GB2173479A - Containers for flat articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (10), for example for storing floppy discs or micro-discs, comprises a body, a lid (30) and a pouch (50), moulded from plastics 30 material. The lid (30) and pouch (50) are separate from, but held movably captive on, the main body (12) by respective stud and slot formations (26, 38 and 56, 24). For the lid, the slots (38) require the lid to be moved linearly from its closed position before being tilted rearwardly to an open position, where it remains under its own weight. For the pouch, the slots are arcuate and enable the pouch to pivot forwardly. The open lid then acts as a counterbalance. When the container is closed, there is overlap between the parts of the container, but the external surfaces of the parts are generally flush and give the closed container a rectangular shape. A releasable catch (42, 60) acts between the lid and the pouch. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Containers for flat articles This invention relates to a container of the kind, hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified in which a plurality of articles may be stored; the invention is intended primarily, but not exclusively, for use in the storage of flat articles such as discs, for example magnetic data recording discs, such as are generally known as "floppy discs" or those generally known as "micro discs", for use in conjunction with computers.

Computer users frequently utilise several floppy discs, and generally require a container in which such discs may be stored when not in use. Conventional such containers have either removable, easily lost lids, or lids which are captive on main bodies of the containers in an excessively cumbersome manner.

Additionally, suppliers of such discs despatch the discs in containers which ensure that the discs reach their customers in good condition, but at the same time do not wish to incur unnecessary expense by using containers which require to much material for their manufacture, or which reduce packaging efficiency through excessive bulk of the containers themselves.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved container of the kind specified.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a container of the kind specified comprising a main body and a lid separate from, but held captive on, the main body, the lid being movable relative to the main body between open and closed positions, such that with the main body upright, the lid is capable of remaining in its open position, supported by the main body, under action of its own weight.

In this manner, the open lid may be positioned so as not to hinder access to the interior of the container, while remaining captive on the main body.

Preferably, the lid provides an upper part only of the container.

The lid may be held captive by interengagement between stud means on the main body and elongate stud-receiving slot means on the lid, preferably of geometry such that with the lid in its open position, the centre of gravity of the lid lies rearwardly of the fulcrum afforded by said interengagement, so that the lid is maintained in the open position by its own weight.

Alternatively or additionally, such stud means may be on the lid, and such slot means may be on the main body.

Preferably the interengagement between the stud means and the slot means is such that from its closed position, the lid must undergo slight translational movement, parallel to the slot means, before it can be tilted to its open position.

Preferably, a rear wall of the containwer is provided solely or largely by the main body, so facilitating rearward tilting of the lid to its open position.

Preferably, a lower portion of the front wall of the container is provided by a movable pouch capable of tilting forwardly from the main body in order to facilitate access to the interior of the container and thereby facilitate transfer of articles to arid from the container.

Preferably, the lid, in its open position, and with the container upright, acts as a counterbalance against the weight of the forwardly tilted pouch and any article or articles which may be resting thereon.

Preferably, with the pouch in a closed position, releasable snap-interfitting may occur between the lid and the pouch when the lid is moved to its respective closed position, so as to maintain the container in a closed condition.

Preferably, said snap-interfitting occurs via catch means integrally formed with the lid and pouch.

Preferably, in the closed position of the lid, side walls of the lid lie outwardly of inwardly rebated adjacent side wall portions of the main body, to the minimum extent necessary for acceptable strength and/or rigidity of the closed container.

Preferably, the pouch is movably captive on the main body via interengagement between corresponding stud means and slot means on the pouch and main body respectively, or on the main body and pouch respectively, so that the fulcrum of tilting of the pouch lies at a location other than that of such interengagement.

Preferably, the pouch comprises a front wall portion and side walls, such that in the closed position of the pouch, the side walls lie internally of adjacent portions of the main body.

