GB2130554A

GB2130554A - Storage device

Info

Publication number: GB2130554A
Application number: GB08233682A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham John Britton; George Clarke Murfet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-11-25
Filing date: 1982-11-25
Publication date: 1984-06-06

Abstract

A storage device, for example for fishing tackle, comprises a box (1) having a base (1b) and a hinged lid (1a) each including a steel sheet (3, 4). Storage vessels (5) fit inside the container (1) and adhere to the base and lid by virtue of discs (8) of ferrite-loaded plastics provided on the base of the containers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storage device This invention relates to general purpose of storage devices, of the kind having a plurality of compartments for the storage of different sorts of article, and has particular application in the field of storage devices for containing metallic objects, for example fishing tackle.

According to this invention, there is provided a storage device, comprising a closable container, and at least one, and preferably a plurality of storage vessels adapted to fit within the container, and adhere to an internal surface thereof, by magnetic attraction. The storage vessels are preferably provided on a base surface thereof with a layer of magnetic material, for example a ferrite-loaded plastics material (such as that sold under the Trade Mark PLACAM),for providing the magnetic attraction, and a wall of the closable container may incorporate a magnetisable material, for example a ferrous sheet, to which the magnetic material adheres. Alternatively, the storage vessels may incorporate ferrous material, and a magnetic material for example a ferrite-loaded plastic may be incorporated into the wall of the container.

It is preferred that the magnetic material is provided on a base surface of the storage vessels, preferably on an external base surface, since this enables the magnetic material not only to retain the vessel in position within the closable container, but also assists in the retention in the vessel of small magnetisable articles, for example fishing hooks or nuts and bolts. Use of the device according to the invention is particularly straightforward, since after the container is open, one of the vessels may be simply removed, its contents extracted as desired, and then the vessel may be simply replaced in the container where it is conveniently held by magnetic attraction.To assist in the extraction oi the contents of the vessel when such contents are magnetisable, and thus susceptible of being held in the vessel by the magnetic base of the vessel, a magnetic wand may be provided, for extracting such articles, which are magnetically attracted to the base. Such a wand may be formed by providing a tip of a magnetic material, for example ferrite-loaded plastics, on the end of an elongate member. If the magnetic material is the same as that provided on an external base surface of a storage vessel, the spacing caused by the thickness of the base of the vessel ensure that the magnetic attraction of the wand on the contents overcomes that of the base, and thus the contents can be readily extracted by means of the wand.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the storage device may incorporate a container portion, and a lid portion, having a raised rim, hingedly attached thereto, whereby storage vessels may be accommodated both within the container, and within the lid portion.

The storage vessels themselves may preferably be formed of a plastics material, although other materials such as porcelain, glass-reinforced plastic, glass, treated and hardened paper, and wood may also be used.

Specifically, metallic vessels may be employed to advantage when the magnetic material is incorporated into a wall of the container, and in this embodiment, the invention is particularly suited to the storage of small (commercially available) pots of paint and the like.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention when the storage vessels are pots of paint, the magnetic or magnetisable material incorporated into the wall of the container may be removable, and may serve the dual purpose of retaining the vessels in the box when located in its position in the container, and providing an artist's pallette when removed from the container.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure l is a perspective view of a storage device in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a partial section on line A-A in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a storage device comprises a closable container in the form of a rectangular box 1, having a base portion it, and a lid portion la, hingedly connected along an edge by a hinge 2. The base 3 of base portion it and the top 4 of lid portion la are provided with a ferrous sheet glued to their interior surface.

Within the box 1 are provided a number of circular plastics vessels 5. Each of the vessels has a generally circular plastics body 6, and snap-fitting plastics lid 7. Secured to the base of each vessel 5 by means of an adhesive is a disc of ferrite-loaded plastics material 8, by which the vessels 5 are caused to adhere to the sheets 3 and 4 respectively. The respective heights of the vessels 5, and the walls 9 and 10 of the container 1 are such that, when the container 1 is in the closed position, the vessels 5 do not obstruct closure of the container 1.

The vessels 5 can thus be removed from the interior of the container 1, and metallic articles therein will continue to adhere to their base. To extract the articles, a wand is provided having a elongate body portion 11 affixed to one end of which is a disc of ferrite-loaded plastics material 12, similar to that used to form the layer 8 on the base of the vessels 5. Thus, the wand may be used to extract metallic contents from the vessels 5, after they have been removed from the inside of the container 1.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, only a single magnetically retained storage device may be provided, and the remainder of the interior of the device may be provided with an alternative form of storage.

It is specifically envisaged that the storage device may be provided in the form of a kit of parts for assembly by a customer, comprising a closable container, a sheet of magnetic material, for example magnetic ferrite-loaded plastics material, and optionally a sheet of magnetisable material, for example tinplate or sheet steel, and also optionally, an elongate member for making a wand.

The kit may be accompanied by instruction to assemble a storage device either by fitting the magnetic sheet to an internal surface of the contain er, or by fitting portions of the magnetic sheet to one or more storage vessels, and the optional magnetisable sheet to an internal surface of the container.

It should of course be appreciated that the above specific description is merely intended to be illustrative, and various other specific configurations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Astorage device, comprising a closable container, and at least one storage vessel adapted to fit within the container, and adhere to an internal surface thereof, by magnetic attraction.

2. Astorage device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each of the said storage vessels is provided on a base surface thereof with a layer of a magnetic material.

3. A storage device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the magnetic material is provided on an external surface of the base.

4. A storage device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the or each of the said storage vessel is formed of a plastics material.

5. A storage device as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, including a magnetic wand, for extracting articles magnetically attracted to the base of the said vessel.

6. Astorage device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the magnetic wand comprises an elongate member, having on one end thereof an amount of the magnetic material of which the said layer is formed.

7. A storage device as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6 wherein the magnetic material is a ferrite-loaded plastics material.

8. A storage device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the closable container is generally rectangular, and incorporates a ferrous, magnetisable material in a wall thereof.

9. A storage device as claimed in u.dim 8, wherein the closable container incorporates a hinged lid, incorporating a magnetisable material, the said wall being opposite the lid, whereby the device is adapted to receive the said storage vessels on two opposite internal faces thereof.

10. A storage device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.

11. A kit of parts for making a storage device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a closable container, and a sheet of magnetisable material, together with instructions to use the said container and sheet to form a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.