GB1601673A

GB1601673A - Case

Info

Publication number: GB1601673A
Application number: GB755878A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-02-24
Filing date: 1978-02-24
Publication date: 1981-11-04

Description

(54) A CASE (71) I, RONALD CURLS BAYES, of British nationality, of Danewood Cottage, Much Hadham, Herts, formerly of 29 Walton Road, Ware, Herts SG12 9PQ do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a case for records and tape cassettes and particularly concerns cases for carrying and storing such articles.

According to the invention there is provided a case for records and tape cassettes, comprising a receptacle, a partition mounted in the receptacle so as to divide the interior of the receptacle into two compartments one of which is for records and the other of which includes a rack suitable for holding tape cassettes, and a closure member of the receptacle for closing the receptacle, the receptacle being made from a blank having a plurality of separate panels which are enclosed in plastics sheet material, the blank being folded about hinge lines in the plastics material between adjacent panels to form the receptacle, the plastics material and panels being secured together by means providing a smooth surface of the case when erected.

In use of the invention it is possible to provide a case which can receive both records and cassettes.

The partition may extend substantially at right angles to the closure member when the case is closed by the closure member. This arrangement provides for the carrying of both records and cassettes together.

Alternatively, the partition may extend in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of closure member when the case is closed by the closure member. In this arrangement, in which the case preferably has two closure members, the partition provides for separate storage of records and cassettes.

Cases embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one case in the closed condition; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the case with the lid open; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the case with the lid open; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the case open, with the lid partly cut away; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second case in the open condition; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third case in the closed condition; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the case of Figure 6 showing its lids open; Figures 8a, 8b and 8c show respectively front, side elevational and plan views, to a smaller scale, of the case of Figure 6; Figures 9a to 9e show schematically different arrangements of the interiors of cases for records and cassettes; and Figures 10 and 11 show schematically an improved method of construction of a blank for a case.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals, Figures 1 to 4 show a case 1 for carrying and/or storing records and cassettes which has a receptacle with a rectangular hollow interior 2 between front wall 3, rear wall 4, and side walls 5 and 6.

The interior 2 is closed by a closure member or lid 7 and has a partition 8 (to the right of the case as viewed from in front (Figure 2)) which provides two interior compartments or parts 9 and 10. The part 9 is for records and the part 10 for cassettes (which would usually be in individual holders).

The partition 8 is a separate wall which is secured between the front and rear walls 3 and 4 as by staples which are inserted, from the outside of the front and rear walls 3 and 4, through their thickness and into the ends of the partition 8, so holding it in position, parallel to the side walls 5 and 6 at right angles to the walls 3 and 4 and to the lid 7 when in the closed position.

A rack 11 is formed with walls 13 between which there are pidgeon holes 12 for individual cassettes. The rack 11 is formed integrally from plastics material by an injec tion, or vacuum moulding. process. The plastics material of the rack 11 is suitably of 10-20 thou. thick. The rack 11 is inserted between the partition 8 and the side wall 6 as a force fit so that it is held securely in place whether or not it holds any cassettes.

The lid 7 and body are formed integrally from plastics material. The lid 7 is hinged to the rear wall 4 of the body about a hinge line or crease 14 (Figure 3) impressed in the material of the plastics by any suitable means such as high frequency welding. A flap 15 is attached to the lid 7 along a hinge line 16 which is also impressed in the material by high frequency welding so that the flap can be bent down to overlap the front wall 3 whereby catches 17 carried by the flap can lock in keepers 18 on the front wall 4. The front wall 4 also has a handle 19 for carrying the case.

The interior part 9 of the case 1 is large enough for long playing records, which are generally 12 inches in diameter, while the interior part 10 is for tape cassettes, so that both records and cassettes can be stored or carried together in one case.

Referring now to Figure 5, the case 20 shown is similar to the case of Figures 1 to 4, except that the partition 21 is to the left as viewed from the front of the case 20.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 8c, there is shown a case 22 which has a receptacle or body with a hollow interior. The interior is between front wall 3, rear wall 4 and side walls 5 and 6. The interior is closed by two lids 23 and 24. The body and lids are made of plastics material, the lids 23 and 24 each being formed integrally with the rear wall 4 and hinged to that rear wall by an integral hinge line 14 impressed in the plastics material by suitable means such as a high frequency welding process.

A partition 8a between the upper and lower edges of the walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 forums an upper interior part 9 and a lower interior part 10 (as viewed in Figures 7, 8a and 8b).

One part 10 has a rack (not shown) for cassettes which may fill the whole of that part.

In a variation, the rack may occupy only a portion of that interior part 10.

Each lid 23 and 24 has a hinged flap 15 with two locks 17, the four locks respectively mating with four keepers 18, and there is a carrying handle 19 on the front wall 3. By setting the case down on either the lid 23 or the lid 24, the other lid can be opened to gain access to the interior part it closes.

It will be appreciated that the partition 8a extends generally parallel to the plane of the lid 23 and to the plane of the lid 24 in the closed position of those lids.

It will also be understood that the case 22 may be modified. For example, the rear wall may be initially separate from the lids 23 and 24, which may each have a rear flap parallel to and corresponding with their front flaps 15, the rear flaps then being hinged to the main area of the respective lid along hinge line 14. The rear flaps are each secured to the rear wall as by staples or rivets.

It will be understood that the partition 8 in Figures 1 to 5 may have various positions, as shown in Figures 9a to 9e. Figure 9a shows the Figure 5 arrangement while Figure 9b shows the Figures 1 to 4 arrangement. Figures 9c and 9d show two different other dispositions of the partition, and Figure 9e shows the case where there are two partitions 8 and 8b providing the interior with three interior compartments 9, 10 and 10a, the latter two of which have racks for tape cassettes.

It will be understood that in all the embodiments shown and described, the case is made from a flat blank in which the crease lines are impressed by high frequency welding. The blank is then folded about the weld lines to the required case shape and the various walls are then secured together as by securing means such as rivets or staples to hold the case in that shape. Although not shown, some walls may have small Slaps tor folding around over an adjacent wall at 90" to it in the assembled position, the securing means then passing through the flap and the wall to keep the assembled shape.

The blank generally comprises hardboard, chipboard or cardboard panels covered by two sheets of plastics material which are stretched over the panels and overlap the edges of the panels so that the plastics can be edge welded by high frequency welding to encapsulate the panels.

The hinge lines are formed between adjacent panels so that the blank has the requisite number of crease lines for a particular case which is to be assembled from it. High frequency welding is a process whereby electricity of about 40,000 cycles per second is generated in a welding head which, when applied to the plastics, excites the molecules. The molecules effectively "rub together" and in doing so produce heat by friction. This heats and softens the plastics and, as a result of pressure exerted by the welding head, the two sheets of hot plastics are fused together. The welding head remains cool during the whole welding operation. Sometimes a layer of expanded plastics foam is inserted between the hardboard and a covering layer of plastics material. The covering layers and the expanded plastics foam are usually PVC. This method of construction produces a substantially airtight blank with the covering layers of las- tics lying closely adjacent the panels. ow - ever, when the blank is folded about the crease lines and rivets or staples are used to hold the case in the assembled position, the plastics layers are perforated by the staples or rivets. Air enters through the holes between the covering plastics layers and the panel. Thus air tends to lift the covering plastics layer from the panel, so tending to disrupt the laminate. The air produces a "puffy" effect, in other words, air pockets produce an uneven surface finish which is unsightly.

In order to overcome this effect, the panels are provided with cut-outs or holes at the positions where piercing by staples or rivets would normally occur once the case was assembled. The two layers of plastics material would then be fused together, by high frequency welding preferably, through the hole so that the edges of the hole were sealed off from the atmosphere, as shown in Figure 10 where the outer layer 100 of plastics has been collapsed and fused to the inner layer 101 at the hole 102 through which a rivet or staple can be passed and ensuring a hermetic seal of the panel 103 between the layers 100 and 101 so that even on rivetting or stapling, no puncturing of the layer 100 takes place and no air can enter.

In the case of staples, where a larger hole 104 would be required, a patch 105 of plastics material such as enforced PVC would be inserted over the hole 104 in the panel between it and an adjacent covering layer 101, so that the outer layer 100 could be fused by high frequency welding to the patch 105 (and the layer 101). This would provide a firmer grip for the staple 106 - see Figure 11 - where the arrow shows the direction of insertion. In the case of the rivet construction if ratchet rivets are used, blanks (with handles and locks fitted) of the above construction would be made and sold put up in packaging with a required number of rivets so that a customer could assemble the case himself without the use of a rivetting machine. This would save on cost of transport and packaging because the cases would effectively be transported flat.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A case for records and tape cassettes, comprising a receptacle, a partition mounted in the receptacle so as to divide the interior of the receptacle into two compartments one of which is for records and the other of which includes a rack suitable for holding tape cassettes, and a closure member of the receptacle for closing the receptacle the receptacle being made from a blank having a plurality of separate panels which are enclosed in plastics sheet material, the blank being folded about hinge lines in the plastics material between adjacent panels to form the receptacle, the plastics material and panels being secured together by means providing a smooth surface of the case when erected.

2. A case according to Claim 1, said means comprising a hole or holes through each panel at positions where that panel is to overlap another panel when the receptacle is erected from the blank, the edges of the hole(s) being sealed off from the atmosphere by fusing the plastics sheet material covering the respective surfaces of the respective panel together in the hole, whereby a fastening device can be inserted through the hole into the another panel without allowing air to enter under the plastics sheet material.

3. A case according to Claim 2, in which the partition and the closure member extend in planes which are substantially at right angles to each other when the receptacle is closed by the closure member.

4. A case according to Claim 2, in which the partition and the closure member extend in planes which are substantially parallel to each other when the receptacle is closed by the closure member.

5. A case according to Claim 2, in which the rack is integral with the partition.

6. A case according to Claim 2, the rack being removable from the case.

7. A case according to any preceding Claim, the rack being made of plastics and formed by a vacuum moulding process.

8. A case according to any preceding Claim, including a further partition spaced from and substantially parallel to the firstmentioned partition, providing three interior compartments.

9. A case according to Claim 4 and any claim dependent thereon, including two closure members each substantially parallel to the partition in the closed position.

10. A case according to any preceding claim, the or each closure member being hinged to the body.

11. A case according to Claim 8, in which the body and the or each closure member are made of plastics material and are formed integrally.

12. A case according to Claim 9, in which the or each closure member is hinged to the body about a hinge line impressed in the plastics material.

13. A case according to Claim 12, in which the hinge line is formed by a welding process.

14. A case according to Claim 15, the welding process being a high frequency

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Claims

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hold the case in the assembled position, the plastics layers are perforated by the staples or rivets. Air enters through the holes between the covering plastics layers and the panel. Thus air tends to lift the covering plastics layer from the panel, so tending to disrupt the laminate. The air produces a "puffy" effect, in other words, air pockets produce an uneven surface finish which is unsightly.

In order to overcome this effect, the panels are provided with cut-outs or holes at the positions where piercing by staples or rivets would normally occur once the case was assembled. The two layers of plastics material would then be fused together, by high frequency welding preferably, through the hole so that the edges of the hole were sealed off from the atmosphere, as shown in Figure 10 where the outer layer 100 of plastics has been collapsed and fused to the inner layer 101 at the hole 102 through which a rivet or staple can be passed and ensuring a hermetic seal of the panel 103 between the layers 100 and 101 so that even on rivetting or stapling, no puncturing of the layer 100 takes place and no air can enter.

In the case of staples, where a larger hole 104 would be required, a patch 105 of plastics material such as enforced PVC would be inserted over the hole 104 in the panel between it and an adjacent covering layer 101, so that the outer layer 100 could be fused by high frequency welding to the patch 105 (and the layer 101). This would provide a firmer grip for the staple 106 - see Figure 11 - where the arrow shows the direction of insertion. In the case of the rivet construction if ratchet rivets are used, blanks (with handles and locks fitted) of the above construction would be made and sold put up in packaging with a required number of rivets so that a customer could assemble the case himself without the use of a rivetting machine. This would save on cost of transport and packaging because the cases would effectively be transported flat.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A case for records and tape cassettes, comprising a receptacle, a partition mounted in the receptacle so as to divide the interior of the receptacle into two compartments one of which is for records and the other of which includes a rack suitable for holding tape cassettes, and a closure member of the receptacle for closing the receptacle the receptacle being made from a blank having a plurality of separate panels which are enclosed in plastics sheet material, the blank being folded about hinge lines in the plastics material between adjacent panels to form the receptacle, the plastics material and panels being secured together by means providing a smooth surface of the case when erected.

2. A case according to Claim 1, said means comprising a hole or holes through each panel at positions where that panel is to overlap another panel when the receptacle is erected from the blank, the edges of the hole(s) being sealed off from the atmosphere by fusing the plastics sheet material covering the respective surfaces of the respective panel together in the hole, whereby a fastening device can be inserted through the hole into the another panel without allowing air to enter under the plastics sheet material.

3. A case according to Claim 2, in which the partition and the closure member extend in planes which are substantially at right angles to each other when the receptacle is closed by the closure member.

4. A case according to Claim 2, in which the partition and the closure member extend in planes which are substantially parallel to each other when the receptacle is closed by the closure member.

5. A case according to Claim 2, in which the rack is integral with the partition.

6. A case according to Claim 2, the rack being removable from the case.

7. A case according to any preceding Claim, the rack being made of plastics and formed by a vacuum moulding process.

8. A case according to any preceding Claim, including a further partition spaced from and substantially parallel to the firstmentioned partition, providing three interior compartments.

9. A case according to Claim 4 and any claim dependent thereon, including two closure members each substantially parallel to the partition in the closed position.

10. A case according to any preceding claim, the or each closure member being hinged to the body.

11. A case according to Claim 8, in which the body and the or each closure member are made of plastics material and are formed integrally.

12. A case according to Claim 9, in which the or each closure member is hinged to the body about a hinge line impressed in the plastics material.

13. A case according to Claim 12, in which the hinge line is formed by a welding process.

14. A case according to Claim 15, the welding process being a high frequency

welding process.

16. A case for records and tape cassettes, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.