Patent Publication Number: US-2023136400-A1

Title: Push-to-open lid and container

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to containers, and in particular relates to lids for containers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Containers may be used for a variety of purposes. In one example, printed circuit boards found within a product may need to be covered to protect the electronics and circuit board from impact and dust. In other cases, chips or components on a printed circuit board may be protected. In the past, this may have been done using shielding cans with snap on and peel off lids. In other cases, containers may be used to protect equipment. For example, often a building will put a case over a pull alarm to prevent the accidental engagement of the alarm. In other cases, the building may put a case over fire extinguishers or hoses. 
     However, many applications need occasional access to the inside of the container. This may be done with a lid that is screwed on, hinged, clasped, or otherwise secured to the base. Such screws, hinges, clasps or other securing mechanisms add cost to the container, and can use valuable space within the container, which may be an issue in some applications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a base portion and a lid portion that may be used in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a base portion that may be used in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a cross sectional view of a base portion and a lid portion while the lid portion is being installed. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross sectional view of a base portion and a lid portion after the lid portion has been installed. 
         FIG.  5    is a cross sectional view of a base portion and a lid portion while the lid portion is being removed. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a base portion and lid portion in various stages of installing and removing the lid portion. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view a portion of a side of a base portion having alternative side supports. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view a portion of a side of a base portion having alternative side supports. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view a portion of an end of a base portion having alternative end support protrusions. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view a portion of an end of a base portion having alternative end support protrusions. 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view a portion of an end of a base portion having alternative end support protrusions. 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view a portion of an end of a base portion having an end support slot. 
         FIG.  13    is a cut away of the perspective view of  FIG.  12   . 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view a portion of an end of a base portion having alternative end support slots. 
         FIG.  15    is a cut away of the perspective view of  FIG.  14   . 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective view of a container capable of housing the base portion and lid portion of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present disclosure provides a container comprising: a base portion, the base portion having: at least one side support; and at least one end support at each end of the base portion; and a flexible, resilient lid portion, the lid portion configured to be installed to the base portion utilizing the resilience in the lid portion for inserting each end of the lid portion into the at least one end support. 
     The present disclosure further provides a container comprising: a base portion, the base portion having: a side support at each side of the container; and an end support at each end of the base portion; and a flexible, resilient lid portion, the lid portion configured to be installed to the base portion utilizing the resilience in the lid portion for inserting each end of the lid portion into a respective end support. 
     The present disclosure further provides a method for installing a flexible, resilient lid to a container, the container comprising a base portion having a side support at each side of the container and an end support at each end of the base portion, the method comprising: bending the lid by applying pressure to each end of the lid; aligning the lid with each end support; and releasing the lid, wherein the lid re-forms into a flat lid within the end supports. 
     Components under a cover or insider a container may need to occasional be accessed. For example, a cover may be placed over a printed circuit board or over the sensitive electronics within a commercial product to protect such electronics. However, in order to access the electronics within such cover, a lid for the cover may need to be removed. 
     Typically, covers for printed circuit boards include a lid that is secured to a base utilizing screws. However, such screws add a cost to the cover, both in terms of material costs and installation costs. Further, screws require screw bosses within the cover. The screw bosses take additional space away from the PCB and inside the product. 
     Other securing mechanisms, such as clasps, hinges, or the like further add material and installation costs. 
     In other embodiments, a protective casing may be placed around alarms or firefighting equipment. Such alarms or firefighting equipment may occasionally need to be serviced and the protective casing may make the equipment therein difficult to access. 
     In this regard, in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure a lid and base combination is provided which allows a simple, cost-effective solution to install and open the lid. The present disclosure is not limited to any particular use for a container. While the present disclosure is provided with regard to a container that can be mounted over a printed circuit board, the present disclosure is not limited to such functionality. 
     Reference is now made to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used throughout the drawing figures. As seen in  FIG.  1   , a container includes a base portion  110  and a lid portion  120 . 
     Base portion  110  may be any container or cover for an application, and in this regard may be shaped and configured based on such application. In particular, base portion  110  may include a bottom  111  in some cases. However, in other cases where the base portion is mounted directly to the printed circuit board or to another container or surface, it may not require a bottom portion. Therefore, bottom portion  111  is optional. 
     In the example of  FIG.  1   , base portion  110  is substantially rectangular in shape. However, in other embodiments, different shapes could be used for base portion  110 . For example, base portion  110  may have more than four sides. The embodiments of the present disclosure would equally work with, for example, a hexagon shaped base portion  110 . In other cases, base portion  110  may have rounded ends. In other cases, base portion  110  may have more than four sides. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, base portion  110  includes at least one side support member  112 . Typically, base portion  110  would include two side support members  112 , opposite each other. The side support members are described in more detail below. 
     Base portion  110  further includes an end support member  118  at each end thereof. End support member  118  is configured to allow installation of the lid portion  120  and to hold the lid portion to the base portion  110 . The end support member  118  is described in more detail below. 
