Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTAINER BOX WITH GRIPS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention provides for containers having grips positioned about a
carryable item that provide some beneficial ergonomic effects when lifting or
holding the
carryable item. More specifically, such grips and structure enable a person's
ability to lift
and hold such containers easily and without significant strain on a human's
body
resulting from physical stress of the container itself and/or a weighted load
within the
container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Lifting heavy items and then holding them towards the front of the
human
body can be burdensome and unhealthy. Depending upon the body type of the
holder,
the danger of additional stress and strain upon that body can be especially
odious. When
one lifts a heavy box, say forty pounds or more, a number of physiological
responses
occur. In such lifting and holding a person uses her arms, shoulders, upper
back, lower
back, buttocks, legs and feet to lift and to hold the box securely. The lower
back
especially can serve as a pivot point at which great strain can be applied
depending upon
how a body adjusts to the front-loaded weight. If that person has any physical
weaknesses or physical degenerative attributes, those weaknesses can manifest
and will
be exploited in a manner that causes the person pain, noticeable discomfort,
and/or injury.
[0003] Whether a strong or weak body, repetitive motions in lifting heavy
items
can lead to, at the least, chronic pain or discomfort and ultimately injury.
For either pain,
discomfort or injury, expensive ameliorative solutions for work place
injuries. Work
place injuries and pain from those injuries cost companies and governments
billions of
dollars per year.
[0004] When injuries to a person occur as a result of stress incurred from
lifting
and holding front loaded weight items, a number of losses can also occur. That
person
can lose time at her job as a result of being injured. During that time of
injury, recovery
time is needed to enable the worker to be healed. If this injury occurred on
the job,
insurance to pay for the injury derived from, for example, worker's
compensation
insurance, is used to compensate for lost wage earnings. When time is taken
off due to
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injury and an injured worker is paid insurance, that person's employer loses
the benefit of
the worker's productivity and earning capacity.
[0005] Homes and businesses alike require the lifting and carrying of items
therethrough. Often these items, e.g., laundry baskets, trash cans, industrial
containers,
industrial parts, and the like, are carried multiple times to multiple locales
within and
without a home, office or industrial structure. Many times, items to be
carried are created
with little thought given to their ergonomic impact on the human form. Their
design,
therefore, can lend itself to pain, discomfort or injury to a the human form
that carries the
item.
[0006] Many businesses across many industries use containers to store
documents, materials and the like. A common container for such use is a
corrugated file
box. Such file boxes are used in the hundreds of millions to hold and store
any and all
sorts of items that can fit within them. Typically, these boxes carry up to
forty pounds or
more of materials within them. When a human holds one of these weight loaded
boxes
(e.g., having forty pounds or more therein), multiple physical stresses
ensure. In
particular, stress to the lower and back shoulders and arms occur, such stress
leading to
significant injury over time.
[0007] When a person holds a heavy box, e.g., thirty pounds or more, either by
handles embedded within the box or by its sides or bottom, and that person has
a weak
lower back, say from a previous back surgery, such holding can cause
immeasurable pain
and potential new injury.
[0008] In such previously known boxes the standard, slit handles found in the
boxes therein have not changed for fifty or more years. In corrugated boxes,
in
particular, that box and its handles, if any, have seen no change or
improvement since the
introduction of that style of box over seventy years ago.
[0009] In fact, when a human user lifts and holds a commonly used and known
corrugated box with handles, a number of changes immediately occur to that
person's
body. When the user holds that known box (or other containers similar to it)
with her
arms extended, the top of the box and/or lid of the box will lie at an angle
against the legs
or lower torso of the holder. Because the box is weighted, the human user's
center of
gravity is shifted from her natural position within her body to a point
outside of her body
to compensate for the box's weight. This shift of the user's center of gravity
shifts the
user's naturally weighted stance from her heels to the front of her feet and
along her toes.
Such orientation can be painful and is not sustainable over time. This is true
because
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lifting and/or holding a container or box engages muscles in the back, arms,
shoulders,
torso, core, hips and legs. It also puts the holder in an unbalanced position
that can cause
slips or falls as a holder holds the box and moves with it.
[0010] Also, when the holder's center of gravity is shifted her body operates
instantly to counteract such shift and to support the weight pulling upon the
front of her
body. Such weight pull is compensated by most of the user's major muscle
groups and in
particular those about her lower back and torso.
[0011] What is needed, therefore, is a container using one or more grips
coupled
with the use of weighted items like a box that limits the shift of a box
holder's center of
gravity when the holder lifts and/or holds a weighted item thus relieving
undue physical
stress on the holder's muscles and joints.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly, the invention provides a mass-bearing item having at least
one grip and preferably at least a pair of grips. The mass-bearing item
comprises a
structure having a first surface, a second surface positioned oppositely to
the first surface,
a first grip mechanism or grip positioned about the first surface and a second
grip
mechanism positioned about the second surface, a front surface, a rear surface
positioned
oppositely to the front surface. The front surface and the rear surface are
perpendicularly
connected to the first surface and the second surface. The structure is
movable by use of
the first grip mechanism and the second grip mechanism. The terms "grip
mechanism",
"grip", and "ergonomic grip(s)" are interchangeable as used herein.
[0013] Each grip herein is positioned a distance closer to the front surface
of the
structure and a distance away from the rear surface¨i.e., the biased position
of each grip
herein. Each grip has a contoured outer portion having a perimeter. The
perimeter has an
upper gripping portion that has a surface upon which at least one finger on a
human hand
may grasp to apply a force, and a lower portion positioned oppositely to the
gripping
portion.
[0014] An opening is positioned between the gripping portion and the lower
portion. The opening provides clearance through which at least one finger on a
human
hand may grip the gripping portion. The opening comprises a first end, and a
second end
positioned substantially opposite to the first end. The first end and the
second end
connect the gripping portion and the lower portion along the perimeter of the
contoured
outer portion.
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[0015] In practice, the combination of one or more grips, the grips' biased
forward positioning on carryable-item or box and the curved structure of the
grips
themselves serve to re-align a human holder's center of gravity closer to a
human
holder's neutral position when the human holder lifts, holds or walks with the
mass-
bearing item. In one preferred embodiment herein, the first grip is positioned
through the
first panel and the second grip is positioned oppositely to the first grip
mechanism
through the third panel.
[0016] Preferably, the mass-bearing item is a box and most preferably a box
whose dimensions are less than or equal to the shoulder of an average sized
adult human.
Typically, the box comprises a first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge
positioned
oppositely to the top edge, a first connecting edge and a second connecting
edge
positioned oppositely to the first connecting edge. The box further comprises
a second
panel having a top edge, a bottom edge positioned oppositely to the top edge,
a first
connecting edge and a second connecting edge positioned oppositely to the
first
connecting edge.
[0017] The second panel is attached to the first panel along the first
connecting
edge of the second panel and the second connecting edge of the first panel. A
third panel
of the box has a top edge, a bottom edge positioned oppositely to the top
edge, a first
connecting edge and a second connecting edge positioned oppositely to the
first
connecting edge. The third panel is attached to the second panel along the
first
connecting edge of the third panel and the second connecting edge of the
second panel.
The box's fourth panel has a top edge, a bottom edge positioned oppositely to
its top
edge, a first connecting edge and a second connecting edge positioned
oppositely to its
first connecting edge. The fourth panel is attached to the third panel along
the first
connecting edge of the fourth panel and the second connecting edge of the
third panel,
and connected to the first panel along the second connecting edge of the
fourth panel and
the first connecting edge of the first panel. The box further comprises a
bottom panel of
at least one panel connected to the bottom edges of the first panel, the
second panel, the
third panel and the fourth panel. An opening is formed from the top edges of
the first
panel, the second panel, the third panel and the fourth panel of said box.
[0018] The box preferably comprises a lid. The lid comprises a top surface
having a first edge connected to a second edge. The second edge is connected
to a third
edge. The third edge is connected to a fourth edge. The fourth edge is
connected the first
edge. The lid has a skirt extending downwardly from the top surface of the
lid. The skirt
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is connected to the lid at the first edge, the second edge, the third edge and
the fourth
edge, the skirt having a first panel connected to the first edge, a second
panel connected
to the second edge, a third panel connected to the third edge and a fourth
panel connected
to the fourth edge.
[0019] The lid comprises a first grip and a second grip positioned oppositely
to
the first grip. The first grip in the lid is positioned within the first panel
of the skirt and
the second grip mechanism in the lid is positioned within the third panel of
the skirt. In
practice, the first grip in the lid aligns with the first grip in the box and
the second grip in
the lid aligns with the second grip in the box when the lid is placed fully
onto the box
thereby covering the opening of the box. The first grip in the lid corresponds
to
placement for the right hand. The second grip in the lid corresponds to
placement for the
left hand.
[0020] The grips are biased forward on the box. That is, the first and second
grips in or about the box are positioned closer to the second connecting edge
of the first
panel of the box and the second grip is positioned closer to the first
connecting edge of
the third panel of the box. By their biased position, the grips are positioned
further away
from the front of a holder's body than grips or ports known in the prior art.
[0021] Alternatively, the first grip in the box is positioned equidistant
between the
first connecting edge and the second connecting edge on the first panel of the
box, and
the second grip is positioned equidistant between the first connecting edge
and the second
connecting edge on the third panel of the box.
[0022] The first grip and the second grip are each positioned at an angle
ranging
from greater than about zero degrees to about ninety degrees from an x-axis.
Preferably,
the first grip and the second grip are each positioned at an angle ranging
from greater
than about five degrees to about seventy-five degrees from an x-axis. More
preferably,
the first grip and the second grip are each positioned at an angle ranging
from greater
than about fifteen degrees to about fifty degrees from an x-axis. Most
preferably the first
grip and the second grip are positioned at the same angle on their respective
box panels.
[0023] In an alternative embodiment herein, the upper grip portion of the
first and
second grips mechanism are each positioned at an angle ranging from greater
than about
zero degrees to about ninety degrees from an x-axis. Further, the upper grip
portion of
the first grip and the second grip are each positioned at an angle ranging
from greater
than about five degrees to about seventy-five degrees from an x-axis. Lastly,
the upper
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grip portion of the first grip and the second grip are each positioned at an
angle ranging
from greater than about fifteen degrees to about fifty degrees from an x-axis.
[0024] Another embodiment of the invention herein also provides an ergonomic
grip or grip for moving a carryable item. The grip comprises a contoured outer
portion
having a perimeter. The contoured outer portion has an angle of curvature
ranging from
greater than zero degrees to less than about ninety degrees from a first
normal position or
frame of reference; herein, a first x-axis. Further, an upper gripping portion
is provided
that has a gripping surface upon which at least one finger on a human hand may
grasp the
grip to apply a force thereto. The upper gripping portion has an angle ranging
from
greater than zero degrees to less than about ninety degrees from a second
normal position
or frame of reference; herein, a second x-axis. A lower non-gripping portion
is
positioned oppositely to the upper gripping portion.
[0025] An opening or indentation or protrusion is positioned between the upper
gripping portion and the lower non-gripping portion of the grip. The opening
provides
clearance through which at least one finger on a human hand may grip the upper
gripping
portion. The opening or indentation or protrusion also comprises a first end
and a second
end positioned substantially opposite to the grip's first end. The grip's
first end and its
second end connect the upper gripping portion and the lower non-gripping
portion along
the grip's perimeter of its contoured outer portion. For the sake of
simplicity, an opening,
indentation, or protrusion shall henceforth be described and called an
opening.
[0026] In practice, the grip is attached to a surface of a carryable item.
Preferably
a pair of grips are attached to or embedded within a carryable item. Use of
the grip re-
aligns a human carrier's center of gravity thus relieving tension upon pivot
points in the
human body. Also, use of the grips help to return the human form substantially
back to
its neutral position. For example, the grips, when used in a pairing and
positioned
oppositely to one-another on or embedded within a carryable item, move the
human
carrier's center of gravity back to the starting point of a human carrier's
center of gravity.
[0027] The grip is movable from greater than about zero degrees to less than
about ninety degrees between its x-axis and y-axis. In one embodiment herein,
the grip is
rotatable about its z-axis between its x-axis and y-axis.
[0028] Herein, the grip is attachable to a surface of a carryable item. Once
attached, the carryable item becomes movable by a human holder's use of the
grip. One
or more of the grips are attachable to a surface of a carryable item whereby
the carryable
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item becomes movable by the holder's use of the grips. As mentioned
hereinbefore, the
grips may be constructed into a carryable item.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out
and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the embodiments set
forth herein
will be better understood from the following description in conjunction with
the
accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals identify like elements
and in
which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred carryable item of the
invention
herein that is a box;
[0031] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1 showing the lid removed from the
carryable item thereof;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a planar side view of FIG. 2;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a planar view of a grip herein;
[0034] FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the grip of FIG. 4;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a side view of a person standing and shows that person's
center
of gravity;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a side view of a person holding a prior art container;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a side view of a person holding a preferred container herein
with
grips built therein;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a planar view of a prior art handle;
[0039] FIG. 9 is a planar view of an alternative embodiment of a grip showing
one key angles of the grip being the same;
[0040] FIG. 10 is a planar side view of the carryable item of FIG. 3 without
the
lid;
[0041] FIG. 11 is a planar side view of a prior art box; and
[0042] FIG. 12 is a planar view of an alternative grip herein.
[0043] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a box with grips and an opening of the
invention.
[0044] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a box with an insert of the invention.
[0045] FIG. 15 is another perspective view of the box with the insert of FIG.
14.
[0046] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another box with another insert of the
invention.
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[0047] FIG. 17 is another perspective view of the box with the insert of FIG.
16.
[0048] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a box with a grip and
a
locking port.
[0049] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 18 with the lid
removed from the base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] By the term "attached" as used herein it means that an grip may be
either
attached to the surface of a carryable item as a separate and distinct item
from the
carryable item or the grip may be built into a carryable item be embedded
therein.
[0051] By the term "carryable item" it is meant any item regardless of
geometric
configuration that may be carried by a human being.
[0052] By the term "center-of-gravity" it is meant herein that point within or
outside of a human body at which the entire weight of a body may be considered
to be
concentrated.
[0053] The term "grip" or "ergonomic grip" is defined herein as a fixed or
moveable, permanent or temporary handle, observation hole or opening, grip or
any other
opening or impression that could accommodate a hand(s) or thumb(s). The grip
system
was conceived to lessen the stress on the human body and improve the balance
of the
load across the hand and fingers, and the entire body. The grip consists of at
least these
components separately or together.
[0054] By the term "normal position" it is meant herein an axis corresponding
to
zero degrees.
[0055] By the term "neutral position" it is meant herein that position of a
standing, unburdened human in which that human's center of gravity is
positioned within
his body.
[0056] By the term "biased position" it is meant herein the position of an
grip on
one side of a carryable item or box wherein the centerline of the grip is
biased forward of
the centerline of the panel on which the grip is positioned and rests closer
to the front of
the carryable item or box than the rear of the carryable item or box.
[0057] The carryable item is typically a container. The container has a pair
of
said grips constructed within said container on opposing sides of said
container.
Typically, the container is a box that comprises a first panel having a top
edge, a bottom
edge positioned oppositely to the top edge, a first connecting edge and a
second
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connecting edge positioned oppositely to the first connecting edge. The box
further
comprises a second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge positioned
oppositely to the
top edge, a first connecting edge and a second connecting edge positioned
oppositely to
the first connecting edge. The second panel is attached to the first panel
along first
connecting edge of the second panel and the second connecting edge of the
first panel.
The box further has a third panel having a top edge, a bottom edge positioned
oppositely
to the top edge. A first connecting edge and -a second connecting edge are
positioned
oppositely to the first connecting edge. The third panel is attached to the
second panel
along the first connecting edge of the third panel and the second connecting
edge of said
second panel. The box further comprises a fourth panel having a top edge, a
bottom edge
positioned oppositely to the top edge, a first connecting edge and a second
connecting
edge positioned oppositely to the first connecting edge. The fourth panel is
attached to
the third panel along the first connecting edge of the fourth panel and the
second
connecting edge of the third panel, and connected to the first panel along the
second
connecting edge of the fourth panel and the first connecting edge of the first
panel.
Finally, the box comprises a bottom panel of at least one panel connected to
the bottom
edges of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel and the fourth
panel, the box
having a volume created by all of its side and panels.
[0058] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a caiTyable item 10 or container
10
herein. The container 10 is a box 12. Box 12, as shown, has the dimensions of
a typical
file box used for file storage and record keeping. Box 12 also has grips 5
that are biased
forward toward box front panel 14 and away from box rear panel 16. Lid 15 is
shown on
top of box 12. Lid 15 also has grips 5 which coincide with grips 5 in box 12,
thereby
providing handles through the lid and box together.
[0059] Box 12 can be made from corrugate, plasticized corrugate, metal,
composite materials, plastic and nearly any material suitable for use for
forming a
container for use as such.
[0060] In practice, a user holds box 12 such that box rear panel 16 is the
back of
the box and is closest to the user, while box front panel 14 is the front of
the box and
faces away from a user.
[0061] FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of box 12 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows
that a pair of grips 5 are positioned in box 12 as well as in lid 15. Also
shown are right
side box grip 6, left side box grip 7, right side lid grip 8, and left side
box grip 9. Right
side box grip 6 is shown aligned along line Y1 with right side lid grip 8.
Similarly, left
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side box grip 7 is shown aligned along line Y2 with left side lid grip 9.
Grips 6 and 8 and
grips 7 and 9 are aligned to allow a human hand to fit through lid 15 and box
12.
[0062] When a user picks up lid covered box 12, that user's right and left
ands
hold fast lid 15 to box body 18. Such configuration makes box 12 easier to
hold and
carry. Also, such configuration makes box 12 stronger and more resistant to
compression
forces.
[0063] FIG. 3 provides a side planar view of box 12 of FIG. 2. Right side box
grip 6 and right side lid grip 8 are shown biased forward of center line Yl.
Center line
Y1 is a center line dividing the distance equally between box front panel 14
and box rear
panel 16. Grips 6 and 8 are shown with more than 50% of their perimeter
surfaces on the
right side of center line Y1 and thus biased toward box front panel 14.
Similarly, though
not shown, left side box grip 7 and left side lid grip 9 are biased forward
center line Y2
whereby more than 50% of the perimeter of grips 7 and 9 are biased forward to
box front
panel 14.
[0064] FIG. 3 shows that most of perimeter 34 of grips 6 and 8 reside on the
side
of centerline Y1 that is closest to box front panel 14. Conversely, a smaller
portion of
grips 6 and 8 perimeter 34 resides closest to box rear panel 16¨the same is
true of grips
7 and 9. Such positioning of grip 5 is known herein as "bias" or as a "bias
forward"
positioning of grip 5. The biasing forward of grips 5 (6, 7, 8 and 9), aids to
re-align a
human's center of gravity by shifting it closer to such holder's natural, non-
weighted
center of gravity. This function is performed by allowing a user to hold the
mass-bearing
item in a manner most similar to the user's neutral posture or neutral
position when
standing without holding a mass-bearing item in the front of the user's body.
[0065] FIG. 4 shows an outline of grip 5. Grip 5 defines perimeter 34. Grip 5
has
an angle of curvature 22 ranging from greater than about zero degrees (0 ) to
less than
about ninety degrees (90 ) when measured from intersecting x and y axes as
shown.
Angle of curvature 22 is an average of the angled orientation of grip 5. Grip
5 comprises
upper grip portion 26 extending from first end 30 to second end 32 of grip 5.
Upper grip
portion 26 provides gripping surface 27 upon which at least one finger on a
human hand
may grasp to apply an upward force to grip 5. Importantly, upper grip portion
26 has grip
angle 24 ranging from greater than about zero degrees (0 ) to less than about
ninety
degrees (90 ) from an intersecting x-axis and y-axis. A lower portion 28
positioned
oppositely to upper grip portion 26 that provides an area of clearance by
which a user
may readily hold grip 5 at upper grip portion 26.
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[0066] As shown, in FIG. 4, grip 5 comprises an opening 20 positioned between
the upper grip portion 26 and the lower grip portion 28. Opening 20 provides
clearance
through which at least one finger on a human hand may readily grip the upper
grip
portion 26 of grip 5. Grip 5 also has a first end 30 and a second end 32
positioned
substantially opposite to the first end 30. First end 30 and second end 32
connect the
upper grip portion 26 and lower grip portion 28 along perimeter 34 of
contoured outer
portion 35. In practice, grip 5 is cut from, or is attached to, or is
attachable to a surface of
a mass-bearing item (e.g., a box).
[0067] Also, grip 5 may be rotatable about a z-axis (not shown). In such
practice,
grip 5 is not fixed at one angular position between an x-axis and a y-axis but
instead is
movable (i.e., rotatable) about a z-axis. When grip 5 is movable about its z-
axis, i.e.,
movable about a point on its z-axis, it can be rotated between its x-axis and
its y-axis
from greater than about zero degrees to less than about ninety degrees
thereof.
Preferably, grip 5 is movable (i.e., rotatable) about a z-axis from about ten
degrees (10 )
to about seventy degrees (70 ) of an angle of curvature.
