US3790018A - Container - Google Patents

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US3790018A
US3790018A US00172833A US3790018DA US3790018A US 3790018 A US3790018 A US 3790018A US 00172833 A US00172833 A US 00172833A US 3790018D A US3790018D A US 3790018DA US 3790018 A US3790018 A US 3790018A
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Prior art keywords
wall
walls
chamber
coupled
container
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US00172833A
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P Farkas
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ABB Installation Products Inc
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Thomas and Betts Corp
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D25/00Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/02Internal fittings
    • B65D25/04Partitions
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D11/00Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
    • B65D11/10Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material of polygonal cross-section and all parts being permanently connected to each other

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A container for storing elongated articles having different heights at their respective ends permitting maximization of the storage capacity in a minimum amount of volume.
  • the rectangular container body defines a hollow chamber therein and has covers at either end, individually, selectively removable from the container body.
  • At least one inclined intermediate wall placed within the container body segments the chamber into chamber portions some of which are accessable by re moving a first of the covers and others of which are accessable by removing the second of the covers.
  • the chamber can be further divided to increase the utility of the container.
  • Selective shaping of the container covers permits nesting of the covers within one another and the container body to be angularly positioned within the covers to facilitate access to the articles stored within the container body,
  • the invention is directed to the field of containers and more particularly to containers for storing articles having different heights at their respective ends, such as article bundling straps for joining a plurality of discrete articles into a unitary bundle. For example, to bundle discrete conductors into a cable, for the bundling of a plurality of rods, tubes, or the like.
  • the invention is directed to containers to facilitate the packing, storage, transportation, and handling of the straps employed for such bundling and to make the dispensing of such straps simpler and more direct.
  • article bundling straps are generally packaged in cloth paper or plastic bags, the
  • the present invention seeks to overcome the difficulties noted above in previous packaging techniques for articles having differing heights at their respective tail end and head end portions. This is achieved by means of a unique container having a container body portion the front, rear and end walls, thereof, defining a hollow chamber and one or more inclined intermediate walls segmenting the chamber into chamber portions each accessible from opposite open ends of the container body. A selectively removable cover is placed at each of the open ends of the container such that when a first of the covers is removed one or more of the chamber portions are accessible and when the second of the covers is removed other chamber portions are accessible.
  • Each inclined wall defines two complementary, generally truncated wedge shaped chamber portions, each having an end of narrow width and an end of greater width, thereby accurately defining chamber portions conforming to the dimensional variation of the bundling straps themselves. That is, when the bundling straps are stored within the truncated wedge shaped chamber portion, the low height tail end portion is placed in the smallest dimension of the chamber portion and the greater height head end portion is placed in the widest dimension of the chamber portion.
  • a natural surface is provided to permit the container body portion to be tilted at an appropriate angle to facilitate access to the bundling straps stored within one of the chamber portions.
  • the container covers may be stacked one within the other or the body portion of the container stacked within the cover in such a manner that the container body may be tilted at an appropriate angle.
  • one of the selectively removable covers is first removed and placed upon a working surface. The second cover is then positioned within the first removable cover so as to properly tilt the inner body towards the person employing the bundling straps therein.
  • the container When this first chamber portion is emptied, the container is removed from the cover, turned over, and then may be either repositioned within the now extra cover or placed directly upon the supporting surface.
  • the chamber defined by the container body is employed to its maximum, in that the overall dimensions of the container may be greatly reduced as compared to a rectangular container of sufficient dimensions, as to accept a given number of bundling straps as defined by the height of the head end portions.
  • the unique container described herein permits a reduction of 40 percent of the volume normally required. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved container for storing and dispensing articles.
  • FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a container constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the container of FIG. 1 with covers removed therefrom.
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1 with the covers removed.
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the body of the container of FIG. 1 with the covers removed.
  • FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1
  • FIG. 6 is a front elevational view, in section, of the cover of FIG. 5 taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1, partially fragmented, showing the covers positioned upon the container body.
  • FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1, partially in section, showing the manner of storage of articles having differing heights along their length therein with the top cover removed.
  • FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the body portio of the container of FIG. I placed upon a supporting surface in a position to permit access to the chamber therein.
  • FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1 wherein the container body portion is tiltably positioned in the removed and inverted top cover placed upon a supporting surface in such a manner as to permit access to a portion of the chamber of the container.
  • FIG. 11' is a side elevational view, partially fragmented, to show a further container constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a side elevational view, partially fragmented, to show yet another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of yet a further embodiment of the invention.
  • Container 20 has a container body portion 22 shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and cover portion 24 and 26 shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • cover portion 24 and 26 shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • the inner edges of the cover portions 24, 26 are undercut and the outer edges of the body portion 22 is recessed to provide frictional lock between body portion 22 and cover portions 24, 26.
  • a selectively removable sealing means such as a tape 28 may be employed to seal the cover 24 to the body portion 22 to prevent moisture and dust from entering container 20.
  • Body portion 22 is comprised of a front wall 32, a rear wall 34, a first or left end wall 36, and a second or right end wall 38, all of which circumscribe a hollow rectangular chamber 40.
