Wheeled molded container with hinged lid

Claim 2

A portable molded container with a hinged lid comprising: a container body having a bottom and an upstanding sidewall joined to said bottom, said bottom and said sidewall defining a container interior, and said sidewall having an upper edge defining an opening into said interior; a lid having a cover portion adapted to overlie said opening; at least two transversely spaced hinge means for pivotally interconnecting said lid and said body, each of said hinge means comprising a body hinge portion extending laterally from said body near the upper edge of said sidewall, and a lid hinge portion extending laterally from said lid adjacent said body hinge portion; and a hinge rod extending between said hinge means and pivotally coupling the body hinge portion and the lid hinge portion of each of said hinge means, said hinge rod being rotatable with respect to each of said hinge portions and exposed in the region between said hinge means so that it can be grasped and function as a handle for manipulating the container.

Claim 3

A container according to claim 1 comprising three transversely spaced hinge means said hinge rod being exposed in the two regions between the center hinge means and the hinge means on either side of the center hinge means so that it can be grasped in either region and function as a handle.

Claim 4

A container according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the lid hinge portion and the body hinge portion of each of said hinge means are disposed alongside one another, and said hinge rod passes through aligned apertures in said lid hinge portions and said body hinge portions.

Claim 5

A container according to claim 3 wherein said bottom, said sidewall and said body hinge portion comprise an integrally molded structure, and said lid cover portion and said lid hinge portion comprise a separate integrally molded structure.

Claim 6

A container according to claim 4 wherein said container body, said lid and said hinge means are rotationally molded of a cross-linked, high-density polyolefin.

Claim 7

A container according to claim 3 wherein the body hinge portion and the lid hinge portion of each of said hinge means each comprises a pair of transversely spaced, parallel, laterally extending flanges having apertures through which said hinge rod passes, and a transverse web interconnecting the distal ends of said flanges, the flanges of said lid hinge portion being longer than and farther apart than the flanges of said body hinge portion so that said body hinge portion fits within said lid hinge portion.

Claim 8

A container according to claim 6 wherein the lid hinge portion of each of said hinge means comprises a top web covering the space between the flanges of said lid hinge portion, said top web being connected to the cover portion of said lid and to the flanges and to the transverse web of said lid hinge portion.

Claim 9

A container according to claim 7 wherein said bottom, said sidewall and said body hinge portion comprise an integrally molded structure, and said lid cover portion and said lid hinge portion comprise a separate integrally molded structure.

Claim 10

A container according to claim 8 wherein said container body, said lid and said hinge means are rotationally molded of a cross-linked, high-density polyolefin.

Claim 11

A container according to claim 8 wherein the cover portion of said lid is larger than said opening, and said lid further comprises a depending peripheral skirt adapted to surround the upper portion of said sidewall when the lid is closed, said skirt being joined at its ends to the outer flanges of the outer lid hinge portions.

Claim 12

A container according to claim 10 wherein said lid further comprises depending skirt webs attached to said cover portion and interconnecting adjacent flanges of said lid hinge portions in the region between said hinge means.

Claim 13

A portable molded container with a hinged lid comprising: a container body having a bottom and an upstanding sidewall joined to said bottom, said bottom and said sidewall defining a container interior, and said sidewall having an upper edge defining an opening into said interior; a lid having a cover portion adapted to overlie said opening; a hinge rod; three transversely spaced hinge means for pivotally interconnecting said lid and said body, each of said hinge means comprising a body hinge portion extending laterally from said body near the upper edge of said sidewall, and a lid hinge portion extending laterally from said lid adjacent said body hinge portion, said hinge rod extending between said hinge means and pivotally coupling the body hinge portion and the lid hinge portion of each of said hinge means; said body hinge portion and said lid hinge portion of each of said hinge means comprising a pair of transversely spaced, parallel, laterally extending flanges having apertures through which said hinge rod passes, and a transverse web interconnecting the distal ends of said flanges, the flanges of said lid hinge portion being longer than and spaced farther apart than the flanges of said body hinge portion so that said body hinge portion fits within said lid hinge portion; the lid portion of each of said hinge means comprising a top web covering the space between the flanges of said lid hinge portion, said top web being connected to the cover portion of said lid and to the flanges and to the transverse web of said lid hinge portion; and said bottom, said sidewall and said body hinge portion comprise an integrally molded structure, and said lid cover portion and said lid hinge portion comprise a separate integrally molded structure.

Claim 14

A portable molded container with a hinged lid comprising: a container body having a bottom and an upstanding sidewall joined to said bottom, said bottom and said sidewall defining a container interior, and said sidewall having an upper edge defining an opening into said interior; a lid having a cover portion adapted to overlie said opening; a hinge rod; three transversely spaced hinge means for pivotally interconnecting said lid and said body, each of said hinge means comprising a body hinge portion extending laterally from said body near the upper edge of said sidewall, and a lid hinge portion extending laterally from said lid adjacent said body hinge portion, said hinge rod extending between said hinge means and pivotally coupling the body hinge portion and the lid hinge portion of each of said hinge means; said body hinge portion and said lid hinge portion of each of said hinge means comprising a pair of transversely spaced, parallel, laterally extending flanges having apertures through which said hinge rod passes, and a transverse web interconnecting the distal ends of said flanges, the flanges of said lid hinge portion being longer than and spaced farther apart than the flanges of said body hinge portion so that said body hinge portion fits within said lid hinge portion; the lid portion of each of said hinge means comprising a top web covering the space between the flanges of said lid hinge portion, said top web being connected to the cover portion of said lid and to the flanges and to the transverse web of said lid hinge portion; and said bottom, said sidewall and said body hinge portion comprise an integrally molded structure, and said lid cover portion and said lid hinge portion comprise a separate integrally molded structure.

Claim 15

A container according to claim 12 wherein the cover portion of said lid is larger than said opening, and said lid further comprises a depending peripheral skirt adapted to surround the upper portion of said sidewall when the lid is closed, said skirt being joined at its end to the outer flanges of the outer lid hinge portions.

Claim 16

A container according to claim 13 wherein said lid further comprises depending skirt webs attached to said cover portion and interconnecting adjacent flanges of said lid hinge portions in the region between said hinge means.

Claim 17

A container according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein said container body, said lid and said hinge means are rotationally molded of a cross-linked, high-density polyolefin.