     The lid portion  120  is comprised of any flexible, resilient material that allows lid portion  120  to be bent with pressure at the ends  122  of the lid portion  120 , and then to spring back to the substantially flat configuration once the pressure at ends  122  is removed. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , base portion  110  is provided. In the example of  FIG.  2   , end support member  118  includes a lower protrusion and upper protrusion. 
     Further, side support member  112  includes a raised surface  114  and a raised surface  116 . In practice, the raised surface  114 , raised surface  116  and the lower protrusion of end support member  118  are coplanar. 
     Further, side support member  112  extends downwardly into the base portion  110  from the raised surfaces  114  and  116  towards a middle of the side support member  112 . This central dip can, in practice, provide support for when pressure is placed onto a central part  124  of the lid portion  120  to prevent the lid portion  120  from contacting the contents of base portion  110  or from warping the lid portion  120  too much, thereby potentially damaging lid portion  120 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , installation of lid portion  120  may be accomplished by adding pressure to the ends  122  of lid portion  120  in order to bend the lid portion  120 . As seen in  FIG.  4   , the end support member  118  includes a upper protrusion  130  and a lower protrusion  132 . In this regard, for installation, the lid portion  120  must be bent sufficiently to allow the ends  122  to clear the upper protrusion  130  but still engage the lower protrusion  132 . Thereafter, the lid may be released, as seen in  FIG.  4   , in which case the resilience of the lid portion  120  causes the lid to re-form into a substantially flat lid portion. In this case, the ends  122  of lid portion  120  fit between the upper protrusion  130  and the lower protrusion  132  at each end of the base, thereby holding the lid portion  122  in place. As such, the base portion  110  could be rotated, vibrated or displaced and the lid portion  122  would remain in place. 
     As seen in  FIG.  4   , when the lid portion  120  is in the substantially flat configuration, it may rest on the raised surfaces  114  and  116  on the sides, thereby providing support to the lid portion  120 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , in order to remove the lid portion  120 , pressure may be applied to a central part  124  of the lid portion  120 . In this regard, side support member  112  is configured to allow for the lid portion  120  to bend sufficiently to allow the ends  122  to clear the upper protrusion  130  on at least one end of the base portion  110 . Specifically, the spacing between the raised surfaces  114  and  116 , as well as the depth of the dip in the side portion  112  may be configured to allow for the lid portion  120  to have sufficient bend to clear such upper protrusion  130  when pressure is applied to central part  124  of lid portion  120 . 
     Once the lid portion  120  is bent and at least one of the end portions  122  has cleared the upper protrusion  130 , the lid may be removed from the base portion  110 , thereby allowing access to the contents of a base portion  110 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIG.  6   , which shows the process for the installation and removal of the lid portion  120  onto the base portion and from the base portion  110 . Specifically, as seen in  FIG.  6   , at a first stage  610 , the lid portion  120  is separate from the base of a portion  110 . Pressure may be applied to each end of lid portion  120  as seen in second stage  620  in order to situate the lid in the appropriate position for engagement with the end support member  118 . 
     The pressure may then be released as seen at stage  630 , where the container is closed and the lid portion  120  is secured to the base portion  110 . In particular, the resilience of lid portion  120  causes the lid portion  120  to assume a substantially flat shape and engage the end supports of the base portion  110 . Further, support for the sides of the lid portion  120  may be accomplished through one or more side supports. 
     In this regard, installation may be accomplished without use of any mechanical fasteners being added to the lid. An assembler does not need to screw lid portion  120  to base portion  110 , saving costs in both materials and installation time. 
     Thereafter, as seen at stage  640 , pressure may be applied to a central part  124  of the lid portion  120  in order to bend the lid portion  120  and disengage from the end members  118 . Thereafter, the lid may be removed from the base portion  110  to allow access to the contents within the base portion  110 . 
     While the embodiments of  FIGS.  1  to  5    show a side support  112  having raised surfaces  114  and  116  as well as a central part that dips from the raised surfaces  114  and  116 , other options are possible. 
     In particular, reference is now made to  FIG.  7   . In the embodiment of  FIG.  7   , rather than a side portion  112 , pegs  710  may be provided on one or both sides of a base portion  110 . Pegs  710  may be located on the same plane as the base of the end support  118  and provide for support for the lid portion  120  once the lid portion  120  is in its flat, closed configuration. In the example of  FIG.  7   , pegs  710  may protrude sufficiently to provide support without impinging too much into base portion  110 . 
     Another option is provided with regard to  FIG.  8   . In particular, in  FIG.  8   , pegs  810  may be provided at one or both sides of the base portion  110 . Pegs  810  are configured differently from pegs  710  of  FIG.  7   . Specifically, pegs  810  are elongate, which may provide more structure to such pegs, thereby avoiding the peg from breaking away from base portion  110  in some embodiments. 
     While the embodiments of  FIGS.  7  and  8    provide an alternative to side support  112 , this is not meant to be limiting. Other types of supports could equally be used with the embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, any supports in which the pegs or side supports are spaced sufficiently apart from each other to allow for the lid portion  120  to be bent along a central part  124  into the container for removal of the lid portion would be suitable. Further, such pegs may provide a pivot point for the lid portion to ensure the disengagement of the lid portion from the end supports. 
     Further, in some embodiments, fewer or more supports could be provided at the sides. Specifically, in some cases it may be sufficient to have only one peg or side support on one side or both sides of the base portion  110 . If only one side support exists on a side of the base portion, typically such support would be displaced away from the central part  124  of the lid portion  120  to allow such lid portion to be bent. 
     Further, in some embodiments, a different number of supports or different configuration of supports could be used on the sides of base portion  110 . Specifically, in some cases the side support  112  could be used on a first side of the base portion  110  and pegs such as those described with regard to  FIGS.  7  and  8    could be used on a second side of the base portion  110 . In other cases, a single peg may be used on one side of the base portion  110  and two or more pegs could be used on a second side of the base portion  110 . Other options are possible. 
     In addition to the side supports, the end supports may also vary. Reference is now made to  FIGS.  9  to  15   . 
     In some embodiments, the end supports may be broken at an end of base portion  110 . For example, in the embodiment of  FIG.  9   , an end of base portion  110  may include a first end support  910  and a second and support  920 . The first end support  910  includes an upper protrusion  912  and a lower protrusion  914 . Second end support  920  includes an upper protrusion  922  and a lower protrusion  924 . While the embodiment of  FIG.  9    includes only two end supports, in other embodiments, a plurality of end supports could be provided along an end of base portion  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  10   , a single end support  1010  can extend along an end of base portion  110 . End support  1010  can include an upper protrusion  1012  and a lower protrusion  1014 . In some embodiments, end support  1010  can extend along an entire end of base support  110 . In other cases, the end support  1010  could be shorter. In some cases, base support  1010  is centred between the sides and along an end of a base portion  110 . 
     Referring to a  FIG.  11   , an end support  1110  could include a plurality of upper protrusions  1112  and a single lower protrusion  1114 , where the upper protrusions  1112  and the lower protrusion  1114  are staggered along the end of base portion  110 . In other cases, a single upper protrusion  1110  and a plurality of lower protrusions  1114  could exist. In other cases, both a plurality of upper protrusions  1112  and a plurality of lower protrusions  1114  could exist along an end of base portion  110 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  12  and  13   , rather than protrusions, a slot may exist within an end of base portion  110 . In particular,  FIG.  13    is a cutaway portion of the embodiment of  FIG.  12    and shows an indent or slot in an end of base portion  110 . Slot  1210  could accommodate an end of lid portion  120 . In particular, slot  1210  may, in some embodiments, extend the length of the end of the base portion  110 , thereby allowing a lid portion  120  to fit therein. 
     In other embodiments, the slot  1210  may be shorter than the end of the base portion  110 , in which case the lid portion  120  may be configured to have an end  122  dimensioned to fit within the slot  1210 . This may involve, for example, cutting away the corners of lid portion  120  to allow the ends of lid portion  120  to fit within slot  1210 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  14  and  15   , in some embodiments a plurality of slots  1410  may exist in an end of base portion  110 . The embodiment of  FIG.  15    is a cutaway of the embodiment of  FIG.  14    showing a cutaway of one slot  1410 . 
     While the embodiments of  FIGS.  14  and  15    show two slots  1410 , in other embodiments more slots may be provided at the end of base portion  110 . 
     Lid portion  120  would have an end  122  dimensioned to fit within the slots  1410  at each end of the base portion  110 . 
     Further, in some embodiments, the end portions described with regard to  FIGS.  9  to  15    could be combined. Specifically, in some cases, a first end of base portion  110  could have protrusions or slots as described with regard to  FIGS.  9  to  15   , and a second end of base portion  110  could have different protrusions or slots as described with regard to  FIGS.  9  to  15   . 
     In practice, the base portion  110  and lid portion  120  may be standalone containers, or may fit within another product. For example, referring to  FIG.  16   , a container  1610  may be used for mounting electronics and components to a shipping container. A base portion  110  may be used to house a printed circuit board and electronics and a lid portion  120  may fit thereon. Other parts of container  1610  may be used for other components such as sensors, input and output devices, or other such components. 
     Therefore, the embodiment of  FIG.  16    shows one case in which the base and lid portions of the present disclosure may be utilized. However, as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the base portion  110  and lid portion  120  could be used in many other scenarios. 
     Based on the embodiments of  FIGS.  1  to  16   , a push to open lid and base are provided which allow for easy, cost effective closing of the base portion while allowing for easy access subsequent to such closing to the contents of the base portion. 
     The embodiments described herein are examples of structures, systems or methods having elements corresponding to elements of the techniques of this application. This written description may enable those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments having alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements of the techniques of this application. The intended scope of the techniques of this application thus includes other structures, systems or methods that do not differ from the techniques of this application as described herein, and further includes other structures, systems or methods with insubstantial differences from the techniques of this application as described herein. 
     Also, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described and illustrated in the various implementations as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods. Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through some interface, device, or intermediate component, whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and may be made. 
     While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the disclosure as applied to various implementations, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the system illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art. 
     In the foregoing description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the subject disclosed herein. However, implementations may be practiced without some of these details. Other implementations may include modifications and variations from the details discussed above. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations.