US20060231602A1

US20060231602A1 - Multi-functional shoe storage box

Info

Publication number: US20060231602A1
Application number: US10/907,772
Authority: US
Inventors: Der Liang Mu; Lisa Lynn Kim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-14
Filing date: 2005-04-14
Publication date: 2006-10-19

Abstract

A multi-functional shoe storage box comprising an outer container defined by a bottom plate and first to third side plates, the first and second side plates facing each other, the third side plate completing the outer container with a fourth side being a slide opening. A cover has a top plate hingedly extending from the second side plate with a wing plate extending from the top plate so that when the cover is hingedly closed the wing plate becomes overlapped onto the first side plate. An inner container with its first and second plates facing each other, the inner third and fourth plates facing each other, whereby the inner container is slid through the slide opening in and out of the outer container. A side tab extending outwardly from the outer container bottom plate has a hole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shoe storage box and, more particularly, to a multi-functional shoe storage box satisfying convenience and esthetic demand as well as storage purpose.
Conventional shoe storage boxes come with paper containers. One of the disadvantages of the conventional paper shoe storage boxes is that each cover has to be opened for display on shoe racks and thus shoe pairs displaced to a different shoe storage box and tainted, thereby causing annoyances to the seller. Further, considering the shopper usually sees the label on the shoe storage box first, the inconveniences generated by the open paper shoe storage boxes, like unmatched design or shoe size by the frequent displacements, would probably disappoint the shoppers and affect the business itself.
A demand on the market is to provide a shoe storage box that allows shoppers to shop shoes in clean and convenient manners while shop owners enjoy a variety of display options to attract shoppers and satisfy shoppers needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is contrived to overcome the conventional disadvantages. Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-functional shoe storage box satisfying convenience and esthetic demand as well as storage purpose.
Another objective is to provide a multi-functional shoe storage box adopting clear and transparent see-through mechanism enabling clear view of the shoe pair inside without opening its cover. A further objective is to provide a multi-functional shoe storage box enabling space saving stackable design.
To achieve these and other objectives, a multi-functional shoe storage box according to the present invention comprises a substantially transparent outer container defined by a bottom plate and first to third side plates, the first and second side plates facing each other, the third side plate completing the outer container with a fourth side of the outer container being a slide opening.
Further provided is a substantially transparent cover to the outer container where the cover has a top plate hingedly extending from the second side plate. A wing plate extends from the top plate so that when the cover is hingedly closed the wing plate becomes overlapped onto the first side plate. In this construction, a substantially transparent inner container is defined by a bottom plate and first to fourth side plates, the inner container first and second plates facing each other, the inner container third and fourth plates facing each other, whereby the inner container is slid through the slide opening in and out of the outer container.
For a better performance, a substantially transparent side tab is formed to extend outwardly from the outer container bottom plate and adjacent to the slide opening where the side tab has a hole.
In a preferred embodiment, the multi-functional shoe storage box comprises a substantially transparent outer container defined by a bottom plate and first to third side plates, the first and second side plates facing each other, the third side plate completing the outer container with a fourth side of the outer container being a slide opening, wherein a top surface of the bottom plate is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous openings. In this formation, a substantially transparent inner container defined by a bottom plate and first to fourth side plates, the inner container first and second plates facing each other, the inner container third and fourth plates facing each other, wherein a bottom surface of the inner container bottom plate is selectively embossed to form a plurality of bosses to fit in the porous openings when the inner container is slid through the slide opening.
Advantages of the present invention are numerous in that: (1) the multi-functional shoe storage box adopts a sidewise sliding mechanism in which the inner container is slid into the outer container while minimizing friction during the slide by utilizing porous openings in the outer container and corresponding bosses in the inner container such that the bosses enables minimal friction sliding of the inner container and serves as a retainer of the box when seated in the porous openings, thereby improving product reliability; (2) the clear and transparent see-through characteristics enabling clear view of the shoe pair inside without opening its cover maximizes retail display effects while maintaining the shoe pair in clean and original tempting condition by minimizing chances to open the cover; and (3) the stackable design implemented by forming porous openings in the upper surface of the top plate to receive corresponding bosses of another shoe storage box realizes space saving vertical stacking and subsequently the user's satisfaction.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the full understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a construction view showing assembly of a multi-functional shoe storage box according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an application view showing a shoe storage of the multi-functional shoe storage box according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-iV in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 3; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 5 each show construction and application of a multi-functional shoe storage box 10 according to the present invention. As shown therein, the shoe storage box 10 comprises an outer container 12 and an inner container 14 where the outer container 12 receives the inner container 14 with a pair of shoes 16 stored inside. Here, each of the outer and inner containers 12, 14 is preferably formed of a substantially transparent material.
