Tote clip and assembly

Abstract

A clip ( 14 ), designed for use with a container ( 12 ) having a lid ( 20 ) movable between an open position and a closed position, includes a base ( 40 ) adapted to be inserted into a cavity ( 30 ) in the container ( 12 ) and a resilient arm ( 50 ) extending from the base ( 40 ). The base ( 40 ) has a projection extending therefrom, adapted to be received in an aperture ( 32 ) in the container ( 12 ) to affix the base ( 40 ) to the container ( 12 ). The arm ( 50 ) is adapted to temporarily deflect in response to a closure force upon the lid ( 20 ) to permit the lid ( 20 ) to move from the open position to the closed position. The arm ( 50 ) is further adapted to retain the lid ( 20 ) in the closed position. The clip ( 14 ) is used with a container ( 12 ) having a bottom ( 16 ), four sidewalls ( 18 ), and a lid ( 20 ) movable between an open position and a closed position to form a container assembly ( 10 ).

1 . A clip for use with a container having a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, the clip comprising a resilient arm having a portion that is adapted to engage a portion of the container to affix the arm to the container, the arm adapted to retain the lid in the closed position, and operative in response to a closure force upon the lid.  
   
   
       2 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the resilient arm is defined by a base, wherein the base is adapted to engage a portion of the container to affix the resilient arm to the container.  
   
   
       3 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the arm operates by temporarily deflecting outwardly in response to the closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position.  
   
   
       4 . The clip of  claim 3 , wherein the arm has a tab thereon, the tab angled downward and adapted to transfer a portion of the closure force into an outward force on the arm to deflect the arm.  
   
   
       5 . The clip of  claim 3 , wherein the arm has a first position of minimum deflection and a second position of maximum deflection, wherein the arm is adapted to be in the second position when the closure force upon the lid is at a maximum, and the arm is adapted to be in the first position when no closure force is exerted upon the lid.  
   
   
       6 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the arm has a tab thereon, the tab adapted to retain the lid in the closed position.  
   
   
       7 . The clip of  claim 5 , wherein the tab is further adapted to absorb a portion of the closure force to operate the arm.  
   
   
       8 . The clip of  claim 2 , wherein the base has a projection thereon, the projection adapted to be received in an aperture in the container to affix the base to the container.  
   
   
       9 . The clip of  claim 8 , wherein the base is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, and the projection has an angled surface adapted to facilitate insertion of the base into the cavity.  
   
   
       10 . The clip of  claim 2 , wherein the base is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, and the base has an angled surface adapted to facilitate insertion of the base into the cavity.  
   
   
       11 . The clip of  claim 2 , wherein the base is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, and the base has a hollow adapted to receive a tool for insertion and removal of the base from the cavity.  
   
   
       12 . The clip of  claim 2 , wherein the base is adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, and the base has a protrusion adapted to abut an inner surface of the cavity to secure the base within the cavity.  
   
   
       13 . A clip for use with a container having a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, the clip comprising: 
 a base adapted to be inserted into a cavity in the container, the base having a projection extending therefrom, the projection adapted to be received in an aperture in the container to affix the base to the container; and    a resilient arm extending from the base, the arm adapted to temporarily deflect in response to a closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position, the arm further adapted to retain the lid in the closed position.    
   
   
       14 . The clip of  claim 13 , wherein the projection has an angled surface adapted to facilitate insertion of the base into the cavity.  
   
   
       15 . The clip of  claim 13 , wherein the arm has a tab thereon, the tab angled downward and adapted to transfer a portion of the closure force into an outward force on the arm to deflect the arm.  
   
   
       16 . The clip of  claim 13 , wherein the arm has a tab thereon, the tab adapted to retain the lid in the closed position.  
   
   
       17 . The clip of  claim 16 , wherein the tab is further adapted to absorb a portion of the closure force to operate the arm.  
   
   
       18 . A container assembly comprising: 
 a container comprising a bottom, a sidewall, and a lid, the lid movable between an open position and a closed position;    a first clip having a base and a resilient arm extending from the base, wherein the base engages a portion of the container to affix the first clip to the container, and the arm temporarily deflects in response to a closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position, retaining the lid in the closed position.    
   
   
       19 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the arm has a first position of minimum deflection and a second position of maximum deflection, wherein the closure force upon the lid is at a maximum when the arm is in the second position, and the arm is in the first position when no closure force is exerted upon the lid.  
   
   
       20 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the container comprises a cavity, and the base is received in the cavity.  
   
   
       21 . The container assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the base has a projection thereon and the container has an aperture located proximate the cavity, the projection received in the aperture to affix the base to the container.  
   
   
       22 . The container assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the projection has a hole therethrough, and the assembly is adapted to receive a locking mechanism extending through the hole and the aperture to further secure the lid in the closed position.  
   
   
       23 . The container assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the base has a protrusion abutting an inner surface of the cavity to secure the base within the cavity.  
   
   
       24 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the arm temporarily deflects in response to an outward force upon the arm to permit the lid to move from the closed position to the open position.  
   
   
       25 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the lid is a two-piece lid having a closure seam proximate a center line of the container when the lid is in the closed position.  
   
   
       26 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a second clip affixed to the container opposite the first clip, the second clip comprising a base and a resilient arm extending from the base, wherein the base engages a portion of the container to affix the second clip to the container, and the arm temporarily deflects in response to a closure force upon the lid to permit the lid to move from the open position to the closed position, retaining the lid in the closed position.  
   
   
       27 . The container assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the lid comprises a first lid member and a second lid member, and the first clip engages the first lid member and the second clip engages the second lid member to retain the lid in the closed position.