EP0078646B1

EP0078646B1 - Storage container with removable lid

Info

Publication number: EP0078646B1
Application number: EP82305646A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael James Warwick
Original assignee: Lin Pac Mouldings Ltd
Current assignee: Linpac Mouldings Ltd
Priority date: 1981-10-27
Filing date: 1982-10-25
Publication date: 1987-07-22
Also published as: EP0078646A1; ATE28436T1; DE3276804D1

Abstract

Security lids for stack/nest containers are frequently lost since they must be separated from such containers when the containers are in the nested condition. The present invention provides an open looped container 10 and a lid 26 with a transverse hinge 30. The lid includes means 36, 68, 70, 96, 102, for engagement on the container 24, 62, 80, 88, so that the lid cannot be removed without a combined pivoting of the lid parts about the hinge and sliding of the lid relative to the container. The folded lid can be stored in the container when another container is nested therein.

Description

This invention relates to a storage container having a removable lid. More particularly the invention concerns a container having a removable lid which is formed as a one piece plastics moulding having two lid parts connected together by a hinge region and which is fitted to upper edges of side walls of the container to close the open top thereof. Examples of lidded containers of the kind discussed above are disclosed in G.B. Specification A-2,017,646 and U.S. Specification A-3,412,890 where the lids are fitted to their respective containers as a simple press fit during pivotal movement of a hinged lid part into engagement with the upper edge of the container. It has also been proposed, for example in FR Specification 1,577,200 to provide a container with a removable lid in which the lid is fitted by sliding movement relative to the container to engage a flange part of the lid beneath a rim at the upper edge of the container and thereby alleviate lifting of the lid from the container along said rim.
Lids formed from hinged lid parts are desirable as they can be folded to reduce their overall size when not is use to facilitate their storage and transportation (for example in empty containers to which they can be fitted). There is a requirement for a container having a lid formed from hinged parts as aforementioned to serve as a so- called "security container" where the lid can be fastened to the container, for example by a seal, in such a way that its unauthorised removal is apparent (for example by breakage of the seal or other fastening) and thereby the likelihood of goods being pilfered from the container is alleviated. The present invention has been made with this requirement in mind.
According to the present invention there is provided a container having a removable lid, said container comprising a floor and an open top formed by upper edges of opposed upwardly extending side walls and opposed upwardly extending end walls; said lid being formed as a one piece plastics moulding and comprising two lid parts connected together by a hinge region which extends transversely relative to the side walls with the lid fitted to close the top; a rim provided on an end wall adjacent the upper edge thereof; means on the lid for engagement with the underside of said rim and to extend over the upper edges of the side and end walls, said lid being fitted to and removed from the container by combined pivotal movement about said hinge region and sliding movement relative to the container to engage and disengage a part of the lid beneath the rim and upper edges; characterised in that the upper edges of the opposed side walls are provided with recesses within which portions of the hinge region adjacent to those side walls are received and accommodated when the lid is lowered into engagement with the upper edges of the side walls.
By the present invention the engagement of a part of the lid beneath the rim of the container and the accommodation of portions of the hinge region within the recesses in the upper edges of the side walls permit the lid to be constructed as a firm snug fit with the container and in a manner whereby the lid can be secured by means which will be discussed hereinafter to provide a security container. For example, at least one end of the lid engages beneath a rim provided on one end wall during fitting of the lid so that the other end of the lid may be locked with a fastening device or seal and this arrangement together with the engagement of the hinge region within the recesses of the side walls can serve to render it difficult to forcibly remove the lid from the container - at least without causing apparent damage and providing an indication of unauthorised access to the container.
Preferably the hinge in the lid is provided in such a position that the lid can be folded and thereby stored in the empty container. To that end the dimensions of the folded lid should be no greater than the internal dimensions of the container. It is convenient to locate the hinge so that it divides the lid in half. However, that is not essential. If desired more than one hinge can be provided so that the lid can be folded more than once for storage purposes.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container and lid, partly in section and with the lid partly removed from the container;
Fig. 2 illustrates the container fully closed by the lid;
Fig. 3 is a part sectional perspective view similar to that of Fig. 1 of another embodiment;
Fig. 4 is a part section through the right hand end (as viewed in Fig. 3) of the lid of the embodiment of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a part section through the middle of the lid of the embodiment of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a part section through the left hand end of the lid of the embodiment of Fig. 3;
Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section of another embodiment of a container and lid;
Fig. 8 is a plan view of a part of the rim of the embodiment of Fig. 7; and
Fig. 9 is a section through the lid of the embodiment of Fig. 7.

