ITUD20120068A1 - CASSETTE PORTA-ARTICOLI AND EXHIBITION MODULE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF THOSE CASSETTE - Google Patents

Description

"ARTICLE HOLDER BOX AND EXHIBITION MODULE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SAID BOXES"

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a multifunctional box, or box, for carrying items, for example, but not limited to, bottles but also other products, such as articles of clothing, accessories, but also food products, such as fruit and vegetables, or other beverages. , or otherwise, in particular to a box that can be used both for storing, storing and transporting one or more articles substantially closed inside the box itself, and for displaying them, for example in the home or in a public place.

The article-holder box according to the present invention, thanks to its shape and geometry, and to the characteristics with which it is equipped, also allows to configure a modular display unit in which a plurality of boxes can be coupled together to create compositions of various shape and size. In the non-limiting example of bottles, the invention makes it possible to create a sort of personalized wine cellar or other furnishing elements or furnishing accessories, obtained by the modular repetition of the boxes associated with each other.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

The use of bottle boxes is known, generally made of wood or materials similar to wood, but also of other materials such as glass, plastic, metal or suitable alloys, such as aluminum or other, used to store and transport bottles of various types, in particularly those used for delivery to public establishments or as gift wrapping. These boxes are of various sizes, depending on the size and number of bottles they must contain.

A drawback of conventionally used bottle crates is that, once the transport function has been carried out and reached their final destination, they constitute waste material to be eliminated and are generally not reused.

Document IT-UD2011A000147 is known in the name of the Applicant, which describes a bottle holder box made of wood and other material which performs the function of both containing the bottles, to allow their transport, and a bottle display element.

The bottle-holder box, in fact, has a face in which portions with easy breakage are made which, once removed, allow the display and subsequent removal of the bottles arranged therein.

The bottle boxes, even of various sizes, can be stacked one on top of the other to define a display module of bottles.

A drawback of these known bottle-holder boxes is their difficulty in achieving perfect reciprocal alignment between boxes which are arranged one on top of the other.

A further drawback is due to the difficulty of keeping the bottle holders in position once they are stacked one on top of the other.

An object of the present invention is to provide a box, or box, for articles used both for the transport and for the display of articles, which allows the correct stacking and mutual alignment between boxes, regardless of the side on which it is made. Stacking.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article-holder box, or box, which allows stable mutual positioning between several article-carrying boxes, to constitute a display module of desired dimensions and determined according to the number of articles to be displayed.

In order to obviate the drawbacks of the known art and to obtain these and further objects and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and implemented the present invention.

EXPOSURE OF THE FOUND

The present invention is expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims disclose other characteristics of the present invention or variants of the main solution idea.

In accordance with the aforementioned purposes, a box or box according to the present invention is suitable to be used for storing and transporting one or more articles, keeping them completely closed inside, and can be made in any size and shape, and in any suitable material, such as wood, or wood substitutes, cardboard, plastic materials or other, for a variable number of items to be contained.

In one formulation of the invention, the box has a conventional shape and structure, and comprises a containment body defining a containment compartment for one or more articles and a closing element, for example a lid, which is placed to close the compartment containment and can be hinged on one side of the containment body or can be of the sliding type along guides provided on opposite sides of the containment body.

The containment compartment is defined by a plurality of perimeter walls and by a back wall which is opposite to the covering element.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the bottom wall and, respectively, the closing element, from the part facing outwards with respect to the containment compartment, have at least one recessed portion and respectively at least one protruding portion, or vice versa, recessed or protruding with respect to the overall dimensions of the box in question in which the protruding portion has a shape and size at least partially conjugated to those of the re-entering portion. In this way, when one cassette is placed on top of the other, the recessed portion of one is placed in direct correspondence with the protruding portion of the other. This allows, therefore, to be able to stack and constrain the position of a cassette with respect to the one above by inserting the recessed portion of a cassette into the protruding portion of another cassette. In this way it is possible to guarantee a correct, and aligned, stacking of boxes to define an exhibition module of articles that can be configured according to the specific needs of the user.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the containment compartment is defined by a plurality of perimeter walls and by the aforementioned bottom wall. The bottom wall is associated with the perimeter walls in a recessed position with respect to the peripheral edges of the latter, in order to define the recessed portion between them.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, on at least some of the perimeter walls, and on the side facing the containment compartment, guide grooves are formed in which the closing element is suitable for being inserted with respective perimeter edges. The closing element is arranged protruding with respect to respective peripheral edges of the perimeter walls, to define the protruding portion.

According to a variant embodiment, the covering element is provided with a plurality of protruding portions arranged equidistant from each other by a given pitch. This particular conformation allows to position above the covering element, further boxes for articles having smaller dimensions than those of the box in question, and each of which is provided with a re-entering portion of dimensions conjugated to one or more of the portions. protruding.

According to an embodiment, the at least one recessed portion is defined by angular feet projecting outwards with respect to the bottom wall. According to a further embodiment, the at least one recessed portion is defined by at least one cavity formed in the thickness of the covering element or of the bottom wall.

The present invention also refers to a display module for articles comprising a plurality of article-carrying boxes as described above and arranged one above the other so that the protruding portion of one of the boxes fits into the recessed portion of the other.

The spirit of the present invention also includes one or more furnishing elements obtained by the modular repetition of a plurality of said display modules.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the following description of an embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which: - fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an article display module comprising a plurality of article-carrying boxes according to the present invention; - fig. 2 is a plan view of an article-holder box according to the present invention;

- fig. 3 is a sectional view of fig. 2 according to line III-III;

- fig. 4 is a sectional view of fig. 2 according to line IV-IV;

- fig. 5 is a perspective view of a first variant of fig. 1;

- fig. 6 is a view of an enlarged detail of fig. 1, in accordance with a variant of the invention;

fig. 7 is a perspective view of a second variant of fig. 1.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numbers have been used wherever possible to identify identical common elements in the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further specification.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF IMPLEMENTATION

With reference to fig. 1, a plurality of crates, or boxes, carrying items, according to the present invention, are each indicated as a whole with the reference number 10, and are configured to be stacked one above the other to define, once stacked a above the other, an exhibition module 11.

In the example represented and described below, the articles contained in the boxes 10 are bottles 12. It goes without saying that, although reference is made hereinafter to bottles 12, the following description also applies to other different products or objects. In fact, the present invention can also be used to contain other products or objects, for example, but not limited to, articles of clothing, such as sweaters, shirts, shoes, but also food products, such as fruit and vegetables, or other drinks, or other, or still other products or objects.

In the example case, each box 10 comprises a body 13 for containing bottles 12, in this case of three bottles each, which is open upwards, and can be selectively opened and closed by means of a closing element, or lid 14.

The containment body 13 defines a compartment 15 for containing the bottles 12 and comprises a bottom wall 16, two side walls 17, a front wall 18, and a rear wall 19.

The front wall 18, similarly to what has been described with reference to the aforementioned patent application for industrial invention in the name of the Applicant IT-UD2011A000147, referred to herein in its entirety as a reference, is provided with an opening 20 which allows exposure and subsequent withdrawal of the bottles 12 contained in the containment compartment 15.

The opening 20 is obtained by removing a removable portion obtained in the front wall 18.

In other embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 3, the front wall 18 can be provided with a plurality of openings 20, one for each bottle 12 arranged in the box 10.

The side walls 17, the front wall 18, and the rear wall 19 are mutually coupled to each other to define a containment box having a substantially rectangular shape.

Each of the side walls 17, front 18, and rear 19, have an internal surface 21 having a lower edge 22 near which the bottom wall 16 is associated, and an upper edge 23 near which the lid 14 is associated.

In the internal surface 21, and in correspondence with the lower edge 22 of the side walls 17, of the front wall 18 and of the rear wall 19 there is a groove 24 which extends, in this case, for the entire longitudinal extension of the lower edge 22. Each of the grooves 24 is obtained in a recessed position of a given distance R, with respect to the lower edge 22 of the walls 17, 18, 19. The bottom wall 16, during assembly, is inserted into the groove 24 of each of the side 17, front 18, and rear 19 walls so that it too is disposed reentrant by the same distance R with respect to their respective lower edge 22.

In this way, on the bottom of the bottle holder 10 a recessed portion 25 is defined, contained between the lower edges 22 of the side walls 17 and of the front wall 18 and of the rear wall 19.

