Storage container for elongate articles

Abstract

A storage container has a container base with a bottom panel and an upstanding circumferentially contiguous base side wall. The side wall extends from and is connected to the bottom panel. The base side wall terminates at a top end that defines a base opening into a base interior. A container lid has a top panel and a lid rim. The lid can be installed on the base with the rim registered with the top end of the base side wall to form a storage enclosure defined within at least the base interior. A basket can be hung from the base top end either within the base interior or exterior to the base side wall when installed. The lid is configured to define at least a vertical portion of the storage enclosure. The lid can be configured having a depth sufficient to provide additional storage space when removed from the container and inverted.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A storage container comprising: 
 a container base having a bottom panel and an upstanding circumferentially contiguous base side wall extending from and connected to the bottom panel, the base side wall terminating at a top end that defines a base opening into a base interior;    a container lid having a top panel and a lid rim, wherein the lid can be installed on the base with the rim registered with the top end of the base side wall, wherein the lid defines at least a portion of a storage enclosure in conjunction with the base interior; and    a basket adapted to hang from the base top end either within the base interior or exterior to the base side wall when installed.    
     
     
         2 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the basket is further adapted to hang from the base top end both when the lid is removed from the base and when the lid is installed on the base.  
     
     
         3 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the basket further comprises: 
 a basket bottom; and    a circumferentially contiguous upstanding basket wall extending upward from and connected to the basket bottom, the basket wall terminating at a top end that defines a basket opening into a basket space.    
     
     
         4 . A storage container according to  claim 3 , wherein the basket further comprises: 
 at least one hook extending upward from the basket top end and arching away from the basket opening, the hook adapted to hook over the top end of the base.    
     
     
         5 . A storage container according to  claim 4 , wherein the top end of the base is a rolled lip extending radially outward from the base opening, and wherein the rolled lip has at least one depression into which the at least one basket hook nests when the basket is installed.  
     
     
         6 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the top end of the base includes a plurality of depressions formed therein each adapted to register with a portion of the basket when the basket is installed.  
     
     
         7 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the top end of the base is a rolled lip extending radially outward from the base opening.  
     
     
         8 . A storage container according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 at least a pair of opposed radially outward bulging portions in the rolled lip, each bulging portion defining a handle for the storage container.    
     
     
         9 . A storage container according to  claim 6 , wherein the lid rim has a radially outwardly flared portion adapted to register over the rolled lip when the lid is installed on the base.  
     
     
         10 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises: 
 a circumferentially contiguous lid side wall extending from and connected to the top panel, the lid side wall terminating at the lid rim such that the lid rim defines a lid opening into a lid interior, wherein the storage enclosure is defined by both the lid and base interiors when the lid is installed.    
     
     
         11 . A storage container according to  claim 10 , wherein the lid interior forms about one-third of the storage enclosure and the base interior forms about two-thirds of the storage enclosure.  
     
     
         12 . A storage container according to  claim 10 , wherein the lid is adapted to nest at least partly within the base interior through the base opening when the lid is in an inverted orientation.  
     
     
         13 . A storage container according to  claim 12 , wherein the lid has a plurality of radially outwardly extending stop surfaces that bear against the top end of the base when the lid is in the inverted orientation.  
     
     
         14 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid is adapted to at least partly fit within the base interior when removed from the base.  
     
     
         15 . A storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base interior defines substantially all of the storage enclosure.  
     
     
         16 . A storage container according to  claim 10 , wherein the lid can be used as a separate storage container when removed from the base and inverted.  
     
     
         17 . A storage container for storing elongate articles, the storage container comprising: 
 a container base having a top end defining a base top opening that opens into a vertically elongate base interior;    a container lid having a lid rim surrounding a lid opening that opens into a vertically elongate lid interior; and    a basket adapted to hang from the base top end either within the base interior or exterior to the base when installed,    wherein the lid can be installed on the base top end in an installed orientation such that the base and lid interiors together define an elongate storage enclosure or in an inverted orientation such that the lid at least partly nests into the base interior.    
     
     
         18 . A storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein the base has a bottom panel and an upstanding circumferentially contiguous base side wall extending from and connected to the bottom panel, the base side wall terminating at the base top end.  
     
     
         19 . A storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein the lid has a top panel and a circumferentially contiguous lid side wall extending from and connected to the top panel, the lid side wall terminating at the lid rim.  
     
     
         20 . A storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein the lid rim registers with the base top end when in the installed orientation.  
     
     
         21 . A storage container according to  claim 20 , wherein the lid rim is a radially outwardly extending flare the registers over the lid top end.  
     
     
         22 . A storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein the basket has a pair of hooks that can be hooked over the base top end to support the basket on the base.  
     
     
         23 . A storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of the bases can be nested in series with one another to form a base stack, and wherein a plurality of the lids can be nested in series with one another to form a lid stack, and wherein the lid stack can be nested in the base stack in the inverted orientation.  
     
     
         24 . A storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein the base and the lid are each molded from a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         25 . A storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein the basket can be selectively installed both within the interior of the base and exterior to the base without regard as to whether the lid is in the installed orientation, in the inverted orientation, or removed from the base.  
     
     
         26 . A storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein the lid forms about one-third of the storage enclosure and the base interior forms about two-thirds of the storage enclosure.  
     
     
         27 . A storage container according to  claim 17 , wherein the lid can be used as a separate storage container when removed from the base and inverted.