Abstract:
An interlocking container comprising a number of mutually interlocking plate forming the container that may be used for a plurality of various applications such as a vase, a pencil cup, a trash can, a support for a clock, or the like. The interlocking plates consist of a series of commonly formed printable pieces that interlock to form a variety of containers having unique geometric configuration.

Description:
This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/177,279 filed Jan. 21, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a container assembled from a plurality of interlocking plates manufactured with a uniform configuration adapted for ease of manufacture and assembly. More specifically, the interlocking plates consist of a series of commonly formed pieces that interlock to form a variety of containers having unique geometric configuration. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The prior art replete with container formed by a variety of containers assembled from foldable or assembled and preformed members. However, such devices do not satisfy the need for printable uniformly designed plates that provide unique geometric and visual aesthetics. 
     In addition, conventional containers do not typically permit storage and transport in a disassembled condition, thus ease and cost to efficiently and effectively store and transport the conventional container can not be achieved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an interlocking container comprising a number of mutually interlocking plate forming the container that may be used for a plurality of various applications such as a vase, a pencil cup, a trash can, a support for a clock, or the like. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the interlocking plates consist of a series of commonly-formed and printable pieces that interlock to form a variety of containers having unique geometric configuration. The material forming the invention is selected from any one of rubber, vinyl, paper, paper-based product, plastic, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc and may take any one of an infinite number of shapes, textures and colors. 
     The devices may receive printing in the forms of logos, promotional material, and advertisements. 
     These and other benefits provided by the instant invention will be apparent in light of the following description and associated drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 a - 1   c  show a first group of plates (vertical) forming a part one embodiment of the instant invention. 
     FIGS. 2 a - 2   c  show a second group of plates (vertical) forming a part of one embodiment of the instant invention. 
     FIGS. 3 a - 3   h  show a series of circular plates (horizontal) forming a part of one embodiment of the instant invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container formed according to the first embodiment of the instant invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container formed according to a second embodiment of the instant invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container formed according to the first embodiment of the instant invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 a - 4  show a first embodiment of the invention. In the first embodiment of the invention, the container comprises two sets of substantially elongated plates  1 , illustrated in FIGS. 1, and  10 , illustrated in FIG. 2, and a set of substantially circular plates  30  of various external diameters, illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     Each set of elongated plates includes a plurality (preferably three) of substantially identical flat plates made of any suitable relatively thin, but sufficiently rigid material, such as die-cut metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, etc. Various type of information may be printed of the surface of the plates  1  and  10 . In the preferred embodiment, each of the plates  1  and  10  is generally symmetrical relative to an axis  2 , and includes a pair of side surfaces  4 , a first end surfaces  6  and a second end surface  8 , both substantially perpendicular to the axis  2 . Each of the plates  1  or  10  is provided with a notch  12  with an opening in the first end surfaces  6 . The notch  12  is substantially coaxial to the axis  2 , and includes sidewalls  13  and an endwall  14 . Furthermore, an assembly notch  16  is formed in the plates  1  or  10 . However, the assembly notch of the plates  1  is formed at the endwall  14  substantially coaxial to the axis  2  with an opening facing the notch  12 . In contrast, the assembly notch  18  in the plates  10  is formed in the endwall  8 . Also, the plates  1 ″ and  10 ″ are provided with a folding line  19  defined by a number of perforations or weakening in those plates  1 ″ and  10 ″. 
     The sidewalls  4  of the plates  1  and  10  are provided with a plurality of notches  5  generally perpendicular to the axis  2  and corresponding to the number of circular plates  30 . 
     The set of circular plates  30 , illustrated in FIG. 3, comprises a first end circular plate  32 , a second end circular plate  34  and a plurality of intermediate circular plates  36   1 - 36   n , where n is any whole number other than 1. The first end circular plate  32  and the intermediate circular plates  36   1 - 36   n  are provided with a central aperture  38  having generally the same diameter to thereby define a recessed containment area in combination with the notches  12  provided in each of the elongated plates  1  and  12 , as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. The recessed containment area gas a bottom and an open top, and is adapted to receive and support at least one article therein, such as a vase, pencils, flowers, etc. 
     Moreover, the first end circular plate  32  is provided with a plurality of substantially radial notches  33  formed on the outer periphery thereof and spaced generally uniformly. Similarly, the second end circular plate  34  is provided with the equal number of substantially radial notches  35  formed on the outer periphery thereof and spaced generally uniformly. Each of the intermediate circular plates  36   1 - 36   n  is provided with the corresponding number of notches  37  extending radially outwardly from the aperture  38 . 
     It would be appreciated that the elongated plates  1  and  10  may be shipped flat to provide an efficient and economical system of delivery to the customer. Moreover, the elongated plates  1 ,  10  are suitable for printing and/or affixing print media for advertisements, logos, artwork, educational information, etc. 
     The collapsible container is assembled as follows: 
     first, one of the plates  1  of the first is interconnected to one of the plates  10  of the second set by sliding the assembly notch  16  into the assembly notch  18  while oriented generally perpendicular to each other; 
     then, each the remaining two plates  1 ′ and  1 ″ of the first set, is folded along the folding line  19  forming an angle of approximately  60 , then each of the plates  1 ′ and  1 ″ is slid into the assembly notch  18  of the plate  10  opposite to each other; 
     similarly, each the remaining two plates  10 ′ and  10 ″ of the second set, is folded along the folding line  19  forming an angle of approximately 60, then each of the plates  1 ′ and  1 ″ is slid into the assembly notch  16  of the plate  1  opposite to each other; 
     finally, the circular plates  30  is attached to the elongated plates  1  and  10  by inserting the elongated plates into notches  37  of the intermediate plates  36  until they interlock with the notches  5  of the elongated plates; after that the first and second circular end plates  32  and  34  are interlocked with the first and second end surfaces  6  and  8  of the elongated plates. 
     An example of the assembled container is shown in FIG.  4 . For the sake of clarity and simplicity, only three elongated plates are shown, instead of six. FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternate embodiments of the present invention whereby the container is formed and configured to have spherical and oval shapes, respectively. The embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 evidence the unique versatility of the present invention because there exist an infinite number of possible shapes for the container simply by cutting plates having an outer contour that achieves the desired shape without sacrificing stability or printability. 
     Thus, it would be appreciated that the above-described interlocking plates may be of various sizes and shapes depending on the particular application of the container. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration. It is not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment disclosed hereinabove was chosen in order to best illustrate the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated, as long as the principles described herein are followed.