AU2009243523A1

AU2009243523A1 - Container

Info

Publication number: AU2009243523A1
Application number: AU2009243523A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Graham; Vicky Huang
Original assignee: Reece Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Reece Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-04
Filing date: 2009-12-04
Publication date: 2010-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-04
Also published as: NZ581650A; AU2009243523B2

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention title: Container The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Container Field of the Invention The present invention relates to containers. In particular, the present invention relates to containers of the kind having internal compartments suitable for storing 5 items including plumbing fittings and the like, and a closure for closing off the internal compartments to safely store the items therein. Background of the Invention In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act 10 or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date: (i) part of common general knowledge; or (ii) known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned. Containers having a number of internal compartments, sometimes provided in a 15 stacked arrangement, that are suitable for storing items including tools, fishing tackle, plumbing fittings and the like, are known. An example of such a container is provided in Australian Patent No 675425. The container described in the patent is comprised of a pair of hingedly-connected parts, each of which houses a number of storage compartments. The container includes a pair of internal lids 20 that are used to close the compartments housed in each part so that items may be safely stored in the container. Each internal lid is secured to its part by locating the lid in a slideway suitably provided in the part. When access to a compartment is required, the lid is slid out of the slideway. Whilst the container described in Australian Patent No 675425 works reasonably 25 well in practice, it is sometimes difficult and inconvenient to insert and remove the internal lid from the slideways when access to a compartment is required. In some cases, this can be exacerbated when debris from a worksite where the container is used, collects in one of the slideways. Furthermore, the internal lid, once removed from the container, can be easily lost or forgotten. 30 It would be advantageous to provide a container that does not suffer these deficiencies.

