LOCKABLE AND REVERSIBLE LID FOR A BASE CONTAINER

Abstract

A lockable, reversible lid for a container having a lip. The lid includes a cover having a perimeter, a first side and a second side. A locking tab pivotally extends from an end portion of the perimeter, such that the locking tab is disposable between the container body and the container lip when the lid is positioned upon the container with the first side disposed toward the container. The lid may be inverted by slipping the locking tab past the container lip, removing the lid, and setting the inverted lid on the container with the first side disposed away from the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present description relates generally to containers, and more particularly to a lockable and reversible lid for a base container.

BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART

Base containers, such as, for example, seed starting containers, also known as do-it-yourself “greenhouses” are known in the industry. For instance, it is common for gardeners to grow plants indoors before transplanting the seedlings to new pots. The growing plants require nutrients, moisture, and warmth to properly germinate and grow. It has been common practice to utilize a prepackaged do-it-yourself greenhouse kit to create an indoor greenhouse effect.

In one example, a prepackaged kit includes a tray-like, base container configured to support a plurality of soil (e.g., peat) pellets and a clear lid to provide a proper growing environment for a gardener's seeds. In its prepackaged form, the lid is set inside the base to facilitate stacking of multiple kits and to save space. In use, a user removes the lid, waters the pellets, places at least one seed on each of the peat pellets, inverts the lid, and places it on the base container. The inverted lid defines a growing environment and maintains the environment in a state that is beneficial for growing healthy, strong plants.

However, known available packaged kits have heretofore been without any mechanism to secure the lid to the container body, thus requiring special packaging. Rather, known packages have merely included a lid that “rests” on the base container (in either configuration) and is held primarily by gravity. A lid that is held merely by gravity, however, is prone to separation from the base container including, for example, during shipping and/or display of the package in a retail environment.

To compensate for the lack of a secured lid, prepackaged kits include additional packaging in the form of an external paper wrap that secures the lid on the base until the kit is used. This external wrap, however, adds levels of complexity and expense to the packaging process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art container and lid.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the prior art container and lid of FIG. 1, taken along the line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the prior art container and lid of FIG. 2 taken from line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one example lid constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the example lid of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the example lid of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of a container and the example lid of FIG. 5 taken along the line 7-7, showing the lid in an unlocked, standard orientation.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial view of a container and example lid, showing the lid in a locked, standard (first) orientation.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial view of a container and example lid, showing the lid in a reversed, second orientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of example methods and apparatus is not intended to limit the scope of the description to the precise form or forms detailed herein. Instead the following description is intended to be illustrative so that others may follow its teachings. Throughout this description, position specifications such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back”, “upward”, “downward” or any other positional term apply from the perspective of the generally intended use, or standard orientation as depicted in FIGS. 4-8.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one known example seed starting kit 10. The kit 10 includes a base container 12 and a removable lid 14. In the illustrated example, the base container includes a tray-like bottom panel 16 and a plurality of upstanding side walls 18 extending upward from a perimeter of the bottom panel 16 and forming an opening 21 therebetween. The bottom panel 16 includes a plurality of wells 20 configured to retain a peat plug 22 and water (not shown) within the wells 20.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, a wall 40 extends generally upward relative to an upper end 42 of the side wall 18. A radially outwardly extending step 44 is positioned between the wall 40 and the upper end 42 of the side wall 18. The wall 40 continues upward, then curves radially outward to form a top flange 46 of the container 12. The flange 46 continues radially outward and then curves downward into a depending lip 48. The lip 48 extends circumferentially around the container 12 and is spaced outward from the outer surface of the wall 40 at the upper end 42 of the side wall 18.

The lid 14 includes a cover or dome 30 having a shape corresponding to the circumferential shape of the upper end 42 of the side wall 18. The dome 30 similarly includes a wall 50 extending generally downward relative to an upper end 52 of the dome 30. A radially outwardly extending step 54 is positioned between the wall 50 and the upper end 52 of the dome 30. The wall 50 continues downward, then curves radially outward to form a flange 56. The dome 30 of the lid 14 includes a first side 30a and a second side 30b. In use, the lid 14 is inverted to define an enclosed growing space having an upper surface defined by first side 30a. In its inverted state, the flange 56 rests against the top flange 46 of the container 12, while the extending step 54 rests on radially outwardly extending step 44.

Thus, the lid 14 can be installed on the container 12 in two different orientations. A first orientation, depicted in FIGS. 1-3, has the first side 30a facing outward and the second side 30b facing inward, or towards the base container 12. The flange 56 of the lid 14 rests upon the flange 46 of the container 12. The lid 14 can also be installed in a second, inverted orientation (not shown) with the second side 30b facing outward and the first side 30a facing the base container 12. In this second configuration, the opposite side of the flange 56 rests upon the flange 46.

