GB2355646A - Hinged storage containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A pair of storage containers 10, eg for retail display of confectionary, are pivotally connected along one edge by one or more hinges 34 whereby they may be aligned side-by-side or vertically stacked. Each hinge may be a plastics moulding with a line of reduced thickness acting as hinge. Each container body has two sides (14, Fig 1) interconnected by two L-shaped portions (16,18) each of which forms half the rear (17,19) and either the top (13) or bottom (15) wall. A door 20 is centrally pivoted whereby it can close either half of the front opening depending on the alignment of the containers.

Description

2355646 TITLE: DISPLAY UNIT This invention relates to a display unit for

displaying products for sale, and more particularly for displaying confectionary goods for sale. Such a display unit may be used in any retail environment, but is particularly suitable for use in garage shops and newsagents.

It is usual for a supplier of confectionary goods to furnish shop-keepers with display containers or pods which are identifiable with the supplier's brand name. These containers are intended to be stacked one on top of the other, positioned side by side, or positioned in a block to form a display area of the supplier's products for maximum visual presence in a shop. However, in practice the containers are often separated, and any visual effect is lost.

It is already known from WO 99/28199 to provide first and second containers linked together by a linking member which is independently pivotally mounted to each container. This allows relative movement of the containers between a first position in which the second container is vertically stacked on the first container, and a second position in which the two containers are side by side.

This known arrangement requires the linking member to be mounted on the back of the containers. Therefore, the linking member has to be extremely robust, because in the movement between the two positions the containers are unsupported at their front edges. The movement is also uncontrolled unless gear wheels are provided on the linking member between the containers to prevent relative rotation of adjacent containers. This adds 20 significantly to the cost of production of the containers.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a display unit constructed of at least two linked containers, of a new and improved design.

2 According to the invention there is provided a display unit comprising first and second containers connected to each other by a hinge rigidly connected to each of the containers, whereby the containers are able to pivot about the axis of the hinge between a first position in which the second container is vertically stacked on the first container, and a second position in which the first and second containers are side by side.

The hinge may extend along the complete length of a container, or may be provided by one or any number of short hinge elements. Preferably the hinge comprises two hinge elements which are injection moulded from a plastics material. Conveniently, each hinge element may be made from a single moulding. Preferably, each hinge element includes two stiff body parts positioned either side of and connected together by a line of reduced section. The line of reduced section between the body parts may act as a hinge. Each hinge is conveniently positioned along or proximate the length of a container comer, whereby the container comer is formed by the junction of a side wall and a wall portion.

In the preferred arrangement, one of the hinge elements is positioned proximate the front of the containers, and the other hinge element is positioned proximate the back of the containers, such that the containers are firmly supported relative to each other along their length.

The display unit may include one or more additional containers, wherein each additional container is hingedly connected to each adjacent container. Where a container is hinged between two adjacent containers, two hinges are provided most preferably on opposite diagonal comers of the container. When all pairs of adjacent containers are in the first position, the containers form a single vertical stack. When all pairs of adjacent containers are in the second position (i.e. side by side), the containers form a row.

Most preferably the display unit comprises four containers.

3 Preferably each container is constructed from two opposing side walls, and two opposing '12 shaped body halves attached to the side walls. Each body half includes a wall portion and a rear portion extending perpendicularly from the wall portion. The two rear portions form one end of the container. Conveniently, the two side walls are identical, and the two body halves are identical. The side walls and body halves may be injection moulded from a plastics material.

Preferably, the other end of the container is open, and is accessible irrespective of the relative position of any other container.

A door may be provided in the opening.

Preferably, the door covers roughly half of the opening. The door may be movable between operative position in which it covers the bottom half of the opening, and a transitional position in which it covers the upper half of the opening. Conveniently, the door may be pivotally mounted. Alternatively, the door may slide, or be mounted in any other suitable way that allows movement of the door between the two positions.

The display unit will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure I is an exploded perspective view of a container for use in a display unit; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a two container display unit, in which the containers are side by side; 20 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a two container display unit, in which the relative position of the containers is being changed from the position in which the containers are side by side, as shown in Figure 2, to a position in which the containers are stacked; 1 4 Figure 4 is a perspective view of a two container display unit, in which the containers are stacked; Figure 5 is a front view of a display unit, in which the hinges have been exaggerated to show their position; Figure 6A is a perspective view of a four container display unit, in which the containers are arranged in a block; Figure 6B is a perspective view of a four container display unit, in which the containers are arranged in a row; Figure 6C is a perspective view of a four container display unit, in which the containers are arranged in an'L'shape; Figure 6D is a perspective view of a four container display unit, in which the containers are arranged in a stack; and Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a container door.

Referring to Figure I of the drawings, a container generally indicated at 10 for assembly in a display unit includes two opposing side walls 12, 14, two opposing V shaped body halves 16, 18 and a door 20. The door 20 is provided with pivot pins 22, 24.

The side walls 12, 14 are identical, and the body halves 16, 18 are also identical. The body halves 16, 18 have a thickness t, and comprise wall portions 13, 15 and rear portions 17, 18. Each side wall 12, 14 has a channel 26 provided around the periphery of the side wall 12, 14 on three of its edges. The channel 26 is defined by two perpendicularly protruding flanges 28, 30 which extend from the side wall 12, 14. The channel 26 is dimensioned to snugly receive the thickness t of the body halves 16, 18. The thickness t may be an interference fit in the channel 26.

