The present invention relates generally to portable containers, and, more particularly, relates to portable containers with selectively removable lids.
As a significant portion of the public utilizes portable storage containers, there is a never-ending need for efficient portable storage containers that are well designed, and which facilitate less burdensome access to stored items. Most portable containers consist of a storage bin which may be selectively removably coupled to a lid thereby creating an interior cavity for storing items. Portable containers come in a variety of sizes and are very well known. Moreover, portable containers are used in a variety of places and are oftentimes capable of being stacked atop one another to form a singular structure made up of a plurality of portable containers in order to maximize space. Sometimes, a user may only access the contents of any portable container by removing the top lid. This presents a problem when, for example, multiple portable containers are stacked atop one another and a user needs to access the contents of a portable container located within the stack. Therefore, removing each portable container within the stack that is on top of the precise container which a user needs to access is very time consuming and burdensome. Thus, a portable container which is stackable yet still provides access to its interior cavity without requiring a user's disassembly of other stacked portable containers is desirable.
Portable containers which employ methods of allowing access to the container's interior contents without removing the container's top lid are known. For example, portable containers which include slidable drawers are known. However, these containers require assembly of a multitude of parts and pieces and are complicated and costlier to assemble. Further, portable containers which include slidable panels are known. However, these devices do not incorporate removable top lids, and therefore these containers only allow access to its interior contents via a singular means. Moreover, these containers do not employ features which prevent moisture or debris from entering the container and damaging the container's contents.
Further, stackable portable containers which include panels that act like doors to the container and have the capability to drop down are known. However, these panels have a tendency to open without intention due to gravitational forces.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides a selectively removable wall portable container assembly that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that effectively incorporates a portable container body removably coupled to a detachable lid. The container body defines a container cavity and features a slidable sidewall portion designed to provide access to the container's interior contents located within the container cavity. Further, the assembly is stackable amongst other portable containers. When the assembly is located within a stack of portable containers, a user may gain access to the container cavity by utilizing the slidable sidewall portion.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a selectively removable wall container assembly comprising a portable container body including a bottom wall coupled to a sidewall. The sidewall extends upwardly and away from the bottom wall, enclosing the bottom wall. Together, the bottom wall and the sidewall define a container cavity. The sidewall further includes a left side, a right side opposing the left side, and a longitudinal length separating the left and right sides. The sidewall also includes a front end, a rear end opposing the front end, and an upper end. The front end defines a front opening which is spatially coupled to the container cavity. The sidewall also includes a sidewall height spanning from the bottom wall to the upper end. The sidewall further includes a selectively removable sidewall portion with opposing side ends, and a sidewall portion length separating the opposing side ends. The sidewall portion length substantially spans (e.g., 80% or greater) the longitudinal length. Moreover, the sidewall includes opposing upper and lower ends with a sidewall portion height separating the opposing upper and lower ends. The sidewall portion height substantially spans (e.g., 80% or greater) the sidewall height. Further, the sidewall portion is operably configured to translate along a sidewall translation path. The selectively removable wall container assembly further includes a lid with an upper wall portion that is capable of selectively removably coupling to the upper end of the sidewall in a retained configuration. The selectively removable wall container assembly further includes an encapsulated configuration formed by the bottom wall, sidewall, and lid encapsulating the container cavity. The selectively removable wall container assembly further includes a container cavity access configuration wherein the lid is coupled to the upper end of the sidewall and the sidewall portion of the sidewall is at least partially and slidably removed from the sidewall, exposing the front opening of the sidewall.
In accordance with a further feature, the sidewall translation path is linear.
In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the sidewall translation path is disposed in a longitudinal direction.
In some embodiments, the sidewall translation path is disposed in a vertical direction.
In some embodiments, at least one of the sidewall and bottom wall further includes a track sized and shaped to receive a sidewall portion thickness. The sidewall portion thickness is defined by the sidewall portion. The track is operably configured to guide the sidewall portion in an upright orientation in the sidewall translation path.
