Lid, container and system for storing documents

Abstract

A lid for a container includes at least one cup portion, and a locking mechanism for securing the lid to a body of the container, at least a portion of the locking mechanism being formed in the at least one cup portion.

1 . A lid for a container, comprising: 
 at least one cup portion; and    a locking mechanism for securing said lid to a body of said container, at least a portion of said locking mechanism being formed in said cup portion.    
   
   
       2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises: 
 a main portion which is formed in said cup portion of said lid and attaches to a base portion formed on said container body, to secure said lid to said body.    
   
   
       3 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one cup portion of said lid comprises an opening which is at least substantially aligned with an opening in said main portion of said locking mechanism, such that a projection on said base portion is insertable into said opening in said main portion of said locking mechanism through said opening in said at least one cup portion.  
   
   
       4 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein said cup portion comprises a depth which is no greater than about 2 inches, and said main portion comprises a height which is substantially equal to said depth of said cup portion.  
   
   
       5 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cup portion is formed in a center region of a side of said lid, and 
 wherein said lid comprises a molded lid, such that said cup portion is integrally formed and molded with said lid.    
   
   
       6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cup portion comprises a plurality of cup portions, one of said plurality of cup portions being formed in an end region of a side of said lid.  
   
   
       7 . A container comprising: 
 a body comprising an opening;    a lid for covering said opening, which is connected to said body and comprises at least one cup portion; and    a locking mechanism for securing said lid to said body, at least a portion of said locking mechanism being formed in said cup portion.    
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises: 
 a main portion which is formed in said cup portion of said lid; and    a base portion which is formed on said body and attaches to said main portion to secure said lid to said body.    
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein said base portion comprises a projection which is insertable into an opening formed in said main portion of said locking mechanism.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one cup portion of said lid comprises an opening which is at least substantially aligned with said opening of said main portion of said locking mechanism, such that said projection is insertable into said opening formed in said main portion of said locking mechanism through said opening in said at least one cup portion.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said projection comprises an upper portion and an engaging portion formed under said upper portion, and 
 wherein said main portion of said locking mechanism further comprises a latch-pin which is spring-loaded and movably protrudes into said opening such that when said projection is inserted into said opening in said main portion, said latch-pin engages said engaging portion to restrict a movement of said projection in a direction out of said opening in said main portion.    
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein said main portion of said locking mechanism further comprises a spring which is operatively coupled to said latch-pin, such that said latch-pin is movable in a direction out of said opening in said main portion of said locking mechanism against a force of said spring.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein said latch-pin protrudes substantially perpendicularly into said opening of said main portion of said locking mechanism.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein said latch-pin comprises an angled end portion such that said latch-pin is displaceable by a force applied by said upper portion of said projection in a direction into said opening of said locking mechanism.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein when said lid is in a substantially closed position, a weight of said lid provides sufficient force for said projection to cause said latch-pin to be displaced and said projection to be inserted into said opening in said main portion of said locking mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a pin-and-tumbler type locking mechanism, said main portion of said locking mechanism comprising a key-hole formed on a key-entry side of said main portion which is opposite to said opening in said main portion of said locking mechanism.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein said key-entry side of said main portion of said locking mechanism comprises a surface which is substantially co-planar with a surface of said lid.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein said locking mechanism further comprises a fastening member for fastening said main portion of said locking mechanism to said lid, said fastening member being inserted through a hole in said cup portion into another opening in said main portion of said lock mechanism.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said cup portion comprises a depth which is no greater than about 2 inches, and said main portion of the locking mechanism comprises a height which is substantially equal to said depth of said cup portion.  
   
   
       20 . A system for storing documents, comprising: 
 a container comprising: 
 a body comprising an opening;  
 a lid for covering said opening, which is connected to said body and comprises at least one cup portion; and  
 a locking mechanism for securing said lid to said body, comprising: 
 a main portion which is formed in said cup portion of said lid; and  
 a base portion which is formed on said body and attaches to said main portion to secure said lid to said body; and  
 
   a securing member which is inserted in an opening formed in said base portion of said locking mechanism, for securing said container to a structure.