GB2250504A

GB2250504A - Container with sliding lid

Info

Publication number: GB2250504A
Application number: GB9123828A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Clive Loftus
Original assignee: MCKECHNIE CONSUMER PROD
Current assignee: MCKECHNIE CONSUMER PROD
Priority date: 1990-11-09
Filing date: 1991-11-08
Publication date: 1992-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2011-11-08
Also published as: GB9123828D0; GB2250504B; GB9024391D0

Abstract

A container 10 for slidably receiving a resilient flexible lid comprises first and second lid support surfaces 14 which extend along opposed sides of the mouth 16 of the container 10. Retaining projections 18 are spaced above the surfaces 14 to define spaces between the projections 18 and the surfaces 14 for receiving the edges 22 of the lid 12. Abutment means 24 for retaining the lid are spaced from the retaining projections 18 at one end of the surfaces 14 and the lid is sufficiently flexible to be deformable against its resilience away from the surfaces 14 at the said one end thereof and clear of the abutment means 24. This allows the deformed lid to slide along the surfaces 14 and, after deforming, pass the abutment means 24 to be wholly or partially removed from the container. <IMAGE>

Description

Container Lid Assembly The present invention relates to container lid assemblies, and in particular to arrangements for retaining lids on containers.

There have been many proposals for retaining lids on containers. Some allow the lid to be wholly removed when not required. Others attach the lid to the container, for instance by hinges. The presence of the lid may be inconvenient when the lid is not required. We have identified a need for an improved lid assembly which allows the lid to be wholly removed in a simple fashion, and which also allows the lid to be retained in various partially closed configurations to provide convenient access to the contents of the container in various circumstances.

According to the present invention there is provided a container lid assembly comprising a resilient, flexible lid, first and second surfaces which extend along opposed sides of the mouth of the container, at least one retaining projection spaced above the said surfaces to define a space between the projection and one of the surfaces for receiving one of the edges with a sliding fit, and abutment means located to substantially prevent the lid sliding on the surfaces when the lid is relaxed and occupying the space as aforesaid, the abutment means being spaced from the retaining projection at one end of the surfaces and the lid being sufficiently flexible to be deformable against its resilience away from the surfaces at the said one end thereof and clear of the abutment means, whereby the deformed lid may be slid through the space, along the surfaces and, after deforming, past the abutment means to wholly or partially remove the lid from the container.

Preferably, the first and second surfaces, in use, support corresponding edges of the lid when closed.

There may be a plurality of retaining projections located as aforesaid, and preferably at least one retaining projection defining a space with each surface.

Preferably the first and second surfaces are parallel. At least one of the surfaces which support edges of the lid may be a ledge formed by rebating the periphery of the wall of the container at the mouth thereof. The surface between the or each ledge and the extremity of the corresponding wall may act as abutment means as aforesaid.

Preferably the lid and the mouth of the container are square or rectangular, and surfaces which may support corresponding edges of the lid are formed along at least three sides of the mouth of the container. Preferably retaining projections are only provided along opposed sides of the mouth of the container. Retaining projections are preferably spaced from both ends of both opposed edges, whereby the lid may be removed by sliding in either direction along the surfaces.

Preferably one edge of the lid carries a flap which, when the lid is closed, may close an opening in a wall of the container other than the mouth of the container. The opening is preferably continuous with the mouth of the container. Preferably releasable catch means are provided, operable to hold the flap in the closed position. The catch means may comprise two opposed surfaces defining between them a space for receiving the free edge of the flap, and so located as to require the lid and/or flap to be deformed in order to place the edge in the space, whereby the resilience of the flap and lid resists the removal of the edge from the space. One of the opposed surfaces of the catch means may extend beyond the other surface to engage the flap as it moves past the said other surface, thereby facilitating the location of the flap in the space.

Preferably the flap is narrower than the space between the opposed surfaces on which the lid may slide, whereby the lid may be slid to a partially removed position in which the flap extends from the lid into the mouth of the container.

