Plastic tote box improvements

A 180.degree. stackable, nestable plastic tote box has ledge supports and foot supports with a combination of vertical and angled surfaces for guiding an upper box relative to a lower box to a stacked position and resisting the tendency of the upper box to collapse into the lower box when it is heavily loaded. The box also has orientation buttons received in recesses at its rim which give the box an easily visible asymmetric appearance. A drainage collector is molded into each box end wall which underlies a lid of the box and collects drainage from the lid to channel the drainage to the outside of the box, and is formed in walls which help support an upper box on a lower box when it is laterally slid onto it for stacking. The box can be provided with a one-piece lid or a two-piece hinged lid. The one-piece lid has wedge structures depending downwardly from its rim which snap into holes in the top of the box. A padlock hole is formed in an angled wall at the end of the box for locking the lid shut. A piano-type hinge of the two-piece lid has tabs which extend into holes in the box when the lid is shut so as to prevent lateral disengagement of the box side wall from the lid. The box rim also has upstanding wall structures which confront wall structures molded into the lid to resist lateral separation of the hinge joint when the lid is closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to improvements in plastic tote boxes, and in 
particular to a tote box having improved stackability, drainage, and 
security. 
2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
Plastic tote boxes have been known for a number of years and have found 
wide spread usage in commercial and residential applications. Such boxes 
have been available having no lids, with one-piece lids which enclose the 
entire top of the box, or with two-piece lids, each piece of which is 
hinged along one side of the tote box and in which the pieces meet along a 
line of closure generally in the middle of the box top. These boxes are 
used for storing and transporting parts or other items and are reusable. 
The boxes and their lids are also typically made of plastic materials 
which are recyclable. 
Such tote boxes which are both stackable and nestable are known in the 
industry as 180.degree. stack and nest boxes. With this type of box, in 
one orientation of an upper box relative to a lower box, the upper box has 
foot supports which are supported by ledge supports of the lower box near 
the top of the lower box, so that boxes containing items can be stacked 
with the lower boxes supporting the weight of the upper boxes. When the 
boxes are emptied as for example occurs when the parts are used in 
production, the boxes are prepared for return shipment or storage by 
nesting them together by turning the upper box from its stacked 
orientation 180.degree., in which orientation the upper box nests inside 
of the lower box, which conserves vertical space. 
Particularly in industrial applications, plastic tote boxes can be used to 
carry heavy items and also are subjected to generally rough usage. When 
heavy items are loaded into a plastic tote box, distortion of the box 
inevitably occurs, particularly when a stacked box is only supported by 
its foot portions, typically at the ends of the box. The weight inside the 
box bows it inwardly and the forces transmitted from the foot supports of 
the upper box to the ledge supports of the lower box tend to push the end 
walls of the lower box outwardly so that the foot supports can slip off of 
the ledge supports, and the upper box falls down into the lower box. 
Consequently, this has limited the amount of weight which could be put 
into a box which was being stacked and also the total height and weight of 
the stack. 
During shipment and storage, boxes of the type described, individually and 
in stacks, are also subjected to moisture, such as rain, condensation, 
accidental or intentional spraying, or leakage from an upper box to a 
lower box. If this moisture is permitted to enter the box, it can 
sometimes damage or ruin the items contained in the box. It is, therefore, 
desirable that moisture falling or collected on the box be directed away 
from the interior of the box. 
Tote boxes of the type described are also expected to provide some level of 
security. Typically, a hole is provided near the top edge of the box 
through which a padlock can be inserted to lock a lid of the box closed. 
Because of the permitted size of the rim of the box and the configuration 
of the lid, the size of the hole has been limited, such that only a 
relatively small diameter shank of a padlock could be inserted through the 
hole, or making it difficult to insert the shank of a padlock through the 
hole. In addition, since the padlocks are usually provided only at the top 
midpoint of one or both end walls of the box, if the lid is not connected 
to the box along the side walls with a secure connection, access to the 
interior of the box can be gained by separating the lid from the box along 
the sides, which permits pilfering. 
Also, in 180.degree. stack and nest containers, it is helpful to the person 
stacking or nesting them if the container has some obvious indication of 
its orientation, since its orientation determines whether it is in the 
stack position or the nest position relative to the lower container. Such 
an indication should be easily visible without additional effort from any 
angle from which a box is normally handled. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention provides a stackable plastic tote box of the type described 
having ledge supports for supporting foot supports of an upper box in a 
stack of the boxes in which the ledge supports and foot supports each have 
laterally extending, confronting angled and vertical surfaces, the angled 
and vertical surfaces of each foot support facing inwardly and the angled 
and vertical surfaces of each ledge support facing outwardly. The 
confronting angled and vertical surfaces resists collapse of a heavily 
loaded stacked container inside of the lower container, and also help 
guide the foot supports into engagement with the ledge supports when 
stacking containers. 
To further improve guidance when stacking, an inwardly facing angled 
surface is preferably formed on the ledge support opposite from the 
outwardly facing vertical and angled surfaces. To make the stacked 
containers even more resistant to collapse, the supports can be provided 
with confronting vertical surfaces which extend longitudinally, for 
example at each end of laterally extending confronting vertical surfaces. 
In another useful aspect, the supports are arranged differently from one 
end of the box to the other such that in a first orientation of the upper 
box relative to the lower box the boxes stack, and in a second orientation 
180.degree. to the first orientation the boxes nest. In this aspect, at 
one end of the box, the ledge supports may be joined by a support surface 
at approximately the same level as the ledge supports and at the opposite 
end of the box a support surface is provided between and spaced inwardly 
from the ledge supports. These support surfaces help support an upper box 
as it is slid laterally onto a lower box when the boxes are stacked. 
In another aspect of the invention, in a 180.degree. stackable nestable 
box, a recess is formed in a top edge of the box nearer to one end of the 
box than to an opposite end of the box, the recess being open on top, 
inside, and outside of the edge. A button is received in the recess which 
is visible from the top, inside, and outside of the edge, such that the 
button gives the box an asymmetrical appearance. Thus, a person stacking 
or nesting the boxes can readily observe the orientation of the box 
beneath and properly orient the box to be placed on top. In this aspect, a 
second recess and button is preferably provided in the top edge of the 
box, the recesses and buttons being provided in longitudinal sides of the 
box and at longitudinal positions which are opposite from one another, to 
make it easier to tell one orientation from another. 
In another aspect of the invention, in plastic tote boxes of the type 
having a lid supported on an upper edge of the box for covering the box, a 
drainage collector is provided inside the box below the lid. The drainage 
collector has at least one hole in a bottom thereof to direct fluid in the 
collector outside of the box. The lid also has at least one hole which 
provides a flow path from a top surface of the lid to the drainage 
collector. Thereby drainage or moisture which collects on top of lids of 
the boxes is directed outside of the boxes, to run down the outside of the 
box or stack and not into it. 
In this aspect, the lid may be one or two piece. If two piece, each piece 
is preferably hinged along a top edge of one of the sides of the lid and 
the pieces close along a line of closure when the lid is shut. Each piece 
is preferably provided with a fluid flow channel which is open to the top 
of the lid when the lid is shut. The channel collects fluid from the lid 
and directs the fluid to the drainage collector, and has walls which 
prevent the fluid from flowing over them into the interior of the box. 
In a plastic tote box of the type which is provided with four generally 
vertical sides and a lid for covering an open top of the box, the lid and 
end walls of the box being provided with a lock hole through which a shank 
of a padlock can be placed to lock the lid to the box, the improvement 
wherein the lock hole in the box is formed in a wall of the box which is 
angled at a steeper angle from vertical than a draft angle of surrounding 
walls of the box. 
In a preferred form of a plastic tote box which is closed by a one-piece 
lid which attaches to the box, the box is provided with an upper rim and 
the lid is provided with an upper edge which rests on the upper rim of the 
box. The upper edge of the lid has a peripheral downwardly depending 
flange which confronts an outer edge of the rim of the box in close 
proximity, and the rim of the lid has downwardly depending wedge 
structures spaced inwardly from the flange by a certain lateral distance 
and facing the flange. The rim of the box is provided with holes at 
positions corresponding to positions of the wedge structures, and each 
hole has an outer undercut edge so that the wedge structures can be 
inserted into the holes and hooked under the undercut edge. The lateral 
dimension of the rim of the box between the outer edge of the hole and the 
outer edge of the rim is approximately equal to or greater than the 
lateral distance from the wedge structure to the peripheral flange so as 
to provide positive engagement, with the wedge structure resiliently 
flexing to enter and exit the hole. 
