Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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STORING CONTAINER
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to a storing container. More particularly, the
present invention, in its preferred intended use, relates to a storing
container for
use in industrial drawers and the like. The present invention also relates to
a
method of storing at least one article within such a container, as well as to
a kit
for assembling the same.
Background of the invention:
Storing containers are well known in the art.
Indeed, it is well known in the art that most storing containers only allow a
very limited number of applications and/or uses. For example, it is known in
the
art that conventional storing containers which are typically used in
industrial
drawers and the like, are not provided with components and features which
enable them to remain fixed inside a given drawer during the opening and
closing
thereof. Thus, a major problem associated with such conventional storing
containers is that a result of them moving within a given drawer, and possibly
piling up and/or displacing themselves in an undesirable manner, they may
cause
interference with an adjacent drawer (e.g. top drawer), thereby preventing it
from
being properly opened or closed. Another problem associated with such
conventional storing containers is that they do not enable users thereof to
selectively divide up the corresponding storage space and/or to conveniently
identify the content thereof.
Hence, in light of the aforementioned, there is a need for an improved
container which, by virtue of its design and components, would be able to
overcome some of the aforementioned prior art problems, that is, there is a
need
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for a multi-purpose container which would enable a greater variety of
applications
and/or uses than what is possible with storing containers of the prior art.
Summary of the invention:
The object of the present invention is to provide a container which satisfies
some of the above-mentioned needs and which is thus an improvement over
other related containers known in the prior art.
In accordance with the present invention, the above object is achieved, as
will be easily understood, with a container for storing at least one article,
the
container comprising:
opposite front and rear walls, each of said walls being provided with
an inner surface and an outer surface, and having an upper rim;
opposite left and right walls, each of said walls being provided with
an inner surface and an outer surface, and having an upper rim; and
a bottom floor having an inner surface and an outer surface;
wherein the walls and bottom floor are operatively connected to one
another so as to define a main storing space within the container for storing
said
at least one article;
the improvement wherein the rear wall of the container comprises a tongue
extending longitudinally along the upper rim of the rear wall, said tongue
further
extending downwardly from said upper rim of the rear wall and being shaped and
sized for hooking the container onto a fixed structure via said tongue.
Preferably, the tongue is provided with a hook shaped and sized for
hooking onto the upper rim of the front wall of another one of such container.
Preferably also, the container comprises at least one separator, said at
least one separator being shaped and sized for inserting into the main storing
space of the container for dividing said main storing space into a pair of
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corresponding smaller storing spaces, the at least one separator being
connectable onto opposite walls of the container.
Preferably also, each opposite wall comprise a slot for receiving a bottom
portion of the at least one separator and a groove for receiving an upper
portion
of the at least one separator.
Preferably also, the at least one separator comprises an upper rim, the
upper rim of the at least one separator being positioned at a higher lever
than the
upper rim of the front, left and right walls.
Preferably also, the upper rim of the rear wall is positioned at a higher
lever than the upper rim of the front, left and right walls.
Preferably also, either one of the outer surfaces of the front, rear, left and
right walls is provided with at least one rib projecting from therefrom.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided
a kit for assembling a container for storing at least one article, the kit
comprising:
a container such as the one described and illustrated herein, as
exemplified in the accompanying figures; and
at least one separator, said at least one separator being shaped and sized
for inserting into the main storing space of the container for dividing said
main
storing space into a pair of corresponding smaller storing spaces, the at
least one
separator being connectable onto opposite walls of the container.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided a method of storing at least one article, wherein the method
comprises
the steps of:
a) providing a container such as the one described and illustrated herein,
as exemplified in the accompanying figures;
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b) separating the main storing space of the container into a plurality of
smaller storing spaces by means of at least one separator; and
c) inserting the at least one article into one of said plurality of smaller
storing spaces.
Preferably also, the method further comprises the step of:
d) labeling the content of a given storing space of the container by affixing
an indication on a corresponding rim of the container.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will
become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description
of preferred embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification
only
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a container according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a left side view of what is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged portion of a portion (section A) of what is shown in
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an enlarged portion of another portion (section B) of what is
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is another front perspective view of what is shown in Figure 1, the
container being now shown with separators according to another preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a right side view of what is shown in Figure 5.
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Figure 7 is a rear perspective and exploded view of what is shown in
Figure 5.
5 Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the separators shown in
Figure 7.
Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the other separator shown in
Figure 7.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention:
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar
elements. The embodiments shown in the figures are preferred, for
exemplification purposes only.
Moreover, although the present invention was primarily designed for use
as a storing container within industrial drawers and the like, it may be used
with
other types of objects, and in other fields, as apparent to a person skilled
in the
art. For this reason, expressions such as "storing", "container",
"industrial",
"drawer", etc., used herein should not be taken as to limit the scope of the
present invention and includes all other kinds of objects or fields with which
the
present invention could be used and may be useful.
Moreover, in the context of the present invention, the expressions
"container", "box", "device", "assembly", "system", and any other equivalent
expression and/or compound words thereof known in the art will be used
interchangeably. Furthermore, the same applies for any other mutually
equivalent
expressions, such as "storing" and "containing", or "separators" and
"dividers", for
example, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.
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In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings may comprise various components such
as rims, rounded corners, legs, a tongue with hook, separators, corresponding
slits, walls with slots and grooves, legs, ribs, etc., and although the
preferred
embodiments of the container 1 as shown consists of certain geometrical
configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these
components
and geometries are essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in
their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the
present
invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the
art,
that other suitable components and cooperations thereinbetween, as well as
other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the container I and
corresponding parts according to the present invention, as will be briefly
explained hereinafter and as can be inferred herefrom by a person skilled in
the
art, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Broadly described, the present invention, as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, relates to a container 1 to be used for storing at
least
one article (not shown). As better shown in Figure 1, the container 1
comprises
opposite front and rear walls 3,5, each of said walls 3,5 being provided with
an
inner surface 3a,5a and an outer surface 3b,5b, and having an upper rim 3c,5c.
The container 1 also comprises opposite left and right walls 7,9, each of said
walls 7,9 being provided with an inner surface 7a,9a and an outer surface
7b,9b,
and having an upper rim 7c,9c. The container 1 also comprises a bottom floor
11
having an inner surface 11 a and an outer surface 11 b.
As better shown in Figures 1 and 7, the walls 3,5,7,9 and bottom floor 11
are operatively connected to one another so as to define a main storing space
13
within the container 1 for storing one or a plurality of articles. An
important aspect
of the present invention lies in the fact that the rear wall 5 of the
container 1
comprises a tongue 15 extending longitudinally along the upper rim 5c of the
rear
wall 5, said tongue 15 further extending downwardly from said upper rim 5c of
the
rear wall 5 and being shaped and sized for hooking the container 1 onto a
fixed
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structure (not shown) via said tongue 15, as can be easily understood when
referring to Figures 2 and 3.
As better shown in Figure 3, the tongue 15 is preferably provided with a
corresponding hook 17 shaped and sized for hooking onto the upper rim 3c of
the
front wall 3 of another one of such container 1, as can be easily understood
when
referring to Figure 2, and when comparing Figure 3 with Figure 4.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
container 1 further comprises at least one separator 19, said at least one
separator 19 being shaped and sized for inserting into the main storing space
13
of the container 1 for dividing said main storing space 13 into a pair of
corresponding smaller storing spaces 13a, the at least one separator 19 being
connectable onto opposite walls 3,5,7,9 of the container 1, as can be easily
understood when contrasting Figures 7 and 5.
As better shown in Figure 7, each opposite wall 3,5,7,9 comprise a slot 21
for receiving a bottom portion of the at least one separator 19 and a groove
23 for
receiving an upper portion of the at least one separator 19. Preferably also,
and
as better shown In Figures 7, 8 and 9, each separator 19 comprises a pair of
inserts 25 on opposite upper portions for inserting into corresponding grooves
23
of the opposite walls 3,5,7,9, said inserts 25 being complementary in shape to
that of the grooves 23. According to the particular embodiment illustrated,
the
grooves 23 are preferably triangular-shaped. However, it is worth mentioning
that
other suitable geometrical configurations may be used according to the present
invention so to ensure a secure and removable connection between the inserts
25 and corresponding grooves 23, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.
Each corresponding separator 19 may comprises an upper rim 27, this
upper rim 27 being preferably positioned at a higher lever than the upper rim
3c,7c,9c, of the front, left and right walls 3,7,9. As better shown in Figure
8, this
upper rim 27 preferably extends rearwardly and preferably defines an inclined
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surface 29 which may be used for affixing information thereon, such as with a
writing instrument (e.g. marker, pen, pencil, etc.) or a sticker, so to easily
and
conveniently identify the content of the corresponding storing space 13a
associated to said upper rim, whether in front or in the back thereof, even if
the
container 1 is filled to capacity, as can be easily understood when referring
to
Figure 6.
According to the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the
container 1 preferably comprises first and second separators 19a,19b, the
first
separator 19a being connectable onto the front and rear walls 3,5 of the
container
1, and the second separator 19b being connectable onto the left and right
walls
7,9 of the container 1, and being also referred to as a "divider".
Preferably also, as can be easily understood when referring to Figures 5,
6, 8 and 9, the first and second separators 19a, 19b are each provided with a
slit
31, the slit 31 of the first separator 19a being complementary to the slit 31
of the
second separator 19b so as to enable said separators 19a,19b to be crossed
into
one another within the main storing space 13 of the container 1 so as to
define
four smaller storing spaces 13a, as better shown in Figure 5.