In accordance with a further feature, the sidewall and/or the lid further include(s) an enclosed opening defined thereon and sized and shaped to receive a sidewall portion thickness defined by the sidewall portion.
In accordance with an additional feature, the sidewall and/or the lid include(s) a polymeric gasket enclosing the enclosed opening.
In additional embodiments, the sidewall portion thickness is substantially uniform across the sidewall portion length and the sidewall portion height.
In some embodiments, the sidewall portion is substantially planar.
In other embodiments, the sidewall portion further includes a keeper member disposed on and projecting outwardly from either a front face and/or a rear face of the sidewall portion. The keeper member is disposed proximal to one of the opposing side ends of the sidewall portion that is farthest away from the enclosed opening when in the encapsulated configuration. The keeper member includes a surface operably configured to impede translation of the sidewall portion along the sidewall translation path.
In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes a secondary portable container having a secondary portable container body and a secondary lid. The secondary lid is selectively removably coupled to an upper end of a sidewall of the secondary portable container body in a retained configuration. The secondary portable container is operably configured to seat on the lid of the selectively removable wall portable container assembly in a retained stacked assembly configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, a method for providing selective access to a portable container and stackable container assembly includes various steps. The process begins with the step of providing a portable container body with a lid. The container body includes a bottom wall coupled to a sidewall that extends upwardly and away from the bottom wall and encloses the bottom wall. The bottom wall and sidewall define a container cavity. Moreover, the sidewall includes a front end that defines a front opening that is spatially coupled to the container cavity. The sidewall includes a selectively removable sidewall portion that superimposes the front opening. Further, the sidewall and/or the lid define an enclosed opening thereon sized and shaped to receive a sidewall portion thickness that is defined by the sidewall portion. The process continues with the step of coupling the lid with an upper end of the sidewall in a retained configuration to encapsulate the container cavity. Next, the process continues with the step of translating the sidewall portion along a sidewall translation path to expose the front opening of the sidewall.
In accordance with another feature, the sidewall of the container body includes a left side, a right side opposing the left side, and a longitudinal length separating the left and right sides of the sidewall. The sidewall further includes a rear end separating the front end of the sidewall, an upper end, and a sidewall height spanning from the bottom wall to the upper end of the sidewall. The sidewall portion includes a sidewall portion length that separates opposing side ends thereon and substantially spans (e.g., 80% or greater) the longitudinal length. The sidewall further includes a sidewall portion height that separates opposing upper and lower ends thereon and substantially spans (e.g., 80% or greater) the sidewall height.
In accordance with another feature, the front opening substantially spans (e.g., 80% or greater) the longitudinal length of the sidewall. The method of providing selective access to a portable container and stackable container assembly may further include the step of translating the sidewall portion along a sidewall translation path to expose the entire front opening of the sidewall.
In accordance with another feature, the method of providing selective access to a portable container and stackable container assembly, the process may include various other steps. The process may include with the step of providing a secondary portable container body. Next, the process continues with the step of coupling a secondary lid onto the secondary container body in the retained configuration. Finally, the process may include the step of coupling the secondary portable container body in the retained configuration to the lid of the portable body in a seated configuration.
One objective of the present invention is to provide durable storage devices, which are lightweight and portable.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide storage devices which are resistant to moisture.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide storage devices which prevent debris from entering the container cavity.
Another objective is to provide portable containers which are stackable atop one another.
Another objective is to enable a user to open a slidable portion of the portable container's sidewall and access the interior of the container without having to remove the top lid.
Yet another objective is to enable a user to access the interior of a stacked container though a slidable portion of the sidewall without having to remove the portable containers stacked on top of it.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a selectively removable wall portable container assembly and method of use, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. Also, for purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof relate to the invention as oriented in the figures and is not to be construed as limiting any feature to be a particular orientation, as said orientation may be changed based on the user's perspective of the device. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the selectively removable sidewall portion of the assembly. Further, in this document, the term “vertical” should be understood to mean in a direction directly opposite of the longitudinal direction.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for future claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. It is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient selectively removable wall portable container assembly. Embodiments of the invention provide a container body selectively removably coupled to a lid. The container body includes a bottom wall and a sidewall that extends upwardly from and encloses the bottom wall, creating a container cavity. In addition, the sidewall includes a front opening that is spatially coupled to the container cavity and a selectively removable sidewall portion that superimposes the front opening. The sidewall portion provides access to the container cavity by translating along a sidewall translation path. Embodiments of the invention enable the user to access the container's contents without necessarily having to remove the lid.
