Tote clip and assembly
A clip (14), designed for use with a container (12) having a lid (20) movable between an open position and a closed position, includes a base (40) adapted to be inserted into a cavity (30) in the container (12) and a resilient arm (50) extending from the base (40). The base (40) has a projection extending therefrom, adapted to be received in an aperture (32) in the container (12) to affix the base (40) to the container (12). The arm (50) is adapted to temporarily deflect in response to a closure force upon the lid (20) to permit the lid (20) to move from the open position to the closed position. The arm (50) is further adapted to retain the lid (20) in the closed position. The clip (14) is used with a container (12) having a bottom (16), four sidewalls (18), and a lid (20) movable between an open position and a closed position to form a container assembly (10).
The invention relates generally to reusable, reclosable tote containers and, more specifically, to a device suitable for securing the closed lid of a tote container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA variety of different containers are used in the retail and shipping industries to contain goods being shipped or stored. Many such containers are also suitable for personal use, as well as use by a number of other industries. Plastic containers with reclosable, hinged lids are a common type of such containers. While some containers have built-in mechanisms for closing or sealing the lid onto the container, a great deal of the containers do not. Containers without closure mechanisms are more susceptible to stored items being unlawfully removed from the containers, sometimes referred to as “shrinkage.” Many containers have lids that are designed to be closed by a padlock, cable tie, push pin, strap, or other relatively permanent locking mechanism. While these mechanisms are secure, they often take considerable time and conscious effort to use, particularly when the containers are to be reopened. Thus, a need exists for an easy and quick way of repeatedly opening and closing these containers, as well as other containers that are not designed with a built-in closing mechanism.
The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior closure devices of this type. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a clip for use with a container having a lid movable between an open position and a closed position. The clip includes a base adapted to engage a portion of the container to affix the base to the container and a resilient arm extending from the base. The arm is adapted to retain the lid in the closed position and is operative in response to a closure force upon the lid.
According to one aspect of the invention, the arm of the clip operates by temporarily deflecting outwardly in response to the closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the arm has a tab thereon, and the tab is adapted to absorb a portion of the closure force to operate the arm. The tab is angled downward and adapted to transfer a portion of the closure force into an outward force on the arm to deflect the arm. In a preferred embodiment, the tab is adapted to retain the lid in the closed position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the arm has a first position of minimum deflection and a second position of maximum deflection. The arm is adapted to be in the second position when the closure force upon the lid is at a maximum, and the arm is adapted to be in the first position when no closure force is exerted upon the lid.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base has a projection thereon, and the projection is adapted to be received in an aperture in the container to affix the base to the container.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, and the projection has an angled surface adapted to facilitate insertion of the base into the cavity. The base also has an angled surface adapted to facilitate insertion of the base into the cavity and a hollow adapted to receive a tool for insertion and removal of the base from the cavity. Further, according to a further aspect of the invention, the base has a protrusion adapted to abut an inner surface of the cavity to secure the base within the cavity.
The present invention also provides a container assembly including a container having a bottom, a sidewall, and a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, and a clip affixed to the container. The clip includes a base and a resilient arm extending from the base. The base engages a portion of the container to affix the clip to the container, and the arm temporarily deflects in response to a closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position, retaining the lid in the closed position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the arm has a first position of minimum deflection and a second position of maximum deflection, and the closure force upon the lid is at a maximum when the arm is in the second position, and the arm is in the first position when no closure force is exerted upon the lid.
According to another aspect of the invention, the container has a cavity, and the base is received in the cavity.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base has a projection thereon and the container has an aperture located proximate the cavity. When the base is received in the cavity, the projection is received in the aperture to affix the base to the container.
According to another aspect of the invention, the projection has a hole therethrough, and the assembly is adapted to receive a locking mechanism extending through the hole and the aperture to secure the lid in the closed position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the container has a rim extending around a top edge of the container, the cavity located below the rim and the aperture extending through the rim.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base has a protrusion abutting an inner surface of the cavity to secure the base within the cavity.
According to another aspect of the invention, the arm temporarily deflects in response to an outward force upon the arm to permit the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the lid is a two-piece lid having a closure seam proximate a center line of the container.
