U.S. patent application number 13/362224 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-09 for storage box.
The applicant listed for this patent is Joe CHANG, Yang LAI, Chuan-Hong WANG, Yi-Ra WU. Invention is credited to Joe CHANG, Yang LAI, Chuan-Hong WANG, Yi-Ra WU.
Application Number | 20130112701 13/362224 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48002504 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130112701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WU; Yi-Ra ; et al. |
May 9, 2013 |
STORAGE BOX
Abstract
A storage box includes a box body defining a storage chamber and
an access opening and having multiple first engagement portions at
one side of the access opening, and a liftable lid, which includes
multiple second engagement portions and is pivoted to the box body
and biasable relative to the box body between a close position
where the second engagement portions are disengaged from the first
engagement portions and the liftable lid closes the access opening,
and a lifted position where the second engagement portions are
engaged with the first engagement portion and the liftable lid is
kept away from the access opening to keep the storage chamber in an
open status. Thus, the user does not need to hold the liftable lid
in the lifted position with the other hand when using one hand to
put things in the storage chamber of the box body.
Inventors: |
WU; Yi-Ra; (Taichung City,
TW) ; CHANG; Joe; (Taichung City, TW) ; LAI;
Yang; (Taichung City, TW) ; WANG; Chuan-Hong;
(Taichung City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WU; Yi-Ra
CHANG; Joe
LAI; Yang
WANG; Chuan-Hong |
Taichung City
Taichung City
Taichung City
Taichung City |
|
TW
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
48002504 |
Appl. No.: |
13/362224 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/843 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0219 20130101;
B65D 2543/00379 20130101; B65D 2543/00537 20130101; B65D 43/0212
20130101; B65D 2543/0074 20130101; B65D 2543/00648 20130101; B65D
2543/00805 20130101; B65D 2543/00694 20130101; B65D 2543/00388
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/843 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/04 20060101
B65D051/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 9, 2011 |
TW |
100140920 |
Claims
1. A storage box, comprising: a box body comprising a storage
chamber, an access opening in communication with said storage
chamber, first pivot connector means extending along one side of
said access opening, and at least one first engagement portion
formed at said first pivot connector means; and a liftable lid
comprising a second pivot connector means disposed at one side
thereof and at least one second engagement portion formed at said
second pivot connector means, said second pivot connector means
being coupled to said first pivot connector means in such a manner
that said liftable lid is biasable relative to said box body
between a close position where said at least one second engagement
portion of said liftable lid is disengaged from said at least one
first engagement portion of said box body and said liftable lid
closes said access opening, and a lifted position where said at
least one second engagement portion of said liftable lid is engaged
with said at least one first engagement portion of said box body
and said liftable lid is kept away from said access opening to keep
said storage chamber in an open status.
2. The storage box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first pivot
connector means of said box body comprises at least one smoothly
arched hook and at least one pair of opposing second retaining
protrusions disposed inside said at least one smoothly arched hook;
said second pivot connector means of said liftable lid comprises a
pivot axle inserted through said at least one smoothly arched hook
and pivotally secured to said at least one smoothly arched hook by
said at least one pair of opposing second retaining protrusions;
said at least one second engagement portion of said liftable lid
each is formed of one rib protruded from the periphery of said
second pivot connector means; said liftable lid further comprises
at least one opening disposed adjacent to said pivot axle for the
passing of said at least one smoothly arched hook of said first
pivot connector means when said liftable lid is being biased
relative to said box body.
3. The storage box as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first pivot
connector means of said box body comprises a slot on each said
smoothly arched hook, and a elastic element suspending in the slot
on each said smoothly arched hook and terminating in one said first
engagement portion.
4. The storage box as claimed in claim 2, wherein said box body
comprise a body shell and a cover shell, said body shell, said body
shell defining therein said storage chamber and said access
opening, said cover shell being covered on said body shell and
carrying said first pivot connector means and said at least one
first engagement portion.
5. The storage box as claimed in claim 4, wherein said box body
comprises a rim and a plurality of notches; said cover shell
comprises a plurality of retaining lugs respectively inserted into
said notches of said box body, and a plurality of first retaining
portions respectively protruded from said retaining lugs and forced
into engagement with said rim of said box body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to storage box for storing
items and more particularly, to such a storage box, which is
equipped with a liftable lid that can be positively positioned in a
lifted position.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Commercial storage boxes commonly provide a storage chamber
for storing things. To prohibit external dust from entering the
storage chamber to cause contamination, or to prohibit bad smell of
storage items from escaping out of the storage chamber, a liftable
lid may be pivoted to the opening side of the storage chamber. When
the liftable lid is not lifted, the storage chamber is enclosed.
When the liftable lid is lifted, the user can store storage items
in the storage chamber.
[0005] According to conventional designs, a torsion spring is
commonly used for automatically returning the liftable lid to the
close position. However, conventional storage boxes do not provide
any liftable lid positioning structure. When storing a large amount
of storage items, the user must frequently lift the liftable lid,
or hold the liftable lid in the lifted position with one hand while
using the other hand to put storage items in the storage chamber.
Thus, these conventional storage boxes are inconvenient to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a storage box, which enables the liftable lid
be positively positioned in the lifted position, facilitating easy
storing of storage items.
[0007] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention,
a storage box comprises a box body and a liftable lid. The box body
comprises a storage chamber, an access opening in communication
with the storage chamber, first pivot connector means extending
along one side of the access opening, and at least one first
engagement portion formed at the first pivot connector means. The
liftable lid comprises a second pivot connector means disposed at
one side thereof and at least one second engagement portion formed
at the second pivot connector means. The second pivot connector
means is coupled to the first pivot connector means in such a
manner that the liftable lid is biasable relative to the box body
between a close position where the at least one second engagement
portion of the liftable lid is disengaged from the at least one
first engagement portion of the box body and the liftable lid
closes the access opening, and a lifted position where the at least
one second engagement portion of the liftable lid is engaged with
the at least one first engagement portion of the box body and the
liftable lid is kept away from the access opening to keep the
storage chamber in an open status.
[0008] Preferably the first pivot connector means of the box body
comprises at least one smoothly arched hook and at least one pair
of opposing second retaining protrusions disposed inside the at
least one smoothly arched hook; the second pivot connector means of
the liftable lid comprises a pivot axle inserted through the at
least one smoothly arched hook and pivotally secured to the at
least one smoothly arched hook by the at least one pair of opposing
second retaining protrusions; the at least one second engagement
portion of the liftable lid each is formed of one rib protruded
from the periphery of the second pivot connector means; the
liftable lid further comprises at least one opening disposed
adjacent to the pivot axle for the passing of the at least one
smoothly arched hook of the first pivot connector means when the
liftable lid is being biased relative to the box body.
[0009] Preferably, the first pivot connector means of the box body
comprises a slot on each smoothly arched hook, and a elastic
element suspending in the slot on each smoothly arched hook and
terminating in one first engagement portion.
[0010] Other advantages and features of the present invention will
be fully understood by reference to the following specification in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
signs denote like components of structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an oblique elevational view of a storage box in
accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the storage box in accordance
with the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the present
invention, illustrating the coupling structure between the cover
shell of the box body and the liftable lid.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.
3.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, of a part
of the present invention, illustrating the coupling arrangement
between the body shell and cover shell of the box body.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.
3.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, of a part
of the present invention, illustrating the second engagement
portion of the liftable lid disengaged from the first engagement
portion of the box body.
[0018] FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the second
engagement portion of the liftable lid engaged with the first
engagement portion of the box body.
[0019] FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 1, illustrating the liftable lid
in the lifted position.
[0020] FIG. 10 is an applied view of the present invention,
illustrating multiple storage boxes arranged in a stack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a storage box 10 in accordance with the
present invention is shown. The storage box 10 comprises a box body
20, and a liftable lid 50.
[0022] Referring also to FIG. 2, the box body 20 comprises a body
shell 30 and a cover shell 40. The body shell 30 comprises a
storage chamber 32 defined therein, an access opening 34 located on
one side thereof in communication with the storage chamber 32, a
rim 36 extending around the access opening 34, a plurality of
notches 38 located on the rim 36 at selected locations. The cover
shell 40 comprises a plurality of retaining lugs 42 extended from
the periphery thereof and respectively inserted into the notches
38. Each retaining lug 42 comprises a first retaining protrusion
422 forced into engagement with the rim 36, as shown in FIG. 5, to
secure the cover shell 40 and the body shell 30 together. The cover
shell 40 further comprises a plurality of first pivot connector
members 44 located on one peripheral side thereof. According to
this embodiment, the first pivot connector members 44 are smoothly
arched hooks, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each comprising two pairs
of opposing second retaining protrusions 441 bilaterally protruded
from the bottom wall thereof, a slot 443 cut through the opposing
top and bottom walls thereof, a elastic element 46 suspending in
the slot 443 and terminating in a first engagement portion 48 that
protrudes downwardly over the bottom wall of the respective first
pivot connector member 44.
[0023] The liftable lid 50 comprises a second pivot connector
member 52. According to this embodiment, the second pivot connector
member 52 is a pivot axle inserted through the first pivot
connector members (smoothly arched hooks) 44 and pivotally secured
thereto by the second retaining protrusions 441, as shown in FIG.
7. The second pivot connector member 52 comprises a plurality of
ribs protruded from the periphery thereof, forming a second
engagement portion 54, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. The liftable
lid 50 further comprises a plurality of openings 56 adjacent to the
second pivot connector members (pivot axle) 52 for the passing of
the first pivot connector members (smoothly arched hooks) 44 during
lifting of the liftable lid 50. Thus, when the second engagement
portion 54 of the liftable lid 50 and the first engagement portion
48 of the box body 20 are not in engagement with each other, as
shown in FIG. 7, the liftable lid 50 can be turned up and down
relative to the box body 20 between a close position P1 and a
lifted position P2. When in the close position P1, the liftable lid
50 blocks the access opening 34, keeping the storage chamber 32 in
an enclosed condition. When the liftable lid 50 is biased toward
the lifted position P2 to force the second engagement portion 54
into engagement with the first engagement portion 48 of the box
body 20, as shown in FIG. 8, the liftable lid 50 is held in the
lifted position P2 and prohibited from biasing relative to the box
body 20, as shown in FIG. 9. At this time, the liftable lid 50 is
kept away from the access opening 34, opening the storage chamber
32.
[0024] When the user is going to put things in the storage chamber
32 of the box body 20, lift the liftable lid 50 to force the second
engagement portion 54 into engagement with the first engagement
portion 48 of the box body 20, and thus, the liftable lid 50 is
held in the lifted position P2. At this time, the user can put
things in the storage chamber 32. After all thinks have been put in
the storage chamber 32, the user can bias the liftable lid 50 from
the lifted position P2 toward the close position P1 to disengage
the second engagement portion 54 from the first engagement portion
48 of the box body 20. When the liftable lid 50 reaches the close
position P1, the storage chamber 32 becomes enclosed. It is thus
clear that the storage box 10 of the invention eliminates the
problem of the prior art design where the liftable lid will
automatically return to the close position after having been
lifted, bringing inconvenience to the user in storing things. The
storage box is convenient for use independently. Multiple storage
boxes constructed in accordance with the present invention can be
arranged in a stack for convenient use, as shown in FIG. 10.
[0025] Further, it is to be understood that the example where the
first pivot connector members 44 of the box body 20 are smoothly
arched hooks and the second pivot connector member 52 of the
liftable lid 50 is a pivot axle is not a limitation. Both the
smoothly arched hooks and the pivot axle are inter-exchangeable,
i.e., the box body 20 can be made having one single first pivot
connector member 44 formed of a pivot axle and the liftable lid 50
can be made having a plurality of second pivot connector members 52
respectively formed of a respective smoothly arched hook for
coupling with the pivot axle of the first pivot connector member 44
of the box body 20.
[0026] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *