IES20000765A2

IES20000765A2 - A carton for fixings

Info

Publication number: IES20000765A2
Application number: IE20000765A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Allen Barry Mccullough; Patrick Leahy; William Anthony Walsh
Original assignee: Foaming Technology Ltd
Priority date: 1999-09-22
Filing date: 2000-09-21
Publication date: 2001-04-04
Also published as: GB2355450B; GB0023098D0; GB2355450A; IE20000764A1

Abstract

A carton (1) comprises a container (2) formed by a base (4), front and rear end walls (5,6) and side walls (7,8) which define a hollow interior region (9) for the fixings. A lid (12) hingeably connected to the container (2) by a plastics hinge (18) closes an open mouth (11) to the hollow interior region (9). clasps (19) secure the lid (12) in the closed position. An attachment clip (25) extending from the front end wall (5) is provided for engaging a waist belt of a tradesman so that the carton (1) is supported on the belt, and the tradesman has a ready supply of fixing available to him at a work place or a work site. <Figure 1>

Description

The present invention relates to a carton for fixings, and in particular, to a carton for fixings, such as, nails, screws, bolts, nuts, rivets and the like.

Such fixings, namely, nails, screws, bolts, nuts, rivets and the like are commonly used by craftsmen on building sites, workplaces, workstations and the like. For example, on building sites nails are commonly used in the roofing of houses and other buildings, and in securing soffit and fascia boards to the eaves of a house and the like. The securing of soffit and fascia boards to the eaves of a house, in general, requires a tradesman working from a ladder or scaffolding. If the tradesman is not to be delayed in the task of securing the soffit and fascia boards, it is essential that he has easy and continuous access to appropriate fixings, typically, nails for securing the soffit and fascia boards. Typically, such fixings are supplied and sold in cardboard boxes which are susceptible to tearing, disintegrating when becoming wet as a result of rain, or being placed in a pool of water, spills, and furthermore are awkward to handle. The tradesman, in general, must first locate a relatively even horizontal surface on which to place the cardboard box, and accordingly, must move the cardboard box from place to place as the fixing of the soffit and fascia boards progresses. Needless to say, these are only some areas where the inconvenience of fixings being supplied in cardboard boxes arises.

There is therefore a need for a carton for fixings which overcomes this problem.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a carton.

IE000765 According to the invention there is provided a carton for fixings, the carton comprising a container defining a hollow interior region for holding the fixings and having an open mouth to the hollow interior region, and comprising an attachment means for releasably attaching the carton to a support for providing ready access to the fixings by a tradesman, craftsman or other person at a workplace or a site.

In one embodiment of the invention the attachment means comprises an attachment clip extending from the container. Preferably, the attachment clip defines with the container a support accommodating slot for engaging the support. Advantageously, the attachment clip is resilient for resiliently and releasably engaging the support. Ideally the attachment clip is of L-shape construction having an outwardly extending limb extending outwardly from the container, and an elongated downwardly extending limb extending in a general direction substantially parallel to the container for forming with the container the support accommodating slot.

In one embodiment of the invention an elongated support engaging rib extends longitudinally along the downwardly extending limb into the support accommodating slot for engaging the support. Preferably, a pair of spaced apart parallel elongated support engaging ribs extend longitudinally along the downwardly extending limb for engaging the support. Advantageously, each support rib terminates in a tapered lead-in for facilitating entry of the support into the support accommodating slot. In another embodiment of the invention the attachment means extends from the container adjacent the open mouth thereof.

Preferably, the attachment means is integrally formed with the container.

IE000765 In one embodiment of the invention the attachment means is adapted for engaging the support provided by a belt worn by the tradesman. Preferably the attachment means is adapted for engaging the support provided by a waist belt in an alternative embodiment of the invention the attachment means is adapted for engaging a rung of a ladder.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention the attachment means is adapted for engaging a bar of scaffolding.

In one embodiment of the invention a lid is provided for closing the hollow interior region of the container. Preferably, the lid is hingedly connected to the container, and is hingeable between an open position for providing access to the hollow interior region and a closed position preventing access to the hollow interior region. Advantageously, the lid is hingedly connected to the container by a plastics hinge. Ideally, the plastics hinge is integrally formed with the lid.

Preferably, the lid is integrally formed with the container.

In another embodiment of the invention a securing means is providing for releasably securing the lid in the closed position. Preferably, the securing means comprises a clasp. Advantageously, a pair of clasps are provided on respective opposite sides of the container.

In one embodiment of the invention each clasp comprises a pair of interengageable IE000765 complementary formations, one formation of each clasp being formed on the lid, and the other formation being formed on the container. Preferably, one of the interengageable complementary formations of each clasp comprises a lug, and the other comprises a receiver. Advantageously, the lug of each clasp extends from the lid.

In one embodiment of the invention the lug of each clasp is resilient for resiliently and releasably engaging the receiver.

In another embodiment of the invention a portion of the container is resiliently deformably for disengaging the interengageable complementary formations of each clasp. Adavantageously, respective opposite portions of the container are resiliently deformable for disengaging respective interengageable complementary formations of respective clasps on respective opposite sides of the carton.

In one embodiment of the invention the securing means is integrally formed with the container.

In another embodiment of the invention the container comprises a base and a front end wall and a spaced apart rear end wall extending upwardly from the base joined by a pair of spaced apart side walls extending upwardly from the base, the base, end and side walls defining the hollow interior region.

In another embodiment of the invention the side and end walls diverge outwardly upwardly from the base to the open mouth.

IE000765 In another embodiment of the invention the lid is hingedly connected to one of the front and rear end walls, in a further embodiment of the invention the clasps are located on the respective side walls.

In another embodiment of the invention the attachment means extends from one of the front and rear end walls.

In a further embodiment of the invention the hollow interior region is of substantially square cross-section when viewed in plan.

Alternatively, the hollow interior region is of rectangular cross-section when viewed in plan.

In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of inwardly extending reinforcing ribs 15 extend from the container into the hollow interior region for reinforcing the container. in a further embodiment of the invention the carton is of plastics material.

Preferably, the carton is formed integrally by injection moulding.

In one embodiment of the invention the carton is adapted for use as a packaging carton in the supply of fixings so that the fixings may be supplied and sold in the carton.

In another embodiment of the invention the hollow interior region of the container is IE000765 adapted for receiving a box of fixings, such as a cardboard box of fixings.

In a further embodiment of the invention the container is adapted for receiving more than one box of fixings.

In a still further embodiment of the invention the container is adapted for receiving two boxes of fixings, such as cardboard boxes of different size fixings.

In one embodiment of the invention the container is adapted for holding fixings 10 selected from any of the following, pins, nails, screws, bolts, nuts and rivets.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof which are given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig Fig is a perspective view of a carton according to the invention is a top plan view of the carton of Fig. 1, Fig is a front elevational view of the carton of Fig. 1, Fig Fig is a rear elevational view of the carton of Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the carton of Fig. 1 IE000765 Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional side elevational view of the carton of Fig. 1 on the line VI-VI of Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is an underneath plan view of the carton of Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a detail of the carton of Fig. 1, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another detail of the carton of Fig. 1, Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a carton according to another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the carton of Fig. 10, Fig. 12 is a transverse cross-sectional rear elevational view of the carton of Fig. 10 on the line XII-XII of Fig. 11, Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of a carton according to another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the carton of Fig. 13, Fig. 15 is a top plan view of a carton of Fig. 13, and Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a carton according to a still further IE000765 embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 9 thereof, there is illustrated a carton according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for fixings, in this embodiment of the invention for nails (not shown) of the type typically used for securing a soffit, fascia board or the like to the eaves of a house. The carton 1 is of injection moulded plastics materials and is integrally formed in one single moulding shot. The carton 1 comprises a container 2 formed by a base 4, front and rear end walls 5 and 6, respectively, extending upwardly from the base 4, which are joined by side walls 7 and 8, also extending upwardly from the base 4.

The front and rear end walls 5 and 6, respectively, and the side walls 7 and 8 diverge upwardly outwardly from the base 4 and define with the base 4 a hollow interior region 9 for the nails. The front and rear end walls 5 and 6, respectively, and the side walls 7 and 8 terminate in an upper rim 10 which defines an upwardly facing open mouth 11 for providing access to the hollow interior region 9.

A lid 12 which is hingedly connected to the rear end wail 6 is hingeable between an open position illustrated in Fig. 1 for providing access to the hollow interior region 9, and a closed position illustrated in Fig. 3 for closing the hollow interior region 9. The lid 12 comprises a top wall 13 with front and rear end walls 14 and 15 and side walls 16 and 17 extending and diverging outwardly, downwardly from the top wall 13. The front and rear end walls 14 and 15 correspond with the front and rear end walls 5 and 6 of the container 2, while the side walls 16 and 17 correspond with the side walls 7 and 8 of the container 2. A plastics hinge 18, which is integrally formed with the container 2 and the lid 12 when the container 2 and lid 12 are being integrally IE000765 formed during injection moulding, extends partly along the rear end walls 6 and 15 of the container 2 and the lid 12 for hingedly connecting the lid 12 to the container 2.

A securing means, namely, a pair of clasps 19 are provided on respective opposite sides of the carton 1 for securing the lid 12 to the container 2 in the closed position. Each clasp 18 comprises a pair of interengageable complementary formations, one of the formations of each clasp 18 being formed by a resilient lug 20 extending downwardly from the corresponding side wall 16 and 17 of the lid 12 which engages the other formation of the interengageable complementary formations which is provided by a receiver 21 formed on the corresponding side wall 7 and 8 of the container 2. The receivers 21 are formed by respective wedge shaped ridges on the side walls 7 and 8, and lips 22 extending inwardly from the respective lugs 20 engage the receivers 21 with a resilient releasable snap fit action. As well as the lug 20 being resilient, the side walls 7 and 8 are resiliently deformable inwardly, so that by squeezing the container 2 with the thumb and finger of one hand on the respective side walls 7 and 8 for urging the side walls 7 and 8 inwardly into the hollow interior region 9 the receivers 21 are disengaged from the lugs 20. The plastics hinge 18 is formed with a resilient biasing force for biasing the lid 12 from the closed position so that as the side walls 7 and 8 are deformed inwardly into the hollow interior region 9 the lid 12 tends to spring from the closed position towards the open position as the receivers 21 disengage the lugs 20. In this embodiment of the invention the lugs 20 and the receivers 21 are integrally formed with the lid 12 and the container 2, respectively, as the container 2 and lid 12 are being integrally formed during moulding.

IE000765 An inner groove 23 extending around the rim 10 at the open mouth 11 forms a receiving recess for receiving a lip 24 projecting downwardly from the lid 12 for aligning and locating the lid 12 in the open mouth 11 of the container 2.

An attachment means, namely, an attachment clip 25 extends from the front end wall 5 for releasably clipping and securing the carton 1 onto a support, in this embodiment of the invention a waist belt (not shown) of a tradesman, so that the tradesman has a ready supply of fixings available to him or her at a work place or a work site. The attachment clip 25 is integrally formed with the container 2 during moulding thereof and is of L shaped construction having a limb 26 extending from the front end wall 5 adjacent to the open mouth 11, and an elongated downwardly extending limb 27 which extends downwardly from the limb 26. The downwardly extending limb 27 defines with the front end wall 5 a belt accommodating slot 28 for accommodating the waist belt of a tradesman. A pair of spaced apart parallel belt engaging ribs 29 extend longitudinally along the downwardly extending limb 27 for . engaging the belt. The limbs 26 and 27 are resilient for resiliently and releasable engaging the belt of the tradesman. The belt engaging ribs 29 terminate in downwardly tapering lead-ins 30 for facilitating entry of a belt into the slot 28 defined between the limb 27 and the front end wall 5.

In this embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that the carton 1 will be provided in two sizes, namely, a small size and a large size. The small size will be sized to contain approximately 200 pins of 2.1 mm diameter and length in the range of 25 mm to 40 mm, while the large size carton 1 will be sized to contain 100 nails of 3.2 mm diameter and length in the range of 40 mm to 65 mm. The cartons 1 of both the IE000765 small and large sizes will be suitable for supplying the pins and nails so that the pins and nails may be supplied and sold in the cartons 1.

In use, when the carton 1 has being charged with the fixings, the lid 12 is closed and secured by the clasps 19. The carton 1 containing the fixings is then supplied to a hardware outlet, a distributor, or wholesaler or the like. The tradesman on purchasing the carton 1 clips the carton 1 onto his or her waist belt. As fixings are required, the lid 12 is opened by deforming the side wails 7 and 8 inwardly so that the lugs 20 disengage the receivers 21, thus causing the lid 12 to spring partly open.

The lid 12 can then be hinged further into the open position for accessing the fixings. The lid 12 may be closed each time a fixing or a supply of fixings has been removed from the hollow interior region 9.

By virtue of the fact that the front and rear end walls 5 and 6 and the side walls 7 and 8 diverge upwardly outwardly from the base 5, and additionally, by virtue of the fact that the attachment clip 25 extends outwardly and downwardly from the front end wall 5 adjacent to the open mouth 11, and furthermore, by virtue of the construction and the attachment of the lid 12 to the container 2 by the plastics hinge 18, the carton 1 is ideally suited for injection moulding from plastic material in the configuration illustrated in Fig. 5. Additionally, by virtue of the fact that the front and rear end walls 14 and 15, respectively, and the side walls 16 and 17 of the lid 12 also diverge outwardly downwardly from the top wall 13, injection moulding of the carton 1 in one piece in the configuration illustrated in Fig. 5 with the lid 12 in the fully opened position is further facilitated. By virtue of the fact that the carton 1 is injection moulded in one piece with the lid 12 in the fully opened position, an inbuilt IE000765 inherent resilient bias is induced in the hinge 18 for urging the lid 12 from the closed towards the open position.

Referring now to Figs. 10 to 12 there is illustrated a carton according to another embodiment of the invention indicates generally by the reference numeral 40. The carton 40 is substantially similar to the carton 1 and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. The main difference between the carton 40 and the carton 1 is that the lid 12 instead of being hingedly connected to the rear end wall 6, the lid 12 is hingedly connected to the side wall 7 by a plastics hinge similar to the plastics hinge 18. Additionally, only a single clasp 19 is provided extending from the side wall 17 of the lid 12. Additionally, the attachment clip 25 in this embodiment of the invention is of arcuate shape for defining a support accommodating slot 44 for engaging and supporting the carton 40 on a rung of a ladder. In this embodiment of the invention a plurality of reinforcing ribs 45 extending inwardly into the hollow interior region 9 from the front and rear end walls 5 and 6 and the side walls 7 and 8 reinforce the walls 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the container 2.

Otherwise the carton 40 is similar to the carton 1 and is suitable for injection moulding from plastics material in one piece.

Referring now to Figs. 13 to 15 there is illustrated a carton according to another embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. The carton 50 is substantially similar to the carton 1, and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. The main difference between the carton IE000765 and the carton 1 is that the lid 12 is hingedly connected by a plastics hinge 18 to the side wall 7 of the container instead of to the front end wall 5. Additionally, in this embodiment of the invention the front and rear end walls 5 and 6 are parallel to each other as are the side walls 7 and 8. Additionally, the front and rear end walls 14 and of the lid 12 are also parallel to each other as are the side wails 16 and 17. The attachment clip 25 is similar to the attachment clip 25 of the carton 1 and is suitable for attaching the carton 50 to a waist belt of a tradesman.

Referring to Figs. 16 there is illustrated a carton according to a further embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 60. The carton 60 is substantially similar to the carton 1 and similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. The main difference between the carton 60 and the carton 1 is that the carton 60 is provided without a lid. Additionally, the front and rear end walls 5 and 6 are considerably wider than the front and rear end wall 5 and 6 of the carton 1. The carton 60 is particularly suitable for holding two cardboard boxes of nails or pins side by side in the hollow interior region 9. Additionally, because of the width of the front and rear end walls 5 and 6, a pair of attachment clips 25 for engaging a waist belt of a tradesman are provided on the front end wall 5.

While the carton 50 is also suitable for packaging nails and pins and other fixings for supplying the fixings, the carton 50 is also adapted for receiving a cardboard box of nails, pins or the like. Thus, if desired a tradesman can insert a cardboard box of pins, nails or other fixings of the appropriate size into the container 2, and when all the fixings in the cardboard box have been used, the cardboard box can be replaced in the container with a fresh box full of the appropriate fixings.

IE000765 While the cartons according to the invention have been described for use with fixings provided by nails and pins, it will of course be appreciated that the cartons may be provided for holding any other types of fixings, for example, screws, bolts, nuts, rivets, or other fixings. It is also envisaged that any of the cartons described may be supplied for holding fixings which would have been purchased in a cardboard or other box, and the fixings may be emptied from the cardboard box in which they have been purchased into any one of the cartons according to the invention.

The cartons according to the invention may also be used for many other items, for example, fasteners.

While the cartons have been described as being of plastics material, the cartons may be of any other suitable material, and it is envisaged that where the cartons are of plastics material, they could be formed by other plastics forming processes beside injection moulding. It is also envisaged that while cartons of particular sizes and shapes have been described, cartons of other sizes and shapes may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A carton for fixings, the carton comprising a container defining a hollow interior region for holding the fixings and having an open mouth to the hollow interior region, and comprising an attachment means for releasably attaching the carton to a support for providing ready access to the fixings by a tradesman, craftsman or other person at a workplace or a site.

2. A carton as claimed in Claim 1 in which the attachment means comprises an attachment clip extending from the container, and defining with the container a support accommodating slot for engaging the support provided by a waist belt.

3. A carton as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which a lid is provided for closing the hollow interior region of the container, the lid being hingedly connected to the container, and being hingeable between an open position for providing access to the hollow interior region and a closed position preventing access to the hollow interior region, and a securing means is provided for releaseably securing the lid in the closed position.

4. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim in which the carton is adapted for use as a packaging carton in the supply of fixings so that the fixings may be supplied and sold in the carton.

5. A carton substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.