Similarly to the aforementioned in regards to the upper rim 27 of the
corresponding separator 19b, the upper rim 5c of the rear wall 5 is also
preferably
positioned at a higher lever than the upper rim 3c,7c,9c of the front, left
and right
walls 3,7,9. Preferably also, the upper rim 5c of the rear wall 5 is slanted
rearwardly so a to define an inclined surface 33 which may be used for
affixing
information thereon, such as with a writing instrument (e..g. marker, pen,
pencil,
etc.) or a sticker, so to easily and conveniently identify the content of the
corresponding storing space 13a associated to said upper rim 33, namely in
front
of it, even if the container 1 is filled to capacity, as can be easily
understood when
referring to Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6.
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As better shown in Figures 1 and 7, the front and rear walls 3,5, and the
left and right walls 7,9, are preferably operatively connected to the bottom
floor 11
of the container 1 via rounded corners 35. This enables namely an easier
picking
up of smaller articles which may present in the corners 35, or an easier
cleaning
of said corners 35.
As can be easily understood when referring to Figures 1, 5 and 7, the front
and rear walls 3,5, and the left and right walls 7,9, are operatively
connected to
one another so as to define an upper peripheral rim 37 of the container I and
an
opposite bottom peripheral rim 39 of the container 1, the upper peripheral rim
37
being shaped and sized to as to be complementary to the bottom peripheral rim
39 so as to enable a plurality of containers 1 to be stacked onto and nested
into
one another. Preferably also, the bottom peripheral rim 39 of the container 1
is
rectangular-shaped with four corners, each of said corners being provided with
a
corresponding leg 41, preferably being designed for further increasing the
stability
of the container 1, when resting on a given surface, such as on a table or
inside a
drawer, for example.
Preferably also, and as better shown in Figures 1 and 5, either one of the
outer surfaces of the front, rear, left and right walls 3,5,7,9 is provided
with at
least one rib 43 projecting from therefrom. Preferably, each wall 3,5,7,9 is
provided with a plurality of such ribs 43, preferably extending vertically, as
shown,
so as to prevent a suction effect between neighboring containers 1, as can be
easily understood by a person skilled in the art. For example, when a
plurality of
containers I are stacked onto and nested into one another, the ribs 43 of an
upper container come into contact with the upper peripheral rim 37 of a lower
container so that the upper container is prevented from being inserted too
deep
into the lower container and thereby prevent the suction effect.
Preferably also, and as better shown In Figures 7, 8 and 9, each separator
19a,19b is provided with an embossment flange 45 projecting from and extending
along a portion of said separator 19, so to preferably increase the structural
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rigidity of the separator 19, despite, or at the very least to compensate for,
the
presence of the slit 31.
As can be easily understood from the above-described, the preferred
5 embodiments of the container 1 illustrated in the accompanying drawings is
preferably intended for minimizing components and assembling steps, while
providing a suitable manner for easily, quickly and securely containing
articles
and/or displaying information relating to the content(s) thereof.
10 Preferably, the components of the multipurpose container 1 according to
the present invention are made of suitable materials, such as polymeric
materials,
metallic materials, composite materials, etc., for properly sustaining the
different
loads to which the container 1 and corresponding parts may be subjected to, as
apparent to a person skilled in the art. Preferably, the materials are
selected so
as to have properties which may be resistant to the environment in which the
container 1 may be used, such as anti-corrosive properties for example in the
case where the container 1 may be used in humid conditions and/or with
articles
which may be wet. Preferably, the materials are selected so as to have a
surface
finish which may be resistant to wear and tear, and which would enable an easy
maintenance (e.g. cleaning) of the container 1, as also apparent to a person
skilled in the art.
Moreover, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is
also provided a kit for assembling a container 1 such as the one described and
illustrated herein, as exemplified in the accompanying figures.
It is worth mentioning that according to yet another aspect of the present
invention, there is also provided a method of storing at least one article,
the
method comprising the steps of a) providing a container 1 such as the one
described and illustrated herein, as exemplified in the accompanying figures;
b)
separating the main storing space 13 of the container 1 into a plurality of
smaller
storing spaces 13a by means of at least one separator 19; and c) inserting the
at
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least one article into one of said plurality of smaller storing spaces 13a.
Preferably also, the method further comprises the step of d) labeling the
content
of a given storing space 13a of the container 1 by affixing an indication on a
corresponding rim 27,5c of the container 1.
It is worth mentioning that, according to the present invention, some of the
above-mentioned steps may be interchanged in order without affecting the
proper
operation/use of the container 1, as apparent to a person skilled in the art,
and
without departing form the scope of the present invention.
As may now be better appreciated, the present invention is a substantial
improvement over other related containers known in the prior art in that, by
virtue
of its design and components (rims, rounded corners, legs, a tongue with hook,
separators, corresponding slits, walls with slots and grooves, legs, ribs,
etc.), the
container 1 according to the present invention enables a greater variety of
applications and/or uses than what is possible with storing containers of the
prior
art, as explained hereinabove.
Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described
embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in
the
appended claims.
