Patent Description:
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.

<CIT> discloses a container comprising a bowl wherein a plurality of nubs and a peripheral ledge are configured to maintain a removable lid.

<CIT> discloses a drinking vessel which comprises a glass having a plurality of small projections on the inside near the top thereof, and a baffle comprising a top disc-shaped member and a bottom disc-shaped member held in a spaced apart relationship by a spacer. <CIT> discloses a closure member for a pressure container, comprising a circular concave-convex disc of a size slidably to fit the aperture and which, when fitted, is flattened to bite into the side thereof, and a flat circular backing and locking plate having a circular groove on its outer face to provide a tongue which is adapted to be preened outwardly to fill a triangular recess in the mouth of said aperture. <CIT> discloses a container body and a convex part with projections extended into the inside the left/right sidewalls and projections extended into the inside of each end sidewall. <CIT> discloses an electronic device with latching mechanism comprising a cover, a base, and a middle case located between the cover and the base. The cover on edges defines a plurality of protruding tabs each with a through hole. The base defines a plurality of hooks. The middle case on the inner surface defines a plurality of protruding portions corresponding to the protruding tabs of the cover in number and arrangement, and a plurality of limiting portions corresponding to the hooks of the base in number and arrangement. <CIT> discloses a hook connection structure and a case using the same to maximize a size of an inner space and install many parts in the inner space by combining parts having a hook and a hanging protrusion. <CIT> discloses a pail-like container made of plastic material which is especially adapted to utilize a particular snap type cover of resilient metal material. The cover is shaped to form a peripheral channel with a bulbous, annular lower portion that is retained within an annular recess formed by two spaced apart annular ridge portions on the inner wall of the container near its open end.

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 occasionally need to 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. 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>, a container includes a base portion <NUM> and a lid portion <NUM>.

Base portion <NUM> 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 <NUM> may include a bottom <NUM> 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 <NUM> is optional.

In the example of <FIG>, base portion <NUM> is substantially rectangular in shape. However, in other embodiments, different shapes could be used for base portion <NUM>. For example, base portion <NUM> may have more than four sides. The embodiments of the present disclosure would equally work with, for example, a hexagon shaped base portion <NUM>. In other cases, base portion <NUM> may have rounded ends. In other cases, base portion <NUM> may have more than four sides.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, base portion <NUM> includes at least one side support member <NUM>. Typically, base portion <NUM> would include two side support members <NUM>, opposite each other. The side support members are described in more detail below.

Base portion <NUM> further includes an end support member <NUM> at each end thereof. End support member <NUM> is configured to allow installation of the lid portion <NUM> and to hold the lid portion to the base portion <NUM>. The end support member <NUM> is described in more detail below.

The lid portion <NUM> is comprised of any flexible, resilient material that allows lid portion <NUM> to be bent with pressure at the ends <NUM> of the lid portion <NUM>, and then to spring back to the substantially flat configuration once the pressure at ends <NUM> is removed.

Referring to <FIG>, base portion <NUM> is provided. In the example of <FIG>, end support member <NUM> includes a lower protrusion and upper protrusion.

Further, side support member <NUM> includes a raised surface <NUM> and a raised surface <NUM>. In practice, the raised surface <NUM>, raised surface <NUM> and the lower protrusion of end support member <NUM> are coplanar.

Further, side support member <NUM> extends downwardly into the base portion <NUM> from the raised surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> towards a middle of the side support member <NUM>. This central dip can, in practice, provide support for when pressure is placed onto a central part <NUM> of the lid portion <NUM> to prevent the lid portion <NUM> from contacting the contents of base portion <NUM> or from warping the lid portion <NUM> too much, thereby potentially damaging lid portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, installation of lid portion <NUM> may be accomplished by adding pressure to the ends <NUM> of lid portion <NUM> in order to bend the lid portion <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, the end support member <NUM> includes a upper protrusion <NUM> and a lower protrusion <NUM>. In this regard, for installation, the lid portion <NUM> must be bent sufficiently to allow the ends <NUM> to clear the upper protrusion <NUM> but still engage the lower protrusion <NUM>. Thereafter, the lid may be released, as seen in <FIG>, in which case the resilience of the lid portion <NUM> causes the lid to re-form into a substantially flat lid portion. In this case, the ends <NUM> of lid portion <NUM> fit between the upper protrusion <NUM> and the lower protrusion <NUM> at each end of the base, thereby holding the lid portion <NUM> in place. As such, the base portion <NUM> could be rotated, vibrated or displaced and the lid portion <NUM> would remain in place.

As seen in <FIG>, when the lid portion <NUM> is in the substantially flat configuration, it may rest on the raised surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> on the sides, thereby providing support to the lid portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in order to remove the lid portion <NUM>, pressure may be applied to a central part <NUM> of the lid portion <NUM>. In this regard, side support member <NUM> is configured to allow for the lid portion <NUM> to bend sufficiently to allow the ends <NUM> to clear the upper protrusion <NUM> on at least one end of the base portion <NUM>. Specifically, the spacing between the raised surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>, as well as the depth of the dip in the side portion <NUM> may be configured to allow for the lid portion <NUM> to have sufficient bend to clear such upper protrusion <NUM> when pressure is applied to central part <NUM> of lid portion <NUM>.

Once the lid portion <NUM> is bent and at least one of the end portions <NUM> has cleared the upper protrusion <NUM>, the lid may be removed from the base portion <NUM>, thereby allowing access to the contents of a base portion <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which shows the process for the installation and removal of the lid portion <NUM> onto the base portion and from the base portion <NUM>. Specifically, as seen in <FIG>, at a first stage <NUM>, the lid portion <NUM> is separate from the base of a portion <NUM>. Pressure may be applied to each end of lid portion <NUM> as seen in second stage <NUM> in order to situate the lid in the appropriate position for engagement with the end support member <NUM>.

The pressure may then be released as seen at stage <NUM>, where the container is closed and the lid portion <NUM> is secured to the base portion <NUM>. In particular, the resilience of lid portion <NUM> causes the lid portion <NUM> to assume a substantially flat shape and engage the end supports of the base portion <NUM>. Further, support for the sides of the lid portion <NUM> 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 <NUM> to base portion <NUM>, saving costs in both materials and installation time.

Thereafter, as seen at stage <NUM>, pressure may be applied to a central part <NUM> of the lid portion <NUM> in order to bend the lid portion <NUM> and disengage from the end members <NUM>. Thereafter, the lid may be removed from the base portion <NUM> to allow access to the contents within the base portion <NUM>.

While the embodiments of <FIG> show a side support <NUM> having raised surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> as well as a central part that dips from the raised surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>.

In particular, reference is now made to <FIG> as other illustrative examples for better understanding the present invention which are not covered by the appended claims. In the embodiment of <FIG>, rather than a side portion <NUM>, pegs <NUM> may be provided on one or both sides of a base portion <NUM>. Pegs <NUM> may be located on the same plane as the base of the end support <NUM> and provide for support for the lid portion <NUM> once the lid portion <NUM> is in its flat, closed configuration. In the example of <FIG>, pegs <NUM> may protrude sufficiently to provide support without impinging too much into base portion <NUM>.

Another option is provided with regard to <FIG> as other illustrative examples for better understanding the present invention which are not covered by the appended claims. In particular, in <FIG>, pegs <NUM> may be provided at one or both sides of the base portion <NUM>. Pegs <NUM> are configured differently from pegs <NUM> of <FIG>. Specifically, pegs <NUM> are elongate, which may provide more structure to such pegs, thereby avoiding the peg from breaking away from base portion <NUM> in some embodiments.

While the embodiments of <FIG> provide an alternative to side support <NUM>, 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 <NUM> to be bent along a central part <NUM> 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 <NUM>. If only one side support exists on a side of the base portion, typically such support would be displaced away from the central part <NUM> of the lid portion <NUM> 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 <NUM>. Specifically, in some cases the side support <NUM> could be used on a first side of the base portion <NUM> and pegs such as those described with regard to <FIG> could be used on a second side of the base portion <NUM>. In other cases, a single peg may be used on one side of the base portion <NUM> and two or more pegs could be used on a second side of the base portion <NUM>.

