Box with cover

Abstract

The cartridge (10) has a cartridge body (12) and a lid assembly (14). The box body has a wall (18) having an inner wall surface (20) defining an interior space (16). The box cover assembly is removable and covers an opening (22) of the box, and includes: a rigid outer cover (32) having an edge region positioned to abut one end of the box when the box cover assembly covers the opening; a flexible interference fastener (34) secured to the outer cover and having two ribs (42) arranged to engage the inner wall surface; and a rigid inner cap (38) permanently secured to the rigid outer cap, the interference fastener being sandwiched between the rigid outer cap and the rigid inner cap. The ribs of the interference fastener have a limited length (L) so as not to extend to the corners of the box body when engaging the inner wall surfaces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a box with a lid, and more particularly to a lid for a box that is retained in place by a friction fit. Background Art

[0002] There are several ways to retain a lid on a box. Some lids are hinged, while others are completely loose and removable. Some require latches or other hardware on the box to remain in place.

[0003] Although boxes with lids have been around for at least several centuries, there is always a search for improvements in how such lids are constructed for ease of use in specific applications. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One aspect of the present invention features a box having a box body and a lid assembly. The box body has walls that define an interior space therebetween, the walls including two opposing walls, each wall having an inner wall surface that bounds the interior space. The inner wall surfaces of the two opposing walls extend parallel from an opening at one end of the box body and the corners of the box body. The lid assembly is adapted to be removably received at one end of the box body to cover the opening, and includes a rigid outer lid, a flexible interference fastener, and a rigid inner lid, the rigid inner lid being permanently fixed to the rigid outer lid, the interference fastener being sandwiched between the rigid outer lid and the rigid inner lid. The rigid outer lid has an edge region that is positioned to abut one end of the box when the lid assembly covers the opening. The flexible interference fastener is fixed to the outer lid and has two ribs that extend in opposite transverse directions and are arranged to engage the inner wall surfaces, where the lid assembly is received at one end of the box body. The ribs of the interference fastener have a limited length so as not to extend to the corners of the box body when engaging the inner wall surfaces.

[0005] In some configurations, the walls of the box body include four walls, where the inner wall surfaces extend between and connect the four corners of the box body, and the flexible interference fastener has four ribs, each rib engaging a respective one of the inner wall surfaces, where the lid assembly is received at one end of the box body.

[0006] In some embodiments, each rib engages less than half of the total length of its respective wall surface measured between the corners of the box body. Preferably, when the lid assembly is received at one end of the box body to cover the opening, the lid assembly engages the box body only at the ribs and the edge region of the rigid outer lid.

[0007] In some cases, the ribs are made of a first polymeric material, the flexible interference fastener has a web made of a second polymeric material that is harder than the first polymeric material, the first polymeric material is overmolded on the web and the web connects the ribs, and a portion of the web is sandwiched between the outer lid and the inner lid.

[0008] In some examples, the lid assembly defines a hole that communicates with the interior space, and the hole is entirely defined by a second polymeric material of the flexible interference fastener.

[0009] In some cases, the web is at least partially disposed in a recess defined in the rigid housing.

[0010] The inner lid and the outer lid can be permanently fixed to each other by an adhesive, and the box body as well as the inner lid and the outer lid can be entirely made of wood.

[0011] Preferably, each rib extends perpendicularly to its length by a distance that is approximately half of the thickness of the rib measured in the direction of insertion into the box body.

[0012] The ribs are preferably made of a polymer having a Shore A hardness of approximately 75.

[0013] In some embodiments, the ribs only engage the central region of the inner wall surface. Preferably, each rib engages the inner wall surface over a continuous length that is approximately 3 / 8 times the total distance along the inner wall surface between opposite corners of the box body.

[0014] Details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a side view of a box having a lid at the bottom of the box.

[0016] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in

[0017] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the box and the lid assembly.

[0018] Figure 4 is a top (interior) view of the lid assembly.

[0019] Figure 5 is a side view of the lid assembly.

[0020] Figure 6 is a top view of the flexible interference fastener of the lid assembly.

[0021] Figure 7 is Figure 6 a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in

[0022] Figures 8A to 8D is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the interface between the lid and the box wall at one side of the lid in different stages of engagement and separation.

