GB2392437A

GB2392437A - Stabilising device for use in a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2392437A
Application number: GB0219873A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Tuppen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-27
Filing date: 2002-08-27
Publication date: 2004-03-03
Also published as: GB0219873D0

Abstract

A device for stabilising a product, eg a take-away meal, during transport in a motor vehicle comprises a plurality of slotted members (4) each disengageably connectable with each other by means of interlocking slots (10,13,18) to form a stabiliser within which the product may be placed. The members (4) may be pushed out from a single corrugated cardboard sheet (2), which may initially be folded double about a fold line (5) adjacent handle means (3).

Description

Stabilising Device The present invention relates to a device for

stabilising a product, for example a take away meal, a pot plant, weekly shopping or an unstable consumable in a motor vehicle 5 as well as a method for stabilising a product, for example in a motor vehicle, which comprises the steps of placing the product within the confines of the stabiliser.

Within the context of this specification the word "comprises" is taken to mean À À.

"includes, among other things". It is not intended to be construed as "consists of 10 only". À À..- Drivers of motor vehicles can experience considerable distraction whilst driving and..

À À- transporting an unstable product in their vehicles. The product could be a take-away meal, a pot plant, weekly shopping or another unstable consumable. A product of this 15 kind is generally transported only a short distance and for convenience it is typically placed in the lap of the driver, on the front passenger seat of a vehicle or in a foot well in front of this seat.

A driver may be aware that a product carried by him is unstable and has the potential 20 to topple thereby creating a spillage that could be a burden to remove. In particular, if the product comprises take-away food it could include one or more curry sauces capable of staining vehicle carpets or upholstery and/or leaving unpleasant smells. In

view of this, a driver could be distracted from the task of driving by giving attention to the product. For example, as a driver travels, inevitably during a long dark wet winter evening with a take-away meal, he could be distracted at a critical time, eg cornering or braking, by a take-away meal starting to topple, and the natural response from the 5 driver would be to look into his vehicle and lunge for the meal, or to drive with only one hand on the steering wheel whilst trying to hold the meal with his other hand.

Clearly this could be dangerous and detrimental to road safety. Thus, there is a need to stabilise the product in order to minimise the risk of being involved in a road traffic À incident or accident.

10....

The problem has been addressed in the past by placing heavy items at the bottom of a product. However, this suffers from the problem that items in the product are often Bee similar and may be of approximately the same weight. Therefor, stability remains a problem. Alternatively, a product has been secured by placing it in a bag, for example a paper bag. However, it has been found that the bag is still at risk of toppling and contents of the bag can still spill. To cope with this problem plastics bags which are impermeable to liquid products have been used. However, unless the bags are sealed there is still a 20 risk of leakage. Furthermore, this only addresses the problem of leakage and not the problem of toppling which could still ruin a take-away meal or plant.

Therefore, a need exists for new equipment for facilitating the stabilization of a product, for example a take-away meal, which can stabilise the product securely and which can be made available when needed.

5 The present invention addresses the problems set out above.

Remarkably, it has now been found that a stabiliser can be used to secure a product, for example a take-away meal, quickly and easily. In addition, the stabiliser can be À ^ '.

made available with the product so that they can be obtained simultaneously.

10. . Consequently, in a first aspect the present invention provides a device for stabilising a...

product, eg a take-away meal, which comprises a plurality of members that are each À.

disconnectable connectable with at least one other member, the members each having a thickness, a base, a top, two sides and a slot adjacent at least one of the sides which 15 extends from the base or the top, wherein the slot has a depth extending approximately perpendicular to the base and/or top, has a first end which is open, a second end which is closed, and a width which corresponds to the thickness of a member. This provides the advantage that the slot which extends from the base of a first member is capable of interlocking with a corresponding slot which extends from the top of a second member 20 to form an assembled configuration and the members may be interchangeable.

Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises two pairs of members which intersect, a first pair of members having two slots which have open ends in the base of the members and a second pair of members having two slots which have open ends in the top of the members wherein the depth of the slots approximately 5 corresponds to half the distance between the top and the base of a member. In use, this provides an assembled configuration of the device having four walls and four overhangs, wherein each overhang is provided by a portion of a member which . extends outwardly from a join between two members. This provides the advantage: À ' :. that each pair of members is capable of interlocking with each other and the size of the Àe 10 overhangs determines the amount of stability provided by the device....

À À À Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises members A..

having slots which have a "Y" shaped opening or curved opening which tapers to a width equivalent to the thickness of the members. This provides the advantage of easy 15 assembly because the slots can be engaged easily to provide interlocking without difficulty. Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises slots which have nicks at their closed ends wherein the nicks include a pointed taper and a 20 fine cut. This provides the advantage of enabling secure tight joins between the members in an assembled configuration of the device.

s Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises members having at least one pair of additional slots which correspond with each other in at least one pair of members. This provides the advantage of enabling an alternative assembled configuration.

Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises members having sides tapered from adjacent their base to adjacent their top. More preferably, the sides are tapered from a point on a side of a member between its base and its top to À'..

a point on its top. Even more preferably the sides are tapered only at the top of the 10 overhang provided by a portion of a member which extends outwardly from a join between two members in an assembled configuration of the device. This provides the advantage of enabling the device to be placed neatly into the forward part of the foot..

well of a car, thereby avoiding a low slung glove compartment in a motor vehicle.

15 Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises a sheet having at least one push out member.

Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises of a single sheet having a plurality of push out members, more preferably four push out 20 members, even more preferably two pairs of push out members, which can be connected with each other to form an assembled configuration of a structure having

four walls wherein the structure is capable of being placed in the foot well of a motor vehicle. Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises a sheet 5 having a handle. This provides the advantage of being able to transport the device easily. It will be understood that the intention is that a take-away meal or other product (eg drinks including beer) can be provided together with a device according to the invention and the device can be easily constructed in order to safely transport the.À. À.

À À meal in a vehicle. À.

10: À À . Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises a sheet À Àe which is folded at a fold line and one pair of push out members is provided on one...

À Àe side of the fold line and another pair of push out members is provided on another side of the fold line.

Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises pairs of members wherein a first pair is substantially longer from side to side than a second pair and an assembled configuration of the pairs has dimensions and shape strictly confined so as to fit a standard take-away food container. This provides the advantage 20 that when a standard bag for a take-away meal is placed within the walls of an assembled configuration, there is an internal force applied to the walls of the structure,

thereby effectively locking the joints between the push out members and creating a stable structure.

Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises push out 5 members produced from corrugated board ea. plastic or card. This provides the advantage of a light weight, but strong and inexpensive structure.

Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention has dimensions such À.

that, in combination, the push out members define a precision rigid structure that is À 10 capable of being dismantled to a dismantled configuration. This provides the advantage of enabling easy storage in a motor vehicle eg in the foot well of a motor vehicle or beneath or adjacent a seat. A..

Preferably, an embodiment of a device according to the invention comprises a member 15 having a panel for advertising.

Preferably, the device is most stable on a level floor in a motor vehicle.

In a second aspect the invention provides a method for stabilising a product which 20 comprises assembling a device according to a first aspect of the invention to form an assembled configuration of the device and placing a product within the walls of the assembled configuration of the device.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the description of the presently preferred embodiments which are set

out below with reference to the drawings in which: 5 Figure 1 shows a plan view of a device according to the invention.

For the purposes of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as

part of the same or separate embodiments, however it will be appreciated that the À À.

scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some 10 of the features described...

As seen in Figure 1, a corrugated cardboard device ( 1) for stabilising a take-away meal...

comprises a single sheet (2) having a handle (3) and two pairs of push out members (4) held in situ by "tabs" to enable easy removal. The members (4) are capable of 15 being detached from the sheet (2) and intersected to provide a four walled structure having joins which are disconnectable connectable. The sheet (2) can be folded at a fold dine (5) wherein two push out members (4) are provided on one side of the fold (5) line and two other push out members (4) are provided on another side of the fold line (5) A f rst pair (6) of members (4) each has a thickness of about 3mm, a base (7) of about 400mm and a top (8) of about 320mm approximately parallel to the base (7), the top

(8) and the base (7) being about 170mm apart. The members (4) have two equally tapered sides (9) and two slots (10) which extend from the base (7) located about 68mm from the base of the sides (9), wherein the slots (10) have a depth of about 85mm extending approximately perpendicular to the base (7). The slots (10) have a 5 first end (11) which is open in the base and a second end (12) which is closed, and a width of about 3mm corresponding to the thickness of a member (4). The first pair (6) of members (4) also each have additional slots (13) which correspond with each other located about 252mm from the base of a side of the members (4) to enable an: À alternative assembled configuration.