[0068] FIG. 5 provides a figure of human 40. Human 40 is shown in a side view
that shows his center of gravity 25 being resident within his body about mid-
way between
his feet and head. Human 40's center of gravity 25 remains centered within his
body so
long as human 40 is not carrying anything.
[0069] FIG. 6 shows human 40 carrying prior art box 42. In FIG. 5 human's
center of gravity 25 is shown moved a distance X1 from her body. When human 40
becomes front-loaded, i.e., when she carries prior art box 42 at the front of
her body, her
center of gravity 25 moves away from its original position within her body to
a new
position outside of her body as shown. The distance between her center of
gravity 25 at
rest and its new position 25'. When the human body is in a standing position,
such
person's arms will hang to the sides of the person. Typically, in a normally
functioning
body, a human's hands will turn slightly inward toward the front of the body
at between
about four degrees (4 ) to about seven degrees (7 ).
[0070] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 each provide side profiles of a human 40 holding box
42 and box 12, respectively. Prior art box 42, as shown in FIG. 6, shows human
40
holding box 42. Box 42 is a known box commonly used for such tasks as file
storage,
moving, and the like. Box 42 contains prior art handles 45 that are commonly
used for
boxes of its type. Prior art handles 45, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 11 herein,
are an opening
on each side panel of box 42. Prior art handles 45 lack either an angle of
curvature 22
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(FIG. 11) or a grip angle 24 (FIG. 11), or such angle of curvature and grip
angle are both
zero degrees when measured from an x-axis. Also, prior art handles 45 are not
biased
forward of a center line and its each half of its perimeter is positioned
equidistant to the
front and rear of box 42 as is shown in FIG. 11.
[0071] Conversely, FIG. 7 provides a side view of human 40 holding box 12 by
grips 5. When human 40 holds box 12, she is front-loaded as in FIG. 6.
However, her
center of gravity 25 is either still resident within her body or it is moved
to a position 25"
just outside of her body at a distance X2 from its resting point. Herein, X2
is a lesser
distance than X1. Use of grips 5 for box 12 therefore enables human 40 to be
front
loaded in a much less physically stressful manner.
[0072] For example, use of grips 5 as shown in FIG. 7 for box 12 enables human
40 to retain much more of her weight on the heels of her feet instead toward
the front of
her feet. The bias of grip 5 produces several results. First, when box 12 is
held by a
human 40, and especially when box 12 is loaded beyond the weight of box 12
itself, the
center of gravity of box 12 shifts from the center of box 12 rearwardly toward
the back of
box 12, namely box rear panel 16. Such shifting of box 12's center of gravity
occurs at
least in part because grips 5 are biased toward box front panel 14. Also
aiding such
center of gravity shift is the angled orientation of grips 5 as discussed
previously.
[0073] In practice, box 12 may be held by human 40 with arms fully or nearly
fully extended. In such orientation (FIG. 7), lid 15 is positioned parallel or
substantially
parallel with a flat surface upon which humari 40 is standing. In such
orientation of box
12, its center of gravity is shifted rearwardly toward human 40 without
orientating box 12
at an angle whereby lid 15 would no longer be parallel to a flat surface upon
which
human 40 is standing. Instead, by such orientation box 12 may be held and
subsequently
carried at an orientation in which lid 15 is parallel or substantially
parallel with a flat
surface upon which human 40 is walking. Box 12 may now become a carry surface
upon
which other similar boxes 12 can sit and be carried by human 40 and/or become
a carry
surface for other non-box items (e.g., folded clothing, books and the like).
[0074] Also in practice, the bias of grips 5 ranges from less than about fifty
percent of perimeter 34 residing to the rear of centerline 19. Typically, no
more than
about forty-five percent of perimeter 34 resides rearwardly of centerline 19.
More
typically, no more than about forty percent of perimeter 34 resides rearwardly
of
centerline 19. Most typically, between about ten percent to about forty
percent of
perimeter 34 may reside rearwardly of centerline 19.
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[0075] In FIG. 12 an alternative embodiment of a grip 5' is shown. Grip 5'
herein, similar to grip 5FIG. 4, has an angle of curvature 22' and a grip
angle 24'.
However, herein both the angle of curvature 22' and the grip angle 24' are the
same.
Such a configuration operates similarly to grips 5 in FIG. 4 inasmuch as there
is a
pronounced benefit of maintenance to a user's center-of-gravity when the user
holds a
container 10 herein whether loaded or un-loaded.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 12, alternate grip 5' comprises an opening 20'
positioned between the upper grip portion 26' and the lower grip portion 28'.
