Or relating to lid arrangements

Abstract

A lid arrangement (20) comprises first and second lids (22) for use in a container (12) comprising a wall arrangement (16). Each lid (22) is movable between open and closed positions. Each lid (22) comprises opposite first and second edges (124, 126), and a plurality of rib formations (132) extending transverse to the aforesaid edges (124, 126). When the first and second lids (22) are In the closed positions, the rib formations (132) of the first lid (22) overlap the rib formations (132) of the second lid (22), so that each rib formation (132) of the first lid (22) extends parallel to, and alongside, a corresponding rib formation (132) of the second lid (22) to provide a line of support (S) that extends across the lid arrangement (20) from the first edge (124) of the first lid (22) to the first edge (124) of the second lid (22).

Claims

1. A lid arrangement comprising: first and second lids for use in a container comprising a wall arrangement, each lid being movable between open and closed positions; each lid comprises opposite free and hinged edges, and a plurality of rib formations extending transverse to the aforesaid edges; wherein when the first and second lids are in the closed positions, the rib formations of the first lid overlap the rib formations of the second lid at respective free edges, the free edge of each of the first and second lids overlap each other when the lids are in the closed positions, and adjacent rib formations of the first lid provide a first projecting portion at the free edge of the first lid, and adjacent rib formations of the second lid provide a second projecting portion at the free edge of the second lid; wherein the rib formations extend obliquely from the hinged edge, and the rib formations extend substantially wholly across the first and second lids to respective first and second projecting portions, and when the first and second lids are in the closed positions, each rib formation of the first lid extends parallel to, and alongside, a corresponding rib formation of the second lid to provide a line of support that extends across the lid arrangement from the hinged edge of the first lid to the hinged edge of the second lid.

2. A lid arrangement according to claim 1, wherein adjacent rib formations of the first lid define therebetween a first recess extending from the free edge of the first lid, and adjacent rib formations of the second lid define therebetween a second recess extending from the free edge of the second lid.

3. A lid arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the first projecting portion provided by the first lid is received in the second recess of the second lid when the lids are in their closed positions, and the second projecting portion provided by the second lid is received by the first recess of the first lid when the lids are in their closed positions.

4. A lid arrangement according to claim 1, wherein: a each lid has opposite side edges and a hinge portion arranged between the edges; and a hinge pin; the hinge portion comprising a hinge member through which the hinge pin extends; the hinge pin comprising an elongate member having opposite ends, and an end stop portion extending radially outwardly from one of said ends; wherein the end stop portion is disposed in the hinge portion and the elongate member extends from the end portion through the hinge member towards the free edge of the lid.

5. A container assembly comprising a container and a lid arrangement thereon, the lid arrangement being as claimed in claim 4, wherein the container comprises an upstanding wall and a hinge arrangement on the wall, the lid arrangement being attached to the upstanding wall at the hinge arrangement, and wherein the hinge arrangement comprises a hinge element aligned with the hinge member of the hinge portion, the hinge pin extending through the hinge element to secure the lid to the container.

6. A lid arrangement comprising: first and second lids for use in a container comprising a wall arrangement, each lid being movable between open and closed positions; wherein each lid comprises a hinged edge to attach the lid to the wall arrangement, a free edge opposite the hinged edge, and a plurality of rib formations extending transverse to the hinged and free edges; wherein adjacent rib formations of the first lid define therebetween a first recess extending from the free edge of the first lid, and adjacent rib formations of the second lid define therebetween a second recess extending from the free edge of the second lid; wherein adjacent rib formations of the first lid provide a first projecting portion at the free edge of the first lid, and adjacent rib formations of the second lid provide a second projecting portion at the free edge of the second lid; wherein the rib formations extend obliquely from the hinged edge, and the rib formations extend across respective lids to the projecting portions substantially wholly across respective lids; and wherein the first projecting portion provided by the first lid is received in the second recess of the second lid when the lids are in their closed positions, and the second projecting portion provided by the second lid is received by the first recess of the first lid when the lids are in their closed positions.

7. A lid arrangement according to claim 6, wherein adjacent rib formations of each of the first and second lids define a respective further recess therebetween, said further recess extending from the hinged edge, the rib formations defining the further recesses converging towards each other from the hinged edge.

8. A lid arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the rib formations provide the first and second projecting portions to define the further recesses, and the further recess of each lid is aligned with the first or second projecting portion of the respective lid.

9. A lid arrangement according to claim 7, wherein when the first and second lids are in the open positions, the further recess of each of the first and second lids receive a projecting portion of a lid of another container nested in the first mentioned container.

10. A container arrangement comprising: first and second containers, each of the first and second containers having a lid and a wall arrangement, each lid being movable between open and closed positions; wherein the lids of the first and second containers have a hinged edge to attach the lids to respective wall arrangement, and a free edge opposite the hinged edge; wherein adjacent rib formations define a recess therebetween extending from the hinged edge; wherein adjacent rib formations of the each lid provide a projecting portion at the free edge of respective lid; and wherein when the lids are in the open position, and the second container is nested within the first container, the projecting portion of the lid of the second projection is received in the recess defined between the rib formations of the lid of the first container.

11. A container arrangement according to claim 10, wherein each of the first and second containers comprises first and second lids for use in a container comprising a wall arrangement, each lid being movable between open and closed positions, and wherein each lid comprises a hinged edge to attach the lid to the wall arrangement, a free edge opposite the hinged edge, and a plurality of rib formations extending transverse to the hinged and free edges.

12. A container arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the rib formations extend obliquely from the hinged edge across the respective lids to the projecting portions, the rib formations extending substantially wholly across the respective lids.

13. A container arrangement according to claim 10, wherein adjacent rib formations of the first lid define therebetween a first recess extending from the free edge of the first lid; and adjacent rib formations of the second lid define therebetween a second recess extending from the free edge of the second lid; and wherein adjacent rib formations of the first lid provide a first projecting portion at the free edge of the first lid, and adjacent rib formations of the second lid provide a second projecting portion at the free edge of the second lid; whereby the first projecting portion provided by the first lid is received in the second recess of the second lid when the lids are in their closed positions, and the second projecting portion provided by the second lid is received by the first recess of the first lid when the lids are in their closed positions.

14. A container arrangement according to claim 13, wherein each of the first and second lids comprises a main part, the hinged edge being an edge of the main part, the free edge being another edge of the main part, and the rib formations extending across the main part.

15. A container arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the adjacent rib formations defining the first recess taper towards each other from the free edge of the first lid, and the adjacent rib formations defining the second recess taper towards each other from the free edge of the second lid.

16. A container arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the first projecting portion extends outwardly from the free edge of the first lid, the adjacent rib formations providing the first projecting portion taper towards each other outwardly from the free edge of the first lid, and wherein the second projecting portion extends outwardly from the free edge of the second lid, the adjacent rib formations providing the second projecting portion taper towards each other outwardly from the free edge of the second lid.

17. A container arrangement according to claim 13, wherein when the first and second lids are in the closed positions, the rib formations of the first lid overlap the rib formations of the second lid, and each rib formation of the first lid extends parallel to, and alongside, a corresponding rib formation of the second lid to provide a line of support that extends across the lid arrangement from the, hinged edge of the first lid to the hinged edge of the second lid.

18. A lid arrangement comprising: first and second lids for use in a container comprising a wall arrangement, each lid being movable between open and closed positions; each lid comprises opposite free and hinged edges, and a plurality of rib formations extending transverse to the aforesaid edges; wherein when the first and second lids are in the closed positions, the rib formations of the first lid overlap the rib formations of the second lid at respective free edges; the free edge of each of the first and second lids overlap each other when the lids are in the closed positions, and adjacent rib formations of the first lid provide a first projecting portion at the free edge of the first lid, and adjacent rib formations of the second lid provide a second projecting portion at the free edge of the second lid; wherein the rib formations extend obliquely from the hinged edge, and the rib formations extend substantially wholly across the first and second lids to respective first and second projecting portions, and when the first and second lids are in the closed positions, each rib formation of the first lid extending parallel to, and alongside, a corresponding rib formation of the second lid to provide a line of support that extends across the lid arrangement from the hinged edge of the first lid to the hinged edge of the second lid; each lid having opposite side edges and a hinge portion arranged between the edges; and each lid further including a hinge pin; the hinge portion comprising a hinge member through which the hinge pin extends; the hinge pin comprising an elongate member having opposite ends, and an end stop portion extending radially outwardly from one of said ends; wherein the end stop portion is disposed in the hinge portion and the elongate member extends from the end portion through the hinge member towards one of the side edges of the lid.

Description

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective of a container assembly, showing lid arrangements in an open position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the lid arrangements in a closed position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a close up view of the region marked III in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a close up view of the region marked III in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hinge pin for use in the lid arrangements;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a lid;

(8) FIG. 7 is a close up of the region marked VII in FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the lid shown in FIG. 6;

(10) FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a lid arrangement;

(11) FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the lid arrangement shown in FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a container;

(13) FIG. 12 is a close up view of the region marked XII in FIG. 10;

(14) FIG. 13 is a side view of a container arrangement; and

(15) FIG. 14 is an end view of a container arrangement.

(16) FIGS. 1 to 7 show a container assembly 10 comprising a container 12 and two lid arrangements 20 thereon. The container 12 comprises a base 14 and four upstanding side walls 16.

(17) Two of the side walls 16 arranged opposite each other are provided with respective hinge arrangements 17 to allow the lid arrangements 20 to be pivotally attached thereto.

(18) The lid arrangements 20 comprise lids 22 that are pivotally movable between an open position shown in FIG. 1 and a closed position shown in FIG. 2. Each of the hinge arrangements 17 comprises a plurality of hinge elements 18.

(19) Each of the lid arrangements 20 also includes first and second hinge pins 24 to pivotally attach the lid 22 to a respective one of the hinge arrangements 17 of the container 12.

(20) Each lid 22 has opposite first and second side edges 23A, 23B and a hinge portion 25 extending between the side edges 23A, 23B. The hinge portion 25 has a central region 28 and a plurality of hinge members 26 through which the hinge pins 24 extend.

(21) A plurality of first hinge members 26 extend from the central region 28 to the first side edge 23A. The first hinge pin 24 extends through the first hinge members 26. A plurality of second hinge members 26 extend from the central region 28 to the second side edge 23B. The second hinge pin 24 extends through the second hinge members 26.

(22) When the lids 22 are arranged on the container 12, the first and second hinge members 26 on each lid 22 are aligned with the hinge elements 18 on the respective upstanding walls 16. This allows the hinge pins 24 to extend through the hinge members 26 and the hinge elements 18, to provide a hinge attaching the lids 22 to the upstanding walls 16.

(23) Each hinge member 26 has a pivot element 30 at each of its opposite ends through which the hinge pin 24 extends to allow the lid 22 to pivot from between its open and closed positions.

(24) Each of the pivot elements 30 comprises a web portion 32 extending across the end of the hinge member 26, the web portion 32 defining an aperture 34 through which the hinge pin 24 extends.

(25) The hinge portions 25 of each lid 22 further include first and second cover members 36 within the central region 28. The cover members 36 extend over one end of the respective first and second hinge pins 24.

(26) Each cover member 36 comprises a shroud 38 defining an opening 40 to allow insertion and removal of the hinge pins 24 when the lids 22 are in their open positions. Each cover member 36 has one of the aforesaid pivot elements 30 at each end thereof.

(27) Referring to FIG. 5, one of the hinge pins 24 is shown, which comprises an elongate member 46 having opposite ends. A radially outwardly extending end stop member 48 is provided at one of the ends of the elongate member 46.

(28) The end stop member 48 is in the form of a flange. A pointed tip 50 is provided at the opposite end of the elongate member 46.

(29) Each cover member 36 defines a receiving space 44 in which the end stop member 48 is received. The receiving space 44 has an internal sloping surface 42 to facilitate insertion and removal of the hinge pin 24 through the opening 40. The opening 40 is arranged so that, when the lid 22 is in the closed condition, the opening 40 is closed by an upper edge of the wall 16, thereby preventing removal of the hinge pin 24 through the opening 40.

(30) The hinge pins 24 are inserted through the hinge elements 18 and the hinge members 26 via the cover members 36 when the lids 22 are in their open positions. The sloping surfaces 42 act as guide surfaces to guide the hinge pins 24 through the hinge members 26 and hinge elements 18.

(31) When each hinge pin 24 is inserted into the hinge members 26 and hinge elements 18, the end stop member 48 is received in the receiving space 44 defined by the cover member 36. The end stop members 48 are wider than the aperture 34 in the pivot portion of the cover member 36.

(32) Thus, the hinge pins 24 cannot be removed by pulling them at the tip 50 through the hinge members 26 and the hinge elements 18. The only way to remove the hinge pins 24 is by pulling the end stop members 48 through the openings 40 defined by the cover members 36

(33) When the lids 22 are in their closed position, the shroud 38 extends over the end stop member 48 thereby preventing access to the end stop member 48. Thus, when the lids 22 are secured in their closed position, e.g. by a strap wrapped around the container 12 arrangement, access to the end stop member 48 is not possible, thereby preventing unauthorised removal of the hinge pins 24.

(34) FIGS. 6 and 8 to 11 show a lid arrangement 100 (see FIGS. 9, 10 and 11) comprising first and second lids 22, 22A. Each of the first and second lids 22, 22A has a substantially flat main part 122 having a hinged edge 124 comprising the hinge members 26.

(35) The main part 122 of each of the first and second lids 22, 22A also has a free edge 126 opposite the hinged edge 124. The main part 122 has a lower face 128 and an upper face 130.

(36) Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, which show the lower face 128 of the lids 22, 22a. Each of the lids 22, 22A comprise a plurality of rib formations in the form of strengthening ribs 132 extending across the lids 22, 22A. The strengthening ribs 132 extend obliquely from the hinged edge 124 across the main part 122 to the free edge 126.

(37) The strengthening ribs 132 extend at an angle of between 82° and 87° from the hinged edge 124. A typical angle is substantially 85°. Adjacent strengthening ribs 132 are slanted in opposite directions across the main part 122.

(38) Adjacent strengthening ribs 132 of the first lid 22 define therebetween a plurality of first recesses 134 in the upper face 130. The first recesses 134 extend inwardly from the free edge 126 of the first lid 22 across the main part 122.

(39) Similarly, adjacent strengthening ribs 132 of the second lid 22A define therebetween a plurality of second recesses 136. The second recesses 136 extend from the free edge 126 of the second lid 22A across the main part 122.

(40) Adjacent strengthening ribs 132 of the first lid 22 provide a plurality of first projecting portions 138 extending outwardly from the free edge 126 of the first lid 22. Adjacent strengthening ribs 132 of the second lid 22A provide a plurality of second projecting portions 140 at the free edge 126 of the second lid 22A. The projecting portions extend outwardly beyond the free edge 126 of the first and second lids 22, 22A.

(41) As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 8, which show the first lid 22, the first recesses 134 alternate with the first projecting portions 138. In the case of the second lid 22A, the second recesses 136 alternate with the second projecting portions 140.

(42) Each of the first and second lids 22, 22A is pivotally movable about the hinge members 26 from an open position of each of the first and second lids 22, 22A to a closed position of each of the first and second lids 22, 22A.

(43) When the first and second lids 22, 22A are in their closed positions, the first projecting portions 138 of the first lid 22 are received in the second recesses 136 of the second lid 22A, and the second projecting portions 140 of the second lid 22A are received in the first recesses 134 of the first lid 22, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. This has the effect of securing the first and second lids 22, 22A to each other.

(44) Set out below is a description with reference to FIG. 12 of the interaction of the strengthening ribs 132 of the first lid 22 with the strengthening ribs 132 of the second lid 22A when the lids 22, 22A are in the closed position.

(45) In FIG. 12, one of the strengthening ribs of the first lid 22 is designated 132, and one of the strengthening ribs of the second lid 22A is designated 132A. The first projecting portion 138 of the first lid 22 is shown in broken lines, and is received in the second recess 136 of the second lid 22A.

(46) The strengthening rib 132 of the first lid 22 extends parallel to the strengthening rib 132A of the second lid 22A. In the region of the first projecting portion 138, the strengthening rib 132 lies alongside the strengthening rib 132A. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 12, the strengthening ribs 132 and 132A are in near alignment and create a line of support shown by a broken line and designated S.

(47) In the embodiment shown, the line of support S extends along both of the strengthening ribs 132, 132A and helps to prevent the lid 22, 22A from collapsing inwards. The creation of a line of support along at each of the strengthening ribs 132, 132A when the lids 22, 22A are in their closed positions. Thus, a plurality of lines of support S are created along both lids 22, 22A, thereby increasing the strength of the lids 22, 22A over lids of prior art containers.

(48) Another feature of the lids 22, 22A is that the strengthening ribs 132 providing the first and second projecting portions 138, 140 define further recesses 142 extending inwardly from the hinged edge 124 of each of the lids 22, 22A. The strengthening ribs 132 defining the further recesses are slanted towards each other so that the further recesses 142 are wider than the projecting portions 138, 140.

(49) The purpose of the further recesses 142 is to reduce the amount of space occupied by the containers 10 when they are nested within one another.

(50) Two nesting containers, namely a lower container 10, and an upper container 10A, are shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The lids 22, 22A of the containers 10, 10A are in their open positions.

(51) As can be seen from FIGS. 13 and 14, the lids 22, 22A hang down from the upper edges of the containers 10, 10A in the open positions of the lids 22, 22A.

(52) In the open positions of the lids 22, 22A shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the first projecting portions 138 of the lid 22 of the upper container 10A is received in the further recess 142 of the lid 22 of the lower container 10.

(53) The second projecting portions 140 of the lids 22A of the upper container 10A are received in the further recesses 142 defined by the lid 22A of the lower container 10, but this is not visible in the drawings.

(54) The receiving of the projecting portions 138 and 140 in the further recesses 142 has the effect, as shown in FIG. 14 of minimising the extent to which the lids 22, 22A splay outwardly from the walls 16, thereby minimising the required storage space for each array of nested containers.

(55) There is thus described a lid arrangement defining first and second recesses 136, 134 and first and second projecting portions 138, 140 that increase the strength of the lids 22, 22A when the lids are in their closed positions, and which, by virtue of the further recesses 142 allows the containers to be nested occupying minimal space.

(56) Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.