Tool storage system

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention provides for a tool storage system kit. The kit includes an assembled primary cabinet and an unassembled secondary cabinet. The assembled primary cabinet includes primary cabinet storage receptacles and the unassembled secondary cabinet includes secondary cabinet storage receptacles. At least one of the secondary cabinet storage receptacles is positioned in the primary cabinet storage receptacles.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to tool storage systems and relates specifically to arrangements and methods for shipping tool storage systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tool storage systems are commonly used by businesses and consumers to store and organize tools, spare parts, fasteners, and the like. Tool storage systems range from single cabinets with one storage receptacle to systems with multiple cabinets, each with multiple storage receptacles configured to meet a variety of needs. Businesses commonly use tool storage systems in manufacturing facilities or on shop floors to store and organize tools and components to facilitate efficient manufacturing or similar processes. Consumers commonly use tool storage systems in garages, basements or other areas where repair, maintenance, or similar work is conducted.

Tool storage systems can be designed to store large items or a large number of items and, thus, can be relatively large and bulky. The size and volume of such systems add to the cost of shipping tool storage systems from a manufacturing or assembly facility to a distributor, retailer, or end user. It is desirable to design and develop arrangements and methods for reducing the size or volume of a tool storage system packaged for shipment from one location to another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention and disclosure are directed to arrangements and methods for packaging tool storage systems. The arrangements and methods disclosed and claimed herein reduce the volume of a tool storage system configured for shipment.

An embodiment of the invention provides for a tool storage system kit. The kit includes an assembled primary cabinet and an unassembled secondary cabinet. The assembled primary cabinet includes primary cabinet storage receptacles and the unassembled secondary cabinet includes secondary cabinet storage receptacles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, embodiments of the invention are illustrated, which, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below serve to illustrate the principles of this invention. The drawings and detailed description are not intended to and do not limit the scope of the invention or the claims in any way. Instead, the drawings and detailed description only describe embodiments of the invention and other embodiments of the invention not described are encompassed by the claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool storage system, including a main cabinet, an intermediate chest, and a top chest;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool storage system of FIG. 1 with the intermediate chest and top chest exploded;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the tool storage system of FIG. 1 with components of the intermediate chest and the top chest positioned within the drawers of the main cabinet;

FIG. 4 is a side view schematic illustration of the tool storage system of FIG. 1 with the components of the intermediate chest and top chest positioned within the drawers of the main cabinet;

FIG. 5 is a exploded view of a intermediate chest drawer;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the components of the intermediate chest drawer of FIG. 5 positioned within a main cabinet drawer;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of hinged body panels of the intermediate chest of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hinged body panels of FIG. 7 positioned within a main cabinet drawer;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tool storage system including a main cabinet, with a bulk storage compartment; an intermediate chest; and a top chest;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tool storage system of FIG. 9 with the intermediate chest and top chest exploded;

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of the tool storage system of FIG. 9 with the components of the intermediate chest and the top chest positioned within the bulk storage compartment of the main cabinet;

FIG. 12 is a side view schematic illustration of the tool storage system of FIG. 9 with the components of the intermediate chest and top chest positioned within the bulk storage compartment of the main cabinet;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an intermediate chest including a drawer and a parts case;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the tool storage system of FIG. 10 arranged for shipment;

FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of a subcomponent of FIG. 9 wrapped in a protective sheet; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of protective spacers positioned within a drawer of the main cabinet of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This Detailed Description of the Invention merely describes embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Indeed, the invention as described in the claims is broader than and unlimited by the preferred embodiments, and the terms used have their full ordinary meaning.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical tool storage system 10 is illustrated. The tool storage system 10 includes a main cabinet 12, an intermediate chest 14, and a top chest 16. Tool storage systems 10 typically have a primary or base unit, such as the main cabinet 12, and secondary or companion units, such as the intermediate chest 14 and top chest 16. Primary 12 and secondary 14 and 16 cabinets typically have storage receptacles, such as drawers, into which items can be stored. In the embodiment shown, the main cabinet 12 has five drawers 18. These main cabinet drawers 18 range in size to allow for storing items of various sizes and shapes. Although the illustration in FIG. 1 shows five drawers 18, a main cabinet 12 can include any number and size of drawers. FIG. 1 also shows two secondary cabinets, the intermediate cabinet 14 and the top cabinet 16. These secondary cabinets 14 and 16 differ from one another by providing different sized and types of storage compartments. Although the illustration in FIG. 1 shows two secondary cabinets 14 and 16, a tool storage system 10 may include any number of secondary cabinets, or may not have any secondary cabinet. By allowing for flexibility in the number of drawers 18 in a primary cabinet 10, along with flexibility in the number of secondary cabinets, a tool storage systems 10 can be readily configured to meet a variety of consumer and industrial needs and applications.

A tool storage system 10 is typically designed to store items that can be heavy and commonly made of steel or other metals. In order to hold such items, the system should be durable and resistant to impacts. To meet these needs, a tool storage system 10 is often made of steel, typically in the form of heavy gauge sheet metal. A tool storage system 10 can also be designed to store lighter weight or plastic items. In such an application, the system 10 can be constructed of less durable materials, such as, for example, plastics or light weight sheet metal.

The intermediate chest 14 can be fastened or coupled to the main cabinet 12 or can simply rest on top of the main cabinet 12. The main cabinet 12 and intermediate chest 14 can include matching apertures (not shown) through which fasteners can pass to secure the chest 14 to the cabinet 12. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, the main cabinet 12 includes a lip 20 that extends upward from a top edge of the cabinet 12 and runs along at least a portion of the top edge of the cabinet 12. This lip 20 forms a recess 22 in the top of the cabinet 12. The intermediate chest 14 can be sized to rest within this recess 22. In this arrangement, the lip 20 can limit the lateral movements of the intermediate cabinet 14 and restrain the intermediate cabinet 14 from sliding off of the top of the main cabinet 12. Similarly, the top chest 16 can be fastened or coupled to the intermediate chest 14 or the top chest 16 can rest on top of the intermediate chest 14, which can include a lip (not shown) similar to the main cabinet 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, the main cabinet 12 includes a body 24. The body 24 is a shell into which the drawers 18 can be arranged to slide into and out of the body 24 in order to open or close the drawers 18, respectively. Optionally, the main cabinet 12 can include casters 26 to facilitate manually moving the tool storage system 10 from one location to another by rolling the tool storage system 10 on such casters 26. Although the illustrated embodiments herein show casters 26 coupled to the main cabinet 12, it should be understood that a main cabinet 12 may include other components to facilitate movement, such as wheels or slides. In addition, a main cabinet 12 may be configured to remain stationary once positioned and not include any components, such as casters 26, that facilitate movement.

The intermediate cabinet 14 also includes drawers 28 for storage and a body 30 into which the drawers 28 can be opened and closed. As shown, each drawer 28 spans the width of the intermediate cabinet 14. Optionally, drawers 28 can be sized such that two or more drawers 28 are positioned next to each other in a single drawer slot or opening to span the width of the cabinet 14. These split drawers allow for greater versatility in designing a tool storage system 10. As best seen in FIG. 2, the body 30 includes two side panels 32 and 34, a back panel 36, a top panel 38, and a bottom panel 40. Each drawer 28 slides into and out of the body 30 along a rail system. The rail system typically includes a pair of drawer rails 42, a pair of body rails 44, and a pair of connector rails 46. The pair of drawer rails 42 are mounted on opposite outside surfaces of the drawer 28. The pair of body rails 44 are mounted on opposite inside surfaces of the side panels 32 and 34, via a mounting bracket 48. The connector rails 46 interface with and slideably couple to both the drawer rails 42 and the body rails 44. This rail system allows for the drawers 28 of the intermediate cabinet 14 to slide in and out of the intermediate cabinet body 30 to open and close the drawers 28, respectively.

