Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application serial number 63/405,789, filed September 12, 2022, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] The disclosure relates generally to hinge design for lids.

Background

[0003] Cold chain transport for food, drug or any products that need temperature control for delivery currently is done with tri temperature or refer trucks and vans upfitted with compressor based systems that cool or freeze the entire sectioned area of a truck and must be run constantly to maintain temperature inside the truck weather the truck has one gallon of mike or a pint of ice cream you need to cool or freeze the entire space. Compressor based refer trucks and tri temp trucks or van must be penetrated from the outside to get the cooling platform of a compressor-based system inside the truck or van voiding the warranty of the van or truck. In addition, to run try temperature trucks you must use dividers between the temperature zones to maintain temperature. The separation of space requires you to separate orders that have goods in two or more zones. Compressor based systems pull too much power for the system to be placed in or on a fully electric vehicle without degrading the range of the vehicle significantly. Totes can be used in order to solve some of these problems.

[0004] Systems and methods for tote lid hinges are provided. In some embodiments, a tote includes: an interior of the tote; a lid to cover the interior of the tote; and a hinge mechanism configured to be opened in more than one direction. Different applications and use cases of a tote require differences in the opening direction of the tote lid. A flexible hinge mechanism allows the lid to be opened/closed for these various applications using the same hinge & lid design, rather than changing the lid type by application.

[0005] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the present disclosure and realize additional aspects thereof after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in association with the accompanying drawing figures.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures

[0006] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0007] Figures 1 A-1 D illustrate utilization of a portable, self-contained, refrigeration or freezing system, coupled with integrated automated controls and monitoring;

[0008] Figure 2 and Figures 3A and 3B illustrate an example embodiment of an active cooler in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0009] Figure 4 illustrates a system including an active cooler in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0010] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a tote as discussed herein;

[0011] Figure 6 illustrates that different versions of the totes could be used in refrigerator or freezer versions;

[0012] Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the tote that includes a thermoelectric unit as discussed herein;

[0013] Figures 8, 9A, 9B, and 10 illustrate example tote lid hinge designs according to some embodiments of the current disclosure;

[0014] Figure 11 illustrates Pivot Components with Lid attached, according to some embodiments described herein;

[0015] Figure 12 illustrates a Cross-section of Pivot - Closed, according to some embodiments described herein; [0016] Figure 13 illustrates a Cross-section of Pivot - Rotated, according to some embodiments described herein;

[0017] Figure 14 illustrates a Cross-section of Pivot - Rotated, End Position, according to some embodiments described herein;

[0018] Figure 15 illustrates a Cross-section of Pivot - Open I Separated, according to some embodiments described herein;

[0019] Figure 16 illustrates an assembly of multiple latches to Lid - opening in two directions in one plane, according to some embodiments described herein; [0020] Figure 17 illustrates an assembly of multiple latches to lid - opening in one direction in two planes, according to some embodiments described herein;

[0021] Figure 18 illustrates a latch with spring plunger detent, according to some embodiments described herein;

[0022] Figure 19 illustrates a latch with spring plunger, held in defined open position, according to some embodiments described herein;

[0023] Figure 20 illustrates a latch with retaining feature, according to some embodiments described herein;

[0024] Figure 21 illustrates a latch with Retaining Feature Cross Section, according to some embodiments described herein; and

[0025] Figures 22-24 illustrate a hinge aspect of the pivot latch achieved with a flexible member that snaps over a pin, according to some embodiments described herein.

Detailed Description

[0026] The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims. [0027] Last mile delivery of food requires temperature-controlled transport of perishable food items using transit vans or similar vehicles. For temperature control, refrigerated or freezer totes can be used which are installed in the van (e.g., a cargo van) or a box truck.

[0028] These totes use an active heat pump to pull heat from an enclosed chamber and reject it to the surrounding ambient environment. When this is in an enclosed location such as a delivery van, the hot air can be removed from the van to improve operational performance of the totes.

[0029] These totes require power while in transit maintain food safety requirements for perishable consumption. The electrical system needed to reach (and/or maintain) the correct temperature should meet certain expectations for the operation of the totes.

[0030] Figures 1 A-1 D illustrate utilization of a portable, self-contained, refrigeration or freezing system, coupled with integrated automated controls and monitoring.

[0031] Figure 2 and Figures 3A and 3B illustrate an example embodiment of an active cooler in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 4 illustrates a system including an active cooler in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] For more details, the interested reader is directed to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/953,771 , entitled THERMOELECTRIC REFRIGERATED/FROZEN PRODUCT STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION COOLER; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 17/135,420, entitled

THERMOELECTRIC REFRIGERATED/FROZEN PRODUCT STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION COOLER, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0199353 A1 ; and International Patent Application No.

PCT/US2020/067172, entitled THERMOELECTRIC REFRIGERATED/FROZEN PRODUCT STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION COOLER, now International Patent Publication No. WO 2021/134068. These applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [0034] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a tote as discussed herein. Figure 6 illustrates that different versions of the totes could be used in refrigerator or freezer versions. Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the tote that includes a thermoelectric unit as discussed herein.

[0035] Different applications and use cases of the tote require differences in the opening direction of the tote lid. An example of this is shown in Figure 8. Additional embodiments are shown in Figure 9A, 9B, and 10. A flexible hinge mechanism allows the lid to be opened/closed for these various applications using the same hinge & lid design, rather than changing the lid type by application.

[0036] Some embodiments include one or more of the following: a. Hinge mechanism is based on a ball and socket design. b. Socket arms deflect out of the way during assembly/removal of lid and snaps around ball joint to capture and allow free rotation (free rotation about Axis A and Axis B). c. Hinge mechanism allows lid to be opened from four sides. d. Hinge mechanism allows for lid to be completely removed and re-attached. e. Hinge design is symmetric so lid can be installed at 180 degrees with no loss of function.

[0037] Some embodiments include an enclosure cover with pivot latch. Some embodiments of the current disclosure describe a design to secure and operate a movable cover to an enclosed space. Some embodiments allow for partial and complete removal of the movable cover with rotational opening in one or more directions in one or more planes. The pivot latch can release the cover or secure the rotation of the cover.

[0038] A storage container with an ambient temperature or cooled volume is used for transporting and preserving goods (including but not limited to fresh produce, fresh meat, refrigerated foods, frozen foods, containers of liquid and dry packaged items) and has an openable lid for access to the storage volume. [0039] The storage volume has multiple methods for loading and unloading, including transportation and access by humans and automation. A multifunctional enclosure cover allows opening from multiple sides of the storage container to improve the accessibility of the internal volume, regardless of the user or automation.

[0040] An example case:

[0041] A storage container (tote) is open and loaded with food items and sent by conveyors into an automated racking system for storage. The tote is retrieved by automation and delivered to a picking station where a human operator opens the volume and removes one or more items.

[0042] The items removed from the bulk storage tote are placed in a similar tote as part of an actively picked customer order.

[0043] The bulk storage tote is returned to the automated racking system for storage, and the human operator picks from additional bulk storage totes until the automation segment of the order is fulfilled.

[0044] The customer order tote is then released to a loading area where it is placed on a cart with additional partial orders requiring manual picking from an assortment of items. A human user brings the cart around a store, opening the order tote lid as required to add items to the order. Once the order is fulfilled, the cart of totes is brought to a storage rack for customer pickup. The customer opens the lid and removes the order from the tote and the tote. The empty tote is then returned to the system for use.

[0045] The interaction between the automation system, user, and tote may be arbitrary or well-defined, so the ability to have multiple opening positions is important for allowing flexibility and convenience to each step of the cycle.

[0046] A multi-functional pivoting latch is a component designed to enable the cover to open along multiple sides.

[0047] The pivot latch is a hinge that enables the rotation of the cover around an edge or secures the cover in a closed position. The pivot latch may allow the release of the cover from the latch or hold the cover in the latch depending on the angle of the lid.

[0048] Several approaches have been defined for this pivoting latch.

[0049] Figure 11 illustrates Pivot Components with Lid attached, according to some embodiments described herein. Figure 12 illustrates a Cross-section of Pivot - Closed, according to some embodiments described herein. Figure 13 illustrates a Cross-section of Pivot - Rotated, according to some embodiments described herein.

[0050] A pivoting latch has a fixed component and a moveable component that may also be separated. The design of the fixed component and moveable component are such that the components may be joined or separated in one orientation through an opening but are inseparable once rotated about an axis defined by the fixed component until the rotation is reversed to the initial position (Figure 12, Figure 13).

[0051] The moveable component cross-sectional profile such that rotation of the component is permitted within the fixed component but is retained (Figure 13).

[0052] Figure 14 illustrates a Cross-section of Pivot - Rotated, End Position, according to some embodiments described herein. The fixed component includes a mechanical feature to prevent additional rotation beyond a fixed amount.

[0053] Figure 15 illustrates a Cross-section of Pivot - Open I Separated, according to some embodiments described herein. The moveable component may be removed from the base when oriented in a specific position.

[0054] Figure 16 illustrates an assembly of multiple latches to Lid - opening in two directions in one plane, according to some embodiments described herein. Figure 17 illustrates an assembly of multiple latches to lid - opening in one direction in two planes, according to some embodiments described herein. The pivoting latch may be used in conjunction with a plurality of latches and a lid or flap creating an assembly of that may be rotated about an axis in the fixed base in one or more directions (Figure 16, Figure 17). [0055] Figure 18 illustrates a latch with spring plunger detent, according to some embodiments described herein. Figure 19 illustrates a latch with spring plunger, held in defined open position, according to some embodiments described herein.

[0056] The moveable component may be retained in the fixed component in various orientations by means of mechanical positioning features including but not limited to deflection hooks and spring plunger detents, and corresponding relief features in the fixed or moveable components (Figure 18, Figure 19).

[0057] Figure 20 illustrates a latch with retaining feature, according to some embodiments described herein. Figure 21 illustrates a latch with Retaining Feature Cross Section, according to some embodiments described herein.

[0058] The fixed component may utilize a mechanical retaining feature to prevent the moveable component from free separation, or alternatively applying a clamping force to the lid and sealing materials between the mounting surface of the fixed component and the lid (Figure 20, Figure 21 ).

[0059] Additional Design Concepts

[0060] Some embodiments use a friction hinge for pivot rotation and a snap-fit retention. In this approach, the hinge employs a conventional friction hinge that is permanently attached to the lid of the tote, and can be detached from the tote enclosure using a pin or a snap type fastener. This detachable hinge is used on two sides of the lid. When the hinge is snapped into the enclosure, it acts as a hinge. When it is detached from the enclosure it allows the lid to open freely and pivot around the opposite side of the lid.

[0061] Some embodiments use a ball and socket joint. Some embodiments use a hinge aspect of the pivot latch with a flexible member that snaps over a pin, as shown in Figure 22 (and/or Figures 23 and 24).

[0062] In some embodiments, the hinge aspect of the pivot latch is achieved with a live hinge inside of which can rotate a pin. The pin can be pulled from the live hinge when enough force is applied in the vertical direction. [0063] These embodiments could potentially be used in (but not limited to): Robotic warehouse/racking systems where manual plug/unplug of the container is not feasible and/or desirable; Manual systems where minimum employee interaction time is needed; Mobile delivery platforms to extend safe delivery ranges; Remote deployment dock/racks. These generic automated warehouse/racking locations could be kept at room temperature, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure.

[0064] Some embodiments feature optional security functions to enable remote, unattended, drop-off and/or pickup. A secure local/remote dock can provide access control to the tote itself, in contrast or in addition to access control of the contents of the tote, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure. In some embodiments, a rack implementation with docking/locking rails is used, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure. More details can be found in patent application PCT/US2021/054515 filed on October 12, 2021 , the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0065] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.