EP1905324A1

EP1905324A1 - Storage container having peripheral walls decorated with bamboo rings

Info

Publication number: EP1905324A1
Application number: EP06020622A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wen-Tsan Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2006-09-29
Publication date: 2008-04-02

Abstract

A storage container, which has horizontal top and bottom rails respectively fastened to the peripheral panels of the container body thereof along the top and bottom edges, a plurality of vertical rods respectively fastened to the top rails and the bottom rails between each two adjacent peripheral panels of the container body, and a plurality of bamboo rings of different diameters bonded to the outer surface of each peripheral panel of the container body and surrounded by the top and bottom rails and the vertical rods in a flush manner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to storage containers and more particularly, to a storage container having peripheral walls decorated with bamboo rings.

2. Description of the Related Art:

Various materials including ceramics, glass, wood, plastics, stainless steel, and etc. may be used for making storage containers for keeping things. In addition to the function of keeping things, these storage containers have a beautiful or unique outer appearance to attract consumers. A wooden or bamboo storage container shows a sense of antique beauty. Wooden and bamboo materials have been intensively used to make mini storage containers for keeping jewelry and other small personal items. Wooden and bamboo storage containers with a particular pattern of perforations show a unique taste.
Conventional bamboo storage containers commonly comprised of a frame structure and a plurality of peripheral panels formed of bamboo strips by weaving. These bamboo panels have open spaces, and are fastened to the frame structure by bonding or stitches.
There are also known bamboo storage containers in which each peripheral panel of the container body is formed by adhering a plurality of bamboo rings together. Because the peripheral panels of bamboo rings of these bamboo storage containers have open spaces, small storage items may fall out of the container body if the container body is vibrated accidentally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a storage container, which has the solid peripheral panels decorated with bamboo rings, showing a sense of unique beauty.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the storage container has horizontal top and bottom rails respectively fastened to the peripheral panels of the container body thereof along the top and bottom edges, a plurality of vertical rods respectively fastened to the top rails and the bottom rails between each two adjacent peripheral panels of the container body, and a plurality of bamboo rings of different diameters bonded to the outer surface of each peripheral panel of the container body and surrounded by the top and bottom rails and the vertical rods in a flush manner.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the peripheral panels and bottom panel of the container body may be made in integrity. Alternatively, the peripheral panels and bottom panel of the container body may be separately made and the fastened together with fastening means.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the top and bottom rails and the vertical rods may be bonded to the container body with adhesive means, or affixed thereto with nails.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the bamboo rings may be bonded to the container body with adhesive means, or affixed to the container body with nails.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the bamboo rings are cut from different diameters of bamboo stems in a predetermined height and kept in flush with the top and bottom rails and the vertical rods when fastened to the solid peripheral panels of the container body. The peripheral panels of the container body are solid panels without openings. Therefore, the peripheral panels prohibit storage items from falling out of the storage container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique elevation of a storage container constructed according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the structure of the storage container according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the storage container according to the present invention (the bamboo rings excluded).
FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the storage container according to the present invention (the bamboo rings excluded).
FIG. 5 is a sectional side plain view of the storage container according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an oblique elevation showing separated status of different sizes of bamboo rings according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an oblique elevation of a storage furniture constructed according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a storage container in accordance with the present invention is shown having bamboo rings 2 bonded to the outer surface thereof. These bamboo rings 2 have different diameters. However, these bamboo rings 2 are substantially equal in height (axial length).
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the container 1 has a container body 14, which defines a top-open storage chamber, a plurality of top rails 11 respectively fastened to the peripheral walls of the container body 14 at the top, a plurality of bottom rails 12 respectively fastened to the peripheral walls of the container body 14 in flush with the topmost edge of the container body 14, a plurality of bottom rails 12 respectively fastened to the peripheral walls of the container body 14 in flush with the bottom edge of the container body 14, a plurality of vertical rods 13 respectively connected between each two adjacent top rails 11 and each two adjacent bottom rails 12 corresponding to the angle between each two adjacent peripheral walls of the container body 14. The bamboo rings 2 are fixedly arranged on the outer surface of each peripheral wall of the container body 14 and surrounded with the top rails 11, the bottom rails 12 and the vertical rods 13. The container body 14 can be directly injection-molded from plastics. Pins 15 may be used to affix the vertical rods 13 to the top rails 11 and the bottom rails 12. Alternatively, nails or adhesive means may be used to affix the rails 11 and 12 and the vertical rods 13 together and to affix them to the container body 14.
Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 3 again, the container body 14 can be made having a plurality of peripheral panels 141 and a bottom panel 142. These panels 141 and 142 may be made out of any of a variety of sheet materials. The rails 11 and 12, the vertical rods 13, the peripheral panels 141 and the bottom panels 142 may be fastened together with pins nails, or bonded together with adhesive means. Further, the top rails 11, the bottom rails 12 and the vertical rods 13 have an equal thickness thicker than the wall thickness of the peripheral panels 141.
Referring to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the bamboo rings 2 are bonded to the outer surface of the peripheral panels of the container body 14 and kept in flush with the top tails 11, the bottom rails 12 and the vertical rods 13.
Referring to FIG. 6 and FIGS. 1~5 again, the bamboo rings 2 are cut from different diameters of bamboo stems in an equal height substantially equal to the thickness of the rails 11 and 12 and the vertical rods 13. A number of bamboo rings 2 may be peripherally bonded to one another and then bonded to the outer surface of each peripheral wall of the container body 14.
The invention can be used in the fabrication of storage boxes, baskets, cabinets, and any of a variety of storage furniture. (see FIG. 7).
A prototype of storage container having peripheral walls decorated with bamboo rings has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1~7. The container having peripheral walls decorated with bamboo rings functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.
Although particular embodiment of the inventions have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

A storage container comprising:
a container body defining a top-open storage chamber, said container body having a bottom panel and a plurality of peripheral panels respectively perpendicularly extending from peripheral sides of said bottom panel and connected to one another;

a plurality of top rails and a plurality of bottom rails respectively fastened to top and bottom sides of said peripheral panels of said container body and disposed outside said container body;

a plurality of vertical rods respectively fastened to said top rails and said bottom rails between each two adjacent peripheral panels of said container body and disposed outside said container body; and

a plurality of bamboo rings respectively bonded to said peripheral panels of said container body and disposed outside said container body and surrounded by said top rails and said bottom rails and said vertical rods.
The storage container as claimed in claim 1, wherein peripheral panels are formed integral with said bottom panel.
The storage container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said peripheral panels are and said bottom panels are independent panels respectively fastened to one another with fastening means.
The storage container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top rails, said bottom rails and said vertical rods have an equal thickness thicker than the thickness of said peripheral panels.
The storage container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bamboo rings have an equal height approximately equal to the thickness of said top rails, said bottom rails and said vertical rods.