Patent Grant
11148869
The present invention relates to storage containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tote box including a water resistant lid having a convex upper surface and drains configured to conjunctively, channel moisture disposed on and permeating the upper surface of the tote box towards the sides of the container.
Tote boxes have been known for a number of years and have found widespread usage in commercial and residential applications. Such boxes have been available having no lids, with one-piece lids which enclose the entire top of the tote box, or with two-piece lids, each lid half of which is hinged along one side of the tote box and in which the halves meet along a line of closure generally in the middle of a top of the tote box. These tote boxes are used for storing and transporting parts or other items and are reusable. The tote boxes and their lids are also typically made of plastic materials which are recyclable.
Tote boxes having two-piece lids are particularly troublesome when a heavy object is placed on the lid, such as another tote box. The heavy object may cause the tote box sides to flex outward or the lid to flex downward, separating the two-piece lid and allowing the object to fall into the tote box, moisture to permeate the two-piece lids' line of connection, or simply compromising the structural integrity of the box. Therefore, it is desirable that the tote box be reinforced to prevent the flexing/bowing/bending of a tote box when a heavy object is placed thereon or when another tote box is stacked thereon.
Moreover, during shipment and storage, known tote boxes, individually and in stacks, are typically subjected to moisture, such as rain, condensation, accidental or intentional spraying of liquid, or leakage from an upper tote box to a lower tote box. If this moisture is permitted to enter the tote box, it can damage the items contained in the tote box. Therefore, it is desirable that the tote box include a means for generally directing moisture away from the upper surface of the tote box and a means for capturing moisture permeating the tote box lid and directing the moisture away from the interior, towards the sides the tote box.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of storage containers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a water resistant tote box wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when storing and/or transporting parts or other items.
An example water resistant tote box according to the present invention includes a base having a pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls and a pair of laterally extending end walls extending upwardly therefrom. A lid including a pair of lid halves are hingedly connected to the sidewalls and securable at a line of connection. The lid includes a convex upper surface that facilitates the directing of moisture away from the upper surface of the tote box towards the walls. The base includes a concave lower surface that matches a convex upper surface of the lid when stacked.
A drain gutter extends along an inner perimeter edge of free ends of the lid halves towards an outer perimeter edge of the lid halves. The drain gutter slopes downwardly towards the outer perimeter edge. Interlocking flaps disposed on the free ends overlap the drain gutters on opposing lid halves at the line of connection. The drain gutter extends underneath the line of connection when the lid halves are secured and catches any moisture permeating the line of connection. A drain receptacle on the end walls of the tote box are sized to receive the drain gutters. The drain receptacles facilitate the removal of moisture caught by the drain gutters. Drain troughs disposed on the walls are in fluid communication with drain channels disposed on the lid halves. In this way, moisture directed towards the walls by the convex upper surface may flow off of the top of the tote box.
An inner shelf disposed around a perimeter edge of the lid protrudes upwardly from the lid. The inner shelf receives a tote box thereon and forms a space between the concave base of the tote box stacked thereon and the convex lid of lower tote box on which the inner shelf is disposed. The space prevents the base of the upper tote box from exerting a downward force onto the convex lid of the lower tote box and flattening the convexity thereof.
Reinforcement shoulders disposed on the walls of the tote box extend inwardly therefrom. Reinforcement ribs disposed on a lower periphery edge of a lower surface of the lid halves extend outwardly therefrom. The reinforcement ribs are aligned with the reinforcement shoulders of the sidewalls and end walls, such that the reinforcement ribs engage the reinforcement shoulder when the lid halves are secured.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the water resistant tote box. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to
The sidewalls 20, 25 and end walls 30, 35 include drain troughs 90, 68, respectively, that are in fluid communication with drain channels 50 disposed on the lid 45, when the lid 45 is secured to the open upper end 40. The drain troughs 68, 90 and drain channels 50 enable moisture to flow off the top of the tote box 10. The lid 45 further includes drain gutters 52 configured to direct moisture, permeating the line of connection 28, towards the sidewalls 20, 25 and end walls 30, 35. In this way, the convex upper surface 48, drain troughs 68, 90, drain channels 50, and drain gutters 52, synergistically, make the tote box 10 water resistant insofar as they direct moisture away from the top of the tote box 10 and prevent moisture from leaking into the interior of the tote box.
In one embodiment, the tote box 10 including the two-piece lid 45 are injection molded from a plastic material, such as polyethylene (PE), Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polypropylene (PP), Polyoxmethylene (POM), Polycarbonate (PC), and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). However, in alternative embodiments, other materials and processes could also be used.