In this aspect, each wedge structure preferably has upper and lower angled 
surfaces and each has at least one end which tapers laterally inwardly, to 
facilitate engagement and disengagement from the hole. If the wedge 
structures are provided with a tapered end, the tapered ends are all 
preferably directed away from the longitudinal center of the lid. 
In another useful aspect of a plastic tote box of the type having a 
two-piece piano-hinged lid, one or more hinge pin supports is provided 
with a downwardly depending tab and the top rim of the box along each 
hinge is provided with a hole to receive the tab when the lid is closed. 
The tab extends into the hole so as to abut an edge of the hole if the rim 
is attempted to be laterally separated from the lid. In this form, the 
tabs and holes are preferably provided in longitudinal center regions of 
the lid pieces and the box. To further resist lateral separation of the 
box side walls from the lid along the hinge, the upper rim of the box can 
be formed with laterally extending inwardly facing walls and the lid 
pieces with walls which confront the box walls when the lid is closed. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the 
drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 illustrates a tote box 10 of the present invention. The tote box 10 
is molded plastic, for example high-density polyethylene, and has a bottom 
12, longitudinally extending sides 14 and 16 and laterally extending end 
walls 18 and 20. At the top of the side and end walls, a rim 22 encircles 
the top of the box 10. The side walls 14 and 16 are indented at their ends 
adjacent to end wall 18 at 24 and 26, the end wall 18 is indented at 28, 
which is positioned inward of the lateral ends of the wall 18, and the end 
wall 20 is extended at 30 and 32. 
As is conventional, all of the walls 14, 16, 18, and 20 taper outwardly at 
a certain draft angle from the bottom 12 up so that one box 10 can be 
nested inside another box 10 in one orientation of the boxes relative to 
one another as shown in FIG. 2. In an orientation of the two boxes which 
is 180.degree. to that orientation, an upper box 10 can be stacked on a 
lower box 10 as shown in FIG. 3. 
Each end of the box 10 has foot supports formed in the bottom wall 12. At 
the end of wall 20, these foot supports are indicated at 36 and 38 and at 
the end of wall 20 the foot supports are indicated at 40 and 42. The 
structure of the foot supports 36, 38, 40, and 42 are all substantially 
the same and as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9-13. 
Each end of the box 10 is also provided with ledge supports 44, 46, 48, and 
50 which support the respective foot supports 42, 40, 38, and 36 when one 
box 10 is stacked on top of a lower box 10 in the stacked orientation, so 
that the foot 42 of the upper box lines up with the ledge 44 of the lower 
box, foot 40 of the upper box lines up with ledge 46 of the lower box, 
foot 38 of the upper box lines up with ledge 48 of the lower box, and foot 
36 of the upper box lines up with ledge 50 of the lower box. 
The foot and ledge supports 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, and 50 will be 
described with respect to the foot 36 and ledge 50, it being understood 
that the structure of the foot 36 is essentially identical to the 
structure of the other feet 38, 40, and 42 and that the structure of the 
ledge 50 is essentially identical to the other ledges 44, 46, and 48. 
Referring particularly to FIGS. 9-13, each foot support has a top wall 54, 
a bottom wall 56, an inward side wall 58, and an outward side wall 60. The 
inward side wall 58 is preferably joined to the main bottom wall 12 in a 
radius and is joined to the top wall 54 in a radius, and the wall 54 is 
joined to the side wall 60 in a radius. Wall 58 is also tapered so as to 
guide engagement between the foot support and the ledge support on the 
lower box 10. 
The outer side wall 60 is defined by angled surfaces 60A and 60B and a 
protrusion 62 which extends inwardly from the angled surfaces 60A and 60B 
and is defined by a generally horizontal portion of the bottom surface 56 
and by a vertical surface 60C which extends laterally. The protrusion 62 
also has end surfaces 60D and 60E which are generally vertical and extend 
longitudinally of the box 10. 