  • An inclined intermediate wall 42 divides the chamber 40 into two chamber portions 44 and 46 each in the shape of a truncated wedge.
  • intermediate wall 42 extends above and below the heights of the respective end walls 36, 38, rear wall 34 and front wall 32.
  • a rear wall extension 48, a cross wall 50 together with end walls 52 and 54 (seen in FIG. 3) enclose at the upper end chamber portion 44.
  • front wall extension 56, cross wall 58 and end walls 60, 62 serve to enclose at the bottom chamber portion 46.
  • FIG. 9 there is shown a container body portion 22 placed upon a supporting surface 64, which may be a work bench or the like, so that the free edge of the rear wall 34 and the edge of the extension of chamber portion 46, formed by the intermediate wall 42 and cover wall 58 contact the work surface 64 in such a manner as to tilt the container body 22 at an acute angle to the work surface 64 and thus permit each access to the chamber portion 46.
  • the container body 22 may be tilted upon work surface 64 to facilitate access to chamber portion 44 when container body 22 is inverted.
  • FIG. 11 A first of these modified forms of the body portion is shown in FIG. 11 wherein container body portion 66 has an inclined intermediate wall 68 having an overall height the same as the end walls 36, 38, front wall 32 and rear wall 34.
  • a first cross wall 70 coupled to the rear wall 34, the intermediate wall 68 and portions of the end walls 36, 38 close the end of the first chamber portion 72 at the upper portion of FIG. 11.
  • a second cross wall 74 coupled between the front wall 32, portions of the end walls 36, 38 and the intermediate wall 68 serves to sea], at the bottom portion of FIG.
  • FIG. 12 a further modification is shown wherein body portion 78 has an inclined wall 80 therein to define a first chamber portion 82 between the intermediate wall 80 and the rear wall 34 and a second chamber portion 84 between the inclined intermediate wall 80 and the front wall 32.
  • the chamber portions 82 and 84 are open at both their top and bottom surfaces, the respective covers being employed thereover to serve as bottoms and tops for the respective chambers 82 and 84.
  • cross walls 50 and 58 can be eliminated.
  • Intermediate wall 86 extending between the front wall 32 and inclined intermediate wall 42 to further divide the chamber portion 46 into two smaller chamber portions.
  • Intermediate wall 86 has the function of strenghtening the overall container body portion 22 and minimizes the movement of articles stored within the chamber portion 46 as some of the articles are withdrawn. With this arrangement, it is possible to withdraw articles from a first of the portions of the chamber portion 46 while fully restraining the remaining articles in the other area of the chamber portion 46.
  • a similar intermediate wall is provided in the chamber portion 44 although not visible in the figures.
  • each of the walls extending above the general height of container body portion 22, that is, rear extension 48, front extension 56 and end walls 52, 54, 60 and 62 are inclined with respect to the planes of the front wall 32, rear wall 34, and end walls 36, 38.
  • the reason for this, as will be described below with respect to the covers 24 and 26, is to facilitate their use in a nestable manner so that the container may be tilted with respect to a support surface.
  • each of these respective extensions and walls can be made to be coplanar with respect to the front wall 32, rear wall 34, and end walls 36, 38, if it is desired to use a cover also having coplanar walls.
  • the recessed portion 88 provided about the top of container body portion 22 along each of the end walls 36, 38, the front wall 32 and the rear wall 34, and similarly recessed portion 90, extending along the bottom edge of the end walls 36, 38, the front wall 32 and rear wall 34 facilitate the receipt thereon of an undercut portion of the covers 24, 26 respectively to permit a smooth transitional region between the body portion 22 and the covers 24, 26' and provide for a frictional lock therebetween.
  • tabs can be added along the undercut portions of the covers 24, 26 or along the recessed portions 88, 90 to increase the frictional locking engagement of the covers 24, 26 with the body portion 22.
  • Cover 24 consists of a top member 92-, a'front member 94, rear member 96 and side members 98, 100. As can best be seen in FIG. 6, side members 98 and 100 are inclined with respect to top member 92 and although not visible in FIGS. 5 and 6, front member 94 and the rear member 96 are similarly inclined with respect to top member 92.
  • the overall shape of the cover 24 may be described as a truncated pyramid which will faciltate, as was generally described above, the nesting of the covers 24 and 26 within one another.
  • An undercut portion 102 which mates with recessed portion 88 of the body portion 22, properly locates the cover 24 with respect to the body portion 22. Also, as set forth above, it provides for a smooth transition between cover 24 and body portion 22 and permits the frictional locking of these parts. Tabs 103, within undercut portion 102 frther increase the frictional locking of cover 24 to the body portion 22.
  • the bottom cover 26 is similarly constructed and has an undercut portion matching the recessed portion 90 at the bottom of body portion 22 for engagement therewith.
  • FIG. 7 there is shown a fully assembled container 20 with the body portion 22 closed at its respective ends by the covers 24 and 26 and showing the manner of engagement of the undercut portion 102 with the recessed portion 88 and undercut portion 105 of cover 26
  • FIG. 10 there is shown the container 20'of FIG. 1 in a position upon a supporting surface 64, such as a work bench, positioned in such a manner as to permit access to the chamber portion 46.