Referring now to
Each of the sidewalls 20, 25 includes a plurality of hinge sockets 80, a plurality of hinge knuckles 85, and a drain trough 90 disposed along the upper edges 60 of the sidewalls 20, 25. The hinge sockets 80 include beveled edges that slant laterally, outwardly and downwardly relative to the interior volume 55. The plurality of hinge knuckles 85 are positioned between the plurality of hinge sockets 80, such that the hinge knuckles 85 and hinge sockets 80 are arranged one after the other along the length of the sidewalls 20, 25. The hinge sockets 80 are configured to receive hinge knuckles disposed on the lid 45, such that the hinge knuckles of the lid 45 secure to the plurality of hinge knuckles 85 at seams 32, as shown in
The plurality of hinge knuckles 85 each include an aperture 88 extending horizontally therethrough. The apertures 88 are configured to receive a hinge pin therethrough. In one embodiment, the sidewalls 20, 25 include corners having beveled edges, and the hinge knuckles 85 are positioned inward of the corners. The drain troughs 90 include recessed or cut-out portions disposed along the upper edges 60 of the sidewalls 20, 25 that extend laterally outwardly from the upper edges 60 through the beveled edges 80 with respect to the interior volume 55. In the depicted embodiment, the drain trough 90 is disposed centrally along the longitudinal length of the sidewalls 20, 25. In one embodiment, the drain trough 90 is slanted or angled outwardly, downwardly relative to the interior volume 55 of the tote box 10. In this way, the drain trough 90 aids in directing moisture away from the top of the tote box 10.
Referring now to
The rim 65 forms a space 105 (or interior portion) between the second side 100 and the end walls 30, 35. A latch tab 98 disposed on the second side 100 of the rim 65 protrudes laterally outwardly therefrom in a first position. The latch tab 98 is configured to catch an aperture disposed on a side of the lid 45, as shown in
Referring specifically to
Referring specifically to
The base 15 further includes base pegs 132 extending vertically downwardly from a central region of the concave lower surface 18 of the base 15. The base pegs 132 provide support and reinforcement to the concave lower surface 18 of the tote box 10 when bearing substantial weight. The base pegs 132 extend vertically downwardly from the concave lower surface 18 and align with the perimeter edge 125 of the tote box 10, such that the base pegs 132 and the perimeter edge 125, make contact with a surface on which the tote box has been placed. In this way, the base pegs 132 provide support to the tote box 10 at its center and preserve the structural integrity of the concave lower surface 18 when bearing weight thereon. Further, the base pegs 132 are positioned such that they are in alignment with base peg cavities disposed on the convex upper surface of the lid, as shown by
In one embodiment, the base 15 further includes a recessed portion 22 sized to receive a seal of a bottom tote box when the tote box 10 is stacked thereon. In the depicted embodiment, the recessed portion 22 is disposed in the center of the base 15, such that it is in alignment with the center of the concave upper surface of the lid.
Referring now to
Each lid half 140, 145 includes an arch 148 that crowns or culminates, with respect to the tote box interior volume, at their inner perimeter edges 152, such that the lid halves 140, 145 include surfaces that slope upwards toward the center of each respective lid half 140, 145, as further shown in
The lid halves 140, 145 include a pair of opposing sides, a rear end 160, and a free side 165. The pair of opposing sides include a first side 150 including a drain channel 50, a catch 200, and a drain hole 205, and a second side 155 including a drain channel 50. The rear end 160 includes a drain trough 190. When the lid halves 140, 145 are secured to the tote box, the drain troughs 190 and drain channels 50 are in fluid communication with the drain troughs of the sidewalls and the drain troughs of the end walls of the tote box, respectively, as shown in
An outer perimeter edge 170 extends along the pair of opposing sides 150, 155, while the inner perimeter edge 152 extends along the free side 165. A plurality of hinge knuckles 185 disposed along the outer perimeter edge 170 of the rear end 160 are complimentary to the hinge knuckles disposed on the sidewalls of the tote box insofar as the hinge knuckles 185 fit in the hinge sockets adjacent to the hinge knuckles of the sidewalls and align therewith. Each of the plurality of hinge knuckles 185 include apertures 188 extending horizontally therethrough for receiving a hinge pin. The apertures on the hinge knuckles 185 are complimentary to and aligned with the apertures of the hinge knuckles of the sidewalls, such that when mounted onto their respective sidewalls, the lid halves 140, 145 can be secured to the open upper end of the tote box by securing a hinge pin within the apertures of the complimentary hinge knuckles.