[0023] Like reference numerals designate like elements in the various figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Reference Figure 1 , the box 10 in the form of a toy coin bank has a box body 12 and a detachable lid assembly 14. The lid assembly is shown at the bottom of the box, forming a base on which the box rests. Alternatively, the lid can be provided at the top of the box body with the box inverted. To give a perspective on the dimensions, the box 10 has a total height H of approximately 100 mm.

[0025] Also reference Figure 2 , the box body 12 defines an internal space 16 between opposite walls 18 of the box body. In this example, the box body has a generally square cross-section, where four similarly sized walls 18 are joined at the four corners of the box. Each wall 18 has an inner wall surface 20, and the inner wall surfaces 20 of the opposite walls 18 extend parallel from an opening 22 at one end of the box body (in this illustration, at the lower end of the box body). The inner wall surfaces completely define the four sides of the internal space, extending all the way to the corners of the box body. An end frame 24 of the box 10 is mounted near the end of the box opposite the lid assembly 14 and defines an opening 26 therethrough for access to the internal space 16 when the lid assembly 14 is in place.

[0026] The four walls 18 of the box body are formed of wood and are joined at right-angle corners 28 defined by glued box joints, as Figure 3 shown. The box body is assembled with the end frame 24, which is constrained within a recess defined in each of the four walls 18 to form a dimensionally stable structure.

[0027] Reference Figures 3 - 5 , the lid assembly 14 is composed of three structural parts that overlap each other and are permanently joined together by an adhesive. The box lid assembly 14 is adapted to be removably received at the end of the box body to cover the opening 22, and it includes a rigid outer lid 32 made of wood, a flexible interference fastener 34 made of molded polymer nested in a recess 36 cut in the outer lid, and a rigid inner lid 38 made of wood. The rigid inner lid 38 is permanently fixed to the rigid outer lid 32, and the interference fastener 34 is sandwiched between the rigid outer lid and the rigid inner lid to form the Figure 4 and Figure 5 structure shown. The rigid outer lid 32 has an edge region 40 that is positioned to abut against one end of the box when the box lid assembly 14 covers the opening 22 (as Figure 2 shown).

[0028] The flexible interference fastener 34 is fixed to the outer lid 32 and has a total of four ribs 42, including two sets of two ribs that extend in opposite transverse directions and are exposed on the sides of the lid assembly. The four ribs 42 are arranged to engage the inner wall surfaces 20 of the box body ( Figure 2), wherein the lid assembly 14 is received at one end of the box body, and each rib 42 engages against the inner wall surface 20 of a corresponding one of the four walls 18 of the box body. As Figure 4 shown, each rib 42 has a limited length L of only about 32 mm, while the distance between the opposing inner wall surfaces is about 81 mm. In other words, the rib is only about 3 / 8 as long as the inner wall surface against which it abuts. When engaging the inner wall surface, the rib 42 does not extend to the corners of the box body, but leaves most of each wall unengaged and unsealed. Thus, the rib 42 serves only as an interference fit against the smooth inner wall surface to hold the lid assembly 14 on the box and does not form any type of seal.

[0029] Referring Figure 6 and Figure 7 , the flexible interference fastener 34 is molded from two polymers. The web 44 made of ABS polymer 45 has a central hub 46 and four spokes extending to the octagonal edge 48. The TPU polymer 49 is overmolded onto the web at four of the eight segments of the edge to form the rib 42 with a Shore A hardness of 75. The TPU is overmolded to fill the holes in the edge segments, thereby firmly interlocking the cured TPU to the ABS web. The hub 46 defines a central hole 50 with a diameter of 17 mm through the web, sized to receive a finger for pulling the lid assembly out of the box. The hub 46 extends axially from the web and has an outer diameter sized to fit into corresponding openings in the inner and outer lids (see Figure 3 ), such that the ABS resin of the web forms a smooth inner surface through the lid assembly.

[0030] Figures 8A to 8D Sequentially shown are the engagement and disengagement of the rib 42 against the inner wall surface 20 when the lid assembly 14 is received on the end of the box and removed from the end of the box. Starting from Figure 8A , when the lid assembly is set into the box opening, the rib 42 first helps to center the lid assembly 14 on the box body 12. Each rib 42 extends beyond the inner wall surface 42 to form an interference fit. When the rib is pressed into the box opening ( Figure 8B ), the rib 42 deflects away from the interior of the box and remains in that deflected and compressed state as it slides along the inner wall surface until the outer lid 32 of the box abuts against the end of the box body ( Figure 8C ). When the lid assembly 14 is pulled away from the box body 12 ( Figure 8D ), the rib 42 resists sliding along the inner box surface 20. Preferably, related to the coefficient of static friction and the amount of interference between the rib and the inner wall surface, the hardness of the rib is selected such that the deflection of the rib is reduced when the lid assembly is removed from the box body and, in some cases, even a flip occurs before pulling the lid assembly out of the box body.

