Patent Publication Number: US-2011073596-A1

Title: Container assembly having exterior and interior containers

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a container assembly, more particularly to a container assembly having an interior container disposed inside an exterior container. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a container assembly  1  for receiving an article  100 , which is disclosed in Taiwanese utility model no. M322176. The container assembly  1  includes a container body  10 , a cover  11 , driving and driven members  12 ,  13 , and a transmission member  14 . The container body  10  has a bottom wall  101 , a surrounding wall  102 , and a top opening  103  opposite to the bottom wall  101 . The cover  11  is connected pivotally to the container body  10  so as to move towards or away from the top opening  103 . The driving member  12  is fulcrummed inside the surrounding wall  102  in proximity to the top opening  103  and is fixed to the cover  11  so as to rotate along with the cover  11 . The transmission member  14  is disposed in the surrounding wall  102  and has a top end connected pivotally to the driving member  12  and a bottom end connected pivotally to the driven member  13 . The driven member  13  is fulcrummed inside the surrounding wall  102  in proximity to the bottom wall  101  and can turn upward and lift the article  100  when the cover  11  is moved away from the top opening  103 . 
     However, as the article  100  is directly placed inside the container body  10 , improper actions of placement and removal of the article  100  can damage the driving and driven members  12 ,  13 , the transmission member  14  or the article  100  during the opening movement of the cover  11 . 
     Furthermore, the conventional container assembly  1  is not suitable for storing small articles, such as dental floss, toothpicks, etc, because, if the small articles fall onto the driven member  13  or the transmission member  14 , they can be stuck thereat, thereby rendering the driven member  13  or the transmission member  14  immovable. On the other hand, the driving and driven members  12 ,  13 , and the transmission member  14  that contact directly the contents placed inside the container body  10  can be easily contaminated by the contents. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a container assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the prior art. 
     Accordingly, a container assembly of the present invention comprises: 
     an exterior container including a first bottom wall, a first surrounding wall, and a first top opening opposite to the first bottom wall; 
     an interior container received in the exterior container and including a second bottom wall disposed above the first bottom wall, a second surrounding wall, and a second top opening opposite to the second bottom wall; 
     a cover connected pivotally to the exterior container so as to move towards or away from the first top opening; 
     a driving member fulcrummed inside the first surrounding wall by means of a pair of first fulcrum pin elements in proximity to the first top opening, and fixed to the cover so as to rotate along with the cover; 
     a transmission member disposed between the first and second surrounding walls, and having a top end connected pivotally to the driving member by means of a pair of first pivot pin elements, and a bottom end extending towards the first bottom wall; and 
     a driven member disposed between the first and second bottom walls, the driven member being fulcrummed inside the first surrounding wall by means of a pair of second fulcrum pin elements and having one end connected pivotally to the bottom end of the transmission member by means of a pair of second pivot pin elements, the driven member turning upward and lifting the second bottom wall when the cover is moved away from the first top opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partly cross-sectional view of a conventional container assembly disclosed in Taiwanese utility model no. M322176, with a cover closing a top opening of a container body; 
         FIG. 2  is a partly cross-sectional view of the container assembly of  FIG. 1 , with the cover moved away from the top opening; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of a container assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partly cross-sectional view of the container assembly of  FIG. 3  illustrating a cover that closes a first top opening of an exterior container; 
         FIG. 5  is a partly cross-sectional view of the container assembly of  FIG. 3  with the cover moved away from the first top opening; 
         FIG. 6  is a partly exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of a container assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a partly exploded perspective view of the third embodiment of a container assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a partly exploded perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a container assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a partly exploded perspective view of the fifth embodiment of a container assembly according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a partly exploded perspective view of the sixth embodiment of a container assembly according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a container assembly of the first embodiment according to the present invention is shown to include a container unit  3 , a driving unit  4 , and a guide unit  5 . 
     The container unit  3  includes exterior and interior containers  31 ,  32 , and a cover  33 . 
     The exterior container  31  includes a first bottom wall  311 , a first surrounding wall  312 , and a first top opening  313  opposite to the first bottom wall  311 . In the preferred embodiment, the first surrounding wall  312  has four sidewalls. 
     The interior container  32  is received in the exterior container  31  and includes a second bottom wall  321  disposed above the first bottom wall  311 , a second surrounding wall  322 , a second top opening  323  opposite to the second bottom wall  321 , and a partition member  324  to divide the interior container  32  into a plurality of spaces  325 . 
     The cover  33  is connected pivotally to the exterior container  31  so as to move towards or away from the first top opening  313 . 
     The driving unit  4  includes a driving member  41 , a transmission member  42 , a driven member  43 , and a mounting member  44  having a pair of slide rails  441 , and a pair of slides  442 . 
     The slide rails  441  are formed inside a sidewall  314  of the first surrounding wall  312  and extend downwardly from the first top opening  313  to the first bottom wall  311 . The slides  442  engage slidably and respectively the slide rails  441 . The driving and driven members  41 ,  43  and the transmission member  42  are disposed between the slides  442 . 
     The driving member  41  is fulcrummed to the slides  442  inside the first surrounding wall  312  by means of a pair of first fulcrum pin elements  413  in proximity to the first top opening  313 . The driving member  41  has a first portion  411  fixed to the cover  33 , and a second portion  412  connected pivotally to the transmission member  42  by means of a pair of first pivot pin elements  414 . The first fulcrum pin elements  413  are disposed between the first and second portions  411 ,  412  and are inserted respectively into the slides  442 . As such, the driving member  41  can rotate along with the cover  33 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first fulcrum pin elements  413  are respectively provided on two opposite sides of the driving member  41 , and the first pivot pin elements  414  are respectively provided on two opposite sides of the second portion  412  of the driving member  41 . 
