Nesting container lids with snap on wings
View Patent ↗Stackable lids for a container each include a top surface facing generally in a first direction and a bottom surface opposite the top surface and facing generally in a second direction. Pivotable wing portions extend from each side edge of the lid and each pivotable wing portion is joined to its respective side edge by a hinge. The wing portions are moveable between engaged and disengaged positions, and an inner surface of each wing includes a tab member configured for detent engagement with a rim of the container. The lid also includes corner portions extending between the side edges. Each corner portion includes a skirt portion extending generally in the second direction. Each corner portion also defines a recessed shoulder configured to receive the skirt portion of another when the lids are stacked.
1. A lid for a container, the container having a rim, the lid comprising:
a top surface facing generally in a first direction;
a bottom surface opposite the top surface and facing generally in a second direction;
side edges, each side edge having a pivotable wing portion extending therefrom, each pivotable wing portion joined to its respective side edge by a hinge and moveable between a first position where the wing portion extends generally outwardly, and a second position where the wing portion extends generally in the second direction, each wing portion including on an inner surface thereof a tab member configured for detent engagement with the rim of the container; and,
corner portions extending between the side edges, each corner portion including a skirt portion extending, from a first wing around a corner and terminating at an adjacent wing, generally in the second direction, and each corner portion defining a recessed shoulder configured to receive and support the skirt portion of another a second, substantially identical, lid, such that when stacked, the recessed shoulder of the corner portions provides the only support for the second lid.
2. The lid of claim 1 , wherein each skirt portion includes a bottom edge and each shoulder includes a shoulder surface that faces generally in the first direction, and wherein the shoulder surface is configured to matingly engage the bottom edge of a third, substantially identical, lid.
3. The lid of claim 2 , wherein the shoulder surface is a first shoulder surface, and wherein each shoulder further includes a generally outwardly facing second shoulder surface the second surface joining the first shoulder surface.
4. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the side edges define a substantially straight surface, and wherein the corner portions define a substantially continuous curve.
5. The lid of claim 1 , wherein each hinge defines a respective hinge axis, and wherein each end of each corner portion includes a hinge guard that extends outwardly such that an adjacent one of the hinge axes extends through the hinge guard.
6. The lid of claim 1 , further comprising a seal channel formed in the bottom surface and extending around a perimeter of the lid, and a seal member received by the seal channel.
7. The lid of claim 6 , wherein a cross-section of the seal member includes a substantially square and hollow outer portion, a substantially circular inner portion, and a plurality of webs extending between the inner portion and the outer portion.
8. The lid of claim 1 , wherein each hinge is an integrally formed living hinge.
9. A pair of lids, each lid configured for attachment to a common container, the container including a rim, each lid comprising:
a top surface facing generally in a first direction away from the container when the lid is attached to the container;
a bottom surface opposite the top surface and facing generally in a second direction toward the container when the lid is attached to the container;
side edges, each side edge having a pivotable wing portion extending therefrom, each pivotable wing portion joined to its respective side edge by a hinge and moveable between a disengaged first position where the wing portion extends generally outwardly, and an engaged second position where the wing portion extends generally in the second direction, each wing portion including on an inner surface thereof a tab member configured for detent engagement with the rim of the container; and,
corner portions extending between the side edges, each corner portion including a skirt portion extending, from a first wing portion around a corner and terminating at an adjacent wing portion, generally in the second direction, and each corner portion defining a recessed shoulder,
wherein the lids are stackable upon one another, and wherein when a first lid of the pair of lids is stacked upon a second lid of the pair of lids, the recessed shoulders of the second lid each receive and support a respective one of the skirt portions of the first lid, such that the recessed shoulders of the second lid provide the only support for the first lid stacked upon the second lid.
10. The pair of lids of claim 8 , wherein each skirt portion includes a bottom edge and each recessed shoulder includes a shoulder surface that faces generally in the first direction, and wherein when the first lid is stacked upon the second lid, each bottom edge of the first lid engages a respective one of the shoulder surfaces of the second lid.
11. The pair of lids of claim 9 , wherein each recessed shoulder includes a generally outwardly facing surface that joins a respective shoulder surface, and wherein when the first lid is stacked upon the second lid, a lower end of each skirt portion of the first lid fits over a respective one of the outwardly facing surfaces of the second lid.
12. The pair of lids of claim 8 , wherein the side edges define a substantially straight surface, and wherein the corner portions define a substantially continuous curve.
13. The pair of lids of claim 8 , wherein each hinge defines a respective hinge axis, and wherein each end of each corner portion includes a hinge guard that extends outwardly such that an adjacent one of the hinge axes extends through the hinge guard.
14. The pair of lids lid of claim 8 , each lid further comprising a seal channel formed in the bottom surface and extending around a perimeter of the lid, and a seal member received by the seal channel.
15. The pair of lids of claim 14 , wherein a cross-section of each seal member includes a substantially square and hollow outer portion, a substantially circular inner portion, and a plurality of webs extending between the inner portion and the outer portion.
16. A storage container set comprising:
a container having a base, sidewalls, and a rim;
a plurality of lids, each lid releasably attachable to the rim of the container, each lid including:
a top surface facing generally in a first direction away from the container when the lid is attached to the container;
a bottom surface opposite the top surface and facing generally in a second direction toward the container when the lid is attached to the container;
side edges, each side edge having a pivotable wing portion extending therefrom, each pivotable wing portion joined to its respective side edge by a hinge and moveable between a disengaged first position where the wing portion extends generally outwardly, and an engaged second position where the wing portion extends generally in the second direction, each wing portion including on an inner surface thereof a tab member configured for detent engagement with the rim of the container; and,
corner portions extending between the side edges, each corner portion including a skirt portion extending, from a first wing portion around a corner and terminating at an adjacent wing portion, generally in the second direction, and each corner portion defining a recessed shoulder,
wherein the lids are stackable upon one another, and wherein when a first lid of the plurality of lids is stacked upon a second lid of the plurality of lids, the recessed shoulders of the second lid each receive and support a respective one of the skirt portions of the first lid, such that the recessed shoulders of the second lid provide the only support for the first lid stacked upon the second lid.
17. The storage container set of claim 16 , wherein each skirt portion includes a bottom edge and each recessed shoulder includes a shoulder surface that faces generally in the first direction, and wherein when the first lid is stacked upon the second lid, each bottom edge of the first lid engages a respective one of the shoulder surfaces of the second lid.
18. The storage container set of claim 17 , wherein each recessed shoulder includes a generally outwardly facing surface that joins a respective shoulder surface, and wherein when the first lid is stacked upon the second lid, a lower end of each skirt portion of the first lid fits over a respective one of the outwardly facing surfaces of the second lid.
19. The storage container set of claim 16 , wherein each hinge defines a respective hinge axis, and wherein each end of each corner portion includes a hinge guard that extends outwardly such that an adjacent one of the hinge axes extends through the hinge guard.
20. The storage container set of claim 16 , wherein each lid further includes a seal channel formed in the bottom surface and extending around a perimeter of the lid, and a seal member received by the seal channel.
21. The storage container set of claim 20 , wherein a cross-section of each seal member includes a substantially square and hollow outer portion, a substantially circular inner portion, and a plurality of webs extending between the inner portion and the outer portion.
22. The storage container of claim 16 , wherein each hinge is an integrally formed living hinge.