Each ledge support, like the support 50 shown, has a bottom wall 68 which 
is joined at its ends by an outward wall 70 and by an inward wall 72. The 
wall 70 is angled upwardly and outwardly so as to guide reception of the 
foot support 36 of an upper box 10. The wall 72 is defined by angled 
surfaces 72A and 72B and by a recess 74 which defines a generally 
vertical, laterally extending portion 72C of the inward wall 72 and also 
end walls 72D and 72E which are generally vertical and extend 
longitudinally. 
When a foot portion is engaged with a ledge portion, the angled surfaces 
60A and 60B confront respectively the angled surfaces 72A and 72B to help 
guide the foot and ledge into engagement with the supports resting on one 
another, and the vertical surface 72C confronts the vertical surface 60C. 
In addition, the vertical surfaces 60D and 60E confront the respective 
vertical surfaces 72D and 72E. This engagement of the protrusion 62 and 
the recess 74 resists disengagement of the foot supports from the ledge 
supports when heavy loads are placed on the boxes 10, from the weight 
contained within the boxes 10, and also the weight of a stack of boxes 10, 
to increase the load carrying and stacking capacity of the box 10. 
Another feature of the invention is orientation indicators 80 which are 
easily visible from the top and both sides of the box 10 to give a quick 
visual indication of the orientation the box 10 is in. Thus, by glancing 
at the indicators 80, which preferably are a color of plastic in contrast 
to the color of the main body of the box 10, a person can see if the box 
10 is oriented to be stacked on top of a lower box or nested within it. 
Each indicator or button 80 is of the form shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. An 
arcuate recess 82 is formed in the rim 22 at each side of the box, and the 
recesses 82 are laterally opposite from one another. A hole 84 is formed 
in each recess 82 into which a split barbed pin 86 of the button 80 can be 
snapped to secure the button 80 in the recess 82. The button 80 has a top 
wall 88 and inner and outer side walls 90 and 92, respectively, so that it 
is easily visible from the top, both sides, and the ends of the box 10, 
and any angle in between. 
The ends of the box 10 are also each provided with a drainage collector 98 
at end 18 and 100 at end 20. The collector 98 is provided in a support 
wall 102 which connects the ledge supports 48 and 50 at the level of the 
bottom walls 68 of the ledge supports 48 and 50. The collector 100 is 
provided in a support wall 104 which does not connect the ledge supports 
44 and 46, but is at the level of the bottom walls 68 of the ledge 
supports 44 and 46. The support walls 102 and 104 help support an upper 
box 10 on a lower box 10 when the upper box 10 is being slid laterally 
onto the top of the lower box 10 for stacking. 
The drainage collectors 98 and 100 are of identical construction and will 
be described specifically with respect to the collector 100 shown in FIGS. 
14-16. The collector 100 is a recess in the support wall 104 and has an 
outward laterally running wall 106, a bottom wall 108, and an inward wall 
110 which rises above the bottom wall 108 but is substantially shorter 
than the outer wall 106. The wall 110 is just high enough to keep fluid 
collecting on the bottom wall 108 from entering the inside of the box 10, 
instead diverting it to either end of the collector 100 so as to flow 
through holes 112 and 114 which are provided through the bottom wall 108 
at the ends of the collector 100. The collector 100 also has end walls 116 
and 118 which connect the outer wall 106 and the inner wall 110. The holes 
112 and 114 open to the exterior surface of the end wall 20. The holes 112 
and 114 in the collector 98 open downwardly to the exterior of the end 
wall 18. 
Drainage holes are provided in the bottom 12 of the box 10 and in the 
vicinity of each foot support as indicated at 120 (FIG. 12). In a stack of 
boxes 10, drainage through the holes 120 is eventually directed to one of 
the collectors 98 or 100 to be directed down the stack along the outside 
end walls of the boxes 10. 
It is also noted that a slanted wall 122 or 124 extends upwardly from the 
respective support surface 102 or 104 to join the support surface with the 
rim 22. The wall 122 is at approximately the same angle and lined up with 
the outward angled walls 70 of the ledge supports 48 and 50 and the angled 
wall 124 is laterally aligned with and at the same angle as the outer 
angled walls of the ledge supports 44 and 46. This not only helps guide 
and support an upper box 10 as it is slid laterally across a lower box 10 
into a stacked position in which the foot and ledge supports of the upper 
and lower boxes are engaged with one another, but also increases the area 
available for a locking hole 130, 132 through which to put a padlock in 
order to secure a lid on the box 10. 
