Storage container with locking handle

Abstract

A portable storage container includes a storage body having an outer wall and a bottom wall joined to the outer wall to define an open storage cavity wherein the outer wall is joined to a peripheral flange extending around the storage body. A lid is receivable on the storage body to enclose the storage cavity. The lid is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the storage body. A handle has opposite ends attached to the lid and is movable between a collapsed, unlocked storage position and an upright, locked carrying position wherein the opposite ends are frictionally engageable with the peripheral flange.

1 . A portable storage container comprising:
 a storage body having an outer wall and a bottom wall joined to the outer wall to define an open storage cavity, wherein the outer wall is joined to a peripheral flange extending around the storage body;   a lid receivable on the storage body to enclose the storage cavity, the lid being movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the storage body, and   a handle having opposite ends attached to the lid, the handle being movable between a collapsed, unlocked storage position within the lid and an upright, locked carrying position wherein the opposite ends are frictionally engageable with the peripheral flange.   
   
   
       2 . The portable storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid and the peripheral flange are provided with a latching arrangement for selectively latching and unlatching the lid on the storage body. 
   
   
       3 . The portable storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivotally attached to the storage body. 
   
   
       4 . The portable storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is shaped to follow a contour of a peripheral wall of the lid when the handle is in the collapsed, unlocked storage position. 
   
   
       5 . The portable storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral flange includes a base wall and a side wall wherein the base wall extends generally perpendicular to the outer wall of the storage body. 
   
   
       6 . The portable storage container of  claim 5 , wherein the opposite ends of the handle include pivot rollers and hooks extending from the pivot rollers. 
   
   
       7 . The portable storage container of  claim 6 , wherein the hooks have nibs that are frictionally engageable with the base wall of the peripheral flange when the handle is in the upright, locked carrying position. 
   
   
       8 . The portable storage container of  claim 6 , wherein the peripheral flange includes a pair of upwardly rising walls joined to a pair of notched walls, the rising walls and the notched walls defining passageways for receiving the hooks when the handle is in the upright locked carrying position. 
   
   
       9 . The portable storage container of  claim 8 , wherein the hooks have foot portions that fit into the passageways and bearing portions that engage the notched walls. 
   
   
       10 . A portable storage container comprising:
 a storage body having an outer wall and a bottom wall joined to the outer wall to define an open storage cavity, wherein the outer wall is joined to a peripheral flange extending around the storage body;   a lid pivotally attached to the storage body for selectively covering and uncovering the storage cavity, the lid having a peripheral wall formed with a recess along a portion thereof;   a handle having opposite ends pivotally attached to opposite sides of the lid, the handle being movable between a collapsible, unlocked storage position located in the recess of the lid, and an upright, locked carrying position wherein the opposite ends are frictionally engageable with the peripheral flange; and   a latching arrangement provided between the lid and the peripheral flange for selectively latching and unlatching the lid relative to the storage body.   
   
   
       11 . The portable storage container of  claim 10 , wherein the peripheral flange includes a base wall and a side wall wherein the base wall extends generally perpendicular to the outer wall of the storage body. 
   
   
       12 . The portable storage container of  claim 11 , wherein the side wall of the peripheral flange includes a stop rib engageable with the lid. 
   
   
       13 . The portable storage container of  claim 10 , wherein the opposite ends of the handles include pivot rollers and hooks extending from the pivot rollers. 
   
   
       14 . The portable storage container of  claim 13 , wherein the hooks have nibs that are frictionally engageable with the base wall of the peripheral flange when the handle is in the upright, locked carrying position. 
   
   
       15 . The portable storage container of  claim 13 , wherein the hooks have bearing portions that are engageable with notched walls formed on the peripheral flange. 
   
   
       16 . The portable storage container of  claim 10 , wherein the latching arrangement includes
 a first latching element fixed on the peripheral flange,   a second latching element fixed on the peripheral wall of the lid, and   a catch slidably mounted on the second latching element and slidable back and forth on the first and second latching elements to selectively latch and unlatch the lid relative to the storage body.   
   
   
       17 . The portable storage container of  claim 11 , wherein a series of tabs extends between the side wall of the peripheral flange and the outer wall of the storage body. 
   
   
       18 . The portable storage container of  claim 11 , wherein a series of fins project downwardly from an underside of the lid, the fins being received in a cavity between the side wall of the peripheral flange and the outer wall of the storage body.