2 Summary of the Invention The present invention provides in one embodiment a container comprising: a casing defining an interior storage region; a closure configured to selectively open and close a part of the storage 5 region so as to respectively enable access to and storage of items contained therein, wherein the closure: is attachable to the casing along one of its edges; is pivotable about a pivot axis defined by the edge; and is movable between a closed position at which another edge of the closure is locked to the casing, and an open position, 10 at which the other edge is free of the casing, the closure being pivotable about the pivot axis when in the open position. Containers according to the present invention have advantages arising from the fact that they do not include closures that are attachable to the container by location in a slideway. In particular, the mode of connection between the closure 15 and casing of containers according to the present invention, results in safe storage of items within the container, and also in an easily and conveniently openable closure that provides access to items stored therein. Moreover, as the closure and casing do not become separated from each other, the risk of the closure being lost or forgotten is reduced in comparison to prior art containers. 20 Preferably, the closure is movable between the closed position and open position by sliding the closure along the casing. Typically, the closure is slideable in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis. Preferably, the other edge of the closure is the opposite edge. Optimally, the sliding movement of the closure is constrained by a raised 25 peripheral region provided on the casing. The locking of the other edge of the closure to the casing may be effected by any convenient means. According to embodiments where the other edge is the opposite edge, the opposite edge may include one or more closure tabs projecting therefrom, and the casing may include one or more corresponding casing tabs 30 projecting therefrom, the arrangement being such that in the open position the closure tabs are movable past the casing tabs when the closure pivots about the 3 pivot axis, and in the closed position the closure tabs and casing tabs are in register with each other, thereby locking the opposite edge to the casing and preventing pivoting of the closure about the pivot axis. Optionally, the closure includes a handle suitable for gripping the closure to move 5 between the open and closed position and/or to pivot the closure about the pivot axis. Typically, the handle has an L-shaped profile comprising a first part extending upwardly and orthogonally from the closure, and a second part extending orthogonally from the first part in a plane substantially parallel to the closure. 10 Optionally, the handle is attached to one of the closure tabs. Preferably, the container includes indicating means for indicating when the closure is not in the closed position. Typically, the indicating means are associated with the container being closable only when the closure is in the closed position. 15 Optimally, the indicating means include cooperating assemblies provided on the closure and casing that co-operate in a manner enabling closing of the container only when the closure is in a closed position. Typically, the co-operating assemblies comprise one or more projections extending from the closure and one or more corresponding apertures provided in the casing, the arrangement being 20 such that the container is closable only when the projections nest within the apertures, with the projections only nesting within the apertures when the closure is in the closed position. Preferably, the casing includes first and second hingedly connected parts that are pivotable about a container axis to selectively open and close the container, the 25 closure attaching to one of the parts along a pivot axis substantially parallel to the container axis. The container may include a second closure attachable to the other part along a pivot axis substantially parallel to the axis. The present invention provides in another embodiment a container for storing 30 items, the container having at least one storage region, a closeable lid, and 4 retaining means to releasably retain the lid in a closed position, the lid being pivotable with respect to the container along an edge of the container, the lid being slideable along the pivot axis from a first closed position to a second open position enabling the lid to pivot about the pivot axis. 5 Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with the present invention; 10 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container illustrated in Figure 1 in an open position; Figure 3 is a magnified view of the top end of the container illustrated in Figure 1 showing tabs provided on the closure and casing; Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the container illustrated in Figures 15 1 to 3 showing one of the closures in an open position; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 showing both closures in a closed position; Figure 7 is an exploded view of the container illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 showing the interior compartments; and 20 Figure 8 is a perspective view of a different sized container in accordance with the invention. Detailed Description of the Drawings A container 10 is illustrated by reference to Figures 1 to 8. Container 10 is composed of a casing 11 which includes a first part 12 and a second part 14 that 25 are hingedly connected together via hinges 16 provided between the lower longitudinal walls 15 of parts 12 and 14. First part 12 and second part 14 are box shaped and open at one end so as to define an interior storage region 30, 32. The container includes a handle 18 suitable for carrying the container to a worksite. The handle is formed from a first handle component 20 provided on 30 upper longitudinal wall 21 of first part 12, and a second handle component 22 5 provided on upper longitudinal wall 23 of second part 14. Handle components 20 and 22 combine to form handle 18 when container 10 is in a closed position. Container 10 is opened and closed simply by rotating first part 12 and second part 14 about hinge 16. 5 Ribbing 13 is provided on the exterior of casing 11 in order to impart strength and rigidity to the container 10. Storage compartments 34 (Figure 7) may be stacked into storage region 30 defined by first part 12 and storage region 32 defined by second part 12. The storage compartments 34 are suitable for storing items including plumbing 10 fittings, tools, hardware and the like. Internal closures 40 and 42 are provided so that respective storage regions 30 and 32 may be opened to obtain access to the items stored therein, and closed to safely store those items within container 10. Closure 40 is attached along its longitudinal edge 43 to first part 12 at a position 15 adjacent to lower longitudinal wall 15. Similarly, closure 42 is attached along its longitudinal edge 45 to second part 14 at a position adjacent to longitudinal wall 17. Closures 40 and 42 are attached to casing 11 by way of hinges 44. Each hinge 44 is made up of a hinge housing 47 (Fig 4) extending from a respective longitudinal edge 43 and 45 of closures 12 and 14, and a rod 46 that locates 20 within an opening (not shown) that extends through hinge housing 47. Closure tabs 48 are provided on, and extend outwardly from, opposite longitudinal edge 49 of closure 40 and on opposite longitudinal edge 51 of closure 42. Casing tabs 50 are provided on, and extend inwardly from, the interior of upper longitudinal wall 21 of first part 12, and on the interior of upper 25 longitudinal wall 23 of second part 14. Casing tabs 50 are located at a position above closure tabs 48 when closure 12 or 14 are in a closed position (Fig 3). Casing tabs 50 and closure tabs 48 are also in register with each other when closures 12 or 14 is in a closed position, in that each casing tab 50 sits directly above a corresponding closure tab 48. 30 In use, a user moves closures 40 and 42 from a closed position to an open position by first gripping one of a number of arced handles 54 located along each 6 lateral edge 53 or 55 of closures 40 and 42. Closure 40 or 42 is then slid within its plane in a direction shown by arrow "A" (Figure 2) until lateral edge 53 or 55 reaches a raised region 52 provided on the periphery of first part 12 and second part 14. Closure 40 or 42 can not move within its plane beyond raised region 52. 5 When lateral edge 53 or 55 of closure 12 or 14 is located at.peripheral region 52, closure tabs 48 are still below, but are no longer in register with, casing tabs 50. Instead, closure tabs 48 are located below spaces 57 formed between casing tabs 50 (Figure 3). In this position, opposite longitudinal edge 49 or 51 is free to move out from underneath casing tabs 50. This is effected by gripping an L-shaped 10 handle 48 provided in closures 40 and 42 adjacent opposite longitudinal edge 49 or 51, and pulling in an upwards direction. Opposite longitudinal edge 49 or 51 moves out from underneath casing tabs 50, and hinge housing 47 provided on longitudinal edge 43 or 45, pivots about rod 46. Closure 40 or 42 is rotated in this way (in a direction shown as arrow 'B' in Fig 5) until it is brought to an 15 upstanding position approximately perpendicular to the plane defined by closure 40 or 42 when in the closed position. Closing closure 40 or 42 simply involves rotating longitudinal edge 43 or 45 about rod 46 in the opposite direction until closure 40 or 42 again lies in a horizontal plane and closure tabs 48 are located below casing tabs 50. Arc-shaped handle 54 20 is again gripped and closure 40 or 42 is slid back along rod 44 until closure tabs 48 are in register with casing tabs 50. Opposed edge 49 is locked to the casing 11 when tabs 48, 50 are in register. Projections 58 extend out of closures 40 and 42 along lateral edges 53 and 55. When either or both closures 40 and 42 are in the open position and a user 25 attempts to close container 10 by rotating first part 12 and second part 14 about hinge 16, projections 58 come into contact with the opposite closure 40 or 42. This prevents container 10 from being closed when closure 30 is in an open position. Closing container 10 when either closure 40 or 42 is in an open position heightens the risk of closure 40 or 42 coming loose and falling out of container 10 30 the next time it is opened. Any items stored within compartments 34 are also at risk of falling from container 10 in the event of closure 40 or 42 being in the open position when container 10 is closed.

