GB2202824A

GB2202824A - Storage and dispensing unit

Info

Publication number: GB2202824A
Application number: GB08706582A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Harwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-19
Filing date: 1987-03-19
Publication date: 1988-10-05
Also published as: GB8706582D0

Abstract

A storage dispensing unit for articles such as screws, nuts, spices an the like comprises a hollow inner cylindrical member (2) rotatably nested within a hollow outer cylindrical member (4). The inner member (2) is divided into axially spaced chambers (16) each having an axially extending elongate opening (18) in the cylindrical wall thereof. The outer member (4) has a pair of aligned axially extending openings (8) for providing access to the inner member (2). Each opening in one of said members (2, 4) is angularly displaced from every other opening in that member so that rotation of the inner member (2) relative to the outer member (4) selectively brings only one pair of openings (8, 18) into register at any one time. <IMAGE>

Description

STORAGE AND DISPOSING UNIT The present invention relates to storage and dispensing units.

Storage and dispensing units are known having a chamber for storing articles such as screws, nuts, spices and the like. Such units may take the form of a set of miniature drawers, bags of plastics material or lidded jars of glass or plastics.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved storage and dispensing unit.

According to the invention, there is provided a hollow inner cylindrical member nested within a hollow outer cylindrical member, the inner member being divided into a plurality of axially spaced chambers and being rotatable relative to the outer member, each chamber of the inner member having an axially extending elongate opening in the cylindrical wall thereof, the outer member having an axially extending opening or openings therein providing access to the inner member, each opening in one of said members being angularly displaced from every other opening in that member, and means for rotating the inner member relative to the outer member whereby to selectively bring an opening in one member into register with the openings in the other member in turn, so that only one opening in one member is in register with one opening in the other member at any one time.

Advantageously, each chamber has a different axial dimension, the axial dimension of each chamber increasing with distance from a selected axial end of the inner member.

Preferably the inner and outer members are of transparent plastics material. Other materials, both translucent and opaque, can also be used.

A storage and dispensing unit embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which shows a perspective view of the two parts of the unit when not nested one within the other.

As shown in the drawing, the storage unit includes a hollow cylindrical inner member 2 and a hollow cylindrical outer member 4. The outer member 4 is closed at one axial end by an end member 6, but is open at the opposite axial end. The cylindrical wall of the member 4 is provided with a pair of aligned axially extending openings 8. The bridge portion 4a between the two openings 8 is provided as a strengthening feature but may be omitted.

The inner cylindrical member 2 is closed at opposite ends, at one end by a planar end member 10, and at the other end by a handle 12.

The space within the inner member 2 is divided into a plurality of axially spaced individual chambers 16 by a plurality of disc-shaped partitions 14. Each chamber 16 has a different axial dimension; the axial dimension diminishing with distance from the end member 10. Each chamber 16 is provided with an axially extending openings 18 extending the full axial dimension of the chamber 16. The openings 18 are radially staggered with respect to one another.

In operation, each chamber 16 is filled with a batch of articles such as screws, nuts or bolts. The larger chambers 16 are filled with larger articles, all of the same size, and the smaller chambers are filled with smaller articles, all of the same size.

The inner member 2 is nested within the outer member 4 so as to be freely rotatable therein.

3y rotating the inner member 2 with the aid of the handle 12, the opening 18 in a selected chamber 16 can be brought into register with one of the openings 8 In this way, the outer member 4 closes all the openings 18 but the selected one and so allows articles from the selected chamber alone to be dispensed as required.

Preferably the inner member 2 has one axial location along the outer surface thereof where there are no openings 18. When this axial location is aligned with the openings 8, all the slots 18 are closed. Detent means (not shown) may be provided between the inner and outer members 2 and 4 to lock or locate the storage unit in a closed state.

The inner and outer members 2 and 4 are advantageously of plastics material, for example of polystyrene. Also, the inner and outer members 2 and 4 are transparent so that the contents can be readily viewed.

The storage unit can be used in a variety of different environments for storing such items as car components, sailing and yachting components, electrical and plumbing components.

It will of course be appreciated that all the chambers may be of the same size or of different axial dimensions. Also, while each compartment has been described as housing components all of the same size, it will be apparent that a plurality of different sized components can be stored in the same chamber.

In a modification, the inner member 2 is provided with a series of axially aligned openings while the outer member is provided with a series of staggered openings 8 so arranged that only one of the staggered openings 8 can be aligned with the opening 18 in the inner member at any one time. This prevents access being had to more than one chamber for any relative angular position between the inner and outer members.

The outer cylindrical member 4 is provided with a pair of feet 20 which act to hold the storage unit in a predetermined attitude and to stop it from rolling.

Advantageously the feet are magnetic so that the unit can be mounted on a magnetisable surface which may be horizontal or vertical.

In a further modification, the different chambers of the inner member may be of different diameters. Instead of the inner member defining a plurality of different chambers, it may define a single chamber.

Claims

1. A storage dispensing unit comprising a hollow inner cylindrical member nested within a hollow outer cylindrical member, the inner member being divided into a plurality of axially spaced chambers and being rotatable relative to the outer member, each chamber of the inner member having an axially extending elongate opening in the cylindrical wall thereof, the outer member having an axially extending opening or openings therein providing access to the inner member, each opening in one of said members being angularly displaced from every other opening in that member, and means for rotating the inner member relative to the outer member whereby to selectively bring an opening in one member into register with the openings in the other member in turn, so that only one opening in one member is in register with one opening in the other member at any one time.

2. A unit according to Claim 1 wherein each chamber has a different axial dimension, the axial dimension of each chamber increasing with distance from a selected axial end of the inner member,

3. A unit according to Claim 1 or to Claim 2 wherein the inner and outer members are of transparent plastics material.

4. A unit according to Claim 1 or to Claim 2 wherein the inner and outer members are opaque.

5. A unit according to Claim 1 or to Claim 2 wherein the inner and outer members are translucent.

6. A storage dispensing unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.