GB2503281A

GB2503281A - A container for receiving boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2503281A
Application number: GB201211125A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Forrest Smith; Paul Nieduszynski
Original assignee: BSS Group Ltd
Current assignee: BSS Group Ltd
Priority date: 2012-06-22
Filing date: 2012-06-22
Publication date: 2013-12-25
Also published as: GB201211125D0

Abstract

A container 1 for receiving one or more boxes comprises a first housing 10 divided into a plurality of box-receiving reservoirs 18 by at least one partition 22. Each reservoir has a rib 24 on its wall for engaging a box. A second housing 12, also containing partitions with ribs, may be connected to the first by a hinge. Each housing may have a preferably transparent closure 14, 16 configured to retain the boxes within the reservoirs. Each closure may have a rib 32 on its surface for engaging a box when it is closed.

Description

Improvements in relation to containers

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to containers. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to containers for receiving one or more boxes, such as boxes for containing screws or other hardware items.

Background of the invention

Many types of existing hardware items, such as screws, are currently supplied in plastic bags or cardboard boxes having wide-ranging dimensions. As a result, the problem is often encountered whereby boxes or bags of different sizes cannot be securely and conveniently contained within a larger toolbox or toolbag, since the dimensions of the container do not allow for this.

Even on occasions when a larger toolbox or toolbag is able to contain a smaller box or bag containing hardware items, such as screws, the box can easily slip or slide in transit or even fall out of the toolbox or toolbag, spilling the hardware items.

Moreover, since screws and similar hardware items have a tendency to spill and become lost or damaged, it is desirable for such items to remain within the small box or bag in which they are supplied or sold until they are required for use. This is problematic, however, since it is often difficult to ascertain the size and type of screw which is contained within a box or bag without removing the item from its supply container.

There is therefore a need for a container and kit which can contain one or more smaller boxes containing, for example, screws or other hardware items securely and safely whilst allowing a user to ascertain what is inside the box.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a container for receiving one or more boxes, comprising: a first housing; at least one first partition located within the first housing and configured for dividing the first housing into a plurality of first box-receiving reservoirs; and at least one rib located on a wall portion of each of the first box-receiving reservoirs and configured for engaging a box.

The container may further comprise a plurality of ribs located on a wall portion of each of the first box-receiving reservoirs and configured for engaging a box.

The container may further comprise a first closure configured, when in a closed position, for retaining one or more boxes within the first box-receiving reservoirs.

The first closure may be hingedly connected to the first housing.

The first closure may be substantially transparent.

The container may further comprise at least one rib disposed on a surface of the first closure configured for engaging a box when the first closure is in its closed position.

The at least one first partition may be located and dimensioned such that the first box-receiving reservoirs have substantially similar dimensions to each other.

The container may further comprise: a second housing hingedly connected to the first housing; at least one second partition located in the second housing and configured for dividing the second housing into a plurality of second box-receiving reservoirs; and at least one rib located on a wall portion of each of the second box-receiving reservoirs and configured for engaging a box.

The container may further comprise a plurality of ribs located on a wall portion of each of the second box-receiving reservoirs and configured for engaging a box.

The container may further comprise a second closure configured, when in a closed position, for retaining one or more boxes within the first box-receiving reservoirs.

The second closure may be hingedly connected to the second housing.

The second closure may be substantially transparent.

The container may further comprise at least one rib disposed on a surface of the second closure configured for engaging a box when the second closure is in its closed position.

The at least one second partition may be located and dimensioned such that the second box-receiving reservoirs have substantially similar dimensions to each other.

The first and second housings may be movable from an open position, in which the contents of the container are accessible, to a closed position, in which the contents of the container are inaccessible The first box-receiving reservoirs and the second box-receiving reservoirs may oppose each other when the first and second housings are in their closed position.

There is also provided a kit comprising: the container according to the present invention; and a box disposed in one of the box-receiving reservoirs.

