Tool storage and carrier assembly

Abstract

A portable storage assembly and method of assembly is disclosed. The storage assembly can include a bag having at least one storage volume and a bottom member; and a tray that receives the bottom member in a stacked relationship and supports the bag such that a second storage volume is formed under the bottom member of the bag and above a base of the tray.

1 . A portable storage assembly, comprising: 
 a bag having at least one storage volume and a bottom member; and    a tray that receives the bottom member in a stacked relationship and supports the bag such that a second storage volume is formed under the bottom member of the bag and above a base of the tray.    
   
   
       2 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member defines a male first stacking component and the tray defines a female stacking component.  
   
   
       3 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member nests within the tray.  
   
   
       4 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment mechanism to removably attach the bag and the tray.  
   
   
       5 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein when the bag and tray are attached, lifting of the bag causes the tray to travel with the bag in the stacked arrangement with a load of the tray borne by the attachment mechanism.  
   
   
       6 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a spring biased button that is received in a corresponding aperture of the tray.  
   
   
       7 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the button includes a control surface that facilitates lateral movement of the button during attaching of the bag and tray.  
   
   
       8 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the tray includes an additional attachment mechanism for establishing a removable connection to a second tray in a stacked relationship.  
   
   
       9 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein a lowering action of the bag with respect to the tray connects the attachment mechanism to a corresponding member to attach the bag and the tray without direct manual manipulation of the attachment mechanism.  
   
   
       10 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray is received by a second tray in a stacked relationship such that third storage volume is formed under the first tray and over a base of the second tray.  
   
   
       11 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member is supported by a ledge disposed on a sidewall of the tray.  
   
   
       12 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member includes an outer lower edge that is disposed laterally inward of a corresponding inner upper edge of the tray.  
   
   
       13 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray includes a handle having a stowed position where the handle is disposed in the second storage volume and a carrying position.  
   
   
       14 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the tray includes a handle receiving ledge upon which the handle rests when disposed in the stowed position.  
   
   
       15 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the handle includes a positioning mechanism to hold the handle in the carrying position, the positioning mechanism engaging a member of the tray that is adapted to receive an attachment mechanism for establishing detachable connection between the bag and the tray.  
   
   
       16 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a set of wheels connected to the tray and positioned to facilitate rolling of the storage assembly across a surface.  
   
   
       17 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of stacked trays and the bag is disposed on the uppermost one of the trays in a stacked arrangement and the lowest one of the trays include a set of wheels to facilitate rolling of the storage assembly across a surface.  
   
   
       18 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray includes at least one divider for separating the second storage volume.  
   
   
       19 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom member and the tray form a seal to reduce entry of contaminants into the second storage volume.  
   
   
       20 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing mechanism disposed between the bottom member and the tray to reduce entry of contaminants into the second storage volume.  
   
   
       21 . The portable storage assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag is a soft-sided tool bag.  
   
   
       22 . A method of assembling a portable storage assembly that includes a bag having at least one storage volume, the bag being removably attachable to a tray, comprising: 
 aligning the bag over the tray;    lowering the bag to engage an attachment mechanism of the bag with a receiving member of the tray; and    securing the attachment mechanism and the receiving member so that the bag is removably attached to the tray in a stacked relationship and a second storage volume is formed under the bag.    
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the securing includes moving the bag with respect to the tray.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein a bottom member of the bag nests within the tray.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein when the bag and tray are attached, lifting of the bag causes the tray to travel with the bag in the stacked arrangement with the load of the tray borne by the attachment mechanism.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a spring biased button that is received in a corresponding aperture of the tray.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the button includes a control surface that facilitates lateral movement of button during lowering and securing.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising removably attaching the tray to a second tray so that the bag and trays are in a stacked relationship and a third storage volume is formed between the trays.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the bag is secured to the tray without direct manual manipulation of the attachment mechanism.  
   
   
       30 . A bag for carrying and storing a plurality of articles, comprising: 
 at least one body panel that defines a storage volume;    a bottom member secured to the at least one body panel; and    an attachment mechanism to removably attach the bag to a member disposed under the bag in a stacked relationship to the bag.    
   
   
       31 . A storage device, comprising: 
 a base;    sidewalls that extend upward from a perimeter of the base in a generally vertical direction; and    a supporting surface disposed with respect to the sidewalls to alternatively support another storage device and a bag stacked onto the storage device base in spaced relationship to base.    
   
   
       32 . The storage device according to  claim 31 , further comprising a receiving member to detachably receive an attachment mechanism of the stacked one of the another storage device and the bag.  
   
   
       33 . The storage device according to  claim 31 , further comprising an attachment mechanism to removably attach the storage device to a member disposed under the storage device in a stacked relationship to the storage device.