The rail system can include ball bearing slides, roller slides, friction slides, or any other apparatus or method that allows for the drawers 28 to slide into and out of the body 30 to open and close the drawers 28. In addition, the rail system can be designed to include only drawer rails 42 and body rails 44, where the drawer rails 42 directly couple to the body rails 44 to allow for the drawer 28 to slide into and out of the body 30. Furthermore, the mounting bracket 48 can be eliminated and the body rails 44 can be directly mounted to the inside surfaces of the side panels 32 and 34.

Similar to the intermediate chest 14, the top chest 16 includes a number of drawers 50 for storage and a body 52 into which the drawers 50 open and close. The top chest 16 optionally includes a lid 54 that is hinged to the body 52. The lid 54 can be opened to reveal a storage tray 56. The storage tray 56 can be arranged to include a number of recessed compartments (not shown) into which small items can be segregated. As shown, the top chest body 52 includes two side panels 58 and 60, a back panel 62, and a bottom panel 64. As described above regarding the intermediate chest 14, each top chest drawer 50 slides into and out of the body 52 along a rail system, which includes a pair of drawer rails 42, a pair of body rails 44, a pair of connector rails 46, and a mounting bracket 48. Again as described above for the intermediate cabinet 14, the rail system can be arranged in a variety of ways to provide for the top chest drawers 50 to slide between open and closed positions.

Conventionally, cabinets of a tool storage system are manufactured and assembled prior to shipping the system to distributors, retailers, end users, and the like. Assembling all the cabinets prior to shipping maximizes the shipping volume. In this arrangement, the shipping volume will equal the volume of the finished tool storage system plus the volume of any packaging material used to protect the system during shipping. This arrangement of shipping leaves much of the volume, such as the inside of the main cabinet drawers, empty and unused.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the secondary cabinets 14 and 16 are constructed or assembled from a number of subcomponents. If these secondary cabinets 14 and 16 are shipped in an unassembled or disassembled state, the subcomponents can be arranged into the unused volume of the main cabinet drawers 18 to reduce the shipping volume of a system 10. In this arrangement, the total shipping volume would be reduced by the volume of the assembled intermediate chest 14 and the volume of the top chest 16. This arrangement could lead to a reduction of shipping volume in excess of fifty percent. This reduction in shipping volume typically will lead to a savings in the cost of shipping a tool storage system 10 from a manufacturing facility, through the supply chain, to an end user.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show arrangements for placing subcomponents of the intermediate chest 14 and top chest 16 into the main cabinet drawers 18 for shipping. The drawers 28 and 50 of the secondary cabinets 14 and 16, respectively, are typically designed to be smaller, in both width and depth, than the main cabinet drawers 18. In addition, the main cabinet drawers 18 are often designed to have a greater height than secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50. This arrangement allows for each main cabinet drawer 18 to accommodate at least one, and often multiple, secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50.

The relative size difference between the main cabinet drawers 18 and secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50 allows for additional subcomponents of secondary cabinets 14 and 16 to be accommodated by the main cabinet drawers 18. For instance, individual components of the intermediate cabinet body 30 can be stored in the bottom of main cabinet drawers 18. As best seen in FIG. 4, the side panels 32 and 34, back panel 36, top panel 38, and bottom panel 40 of the intermediate cabinet 14 are laid flat in the bottom of a main cabinet drawer 18 with the intermediate cabinet drawers 28 positioned on top. Also as best seen in FIG. 4, body rails 44 and connector rails 46 can be positioned within the main cabinet drawers 18 during shipping.

