US20090057304A1 - Two piece container incorporating nesting characteristics and including interengageable hinge supports for upwardly supporting a lid upon a base - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage container including a lid having a rectangular shape with sides and ends defining therebetween a recessed interior, the lid including at least one resistively inter-fitting portion associated with a forward extending lip edge. A base corresponds generally in outline with the lid and includes at least one mating portion defined in an overlapping forward lip edge and which is arrayed in opposing and communicable fashion with the lid inter-fitting portion. The interfitting portions established between the lid and base are positioned opposite a rear hinged edge and provide tactile snap shut engagement of the lid and base.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/530,764 filed on Sep. 11, 2006 and entitled Two Piece Container Incorporating Nesting Characteristics and Including Interengageable Hinge Supports for Upwardly Supporting a Lid upon a Base.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates generally to what is conventionally known as a hat box design. More specifically, the present invention discloses a plasticized container having a base and hingedly connected lid and which incorporates novel improvements in an interlocking arrangement established therebetween to permit the lid to be converted between an upwardly displaced and open configuration and, upon being rotated to a closed position, establishing a tactile and snap-shut configuration in order to provide secure carry-ability of its interiorly held contents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The prior art is well documented with examples of either hat box or other article holding/supporting containers. In one application, it is desirable to be able to interlock together in a stacking arrangement a plurality of item holdable containers.
• First examples of such assemblies are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,772 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,350, both issued to LaMarche et al., and which teach an assembly of interconnected containers, each exhibiting an upper portion permanently connected to a lower portion by a hinge or hinges, and with the upper portion having a pair of elongated generally parallel upwardly open channels. The container also has a pair of generally parallel downwardly projecting flanges structured to engage an upwardly open channel of an adjacent container and adjacent containers having either at least one of the channels engaged by a flange of an adjacent container or at least one of its flanges engaged in a channel of an adjacent container or both. The channels preferably communicate with at least one open end so as to permit relative sliding removal and insertion of the containers from and into the assembly. The channels are disposed closer to each other than are the flanges. In one embodiment, the upper portion has the upper sidewalls diverging downwardly therefrom and the lower wall has a pair of lower sidewalls diverging upwardly therefrom. The containers may be transparent and molded as a unit with integrally formed hinges. Support structure may be provided within the container to support one or more articles disposed therein. Individual containers for use in such an assembly are disclosed.
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,270, issued to Hohnjec, teaches a two part box including, in relevant part, a lid part with a strap and a bottom part connected to the lid part at one rim by the strap acting as a hinge and including closure elements cooperating with each other to produce transverse locking of the two box parts. Handles are provided with recess fittings into each other for carrying the box and locking elements including two projecting cylindrical pins, each having an undercut and both arranged on both sides of said handle recesses, and on the opposite rim, at two cylindrical lugs each provided with a circular-shaped sharp-edged aperture to receive said pins at their undercut locations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention discloses a storage container, such as in particular for a hat box, and which is an improvement over other prior art designs in that it provides for improved tactile locking engagement of a hingedly secured lid relative to an opposing and volume defining base. The lid exhibits a substantially rectangular shape, with interconnecting sides and ends defining therebetween a recessed interior. In addition to the hinged engagement with the base along a rear edge, the lid further includes a perimeter extending planar lip along the sides and interconnecting forward edge.
• The base corresponds generally in outline with the lid and likewise includes a three-sided planar extending lip. A recessed interior associated with the base defines, upon downward rotation of the lid to the closed position, a volume holding enclosure. Each of the lid and base further including an integrally formed handle subset portion associated with the forward selected edges opposite those associated with the hinged support, the subset portions mating upon rotating the lid to the closed position to define a carrying handle.
• In a first configuration, an outer radiused edge of the base handle lip is configured to overlap an opposingly engaging lip edge, and in order to create a resistant snap shut engagement. In a second configuration, first and second button projections and mating recess pockets portions are defined at opposing locations associated with the extending and overlapping forward lip edges of the base and lid handles and in order to establish a tactile/snap shut configuration associated with the lid and base.