[0031] In this example, the rib has a thickness of 1.0 mm along its length and extends a distance of 2.0 mm from the adjacent TPU wall. The edges of the rib are molded to have a radius of approximately 0.3 mm and also have a radius of approximately 0.3 mm at the location where it joins the adjacent TPU wall.

[0032] This provides a reasonably secure connection between the lid assembly 14 and the box body 12, while not forming any seal, and when the lid assembly is not in place, the entire opening of the box body is unobstructed. In other words, this fastening method does not require any undercuts, overhangs, or special hardware at the box opening. Since the engagement between the rib and the wall surface is only along the central portion of each wall rather than near the corners, the friction fit of the lid assembly with the box body is less affected by minor angular misalignments.

[0033] Although many examples have been described for illustrative purposes, the foregoing description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Within the scope of the appended claims, there are and will be other examples and modifications.

Claims

1. A box (10) comprising: A box body (12) having walls (18) that define an internal space (16) therebetween, the walls including two opposite walls, each wall having an inner wall surface (20) that defines the internal space, the inner wall surfaces of the two opposite walls extending parallel from an opening (22) at one end of the box body and the corners of the box body; And A lid assembly (14) adapted to be removably received at the one end of the box body to cover the opening (22), the lid assembly including: A rigid outer lid (32) having an edge region (40) positioned to abut the one end of the box when the lid assembly covers the opening (22); A flexible interference fastener (34) fixed to the outer lid and including two ribs (42) extending in opposite lateral directions and arranged to engage the inner wall surface (20) when the lid assembly is received at the one end of the box body; and A rigid inner lid (38) permanently fixed to the rigid outer lid (32), wherein the interference fastener (34) is sandwiched between the rigid outer lid and the rigid inner lid; Wherein the ribs (42) of the interference fastener (34) have a limited length (L) such that they do not extend to the corners of the box body (12) when engaging the inner wall surface (20).

2. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein, The walls (18) of the box body (12) include four walls having inner wall surfaces (20) that extend between and connect the four corners of the box body, and wherein the flexible interference fastener (34) includes four ribs (42), each rib engaging a corresponding one of the inner wall surfaces (20), the lid assembly (14) being received at the one end of the box body.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Each rib (42) engages less than half of the total length of its corresponding wall surface (20) measured between the corners of the box body (12).

4. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein, When the lid assembly (14) is received at the one end of the box body (12) to cover the opening (22), the lid assembly (14) engages the box body (12) only at the ribs (42) and the edge region (40) of the rigid outer lid (32).

5. The cassette according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The ribs (42) are made of a first polymer material, the flexible interference fastener (34) includes a web (44) made of a second polymer material harder than the first polymer material, the first polymer material being overmolded on the web (44) and the web (44) connecting the ribs (42), wherein a portion of the web (44) is sandwiched between the rigid outer lid (32) and the rigid inner lid (38).

6. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein, The lid assembly (14) defines a hole (50) in communication with the internal space (16), and wherein the hole is entirely defined by the second polymer material of the flexible interference fastener (34).

7. The cartridge according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, The web (44) is at least partially disposed in a recess (36) defined in the rigid outer cover.

8. The cassette according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The rigid inner cover (38) and the rigid outer cover (32) are permanently fixed to each other by an adhesive.

9. The cassette according to any one of the above claims, wherein, The box body (12), the rigid inner cover (38), and the rigid outer cover (32) are all made of wood.

10. The cassette according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Each rib (42) extends a certain distance perpendicular to the length of the rib (42), and the distance is about half of the thickness of the rib measured in the direction of inserting the box body (12).

11. The cassette according to any one of the above claims, wherein, The rib (42) is made of a polymer having a Shore A hardness of about 75.

12. The cassette according to any one of the above claims, wherein, The rib (42) only engages the central region of the inner wall surface (20).

13. The cassette according to claim 12, wherein, Each rib (42) engages the inner wall surface (20) over a continuous length (L), and the continuous length (L) is about 3 / 8 times the total distance of the inner wall surface (20) between the opposite corners of the box body (12).

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