STORAGE BOX

Abstract

A storage box includes a box body defining a storage chamber and an access opening and having multiple first engagement portions at one side of the access opening, and a liftable lid, which includes multiple second engagement portions and is pivoted to the box body and biasable relative to the box body between a close position where the second engagement portions are disengaged from the first engagement portions and the liftable lid closes the access opening, and a lifted position where the second engagement portions are engaged with the first engagement portion and the liftable lid is kept away from the access opening to keep the storage chamber in an open status. Thus, the user does not need to hold the liftable lid in the lifted position with the other hand when using one hand to put things in the storage chamber of the box body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage box for storing items and more particularly, to such a storage box, which is equipped with a liftable lid that can be positively positioned in a lifted position.

2. Description of the Related Art

Commercial storage boxes commonly provide a storage chamber for storing things. To prohibit external dust from entering the storage chamber to cause contamination, or to prohibit bad smell of storage items from escaping out of the storage chamber, a liftable lid may be pivoted to the opening side of the storage chamber. When the liftable lid is not lifted, the storage chamber is enclosed. When the liftable lid is lifted, the user can store storage items in the storage chamber.

According to conventional designs, a torsion spring is commonly used for automatically returning the liftable lid to the close position. However, conventional storage boxes do not provide any liftable lid positioning structure. When storing a large amount of storage items, the user must frequently lift the liftable lid, or hold the liftable lid in the lifted position with one hand while using the other hand to put storage items in the storage chamber. Thus, these conventional storage boxes are inconvenient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a storage box, which enables the liftable lid be positively positioned in the lifted position, facilitating easy storing of storage items.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a storage box comprises a box body and a liftable lid. The box body comprises a storage chamber, an access opening in communication with the storage chamber, first pivot connector means extending along one side of the access opening, and at least one first engagement portion formed at the first pivot connector means. The liftable lid comprises a second pivot connector means disposed at one side thereof and at least one second engagement portion formed at the second pivot connector means. The second pivot connector means is coupled to the first pivot connector means in such a manner that the liftable lid is biasable relative to the box body between a close position where the at least one second engagement portion of the liftable lid is disengaged from the at least one first engagement portion of the box body and the liftable lid closes the access opening, and a lifted position where the at least one second engagement portion of the liftable lid is engaged with the at least one first engagement portion of the box body and the liftable lid is kept away from the access opening to keep the storage chamber in an open status.

Preferably the first pivot connector means of the box body comprises at least one smoothly arched hook and at least one pair of opposing second retaining protrusions disposed inside the at least one smoothly arched hook; the second pivot connector means of the liftable lid comprises a pivot axle inserted through the at least one smoothly arched hook and pivotally secured to the at least one smoothly arched hook by the at least one pair of opposing second retaining protrusions; the at least one second engagement portion of the liftable lid each is formed of one rib protruded from the periphery of the second pivot connector means; the liftable lid further comprises at least one opening disposed adjacent to the pivot axle for the passing of the at least one smoothly arched hook of the first pivot connector means when the liftable lid is being biased relative to the box body.

Preferably, the first pivot connector means of the box body comprises a slot on each smoothly arched hook, and a elastic element suspending in the slot on each smoothly arched hook and terminating in one first engagement portion.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique elevational view of a storage box in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the storage box in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the coupling structure between the cover shell of the box body and the liftable lid.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, of a part of the present invention, illustrating the coupling arrangement between the body shell and cover shell of the box body.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, of a part of the present invention, illustrating the second engagement portion of the liftable lid disengaged from the first engagement portion of the box body.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the second engagement portion of the liftable lid engaged with the first engagement portion of the box body.

FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 1, illustrating the liftable lid in the lifted position.

FIG. 10 is an applied view of the present invention, illustrating multiple storage boxes arranged in a stack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a storage box 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The storage box 10 comprises a box body 20, and a liftable lid 50.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the box body 20 comprises a body shell 30 and a cover shell 40. The body shell 30 comprises a storage chamber 32 defined therein, an access opening 34 located on one side thereof in communication with the storage chamber 32, a rim 36 extending around the access opening 34, a plurality of notches 38 located on the rim 36 at selected locations. The cover shell 40 comprises a plurality of retaining lugs 42 extended from the periphery thereof and respectively inserted into the notches 38. Each retaining lug 42 comprises a first retaining protrusion 422 forced into engagement with the rim 36, as shown in FIG. 5, to secure the cover shell 40 and the body shell 30 together. The cover shell 40 further comprises a plurality of first pivot connector members 44 located on one peripheral side thereof. According to this embodiment, the first pivot connector members 44 are smoothly arched hooks, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each comprising two pairs of opposing second retaining protrusions 441 bilaterally protruded from the bottom wall thereof, a slot 443 cut through the opposing top and bottom walls thereof, a elastic element 46 suspending in the slot 443 and terminating in a first engagement portion 48 that protrudes downwardly over the bottom wall of the respective first pivot connector member 44.