It is also noted that at the midpoints of the end walls 18 and 20, a handle 
133 which conforms arcuately to the fingers of a person carrying the box 
10 using both hands on the ends is formed. The handles 133 are best shown 
in FIGS. 1, 4, 15, and 16. Nesting stops 131 are provided on each side of 
each handle 133, one at each lateral location of the respective foot 
supports 36, 38, 40, 42, which rest against the rim of the lower box when 
nesting the boxes 10. 
FIGS. 17-27 illustrate a tote box 10 which is essentially identical to the 
tote box 10 described above but which is provided with a one-piece lid 
which is secured to the top of the box 10 through holes 138 in the rim 22. 
The lid 136 has a recessed central area 140, a raised peripheral edge 141 
and also is molded plastic, e.g., polypropylene. Peripheral angled wall 
145 connects area 140 and edge 141. At each end of the lid 136, in the 
recessed area 140 and above the respective collectors 98 and 100, a lid 
collector 142, 144 is formed which is of similar construction to the 
respective collectors 98 and 100. Each lid collector 142, 144 collects 
drainage on top of the lid 136 and directs it down to the respective 
collectors 98 and 100 to be directed to the exterior of the box 10. The 
structure of the collectors 142 and 144 is identical and will be described 
with reference to the collector 144 illustrated in FIGS. 19-22. 
Each lid collector is generally T-shaped with a long leg which corresponds 
and is aligned with the collector 98 or 100 beneath it and a short leg 
which extends over to a lock hole 150 which is formed in an angled 
peripheral wall which joins the recessed area 140 to the raised edge 141. 
The lock hole 150 in angled wall 145 is aligned with the respective lock 
hole 130 or 132 when the lid 136 is assembled to the box 10, for insertion 
of the shank of a padlock therethrough to secure the lid 136 to the main 
body of the box 10. Like the collectors 98 or 100 beneath them, each 
collector 142, 144 has a bottom wall 152, an outer side wall 154, an inner 
side wall 156, holes 158 and 160 at the ends which extend through the 
bottom wall 152, and end walls 162 and 164 which connect the outer wall 
154 and the inner wall 156. The holes 162 and 164 are aligned with the 
holes 112 and 114 in the collector 98 or 100 beneath the respective 
collector 142 or 144. 
Thereby, fluid collected on top of the lid 140 is directed to the exterior 
of the box beneath it, which when the boxes are stacked with one box 10 on 
top of the lid 140 of the box 10 beneath it, results in drainage flowing 
down the exterior of the end walls of the stack. 
The lid 140 is attached to the box 10 by means of snap fasteners as 
illustrated in FIGS. 23-27, which are integrally-molded in the peripheral 
edge 141 of the lid 140 and extend through holes 138 in the rim 22 of the 
box 10 to engage beneath the rim 22. The edge 141 is integrally formed 
with connector structures, one of which is shown in detail in FIGS. 23-27. 
All of these connector structures 160 are identical to one another. Each 
connector structure is formed with a hole 162 through the edge 141 and a 
wall 164 which depends downwardly from the edge 141 at the inner side of 
the hole 162. At the bottom of the wall 164, a laterally outwardly 
extending wedge 166 is formed. The wedge 166 has upwardly and downwardly 
facing angled surfaces for camming the wedge 166 down into the hole 138 to 
engage the lid with the box 10 and for camming the wedge 166 upwardly 
through the hole 138 for disengaging the lid from the box 10. 
The edge 141 has a downwardly extending peripheral lip 170 which overlaps 
down over the outside of peripheral flange 172 of the rim 22. The distance 
from the inner surface 171 of lip 170 to the tip 174 of the wedge 166 is 
preferably slightly less than the distance from the outer surface 173 of 
flange 172 to the nose 176 on the outer side of hole 138. Thus, for wedge 
166 to enter and exit the hole 138, the wall 164 and flange 170 must flex 
somewhat, which causes a resilient secured engagement between the lid 140 
and the box 10. 
As best shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, one end of the wedge 166 is preferably 
tapered inwardly as shown at 178 so as to smoothly start camming in and 
camming out of the wedge 166 from the hole 138. In the preferred 
embodiment the opposite end is shown squared off, but it also could be 
curved inwardly. In the preferred embodiment, the curved or tapered ends 
178 are on the longitudinal outside of the wedges 166. In other words, the 
curved ends 178 of the four wedges 166 to the right (as viewed in FIG. 17, 
two on each side 14 and 16) of the longitudinal central plane of the box 
10 face end wall 20 and the curved ends 178 of the four wedges 166 (two of 
which are broken away in FIG. 17) to the left of the longitudinal central 
plane face end 18. 
The lid 140 is engaged with the box 10 by simply pushing down on the edge 
141 until the wedges 166 are engaged beneath the rim 22 and is removed 
from the box 10 by pulling up on one end of the lid 140. 
FIGS. 28-35 illustrate a third embodiment of a tote box 10 of the invention 
which is essentially identical to the first embodiment described except 
that it is provided with a two-piece hinged lid 200. The two pieces 202, 
204 of the lid 200 are molded plastic, e.g., polypropylene. Each piece 
202, 204 is hinged with a piano-type hinge 214 along the top of the 
adjacent respective side wall 16 or 14. 
Each piece 202, 204 meets with the other piece in the middle of the box 10 
along a longitudinal line of closure 206. The lid pieces 202, 204 are 
identical and are locked together along the line of closure 206 with 
engagement structures of any suitable construction. For example, one 
possible construction is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,467, which is 
commonly owned with the present invention and is hereby incorporated by 
reference. 
In addition to such engagement structures, the present invention 
incorporates a flow channel 216 in each piece 202, 204. The two flow 
channels 216, each of which runs from approximately the center of the lid 
longitudinally to the outside, channel fluid on top of the lid 200 which 
flows into the nip 218 between the two pieces 202, 206 over to the 
collectors 98, 100 which are at the respective ends of the box 10. 
As is common and known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,467, each piece 202, 204 
has an overlapping flap 220 which extends beyond the line of closure 206 
and an underlapping shelf 222 which extends up to the line of closure 206. 
The flap has rib structures (FIG. 28B) on its underside similar to those 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,467, except that the flange 224, which 
runs along the outer edge of the flap 220 and along the inner edge of the 
shelf 222, is taller than the lateral ribs 226 (See FIG. 31, comparing 
flange 224 of flap 220 to rib 226). Also, since only four box-like 
engaging structures 228 are provided on the shelf 222, the lateral ribs 
226 are spaced and provided in number so as to receive the four structures 
228. 
The structures 228 are elevated above the bottom of channel 216 by island 
230, the inside vertical wall 232 of which forms the outer wall of the 
channel 216 rising up from the bottom of the channel 216. The structures 
228 have longitudinally running walls that are aligned and coterminous 
with the longitudinally running walls 232 and 233 of the island 230. 
Flange 224 of the overlying flap 220 comes down into the channel 216 over 
the inside vertical walls of the structures 228 as well as the inside 
vertical wall 232 of the island 230. The opposite wall of the channel 216 
is formed by the portion of flange 224 which runs along the shelf 222 
(FIG. 31). A longitudinally running rib 236 joins the inner end of island 
230 with flange 224 to dam water in the channel 216, so as to keep it from 
flowing into the box 10 past the inside end of the channel 216. A notch 
238 is formed in the flange 224 of each piece 202, 204 to accommodate the 
rib 236 of the other piece 202, 204 when the lid 200 is closed. Thus, the 
only zone along the line of closure 206 at which flow from the lid can 
enter the box 10 is in the area indicated at 240 (FIG. 28A), between the 
flanges 224 of the two pieces 202, 204, where they cross the line of 
closure 206 and there is a small space down into the box 10. 
At the outer end of each channel 216, the channel is open (not blocked by a 
dam-like rib 236) and permits flow down into the adjacent underlying 
collector 98 or 100 (FIG. 32), to be directed down the outside of the box 
10 as described above. 