A tubular projection 32 is provided on each side wall 12, 14 for each receiving one of the pivot pins 22, 24 of the door 20.

The side walls 12, 14, the body halves 16, 18 and the door 20 are all produced from injection moulded plastic. However, the body halves 16, 18 are moulded as flat plates and are heat bent to provide the wall portions 13, 15 and the rear portions 17, 19.

When each container 10 is assembled, the body halves 16, 18 are located in the channel 26 of each side wall 12, 14, and the door pivot pins 22, 24 are inserted into the tubular projections 32. The body halves 16, 18 are then chemically welded to the side walls 12, 14.

Referring now to Figure 2, the assembled container 10 is substantially box like, with an opening 46 at one end, in which the door 20 is pivotally mounted. Hinge elements 34 are provided to link the containers 10 together to form a display unit 40. The hinge elements 34 are injection moulded from plastics, each as a single moulding, with two body parts (not shown) and a line of reduced section (not shown) between the body parts which act as a hinge. A wedge shaped lip (not shown) is provided on each body portion.

The flange 30 of each side wall 12, 14 is extended to form four tabs 35, 36, 37, 38 at possible hinge positions. The flange 28 is correspondingly interrupted at each of these positions.

Recesses 39 are provided in the inside surface of the body half wall portions 13, 15 at positions proximate the edge of wall portions 13, 15, and adjacent the tabs 35, 36, 37, 38 after assembly.

6 The display unit 40 is assembled by taking two containers 10, and inserting two hinge elements 34 in the positions shown, that is to say, in the upper edges 42, 44 of adjacent containers 10. Each hinge body part fits between a respective tab 35, 36, 37, 38 and wall portion 13, 15. This enables the wedge shaped lip of each body part to latchingly engage with a snap fit one of the recesses 39 in the wall portion 13, 15. The containers are then hingedly connected together.

The relative position of the containers 10 may be changed by pivoting the containers about the hinge elements 34, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4 by arrows A. In so doing, one of the containers 10, is inverted. Consequently the door 20 of the inverted container would now be positioned in the upper half of the opening 46. However, the door 20 is mounted at an angle X to the vertical, such that it is caused to rotate by its own weight about the pivots 22, 24, as indicated by arrows B. The door 20 comes to rest in its new position, in the lower half of the opening 46. Conveniently the door 20 is dimensioned such that it cannot pass through the opening 46, but engages the wall portions 13, 15 of the body halves 16, 18. Alternatively, an abutment (not shown) could be provided on the wall portions 13, 15 to act as a door stop.

In Figure 5, the hinge elements 34 are exaggerated in size to show their position in relation to a series of containers 10 forming a display unit. The hinge elements 34 are positioned on opposite diagonal comers of each container 10.

Figures 6A to 6D show a display unit 50 comprising four containers 10, with the containers 10 in different positions relative to each other. In Figure 6A the containers 10 are arranged in a block, in Figure 6B the containers 10 are arranged in a row, in Figure 6C the containers are engaged in an V shape and in Figure 6D the containers are arranged in a stack.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a container 10 with a curved door 60 mounted in a channel 48. The channel 48 is also curved with the same curvature as that of the door, and is formed by two flanges 62, 64. The door 60 is arranged to freely slide back and forth in the channel 48 as indicated by the arrows C.

7

Claims (13)

1. A display unit comprising first and second containers connected to each other by a hinge rigidly connected to each of the containers, whereby the containers are able to pivot about the axis of the hinge between a first position in which the second container is vertically stacked on the first container, and a second position in which the first and second containers are side by side.

2. A display unit as claimed in claim I in which each hinge extends along the complete length of a container, or is provided by a plurality of short hinge elements.

3. A display unit as claimed in claim I or 2 in which the hinge comprises two hinge elements which are injection moulded from a plastics material.

4. A display unit as claimed in claim 3 in which each hinge element is made from a single moulding.

5. A display unit as claimed in claim 4 in which each hinge element includes two stiff body parts positioned either side of and connected together by a line of reduced section, which acts as a hinge.

6. A display unit as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 in which each hinge is conveniently positioned along or proximate the length of a container comer, whereby the container comer is formed by the junction of a side wall and a wall portion.

7. A display unit as claimed in claim 6 in which one of the hinge elements is positioned 1 proximate the front of a container, and the other element is positioned proximate the back of the container, such that the connected containers are firmly supported relative to each other along their length.

8 8. A display unit as claimed in any one of claims I to 7 including one or more additional containers the or each of which is hingedly connected to each adjacent container.

9. A display unit as claimed in claim 8 in which when a container is hinged between two adjacent containers, two hinges are provided on opposite diagonal comers of the container, when all pairs of adjacent containers are in the first position, the containers form a single vertical stack and when all pairs of adjacent containers are in the second position (i.e. side by side), the containers form a row.

10. A display unit as claimed in any one of claims I to 9 in which each container is constructed from two opposing side walls and two opposing'L' shaped body halves attached to the side

11. A display unit as claimed in claim 10 in which each body half includes a wall portion and a rear portion extending perpendicularly from the wall portion.

12. A display unit as claimed in claim 11 in which one end of a container is open and includes a door which roughly covers half the opening, the door being moveable between an operative position in which it covers the bottom half of the opening, and a transitional position in which it covers the upper half of the opening.

13. A display unit substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.