Storage container with hinged lid

• US 8,066,143 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Original Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Inventors: Rehrig, William J., Baltz, Kyle L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks; Robert J
• Application Number:
  US11/358,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,107 Days
• Field of Search: 220/735, 220/527, 220/844, 220/843, 220/254.6, 220/254.3, 220/254.2, 220/254.1, 220/FOR.203, 220/FOR.201, 220/FOR.200, 220/FOR.196, 220/FOR.195, 220/FOR.192, 220/200, D33/03, 383/40, D94/23, D94/21, D94/20, D94/14, D94/24, D94/35, D94/34, 190/102, 190/101, 190/120, 190/19, 190/112, 190/902, 190/900, 190/100, 190/119, 190/114, 403/12, 40/6
• US Class Current: 220/324
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/22 Boxes or like containers with side walls of substantial depth for enclosing contents B65D43/162, B65D81/02, B65D81/3813 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/064 the movable parts being an attached or integral cover made of one or two pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/1083 Closures formed of several sections hinged to the container or base
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/164 and connected by interfitting hinge elements integrally with the container and the lid formed respectively
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/165 these elements being assembled by a separate pin-like member
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1066 requiring a specific angular position
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/602 for containers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2999/00 Subject-matter not otherwise provided for in this subclass

Abstract

A storage container includes a base having side walls and end walls extending upwardly from the base. Lid halves are hingeably connected to upper edges of the side walls. A security recess is formed in the side walls adjacent to each hinge and corresponds with a security tab projecting from the lid halves preventing vertical movement of the outer edge of the lid half when the lid is in the closed position. The lid halves also include a lip adjacent to the hinge and upper and lower leaves that overlap with the opposing lid half to prevent moisture from seeping into the storage container.

Claims

1. A storage container comprising:

a base;

a wall extending upwardly from the base, the wall including an integrally molded first hinge member including one of a hinge pin and a hinge pin socket, and the wall includes a first interlocking feature; and

a lid having an integrally molded second hinge member hingeably connected to the integrally molded first hinge member, and the integrally molded second hinge member includes the other of the hinge pin and the hinge pin socket, the lid including a second interlocking feature, the first interlocking feature interlocking with the second interlocking feature to secure the lid to the wall, and the hinge pin is pivotably received in the hinge pin socket, wherein the lid and the hinge members prevent access to the first interlocking feature and the second interlocking feature when the lid is in a closed position relative to the wall.

2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking feature and the second interlocking feature prevent an end of the lid hingeably connected to the wall from moving upwardly from the wall when the lid is in the closed position.

3. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking feature and the second interlocking feature interlock on an axis perpendicular to an axis of a hinge defined by the integrally molded first hinge member and the integrally molded second hinge member.

4. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking feature is a slot within the wall, the second interlocking feature is a tab protruding from the lid and wherein the tab interlocks with the slot.

6. The storage container of claim 1, wherein a hinge connects the lid to the wall, the hinge including a lip protruding upwardly to prevent water intrusion through the hinge.

7. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the lid has a stop extending upwardly on an opposing end of the lid from the second interlocking feature.

8. The storage container of claim 7, wherein an end wall extends upwardly from an adjacent side of the base, and the end wall has a recess formed on a lower edge and corresponding to a location of the stop.

21. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the first projection is received with a recess in the wall when the at least one of the first lid and the second lid is in a partially closed position such that interference between the wall and the at least one of the first lid and the second lid prevents the lid from moving into a closed position.

22. The storage container of claim 21, wherein the second projection is moved from the recess when downward force is applied to the at least one of the first lid and the second lid.

23. The storage container of claim 21, wherein the second projection is received within the recess when the at least one of the first lid and the second lid is in a fully closed position.

27. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the wall includes a first upward projection and wherein the integrally molded first hinge member is formed in the first upward projection.

28. The storage container of claim 27, wherein the first upward projection has the hinge pin socket formed therein, and wherein the integrally molded second hinge member includes the hinge pin rotatably received in the hinge pin socket.

35. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the integrally molded first hinge member includes the hinge pin socket and the integrally molded second hinge member includes the hinge pin.

36. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the hinge pin is snap fit in the hinge pin socket.

37. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the hinge pin is integral with the integrally molded second hinge member.

38. The storage container of claim 1, including a plurality of integrally molded first hinge members each including two hinge pin sockets and a plurality of integrally molded second hinge members each including two hinge pins.

39. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the integrally molded first hinge member and the one of a hinge pin and a hinge pin socket are a single component, and the integrally molded second hinge member and the other of the hinge pin and the hinge pin socket are a single component.