Preferably, when the container is closed, adjacent external surfaces of its parts are flush with each other, and provide the container with rectangular walls, Such flush fitting, in addition to said rectangularity facilitates stacking of a plurality of such containers on or against each other, thereby improving packaging efficiency.

Said stud means may comprise studs chamfered to facilitate assembly of the container.

Said slots may be afforded by through-holes or depressions in the walls concerned.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a container of the kind specified comprising a main body and a lid held movably captive on the main body and providing an upper portion of the container, wherein, with the lid in a closed position, external surfaces of the lid and the main body are substantially flush with each other and provide a rectangular shape for the closed container.

The container may further comprise a tiltable front pouch such that with the pouch closed, the lid, pouch and main body are flush with each other and give a rectangular shape to the closed container.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a container of the kind specified comprising a main body and a lid separate from, but held captive on, the main body, the lid having a closed position wherein side walls of the lid lie outwardly of adjacent inwardly rebated side wall portions of the main body.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a container of the kind specified having a main body and a pouch tiltable relative thereto, such that in a closed position of the pouch, side walls of the pouch extend rearwardly to only a fraction of the depth of the main body.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a container of the kind specified comprising a main body, a lid, and a forwardly tiltable front pouch, such that the lid is rearwardly tiltable to a position wherein it can counterbalance, or contribute to counterbalancing of, the pouch (and any articles thereon) when the pouch is forwardly tilted, so enabling the open container to stand upright in a free-standing manner.

The pouch, in tilting forward, may swing at least partially below the level of the lower wall of the main body, so as to tilt the main body rearwardly when the container is opened. In this manner, overbalancing may be avoided even when said articles (on the pouch) are relatively heavy.

The main body, and lid and/or pouch (where present) of any container in accordance with the invention may be formed by moulding thereof from plastics material.

Any of the features described above in relation to any one or more of said aspects of the invention may alternatively or additionally be utilised in a container in accordance with any other of said aspects of the invention.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the container of Fig 1, with the parts thereof assembled, an open condition of the container being illustrated; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the container, similar to that of Fig. 2, but with the container in a closed condition; and Figure 4 is a front elevation of the container when in the closed condition of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a container 10 embodying the invention comprises a main body 12 having a lower wall or base 14 and a rear wall 16 and side walls 18 integrally formed with the base 14 and rear wall 16.

Each side wall 18 comprises a respective inwardly facing rebated lower portion 20 and a respective outwardly facing inwardly rebated upper portion 22. Each portion 20 comprises a respective arcuate slot 24, and each portion 22 comprises a respective outwardly projecting stud 26. Each side wall 18 provides a respective inclined ledge 28 defining a lower boundary of the respective portion 22.

The container 10 further comprises a lid 30 having a top wall 32, a front wall 34, which in use, provides an upper front wall portion of the container 10, and side walls 36 integrally formed with the top wall 32 and front wall 34. Each side wall 36 comprises a respective rectilinear slot 38, extending in a direction substantially parallel to the front wall 34 and substantially perpendicular to the top wall 32.

Each side wall 36 has a respective inclined lower edge 40. The front wall 34 comprises an aperture 42 providing one part of a catch means hereinafter to be described, and is of reduced thickness along its lower edge 44 containing the aperture 42.

The container 10 further comprises a pouch 50 having a front wall 52, which in the assembled container 10 affords a lower front wall portion thereof, and side walls 54 integrally formed with the front wall 52. Each side wall 54 is provided with a respective outwardly projecting stud 56. The front wall 52 comprises an upwardly projecting upper edge portion 58 of reduced thickness, having a forwardly facing projection 60 formed thereon, the projection 60 constituting a further part of said catch means. A ribbed portion 62 is provided on the front wall 52, to facilitate use of said catch means, as will hereinafter be described.

The parts 12, 30 and 50 are each formed by moulding thereof from plastics material.