In the depicted embodiment, the lid halves 140, 145 each include a drain trough 190 disposed along a center of an outer perimeter edge 170 of the lid 45. The drain troughs 190 are sized to fit within the drain trough of the sidewalls in order to direct moisture off of the convex upper surface 48 of the tote box. Further, in the depicted embodiment, the drain channels 50 are positioned in a portion of the opposing side walls 150, 155 that are immediately adjacent to the upper corners of the lid halves 140, 145, or the corners between the opposing sides 150, 155 and the rear end 160 of the lid halves 140, 145.
The catch 200 is disposed on an exterior of the first side 150 and is aligned with and complimentary to the latch tab of the end walls. The catch 200 is sized to receive and fasten the latch tab therein, such that the catch 200 fastens the first side 150 to its respective end wall. The drain hole 205 is aligned with and complimentary to the lock hole of the end walls. The drain holes 205 extend through the lid 45 and include a protuberance 208 extending outwardly from the lower surface 240 of the lid and sized to be received by the lock holes. When the lid halves 140, 145 are secured to the tote box, the drain holes 205 align with the lock hole such that the lock holes receive the protuberances 208 therein. In this way, moisture flowing through the drain holes 205 flows directly through the lock hole and off the side of the tote box, without permeating any crevice formed between the drain holes 205 and lock holes and leaking into the interior of the tote box. Moreover, in this position the drain holes 205 and lock holes are configured to receive a fastener therethrough for locking the lid 45 to the tote box.
A drain gutter 52 disposed on the free side 165 of the tote box extends longitudinally along the inner perimeter edge 152 towards the outer perimeter edge 170. The drain gutter 52 defines a recessed channel that includes sidewalls and protrudes outwardly from the inner perimeter edge 152. When the lid halves 140, 145 are secured to the tote box, the interlocking flaps 154 include a lip 164 that overlaps onto a shelf 162 of the opposing lid half, as shown by
In the depicted embodiment, the drain gutters 52 begin at a midway point 210 along the inner perimeter edges 152 of the lid halves 140, 145, such that they are adjacent to their respective interlocking flaps 154. The drain gutters 52 extend in an opposing direction from the interlocking flap on their respective inner perimeter edge 152, such that when the lid halves 140, 145 are secured to the tote box, the inner ends 220 of the drain gutters 52 of each lid half 140, 145 meet and extend in opposing directions underneath the entire line of connection 28, as shown in
The drain gutter 52 includes the inner closed end 220 and an outer open end 225. The inner closed end 220 is closed to in order to prevent moisture permeating the line of connection to leak into the interior volume of the tote box. The outer open end 225 enables moisture to flow out of the drain gutter 52 and is sized to fit within the drain receptacle of the end walls. In this way, moisture flowing down the drain gutter 52 is emptied out of the drain receptacle and off the tote box. In one embodiment, the outer open end 225 includes a lip 230 that angles downwardly, further facilitating the directing of moisture away from and out of the drain gutter 52 and off of the tote box. In another embodiment, the inner closed ends of the drain gutters 52 include upwardly tapering walls that abut each other when the interlocking flaps 154 overlap and the lid halves 140, 145 are closed, such that they friction fit to help prevent moisture from permeating the drain gutters 52 and leaking into the interior volume of the tote box.
An outer shelf 175 and an inner shelf 180 disposed on the upper convex surface 48 extend along the outer perimeter edge 170. The outer and inner shelves 175, 180 are tiered with respect to each other and the convex upper surface 48 of the lid 45, such that the inner shelf 180, the outer shelf 175, and the convex upper surface 48 lie on separate and distinct horizontal planes relative to the base when the lid is in a closed configuration. The inner shelf 180 is positioned inward of the outer shelf 175 and includes a height less than the height of the outer shelf 175, such that the outer and inner shelves 175, 180 are tiered laterally outwardly with respect to the convex upper surface 48. In one embodiment, the inner shelf 180 includes a height of a quarter inch. In another embodiment, the inner shelf 180 includes a height greater than or equal to the height of a peak, or apex, of the convex upper surface 48. The inner shelf 180 of the tote box is configured to receive the base of another like tote box, such that the perimeter edge of the base rests thereon, while the outer shelf 175 prevents the stacked tote box from slipping laterally off the inner shelf 180. In this way, the base 15 does not rest directly on the convex upper surface 48 of the lid 45, but rather on the inner shelf 180 itself, which facilitates the distribution of weight towards the sidewalls and end walls of the tote box.
