GB2148256A

GB2148256A - Container for video cassettes or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2148256A
Application number: GB08424003A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arnold Neuhold
Original assignee: Geimuplast Peter Mundt KG
Current assignee: Geimuplast Peter Mundt KG
Priority date: 1983-10-25
Filing date: 1984-09-21
Publication date: 1985-05-30
Also published as: GB8424003D0; FR2553740A1; DE3338738A1; IT8404882A1; IT8404882A0; IT1180300B

Abstract

A container 1 for video cassettes 12 consists of a rectangular container portion provided on its underside with a bracket 2 connected to the container by a hinge 7, and with a recess 3 which receives the bracket 2 of an adjacent container to hold them together and enable containers to be stacked side-by-side and one on top of another to form a storage unit for cassettes 12. A downwardly hinging end cover for the container 1 may actuate a bracket for pulling out a cassette within the container 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for video cassettes or the like The invention relates to containers, preferably made of a plastics material, for video cassettes or the like, such as video tape cassettes or flexidiscs.

For video cassettes it is known to have separate containers for despatch and for storage. The cassettes are despatched in despatch cartons. Plastics receptacles to hold collections of cassettes are used for storage, particularly receptacles in stacked form.

The invention on the other hand is based on the problem of constructing the known video cassettes or the like in such a way that they can be stacked safely without separate storage receptacles for collections and/or can be sent off without additional despatch cartons.

According to the present invention there is provided a container for video cassettes or the like, comprising a rectangular container body provided with a bracket member which can be moved to a position on which it extends outwardly to connect the container body to an adjacent container and provided with a recess to receive a connecting bracket of an adjacent container.

Preferably the container body is provided with an end cover connected by a hinge to a pulling-out bracket which engages a cassette when housed in the container by means of a web.

When the end cover of the container is opened to insert the cassette, the pulling-out bracket engaged with the cassette is moved only in a horizontal plane. Consequently, the container can be constructed so that the clearances between the cassette and the top wall of the container and between the cassette and the pulling-out bracket can be kept small. As a result of these small clearances, the cassette is firmly held in the container during despatch, so that it cannot be damaged by movement of the cassette within the container.

Preferably the end cover is connected to the container by a double hinge providing the further advantage that the movement of the cassette mounted on the pulling-out bracket when pulled out of the container is increased in a forward direction, so that the cassette, particularly in a stacked unit, can be taken hold of more simply and more securely with the fingers of one hand. Since the web formed between the two folds of the double hinge is inclined to the rear, the end cover of a cassette stacked below in the stacking unit, can be opened more easily with one finger.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of any example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of containers according to the present invention stacked together to form a storage unit; Figure 2 consists of two cross-sections 2a and 2b and two part perspective views 2c and 2d showing how a container constructed according to the invention is connected to an adjacent container to form a storage unit; and Figure 3 is a section through two containers according to the present invention, one being in the closed condition and the other in the open condition.

It will be seen from Figure 1 that plastics despatch and storage containers for video cassettes can be stacked in side-by-side relationship and stacked one above another without having to employ a special receptacle for storing a collection of them. For this purpose, each container 1 is provided with a connecting bracket 2 and with a recess 3, as shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2a the container 1 is shown in the form which it takes when it has to be connected to an adjacent container in a stacking unit. The container 1 and bracket 2 may be integral or they may consist of two parts with the connecting bracket 2 preferably being injection moulded from plastics material. A two-part embodiment is shown in the drawing, in which the container 1 is made of har material and the bracket 2 of flexible material, the hinge 7 being them being made of film.In an embodiment which has not been illustrated, the bracket 2 is integral with the container 1, preferably being injection moulded from plastics material. In the integral embodiment, the bracket 2 is joined to the container 1 by a hinge 7 made of film. In the two-part embodiment, the connecting bracket 2 and the hinge 7 are constructed as separate components which engage in the container 1. The bracket 2 is then joined to the container 1 by a hinge 7 made of film. It can consequently be swung out from the position shown in Figure 2b, in the direction of the arrow 4 into the position shown in Figure 2a.In this extended position the bracket 2 can, by bringing together two adjacent containers 1 in the direction of the arrows 5 and 6 in Figures 2a and 2b, be inserted in the recess 3 in the adjacent container 1, so that the two containers 1 can be stacked in the manner shown in Figure 1 and can automatically be secured to each other when in position.

As will be seen from Figures 2a and 2b, a locking element 8 is provided in the receiving recess 3. As shown in Figure 2a, a corresponding complementary element, namely a hole 9, is formed in the bracket 2 which interlocks with the element 8 when the bracket 2 is in the recess 3. This locking ensures that the container according to the invention is held safely in a stacking unit. In the non-extended state of the bracket 2 in Figures 2b, the bracket 2 is held against the bottom of the container 1 by means of the hole 9 engaging with a further locking element 10.

The features shown in Figures 2a and 2b are illustrated in greater detail in the perspective views shown in Figures 2c and 2d. Here the push-button like holding of the flange 2 against the bottom of the container 1 comprises two rectangular slots 9 provided in the bracket 2 and two locking rectangular elements 10 on the part of the bottom of the container 1 to which the bracket 2 is hinged, and two inwardly tapering locking elements 8 are provided on the bottom of the container 1 within the recess 3.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the container 1 ac cording to the invention, is provided with an end cover 11 which can be opened to allow insertion and removal of a cassette 12. The cassette 12 is shown in broken lines in Figure 3. The end cover 11 is provided with a double hinge 13 by which it is connected to the container 1. It is also connected, by means of a web 14 forming a hinge, to a cassette pulling-out bracket 15 for the cassette 12. The pulling-out bracket 15 is supported on guiding ribs 16 provided in the container 1 and has at its read end a flange 25 which engages the rear of the cassette 12.

As can be seen from Figure 1 and Figure 3, the end cover 11 has, at its other end, a transversely extending portion 17 having a securing lip 17a which engages in a recess 18 in the upper wall of the container 1. An end portion 19 of the cover 11, in conjunction with an inclined portion 20 between the folds of the double hinge 13, makes it easy to open the end cover 11 and simultaneously take out the cassette 12.

The bottom of each container 1 may further be provided with feet 21, 22, as shown in Figure 3.

The feet 21, 22, engage in corresponding recesses 23 and 24 provided in the top of the container 1 and also ensure safe stacking.

Claims

1. A container for video cassettes or the like#, comprising a rectangular container body provided with a bracket member which can be move to a position on which it extends outwardly to connect the container body to an adjacent container and provided with a recess to receive a connecting bracket of an adjacent container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which a locking element is provided in the receiving recess, and a corresponding complentary element is provided on the connecting bracket.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the connecting bracket is connected to the container body by a hinge made of film.

4. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the bracket is formed integrally with the container body.

5. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the container body is provided with an end cover connected by a hinge to a pulling-out bracket which engages a cassette when housed in the container by means of a web.

of a web.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5, in which the end cover is designed to be swung down by means of a double hinge.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which the pulling-out bracket is supported on guiding ribs provided in the container body.

8. A container for video cassettes or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.