7 However, when closure 40 or 42 are in the closed position and container 10 is closed, projections 58 nest within apertures 60 formed in an internal flange 59 provided in first part 12 and second part 14. This enables container 10 to be easily and conveniently closed. 5 Container 10 may be manufactured in any suitable size (Fig 8) and from any suitable material depending on the application to which the container will be put. When used as tradesman's equipment, such as to carry plumbing fittings, casing 11 is typically formed from a heavy duty plastic material such ABS plastic. Closures 40 and 42 are made from (preferably clear) polycarbonate so that items stored 10 within compartments 34 can be viewed without having to open closure 40 or 42. Rods 46 are typically made from carbon steel and may be replaceable. Latch 24 is made from polypropylene plastic and is also preferably replaceable. The word 'comprising' and forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this description and in the claims do not limit the invention claimed to exclude any 15 variants or additions. Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a casing defining an interior storage region; a closure configured to selectively open and close a part of the storage 5 region so as to respectively enable access to and storage of items contained therein, wherein the closure: is attachable to the casing along one of its edges; is pivotable about a pivot axis defined by the edge; and is movable between a closed position at which another edge of the closure is locked to the casing, and an open position, at which the other edge is free of the 10 casing, the closure being pivotable about the pivot axis when in the open position.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the closure is movable between the closed position and open position by sliding the closure along the casing. 15

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the closure is slideable in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis.

4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the other edge of the closure is the opposite edge.

5. A container according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further including a raised 20 peripheral region provided on the casing adapted to constrain sliding movement of the closure.

6. A container according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the opposite edge includes one or more closure tabs projecting therefrom, and the casing includes one or more corresponding casing tabs projecting therefrom, the 25 arrangement being such that in the open position the closure tabs are movable past the casing tabs when the closure pivots about the pivot axis, and in the closed position the closure tabs and casing tabs are in register with each other, thereby locking the opposite edge to the casing and preventing pivoting of the closure about the pivot axis. 9

7. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the closure includes a handle suitable for gripping the closure to move between the open and closed position and/or to pivot the closure about the pivot axis.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the handle has an L-shaped 5 profile comprising a first part extending upwardly and orthogonally from the closure, and a second part extending orthogonally from the first part in a plane substantially parallel to the closure.

9. A container according to claim 7 or claim 8 when directly or indirectly dependent on claim 6, wherein the handle is attached to one of the closure 10 tabs.

10. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further including indicating means for indicating when the closure is not in the closed position.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the indicating means includes 15 cooperating assemblies provided on the closure and casing, the assemblies co-operating in a manner enabling closing of the container only when the closure is in a closed position.

12. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the casing includes first and second hingedly connected parts that are pivotable about 20 a container axis to selectively open and close the container, the closure attaching to one of the parts along a pivot axis substantially parallel to the container axis.

13. A container according to claim 12, further including a second closure attachable to the other part along a pivot axis substantially parallel to the 25 axis.

14. A container for storing items, the container having at least one storage region, a closeable lid, and retaining means to releasably retain the lid in a closed position, the lid being pivotable with respect to the container along an edge of the container, the lid being slideable along the pivot axis from a 30 first closed position to a second open position enabling the lid to pivot about the pivot axis. 10

15. A container, substantially as herein described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.