Reusable waste container

Abstract

A reusable biohazard waste container is configured such that the container can be transported without requiring any additional packaging elements. A lid is pivotally connected to the container and is movable between an open position and a closed position. A latch secures the lid to the container when in the closed position such that the container is capable of holding liquids.

1 . A reusable biohazard waste container comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls that extend upwardly from the bottom wall to form a box-shaped biohazard waste container;   a lid pivotally connected to the container to be movable between an open position and a closed position, the lid defining an upper lid surface and a lower lid surface, and wherein the lid includes a gasket feature formed within the upper lid surface and a gasket rib structure formed within the lower lid surface;   a latch to secure the lid to the container when in the closed position; and   a gasket installed on the gasket rib structure and sealable against upper edges of the front, rear and side walls when the lid is in the closed position and wherein the gasket feature and the gasket rib structure are configured such that the container is capable of holding liquids when the latch secures the lid to the container and such that the lid lies flat against an outer surface of the rear wall when the lid is in the fully open position without bending the gasket.   
     
     
         2 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 1  wherein the lid includes at least one raised stacking portion and at least one raised locating portion to facilitate locating and holding a second container on top of the lid. 
     
     
         3 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 2  including at least one vertical extension portion on at least one of the front, rear, and side walls to nest on corresponding nesting stop areas on an adjacent container. 
     
     
         4 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 1  wherein the gasket feature comprises a C-shaped feature having side edge portions extending along side edges of the lid and a raised front edge portion connecting the side edge portions and extending outwardly from the upper lid surface along a front edge of the lid, the side edge portions tapering upwardly from being flat with the upper lid surface adjacent to a rear edge of the lid to the raised front edge portion. 
     
     
         5 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 4  wherein said gasket rib structure includes a support rib that extends about a perimeter of the lower lid surface, the support rib having a first portion that extends along the rear edge of the lid and partially along side edges of the lid and having a second portion that extends from the first portion along a remaining portion of the side edges and then extends along the front edge of the lid, the second portion extending inwardly relative to the lower lid surface to match a taper angle of the side edge portions of the gasket feature. 
     
     
         6 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 5  wherein the gasket rib structure includes an inner protective rib spaced inwardly relative to the support rib and an outer protective rib spaced outwardly relative to the support rib, and wherein when the gasket is mounted to the support rib the gasket extends downwardly from the lower lid surface to contact the upper edges of the front, rear, and side walls. 
     
     
         7 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 6  wherein the upper edges of the front, rear, and side walls comprise flat sealing surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 7  wherein the upper edges of the side walls taper upwardly to match the taper angle of the gasket feature such that the upper edge of the rear wall is vertically lower than the upper edge of the front wall. 
     
     
         9 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of a bottom portion of the rear and front walls includes a recessed area to facilitate stacking of one container on top of another container. 
     
     
         10 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 9  including a second container with an upper location feature received within the recessed area locate and seat the container on top of the second container. 
     
     
         11 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 1  wherein the latch includes a zip tie opening. 
     
     
         12 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 1  including a holding feature at each upper corner of the container to receive a portion of a bag placed within the container, the holding feature preventing the bag from inadvertently falling inside of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 1  wherein the lid comprises a primary lid and the latch comprises a primary latch, and including a secondary lid pivotally attached to the primary lid to provide access to an interior of the container without having to unlatch the primary latch, and including a secondary latch that secures the secondary lid to the primary lid. 
     
     
         14 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 13  wherein the secondary latch comprises a U-shaped member having a first portion extending downwardly from a front edge of the secondary lid that transitions into a curved base portion, which then transitions into a second portion that extends upwardly from the curved base portion, and wherein the second portion is compressed toward the first portion to unlatch the secondary lid. 
     
     
         15 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 13  including a secondary gasket rib structure formed within a lower surface of the secondary lid and a secondary gasket installed on the secondary gasket rib structure such that the container is capable of holding liquids when the secondary latch secures the secondary lid to the container. 
     
