Interlocking stackable storage containers

Abstract

An interlockable storage system including two or more stackable storge containers are lockable to one another. A storage container includes a rectangular support frame, having a plurality of top frame members, a plurality of bottom frame members, and a plurality of support members. The rectangular support frame includes a pair of upper handle locks extending from an opposing pair of top frame members, a pair of lower handle locks extending from an opposing pair of bottom frame members, and wherein the pair of bottom handle locks are positioned to surround the upper handle locks when resting on a subsequent storage container, and a pair of locking handles each rotatably coupled to either the pair of upper handle locks or the pair of lower handle locks, wherein each locking handle rotates to secure the pair of bottom handle locks to the pair of upper handle locks

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage container, comprising:
 a rectangular support frame, including;
 a plurality of top frame members; 
 a plurality of bottom frame members; and 
 a plurality of support members coupled therebetween; 
 a pair of upper handle locks extending in a uniform direction from an opposing pair of the plurality of top frame members; 
 a pair of lower handle locks extending in opposing directions from an opposing pair of the plurality of bottom frame members, wherein the opposing directions are orthogonal to the uniform direction, and wherein the pair of bottom handle locks are positioned such that each bottom handle lock surrounds an upper handle lock of the pair of upper handle locks on three sides when resting on a subsequent storage container; and 
 a pair of locking handles each rotatably coupled to either the pair of upper handle locks or the pair of lower handle locks, wherein each locking handle rotates to secure the pair of bottom handle locks to the pair of upper handle locks when a subsequent storage container is secured to the rectangular support frame. 
   
     
     
         2 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the uniform direction of the pair of upper handle locks is orthogonal to a plane of the opposing pair of top members. 
     
     
         3 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing directions of the pair of lower handle locks orthogonal to the uniform direction. 
     
     
         4 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein each locking handle of the pair of locking handles rotatably couple to one of the upper handle locks of the pair of opposing upper handle locks and are each positioned to rotate upwardly to engage the associated upper handle lock and to rotate downwardly into a locking position to secure a subsequent storage container to the storage container. 
     
     
         5 . The storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer cover to surround the rectangular support frame and enclose items placed in the storage container. 
     
     
         6 . The storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more trays located within the rectangular support frame to enclose items placed within the one or more trays. 
     
     
         7 . The storage container of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of compartments located within the one or more tray. 
     
     
         8 . The storage container of  claim 7 , further comprising a soft lining that extends down into each of the plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         9 . The storage container of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of compartments is formed by a grid of a first plurality of compartment rods spaced apart from one another and extending across a top surface of the one or more trays and a second plurality of compartment rods spaced apart from one another and spaced across the top surface of the one or more trays in an orthogonal orientation with respect to the first plurality of compartment rods. 
     
     
         10 . The storage container of  claim 9 , wherein the first plurality of rods is functionally configured to slide along the top surface of the one or more trays relative to one another and the second plurality of rods is functionally configured to slide along the top surface of the one or more trays relative to one another in order to adjust a size of the plurality of components in the one or more tray. 
     
     
         11 . An interlockable storage system, comprising:
 two or more storge containers structurally configured to stack on and lock to one another, where in each storage container further comprises:
 a rectangular support frame, including; 
 a plurality of top frame members; 
 a plurality of bottom frame members; and 
 a plurality of support members coupled therebetween; 
 a pair of upper handle locks extending in a uniform direction from an opposing pair of the plurality of top frame members; 
 a pair of lower handle locks extending in opposing directions from an opposing pair of the plurality of bottom frame members, wherein the opposing directions are orthogonal to the uniform direction, and wherein the pair of bottom handle locks are positioned such that each bottom handle lock surrounds an upper handle lock of the pair of upper handle locks on three sides when resting on a subsequent storage container; and 
 a pair of locking handles each rotatably coupled to either the pair of upper handle locks or the pair of lower handle locks, wherein each locking handle rotates to secure the pair of bottom handle locks to the pair of upper handle locks when a subsequent storage container is secured to the rectangular support frame. 
   
     
     
         12 . The interlockable storage system of  claim 11 , wherein the uniform direction of the pair of upper handle locks is orthogonal to a plane of the opposing pair of top members. 
     
     
         13 . The interlockable storage system of  claim 11 , wherein the opposing directions of the pair of lower handle locks orthogonal to the uniform direction. 
     
     
         14 . The interlockable storage system of  claim 11 , wherein each locking handle of the pair of locking handles rotatably couple to one of the upper handle locks of the pair of opposing upper handle locks and are each positioned to rotate upwardly to engage the associated upper handle lock and to rotate downwardly into a locking position to secure a subsequent storage container to the storage container. 
     
     
         15 . The interlockable storage system of  claim 11 , further comprising an outer cover to surround the rectangular support frame and enclose items placed in the storage container. 
     
     
         16 . The interlockable storage system of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more trays located within the rectangular support frame to enclose items placed within the one or more trays. 
     
     
         17 . The interlockable storage system of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of compartments located within the one or more tray. 
     
     
         18 . The interlockable storage system of  claim 17 , further comprising a soft lining that extends down into each of the plurality of compartments. 
     
     
         19 . The interlockable storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of compartments is formed by a grid of a first plurality of compartment rods spaced apart from one another and extending across a top surface of the one or more trays and a second plurality of compartment rods spaced apart from one another and spaced across the top surface of the one or more trays in an orthogonal orientation with respect to the first plurality of compartment rods. 
     
     
         20 . The interlockable storage system of  claim 19 , wherein the first plurality of rods is functionally configured to slide along the top surface of the one or more trays relative to one another and the second plurality of rods is functionally configured to slide along the top surface of the one or more trays relative to one another in order to adjust a size of the plurality of components in the one or more tray.