Container Assembly

Abstract

A container comprises: a tub ( 22 ) having a bottom ( 50 ) and four sides ( 56, 58, 60, 62 ), adjacent said sides joined at junctions; and a closure ( 24 ). The closure comprises: a lid ( 28 ); a living hinge member ( 26 ) unitarily formed with the lid and coupling the lid to the tub so as to allow the lid to shift between a closed condition and an open condition, the living hinge having an insertion portion ( 222 ) received in a pocket ( 82 ) of the tub.

1 . A container ( 20 ) comprising:
 a tub ( 22 ) having a bottom ( 50 ) and four sides ( 56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ), adjacent said sides joined at junctions; and   a closure ( 24 ) comprising:
 a lid ( 28 ); and 
 a living hinge member ( 26 ) unitarily formed with the lid and coupling the lid to the tub so as to allow the lid to shift between a closed condition and an open condition, the living hinge having an insertion portion ( 222 ) received in a pocket ( 82 ) of the tub. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the insertion portion comprises:
 a frame ( 230 ) having an opening ( 238 ); and 
 a portion ( 250 ) extending upward from a junction with a lower portion ( 236 ) of the frame and having an upper portion ( 252 ) engaged to a complementary portion of the pocket. 
 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein:
 the complementary portion is an underside of an outward projection ( 270 ) and an upper surface of the projection is captured against a lower edge of an upper portion ( 240 ) of the frame. 
 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2  wherein:
 the frame is transversely elongate. 
 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the pocket is open-bottomed. 
 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the container is of generally rectangular footprint. 
 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the closure is unitarily molded as a single plastic piece. 
 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the tub is unitarily molded as a single plastic piece. 
 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a latch ( 30 ) having a first portion ( 34 ) on the lid and a second portion ( 32 ) on the tub, the first portion releasably mateable to the second portion to retain the lid in the closed condition and releasable to allow the lid to shift to the open condition. 
 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein:
 the latch first portion comprises an upward projection ( 324 ) received in a downwardly-open channel ( 326 ) of the second portion in the closed condition. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method for making the container of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 molding the lid;   molding the tub; and   inserting the insertion portion of the living hinge into the receiving portion of the tub.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein:
 the inserting causes a flexing of a pawl ( 250 ) of the living hinge member followed by a relaxation of the pawl into a backlocked condition in the pocket. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 prior to the inserting, bending the hinge member from an as molded condition. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein:
 the bending is by at least 60°. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein:
 the bending puts an at least temporary set in the hinge of at least 60°.