TOOLBOX LID
The invention provides a container having a base and a lid, the lid being attached to the base by two or more latches, which may also function as hinges. The user may completely remove the lid of the toolbox by releasing all of the latches. The base and lid together define an internal compartment when the lid is in a closed position. The at least two latches are both operable to releaseably latch the lid to the base, and at least one of the latches comprises a hinge fixing which allows the lid to pivot while it is latched to the base by the latch. Two or more latches may comprise a hinge fixing which allow the lid to pivot while it is latched to the base by the latch.
This application claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, to European Patent Application No. 13165449.3, filed Apr. 25, 2013, titled “TOOLBOX LID”.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to containers, and particularly to portable containers which may be used as toolboxes. It is known to provide toolboxes comprising a container having a base and a lid, the base and lid together defining an internal compartment when the lid is in a closed position. Such a lid may be provided in a variety of forms, for example, it may be a one-piece lid, or may come in multiple pieces which may be hinged together or separable. The lid pieces may be attached to the base in a number of different ways.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA common way of providing a lid for a toolbox is for the lid to be a one-piece lid, attached to the base by a hinge at one side of the base. When the lid is in a closed position, one or more latches may be fastened in order to hold the lid in a closed position on the base. This type of lid attachment provides a strong and secure closure for a toolbox, which is important to allow the toolbox to retain tools and accessories, which are often heavy and made of metal or similar strong materials. However, this arrangement does not allow the user to remove the lid of the toolbox if desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a container having a base and a lid, the lid being attached to the base by two or more latches, one or more of which may also function as hinges, wherein the user may completely remove the lid of the toolbox by releasing all of the latches. Each of the two or more latches are operable to releaseably latch the lid to the base, and at least one of the latches comprises a hinge fixing which allows the lid to pivot while it is latched to the base by the latch. Two or more latches may each comprise such a hinge fixing.
The container may comprise two latches, located at opposite sides of the container. Alternatively, the container may comprise three or four latches, each latch located at different sides of the container.
Each latch comprising a hinge fixing may be linked to the lid by the hinge fixing, and the base may have latch receiving parts suitable for receiving the said latches comprising a hinge fixing. Alternatively, each latch comprising a hinge fixing may be linked to the base by the hinge fixing, and the lid may have latch receiving parts suitable for receiving the said latches.
Each of the one or more hinge fixings may comprise one or more hinge loops along part of the length of the latch, and a hinge bar formed integrally in the lid or base, wherein the hinge loops clip onto the hinge bar to link the latch to the lid or base. Alternatively, the hinge loops may be formed on the lid or base and the hinge bar formed on the latch.
One or more of the one or more latches comprising a hinge fixing may be elongated, for example, it may extend for approximately one third, or approximately one half of the length of the associated container side, or further.
The container may further include one or more storage wells on the outer surface of the lid, which may have individual openable covers. A carrying handle may be attached to the outer surface of the lid.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In
The container also comprises a front latch 20 and a rear latch 20′. In this embodiment, the latches 20 and 20′ are identical. The latches will be described in more detail with reference to latch 20 as shown in
The hinge fixing will now be described in more detail, in connection with the embodiment wherein each latch comprising a hinge fixing is attached to the lid by the hinge fixing. It is also possible to have similar hinge fixings if the relevant latches are attached to the base. The hinge fixing may comprise interspaced hinge flanges of the latch and the lid, which are connected together by inserting a hinge pin along at least part of the length of the hinge fixing.
Alternatively, as shown in
When the lid 14 is rested on top of the base 12 as shown in
Alternatively, the latch may carry a protrusion which engages with a similar engaging portion of the base, or any known latching arrangement may be used to reversibly latch the parts together. When latches 20 and 21 are both latched, the lid is fixed to the base and toolbox 10 can be carried by the handle 40, if present.
When the user wants to open the lid 14, latch 20 can be rotated in direction y in order to disengage the engaging portion 22 of latch 20 from the protrusion 28 of the base 12. Rotation of the latch exerts forces on the trailing rounded surface 26 of the stop 24 and end region 29, such that stalk 23 deflects slightly. Continued rotation causes stop 24 and thus the engaging portion 22 to be removed from engagement with protrusion 28. Latch 20 may have a tab 30 to allow the user to easily rotate the latch.
As shown in
Removal of the lid can allow full access to the cavity of the base. It can also allow for separate storage or cleaning of the base and lid if necessary. If the lid has storage wells in its outer surface, the user can gain access to the cavity of the base and the storage wells at the same time, by simply removing the lid and placing it on a surface next to the base. This latch arrangement may also allow a lid to be swapped for a lid of a different design.
Embodiments with two opposite latches, each comprising a hinge fixing which allows the lid to pivot while it is latched to the base by the latch, allow the user to open the lid of the container from either side. This increases the convenience of use compared to a toolbox which has a fixed hinge on one side of the lid only.
In alternative contemplated embodiments, the container may be a four-sided container, having three or four latches, each located on a different side of the container, each latch operable to releaseably latch the lid to the base and one or more of the latches comprising a hinge fixing which allows the lid to pivot while it is latched to the base by the latch. Such embodiments increase the options for opening and latching the lid. In alternative embodiments, the container may have more or less than four sides.
It should be understood that although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- a base and a lid, the base and lid together defining an internal compartment when the lid is in a closed position;
- at least two latches, each latch operable to releaseably latch the lid to the base;
- wherein at least one of the latches comprises a hinge fixing which allows the lid to pivot while it is latched to the base by the latch.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises two latches, located at opposite sides of the container.
3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises three or four latches, each latch located at different sides of the container.
4. A container according to claim 1, wherein two or more latches comprise a hinge fixing which allows the lid to pivot while it is latched to the base by the latch.
5. A container according to claim 1, wherein each latch comprising a hinge fixing is linked to the lid by the hinge fixing, and wherein the base comprises latch receiving parts suitable for receiving the latches comprising a hinge fixing.
6. A container according to claim 1, wherein each latch comprising a hinge fixing is linked to the base by the hinge fixing, and wherein the lid comprises latch receiving parts suitable for receiving the latches comprising a hinge fixing.
7. A container according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more hinge fixings comprises one or more hinge loops along part of the length of the latch, and a hinge bar formed integrally in the lid or base, wherein the hinge loops clip onto the hinge bar to link the latch to the lid or base.
8. A container according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more hinge fixings comprises one or more hinge loops along part of the length of the side of the lid or base, and a hinge bar formed integrally in the latch, wherein the hinge loops clip onto the hinge bar to link the lid or base to the latch.
9. A container according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the one or more latches comprising a hinge fixing is elongated.
10. A container according to claim 1, wherein the one or more elongated latches extend more than one third, and optionally more than one half of the length of the associated container side.
11. A container according claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the lid comprises one or more storage wells with openable covers.
12. A container according to claim 1, wherein a carrying handle is attached to the outer surface of the lid.
13. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container is portable.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 22, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 30, 2014
Inventors: Nadin Daniel Horovitz (Rehovot), Danny Baruch (Lapid)
Application Number: 14/258,359
International Classification: B65D 43/02 (20060101); B65D 43/22 (20060101); B65D 43/16 (20060101);