Tote box

A container (10) comprising;

• a base (12) defining the bottom of the container (10), a pair of sidewalls (14) and a pair of end walls (16) extending upwardly from said base (12) to define an interior (18) of said container (10);
• a pair of lids (20) hingedly connected to the upper portion of respective sidewalls (14) of said container (10) along one edge of each of said lids (20) and in opposed relation with respect to one another, each lid (20) being moveable between a closed position barring access to said interior (18) of said container (10) when both lids (20) are in said closed position and an open position where access to said interior (18) of said container (10) is not barred when one of said lids (20) is in said open position;
• each of said lids (20) including a downwardly extending edge cover flange (44) extending along opposite edges of said lids (20) perpendicular to the hinged edge of said lid (20) and parallel to the end walls (16) of said container (10);
• each lid (20) having edge reinforcing ribs (48) disposed on the underside thereof facing the interior (18) of said container (10) when said lids (20) are in their closed position, said edge reinforcing ribs (48) extending parallel to said downwardly extending cover flange (44);
• a brace member (50) extending between said edge reinforcing ribs (48) on the underside of said lid (20) and said cover flange (44), said end walls (16) including notches (52) disposed on the uppermost portion of said end walls (16), said brace member (50) received by said notches (52) to resist movement of said lid (20) under load in a direction perpendicular to the hinged edge of said lid (20) and to distribute loads placed on said container (10) through said end walls (16) to the base (12) of said container (10).

A container (10) comprising;

• a base (12) defining the bottom of the container (10), a pair of sidewalls (14) and a pair of end walls (16) extending upwardly from said base (12) to define an interior (18) of said container (10);
• a pair of lids (20) each hingedly connected to the upper portion of a respective sidewall (14) of said container (10) along one edge of each of said lids (20) and in opposed relation with respect to one another, each lid (20) being moveable between a closed position barring access to the interior (18) of said container (10) when both of said lids (20) is in said closed position and an open position when access to the interior (18) of said container (10) is not barred when one of said lids (20) is in said open position;
• locking means (58) for interlocking said opposed lids (20) together, said locking means (58) including for each of said opposed lids (20) a plurality of fingerlike members (60) and plurality of recessed receiving portions (62) alternatingly disposed along an edge of said lids (20) opposite said hinged edge, each fingerlike member (60) disposed so as to be received in a receiving portion (62) of said opposed lid (20);
• each of said recessed receiving portions (62) including at least one tab (64) projecting upwardly from said receiving portion (62), each of said fingerlike members (60) including at least one socket (66) corresponding to said tab (64) and adapted to receive said tab (64) when said lids (20) are in their closed position, tab (64) including an uppermost platform surface (68) and four sides extending between said platform surface (68) and said receiving portion (62) with one of said sides (70) extending in a direction substantially parallel to the hinged edge of said lids (20), said parallel side (70) being tapered at an angle of at least 25.degree. so as to guide said tab (64) into said socket (66) when said lids (20) are moved to their respective closed positions.