In order to assemble the container 10, the side walls 18 are deflected away from each other, and the pouch 50 is urged between the lower portions 20 of the walls 18 until the studs 56 enter the respective slots 24, whereupon the walls 18 spring back to their undeflected positions, with the studs 56 interengaged with the slots 24, so that the pouch 50 is thus held captive on the main body 12.

The pouch 50 when so held captive, is movable relative to the main body 12 by virtue of said slots 24 being elongate, the arcuate shapes of the slots 24 controlling on movement of the studs 56 such that the pouch 50 is rendered forwardly tiltable about a fulcrum provided by its lower edge 64 which engages the base 14. The walls 54 then lie inwardly of respective adjacent portions 20. In order to mount the lid 30 on the main body 12, the side walls 36 of the lid 30 are urged away from each other and are passed over the portions 22, outwardly of the studs 26, until the slots 38 overlie the studs 26, whereupon the side walls 36 are allowed to spring back to their normal positions, such that the respective studs 26 are interengagingly received in the slots 38, so that the lid 30 is held captive on the main body 12 by virtue of this interengagement.The side walls 36 then lie outwardly of the respective adjacent portions 22.

The container 10 is intended primarily, but not exclusively, for use in the storage of flat articles such as magnetic data recording discs, for example of the kind known as "floppy discs", or of the kind known as "micro discs" which would be stored in the container 10 with their planes lying substantially parallel to the rear wall 16.When it is desired to gain access to articles in the (initially closed) container 10, the directions of the slots 38 and the forms of the edges 40 and ledges 28 are such that after release of the catch means, the lid 30 must first be raised vertically from the position thereof shown in Fig. 3, parallel to the slots 38, in order that it may then be tilted rearwardly to the open position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the centre of gravity (not indicated) of the lid 30 lies rearwardly of the studs 26 which provide a fulcrum for tilting of the lid 30, so that the lid 30 is able to remain, under action of its own weight, in said open position, supported on the main body 12, while the main body 12 itself stands upright on the base 14.The pouch 50, which is initially in a closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, may be allowed to tilt forwardly to the open position shown in Fig. 2, wherein further outward movement thereof is prevented by abutment of the studs 56 with upper ends of the slots 24. Any flat articles such as floppy discs which may be in the container 10 may then tilt forwardly so as to rest on the pouch 50. Thus with the lid 30 and pouch 50 in their open positions, ready access to the articles is provided, even though the lid and pouch are captive. The container 10 when so opened does not fall forwardly due to the weight of the discs and pouch 50, owing to a counterbalancing effect of the weight of the rearwardly tilted lid 30.

When it is desired to close the container 10, the pouch 50 is tilted rearwardly, to a closed position wherein the front wall 52 is vertical, flush with front edges 18a of the walls 18, and the lid 30 is then tilted forwardly and allowed to drop forwardly and downwardly, until it reaches its own closed position wherein the edges 40 abut the ledges 28, whereupon said catch means is operative to retain the container 10 in the closed condition, by virtue of snap-interfitting receipt of the projection 60 in the aperture 42. (In order to release said catch means in order to open the container 10, the region 62 must be pressed inwardly, for example by finger pressure, so that the projection 60 moves rearwardly out of the aperture 42).

When the container 10 is in its closed condition, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, adjacent external surfaces of the lid 30, the main body 12, and the pouch 50 are substantially flush with each other and define a rectangular shape for the closed container 10, so permitting easy stacking of a plurality of such containers 10, which is particularly important in the case of bulk transport of such containers, said rectangular shape, additionally helps to maximise utilisation of storage space.

In general, in the closed condition of the container 10, any overlying which is present between the walls of adjacent parts of the container is generally the minimum required in order to provide the container 10 with adequate rigidity and strength. The upper portions 22 are provided by reduced-thickness portions of the walls 18, the side walls 36 externally overlying the portions 22. The side walls 54 of the pouch 50 are such that when they are received against the portions 20, they extend rearwardly to only about half of the depth of the container. Interfitting between the lower edge 44 of the lid 30 and the upper edge 58 of the pouch 50 is achieved via reduced thickness edges thereof, so that the total thickness of said edges in their region of overlap is the same as the thickness of the walls 52 and 34.