In the drawings like parts of the different embodiments have been given the same reference numerals.
Referring to the drawings a container 10 of rectangular plan comprises side walls 12 and end walls 14. The walls are successively stepped inwardly towards the base and each step of the wall is itself inclined inwardly towards the base by a small angle, for example 2°. The container can, therefore, be nested within another like empty container.
The stepped construction is not essential and a container adapted for nesting can be provided by means of continuously inclined side walls. It is to be understood moreover that the invention can be applied to containers which do not nest one with another.
The top of the side walls of the container are formed with an unhinged flange 16. Midway along each side wall a generally U-shaped depression 18 is formed, the purpose for which will become apparent. A reinforcing rib 20 extends on the outside of the side walls 12 parallel to flange 16. The rib 20 extends through the bottom of the U-shaped depression 18. The channel defined between the flange 16 and rib 20 is closed adjacent each end thereof as at 22.
The top of each end wall 14 is formed with an inturned flange 24. The flanges 16 and 24 meet at each corner of the container so as to provide a continuous rim around the container top. Preferably the width of flanges 16 and 24 is the same.
The container can be closed by a lid 26. The lid consists of two substantially identical parts 28 and 28a joined together by a hinge 30. The lid is made of plastics with an integral plastics hinge of a kind known per se.
Each lid part comprises a flat sheet 32 of rectangular shape. A U-shaped channel 34 extends along each shorter side of sheet 32 with the open side of the channel directed downwardly. Another U-shaped channel 36 extends along the long edge of sheet 32 opposite the hinge, the open side of channel 36 being directed outwardly. It is preferred, as shown in the illustrated embodiment that the web 38 of channel 34 should join the end rim 40 (which forms part of channel 36) so as to form a continuous rim around the lid. It is also preferred, as illustrated, that the said continuous rim should be slightly above the level of the sheet 32 so that a wall is formed around three sides of the sheet. At the fourth side of the sheet 32 the lid is stepped down, as at 42, to the hinge 30.
The lid is fitted onto the container in the following way. The two lid parts 28 and 28a are slightly inclined to each other as illustrated in Fig. 1 and the channels 34 located over the flanges 16. Pressure is applied to the lid to cause each end thereof to approach the end walls 14 of the container. The application of pressure as aforesaid eventually causes channels 36 to receive flanges 24 and at the same time each end of the stepped down portion of the lid containing the hinge is received in recess 18.
Finally the inner surfaces of the webs 38 of channels 34 come to rest on the flanges 16, the aforesaid ends of the stepped down portion containing the hinge rest on the bottom of recess 18 and the under sides of end rims 40 of channels 36 rest on the tops of flanges 24. Fig. 2 shows the lid in its closed position. The lid can be sealed to the container by means known per se. For example the lid can be sealed in one or more places by a fastening device which extends through the lid and is received by the container. Once sealed it is virtually impossible for anyone to gain access to the container without braking the seal.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the outer side wall of channel 34 is dimensioned so that when the lid is closed, the said side wall extends at least as far as ribs 20. It will be noted that channels 34 do not extend to the end of the lid but stop short so as to accommodate the filled in portion 22.
The shape of the channel 36 is not regular in that the lower side wall is downwardly inclined in order to ease fitting and removal of the lid.
It is preferred that the sheets 32 should, when the lid is closed in the container, be slightly inclined towards the stepped down portion containing the hinge. Such an arrangement will cause rain water to drain from the sheets 32 to the hinge and out through recess 18, where the hinge sits in the depression, if the container is stored in the open.
The container may have a small receptacle 50 formed on end wall 14 having a transparent external wall 52, for receiving a label through a slot (not shown) in flange 24. When the lid is closed on the container the label cannot be removed from the receptacle because the slot is covered by rim 40.
When the container is empty the folded lid can be placed at the bottom thereof without in any way interfering with the nesting therein of another container. While the container is being emptied the folded lid can be conveniently stored by locating on suitably positioned rods the tubes formed by the channels 34 on each part 28 and 28a coming together.
The embodiment of Fig. 3 is somewhat similar to that of Fig. 1 except that the way in which the lid is secured to container is modified.
