Patent Publication Number: US-2010108556-A1

Title: Storage container

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to improvements in plastic, heavy-duty storage containers, and in particular, to a secure storage container that is capable of nesting without a lid and stacking with or without a lid. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a need to store and transport articles in portable boxes or containers. Plastic storage containers have been in use for many years. Their acceptance is widespread. They are available in various sizes, with lids or without lids. The reusable containers are stackable and are typically made of plastic materials. They typically have a storage area and a flat lid whereon a second storage container may be stacked to save space. 
     There is a need for a stronger, lighter, secure, and more functional property container that has a durable, one-piece design with maximum strength and impact resistance and is stackable and nestable with or without a lid. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a stackable, nestable storage container for storing objects, the container having a bottom, first and second side walls reinforced by flute structures, and first and second end walls reinforced by flute structures that are opposite one another and perpendicular to the first and second walls. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a storage container is provided that can be stacked with a second container with or without a lid. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a storage container without a lid is provided that receives a second container for stacking in a stackable position and is rotated 180° for receiving a second container for nesting in a nestable position. 
     In another aspect of the present, a storage container is provided with a lid slidably engaged with opposed end walls and one side wall and moved to a closed position onto an opposed side wall, sealing the container to render it secure and tamper resistant. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a container and slidably attached lid incorporating the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a container with the lid attached to it; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one container stacked upon the lid of a second container; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up of one corner of the stacked containers of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an open container; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of bottom of a container; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the underside of a lid; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an open container stacked in a second open container; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an open container nesting in a second container; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the container shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a reinforced container  10  in an embodiment of the present invention. The reinforced container  10  is molded plastic and has a bottom  12 , longitudinally extending first and second opposed side walls  14  and  16 , and laterally extending first and second opposed end walls  18  and  20 . The plastic is a high-impact polypropylene with structural and flame retardant additives. A planar top surface  22  with raised edge  24  connects to the top perimeter  23  of container  10 . Top perimeter  23  is the upper portion  25  of side walls  14  and  16  and end walls  18  and  20 . Raised edge  24  reinforces planar top surface  22 . Since planar top surface  22  is on the top perimeter  23  of container  10  it also serves as a handle for lifting container  10 . Lid  26  is formed from the same material, is rectangular, and is sized and dimensioned to close the open top of container  10 . The lid has a peripheral edge  28  substantially perpendicular to planar top surface  22  with a lip  30  forming a c shape opening  31  which includes track  3  la that readily engages raised edge  24  of planar top surface  22 . Peripheral edge  28  is on three sides of lid  26  so edge  28  and lip  30  engage planar top surface  22  on three walls of container  10 . The three walls include two end walls  18  and  20  and one side wall, either  14 , or  16 .  FIG. 1B  shows lid  26  attached to container  10 . All the walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20  taper outwardly from bottom  12  so one container  10  can be nestled into another container  10 . The containers  10  can also be stacked on one another by placing one container  10  on top surface  27  of lid  26  of another container  10 . Container  10  can also be stacked in an open container  10  by resting on shoulders  32 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5  in addition to  FIG. 1 , first and second side walls  14  and  16  have inside side walls  14   a  and  16   a , respectively, and outside side walls  14   b  and  16   b , respectively. Likewise, first and second end walls  18  and  20  have inside end walls  18   a  and  20   a , respectively, and outside side walls  18   b  and  20   b , respectively. 
     Each wall has a plurality of flutes. Flutes are vertically oriented from bottom  12  to top planar surface  22 . Flutes  34  are shown on wall  14 , flutes  36  are on wall  16 . Flutes  34   a  and  36   a  are on inside side walls  14   a  and  16   a  respectively. Outside side walls  14   b  and  16   b  show flutes  34   b  and  36   b  respectively. Flutes  38  are shown on end wall  18 , and flutes  40  are shown on end wall  20 . Inside flutes  38   a  and  40   a  are likewise shown on inside end walls  18   a  and  20   a  respectively. Outside end walls  18   b  and  20   b  show flutes  38   b  and  40   b  respectively. Flutes typically are rounded grooves that provide support for walls  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20 . Outside walls  14   b ,  16   b ,  18   b , and  20   b  show partially rounded or concave portions  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  flutes corresponding to the aforementioned flutes. Together, the rounded, grooved portions inside the side and end walls and rounded, concave portions outside the side and end walls are identified as flutes. The number of flutes is variable and not intended to be limitative. While being described as a plurality of flutes providing maximum strength to the side and end walls, it is also noted that fewer flutes possibly one flute per side and end wall, may be utilized if sufficient support for the walls that would enable stacking and nesting containers is confirmed. For nesting purposes, the flutes on the side and end walls must match or be aligned. The outside flutes  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b  and  40   b  must fit within the inside flutes  34   a ,  36   a ,  38   a  and  40   a  for nesting to occur when one container is placed inside a bottom container  10  as seen in  FIG. 11 . 
     End walls  18  and  20  each have a different number of flutes, typically one end wall with an even number, the opposed end wall an odd number, whereas side walls  14  and  16  have an even number of flutes. Even with an different number of flutes on each end wall, an end wall with a certain number of flutes will be aligned with an end wall with same number of flutes with the container for nesting purposes. In  FIG. 5  end wall  18  has four flutes  38  whereas end wall  20  has three flutes  40 . For stacking purposes without a lid the top container is rotated 180 degrees so the flutes on the end walls are misaligned and nesting will not occur. 
     The flutes provide support and rigidity to the side walls and end walls. Lid  26  is moved into a cooperatively sealing position with container  10  by aligning raised peripheral edge  28  and lip  30  with raised edge  24  on planar top surface  22  on opposed end walls  18 ,  20 . The C-shaped opening  31  formed from edge  28  and lip  30  forms track  31   a  for engaging raised edge  24  of planar top surface  22  of container  10 . As lid  26  is moved forward advancing C-shaped track  31   a  on raised edge  24  it moves on each end wall to a side wall on container  10  opposed from the side wall where initial contact was made. The lid can engage raised edge  24  on the end walls from either side of the container. For purposes of illustration, side wall  14  is utilized. Locking hasp  42  is placed on each side wall of container  10  on top planar surface  22  and lid  26 . Locking hasp  42   a  is located on planar top surface  22  on the top of side wall  16 , whereas locking hasp  42   b  is located on the planar surface  22  on top of opposed side wall  14 . In locking hasps  42   a  and  42   b  are holes  43   a  and  43   b  in container  10 , which are aligned with holes  42   c  and  42   d , respectively, on lid  26 . In a preferred embodiment, pin  43   c  is placed in holes  43   a ,  43   b ,  42   a , and  42   b  for locking lid  26  to container  10 . In another preferred embodiment, padlock  44  engages locking hasp  42  through locking hasp  42   a  and  42   b  and holes  43   a ,  43   b ,  42   c , and  42   d  for securing lid  26  to box  10 . Conventional locks function with hasp  42 , but a preferred conventional lock is a padlock  44 , which may be a combination or key lock, as shown in  FIG. 1   b . The term “locking hasp”  42  includes locking hasp  42   a ,  42   b , and further includes holes  42   c  and  42   d  on lid  26 , holes  43   a  and  43   b  on planar surface  22 , and pin  43   c  that is inserted in all the holes for locking lid  26  to box  10  and lock  44 , which may be a conventional padlock securing lid  26  to box  10  through holes  43   a ,  43   b ,  42   c , and  42   d . When lid  26  is in the closed position, C-shaped track  31   a  not only engages raised edge  22  on top of end walls  18  and  20 , it engages raised edge  22  on the side wall opposed to the side wall receiving the moving lid  26 . With c-shaped track  31   a  engaging raised edge  22  on three sides of container  10 , additional security is provided. Further, locking hasp  42  and lock  44  placed on side walls improve security for items stored in container  10 . Lid  26  can be slid on the container from either side. With two locking hasps  42   a  and  42   b , lock  44 , and pin  43   c , the lid  26  forms a secure seal on the container. When closed and locked, container  10  is tamper resistant. 
