Double-sided storage container

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The disclosure relates to storage containers and more particularly pertains to a new double-sided storage container for allowing users to access items at either end of the container.

The prior art relates to storage containers. The prior art, as best understood, does not disclose a double-sided storage container with an open-ended container body and a pair of cover assemblies positioned one at each of the open ends to permit a user to selectively open and close either of the open ends to access items positioned adjacent either of the open ends.

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above in a double-sided storage container generally comprising an open-ended container body and a pair of cover assemblies. The open-ended container body includes side walls connected together at angles to one another and a pair of open ends. The pair of cover assemblies are positioned one at each of the open ends to permit a user to selectively open and close either of the open ends to access items positioned adjacent either of the open ends. Each of the cover assemblies includes a lip surrounding the perimeter of its corresponding open end and extending from and transvers to the side walls to an outer lip edge. Each of the cover assemblies also includes a lid that includes a planar body and a securing assembly detachably securing the planar body to the lip to cover its corresponding open end. The securing assembly includes a bracket designed to fit onto and under the lip and movable retaining clips designed to releasably lock the lid and the lip together.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular tothereof, a new double-sided storage container embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeralwill be described.

As best illustrated in, the double-sided storage containergenerally comprises an open-ended container bodyand a pair of cover assemblies. The open-ended container bodyincludes side wallsconnected together at angles to one another and a pair of open ends. The pair of cover assembliesare positioned one at each of the open endsto permit a user to selectively open and close either of the open endsto access items positioned adjacent either of the open ends. Each of the cover assembliesincludes a lipsurrounding the perimeter of its corresponding open endand extending from and transvers to the side wallsto an outer lip edge. Each of the cover assembliesalso includes a lidthat includes a planar bodyand a securing assembly detachably securing the planar bodyto the lipto cover its corresponding open end. The securing assembly includes a bracketdesigned to fit onto and under the lipand movable retaining clipsdesigned to releasably lock the lidand the liptogether.

The planar bodyextends to an outer body edgethat essentially follows the outer lip edgeto form an essentially flat support surface regardless of which of the open endsis oriented above the other. This allows the storage containerto rest essentially flat on a support surface, such as a floor or the ground, as shown in. In addition, the storage containersare stackable since both ends of the container have the planar body.

As best seen in, the bracketincludes a first leg portionextending down past the outer lip edgeand a second leg portionextending inwardly and engaging an inner side of the lip. The bracketthereby holds the lipand lidtogether. Because of the bracketdesign, the lidmust be slid across the open endto place the bracketonto the lipand lid. As best seen in, the retaining clipsinclude a hingepivotably attached to the outer body edge, a clipbody extending downwardly from the hingeand past the outer lip edge, and a first mating memberextending inwardly under the lipand releasably engaged with a second mating memberpositioned on the inner side of the lip. The first mating memberhas a projection and the second mating memberis a groove that interact together in a releasable snap-fit connection. However,shows an exemplary embodiment and other types of clips or locking connections are within the scope of the disclosure.

The liphas four sides positioned at angles to one another in a square or rectangular configuration. As shown in, the storage containerincludes a pair of the retaining bracketspositioned on a first pair of the sides and the retaining clipson a second pair of the sides. The first pair of the sides are connected at a corner, and the pair of retaining bracketsare connected together to form an angled retaining bracket. In one possible embodiment, the retaining bracketis positioned on one of the sides and three groups of the retaining clipsare positioned on the other three of the sides. In another possible embodiment, the double-sided storage containerincludes three of the retaining bracketspositioned on three of the sides and the retaining clipsare positioned on the other of the sides. The combination of the retaining bracketand the retaining clipsprovides a secure connection that can be quickly connected and disconnected.

As shown in, each of the cover assembliesincludes a seal assembly positioned between the lidand the lip. The seal assembly includes a recesspositioned in one of the lipand the lidand a rubber gasketseated in the recess. In the embodiment shown in, the recessis on an outer side of the lip.

In one possible embodiment, the container bodyis rectangular and has a height in the range of approximately 15-25 inches, a length in the range of approximately 26-38 inches, and a width in the range of approximately 15-25 inches. Each of the container bodyand the lidis made of transparent material, at least in part, so that a user can see the contents of the storage container. Each of the container body, the lip, and the lidis made of high-strength plastic for durability.show the container bodywherein the width is greater than the height, whereasshows an alternative design of the container bodywherein the height is greater than the width.

The double-sided storage containerallows a user to access items from either end of the container body. In standard containers for storage, only one end is open. If the user wishes to retrieve items from the bottom closed end of the container, then the user must remove or dig through the items near the open end, which can be a problem if the items are heavy or there are a great number of items closely packed together. The double-sided storage containerallows a user to place one end up and access items near that end, as shown in. In use, the user first places a first lidover a first open endof the container bodyby sliding its bracketonto the lipand releasably locking its retaining clips. The user then turns over the container bodyand places the first lidon a ground or floor surface. The user then places items in the container bodythrough a second open endof the container body. The user then places a second lidover the second open endof the container bodyby sliding its bracketonto the lipand releasably locking its retaining clips. The container bodyis now closed at both ends. The user can now selectively turn up the first open endor the second open endto access items positioned adjacent the selected one of the first open endor the second open end.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an clement by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.