  • cover 24 is removed from the body portion 22 and placed in an inverted position upon the supporting surface 64.
  • Cover 26 is then positioned within the inverted cover 24 so that the body portion 22 is tilted to permit easy access to the chamber portion 46.
  • FIG. 8 there is shown the body portion 22 of container 20 with cover 24 removed and loaded with articles such as bundling straps 104 in respective chamber portions 46, 44.
  • the head end portions 106 consume a greater amount of space than the tail end portions 108.
  • the chamber 46 is shaped and dimensioned in such a manner as to match the shape of the articles 104 contained therein and thus permits the maximum utilization of the available space.
  • Container 150 has a body portion 152 and a cover portion 154.
  • a cover similar to cover 154, covering the upper portion of a body portion 152 has been removed in order that the inner details of the body portion 152 are more visible.
  • Front wall extension 168 and a rear wall 170 joined respectively with a first cross wall 172, end walls 174 and 176 and a second cross wall 178 and end walls 180 and 182 fully enclose truncated wedge shaped chamber portions similar to the chamber portions 44 and 46 of FIG. 4.
  • the two chamber portions just described are accessable from the bottom of the container 150 when the cover 154 is removed.
  • Between the inclined intermediate walls 164 and 166 is a third chamber portion 184 to which access can be gained from the top by removing the top cover v(not shown). In this manner the available space within body portion 152 can be divided into three portions to accept three groupings of articles which may, for example, vary in color from one another. If desired,'the device FIG.
  • 13 may be extended by including a unit similar to container 150 either in an end to end relationship, that is, by placing a rear wall such as 158 adjacent to the front wall 156 or in a side by side relationship such as by placing an end wall 162 against the end wall 160. This may be accomplished by physically placing such containers 150 together or forming it initially in that manner. Similarly, the container may be made as large as needed by repeating the above.
  • container 200 is formed into four discrete chamber portions by including two inclined intermediate walls 202 and 204 each of which only extends half the width of the front wall 206 and rear wall 208.
  • the inclined intermediate walls 202 and 204 will cross at the mid points of their respective lengths and thereby in a manner similar to FIG. 4 will divide the overall chamber into four equal portions.
  • straps contained in the chamber portions will not be permitted to move from one chamber portion to another because at least one-half of the overall length of the straps will be contained within a fully enclosed chamber portion.
  • an article placed within the chamber portion 210 bounded by the front wall 206, end wall 212 and intermediate walls 202 and 214 will be fully contained for at least 50 percent of their overall length.
  • articles placed within the remaining three chamber portions will be bounded completely for at least half of their overall length and thus will be restricted with their movement from one chamber portion to another.
  • the arrangement of FIG. 14 can similarly be extended to produce a container with as many chamber portions as is desired.
  • a container for articles having different heights at the respective ends thereof comprising: a front wall having a first end and a second end; a rear wall having a first end and a second end; said rear wall extending in spaced parallel relationship to said front wall; a first end wall having a first end coupled to said first end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said first end of said front wall; a second end wall having a first end coupled to said second end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said second end of said front wall; said first and second end walls extending in parallel spaced relationship; said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining a hollow rectangular chamber having a first open end and a second open end; a first intermediate wall coupled to said first end wall and positioned intermediate said first and second ends of said first end wall and inclined with respect to said front and rear walls; a second intermediate wall coupled to said second end wall and positioned intermediate said first and second ends of said second end wall and inclined with respect to said front and rear walls oppositely to said first intermediate
  • a container for articles having different heights at the respective ends thereof comprising: a front wall having a first end and a second end; a rear wall having a first end and a second end; said rear wall extending in spaced parallel relationship to said front wall; a first end wall having a first end coupled to said first end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said first end of said front wall; a second end wall having a first end coupled to said second end of said rear wall and a second endcoupled to said second end of said front wall; said first and second end walls extending in parallel spaced relationship; said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining a hollow rectangular chamber having a first open end and a second open end; an intermediate wall having a first end and a second end coupled to said first and second end walls; said intermediate wall positioned intermediate said first and second end walls and inclined with respect to said front and rear walls; said first end of said intermediate wall being closest to said rear wall and extending above said rear wall and said second end of said intermediate wall being closest to

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Abstract

A container for storing elongated articles having different heights at their respective ends permitting maximization of the storage capacity in a minimum amount of volume. The rectangular container body defines a hollow chamber therein and has covers at either end, individually, selectively removable from the container body. At least one inclined intermediate wall placed within the container body segments the chamber into chamber portions some of which are accessable by removing a first of the covers and others of which are accessable by removing the second of the covers. By the inclusion of additional intermediate walls, the chamber can be further divided to increase the utility of the container. Selective shaping of the container covers permits nesting of the covers within one another and the container body to be angularly positioned within the covers to facilitate access to the articles stored within the container body.

Description

Farkas [451 Feb. 5, 1974 CONTAINER [75] Inventor: Paul Farkas, Elizabeth, NJ.
[73] Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation,
Elizabeth, NJ.
