrical shaft or between the cylindrical shaft and a shaft extension.  
     
     
         5 . A cylindrical storage box, including: 
 a base;    a cylindrical shaft secured to the base, the shaft having a locking mechanism that allows the cylindrical shaft to be secured to a handle or to a shaft extender;    one or more storage trays that fit over and rotate around the cylindrical shaft; and    a handle securable to the cylindrical shaft or to a shaft extender for carrying the storage box.    
     
     
         6 . The storage box of  claim 5 , wherein the cylindrical shaft includes a mating surface that cooperates with a similarly shaped mating surface on a handle or shaft extender; 
 the mating surface including a pair of channels that align and into which a key can be inserted to join the surfaces together.    
     
     
         7 . The storage box of  claim 6 , wherein the channels extend around an outer and inner diameter of the mating surfaces and the key fits with the aligned channels to join the surfaces together.  
     
     
         8 . A cylindrical storage box including: 
 a base;    a shaft extending from the base, the shaft having a mating surface at an upper end thereof that mates with a shaft extender or a handle; and means for locking the shaft to a shaft extender;    one or more storage trays disposed over the shaft; and    a handle for carrying the storage box.    
     
     
         9 . The storage box of  claim 8 , wherein the means for locking the shaft to a shaft extender or a handle comprises a pair of circumferential channels that align and into which a flexible key is inserted to prevent longitudinal movement thereof.