IES65855B2 - A comtainer assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A container assembly, particularly for holding circuit boards comprises a container 3 and an extension frame 4. Fastening clips 5 are used to mount the extension frame 4 to the container. The container 3 may be used without the extension frame 4 for smaller circuit boards. The extension frame 4 is held in place by the clips 5 to accommodate larger circuit boards.

Description

The invention relates to a container assembly and in particular to a container assembly for holding and storing printed circuit boards and the like.

Various containers are available for storing printed 5 circuit boards and the like. One of the problems with such known containers, however, is that they are restricted to accommodating particular sizes of circuit boards and are not sufficiently flexible to accommodate a range of different sizes of circuit boards.

This invention is directed towards providing a container assembly which will overcome this difficulty.

According to the invention, there is provided a container assembly for holding and storing printed circuit boards and the like comprising:15 a generally rectangular container having a base, a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls extending from the base and terminating in an upper rim; a generally rectangular extension frame for mounting to the rim of the container to form an extension of the side and end walls thereof; and releasable fastening means mounted to the extension frame or container for movement between a release position in which the extension frame is released from the container and an engaged position in which the extension frame is mounted to the container to form an extension thereof. 565855 - 2 In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the releasable fastening means is mounted to the extension frame.

In a preferred arrangement, the container includes a 5 mounting flange adjacent the rim thereof and the extension frame also has a mounting flange, the releasable fastening means being mounted to one of the flanges for movement to an engaged position in which the flanges are engaged together.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the releasable fastening means comprises fastening clips.

In this case, preferably each fastening clip has a projection or groove for engagement, on assembly, with a corresponding projection or groove on the container flange or extension frame flange. Preferred is an arrangement in which the projection is provided on the fastening clip and the groove is provided in the container flange or extension frame flange. In this case, preferably the releasable fastening clip is mounted on the flange of the extension frame and is provided with a projection for engagement on assembly with a corresponding groove in the extension frame flange.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, each fastening clip is of generally channel shape and comprises a base web and a pair of side arms extending from the base to engage the container and the extension to fasten the extension frame to the container. Preferably, one of the arms of the fastening clip includes an extension providing a mounting location for mounting the fastening clip to a container flange or an extension frame flange. In this case, preferably the fastening clips are mounted to the extension frame flange which is also provided with grooves to receive projections on one of the arms of the fastening clips on movement of the fastening clips to the engaged position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastening clips are spaced-apart along the mounting flange for mounting the extension frame to the container. Usually there is at least one releasable fastening clip associated with each end and each side wall of the container.

The container assembly may also include a lid for the extension frame which may be hingedly mounted to the extension frame.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly according to the invention in a release position; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective partially cross-sectional view of a detail of the assembly in a release position; Fig. 4 is a view in the direction of the arrows IVIV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the detail of Fig. 3 in an engaged position; Fig. 6 is a view in the direction of the arrows VIVI in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a container part of the assembly; and Fig. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the container assembly.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a container assembly according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for holding and storing printed circuit boards 2 which are diagrammatically Illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The container assembly 1 comprises a generally rectangular container 3, a generally rectangular extension frame 4, and releasable fastening means provided in this case by a plurality of fastening clips 5 for mounting the extension frame 4 to the container 3.

The container 3 has a base 6, a pair opposite side walls 7, 8, and a pair of opposite end walls 9, 10 extending upwardly from the base 6 and terminating in a rim. The container 3 includes a mounting flange 11 extending around a periphery of the rim of the container 3.

The extension frame 4 is of generally rectangular shape to conform with the shape of the rim of the container 3 and includes a downwardly extending spigot portion 15 for engagement on assembly within the side and end walls 7, 8, 9, 10 of the container 3. The extension frame 4 also includes a mounting flange 16 extending around the periphery thereof which is aligned on assembly of the extension frame 4 to the container 3 and in facing engagement with the mounting flange 11 of the container 3.

Each fastening clip 5 is of generally channel shape in cross section and comprises a base web 20 and upper and lower side arms 21, 22 respectively, extending from the base 5 to engage the extension frame flange 16 and container flange 11 respectively on assembly. The upper arm 21 of each of the mounting clips 5 has an extension 23 with a mounting hole 24 for receiving a mounting pin 25 which engages through the mounting hole 24 and a corresponding mounting hole 26 on the extension flange 16 and is then fixed in position. The mounting pin 25 defines a substantially vertical axis about which the mounting clip is movable from a release position as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 to an engaged position as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 8.

The upper arm 21 of the mounting clip 5 includes a downwardly extending projection 29 which engages on assembly in a corresponding groove 30 in the flange 16 of the extension frame 4 as best illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6. In this way, the fastening clips effectively and securely fasten the extension frame 4 to the container 3.

In use, the container 3 may be used to hold a number of circuit boards 2A to a maximum height such as that illustrated in Fig. 7. When it is desired to use the container for holding larger circuit boards such as circuit boards 2B as illustrated in Fig. 8, an extension frame 4 with the fastening clips 5 in position is used. The fastening clips are moved to the release position illustrated in Fig. 1 allowing the spigot 15 of the extension frame 4 to engage in the container 3. The clips 5 are then pushed inwardly about the mounting pins 25 so that the arms 21, 22 engage with the extension flange 16 and the container flange 11 respectively. As the clips 5 are pushed into position, the projections 29 of the clips engage in the corresponding grooves 30 of the extension flange 16 effectively and securely fastening the extension frame 4 to the container 3. When it is required to convert the assembly to a simple container 3, the procedure is reversed to allow the extension frame 4 to be removed.

The container assembly of the invention provides a flexible system which allows a user of containers particularly for printed circuit boards to use a single container for a wide range of sizes of printed circuit boards. Indeed, if required, a further extension frame may be mounted in the same way to the extension frame 4 to provide an even larger container. The clips are effectively securely fastened to the extension frame without interfering with the container and yet the clips may be readily pushed into position and operated.

The container assembly may be of any suitable material of construction, however, preferably the components are of moulded plastics material.

Any appropriate number of mounting clips 5 may be used. Generally, there will be at least one and usually two mounting clips associated with each of the side and end walls of the container 3.

Many variations of the specific embodiments of the invention will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. A container assembly for holding and storing printed circuit boards and the like comprising:a generally rectangular container having a base, a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls extending from the base and terminating in an upper rim; a generally rectangular extension frame for mounting to the rim of the container to form an extension of the side and end walls thereof; and releasable fastening means mounted to the extension frame or container for movement between a release position in which the extension frame is released from the container and an engaged position in which the extension frame is mounted to the container to form an extension thereof.

2. A container assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the releasable fastening means is mounted to the extension frame, preferably the container includes a mounting flange adjacent the rim thereof and the extension frame also has a mounting flange, the releasable fastening means being mounted to one of the flanges for movement to an engaged position in which the flanges are engaged together, preferably the releasable fastening means comprises fastening clips, preferably each fastening clip has a projection or groove for engagement, on assembly, with a corresponding projection or groove on the container flange or extension frame flange, preferably the projection is provided on the fastening clip and the groove is provided in the container flange or extension frame flange, preferably the releasable fastening clip is mounted on the flange of the extension frame and is provided with a projection for engagement on assembly with a corresponding groove in the extension frame flange.

3. A container assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein each fastening clip is of generally channel shape and comprises a base web and a pair of side arms extending from the base to engage the container and the extension to fasten the extension frame to the container, preferably one of the arms of the fastening clip includes an extension providing a mounting location for mounting the fastening clip to a container flange or an extension frame flange, preferably the fastening clips are mounted to the extension frame flange which is also provided with grooves to receive projections on one of the arms of the fastening clips on movement of the fastening clips to the engaged position, preferably the fastening clips are spaced-apart along the mounting flange for mounting the extension frame to the container, preferably there is at least one releasable fastening clip associated with each end and each side wall of the container.

4. A container assembly as claimed in any preceding claim including a lid for the extension frame, preferably the lid is hingedly mounted to the extension frame.

5. A container assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.