GB2082546A

GB2082546A - Container for holdings stack of objects

Info

Publication number: GB2082546A
Application number: GB8123256A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-30
Filing date: 1981-07-28
Publication date: 1982-03-10
Also published as: EP0045077A3; EP0045077A2; AU7349181A; BR8104898A

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for holding a stack of objects The invention relates to a container for holding stack of objects comprising a rectangular housing open atthe front end and of a rectangular frame which is movable in the latter and the front wall of which, in its closing position, shuts off the housing. In known and hitherto conventional containers for stacks of objects, that is to say, for example, for a stack of two layers of coloured pencils offelt-tip pens and ball-point pens, or of many playing cards lying on top of one another, there is a box-like rectangular slide open at the top, which consists of a baseplate with four side walls and which is pulled a little way out of the housing by hand and then enables individual objects to be extracted. Two hands are generally necessary for this purpose. To make it easier to remove the objects from a stack or bundle, containers without a slide are also known, and their cover part supports a portion of the front wall of the housing and, on both sides, a chamfered portion of the side walls and can be bent backwards about a hinge. However, even with this container, it is hardly possible to remove individual objects with one hand. The object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a container which can be produced cheaply and has a slide and which does not possess the disadvantages mentioned and, in particular, permits handling with one hand. For containers of audio tape cassettes, especially for use in automobiles, a solution to this problem has already been put into practice by the inventor for extraction with one hand (see, for example, Swiss Patent Specification 613,799), but this cassette container is not suitable for storing a stack of objects and for removing these with one hand. According to the present invention, there is provided a container for holding a stack of objects located therein, comprising: a rectangular housing which has a bottom, two parallel narrow sides, an upper flat side, a rear wall and an open front side; a rectangular frame movable in the housing and having a front wall which, in a close position, shuts off the open front side of the housing, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls and a rear wall; a compression spring which engages between the rear wall of the frame and the rear wall of the housing and which, after a retaining device is unlocked, pushes the frame out of the housing by a certain amount into an open position;wherein the arrangement is such that in use a stack of objects held in the container rests on the bottom of the housing and, in the closed position of the frame, is is surrounded by the letter, the side walls of the frame, which lie opposite one another, being arranged to guide the latter in the housing, in such a way that, in the open position, the frame assumes an oblique position relative to the bottom of the housing, and wherein in the open position of the frame, part of each object in the stack projects out of the front of the housing and is made accessible by the obliquely positioned front part of the frame for extraction. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, in a simplified diagrammatic representation, a longitudinal section through one example of a frame of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows, in a simplified diagrammatic representation, a partial longitudinal section through an exemplary embodiment of a container in the closed position, the latter containing a frame according to Figure 1 and, in it, a stack of two layers offelt-tip pens; Figure 3 shows, in a simplified diagrammatic representation, a partial longitudinal section through the container according to Figure 2, in the open position; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the container in the closed position; Figures 5 and 6 shows exemplary forms of intermediate layers;Figures 7 and 8 each show an exemplary form of a stack consisting of a plurality of rod-shaped objects in a box open at the top and at the front respectively; Figure 9 shows an exemplary form of the fastening of a container in a wall, the container containing a stack of objects similar to Figure 8; Figure 10 shows an exemplary form of a stack consisting of a plurality of sheet-shaped objects; Figures 11 and 12 show further exemplary embodiments of frames; Figure 13 shows an exemplary form of a container according to Figure 4, with an additional compartment; Figures 14 and 15 show an exemplary form of a container for a stack of plate-shaped objects; Figure 16 shows a further embodiment of the housing for the present container. An exemplary embodiment of the present container is described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4, the container being designed for a stack of two superimposed layers of writing instruments, for example felt-tip pens. A flat rectangular housing is provided forthis intended use, and Figure 2 indicates merely the flat topside 10 and the bottom 11 as well as the narrow rear wall 12 of this. The slide