Container

Abstract

A plurality of containers and system and method for making a plurality of different containers from a minimum number of molds, with some inserts, provides multiple container sizes from the same mold utilizing inserts to reduce the size of the mold. In one embodiment, to accommodate various lid designs, a rim is connected to the upper edge of the container. The rim can be formed in various configurations from a single mold using mold inserts. The various rim configurations accommodate different lids. Providing the mold inserts on the rim (which is a very shallow part) is much simpler than providing such inserts on the container itself.

1 . A container comprising:
 a base;   at least one wall extending around the periphery of the base to define a container interior;   a rim removably secured to an uppermost edge of the wall; and   at least one lid removably secured to the rim to selectively cover at least a portion of the container interior.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the rim includes a peripheral portion configured to fit over a peripheral lip on the uppermost edge of the wall, and wherein the rim includes integrally molded latch portions for removably securing the rim to the uppermost edge of the wall, the rim further including an integrally molded crossbar forming a chord across the peripheral portion, the crossbar including at least one integrally molded hinge element for pivotably connecting to the at least one lid. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the rim includes a peripheral portion configured to connect to the uppermost edge of the wall, and wherein the peripheral portion of the rim includes integrally molded latch portions for removably securing the rim to complementary latch portions integrally formed with the wall. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  further including a jig for concurrently releasing the latch portions from the complementary latch portions to remove the rim from the container. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the rim includes a peripheral portion configured to connect to the uppermost edge of the wall and the rim includes an upper wall enclosing the rim around an opening, a tray hingeably connected within the opening, such that the tray can pivot to dump contents of the tray into the container through the opening. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  further including a door rotatably mounted to the lid, the lid having an opening therethrough, the door rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the opening through the lid to selectively open and cover the opening through the lid. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid includes an opening therethrough, a cap removably threaded into the opening through the lid. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  further including a rod hingeably connecting the lid to the rim. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1  further including a support on which the container is supported, such that when the container is placed on the support in a first position, the base of the container is at a first angle relative to a floor and when the container is placed on the support in a second position, the base of the container is at a second angle relative to the floor. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9  further including a plurality of castors extending down from the support. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the support includes a base portion up from which extend a front wall and a rear wall defining a central channel therebetween, the rear wall having spaced apart pillars between which is defined a rear channel, wherein the base of the container is received in the central channel when the container is in the first position, and wherein the base of the container is received in the rear channel when the container is in the second position. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the support is nestable with a similar support. 
   
   
       13 . A system of containers including the container of  claim 1  wherein the rim is one of a plurality of rims, each of different configuration, each providing different lid configurations, wherein each of the rims can be secured to the container. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 1  further including an opening through the lid and further including a cap connected to the lid by an integrally molded tether, the cap removably securable over the opening through the lid. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container is nestable with similar containers when the rim is removed. 
   
   
       16 . A container and support comprising:
 a container including a base and at least one wall extending around the periphery of the base to define a container interior; and   a support on which the container may be supported, such that when the container is placed on the support in a first position, the base of the container is at a first angle relative to a floor and when the container is placed on the support in a second position, the base of the container is at a second angle relative to the floor.   
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16  further including a plurality of castors extending down from the support. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 16  wherein the support includes a base portion up from which extend a front wall and a rear wall defining a central channel therebetween, the rear wall having spaced apart pillars between which is defined a rear channel, wherein the base of the container is received in the central channel when the container is in the first position, and wherein the base of the container is received in the rear channel when the container is in the second position.