The pieces 202, 204 when closed provide lid collectors 250, 252, as shown 
in FIGS. 28A, 29, and 30. Each lid collector is provided by a recess 254 
in one of the lid pieces 202, 204 and by a recess 256 in the other piece 
202, 204. The recesses 254, 256 have respective holes 258, 260 in their 
bottoms which channel liquid down into the adjacent collector 98, 100, to 
be directed to the outside of the box 10. The recess 254 also extends 
longitudinally to a lock hole 258 which is aligned with hole 132 in the 
adjacent end of the box 10 when the lid is closed, which permits making 
the hole 258 larger. Also, hole 258 is elevated above the bottom of recess 
254 by rib 260, which directs liquid to the hole 258 rather than out 
through the lock hole 258. 
FIG. 33-35 illustrate aspects of the piano-type hinge 214 which form part 
of the present invention. Hinge pins 300 are integrally molded with each 
piece 202, 204 and extend longitudinally between pin supports 302, which 
are integrally molded with the adjacent pins 300 and with the outer 
longitudinally running edge of the corresponding piece 202, 204. 
Upstanding, inwardly opening hooks 304 are molded integrally with the 
upper longitudinally running edge of the box 10, and a laterally extending 
end wall 306 is molded integrally at each end of each longitudinally 
running vertical wall 308, the upper end of which defines the hook 304. 
The upper ends of the walls 306 are formed with an upwardly facing radius 
so as to cradle the hinge pins 300, and the hooks 304 snap over the 
adjacent pins 300 so as to secure the hinge connection between the box 10 
and each piece 202, 204. 
Preferably, to improve the security of the box 10 when the lid 200 is 
locked closed, the middle four or so of the pin supports 302 have 
downwardly extending tabs 310 (FIGS. 33 and 35A) molded integrally with 
them which extend into holes 312 formed in the rim 22 of the box 10 when 
the lid 200 is closed. The tabs 310 are long enough to extend into the 
holes 312 when the lid is shut, but short enough not to hinder swinging 
the lid pieces 202, 204 open and closed. Thus, the engagement of the tabs 
310 in the holes 312 resists separation of the hinge joint by a potential 
pilferer trying to pull the top edge of the box 10 laterally away from the 
outer edge of the lid 200. On the other hand, each lid piece 202, 204 can 
be removed from the box 10 by first swinging it up to move the tabs 310 
out of the holes 312, before then disengaging the hinge pins 300 from 
between the hooks 304 and walls 306. 
Another feature which enhances the security of the box 10 is the formation 
of a longitudinally extending outwardly facing wall 320 (FIGS. 28B and 
35B) on the upper edge of the box 10 at each corner and a corresponding 
longitudinally extending inwardly facing wall 322 on the lower side of 
each lid piece 202, 204 at each outer corner thereof which faces in close 
proximity or abuts the wall 320 on the box 10. These walls are preferably 
provided in close proximity to the hinges 214, since, like the tabs 310 
and holes 312, they serve the purpose of resisting lateral separation of 
the hinge joint when the lid 200 is closed. 
An alternate embodiment of foot and ledge supports of the invention is 
illustrated in FIGS. 36-39. In this embodiment, a combination of vertical 
and angled surfaces is also used as in the first embodiment, although in a 
different construction. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 36-39, the angled 
surfaces 400 of the ledge supports 404 are provided on the exposed edges 
of gussets 402 and the angled surfaces of foot supports 408 are provided 
by angled walls 410 which extend on both sides of a protrusion 412 which 
presents a laterally extending vertical wall 414, longitudinally extending 
triangular shaped end walls 416 and 418, and a horizontal bottom wall 420, 
very similar to the foot supports of the first embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 
10. Laterally extending vertical wall 422 of each ledge support 404 is 
between the gussets 402 and confronts wall 414 when the boxes are stacked. 
Longitudinally extending generally triangular end walls 416 and 418 
confronting the inside surfaces of the gussets 402, the angled surfaces 
400 confronting the angled walls 410 in the area adjacent to the 
protrusion 412, and the bottom wall 420 rests on the bottom wall 422 of 
the ledge support 404 when boxes are stacked. This combination of 
confronting angled and vertical surfaces also helps guide stacked boxes 
into position and engagement when they are stacked and resists collapse of 
the stack when it is heavily loaded or of boxes within the stack when they 
are heavily loaded. 
Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable 
detail. Many modifications and variations of the preferred embodiments 
described will be apparent to those skilled in the art which incorporate 
the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to the 
embodiments described, but should be defined by the claims which follow.