according to Figure 1 represents a frame open at the top and bottom, which possesses a front wall 13, a rearward wall 14 and two identically shaped side walls 15 which connect these and the height of which is less than that of the rear wall 14. Each of these side walls 15 has a rectangular front part 16, the height of which corresponds to that of the rear wall 14.On the front wall 13 is a crossrail 18 which connects the two front parts 16 of the side walls and which is provided at at least one point, preferably in its centre, with a cam-like projection 19. The rear wall 14 also has an extension 20 which projects rearwardly to some extent. The height ofthe front wall 13 and of the rear wall 14 of the frame according to Figure 1 is selected so that the entire frame, as indicated in Figure 2, can be pushed into the housing 10,11. Although, to do this, the rearward transverse wall 14 has to be forced under a projecting cam 21 on the inner face of the topside 10 of the housing, this is possible without difficulty because ofthe elasticity and relatively small wall thickness ofthe upper flat side 10 of the housing. The purpose of this projecting cam 21 is explained further below. In the housing 10,11,12 is a compression spring 22 which is attached, at one end, to the extension 20 on the rear wall 14 of the frame and, at the other end, to the rear wall 12 of the housing.Consequently, the frame can be pushed into the housing only against the effect ofthe compression spring 22, hence, in the inner position shown in Figure 2, the frame stands under spring pressure. However, in this inner position, the cam 19 on the crossrail 18 of the frame engages in a groove 23 which is provided in the upper flat side 10 of the housing and in which it catches and retains the frame in this inner position against the pressure ofthe spring 22. As indicated in Figure 4, a gripping recess 17 is provided in the centre on the front wall 13 of the frame, and on both sides of this recess the front edge 28 ofthe open front side ofthe housing is set back somewhat. As already noted above, the container according to the exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 is intended to receive a stack of two layers of rodshaped writing instruments 24 and 25. The two layers of writing instruments 24 and 25 are separted here by an intermediate layer 26 which consists, for example, of a stiff sheet of paper or cardboard inserted between the two layers, but not being connected to the frame. In the inner position of the frame represented in Figure 2, the front wall 13 of the latter constitutes a closure ofthe housing. Since, in this closed position, the writing instruments 24, 25 may possibly touch the front wall, it is appropriate to provide there a coating 27 consisting of a resilient material protecting the points ofthe writing instruments 24, 25. The length of the front wall 13 of the frame is selected to that, in the closed state according to Figure 2, there is a small gap 29 between its lower edge and the bottom 11 ofthe housing. For this purpose, the lower edges of the side walls 15 of the frame are chamfered upwards somewhat at their front part. If, then, in the closed state ofthe container according to Figures 2 and 4, pressure is exterted downwards on the gripping recess 17 with one finger, the front part ofthe frame is deformed elastically downwards somewhat, and the cam 19 on the rail 18 ofthe frame snaps out of the groove 23 in the upper flat side 10 of the housing, so that the frame is pushed out of the housing under the effect ofthe spring 22, until its rearwall 14 butts with its top edge against the cam 21 ofthe housing.This cam 21 forms a hinge forthis rear wall 14 and, underthe effect ofthe compression spring 22, the frame tilts upwards, as illustrated in Figure 3, until the top edge of the side walls 15 rests inwardly against the margin ofthe housing aperture. Together with the frame, the stack of objects which is surrounded by the latter is pushed a little way out ofthe aperture of the housing, as is indicated in Figure 3 regarding the two layers of writing instruments 24, 25. Because ofthe inclined position ofthe frame, the front part 16 and the front wall 13 of this frame make accessible the pushed-out part of the stack of individual objects, if desired, the entire stack of objects or individual objects can be extracted from the housing without obstruction. To close the container, it is necessary simply to press the front wall 13, together with the crossrail 18 ofthe frame, downwards until the rectangular front part 16 of this side walls can be pushed into the aperture of the housing and then engages the frame in the groove 23 of the topside 10 of the housing and thus retains the frame, together with the stack, in its inner position. In Figures 2 and 3, the compression spring 22 is indicated only diagrammatically as a spiral spring. It is, of course, possible to provide more than one such spiral spring nextto one another orto use other suitable forms of spring such as leaf springs and the like. It may also be appropriate not to support the spring 22 on the centre of the rearward transverse wall 14 of the frame, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3, but to allow itto engage further down, so as to increase the torque acting on this transverse wall 14 during the transition of the frame