5. A storage container comprising:

a base;

a wall extending upwardly from the base, the wall including an integrally molded first hinge member including one of a hinge pin and a hinge pin socket, and the wall includes a first interlocking feature; and

a lid having an integrally molded second hinge member hingeably connected to the integrally molded first hinge member, and the integrally molded second hinge member includes the other of the hinge pin and the hinge pin socket, the lid including a second interlocking feature, the first interlocking feature interlocking with the second interlocking feature to secure the lid to the wall, and the hinge pin is pivotably received in the hinge pin socket, wherein the first interlocking feature is located on an interior side of a hinge retainer formed in the wall.

53. The storage container of claim 5, wherein the first interlocking feature and the second interlocking feature prevent an end of the lid hingeably connected to the wall from moving upwardly from the wall when the lid is in the closed position.

54. The storage container of claim 5, wherein the first interlocking feature is a slot within the wall, the second interlocking feature is a tab protruding from the lid and wherein the tab interlocks with the slot.

55. The storage container of claim 5, wherein a hinge connects the lid to the wall, the hinge including a lip protruding upwardly to prevent water intrusion through the hinge.

56. The storage container of claim 5, wherein the lid has a stop extending upwardly on an opposing end of the lid from the second interlocking feature.

57. The storage container of claim 56, wherein an end wall extends upwardly from an adjacent side of the base, and the end wall has a recess formed on a lower edge and corresponding to a location of the stop.

58. The storage container of claim 5, wherein the wall includes a first upward projection and wherein the integrally molded first hinge member is formed in the first upward projection.

59. The storage container of claim 5, wherein the integrally molded first hinge member includes the hinge pin socket and the integrally molded second hinge member includes the hinge pin.

60. The storage container of claim 5, wherein the hinge pin is snap fit in the hinge pin socket.

9. A storage container comprising:

a base;

a first wall extending upwardly from the base;

a first lid; and

a first hinge connecting the first lid to the first wall, wherein the first lid includes a first upper leaf, a second upper leaf and a lower leaf formed on an end opposing the first hinge and a lip protruding upwardly from the lower leaf when the first lid is in a closed position and extending continuously from the first upper leaf to the second upper leaf to prevent water intrusion past the first lid, wherein the lower leaf includes a plurality of protrusions extending upwardly, and the lip has a first height and the plurality of protrusions have a second height, and the second height is greater than the first height.

10. The storage container of claim 9, wherein a second wall extends upwardly from the base on an opposing side from the first wall, a second hinge connects a second lid to the second wall, and the second lid includes a first lower leaf, a second lower leaf and an upper leaf formed on an end opposing the second hinge and a lip protruding upwardly from the first lower leaf and the second lower leaf to prevent water intrusion past the second lid.

11. The storage container of claim 10, wherein the first upper leaf of the first lid overlaps the first lower leaf of the second lid, the upper leaf of the second lid overlaps the lower leaf of the first lid, and the second upper leaf of the first lid overlaps the second lower leaf of the second lid when the lids are in the closed position relative to the first wall and the second wall.

29. The storage container of claim 9, wherein the lip extends along an outer edge of the lower leaf.

30. The storage container of claim 9, wherein the lip has a constant height between the first upper leaf and the second upper leaf.

44. The storage container of claim 10, wherein the lower leaf is located between the first upper leaf and the second upper leaf of the first lid, and the upper leaf is located between the first lower leaf and the second lower leaf of the second lid.

45. The storage container of claim 44, wherein the first upper leaf, the second upper leaf, and the lower leaf are located in a common plane, and the first lower leaf, the second lower leaf, and the upper leaf are located in another common plane.

50. The storage container of claim 9, wherein the plurality of protrusions are spaced apart from each other.

51. The storage container of claim 9, wherein the plurality of protrusions comprise a first row of projections and a second row of projections parallel relative to each other and both located on the lower leaf between the lip and the first hinge.

12. A storage container comprising:

a base;

a wall extending upwardly from the base, the wall including at least one first hinge member; and

a lid having a plurality of second hinge members protruding upwardly therefrom, the at least one first hinge member connected to the plurality of second hinge members to pivotably connect the lid to the wall, the lid including a lip protruding upwardly from the lid between the plurality of second hinge members to prevent water intrusion through a hinge defined by the at least one hinge member and the plurality of second hinge members.

16. The storage container of claim 12, wherein the lid includes a security feature having a first projection extending upwardly from the lid adjacent to the hinge and a second projection extending outwardly from lid, and the first projection is received with a recess in the wall when the lid is in a partially closed position such that interference between the wall and the lid prevents the lid from moving into a closed position.

17. The storage container of claim 16, wherein the second projection is moved from the recess when downward force is applied to the lid.

18. The storage container of claim 16, wherein the second projection is received within the recess when the lid is in a fully closed position.

40. The storage container of claim 12, wherein the at least one first hinge member is integrally molded and includes a hinge pin socket and the plurality of second hinge members are integrally molded and includes a hinge pin.