In this manner, manufacture of the container 10 requires use of no more plactics material than is necessary, and the container 10 itself occupies no more volume than is necessary for safe storage of the discs, thereby affording high packaging efficiency for storage of discs in the container 10. Such high packaging e#fficiency is particularly important, for example, during shipment of a large number of such discs in such containers, where it is important to ensure that the total volume occupied by a load is not increased disproportionately by the volumes occupied by the containers themselves.

It will be appreciated that the lid 30, by virtue of being held captive on the main body 12, is unlikely to be lost. The lid 30 has no rear wall, so facilitating rearward tilting of the lid 30 relative to the main body 12, and again avoiding unnecessary overlying between parts of the container.

Although the slots 24 and the slots 38 illustrated are afforded by through-holes in the respective walls of the container, they could alternatively be afforded by similarly shaped depressions formed in inwardly facing surfaces of the walls concerned, so as to leave outwardly facing surfaces of said walls generally unperforated and flat. The studs 26 and 56 would then be generally shorter than those illustrated, to conform to the depths of such depressions.

Whilst the studs illustrated are of generally uniform cross-section, the studs could alternatively, and advantageously, be chamfered to facilitate assembly (particularly automated assembly) of the container. Thus, for example, the studs 56 on the pouch 50 may be chamfered such that rearward portions of the two studs 56 are less far from each other than front portions of the studs 56, to enable the pouch 50 to be snap-interengaged with the main body 12 by a rearward linear movement of the pouch 50, wherein the rearward portions of the studs 56 enter between the wall portions 20, and the chamfered surfaces of the studs urge the wall portions 20 apart with a wedging action, until the studs 56 enter the slots 24 in the wall portions 20.Similarly, the studs 26 on wall portions 22 may be chamfered, to enable the lid 30 subsequently to be snap-interengaged with the main body 12 by rearward linear movement of the lid 30, front portions of the chamfered studs 26 entering between the side walls 36 and the chamfered surfaces of the studs 26 urging the side walls 36 apart with a wedging action, until the studs 26 enter the slots 38 in the side walls 36.

Thus, only simple linear movements, involving minimal manipulation of the parts of the container, are required to assemble the container.

Whilst the catch 42, 60 illustrated comprises a slot 42 in the lid and a projection 60 on the pouch, the positions of the slot and projection may be interchanged, preferably so as to leave the front wall 34 unperforated.

When the slots and catch are formed in these alternative manners, the external surface of the closed container appears substantially unbroken, except for divisions between the pouch, main body and lid, which is of aesthetic benefit, in addition to making it relatively difficult for foreign matter such as dust and dirt to enter and accumulate in the slots and/or the catch.

Although the pouch 50 illustrated is captive on the main body 12 via stud and elongate slot formations, where the articles to be stored in the container are relatively heavy, so that there is a risk that even with the lid in its rearwardly tilted position, the container will overbalance in a forward direction, the pouch may advantageously be alternatively mounted (e.g. via a simple pivotal connection to the main body) such that in tilting forward, a front wall of the pouch swings below the level of the lower wall of the main body, so that the main body is caused to tilt rearwardly, to an extent sufficient to move the centre of gravity of the container and contents rearwardly to a position in which such overbalancing does not occur. In such an alternative container, a rear portion of the base of the container may be provided by said lower wall of the main body, and a front portion of the base of the container may be provided by a lower wall of the pouch. Detent means, operative between the main body and opened pouch, may be provided to aid stability.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (27)

1. A container of the kind specified comprising a main body and a lid separate from, but held captive on, the main body, the lid being movable relative to the main body between open and closed positions, such that with the main body upright, the lid is capable of remaining in it its open position, supported by the main body, under action of its own weight.