As shown the subcomponents of the secondary cabinets 14 and 16 are generally unassembled when placed into a main cabinet drawer 18. In addition, as shown, when subcomponents are positioned within the main cabinet 12, the subcomponents are placed into the main cabinet drawers 18. However, it should be understood that two or more subcomponents of a secondary cabinet 14 and 16 can also be assembled when placed or positioned into the main cabinet 12. In addition, it should be understood that subcomponents of secondary cabinets 14 and 16 can be positioned or placed into areas of the main cabinet 12 other then the main cabinet drawers 18. For example, a back panel 36 could be positioned vertically in a gap between the main cabinet drawers 18 and the body 24 of the main cabinet 12.

As shown, secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50 slide into and out of the cabinets 14 and 16 along rail systems. It should be understood that other systems and other components can accomplish the function of opening and closing a drawer or other storage receptacle. These other systems and components can be placed or positioned into a main cabinet 12 for shipping in a similar manner to that shown and described for the rail system.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate select subcomponents of secondary cabinets 14 and 16 positioned in main cabinet drawers 18. It should be understood that these schematic illustrations are exemplary and representative of positioning any or all of the subcomponents of a secondary cabinet 14 and 16 into main cabinet drawers 18

The casters 26 of the main cabinet 12 can be left unassembled or disassembled from the cabinet 12 and positioned in a main cabinet drawer 18 for shipping. This will further reduce the total shipping volume of a tool storage system 10 and reduce possible damage to the casters 26 during shipping.

The interior space of the secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50 can also be utilized during shipping. For instance body rails 44, connector rails 46, mounting brackets 48, or casters 26 can be positioned within the intermediate cabinet drawers 28 or the top cabinet drawers 50 to further use space efficiently.

As shown in FIG. 4, additional packaging material can be used to organize the interior space of the main cabinet drawers 18 during shipping. For instance, a cardboard box 66 or tube 68 can be used to hold any of the rails 42, 44, and 46, casters 26, or fasteners needed to assemble the secondary cabinets 14 and 16. These boxes 66 and tubes 68 can be designed to fit into unused space in either a main cabinet drawer 18 or a secondary cabinet drawer 28 and 50, while being sized to efficiently hold specific secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50 can be assembled when positioned in the main cabinet drawers 18. In another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a secondary cabinet drawer 28 can include a number of subcomponents. FIG. 5 shows an intermediate chest drawer 28 in an unassembled state. The drawer 28 includes a front panel 70, two side panels 72, a back panel 74, and a bottom panel 76. As seen in FIG. 6, these subcomponents can be positioned in a main cabinet drawer 18 while in an unassembled state. This arrangement can offer greater efficiency and flexibility in storing secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50 in main cabinet drawers 18. For instance, when the height of a secondary cabinet drawer 28 and 50 is as tall or taller than a main cabinet drawer 18, the secondary cabinet drawer 28 and 50 may still be accommodated by the main cabinet drawer 18 when the secondary cabinet drawer 28 and 50 is in an unassembled state.

Again referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the body 30 of the intermediate chest 14 includes side panels 32 and 34 and a back panel 36, which are unattached when the intermediate chest 14 is unassembled. In this embodiment, the end user fastens the side panels 32 and 34 to the back panel 36 during the assembly of the intermediate chest 14. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the side panels 32 and 34 are coupled to the back panel 36 by hinges 78. This arrangement simplifies the process of assembling the intermediate chest 14. The hinged design removes the need to fasten the side panels 32 and 34 to the back panel 36. As shown in FIG. 8, the hinges 78 allow for the side panels 32 and 34 to be folded onto the back panel 36 and lay relatively flat when positioned in a main cabinet drawer 18. This arrangement simplifies the assembly process while still allowing for efficient use of space when positioning body panels 32, 34, and 36 in a main cabinet drawer 18. In addition to the arrangement shown, any two or more body panels can be hinged together. For example, the top 38 and bottom 40 panels of the intermediate cabinet 14 could be coupled to the back panel 36 in a similar manner to the illustration in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the illustration, coupling is facilitated by a hinge, however, any method of coupling that allows one subcomponent to move relative to a second subcomponent to reduce shipping volume is encompassed within this invention.

