Container with lid prop and/or lid latch

• US 20060032860A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Original Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Inventors: Hase, Gary M.
• Application Number:
  US10/917,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032860A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/831
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0223 the closure and the bottom presenting local co-operating elements, e.g. projections and recesses B65D21/0222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/22 Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/24 Devices for retaining in open position holding lids in open position in general E05C17/00; hinges with means for holding open E05D11/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3818 formed with double walls, i.e. hollow

Abstract

A container having a base includes a bottom and four walls that are connected to the bottom and define a storage space having an opening. A lid is pivotally mounted on the base and covers at least a portion of the opening when in a closed position. A prop is arranged so that a first end of the lid prop is pivotally engaged to the lid and a second end of the lid prop is engaged in a slot in a plate that does not allow lid to travel beyond a certain limit and does not allow to close accidentally as an optional feature. The prop fits substantially inside a recess when the lid is in the closed position.

Claims

1. A container, comprising;

a body defining a storage space having an opening;

a lid that is pivotally mounted to the body, the lid having a closed position wherein the lid prevents access to the storage space, and the lid having an open position wherein the lid provides access to the storage space;

a recess arranged in a wall of the body;

a plate partially covering the recess, the plate including a slot extending longitudinally through the plate;

a lid prop comprising a longitudinally extending member, the lid prop being arranged so that a first end of the lid prop is pivotally engaged to the lid and a second end of the lid prop is engaged in the slot in the plate;

wherein when the lid is in the open position the prop may be positioned against an end of the slot thereby preventing the lid from opening beyond a certain limit.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the slot includes an extension that is adapted to engage the second end of the lid prop to prevent the lid from closing when the second end of the lid prop is in the extension.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid prop includes a main body between the first end and the second end, the second end of the prop being non-collinear with the main body.

4. The container of claim 1, further comprising hinges for pivotally mounting the lid to the base.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the container is rotationally molded.

6. A container, comprising:

a base comprising a bottom and four walls connected to the bottom defining a storage space having an opening to provide a user access to the storage space, the opening being defined by a rim;

a first recess having a first depth is formed in the rim and a second recess having a second depth less than the first depth is formed in the rim adjacent the first recess, the first and second recesses define a step between the two recesses;

a lid pivotally mounted to one of the walls, the lid is adapted to fit onto the rim to close at least a portion of the opening; and

a prop having a first end and a second end;

the prop being arranged so that the first end is pivotally secured to the lid and the second end is capable of fitting in the first recess and to abut against the step between the first and the second recesses when the lid is in the open position, thereby preventing the lid from closing;

the prop being adapted to fit substantially within the second recess when the lid is in the closed position.

7. The container of claim 6, further comprising a clip located in the first recess for catching the second end of the prop to prevent the lid from opening beyond a predetermined position.

8. The container of claim 6, wherein the prop includes a main body between the first end and the second end, the second end of the prop being non-collinear with the main body.

9. The container of claim 6, wherein the first recess and the second recess extend along the rim, the second recess being longer than the first recess.

10. The container of claim 6, further comprising a washer attached to the first end of the prop to maintain the first and of the prop inside a hole in the lid.

11. The container of claim 6, further comprising hinges for pivotally mounting the lid to the base.

12. The container of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the container is rotationally molded.

13. The container of claim 6, further comprising a lid flange extending downward from the lid for accommodating the rim.

14. The container of claim 6, further comprising a wall flange extending upward from the rim for accommodating the lid.

15. A container, comprising;

a body defining a storage space having an opening;

a lid that is pivotally mounted to the body, the lid having a closed position wherein the lid prevents access to the storage space, and the lid having an open position wherein the lid provides access to the storage space;

a first recess arranged in the body;

a stop formed in the recess;

a lid prop comprising a longitudinally extending member, the lid prop being arranged so that when the lid is in the closed position the lid prop may be positioned substantially within the recess, and when the lid is in the open position the prop may be positioned against the stop thereby preventing the lid from closing.

16. The container of claim 15, further comprising a rim defining the opening and the recess.

17. The container of claim 15, wherein the recess comprises a first region and a second region;

the first region having a depth that is greater than the depth of the second region;

the first and second region being adjacent each other, thereby defining a step between the first and second regions, the stop comprising the step.

18. The container of claim 15, wherein a first end of the prop is non-collinear with the body of the prop, wherein the lid includes a hole therein, and the first end of the prop rotatably fits inside the hole.

19. The container of claim 18, further comprising a washer attached to the first end of the prop to maintain the prop inside the hole.

20. The container of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the container is rotationally molded.

21. The container of claim 17, wherein the stop is formed by a side of the first region.

22. The container of claim 16, further comprising a groove formed in a peripheral edge of the lid, a first end of the groove forming a socket;

a first end of an elastic is attached to the base and a second end of the elastic is attached to an object;

the smallest diameter of the object is larger than the largest diameter of the groove so that the object cannot fit through the groove;

the smallest diameter of the elastic is such that the elastic fits within the groove;

the elastic being arranged so that when the elastic extends through the groove, tension exerted by the elastic maintains the object against the socket whereby the elastic force is exerted upon the lid thereby maintaining the lid in the closed position.

23. The container of claim 22, wherein the object has a spherical shape.

24. A container comprising;

a body;

a lid pivotally mounted to the body and having an open position and a closed position;

a groove being formed in the container, the groove having a socket formed at a first end of the groove;

an elastic having a first end and a second end;

an object fastened to the first end of the elastic and the second end of the elastic being fastened to the container;

the elastic arranged so that during latching the elastic may be positioned inside the groove and the object positioned in the socket so that elastic tension applies force to the object and the lid thereby maintaining the lid in the closed position.

25. The container of claim 24, wherein the second end of the elastic is attached to the body and the groove is formed in the lid.

26. The container of claim 24, wherein the second end of the elastic is attached to the lid and the groove is formed in the body.

27. The container of claim 24, wherein the object is spherical.

28. The container of claim 27, wherein the object has an outer diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the groove, thereby preventing the object from fitting through the groove. 1.