The container in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as the container of Fig. 1 except that the space between flange 16 and rib 20 on the side walls is closed by a wall 60. Apertures 62 are formed in the sides of the depressions 18. Apertures 64 are also provided in the flange 24 at the mid point of each end wall.
The lid is provided at one end with a channel 66 similar to channel 36 of the embodiment of Fig. 1 except that a reinforcing rib 68 is provided behind the channel. A lug 70 is provided inside the right hand parts of channels 34 (as viewed in the drawing) the lug is located at the end of said channel parts adjacent the hinge and is directed towards the lid end having channel 66 thereat. The other (left hand) end of the lid has a snap closure member 72 projecting downwardly from rim 40.
The lid is fixed onto the container by locating the right hand end of the lid with the channels 34 resting over flanges 16. The lid is then moved towards the right so that flange 24 of the container is received in the channel 66 (Fig. 4) and at the same time lug 70 enters aperture 62 (Fig. 5). The left hand end of the lid is then pivotted downwardly about the hinge and the snap closure member 72 fastens on the flange 24 and the left hand end of the container (Fig. 6). The lid can be sealed to the container by a fastener which extends through the aperture 74 in rim 40 and into aperture 64 in the flange 24 of the container.
In some instances a container may be required whose interior is clear of any in-turned flanges such as flanges 24 in the previously described embodiments. The invention can provide for that requirement for example by the embodiment of Figs. 7 to 9 which will now be described.
Instead of in-turned flanges 24 at each end the container has an external projection 80. The projection is substantially S-shaped in cross-section thereby defining an upwardly directed channel 82 adjacent the container and a downwardly directed channel 84 remote from the container.
The side walls of the container have an out- turned flange 16 as before but in place of the recess 18 a cut out 86 is formed to one side of the transverse centre line of the container. A smaller cut out 88 is formed in the flange 16 on the centre line and beside cut out 86. Walls 90 extend on either side of cut out 86 to the rib 20. As can be seen in Fig. 7 the rib 20 is inclined slightly upwardly at 92 as it extends beside cut out 88 to the appropriate wall 90.
The lid is shown in section in Fig. 9 and comprises two parts each hinged to a central member 91. A downwardly directed flange 94 is provided at each end of the lid. At one end only the flange 94 is in-turned as at 96 to define a channel 98. A wall 100 extends downwardly at each end of the member 91. A lug 102 is provided on the inner surface of wall 100 at the lower end thereof.
The lid is fixed to the container in the following way. The right hand end of the lid is placed on the container so that wall 100 and lug 102 at each end of member 91 drop through cut outs 86. The lid is then moved to the left so that projection 80 is received in channel 98 and so that lug 102 passes below surface 92. At the same time wall 100 is received in cut out 88. The left hand end of the lid is now pivotted downwardly and can be secured in any convenient way.
It will be noted that in the embodiment just described the upper surface of the lid can be made flat. If positive location for stacking of another container on the lid is required projections 104 can be provided on the lid.
It will be evident that the invention can be applied to many existing containers which already have the necessary formations for engagement of a lid thereon in accordance with the invention. Moreover, many existing containers can be modified to make them suitable for use in the present invention.
If desired the containers may be fitted with transverse wires, as is known per se, the ends of which are pivotably mounted in the side walls of the container so as to permit movement of the wires from a stacking position where they extend across the container and support another container and a nesting position not obstructing access to the container whereby another container can be nested in the said container. A channel can be formed in flange 24 to receive a wire in the nested position. Preferably the lid is arranged to fit on the container regardless of whether the wire is in the stacking or nesting position. When in the former it provides support below the lid which can be useful where heavy loads are placed on the lid.
The provision of a hinged lid in accordance with the invention permits the containerto be used with half the lid permanently in place, the other half being lifted when access to the container contents is required. The embodiments of Figs. 3 and 7 are particularly adapted for use in this way.
The term hinge as used in the specification also includes constructions where the lid material can flex in the manner of a hinge.
The lid may be provided with a clip for holding the lid in the folded condition. The clip can conveniently comprise a lug on one lid part which is a snapfit in a suitably profiled piece on the other part.
In the embodiments described a security plug or pin is inserted through the top of the lid into the container. It can equally well be inserted through a side wall of the lid into the side of the container.