from its inner to its outer position. It is merely necessary for the spring force acting on the frame to be suitable, in terms of magnitude and direction, both for pushing the frame into the outer position, after it has been unlocked, together with the stack surrounded by it, and also for tilting into an oblique position relative to the housing, the transverse wall 14 then resting against the stop 21, together with the remaining parts ofthe frame.At the start of this movement ofthe frame underthe spring force, the top edge of the front part 16 of the two side walls of the frame first slides inwardly along the topside 10 ofthe housing, the frame consequently moving parallel to the housing. Only when the end of the rectangular front part 16 of the side walls of the frame emerges out of the front aperture of the housing can the frame tilt under the effect of the spring force into the inclined position indicated in Figure 3. Of course, the cam 21 serving as a hinge for the frame must be locted on the housing at a point which guarantees that, when the transverse wall 14 of the frame butts against this cam 21, the frame has already been pushed sufficiently far out of the housing into its open position.By a suitable choice of the height of the side walls 15 of the frame, the desired inclined position of the frame in its outer position can be determined. In the present exemplary embodiment, only one cam 21 on the housing is indicated as a stop forthe transverse wall 14 ofthe frame, but, if required, two or more stops of this type can also be provided.However, it is important that the height of the transverse wall 14 of the frame and the size of the cams 21 projecting from the inner face of the topside 10 of the housing are adapted to one another, so that, when the frame is pushed for the first time into the housing, the cams 21 offer the transverse wall 14 only a resistance which can be overcome as a result ofthe elastic yielding of the topside 10 of the housing, whereas, when the frame is pushed out underthe pressure of the spring 22, the top edge of the transverse wall 14 butts against this cam 21 and cannot be pressed through under the latter. In the case of the present container, it is important that the dimensions of the frame are adapted, on the one hand, to the inner space of the housing and, on the other hand, to the stack of objects which is arranged loosely therein. Accordingly, it must be possible to push the frame, together with the stack of objects located therein, to and fro easily in the housing, without the stack of objects surrounded by the frame inhibiting its movement. In the container illustrated in Figure 3, with the frame in its outer position, it is evident that the stack is pushed out a little way and its individual components are accessible without obstruction. Here, in this outer position, the frame is inclined upwards. If desired, the entire container together with the stack can, in this position, also be rotated through 180[deg], so that it is supported on a base by means of the projecting front part of the frame. The individual objects of the stack can then be extracted from the container especially easily. Of course, in this reversed position of the container, the weight of the stack of objects located therein presses on the inclined frame, so that the torque exerted by the spring 22 on the transverse wall 14 of the frame must be sufficiently great to compensate this weight load. In the exemplary embodiment of the present container, which is described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, the container serves to receive a stack of two superimposed layers of rod-shaped objects 24, 25, the two layers being separated from one another by a sheet-shaped intermedite layer 26. Of course, more than two layers of such rod-shaped objects can also be arranged above one another in a similar way. Even in the case of two or more superimposed layers of rod-shaped objects, it is possible, if desired, to use such intermediate layers which separate not only the individual layers, but also the rod-shaped objects located next to one another.For example, according to Figure 5, an intermediate layer 30 can be used between two superimposed layers of rod-shaped objects, this intermediate layer having both a separating wall between the individual layers and separating walls between the objects located next to one another. A container of the above-described design, with a stack of rod-shaped objects alone or with intermediate layers according to Figures 5 and 6, can appropriately be used especially for writing and drawing instruments, for example for felt-top pens, coloured or lead pencils designed as rotary propelling pencils, drawing pens, rod-shaped writing instruments for stencils, etc. It is especially advantageous, in this case, if only one hand is needed to open the container and to remove individual rod-shaped objects. However, since the present container can be made especially cheaply of plastic, it can also be used to hold rod-shaped sweets of all kinds, and intermediate layers according to Figures 5 and 6 which may possibly be desired can consist of paper, tinfoil or other cheap materials.In this use, it is advantageous if, afterthe edible articles in question have been consumed, the container itself can be used again, with or withoutthe insert, for other