     Additional strength is added to lid  26  by runners  46  placed on the top surface  27  of the lid. Runners  46  provide additional thickness to the molded polypropylene and assist in the distribution of weight across the top surface  27  of lid  26 . Spaces  48  are areas for placing identifying indicia such as names, numbers codes, etc. Ridges  50  and  52  on top surface of lid  26  provide a defined area for placing stackable containers. Reinforced corners  54  of ridges  50  and  52  stabilize a stacked container on top surface of lid  26 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a stacked container  56  on lid  26  of container  10 . Corners  54  of stacked container  56  fit within reinforced corners  54  of ridges  50  and  52 . Lid  26  provides load-bearing support for stacking multiple containers thereon, one atop another. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are cross-sectional views of the stacked container of  FIG. 2  showing c-shaped track  31   a  with lip  30  and peripheral edge  28  engaging planar top surface  22  and raised edge  24  for a secure fit. 
       FIG. 6  shows container  10   b  with the number of flutes being varied on the end walls  18  and  20  and side walls  14  and  16  from those shown in  FIG. 5 . Containers made in the manner shown in  FIG. 6  will function in the same manner as those shown in  FIG. 5 . Side wall  14  contains three shoulders  32  for supporting a stacked container without a lid and has four flutes  34 . Side wall  16  contains four shoulders  32 . Upon removing a stacked and container from planar top surface  22  and rotating is 180°, it will be nestable in container  10   a . End walls  18  and  20  do not have shoulders. 
       FIG. 7  shows a container  10   c  with at least on flute  34  and one shoulder  32  on side wall  14  and end walls  18  with flute  38  and end wall  20  with flute  40 . Side wall  16  has two flutes  36  with two shoulders  32 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show embodiments with variable numbers of flutes and shoulders, both of which support a stackable container on shoulders  32  that when rotated 180° will nest in container  10   b  or  10   c.    
     Underside  60  of lid  26  is shown in  FIG. 9 . Lip  30  of peripheral edge  28  is shown on three sides of lid  26 . C-shaped opening  31  is formed by lip  30  and edge  28 . Track  31   a  runs inside C-shaped opening  31 . Brake  62  is shown on underside  60 , which prevents lid  26  from being pulled off container  10 . Brake  62  and the engagement of C-shaped track  31   a  to raised edge  22  of planar top surface  24  enable the lid to be slidably moved in the plane in which it is installed a certain distance from its closed position until brake  62  engages the top of a side wall of the container, which stops the movement. The location of the placement of brake  62  determines how far lid  26  slidably opens from a closed position. The lid must be unlocked and slid back from the side wall from which it was locked. Lid  26  cannot be pulled upwardly from container  10  for removal. The foregoing structure provides additional security for the contents in container  10  in that lid  26  cannot be quickly opened by lifting it upward from container  10  and provides a limited space for opening the lid so that items can be added to or removed from container  10  without having lid  26  completely removed from the container. Lid  26  may be manipulated to by-pass brake  62  for fully removing the lid. 
       FIG. 8  shows bottom  12  with defined areas  12   a  for placing identifying indicia such as names, numbers, codes, etc. for convenient viewing. 