Opening
20' provides clearance through which at least one finger on a human hand may
readily
grip ' grip 5. Alternate grip 5' also has a first end 30 and a second end 32
positioned
substantially opposite to the first end 30. First end 30' and second end 32'
connect the
upper grip portion 26' and lower grip portion 28' along perimeter 34' of
contoured outer
portion 35. In practice, grip 5 is already attached or is attachable to a
surface of a mass-
bearing item (e.g., a box).
[0077] Alternate grip 5 may be positioned on box 12 like grip 5 shown in FIG.
10; i.e., biased forward toward the box front panel 14. While alternate grip 5
does not
provide the same ergonomic effects of grip 5 in FIG. 10 with respect to the
curved upper
grip portion 26 (FIG. 4), the angling of alternate grip 5 and its biased
positioning still
provides quantifiable ergonomic effects for shifting a person's center of
gravity towards
the body when box 12 using alternate grip 5 is lifted, held and/or carried
using alternate
grips 5.
[0078] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a grip, 5". Grip 5" has a perimeter
34", an upper grip portion 26", and a lower grip portion 28". Opening 20"
provides
clearance through which at least one finger of a human hand may readily grip
5". Grip
5" has a first end 30" and a second end 32" that is substantially
perpendicular to lower
grip portion 28" and has a height 53. Grip 5" may be located on a container in
an
orientation and manner similar to grip 5 and grip 5'.
[0079] FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the invention, a box 2002 with a
slotted opening for receiving waste such as papers and other items. The box
2002 is
sized to fit under a desk or table. The box 2002 has a lid 2004 and a base
2006. The lid
2004 has a top 2008 and sides 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. The side 2016 has a
lower
portion 2018 and an upper portion 2020, the upper portion being slanted and
having an
opening 2022 for receiving waste. The upper portion 2020 and the lower portion
2018
meet at a bend 2024 and create an angle theta. Typically, the angle theta is
between 0
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and 45 degrees, more typically between 5 and 40 degrees, more typically
between 10 and
35 degrees, and most typically between 15 and 30 degrees. In addition to
adding strength
to the box, the angled portion 2020 with the opening 2022 make it easier to
feed waste
such as paper into the box when it is located under a desk or table.
[0080] The base 2002 has a bottom 2026 and sides 2028, 2030, 2032, and 2034.
Sides 2032 and 2034 each have a cropped corners 2036 and 2038 that form an
angle
theta', which is typically measures about the same as theta on the lid. As
such, the
cropped corners 2036 and 2038 are angled to meet the slanted upper portion
2020 of the
lid 2004 when the lid, which is sized to fit around the base, is set on the
base.
[0081] The base has grip openings 2040 and 2042, similar in shape, size and
orientation to those described previously, that are sized to fit a user's
hands. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the lid 2004 has grip openings 2044 and 2046 that
coincide with the grip openings 2040 and 2042 in the base when the lid is set
on the base.
Alternatively, the grip openings in the lid may be omitted.
[0082] Because the box 2002 may be used to contain confidential documents that
require destruction, an ability to lock the lid 2004 to the base 2006 may be
desired. As
such, the lid has lock receiving holes 2048 and 2050 that mate with holes 2052
and 2054
in the lid 2004. If a double lock is desired, holes 2056 and 2058 may also be
included in
the sides 2030 and 2032 of the base and complementary holes 2060 and 2062 may
be
included in the sides 2014 and 2012 of the lid.
[0083] In another embodiment, there is an insertable and removable
strengthened
corrugated box comprising a partially enclosed box 1110 having four connected
vertical
walls 1113, 1114, 1115, and 1116, an enclosed bottom, and a strengthening
insert 1150
positioned within the corrugated box. The strengthening insert comprises at
least one side
panel that is disposed proximate an inside surface of one or more of the
vertical walls of
the corrugated box. The strengthening insert can be inserted into a open-
topped
corrugated box to provide compressive strength to the corrugated box against
weight
loads placed onto the lidded corrugated box, including one or more other boxes
or items.
