Nesting box with reduced lid flares

Abstract

In a plastic molded tote box having one lid or opposed lids that will shingle with other lids in the open position when the box and like boxes are nested, the maximum horizontal dimension for the shingled lids, as measured outwardly from the adjacent box side wall (lid flare), is reduced by tapering the lid rib structure toward the hinge, and/or by tapering the outboard lid skirt toward the hinge, and/or by flaring one or more lid flanges, particularly the inboard flange. The latter two structural features permit increased nesting of the lid side skirts or channels, which in the closed position of the lid overlie the box side walls.

We claim: 
     
       1. A tote box, comprising: a container having a rectangular bottom, and two pair of opposed side and end walls serially connected to each other around the periphery of said bottom to extend upwardly and outwardly so that a plurality of like containers may be nested therein and so that the nested height of any two containers is less than the height of two containers;   a lid overlying the top periphery of said container in a closed position to at least partially close the top of said container;   hinge means hingedly connecting said lid to one of said opposed end walls so that said lid may be rotated from the closed position approximately 270 degrees to an open position, in which said lid has a shingled orientation with respect to lids of adjacent nested tote boxes in their open position;   said lid having a generally planar body portion that is horizontal in the closed position;   said lid further having a peripheral flange structure including an inboard flange portion extending upwardly from the side edge of said body portion along the inside of said container side walls to an upper edge, a horizontal flange portion extending outwardly from said upper edge and overlying the top edge of said container side walls in the closed position of the lid, and an outboard flange portion extending downwardly from the outer edge of said horizontal flange to overlap said container side walls; and   said flange structure further including said outboard flange portion having a variation in depth as measured generally perpendicular to said body portion and said inboard flange portion being flared downwardly from said horizontal flange portion and inwardly toward said body portion such that said flange structure of a first said tote box lid nests within the flange structure of a lid of a second adjacent and nested tote box when said lids of said first and said second tote boxes are in said open position and in said shingled orientation with respect to one another.   
     
     
       2. A tote box according to claim 1, further comprising: said lid having a projecting structure extending generally perpendicularly from said body portion toward the inside of said container in said closed position, said projecting structure generally decreasing in dimension as measured perpendicular to said body in the direction toward said hinge means for reducing the lid flare of lids in said shingled orientation.   
     
     
       3. The tote box according to claim 2, wherein said outboard flange tapers in depth in the direction toward said hinge means. 
     
     
       4. The tote box according to claim 3, wherein said outboard flange tapers in depth and said projecting structure decreases in dimension generally uniformly in length and at the same angle with respect to said body. 
     
     
       5. The tote box according to claim 4, wherein said angle is greater than 9°. 
     
     
       6. The tote box according to claim 1, wherein said outboard flange tapers in depth uniformly in the direction toward said hinge means. 
     
     
       7. The tote box according to claim 4, wherein said projecting structure includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs. 
     
     
       8. A molded plastic tote box, comprising: a container having a rectangular bottom, and two pair of opposed side and end walls serially connected to each other around the periphery of said bottom to extend upwardly and outwardly so that a plurality of like containers may be nested therein and so that the nested height of any two containers is less than that height of two containers;   a pair of lids overlying the top periphery of said container in a closed position to close the top of said container;   hinge means for each said lid hingedly connecting each said lid to one of said opposed end walls respectively so that said lids may be rotated from the closed position approximately 270 degrees to an open position in which each of said lids has a shingled orientation with respect to lids of adjacent nested tote boxes;   each of said lids having a generally planar body portion that is horizontal in the closed position;   each of said lids having a peripheral flange structure including an inboard flange portion extending upwardly from the side edge of said body portion along the inside of said container side walls to an upper edge, a horizontal flange portion extending outwardly from said upper edge and overlying the top edge of said container side walls in the closed position of the lid, and an outboard flange portion extending downwardly from the outer edge of said horizontal flange to overlap said container side walls; and   said flange structure further including said outboard flange portion having a variation in depth as measured generally perpendicularly to said body portion and said inboard flange portion being flared downwardly from said horizontal flange portion and inwardly toward said body portion such that each said flange structure of a first said tote box lid nests within the flange structure of a second, adjacent and nested tote box lid when said lids of said first and said second tote boxes are in said open position and in said shingled orientation with respect to one another.   
     