Another embodiment of a tool storage system 100 is shown in FIGS. 9 through 12. This embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG. 1, with the exceptions that, in addition to main cabinet drawers 18, the main cabinet 102 includes bulk storage compartment 104. As seen in FIG. 10, the bulk storage compartment has a cover 106 that can be lifted to reveal the compartment 104. The bulk storage compartment 104 normally has a larger volume than a main compartment drawer 18 and is designed to accommodate relatively large items. In the embodiment shown, the secondary cabinets 14 and 16 are identical to those illustrated in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the unassembled components of the secondary cabinets 14 and 16 can be accommodated in the bulk storage compartment 104 during shipping. Since the bulk storage compartment 104 typically has a larger internal volume than a main cabinet drawer 18, the compartment 104 can allow for a greater versatility and flexibility in positioning secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components during shipment. Whereas some secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50 may need to be unassembled to fit into main cabinet drawers 18, those same secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50 may be able to fit into the bulk storage compartment 104 in an assembled state. Therefore, less assembly time is required by the end user. Although this embodiment shows secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components stored only in the bulk storage compartment 104, it should be understood that such components may also be stored in the main cabinet drawers 18 as well, and that the internal space of the secondary cabinet drawers 28 and 50 may be used to accommodate components.

The embodiments as shown herein include a main cabinet 12, with either five drawers 18 or three drawers 18 and a bulk storage compartment 104, and secondary cabinets with three drawers 28 or with five drawers 50 and a lid 54. It should be understood that these embodiments are exemplary only and that a main cabinet and a secondary cabinet can be configured or arranged with any number and size of storage receptacles. Provided the storage receptacles of either the main cabinet or secondary cabinet can be used to reduce the volume needed to ship the tool storage system, the configuration and arrangement falls within the scope of this disclosure and invention.

The embodiments shown heretofore show three types of storage receptacles: drawers 18, 28, and 50; a storage tray 56; and a bulk storage compartment 104. It should be understood that these storage receptacles are exemplary only and that a storage receptacle of the present invention may take a variety of forms. For example, bins, parts organizers, hand boxes, satchels, parts cases, tool boxes, and the like all fall within the breath of storage receptacles as used herein. Referring to FIG. 13, a parts case 108 is illustrated. As shown, the parts case 108 slides into and out of a secondary cabinet 110. The secondary cabinet 110 also includes a drawer 112. The parts case 108 slides into and out of the secondary cabinet 10 along a rail system. A first rail 114 is incorporated into the side of the case 108. The rail fits into a second rail or groove (not shown) incorporated into the inside of the second cabinet 110. The rail system is designed such that the case 108 can be completely removed from the cabinet 110 and carried away. The parts case 108 can have any arrangement of internal compartments that allows for storage of spare parts, tools, fasteners, and the like. Alternatively, the parts case 108 can slide into or out of the secondary cabinet without the use of a rail system. In this embodiment, the case 108 can be sized to fit into a slot 116 formed in the cabinet 110.

As shown in FIGS. 14 through 16, packaging material may be utilized to protect the main cabinet 102 and secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components during shipping. As shown in FIG. 13, once the secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components are positioned in the main cabinet 102 the main cabinet 102 can be packaged into a cardboard box (not shown). Flat panels 120 and corner pieces 122, typically made of STYROFOAM, can be positioned around the main cabinet 12 to protect the cabinet 102 from damage during shipping.

As shown in FIGS. 14, sheets 124 of protective material can be wrapped around secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components prior to being positioned within a main cabinet drawer 18 or bulk storage compartment 104. These sheets 124 can protect both the secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components as well as the inside of main cabinet drawers 18 or a bulk storage compartment 106 from damage during shipping.

As secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components are positioned in main cabinet drawers 18 or bulk storage compartments 104, there is often free space surrounding the secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components. The free space can cause the secondary cabinet 14 and 16 components to move within the main cabinet drawers 18 or bulk storage compartments 104 during shipping. This movement increases the likelihood of damage to the main cabinet drawers 18, bulk storage compartment 104, and components positioned within. As seen in FIG. 15, spacers 126, typically made from STYROFOAM, can be positioned to fill the free space and limit the movement of components stored in the main cabinet drawers 18 or bulk storage compartments 104. These spacers 126 can also be used to frame a customized space into which a given subcomponent can be positioned.

While various aspects of the invention are described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects may be realized in many alternative embodiments not shown, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects and features of the invention, such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, and so on may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the aspects, concepts or features of the invention into additional embodiments within the scope of the present invention even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the invention may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present invention however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated.

Claims

1. A tool storage system kit comprising:

a. an assembled primary cabinet including one or more primary cabinet storage receptacles; and

b. an unassembled secondary cabinet including one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles;

wherein, at least one of the one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles is positioned in the one or more primary cabinet storage receptacles.

2. The tool storage system kit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more primary cabinet storage receptacles is a drawer.

3. The tool storage system kit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles is a drawer.

4. The tool storage system kit of claim 1 wherein the unassembled secondary cabinet includes a first set of components that can be assembled to form a secondary cabinet body; further wherein, the first set of components are positioned in the one or more primary cabinet storage receptacles.

5. The tool storage system kit of claim 4 wherein the first set of components comprise:

a. a first body panel; and

b. a second body panel.

6. The tool storage system kit of claim 5 wherein the first body panel is coupled to the second body panel such that the first body panel is movable with respect to the second body panel; further wherein, the first body panel folds onto the second body panel when positioned in the one or more primary storage receptacles.

7. The tool storage system kit of claim 6 wherein the first body panel is coupled to the second body panel with a hinge.

8. The tool storage system kit of claim 4 wherein the unassembled secondary cabinet includes a second set of components that can be assembled with the secondary cabinet body to allow for slideable coupling of at least one of the one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles to the secondary cabinet body; further wherein, the second set of components are positioned in the one or more primary cabinet storage receptacles.

9. The tool storage system kit of claim 8 wherein the one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles are coupled to the secondary cabinet body by one or more ball bearing slides.

10. The tool storage system kit of claim 8 wherein the one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles are coupled to the secondary cabinet body by one or more roller slides.

11. The tool storage system kit of claim 4 wherein the unassembled secondary cabinet includes a set of fasteners; further wherein, the set of fasteners are positioned in the one or more primary cabinet storage receptacles.

12. The tool storage system kit of claim 1 wherein the one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles are sized such that the one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles can be accommodated within the one or more primary cabinet storage receptacles when the one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles are assembled.

13. The tool storage system kit of claim 1 wherein the one or more secondary cabinet storage receptacles are unassembled when positioned in the one or more primary cabinet storage receptacles.

14. The tool storage system kit of claim 1 wherein one or more casters are positioned in the one or more primary cabinet storage receptacles; further wherein, the one or more caster can be coupled to the primary cabinet.

15. A tool storage system kit comprising:

a. an assembled primary cabinet including one or more bulk storage compartments; and

b. an unassembled secondary cabinet including one or more secondary cabinet drawers;

wherein, at least one of the one or more secondary cabinet drawers is positioned in the one or more bulk storage compartments.

16. The tool storage system kit of claim 15 wherein the unassembled secondary cabinet includes a first set of components that can be assembled to form a secondary cabinet shell; further wherein, the first set of components are positioned in the one or more bulk storage compartments.

17. The tool storage system kit of claim 16 wherein the first set of components comprise:

a. a back panel;

b. a first side panel; and

c. a second side panel.

