U.S. patent application number 11/588098 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-01 for sortables storage container.
Invention is credited to Terry R. Fausett, Jimmy E. Holbrook.
Application Number | 20080099485 11/588098 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39325209 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080099485 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holbrook; Jimmy E. ; et
al. |
May 1, 2008 |
Sortables storage container
Abstract
A storage container includes a base with a storage compartment
and a lid positionable to fit over an upwardly extending perimeter
wall of the storage compartment. A spine is hinged between the base
and the lid to allow articulated movement of the lid with respect
to the base. The spine includes at least one stiffener ridge
integrally formed in the spine and extending longitudinally along
the spine. The stiffener ridge reduces bowing of the spine between
a lid hinge and a base hinge. A removable tray is insertable into
the storage compartment to divide the compartment into a plurality
of smaller compartments. Partitions may be placed in the storage
compartment to divide the storage compartment into smaller
compartments. The partitions may extend into receiving grooves in
the lid to block movement of sortables from one compartment to
another.
Inventors: |
Holbrook; Jimmy E.;
(Grantsville, UT) ; Fausett; Terry R.;
(Taylorsville, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert R. Mallinckrodt;Thorpe North & Western, LLP
P.O. Box 1219
Sandy
UT
84091-1219
US
|
Family ID: |
39325209 |
Appl. No.: |
11/588098 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/507 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/06 20130101;
B65D 75/245 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/507 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/04 20060101
B65D025/04 |
Claims
1. A storage container, comprising: a) a base, having a base
storage compartment; b) a lid, positionable to fit over an upwardly
extending perimeter wall of the storage compartment to close the
storage compartment; and c) a spine, hinged between the base and
the lid to allow articulated movement of the lid with respect to
the base, the spine further comprising: i) a lid hinge integrally
formed between an upper surface of the lid and a side of the spine;
ii) a base hinge integrally formed between a lower surface of the
base and an opposite side of the spine; and iii) at least one
stiffener ridge, extending longitudinally along the spine, sized
and shaped to stiffen the spine to reduce bowing of the spine
between the lid hinge and the base hinge.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid further includes a
stiffener ridge adjacent the lid hinge and the base further
includes a stiffener ridge adjacent the base hinge, and the
stiffener ridges are sized and shape to support the lid and the
base against stresses induced by the lid hinge and the base hinge
respectively.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the lid hinge and the base
hinge are sized and shaped to minimize projection of the hinges
away from the lid and the base respectively so as to reduce
interference between adjacently stacked storage containers.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid hinge and the base
hinge are sized and shaped to minimize projection of the hinges
away from the lid and the base respectively so as to reduce
interference between adjacently stacked storage containers.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the spine is sized and shaped
to position the lid coplanar with respect to a bottom surface of
the base when the lid is open.
6. The container of claim 1, further including a removable tray,
sized and shaped to fit within the base storage compartment to
reconfigure the base storage compartment, and having at least one
partition for dividing the base storage compartment into a
plurality of smaller coplanar tray storage compartments.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein the at least one partition
extends upward from the base to a higher elevation than the
perimeter wall and the lid includes at least one channel formed
therein corresponding to the at least one partition extending above
the perimeter wall such that the at least one channel closely fits
over the at least one partition to restrict passage between the
smaller tray storage compartments when the lid closes the base
storage compartment.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein the removable tray has a
particular arrangement of partitions and can be removed from the
base storage compartment and replaced with another removable tray
having a different arrangement of partitions, and wherein the at
least one channel formed in the lid is a plurality of channels
formed in the lid and positioned in the lid so that all partition
arrangements of expected removable trays to be placed in the base
compartment are received in at least one of the plurality of
channels.
9. The container of claim 1, further including at least one
partition for dividing the base storage compartment into a
plurality of smaller storage compartments.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the at least one partition
extends upward from the base to a higher elevation than the
perimeter wall and the lid includes at least one channel formed
therein corresponding to the at least one partition extending above
the perimeter wall such that the at least one channel closely fits
over the at least one partition to restrict passage between the
smaller storage compartments when the lid closes the base storage
compartment.
11. The container of claim 1, wherein the base, the lid, and the
spine, are integrally formed from a thermoplastic material.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the thermoplastic material
is at least partially translucent.
13. The container of claim 11, wherein at least portions of the
thermoplastic material is transparent.
14. A storage container system, comprising: a) a storage container,
having a base with an upwardly extending wall forming a base
storage compartment, and a lid positionable to fit over the
upwardly extending wall of the base storage compartment; and b) a
plurality of interchangeable trays, each tray sized and shaped to
fit within the base storage compartment to reconfigure the base
storage compartment, and having at least one partition for dividing
the base storage compartment into a plurality of smaller coplanar
tray storage compartments.
15. A storage container, comprising: a) a base having a base
storage compartment formed by a perimeter wall extending upward
from the base and around a perimeter of the base; b) at least one
partition extending upward from the base to a higher elevation than
the perimeter wall and dividing the base storage compartment into a
plurality of smaller storage compartments; and c) a lid, sized and
shaped to tightly fit over the perimeter wall to close the storage
compartment, and having at least one channel corresponding to the
portion of the at least one partition extending above the perimeter
wall such that the at least one channel tightly fits over the at
least one partition to restrict passage between the smaller storage
compartments when the lid closes the storage compartment.
16. The container of claim 15, further including a removable tray,
sized and shaped to fit within the base storage compartment, said
removable tray including the at least one partition dividing the
base storage compartment into the plurality of smaller storage
compartments.
17. The container of claim 15, wherein the removable tray has a
particular arrangement of partitions and can be removed from the
base storage compartment and replaced with another removable tray
having a different arrangement of partitions, and wherein the at
least one channel in the lid is a plurality of channels in the lid
positioned in the lid so that all partition arrangements of
expected removable trays to be placed in the base compartment are
received in at least one of the plurality of channels.
18. A method for storing sortables, comprising: a) opening a lid on
a storage container; b) inserting a removable tray having a
plurality of integrally formed partitions into a larger storage
compartment of a base of the storage container to reconfigure the
larger storage container to have a plurality of smaller, coplanar
storage compartments; c) placing sortable material into the
plurality of smaller containers; and d) closing the lid so that a
plurality of channels formed in the lid fit over an upper portion
of the plurality of partitions to restrict passage between the
plurality of smaller storage compartments.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising: a) removing the
removable tray from the base of the storage container; and b)
inserting a different removable tray having a different number of
smaller storage compartments into the larger storage compartment to
reconfigure the storage container for storing different sortable
material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to storage
containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
thermoplastic container for storing sortable items, such as
washers, buttons, stickers, and the like.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Sortables storage containers are known in the art. Typically
these containers are clear plastic and have a base storage
compartment with a hinged lid. Such containers often have a number
of dividers separating the larger base storage compartment into
several smaller storage compartments. The dividers are usually
integrally formed into the base storage compartment so the lid can
rest on top of the dividers to close off each individual storage
compartment in order to prevent inadvertent mixing of sortables
stored between each compartment. Additionally, such containers are
commonly made of a hard or rigid plastic so as to provide
sufficient structural strength to the hinges, clasps and sidewalls
of the storage container.
[0005] Unfortunately, such storage containers have problems that
make them difficult to use in some applications. For example, since
the dividers are integrally formed into the base storage
compartment, the smaller storage compartments can not be
reconfigured to accommodate changes to items being stored in the
container. Additionally, sortables stored in the smaller storage
compartments formed by the dividers can travel between storage
compartments if the storage container is tipped or inverted.
Furthermore, the hinges on such containers generally protrude some
distance away from the body of the container such that the hinges
can catch onto nearby adjacent objects making the containers
difficult to store and retrieve from confined spaces.
[0006] Some storage containers have been designed to overcome these
problems. For example, some storage containers have movable
dividers that can be positioned in the base storage compartment
according to the user's needs. Unfortunately, these types of
configurable storage containers exacerbate the problem of migrating
contents between the smaller compartments since the dividers
usually leave a gap between the bottom and top or lid of the
container. This is especially problematic for flat sortables such
as paper clips, stickers, and the like because such items can
easily fit through narrow gaps between the dividers and the lid or
bottom of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to
develop a sortables storage container with a base storage
compartment that can be reconfigured to smaller storage
compartments. Additionally, it has been recognized that it would be
advantageous to develop a sortables storage container with dividers
that restrict passage of sortable items between separate storage
compartments. Moreover, it has been recognized that it would be
advantageous to develop a sortables storage container with
reinforcing ridges supporting the hinge between the lid and the
container so that the overall size of the hinge can be reduced to
minimize catch points with adjacent objects.
[0008] The invention provides a storage container including a base
with a storage compartment. The storage container can also include
a lid that can be positioned to fit over an upwardly extending
perimeter wall of the storage compartment to close the storage
compartment. A spine can be hinged between the base and the lid to
allow articulated movement of the lid with respect to the base. The
spine can include a lid hinge integrally formed between an upper
surface of the lid and a side of the spine, and a base hinge
integrally formed between a lower surface of the base and an
opposite side of the spine. The spine can also include at least one
stiffener ridge integrally formed in the spine and extending
longitudinally along the spine. The stiffener ridge can be sized
and shaped to stiffen the spine to reduce bowing of the spine
between the lid hinge and the base hinge.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
the storage container includes a removable tray that is sized and
shaped to fit within the storage compartment. The removable tray
can have at least one partition that can divide the storage
compartment into a plurality of relatively smaller coplanar storage
compartments. Additionally, the lid of the storage container can
have a plurality of channels that can correspond is size, shape and
position to the at least one partition. The plurality of channels
can fit over the at least one partition to restrict passage between
the plurality of smaller storage compartments.
[0010] The present invention also provides for a storage container
system including a storage container having a base with an upwardly
extending wall forming a storage compartment, and a lid
positionable to fit over the upwardly extending wall of the storage
compartment. The storage container system also includes a plurality
of interchangeable trays. Each interchangeable tray can be sized
and shaped to fit within the storage compartment and can have at
least one partition that can reconfigure the storage compartment by
dividing the storage compartment into a plurality of smaller
coplanar storage compartments.
[0011] The present invention also provides for a method for storing
sortable materials including opening a lid on a storage container.
A removable tray having a plurality of integrally formed partitions
can be inserted into a larger storage compartment of a base of the
storage container to reconfigure the larger storage container to
have a plurality of smaller, coplanar storage compartments.
Sortable materials, such as pins, nails, screws, bolts, nuts, paper
clips, stickers, scrapbook ornamentation, and the like, can be
sorted and placed into the plurality of smaller containers. The lid
can be closed and a plurality of channels formed in the lid can fit
over an upper portion of the plurality of partitions to restrict
passage between the plurality of smaller storage compartments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together
illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and,
wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sortables storage
conatiner in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, shown in a closed configuration;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sortable storage
container of FIG. 1, shown in an open configuration;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the
portion of FIG. 2 encircled by the line 3, showing the spine of the
sortables storage container of FIGS. 1 and 2 hinged to a lid by a
lid hinge and hinged to a base by a base hinge, the container shown
in an open configuration;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the sortables storage
container of FIG. 1, shown in a closed configuration;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the
portion of FIG. 4 encircled by the line 5;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a top view of the sortables storage container of
FIG. 1, shown in an open configuration;
[0019] FIG. 7 is an end elevation of the sortables storage
container of FIG. 6, looking upwardly from the bottom in FIG.
6;
[0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the
portion of FIG. 7 encircled by the line 8;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a top view of the sortables storage container of
FIG. 1, shown in a closed configuration;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the sortables storage container
of FIG. 1, shown in a closed configuration;
[0023] FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a
corner of the storage compartment encircled by the line 11 in FIG.
2;
[0024] FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the
portion of the lid of the sortables storage container of FIG. 1
encircled by the line 12;
[0025] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a removable tray of the
invention insertable into the storage compartment of the sortables
storage container of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternate removable
tray;
[0027] FIG. 15 is an end elevation of the removable tray of FIG.
13;
[0028] FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of a corner
of the removable tray enclosed by the line 16 of FIG. 15; and
[0029] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a sortables storage
container system, having a plurality of removable trays insertable
into a storage compartment of a sortables storage container, shown
with the sortables storage container in an open configuration and
the removable trays removed from the storage compartment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments
illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used
herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood
that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive
features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the
principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would
occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of
this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the
invention.
[0031] The present invention generally provides for a sortables
storage container made from a thermo-formable plastic. The storage
container can have a base with a relatively larger storage
compartment. A lid can be hinged to a spine along an edge of the
lid, and the spine can be hinged to a bottom edge of the base. In
this way, the lid can fit on the open top of the base, but open to
a relatively flat or co-planar configuration with respect to the
bottom of the base. The base, the lid, the spine, and the hinges
can be integrally formed together as a single thermo-formed
article. Additionally, the spine can have stiffening ridges so as
to strengthen the container and reduce warping of the spine and
container due to stresses induced in the thermoplastic by the
hinges. The stiffening ridges also allow for smaller hinges,
thereby reducing catch points on the storage container and allowing
the container to be stored adjacently to other objects or similar
containers.
[0032] The container can also have a divider tray formed from a
thermo-formable plastic. The divider tray can be sized and shaped
to fit within the relatively larger storage compartment of the base
and can divide the relatively larger storage compartment into
several relatively smaller storage compartments. The divider tray
can have a bottom surface integrally formed with upwardly extending
dividers so as to restrict passage of articles between the
relatively smaller storage compartments along the bottom surface.
Additionally, the upwardly extending dividers can extend to an
elevation above the elevation of the relatively larger storage
container. In this way, when the lid is closed the portion of the
upwardly extending dividers extending above the storage container
can cooperate with the receiving grooves in the lid and restrict
passage of articles between the relatively smaller storage
compartments along the top surface. The lid can also have plurality
of grooves or channels corresponding to the upwardly extending
dividers so that the dividers extend into the channels thereby
further restricting passage between the relatively smaller storage
compartments. Furthermore, the divider tray can be removable so
that a divider tray with a different compartment configuration can
be interchangeably placed into the base to easily change
compartment size and configuration to accommodate changes of items
being stored. To facilitate the interchangeability of the divider
trays, the lid will have receiving grooves therein arranged to
cooperate with any of the divider orientations provided in expected
alternate divider trays to be used with the storage containers.
[0033] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, a sortables storage container,
indicated generally at 10, is shown in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention for use in storing sortable
items, such as screws, nuts, paper clips, stickers, buttons,
scrapbook ornamentation, and the like. The storage container 10 has
a base 30, a lid 60, and a spine 80 connecting the base and the
spine. The storage container 10 can be thermoformed from a
thermoplastic material such that the base 30, the lid 60, and the
spine 80 are integrally formed as a single one piece unit.
Advantageously, the thermoplastic material can be at least
partially translucent or transparent so that the sortable contents
of the storage container 10 can be viewed through the storage
container without having to open the storage container. The storage
container can be of a type of construction commonly referred to as
clamshell construction with the container being what is commonly
referred to as a clamshell container.
[0034] While it will be appreciated that the storage container 10
is portable, and can be oriented in any desired direction, for the
purposes of the detailed description that follows, the base 30 will
be herein referred to as the bottom and the lid 60 as the top of
the storage container. Thus, the base 30 is lower than the lid 60
and an upward direction extends from the base toward the lid.
Similarly, a downward direction extends from the lid 60 toward the
base 30.
[0035] The base 30 has a lower surface or bottom 32 with a
perimeter wall 34 extending upwardly from the bottom 32. The
perimeter wall 34 extends around the outer perimeter of the base to
form, with the base lower surface or bottom 32, a relatively large
base storage compartment 36. The perimeter wall 34 can have an
upper portion 38 and a lower portion 40, FIG. 2, separated by wall
shoulder 41 in the outer side of wall 34. The upper portion 38 is
sized and shaped to receive and retain a portion of the lid 60
therearound, as explained more fully below. The lower portion 40
can include a lower outer flange 42 that is coplanar with the
bottom surface 32 of the storage compartment 36 and which helps to
stabilize the perimeter wall 34.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 11, the perimeter wall 34 can have
rounded or radiused corners 46. However, it may be desirable to
size and configure base storage compartment 36 to hold and store
fragile rectangular items such as sheets of paper. When sheets of
paper or other fragile rectangular items are to be stored, it is
generally important not to bend or mutilate the corners by allowing
the corners to contact the rounded corners 46 of the storage
compartment. Thus, the perimeter wall 34 can have a relief 48
extending around each corner 46 to enlarge the storage compartment
space in the immediate vicinity of the corners 46. This relief 46
can be formed by providing thickening inside wall portions 35
extending along the inside straight side portions of the perimeter
base wall 34 intermediate the corners 46. When holding rectangular
items such as sheets of paper, the thickened side portions 35 hold
the straight sides of the items and the corners extend into the
recesses 48, but are held from contacting the wall corners 46 by
action of the thickened side portions 35 against the straight sides
of the held item intermediate the corners. In this way, the relief
48 can facilitate placement of rectangular shaped items, such as
paper, having ninety degree corners, within the storage compartment
36. For example, the storage compartment 36 can be sized slightly
larger than an 81/2.times.11 inch letter sized piece of paper so
that sheets of paper of this size can be placed within the storage
compartment 36 and rest on the bottom surface 32. The paper fits
closely between the thickened side portions 35 of the wall 34 so is
held against damaging sliding movement in the compartment 36.
Because the corners 46 of the perimeter base wall 34 are recessed
so the corners of the paper do not abut the rounded corners 46 of
the walls, the corners of the paper can lie flat within the storage
compartment 36. Thus, advantageously, the storage container 10 of
the present invention can have rounded corners 46 for a more
aesthetically pleasing appearance, and, depending upon the molding
process, for ease of molding, and yet still allow paper or other
similar items with right angle corners to lie flat within the
storage compartment 36. It should also be noted that the corner
recesses can make it easier for a user to retrieve sheets of paper
from the base storage compartment 36.
[0037] Returning to FIGS. 1-10, as described, the base storage
compartment 36 has an open top. Container lid 60 is sized and
shaped to fit over the open top of base storage compartment 36 to
close the compartment 36 when desired and to be held in this closed
position over the open top of compartment 36. For this purpose, lid
60 is sized and shaped to fit over the top 34b of upwardly
extending perimeter wall 34 to close the base compartment. Many
configurations for lid 60 can be used for this purpose. In the
embodiment illustrated, lid 60 has an upper surface or top 62 and a
perimeter wall 66 extending downwardly from the upper surface. The
perimeter wall 66 of the lid 60 has a bottom 67 and can also have
an upper outer flange 68 that is coplanar with the upper surface 62
of the lid 60 and which helps to stabilize the perimeter wall
64.
[0038] Downwardly extending perimeter wall 66 is sized and
configured to mate with and extend around the outside of the upper
portion 38 of the upwardly extending base perimeter wall 36 of the
base 30. Thus, the upper portion 38 of base perimeter wall 34 fits
within and is received within downwardly extending lid perimeter
wall 66 to close the storage compartment 36, as shown in FIG. 1,
generally with either the lid perimeter wall bottom 67 abutting the
base perimeter wall shoulder 41 to determine the depth of overlap
of the lid over the base or the lid upper surface or top 62
abutting the top 34b of the base perimeter wall 34 to determine the
depth of overlap. It will be appreciated that, alternately, the
perimeter wall of the lid could be sized to fit within perimeter
wall of the storage compartment to close the storage compartment so
that the perimeter wall of the base fits around the perimeter wall
of the lid (not shown).
[0039] The perimeter wall 66 of the lid 60 can also have at least
one indentation 72, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, and the perimeter
wall 34 of the base 30 can have at least one protrusion 50, as
shown in FIG. 6. The indentation 72 of the lid 60 will correspond
in size, shape, and location to the protrusion 50 of the base 30 so
that when the lid 60 is closed the protrusion of the base snaps
into the indentation of the lid. In this way, the lid 60 can be
snap-locked onto the base 30 such that there is an interference
between the protrusion 50 and the indentation 72 that restricts the
lid 60 from opening without an external force applied to the lid.
This protrusion-indentation snap-lock system secures the lid 60
onto the base 30 to reduce the likelihood of the lid being opened
accidentally. It will be appreciated that while the indentation 72
has been shown on the lid 60 and the protrusion 50 has been shown
on the base 30, the two snap-lock features can be reversed so that
the indentation can be on the base and the protrusion can be on the
lid.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the spine 80 extends along a side of
the storage container 10 and can be hinged between the base 30 and
the lid 60 to allow articulated movement of the lid 60 to a
coplanar position with respect to the base 30, as shown in FIG. 2.
The spine 80 includes a lid hinge 82 between the upper surface 62
of the lid 60 and an edge or side 84 of the spine 80. The lid hinge
82 can be integrally formed with the lid 60 and the spine 80. The
lid hinge 82 can be of the same thermoplastic material as the rest
of the storage container 10, and can be stretched to have thinner
cross section than the lid 60 or the spine 80. In this way the lid
hinge 82 can be more likely to bend than the lid 60 or the spine
80. In one aspect, the lid hinge 82 is a living hinge.
[0041] The spine 80 also includes a base hinge 86 between the lower
flange 42 of the base 30 and a side 88 of the spine opposite the
side 84 with the lid hinge 82. The base hinge 86 can be integrally
formed with the base 30 and the spine 80. The base hinge 86 can be
of the same thermoplastic material as the rest of the storage
container 10, and can be stretched to have thinner cross section
than the base 30 or the spine 80. In this way, the base hinge 86
can be more likely to bend than the base 30 or the spine 80. In one
aspect, the base hinge 86 is a living hinge.
[0042] The spine 80 can also have at least one stiffener ridge 90.
The stiffener ridge 90 can be portion a of the thermoplastic
material that is raised or lowered from the plane of the spine 80.
The stiffener ridge 90 can extend longitudinally along the spine 80
and can be sized and shaped to stiffen the spine in order to reduce
bowing, warping, or deformation of the spine between the lid hinge
82 and the base hinge 86. In one aspect, the spine 80 can have two
longitudinal stiffener ridges 90a and 90b and two lateral stiffener
ridges 90c and 90d. The longitudinal and lateral stiffener ridges
90c and 90d can intersect on the spine 80 to form a rectangular
stiffener ridge, indicated generally at 92. The stiffener ridges
help maintain a straight, flat, and rigid spine to which adhesive
labels can be attached for labeling of the storage container.
[0043] The lid 60 can also include a stiffener ridge 74 that
extends along the lid adjacent the lid hinge 82, and the base 30
can include a stiffener ridge 54 that extends along the base 30
adjacent the base hinge 86. The stiffener ridge 74 on the lid 60
can be a portion of the thermoplastic material of the lid that is
raised or lowered from the plane of the upper outer flange 68 on
the lid. Similarly, the stiffener ridge 54 on the base 30 can be a
portion of the thermoplastic material of the base that is raised or
lowered from the plane of the lower outer flange 42 on the base.
The stiffener ridge 74 on the lid 60, and the stiffener ridge 54 on
the base 30, can be sized and shaped to stiffen and support the lid
and the base so that the lid and the base are rigid and strong
enough to withstand stresses induced by the lid hinge 82 and the
base hinge 86.
[0044] Together the stiffener ridges 88, 74, and 54 can strengthen
the lid 60, the spine 80, and the base 30 against the stresses
induced by the lid hinge 82 and the base hinge 86. Advantageously,
the rigidity and strength from the stiffener ridges 88, 74, and 54
allows the lid hinge 82 and the base hinge 86 to be reduced in size
and shaped in order to minimize projection of the hinges 82 and 86
away from the lid 60 and the base 30 respectively. In one aspect,
the lid hinge 82, FIG. 8, and the base hinge 86 can be
approximately one eighth of an inch in width in an open position
with approximately one sixteenth of an inch projection extending
away from the spine, lid, or base. This reduces the projection of
the hinges outwardly from the lid 60 and base 30 when in closed
condition. This outwardly projection of the hinges when in closed
condition is shown specifically in FIG. 5 where the minimized
projection of the hinges outwardly from the lid 60 and the base 30
are shown by distances 85a and 85b, respectively. With normal prior
art hinges of this type, the hinge commonly extends straight
outwardly from the lid or base about one quarter inch or more.
Here, the projection is reduced to about one sixteenth of an inch
and is somewhat rounded. This minimized profile of the hinges 82
and 86 when the storage container is closed reduces interference
between the storage container 10 and other nearby adjacent objects
such as adjacently stacked storage containers 10. Thus, it is a
particular advantage of the storage container 10 of the present
invention that a plurality of such storage containers 10 can be
adjacently positioned together with minimal sliding interference
from one another. In this way, several storage devices 10 can be
positioned adjacent one another like books on a bookshelf such that
one storage container can be removed from the middle of the stack
without catching adjacently stacked storage containers.
[0045] The storage container 10 can also have a removable tray,
shown generally at 130, as illustrated in FIGS. 13-17. The
removable tray 130 can be thermoformed from the same thermoplastic
material used to form the storage container 10. Additionally, the
removable tray 130 is sized and shaped to fit within the base
storage compartment 36 of the base 30.
[0046] The removable storage tray 130 includes a tray bottom 132
with at least one partition 134 extending upward from the tray
bottom. Tray bottom 132 is advantageously substantially coextensive
with base bottom 32 so that the partition 134 divides the
relatively larger base storage compartment 36 of the base 30 into a
plurality of smaller coplanar tray storage compartments 136. The
partition 134 can be integrally formed of the same thermoplastic
material as the bottom 132 so that the removable tray is a single
one piece molded unit. Removable tray 130 can be inserted into the
larger storage compartment 36 of the base 30 to reconfigure the
larger base storage compartment 36 into a selected plurality of
smaller coplanar tray storage compartments 136. Removable storage
tray 130 will usually also include side walls 135 extending
circumferentially around tray bottom 132. These also can be formed
integrally with the bottom 132 and partitions 134, as shown. An
outer flange 135a, FIG. 15, extends around the top of walls 135
which helps to stabilize storage tray 130. Advantageously, when the
bottom 132 of the removable tray 130, the side walls 135, and the
partitions 134 are integrally formed as shown, passage between the
plurality of smaller tray storage compartments 136 is restricted so
as to maintain segregation of the sortables stored in the storage
container 10. The height of the walls 135 are such that when
removable storage tray 130 is placed in base storage compartment 36
of base 30, the top 135b of walls 135 will coincide with the top
34b of base perimeter walls 34. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11,
shoulders 49 are provided along the tops of the thickened wall
portions 35 of the base perimeter wall 34 to receive removable
storage tray wall flange 135a therein so that the top 135b of tray
walls 135 will correspond with the top 34b of base wall 34.
[0047] It will be appreciated that the removable tray 130 can have
a plurality of partitions 134 to subdivide the larger storage
compartment 36 into several smaller tray storage compartments 136.
Additionally, the partitions 134 can be uniformly distributed
across the bottom 132 of the removable tray 130 to form a plurality
of smaller tray storage compartments 136 of the same size, as seen
in FIG. 13, or the partitions 134 can be formed to create a variety
of differently sized smaller tray storage compartments, as shown in
FIG. 14. Thus, it is a particular advantage of the storage
container 10 of the present invention that several removable trays
can be provided or otherwise made available to a user so that one
removable tray, such as labeled 130a in FIGS. 13 and 17, can be
removed from the larger storage compartment 36 and a different
removable tray, such as labeled 130b in FIGS. 14 and 17, can be
inserted in its place in order to reconfigure the size, shape, and
number of smaller tray storage compartments 136 within the larger
base storage compartment 36. Any number of removable trays to
provide a selection of smaller storage compartment sizes and
arrangements can be made available.
[0048] Partitions 134 dividing the storage compartments 136 in
removable tray 130 can extend upward from the tray bottom 132 to a
higher elevation than the top 135b of tray walls 135, as shown
particularly in FIGS. 15-16. In this way, an upper portion 138 of
the partition 134 will extend above the top 34b of perimeter wall
34 of the base 30 when the removable tray 130 is inserted into the
base storage compartment 36. To accommodate the upper partition
portions 130, the top 62 of lid 60 includes upwardly directed
channels 76, FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 12, and 17, sized and shaped to closely
fit over the upper portions 138 of partitions 134. Thus, with the
removable tray 130 disposed inside the larger base storage
compartment 36, and with lid 60 closed so the top 62 of lid 60 fits
over and against the top 34b of base perimeter wall 34, upper
portions 138 of partitions 134 will extend and fit into channels
76. The cooperation of the upper portions 138 of partitions 134 and
channels 76 in lid 60, which create nonlinear passages between
adjacent storage compartments 136, restricts, and in most cases
prevents, passage of items stored in storage compartments 136
between adjacent storage compartments 136 when the lid 60 is
closed. Advantageously, this extension of the partitions 134 into
the channels 76 of lid 60 is maintained regardless of the position
or direction of orientation of the storage container 10. In this
way, the storage container 10 of the present invention can maintain
segregation of the sortables stored in the smaller storage
compartments 136 even when the storage container is tipped or
inverted.
[0049] Since the removable trays 130 can have a variety of
differently sized and arranged storage compartments 136, and since
it is advantageous to be able to remove one removable tray, such as
130a, and replace it with a different removable tray, such as 130b,
having differently sized and arranged storage compartments 136, lid
60 can be provided with a plurality of channels 76 to accommodate
the different expected configurations of removable trays. The
plurality of channels 76 can form an intersecting pattern 146 on
the upper surface of the lid 60. Thus, it is a particular advantage
of the storage container 10 of the present invention that the lid
60 can be provided with an arrangement of channels to restrict
passage between the smaller storage compartments 136 of a wide
variety of removable trays 130. Additionally, the intersecting
pattern 146 of the lid 60 advantageously stiffens the upper surface
62 of the lid which further secures the channels 76 of the lid 60
against the upper portions 138 of the partitions 134.
[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 17, a storage container system,
indicated generally at 200 is shown in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention. The storage container system
200 can be similar in many respects to the storage container 10 and
the removable tray 130 described above and shown in FIGS. 1-16. The
storage container system has a storage container 10 with a base 30
having an upwardly extending perimeter wall 34 that forms a storage
compartment 36. The storage container 10 also has a lid 60 that is
positionable to fit over the upwardly extending wall 34 of the
storage compartment 36.
[0051] Additionally, the storage compartment system has a plurality
of interchangeable removable trays, indicated generally at 230.
Each tray 130a and 130b is sized and shaped to interchangeably fit
within the storage compartment 36 and can have at least one
partition 134 that divides the larger storage compartment 36 of the
base 30 into a plurality of smaller coplanar storage compartments
136. In this way, the storage compartment system 200 can be easily
reconfigured so that the larger storage compartment 36 of the base
30 can have a different number of smaller storage compartments 136
when disposed in the larger storage compartment 36. Also, as
previously indicated, the storage container 200 can have hinges
with reduced protrusion of the hinges so that a plurality of
storage containers 200 can be used together and kept side-by-side
on a shelf, like books, or side-by-side in a magazine holder or
other holder and labeled so that a desired storage container can
easily be pulled out when needed. It has been found that the
storage containers of the invention are particularly useful for
storing and providing access to scrapbooking supplies where many of
the supplies, such as different stickers and decoration, are
substantially flat so easily slide along the lids over partitions
of prior art storage containers from storage compartment to storage
compartment. Further, when formed as clamshell containers of
thermoplastic material, the containers are light weight so that
users can easily transport a number of containers side-by-side in a
portable carrier.
[0052] The present invention also provides for a method for storing
sortable materials including opening a lid on a storage container.
A removable tray having a plurality of integrally formed partitions
can be inserted into a larger storage compartment of a base of the
storage container to reconfigure the larger storage container to
have a plurality of smaller, coplanar storage compartments.
Sortable materials, such as pins, nails, screws, bolts, nuts, paper
clips, stickers, scrapbook ornamentation, and the like, can be
sorted and placed into the plurality of smaller containers. The lid
can be closed and a plurality of channels formed in the lid can fit
over an upper portion of the plurality of partitions to restrict
passage between the plurality of smaller storage compartments. The
method also includes removing the removable tray and inserting a
different removable tray having a different number of smaller
storage compartments into the larger storage compartment to
reconfigure the storage container for storing different sortable
material.
[0053] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the
principles of the present invention in one or more particular
applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of
implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive
faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of
the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention
be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
* * * * *