FR2728236A1 - STORAGE TRAY HAVING A PERFUME DISPENSING DISPENSING COMPARTMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage bin has a rectangular cover (12) and a base (14). A perfume dispensing compartment (22) is provided to extend downwardly into the lid, and is defined by side walls (30), a bottom wall (28), and an open top mouth (26). . A door component is provided to be pivotably attached to the cover and to pivot downward to enclose the compartment mouth (26), or to pivot upward to open the compartment . L-shaped openings (32) extend through the intersection of the compartment side walls (30) and the bottom wall (28). The fragrance emitting material is introduced into the compartment (22) and transmits the aromas through the openings (32) and into the base (14).

Description

The present invention relates to storage bins of the type

  comprising a cover and a base made of plastic and intended for the storage of a multitude of household products, and in particular to a container having an integrated perfume distribution compartment. Storage bins for use

  household and commercial are common products.

  Typically, such a container has a molded plastic base which is transparent and an associated molded plastic cover. The cover has a downwardly extending peripheral skirt which is housed on an upper periphery of the base and skirt edges directed inwards which engage the periphery of the base in order to fix the cover in place. The bin bases are stackable for compact shipping and presentation, everything

  such as the covers of multiple bin units.

  Although these bins have known a diffusion

  important, they are ineffective on certain points.

  First, it is not common for consumers to store a wide variety of goods in these bins, and storage is frequently over an extended period. Conventional bins are not airtight and ambient aromas can seep into bins which are used for storage and transfer odors

unwanted content.

  Second, these bins are frequently used to store textile items such as clothing. Mites can seep into the bin and damage the textile items stored there. Conventional tanks do not have integrated means intended to organize repellents for

  mites such as mothballs.

  The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned shortcomings of the available bins by providing a storage bin base and a cover for mounting thereon. The cover includes a fragrance dispensing compartment formed through an upper panel and extending downward therefrom, defined by an upper mouth opening, a lower wall and side walls extending upwards from the bottom wall until the mouth opening. Chamber receives perfume distribution material such as balls

  mothproof or cedar shavings.

  Opening slots extend through the bottom corner edges of the compartment, each slot having a vertical component extending through a side wall of the compartment and a horizontal component extending through the bottom wall of the compartment. The scent emitted by the scent emitting material in the compartment exits through the openings

in the tray base.

  A pivoting door encloses the upper mouth opening of the compartment during use. For shipping purposes, the door pivots downward to extend flat against the top cover panel, making multiple covers stackable in a relatively low stack due to the fact that the compartment of a cover nestles in the

  compartment of an underlying cover.

  It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage bin having

means of distributing perfume.

  Another object is to provide a storage bin having means for dispensing perfume to

  compartment formed in one piece.

  Yet another object is to provide storage bins having stackable lids which include means for dispensing perfume

that can fit together.

  Another object is to provide a perfume dispensing cover for a storage bin having an improved perfume dispensing opening configuration. Yet another object is to provide a perfume dispensing storage bin having relatively few component parts which are made of

  economical and easily assembled.

  These and other objects of the present invention will appear better on reading the

  following description of an embodiment

  preferred illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

  Figure 1 is a perspective view of the storage bin with the cover in place and the

closed perfume compartment.

  Figure 2 is a front perspective view with the perfume compartment door in the state

open.

  Figure 3 is a top view of it

  this. Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the storage bin along the line

4-4 of figure 3.

  Figure 5 is a sectional view of the perfume compartment along line 5-5 of the

figure 3.

  Figure 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective front view of the compartment to

fragrance and door component.

  If we refer first to Figures 1, 2 and 6, the storage bin 10 is shown there and generally comprises a rectangular cover 12 and a base 14. The cover and the base are made of conventional plastic such as polypropylene by conventional molding methods such as injection molding. The cover 12 is formed so as to have a slightly domed central panel 16 extending outwards to a downwardly peripheral skirt 18. The skirt 18 cuts

  the top of the cover along an edge 20.

  A perfume compartment 22 is positioned so as to extend in the upper panel 16 at a front end of the cover 12. The compartment 22 comprises an upwardly open chamber 24 having an open upper mouth 26, defined by a bottom wall 28 and four side walls 30 extending from the bottom wall 28 to the mouth 26. A series of spaced L-shaped openings 32 extends by cutting the side walls 30 and the bottom wall to 900 28 such that a vertical component of each opening extends through a respective side wall and a horizontal component of each opening 32 extends through

through the bottom wall 28.

  As best shown in Figure 4, the bottom wall 28 of the compartment 22 extends downward from a bottom side 34 of the cover 12 over a distance, so that the bottom wall 28 is substantially coplanar with an edge oriented downwards from the skirt 18 of the cover. The compartment 22 is located at a front end of the cover but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the compartment 22 can be in any location of the cover and always

  operate according to the teachings exposed here.

  If we continue to refer to Figures 1, 2 and 6, the top of the cover is configured so as to have a central dome-shaped part 36 which extends outwards from the center of the cover

  to a downwardly stepped exterior surface 38.

  The surface 38 then extends outwards to the peripheral edge 20 o it joins the skirt 18. Mutually facing and spaced bases 40 are positioned at a rear edge of the compartment 22, each base having a axial bore opening on the inside 42. A pair of spaced pawls 43 is provided at a front end of the compartment 22, being directed towards the inside as is best represented in FIG. 6. A channel d elongated pivot pin 44 extends between the bases 40, extending in and being recessed

  below the surface 36 for a reason explained below.

  A pivot door 46 is provided with a generally square configuration, comprising a flat part 48 from which extend downwardly facing lateral flanges 50. Snap-out flanges directed outwardly 52 extend from the outer sides of the side flanges 50, positioned at a front end of door 46. Door 46 is provided with a curved semi-cylindrical pivot flange 54 along a rear edge and a pair of pivot axes cylindrical outwardly directed 56 at the rear ends of the side flanges 50. The door portion 48 is dimensioned so as to enclose the mouth 26 of the

compartment 22.

  The door 46 is molded separately and is fixed to the cover by insertion of the pivot pins 56 in the base bores 42, with the door flange 54 which is thus located in the channel 44 of the cover. Thus attached, the pivoting door 46 pivots downward in the mouth 26 and in coplanar relation with the cover surface 36 as shown in FIG. 1. The snap flanges 52 snap into the pawls 43 of the cover when the door arrives in its horizontal closed position shown in FIG. 1. In order to open the door, an upward pressure is applied to a front edge, which causes the snap edges 52 to come out of the pawls 43 and to start a pivot rotation upwards of the door around the pivot axes 52. The door can thus be made to pivot backwards so as to lie flat against the surface 36. With the door thus positioned, several covers can be stacked one above the other, with the compartment 22 of a cover fitting into the compartment 22 of an underlying cover. With their compartments thus embossed, the stacked covers take a relatively low profile, thus saving space

  during transport and presentation.

  Base 14 is shown with side panels 58 and end panels 60 which extend upward from a lower surface 66 to an upper rim 64. Handles 62 are formed in each end panel 60 in order to allow a hand to grasp the container in order to lift it. In the lower surface 66 of the base 14 there is a central recess 68 dimensioned and shaped so as to receive the dome-shaped cover surface 36 of a second container, so that several containers and several lids can be stacked together. one above the other. Each base 14 has four feet 70 which extend downward at the spaced corners so that it can be positioned on the outer edge surfaces 38 of a

  underlying cover of a second container.

  The operation of the invention is as follows. It should be noted that containers of the general type represented by the cover 12 and the base 14 can be used to store a multitude of household products, including textile products such as clothing. Since storage can be for an extended period of time, ambient odors can seep into the interior of base 14 and give unwanted odors to clothing. In addition, mites can infiltrate inside the base 14 and cause damage to the textile products therein.

are stored.

  In order to combat these problems, the present invention provides a compartment 22 in the cover 12. An aromatic substance such as cedar shavings or a cedar block can be inserted into the

  compartment 22 and placed on the bottom wall 28.

  The door 46 can be made to pivot in the closed position (FIG. 1) with the snap-in edges 52 snapped into the pawls 43. Thus positioned, the door is flush with the top of the cover and does not interfere with a container stacked on a second bin of a

equivalent configuration.

  The aromatic substance in the compartment 22 transmits its aroma to the contents of the base 14 through the openings 32. The openings 32 are configured in an L shape, having components which extend through the side walls 30 and the bottom wall. 28 of the compartment. Consequently, the openings remain open in order to diffuse the contents of compartment 22 even if the base is completely filled to the point of blocking the parts of the openings 32 which extend through the bottom wall 28. The vertical components of the openings 32, which extend through the side walls 30, continue to diffuse the contents of the compartment 22 even if the horizontal components of the openings 32, which extend through the bottom wall 28, are

  blocked by the content of base 14.

  Note that compartment 22 can be used to contain mothballs if desired in a similar manner. Other materials can be placed in the compartment in order to transmit a specific aroma to the content of the base 14 if desired. The storage bin can thus be used to prevent unwanted odors from entering the content of base 14 or to transmit desired aromas to the content

  from base 14 if desired.

  As described above, the compartments 22 of the stacked covers interlock in order to reduce the height of the stack of covers and thereby reduce the cost of transport and presentation in sales stores. The storage bin comprises only three components, the cover 12, the base 14 and the door 46, which minimizes the manufacturing cost of the invention and minimizes its assembly time. The compartment 22 is molded in one piece in its cover and the compartment door 46 is molded in one piece with pivot axes 56. Finally, the fragrance emission compartment and the door do not interfere with tray storage function and do not affect the storage capacity of the tray. The container can thus be used in a conventional manner for storage purposes without interference with the storage compartment.

perfume if desired.

Claims (15)

  1. Lid of perfume dispensing storage bin, characterized in that it comprises: an upper lid panel (16) extending outwards to a peripheral edge (20); a downward-facing skirt (28) connected so as to extend downward from the peripheral edge (20) of the cover and in order to be mounted on an upper periphery of a base (14) of storage bin and enclose an internal base storage compartment (14); a fragrance distribution compartment (22) extending through the upper cover panel (16), the compartment (22) having an internal chamber defined by an open mouth opening upwards (26), a bottom wall (28) and side walls (30) extending from the bottom wall (28) to the chamber mouth (26), the compartment chamber being adapted to receive a perfume-emitting material through the mouth ( 26) bedroom; at least one opening (32) extending through at least one of the side walls (30) of the compartment, so that the perfume emitted by the perfume-emitting material in the compartment chamber exits through the opening ( 32) and in the storage compartment internal of the base (14).   2. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower wall (28) of the lid storage compartment is arranged under   the upper cover panel (16).   3. Lid according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises door means (46) fixed to the upper cover panel (16) for closing and selective opening of the mouth (26) of the compartment. lid. 4. Lid according to claim 3, characterized in that the door means (46) are pivotally fixed on the upper panel cover (16).   5. Lid according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening (32) has a horizontal component part which extends through the lower wall (28) of the compartment chamber and a vertical component part which extends through a   compartment chamber side wall (30).   6. Storage container for dispensing perfume, characterized in that it comprises: a base (14) of a container having a central chamber which opens upwards defined by a lower surface (66) and side panels (58) , 60) which extend from the lower surface (66) to an upper rim (64); a cover (12) having a top panel (16) which extends outwards to a peripheral edge (20) and a skirt (28) turned downwards connected so as to extend downwards the peripheral edge (20) of the cover and in order to be mounted on the upper periphery of the base (14) in order to enclose the central central chamber; a fragrance distribution compartment (22) extending through the top cover panel 11 (16), the compartment having an internal chamber defined by an open mouth opening upwards (26), a bottom wall (28) and several side walls (30) extending upward from the bottom surface to the mouth (26), the compartment chamber being adapted to receive perfume-emitting material through the mouth (26) of bedroom; and at least one opening (32) extending through at least one of the compartment walls, so that the perfume emitted by the perfume-emitting material in the compartment chamber exits through the opening (32)   and in the basic central chamber (14).   7. Storage bin according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower wall (28) of the compartment is arranged under the upper panel of cover (16).   8. Storage bin according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises door means (46) fixed to the upper cover panel (16) in order to selectively cover and uncover the mouth (26) of cover compartment. 9. Storage bin according to claim 8, characterized in that the door means (46) are pivotally mounted on the upper panel cover (16).   10. Storage bin according to claim 9, characterized in that the opening (32) has a horizontal component part which extends through the lower wall (28) of the compartment chamber and a vertical component part which s 'extends across a   compartment chamber side walls (30).   11. Perfume dispensing storage bin, characterized in that it comprises: a base (14) of a container having a central chamber which opens upwards defined by a lower surface (66) and four side panels (58 , 60) which extend from the lower surface (66) to an upper rim (64); a cover (12) having a top panel (16) which extends outwards to a peripheral edge (20) and a skirt (28) turned downwards connected so as to extend downwards the peripheral edge (20) of the cover and in order to be mounted on the upper periphery of the base (14) in order to enclose the central central chamber; the cover (12) having a fragrance distribution compartment portion (22) formed therein, the compartment portion extending through the top cover panel (16) and having an internal chamber defined by an open mouth (26) upward, a bottom wall (28) and a plurality of side walls (30) extending upward from the bottom surface to the mouth (26), the compartment chamber being adapted to receive a material of fragrance emission through the chamber mouthpiece (26); and opening means (32) extending through at least one of the compartment walls, so that the perfume emitted by the perfume emitting material in the compartment chamber exits through the opening   and in the basic central chamber (14).   12. Storage bin according to claim 11, characterized in that the bottom wall (28) of the lid storage compartment extends under the   top cover panel (16).   13. Storage bin according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises door means (46) mounted on the upper cover panel (16) to cover and selectively uncover the mouth (26) cover compartment. 14. Storage bin according to claim 13, characterized in that the door means (46) are pivotally mounted on the upper panel cover (16).   15. Storage bin according to claim 14, characterized in that the opening means comprise an elongated opening (32) having a horizontal component part which extends through the lower wall (28) of the compartment and a component part vertical which extends through one of the walls side (30) of compartment.