STORAGE CONTAINER
A storage container that is secure and tamper proof is provided by a molded, one-piece container having a bottom and upstanding vertically oriented side and end walls. A separate lid is provided that sealingly engages the container. The container includes flutes on the inside and outside of the walls for adding strength to the walls. The flutes on the outside wall of one container fit with the flutes on the inside wall of another container for nesting purposes. The container can be stacked with another container by being placed on the top surface of the lid. A container can also be stacked in a container without a lid by being supported by shoulders on the inside walls of the container without the lid after rotating the container to be nested so that the flutes on the container to be nested engage the shoulders of the container without the lid.
This invention relates to improvements in plastic, heavy-duty storage containers, and in particular, to a secure storage container that is capable of nesting without a lid and stacking with or without a lid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is a need to store and transport articles in portable boxes or containers. Plastic storage containers have been in use for many years. Their acceptance is widespread. They are available in various sizes, with lids or without lids. The reusable containers are stackable and are typically made of plastic materials. They typically have a storage area and a flat lid whereon a second storage container may be stacked to save space.
There is a need for a stronger, lighter, secure, and more functional property container that has a durable, one-piece design with maximum strength and impact resistance and is stackable and nestable with or without a lid.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the present invention is to provide a stackable, nestable storage container for storing objects, the container having a bottom, first and second side walls reinforced by flute structures, and first and second end walls reinforced by flute structures that are opposite one another and perpendicular to the first and second walls.
In another aspect of the present invention, a storage container is provided that can be stacked with a second container with or without a lid.
In another aspect of the present invention, a storage container without a lid is provided that receives a second container for stacking in a stackable position and is rotated 180° for receiving a second container for nesting in a nestable position.
In another aspect of the present, a storage container is provided with a lid slidably engaged with opposed end walls and one side wall and moved to a closed position onto an opposed side wall, sealing the container to render it secure and tamper resistant.
Certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings, wherein:
With reference to
Each wall has a plurality of flutes. Flutes are vertically oriented from bottom 12 to top planar surface 22. Flutes 34 are shown on wall 14, flutes 36 are on wall 16. Flutes 34a and 36a are on inside side walls 14a and 16a respectively. Outside side walls 14b and 16b show flutes 34b and 36b respectively. Flutes 38 are shown on end wall 18, and flutes 40 are shown on end wall 20. Inside flutes 38a and 40a are likewise shown on inside end walls 18a and 20a respectively. Outside end walls 18b and 20b show flutes 38b and 40b respectively. Flutes typically are rounded grooves that provide support for walls 14, 16, 18, and 20. Outside walls 14b, 16b, 18b, and 20b show partially rounded or concave portions 34b, 36b, 38b, and 40b flutes corresponding to the aforementioned flutes. Together, the rounded, grooved portions inside the side and end walls and rounded, concave portions outside the side and end walls are identified as flutes. The number of flutes is variable and not intended to be limitative. While being described as a plurality of flutes providing maximum strength to the side and end walls, it is also noted that fewer flutes possibly one flute per side and end wall, may be utilized if sufficient support for the walls that would enable stacking and nesting containers is confirmed. For nesting purposes, the flutes on the side and end walls must match or be aligned. The outside flutes 34b, 36b, 38b and 40b must fit within the inside flutes 34a, 36a, 38a and 40a for nesting to occur when one container is placed inside a bottom container 10 as seen in
End walls 18 and 20 each have a different number of flutes, typically one end wall with an even number, the opposed end wall an odd number, whereas side walls 14 and 16 have an even number of flutes. Even with an different number of flutes on each end wall, an end wall with a certain number of flutes will be aligned with an end wall with same number of flutes with the container for nesting purposes. In
The flutes provide support and rigidity to the side walls and end walls. Lid 26 is moved into a cooperatively sealing position with container 10 by aligning raised peripheral edge 28 and lip 30 with raised edge 24 on planar top surface 22 on opposed end walls 18, 20. The C-shaped opening 31 formed from edge 28 and lip 30 forms track 31a for engaging raised edge 24 of planar top surface 22 of container 10. As lid 26 is moved forward advancing C-shaped track 31a on raised edge 24 it moves on each end wall to a side wall on container 10 opposed from the side wall where initial contact was made. The lid can engage raised edge 24 on the end walls from either side of the container. For purposes of illustration, side wall 14 is utilized. Locking hasp 42 is placed on each side wall of container 10 on top planar surface 22 and lid 26. Locking hasp 42a is located on planar top surface 22 on the top of side wall 16, whereas locking hasp 42b is located on the planar surface 22 on top of opposed side wall 14. In locking hasps 42a and 42b are holes 43a and 43b in container 10, which are aligned with holes 42c and 42d, respectively, on lid 26. In a preferred embodiment, pin 43c is placed in holes 43a, 43b, 42a, and 42b for locking lid 26 to container 10. In another preferred embodiment, padlock 44 engages locking hasp 42 through locking hasp 42a and 42b and holes 43a, 43b, 42c, and 42d for securing lid 26 to box 10. Conventional locks function with hasp 42, but a preferred conventional lock is a padlock 44, which may be a combination or key lock, as shown in
Additional strength is added to lid 26 by runners 46 placed on the top surface 27 of the lid. Runners 46 provide additional thickness to the molded polypropylene and assist in the distribution of weight across the top surface 27 of lid 26. Spaces 48 are areas for placing identifying indicia such as names, numbers codes, etc. Ridges 50 and 52 on top surface of lid 26 provide a defined area for placing stackable containers. Reinforced corners 54 of ridges 50 and 52 stabilize a stacked container on top surface of lid 26.
Underside 60 of lid 26 is shown in
Container 10 is stacked within a second container without using a lid as shown in
Supporting edge 68 is shown on flutes on outside side wall 14b. Edge 68 with a flange engages planar top surface 22 when second container 64 is nested in container 10 as shown in
In operation, container 10 is stronger, lighter, more functional, and more secure than other storage containers. Containers of the present invention can be stacked with or without lid 26 without crushing the contents of container 10. With lid 26 in place, ridges 50 and 52 allow for full perimeter stacking of a second container. Without lid 26, a second container can be stacked in an uncovered lower container by engaging shoulders 32 on the inside end walls of the lower container. When empty, container can be nested inside one another by simply rotating the empty container 180° from its stackable position 58. This rotation allows flutes on the outside end and side walls of the top container to fit within the flukes on the inside side and end walls of the lower container This feature saves valuable space in storage areas. Container 10 has rounded edges and corners where bottom 12 joins side walls 14 and 16 and end walls 18 and 20, as well as the smooth round corners of planar top surface 22 and lid 26. Lid 26 engages end walls 18 and 20 with c-shaped track 31a and is slidably opened on the short side of the container allowing access to more of the contents of the container without removing the lid 26 fully.
The sizes and shapes of the storage containers of the present invention may vary from the shapes showing in the drawings.
While a preferred embodiment including various details has been shown for purposes of illustrating the present invention, further embodiments, variations, and modifications are possible in accordance with the broader aspects of the present invention, all defined by the specification and scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A storage container comprising:
- a reinforced one piece molded plastic container with an open top having a bottom, generally parallel first and second side walls, opposed generally parallel first and second end walls integrally connected to the bottom,
- upper portions of side walls and end walls including a perimeter forming a planar surface,
- flutes vertically oriented from the bottom to the planar top surface on the side and end walls for reinforcing the side and end walls wherein the number of flutes are identical on all side and end walls but for one.
2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the number of flutes is not identical on one end wall.
3. The storage container of claim 2, further comprising a sealable lid separate from the container and integrally molded from plastic in one piece being the size and dimension to cover the planar top surface and having a peripheral edge on three sides substantially perpendicular to planar top surface including a lip wherein the lip and peripheral edge are aligned to a raised edge of planar surface for covering the planar top surface of the storage container.
4. The storage container of claim 3, wherein the lid and planar top surface include at least one locking hasp for locking the fully engaged lid when at least one locking hasp of the lid is aligned with at least one locking hasp of the top planar surface.
5. The storage container of claim 4, including a locking hasp on the planar top surface on the first and second side walls.
6. The storage container of claim 4, wherein a lock is placed in the locking hasp for securing the lid to the top planar surface of the container.
7. The storage container of claim 4, including two locking hasps, each placed on the planar top surface of the first and second side walls, and two locks engaging the hasps allowing the lid to cover and lock the container from either side of the container.
8. The storage container of claim 3, wherein the top surface of the lid has one or more ridges for supporting a second container stacked thereon
9. The storage container of claim 3 wherein the top surface of the lid has reinforced corners for supporting a container stacked thereon.
10. The storage container of claim 1, wherein flutes are present on the inside and outside of the side and end walls of the container.
11. The storage container of claim 10, wherein flutes of a second container are aligned with flutes of the container so that the second container can nest in the container.
12. The storage container of claim 11, wherein flutes on outside side walls of the second container include an edge for engaging planar top surface of the container when nesting.
13. The storage container of claim 10, further comprising shoulders placed between flutes on the inside end walls of the container.
14. The storage container of claim 13, further comprises a second container, rotated 180 degrees placed onto the shoulders for stacking the second container in the container without a lid.
15. The storage container of claim 2, further comprising the lid including an underside having a brake that engages planar top surface when the lid is slid in an container opening position thereby limiting the size of the opening.
16. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the lid has a peripheral edge and lip on three sides preventing the lid from being pulled upwardly off the container when engaged to the container.
17. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising side and end walls having flanges for providing strength to the walls.
18. The storage container of claim 17, further comprising a sloping face adjacent the flanges on the side and end walls for providing strength to the walls.
19. The storage container of claim 10, further comprising a partition inserted in flutes on the inside walls of the container for separating space in the container.
20. The storage container of claim 3, further comprising an area for providing identifying indicia on the sealable lid.
21. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising an area for providing identifying indicia on the bottom of the container.
22. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising at least one flute vertically oriented from the bottom to the planar top surface on the side and end walls for reinforcing the side and end walls wherein the number of flutes are identical on all side and end walls but for one.
23. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the number of flutes is not identical on one side wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 30, 2008
Publication Date: May 6, 2010
Inventor: Joseph Claffy (Western Springs, IL)
Application Number: 12/261,177
International Classification: B65D 21/00 (20060101);