22 Filed: Aug. 18,1971 211 Appl. No.: 172,833
[52] US. Cl 220/4 C, 220/20, 220/22 [51] Int. Cl B65d 11/10, B65d 25/04 [58] Field of Search 220/4 C, 4 F, 4 B, 4 E, 20, 220/22 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 304,111 8/1884 Laube 220/4 C 2,706,576 4/1955 Thon 220/22 2,665,808 1/1954 McAlisterQ. 220/22 3,344,945 10/1967 Bozek 220/53 1,750,258 3/1930 Brownm. 220/22 1,970,970 8/1934 Nolan 220/22 2,300,259 10/1942 Kueppers 220/4 C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,31 1,985 ll/l962 France 220/20 Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney, Agent, or Firm--David Teschner; Jesse Woldman [5 7] ABSTRACT A container for storing elongated articles having different heights at their respective ends permitting maximization of the storage capacity in a minimum amount of volume. The rectangular container body defines a hollow chamber therein and has covers at either end, individually, selectively removable from the container body. At least one inclined intermediate wall placed within the container body segments the chamber into chamber portions some of which are accessable by re moving a first of the covers and others of which are accessable by removing the second of the covers. By the inclusion of additional intermediate walls, the chamber can be further divided to increase the utility of the container. Selective shaping of the container covers permits nesting of the covers within one another and the container body to be angularly positioned within the covers to facilitate access to the articles stored within the container body,
3 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures mamanrm 5m:
SHEET 3 [IF 6 PATENTEU FEB 74 SHEET 0F 6 FIG. 10 r PAIENTED FEB 74 FIG. 12
FIG. 13
PATENIED 3.790.018
SHEEI 8 OF 6 FIG. 14
CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is directed to the field of containers and more particularly to containers for storing articles having different heights at their respective ends, such as article bundling straps for joining a plurality of discrete articles into a unitary bundle. For example, to bundle discrete conductors into a cable, for the bundling of a plurality of rods, tubes, or the like. Particularly, the invention is directed to containers to facilitate the packing, storage, transportation, and handling of the straps employed for such bundling and to make the dispensing of such straps simpler and more direct.
2. Description of the Prior Art According to the prior art, article bundling straps are generally packaged in cloth paper or plastic bags, the
tops of which must be removed in order to gain access great height of the head end portion, a great deal of space is .wasted because the container has to be dimensioned according to the collective heights of the straps at the head end portion leaving a great deal of wasted space in the much lower height tail end portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to overcome the difficulties noted above in previous packaging techniques for articles having differing heights at their respective tail end and head end portions. This is achieved by means of a unique container having a container body portion the front, rear and end walls, thereof, defining a hollow chamber and one or more inclined intermediate walls segmenting the chamber into chamber portions each accessible from opposite open ends of the container body. A selectively removable cover is placed at each of the open ends of the container such that when a first of the covers is removed one or more of the chamber portions are accessible and when the second of the covers is removed other chamber portions are accessible. Each inclined wall defines two complementary, generally truncated wedge shaped chamber portions, each having an end of narrow width and an end of greater width, thereby accurately defining chamber portions conforming to the dimensional variation of the bundling straps themselves. That is, when the bundling straps are stored within the truncated wedge shaped chamber portion, the low height tail end portion is placed in the smallest dimension of the chamber portion and the greater height head end portion is placed in the widest dimension of the chamber portion.
By extending the chamber portions beyond the height of the surrounding from, rear and end walls, a natural surface is provided to permit the container body portion to be tilted at an appropriate angle to facilitate access to the bundling straps stored within one of the chamber portions. Alternatively, due to the shape of the container covers they may be stacked one within the other or the body portion of the container stacked within the cover in such a manner that the container body may be tilted at an appropriate angle. In practice, one of the selectively removable covers is first removed and placed upon a working surface. The second cover is then positioned within the first removable cover so as to properly tilt the inner body towards the person employing the bundling straps therein. When this first chamber portion is emptied, the container is removed from the cover, turned over, and then may be either repositioned within the now extra cover or placed directly upon the supporting surface. By the use of the inclined intermediate wall within the chamber of the container body, the chamber defined by the container body is employed to its maximum, in that the overall dimensions of the container may be greatly reduced as compared to a rectangular container of sufficient dimensions, as to accept a given number of bundling straps as defined by the height of the head end portions. The unique container described herein permits a reduction of 40 percent of the volume normally required. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved container for storing and dispensing articles.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved container permitting access to the chamber within, from either end thereof.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved container for articles having differing heights at their respective ends by employing an inclined wall therein to reduce the overall dimensions of such container.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved container having an inclined wall therein to divide the internal chamber into two chamber portions and having a cover at each of the respective ends, either one of which may be removed to permit access to one of the chamber portions.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a container with a plurality of inclined walls therein subdividing the internal chamber of the container into a plurality of chamber portions, selective ones of which may be employed by removing selectively removable covers. 7
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a container having at least one inclined wall therein extending beyond the bounds of the walls of such container in such a manner that the container may be positioned to a prescribed angle with respect to a supporting surface in order that access may be had to the conwhich covers may'be nested within one another and which permits the nesting of the container body portion within such covers in such a manner as to position the container body with respect to a supporting surface so as to facilitate access to the container.
Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention, and the best modes wich have been contemplated for carrying them out.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
In the Drawings:
In the drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference characters.
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a container constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the container of FIG. 1 with covers removed therefrom.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1 with the covers removed.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the body of the container of FIG. 1 with the covers removed.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 1
top cover.
FIG. 6 is a front elevational view, in section, of the cover of FIG. 5 taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1, partially fragmented, showing the covers positioned upon the container body.
FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1, partially in section, showing the manner of storage of articles having differing heights along their length therein with the top cover removed.
FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the body portio of the container of FIG. I placed upon a supporting surface in a position to permit access to the chamber therein.
FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1 wherein the container body portion is tiltably positioned in the removed and inverted top cover placed upon a supporting surface in such a manner as to permit access to a portion of the chamber of the container.
FIG. 11' is a side elevational view, partially fragmented, to show a further container constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view, partially fragmented, to show yet another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of yet a further embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
Turning now to FIGS. 1 through 7'there is shown a first embodiment of a container constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. Container 20 has a container body portion 22 shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and cover portion 24 and 26 shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. As will be described below with reference to FIGS. '6 and 7, the inner edges of the cover portions 24, 26 are undercut and the outer edges of the body portion 22 is recessed to provide frictional lock between body portion 22 and cover portions 24, 26. In addition, a selectively removable sealing means such as a tape 28 may be employed to seal the cover 24 to the body portion 22 to prevent moisture and dust from entering container 20. Similarly, a selectively removable sealing means, such as the tape 30, may be employed to seal the cover portion 26 to the body portion 22. Such tapes may be removed so as to permit access to the chamber within the body portion 22 from either end and may be reapplied to reseal the container should only a portion of its contents be required at any one time. Body portion 22, as is better shown in FIG. 3, is comprised of a front wall 32, a rear wall 34, a first or left end wall 36, and a second or right end wall 38, all of which circumscribe a hollow rectangular chamber 40.
An inclined intermediate wall 42, better seen in FIG. 4, divides the chamber 40 into two chamber portions 44 and 46 each in the shape of a truncated wedge. As is seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, intermediate wall 42 extends above and below the heights of the respective end walls 36, 38, rear wall 34 and front wall 32. A rear wall extension 48, a cross wall 50 together with end walls 52 and 54 (seen in FIG. 3) enclose at the upper end chamber portion 44. Similarly, front wall extension 56, cross wall 58 and end walls 60, 62 (seen in FIG. 3) serve to enclose at the bottom chamber portion 46. The extensions of the chamber portions 44 and 46 above and below the heights of the respective front, rear and end walls permit the container 20 to store articles of a length greater than the height of these respective walls and secondly permits the container body 22 to be positioned upon a working or supporting surface at an acute angle facilitating access to the straps contained therein. Referring to FIG. 9 there is shown a container body portion 22 placed upon a supporting surface 64, which may be a work bench or the like, so that the free edge of the rear wall 34 and the edge of the extension of chamber portion 46, formed by the intermediate wall 42 and cover wall 58 contact the work surface 64 in such a manner as to tilt the container body 22 at an acute angle to the work surface 64 and thus permit each access to the chamber portion 46. Similarly, the container body 22 may be tilted upon work surface 64 to facilitate access to chamber portion 44 when container body 22 is inverted.
If it is not necessary or desirable to store articles in the container having an overall dimension greater than the heights of the respective walls, then a modification may be made to the body portion in order to eliminate the extensions provided in FIG. 4. A first of these modified forms of the body portion is shown in FIG. 11 wherein container body portion 66 has an inclined intermediate wall 68 having an overall height the same as the end walls 36, 38, front wall 32 and rear wall 34. A first cross wall 70 coupled to the rear wall 34, the intermediate wall 68 and portions of the end walls 36, 38 close the end of the first chamber portion 72 at the upper portion of FIG. 11. In a similar manner, a second cross wall 74 coupled between the front wall 32, portions of the end walls 36, 38 and the intermediate wall 68 serves to sea], at the bottom portion of FIG. 11,- the second chamber portion 76. The container arrangement of FIG. 1 1, having approximately the same height throughout, cannot be tilted using only the container body portion 66 alone. As will be described below with reference to FIG. 10, the covers can be employed to tilt the container body 66 with respect to a supporting surface to facilitate access to chamber portions 72, 76. In FIG. 12 a further modification is shown wherein body portion 78 has an inclined wall 80 therein to define a first chamber portion 82 between the intermediate wall 80 and the rear wall 34 and a second chamber portion 84 between the inclined intermediate wall 80 and the front wall 32. With this arrangement the chamber portions 82 and 84 are open at both their top and bottom surfaces, the respective covers being employed thereover to serve as bottoms and tops for the respective chambers 82 and 84. Also, if desired to leave the chamber portions 44, 46 open (in FIG. 4) cross walls 50 and 58 can be eliminated.
