Storage enclosure

Abstract

A storage enclosure with cascading and nested lid segments and a base, each lid segment including closing ridges for holding the lid segments in a shingled manner, when the enclosure is closed, thereby making the enclosure resistant to environmental debris, precipitation, and unauthorized access to the enclosure's stored contents. The enclosure may be collapsed to the size of the base and the outer lid segment. The enclosure may be secured to prevent pilferage. A bottom lid segment may include a protruding lip extending over a portion of the base. The base mates with the protruding lip. Lifting the protruding lip lifts the lid segments. Alternatively, the lid segments could have opening ridges that cooperate to lift the lid segments as the enclosure is opened. Supports located on the inside of the enclosure are displaceable from a position generally entirely within the outer lid segment to a position within both the outer lid segment and the base. The tubes can have either a round or a rectangular cross-section. Preferably, the supports are displaceable by gravity. The lid segments are secured with axles flush with the outer surface of the outer lid segment, and the axles are secured with a cotter pin.

1 . An enclosure for storing contents comprising: 
 a base;    an outer lid segment; and    a bottom lid segment; wherein said lid segments are cascading.    
     
     
         2 . The enclosure of  claim 1  wherein said lid segments have closing ridges holding each lid segment in a shingled manner thereby making the enclosure resistant to environmental debris, precipitation, and unauthorized access to the contents.  
     
     
         3 . The enclosure of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure may be collapsed to the size of the base and the outer lid segment.  
     
     
         4 . The enclosure of  claim 1  further including means for securing the enclosure in a closed position.  
     
     
         5 . The enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising a lock bracket attached to the base and a lock opening located in said bottom lid segment.  
     
     
         6 . The enclosure of  claim 1  further including means for securing the enclosure in an open position.  
     
     
         7 . The enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising a lock bracket attached to a lid segment and a lock opening located in said bottom lid segment.  
     
     
         8 . The enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising intermediate lid segments.  
     
     
         9 . The enclosure of  claim 8  wherein said intermediate lid segments have closing ridges holding each lid segment in a shingled manner thereby making the enclosure resistant to environmental debris, precipitation, and unauthorized access to the contents.  
     
     
         10 . The enclosure of  claim 8  wherein said bottom lid segment includes a protruding lip.  
     
     
         11 . The enclosure of  claim 10  wherein said protruding lip extends over a portion of said base.  
     
     
         12 . The enclosure of  claim 10  wherein lifting of said protruding lip lifts the lid segments.  
     
     
         13 . The enclosure of  claim 12  wherein said base includes a scallop and a front edge for mating with said protruding lip.  
     
     
         14 . The enclosure of  claim 8  wherein the lid segments have opening ridges for causing the lid segments to fold into one another as the enclosure is opened.  
     
     
         15 . The enclosure of  claim 8  wherein the lid segments are nested within each other.  
     
     
         16 . The enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a wall within the bottom lid segment.  
     
     
         17 . An enclosure for storing contents comprising: 
 a base;    an outer lid segment; and    at least one support securing said outer lid segment in a vertical position.    
     
     
         18 . The enclosure of  claim 17  further comprising a plurality of supports.  
     
     
         19 . The enclosure of  claim 17  wherein said support is located within a channel in the outer lid segment.  
     
     
         20 . The enclosure of  claim 17  further comprising a second support, each support located within a channel in the outer lid segment, each support being displaceable from a position generally entirely within the outer lid segment to a position within both the outer lid segment and the base.  
     
     
         21 . The enclosure of  claim 20  wherein said supports are tubes with a generally rectangular cross-section.  
     
     
         22 . The enclosure of  claim 21  further comprising first and second tube brackets for the first and second tubes.  
     
     
         23 . The enclosure of  claim 20  wherein each support is displaceable by gravity.  
     
     
         24 . The enclosure of  claim 20  wherein said supports are tubes each having a generally circular cross-section.  
     
     
         25 . An enclosure for storing contents comprising: 
 a base;    at least one axle;    an outer lid segment; and    intermediate lid segments, wherein each of the lid segments includes an axle bore.    
     
     
         26 . The enclosure of  claim 25  comprising a second axle, and each lid segment including a second axle bore, each axle bore being located on a side of the lid segment, the axle bores being aligned with each other, and the axle bores receiving the axles.  
     
     
         27 . The enclosure of  claim 26  wherein the axles are flush with the outside of the enclosure and are secured on the inside of the enclosure with a cotter pin.