AU2019100575A4

AU2019100575A4 - A Container

Info

Publication number: AU2019100575A4
Application number: AU2019100575A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lance Chen; Shayne Swaysland
Original assignee: Omni Electrical And Lighting Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Omni Electrical And Lighting (australia) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-05-30
Filing date: 2019-05-30
Publication date: 2019-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2027-05-30

Abstract

Abstract The present invention is a container for a plurality of individual items, such as cable ties. The container has a cuboid shape having a top face, four side walls and a bottom face, and includes at least one dispensing port located on the top face and/or one or more side faces.

Description

A Container

Scope of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a container for storing and dispensing items, particularly cable ties.

Background of the Invention [0002] Cable ties are used in many industries and domestically. Typically, they are stored in lots. These lots may contain 1,000 ties. Typically, these are stores in large plastic bags. The plastic bag is then torn open and individual cable ties are picked from the bag as required. The remainder of the lot remains in the bag until needed.

[0003] There are several problems associated with this method of containing and storing cable ties:

[0004] Firstly, lots containing large quantities of cable ties are bulky. The bag in which they are delivered and stored is bulky and yielding, which makes them difficult to store in large quantities of bags. Each bag’s shape and yielding properties makes stacking large numbers of bags on top of one another a problem. The stacks tend to be unstable and unsightly. This is a particular problem for businesses that sell the bags to customers and therefore must keep large quantities of bags in storage to meet customer demand.

[0005] Secondly, typically the individual bags are clear plastic. This makes labelling the bags difficult. Also, even if a label is printed onto, or adhered to the outside of the bag, the printing may be difficult to read. Also, since the bag is often tom open when access to the cable ties contained within are required, the act of tearing may tear or otherwise deface the label, thereby making the label more difficult to read.

[0006] Thirdly, once the bag is torn open, it is often left unsealed. This may allow some, or all, of the cable ties contained therein to fall out, particularly if the open bag is moved.

2019100575 30 May 2019 [0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container and dispensing system for bulk cable ties that ameliorates at least some of the aforementioned problems.

Disclosure of the Invention [0008] Accordingly, in one form, the present invention is a container for a plurality of individual items, such as cable ties. The container has a cuboid shape having a top face, four side walls and a bottom face, and includes at least one dispensing port located on the top face and/or one or more side faces.

[0009] Preferably, the container is constructed from a suitable cardboard or sheet polymer material and suitable folds and flaps are incorporated so that the cardboard or polymer sheet may be folded to form the cuboid shape, and the flaps are adapted to maintain the cuboid shape either through direct engagement with associated slots, or in combination with a suitable adhesive.

[0010] Preferably, the dispensing port is formed by a line of perforation that substantially forms the shape of the dispensing port and thereby creates a tear-away portion within the boundary of the line of perforation. A portion of the dispensing port includes a portion that is able to be comparatively easily punched in with the force of at least one fingertip so as to form a handle that enables a user to pull upon said handle so that the dispensing port is caused to preferentially tear along the line of perforation, thereby creating the dispensing port.

[0011] Preferably, the line of perforation does not go entirely around the periphery of the tearaway portion, and the section of the tear-away portion not bound by the line of perforation is adapted to act as a living hinge thereby enabling the tear-away portion to be torn away from the container and hinge around the living hinge. The living hinge enables a user to swing the tearaway portion about the living hinge and return it into engagement with the dispensing port so that the tear-away port can then act as a releasable closure for the dispensing port.

[0012] Preferably, the container is stackable and able to be stored in a stacked arrangement during shipping and storage without crushing or any significant disfigurement of the container.

2019100575 30 May 2019

Brief Description of the Drawings [0013] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate typical prior art.

[0014] Figure 3 is an isometric illustration of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 4 is a plan view of the present invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments [0016] Turning firstly to Figures 1 & 2, where we are shown examples of the prior art. Typically, the cable ties are bagged into lots. The bags are typically clear plastic. A label is adhered to the bag to indicate the lot size and cable tie length, as well as a brand name. To withdraw cable ties from the lot, the bag is typically cut or tom open. This is not easily resealable. Subsequent movement of the bag may cause some, or all, of the contents of the bag to fall out. Further to this, the act of tearing or cutting the bag to enable access to the contents may deface or disfigure the label, thereby making it difficult to read. Finally, in a warehousing arrangement, where a plurality of bags are stored upon shelving, the stacked bags may be unstable upon the shelf, and are prone to sudden collapse. Some may slip out of the stack and fall onto the floor, thereby causing a trip hazard.

[0017] Now turning to Figure 3 & 4, where we are shown an illustration of the present invention. In the present invention, the cable tie lot is stored inside a stackable container 1. The container 1 has a cuboid shape. In this preferred example, a preformed dispensing port 3 is formed on the top face 5 of the container 1. In other embodiments, the dispensing port 3 may be located on an end face or a side face of the container 1.

[0018] The dispensing port 3 is delineated by a line of perforation 7. In this preferred embodiment, the line of perforation 7 nearly completely follows the complete outline of the dispensing port 3. A small section is not perforated at one end of the dispensing port 3 and is adapted to form a living hinge 9. In other embodiments, the line or perforation completely encircles the dispensing port 3 and therefore the section of the container defined within the line of

2019100575 30 May 2019 perforation 7 is adapted to be completely removed from the container. By including a living hinge 9, the portion of the container defined within the line of perforation 7 is adapted to swing about the living hinge 9. This allows a user to open the container 1 by swinging the portion of the container defined within the line of perforation 7 away from the container 1 and thereby enabling access to the contents within, then the user can swing the portion of the container defined within the line of perforation 7 back into flush engagement with the container. This thereby enables the portion of the container defined within the line of perforation 7 to act is an openable and closable lid.

[0019] To make it easier for a user to be able to get a grip on the portion of the container defined within the line of perforation 7, a finger access port 11 may be performed in the portion of the container defined within the line of perforation 7. The finger access port 11 is adapted to enable a user to insert the tip of their finger into the finger access port 11 and thereby allow the user to pull the portion of the container defined within the line of perforation 7 away from the container, thereby causing it to preferentially tear along the line of perforation.

[0020] Preferably the container 1 is fabricated out of a suitable corrugated cardboard. Alternatively, it may be fabricated out of a sheet of suitable polymer. The properties of the cardboard or the polymer are such that the integrity of the cuboid shape of the container 1 is maintained, even when a plurality of containers are stacked on top of one another.

[0021] While the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention.

[0022] It will be also understood that where the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features.

2019100575 30 May 2019 [0023] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims

1. A container for a plurality of individual items wherein the container has a cuboid shape having a top face, four side walls and a bottom face, and includes at least one dispensing port located on the top face and/or one or more side faces.

2. The container as defined in claim 1 wherein the container is constructed from a suitable cardboard or sheet polymer and suitable folds and flaps are incorporated so that the sheet may be folded to form the cuboid shape, and the flaps are adapted to maintain the cuboid shape either through direct engagement with associated slots, or in combination with a suitable adhesive.

3. The container as defined in claim 2 wherein the dispensing port is formed by a line of perforation that substantially forms the shape of the dispensing port and thereby creates a tearaway portion within the boundary of the line of perforation, and wherein a portion of the dispensing port includes a portion that is able to be comparatively easily punched in with the force of a fingertip so as to form a handle that enables a user to pull upon so that the dispensing port is caused to preferentially tear along the line of perforation, thereby creating the dispensing port.

4. The container as defined in claim 3 wherein the line of perforation does not go entirely around the periphery of the tear-away portion, and the section of the tear-away portion not bound by the line of perforation is adapted to act as a living hinge thereby enabling the tear-away portion to be torn away from the container and hinge around the living hinge, and wherein the living hinge enables a user to swing the tear-away portion about the living hinge and return it into engagement with the dispensing port so that the tear-away port can then act as a releasable closure for the dispensing port.

5. The container as defined in either claim 3 or 4 wherein the container is stackable and able to be stored in a stacked arrangement during shipping and storage without crushing or any significant disfigurement of the container.