The liftable lid 50 comprises a second pivot connector member 52. According to this embodiment, the second pivot connector member 52 is a pivot axle inserted through the first pivot connector members (smoothly arched hooks) 44 and pivotally secured thereto by the second retaining protrusions 441, as shown in FIG. 7. The second pivot connector member 52 comprises a plurality of ribs protruded from the periphery thereof, forming a second engagement portion 54, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. The liftable lid 50 further comprises a plurality of openings 56 adjacent to the second pivot connector members (pivot axle) 52 for the passing of the first pivot connector members (smoothly arched hooks) 44 during lifting of the liftable lid 50. Thus, when the second engagement portion 54 of the liftable lid 50 and the first engagement portion 48 of the box body 20 are not in engagement with each other, as shown in FIG. 7, the liftable lid 50 can be turned up and down relative to the box body 20 between a close position P1 and a lifted position P2. When in the close position P1, the liftable lid 50 blocks the access opening 34, keeping the storage chamber 32 in an enclosed condition. When the liftable lid 50 is biased toward the lifted position P2 to force the second engagement portion 54 into engagement with the first engagement portion 48 of the box body 20, as shown in FIG. 8, the liftable lid 50 is held in the lifted position P2 and prohibited from biasing relative to the box body 20, as shown in FIG. 9. At this time, the liftable lid 50 is kept away from the access opening 34, opening the storage chamber 32.

When the user is going to put things in the storage chamber 32 of the box body 20, lift the liftable lid 50 to force the second engagement portion 54 into engagement with the first engagement portion 48 of the box body 20, and thus, the liftable lid 50 is held in the lifted position P2. At this time, the user can put things in the storage chamber 32. After all thinks have been put in the storage chamber 32, the user can bias the liftable lid 50 from the lifted position P2 toward the close position P1 to disengage the second engagement portion 54 from the first engagement portion 48 of the box body 20. When the liftable lid 50 reaches the close position P1, the storage chamber 32 becomes enclosed. It is thus clear that the storage box 10 of the invention eliminates the problem of the prior art design where the liftable lid will automatically return to the close position after having been lifted, bringing inconvenience to the user in storing things. The storage box is convenient for use independently. Multiple storage boxes constructed in accordance with the present invention can be arranged in a stack for convenient use, as shown in FIG. 10.

Further, it is to be understood that the example where the first pivot connector members 44 of the box body 20 are smoothly arched hooks and the second pivot connector member 52 of the liftable lid 50 is a pivot axle is not a limitation. Both the smoothly arched hooks and the pivot axle are inter-exchangeable, i.e., the box body 20 can be made having one single first pivot connector member 44 formed of a pivot axle and the liftable lid 50 can be made having a plurality of second pivot connector members 52 respectively formed of a respective smoothly arched hook for coupling with the pivot axle of the first pivot connector member 44 of the box body 20.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A storage box, comprising: a box body comprising a storage chamber, an access opening in communication with said storage chamber, first pivot connector means extending along one side of said access opening, and at least one first engagement portion formed at said first pivot connector means; anda liftable lid comprising a second pivot connector means disposed at one side thereof and at least one second engagement portion formed at said second pivot connector means, said second pivot connector means being coupled to said first pivot connector means in such a manner that said liftable lid is biasable relative to said box body between a close position where said at least one second engagement portion of said liftable lid is disengaged from said at least one first engagement portion of said box body and said liftable lid closes said access opening, and a lifted position where said at least one second engagement portion of said liftable lid is engaged with said at least one first engagement portion of said box body and said liftable lid is kept away from said access opening to keep said storage chamber in an open status.

2. The storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first pivot connector means of said box body comprises at least one smoothly arched hook and at least one pair of opposing second retaining protrusions disposed inside said at least one smoothly arched hook; said second pivot connector means of said liftable lid comprises a pivot axle inserted through said at least one smoothly arched hook and pivotally secured to said at least one smoothly arched hook by said at least one pair of opposing second retaining protrusions; said at least one second engagement portion of said liftable lid each is formed of one rib protruded from the periphery of said second pivot connector means; said liftable lid further comprises at least one opening disposed adjacent to said pivot axle for the passing of said at least one smoothly arched hook of said first pivot connector means when said liftable lid is being biased relative to said box body.

3. The storage box as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first pivot connector means of said box body comprises a slot on each said smoothly arched hook, and a elastic element suspending in the slot on each said smoothly arched hook and terminating in one said first engagement portion.

4. The storage box as claimed in claim 2, wherein said box body comprise a body shell and a cover shell, said body shell, said body shell defining therein said storage chamber and said access opening, said cover shell being covered on said body shell and carrying said first pivot connector means and said at least one first engagement portion.

5. The storage box as claimed in claim 4, wherein said box body comprises a rim and a plurality of notches; said cover shell comprises a plurality of retaining lugs respectively inserted into said notches of said box body, and a plurality of first retaining portions respectively protruded from said retaining lugs and forced into engagement with said rim of said box body.