     
       9. The tote box according to claim 8, further comprising: said lid having a projecting structure extending generally perpendicular from said body portion toward the inside of said container in said closed position, said projecting structure generally decreasing in dimension as measured perpendicularly to said body portion in the direction toward said hinge means for reducing the lid flare of lids in said shingled orientation.   
     
     
       10. The tote box according to claim 9, wherein said outboard flange tapers in depth in the direction toward said hinge means. 
     
     
       11. The tote box according to claim 10, wherein said outboard flange tapers in depth and said projecting structure decreases in dimension generally uniform in length and at the same angle with respect to said body. 
     
     
       12. The tote box according to claim 11, wherein said angle is greater than 9 degrees. 
     
     
       13. The tote box according to claim 1, wherein said projecting structure includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs. .Iadd. 
     
     
       14.  A molded plastic tote box, comprising: a container having a rectangular bottom, and two pair of opposed side and end walls serially connected to each other around the periphery of said bottom to extend upwardly and outwardly so that a plurality of like containers may be nested therein and so that the nested height of any two containers is less than the height of two containers;   a lid overlapping the top periphery of said container in a closed position to at least partially close the top of said container;   hinge means for said lid hingedly connecting said lid to one of said opposed end walls respectively so that said lid may be rotated from the closed position approximately 270 degrees to an open position in which said lid has a shingled orientation and contact with respect to lids of adjacent nested tote boxes;   said lid having a generally planar body portion than is horizontal in the closed position;   said lid having a peripheral flange structure including an inboard flange portion extending upwardly from the side edge of said body portion along the inside of said container side walls to an upper edge in the closed position, a horizontal flange portion extending outwardly from said upper edge and overlapping the top edge of said container side walls in the closed position of the lid, and an outboard flange portion extending downwardly from the outer edge of said horizontal flange to overlap said container side walls in the closed position; and   said flange structure further having reduced projecting structure in the area of the contact including said outboard flange portion having a variation in depth as measured generally perpendicular to said body portion that generally decreases in depth in the area of the contact where it is most closely adjacent the flange structure of the adjacent shingled lid of the next higher nested box for reducing interference therebetween, and including said inboard flange having reduced interfering structure adjacent said side edge in the area of said contact, so that the interfering flange structure generally decreases so that the lid flare of the shingle lid is substantially less than it would be if the projecting structure did not decrease. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A tote box according to claim 14, wherein said outboard flange generally tapers in depth in the direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A tote box according to claim 14, wherein said inboard flange includes a rib depending downwardly adjacent said main body side edge portion to a lower terminal edge, when viewed in the closed position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A tote box according to claim 16, wherein said rib lower terminal edge is offset horizontally inwardly from the innermost portion of said inboard flange that is horizontally aligned with said horizontal flange portion for reduction of interfering structure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A tote box according to claim 17, wherein said outboard flange generally tapers in depth in the directional toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A tote box according to claim 17, wherein said rib lower terminal edge generally decreases in depth from its area remote from said hinge means toward and in the area of said contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A tote box according to claim 19, wherein said outboard flange generally tapers in depth in the direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A tote box according to claim 17, wherein said inboard flange is tapered inwardly and downwardly generally smoothly for its entire depth to said rib lower terminal edge an amount sufficient to nest with the inboard flange of an adjacent lid of shingled lids attached to the nested boxes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A tote box according to claim 21, wherein said outboard flange generally tapers in depth in the direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A tote box according to claim 21, wherein said rib lower terminal edge generally decreases in depth from its area remote from said hinge means toward and in the area of said contact. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  A tote box according to claim 23, wherein said outboard flange generally tapers in depth in the direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A tote box according to claim 17, wherein said rib lower terminal edge is sufficiently horizontally inwardly offset with respect to the uppermost portion of the inboard flange portion and horizontal flange portion that the inboard flange of an adjacent nested box lid will nest within said rib lower terminal edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A tote box according to claim 25, wherein said outboard flange generally tapers in depth in the direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A tote box according to claim 26, wherein said rib lower terminal edge generally decreases in depth from its area remote from said hinge means toward and in the area of said contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A tote box according to claim 27, wherein said inboard flange is tapered inwardly and downwardly generally smoothly for its entire depth to said rib lower terminal edge an amount sufficient to nest with the inboard flange of an adjacent lid of shingled lids attached to the nested boxes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A tote box according to claim 26, wherein said inboard flange is tapered inwardly and downwardly generally smoothly for its entire depth to said rib lower terminal edge an amount sufficient to nest with the inboard flange of an adjacent lid of shingled lids attached to 
     
