Grease cartridge management system

Abstract

A grease cartridge management system having a multi-piece caddy and a chamber mounted thereon in a secured position for inserting grease cartridges therein to protect them from damage in the handling, storage and transportation of grease cartridges from a storage location to the point of use with a grease gun.

1 . A grease cartridge management system comprising:
 a caddy having three panels assembled together, one panel vertically disposed and the other two panels affixed in stationary positions on the vertical panel in generally a horizontal spaced apart and parallel relationship to one another, both horizontal panels having apertures therethrough axially aligned with one another;   a chambers having two halves removable joined together in the middle to define the chamber, the chamber capable of being unjoined to insert a grease cartridge therein for protecting the cartridge during transporting, storing and handling against potential damage to functionality of the cartridge or a label instructions on the outer surface of the cartridge.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the caddy is made of plastic panels, the vertical panel having a generally rectangular shape having a front and rear elevated surface and of a predetermined height, width and thickness and having a top edge connected to a base by a pair of opposing side edges, the vertical panel having at least two key surfaces, one at the base and the other spaced above the one a predetermined distance, and the horizontal panels having a length greater than the width of the vertical panel and a width greater than the thickness of the vertical panel, the horizontal panels having a key slot extending longitudinally across each panel and disposed in generally the middle of the width of each panel, the key slot on one horizontal panel having a dimension equal to or greater than the vertical cross section of the vertical panel in order to insert the panel over the top edge and slide it downwardly to the base key, the key slot on the other panel having a dimension equal to the cross section of the vertical panel to a point equal to the other key location spaced a predetermined distance above the one at the base so that the key slot on the other panel when inserted over the top edge and slid downwardly only goes to the other key a predetermined distance above the base of the vertical panel. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the other two panels are affixed in place and spaced apart by locking tabs disposed on the vertical panel and a pair of keying members. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is two halves of a conical frustum shape joined at the larger bases having mating threading on the halves permitting them to be screwed together in a watertight relationship when the grease cartridge is insert therein. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is made of clear shock resistant plastic to view the grease cartridge therein and the chamber further comprises a hanger rotatably connected to the top of the chamber to hang the chamber on a wall bracket or another storage rack. 
   
   
       6 . A grease cartridge management system, comprising:
 a caddy having a vertical panel with a front and rear surface of a predetermined height, width and thickness generally increasing from top to bottom of the panel, locking tabs in a horizontal lines across the front and rear surfaces of the vertical panel, one horizontal line of locking tabs located approximately midway between the top and bottom and the other line of locking tabs located near the bottom of the vertical panel, and a pair of keys located below each horizontal line of locking tabs, two horizontal panels of a predetermined length, width and thickness having key slots of a different size, one horizontal panel having the larger key slot allow it to be place over the top of the vertical wall and slid downwardly to the last line of locking tabs and over them to insert the base key in the larger key slot and locking the one horizontal panel in place with the locking tab pressing against its top surface, the other panel having a key slot smaller than the one horizontal panel allowing it to be placed over the top of the vertical panel and slid downwardly to engage the key below the first line of locking tabs to hold it securely in place, recesses in the one panel axially aligned with apertures in the other panel, the recesses having at least two key slots in the sides of the recess to receive a key therein;   a chamber having to hollow halves jointed together in a sealed removable affixed relationship to one another having a top and bottom closed end with two keys protruding therefrom and an openable middle joint defining the chamber for inserting a grease cartridge therein, a raised ridge defining a closed wall enclosure on the top closed end for inserting identification information concerning the inserted grease cartridge therein and an insert lid affixed against the closed walls of the ridge to protect the information inserted therein from the elements, and   wherein the chamber is inserted through the apertures on the other panel and pushed downwardly into the recesses on one panel where the two protruding keys are forced into the key slots on the one panel locking the chamber to the caddy and supported by both horizontal panels to avoid the chambers from falling out of the caddy during handling.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the chamber comprises two hollow conical frustum halves having mating threads on the larger base for joining the two halves together to define the chamber for inserting a grease cartridge therein, and wherein the apertures are circular in dimension to engage the assembled halves at the greatest diameter which is at the larger base end or the middle of the chamber to frictionally hold the chambers in place on the caddy once inserted thereon. 
   
   
       8 . The system of clam  6 , wherein the recesses on the one panel are hexagonal or octagonal and the bottom of the chamber is hexagonal or octagonal to key into the recess to avoid rotation of the chambers once inserted onto the caddy. 
   
   
       9 . A grease management method, comprising the steps of:
 assembling three panels; a vertical panel and a first and second horizontal panels;   placing a first horizontal panel over the vertical panel having keyed slot in the recesses in the top surface of the first panel;   sliding the first horizontal panel down to the base of the vertical panel;   locking the first panel in place by a keying relationship between the vertical and horizontal panel and locking tabs located on the vertical panel pushing against the first panel;   placing a second panel over the vertical panel and sliding it downwardly a predetermined distance above the first panel having apertures axially aligned with the first panel recesses;   inserting a chamber having a dimension to fit through the first panel apertures and a bottom that fits into the recesses with a keying member engaging the keyed slots in the recesses to hold the chamber stationary in its fully inserted configuration within the caddy.