Abstract:
A storage container stacking structure includes a plurality of supporting members curved in one of a variety of shapes and respectively symmetrically provided at the two opposite sidewalls of each storage container so that the supporting members of one storage container are respectively hooked on the topmost edge of each of the two opposite sidewalls of another storage container when multiple storage containers are arranged in a stack.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to storage containers and more specifically, to a storage container stacking structure, which enables a number of storage containers to be firmly arranged in a stack.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A variety of storage containers are known for keeping small items and accessories. In order to save delivery space, storage containers are made collapsible. There is known a collapsible storage container, which comprises a hollow rectangular fabric container body, four horizontal top rods respectively fastened to the four peripheral sides of the fabric container body at the top, four horizontal bottom rods respectively fastened to the four peripheral sides of the fabric container body at the bottom, and four vertical rods respectively fastened to the four angles between each two peripheral sides of the fabric container body. The horizontal top rods, horizontal bottom rods and vertical rods of the collapsible storage container are kept away from one another. Further, each peripheral side of the fabric container body has crossed folding lines. By means of the crossed folding lines in each peripheral side of the fabric container body, the collapsible storage container can easily be collapsed into a flat condition by twisting. However, this design does not allow a number of storage containers be arranged in a stack. When put two storage containers in a stack, the downward pressure from the storage container at the top side may cause the storage container at the bottom side to collapse.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a storage container stacking structure, which enables a number of collapsible storage containers to be firmly arranged in a stack. It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage container stacking structure, which is simple and easy to made. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the storage container stacking structure comprises a plurality of supporting members respectively symmetrically provided at the two opposite sidewalls of each storage container so that the supporting members of one storage container are respectively hooked on the topmost edge of each of the two opposite sidewalls of another storage container when multiple storage containers are arranged in a stack. The supporting members can be made having a H-shaped, inwardly curved          -shaped, outwardly curved          -shaped, or S-shaped profile. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a storage container constructed according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  shows two storage containers arranged in a stack according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view of a storage container constructed according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  shows two storage containers arranged in a stack according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is an elevational view of a storage container constructed according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  shows two storage containers arranged in a stack according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is an elevational view of a H-shaped supporting member for a storage container stacking structure according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view showing H-shaped supporting members supported between storage containers according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is an elevational view of a S-shaped supporting member having a downwardly arched positioning portion for a storage container stacking structure according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view showing S-shaped supporting members having a downwardly arched positioning portion supported between storage containers according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is an elevational view of a S-shaped supporting member having an upwardly arched positioning portion for a storage container stacking structure according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view showing S-shaped supporting members having an upwardly arched positioning portion supported between storage containers according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 13  is a schematic drawing showing flexible linking members connected between storage containers and the linked series of storage containers suspended from an overhead place.  
         [0019]      FIG. 14  is a schematic drawing showing the folding status of one storage container according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a storage container  1  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is shown having two supporting members  2  symmetrically extended from the two opposite upright sidewalls near the bottom side. The supporting members  2  are preferably made of rigid material (for example, metal wire), having a shape fitting over the topmost edge of each of the two opposite upright sidewalls. When two storage containers  1  are arranged in a stack, the supporting members  2  of the storage container  1  at the top side are respectively capped on the topmost edge of each of the two opposite upright sidewalls of the storage container  1  at the bottom side, and therefore the two storage containers  1  are firmly held in a stack (see  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a storage container  1  in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is shown having a plurality of supporting members  2  symmetrically extended from the two opposite upright sidewalls near the bottom side. The supporting members  2  have a substantially          -shaped cross section, and are respectively downwardly extended from the two opposite upright sidewalls of the storage container  1 , and then turned outwards and then downwards. When two storage containers  1  are arranged in a stack, the supporting members  2  of the storage container  1  at the top side are respectively hooked on the topmost edge of each of the two opposite upright sidewalls of the storage container  1  at the bottom side, and therefore the two storage containers  1  are firmly held in a stack (see  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a storage container  1  in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention is shown having a plurality of supporting members  2  symmetrically extended from the two opposite upright sidewalls near the bottom side. The supporting members  2  have a substantially N-shaped cross section, and are respectively downwardly extended from the two opposite upright sidewalls of the storage container  1 , and then turned inwards and then downwards below the bottom side of the storage container  1 . When two storage containers  1  are arranged in a stack, the supporting members  2  of the storage container  1  at the top side are respectively hooked on the topmost edge of each of the two opposite upright sidewalls of the storage container  1  at the bottom side, and therefore the two storage containers  1  are firmly held in a stack (see  FIG. 6 ).  
         [0023]     According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , H-shaped supporting members  5  are used to support two storage containers  1  in a stack. Each H-shaped supporting member  5  has two locating grooves  51  respectively formed in the top and bottom sides for receiving the topmost edge or bottom edge of one of the upright sidewalls of the storage containers  1 .  
         [0024]     According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS.  9 ˜ 12 , S-shaped supporting members  6  are used to support storage containers  1  in a stack. Each S-shaped supporting member  6  has one end fixedly fastened to one upright sidewall of one storage container  1  and the other end terminating in an arched positioning portion  61  for hooking on the topmost edge of the corresponding upright sidewall of another storage container  1 . The arched positioning portion  61  may curve downwards (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ) or upwards (see  FIGS. 11 and 12 ). The S-shaped supporting members  6  which have the respective arched positioning portions  61  curved downwards must be fastened to the upright sidewalls of the storage containers  1  near the bottom (see  FIG. 10 ). The S-shaped supporting members  6  which have the respective arched positioning portions  61  curved upwards must be fastened to the topmost edge of each upright sidewall of each of the storage containers  1  (see  FIG. 12 ).  
         [0025]     According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , S-shaped supporting members  6  are used to support storage containers  1  in a stack. Each S-shaped supporting member  6  has one end fixedly fastened to one upright sidewall of one storage container  1  and the other end terminating in a downwardly curved and arched positioning portion  61  for hooking on the topmost edge of the corresponding upright sidewall of another storage container  1 .  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , flexible linking members  7  may be used to connect storage containers  1  in series, enabling the linked storage containers  1  to be suspended from an overhead place by ropes. The flexible linking members  7  each have the two distal ends respectively fastened to two storage containers  1  by snaps  71  or other fastening devices, for example, hook and loop materials.  
         [0027]     The aforesaid storage containers  1  are folding collapsible. As illustrated  FIG. 14 , the storage container  1  has two vertical folding lines  11  respectively formed in the front and back sidewalls. By means of the vertical folding lines  11 , the storage container  1  can conveniently be folded into a collapsed flat condition.  
         [0028]     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.