Returning now to FIG. 3 there is shown a further intermediate wall 86 extending between the front wall 32 and inclined intermediate wall 42 to further divide the chamber portion 46 into two smaller chamber portions. Intermediate wall 86 has the function of strenghtening the overall container body portion 22 and minimizes the movement of articles stored within the chamber portion 46 as some of the articles are withdrawn. With this arrangement, it is possible to withdraw articles from a first of the portions of the chamber portion 46 while fully restraining the remaining articles in the other area of the chamber portion 46. A similar intermediate wall is provided in the chamber portion 44 although not visible in the figures.
It should be noted that each of the walls extending above the general height of container body portion 22, that is, rear extension 48, front extension 56 and end walls 52, 54, 60 and 62 are inclined with respect to the planes of the front wall 32, rear wall 34, and end walls 36, 38. The reason for this, as will be described below with respect to the covers 24 and 26, is to facilitate their use in a nestable manner so that the container may be tilted with respect to a support surface. It should also be noted that each of these respective extensions and walls can be made to be coplanar with respect to the front wall 32, rear wall 34, and end walls 36, 38, if it is desired to use a cover also having coplanar walls. The recessed portion 88 provided about the top of container body portion 22 along each of the end walls 36, 38, the front wall 32 and the rear wall 34, and similarly recessed portion 90, extending along the bottom edge of the end walls 36, 38, the front wall 32 and rear wall 34 facilitate the receipt thereon of an undercut portion of the covers 24, 26 respectively to permit a smooth transitional region between the body portion 22 and the covers 24, 26' and provide for a frictional lock therebetween. As will be described, tabs can be added along the undercut portions of the covers 24, 26 or along the recessed portions 88, 90 to increase the frictional locking engagement of the covers 24, 26 with the body portion 22.
Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6 cover 24 is shown. It should be noted that covers 24 and 26 are identical in all details and may be used interchangeably. Cover 24 consists of a top member 92-, a'front member 94, rear member 96 and side members 98, 100. As can best be seen in FIG. 6, side members 98 and 100 are inclined with respect to top member 92 and although not visible in FIGS. 5 and 6, front member 94 and the rear member 96 are similarly inclined with respect to top member 92. The overall shape of the cover 24 may be described as a truncated pyramid which will faciltate, as was generally described above, the nesting of the covers 24 and 26 within one another. An undercut portion 102, which mates with recessed portion 88 of the body portion 22, properly locates the cover 24 with respect to the body portion 22. Also, as set forth above, it provides for a smooth transition between cover 24 and body portion 22 and permits the frictional locking of these parts. Tabs 103, within undercut portion 102 frther increase the frictional locking of cover 24 to the body portion 22. The bottom cover 26 is similarly constructed and has an undercut portion matching the recessed portion 90 at the bottom of body portion 22 for engagement therewith.
Turning now to FIG. 7 there is shown a fully assembled container 20 with the body portion 22 closed at its respective ends by the covers 24 and 26 and showing the manner of engagement of the undercut portion 102 with the recessed portion 88 and undercut portion 105 of cover 26 Turning now to FIG. 10 there is shown the container 20'of FIG. 1 in a position upon a supporting surface 64, such as a work bench, positioned in such a manner as to permit access to the chamber portion 46. After removing the sealing means 28, cover 24 is removed from the body portion 22 and placed in an inverted position upon the supporting surface 64. Cover 26 is then positioned within the inverted cover 24 so that the body portion 22 is tilted to permit easy access to the chamber portion 46.
Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown the body portion 22 of container 20 with cover 24 removed and loaded with articles such as bundling straps 104 in respective chamber portions 46, 44. As can be seen with respect to the straps 104 in the chamber portion 46, the head end portions 106 consume a greater amount of space than the tail end portions 108. Due to the position and inclination of intermediate wall 42, the chamber 46 is shaped and dimensioned in such a manner as to match the shape of the articles 104 contained therein and thus permits the maximum utilization of the available space.
Turning to FIG. 13 there is shown a further container constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. Container 150 has a body portion 152 and a cover portion 154. A cover similar to cover 154, covering the upper portion of a body portion 152 has been removed in order that the inner details of the body portion 152 are more visible. Placed within the body portion 152, composed of a front wall 156, rear wall 158, a first end wall and second end wall 162, are two inclined intermediate walls 164 and 166. Front wall extension 168 and a rear wall 170 joined respectively with a first cross wall 172, end walls 174 and 176 and a second cross wall 178 and end walls 180 and 182 fully enclose truncated wedge shaped chamber portions similar to the chamber portions 44 and 46 of FIG. 4. The two chamber portions just described are accessable from the bottom of the container 150 when the cover 154 is removed. Between the inclined intermediate walls 164 and 166 is a third chamber portion 184 to which access can be gained from the top by removing the top cover v(not shown). In this manner the available space within body portion 152 can be divided into three portions to accept three groupings of articles which may, for example, vary in color from one another. If desired,'the device FIG. 13 may be extended by including a unit similar to container 150 either in an end to end relationship, that is, by placing a rear wall such as 158 adjacent to the front wall 156 or in a side by side relationship such as by placing an end wall 162 against the end wall 160. This may be accomplished by physically placing such containers 150 together or forming it initially in that manner. Similarly, the container may be made as large as needed by repeating the above.
In the embodiment of FIG. 14 container 200 is formed into four discrete chamber portions by including two inclined intermediate walls 202 and 204 each of which only extends half the width of the front wall 206 and rear wall 208. The inclined intermediate walls 202 and 204 will cross at the mid points of their respective lengths and thereby in a manner similar to FIG. 4 will divide the overall chamber into four equal portions. Despite the spacing between the intermediate walls 202 and 204 straps contained in the chamber portions will not be permitted to move from one chamber portion to another because at least one-half of the overall length of the straps will be contained within a fully enclosed chamber portion. That is, an article placed within the chamber portion 210 bounded by the front wall 206, end wall 212 and intermediate walls 202 and 214 will be fully contained for at least 50 percent of their overall length. In a similar fashion articles placed within the remaining three chamber portions will be bounded completely for at least half of their overall length and thus will be restricted with their movement from one chamber portion to another. The arrangement of FIG. 14 can similarly be extended to produce a container with as many chamber portions as is desired.
The embodiments of the invention in which the exclusive property or privileges claimed are defined as follows:
1. A container for articles having different heights at the respective ends thereof comprising: a front wall having a first end and a second end; a rear wall having a first end and a second end; said rear wall extending in spaced parallel relationship to said front wall; a first end wall having a first end coupled to said first end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said first end of said front wall; a second end wall having a first end coupled to said second end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said second end of said front wall; said first and second end walls extending in parallel spaced relationship; said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining a hollow rectangular chamber having a first open end and a second open end; a first intermediate wall coupled to said first end wall and positioned intermediate said first and second ends of said first end wall and inclined with respect to said front and rear walls; a second intermediate wall coupled to said second end wall and positioned intermediate said first and second ends of said second end wall and inclined with respect to said front and rear walls oppositely to said first intermediate wall; said first intermediate wall and said second intermediate wall crossing each other at their mid-points along their respective lengths; a first transverse wall coupled to said front wall and said first intermediate wall and extending from the crossing point of said first and second intermediate walls parallel with said first and second end walls; a second transverse Wall coupled to said rear wall and said second intermediate wall and extending from the crossing point of said first and second intermediate walls parallel with said first and second end walls; a third transverse wall coupled to said first intermediate wall and said rear wall and extending from the crossing point of said first and second intermediate walls parallel with said first and second end walls and in a direction opposite said first and second transverse walls; and a fourth transverse wall coupled to said second intermediate wall and said front wall and extending from the crossing point of said first and second intermediate walls parallel with said first and second end walls and in a direction opposite said first and second transverse walls whereby said chamber is divided into four portions; a first cover for selectively closing said first end of said chamber; said first cover lockingly engaging at least two of said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining said first end of said chamber; and a second cover for selectively closing said second end of said chamber; said second cover lockingly engaging at least two of said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining said second end of said chamber whereby entry to the chamber may be had by removing either of said first or second covers.
2. A container for articles having different heights at the respective ends thereof comprising: a front wall having a first end and a second end; a rear wall having a first end and a second end; said rear wall extending in spaced parallel relationship to said front wall; a first end wall having a first end coupled to said first end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said first end of said front wall; a second end wall having a first end coupled to said second end of said rear wall and a second endcoupled to said second end of said front wall; said first and second end walls extending in parallel spaced relationship; said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining a hollow rectangular chamber having a first open end and a second open end; an intermediate wall having a first end and a second end coupled to said first and second end walls; said intermediate wall positioned intermediate said first and second end walls and inclined with respect to said front and rear walls; said first end of said intermediate wall being closest to said rear wall and extending above said rear wall and said second end of said intermediate wall being closest to said front wall and extending below said front wall; a rear extension coupled to said rear wall and extending in the direction of said intermediate wall first end; a first cross wall coupled at a first end to the free end of said rear extension and at its second end to said first end of said intermediate wall; a front extension coupled to said front wall and extending in the direction of said intermediate wall second end; and a second cross wall coupled at a first end to the free end of said front extension and at its second end to said second end of said intermediate wall a first cover for selectively closing said first end of said chamber; said first cover lockingly engaging at least two of said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining said first end of said chamber; and a second cover for selectively closing said second end of said chamber; said second cover lockingly engaging at least two of said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining said second end of said chamber whereby entry to the chamber may be had by removing either of said first or second covers.
3. A container as defined in claim 2, further comprising: a first side wall coupled .to said first end wall, said first cross wall, said rear extension and said intermediate wall adjacentsaid first end thereof; a second side wall coupled to said second end wall, said first cross wall, said rear extension and said intermediate wall adjacent said first end thereof; a third side wall coupled to said first end wall, said second cross wall, said front extension and said intermediate wall adjacent said second end thereof; and a fourth side wall coupled to said second end wall, said second cross wall, said front extension and said intermediate wall adjacent said second end thereof.