Referring now to
The selectively removable sidewall portion 112 is operably configured to translate along a sidewall translation path (represented in an exemplary path with lines 522). The selectively removable wall portable container assembly 100 further includes a lid 114 with an upper wall portion 116 which is capable of selectively removably coupling to the upper end 506 of the sidewall 106. The assembly 100 is capable of achieving a retained configuration and an unretained configuration with respect to the portable container body 102 and the lid 114. When the upper wall portion 116 of the lid 114 is coupled to the upper end 506 of the sidewall 106, the assembly 100 is in the retained configuration. When the upper wall portion 116, or a portion of the upper wall portion 116, of the lid 114 is uncoupled to the upper end 506 of the sidewall 106, the assembly 100 is in the unretained configuration. Further, the assembly 100 is also capable of being disposed in an encapsulated configuration with respect to the bottom wall 104, sidewall 106, and lid 114 in which the container cavity 502 is fully encapsulated or enclosed within the bottom wall 104, sidewall 106, and lid 114. Finally, the assembly 100 includes a container cavity access configuration wherein the lid 114 is coupled to the upper end 506 of the sidewall 106 and the sidewall portion 112 of the sidewall 106 is at least partially and slidably removed from the sidewall 106, exposing the front opening 504 of the sidewall 106.
In a further embodiment, the sidewall 106 of the portable container body 102 further includes two latch members 118, 120 coupled thereto. The latch members 118, 120 are disposed on the left and right sides 202, 204 of the sidewall 106.
In a further embodiment, the upper wall portion 116 of the lid 114 includes latch member receiving areas 528, 530. The latch member receiving areas 528, 530 are sized and shaped to receive the latch members 118, 120. The latch members 118, 120 are operably configured to selectively removably couple to the latch member receiving areas 528, 530 and securely lock the lid 114 in place on the upper end 506 of the portable container body 102.
In most embodiments, the selectively removable wall portable container assembly 100 will be of lightweight materials (e.g., plastic, PVC, acrylic, rubber, or any other material that is lightweight, sturdy, and durable), thereby making the assembly 100 easily transportable or portable.
In most embodiments, the container cavity 502 is shaped and sized to be capable of holding approximately 16-20 gallons. In other embodiments, the container cavity 502 may be larger or smaller.
In a further embodiment, the sidewall translation path (represented in an exemplary path with lines 522) of the selectively removable wall portable container assembly 100 is linear. The sidewall translation path 522 of the selectively removable wall portable container assembly 100 is disposed in a longitudinal direction. Said another way, the sidewall portion 112 is selectively removable from the container body 102 by sliding the sidewall portion 112 longitudinally left or right from the container body 102. In one embodiment, when the lid 114 is coupled to the body 102, the sidewall portion 112 is only translatable in the longitudinal direction. Said another way, the user is able to beneficially access the container cavity 502 when the lid 114 is coupled to the body in a sealed configuration and/or when a secondary container body 902 (shown best in
With reference to
In a further embodiment, as seen in
In a further embodiment as seen in
In some embodiments, as seen in
In some embodiments, the sidewall portion 112 is fsubstantially planar, or flat.
In some embodiments, the sidewall portion 112 further includes a front face 526 and a rear face (not shown) opposing the front face 526. Further, the sidewall portion 112 includes a keeper member (not shown) disposed on and projecting outwardly from either the front face 526 and/or the rear face. The keeper member is disposed proximal to one of the opposing side ends 512, 514 of the sidewall portion 112. When the assembly 100 is in the encapsulated configuration, the keeper member is disposed proximal to one of the opposing side ends 512, 514 farthest from the enclosed opening. The keeper member includes a surface (not shown) operably configured to impede translation of the sidewall portion 112 along the sidewall translation path 522. The surface of the keeper member may be of rubber, polyethylene, ethylene propylene diene, silicone or any other material capable of creating frictional force and biasing the sidewall portion 112 in the encapsulated configuration.