The outer container 12 is defined by a bottom plate 18 and first to third side plates 20, 22, 24. The first and second side plates 20, 22 are formed to face each other, and the third side plate 24 serves to complete the outer container 12 with a fourth side of the outer container 12 being a slide opening 26.
In order to improve usability of the shoe storage box 10 there is provided a substantially transparent cover 28 to the outer container 12. The cover 28 has a top plate 30 hingedly extending from the second side plate 22. A wing plate 32 is formed to extend from the top plate 30 so that when the cover 28 is hingedly closed the wing plate 32 becomes overlapped onto the first side plate 20.
The inner container 14 also formed of a substantially transparent material is defined by a bottom plate 34 and first to fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42. The inner container first and second plates 36, 38 are formed to face each other, and the inner container third and fourth plates 40, 42 are formed to face each other. In this construction, the inner container 14 is slid through the slide opening 26 in and out of the outer container 12.
To facilitate wall mounting of the shoe storage box 10 for shopping convenience and store display, a side tab 44 is provided as an attachment to the outer container 12. The side tab 44 is preferably formed of a substantially transparent to extend outwardly from the outer container bottom plate 18 and adjacent to the slide opening 26 where the side tab 44 has a hole 46 to accept a wall mounting aid such as a hook and a nail head.
In a preferred mode, the shoe storage box 10 further comprises an elongate handle 48 detachably attached to an outer surface 50 of the first side plate 36 of the inner container 14. The elongate handle 48 is externally exposed sequentially through a first slot 52 formed in the outer container first side plate 20 and through a second slot 54 formed in the wing plate 32. The elongate handle 48 is preferable formed of a substantially transparent material in a flat mode. The handle 48 is formed adjustable such that it stays flat unless pulled up for carrying purpose. It is recommended that each end 56 of the handle 48 is releasably inserted through the inner container first side plate 36 in a hookable mode.
The shoe storage box 10 includes a locking member 58 to detachably attach the wing plate 32 to the outer container first side plate 20. The locking member 58 may be formed of a hook and pile alternately formed on an outer surface portion of the outer container first side plate 20 and on an inner surface portion of the cover wing plate 32. Alternately, the locking member 58 is formed of an insert 64 extending from the wing plate 32 and an insert slit 66 formed in the outer container first side plate 20.
Meanwhile, the outer container first and second side plates 20, 22 are connected to the outer container third side plate 24 by a tab-to-slit mechanism of an outer fly tab 68 selectively extending from the outer container first to third side plates 20, 22, 24 and an outer fly slit 70 formed in the outer container first to third side plates 20, 22, 24 to accept the corresponding fly tab 68. In correspondence, the inner container first and second side plates 36, 38 are connected to the inner container third and fourth side plates 40, 42 by a tab-to-slit mechanism of a pair of inner fly tabs 72 selectively extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 and a pair of inner fly slits 74 formed in the inner container first to fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 to accept the corresponding fly tabs 72 such that the outer fly tab 68 is placed between the inner fly tabs 72 when the inner container 14 is slid into the outer container 12.
Alternately, the tab-to-slit mechanism may be formed of a pair of outer fly tabs 68 selectively extending from the outer container first to third side plates 20, 22, 24 and a pair of outer fly slits 70 formed in the outer container first to third side plates 20, 22, 24 to accept the corresponding fly tabs 68, whereas the inner container first and second side plates 36, 38 are connected to the outer container third and fourth side plates 40, 42 by a tab-to-slit mechanism of three inner fly tabs 72 selectively extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 and three inner fly slits 74 formed in the inner container first to third side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 to accept the corresponding inner fly tabs 72 such that the pair of outer fly tabs 68 are alternately placed among the three inner fly tabs 72 when the inner container 14 is slid into the outer container 12. In this construction, it is preferred that the tabs 68, 72 are formed to stay inside the shoe storage box 10 when assembled.
For a better performance, the fourth side plate 42 of the inner container 14 has a grip opening 76 around a center 78 thereof to facilitate a manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container 14 against the outer container 12. The fourth side plate 42 may have a top opening 80 above the grip opening 76 to further facilitate the manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container 14 against the outer container 12 to enable easier finger grip together with the grip opening 76 for the pull-out opening of the inner container 14 from the outer container 12. Also, for a ventilation purpose, each of the third side plates 24, 40 of the outer and inner containers 12, 14 has a ventilation opening 82 in a corresponding mode.
To maximize the see-through characteristics of the shoe storage box 10, each and every part is possibly formed of a transparent material. Specifically, the containers 12, 14, cover 28, side tab 44, and elongate handle 48 are each formed of one selected from transparent polypropylene (PP) for transparency and durability, and transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for better transparency quality.
As further shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in an embodiment, a top surface 84 of the bottom plate 18 is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous openings 86, preferably four porous openings 86 in four corners 88 of the top surface 84 of the bottom plate 18. To match with this bottom plate construction of the outer container 12, a lower surface 90 of the inner container bottom plate 34 is selectively embossed to form a plurality of bosses 92 to fit in the porous openings 86 when the inner container 14 is slid through the slide opening 26. For a space saving stacking purpose, the top plate 30 may be formed such that a top surface 94 of the top plate 30 is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous openings 96.
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible by converting the aforementioned construction. Therefore, the scope of the invention shall not be limited by the specification specified above and the appended claims.