rod-shaped objects. It is also suitable to use a container of this type for smoking articles, that is to say, cigars, cigarillos and similar smoking items. In this case, it is especially advantageous if such smoking articles are protected, in the closed state of the container, both against mechanical damage and against severe drying-out. A container for these purposes can be filled up again with appropriate smoking articles, afterthe contents have been consumed, i.e. it can be used several times. When the container is used in this way also, the handling of the container with one hand to remove individual smoking articles is especially advantageous. The present container is also suitable for stacks consisting of a large number of small rod-shaped objects, the stack representing a box with these objects. As illustrated in Figure 7, a box 33 open at the top can be used for objects 34 in the form of small rods, or else a box 35 indicated in Figure 8 and open only on the front side can be used for the rodshaped objects 36. As is evident from Figures 7 and 8, in the outer position of the frame, the objects in question can be extracted without obstruction from boxes of this type. Also, the entire box can be removed and, for example, replaced by a new full box. If the present container is used, for example, for matches, it is appropriate to use a box 33 open at the top, i.e. a tray as indicated in Figure 7. In this application, a striking face forthe matches should, of course, be provided at a suitable point on the outside of the housing. Such a match container can, of course, also be used several times by inserting a new full box into the container after the matches have been used up. The dimensions of the inner space of the housing must, naturally, be adapted to those of the box 33, so as to ensure that, when the housing is in a vertical position, individual matches 34 are prevented from becoming jammed in the frame and cannot impede or prevent its movement. The present container can also be used advantageously for stacks of cigarettes. Either, as illustrated in Figure 8, the cigarettes 36 will be located in a box 35, as is the case with many brands of cigarette. It is, then, merely necessary to separate off from the box the lid which is conventionally present for closing the box, so that said box 35 is open at the front. Such a box 35 with cigarettes 36 can be received, as a stack, by the appropriately dimensioned frame of a container according to Figures 1 to 4. In this use, handling with one hand is especially advantageous, particularly when, for example, such a container is to be carried in vehicles and used during travelling.For this case, as indicated in Figure 9, it is also possible to provide in a suitable wall 37, for example the dashboard of the vehicle, a hollow space 38 for inserting the container which is retained there, for example, by means of suitably dimensioned leaf springs 39. In the closed state, the container must project out of the hollow space 38 only a short way, so as to make it possible to unlock the frame which then pushes the box 35, together with the cigarettes 36, a little way out of the container under the effect of the built-in spring and which automatically assumes its inclined position, as indicated in Figure 9. In this use, handling with one hand for removing the stack or the individual cigarettes from the container and for closing the latter is especially advantageous. When the present container is used for a stack of cigarettes, it is also possible to provide, instead of the box 35, a completely closed cigarette pack, the wrapping of which is designed conventionally for tearing open at the front side. The container can then be used for any conventional brand of cigarette, hence also for those with soft wrappings. In the present container, the stack which, in the inner position of the frame, is loosely surrounded by the latter can also consist of a plurality of sheetshaped objects. For example, Figure 10 illustrates a stack consisting of two groups, located next to one another, of sheet-shaped objects 40, the rearward end of which is positioned in a sleeve 41. This sleeve 41 is provided with a rear wall, so that, when the stack is pushed out, none of the sheet-shaped objects 40 can remain behind in the housing or can become jammed in the frame. If desired, the sleeve 41 can also be provided with an intermediate wall between the two groups of sheet-shaped objects.In many stacks of sheet-shaped objects, it is appropriate to select the length of the sleeve 41 so that, in the outer position of the frame, the front margin of this sleeve 41 ends approximately flush with the aperture of the housing. This makes it possible to ensure that it is possible to fill the sleeve 41 without difficulty with sheet-shaped objects 40 of this type. However, it is necessary to guarantee that the sleeve 41 is surrounded only loosely by the frame and that its toand-fro movement is not obstructed. A container of this type is advantageously suitable for storing and dispensing playing cards. In this case, the stack of playing cards can comprise, for example, two complete sets which are arranged in a sleeve 41 with an intermediate wall analogously to Figure 10. If desired, the stack can also consist of only one complete set of playing cards. Instead of playing cards, it is also possible to provide a stack of index cards or similar sheet-shaped objects, such as flight tickets, train timetables, flight timetables, prospectuses, etc. Furthermore, the container can also be used for a stack of sheet-shaped thin sweets and edible articles, for example for storing sheets of chewing gum, slabs of chocolate and similar consumer articles. In this case also, the container can be filled up again and re-used afterthe consumption of the confectionary items in question. Above the container is intended to receive only one stack. However, it is also possible to give the container a broad shape, with an appropriately wide frame, containing several stacks of objects next to one another. If desired, the frame can then also have partitions parallel to the side walls. A container of the present design can also be used for storing photographs of all types, especially those which are produced by means of so-called instantpicture or instant cameras. In this case, if desired, it is possible to use an insert which is loosely surrounded by the frame and which can be displaced easily, so that it is possible to subdivide into groups the stack of photographs to be stored. In this way, the ordered storage of slide frames individually or in groups in their transparent sleeves is also possible. In the exemplary embodiment of the container, which is described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, the rectangular front part 16, which has the same longitudinal extension as the crossrail 18, is continued into the narrower side walls 15 of a constant height. The topside of the crossrail 18 or the top edges of the front part 16 and of the side walls 15 constitute, in this case, the guides for the tilting movement of the frame when it is advanced from the closing position into the open position. These guides can also be designed differently, depending on the nature of the stack of objects which is to be stored. In the container according to Figures 1 to 4, for example, the side walls 15 could have the shape indicated in Figure 11, hence possess a front part 45, the height of which diminishes up to the point 47, and have a segment 46 increasing in height up to the rear wall 14. The point 47 is that point of the top edge of the side walls 15 where, in the open position, these touch the inner edge of the recesses 28 on the open front side of the housing in Figure 3 or 4.Consequently, whereas, in the exemplary embodiment of the frame according to Figure 1, during its advancing movement the latter springs upwards immediately after the crossrail 18 emerges out of the open front side of the housing, until the top edge of the narrow side walls 15 rest inwardly against the open front side, in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 11 the tilting movement takes place continuously with the advance of the frame. This can be advantageous when stack of light objects are to be advanced by the frame, since the only slowly lifting front wall 13 of the frame prevents the latter from being thrown out. If desired, one or both segments 45, 46 of the side walls 15 in Figure 11 can also be provided with an arcuate top edge, as is indicated by the dot-and-dash line 48. The height of the side walls 15 at the point 47 in Figure 11 and the distance of the cam 21 in the housing from the rear wall 14 of the frame determine the inclined position of the latter relative to the bottom 11 of the housing, in the open position. For example, the frame according to Figure 12, with the chamfered front part 49 and the elongate rearward part 50 of the side walls 15, is intended for a container in which the frame executes only a very short advancing movement, that is to say, the cam 21 in the housing is located much nearerto the rear wall 14 of the frame in its closing position. In the case of this design of the guides, the frame projects, in the open position, only a slight distance out of the housing and touches with the point 51 the inner edge of the recesses 28'on its open front side.A container designed in this way is advantageous, for example, for applications according to Figures 8 and 9. In many applications of the present container, for example for storing a stack of photographs, it may be appropriate to provide underneath the bottom 11 a compartment in which, for example, flat films can be accommodated. Figure 13 shows diagrammatically a container of this type, in which such a compartment 55 is provided by means of a further baseplate 56 located underneath the bottom 11. Of course, the rear wall and the sidewalls of the housing must be prolonged correspondingly downwards, so that the flat space 55 formed is closed on all sides with the exception of its front side. By means of a likewise downwardly prolonged front wall 13 of the frame, the housing, together with the lower compartment 55, is shut off completely towards the front, in the closing position shown in Figure 13.When the container is opened as a result of pressure on the recess 17, the frame springs into its open position in which the front wall 13 is pivoted sufficiently far upwards, because of the inclined position of the frame, to enable the stack of objects, which rests on the bottom 10 and is advanced by the frame, to be extracted conveniently from the front or from the side. The objects, for example flat films, located in the additional