Adjustable height step-on container

• US 5,638,913 A
• Filed: 01/30/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alvin S. Blum
• Original Assignee: Alvin S. Blum
• Inventors: Blum, Alvin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN SHUE, ALVIN C
• Application Number:
  US08/380,394
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 182/33, 182/178, 182/35, 182/222, 297/461, 297/462, 297/423.45, 297/423.41, 297/423.39, 482/52, 108/146, 248/188.2
• US Class Current: 182/33
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/02 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/39 Ladders having platforms; Ladders changeable into platforms platforms for use on ladders E06C7/16

Abstract

A portable container device for carrying various items such as tools, instruments and photographic equipment has a flat top or cover strong enough to provide an elevated platform for a user. To raise the user even more when required, the device is provided with an extending mechanism to raise the entire container even more above a support surface. The device has at least two configurations, a compact configuration when the lifting mechanism is withdrawn and a raised configuration when the lifting mechanism is extended. The raising or lifting mechanism may take the form of a sleeve surrounding the container or extendable legs that withdraw into the container.

Claims

1. A self-contained portable stand-on container assembly for carrying items about and for selectively supporting a person at first and second elevations above a supporting surface, the assembly comprising:

a box having a bottom, sides extending upward from the bottom, and a rigid closable and openable top hingedly affixed to the sides, the top having a substantially flat upper surface providing a stand-on platform with sufficient strength to support the weight of the person thereon at the first elevation above the supporting surface when the bottom is resting upon the supporting surface;

a sleeve means for encircling the sides and for removably attaching to the box for carrying the assembly about in a compact mode of operation in combination with a handle attached to the assembly, the sleeve means having side walls with first and second ends defining an interior space; and

bottom engaging means attached to the side walls and disposed within the interior space intermediate the first and second ends and closer to the first end, the bottom engaging means for engaging and supporting the bottom in an extended mode of operation for elevating the top to the second elevation above the supporting surface when the second end is resting upon the supporting surface and the first end encircles the sides, the second elevation being at least 50 percent greater than the first elevation.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 in which the sleeve means is adapted to be reversible so that the first end is lowermost in the compact mode and the second end is lowermost in the extended mode.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 in which the bottom engaging means comprises a fixed transverse member.

4. The assembly according to claim 3 in which the top is supported at a third elevation intermediate the first and second elevations when the assembly is in the compact configuration, the first end is resting upon the supporting surface, and the second end encloses the box.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 in which the bottom engaging means comprises a plurality of resilient elements attached to the side walls and adapted to springably yield to passage of the box in a first direction and to resist passage of the box in a second direction so as to engage and support the bottom for the extended configuration.

6. A self-contained portable stand-on container assembly for carrying items about and for selectively supporting a person at first, second and third elevations above a supporting surface, the assembly comprising:

a box having a bottom, sides extending upward from the bottom, and a rigid closable and openable top hingedly affixed to the sides, the top having a substantially flat upper surface providing a stand-on platform with sufficient strength to support the weight of the person thereon at the first elevation above the supporting surface when the bottom is resting upon the supporting surface;

sleeve means for telescopically enclosing the sides and for removably attaching to the box for carrying the assembly about in a compact mode of operation in combination with a handle attached to the assembly, the sleeve means having side walls with first and second ends defining an interior space;

a transverse member attached to the side walls and disposed within the interior space intermediate the two ends and closer to the first end, the transverse member adapted to engage and support the bottom with the first end uppermost and encircling the sides and the second end resting upon the supporting surface to support the top at the second elevation above the supporting surface in an extended mode of operation and the transverse member adapted to engage and support the bottom with the second end uppermost and encircling the sides and the first end resting upon the supporting surface to support the top at the third elevation above the supporting surface in the compact mode of operation, the second elevation being at least 50 percent greater than the first elevation and the third elevation being intermediate the first and second elevations.

7. The container assembly according to claim 6 further comprising a recess in the top for receiving the handle.

8. A self-contained portable stand-on container assembly for carrying items about and for selectively supporting a person at first and second elevations above a supporting surface, the assembly comprising:

a box having a bottom, sides extending upward from the bottom, and a rigid closable and openable top hingedly affixed to the sides, the top having a substantially flat upper surface for providing a stand-on platform with sufficient strength to support the weight of the person whereon at the first elevation above the supporting surface when the bottom is resting upon the supporting surface;

a sleeve means for telescopically enclosing the sides and for removably attaching To the box for carrying the assembly about in a compact mode of operation in combination with a handle attached to the box, the sleeve means having side walls with first and second ends defining an interior surface;

a plurality of bottom engaging and supporting elements within the interior space springably attached to the side walls and adapted to springably yield to passage of the box through the sleeve means in a first direction and to resist passage of the box in a second direction so as to engage and support the bottom close to the first end when the second end is resting upon the supporting surface to support the person at the second elevation above the supporting surface in an extended mode of operation, the bottom engaging and supporting elements springably holding the sleeve means against the box with the first end uppermost and adjacent the top in the compact mode of operation, the second elevation being at least 50 percent greater than the first elevation.

9. The container assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a recess in the top for receiving the handle.