Claims

1. A container (10) having a removable lid (26), said container (10) comprising a floor and an open top formed by upper edges of opposed upwardly extending side walls (12) and opposed upwardly extending end walls (14); said lid (26) being formed as a one piece plastics moulding and comprising two lid parts connected together by a hinge region (30) which extends transversely relative to the side walls (12) with the lid fitted to close the top; a rim (24) provided on an end wall (14) adjacent the upper edge thereof; means (40, 36) on the lid for engagement with the underside of said rim (14) and to extend overthe upper edges of the side and end walls, said lid (26) being fitted to and removed from the container (10) by combined pivotal movement about said hinge region (30) and sliding movement relative to the container (10) to engage and disengage a part (36) of the lid beneath the rim (24) and upper edges; characterised in that the upper edges of the opposed side walls (12) are provided with recesses (18) within which portions of the hinge region (30) adjacent to those side walls (12) are received and accommodated when the lid (26) is lowered into engagement with the upper edges of the side walls (12).

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the rim (24) on the end wall (14) is inside the container (10) and the part of the lid (26) which engages beneath that rim (24) comprises a flange (36) while a further flange (40) on the lid extends over the upper edge of the end wall (14) which carries the rim (24).

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the rim (80) on the end wall (14) is outside the container (10) and the means on the lid (26) for engagement therewith comprises a channel (98) which is slidable to extend over the upper edge of the end wall which carries the rim (80) and to engage beneath the rim (80).

4. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a rim (24) is provided on each end wall (14) adjacent to the open top and means (66, 72) is provided on the lid (26) for engagement with the underside of each said rim (24), at least one rim (24) of an end wall (14) being located inside the container (10).

5. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the lid (26) has downwardly directed flanges (34) which extend over the outside of the upper edges of the side walls as the lid (26) is lowered to close the open top of the container.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5 characterised in that the downwardly directed flanges (34) comprise channels within which the upper edges of the opposed side walls (12) are received.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that on fitting the lid (26) the hinge region (30) engages with the side walls (12) adjacent to said recesses (18) to restrain that region (30) from being lifted relative to the container (10).

8. A container as claimed in claim 7 characterised in that depressions (62) and lugs (70) are provided on the side walls (12) and the lid which snap engage to provide said restraint.

9. A container as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the hinge region comprises downwardly extending lugs (102) which are received in the recesses (86) and are slidable with the lid (26) relative to the container (10) to engage the lugs (102) beneath overlying parts (88) of the side walls and provide said restraint to lifting of the lid relative to the container (10).

10. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a central region of the lid (26) is depressed relative to its marginal side edge portions (34, 40), said depression being capable of receiving the floor of a similar container (10) to provide a positive location when stacking one container on another.

11. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which, with the lid fitted to the container, it is characterised in that the lid parts (32) slope downwardly towards the hinge region (30), and that the hinge region (30) forms a drainage channel from the lid (26):