Further, when a first tote box 10 is stacked on the inner shelf 180 of a second tote box 12, the inner shelf 180, in conjunction with the convex upper surface 48 of the lid of the second tote box 12 and the concave lower surface of the base of the first tote box 10, forms a space 14 in between the convex upper surface 48 and the concave lower surface, as shown in
Base peg cavities 232 disposed on each lid half 140, 145 are positioned on a center portion of the lid halves 140, 145. The alignment and position of the base peg cavities 232 corresponds to the alignment and position of the base pegs, such that the base peg cavities 232 of a tote box are sized and configured to receive the base pegs of the concave lower surface of another like tote box stacked thereon, as shown in
A plurality of reinforcement ribs 235 disposed on the lower surface 240 of the lid halves 140, 145 are positioned along an inner periphery edge 245 of the lower surface 240. The inner periphery edge 245 extends along the opposing sides 150, 155 and the rear end 160 of the lid halves 140, 145. The plurality of reinforcement ribs 235 include raised or protruding portions that protrude vertically outwardly from the inner periphery edge 245 relative to the lower surface 240 of the lid halves 140, 145. The reinforcement ribs 235 are aligned with and correspond to the reinforcement shoulders of the interior surfaces of the sidewalls and end walls of the tote box, such that when the lid halves 140, 145 are secured to the tote box, the reinforcement ribs 235 contact the reinforcement shoulders and rest thereon, as shown by
A canal 250 disposed on the lower surface of the lid halves 140, 145 extends between and along the inner periphery edge 245, the opposing sides 150, 155, and the rear end 160 of the lid halves 140, 145. The canal 250 is sized to receive the rims of the end walls flush therein, such that the lid 45 can rest level relative to the tote box when the lid is secured 45, as shown by
Referring now to
In the depicted embodiment, the first and second portions 275, 280 are positioned midway along the inner perimeter edges 152 immediately above the ends 220 of the drain gutters 52, such that when the lid halves 140, 145 are secured to the tote box 10, the first and second portions 275, 280 align and form the raised area 260 directly above the point at which the ends 220 of the drain gutters 52 meet. In this way, when the seal 270 is mounted onto the raised area 260, the seal 270 covers the area where the drain gutters 52 meet in order to prevent moisture, permeating the line of connection 265, from leaking through that point. The raised area 260 protrudes vertically, outwardly from the convex upper surface 48. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second portions 275, 280 forms raised semi-circular projections, such that when the lids halves 140, 145 are secured to the tote box 10, they form a form a circular raised area 260.
Referring now to
The seal 270 includes a size configured to fit within the recessed portion of the base of the tote box, such that the upper surface 272 of the seal 270 is aligned flush with the upper perimeter of the recessed portion. In this way, the balance of a tote box stacked on another like tote box, which includes the seal 270, is not impaired or uneven due to the protruding seal 270. The seal 270 includes a hollowed interior 285 sized to receive the raised area of the tote box, and a retaining tab 290 sized to be inserted into the aperture of the raised area. The retaining tab 290 protrudes vertically outwardly relative to the hollowed interior 285 of the seal 270. When inserted to the aperture of the raised area, the retaining tab 290 rotatably couples the seal 270 to either the first or second portions of the raised area. In this way, the seal 260 may remain coupled to either the first or second portion when freed from the raised area, as shown by
In the depicted embodiment, the retaining tab 290 includes a stopper 295 disposed at a distal end 300. The stopper 295 includes a projection flaring outwardly relative to the retaining tab 290 that prevents the retaining tab 290 from sliding out from the aperture when inserted therein. In this way, the stopper 295 fastens the retaining tab 290 into the aperture of the raised area, such that the seal 270 does not come loose from the raised area when in use. In one embodiment, retaining tab 290 includes a length greater than the length of the raised area, such that the retaining tab 290 may fully traverse the aperture and adequately fasten the seal 270 to the raised area.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/319,649 filed on Apr. 7, 2016. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2017/026567 | 4/7/2017 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017/177166 | 10/12/2017 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3463345 | Bockenstette | Aug 1969 | A |
| 5328048 | Stein | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5353948 | Lanoue | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5794770 | Plomgren et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
| 6000576 | Liu | Dec 1999 | A |
| 6431394 | Frankenberg | Aug 2002 | B2 |
| 8066143 | Baltz | Nov 2011 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190127137 A1 | May 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62319649 | Apr 2016 | US |