The flap is preferably hingedly attached to the lid. Hinge means may be provided which allow the flap to be folded away from the opening to lie against the lid on the externally facing surface thereof. Preferably at least one space between a retaining projection and one of the first and second surfaces is sufficient to receive two thicknesses of the material of the lid, and hinge means allow the flap or part of the lid to be folded back and retained in the said space, to hold the flap away from the opening.

One embodiment of the present invention, together with modifications thereof, will now be described in more detail by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lidded container incorporating a lid assembly according to the invention, with the lid removed; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1, with the lid fully closed; Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line 3-3 of Fig.

2; Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section of one end of the container; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a corner detail from Figs. 1 and 2, indicating how the lid can be removed from the container; Fig. 6 is a schematic section in elevation, showing the container in use with the lid partially removed; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view indicating the mode of use of a modified version of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5.

Turning to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a container 10 having a container lid assembly in the region of the mouth thereof. The lid assembly includes a resilient, flexible lid 12. First and second surfaces 14 extend along opposed sides of the mouth 16 of the container 10. The surfaces 14 may support corresponding edges of the lid 12. Retaining projections 18 are spaced above the surfaces 14 to define spaces 20 (Fig. 3) between the projections 18 and surfaces 14 for receiving the edges 22 of the lid 12. The edges 22 are a sliding fit in the spaces 20. Abutment means 24 in the form of vertical walls are spaced around the container mouth 16 to substantially prevent the lid 12 sliding on the surfaces 14 when the lid 12 is relaxed and occupying each space 20.The abutment means 24 are spaced from the retaining projections 18 at one end of the surfaces 14 and the lid 12 is sufficiently flexible to be deformable against its resilience away from the surfaces 14 at the said one end thereof, and clear of the abutment means 24.

This allows the deformed lid 12 to slide through the spaces 20 along the surfaces 14 and, after deforming, past the abutment means 24 to be wholly or partially removed from the container.

In more detail, the container 10 is generally rectangular, having a base 26 from which two side walls 28 and two end walls 30 extend up vertically to define between them the mouth 16. It is to be understood that terms such as "vertical", "top" and "bottom" are used herein with reference to the normal orientation in which the container 10 would be used, with the base 26 lying horizontally beneath the walls 28,30, but other orientations are of course possible.

The side walls 28 and one end wall 30A extend up to the mouth 16. The end wall 308 is partially cut away to form an opening 32 in the end wall 308 but continuous with the mouth 16.

The upper peripheries of the side walls 28 are rebated along the whole of their length to form horizontal ledges which provide the surfaces 14. The rebating leaves vertical walls along the outer edges of the ledges 14, which form the abutment means 24 along the whole length of the ledges 14. At two positions along the side walls 28 (or at more positions if considered necessary), projections 18 in the form of rectangular tabs extend out from the vertical walls 24 over the ledges 14, leaving the space 20 therebetween. The ledges 14 and tabs 18 therefore define between them a plane which the lid 12 may occupy when relaxed and flat. The sliding fit in the spaces 20 ensures that the lid 12 is prevented from sliding on the ledges 14 by abutment with the walls 24, but would otherwise be free to slide on the ledges 14.

At the top of the end wall 30A, there is a similar rebated formation which forms a ledge 34 at the same height as the ledges 14 and extending across the whole width of the container to connect the ledges 14. The rebating leaves a vertical abutment wall 24 along part of the length of the ledge 34, leaving finger openings 36 to assist the user in removing the lid, as will be described.

At the top of the end wall 30B, outside the opening 32, the wall 308 is rebated to leave short ledges 38 at the same height as the ledges 14,34, and bounded by abutment walls 24.

At the top of the wall 30B along the length of the opening 32, the top edge of the wall 30B consists of three generally vertical portions 40A,B,C arranged with interconnecting webs in a generally S-shaped configuration as shown in Fig. 4. The innermost portion 40A and the middle portion 408 form between them a recess 42 for receiving an edge of a flap 44 on the lid 12, to be described. The outer portion 40C forms a finger grip for pulling the container and its contents.

The lid 12 is shown, for instance, in Fig. 2. The lid is flexible and resilient being made for instance from corrugated cardboard or a plastics material. The main portion 46 of the lid 12 is planar. A cut-out 48 provides a finger grip at one end. At the other end, the flap 44 is hinged at a hinge line 50 to the main portion 46. A second cut-out 52 forms a second finger grip near the lower edge of the flap 44. The flap 44 is narrower than the main portion 46 of the lid 12, so as to be able to pass through the opening 32 by hinging at 50.

Fig. 2 shows the container with the lid fully closed, as has been described. The lid can be completely removed from the container in the following manner.

Turning to Fig. 4, the flap 44 is shown in bold in the fully closed position, with the lower edge received in the recess 42 between the portions 40A,40B. A user may insert a finger in the cut-out 52 and pull up on the flap 44 to deform the lid 12. By a combination of hinging at the hinge line 50, and pivotting about the near edge 54 of the nearest tab or tabs 18, this deformation allows the edge of the flap 44 to clear the portion 408 and be pulled out past the portion 40C, so that when the finger is removed, the lid 12 can relax to lower the main portion 46 back onto the ledges 14, with the flap now released from the catch formed by the portions 40A,40B, and free to be hinged open about the hinge line 50. For some purposes, this may allow adequate access to the contents of the container.

In order to remove the main portion 46 of the lid 12, either end of the portion 46 is pushed up by hand to deform by pivotting about the near edges 54 of the tabs 18. The separation of the tabs 18 from the end walls 30, the flexibility of the lid 12 and the height of the walls 24 are chosen to allow- the lid 12 to flex sufficiently to allow its end to rise above the walls 24. Once this has occurred, the walls 24 on the end walls 30 are no longer preventing the lid 12 from sliding along the ledges 14.

Consequently, the main portion 46 can be slid completely off the container 10. Each part of the main portion 46 will remain relaxed as it slides, until reaching the tabs 18 nearest the end wall 30 over which the lid 12 is being removed. At that point, the lid 12 will deform up and pass over the walls 24 at the top of the end wall.

It will be apparent from the above description that the lid 12 can be placed onto the container 10 and fully closed by simply reversing the above procedures. The end of the lid 12 nearest the cut-out 48 is first offered to the container by laying it over the wall 24 on the end wall 308, and under the nearest tabs 18, so that the main portion 46 can then be slid along the ledges 14, deforming as necessary, until the whole main portion 46 has slid onto the ledges 14 and has relaxed to be flat and supported by the ledges 14,34,38. At that stage, the flap 44 will be hanging loosely in front of the portion 40C, and can be pulled up and over the portions 40B,40C until engaging in the catch recess 42.

It can be seen from Fig. 4 that the top of the portion 40B is higher than the top of the portion 40A.

This arrangement is provided for the following reasons.

If the flap 44 is inadvertently pushed right into the container (past the portion 40A) when the lid is being fitted, it can be correctly located in the recess 42 by pulling the flap up and out towards the portion 40B. The lower edge of the flap will clear the portion 40A before it has been pulled up sufficiently to clear the portion 40B. Consequently, the flap will, in most instances, move past the portion 40A to engage the portion 40B, and be prevented from moving past the recess 42. The flap may then be released to occupy the recess 42.

It will also be apparent from the above description that by providing the same separation between both end walls 30A,30B and the nearest tabs 18, it is possible to slide the main portion 46 off the container in either direction. It is also possible to leave the main portion 46 in a partially removed condition. Additional tabs 18 between those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be desirable to adequately secure the main portion 46.

Partial removal of the lid allows access to the contents of the container, but retains some protection to the contents, for instance from dust. Partial removal of the lid over the end wall 30A allows use as shown in Fig.

6. A hand 56 is reaching into the container 10 to remove articles 58. A small number of articles 58 are immediately available. A larger number of articles are located beneath the lid 12 and behind the flap 44, which can hang freely in the container 10 because it is narrower than the spacing between the side walls 28.

Thus, the bulk of the stock in the container 10 is protected from dirt and dust even though the container is open, but the stock is immediately available when required, either by reaching under the flap 44 or by further withdrawing the lid 12.