[0084] In one embodiment shown in Fig. 14 and 15, the strengthening insert
1150
comprises four connected vertical panels 1151, 1152, 1153, and 1154 attached
at adjacent
edges to for a rectilinear shape, with each panel having a height equal to or
less than the
height of the vertical wall of the corrugated box. The four connected vertical
panels of
the strengthening insert have length dimensions slightly less than the length
dimensions
of the corresponding four vertical walls of the corrugated box, so that the
vertical panels
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of the strengthening insert are disposed adjacent and preferably in at least
loose, close
contact with the vertical walls of the corrugated box. The connections of the
vertical
panels of the vertical inserts improve their strength properties to vertical
compression.
[0085] A vertical panel of the strengthening insert can comprise a corrugated
material that has corrugations aligned in either a vertical direction
(parallel to the height
of the corrugated box) or a horizontal direction (perpendicular to the height
of the
corrugated box). Without a strengthening strengthening insert, a conventional
corrugated box of the kind envisioned herein for use in most record storing
facilities has a
compressive strength ranging from about greater than zero pounds to less than
about
seventy-five pounds prior to compressive failure thereof. With use of a
strengthening
insert of the present invention, the compressive strength ranges from about
greater than
zero pounds, and up to about one-hundred fifty pounds force prior to
compressive failure,
for horizontally-aligned corrugations, and compressive strength ranges from
about greater
than zero pounds to about less than two-hundred fifty pounds prior to
compressive
failure, for vertically-aligned corrugations.
[0086] In another embodiment shown in Fig. 16 and 27, a strengthening insert
1155 comprises at least three sides 1156, 1157, and 1158, wherein at least two
1157 and
1158 of the three panels of the strengthening insert are positioned against
two of the
vertical walls 1202 and 1204 of the corrugated box, typically two opposed
vertical walls,
with the third panel positioned intermediate or between the two vertical
panels of the
strengthening insert. The intermediate third panel can lie in a horizontal
plane, disposed
against the bottom of the corrugated box, and attached to the bottom edges of
the two
opposed vertical panels, or can itself lie in a vertical plane, typically
disposed against one
of the remaining two vertical walls of the corrugated box. The strengthening
insert herein
may be constructed from corrugated materials, plastic, wood, foam core glass,
metal and
other suitable materials.
[0087] The vertical panels 1155 and 1158 of the insert can have openings 1210
and 1212 disposed in the panels to coincide with the grip openings 1206 and
1208 of the
corrugated box. The size of the opening in the strengthening insert panel is
preferably
registers in shape and size with the grip opening.
[0088] The
height of the insert panels is typically at least 50%, such as is
shown in Figure 14 and 15, and up to substantially 100%, as shown in Figures
16 and 17,
of the height of the side panels of the box 1110. The resistance of the side
panels of the
main box body to deformation and collapse, caused by stacking container boxes
into
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columns of several boxes, increases with the relative height of the insert
panels to the box
side panels.
[0089] FIGS. 18 and 19 show another embodiment, a box 12 having grips 6, 7, 8,
9 and locking ports 901, 902, 903, and 904. The locking port 901 is located
adjacent the
grip 5. FIG. 19 shows a container 10, here a box 12, which includes a lid 15
and a base
18. The lid has grips 8 and 9 and the base 18 has grips 6 and 7. Adjacent the
grip 8 in
the lid is a locking port 901, adjacent grip 9 in the lid is locking port 902,
adjacent grip 6
in the box is locking port 903, and adjacent grip 8 in the box is locking port
904. When
the lid is mated to the box, as shown in FIG. 18, locking port 901 coincides
with locking
port 903, and locking port 902 coincides with locking port 904.
[0090] The locking ports are located at a distance from their respective
adjacent
grips a sufficient to allow a lock to be installed to lock the lid to the
base. The locking
feature of the box allows a user to lock a lid to a base in situation where
the use would
like to secure documents in a box be alerted by a torn cardboard area between
the port
and the grip or removed lock that another has tampered with a locked box. The
locking
ports can be circular, oval or any other shape sufficient to receive a lock.
Oval locking
ports can be orientated horizontally or vertically.
[0091] A lock, either a permanent type that requires its destruction, for
example
cutting for removal, such as a crimped lock tag such as those used to secure
overseas
cargo shipments or a "zip" tie or a temporary locking device that does not
require its
destruction for its removal, such as a keyed lock or a combination lock, can
be used to
secure the lid to the base. FIG. 18 shows a zip tie 905 locking the lid 15 to
the base 18.
[0092] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,
including
the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and
use the
invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and
may
include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are
intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements
that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent
structural
elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the
claims.
16
