Patent Publication Number: US-7588162-B2

Title: Storing container

Description:
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 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 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;   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 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a left side view of what is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged portion of a portion (section A) of what is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged portion of another portion (section B) of what is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is another front perspective view of what is shown in  FIG. 1 , the container being now shown with separators according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a right side view of what is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a rear perspective and exploded view of what is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of one of the separators shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the other separator shown in  FIG. 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. 
   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  1  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  FIG. 1 , the container  1  comprises opposite front and rear walls  3 , 5 , each of said walls  3 , 5  being provided with an inner surface  3   a , 5   a  and an outer surface  3   b , 5   b , and having an upper rim  3   c , 5   c . The container  1  also comprises opposite left and right walls  7 , 9 , each of said walls  7 , 9  being provided with an inner surface  7   a , 9   a  and an outer surface  7   b , 9   b , and having an upper rim  7   c , 9   c . 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  FIGS. 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  5   c  of the rear wall  5 , said tongue  15  further extending downwardly from said upper rim  5   c  of the rear wall  5  and being shaped and sized for hooking the container  1  onto a fixed structure (not shown) via said tongue  15 , as can be easily understood when referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
   As better shown in  FIG. 3 , the tongue  15  is preferably provided with a corresponding hook  17  shaped and sized for hooking onto the upper rim  3   c  of the front wall  3  of another one of such container  1 , as can be easily understood when referring to  FIG. 2 , and when comparing  FIG. 3  with  FIG. 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  13   a , 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  FIGS. 7 and 5 . 
   As better shown in  FIG. 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  FIGS. 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  3   c ,  7   c ,  9   c , of the front, left and right walls  3 ,  7 ,  9 . As better shown in  FIG. 8 , this upper rim  27  preferably extends rearwardly and preferably defines an inclined 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  13   a  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  FIG. 6 . 
   According to the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 , the container  1  preferably comprises first and second separators  19   a , 19   b , the first separator  19   a  being connectable onto the front and rear walls  3 , 5  of the container  1 , and the second separator  19   b  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  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  8  and  9 , the first and second separators  19   a ,  19   b  are each provided with a slit  31 , the slit  31  of the first separator  19   a  being complementary to the slit  31  of the second separator  19   b  so as to enable said separators  19   a , 19   b  to be crossed into one another within the main storing space  13  of the container  1  so as to define four smaller storing spaces  13   a , as better shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Similarly to the aforementioned in regards to the upper rim  27  of the corresponding separator  19   b , the upper rim  5   c  of the rear wall  5  is also preferably positioned at a higher lever than the upper rim  3   c , 7   c , 9   c  of the front, left and right walls  3 , 7 , 9 . Preferably also, the upper rim  5   c  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  13   a  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  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 . 
   As better shown in  FIGS. 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  FIGS. 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  1  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  FIGS. 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  1  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  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , each separator  19   a , 19   b  is provided with an embossment flange  45  projecting from and extending along a portion of said separator  19 , so to preferably increase the structural 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 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. 
   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  13   a  by means of at least one separator  19 ; and c) inserting the at least one article into one of said plurality of smaller storing spaces  13   a . Preferably also, the method further comprises the step of d) labeling the content of a given storing space  13   a  of the container  1  by affixing an indication on a corresponding rim  27 , 5   c  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.