A container for storing and dispensing continuous lengths of chain includes a base having a hollow interior for storing the chain. The base has an open end defined by a top edge. The container also includes a lid that has a storage orientation and a dispensing orientation in which the lid is inverte
A container for storing and dispensing continuous lengths of chain includes a base having a hollow interior for storing the chain. The base has an open end defined by a top edge. The container also includes a lid that has a storage orientation and a dispensing orientation in which the lid is inverted relative to the storage orientation. The lid includes a first opening for dispensing the chain from the hollow interior. A coupling member of the lid is configured to attach the lid to the open end of the base in each of the storage and dispensing orientations. The coupling member can be configured to produce a releasable snap-fit between the lid and the base.
대표청구항▼
1. A container for storing and dispensing continuous lengths of chain comprising: a base having a hollow interior for storing the chain, the base having an open end defined by a top edge; anda lid that has a storage orientation and a dispensing orientation in which the lid is inverted relative to th
1. A container for storing and dispensing continuous lengths of chain comprising: a base having a hollow interior for storing the chain, the base having an open end defined by a top edge; anda lid that has a storage orientation and a dispensing orientation in which the lid is inverted relative to the storage orientation, the lid including a first opening for dispensing the chain from the hollow interior;wherein a coupling member of the lid is configured to attach the lid to the open end of the base in each of the storage and dispensing orientations;wherein the lid comprises a peripheral wall and a transverse wall that extends between and internal to the peripheral wall, wherein the transverse wall comprises a sloped surface, wherein the transverse wall includes an integral trough that is formed along the sloped surface and is in communication with the first opening at one end thereof, the first o enin bein formed in the sloped surface of the transverse wall, the trough being configured to receive the chain from the first opening in the dispensing orientation and for allowing the chain to travel along the sloped surface of the transverse wall. 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a bucket. 3. The container of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is formed as a part of the peripheral wall. 4. The container of claim 3, wherein the transverse wall is disposed at an angle other than 90 degrees relative to the peripheral wall so as to form an inclined surface when the lid is in the storage orientation and a declined surface when the lid is in the dispensing orientation. 5. The container of claim 1, wherein the trough comprises a recessed channel formed in the sloped surface of the transverse wall and having a concave shape. 6. The container of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the transverse wall extends above the peripheral wall in the dispensing orientation. 7. The container of claim 3, wherein the lid further includes a protrusion that formed immediately adjacent the trough and which extends radially outward from the transverse wall above peripheral wall when the lid is in the dispensing orientation, an inner surface of the protrusion defining a ledge when the container is laid on its side with the first opening directly above the protrusion. 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the transverse wall includes an integral recessed trough that is in communication with the first opening at one end thereof and with the inner surface of the protrusion at an opposite end, the trough being configured to receive the chain from the first opening in the dispensing orientation and guide the chain to the protrusion which includes a second opening which is in communication with the hollow interior of the base, wherein the second opening is formed between one end of the trough and the an inner surface of the protrusion such that the trough is open to the first opening at a first end of the trough and the trough is open to the second opening at a second end of the trough. 9. The container of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second openings includes a tear-away cover for covering the respective opening during storage prior to use. 10. The container of claim 9, wherein each tear-away cover is formed in situ with the lid during a common molding process. 11. The container of claim 1, wherein the coupling member comprises a snap-fit fastener for snap-fittingly attaching the lid to the open end of the base. 12. The container of claim 1, wherein the transverse wall has a first face in which the trough is formed, the trough partitioning the first face into first and second display surfaces on which indicia can be provided. 13. The container of claim 3, wherein the peripheral wall includes ribs formed along a plurality of sides of the lid, the ribs extending inwardly toward a center of the lid and being configured to support a closed end of another base that is stacked on top of the container when the lid is in the storage orientation. 