In addition to the side supports, the end supports may also vary. Reference is now made to <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the end supports may be broken at an end of base portion <NUM>. For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, an end of base portion <NUM> may include a first end support <NUM> and a second and support <NUM>. The first end support <NUM> includes an upper protrusion <NUM> and a lower protrusion <NUM>. Second end support <NUM> includes an upper protrusion <NUM> and a lower protrusion <NUM>. While the embodiment of <FIG> includes only two end supports, in other embodiments, a plurality of end supports could be provided along an end of base portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a single end support <NUM> can extend along an end of base portion <NUM>. End support <NUM> can include an upper protrusion
<NUM> and a lower protrusion <NUM>. In some embodiments, end support <NUM> can extend along an entire end of base support <NUM>. In other cases, the end support <NUM> could be shorter. In some cases, base support <NUM> is centred between the sides and along an end of a base portion <NUM>.

Referring to a <FIG>, an end support <NUM> could include a plurality of upper protrusions <NUM> and a single lower protrusion <NUM>, where the upper protrusions <NUM> and the lower protrusion <NUM> are staggered along the end of base portion <NUM>. In other cases, a single upper protrusion <NUM> and a plurality of lower protrusions <NUM> could exist. In other cases, both a plurality of upper protrusions <NUM> and a plurality of lower protrusions <NUM> could exist along an end of base portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, rather than protrusions, a slot may exist within an end of base portion <NUM>. In particular, <FIG> is a cutaway portion of the embodiment of <FIG> and shows an indent or slot in an end of base portion <NUM>. Slot <NUM> could accommodate an end of lid portion <NUM>. In particular, slot <NUM> may, in some embodiments, extend the length of the end of the base portion <NUM>, thereby allowing a lid portion <NUM> to fit therein.

In other embodiments, the slot <NUM> may be shorter than the end of the base portion <NUM>, in which case the lid portion <NUM> may be configured to have an end <NUM> dimensioned to fit within the slot <NUM>. This may involve, for example, cutting away the corners of lid portion <NUM> to allow the ends of lid portion <NUM> to fit within slot <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments a plurality of slots <NUM> may exist in an end of base portion <NUM>. The embodiment of <FIG> is a cutaway of the embodiment of <FIG> showing a cutaway of one slot <NUM>.

While the embodiments of <FIG> show two slots <NUM>, in other embodiments more slots may be provided at the end of base portion <NUM>.

Lid portion <NUM> would have an end <NUM> dimensioned to fit within the slots <NUM> at each end of the base portion <NUM>.

Further, in some embodiments, the end portions described with regard to <FIG> could be combined. Specifically, in some cases, a first end of base portion <NUM> could have protrusions or slots as described with regard to <FIG>, and a second end of base portion <NUM> could have different protrusions or slots as described with regard to <FIG>.

In practice, the base portion <NUM> and lid portion <NUM> may be standalone containers, or may fit within another product. For example, referring to <FIG>, a container <NUM> may be used for mounting electronics and components to a shipping container. A base portion <NUM> may be used to house a printed circuit board and electronics and a lid portion <NUM> may fit thereon. Other parts of container <NUM> may be used for other components such as sensors, input and output devices, or other such components.

Therefore, the embodiment of <FIG> 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 <NUM> and lid portion <NUM> could be used in many other scenarios.

Claim 1:
A container (<NUM>) comprising:
a base portion (<NUM>), the base portion having:
at least one side support (<NUM>); and
at least one end support (<NUM>) at each end of the base portion (<NUM>); and
a flexible, resilient lid portion (<NUM>), the lid portion (<NUM>) configured to be installed to the base portion (<NUM>) utilizing the resilience in the lid portion (<NUM>) for inserting each end (<NUM>) of the lid portion into the at least one end support (<NUM>), wherein the at least one end support (<NUM>) is configured for the installation of the lid portion (<NUM>) and to hold the lid portion to the base portion (<NUM>) in place, and wherein the at least one side support (<NUM>) is configured to provide support for the lid portion (<NUM>) and to allow the lid portion (<NUM>) to be in a flat configuration after the installation of the lid portion (<NUM>) to the base portion (<NUM>) for closing the container (<NUM>), wherein the at least one side support (<NUM>) comprises:
a first raised support (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to an inner part of the base portion (<NUM>);
a second raised support (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to an inner part of the base portion (<NUM>); and
a central portion displaced further away from an opening of the base portion (<NUM>) than the first raised support (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second raised support (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the central portion prevents a central part (<NUM>) of the lid from being pushed further into the base portion (<NUM>) than the central portion when disengaging the lid portion (<NUM>).