In a further embodiment, in order to allow full range of access to the interior contents of the container cavity 502 and remove the sidewall portion 112 completely from the portable container body 102, a user merely has to complete the following steps: remove the lid 114 from the portable container body 102 and pull the sidewall portion 112 in an upwards direction away from the bottom wall 104 of the container body 102.
In a further embodiment, the lid 114 includes a lower wall portion (not shown) opposing the upper wall portion 116. The lower wall portion may include at least two protruding tab members (not shown), a slot (not shown), and a track (not shown) sized and shaped to receive a sidewall portion thickness 1100 defined by the sidewall portion 112. Together, the protruding tab members, the slot, and the track are operably configured to store the sidewall portion 112 in close proximity (e.g., within approximately 0-1 inch) to the lower wall portion of the lid 114 within the container cavity 502.
In some embodiments, the lid 114 may include an enclosed opening (not shown) similar to the enclosed opening of the sidewall 106, defined thereon and sized and shaped to receive a sidewall portion thickness (not shown) defined by the sidewall portion 112. When removing and replacing the lid 114 onto the upper end 506 of the container body 102, a user would align the lid 114 on the upper end 506 of the container body 102 wherein the enclosed opening of the lid 114 is disposed proximal to the front end 108 of the sidewall 106 of the container body 102. The enclosed opening allows a user to at least partially remove the sidewall portion 112 from the container body 102 and expose the front opening 504 to the container cavity 502 without necessarily having to remove the lid 114, achieving the container cavity access configuration discussed above.
In a further embodiment, the lid 114 includes a polymeric gasket (not shown) enclosing the enclosed opening. The polymeric gasket is designed to prevent moisture and/or debris from entering the container cavity 502 when the assembly 100 is in the encapsulated configuration.
It should be understood that terms such as, “front,” “rear,” “side,” top,” “bottom,” and the like are indicated from the reference point of a viewer viewing the selectively removable wall portable container assembly 100 from its front end 108 (see
As used herein, the term “wall” is intended broadly to encompass continuous structures, as well as, separate structures that are coupled together to form a substantially continuous external surface.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, as depicted in
With brief reference to
Another embodiment of the present invention is depicted in
In a further embodiment, the sidewall translation path (represented in an exemplary path with lines 614) of the selectively removable wall portable container assembly 600 is linear. The sidewall translation path 614 of the selectively removable wall portable container assembly 600 is disposed in a vertical direction. Said another way, the sidewall portion 610 is selectively removable from the container body 602 by sliding the sidewall portion 610 vertically up or down from the container body 602 and achieving the container cavity access configuration discussed above.
In a further embodiment, the lid 616 further comprises an enclosed opening (not shown) defined thereon and sized and shaped to receive a sidewall portion thickness 1100 shown in
In a further embodiment, the lid 616 includes a polymeric gasket (not shown) enclosing the enclosed opening. The polymeric gasket is designed to prevent moisture and/or debris from entering the container cavity 608 when the assembly 600 is in the encapsulated configuration.
Referring now to
With reference now to
As such, a selectively removable wall portable container assembly has been disclosed that includes a portable container body with a bottom wall coupled to and enclosed by a sidewall that define a container cavity. The sidewall defines a front opening spatially coupled to the container cavity. The front opening is superimposed by a selectively removable sidewall portion that is configured to translate along a sidewall translation path. Further, the assembly also includes a lid that is removably coupled to the container body in a retained configuration. Together, the portable container body and the lid in the retained configuration are capable of achieving an encapsulated configuration and a container access configuration. Moreover, the assembly is capable of securely coupling to another selectively removable wall container assembly in a stacked configuration and still achieving both the encapsulated configuration and the container access configuration.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200270024 A1 | Aug 2020 | US |