The kit may further comprise a plurality of boxes disposed in one or more of the box-receiving reservoirs.

The width and height of the box-receiving reservoirs may correspond to the width and height of the boxes.

The length of one of the box-receiving reservoirs may be an integer multiple of the length of at least one of the boxes disposed in that box-receiving reservoir.

By way of example, one embodiment of a container according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a container according to the present invention with first and second closures in an open position; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view ot a container according to the present invention with a first closure in an open position and a second closure in a closed position; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of an interior portion of a housing of a container according to the present invention corresponding to portion A of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a container according to the present invention in a closed position.

Fig. 5 shows a top plan view of a range of boxes for containment within a container according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

A container 1 according to the present invention is depicted in Figs. 1 to 4. The container 1 comprises a first housing 10 having at least one partition 22 located therein. The partition 22 is configured for dividing the first housing 10 into a plurality of first reservoirs 18 in which a box can be received. Each reservoir 18 comprises a wall portion on which a plurality of ribs 24 is located.

The ribs 24, which can be seen in detail in Fig. 3, are configured to engage a box which is inserted into the box-receiving reservoir 18. The ribs 24 are designed to press into one or more surfaces of the box and, therefore, grip the box within the box-receiving reservoir 18 and prevent movement of the box, for example, during transit or on opening of the container 1.

The container 1 also comprises a first closure 14. The first closure 14 is configured, when in a closed position, for retaining one or more boxes within the first box-receiving reservoirs 18, and is preferably hingedly attached to the first housing 10, for example, along one edge of the first closure 14. The first closure 14 is designed to close off the first box-receiving reservoirs 18 and press against and/or dig into one or more boxes contained within the box-receiving reservoirs 18, thereby preventing the boxes within the box-receiving reservoirs 18 from moving or falling out, for example, during transit or on opening of the container 1.

The container 1 further comprises a second housing 12 and second closure 16 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, take a similar form to the first housing 10 and first closure 14. The second housing 16 has at least one partition 22 disposed therein for dividing the second housing 12 into a plurality of second box-receiving reservoirs 20. Each reservoir 20 comprises a wall portion on which at least one rib 24 or, more preferably, a plurality of ribs 24 is located. As described above with respect to the first housing 12, the ribs 24 are configured to engage a box which is inserted into the box-receiving reservoir 20.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the first 14 and second 16 closures are substantially transparent and rigid leaves, sheets or panels shaped to conform to the dimensions of the first 10 and second 12 housings, respectively. The closures 14, 16 can, however, take any suitable form which enables them, when in a closed position, to retain one or more boxes within the box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20. Fig. 2 shows one of the closures in its open position and one of the closuies in its closed position.

At least one non-hinged edge of the fist closure 14 is releasably attachable to the first housing 10, for example, using a latch mechanism, adhesive, or clip mechanism. It will be understood by the skilled person that other attaching means could equally be employed. Similarly, at least one non-hinged edge of the second closure 16 is releasably attachable to the second housing 12.

The fiist 14 and second 16 closures are substantially transpaient i.e. sufficiently tiansparent that the contents of the box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20 are visible whilst the closures 14, 16 are in a closed position. This is advantageous as it allows the user to ascertain where in the first 10 or second 12 housing the desired contents, for example a particular type of hardware, are located, thereby minimising the risk of spilling the contents of the box-receiving leservoirs 18, 20.

As described above, at least one partition 22 is disposed within each housing 10, 12 for dividing the housings 10, 12 into a plurality of box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one paitition 22 is located and dimensioned such that the box-ieceiving leservoirs 18, 20 within a housing have a substantially similar width and height to each other. The purpose of the partition(s) 22 is to create a rail system for securely retaining at least one box. In some instances, the boxes to be retained within the container 1 may have a uniform height and width (as described in detail below). In such cases, it is advantageous to provide a rail system, with the use of specially-designed partition(s) 22, which results in box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20 having dimensions which conform to the dimensions of the boxes to be contained within the housing 10, 12. As desciibed above, a rib oi, moie preferably, a plurality of ribs can be provided on a wall portion of each box-receiving reservoir 18, 20. The ribs press into one or more surfaces of a box, thereby forcibly retaining the box in position and preventing movement of the box within its box-receiving leservoir 18, 20.

In the exemplaiy embodiment shown in Figs. 1,2 and 4, at least one iaised locator 32 is disposed on a surface of the first 14 and/or second 16 closure which is configured for engaging a box when the closure is in its closed position. The raised locator(s) 32 protrude slightly from the closures, and are shaped and positioned to abut against the edges of boxes retained in the box-ieceiving reservoirs 18, 20, thereby holding the boxes in place and preventing them from moving or falling out, for example, during transit or on opening of the container 1.

As shown in Figs, 1 and 2, the first 10 and second 12 housings and first 14 and second 16 closures are all hingedly attached to a common shaft 28. This allows for the neat and convenient arrangement shown in the figures whereby the housings 10, 12 and closures 14, 16 can be rotated about the common shaft 28 to open and close the container 1 and/or to move the first 14 and/or second 16 closure to its closed position. In this way, the first and second housings 10, 12 are movable from an open position, in which the contents of the container 1 are accessible, to a closed position, in which the contents of the container 1 are inaccessible.

When the container 1 needs to be transported, the first and second closures 14, 16 are moved to their closed position and attached to their respective housing 10, 12, thereby securing in place any boxes contained within the box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20. The housings 10, 12 can then be rotated about the common shaft 28 to their closed position, shown in Fig. 4, in which the contents of the container 1 are no longer accessible. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the first box-receiving reservoirs 18 and the second box-receiving reservoirs 20 oppose each other when the first and second housings 10, 12 are in their closed position.

Once the housings 10, 12 are in their closed position, as shown in Fig. 4, they are releasably attached to one another at an edge which is not a hinged edge, for example, using a latch mechanism, clip mechanism, or any other attaching means 30, thereby securely enclosing the contents of the container 1. The container 1 can then be transported with all contents securely retained inside the container 1. As shown in Fig. 4, a handle 26 is provided to enhance the transportability of the container 1.

When it is desired to remove an item, such as a piece of hardware or a screw, from the container 1, the first and second housings 10, 12 can be detached from each other by releasing the attachment means 30, and can be rotated outwardly with respect to one another about the common shaft 28 to an open position. At this point in time, by virtue of the transparent nature of the first 14 and second 16 closures, the contents of the box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20 will be visible.

One or both of the first 14 and second 16 closures can then be detached from its respective housing 10, 12 and the desired item can be retrieved from the housing.

The secure retention of boxes resulting from the combination of a ribbed reservoir and closure, as described in detail above, is highly advantageous as it allows for a box received within the container 1 to be open whilst retained in a reservoir 18. 20. For example, in one embodiment, a box can be retained within a box-receiving reservoir 18, 20 whilst being entirely open along the face which engages with the closure 14, 16 i.e. the closure is the only thing which prevent spillage of the contents of the box. This can be desirable, at it allows the contents of the box to be visible when the closure 14, 16 is in its closed position, as opposed to merely the contents of the box-receiving reservoir 18, 20 (i.e. the exterior of the box itself) being visible. Therefore, a user can ascertain where in the first 10 or second 12 housing a desired item, such as a piece of hardware, is located before moving the first 14 or second 16 closure to its open position and exposing the contents of the box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20.

It has been described above, with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, that, in some instances, the boxes to be retained within the container 1 have a uniform height and width. Examples of such boxes 100 are shown in top plan view in Fig. 5.

As well as having the same height and width, the large 102, medium 104 and small 106 box sizes shown in Fig. 5 have lengths which are linked in that the small box 106 is half the length of the medium box 104, and the medium box 104 is half the length of the large box 102. In cases where it is desirable to retain boxes 100 such as those shown in Fig. 5 within the container 1 of the present invention, it is advantageous to provide a rail system, with the use of partitions 22 (as described in detail above), which results in the provision of box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20 having a width and height conforming to the width and height of the boxes 100 shown in Fig, 5. Moreover, the length of the box-receiving reservoirs 18,20 can be designed to be a multiple of the length of the small 106.

medium 104 or large 102 boxes shown in Fig. 5. This means that, by virtue of the relationship between the lengths of the small 106, medium 104 and large 102 boxes shown in Fig. 5 and described above, various combinations of the small, medium and large boxes can be securely and precisely retained within the existing box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20, allowing for enhanced compatibility and flexibility. It will be understood that boxes of various lengths having any suitable mathematical relationship with one another can equally be retained in suitable box-receiving reservoirs. The ribs 24 of the box-receiving reservoirs 18, 20 and the raised locators 32 of the closures 14, 16 are used to further tailor the container 1 towards housing boxes having particular dimensions.

Moreover, as shown in Fig. 5, the boxes 100 display information 108 about the item contained inside. By virtue of the transparency of the closures 14, 16 of the present invention, this allows a user to ascertain what is contained within a particular box without even needing to move the first or second closure from its closed position, minimising the risk of spillage.

It will be appreciated that this description is by way of example only, and that alterations and modifications may be made to the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A container for receiving one or more boxes, comprising: a first housing; at least one first partition located within the first housing and configured for dividing the fiist housing into a plurality of first box-receiving reservoirs; and at least one rib located on a wall portion of each of the first box-receiving reservoirs and configured for engaging a box.
2. The container of claim 1, fuither comprising a plurality of iibs located on a wall portion of each of the first box-receiving reservoirs and configured for engaging a box.
3. The container of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a first closure configured, when in a closed position, for retaining one or moie boxes within the first box-receiving reservoirs.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the first closure is hingedly connected to the first housing.
5. The container of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the first closure is substantially transpalent.
6. The container of any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising at least one rib disposed on a surface of the first closure configured for engaging a box when the first closure is in its closed position.
7. The container of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one first partition is located and dimensioned such that the first box-ieceiving reservoils have a substantially similar width and height to each other.
8. The containel of any one of the pieceding claims, further comprising: a second housing hingedly connected to the first housing; at least one second partition located in the second housing and configured for dividing the second housing into a plurality of second box-receiving reservoirs; and at least one rib located on a wall portion of each of the second box-receiving reservoirs and configured foi engaging a box.
9. The container of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of ribs located on a wall portion of each of the second box-receiving reservoirs and configured for engaging a box.
10. The container of claim 8 or claim 9, further comprising a second closure configured, when in a closed position, for retaining one or more boxes within the first box-receiving reservoirs.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the second closure is hingedly connected to the second housing.
12. The container of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the second closure is substantially transparent.
13. The container of any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising at least one rib disposed on a surface of the second closure configured for engaging a box when the second closure is in its closed position.
14. The container of any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the at least one second partition is located and dimensioned such that the second box-receiving reservoirs have a substantially similar width and height to each other.
15. The container of any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the first and second housings are movable from an open position, in which the contents of the container are accessible, to a closed position, in which the contents of the container are inaccessible.
16. The container of claim 15, wherein the first box-receiving reservoirs and the second box-receiving reservoirs oppose each other when the first and second housings are in their closed position.
17. A kit comprising: the container according to any one of claims 1 to 16; and a box disposed in one of the box-receiving reservoirs.
18. The kit of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of boxes disposed in one or more of the box-receiving reservoirs.
19. The kit of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the width and height of the box-receiving reservoirs corresponds to the width and height of the boxes.
20. The kit of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the length of one of the box-receiving reservoirs is an integer multiple of the length of at least one of the boxes disposed in that box-receiving reservoir.
21. A container or kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying diawings.