Claims (3)

1. A container for articles having different heights at the respective ends thereof comprising: a front wall having a first end and a second end; a rear wall having a first end and a second end; said rear wall extending in spaced parallel relationship to said front wall; a first end wall having a first end coupled to said first end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said first end of said front wall; a second end wall having a first end coupled to said second end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said second end of said front wall; said first and second end walls extending in parallel spaced relationship; said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining a hollow rectangular chamber having a first open end and a second open end; a first intermediate wall coupled to said first end wall and positioned intermediate said first and second ends of said first end wall and inclined with respect to said front and rear walls; a second intermediate wall coupled to said second end wall and pOsitioned intermediate said first and second ends of said second end wall and inclined with respect to said front and rear walls oppositely to said first intermediate wall; said first intermediate wall and said second intermediate wall crossing each other at their mid-points along their respective lengths; a first transverse wall coupled to said front wall and said first intermediate wall and extending from the crossing point of said first and second intermediate walls parallel with said first and second end walls; a second transverse wall coupled to said rear wall and said second intermediate wall and extending from the crossing point of said first and second intermediate walls parallel with said first and second end walls; a third transverse wall coupled to said first intermediate wall and said rear wall and extending from the crossing point of said first and second intermediate walls parallel with said first and second end walls and in a direction opposite said first and second transverse walls; and a fourth transverse wall coupled to said second intermediate wall and said front wall and extending from the crossing point of said first and second intermediate walls parallel with said first and second end walls and in a direction opposite said first and second transverse walls whereby said chamber is divided into four portions; a first cover for selectively closing said first end of said chamber; said first cover lockingly engaging at least two of said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining said first end of said chamber; and a second cover for selectively closing said second end of said chamber; said second cover lockingly engaging at least two of said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining said second end of said chamber whereby entry to the chamber may be had by removing either of said first or second covers.
2. A container for articles having different heights at the respective ends thereof comprising: a front wall having a first end and a second end; a rear wall having a first end and a second end; said rear wall extending in spaced parallel relationship to said front wall; a first end wall having a first end coupled to said first end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said first end of said front wall; a second end wall having a first end coupled to said second end of said rear wall and a second end coupled to said second end of said front wall; said first and second end walls extending in parallel spaced relationship; said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining a hollow rectangular chamber having a first open end and a second open end; an intermediate wall having a first end and a second end coupled to said first and second end walls; said intermediate wall positioned intermediate said first and second end walls and inclined with respect to said front and rear walls; said first end of said intermediate wall being closest to said rear wall and extending above said rear wall and said second end of said intermediate wall being closest to said front wall and extending below said front wall; a rear extension coupled to said rear wall and extending in the direction of said intermediate wall first end; a first cross wall coupled at a first end to the free end of said rear extension and at its second end to said first end of said intermediate wall; a front extension coupled to said front wall and extending in the direction of said intermediate wall second end; and a second cross wall coupled at a first end to the free end of said front extension and at its second end to said second end of said intermediate wall a first cover for selectively closing said first end of said chamber; said first cover lockingly engaging at least two of said first and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining said first end of said chamber; and a second cover for selectively closing said second end of said chamber; said second cover lockingly engaging at least two of said fIrst and second end walls, said front wall and said rear wall defining said second end of said chamber whereby entry to the chamber may be had by removing either of said first or second covers.
3. A container as defined in claim 2, further comprising: a first side wall coupled to said first end wall, said first cross wall, said rear extension and said intermediate wall adjacent said first end thereof; a second side wall coupled to said second end wall, said first cross wall, said rear extension and said intermediate wall adjacent said first end thereof; a third side wall coupled to said first end wall, said second cross wall, said front extension and said intermediate wall adjacent said second end thereof; and a fourth side wall coupled to said second end wall, said second cross wall, said front extension and said intermediate wall adjacent said second end thereof.
US00172833A 1971-08-18 1971-08-18 Container Expired - Lifetime US3790018A (en)

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3205203A1 (en) * 1982-02-13 1983-08-25 Efka-Werke Fritz Kiehn Gmbh, 7218 Trossingen Pack for consumer goods
US5346091A (en) * 1993-07-08 1994-09-13 Hsu Wen Hsiung H Multiple tray container
US20090206086A1 (en) * 2008-02-19 2009-08-20 Lin Kar Gwee Portable container
US20090250360A1 (en) * 2007-11-30 2009-10-08 Philip Morris Usa Inc. Pocket-size container for consumer items

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3205203A1 (en) * 1982-02-13 1983-08-25 Efka-Werke Fritz Kiehn Gmbh, 7218 Trossingen Pack for consumer goods
US5346091A (en) * 1993-07-08 1994-09-13 Hsu Wen Hsiung H Multiple tray container
US20090250360A1 (en) * 2007-11-30 2009-10-08 Philip Morris Usa Inc. Pocket-size container for consumer items
US7878324B2 (en) * 2007-11-30 2011-02-01 Philip Morris Usa Inc. Pocket-size container for consumer items
US20110113734A1 (en) * 2007-11-30 2011-05-19 Philip Morris Usa Inc. Pocket-size container for consumer items
US8117807B2 (en) 2007-11-30 2012-02-21 Philip Morris Usa Inc. Pocket-size container for consumer items
US20090206086A1 (en) * 2008-02-19 2009-08-20 Lin Kar Gwee Portable container

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