A cover for a container

Abstract

A cover (10) for a container (e.g. a kitting box), comprises a frame (12) defining an aperture (22) and having interior and exterior faces (50, 44) and a panel (24) shaped to be received in the frame (12) to fill the aperture (22) and having interior and exterior faces (24a, 24b). The inner periphery of the frame (12) comprises an inwardly-directed ledge (L) having an abutment surface (29) for engagement with the periphery of the exterior face (24b) of the panel (24) and the inner face (50) of the frame (12) comprises a plurality of retaining members (64) for retaining the panel (24) in abutment with the abutment surface (29) of the ledge (L).

Description

[0001] A COVER FOR A CONTAINER

[0002] The present invention relates to a cover for a container and in particular, but not exclusively, to a cover which forms part of a so-called kitting box.

[0003] A kitting box is typically in the form of a case fitted with a hingedly mounted cover or lid (hereafter cover), and which is loaded with all of the individual components required to carry out a particular task. There are many different applications of kitting boxes, but examples include a kitting box which contains all of the components required to service a specific motor and a kitting box which contains all of the components needed at a specific manufacturing step on a production line.

[0004] The use of kitting boxes helps to ensure that all of the necessary components for a particular action are assembled together in advance and can be provided to the relevant personnel, which helps to ensure that only approved components are used and helps to reduce downtime which might otherwise occur if one or more necessary components were unavailable.

[0005] Typically, a kitting box is formed from a moulded plastics case to which a moulded plastics cover is hingedly mounted. There is normally a catch or lock for retaining the cover in the closed position and there may be provision for attaching a seal which is broken only when the cover is opened.

[0006] One known example of kitting box is shown in EP 0104136 A1 .

[0007] One problem with most known kitting boxes is that the cover is opaque and since a user is unable to see the contents of the box when the cover is closed, it has been found that users often open the cover to check that the contents are correct. However, opening the cover can result in components being removed from the box and if a seal was previously used, it also means that a user of the box can no longer be certain of its contents.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to address the problems associated with the prior art.

[0009] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a cover for a container comprises: a frame defining an aperture and having interior and exterior faces; and a panel shaped to be received in the frame to fill the aperture and having interior and exterior faces; wherein the inner periphery of the frame comprises an inwardly-directed ledge having an abutment surface for engagement with the periphery of the exterior face of the panel; and the inner face of the frame comprises a plurality of retaining members for retaining the panel in abutment with the abutment surface of the ledge.

[0010] The panel is offered to the interior side of the frame and pushed past the retaining members into engagement with the abutment surface and is then held in place on the frame by the retaining members. This ensures that the panel can only be removed when the cover is open, which assists in ensuring the integrity of the contents of the kitting box to which the cover is fitted.

[0011] The present invention also allows a frame to be constructed from conventional materials, but allows a separate panel, which may be transparent, to be fitted into the frame. A transparent panel allows a user to verify the contents of the container without opening the cover, thereby helping to ensure that the contents remain intact until required.

[0012] The frame may comprise an upstanding flange extending from the interior face of the frame on which a plurality of the retaining members are located.

[0013] The upstanding flange may comprise laterally inner and outer faces and a plurality of the retaining members are preferably located on the inner face of the upstanding flange.

[0014] Preferably, all of the retaining members are located on the inner face of the upstanding flange.

[0015] Preferably, the frame extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the interior face of the frame.

[0016] Preferably, the upstanding flange extends around substantially the whole of the frame.

[0017] The upstanding flange may comprise one or more gaps on one or both sides of one or more of the retaining members. This increases the flexibility of the frame in the vicinity of the gaps and allows the frame to flex sufficiently to allow the panel to be pushed past the retaining members onto the frame.

[0018] Preferably, the upstanding flange comprises one or more gaps on one or both sides of a plurality of the retaining members.

[0019] The cover may further comprise an upstanding flange extending from the exterior face of the frame.

[0020] The upstanding flange extending from the exterior face of the frame increases the stiffness of the cover and also aids stacking of several kitting boxes one on top of the other.

[0021] The upstanding flange extending from the interior face of the frame may be located inwardly of the upstanding flange extending from the exterior face of the frame.

[0022] One or more of the retaining members may comprise a projection extending inwardly from the frame.

[0023] The panel can be offered to the interior side of the frame into engagement with the retaining members and the frame is sufficiently flexible to allow the panel to be pushed further over and past the retaining members and to snap into engagement with the abutment surface on the interior side of the frame. The flexibility of the frame causes it to resume its original shape so that the retaining members engage the periphery of the inner face of the panel to retain it in position on the abutment surface of the frame.

[0024] Preferably, one or more of the projections comprises an inclined face.

[0025] An inclined face on one or more of the projections helps the edge of the panel to slide over the projections.

[0026] Preferably, one or more of the projections comprises a shoulder spaced from the abutment surface of the frame.

[0027] Preferably, the shoulder extends substantially parallel to the abutment surface of the frame. Preferably, the spacing of the shoulder and the abutment surface of the frame is substantially equal to the thickness of the panel.

[0028] In this way, the panel is retained firmly on the frame and is prevented from rattling in normal use.

[0029] In one embodiment, the frame is substantially rectangular.

[0030] The frame is preferably sufficiently deformable to allow the panel to move over the retaining members into engagement with the abutment surface.

[0031] The frame may be made from plastics material.

[0032] The frame may be moulded in one piece.

[0033] Preferably, the frame comprises one or more hinge components.

[0034] Preferably, wherein the panel is transparent.

[0035] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a frame for a cover for a container comprises: an aperture and interior and exterior faces and being configured to receive a panel shaped to fill the aperture; wherein the inner periphery of the frame comprises an inwardly-directed ledge having an abutment surface for engagement with the periphery of the exterior face of the lid panel; and the inner face of the frame comprises a plurality of retaining members for retaining the panel in abutment with the abutment surface of the ledge.

[0036] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a container comprises a cover in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or a cover comprising a frame in accordance with the second aspect of the invention. By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] Figure 1 is a plan view from above of an embodiment of cover or lid (hereafter “cover”) for a container or case, in accordance with the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 is a plan view from below of the cover of Figure 1 ;

[0039] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view from above of the cover of Figure 1 ;

[0040] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view from below of the cover of Figure 1 ;

[0041] Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are left hand, right hand, front and rear elevations of the cover of Figure 1 ;

[0042] Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a hinge bearing which forms part of the cover of Figure 1 ;

[0043] Figures 10(a) and (b) are side views of a locking catch which can be fitted to the cover of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 11 is a perspective view from the front, right hand side and below of the frame which forms part of the cover of Figure 1 ;

[0045] Figure 12 is an enlarged view of the portion shown at A - A in Figure 4; and

[0046] Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the portion shown at A - A in Figure 4, with a transparent panel fitted.

[0047] The cover 10 shown in the drawings comprises a generally rectangular frame 12 with rounded corners, formed from injection moulded high-density polyethylene. The cover comprises straight, parallel front and rear elongate frame members 14, 16 and straight, parallel left-side and right-side frame members 18, 20 extending perpendicularly between opposite ends of the front and rear elongate frame members 12, 14. The frame members define a central, rectangular aperture 22 having rounded corners in which a transparent round-cornered rectangular plastics panel 24 (e.g. made of polycarbonate) having interior (inner) and exterior (outer) faces 24a, 24b is received and retained, as will be explained.

[0048] As best seen in Figures 1 to 4, 6 and 7, the elongate frame members 14, 16, 18 and 20 are generally planar except that a short portion 26, 28 of the edge of each of the left-side and right-side frame members 18, 20 adjacent to the front frame member 14 is angled upwardly to form a finger tab to facilitate opening of the cover. The laterally inner faces of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20 form a continuous inwardly-extending (inwardly-directed) ledge L and the lower faces 50 of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20 form a continuous abutment surface 29 for the panel 24 (as best seen in Figures 11 to 13), as will be explained.

[0049] Two identical hinge bearings 30, 32 extend rearwardly from the rear edge of the rear frame member 16. As best seen in Figure 9, each hinge bearing 30, 32 comprises a tubular tab 34 whose axis extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rear frame member 16 and which is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 35 in its laterally outer side. In use, each of the hinge bearings 30, 32 is adapted to receive a hinge 36, 38 (illustrated schematically in Figure 9) forming part of a box or case (not shown) to which the cover 10 is to be fitted. In use, the longitudinally extending slots 35 are aligned with the hinges 36, 38 and the hinge bearings 30, 32 are resiliently deformable so that they can be pressed onto the hinges 36, 38 and then resume their shape, whereby they are retained on the respective hinge 36, 38. The hinge bearings 30, 32 may then be secured to the hinges 36, 38 by means of a semi-tubular resiliently deformable clip 40 (e.g. formed from metal or plastics) shown schematically in Figure 9, which is received in a complementarily-shaped recess 41 in the hinge bearings 30, 32.

[0050] A continuous upstanding planar flange 42 projects perpendicularly from the upper, exterior faces 44 of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20 at a constant spacing from the periphery of the rectangular aperture 22. The planar flange 42 is also equidistant from the inner and outer edges of the front and side frame members 14, 18, 20 but is positioned closer to the outer edge than the inner edge of the rear frame member 16.

[0051] Similarly, a continuous upstanding planar flange 48 having inner and outer faces 60, 61 projects perpendicularly from the lower, interior faces 50 of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20 at a constant spacing from the periphery of the rectangular aperture 22. The planar flange 48 projecting from the lower face 50 of the frame is located inwardly of the planar flange 42 projecting from the upper face 44 of the frame and is located approximately one quarter of the width of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20 away from the periphery of the rectangular aperture 22.

[0052] Two elongate slots 52, 54 are provided in the front frame member 14 opposite the hinge bearings 30, 32 of the rear frame member 16 and are configured to receive a retaining catch 56 shown in Figure 10 such as that described in EP 0104136A and illustrated generally at 56.

[0053] Briefly, and as disclosed in EP 0104136A, the catch 56 comprises a so-called “plug-in” part 110 that tapers conically downwards, as seen in cross section, and is connected to a handle part 112 via a neck 111 , the neck 111 being guided and secured in the respective slot 52, 54 of the front frame member 14. The handle part 112 is wider than the slots 52, 54 and rests on the upper surface of the front frame member 14 by means of two integrally formed slide rails 113. The conical profile of the plug-in part 110 forms two shoulders 114 at the transition to the neck 111 , which extend below and engage with the lower face of the front frame member 14.

[0054] To mount the catch 56, it is inserted into the slot 52, 54, with the slot edges snapping into the neck 111 behind the two shoulders 114 after an elastic expansion thereby retaining the catch 56 on the cover 10. The plug-in part 110 has a resilient hook 115 projecting upwards from its lower end, as well as a projection 116 which is intended to reach under a flange 106 of a container 101 to which the cover 10 is hingedly connected.

[0055] When the cover is open, the upper end of the spring hook 115 rests on one end 117 of the slot 52, 54, and the neck 111 touches the end of the slot 52, 54. If the cover is now closed, the plug-in part 110 of the catch 56 projects, with play, into a corresponding slot 108 in the flange 106 of the container 101 to which the cover 10 is hingedly connected. Below the projection 116, the plug-in part 110 has an oblique contact surface 119, which, when the plug-in part penetrates, is pushed away from one end of the slot 108 of the container against the spring force of the hook 115 until the projection 116 snaps into place and engages under the container flange in the area of the slot end. The cover 10 is thereby held securely in the closed position on the container 101 by the catch 56. To open the container 101 , the locking latch 56 is moved against the spring force by finger pressure until the plug-in part 110 can be removed from the slot 108 in the flange 106 of the container 101.

[0056] As best seen in Figures 11 and 12, the inner face 60 of the upstanding planar flange 48 projecting from the lower face 50 of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20 is provided with a plurality of identical integrally-moulded retaining tabs 64 (which are also visible through the transparent panel 24 in Figure 2). Three equally-spaced retaining tabs 64 are located on each of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20 and the tabs 64 on the front and rear frame members 14, 16 are aligned, as are the tabs 64 on the left-side and right-side frame members 19, 20. However, it will be observed that on the left-side frame member 18, gaps 66, 68 are located in the upstanding planar flange 48 on either side of the tabs 64, to allow increased resilient deformation of those tabs to facilitate fitting of the transparent panel 24, as will be explained.

[0057] As best seen in Figure 12, the laterally inner face 70 of each tab 64 is planar and is inclined so that its upper edge 74 lies laterally inwardly of its lower edge 72 (the lower and upper edges appear reversed in Figures 11 and 12, as the views are from below), forming an inwardly-directed projection. The upper edge 74 of each tab 64 also terminates short of the undersurface of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20 and is formed into a flat shoulder 76 extending perpendicularly to the inner face of the planar flange 48 (and therefore parallel to the abutment surface 29 of the frame 12), defining a gap 80 between the shoulder 76 and the abutment surface 29 (formed by the undersurface / inner faces 50 of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20). The lower edge 72 of each tab 64 is of the same thickness as the planar flange 48 so that the tabs 64 merge smoothly into the planar flange 48.

[0058] In order to fit the transparent rectangular panel 24 into the frame 12, it is offered into the frame from below into the recess defined by the upstanding planar flange 48, whereupon it engages the retaining tabs 64 projecting laterally inwardly from the flange 48. By pressing the panel 24 into the frame, the frame 12 is sufficiently flexible to allow the panel to pass over the inclined surfaces 70 of the tabs 64 and to snap into position with its periphery seated in the gap 80 between the flat shoulders 76 at the upper end of each tab and the abutment surface 29 of the ledge L formed by the undersurface / inner faces 50 of the frame members 14, 16, 18, 20, as illustrated in Figure 13. The periphery of the panel 24 is thereby supported on the ledge L with the periphery of its inner face 24a resting on the abutment surface 29 of the ledge L and retained in position on the ledge L by the tabs 64 which engage the periphery of the outer face 24b of the panel 24. The gaps 66, 68 in the upstanding planar flange 48 on either side of the tab 64 on the left-side frame member 18 increase the flexibility of the frame and allow the panel 24 to snap into position in the frame and also facilitate removal of the panel, when desired.

[0059] The hinge bearings 30, 32 of the assembled frame and transparent panel 24 are then fitted onto the hinge 36, 38 of a box or case and may then be secured to the hinges 36, 38 by means of a semi-tubular clip 40, as described previously.

[0060] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment.

[0061] For example, the transparent panel 24 may be clear or may be coloured or tinted, if desired. Moreover, although in the above embodiment there are gaps 66, 68 in the flange 48 on either side of the retaining tabs 64 on the frame member 18, there may instead be a gap only on one side of one or more of the retaining tabs.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A cover (10) for a container, comprising: a frame (12) defining an aperture (22) and having interior (50) and exterior (44) faces; and a panel (24) shaped to be received in the frame (12) to fill the aperture (22) and having interior and exterior faces (24a, 24b); wherein the inner periphery of the frame (12) comprises an inwardly-directed ledge (L) having an abutment surface (29) for engagement with the periphery of the exterior face (24b) of the panel (24); and the inner face (50) of the frame (12) comprises a plurality of retaining members (64) for retaining the panel (24) in abutment with the abutment surface (29) of the ledge (L).

2. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame (12) comprises an upstanding flange (48) extending from the interior face (50) of the frame (12) on which a plurality of the retaining members (64) are located.

3. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upstanding flange (48) comprises laterally inner and outer faces (60, 61) and wherein a plurality of the retaining members (64) are located on the inner face (60) of the upstanding flange (48).

4. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein all of the retaining members (64) are located on the inner face (60) of the upstanding flange (48).

5. A cover (10) as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the flange (48) extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the interior face (50) of the frame (12).

6. A cover (10) as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the upstanding flange (48) extends around substantially the whole of the frame (12).

7. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upstanding flange (48) comprises one or more gaps (66, 68) on one or both sides of one or more of the retaining members (64).

8. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upstanding flange (48) comprises one or more gaps (66, 68) on one or both sides of a plurality of the retaining members (64).

9. A cover (10) as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8, further comprising an upstanding flange (42) extending from the exterior face (44) of the frame.

10. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the upstanding flange (48) extending from the interior face (50) of the frame is located inwardly of the upstanding flange (42) extending from the exterior face (44) of the frame.

11. A cover (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the retaining members (64) comprises a projection extending inwardly from the frame (12).

12. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 11 , wherein one or more of the projections (64) comprises an inclined face (70).

13. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein one or more of the projections (64) comprises a shoulder (76) spaced from the abutment surface (29) of the frame (12).

14. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the shoulder (76) extends substantially parallel to the abutment surface (29) of the frame (12).

15. A cover (10) as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the spacing (80) of the shoulder (76) and the abutment surface (29) of the frame (12) is substantially equal to the thickness of the panel (24).

16. A cover (10) as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the frame (12) is substantially rectangular.

17. A cover (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (12) is sufficiently deformable to allow the panel (24) to move over the retaining members (64) into engagement with the abutment surface (29).

18. A cover (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (12) is made from plastics material.

19. A cover (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (12) is moulded in one piece.

20. A cover (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (12) comprises one or more hinge components (30, 32, 36, 38).

21. A cover (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the panel (24) is transparent.

22. A frame (12) for a cover (10) for a container, comprising: an aperture (22) and interior and exterior faces (50, 44) and being configured to receive a panel (24) shaped to fill the aperture (22); wherein the inner periphery of the frame (12) comprises an inwardly-directed ledge (L) having an abutment surface (29) for engagement with the periphery of the exterior face (24b) of the lid panel; and the inner face (50) of the frame (12) comprises a plurality of retaining members (64) for retaining the panel (24) in abutment with the abutment surface (29) of the ledge (L).

23. A container (101 ) comprising a frame (12) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 21 or having a cover (10) comprising a frame (12) as claimed in claim 22.

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