• Pairs of lengthwise extending and mating grooves and recesses are established in opposing fashion along the planar and sides of the lid and base. The grooves project from a first selected one of the base and lid and can include a “U” shape, “V” shape or other cross-section configured shape. Opposing lengthwise recesses establish seating of the grooves, upon closing the lid with the base, and in order to provide additional displacement preventing support of the hingedly connected lid and base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
• FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a container according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention and illustrating the tactile-snap shut arrangement of the first and second handles;
• FIG. 2 is a front view of the container shown inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the container and better illustrating the tactile snap shut engagement of the base and hingedly secured lid;
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion4-4 of the interengaging handles inFIG. 3 and illustrating the base handle lip being configured with a larger radius than the corresponding and opposingly engaging lip in order to create resistant snap shut engagement;
• FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective of the container base;
• FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of portion5-5 of the base handle inFIG. 5 and, when viewed in combination withFIG. 4, illustrating the tactile engaging profile configuration of the base handle portion;
• FIG. 7 is a cutaway view taken along line7-7 ofFIG. 1 and showing the tactile and resistive fitting interengagement established between the inwardly projecting lip handle edge and corresponding larger dimensioned base handle;
• FIG. 8 is an illustration similar toFIG. 1 of a container according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention and illustrating first and second button projections and mating recess pocket portions defined at first and second forward extending and overlapping lip edges associated with the base and lid handles and in order to establish a tactile/snap shut configuration associated with the lid and base;
• FIG. 9 is a front view of the container shown inFIG. 8;
• FIG. 10 is a perspective illustration of the container ofFIG. 8 and better illustrating the tactile snap shut engagement of the base and hingedly secured lid;
• FIG. 11 is an enlarged illustration taken along portion11-11 ofFIG. 10 and illustrating a selected button-shaped pocket configuration associated with the base; and
• FIG. 12 is a cutaway illustration of the resistive fit engagement established between a selected and downwardly projecting button portion of the lid and resistive inter-fitting base configured pocket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, a series of top plan, front plant and perspective view are shown of acontainer10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention and which, as previously described, illustrates a tactile-snap shut arrangement of first and second associated handles. The assembled top/front plan and perspective views, each illustrated at10, are of a hinged item holding container assembly, typically a hat box configuration, and which in particular discloses a generally rectangular shapedlid12 and a similarly configured and hingedly securedbase14. Each of the lid and base are, in one variant, constructed of a plasticized material produced from such as a vacuum forming or, potentially, an injection molding process, although it is further contemplated that other material constructions can be employed and which exhibit the necessary properties of tactile ductility, strength and durability.
• In a preferred embodiment, each of thelid12 andbase14 exhibit a rectangular configuration (although it is contemplated that any suitable and polygonal shaped article is contemplated) with four interconnecting sides and ends which bound a recessed and volume defining interior. In particular, thelid12 includessides16 and18 and interconnectingends20 and22. Concurrently, thebase14 includessides24 and26 (see as best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3) and interconnectingends28 and30.
• A rear hingedconnection32 is established between thelid12 andbase14 and, in practice, establishes such as a living hinge in order to provide repeated opening and closing cycles without material deformation or failure of the hinge. It is also envisioned that lid and base can be provided as first and second assembleable halves and which incorporate any suitable hinge or interlocking closure arrangement.
• Thelid12 further includes a recessedinterior surface34 and thebase14 likewise includes acorresponding surface36. Each of the sides and ends of thelid12 further include outer perimeter defining and planar/flattened lips, these being referenced alongopposite sides38 and40 and interconnectingforward edge42. The sides and forward end of thebase14 concurrently include outer perimeter defining and flattened edges, as respectively shown atsides44 and46 andforward edge48, these opposing thecorresponding edges38,40 and42 of the lid in the closed and slid/snap shut configuration as will be subsequently described.
• Afirst handle50 is configured into the forward extendingedge42 of thelid12, whereas a mating handle52 (best shown inFIGS. 5-7) is integrally configured in the forward extendingedge48 of thebase14.FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of portion4-4 of the interengaging handles inFIG. 3 and, as will be further discussed, illustrates the tactile and snap shut configuration of thehandles50 and52 upon being biasingly engaged together.