     
         16 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 15  wherein the secondary gasket rib structure comprises a downwardly extending support rib extending about a perimeter of the lower surface of the secondary lid and an additional rib extending downwardly from the lower surface and spaced inwardly relative to the support rib; and wherein the secondary gasket includes a U-shaped upper portion that is received over the support rib and a bulbous lower seal portion to engage a flat sealing surface formed about a periphery of an opening in the primary lid that receives the secondary lid. 
     
     
         17 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 1  including a plurality of raised portions formed within the upper lid surface to facilitate locating and securing a second container on top of the lid. 
     
     
         18 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 1  including a plurality of vertical extension portions at each corner of the container, the vertical extension portions extending outwardly from one of the front, rear, or opposing side walls of the container to nest on corresponding nesting stop areas on an adjacent container. 
     
     
         19 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the bottom wall, front wall, rear wall, or side walls includes a removed section providing a gripping surface to receive one of a universal clamp or hook such that the container can be picked up by an automated device and moved as needed. 
     
     
         20 . A reusable biohazard waste container comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls that extend upwardly from the bottom wall to form a box-shaped biohazard waste container;   a lid pivotally connected to the container to be movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the lid includes a latch configured such that the container is capable of holding liquids when the latch secures the lid to the container; and   a recessed area formed within a lower portion of at least one of the front, rear, or side walls, the recessed area adapted to receive a portion of a second container to facilitate stacking of the container on top of the second container.   
     
     
         21 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 20  wherein the lid defines an upper lid surface and a lower lid surface, and including
 a gasket feature formed within the upper lid surface, 
 a gasket rib structure formed within the lower lid surface, and 
 a gasket installed on the gasket rib structure and sealable against upper edges of the front, rear and side walls when the lid is in the closed position, wherein the gasket feature and the gasket rib structure are configured such that the container is capable of holding liquids when the latch secures the lid to the container and such that the lid lies flat against an outer surface of the rear wall when the lid is in the fully open position without bending the gasket. 
 
     
     
         22 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 20  wherein the lid comprises a primary lid and the latch comprises a primary latch, and including a secondary lid pivotally attached to the primary lid to provide access to an interior of the container without having to unlatch the primary latch, and including a secondary latch that secures the secondary lid to the primary lid. 
     
     
         23 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 20  including a plurality of raised portions formed within an upper lid surface of the lid to facilitate locating and holding a second container on top of the lid. 
     
     
         24 . A reusable biohazard waste container comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls that extend upwardly from the bottom wall to form a box-shaped biohazard waste container;   a primary lid pivotally connected to the container to be movable between an open position and a closed position;   a primary latch to secure the lid to the container;   a secondary lid pivotally attached to the primary lid to provide access to an interior of the container without having to unlatch the primary latch; and   a secondary latch that secures the secondary lid to the primary lid and wherein the container is capable of holding liquids when both the primary and secondary latches are latched.   
     
     
         25 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 24  wherein the primary lid defines an upper lid surface, a lower lid surface, and an opening to receive the secondary lid, and further including
 a primary gasket feature formed within the upper lid surface, 
 a primary gasket rib structure formed within the lower lid surface, 
 a primary gasket installed on the primary gasket rib structure and sealable against upper edges of the front, rear and side walls when the primary lid is in the closed position, 
 a secondary gasket rib structure formed within a lower lid surface of the secondary lid, and 
 a secondary gasket installed on the secondary gasket rib structure and sealable against a flat sealing surface formed about the opening in the primary lid. 
 
     
     
         26 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 25  wherein the secondary latch comprises a U-shaped member having a first portion extending downwardly from a front edge of the secondary lid that transitions into a curved base portion, which then transitions into a second portion that extends upwardly from the curved base portion, and wherein the second portion is compressed toward the first portion to unlatch the secondary lid. 
     
     
         27 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 25  wherein the secondary gasket rib structure comprises a downwardly extending support rib extending about a perimeter of the lower surface of the secondary lid and an additional rib extending downwardly from the lower surface and spaced inwardly relative to the support rib; and wherein the secondary gasket includes a U-shaped upper portion that is received over the support rib and a bulbous lower seal portion to engage a flat sealing surface formed about a periphery of an opening in the primary lid that receives the secondary lid. 
     