2. A container according to Claim 1 wherein the lid provides an upper part only of the container.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the lid is held captive by interengagement between stud means on the main body and elongate stud-receiving slot means on the lid.

4. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the lid is held captive by interengagement between stud means on the lid, and elongate stud-receiving slot means on the main body.

5. A container according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the stud means and slot means are of geometry such that with the lid in its open position, the centre of gravity of the lid lies rearwardly of the fulcrum afforded by said interengagement.

6. A container according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the interengagement between the stud means and the slot means is such that from its closed position, the lid must undergo slight translational movement, parallel to the slot means, before it can be tilted to its open position.

7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a rear wall of the container is provided solely or largely by the main body, so facilitating rearward tilting of the lid to its open position.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a lower portion of the front wall of the container is provided by a movable pouch capable of tilting forwardly from the main body.

9. A container according to Claim 8 wherein the lid, in its open position, and with the container upright, acts as a counterbalance against the weight of the forwardly tilted pouch and any article or articles which may be resting thereon.

10. A container according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein, with the pouch in a closed position, releasable snap-interfitting may occur between the lid and the pouch when the lid is moved to its respective closed position.

11. A container according to Claim 10 wherein said snap-interfitting occurs via catch means integrally formed with the lid and pouch.

12. A container acording to any one of Claims 8 to 11 wherein the pouch is movably captive on the main body via interengagement between corresponding stud means and slot means on the pouch and main body respectively, or on the main body and pouch respectively, so that the fulcrum of tilting of the pouch lies at a location other than that of such interengagement.

13. A container according to any one of Claims 8 to 12 wherein the pouch comprises a front wall portion and side walls, such that in the closed position of the pouch, the side walls lie internally of adjacent portions of the main body.

14. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein in the closed position of the lid, side walls of the lid lie outwardly of inwardly rebated adjacent side wall portions of the main body, to the minimum extent necessary for acceptable strength and/ or rigidity of the closed container.

15. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein when the container is closed, adjacent external surfaces of its parts are flush with each other, and provide the container with rectangular walls.

16. A container in accordance with at least any one or more of Claims 3, 4 or 12 wherein some or all of the- stud means comprise studs chamfered to facilitate assembly of the container.

17. A container in accordance with at least any one or more of Claims 3, 4 or 12 wherein some or all of the slots are afforded by through-holes or depressions in the container walls concerned.

18. A container of the kind specified comprising a main body and a lid held movably captive on the main body and providing an upper portion of the container, wherein with the lid in a closed position, external surfaces of the lid and the main body are substantially flush with each other and provide a rectangular shape for the closed container.

19. A container according to Claim 18 further comprising a tiltable front pouch such that with the pouch closed, the lid, pouch and main body are flush with each other and give a rectangular shape to the closed container.

20. A container of the kind specified comprising a main body and a lid separate from, but held captive on, the main body, the lid having a closed position wherein side walls of the lid lie outwardly of adjacent inwardly rebated side wall portions of the main body.

21. A container of the kind specified having a main body and a pouch tiltable relative thereto, such that in a closed position of the pouch, side walls of the pouch extend rearwardly to only a fraction of the depth of the main body.

22. A container of the kind specified comprising a main body, a lid, and a forwardly tiltable front pouch, such that the lid is rearwardly tiltable to a position wherein it can counterbalance, or contribute to counterbalancing of, the pouch (and any articles thereon) when the pouch is forwardly tilted, so enabling the open container to stand upright in a free-standing manner.

23. A container according to Claim 22 wherein the pouch, in tilting forward, swings at least partially below the level of the lower wall of the main body, so as to tilt the main body rearwardly when the container is opened.

24. A container in accordance with any one or more of Claims 18 to 23 which is also in accordance with any one or more of Claims 1 to 17.

25. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein its parts are formed by moulding thereof from plastics material.

26. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

27. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.