Apparatus and method for a storage container with integrated table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10357874-B2
Application number	US-201615344121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2016
Priority date	Nov 9, 2015
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

A storage container can include a bottom surface and one or more sides that extend up from the bottom surface to define a storage area. The storage container can also include a lid rotatably coupled to at least one of the sides and can be moved from a closed position, preventing or limiting access to the storage area, to an open position, allowing access. The storage container can also include a work surface rotatably coupled to a bottom side of the lid. When the lid is opened, the work surface is rotated into a substantially horizontal position providing a planar top surface to work on. The storage container can also include a leg support assembly that is rotatably coupled to one or more of the side walls of the storage container and can be adjusted into a support position to provide vertical support for a portion of the work surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage container comprising:
a bottom surface having a perimeter edge;
at least one side wall extending vertically up from the perimeter edge, wherein the bottom surface and the at least one side wall define a volume within the storage container;
a lid rotatably coupled to one of the at least one side wall and configured to rotate from a closed position to an open position;
a table including a work support surface, said table rotatably coupled to the top lid and configured to rotate from a storage position to a use position; and
a leg support assembly rotatably coupled to the at least one side wall and configured to rotate from a stored position to a support position, wherein in the support position, the leg support assembly provides a vertical support to at least a portion of the table.

2. The storage container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wall comprises a rear wall, an opposing front wall, a first side wall, and an opposing second side wall, and wherein the leg support assembly comprises:
a first leg member comprising a first end rotatably coupled to the first side wall and a distal second end;
a second leg member comprising a third end rotatably coupled to the second side wall and a distal fourth end.

3. The storage container of claim 2 , wherein the leg support assembly further comprises a bracing member comprising a first end coupled to the second end of the first leg member and a distal second end coupled to the fourth end of the second leg member.

4. The storage container of claim 1 , wherein the table comprises:
a fixed side rotatably coupled to the top lid;
an opposing free side; wherein,
said work support surface includes a planar top surface disposed between the fixed side and the free side.

5. The storage container of claim 4 , wherein in the support position, the leg support assembly contacts a bottom side of the work support surface adjacent to the free side of the work support surface.

6. The storage container of claim 4 , wherein the fixed side further comprises a hinge attachment member comprising a first end coupled to the fixed side and a distal second side extending up from the planar top surface of the work support surface, wherein the second side of the hinge attachment member is rotatably coupled to the top lid.

7. The storage container of claim 1 , further comprising a first means for limiting rotation, wherein the first means for limiting rotation limits a rotation of the lid into the open position an angle (a) degrees short of a vertical, 90 degree position.

8. The storage container of claim 7 , wherein the first means for limiting rotation comprises one of a pneumatic cylinder, a spring, a wire, or a string.

9. The storage container of claim 7 , wherein the angle (a) is between substantially 5 degrees and substantially 25 degrees.

10. The storage container of claim 7 , wherein the first means for limiting rotation biases the lid into the open position.

11. The storage container of claim 1 , further comprising means for limiting rotation of the table, the means for limiting rotation having a first portion coupled to a bottom side of the lid and a distal second end coupled to the table.

12. A method for accessing a work surface of a storage container comprising:
providing the storage container comprising:
a bottom surface having a perimeter edge;
a plurality of side walls extending vertically up from the perimeter edge, wherein the bottom surface and the plurality of side walls define a volume within the storage container;
a lid rotatably coupled to one of the plurality of side walls and rotatable from a closed position to an open position;
the work surface rotatably coupled to the top lid and rotatable from a storage position to a use position; and
a leg support assembly rotatably coupled to at least one of the plurality of side walls and rotatable from a stored position to a support position;
rotating the lid from the closed position to the open position;
rotating the work surface from the storage position to the use position; and
rotating the leg support assembly from the stored position to the support position, wherein at least a portion of the leg support assembly vertically supports at least a portion of the work surface.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein in open position, the lid is disposed at an angle (α) short of a 90 degree vertical position, wherein the method further comprises:
providing a means for limiting rotation of the lid, comprising a first end coupled to one of the plurality of side walls and a distal second end coupled to the lid; and
limiting the rotation of the lid into the open position to the angle (α) short of the 90 degree vertical position.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the angle (α) is between substantially 5 degrees and substantially 25 degrees.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing a means for limiting rotation of the work surface comprising a first end coupled to the lid and a distal second end coupled to the work surface; and
limiting rotation of the work surface into the use position wherein a planar top surface of the work surface is disposed at a second angle in the use position that is in the range of substantially 95 to substantially 120 degrees from a position of the planar top surface in the storage position.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising biasing the lid into the open position.

17. A storage container comprising:
a bottom surface having a perimeter edge;
a plurality of side walls comprising a front wall, opposing rear wall, first side wall and opposing second side wall, each of the plurality of side walls extending vertically up from the perimeter edge, wherein the bottom surface and the plurality of side walls define a volume within the storage container;
a lid rotatably coupled to the rear wall and configured to rotate from a closed position to an open position, wherein in the closed position, the lid prevents access to the volume within the storage container;
a work surface rotatably coupled to the top lid and configured to rotate from a storage position to a use position; and
a leg support assembly rotatably coupled to the first side wall and the second side wall and configured to rotate from a stored position to a support position, wherein in the support position, the leg support assembly provides a vertical support to at least a portion of the work surface.

18. The storage container of claim 17 , wherein the work surface comprises a fixed end, an opposing free end, a planar top surface, and an opposing bottom surface, each of the top surface and bottom surface disposed between the fixed end and the free end, wherein the fixed end is rotatably coupled to the lid and wherein at least a portion of bottom surface adjacent the free end contacts at least a portion of the leg support assembly in the support position.

19. The storage container of claim 17 , wherein the leg support assembly comprises:
a first elongated leg member comprising a first end rotatably coupled to the first side wall and a distal second end;
a second elongated leg member comprising a third end rotatably coupled to the second side wall and a distal fourth end; and
a bracing member comprising a first end coupled to the second end of the first leg member and a distal second end coupled to the fourth end of the second leg member, wherein the bracing member comprises a top surface extending between the first end and the second end and wherein at least a portion of the top surface

Assignees

• Irwin Ind Tool Co

Inventors

• Engvall David P
• Pennington Stephen
• Reedy Michael
• Dudycha Adam
• Santiago Jose C

Classifications

• A45C11/20

  Lunch or picnic boxes or the like · CPC title

• B65D43/163

  the container and the lid being made separately (B65D43/161 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B25H1/04

  portable · CPC title

• B65D45/24

  incorporating pressure-applying means, e.g. screws or toggles · CPC title

• B65D51/24

  combined {or co-operating} with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes · CPC title