According to another aspect of the invention, the container assembly has a second clip affixed to the container opposite the first clip. The second clip includes a base and a resilient arm extending from the base. The base engages a portion of the container to affix the second clip to the container, and the arm temporarily deflects in response to a closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position, retaining the lid in the closed position.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSTo understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring in detail to the FIGS., and initially to
The preferred container 12 is illustrated in
As stated above and illustrated in
As shown in
The two lid pieces 24a,24b are preferably shaped similarly such that the pieces 24a,24b form a closure seam 26 proximate a center line of the container 12 when the lid is in the closed position. As shown in
As shown in
The preferred embodiment of the clip 14 of the present invention is shown in
As illustrated in
The preferred base 40 has a wedge-shaped design. In other words, the base 40 has an angled top surface 42 adapted to facilitate insertion of the base 40 into the cavity 30. As illustrated in
The base also preferably has a projection 70 on the top surface 42 adapted to be received in the aperture 32 in the container 12 to affix the base 40 to the container 12. As best illustrated in
Generally, the clip 14 is adapted to retain the lid 20 in the closed position, operative in response to a closure force (F) upon the lid 20. In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in
Generally, two clips 14 are affixed to the container 12 to create the container assembly 10, illustrated in
In other embodiments, the clip 14 may be affixed to the container 12 in another way. For example, the clip 14 and the container 12 may have another cooperative structure, such as a recess on the clip 14 that cooperates with a projection on the container 12. The clip 14 may also be affixed to the container 12 by an external mechanism, such as a rivet, clamp, adhesive, or other similar mechanism. In a further embodiment, the clip 14 is integrally molded with the container 12. Still further, the clip may be affixed to the lid 20, and may retain the lid 20 in the closed position by engaging an opposing lid piece 24 or by engaging another portion of the container 12. Additionally, the clip 14, rather than the container rim 23, may be designed to flex upon insertion into the cavity 30, which would be especially beneficial when the clip 14 is to be used with a container made of a very rigid material.
A specialized tool 60 may be designed to aid in inserting and removing the clip 14 from the cavity 30. The preferred embodiment of this tool 60 is shown in
As described above, and illustrated in
The lid 20 is retained in the closed position by the clips 14, but may be opened by releasing the clips 14. As described above, when the lid 20 is attempted to be opened, the clip 14 engages the lid 20 to retain it in the closed position. In the preferred embodiment, the lid members 24a,24b overlap each other at the edges, and thus, one clip 14 engages one lid member 24 and the other clip 14 engages the other lid member 24. The clip 14 illustrated in
The clip 14 of the present invention is designed to be operative in response to a closure force (F) upon the lid 20 to retain the lid 20 in the closed position. In alternate embodiments, the mechanism for this operation may be different, as other such mechanisms are known in the art or can be easily derived from the disclosed preferred mechanism without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the clip may be modified to include a more complex mechanism, for example, a ratchet mechanism or a spring mechanism.
The present invention provides many benefits. As described above, the disclosed container assembly permits the lid of the container to be closed using only a downward force upon the lid and to thereafter be retained in the closed position. This design provides quicker and easier closing of the container, and allows the lid to be closed without conscious effort by a user. This design permits the clips to be released, and the lid reopened, fairly quickly and easily as well. Another primary benefit is that the clip of the present invention may be designed to be affixed to a number of containers. Thus, a container does not need to be newly designed or modified, and a clip can be custom-designed to fit with a container that is already in use. With the clip 14 retaining the container 12 in a closed position, the chances of items falling out of the container 12 or being unlawfully removed from the container 12 is reduced.
While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. A clip for use with a container having a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, the clip comprising a resilient arm having a portion that is adapted to engage a portion of the container to affix the arm to the container, the arm adapted to retain the lid in the closed position, and operative in response to a closure force upon the lid.
2. The clip of claim 1, wherein the portion of the resilient arm is defined by a base, wherein the base is adapted to engage a portion of the container to affix the resilient arm to the container.
3. The clip of claim 1, wherein the arm operates by temporarily deflecting outwardly in response to the closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position.
4. The clip of claim 3, wherein the arm has a tab thereon, the tab angled downward and adapted to transfer a portion of the closure force into an outward force on the arm to deflect the arm.
5. The clip of claim 3, wherein the arm has a first position of minimum deflection and a second position of maximum deflection, wherein the arm is adapted to be in the second position when the closure force upon the lid is at a maximum, and the arm is adapted to be in the first position when no closure force is exerted upon the lid.
6. The clip of claim 1, wherein the arm has a tab thereon, the tab adapted to retain the lid in the closed position.
7. The clip of claim 5, wherein the tab is further adapted to absorb a portion of the closure force to operate the arm.
8. The clip of claim 2, wherein the base has a projection thereon, the projection adapted to be received in an aperture in the container to affix the base to the container.
9. The clip of claim 8, wherein the base is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, and the projection has an angled surface adapted to facilitate insertion of the base into the cavity.
10. The clip of claim 2, wherein the base is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, and the base has an angled surface adapted to facilitate insertion of the base into the cavity.
11. The clip of claim 2, wherein the base is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, and the base has a hollow adapted to receive a tool for insertion and removal of the base from the cavity.
12. The clip of claim 2, wherein the base is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, and the base has a protrusion adapted to abut an inner surface of the cavity to secure the base within the cavity.
13. A clip for use with a container having a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, the clip comprising:
- a base adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, the base having a projection extending therefrom, the projection adapted to be received in an aperture in the container to affix the base to the container; and
- a resilient arm extending from the base, the arm adapted to temporarily deflect in response to a closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position, the arm further adapted to retain the lid in the closed position.
14. The clip of claim 13, wherein the projection has an angled surface adapted to facilitate insertion of the base into the cavity.
15. The clip of claim 13, wherein the arm has a tab thereon, the tab angled downward and adapted to transfer a portion of the closure force into an outward force on the arm to deflect the arm.
16. The clip of claim 13, wherein the arm has a tab thereon, the tab adapted to retain the lid in the closed position.
17. The clip of claim 16, wherein the tab is further adapted to absorb a portion of the closure force to operate the arm.
18. A container assembly comprising:
- a container comprising a bottom, a sidewall, and a lid, the lid movable between an open position and a closed position;
- a first clip having a base and a resilient arm extending from the base, wherein the base engages a portion of the container to affix the first clip to the container, and the arm temporarily deflects in response to a closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position, retaining the lid in the closed position.
19. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein the arm has a first position of minimum deflection and a second position of maximum deflection, wherein the closure force upon the lid is at a maximum when the arm is in the second position, and the arm is in the first position when no closure force is exerted upon the lid.
20. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein the container comprises a cavity, and the base is received in the cavity.
21. The container assembly of claim 20, wherein the base has a projection thereon and the container has an aperture located proximate the cavity, the projection received in the aperture to affix the base to the container.
22. The container assembly of claim 21, wherein the projection has a hole therethrough, and the assembly is adapted to receive a locking mechanism extending through the hole and the aperture to further secure the lid in the closed position.
23. The container assembly of claim 20, wherein the base has a protrusion abutting an inner surface of the cavity to secure the base within the cavity.
24. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein the arm temporarily deflects in response to an outward force upon the arm to permit the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.
25. The container assembly of claim 18, wherein the lid is a two-piece lid having a closure seam proximate a center line of the container when the lid is in the closed position.
26. The container assembly of claim 18, further comprising a second clip affixed to the container opposite the first clip, the second clip comprising a base and a resilient arm extending from the base, wherein the base engages a portion of the container to affix the second clip to the container, and the arm temporarily deflects in response to a closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position, retaining the lid in the closed position.
27. The container assembly of claim 26, wherein the lid comprises a first lid member and a second lid member, and the first clip engages the first lid member and the second clip engages the second lid member to retain the lid in the closed position.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2005
Publication Date: Apr 12, 2007
Inventors: David Lutzke (Madison, WI), Fred Salzmann (Madison, WI)
Application Number: 11/247,664
International Classification: B65D 45/16 (20060101); B65D 43/24 (20060101); B65D 51/04 (20060101); B65D 43/14 (20060101);