Storage container with hinged lid

Abstract

A plastic container comprises a container body having an opening to an interior of the container body; and a lid constructed and arranged for removably coupling to the container body. The lid comprises a base portion covering a first region of the opening of the container body; a movable portion covering a second region of the opening of the container body in a closed position and exposing the opening to the interior of the container body in an open position; and a hinge arrangement between the base portion and the movable portion. The movable portion is constructed and arranged to rotate about an axis along which the hinge arrangement extends, and relative to the base portion. The base portion and the movable portion each extends at a predetermined height above the opening of the container body.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A plastic container, comprising:
 a container body having an opening to an interior of the container body; and   a lid constructed and arranged for removably coupling to the container body, the lid comprising:
 a base portion covering a first region of the opening of the container body; 
 a movable portion covering a second region of the opening of the container body in a closed position and exposing the opening to the interior of the container body in an open position; and 
 a hinge unit between the base portion and the movable portion, wherein the movable portion is constructed and arranged to rotate about a bend axis formed by the hinge unit extends, wherein the base portion and the movable portion each extends at a predetermined height above the opening of the container body to increase a volume of an interior of the container to be greater than the interior of the container body; 
 a first plurality of ridges at a first side of the hinge unit; 
 a second plurality of ridges at a second side of the hinge unit and parallel to the first plurality of ridges and the hinge unit, the first and second plurality of ridges having a thickness greater than a thickness of the hinge unit; 
 a gap between an outer edge of the base portion and an outer edge of the movable portion in the closed position for allowing the movable portion to transition between the closed position and the open position, wherein the gap begins at a distal end of the hinge unit and extends parallel to the first and second plurality of ridges to an outermost edge of the lid. 
   
     
     
         3 . The plastic container of claim  1 , wherein the base portion, movable portion, and hinge arrangement are unitary and molded from a common source of plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic container of claim  1 , further comprising at least one supporting element that extends from the base portion to apply a force to a periphery of the container body. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic container of  claim 2 , further comprising a first locking clip coupled to an annular flange of the container body for engaging with a front region of the movable portion opposite the rear portion to which the hinge unit is coupled and a second locking clip coupled to the annular flange of the container body for engaging with the base portion, wherein the first locking clip and the second locking clip are constructed and arranged as handles. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic container of  claim 2 , further comprising a perimeter skirt assembly constructed and arranged to form a seal with a rim of the container body. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic container of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more supporting elements that extend in a vertical or orthogonal direction from the perimeter skirt assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic container of  claim 6 , wherein the perimeter skirt assembly comprises a first wall, a corner region, and a second wall that form a channel to receive a top perimeter of the container body. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic container of  claim 8 , wherein the channel has a width that is less than a rim of the container body, wherein the rim is inserted into the channel such as that a pressure or force is applied by the second wall in a direction of the rim in the channel. 
     
     
         10 . A plastic container, comprising:
 a container body having an opening to an interior of the container body; and   a lid constructed and arranged for removably coupling to the container body, the lid comprising:
 a base portion covering a first region of the opening of the container body; 
 a movable portion covering a second region of the opening of the container body in a closed position and exposing the opening to the interior of the container body in an open position; and 
 a hinge unit between the base portion and the movable portion, wherein the movable portion is constructed and arranged to rotate about a bend axis formed by the hinge unit extends; 
 a first plurality of ridges at a first side of the hinge unit; 
 a second plurality of ridges at a second side of the hinge unit and parallel to the first plurality of ridges and the hinge unit, the first and second plurality of ridges; 
 a gap between an outer edge of the base portion and an outer edge of the movable portion in the closed position for allowing the movable portion to transition between the closed position and the open position, wherein the gap begins at a distal end of the hinge unit and extends parallel to the first and second plurality of ridges to an outermost edge of the lid; 
 a pair of stabilizing bars extending from an underside of the first plurality of ridges and the second plurality of ridges, respectively; and 
 a pair of tabs that extend vertically between the pair of stabilizing bars to contribute to a reinforcement of the hinge unit. 
   
     
     
         11 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein the hinge unit has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the first plurality of ridges and the second plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         12 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of ridges extends from the base portion and the second plurality of ridges extend from the movable portion, wherein the first plurality of ridges are stationary and the second plurality of ridges pivotably rotate relative to the stationary first plurality of ridges and about the axis along which the hinge unit extends. 
     
     
         13 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein the lid includes one or more supporting elements that extend in a vertical or orthogonal direction from a perimeter of the container body to prevent shear forces from being applied to the hinge unit. 
     
     
         14 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein a first stabilizing bar of the pair of stabilizing bars is part of the base portion and a second stabilizing bar of the pair of stabilizing bars is part of the movable portion. 
     
     
         15 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein a first tab of the pair of tabs is part of the base portion and a second tab of the pair of tabs is part of the movable portion, wherein the first tab and the second tab are constructed and arranged to directly abut each other when the lid is closed, and maintains the gap between the base portion and the movable portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method for assembling a plastic container, comprising:
 forming a container body having an opening to an interior; and   arranging a lid for removably coupling to a top region of the container body, including:
 covering a base portion of the lid over a first region of the opening of the container body; 
 covering a movable portion of the lid over a second region of the opening of the container body in a closed position and exposing the opening to the interior of the container body in an open position; 
 constructing the movable portion to rotate about a bend axis between the base portion and the movable portion, wherein the base portion and the movable portion each extends at a predetermined height above the opening of the container body to increase a volume of an interior of the container to be greater than the interior of the container body; 
 providing a gap between an outer edge of the base portion and an outer edge of the movable portion in the closed position for allowing the movable portion to transition between the closed position and the open position, wherein the gap begins at a distal end of the hinge unit and extends parallel to the first and second plurality of ridges to an outermost edge of the lid.