18. The tool storage system kit of claim 17 wherein the first side panel is coupled to the back panel with a first hinge and the second side panel is coupled to the back panel with a second hinge; further wherein, the first and second panels fold onto the back panel when positioned in the one or more bulk storage compartments.

19. The tool storage system kit of claim 16 wherein the unassembled secondary cabinet includes a second set of components that can be assembled with the secondary cabinet shell to allow for slideable coupling of the one or more secondary drawers to the secondary cabinet shell; further wherein, the second set of components are positioned in the one or more bulk storage compartments.

20. The tool storage system kit of claim 19 wherein the one or more secondary cabinet drawers are coupled to the secondary cabinet shell by one or more ball bearing slides.

21. The tool storage system kit of claim 19 wherein the one or more secondary cabinet drawers are coupled to the secondary cabinet shell by one or more roller slides.

22. The tool storage system kit of claim 15 wherein the one or more secondary cabinet drawers are sized such that the one or more secondary cabinet drawers can be accommodated within the one or more bulk storage compartments when the one or more secondary cabinet drawers are assembled.

23. The tool storage system kit of claim 15 wherein the one or more secondary cabinet drawers are unassembled when positioned in the one or more bulk storage compartments.

24. An arrangement for shipping a tool storage system comprising:

a. an assembled base unit; and

b. an unassembled companion unit;

wherein the unassembled companion unit is placed within the assembled base unit during shipping of the tool storage system.

25. The arrangement of claim 24 wherein the unassembled companion unit comprises:

a. a body comprising: i. a first side panel; ii. a second side panel; and iii. a back panel;

b. one or more storage receptacles;

c. a first rail; and

d. a second rail;

further wherein, the companion unit can be assembled in a manner to slideably couple the one or more storage receptacles to the body.

26. The arrangement of claim 25 wherein the one or more storage receptacles are unassembled when placed within the assembled base unit.

27. The arrangement of claim 25 wherein the first side panel is coupled to the back panel by a first hinge and the second side panel is coupled to the back panel by a second hinge; further wherein, the first and second side panels fold onto the back panel when placed within the assembled base unit.

28. The arrangement of claim 25 wherein the one or more storage receptacles are sized to be accommodated within the base unit when the one or more storage receptacles are assembled.

29. The arrangement of claim 25 wherein at least one of the one or more storage receptacles is a drawer.

30. The arrangement of claim 25 wherein at least one of the one or more storage receptacles is a parts case.

31. A method for reducing the shipping volume of a storage system, the method comprising:

a. assembling a body of a primary cabinet;

b. assembling one or more storage receptacles of a primary cabinet; and

c. placing one or more storage receptacles of a secondary cabinet into the one or more storage receptacles of the primary cabinet.

32. A method for reducing the shipping volume of a storage system, the method comprising:

a. assembling a body of a primary cabinet;

b. assembling one or more drawers of a primary cabinet;

c. placing one or more drawers of a secondary cabinet into the one or more drawers of the primary cabinet; and

d. placing the one or more drawers of the primary cabinet into the primary cabinet.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising assembling the one or more drawers of the secondary cabinet prior to placing the one or more drawers of the secondary cabinet into the one or more drawers of the primary cabinet.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising placing components of a secondary cabinet shell into one or more drawers of the primary cabinet.

35. A method for shipping a tool storage system, the method comprising:

a. assembling a base unit;

b. placing unassembled components of a companion unit into the base unit, wherein the companion unit is sized to rest on top of the base unit when the companion unit is assembled; and

c. shipping the tool storage system from a first location to a second location.

36. A method for assembling a tool storage system, the method comprising:

a. opening storage compartments of a primary cabinet;

b. removing unassembled components of a secondary cabinet from the storage compartments of the primary cabinet; and

c. assembling the unassembled components of the secondary cabinet.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising placing the assembled secondary cabinet into a recess on top of the primary cabinet.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising securing the assembled secondary cabinet to the top of the primary cabinet.