Parts management system and method of use

Abstract

A parts management system includes a compartment having a plurality of cup-shaped cells formed in the base of the compartment. Side walls of the compartment include notches formed therein. The parts management system further includes dividers that may be engaged with the notches to subdivide the parts management system into smaller subcompartments. In use, smaller parts, such as fasteners, are detached from an item to be disassembled and placed in the cup-shaped cells within particular subcompartments. The larger components associated with the fasteners are removed from the item to be disassembled and are also loaded into the subcompartments in proximity to their associated fasteners. The parts can be loaded into the parts management system in sequential order during disassembly of the item. The parts can then be unloaded from the parts management system in a reverse order during reassembly of the item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for managing a plurality of parts comprising:
 a first end wall;   a second end wall;   a first side wall;   a second side wall, said first and second side walls extending between said first and second end walls; and   a base surrounded by said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls, said base including a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells configured to contain said plurality of parts separate from one another.   
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said base includes an upper surface and said cup-shaped cells extend below said upper surface. 
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein each of said cells has an opening formed through said upper surface of said base. 
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein a bottom edge of each successive one of said first end wall, said first side wall, said second end wall, and said second side wall are coupled to an outer perimeter of said upper surface of said base such that said first end wall, said first side wall, said second end wall, and said second side wall extend above said upper surface of said base. 
     
     
         5 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls define a first compartment having said base with said plurality of cup-shaped cells formed therein, and said system further comprises a second compartment adjacent to and extending a length of said second side wall. 
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said second compartment comprises:
 a third end wall formed adjacent to said first end wall; 
 a fourth end wall formed adjacent to said second end wall; 
 a third side wall extending between said third and fourth end walls and laterally displaced away from said second side wall; and 
 a substantially planar base surrounded by said second side wall, said third end wall, said third side wall, and said fourth end wall. 
 
     
     
         7 . A system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said first compartment exhibits a first height from a first upper edge of said first compartment to a bottom surface of said cup-shaped cells, and said second compartment exhibits a second height from a second upper edge of said second compartment to said substantially planar base, said second height being substantially equivalent to said first height. 
     
     
         8 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein:
 interior surfaces of said first and second side walls and said first and second end walls define a compartment having said base with said plurality of cup-shaped cells, said interior surfaces of said first and second side walls having notches formed therein; and 
 said system further includes at least one divider engaged with said notches in each of said first and second side walls and extending between said first and second side walls such that said compartment is subdivided into at least two subcompartments. 
 
     
     
         9 . A system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein one of said notches on said first side wall directly opposes one of said notches on said second side wall to form a pair of said notches for engagement with said at least one divider, said pair of said notches being located between adjacent rows of said cup-shaped cells. 
     
     
         10 . A system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said at least one divider comprises:
 a body having a lower edge, an upper edge, and side edges, said lower edge being configured for abutment with an upper surface of said base, and said side edges being engaged with said notches; and 
 a rigid flap fixed to said upper edge and bent out of alignment with said body. 
 
     
     
         11 . A system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said rigid flap is bent downwardly toward said base. 
     
     
         12 . A method of managing a plurality of parts using a parts management system, said parts management system including a compartment, said compartment including a base surrounded by first and second end walls and first and second side walls extending above an upper surface of said base, said base including a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells extending below said upper surface of said base, and said method comprises:
 detaching smaller ones of said plurality of parts from an item being disassembled;   removing larger ones of said plurality of parts associated with said smaller parts from said item;   placing said smaller parts into said cup-shaped cells; and   loading said larger parts associated with said smaller parts into said parts management system in proximity to said smaller parts.   
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein:
 said parts management system further includes a divider configured to engage with notches formed in interior surfaces of said first and second side walls; 
 said smaller parts are fasteners, said larger parts are components connected to said item via said fasteners; 
 said removing operation comprises disconnecting said fasteners from one of said components and removing said one of said components; 
 said method further comprises engaging said divider in a pair of said notches in said first and second side walls so that said divider extends between said first and second side walls to form a subcompartment in said compartment; 
 said placing operation comprises placing said fasteners in at least one of said cells located in said subcompartment of said compartment; and 
 when said subcompartment is sized to accommodate said one of said components, said loading operation comprises loading said one of said components into said subcompartment. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising repeating said detaching, removing, engaging, placing, and loading operations for successive parts to be removed from said item. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said compartment is a first compartment, and said part management system further includes a second compartment formed adjacent to said first compartment, and said method further comprises loading said one of said components in said second compartment when said subcompartment is too small to accommodate said one of said components. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said divider includes a body and a rigid flap, said body having a lower edge, an upper edge, and side edges, said lower edge abutting an upper surface of said base when said divider is engaged in said notches, and said rigid flap being fixed to said upper edge and bent out of alignment with said body, and said method further comprises marking said rigid flap with identifiers that identify said one of said components and said fasteners. 
     
     
         17 . A system for managing a plurality of parts comprising:
 a first compartment including a first end wall, a second end wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base wherein said first and second side walls extend between said first and second end walls and said base is surrounded by said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls, said base includes an upper surface and a plurality of generally cup-shaped cells extending below said upper surface, and said cells are configured to contain said plurality of parts separate from one another; and   a second compartment coupled to and extending the length of said second side wall.   
     
     
         18 . A system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein a bottom edge of each successive one of said first end wall, said first side wall, said second end wall, and said second side wall are coupled to an outer perimeter of said upper surface of said base such that said first end wall, said first side wall, said second end wall, and said second side wall extend above said upper surface of said base, and each of said cells has an opening formed through said upper surface of said base. 
     
     
         19 . A system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein:
 interior surfaces of said first and second side walls have notches formed therein; and 
 said system further includes at least one divider engaged with said notches in each of said first and second side walls and extending between said first and second side walls such that said compartment is subdivided into at least two subcompartments. 
 
     
     
         20 . A system as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said at least one divider comprises:
 a body having a lower edge, an upper edge, and side edges, said lower edge being configured for abutment with said upper surface of said base, and said side edges being engaged with said notches; and 
 a rigid flap fixed to said upper edge and bent out of alignment with said body.