     
         28 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 24  including a plurality of raised portions formed within an upper lid surface of the primary lid to facilitate locating and holding a second container on top of the primary lid. 
     
     
         29 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 24  including a plurality of vertical extension portions at each corner of the container, each vertical extension portion extending outwardly from one of the front, rear, or side walls of the container to nest on corresponding nesting stop areas on an adjacent container. 
     
     
         30 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 24  wherein at least one of the bottom wall, front wall, rear wall, or side walls includes a removed section providing a gripping surface to receive one of a universal clamp or hook such that the container can be picked up by an automated device and moved as needed. 
     
     
         31 . A reusable waste container comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls that extend upwardly from the bottom wall to form a box-shaped biohazard waste container;   a lid pivotally connected to the container to be movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the lid includes a latch configured such that the container is capable of holding liquids when the latch secures the lid to the container; and   a recessed area formed within a lower portion of at least one of the front, rear, or side walls, the recessed area including a gripping surface to receive one of a universal clamp or hook such that the container can be picked up by an automated device and moved as needed.   
     
     
         32 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 31  wherein the lid defines an upper lid surface and a lower lid surface, and including
 a gasket feature formed within the upper lid surface, 
 a gasket rib structure formed within the lower lid surface, and 
 a gasket installed on the gasket rib structure and sealable against upper edges of the front, rear and side walls when the lid is in the closed position, wherein the gasket feature and the gasket rib structure are configured such that the container is capable of holding liquids when the latch secures the lid to the container and such that the lid lies flat against an outer surface of the rear wall when the lid is in the fully open position without bending the gasket. 
 
     
     
         33 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 31  wherein the lid comprises a primary lid and the latch comprises a primary latch, and including a secondary lid pivotally attached to the primary lid to provide access to an interior of the container without having to unlatch the primary latch, and including a secondary latch that secures the secondary lid to the primary lid. 
     
     
         34 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 31  including a plurality of raised portions formed within an upper lid surface of the lid to facilitate locating and holding a second container on top of the lid. 
     
     
         35 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 31  including a plurality of vertical extension portions at each corner of the container, each vertical extension portion extending outwardly from one of the front, rear, or side walls of the container to nest on corresponding nesting stop areas on an adjacent container. 
     
     
         36 . A reusable biohazard waste container comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls that extend upwardly from the bottom wall to form a box-shaped biohazard waste container;   a lid pivotally connected to the container to be movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the lid includes a latch configured such that the container is capable of holding liquids when the latch secures the lid to the container; and   a plurality of vertical extension portions at each corner of the container, each vertical extension portion extending outwardly from one of the front, rear, or side walls of the container to nest on corresponding nesting stop areas on an adjacent container.   
     
     
         37 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 36  wherein each of the front wall, rear wall, and side walls includes two vertical extension portions with one of the two vertical extension portions being positioned near one corner of the container and the other of the two vertical extension portions being located near another corner of the container. 
     
     
         38 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 36  including a plurality of raised portions formed within an upper lid surface of the lid to facilitate locating and securing a second container on top of the lid. 
     
     
         39 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to  claim 36  wherein the lid defines an upper lid surface and a lower lid surface, and including
 a gasket feature formed within the upper lid surface, 
 a gasket rib structure formed within the lower lid surface, and 
 a gasket installed on the gasket rib structure and sealable against upper edges of the front, rear and side walls when the lid is in the closed position, wherein the gasket feature and the gasket rib structure are configured such that the container is capable of holding liquids when the latch secures the lid to the container and such that the lid lies flat against an outer surface of the rear wall when the lid is in the fully open position without bending the gasket. 
 
     
     
         40 . The reusable biohazard waste container according to claim  41  wherein the lid comprises a primary lid and the latch comprises a primary latch, and including a secondary lid pivotally attached to the primary lid to provide access to an interior of the container without having to unlatch the primary latch, and including a secondary latch that secures the secondary lid to the primary lid.