Bin with flip lid

The bin with flip lid device includes a main body and lid having a first portion and a second portion. The main body includes a plurality of sides, an upper surface, and a bottom surface. The main body further has a first handle arrangement and a second handle arrangement. Each of the handle arrangements are disposed on opposite sides of the upper surface of the main body. Each of the first portion and the second portion of the lid are also disposed on opposite sides of the upper surface of the main body. Each of the first portion and the second portion are hingedly connected along the upper surface of the main body. Each of the first portion and the second portion have at least one tooth which is configured to nest into a corresponding recess in each of the opposite lids where the device is in a closed position.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to storage containers and, more particularly, to storage containers with lids.

INTRODUCTION

Containers or bins with lids are commonly used for commercial and residential applications. It is typical to store articles such as tools, recreational equipment, supplies, materials, and the like in bins. A lid covers an open end of the bin to secure and protect the articles contained within the bin.

Such bins may be stored or transported in various arrangements such as by stacking the bins on top of or beneath other bins or other objects. However, certain bins and lids may lack stability to support other bins or objects that may be stacked thereupon. Also, bin lids may not sufficiently secure other bins or objects that may be stacked thereupon.

Another issue relating to use of bins for storing articles involves a lack of adequate handle arrangements for ergonomic lifting or movement of the bin or stacked bins. Inadequate handle arrangements may lead to poor structural performance and reduced user satisfaction. Managing placement, movement, and stacking of bins may also depend on handle access.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need for a bin and lid combination that provides adequate support and stability for stacking of the bin. Desirably, the bin and lid combination may also provide an ergonomic handle that enhances structural performance and increases user satisfaction.

SUMMARY

In concordance with the instant disclosure, a bin with flip lid device that provides adequate support and stability for stacking, which also has an ergonomic handle that enhances structural performance and increases user satisfaction, has been surprisingly discovered.

The bin with flip lid device has a main body and a lid. The lid may include a first portion and a second portion. The main body may have a plurality of sides, a bottom surface, and an upper surface. The main body may further include a handle arrangement. In a specific example, the handle arrangement may include a first handle arrangement and a second handle arrangement. Each of the first handle arrangement and the second handle arrangement may be disposed on opposite sides of the upper surface of the main body. The first portion and the second portion of the lid may also be disposed on opposite sides of the upper surface of the main body. The first portion and the second portion may be hingedly connected along the upper surface of the main body. Each of the first portion and the second portion may have at least one tooth which is configured to nest into a corresponding recess in each of the opposite portions of the lid.

In a particular embodiment, the main body has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. The first handle arrangement may be disposed on the first side of the upper surface of the main body. The second handle arrangement may be disposed on the third side of the upper surface of the main body. The first portion of the lid may be disposed on the second side of the upper surface of the main body. The second portion of the lid may be disposed on the fourth side of the upper surface of the main body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown inFIGS.1-14, the bin with flip lid device100includes a main body102and a lid104. The lid104may include a first portion106, and a second portion108. The main body102may have a plurality of sides110,112,114,116, a bottom surface118, and an upper surface120. The main body102may further include a handle arrangement122,124. In a specific example, the handle arrangement122,124may include a first handle arrangement122and a second handle arrangement124. Each of the first handle arrangement122and the second handle arrangement124may be disposed on opposite sides110,114of the upper surface120of the main body102. Each of the first portion106and the second portion108may also be disposed adjacent to opposite sides112,116of the main body102.

With reference toFIGS.1,3,7,10-11, and13, each of the first portion106and the second portion108of the lid104may be hingedly connected along the upper surface120of the main body102. Each of the first portion106and the second portion108may have at least one tooth126which is configured to nest into a corresponding recess128in each of the first portion106and the second portion108where the lid104is selectively disposed in a closed position130.

In a particular embodiment, with reference toFIGS.1-3, and7, the main body102has a first side110, a second side112, a third side114, and a fourth side116. The first handle arrangement122may be disposed on the first side110of the upper surface120of the main body102. The second handle arrangement124may be disposed on the third side114of the upper surface120of the main body102. The first portion106of the lid104may be disposed on the second side112of the upper surface120of the main body102. The second portion108of the lid104may be disposed on the fourth side116of the upper surface120of the main body102.

In certain circumstances, as shown inFIGS.3and8-10, the plurality of sides110,112,114,116of the main body102may include a way to provide enhanced support where the bin with flip lid device100is provided in a nested orientation132. For instance, the plurality of sides110,112,114,116of the main body102may include a stacking structure134. The stacking structure134may include a recessed area136and a rib138. The rib138may be disposed substantially transverse to the bottom surface118of the main body102. The recessed area136may include a lower wall140. The rib138may include a top surface142that is substantially parallel with the lower wall140. The top surface142of the rib138may be substantially planer with the upper surface120of the main body102. In a specific example, the stacking structure134may be provided with a plurality of ribs138. In a more specific example, recessed area136of the stacking structure134may be a substantially trapezoidal-shaped recess. Where the bin with flip lid device100is provided in the nested orientation132, the main body102of the bin with flip lid device100may at least partially accept the main body102of another bin with flip lid device100, such as when the bin with flip lid devices100are empty and nested together. In a specific example, the top surface of the rib138may be configured to support and be disposed underneath the lower wall140of the stacking structure134of another bin with flip lid device100. Advantageously, the stacking structure134may be configured to create a space144between the handle arrangements122,124of nested bin with flip lid devices100when disposed in the nested orientation132. Desirably, the space144may allow the nested bin with flip lid devices100to be more ergonomically lifted and/or separated. One skilled in the art may select other suitable configurations of providing the stacking structure134, within the scope of the present disclosure.

In certain circumstances, as shown inFIGS.8-10and13, the stacking structure134may include ways to easily injection mold the stacking structure134in the main body102. For example, the stacking structure134would be too weak if a thin wall was formed into the side110,114of the main body102. Conversely, the stacking structure134would be too difficult and too costly to manufacture on a large scale if the stacking structure was a large block formed into the side110,114of the main body102. Accordingly, the rib138configuration for forming the stacking structure134desirably provides adequate strength while also minimizing overall weight and material costs during manufacturing. In certain circumstances, the ribs138may be openly exposed to an interior space146of the main body102, having no dividing wall between the ribs138and the interior space146. Where there is no dividing wall between the ribs138and the interior space146, the stacking structure134may require less tooling and less heat to manufacture. Advantageously, where the stacking structure134is provided without a dividing wall between the ribs138and the interior space146, the mold for injecting the material constructing the bin with flip lid device100may have a larger opening to access the recessed area136. One skilled in the art may select other suitable methods of forming the stacking structure, within the scope of the present disclosure.

In certain circumstances, as shown inFIGS.11-12, the handle arrangement122,124includes a substantially U-shaped cross-section have an inner wall148, an outer wall150, and a lower surface152. The inner wall148may be coupled to the upper surface120of the main body102. The inner wall148may be spaced apart from a side110,114of the main body102with enough room to allow a user to insert their fingers into the spaced apart area when lifting the bin with flip lid device100. The lower surface152may be shaped to have a concave arch configured to allow the bin with flip lid device100to be more ergonomically lifted. The inner wall148may have a first length L1that is longer than a second length L2of the outer wall150. In other words, the top of the outer wall150may be spaced apart from the lid104when the lid104is disposed in the closed position130. Desirably, this spacing allows a user to insert their fingers more easily beneath the lid104to open the bin with flip lid device100.

In certain circumstances, the lid104may include a way to lift the lid104more ergonomically. For instance, the lid104may include a lip154disposed substantially adjacent to the handle arrangement122,124. The lip154may extend laterally from the lid104. The lip154may be disposed substantially above the outer wall150of the handle arrangement122,124. The lip154may be configured to act as a touchpoint for the user to efficiently identify where the lid104may be more easily opened from. The lip154may also be configured to provide a wider surface than an edge of the lid104for the user to lift the lid104more comfortably. A skilled artisan may use other configurations to provide a wider surface for a user to lift the lid104more comfortably, within the scope of the present disclosure.

In certain circumstances, with reference toFIGS.3-8, the bin with flip lid device100may include a way to enhance a rotational range RR of the first portion106and/or the second portion108of the lid104. For instance, the main body102may include a flange156depending from the upper surface120and disposed adjacent to the handle arrangement122,124. The flange156may have a recessed corner158. The recessed corner158may be substantially S-shaped. Advantageously, the recessed corner158of the flange156may militate against limiting the rotational range RR of the first portion106and/or the second portion108.

The main body102may also include a downward protrusion160depending from the upper surface120. In a specific example, the downward protrusion160may be disposed adjacent to the second side112and/or the fourth side116of the main body102. The downward protrusion160may be oriented on a first plane P1. The first portion106and/or the second portion108of the lid104may selectively rotate to an open position162on a second plane P2. The second plane P2may be disposed at an angle α that may be substantially transverse to the first plane P1, when the first portion106and/or the second portion108are disposed in the open position162. As a non-limiting example, the angle α may be around five degrees. In another specific example, the first portion106and/or the second portion108of the lid104may have the rotational range RR to touch a side112,116of the main body102. For instance, as a non-limiting example, the first portion106and/or the second portion108of the lid104may have the capacity to rotate more than two-hundred seventy degrees.

In certain circumstances, the lid104may include ways to provide an enhanced alignment where another bin with flip lid device100is stacked atop the bin with flip lid device100, where the lid104of the bin with flip lid device100is in the closed position130. For instance, where the main body102of the bin with flip lid device100is full of desired contents, the lid104of the bin with flip lid device100may be placed in the closed position130and the another bin with flip lid device may be placed atop the closed lid104. In a specific example, the lid104may include a boss164extending upwardly. The boss164may be sized, shaped, and oriented to accept and support the bottom surface118of the another bin with flip lid device100. In certain circumstances, the boss164may include a plurality of bosses164. For instance, the plurality of bosses164may be arranged to accept the another bin with flip lid device100where the bottom surface118meets the plurality sides110,112,114,116of the another bin with flip lid device100. In certain circumstances, the boss164may be disposed substantially adjacent to a corner166of the main body102. Where the boss164is disposed substantially adjacent to the corner166of the main body102, the boss164may have a plurality of arms168oriented transverse to each other. Where the lid104is disposed in the closed position130, the plurality of arms168may be configured to support and align a bottom surface118of the another bin with flip lid device100stacked atop the closed bin with flip lid device100. In another specific example, the boss164may be disposed substantially adjacent to the handle arrangement122,124. Advantageously, the boss164may militate against the another bin with flip lid device100stacked atop the closed bin with flip lid device100from unintentionally moving in a lateral direction. One skilled in the art may select other ways to provide enhanced alignment where another bin with flip lid device100is stacked atop the closed bin with flip lid device100, within the scope of the present disclosure.

In certain circumstances, as shown inFIGS.7-8and13, the bin with flip lid device100may include ways to enhance the structural integrity of the lid104in the closed position130. For instance, the lid104may include an internal flange170extending from one or both of the first portion106and the second portion108. The internal flange170may accept and be configured to support the other of the first portion106and the second portion108. In a specific example, the internal flange170may accept and be configured to support the tooth126of the other of the first portion106and the second portion108. The internal flange170may include a projection172that is configured to be accepted by the tooth126of the other of the first portion106and the second portion108, when the bin with flip lid device100is provided in the closed position130. Specifically, the projection172of the internal flange170may be selectively coupled to the tooth126of the other of the first portion106and the second portion108through a friction fit design. Advantageously, the selective coupling of the projection172of the internal flange170and the tooth126may be configured to militate against the lid104from sagging toward the internal space146of the main body102when a weight is applied to the lid104. For instance, where the weight is applied to the lid104, the tooth126of the first portion106may selectively interlock with the projection172of the second portion108, thereby militating against the lid from sagging inwardly towards the internal space146of the main body102. Likewise, the tooth126of the second portion108may selectively interlock with the projection172of the first portion106.

In certain circumstances, as shown inFIG.14, an underside174of the lid104may include a clustered ribbing176which strengths the lid104and may militate against the lid104from warping or bending. Each rib178of the clustered ribbing176may be spaced apart SA from adjacent ribs178by less than about one inch. In a more specific example, each rib178of the clustered ribbing176may be spaced apart SA from the adjacent ribs178by about half an inch. In an even more specific example, each rib178of the clustered ribbing176may be spaced apart SA from the adjacent ribs178by about 0.57 inches. In certain circumstances, the lid104may include a long side180and a short side182. The long side180may include a first axis A1. The short side182may include a second axis A2. Each rib178of the clustered ribbing176may be oriented on a third axis A3substantially transverse to the first axis A1and the second axis A2. For instance, each rib178of the clustered ribbing176may be oriented at an angle β of about forty-five degrees from the first axis A1and the second axis A2. The clustered ribbing176may be disposed adjacent to where each of the plurality of sides110,112,114,116connect. In a particular embodiment, the clustered ribbing176may be disposed substantially adjacent to the handle arrangement122,124. In an even more particular embodiment, the clustered ribbing176may be defined as a plurality of ribs178formed in the shape of interconnected rectangles. Advantageously, the clustered ribbing176is believed to enhance the structural integrity of the lid104. A skilled artisan may select other suitable methods of increasing the structural integrity of each of the first portion106and the second portion108, within the scope of the present disclosure.

Advantageously, the bin with flip lid device100provides adequate support and stability for stacking, enhance structural integrity, and improved ergonomics for lifting and/or opening the bin with flip lid device100.