Claims

1. A multi-functional shoe storage box, comprising:

a) a substantially transparent outer container defined by a bottom plate and first to third side plates, the first and second side plates facing each other, the third side plate completing the outer container with a fourth side of the outer container being a slide opening;

b) a substantially transparent cover to the outer container, wherein the cover has a top plate hingedly extending from the second side plate, wherein a wing plate extends from the top plate so that when the cover is hingedly closed the wing plate becomes overlapped onto the first side plate;

c) a substantially transparent inner container defined by a bottom plate and first to fourth side plates, the inner container first and second plates facing each other, the inner container third and fourth plates facing each other, whereby the inner container is slid through the slide opening in and out of the outer container; and

d) a substantially transparent side tab extending outwardly from the outer container bottom plate and adjacent to the slide opening, the side tab having a hole.

2. The shoe storage box of claim 1 further comprising an elongate handle detachably attached to an outer surface of the first side plate of the inner container, wherein the elongate handle is externally exposed sequentially through a first slot formed in the outer container first side plate and through a second slot formed in the wing plate.

3. The shoe storage box of claim 1 further comprising a locking member to detachably attach the wing plate to the outer container first side plate, wherein the locking member is a hook and pile alternately formed on an outer surface portion of the outer container first side plate and on an inner surface portion of the cover wing plate.

4. The shoe storage box of claim 1 further comprising a locking member to detachably attach the wing plate to the outer container first side plate, wherein the locking member is formed of an insert extending from the wing plate and an insert slit formed in the outer container first side plate.

5. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the outer container first and second side plates are connected to the outer container third side plate by a tab-to-slit mechanism of an outer fly tab selectively extending from the outer container first to third side plates and an outer fly slit formed in the outer container first to third side plates to accept the corresponding fly tab, wherein the inner container first and second side plates are connected to the inner container third and fourth side plates by a tab-to-slit mechanism of a pair of inner fly tabs selectively extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates and a pair of inner fly slits formed in the inner container first to fourth side plates to accept the corresponding fly tabs such that the outer fly tab is placed between the inner fly tabs when the inner container is slid into the outer container.

6. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the outer container first and second side plates are connected to the outer container third side plate by a tab-to-slit mechanism of a pair of outer fly tabs selectively extending from the outer container first to third side plates and a pair of outer fly slits formed in the outer container first to third side plates to accept the corresponding fly tabs, wherein the inner container first and second side plates are connected to the inner container third and fourth side plates by a tab-to-slit mechanism of three inner fly tabs selectively extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates and three inner fly slits formed in the inner container first to fourth side plates to accept the corresponding inner fly tabs such that the pair of outer fly tabs are alternately placed among the three inner fly tabs when the inner container is slid into the outer container.

7. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the fourth side plate of the inner container has a grip opening around a center thereof to facilitate a manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container against the outer container.

8. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the fourth side plate has a top opening to further facilitate the manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container against the outer container.

9. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein each of the third side plates of the outer and inner containers has a ventilation opening in a corresponding mode.

10. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the containers, cover and side tab are each formed of one selected from transparent polyprophylene (PP) and transparent PVC.

11. A multi-functional shoe storage box, comprising:

a) a substantially transparent outer container defined by a bottom plate and first to third side plates, the first and second side plates facing each other, the third side plate completing the outer container with a fourth side of the outer container being a slide opening, wherein a top surface of the bottom plate is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous openings;

c) a substantially transparent inner container defined by a bottom plate and first to fourth side plates, the inner container first and second plates facing each other, the inner container third and fourth plates facing each other, wherein a lower surface of the inner container bottom plate is selectively embossed to form a plurality of bosses to fit in the porous openings when the inner container is slid through the slide opening; and

12. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein a top surface of the top plate is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous openings.

13. The shoe storage box of claim 11 further comprising an elongate handle detachably attached to an outer surface of the first side plate of the inner container, wherein the elongate handle is externally exposed sequentially through a first slot formed in the outer container first side plate and through a second slot formed in the wing plate.

14. The shoe storage box of claim 11 further comprising a locking member to detachably attach the wing plate to the outer container first side plate, wherein the locking member is a hook and pile alternately formed on an outer surface portion of the outer container first side plate and on an inner surface portion of the cover wing plate.

15. The shoe storage box of claim 11 further comprising a locking member to detachably attach the wing plate to the outer container first side plate, wherein the locking member is formed of an insert extending from the wing plate and an insert slit formed in the outer container first side plate.

16. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein the outer container first and second side plates are connected to the outer container third side plate by a tab-to-slit mechanism of an outer fly tab selectively extending from the outer container first to third side plates and an outer fly slit formed in the outer container first to third side plates to accept the corresponding fly tab, wherein the inner container first and second side plates are connected to the inner container third and fourth side plates by a tab-to-slit mechanism of a pair of inner fly tabs selectively extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates and a pair of inner fly slits formed in the inner container first to fourth side plates to accept the corresponding fly tabs such that the outer fly tab is placed between the inner fly tabs when the inner container is slid into the outer container.

17. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein the outer container first and second side plates are connected to the outer container third side plate by a tab-to-slit mechanism of a pair of outer fly tabs selectively extending from the outer container first to third side plates and a pair of outer fly slits formed in the outer container first to third side plates to accept the corresponding fly tabs, wherein the inner container first and second side plates are connected to the inner container third and fourth side plates by a tab-to-slit mechanism of three inner fly tabs selectively extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates and three inner fly slits formed in the inner container first to fourth side plates to accept the corresponding inner fly tabs such that the pair of outer fly tabs are alternately placed among the three inner fly tabs when the inner container is slid into the outer container.

18. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein the fourth side plate of the inner container has a grip opening around a center thereof to facilitate a manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container against the outer container, wherein the fourth side plate has a top opening above the grip opening to further facilitate the manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container against the outer container.

19. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein each of the third side plates of the outer and inner containers has a ventilation opening in a corresponding mode.

20. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein the containers, cover and side tab are each formed of one selected from transparent polyprophylene (PP) and transparent PVC.