Spring shock lid stay

• US 10,626,654 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2018
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suncast Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Suncast Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Logan, Samuel G., Thuma, Michael, Vogler, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chi Q
• Application Number:
  US15/987,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20190360252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 49339, 49246, 49247, 49251, 220323, 220830, 16286, 16308, 16338, 190 30
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/34 Stays or supports for holding lids or covers open
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/345 with automatic opening or closing means
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/105 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/224 for assisting in opening the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/227 mounted at the top of wings, e.g. details related to closer housings, covers, end caps or rails therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/422 for opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/428 for suspending or supporting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/474 Compression springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/28 tubular, annular
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/372 Telescopically
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Abstract

A lid stay formed from a housing slidably coupled to a base. The housing has a coupler section for securing said housing to a fixed object, and a connector section for securing the housing to the base. The base is formed from a cylindrical shaped tube defining an interior chamber, having an insertion section constructed and arranged to slidably receive said housing, but prevent the connector section of the housing from passing therethrough. An expanded coil spring is positioned within the interior chamber to maintain the housing and base in an expanded position. The lid stay is for use with a storage container base having a lid pivotally attached thereto. The lid stay biases the lid in an open position and provides resistance when closing the lid.

Claims

1. A lid stay comprising:

a cylindrical shaped housing formed from a continuous sidewall defined by a first outer surface having a diameter and an inner surface defining a first interior chamber, a connector section positioned along one end of said housing and a coupler section positioned on an opposite end of said housing, said connector section having a second outer surface that is greater in diameter than said first outer surface of said housing sidewall;

a base formed from a cylindrical shaped tube having a continuous sidewall defining a second interior chamber therein with an insert section constructed and arranged to slidably receive said continuous sidewall of said housing and a capture section preventing said connector section from passing therethrough;

a cap securable to said insert section of said base; and

a spring positioned within said first and second interior chambers, said spring biased in an expanded position;

wherein said housing coupler section is secured to a storage container base having a lid to provide ease of lid opening, whereby said spring biases said housing and said base in a normally extended position to stay the lid in an open position and provide spring compression resistance when closing the lid.

2. The lid stay according to claim 1 wherein said cap includes an aperture available for securing said housing to a fixed object with a fastener.

3. The lid stay according to claim 1 wherein said cap is secured to said base with a spin weld.

4. The lid stay according to claim 1 wherein said cap includes a plurality of fingers with end tabs available to engage apertures formed in said base, wherein said end tabs are insertable into said apertures for securing said cap to said base.

5. The lid stay according to claim 1 wherein said coupler section includes an aperture available for securing said housing to a fixed object with a fastener.

6. The lid stay according to claim 1 wherein said capture section is further defined as a rib positioned along an inner surface of the interior chamber of said base, said rib sized to allow said housing sidewall to pass, but prevent said connector section from passing therethrough.