• As will be best described in reference to succeeding illustrationsFIGS. 5-7, thebase handle52 projects upwardly from the associated forwardplanar edge48 and defines an inner perimeter extending handbold profile54, as well as an opposite outerperimeter extending profile56. As best shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, theouter profile56 exhibits an annular extending protuberance and which is dimensioned with a radius edge slightly overlapping (greater than) a corresponding inner annular extending lip58 (againFIG. 7) associated with the outwardlyoverlapping handle50. Upon rotating thelid12 to a substantially overlaying and closed position relative to thebase14, an additional degree of downward pressure applied to thelid12 causes its inner annular extendinghandle lip edge58 to biasingly depress against the opposing outer protuberant surface of thebase handle profile56 and, following thelip edge58 depressingly seating over the opposing outer profileprotuberant surface56, to seat in resistive fashion against a lowermost recessed pocket60 (againFIG. 7) associated with thebase handle52, thereby creating the resistant snap shut engagement.
• Pairs of lengthwise extending and mating grooves and recesses are established in opposing fashion along the planar and sides of the lid and base. Although easily reversible, thegrooves62 and64 are illustrated projecting from thelid12 and can include a “U” shape, “V” shape or other cross-section configured shape.
• Opposing lengthwise recesses66 and68 defined in the upwardly facing surfaces of the base portionplanar sides44 and46 establish seating of thegrooves62 and64 and, upon closing the lid with the base, provide additional displacement preventing support of the hingedly connected lid and base. As best further illustrated in each ofFIGS. 1 and 2, one or more lengthwise extending and recessed channels, see at70,72,74, et seq., are defined in thebase surface34 of thelid12 and which constitute a plurality of parallel, spaced apart and lengthwise interengaging portions between individual container assemblies.
• Corresponding lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surfaces, see at76 and78 inFIGS. 2 and 5, are associated with theunderside base surface36. The location and configuration of the lid recess channels and base recessed exterior surfaces and such that, upon providing a plurality of individual containers, each pair of base definedsurface76 and78 are typically provided as a pair of outermost and lengthwise interengaging portions which are selectively seatable within selected ones of the recessed lid surfaces70,72,74, further such that a lid of a first selected container may support thereupon a base of a second selected container.
• FIGS. 8-13 collectively illustrate a container according to a secondpreferred embodiment80 of the present invention and illustrating first andsecond button projections82 and84 and matingrecess pocket portions86 and88 defined at first and second forward extending and overlappingplanar edge42 and44 locations associated with thelid12 andbase14, respectively, and in order to establish a tactile/snap shut configuration associated with the lid and base. The container configuration ofFIG. 8 is substantially identical to that shown inFIG. 1, with the exception that the tactile/snap shut interengaging portions associated with the handles in the first embodiment are substituted by a pair of identically configured and opposing edge mating handles50′ and52′, the handles being separate from a pair of laterally offset and arranged button and recess pockets defined between the lid and base lip edges and establishing the desired tactile/snap shut engagement. It is also understood that a preferred variant can incorporate both the tactile handle engagement profile ofFIG. 1, in combination with the button and recess pocket ofFIG. 8 and as will be subsequently described. Accordingly, identical features in the embodiment ofFIGS. 8-13 (aside from the modifiedhandle portions50′ and52′) are identically enumerated in comparison to those shown in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-7.
• As best shown in the enlarged illustration ofFIG. 11, taken along portion11-11 ofFIG. 10, as well as the cutaway partial view ofFIG. 12, illustrated is a selectedlid12 extending button-shapedprojection82 in its tactile snap shut engagement with a corresponding recessedpocket86 configuration associated with thebase14. As best shown in the exploded illustration ofFIG. 13 (and by which the rear portions defining the livinghinge32 are separated), the button shapedprojections82 and84 are integrally formed within theforward lip42 of thelid12 and project downwardly. Thebutton projections82 and84 are further illustrated as substantially rectangular in shape with rounded interconnecting edges (see alsoFIG. 11) although it is further understood that the button projections can adopt some other cross sectional profile within the scope of the invention.
• Referring again toFIG. 12, the downward displacement of the illustratedbutton projection82 causes at least one biasing overlap, atzone89, with its opposing recessedpocket86. Thepockets86 and88 each exhibit a similar recessed and four-sided pocket in comparison to the opposing configuration of theprojections82 and84. Similar to the biasing nature of thehandle50 and52 inFIG. 1, downward displacement of thelid12 against the base14 results in this zone of overlap causing thebutton projections82 and84 to biasingly displace against and resistively inter-fit with the recess pockets86 and88 and, by virtue of a reverse angled taper established between the overlapping walls90 and92 (FIG. 12) along thecontact zone89 established between the button and pocket, and in order to resistively interengage in a tactile and snap-shut fashion.
• Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which is pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A two piece storage container, comprising:

a multi-sided lid with interconnecting sides and ends defining a recessed interior;

a multi-sided base corresponding generally in outline with said lid and being hingedly connected thereto along a rear edge;

each of said lid and base further exhibiting at least a forward extending planar lip edge arranged in overlapping alignment upon displacing said lid against said base; and

resistively inter-fitting portions integrally formed in opposing fashion at specified locations associated with said lip edges and, upon pivoting said lid against said base engaging in a tactile and snap-shut fashion.

2. The container as described inclaim 1, each of the lid and base further comprising an integrally formed handle portion associated with said forward planar lip edge, handle portions mating upon rotating the lid to the closed position to define a carrying handle.

3. The container as described inclaim 2, further comprising a base handle projecting upwardly from said associated forward planar edge and defining an inner perimeter extending hand hold profile, an opposite outer perimeter extending profile exhibiting an annular extending protuberance and which is dimensioned with a radius edge overlapping a corresponding inner annular extending lip associated with a lid handle and causing said lid handle to biasingly depress against the opposing outer protuberant surface of said base handle profile, seating said lid handle in resistive fashion against a lowermost recessed pocket associated with said base handle.

4. The container as described inclaim 2, each of said lid and said base further comprising a perimeter extending planar lip along first and second sides and interconnecting forward edge.

5. The container as described inclaim 4, further comprising first and second button projections extending downwardly from intermediate locations of said lid planar lip edge an outwardly spaced lateral distance from said handle portion, mating recess pockets portions being defined in said base lip edge, opposing walls associated with each of said button projections and mating pockets establishing an overlapping and reverse angled taper.

6. The container as described inclaim 1, each of said lid and base exhibiting a selected shape and size and further comprising a plasticized material produced from at least one of a vacuum forming or injection molding process.

7. The container as described inclaim 1, each of said lid and base defining a substantially rectangular shaped body with four interconnecting side edges bounding said recessed interiors.

8. The container as described inclaim 4, further comprising lengthwise extending and slidably interengaging portions associated with opposing surfaces of said planar extending lips.

9. The container as described inclaim 8, further comprising a first selected one of lengthwise extending grooves and recesses defined in a first of said planar extending lip edges, a second and other selected one of said grooves and recesses being defined in a second opposing planar lip edge and such that said grooves seat within said recesses.

10. The container as described inclaim 1, a lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said lid further comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart and lengthwise interengaging portions, a corresponding lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said base further comprising at least a pair of outermost and lengthwise interengaging portions which are selectively seatable within selected ones of said recessed lid surface portions such that a lid of a first selected container may support thereupon a base of a second selected container.

11. A two piece storage container, comprising:

a multi-sided lid with interconnecting sides and ends defining a recessed interior;

a multi-sided base corresponding generally in outline with said lid and being hingedly connected thereto along a rear edge;

each of said lid and said base further comprising a perimeter extending planar lip along first and second sides and interconnecting forward edge and which are arranged in overlapping alignment upon displacing said lid against said base; and

a base handle projecting upwardly from said associated forward planar edge and defining an inner perimeter extending hand hold profile, an opposite outer perimeter extending profile exhibiting an annular extending protuberance and which is dimensioned with a radius edge overlapping a corresponding inner annular extending lip associated with a lid handle and causing said lid handle to biasingly depress against the opposing outer protuberant surface of said base handle profile, seating said lid handle in resistive fashion against a lowermost recessed pocket associated with said base handle.

12. The container as described inclaim 11, each of said lid and base exhibiting a selected shape and size and further comprising a plasticized material produced from at least one of a vacuum forming or injection molding process.

13. The container as described inclaim 11, each of said lid and base defining a substantially rectangular shaped body with four interconnecting side edges bounding said recessed interiors.

14. The container as described inclaim 11, further comprising lengthwise extending and slidably interengaging portions associated with opposing sides of said planar extending lips.

15. The container as described inclaim 14, further comprising a first selected one of lengthwise extending grooves and recesses defined in a first of said planar extending lip edges, a second and other selected one of said grooves and recesses being defined in a second opposing planar lip edge and such that said grooves seat within said recesses.

16. The container as described inclaim 11, a lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said lid further comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart and lengthwise interengaging portions, a corresponding lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said base further comprising at least a pair of outermost and lengthwise interengaging portions which are selectively seatable within selected ones of said recessed lid surface portions such that a lid of a first selected container may support thereupon a base of a second selected container.

17. A two piece storage container, comprising:

a multi-sided lid with interconnecting sides and ends defining a recessed interior;

a multi-sided base corresponding generally in outline with said lid and being hingedly connected thereto along a rear edge;

each of said lid and said base further comprising a perimeter extending planar lip along first and second sides and interconnecting forward edge and which are arranged in overlapping alignment upon displacing said lid against said base; and

first and second button projections extending downwardly from intermediate locations of said lid planar lip edge an outwardly spaced lateral distance from said handle portion, mating recess pockets portions being defined in said base lip edge, opposing walls associated with each of said button projections and mating pockets establishing an overlapping and reverse angled taper seating said lid handle in resistive fashion against a lowermost recessed pocket associated with said base handle.

18. The container as described inclaim 17, further comprising lengthwise extending and slidably interengaging portions associated with opposing sides of said planar extending lips.

19. The container as described inclaim 18, further comprising a first selected one of lengthwise extending grooves and recesses defined in a first of said planar extending lip edges, a second and other selected one of said grooves and recesses being defined in a second opposing planar lip edge and such that said grooves seat within said recesses.

20. The container as described inclaim 17, a lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said lid further comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart and lengthwise interengaging portions, a corresponding lengthwise extending and recessed exterior surface associated with said base further comprising at least a pair of outermost and lengthwise interengaging portions which are selectively seatable within selected ones of said recessed lid surface portions such that a lid of a first selected container may support thereupon a base of a second selected container.

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