     
        the nested boxes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  A tote box according to claim 25, wherein said rib lower terminal edge generally decreases in depth from its area remote from said hinge means toward and in the area of said contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A tote box according to claim 25, wherein said inboard flange is tapered inwardly and downwardly generally smoothly for its entire depth to said rib lower terminal edge an amount sufficient to nest with the inboard flange of an adjacent lid of shingled lids attached to the nested boxes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A tote box according to claim 31, wherein said rib lower terminal edge generally decreases in depth from its area remote from said hinge means toward and in the area of said contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A tote box according to claim 16, further including a plurality of ribs generally extending in a grid to depend from the bottom of said body portion, generally throughout the extent of said body portion, and said additional ribs generally decreasing in depth toward said hinge means for reducing interfering structure of shingled lids of nested boxes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. A tote box according to claim 33, wherein said outboard flange generally tapers in depth in the direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. A tote box according to claim 34, wherein said rib lower terminal edge is offset horizontally inwardly from the innermost portion of said inboard flange that is horizontally aligned with said horizontal flange portion for reduction of interfering structure; and said rib lower terminal edge is sufficiently horizontally inwardly offset with respect to the uppermost position of the inboard flange portion and horizontal flange portion that the inboard flange of an adjacent nested box lid will nest within said rib lower terminal edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A tote box according to claim 35, wherein said inboard flange is tapered inwardly and downwardly generally smoothly for its entire depth to said rib lower terminal edge an amount sufficient to nest with the inboard flange of an adjacent lid of shingled lids attached to the nested boxes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A tote box according to claim 36, wherein said rib lower terminal edge generally decreases in depth from its area remote from said hinge means toward and in the area of said contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. A tote box according to claim 33, wherein said rib lower terminal edge is offset horizontally inwardly from the innermost portion of said inboard flange that is horizontally aligned with said horizontal flange portion for reduction of interfering structure; and   said rib lower terminal edge is sufficiently horizontally inwardly offset with respect to the uppermost portion of the inboard flange portion and horizontal flange portion that the inboard flange of an adjacent nested box lid will nest within said rib lower terminal edge. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.     A tote box according to claim 38, wherein said inboard flange is tapered inwardly and downwardly generally smoothly for its entire depth to said rib lower terminal edge an amount sufficient to nest with the inboard flange of an adjacent lid of shingled lids attached to the nested boxes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. A tote box according to claim 39, wherein said rib lower terminal edge generally decreases in depth from its area remote from said hinge means toward and in the area of said contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. A tote box according to claim 15, wherein said inboard flange includes a rib depending downwardly adjacent said main body side edge portion to a lower terminal edge, when viewed in the closed position; and said rib lower terminal edge generally decreases in depth from its area remote from said hinge means toward and in the area of said contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. A tote box according to claim 41, further including a plurality of ribs generally extending in a grid to depend from the bottom of said body portion, generally throughout the extent of said body portion, and said additional ribs generally decreasing in depth toward said hinge means for reducing interfering structure of shingled lids of   
     
