GB2501456A

GB2501456A - Folding multiple box unit

Info

Publication number: GB2501456A
Application number: GB201202296A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lindi Jean Lawrenson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-09
Filing date: 2012-02-09
Publication date: 2013-10-30
Also published as: GB201202296D0

Abstract

A storage container comprises two main boxes 1 (eg containing arts and crafts materials), each having at least one opening in an opening face and are attached to each other at, and pivotable about, an edge of each box 1 adjacent to the opening face of the box. The main boxes are movable between a stowed position (figure 6) in which the opening faces of the main boxes 1 face and abut one another, and an in-use position (figure 1) in which the opening faces are disposed substantially alongside one another. At least one further box 7 is nested within one of the main boxes, and at least one of the main boxes has a lid 2, which includes a lip 5 for securing the lid 2 in the main box 1, the lip 5 is adapted to retain the further box 7 on the lid 2, when the lid 2 is open. A third main box may be provided, with at least one opening in an opening face, pivotably attached to the second box so that the opposite faces to their respective opening faces are pivotable from abutting positions to in-use positions alongside each other in the same plane.

Description

Compact Multiple Box Unit

Background

There is often the difficulty of storing a variety of different sized items in a compact form. There is also a problem that when the storage unit is opened up to access the items, that all of the items in the unit are within easy reach, visible and accessible. This is particularly relevant for children as they have shorter arms and need to be able to reach items.

A product on the market that serves the need for compact storage with a variety of different shaped items is a toolbox. The problem with this is that once the toolbox is opened up it takes up a large amount of space as the width of the box increases. It is then hard to reach items that are furthest away.

With smaller storage boxes where the width does not increase or is not naturally de to start with, there is the issue of this type of box not being able to store as large an amount of items as say the toolbox.

With a box that has a longer length so as to store more items, there is then the issue! problem of storing a larger box in a cupboard or drawer. The storage is no longer compact.

Statement of invention

The invention consists of two or more main boxes, some of which may have their own lids and each with one or more nested boxes inside. The main boxes attach to one another in such a manner so as to make the combined size of the boxes compact and easy to store and also ensures that items in the main boxes as well as the nested boxes are easily accessible and visible.

This box unit can be used to store a number of different type items such as art and craft items, make up, kitchen items and gardening items.

Advantages of this invention 1. This invention stores a large amount of items for its size. Having nested boxes within the main box add an extra layer of storage thereby providing more storage space but still keeping the storage compact.

2. Due to the opening mechanism of the main boxes, an efficient working structure is created for the user in that a] all the items are within easy arms reach -particularly for a child and b] all items are visible.

3. The nested boxes create a natural divider system within the main boxes.

4. The shape of the main boxes is versatile in that the box can be stored in a longer form (which is flatter) or a shorter form [where there is more height].

S. Storage is less fussy and more organised by being able to store two or more boxes in one solid box form. This also means retrieving the items to be used is more convenient as only one box need be retrieved) as opposed to two or more boxes.

Introduction to drawings

An art and craft box unit will be used as an example of this Compact Multiple Box Unit and will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings. The number of main boxes and nested boxes may vary, depending on the items being stored.

* Note: in the description of the figures, when referring to an impermanent attachment': this means this is an area where a type of attachment material is

RTM

located [such as magnets or Velcruj and the attachment material enables the boxes to attach or become detached, according to the user's purpose i.e. it is not a permanent attachment.

Figure 1: Two main boxes [1) showing their lids (2). The main boxes attach to one another at the centre (3). The lids attach permanently on the opposite side, at (4a) and tuck into the main boxes at [4b].

Figure 2: An underside view of the attachment of the main boxes. The main boxes attach at the top edges of the sides of the main boxes (3].

Figure 3: The lids of the main boxes opened up and resting on the supporting surface at (6). The lips (5] of the lids and the nested boxes (7] are also depicted.

Figure 4: The nested boxes [7) having been taken out of their respective main boxes (1] and have come to rest on the lids (2) of the main boxes. The lips (5) of the lids prevent the nested boxes from slipping off [5). Chunkier items (Ba] remain in the main box (1). Other items [Sb] are now visible because the nested boxes have been removed.

Figure 5: The main boxes coming together in order to form one unit. The attachment material [9) will come together to secure the main boxes.

Figure 6: The main boxes securely connected to one another to form one solid unit [10]. The main boxes are permanently attached along one side (3) and then have an impermanent attachment point on the opposite side, by means of the attachment material [9).

Figure 7: An adaption to the two main boxes. This figure depicts three main boxes (14, 13 and 11) resting and closed on top of one another. They attach to one another permanently at points (17) and (16) and have attachment material at points (18] and [16] where there is an impermanent attachment.

Figure 8: The top box (14] and bottom box (11) have become detached from the central box (13) and now lie on either side of the central box. The lids (12] of the boxes 11 and 14 are resting on a surface and the lips of these lids (5) hold the nested boxes (7] in place. The centre box (13) has got no lid and holds chunky items [Ba).

Figure 9: A second adaption of the two main boxes: This shows a larger box (19) having two smaller boxes (20 and 21) sitting on top. There is attachment material at point (23) and boxes 20 and 21 attach permanently at points 22.

Figure 10: The two smaller boxes 20 and 21 have become detached and sit on either side of the larger box (19). The lids (25) of boxes 20 and 21 have opened out in the front, and support the nested boxes (24). There are items (26] being stored in the larger box.

Detailed Description:

The main boxes: The main boxes consist of a box [1] with a lid [2]. The lids are permanently attached to one side of the box (4a]. The lids have a lip (5) on the opposite side to the permanent attachment and tuck into the main boxes at (4b) in order to close them securely.

The main boxes attach to one another along the one side of each box (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 6 at number 3]-the side where the lids secure to close and open the main boxes. Attachment occurs only at the top edges of the sides of the main boxes. This enables movement to occur between the main boxes.

The lids: The lids of the boxes open up such that they fall outwards, in the opposite direction to one another. The flexibility of the attachment of the lids enables the far end of the lids to rest on the supporting surface (Figure 3, number 6). It is important that the lids do no lift up off the surface, as they are needed for holding the nested boxes.

The lids have a lip (Figure 4, number 5) that serves to help secure the main box as well as to prevent the nested boxes (7) from falling off the lid. Please see below regarding the nested boxes.

The nested boxes: The nested boxes (7) rest on items in the main boxes (Figure 4). They therefore form another layer of storage for the main boxes. The purpose of the nested boxes is to create more storage space in the main box and to also serve as a divider of items. The height measurements of the main box are high enough so as to accommodate items underneath the nested boxes (Figure 4, number Sb] at the same time as accommodating the nested boxes themselves.

The nested boxes easily lift out of the main box and when the unit is in use, the nested boxes can rest on the lid. The lip of the lid prevents the nested boxes from slipping off. By moving the nested boxes, the contents underneath the nested boxes become visible and accessible. It is inevitable that it is then easy to retrieve items from the nested boxes as well as from the main boxes.

The nested boxes can vary in sixe, depending on the items being stored. By having nested boxes that are smaller in dimension compared with the main boxes, means that chunkier items (Figure 3 and 4, number 8a] can also be stored in the main box.

Closure of the main boxes: To close the main boxes together to form a unit, one needs to first close the lids of the main boxes. The main boxes [1] then come together) with their lids (2] meeting [Figure 5). Due to the attachment of the two main boxes, the boxes are able to connect with one another such that their lids meet and attach to one another by an attachment material such as Velcro or magnets [9]. A magnetic strip on one of the main boxes and a metal strip on the other seems to work best as the boxes can secure easily and are also not too difficult to pry apart.

This connection of the boxes enables the boxes to be stored and moved around as one solid unit [Figure 6, number 10) instead of two separate ones. The connection is such that the two main boxes can also be opened out to reveal the main boxes.

Adaptions 1. Three main boxes: There could be another main box [Figure 7, number 11] attached to the underside of two other main boxes. The centre main box [13] has not got a lid, as it will form the centre box for which the other two main boxes [11 and 14) will lie on either side [Figure 8). The centre box [13) and bottom box [12) attach permanently at [15). The imermanent attachment point for these two boxes is at [16]. The top box [14] and the centre box [13) attach permanently at [17] and have an impermanent attachment at [18). The centre box can hold chunky items [8a, Figure 8) and br other nested boxes.

2. The main boxes being different sizes: It maybe that one of the boxes is a larger size [Figure 9, number 19). The other two main boxes [20 and 21) would attach permanently to the larger box [19) at the sides [22). The impermanent attachment would be at [23). When the two boxes on top [20 and 21) open out, they rest on either side of the larger box [Figure 10, number 19]. The lids [25) of the boxes 20 and 21 open out in front of their respective boxes [instead of to the side as in the previous examples and adaptions). This means that the total length of the whole unit when opened up is not too long. There are two nested boxes [24) resting on the lids. Other items [26) are stored in the larger box and are accessible and visible. The larger box does not have a lid in this instance, but could easily have one. Because in this example, it does not have a lid, it means that the other two boxes [20 and 21) also then serve as a lid to the larger box [19].

Claims

CLAIMS1. A storage container comprising first and second main boxes, the main boxes each having at least one opening in an opening face for allowing introduction and removal of items to and from the main boxes, the main boxes being attached to each other at, and pivotable about, an edge of each box which is adjacent to the opening face of the box, and the main boxes being movable between a stowed position in which the opening faces of the main boxes face and abut one another, and an in-use position in which the opening faces are disposed substantially alongside one another, at least one further box being nested within one of the main boxes, and at least one of the main boxes having a lid, the lid including a lip for securing the lid in the main box, the lip being adapted to retain the further box on the lid, when the lid is open.
2. A storage container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which holding means are provided for holding the main boxes in the stowed position.
3. A storage container as claimed in claim 2, in which the holding means include C) magnets.
4. A storage container as claimed in claim 2, in which the holding means include o hook and loop fasteners.
5. A storage container as claimed in claim 4, in which at least one nested box is r 25 provided, for fitting inside at least one of the main boxes.
6. A storage container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which a third main box is provided, the third main box having at least one opening in an opening face, the third main box being attached to the second main box at, and pivotable relative to the second main box about, lower edges of the second and third main boxes, the main boxes being movaNe between a stowed position in which the opening faces of the first and second main boxes face and abut one another and a lower face of the third box opposing the opening face abuts a lower face of the second box opposing the opening face, and an in-use position in which the opening faces of the boxes are disposed substantially alongside each other in the same plane.
7. A storage container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the second main box has an extent perpendicular to the attached edge which is shorter than the corresponding extent of the first main box, and in which a third main box is provided, the first and third main boxes being attached to each other at and pivotable about an edge of each box which is adjacent to the opening face of each box, the main boxes being movable between a stowed position in which the opening faces of the second and third main boxes face and abut the opening face of the first main box, and an in-use position in which the opening faces of the main boxes are disposed substantially alongside each other
8. A storage container substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings. C') r