compartments 55 are, of course, not moved forwards by the frame and remain in the space 55, from which they can, however, be extracted in this open position of the frame. In the container described with reference to Figure 13, although a finger recess 17 is provided on the front wall 13 of the frame, so that, in the way described further above, the cam 19 disengages out of the groove 23 in the upper flat side 10 of the housing and releases the frame for its advancing movement, nevertheless it should be pointed out that another release of the frame out of this locking in the closing position is also possible, namely if the material of the container is sufficiently elastic, so that, in the case of adequate pressure on the side walls of the housing, the topside 10 of the latter curves far enough upwards to release the cam 19 from the groove 23.This type of opening of the container is especially appropriate and practicable where relatively narrow containers are concerned, and those where there is no provision for stacking several containers on top of one another by means of appropriate dovetail guides on the longitudinal edges of the housing. When a container of the present design is used for a stack of flat plane sheet-shaped objects, that is to say, for example, a plurality of gramophone records or video discs, each of which is located in a rectangular sleeve 60, it may be advantageous, as indicated in Figures 14 and 15, to provide in the free space between the topside 10 and bottom 11 in the housing an appropriate subdivision 61 consisting, for example, of a plurality of narrow rails 62 which are arranged in tiers under one another at a mutual distance from one another,in such a way that any one of the rectangular protective sleeves 60 can be pushed into the intermediate space between two adjacent rails 62. Between the rearward edge of the rails 62 and the inner face of the side walls of the housing there is a narrow intermediate space 63 in which the side walls 15 of the frame can be moved forwards or backwards without obstruction. This subdivision 61 extends from the open front side of the housing, for example, up to half the depth of the inner space in the housing, so that the rear wall 14 of the frame, in the position of the latter, rests againstthe rearward end of the subdivision 61.Since, as indicated in Figure 14, this rearward end forms a chamfer, the rear wall 14 of the frame can move into an inclined position underthe effect of the compression spring provided in the housing, so that the frame as a whole assumes an inclined position relative to the bottom 11 ofthe housing. During this forward movement of the rear wall 14 of the frame, the stack of sheetshaped objects 60 is pushed out of the front side of the housing, each of these objects 60 being guided between the associated struts 62. Because of the inclined position of the rear wall 14 of the frame, the topmost object 60 of the stack is advanced somewhat less far than the bottommost, thus making it easier to remove each individual object from the stack.A container of the design described above with reference to Figures 14 and 15 is suitable not only for gramophone records or video discs, but, for example, also for storing a stack of floppy discs or similar storage discs for computers and, of course, also for all other card-shaped or sheet-shaped objects. In the above-described containers for a stack of objects, it has been assumed and described, in each case, that the housing consists of a flat topside 10 and a bottom 11 and of the narrow rear wall 12 and the two narrow longitudinal sides. However, it has been shown that only the bottom 11 and the rear wall 12 of these walls need consist of tough and resistant material, that is to say, for example, plastics, since the stack of objects rests and is pushed to and fro by the frame on the bottom 11, whilst a compression spring is located between the rear wall 12 of the housing andthe rear wall of the movable frame.Since, in many of the exemplary embodiments described above, no substantial forces act either on the topside 10 or on the two narrow longitudinal sides of the housing, in these cases, as indicated in Figure 16, the housing can be provided on the topside and along the two narrow longitudinal sides with appropriate perforations 65, 66 and 67 which are then covered, for example, from the inside with thin sheets of paper. Such a design of the housing is appropriate especially in those applications of the present container which serve for storing consumer articles and which are thrown away as soon as they are empty. When a housing of the design indicated in Figure 16 is used, it is, of course, necessary to ensure that on each side of the aperture 67 in the topside 10 of the housing there is on the inner side of the remaining margin a cam for stopping the rear wall of the frame.The apertures 65, 66, 67 in the housing can appropriately be covered in such a way that, during the injection moulding of this housing, the sheets of paper in question are already inserted in the injection-moulding tool and plastic is injected round them, so that a finished housing can be produced in one work cycle. Naturally other embodiments of the invention are possible, including ones having various permutations of the above described specific features of the illustrated embodiments.