     
        nested boxes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43.  A tote box, comprising: a container having a rectangular bottom, and two pair of opposed side and end walls serially connected to each other around the periphery of said bottom to extend upwardly and outwardly so that a plurality of like containers may be nested therein and so that the nested height of any two containers is less than the height of two containers;   a lid overlying the top periphery of said container in a closed position to at least partially close the top of said container;   hinge means hingedly connecting said lid to one of said opposed end walls so that said lid may be rotated from the closed position approximately 270 degrees to an open position, in which said lid has a shingled orientation with respect to lids of adjacent nested tote boxes in their open position;   said lid having a generally planar body portion that is horizontal in the closed position;   said lid further having a peripheral flange structure including a horizontal flange portion having inner and outer edges and overlying the top edge of said container side walls in the closed position of the lid, an outboard flange portion extending downwardly from the outer edge of said horizontal flange portion to overlap said container side walls, and an inboard flange portion having a top edge joining the inner edge of said horizontal flange portion and extending downwardly from the top edge adjacent an inside portion of said container side walls to terminate in a bottom edge; and   said flange structure further including said outboard flange portion having a variation in depth as measured generally perpendicular to said body portion and said bottom edge of said inboard flange portion being offset in a direction generally parallel to said body portion from said top edge such that when the lid of a first said tote box overlaps the lid of a second adjacent and nested said tote box when said lids of said first and second tote boxes are in said open position with said lids in said shingled orientation with respect to one another, said top edge of said inboard flange of said first tote box is misaligned with said bottom edge of said inboard flange of said second tote box in a direction perpendicular to said horizontal flange. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. A tote box according to claim 43, wherein said inboard flange is flared downwardly and inwardly toward said body portion from said top edge to said bottom edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. A tote box according to claim 43, further comprising:   said lid having at least one projecting rib extending generally perpendicular from said body portion and having a bottom portion in common with said bottom edge of said inboard flange, wherein said projecting rib generally decreases in a dimension measured perpendicularly to said body   
     
     
        portion in the direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46.  A tote box according to claim 45, further comprising a plurality of said ribs projecting generally perpendicularly from said body portion, each of said ribs generally decreasing in a dimension perpendicular to the body portion to the same extent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. A tote box according to claim 45, wherein said inboard flange flares downwardly and inwardly toward said body portion from said top edge to said bottom edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48. A tote box according to claim 43, wherein said inboard flange portion includes a rib projecting downwardly from said body portion and adjacent said inside portion of said container side walls. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49. A tote box according to claim 47, wherein said rib has a bottom edge that is in common with said bottom edge of said inboard flange portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50. A tote box, comprising: a container having a rectangular bottom, and two pair of opposed side and end walls serially connected to each other around the periphery of said bottom to extend upwardly and outwardly so that a plurality of like containers may be nested therein and so that the nested height of any two containers is less than the height of two containers;   a lid overlying the top periphery of said container in a closed position to at least partially close the top of said container;   hinge means hingedly connecting said lid to one of said opposed end walls so that said lid may be rotated from the closed position approximately 270 degrees to an open position, in which said lid has a shingled orientation with respect to lids of adjacent nested tote boxes in their open position;   said lid having a generally planar body portion that is horizontal in the closed position;   said lid further having a peripheral flange structure including a horizontal flange portion having inner and outer edges and overlying the top edge of said container side walls in the closed position of the lid, an outboard flange portion extending downwardly from the outer edge of said horizontal flange portion to overlap said container side walls, and an inboard flange portion having a top edge joining the inner edge of said horizontal flange portion to extend downwardly therefrom, and said inboard flange portion including a projecting rib portion extending downwardly from said body portion to a rib bottom edge; and   said flange structure further including said outboard flange portion having a variation in depth as measured generally perpendicular to said body portion, and said inboard flange portion rib bottom edge being offset in a direction generally parallel with said body portion with respect to said top edge of said inboard flange portion such that when the lid of a first said tote box overlaps the lid of a second adjacent and nested said tote box when said lids of said first and second tote boxes are in said open position with said lids in said shingled orientation with respect to one another, said top edge of said inboard flange of said first tote box is misaligned with said rib bottom edge of said second tote box in a   
     
     
        direction perpendicular to said horizontal flange. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51.  A tote box according to claim 50, wherein said inboard flange is flared downwardly and inwardly from said top edge to said rib bottom edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.52. A tote box according to claim 50, wherein said rib portion generally decreases in a dimension measured perpendicularly to said body portion in the direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.53. A tote box according to claim 50, further comprising a plurality of ribs projecting downwardly from said body portion, each of said ribs generally decreasing in a dimension measured perpendicularly to said body portion in a direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.54. A tote box according to claim 53, wherein said rib portion of said inboard flange decreases in a dimension measured perpendicularly to said body portion in a direction toward said hinge means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55. A tote box according to claim 52, further comprising a plurality of ribs projecting downwardly from said body portion, each of said ribs generally decreasing in a dimension measured perpendicularly to said body portion in a direction toward said hinge means and to the same extent as said decreasing dimension of said inboard flange rib portion. .Iaddend.