Fig. 7 shows an alternative arrangement in which an additional hinge line 60 is provided on the lid 12, parallel to the hinge line 50. The hinge line 60 allows the flap 44 and a peripheral portion 62 of the main lid portion 46 to be folded completely back to lie on top of the main portion 46, allowing completely unobscured access to the contents of the container through the opening 32. In order to retain the flap 44 in this position, it is convenient to ensure that the spaces 20 between the ledges 14 and the nearest tabs 18 are sufficiently deep to allow two thicknesses of lid material to be received, so that the peripheral portions 62 can be held back under the tabs 18. The portion 62 can be placed under the tabs 18 or removed from under the tabs 18 by appropriate sliding movement of the main portion along the ledges 14.

In many uses envisaged for the apparatus described above, the lid 12 can be manufactured from light material sufficient to protect the contents of the container from dirt and dust, but not sufficiently strong to support another container stacked above. However, it may be appropriate for some applications to strengthen the lid sufficiently to allow stacking (especially stacking when the flap is held open as shown in Fig. 7), so long as sufficient flexibility is maintained to allow the lid to be removed and replaced as described above. It may be possible to provide feet on the base 26, to stand on the upper surfaces of tabs 18 on a lower container, or some other arrangement to allow containers to be stacked with the container weight being transfered directly from container to container, not via lids.

Many variations and modifications can be made to the above apparatus without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Various materials can be used, but plastics materials, especially injection moulded plastics materials, are preferred. Many different sizes and shapes of containers could be adapted to incorporate a lid assembly according to the invention.

Flaps have been described at one end of the lid, but could be provided at both ends, if desired.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A container lid assembly comprising a resilient, flexible lid, first and second surfaces which extend along opposed sides of the mouth of the container, at least one retaining projection spaced above the said surfaces to define a space between the projection and one of the surfaces for receiving one of the edges with a sliding fit, and abutment means located to substantially prevent the lid sliding on the surfaces when the lid is relaxed and occupying space as aforesaid, the abutment means being spaced from the retaining projection at one end of the surfaces and the lid being sufficiently flexible to be deformable against its resilience away from the surfaces at the said one end thereof and clear of the abutment means, whereby the deformed lid may be slid through the space, along the surfaces and, after deforming, past the abutment means to wholly or partially remove the lid from the container.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces, in use, support corresponding edges of the lid when closed.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of retaining projections are located as aforesaid.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein at least one projection is provided to define a space with each surface.

5. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second surfaces are parallel.

6. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the surfaces which support edges of the lid is a ledge formed by rebating the periphery of the wall of the container at the mouth thereof.

7. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the surface between the or each ledge and the extremity of the corresponding wall acts as abutment means as aforesaid.

8. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid and the mouth of the container are square or rectangular, and surfaces which may support corresponding edges of the lid are formed along at least three sides of the mouth of the container.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein retaining projections are only provided along opposed sides of the mouth of the container.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein retaining projections are spaced from both ends of both opposed edges, whereby the lid may be removed by sliding in either direction along the surfaces.

11. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein one edge of the lid carries a flap which, when the lid is closed, may close an opening in a wall of the container below the said one edge.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the opening is continuous with the mouth of the container.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein releasable catch means are provided, operable to hold the flap in the closed position.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the catch means comprise two opposed surfaces defining between them a space for receiving the free edge of the flap, and so located as to require the lid and/or flap to be deformed in order to place the edge in the space, whereby the resilience of the flap and lid resists the removal of the edge from the space.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein one of the opposed surfaces of the catch means extends beyond the other surface to engage the flap as it moves past the said other surface, thereby facilitating the location of the flap in the space.

16. An assembly according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the flap is narrower than the space between the opposed surfaces on which the lid may slide, whereby the lid may be slid to a partially removed position in which the flap extends from the lid into the mouth of the container

17. An assembly according to any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the flap is hingedly attached to the lid.

1 8. An assembly according to claim 17, wherein hinge means are provided which allow the flap to be folded away from the opening to lie against the lid on the externally facing surface thereof.

19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one space between the retaining projection and an opposed surface is sufficient to receive two thicknesses of the material of the lid, and hinge means allow the flap or part of the lid to be folded back and retained in the said space, to hold the flap away from the opening.

20. A container lid assembly substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.