14. The container of claim 3, wherein the coupling member includes an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall that is spaced from the inner peripheral wall so as to create a peripheral space therebetween, the inner peripheral wall extending outwardly from both a first face and an opposite second face of the transverse wall so as to create a first peripheral space along the first face and a second peripheral space along the second face. 15. The container of claim 14, wherein the top edge of the base is received in the first peripheral space when the lid is in the storage orientation and is received within the second peripheral space when the lid is in the dispensing orientation. 16. The container of claim 14, wherein an inner surface of the outer peripheral wall includes first and second retaining ribs, one disposed in the first peripheral space and the other disposed in the second peripheral space for mating with an overhang formed at the top edge of the base for coupling the lid to the base in the storage and dispensing orientations respectively. 17. The container of claim 16, wherein the outer peripheral wall has a top flared out portion and a bottom flared out portion with a middle portion thereof being planar, the first retaining rib being formed at an interface between the top flared out portion and the middle portion and the second retaining rib being formed at an interface between the bottom flared out portion and the middle portion. 18. The container of claim 1, wherein the first opening includes a V-shaped bottom edge that causes the chain to self-center under its own weight and the trough is located beneath the V-shaped bottom edge when the container is laid on its side which is representative of a point of purchase orientation. 19. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a second opening which is in communication with the hollow interior of the base, wherein the first opening is formed at and directly opens to a first end of the trough and the second opening is formed at and directly opens to an opposite second end of the trough. 20. A container for storing and dispensing continuous lengths of chain comprising: a base having a hollow interior for storing the chain, the base having an open end defined by a top edge; anda lid that is configured to attach to the open end of the base and is configured to be positioned in a storage orientation and a dispensing orientation, the lid comprising a peripheral wall and a transverse wall that extends between and internal to the peripheral wall, the transverse wall being formed at an angle other than 90 degrees relative to the peripheral wall so as to form a recessed surface when the lid is in a storage orientation and a raised surface when the lid is in a dispensing orientation, the transverse wall including a first opening that has a tapered portion that defines a narrow bottom edge thereof and the transverse wall includes an integral concave shaped trough that is formed in a sloped surface of the transverse wall and is in communication with the tapered portion of the first opening, the trough being configured to receive the chain from the first opening and guide the chain for dispensing thereof when the lid is in the dispensing orientation. 21. The container of claim 20, wherein the lid includes a second opening which is in communication with the hollow interior of the base, wherein the first opening is formed at and directly opens to a first end of the trough and the second opening is formed at and directly opens to an opposite second end of the trough. 22. The container of claim 21, further including a raised protrusion formed at the second end of the trough and defining a ledge that has an axis that is perpendicular to a horizontal plane that passes through a top end of the peripheral edge. 23. The container of claim 22, wherein the second opening is defined between the second end of the trough and an inner surface of the ledge. 24. The container of claim 20, wherein in the dispensing orientation, the base is laid on one side thereof and the first opening is oriented above the first opening and the transverse wall is angled downwardly away from the first opening and forwardly away from the base. 25. A container for storing and dispensing continuous lengths of chain comprising: a base having a hollow interior for storing the chain, the base having an open end defined by a top edge; anda lid that is configured to attach to the open end of the base and is configured to be positioned in a storage orientation and a dispensing orientation, the lid comprising a peripheral wall and a transverse wall that extends between and internal to the peripheral wall, the transverse wall comprising a sloped surface that intersects the peripheral wall along one edge of the sloped surface and is integrally joined to a raised protrusion along an opposite edge, the transverse wall including a first opening that is formed along the sloped surface and an integral trough being also formed in the sloped surface and extending from and being open to the first opening, the trough being configured to receive the chain from the first opening and guide the chain for dispensing thereof when the lid is in the dispensing orientation, wherein the lid includes a second opening which is in communication with the hollow interior of the base, the second opening being also in direct communication with the trough for receiving the chain. 26. The container of claim 25, wherein the first and second openings are disposed at opposite ends of the trough with the respective opposite ends of the trough opening directly into the first and second openings.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
Hayes Richard D. (Edwardsville IL), Chain container.
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