A Lid and a Storage System

Abstract

A lid for a container is adapted to be fitted on the top of a container and has a generally rectangular shape with two pairs of opposing and parallel edges, defining four corners and extending at least partly in a main plane in between the edges. In the vicinity of each of the four corners, the lid comprises at least a first and a second corner support, wherein the first corner support comprises two support surfaces rising a first step from the main plane, and where the second corner support comprises two support surfaces rising an additional second step from the main plane. The distance between the second corner supports of two diagonally opposing corners is greater than the distance between the first corner supports of said diagonally opposing corners. Thereby the lid can prevent containers with different bottom surface sizes from slipping sideways when stacked on top of the lid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A lid adapted to fit on the top of a container to form a closed space, the lid having a generally rectangular shape with two pairs of opposing and parallel edges defining four lid corners and a surface extending at least partly in a main plane between the edges, comprising:
 a first plurality of corner supports, each first corner support proximate a corresponding one of the lid corners and including two support surfaces rising a first step from the main plane;   a second plurality of corner supports, each second corner support proximate a corresponding on of the lid corners and including two support surfaces rising an additional second step from the main plane; and   wherein a distance between the second corner supports of a selected pair of diagonally opposing lid corners is greater than a distance between the first corner supports of said selected pair of diagonally opposing lid corners.   
     
     
         8 . A lid according to  claim 7 , wherein the lid is made by injection molding a plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . A lid according to  claim 7 , further comprising a third plurality of corner supports, each third corner support proximate a corresponding one of the corners and including two support surfaces rising an additional third step from the main surface of the lid. 
     
     
         10 . A lid according to  claim 7 , wherein the two support surfaces of at least some of the first plurality of corner supports are joined to form a corner. 
     
     
         11 . A lid according to  claim 7 , wherein the two support surfaces of at least some of the second plurality of corner supports are joined to form a corner. 
     
     
         12 . A lid according to  claim 8 , wherein the surface is aperture-free. 
     
     
         13 . A storage system comprising:
 a first container having a substantially rectangular bottom surface defining a pair of diagonally opposing first container corners spaced by a first distance;   a second container having a substantially rectangular bottom surface defining a pair of diagonally opposing second container corners spaced by a second distance greater than the first distance; and   a lid adapted for attachment to a selected one of the first and second containers and having a generally rectangular shape with pairs of opposing parallel edges defining a pair of diagonally opposing lid corners and a main surface, including:
 a first pair of corner supports, each of the first pair of corner supports disposed proximate a corresponding one of the pair of diagonally opposing lid corners and having a support surface rising a first step from the main surface, the support surfaces of the first pair of corner supports spaced for receiving the pair of diagonally opposing first container corners; and 
 a second pair of corner supports, each of the second pair of corner supports disposed proximate a corresponding one of the pair of diagonally opposing lid corners and having a support surface rising an additional second step from the main surface, the support surfaces of the second pair of corner supports spaced for receiving the pair of diagonally opposing second container corners. 
   
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom surface of the first container defines another pair of diagonally opposing first container corners spaced by the first distance, the bottom surface of the second container defines another pair of diagonally opposing second container corners spaced by the second distance, and the edges of the lid define another pair of diagonally opposing lid corners, and the lid further comprises:
 a third pair of corner supports, each of the third pair of corner supports disposed proximate a corresponding one of the another pair of diagonally opposing lid corners and having a support surface rising by the first step from the main surface, the support surfaces of the third pair of corner supports spaced for receiving the another pair of diagonally opposing first container corners; and   a fourth pair of corner supports, each of the fourth pair of corner supports disposed proximate a corresponding one of the another pair of diagonally opposing pair of lid corners and having a support surface rising the additional second step from the main surface, the support surfaces of the fourth pair of corner supports spaced for receiving the another pair of diagonally opposing second container corners.   
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the support surfaces of the first pair of corner supports each comprise a one of a pair of support surfaces adapted to contact surfaces on different sides of a corresponding first container corner; and   the support surfaces of the second pair of corner supports each comprise a one of a pair of support surfaces adapted to contact surfaces on different sides of a corresponding second container corner.   
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the lid is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         17 . The storage system of  claim 15 , wherein main surface of the lid is substantially aperture-free. 
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the first container comprises a plastic substantially rectangular bottom surface and a plurality of plastic sidewalls extending from the bottom surface, wherein at least one of the plastic bottom surface and the plurality of plastic sidewalls is aperture-free. 
     
     
         19 . The storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the second container comprises a plastic substantially rectangular bottom surface and a plurality of plastic sidewalls extending from the bottom surface, wherein at least one of the plastic bottom surface and the plurality of plastic sidewalls is aperture-free. 
     
     
         20 . The storage system of  claim 13 , further comprising a peripheral sidewall extending from the main surface along the pairs of opposing parallel edges and around the lid corners, wherein at least one of the first and second pairs of corner supports are disposed adjacent the peripheral sidewall at the diagonally opposing lid corners. 
     
     
         21 . A container lid comprising:
 a generally rectangular main surface defined by a pair of diagonally opposed lid corners;   a first support structure disposed proximate one of a pair the diagonally opposed lid corners comprising:
 an inner support surface extending from the main surface by a first step; and 
 an outer support surface spaced from the inner support surface and extending from the main surface by an additional second step; and 
   a second support structure disposed proximate another one of the pair of diagonally opposed lid corners comprising:
 an inner support surface extending from the main surface by a first step; and 
 an outer support surface spaced from the inner support surface and extending from the main surface by an additional second step; and 
   wherein the inner support surfaces of the first and second support structures are spaced to receive diagonally opposed corners of a smaller container and the outer support surfaces of the first and second support structures are spaced to receive diagonally opposed corners of a larger container.   
     
     
         22 . The container lid of  claim 21 , wherein the inner and outer support surfaces of the first and second support structures are spaced by a lateral surface. 
     
     
         23 . The container lid of  claim 21 , further comprising a sidewall extending from the main surface and around the periphery of the first lid corner adjacent to the first support structure and sidewall extending from the main surface and around the periphery of the second lid corner adjacent the second support structure. 
     
     
         24 . The container lid of  claim 21 , wherein at least the main surface is composed of plastic. 
     
     
         25 . The container lid of  claim 21 , wherein at least the main surface is formed of extruded plastic. 
     
     
         26 . The container lid of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second support structures are formed of plastic.