     Container  10  is stacked within a second container without using a lid as shown in  FIG. 10 . Shoulders  32  as shown in  FIG. 5  support the bottom of a second container in a stacked position  58 , creating additional convenience for the user. Shoulders  32  are placed between flutes in end walls  18  and  20 . Typically, there is one more shoulder in an opposed end wall for providing stackable support for a second container, which is placed on shoulders  32 , not flutes, when stacked. For example, in  FIG. 5 , end wall  18  has four shoulders  32  and three flutes  38   a , while opposed end wall  20  has four flutes  40   a  and three shoulders  32 . For stacking purposes without a lid, the flutes are misaligned so that they do not engage corresponding flutes but shoulder  32  instead on the end walls. The same arrangement can be made in side walls  14  and  16 , that is, the number of flutes and shoulders can be mismatched, one side wall with, for example, four flutes and three shoulders and the opposed side wall with three flutes and four shoulders or any suitable number. Both the end walls and side walls may have this arrangement. Without being limitative, the description of the invention is directed to an aspect wherein the opposed end walls are described with odd-numbered flutes and shoulders. 
       FIG. 10  shows second container  64  stacked in container  10  where shoulders  32  are not seen. Partition  66  may be inserted in flutes  34   a  and  36   a  of side walls  14  and  16  creating separate compartments in the interior of container  10 . 
     Supporting edge  68  is shown on flutes on outside side wall  14   b . Edge  68  with a flange engages planar top surface  22  when second container  64  is nested in container  10  as shown in  FIG. 11 . Outer edge  68  serves as a stop for the nesting. Otherwise, second container  64  enters inside container  10  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In order to place second container  64  in container  10  for nesting, second container  64  is rotated 180° so the flutes in end walls  18  and  20  are aligned. This is the nesting position  35  of the containers. With flutes  38  and  40  aligned, that is, concave portions  34   b ,  36   b ,  38   b , and  40   b  on outside walls  14   b ,  16   b ,  18   b , and  20   b  of the second container  64  are aligned with flutes  34   a ,  36   a ,  38   a , and  40  on inside walls  14   a ,  16   a ,  18   a , and  20   a  of lower container  10 , nesting will occur. Shoulders  32  in the lower container do not engage the top or nesting container. If rotated 180° from this nesting position, nesting will not occur. Instead, the containers are now in a stackable position  58  without lid  26  for the top container rests on shoulders  32  of the lower container. This is the stacking position  58  without lid  26 . Of course, with lid  26  firmly secured to container  10 , stacking of containers as previously described is encouraged. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show another embodiment of the present invention. Secure storage container  70  has walls of reduced height when compared to container  10 . Container  70  is essentially structured in the same manner as container  10  but for the fact that side walls  72  and end walls  74  containing concave portions  76  and  78  and include flange  80  and support edge  82  to add further strength to the side walls. Moreover, side walls  72  and end walls  74  have sloping faces  84  and  86 , respectively engaging side walls and end walls. Sloping faces  84  and  86  also provide additional strength to the side walls. 
     In operation, container  10  is stronger, lighter, more functional, and more secure than other storage containers. Containers of the present invention can be stacked with or without lid  26  without crushing the contents of container  10 . With lid  26  in place, ridges  50  and  52  allow for full perimeter stacking of a second container. Without lid  26 , a second container can be stacked in an uncovered lower container by engaging shoulders  32  on the inside end walls of the lower container. When empty, container can be nested inside one another by simply rotating the empty container 180° from its stackable position  58 . This rotation allows flutes on the outside end and side walls of the top container to fit within the flukes on the inside side and end walls of the lower container This feature saves valuable space in storage areas. Container  10  has rounded edges and corners where bottom  12  joins side walls  14  and  16  and end walls  18  and  20 , as well as the smooth round corners of planar top surface  22  and lid  26 . Lid  26  engages end walls  18  and  20  with c-shaped track  31   a  and is slidably opened on the short side of the container allowing access to more of the contents of the container without removing the lid  26  fully. 
     The sizes and shapes of the storage containers of the present invention may vary from the shapes showing in the drawings. 
     While a preferred embodiment including various details has been shown for purposes of illustrating the present invention, further embodiments, variations, and modifications are possible in accordance with the broader aspects of the present invention, all defined by the specification and scope of the following claims.