Storage and display container and methods

Abstract

A container arrangement including a box, a removable lid, a hinge connecting the lid and the box, and a latch mechanism. The hinge construction can be spring-biased. There can be a removable tubular sleeve around the box and lid. The sleeve can include a tab in extension therefrom defining a hanghole for display purposes. Methods for storage and use include using arrangements of this type. The container arrangement can hold a variety of items, for example, gaming items, in particular, dice.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A container arrangement comprising: 
 (a) a box having a bottom and a surrounding sidewall; the bottom and the surrounding sidewall defining an interior and an open mouth providing access to the interior;    (b) a removable lid in covering relation to the mouth;    (c) a hinge construction between the lid and the box to provide selective removal of the lid from the box;    (d) a latch mechanism securing the box to the lid; and    (e) a removable tubular sleeve around the box and lid; 
 (i) the sleeve including a tab in extension therefrom; the tab defining a hanghole.  
   
     
     
         2 . A container arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 (a) said hinge construction is spring-biased.  
 
     
     
         3 . A container arrangement according to  claim 2  wherein: 
 (a) said surrounding sidewall consists of four walls extending orthogonally to said bottom.  
 
     
     
         4 . A container arrangement according to  claim 3  wherein: 
 (a) said four walls include a front wall and opposing rear wall; and first and second opposing lateral walls extending between said front wall and rear wall; and  
 (b) said lid comprises a top wall and a lid hinge wall, lid latch wall, and first and second lateral lid walls; each of the lid hinge wall, lid latch wall and first and second lateral lid walls being orthogonal to said top wall.  
 
     
     
         5 . A container arrangement according to  claim 4  wherein: 
 (b) said latch mechanism is mounted on said front wall;  
 (c) said hinge construction is mounted on said rear wall.  
 
     
     
         6 . A container arrangement according to  claim 5  wherein: 
 (a) said latch mechanism comprises an arm with first and second opposite ends, a push button, and a hook; 
 (i) said arm being secured to said front wall adjacent to the first end in the box interior;  
 (ii) said push button extending through a hole in said front wall;  
 (ii) said hook extending from said second end; said second end and said hook projecting toward said lid; 
 (A) said hook being moveable laterally from said front wall responsive to force exerted on said push button;  
 
 
 (b) said lid latch wall defines a catch to selectively engage said hook.  
 
     
     
         7 . A container arrangement according to  claim 4  wherein: 
 (a) said box and said lid together form a cube.  
 
     
     
         8 . A container arrangement according to  claim 4  wherein: 
 (a) said tubular sleeve at least partially covers each of said front wall, rear wall, bottom, top wall, lid latch wall, and lid hinge wall; and  
 (b) said first and second lateral walls and said first and second lateral lid walls are free of contact with said tubular sleeve.  
 
     
     
         9 . A container arrangement according to  claim 8  wherein: 
 (a) said tab on said tubular sleeve is connected to a remaining portion of the tubular sleeve by a living hinge.  
 
     
     
         10 . A container arrangement according to  claim 8  further comprising: 
 (a) a sticker securing said tubular sleeve to one of said box and said lid.  
 
     
     
         11 . A container arrangement according to  claim 4  wherein: 
 (a) said box, said lid, and said sleeve each comprises a transparent material.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method for storing playing dice; the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a container including a box having lid; the lid being attached to the box with a spring-biased hinge and a latch;    (b) releasing the latch to allow the spring-biased hinge to move the lid from an opening in the box;    (c) placing at least one die in the box;    (d) orienting the lid to cover the opening in the box;    (e) engaging the latch to secure the lid to the box; and    (f) placing a tubular sleeve around the container; 
 (i) the sleeve having an extending tab defining a hanghole.  
   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  further comprising: 
 (a) after the step of placing a tubular sleeve around the container, hanging the container on a display rack by orienting a display rod through the hanghole.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12  further comprising: 
 (a) after the step of placing a tubular sleeve around the container, orienting a sticker on the sleeve and container to secure the sleeve to the container.  
 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein: 
 (a) said step of releasing the latch includes pushing a button against the box.  
 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein: 
 (a) said step of providing a container including a box and a lid includes providing a transparent box and transparent lid.  
 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein: 
 (a) said step of providing a container includes providing a cube-shaped container.  
 
     
     
         18 . A dice container comprising: 
 (a) a box defining an interior and an open mouth; the box having a bottom, a front wall, a rear wall opposing the front wall; first and second opposing lateral walls extending between said front wall and rear wall;    (b) a removable lid in covering relation to the mouth; the lid including a top wall and a lid hinge wall, lid latch wall, and first and second lateral lid walls; each of the lid hinge wall, lid latch wall and first and second lateral lid walls being orthogonal to said top wall;    (c) a hinge construction between the lid and the box to provide selective removal of the lid from the box; 
 (i) said hinge construction being mounted on said rear wall;  
 (ii) said hinge construction being spring-biased;  
   (d) a latch mechanism securing the box to the lid; 
 (i) said latch mechanism being mounted on said front wall;  
 (ii) said latch mechanism comprising an arm with first and second opposite ends, a push button, and a hook; 
 (A) said arm being secured to said front wall adjacent to the first end in the box interior;  
 (B) said push button extending through a hole in said front wall;  
 (C) said hook extending from said second end; said second end and said hook projecting toward said lid; 
 (1) said hook being moveable laterally from said front wall responsive to force exerted on said push button;  
 
 
   (e) a removable tubular sleeve around the box and lid; 
 (i) the sleeve including a tab in extension therefrom; the tab defining a hanghole;  
 (ii) said sleeve covering said front wall, rear wall, bottom, top wall, lid latch wall, and lid hinge wall; 
 (A) said first and second lateral walls and said first and second lateral lid walls being free of contact with said tubular sleeve; and  
 
   (f) at least one playing die oriented in the interior of the box.    
     
     
         19 . A dice container according to  claim 18  wherein: 
 (a) said box and lid together form a cube having a volume of 20-500 cm 3 .  
 
     
     
         20 . A dice container according to  claim 19  wherein: 
 (a) said at least one playing die includes at least 6 playing die.