Storage container lid

Abstract

A storage container lid includes a base portion having at least one through opening and a cover portion including a first panel hingedly attached to a second panel, the cover portion being hingedly attached to the base portion. The first and second panels may be moved independently of one another to access the at least one through opening and wherein the at least one through opening is covered when one of the first and second panels in a closed position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure is generally directed to a lid for a storage container and more specifically, to a lid having more than one access to a storage area of the storage container.

2. Related Technology

Storage containers are well known in the art. Such containers usually include a bin portion and a lid portion. The lid portion is generally secured to the bin portion to prevent contents stored in the bin from being ejected during movement of the storage container, or to protect the contents of the storage container from the environment. These storage containers generally attach the lid to the bin portion in one of two ways. One way of attaching the lid to the bin portion is to have the lid receive upper edges of the bin in a snap-fit type configuration. Another way of attaching the lid to the bin portion is to hinge the lid to the bin portion along one edge of the lid and provide a latch along another edge of the lid to releasably secure the lid to the bin portion.

Some storage bins have incorporated two-piece lids which allow partial access to the items stored in the bin without completely opening the lid. However, the storage container must be placed on a surface before opening the lid, fully or partially. Generally no known storage container includes a lid which allows access to the items in the bin while the container is being carried.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A storage container lid is described herein and includes a base portion having at least one through opening and a cover portion including a first panel hingedly attached to the base portion. The first panel may be moved independently of the base portion to access the at least one through opening and wherein the at least one through opening is covered when the first panel is in a closed position.

Furthermore, a storage container is described including a bin and a lid, the lid having a base portion including at least one through opening and a cover portion including a first panel hingedly attached to a second panel, the cover portion being attached to the base portion. The first and second panels may be moved independently of one another to access the at least one through opening and wherein the at least one through opening is covered when one of the first and second panels is in a closed position. The bin has a base panel, a front wall and a back wall extending from the base panel and two side walls extending from the base panel. A storage space is defined between the front, back and side walls. A latch is movably connected to the base portion of the lid, and the lid is hingedly connected to the bin portion along one side. The latch releasably secures the lid to the bin portion and the storage space is accessible through the at least one through opening when the base portion of the lid is secured to the bin in a closed position.

Further details of the storage container lid of the present disclosure may be appreciated with reference to the several views of the drawings, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a storage container lid and a storage container;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage container lid of FIG. 1 mounted on a storage container in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the storage container lid of FIG. 1 mounted on a storage container in an open position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the storage container lid of FIG. 1 mounted on a storage container in an alternate open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a storage container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure. The storage container includes a bin 20 and a lid 30. The lid 30 includes a base 32 and a cover 34. The cover 34 has a first panel 36 and a second panel 38. The first and second panels 36, 38 are hingedly attached to one another so that in one position, the first and second panels 36, 38 are substantially coplanar. Furthermore, the lid 30 includes a handle 40 and a latch 42. The handle 40 may include two attachment pieces 44 and a tubular connector piece 46.

The base 32 includes one or more openings 48, 50 therein. The openings 48, 50 may be through openings 48, i.e. openings permitting access through the lid, such as to a main compartment of the storage container or tray openings 50, i.e. openings permitting access to a sub-compartment or tray within the lid 30. A skirt 52 extends from a perimeter of the base 32. The skirt 52 includes an arch 54 formed in one side thereof. The arch 54 partially receives and shields the latch 42.

The first cover panel 36 includes a cover skirt 56 on either side of a recessed edge 58. The recessed edge 58 receives an upper portion of the arch 54 while the cover skirt 56 cooperates with a top portion of the base 32 when the first cover panel 36 is in a closed position. The second cover panel 38 is attached to the first cover panel 36 along one side thereof via a hinge 60. The second cover panel 38 is sized to cooperate with the tray opening 50 in the base 32. The second cover panel 38 substantially covers the tray opening 50 in a closed position. The first and second cover panels 36, 38 are pivotably attached to the base 32 along a center support beam 62. The first and second cover panels 36, 38 may be opened or closed independently of one another. Additionally, the first and second cover panels 36, 38 may be opened while the lid 30 is in a closed and secured position on the bin 20. The base panel 32 may include only one through opening 48 and one cover panel 36 if desired.

The handle 40 includes two attachment members 44 and a tubular connector member 46. The attachment members 44 are generally “C” shaped, connecting to the tubular connector member 46 at one end and connecting to the base 32 of the lid 30 at another end. The attachment members 44 may cooperate with any length of tubular connector member 46 thereby creating the ability to produce different sized handles 40 solely by changing the length of the tubular connector member 46.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lid 30 of FIG. 1 in a closed and secured position on the bin 20. In this closed position, the lid 30 covers and protects the storage space of the bin 20. Further, the latch 42 secures the lid 30 in place. Additionally, both the first and second lid openings 48, 50 are covered by the first and second cover panels 36, 38 respectively.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lid 30 of FIG. 1 in an open position on the bin 20. In this open position, the lid 30 is hinged to the bin 20 along an edge opposite the latch 42 and the latch 42 is released from the bin 20. The lid 30 is generally angled relative to the base panel of the bin 20, exposing the storage space of the bin 20. Furthermore, the first and second openings 48, 50 are covered and secured by the first and second panels 36, 38.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lid 30 of FIG. 1 in a closed position, but having the first and second panels 36, 38 in open positions, thus exposing the storage space of the bin 20 through the first lid opening 48 and exposing the tray storage space through the second lid opening 50. While both the first and second panels 36, 38 are shown open in the figure, either panel could be opened independently of the other. This alternate lid closed position allows a user to access the storage space of the bin 20 or the tray storage space while the lid 30 is in a closed position. In other words, a user may access the bin storage space through the first lid opening 48 while the storage container is supported by the handle 40.

While the disclosed embodiments are generally manufactured from molded plastic, the storage container can, alternatively, be constructed from virtually any suitable material. For example, the storage container may be constructed from polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, engineering grade plastic, ABS, TPE, thermoplastics, metal, wood, organic materials, leather, glass and or combination thereof.

Although certain storage containers have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of the appended claims is not limited thereto. On the contrary, the claims cover all embodiments of the teachings of this disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.

Claims

1. A storage container lid comprising:

a base portion having at least one through opening; and

a cover portion including a first panel hingedly attached to the base portion;

wherein the first panel may be moved independently of the base portion to access the at least one through opening and wherein the at least one through opening is covered when the first panel is in a closed position.

2. The storage container lid of claim 1, further including a handle attached to the base.

3. The storage container lid of claim 2, wherein the handle comprises two attachment segments and a tubular connector segment.

4. The storage container lid of claim 2, wherein the base includes a shelf along a portion of a perimeter of the base and wherein the handle is received by the shelf when the handle is not in use.

5. The storage container lid of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes a second opening and the first panel is hingedly attached to a second panel and both the first and second panels are hingedly attached to the base portion.

6. The storage container lid of claim 5, wherein the first and second panels are movable for accessing the at least one through opening when the storage container lid is supported solely by the handle.

7. The storage container lid of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second panels is translucent.

8. The storage container lid of claim 5, wherein the base includes a tray portion.

9. The storage container lid of claim 8, wherein the first panel covers the at least one through opening and the second panel covers the tray portion.

10. A storage container comprising:

a lid comprising: a base portion having at least one through opening; a cover portion including a first panel hingedly attached to the base portion; wherein the first panel may be moved independently of the base portion to permit access to the at least one through opening and wherein the at least one through opening is covered when the first panel is in a closed position;

a storage bin comprising; a base panel; a front wall and a back wall extending from the base panel; two side walls extending from the base panel; and a storage space defined between the front, back and side walls;

a latch movably connected to the base portion of the lid;

wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the storage bin and the latch releasably secures the lid to the storage bin and wherein the storage space is accessible through the at least one through opening when the lid is secured to the storage bin in a closed position.

11. The storage container of claim 10, including a handle disposed on the lid.

12. The storage container of claim 1 1, wherein the base portion includes a second opening and the first panel is hingedly attached to a second panel and both the first and second panels are hingedly attached to the base portion.

13. The storage container of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the first and second panels is movable when the storage container is supported solely by the handle.

14. The storage container of claim 12, wherein the base portion of the lid includes a tray portion.

15. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the first panel covers the at least one through opening and the second panel covers the tray portion.

16. The storage container of claim 15, wherein one of the storage space and the tray portion are accessible when the storage container is supported solely by the handle.