Claims
- 1. A storage container comprising:
a container portion comprising
an open-box structure with a continuous inverted upper rim that extends laterally inward, the upper rim comprising an engagement surface, the upper rim further comprising at least one recess, a lid comprising
a panel that engages the upper rim of the container portion, the panel further comprising a latch pivotally connected thereto, the latch being received in the recess of the upper rim when the panel engages the upper rim.
- 2. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the latch comprises and outwardly extending tab connected to the panel, the tab being biased into a position where it is received in the recess of the upper rim when the lid is disposed on the upper rim.
- 3. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the lid comprises two latches and the upper rim comprises two recesses, one of the recesses receiving one of the latches and the other of the recesses receiving the other of the latches when the lid is disposed on the upper rim
- 4. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the container portion is formed by a blow molding process.
- 5. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the container portion is formed by a continuous blow molding process.
- 6. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the container portion is formed by a continuous co-extrusion blow molding process.
- 7. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the lid is formed by an injection molding.
- 8. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the upper rim further comprises a lower section and an upper section, the lower section extending upward to the upper section, the upper section extending laterally inward, the upper section providing an upper flat engagement surface for the lid.
- 9. The storage container of claim 8 wherein the recess is disposed in the lower section of the upper rim.
- 10. The storage container of claim 8 wherein the recess is disposed in the upper section of the upper rim.
- 11. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the upper rim further comprises a lower section, a middle section, and an upper section, the lower section extending laterally outward before being connected to the middle section, the middle section extending upward from the lower section to the upper section, the upper section extending laterally inward, the upper section providing an upper flat engagement surface for the lid.
- 12. The storage container of claim 11 wherein the recess is disposed in the middle section of the upper rim.
- 13. The storage container of claim 11 wherein the recess is disposed in the upper section of the upper rim.
- 14. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the container portion is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethyleneterepthalate, polyvinylchloride, polycarbonate and mixtures thereof.
- 15. The storage container of claim 1 wherein the lid is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethyleneterepthalate, polyvinylchloride, polycarbonate and mixtures thereof.
- 16. The storage container of claim 1 wherein each of the end panels further comprises a handle, each handle comprising a hollow tube with two ends connected to its respective end panel and a portion of the hollow tube being spaced apart from its respective end panel with a finger space disposed therebetween, the portion of the hollow tube having a smooth profile with no sharp edges.
- 17. The storage container of claim 16 wherein each finger space defined by each handle and end panel has a length running essentially parallel to the end panel ranging from about 3 inches to about 8 inches.
- 18. The storage container of claim 16 wherein each finger space defined by each handle and end panel has a width defined by a distance the portion of each hollow tube is spaced apart from its respective end panel ranging from about ½ inch to about 1¼ inches.
- 19. The storage container of claim 16 wherein the portion of the hollow tube has a circumference ranging from about 2 to about 4 inches.
- 20. The storage container of claim 16 wherein the portion of the hollow tube has an outer width greater and an outer height by a difference ranging from about ⅛ to about ¼ inches.
- 21. A storage container comprising:
a container portion comprising
a bottom panel connected to and disposed between two opposing side panels and two opposing end panels, each side panel being disposed between and connected to the opposing end panels to form an open top box structure with an interior cargo space, the two opposing side panels and two opposing end panels forming a continuous upper rim, the upper rim comprising a lower section and an upper section, the lower section being connected to the opposing end and side panels and extending upward to the upper section, the upper section extending laterally inward, the upper rim further comprising at least one recess, a lid comprising
a panel that engages the upper rim of the container portion, the panel comprising two opposing sides and two opposing ends in matching registry with the upper rim and the side and end panels of the container portion when the panel engages the upper rim of the container portion, at least one of the sides or ends of the panel of the lid comprising a latch pivotally connected thereto, the latch being received in the recess when the lid engages the upper rim of the container portion with the sides and ends of the top panel of the lid is in matching registry with the sides panels and end panels of the container portion.
- 22. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the latch comprises and outwardly extending tab connected to the panel, the tab being biased into a position where it is received in the recess of the upper rim when the lid is disposed on the upper rim.
- 23. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the lid comprises two latches and the upper rim comprises two recesses, one of the recesses receiving one of the latches and the other of the recesses receiving the other of the latches when the lid is disposed on the upper rim
- 24. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the container portion is formed by a blow molding process.
- 25. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the container portion is formed by a continuous blow molding process.
- 26. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the container portion is formed by a continuous co-extrusion blow molding process.
- 27. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the lid is formed by an injection molding process.
- 28. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the recess is disposed in the lower section of the upper rim.
- 29. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the recess is disposed in the upper section of the upper rim.
- 30. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the upper rim further comprises a middle section, the lower section extending laterally outward and upward before being connected to the middle section, the middle section extending upward from the lower section to the upper section, the upper section extending laterally inward, the upper section providing an upper flat engagement surface for the lid, the upper section terminating at a downwardly protruding lip, the downwardly protruding lip.
- 31. The storage container of claim 31 wherein the recess is disposed in the middle section of the upper rim.
- 32. The storage container of claim 31 wherein the recess is disposed in the upper section of the upper rim.
- 33. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the container portion is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethyleneterepthalate, polyvinylchloride, polycarbonate and mixtures thereof.
- 34. The storage container of claim 21 wherein the lid is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethyleneterepthalate, polyvinylchloride, polycarbonate and mixtures thereof.
- 35. The storage container of claim 21 wherein each of the end panels further comprises a handle, each handle comprising a hollow tube with two ends connected to its respective end panel and a portion of the hollow tube being spaced apart from its respective end panel with a finger space disposed therebetween, the portion of the hollow tube having a smooth profile with no sharp edges.
- 36. The storage container of claim 35 wherein each finger space defined by each handle and end panel has a length running essentially parallel to the end panel ranging from about 3 inches to about 8 inches.
- 37. The storage container of claim 35 wherein each finger space defined by each handle and end panel has a width defined by a distance the portion of each hollow tube is spaced apart from its respective end panel ranging from about ½ inch to about 1¼ inches.
- 38. The storage container of claim 35 wherein the portion of the hollow tube has a circumference ranging from about 2 to about 4 inches.
- 39. The storage container of claim 35 wherein the portion of the hollow tube has an outer width greater and an outer height by a difference ranging from about ⅛ to about ¼ inches.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/382,748 filed May 23, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60382748 |
May 2002 |
US |