Each of the side walls 17, in proximity to its upper edge 23, and in its internal surface 21, is provided with a guide groove 30, into which the cover 14 is slidably inserted.

The lid 14 has two side edges 31 which are shaped so that they can be inserted into the guide grooves 30 of the side walls 17.

The lid 14 is also provided with a front edge 32 which, in the closing position of the containment compartment 15, abuts against the internal surface 21 of the front wall 18, and with a rear edge 33 which is also suitably shaped.

In a possible embodiment, locking means 36 are provided which can be associated with the lid 14 to selectively prevent its unwanted sliding along the guide grooves 30 and keep it in the closed position when necessary (Figs. 2 - 4). In the example case, an opening 37 is provided for the insertion and disengagement of the locking means 36, in order to be able to easily lock, according to the needs, the cover 14.

In particular, in one embodiment, the locking means 36 are configured to cooperate abutment with the internal surface of the rear wall 19, interfering with it so as to avoid unwanted displacement of the lid 14.

In the present case represented, by way of non-limiting purpose, the locking means 36 are by way of example in the shape of a plug, even if a pin, tab or similar interference element could be made, removable from the opening 37 in this case specifically obtained above. in the lid 14, in proximity to the rear wall 19. In this case, a protruding annular crown element 36a is provided which acts as a retainer against the outer surface of the lid 14 which surrounds the opening 37, to prevent the lock 36 are inserted excessively inside.

The lid 14, once associated with the containment body 13, protrudes with respect to the overall dimensions of the box 10, with a protruding portion 35.

The protruding portion 35 has a shape and dimensions conjugated to those of the recessed portion 25 provided on the bottom of the box 10, so that when one of the boxes 10 is placed on top of another, the recessed portion 25 of one fits into the portion protruding 35 of the other, so to define a precise and stable stacking between one box 10 and the other.

The protruding portion 35 protrudes with respect to the upper edges 23 of the side walls 17, of the front wall 18 and of the rear wall 19, by a certain extent E.

The distance R is greater than or equal to the extension E so that each stacked box 10 rests on the other with its walls 17, 18, 19.

According to a further embodiment (fig. 5), it is possible to provide that the lid 14 is provided with a plurality of protruding portions, having the same shape and dimensions and arranged equidistant from each other by a certain pitch to allow stackability. of boxes 10 having different dimensions.

In particular, a first box 10 configured to contain a single bottle-holder bottle comprises a lid 14 having a single protruding portion 35 which extends for the entire upper surface of the lid 14 itself, and a recessed portion 25 formed on the bottom so as to analogous to what is described above.

A second box 10 configured to contain two bottles is provided with a lid 114 having two protruding portions 135, similar in shape and size to those of the box 10 for a bottle 12.

The two protruding portions 135 are configured to couple, for example, with respective two recessed portions 25 of a box 10 for a single bottle, or with a similar box 10 for two bottles.

A third box 10 is configured to contain three bottles 12 comprises a lid 214 provided with three protruding portions 235, similar in shape and size to those of the box 10 for a bottle 12. On the three protruding portions 235 of the box 10 for three bottles can crates designed to hold one or two bottles can be stacked.

In accordance with a further embodiment fig.

6, it can be envisaged that the recessed portion 25 on the bottom of the box 10 is not substantially closed by the perimeter defined by the side walls 17, the front wall 18 and the rear wall 19 but, for example, is defined by respective angular feet 40 obtained from the intersection between the walls themselves.

The corner feet 40 mate in use with the protruding portions 35, 135, 235 of the covers 14, 114, 214.

In still further embodiments (fig. 7) the boxes 10 can be provided with a plurality of recessed portions 325 and protruding portions 335 obtained respectively on the lid 14 and on the bottom wall 16.

In the case shown in fig. 7, on the outer surface of the lid 14 and with respect to the thickness of the latter, four cavities of substantially circular shape are obtained, even if in other embodiments the shape may be different. The cavities define the aforementioned recessed portions 325 into which the protruding portions 335 which are provided on the bottom wall 16 are suitable for inserting.

The back wall 16, in fact, is provided with four feet which define the aforementioned protruding portions 335.

The feet 335 are obtained or applied in positions coordinated with those according to which the cavities 325 are formed, and have shape and dimensions conjugated to the latter.

Also in this case it is therefore possible to provide for a reciprocal stacking and positioning of several boxes 10 one above the other to prevent their reciprocal slippage.

In embodiments, each box 10 is provided with constraint means 38 and conjugated counter-constraint means 39, to achieve lateral cooperation with the adjacent boxes 10, so as to lock the mutual position between different stacks, or columns, of cassettes 10, avoiding an accidental disengagement and thus contributing to the overall stability (fig. 1).

The fastening means 38 and / or the counter-fastening means 39 can be elements separated from the box 10, and can be associated with it from time to time according to the needs, or they can be integral parts of the box 10. For example, the fastening means 38 include pegs, pins or similar retaining elements, while the counter-fastening means 39 are formed by mating through holes obtained at least on the side walls 17 of the boxes 10, in which to insert and lock said pegs in a selectively releasable manner.

It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts can be made to the article-holder box 10 described up to now, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art can undoubtedly realize many other equivalent forms of article-holder box 10, having the characteristics expressed in the claims and therefore all falling within the scope of protection defined by them.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Article-holder box comprising a containment body (13) provided at least with a bottom wall (16) and defining a containment compartment (15) for containing at least one article (12), and a closing element ( 14; 114; 214) associated with said containment body (13) in an opposite position with respect to said bottom wall (16), and configured to open or close said containment compartment (15), characterized in that said bottom wall (16) and respectively said closing element (14; 114; 214), from the side facing outwards with respect to the containment compartment (15), have at least one recessed portion (25; 325) and respectively at least one protruding portion ( 35; 135; 235; 335). 25; 325). 2. Cassette as in claim 1, characterized in that said containment compartment (15) is defined by a plurality of perimeter walls (17, 18, 19) and by said bottom wall (16), said bottom wall ( 16) being associated with said perimeter walls (17, 18, 19) in a recessed position with respect to the peripheral edges (22) of the latter, to define between them said recessed portion (25; 325). 3. Cassette as in claim 2, characterized in that on at least some of said perimeter walls (17), on the side facing said containment compartment (15), guide grooves (30) are made in which it is suitable to be inserted, with respective perimeter edges (31), said closing element (14), said closing element (14) being arranged protruding with respect to respective peripheral edges (23) of said perimeter walls (31), to define said protruding portion ( 35). 4. Cassette as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one recessed portion (25; 325) falls with respect to the overall dimensions by a distance (D) and said protruding portion (35; 135; 235; 335) protrudes with respect to the overall dimensions of an extension (E) which is greater than or equal to said distance (D). 5. Cassette as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closing element (14) is provided with a plurality of projecting portions (135, 235) arranged equidistant from each other by a given pitch. 6. Cassette as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one recessed portion (25) is defined by angular feet (40) projecting outwards with respect to said bottom wall (16). 7. Cassette as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one recessed portion (325) is defined by at least one cavity formed in the thickness of said closing element (14) or of said bottom wall (16) . 8. Cassette as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises locking means (36) which can be associated with said closing element (14). 9. Cassette as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises constraining means (38) and conjugate counter-constraining means (39), to realize a cooperation with adjacent cassettes, so as to lock the reciprocal position between stacks, or columns, other than boxes. 10. Display module for articles comprising a plurality of said article-holder boxes (10) arranged one above the other, each of said article-holder boxes (10) comprising a containment body (13) provided with at least one bottom wall (16 ) and defining a containment compartment (15) for containing at least one article (12), and a closing element (14; 114; 214) associated with said containment body (13) in an opposite position with respect to said bottom (16), and configured to open or close said containment compartment (15), characterized in that said bottom wall (16) and respectively said closing element (14; 114; 214), on the side facing the external with respect to the containment compartment (15), they have at least one recessed portion (25; 325) and respectively at least one protruding portion (35; 135; 235; 335), or vice versa, reentering or protruding with respect to the overall dimensions of said box ( 10), said protruding portion (35; 13 5; 235; 335) being of shape and dimensions at least partially conjugated to those of said re-entrant portion (25; 325), so that said protruding portion (35; 135; 235; 335) of one of said boxes fits into said re-entrant portion (25 ; 325) of the other of said article-carrying boxes (10).