GB2529839A

GB2529839A - Storage container

Info

Publication number: GB2529839A
Application number: GB1415566.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Andrews
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-03
Filing date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2016-03-09
Also published as: GB201415566D0

Abstract

A storage container comprising a plurality of components 10 and 40 which can be disassembled wherein each of the components 10 and 40 is a functional item on its own. The components 10 and 40 may be used as document, laptop, tablet or keyboard stands or supports or a footrest. The components 10 and 40 may be arranged to have different functions and one may be a footrest with an adjustable height or angle. Connection means may be provided to lock the components together and may utilise cooperating pegs 62 and notches 36. The device is designed to improve space utilisation in an office environment. The components 10 and 40 may form the walls of the container and the product can be made from sheet plastic or metal.

Description

Storage container This invention relates to a storage container. In particular, it relates to a storage container that has components that can be used by a worker occupied in an environment that uses hot-desking or has a clean desk policy In the working arrangement known as "hot-desking", a worker, typically in an office or laboratory, does not have a permanent desk or workstation, but instead can occupy any of a number of positions at multiple locations. A problem that this presents is that at the end of a work period, the worker must remove all personal items from a workstation to make it ready for use by another occupant. Since many of the personal items will actually be the property of the worker's employer, once removed from the workstation, they will not be taken away by the worker, but instead stored in a secure location in the employer's premises. It is therefore in the interest of space efficiency that each worker is supplied with a storage container of a standardised shape and size in which articles can be contained when stored in this way.

As well as the worker and the worker's personal items, the empty storage container must also occupy a space when the worker and there desk or workstation is located, In many cases, this space is limited, and the empty storage container can occupy a significant portion of it, and can contribute unfavourably to the amount of clutter surrounding the worker.

An aim of this invention is to address the problem of clutter caused by these storage containers while they are unused during a period during which a worker is occupied.

To this end, the present invention provides a storage container that is an assembly of a plurality of assembled components, in which the container can be dismantled by a worker into its components, and in which each of the disassembled components can be used as a fbnctional item by the worker.

Thus, when the storage container is not being used as a container, it is not just an obj ect that takes up space to no useful end. Instead, it provides a useful function within the space where a worker's desk or workstation is located.

Typically, the fhnction or fbnctions of the disassembled components are useftil in the environment in which the worker is working. These may include (but are not limited to) one or more of a document holder; a document stand; a stand or a support for a portable computer; a stand or a support for a computer keyboard; and a footrest. Typically, but not necessarily, the disassembled components will perform two or more distinct and different functions.

A disassembled component may have an adjustable configuration. For example, in the case of a footrest, the component may be adjustable for height, angle or both.

Embodiments of the invention typicafly include interconnection means by which its components can be secured together during use as a container. The interconnection means may securely lock the components together until released by a user, Alternatively release may be achieved by moving one of the components with respect to the other.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an orthographic drawing of a first component of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an orthographic drawing of a second component of the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows plan and side orthographic views of a third component of the first embodiment of the invention; Figures 4 and 5 show adjustable foot members of the component of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a side view show of the component of Figure 2 showing the adjustable foot members in place; Figure 7 illustrates the process of assembling the first embodiment to create a storage container; Figure 8 shows the first embodiment assembled to form a storage container; Figure 9 shows the first embodiment disassembled and being used as a document holder and a footrest at a workstation; Figure lOis an orthographic drawing of a second component of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure II illustrates the process of assembling the second embodiment to create a storage container; Figure 12 shows the second embodiment assembled to form a storage container; and Figure 13 shows the second embodiment disassembled and being used as a document holder and a file holder at a workstation.

The embodiments described have components that are formed from tnmslucent sheet plastic material, except when indicated otherwise. Embodiments could be made from a number of other materials, including sheet metal.

A first embodiment of the invention comprises three components: a first component tO illustrated in Figure 1; a second component 40 illustrated in Figure 2; and a third component 80 illustrated in Figure 3. The embodiment, and each of its components, is mirror-symmetric about a centre plane P. The first component tO comprises side walls 20 that are parallel to md spaced from the centre plime P. Each side wall is shaped approximately as a trapezium with two parallel shorter sides 22, 24 of unequal length (refered to, respectively, as the shortest side and the handle side), and two longer sides 26, 28 (referred to as the top side and the sloping side) that extend between the short sides 22, 24. The top side 26 extends at right angles to the two short sides 22, 24. The sloping side 28 makes an angle of less than 900 with the shortest side 22 and greater than 930 with the handle side 24. Note that the handle side 24 in this embodiment is concave, and the corner between the handle side 24 and the sloping slide 28 is recessed, so the side walls 20 are not exactly shaped as trapezia. The line H illustrates where the handle side 24 would be if the side walls 20 were trapezia, A flat web extends between the side walls 20. The web extends substantially the entire length of each top side 26 to form a side surface 30 extending between them, and also extends approximately half the length of the shortest side 22 to form a base surface 32 between them.

A rib 38 is formed on the side surface 30 adjacent to the shortest side 22.

An aperture 34 extends through the side wall 20 close to the handle side 24. The aperture 34 extends generally parallel to the convex curve of the handle side 24.

Two slots 36 extend into each side wall 20 from the sloping side 28. An outer portion of each slot 36 extends at a right angle to the sloping side 28 and an inner portion of each slot extends from the outer portion, parallel to the top side 26, and towards the shortest side 22.

The second component 40 comprises side walls 50 that are parallel to and spaced from the centre plane P. Each side wall is shaped approximately as a trapezium with two parallel shorter sides 52, 54 of unequal length (referred to, respectively, as the shortest side and the base side), and two longer sides 56, 58 (referred to as the top side and the sloping side) that extend between the short sides 52, 54. The top side 56 extends at right angles to the two short sides 52, 54. The sloping side 58 makes an angle of more than 90° with the shortest side 52 and less than 90° with the base side 54. The corners between the sloping side 58 and the short sides 52, 54 are rounded, so the side walls 50 are not exactly shaped as trapezia.

A flat web extends between the side walls 50. The web extends substantially the entire length of each top side 56 to form a side surface 48 extending between them, and also extends approximately half the length of the shortest side 52 and approximately one quarter the length of the base side 54, where if forms abase surface 60.

Two pegs 62 project from each side wall 50. Each peg 62 includes a cylindrical stem that projects normal to the side wall 50 and a disc-shaped head carried on the stem, the head being seperably secured on the stem by interengaging threads or secured to the second component by means of a thread. A respective hole 64 passes through the side wall 50 adjacent to each peg 62.

The third component 80 is formed as a rectangle with rounded corners.

Each second component 40 may be provided with two supporting feet 66, 68. Each foot 66, 68 has a rectangular body portion that has two parallel rows of circular through-holes 72, 74 one of each pair being of smaller diameter than the other. Each foot 66, 68 has a ground-engaging surface 70 that extends at an angle to each row of holes 72, 74. Each foot 66, 68 can be attached to a side wall 50 of the second component 40 by passing the stem of one of the pegs 62 through a larger one of the holes 72, and securing a fastener through the corresponding hole 64 and the adjacent smaller hole 74. The ground-engaging surface 70 projects beyond and extends parallel to the sloping side 58, the distance it projects being determined by which particular pair of holes is selected for cooperation with the peg 62 and hole 64.

Use of the storage container will now be described, When the storage container is required to store articles, the first and second components 10, are interconnected. This is achieved by sliding the stem of each of the pegs 62 of the second component 40 into a corresponding slot 36 of the first component 10, such that the stem travels the length of the outer portion of the slot 36 and then passes to the end of the inner portion of the slot 36. The third component 80 is then placed within the space such that it is supported on the base surfaces 32, 60. Tn this configuration, the side surfaces 30, 48 of the first and second components TO, 40 together with their side walls 20, 50 and the third component 80 define a cuboidal space, In this configuration, the storage container can stand on a flat surface with the base surfaces 32, 60 and the short sides 22, 54 in contact with the flat surface. The container has an upwardly-facing opening through which items can be inserted into or removed from the cuboidal space. The apertures 34 (which are adjacent to the opening) can be used as handles to carry the storage container.

When the storage container is empty, it can be separated into its three main components 10, 40, 80 by reversing the procedure set out in the last-but-one preceding paragraph. As shown in Figure 9, the first and second components 10, 40 can serve a useful purpose at a workstation, The first component 10 can be placed on a desktop 84 between a keyboard 86 and a monitor 88 with the sloping sides 28 of the side walls 20 in contact with the desktop 84.

In this position, the side surface 30 faces upward and slopes towards the keyboard 86 and can thus be used as a convenient support for documents or other items to which a user must refer.

The rib 38 resists the tendency for such items to slide from the surface 30.

The second component 40 can be placed on the floor 90 beneath the desktop 84 with either its sloping sides 58 or (if present) the ground-engaging surfaces 70 of the feet 66, 68 in contact with the floor 90. In this position, the side surface 48 of the second component 40 is angled upwards and towards the user, and so can serve as a footrest. The height of the footrest and the angle of the side surface 48 can be adjusted by varying the distance of projection of the ground-engaging surfaces 70 from the sloping side 58, or by omitting the feet 66, 68 altogether.

In an alternative arrangement, the third component 80 may be connected to one or other of the first component 20 or the second component 40, for example by a hinge, such that it can be folded between a deployed position in which it forms the base of the assembled container and a stowed position in which it is conveniently out of the way when the storage container is disassembled.

The second embodiment of the invention uses the same first component 10 as the first embodiment. It has a second component 140 shown in Figure 10.

The second component 140 of this embodiment has side walls 150, pegs 162, and holes 164 that are essentially identical to the corresponding details of the second component 40 of the first embodiment.

As in the first embodiment, a flat web extends between the side wails 150. However, in this embodiment, the web of extends substantially the entire length of each top side 156 to form a side surface 148 extending between them, and also extends approximately half the length of the shortest side 152, and in excess of the entire length of the base side 154, where if forms a base surface 160. An upstand portion 146 of the web extends from the base surface parallel to the side surface 148. The extension of the web, as compared with the first embodiment, removes the need for the third component.

The second embodiment can be assembled to form a storage container, as shown in Figure 12, in much the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment. However, no third component is required -its function is achieved by the base surface 160. The upstand portion 146 acts as a partition within the storage container.

When the storage container is empty, and separated into its two main components 10, 140, the first component 10 can be used as described above. The second component can be placed on the desktop 84 with its base surface 160 in contact with the desktop 84. In this configuration, the upstand portion 146 projects vertically upward from the desktop 84, where it can be used to support documents or other items in a generally vertical orientation, for instance, adjacent to a monitor 88.

Claims

Claims 1, A storage container that is an assembly of a plurality of assembled components, in which the container can be dismantled by a worker into its components, and in which each of the disassembled components can be used as a functional item by the worker.
2. A storage container according to claim I in which the function or functions of the Il" disassembled components are useful in the environment in which the worker is working. (0
3. A storage container according to claim 2 in which the ifmnction or functions of the 0 disassembled components include one or more of a document holder; a document stand; a stand or a support for a portable computer; a stand or a support for a computer keyboard; and a footrest.
4, A storage container according to claim 3 in which the disassembled components perform two or more distinct and different functions.
5. A storage container according to any preceding claim in which a disassembled component has an adjustable configuration.
6. A storage container according to claim S in which a disassembled component is a footrest, and the component is adjustable for height, angle or both.
7. A storage container according to any preceding claim including interconnection means by which its components can be secured together during use as a container.
8. A storage container according to claim 7 in which the interconnection means securely locks the components together until released by a user.
9. A storage container according to any preceding claim in which release of interconnected components can be achieved by moving one of the components with respect to the other.
10. A storage container substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 9 or 10 to 13 of the drawings. IC)CD