41. The storage container of claim 40, wherein the hinge pin is snap fit in the hinge pin socket.

42. The storage container of claim 40, wherein hinge pin is integral with the plurality of second hinge members.

43. The storage container of claim 40, wherein the at least one first hinge member and the one of the hinge pin and the hinge pin socket are a single component, and the plurality of second hinge members and the other of the hinge pin and the hinge pin socket are a single component.

52. The storage container of claim 12, wherein the lip is spaced a first distance from the base and the plurality of second hinge members are located a second distance from the base, and the first distance is less than the second distance.

13. A storage container comprising:

a base;

a wall extending upwardly from the base, the wall including at least one first hinge member; and

a lid having a plurality of second hinge members protruding upwardly therefrom, the at least one first hinge member connected to the plurality of second hinge members to pivotably connect the lid to the wall, the lid including a lip protruding upwardly from the lid between the plurality of second hinge members to prevent water intrusion through a hinge defined by the at least one first hinge member and the plurality of second hinge members, wherein the lid includes a pocket secured to an upper side of the lid, and wherein a recess is formed in the pocket adjacent to an opening of the pocket to assist in accessing an interior of the pocket.

14. The storage container of claim 13, wherein a tab surrounds a portion of a periphery of the pocket to retain a document within the pocket.

15. The storage container of claim 13, further including a document in the pocket, wherein an edge of the document within the pocket is raised from a surface of the lid when pressure is applied to the document through the recess in the pocket.

19. A storage container comprising:

a base;

a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base;

a first lid and a second lid each hingeably connected to the walls, each of the first lid and the second lid having a plurality of alternatingly overlapping leaves extending toward one another; and

a first hinge connecting the first lid to one of the plurality of walls and a second hinge connection the second lid to another of the plurality of walls, wherein at least one of the first hinge and the second hinge includes a security feature to retain at least one of the first lid and the second lid, respectively, in a partially closed position.

20. The storage container of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the first lid and the second lid includes a first projection extending upwardly from the at least one of the first lid and the second lid adjacent to the hinge and a second projection extending outwardly from the at least one of the first lid and the second lid adjacent to the hinge.

24. The storage container of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the first hinge and the second hinge includes a lip protruding upwardly to prevent water intrusion through the hinge.

25. The storage container of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the first lid and the second lid includes a first upper leaf and a first lower leaf formed on an end opposing the first hinge and the second hinge, respectively, and the at least one of the first lid and the second lid is placed in the partially closed position to allow the first upper leaf and the first lower leaf to be meshed with a second upper leaf and a second lower leaf.

26. The storage container of claim 25, wherein the first upper leaf and the second upper leaf overlap with the first lower leaf and second lower leaf when the at least one of the first lid and the second lid is in a closed position relative to the wall.

34. The storage container of claim 19, wherein the security feature includes interference between the at least one of the first lid and the second lid and the container that retains the at least one of the first lid and the second lid in the partially closed position, wherein the interference is sufficient to maintain the at least one of the first lid and the second lid in a partially open position but can be overcome upon application of sufficient force on the at least one of the first lid and the second lid.

46. The storage container of claim 19, wherein the security feature of each of the first lid and the second lid includes an upward projection that contacts a hinge retainer of one of the plurality of walls when the first lid and the second lid is in the partially closed position.

31. A storage container comprising:

a base;

a wall extending upwardly from the base;

a lid hingeably connected to the wall; and

a document pocket on an upper surface of the lid, the document pocket having a lower surface recessed relative to the upper surface of the lid and a recess formed in a portion of the lower surface of the document pocket, wherein the recess is recessed relative to the lower surface and located adjacent an opening of the document pocket to assist in accessing a document in an interior of the document pocket, wherein the opening is spaced away from the recess of the document pocket.

32. The storage container of claim 31, wherein a tab surrounds a portion of the periphery of the document pocket to retain a document within the document pocket, wherein the opening is proximate to a remainder of the periphery of the document pocket that does not include the tab.

33. The storage container of claim 31, further including a document in the document pocket, wherein an edge of the document within the document pocket in the recessed area is raised relative to the upper surface of the lid when pressure is applied to an upper surface of the document to push into the recess a portion of the document adjacent the edge of the document.

47. The storage container of claim 31, wherein the document pocket includes a single recess.

48. The storage container of claim 31, wherein the document pocket is rectangular and includes four sides, and the portion of the periphery of the document pocket includes three sides of the document pocket.

49. The storage container of claim 31, wherein a tab surrounds less than an entirety of the periphery of the document pocket.

61. The storage container of claim 31, wherein a lower surface of the recess is located below the lower surface of the document pocket.

62. The storage container of claim 31, wherein the recess is next to the opening of the document pocket.

63. The storage container of claim 31, wherein the recess is spaced away from an outer perimeter of the document pocket.

64. The storage container of claim 31, wherein the document is located over the recess when received in the document pocket.