Claims

1. A container for holding a stack of objects located therein, comprising: a rectangular housing which has a bottom, two parallel narrow sides, an upper flat side, a rear wall and an open front side; a rectangular frame movable in the housing and having a front wall which, in a closed position, shuts off the open front side of the housing, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls and a rear wall; a compression spring which engages between the rear wall of the frame and the rear wall of the housing and which, after a retaining device is unlocked, pushes the frame out of the housing by a certain amount into an open position; wherein the arrangement is such that in use a stack of objects held in the container rests on the bottom of the housing and, in the closed position of the frame, is surrounded by the latter, the side walls of the frame, which lie opposite one another, being arranged to guide the latter in the housing, in such a way that, in the open position, the frame assumes an oblique position relative to the bottom of the housing and wherein in the open position of the frame, part of each object in the stack projects out of the front of the housing and is made accessible by the obliquely positioned front part of the frame for extraction.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the frame has at its front end a crossrail with at least one projecting cam, which crossrail is, in the closed position of the frame, located under said upper side of the housing and the cam of which fits into an appropriate groove internally in said upper side of the housing.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing has at least one cam which projects out of the inner face of the upper side of the housing and the dimensions of which are adapted to the height of the rear wall of the frame, in such a way that, when the frame is pushed for the first time into the housing, this can offer the transverse wall only a resistance which can be overcome by the elastic yielding of the upper side of the housing, whereas, when the frame is pushed out underthe pressure of the compression spring said cam forms a stop for the top edge of the transverse wall.

4. A container according to claim 1,2 2 or 3 wherein the frame has side walls which each comprise a rectangular front part and a rearward part, the height of which is less than that of the rear wail of the frame.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a stack which, in the closed position of the frame, is loosely surrounded by the latter and which consists of at least one layer of objects.

6. A combination according to claim 5, and including an intermediate layer in the stack for separating individual layers of objects from one another.

7. A combination according to claim 5, and including an intermediate layer for separating from one another adjacent layers of objects and adjacent objects in each layer.

8. A combination according to claim 5, in which the stack is a stack of rod-shaped objects in a box open at the top.

9. A combination according to claim 5 in which the stack is a stack of rod-shaped objects in a box open at the front.

10. A combination according to claim 5 in which the stack is a stack of rod-shaped objects in a closed wrapping designed for tearing open at the front end.

11. A combination according to claim 5 in which the stack is a stack which, in the closed position of the frame, is loosely surrounded by the latter and which consists of sheet-shaped objects.

12. A container according to claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the side walls of the frame each consist of a chamfered front part and of a rearward and of a rearward part chamfered in mirror image, the side walls having the least height at that point where, in the open position of the frame, their top edges rest against the inner side of the open front side of the housing.

13. A container according to claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the side walls of the frame each consist of a chamfered front part and of a likewise chamfered rearward part which is substantially longer in comparison therewith, the side walls having the least height at the joint between these two parts and resting at this joint, in the open position of the frame, with their top edges against the inner side of the open front side of the housing.

14. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 12 and 13 in which the housing has a compartment which is located underneath its bottom the compartment having open front side which is closed by the front wall of the frame in the closed position of the latter.

15. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 12 to 14, wherein there is a subdivision of the inner space of the housing, which subdivision consists of a plurality of narrow thin rails which project parallel to the bottom from both sides into the inner space and which form with their inward ends an oblique resting face for the rear wall of the frame.

16. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 12 to 15 wherein the housing has apertures in its upper side and in its narrow longitudinal sides, these apertures being covered with a material different from that of the housing.

17. A container for holding a stack of objects, such container being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 or any one of Figures 5 to 13 and 16 or Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A container holding a stack of objects, such container being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 or any one of Figures 5 to 13 and 16 or Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings.