Sortables storage container

Abstract

A storage container includes a base with a storage compartment and a lid positionable to fit over an upwardly extending perimeter wall of the storage compartment. A spine is hinged between the base and the lid to allow articulated movement of the lid with respect to the base. The spine includes at least one stiffener ridge integrally formed in the spine and extending longitudinally along the spine. The stiffener ridge reduces bowing of the spine between a lid hinge and a base hinge. A removable tray is insertable into the storage compartment to divide the compartment into a plurality of smaller compartments. Partitions may be placed in the storage compartment to divide the storage compartment into smaller compartments. The partitions may extend into receiving grooves in the lid to block movement of sortables from one compartment to another.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to storage containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thermoplastic container for storing sortable items, such as washers, buttons, stickers, and the like.[0003]2. Related Art[0004]Sortables storage containers are known in the art. Typically these containers are clear plastic and have a base storage compartment with a hinged lid. Such containers often have a number of dividers separating the larger base storage compartment into several smaller storage compartments. The dividers are usually integrally formed into the base storage compartment so the lid can rest on top of the dividers to close off each individual storage compartment in order to prevent inadvertent mixing of sortables stored between each compartment. Additionally, such containers are commonly made of a hard or rigid plastic so as to provide sufficient structural strength to the hinges, clasps a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a sortables storage container with a base storage compartment that can be reconfigured to smaller storage compartments. Additionally, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a sortables storage container with dividers that restrict passage of sortable items between separate storage compartments. Moreover, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a sortables storage container with reinforcing ridges supporting the hinge between the lid and the container so that the overall size of the hinge can be reduced to minimize catch points with adjacent objects.

[0009]In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the storage container includes a removable tray that is sized and shaped to fit within the storage compartment. The removable tray can have at least one partition that can divide the storage compartment into a plurality of relatively smaller coplanar storage compartments. Additionally, the lid of the storage container can have a plurality of channels that can correspond is size, shape and position to the at least one partition. The plurality of channels can fit over the at least one partition to restrict passage between the plurality of smaller storage compartments.

[0011]The present invention also provides for a method for storing sortable materials including opening a lid on a storage container. A removable tray having a plurality of integrally formed partitions can be inserted into a larger storage compartment of a base of the storage container to reconfigure the larger storage container to have a plurality of smaller, coplanar storage compartments. Sortable materials, such as pins, nails, screws, bolts, nuts, paper clips, stickers, scrapbook ornamentation, and the like, can be sorted and placed into the plurality of smaller containers. The lid can be closed and a plurality of channels formed in the lid can fit over an upper portion of the plurality of partitions to restrict passage between the plurality of smaller storage compartments.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, such storage containers have problems that make them difficult to use in some applications.

For example, since the dividers are integrally formed into the base storage compartment, the smaller storage compartments can not be reconfigured to accommodate changes to items being stored in the container.

Furthermore, the hinges on such containers generally protrude some distance away from the body of the container such that the hinges can catch onto nearby adjacent objects making the containers difficult to store and retrieve from confined spaces.

Unfortunately, these types of configurable storage containers exacerbate the problem of migrating contents between the smaller compartments since the dividers usually leave a gap between the bottom and top or lid of the container.

This is especially problematic for flat sortables such as paper clips, stickers, and the like because such items can easily fit through narrow gaps between the dividers and the lid or bottom of the container.

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