EP0610429A1 - Element a double usage s'utilisant comme recipient pour produits alimentaires ou comme cube dans un jeu de construction - Google Patents

Element a double usage s'utilisant comme recipient pour produits alimentaires ou comme cube dans un jeu de construction

Info

Publication number
EP0610429A1
EP0610429A1 EP92924190A EP92924190A EP0610429A1 EP 0610429 A1 EP0610429 A1 EP 0610429A1 EP 92924190 A EP92924190 A EP 92924190A EP 92924190 A EP92924190 A EP 92924190A EP 0610429 A1 EP0610429 A1 EP 0610429A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
rails
sockets
upper portion
connecting means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP92924190A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0610429A4 (en
EP0610429B1 (fr
Inventor
Eitan Rivlin
Yossi Walker
Binyamin Koretz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rivlin Eitan
WALKER Yossi
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from IL9987291A external-priority patent/IL99872A/en
Priority claimed from IL10348092A external-priority patent/IL103480A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0610429A1 publication Critical patent/EP0610429A1/fr
Publication of EP0610429A4 publication Critical patent/EP0610429A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0610429B1 publication Critical patent/EP0610429B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/36—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/361—Modular elements with complementary shapes, interengageable parts or the like
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
    • A63H33/062—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements with clip or snap mechanisms

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a dual-purpose sealable container/building block element, particularly useful as a food container. More particularly, the invention is directed to a food container which may also be used as a building block assembly toy after completing its primary use as a container. Specifically, such containers are mostly used for dairy products such as ice cream, yogurt or the like.
  • US Patent 4,592,601 to Hlinsky et al. discloses an expandable modular storage system for holding slides and cassettes, using screws for interlocking adjacent elements.
  • Modular storage units for useful as furniture items are disclosed in US Patent 4,717,214 to Moore et al.
  • the modular units are each formed from identical hingedly connected rectangular panels.
  • Building block assembly toys are well known and used by children throughout the world, and are available in various shapes and sizes. Many kinds of connecting means are used, most of them of the push-pull variety, with material elasticity and friction as the joining method, exhibiting only modest holding force.
  • US Patent 4,764,143 to Gat et al discloses an assembly toy for joining cylindrical objects. Using empty containers as toys has been suggested in French Patent No. 2549610, which describes a container such as that mentioned above with a relief of a face or other shape on the bottom for shaping soft materials or cookies, but not suitable as a constructional toy.
  • a dual-purpose sealable food container/buildingblock element comprising an upper portion and a bottom portion, said upper portion being open, characterized in that at least one of said upper portion and said bottom portion is provided with at least one connecting means, such that a plurality of said container/elements are connectable to one another by engaging said connecting means and sliding toward each other along said connecting means, for use of said container elements as a toy after completing original use as a food container.
  • the connecting means comprises a set of rails and sockets on the upper and bottom portions, which are slidingly engageable.
  • the container can be of any shape, for example, substantially tubular in shape, or substantially parallelepipedal in shape.
  • the element is adapted to be used as a food container.
  • it is preferably provided with a rim positioned around the upper open portion thereof and protruding outwardly therefrom.
  • the rim is conventionally used for sealing purposes, although all or part of it can be used as a functional stopping means for the purposes of the invention.
  • the lip surrounding the top open face is used for sealing purposes, by aluminum foil, flexible plastic cover, or by any other method, when in use as a food container, and the lip is used as a stopper in the play mode, alone or in combination with small projections, limiting the extent of travel of the engaged rails.
  • a particularly convenient dual-purpose sealable food container/building block element is provided with connecting rails and sockets which are asymmetric in shape.
  • the connecting means are of the slide type, engageable by insertion of rails at the open ends of sockets and sliding longitudinally into each other, perpendicular to the forces acting on assembled building blocks. This type of connection does not depend on friction as the main holding force, and is not easily separated.
  • the design features two connecting rails provided on opposite side walls directly opposite one another, and the connecting rail on the bottom is rotated ninety degrees about center with respect to the wall rails.
  • a further improvement in stability is achieved if all connecting means are each composed of two or more equally distanced rail or socket pairs. Since the rail or socket pairs are separated, the connection is less a fected by external moments acting on the assembled game blocks.
  • the arithmetic ratio between height and width is kept, so that the total height of two side-to-side assembled containers, engaged to the stop position defined by the lip, measured from the bottom of one to the bottom of the other, is the same as the total width of a single container measured at both sides.
  • improved rigidity of an individual container and of an assembly is achieved due to the fact that the lip surrounding the top open face is connected to the wall connecting means, and the wall connecting means are connected to the bottom connecting means directly or by internal or external ribs which do not obstruct the open ends of the connecting means.
  • the addition of connecting means does not add significant weight to the thin-walled food container, yet the container strength is greatly increased.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing the bottom and two walls of a cube-shaped container;
  • Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the same embodiment as in Fig. 1, showing an open top face and two walls;
  • Fig. 3 is a front view of the same embodiment of the invention as in Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 4 shows a cross-section along plane I-I of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 5 shows a cross-section taken along plane II-II of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 6 is a detailed cross-section of the same plane as in Fig. 5, showing the engagement of rails and sockets;
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view of thirteen assembled containers
  • Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a five- piece container
  • Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the invention, showing a round-shaped container with narrow rails;
  • Fig. 11 shows two side-to-side assembled containers with relative dimensions
  • Fig. 12 provides the bottom view of another embodiment of the invention, showing a set of two complementary containers
  • Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a container according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 14 is a cross-section illustrating the interlocking of rails in the embodiment of Fig. 13.
  • FIGs. 1-9 A food container constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in Figs. 1-9.
  • the container is typically made of plastic, and is manufactured by the injection molding process from one part or a few bonded pieces (Figs. 8, 9), shaped as a rounded-edge cube truncated just below the top rounded edges, to provide an open top face, surrounded by a lip 18 outwardly protruding at the top.
  • Lip 18 can be of any desired shape to support the preferred type of sealing.
  • Two pairs 1 and 2 of connecting rails and sockets each composed of individual rails 5 and sockets 6, respectively, protrude outwardly from each of the four side surfaces.
  • Bottom connecting rail and socket pairs 9 and 10 (Figs. 3-4) , comprising individual rails 5 and sockets 6, respectively, protrude outwardly from the bottom surface.
  • the walls preferably taper outwardly from the bottom and are provided with wedges 21 tapering inwardly from the top to keep the rails horizontal.
  • Side rail and socket pairs 1 and 2 are attached directly to lip 18 so that the top of the rails 5 and sockets 6 is covered.
  • the lower end of rail and socket pairs 1 and 2 are connected to bottom rails 65 and sockets 6 at the bottom surfaces by wedges 21 followed by external ribs 19, which are low enough so as not to obstruct the lower end of the rails 5 and sockets 6.
  • the container framework including the top lip 18, the side rail and socket pairs 1 and 2, stiffening ribs 19 and bottom rail and socket pairs 9 and 10, provides the container with the required strength.
  • rails 5 comprise a strip 11 protruding from the surface, with a cylinder 12 integrally formed thereon, and sockets 6 comprise two strips 13 and 14, protruding from the surface each with a respective cylinder 15 and 16 integrally formed thereon.
  • the distance between strips 13 and 14 and cylinders 15 and 16 in sockets 6 is such that rails 5 will interlock therein by a sliding movement with light pressure.
  • Strips 13 and 14 of the socket 6 are not centered with the cylinders 15 and 16. The distance between the centers of the strips is greater than the distance between the centers of the cylinders, to allow room for rail cylinder 12.
  • the socket strips 13 and 14 are also thicker than the rail strip 11 because of the bending force acting while in engagement.
  • the connecting rails are arranged in such a manner that on two opposing walls there are rail pairs 1, each comprising two rails 5 with a fixed gap 22 (see Fig. 5) separating them, and on the other two opposing walls there are socket pairs 2, each comprising sockets 6 with the same gap 22 separating them.
  • rail pair 9 and socket pair 10 each comprising individual rails 5 and sockets 6 with the same fixed gap 22 separating them.
  • bottom surface rails and sockets are perpendicular to each other, symmetrically arranged around the bottom center, and set at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the wall rails and sockets of the same type, in such a manner that bottom rail pair 9 between side wall rail pair 1 and bottom socket pair 10 between side wall socket pair 2 appearing in the same direction are of the opposite type.
  • Bottom rail pair 9 is shorter in length than gap 22 and bottom socket pair 10 is shorter in length than gap 22, to avoid obstruction of rail ends at the corners formed between them.
  • the food containers may be assembled together (see Fig. 7) by engaging the rails of one container with the sockets of another and pushing the containers in parallel and in opposite directions until the displacement along the rails 5 is stopped by top lip 18, at contact point 24 (Fig. 11) .
  • Fig. 7 When assembling the containers with surfaces side-to-side, one of the containers must be turned upside down so the openings of the rails and sockets are facing each other.
  • side to bottom surfaces they can be assembled in both directions because the bottom rails are open at both ends. Bottom surfaces do not engage one another.
  • small projections 20 are provided at the bottom of lip 18, between the two rails 5 of rail pair 1 at both sides of the container, and these projections 20 are needed only when assembling bottom socket pair 10 to side rail pair 1, to serve as a stop in the particular case in which there is no other contact between lip 18 and the bottom socket pair 9 at the exact stop position.
  • the total height 23, measured from the bottom of one container to the bottom of the other, will be the same as the total width 23 of one container measured at either of the two sides.
  • This important fact makes it possible to connect each of the two side surfaces of a container, respectively, one side to a side surface of one container and one side to a bottom surface of another container, which are already installed in a group of assembled containers.
  • the order of constructing the cubic assembly of Fig. 7 is the order of the letters marked on the containers.
  • First a surface is created by assembling A-I containers side-to-side surfaces, them J-M containers are added and are connected side to bottom surfaces alternately to the existing surface and side-to-side surfaces between them, excluding the corner in which containers K-L are connected bottom to side surfaces. It can be continued, connecting containers in all directions and even creating spaces big enough for a child to enter.
  • the L container for example, is engaged simultaneously with containers A, K directed from above container C outwardly. This is possible since the radius of the bottom edges enables the bottoms of A and K containers to extend over the lip of C and J containers when fully engaged.
  • a five-piece container is illustrated, and the container is shown bonded as a completed unit in Fig. 9.
  • the top part is identical to the above embodiment, but the bottom surface has four recesses 27 to accept the separated bottom rails and sockets 25 and 26, and to position them in the exact location for bonding. In the same manner, the side wall rails and sockets could be bonded. .
  • stiffening ribs 29 are internal, leaving the bottom surface free for the bonding recesses 27.
  • Fig. 12 shows a set of two complementary containers, one comprising only rails, and the other, only sockets. Assembly is possible only when using both types of containers alternately. In the same way, it is possible to manufacture in each container one rail and one socket and in the other container sockets and rails respectively arranged to fit into the first, or to fit rails to side walls and sockets to the bottom surfaces of one container, while reversing this arrangement at the other, or any other complementary arrangement using two or more containers.
  • Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, using a round-shaped container.
  • the rail pairs 34 and socket 35 of the bottom surface are broken at their intersection point to enable assembling in both directions.
  • the length of the bottom rails and sockets is the same as that of the side rails and sockets, and there is no need for the projections 20 of the above cubic embodiment.
  • Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate another embodiment of the invention.
  • the important feature of this embodiment is the asymmetric shape of the side rails 38 and bottom rails 44, and the side wall sockets 37 and the bottom surface sockets 43. These rails and sockets are designed so that connection is obtained by sliding rail 38 or 44 into the sockets 37 or 43.
  • a bottom surface socket 43 is engaged with a side wall rail 38.
  • the socket 43 comprises two parts: a vertical strip 39, which is r-shaped, with an upper portion 42, and a horizontal strip 40.
  • the strip 40 is provided for the purpose of avoiding a lateral displacement of the rail cylinder 41 and, therefore, can be substantially shorter than strip 39, as seen in the figure.
  • Rail 38 which in the cross-section of Fig. 14 is seen in the mounted position, has a protruding cylinder 41 which engages the upper portion 42 of strip 39.
  • the skilled person will be easily able to dimension the various elements of the connecting means so as to obtain a strong connection, while maintaining ease of assembly by sliding. It will also be appreciated by the skilled person that the asymmetric design of Figs. 13-14 uses a simpler production mold.
  • a removable rim or lip 46 which can be removed by pulling off at the corner provided with . pulling thong 47. This is done, as explained above, once the container has been emptied of food.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
  • Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)

Abstract

Un élément à double usage s'utilisant comme récipient hermétique pour produits alimentaires ou comme cube dans un jeu de construction comporte une partie supérieure et une partie inférieure, la partie supérieure étant ouverte. La partie supérieure et la partie inférieure sont pourvues d'éléments de connexion (5, 6) de telle manière que plusieurs récipients/éléments sont reliables par emboîtement des éléments de raccordement le long desquels ils coulissent les uns vers les autres, afin d'être utilisés comme jouets après avoir été utilisés initialement comme récipients pour aliments. Afin que ces constructions de grande dimension soient rigides et stables, les éléments de raccordement (5, 6) sont du type coulissant, s'emboîtent par insertion des nervures (5) dans les extrémités ouvertes des rainures (6) et peuvent coulisser longitudinalement l'un dans l'autre, perpendiculairement aux forces agissant sur les cubes assemblés.
EP92924190A 1991-10-28 1992-10-27 Element a double usage s'utilisant comme recipient pour produits alimentaires ou comme cube dans un jeu de construction Expired - Lifetime EP0610429B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL99872 1991-10-28
IL9987291A IL99872A (en) 1991-10-28 1991-10-28 Food container
IL10348092A IL103480A (en) 1991-10-28 1992-10-21 Dual-purpose food container/building block element
IL103480 1992-10-21
PCT/US1992/009360 WO1993008888A1 (fr) 1991-10-28 1992-10-27 Element a double usage s'utilisant comme recipient pour produits alimentaires ou comme cube dans un jeu de construction

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0610429A1 true EP0610429A1 (fr) 1994-08-17
EP0610429A4 EP0610429A4 (en) 1996-04-10
EP0610429B1 EP0610429B1 (fr) 1999-02-03

Family

ID=26322341

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92924190A Expired - Lifetime EP0610429B1 (fr) 1991-10-28 1992-10-27 Element a double usage s'utilisant comme recipient pour produits alimentaires ou comme cube dans un jeu de construction

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0610429B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE176405T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU3059292A (fr)
DE (1) DE69228385D1 (fr)
MX (1) MX9206218A (fr)
WO (1) WO1993008888A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2103830C (fr) * 1992-08-19 2005-05-17 Gerald M. Syrek Contenant empilable pour essuie-tout humide
WO1998031607A1 (fr) * 1997-01-20 1998-07-23 Software & Consulting Services N.V. Contenant/bloc de construction a double usage
FR2771382B1 (fr) 1997-11-21 2000-02-11 Yoplait Sa Recipient de conditionnement pour produit alimentaire
RU2196630C1 (ru) * 2001-09-03 2003-01-20 Телегин Алексей Вячеславович Контейнер для пищевых продуктов
DK200401138A (da) * 2004-07-22 2006-01-23 Hansen Hans Holst Balje og spand med samleanordning integreret i bunden
GB2451698A (en) * 2007-08-10 2009-02-11 Qinetiq Ltd Mould for production of a component having a solid right-angled corner or solid corner-cube
US10618691B2 (en) 2013-03-17 2020-04-14 Changebox Ip Holdings, Llc Method and apparatus for interconnectable building block container toys capable of storing items
US20140263299A1 (en) * 2013-03-17 2014-09-18 Changebox Ip Holdings, Llc Method and Apparatus for Interconnectable Building Block Containers Capable of Storing Items
KR200479582Y1 (ko) * 2014-04-21 2016-03-11 김근주 적층용기

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3346137A (en) * 1965-04-09 1967-10-10 Fausto M Ricci Receptacle
US3999818A (en) * 1975-06-20 1976-12-28 Microfilm Enterprises Corporation Modular storage system

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3374917A (en) * 1964-01-09 1968-03-26 Constantine T. Troy Interlocking structural elements
US3554384A (en) * 1968-05-21 1971-01-12 Carborundum Co Display stand
US3577671A (en) * 1969-02-26 1971-05-04 Roy Perry Woollett Construction kits for toys and models
DE2538641B2 (de) * 1975-08-30 1977-06-30 Pinkau, Wolfgang, 4018 Monheim; Esser, Alfred, 4005 Meerbusch Schalenfoermiger behaelter, insbesondere zur aufnahme und bevorratung von lebens- und genussmitteln
GB8514554D0 (en) * 1985-06-08 1985-07-10 Young M E Containers
US4982858A (en) * 1986-02-21 1991-01-08 Holdt J W Von Container connector system
US4886239A (en) * 1987-09-16 1989-12-12 Stimmel Stephanie J Ice cube maker

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3346137A (en) * 1965-04-09 1967-10-10 Fausto M Ricci Receptacle
US3999818A (en) * 1975-06-20 1976-12-28 Microfilm Enterprises Corporation Modular storage system

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9308888A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0610429A4 (en) 1996-04-10
EP0610429B1 (fr) 1999-02-03
ATE176405T1 (de) 1999-02-15
AU3059292A (en) 1993-06-07
MX9206218A (es) 1993-04-01
DE69228385D1 (de) 1999-03-18
WO1993008888A1 (fr) 1993-05-13

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