Lid Assembly for a Storage Container

Abstract

A lid assembly for a storage container base with an interior storage space and an open top end. The lid assembly has a closure section positionable over the open top end of the base. The closure section has a top panel, an access opening through the top panel or formed by the top panel with the closure section installed on the storage container, and a perimeter extending around at least a portion of the closure section and being removably attachable to the base. The lid assembly also has a hub and a cover section mounted to the closure section and rotatable about the hub between a closed position covering the access opening and an open position uncovering the access opening. A transparent part of the cover section can be positioned over the access opening in the closed position.

1 . A lid assembly for a storage container base with an interior storage space and an open top end, the lid assembly comprising:
 a closure section positionable over the open top end of the base, the closure section having
 a top panel, 
 an access opening through the top panel or formed by the top panel with the closure section installed on the storage container, and 
 a perimeter extending around at least a portion of the closure section and being removably attachable to the base; 
   a hub; and   a cover section mounted to the closure section and rotatable about the hub between a closed position covering the access opening and an open position uncovering the access opening,   wherein a transparent part of the cover section is positioned over the access opening in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the closure section is circular. 
     
     
         3 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the closure section is a continuous circular perimeter and the access opening is formed through the top panel within the perimeter. 
     
     
         4 . A lid assembly according to  claim 3 , further comprising a continuous lip extending around the perimeter of the access opening and protruding upward from the top panel. 
     
     
         5 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lip adjacent and extending along the entirety of an edge of the top panel that forms the access opening, the lip protruding upward from the top panel. 
     
     
         6 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises:
 a boss protruding from one of the closure section and the cover section; and   a receiver with an open entry and a hollow interior on the other of the closure section and the cover section, the boss fitted within the hollow interior through the open entry and permitting relative rotation between the boss and the receiver about a hub axis.   
     
     
         7 . A lid assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the boss protrudes upward from the top panel of the closure section and the open entry of the receiver is on the underside of the cover section. 
     
     
         8 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the entire cover section is transparent. 
     
     
         9 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure section is formed of an opaque material. 
     
     
         10 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stop flange extending circumferentially around and protruding radially outward from the closure section, the perimeter of the closure section defining a circle; and   a catch flange extending along at least one edge of the cover section and protruding radially outward therefrom, the catch flange and stop flange configured and positioned to overlie one another and retain the cover section attached to the closure section in both the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         11 . A lid assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the cover section is mounted on top of the closure section and the stop flange is positioned directly above the catch flange. 
     
     
         12 . A lid assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover section can drop down and register with part of the closure section in the closed position with a gap between the stop flange and the catch flange. 
     
     
         13 . A lid assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover section can drop down and register with part of the closure section in the open position with a gap between the stop flange and the catch flange. 
     
     
         14 . A lid assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising a gap between the stop flange and the catch flange in the open and closed positions, whereby the cover section, while being rotated about the hub between the open and closed positions, can rise until the catch flange contacts the stop flange. 
     
     
         15 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the hub defines a generally vertical axis about which the cover section can rotate between the closed and open positions. 
     
     
         16 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bumped up region protruding upward on the closure section; and   a corresponding depression formed upward on an underside of the cover section, wherein the bumped up region registers and nests with the corresponding depression with the cover section in the open position.   
     
     
         17 . A lid assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising a ramped surface between the bumped up region on the closure section and the access opening. 
     
     
         18 . A lid assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein an edge of the cover section lies at a base of the ramped surface in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover section and the access opening each have a generally semi-circular shape. 
     
     
         20 . A storage container comprising:
 a base with a bottom, a side wall, an interior storage space, and an open top end; and   a lid assembly removably attached to the open top end of the base, the lid assembly having
 a closure section positioned over the open top end and having a top panel, an access opening through the top panel, and a lid skirt coupled to the base and extending around the closure section; 
 a hub; 
 a cover section mounted on the closure section and rotatable about the hub between a closed position covering the access opening and an open position exposing the access opening; 
 an annular stop flange protruding outward from and extending around the perimeter of the lid skirt; and 
 an annular catch flange protruding outward from an outer edge of the cover section, 
   wherein the catch flange is spaced directly below the stop flange in the open and closed positions to retain the cover section connected to the closure section.