À:. 10. . A second pair (14) of members (4) each has a thickness of about 3mm, a base (15) of À.e about 340mm and a top (16) of about 260mm approximately parallel to the base (15),. ..

the top (16) and the base (15) being about 170mm apart. The members (4) have two equally tapered sides (17) and two slots (18) which extend from the top (16) located 15 about 55mm from the top of the sides (17), wherein the slots (18) have a depth of about 85mm extending approximately perpendicular to the top (16). The slots (18) have a first end (19) which is open in the top and a second end (20) which is closed, and a width of about 3mm which corresponds to the thickness of a member (4).

20 In use an assembled configuration of the device (1) has four walls and four overhangs, wherein each overhang is provided by a portion of a member which extends outwardly from a join between two members.

The open end (1 1, 19) of the slots (10, 13, 18) each have a "Y" shaped curved opening which tapers to a width equivalent to the thickness of the members (4). In addition, the closed end (12, 20) ofthe slots (10, 13, 18) have nicks wherein the nicks include a 5 pointed taper and a fine cut of about 5mm.

The members (4) have sides (9, 17) tapered at their top of the overhang provided by a portion of a member which extends outwardly from a join between two members in an À.

assembled configuration of the device. The sides (9) of the first pair (6) of members À:e 10 (4) are tapered equally after about 80 or 90mm from the base (7). The sides (17) of the second pair (14) of members (4) are tapered equally after about 80mm or 90mm À - from the base (8). It will be appreciated that the taper could all be from about 80mm...

from the base (8) or one pair could be tapered from 90mm from the base (8) and the other pair could be tapered from 80mm from the base (8).

The members (4) each have a panel for advertising.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

20 Such changes and modif cations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that changes and modifications are covered by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A device for stabilising a product, eg a take-away meal, which comprises a plurality of members that are each disconnectable connectable with at least one other member, the members each having a thickness, a base, a top, two sides and a slot adjacent at least one of the sides which extends from the base or the top, wherein the slot has a depth extending approximately perpendicular to the base and/or top, has a first end which is open, a second end which is closed, and a À À.

width which corresponds to the thickness of a member.

2. A device according to claim 1 which comprises two pairs of members which intersect, a first pair of members having two slots which have open ends in the....

base of the members and a second pair of members having two slots which have open ends in the top of the members wherein the depth of the slots approximately corresponds to half the distance between the top and the base of a member.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 which comprises members having slots which have a "Y" shaped opening or curved opening which tapers to a width equivalent to the thickness of the members.

4. A device according to any preceding claim which comprises slots which have nicks at their closed ends wherein the nicks include a pointed taper and a fine cut.

of 12 5. A device according to any preceding claim which comprises members having at least one pair of additional slots which correspond with each other in at least one pair of members to provide the advantage of enabling an alternative assembled configuration. 6. A device according to any preceding claim which comprises members having sides tapered from adjacent their base to adjacent their top. À;..

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the sides are tapered from a point on a..

side of a member between its base and its top to a point on its top.....

À.e . ' 8. A device according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the sides are tapered only at the top of the overhang provided by a portion of a member which extends outwardly from a join between two members in an assembled configuration of the device.

9. A device according to any preceding claim which comprises a sheet having at least one push out member.

l O. A device according to any preceding claim which comprises of a single sheet having a plurality of push out members

A device according to claim 9 or 10 which comprises two pairs of push out members, which can be connected with each other to form an assembled configuration of a structure having four walls.

12. A device according to any preceding claim which comprises a sheet having a handle. À. - 13. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 12 which comprises a sheet which À À ' À À À is folded at a fold line and one pair of push out members is provided on one side À.. of the fold line and another pair of push out members is provided on another side., À. of the fold line.....

Àe- :- À À. 14. A device according to any preceding claim which comprises pairs of members wherein a first pair is substantially longer from side to side than a second pair and an assembled configuration of the pairs has dimensions and shape strictly confined so as to fit a standard take- away food container.

15. A device according to any preceding claim which comprises members produced from corrugated board ea. plastic or card.

16. A device according to any preceding claim which a member having a panel for advertising.

17. A method for stabilising a product which comprises assembling a device according to a first aspect of the invention to form an assembled configuration of the device and placing a product within the walls of the assembled configuration of the device.

18. A device for stabilising a product substantially as described herein with respect the accompanying drawings.

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