Stackable and interlocking carrying cases for a mobile tactical command and control center

Abstract

First and second stackable and interlocking carrying cases having particular application for use at a mobile tactical command and control center to be operated in the field. The first carrying case transports a pull-out desk top and a pull-top drawer at the interior thereof. The second carrying case transports a shock isolated housing at the interior thereof to which standard (e.g., 19 inch) rack mounted electronics are connected. A plurality of the first and second carrying cases can be stacked one above the other to form a pair of vertical columns. The pull-out desk top slides outwardly from the first carrying case in one of the vertical columns so as to extend between the pair of columns and thereby create a flat writing surfaces, or the like, for building a modular desk. Access to the electronics necessary to operate the tactical command and control center is available from one or more of the second carrying cases in the pair of vertical columns.

1 . A plurality of carrying cases to be stacked together, at least a first of said plurality of carrying cases transporting a desk top, said desk top being movable from a retracted position at the interior of said first carrying case to an extended position outwardly of said first carrying case at which to establish a writing surface.  
   
   
       2 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 1 , wherein the desk top transported by said first carrying case is slidable between the retracted and extended positions.  
   
   
       3 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 2 , wherein said first carrying case has an exit opening formed therein, said desk top being slidable between the retracted and extended positions by way of said exit opening.  
   
   
       4 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 1 , wherein the desk top transported by said first carrying case includes fold out flaps hingedly connected to the opposite sides thereof, said fold out flaps being rotated over top said desk top when said desk top is moved to the retracted position at the interior of said first carrying case, and said fold out flaps being rotated so as to project horizontally from the opposite sides of said desk top to increase said writing surface when said desk top is moved to the extended position outwardly of said first carrying case.  
   
   
       5 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 1 , said first carrying case also transporting a drawer, said drawer being movable from an inside position at the interior of said first carrying case to an outside position outwardly of said first carrying case at which access to the contents of said drawer is available.  
   
   
       6 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 5 , wherein said first carrying case has a pair of sides and at least one side panel removably attached to one side of said pair of sides to cover said one side, said side panel being removed from said one side to enable said drawer to be moved from said inside position to said outside position.  
   
   
       7 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 5 , wherein said desk top and said drawer are disposed one above the other at the interior of said first carrying case when said desk top is moved to the retracted position and said drawer is moved to the inside position.  
   
   
       8 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 1 , at least a second of said plurality of carrying cases transporting a housing at the interior thereof and electronics connected to said housing at the interior of said second carrying case.  
   
   
       9 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 8 , wherein one of the first and second carrying cases has a set of projections extending outwardly therefrom and the other one of said first and second carrying cases has a corresponding set of recesses formed therein, the set of projections extending from the one of said carrying cases being received in interlocking engagement within the corresponding set of recesses formed in the other one of said carrying cases, whereby said first and second carrying cases are stacked together one above the other.  
   
   
       10 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 9 , wherein said first and second carrying cases are stacked together one above the other to build a modular desk.  
   
   
       11 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 8 , wherein the housing transported at the interior of said second carrying case is suspended at said interior by means of shock deflecting springs that are located between said housing and said second carrying case.  
   
   
       12 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 11 , wherein each of said shock deflecting springs has a series of coils extending axially therealong.  
   
   
       13 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 12 , wherein the series of coils of one of said shock deflecting springs are spaced closer together and have a smaller diameter than the series of coils of another one of said shock deflecting springs.  
   
   
       14 . The plurality of carrying cases recited in  claim 8 , wherein said second carrying case has a pair of sides and at least one side panel removably attached to one side of said pair of sides to cover said one side, said side panel being removed from the one side of said second carrying case to enable access to said electronics connected to said housing at the interior of said second carrying case.  
   
   
       15 . In combination: 
 a first carrying case having a handle to enable said first carrying case to be carried form place-to-place, said first carrying case also having a pull-out desk top being movable from a retracted position at the interior of said first carrying case to an extended position outwardly of said first carrying case at which to establish a writing surface; and    a second carrying case having a handle to enable said second carrying case to be carried from place-to-place, said second carrying case transporting a housing at the interior thereof and electronics connected to said housing at said interior,    one of the first and second carrying cases having a set of projections extending outwardly therefrom and the other one of said first and second carrying cases having a corresponding set of recesses formed therein, the set of projections extending from the one of said carrying cases being received in interlocking engagement within the corresponding set of recesses formed in the other one of said carrying cases, whereby said first and second carrying cases are stacked together one above the other.    
   
   
       16 . The combination recited in  claim 15 , wherein said first and second carrying cases are stacked together such that said first carrying case sits atop said second carrying case to create a vertical column to build a modular desk when the pull-out desk top of said first carrying case is moved to the extended position.