As noted previously, because the flange 56 merely rests upon the flange 46 in the first orientation, the seal between the lid 14 and the container 12 is mainly dependent upon gravity, and therefore is not necessarily secure. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 1, prior to use the kit 10 includes a wrap 15 disposed around the kit 10. The wrap is removably secured to the kit 10 to secure the lid 14 on the base container 12. Once the wrap is removed, the lid 14 may be easily removed from the base container 12. Once the wrap 15 is removed the lid cannot be re-secured without external support.

Turning now to the remaining drawings, FIGS. 4-9 show an example of a lockable, reversible lid 114 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The lid 114 includes a mounting and locking structure as described below and as shown in detail in FIGS. 7-9, and is adapted to be coupled to the base container 12 in its pre-use (i.e., non-inverted) state. In this example, both the lid 114 and the base container are made from a flexible material, including, for instance, a resilient polymer, rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETG), amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET), crystalline PET (CPET), utility PET, post consumer regrind PET, polylactide (PLA), oriented polystyrene (OPS), polyethylene, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), or any clear or tinted material.

The base container 12 includes the side wall 18 and the wall 40 extending generally upward relative to the upper end 42 of the side wall 18. The radially outwardly extending step 44 is positioned between the wall 40 and the upper end 42 of the side wall 18. The wall 40 continues upward, then curves radially outward to form the top flange 46 of the container 12. The flange 46 continues radially outward and then curves downward into the depending lip 48. In this example, the lip 48 includes a radially outwardly extending flange 49 and the lip 48 and the flange 49 extend circumferentially around the container 12 and are spaced outward from the outer surface of the wall 40 at the upper end 42 of the side wall 18. While the example lid 114 is described and illustrated with the example base container 12, the lid 114 may be mounted to any suitably shaped container as desired.

Referring to FIG. 6, the example lid 114 generally includes a cover/dome 130 that, when installed on the base container 12 as shown, substantially diminishes the growing space 32. In this state, the unit of the example lid 114 and base container 12 is most suitable for stacking with other units, storage, transportation, and display, as examples. The cover 130 of the example lid 114 includes a first side 130a (see FIG. 7, for example) a second side 130b, and a perimeter 131. The cover 130 in this example is generally rectangular in shape with a planer portion and a sidewall portion. The cover 130, however, may be any suitable shape and/or combination of shapes.

The cover 130 includes a wall 150 extending generally downward relative to an upper end 152 of the cover 130. A radially outwardly extending, generally horizontal step 154 is positioned between the wall 150 and the upper end 152 of the cover 130. The wall 150 continues downward, then curves radially outward to form a second step 156. A second wall 160 extends generally downward relative to the second step 156. In the illustrated example, the second wall 160 includes an upper portion 162 and a lower portion 164 separated by a step 166. The second wall 160, however, may include any number of separate portions including a single portion without any interruption. The second wall 160 continues downward and curves radially outward to form a locking tab 170. The example locking tab 170 includes a proximal portion 172 and a distal portion 174 separated by a shoulder 176. It will be appreciated, however, that the locking tab 170 may include any number or portions including a single, uninterrupted portion extending the length of the locking tab 170.

In the illustrated example, the second wall 160 is of sufficient length to extend downward beyond the end of the wall 48 when the lid 114 is placed on the base container 12 in the standard or shipment orientation as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The second wall 160 similarly includes a line of weakness 180, or other hinge-like transition between the second wall 160 and the locking tab 170 to allow the locking tab 170 to pivot about the line of weakness 180 so that it may be tucked in between the lip 48 and the side wall 18. Additionally, the locking tab 170 is of sufficient length such that when the locking tab 170 is pivoted about the line of weakness 180 in the direction of the arrow (A) illustrated in FIG. 7, the locking tab 170 is securely locatable and retained between the lip 48 and the wall 40 in a locked position. In this example, because both the lid 114 and the base container 12 are constructed of a flexible material, such as, for example, a resilient polymer, the lid 114 and the container 12 flex during pivoting of the locking tab 170 to allow the locking tab 170 to pivot past the junction of the wall 40 and the step 44. In the locked position, the lid 114 is securely held against the base container 12. In a version, cold working the resilient polymer in the direction (A) results in the locking tab 170 maintaining the folded position illustrated in FIG. 8, even after the lid 114 is removed from the base 12.

Once the locking tab 170 is located in the locked position (FIG. 8), the locking tab 170 will remain in the secured position until the locking tab 170 is rotated (e.g., by a user) in the direction of the arrow (B) towards an unlocked position (FIG. 7). In a version, the locking tab 170 resiliently maintains the configuration illustrated in FIG. 8 regardless of whether the lid 114 is locked to the base container 12. Thus, the lid 114 is firmly coupled to the container 12 and does not require any external attachment (e.g., an external wrap) to keep the lid 114 secured to the container 112.

Referring to FIG. 8, to remove the lid 114 from the base container 12, the locking tab 170 is manipulated downward and slips outside of the wall 48. In other words, the locking tab 170 is pulled away from the junction of the wall 40 and the flange 46. In a version, the lid 114 and the base container are both formed out of a resilient, flexible material so that the lid 114 and the container 12 may deflect, upon application of sufficient force, from the position shown to allow the locking tab 170 to pass away from the junction of the wall 40 and the step 44 and beyond the flange 49. Once the lid 114 is removed, water and seeds may be added to the peat plugs 22.

As noted above, the lid 114 can be installed on the container 12 in two different orientations. A first orientation (e.g., a standard or shipping orientation) is depicted in FIG. 8. A second, inverted orientation is depicted in FIG. 9. The first orientation has the first side 130a of the dome 130 facing outward, away from the container 12, and the second side 130b facing inward, towards the container 12. In this first orientation, the container 12 and lid 114 combination can be nested with other containers for storage and or shipping purposes. In the second orientation, the lid 114 is typically in use (e.g., is being utilized as a greenhouse) and the lid 114 is placed over the container 12 such that the second side 130b faces outward, away from the base, and the first side 130a faces inward, toward the container 12. In the second orientation, the lid 114 is simply placed upon the container 12 such that the step 156 rests upon the flange 46 and the flange 154 rests upon the step 44. In the second orientation, the distance between the first side 130a and the bottom panel 16 is much greater than the distance between the second side 130b and the bottom panel 16 in the first orientation. The second orientation provides space for the seedlings to grow upward before being transplanted to another growing medium.

In other examples, the shape and dimensions of the wall 160, the locking tab 170, or any other portion of the lid 114 may vary as desired, and may further vary dependent upon the corresponding shape of the chosen container 12. Similarly, the locking tabs 170 may extend the entire circumference of the dome 130, or, as is illustrated in FIG. 5, may extend at least partially around the dome 130. Still further, in at least one example, the line of weakness 180 between the locking tab 170 and the wall 160 may be suitable for removing the locking tab 170 as desired, such as, for example, a perforation.

Although certain example methods and apparatus have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. A reversible container lid for a container having a lip, the lid comprising:

a cover having a perimeter, a first side and a second side;

a wall having a first end extending from at least a portion of the perimeter of the cover and a second end distal from the perimeter; and

a locking tab extending from at least a portion of the second end of the wall,

wherein the locking tab is flexible about the second end of the wall such that the locking tab is diposable between the container and the container lip when the lid is positioned upon the container and the first side is disposed toward the container.

2. The lid of claim 1, further comprising a step radially outwardly extending from the perimeter of the cover and between the perimeter of the cover and the first end of the wall.

3. The lid of claim 1, wherein the wall further comprises a first portion and a second portion separated by a radially outwardly extending flange.

4. The lid of claim 1, wherein the locking tab is pivotable about a line of weakness.

5. The lid of claim 4, wherein the line of weakness is a perforation.

6. The lid of claim 1, wherein the lid is positionable on the container such that the second side is disposed toward the container.

7. A container comprising:

a base container having a bottom panel, at least one side wall extending generally upward from a perimeter of the base, the at least one side wall having a top end defining a top opening within the side wall, and the top end having a generally downwardly extending lip extending away from the defined opening;

a reversible lid having a cover including a perimeter, a first side, and a second side;

a wall having a first end extending from at least a portion of the perimeter of the cover and a second end distal from the perimeter;

a locking tab pivotally extending from at least a portion of the second end of the wall, wherein the locking tab is pivotable about the second end of the wall into a position between the container and the container lip when the lid is positioned upon the container and the first side is disposed toward the container, the pivoted locking tab preventing the removal of the reversible lid without pivoting the locking tab away from the container lip.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the locking tab is configured to extend the length of the lip of the base container.

9. The container of claim 7, wherein the reversible lid is formed of a resilient material.

10. The container of claim 7, wherein the base container is formed of a resilient material.

11. A lid for a container having a base and a side wall extending from a perimeter of the base, an outwardly extending base step extending from the side wall and outwardly from the perimeter of the base, and a base lip extending outwardly from the step, the lid comprising:

a covering top;

a cover step extending outwardly from the covering top; and

a locking lip extending outwardly from the cover step;

wherein the lid is reversible between a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein in the locked state the locking lip is tuckable between the base lip and the side wall of the base, and in the unlocked state the base step rests on the cover step.

12. The lid of claim 1 wherein the locking lip is formed of a resilient material.

13. The lid of claim 1 wherein the locking lip comprises a lid wall flexibly connected to a locking tab, wherein in the locked state the base lip is between the lid wall and the locking tab.

14. The lid of claim 13 wherein in the locked state the locking tab extends from the lid wall toward the base step.

15. The lid of claim 11 wherein in the locked state the covering top is a first distance from the base and in the unlocked state the covering top is a second distance, greater than the first distance, from the base.

16. The lid of claim 11 wherein in the unlocked state the container is useable as a greenhouse and in the locked state the container is suitable for stacking with other containers.