초록 ▼

The present invention provides an improved system and method for carrying and securing the lid of a container, such as a surgical sterilization tray. A tray is provided with rotating wire bail handles and at least two studs. The cover for the tray has a keyway and cutout which can be engaged with th

The present invention provides an improved system and method for carrying and securing the lid of a container, such as a surgical sterilization tray. A tray is provided with rotating wire bail handles and at least two studs. The cover for the tray has a keyway and cutout which can be engaged with the studs when the lid is placed onto the case. Inadvertent disengagement of the keyway or cutout from the studs is prevented by the interaction of the handles with the lid. The lid is provided with slots and end panels which become mechanically associated with the handles when the handles are rotated to any of a variety of lid-securing positions. The association of the handles with the lid prevents any relative sliding motion of the lid and case which would allow disengagement of the keyway or cutout and the studs, until the handles are rotated to any of a variety of non-lid-securing positions. The system combines the handle and lid-securing functions in a very low part-count design with very few moving parts. The system can be grasped and lifted even when the tray can only be accessed from above, offers improved ergonomics over known systems, can be grasped using full-hand grip of the handles, and may be grasped and lifted using one hand. Even when the system is carried by one hand and is suspended sideways, the lid remains positively secured to the case.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A covered tray system comprising:(a) a case comprising a base, at least one wall, and a longitudinal axis parallel to the wall, each wall extending from the base and having a top edge which forms an opening for the case;(b) a pair of rotatable handles mounted to the wall,

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A covered tray system comprising:(a) a case comprising a base, at least one wall, and a longitudinal axis parallel to the wall, each wall extending from the base and having a top edge which forms an opening for the case;(b) a pair of rotatable handles mounted to the wall, each handle having a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a hand-grip portion, the handles being mounted in opposed relation and being rotatable, about the rotation axis, from a non-lid-securing position to a lid-securing position in which the hand-grip portion can be grasped using a full hand hold;(c) first and second studs extending from the base toward the opening, with at least the first stud having a shaft and a head which is larger than the shaft;(d) a lid for covering the case opening, the lid comprising a substantially planar portion having at least one keyway and at least one cutout, the keyway having a relatively smaller opening portion, a relatively larger opening portion, and a keyway axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the keyway being operatively associated with the first stud with the smaller opening portion of the keyway being larger than the shaft but smaller than the head of the first stud, and the larger opening of the keyway being larger than the head of the first stud, and the cutout being operatively associated with the second stud; rein movement of the lid in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis is prevented when the handles are rotated to the lid-securing position, and the combination of the engagement of the at least one keyway with the first stud and the cutout with another stud results in a positive removable securement of the lid to the case, such that the lid cannot be removed until the handles are rotated to the non-lid-securing position, in which they are completely disassociated from the lid, and the lid is moved transversely relative to the case such that the at least one keyway can be disengaged from the first stud by lifting the lid away from the case and rein each handle includes at least one link arm and the lid includes slots for receiving the link arms when the handles are rotated to the lid-securing position.