     The transmission member  42  is disposed between the first and second surrounding walls  312 ,  322 , and has top and bottom ends  421 ,  422 . The top end  421  is connected pivotally to the second portion  412  of the driving member  41 . The bottom end  422  extends towards the first bottom wall  311  and is connected pivotally to the driven member  43 . 
     The driven member  43  is disposed between the first and second bottom walls  311 ,  321 , and is fulcrummed inside the first surrounding wall  312  by means of a pair of second fulcrum pin elements  433 . The driven member  43  has a lifting portion  431  and a connection portion  432 . The lifting portion  431  extends beneath the second bottom wall  321 . The connection portion  432  is connected pivotally to the bottom end  422  of the transmission member  42  by means of a pair of second pivot pin elements  434 . The driven member  43  turns upward and lifts the second bottom wall  321  when the cover  33  is moved away from the first top opening  313 . The second fulcrum pin elements  433  are disposed between the lifting portion  431  and the connection portion  432 , and are inserted respectively into the slides  442 . 
     The guide unit  5  includes first and second guide members  51 ,  52 , which are respectively disposed on an inner surface of the first surrounding wall  312  and an outer surface of the second surrounding wall  322 , and which are engaged slidably with each other, such that a movement of the interior container  32  relative to the exterior container  31  is guided by the first and second guide members  51 ,  52 . 
     In this embodiment, the first guide member  51  is a protrusion formed on the inner surface of a sidewall  315  opposite to the sidewall  314  of the first surrounding wall  312 . The second guide member  52  is a slide groove extending downwardly in the outer surface of the second surrounding wall  322  from the second top opening  323  to receive slidably the protrusion of the first guide member  51 . 
     When the cover  33  closing the first top opening  313  (see  FIG. 4 ) rotates to move away from the first top opening  313  (see  FIG. 5 ), the driving member  41  rotates along with the cover  33  (i.e., the first portion  411  turns upwardly, and the second portion  412  turns downwardly). Accordingly, the transmission member  42  connected pivotally to the second portion  412  is moved downwardly. Then, the connection portion  432  is turned downwardly with the bottom end  422  of the transmission member  42 , and the lifting portion  431  is turned upwardly to lift the second bottom wall  321 . When the second bottom wall  321  is lifted by the driven member  43 , the interior container  32  is moved upwardly and guided by the first and second guide members  51 ,  52 . 
     Similarly, when the cover  33  rotates to move towards the first top opening  313 , the first portion  411  of the driving member  41  turns downwardly and the second portion  412  turns upwardly. Accordingly, the transmission member  42  connected pivotally to the second portion  412  is moved upwardly. Then, the connection portion  432  is turned upwardly with the bottom end  422  of the transmission member  42 , the lifting portion  431  is turned downwardly, and the interior container  32  moves downwardly and is guided by the first and second guide members  51 ,  52 . 
     Because the driving and driven members  41 ,  43  and the transmission member  42  are disposed between the slides  442  and are disposed between the slide rails  441  that engage the slides  442 , and because the movement of the interior container  32  can be limited and guided by the first surrounding wall  312 , the slide rails  441 , and the slides  442 , the interior container  32  does not contact or strike the driving member  41  or the transmission member  42  when moving inside the exterior container  31 . 
     With the provision of the interior container  32 , the container assembly of the present invention can receive small articles. With the provision of the mounting member  44  and the guide unit  5 , the interior container  32  can be moved stably and smoothly. Furthermore, because the slides  442  engage slidably the slide rails  441 , it is easy to clean the container assembly of this embodiment by removing the driving and driven members  41 ,  43  and the transmission member  42  from the container unit  3 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the second embodiment of the container assembly of this invention. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in that the container assembly does not includes the mounting member  44  and the partition member  324  of the first embodiment, and that the structures of the driving and driven members  41 ,  43 , the transmission member  42 , and the guide unit  5  are different. 
     In this embodiment, the driving member  41  is a bent metal structure, and includes a U-shaped portion  4101  fixed to the cover  33 , and a pair of first rods  4102  that extend respectively from two ends of the U-shaped portion  4101  into the first surrounding wall  312 . The driving member  41  is fulcrummed to two opposite sidewalls  316  of the first surrounding wall  312  by means of an upper rod  410  having the pair of first fulcrum pin elements  413 . 
     The transmission member  42  has a pair of second rods  420  that are made from metal, and that are respectively and pivotally connected to the first rods  4102 . 
     The driven member  43  has a plate connected pivotally to the second rods  420 . The driven member  43  is fulcrummed to the two opposite sidewalls  316  of the first surrounding wall  312  by means of a lower rod  430  having the pair of second fulcrum pin elements  433 . 
     In this embodiment, the first guide member  51  is a slide groove downwardly extending from the first top opening  313  in the inner surface of the sidewall  315  of the first surrounding wall  312 . The second guide member  52  is a protrusion slidably fitted into the slide groove of the first guide member  51 . 
     By using the driving member  41  and the transmission member  42  that are made from metal, the container assembly in this embodiment has a lighter weight. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the third embodiment of the container assembly of this invention. The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment only in that the structure of the guide unit  5  is different. 
     In this embodiment, the first guide member  51  is formed in the inner surface of the sidewall  315  of the first surrounding wall  312 , and includes an upper slide groove  511  and a lower slide groove  512 . The upper slide groove  511  extends downwardly from the first top opening  313  in the inner surface of the sidewall  315 . The lower slide groove  512  extends downwardly from and is narrower than the upper slide groove  511 . 
     The second guide member  52  is formed in the outer surface of the interior container  32 , and includes a protrusion  521  slidably fitted into the upper slide groove  51 , and a rib  522  extending downwardly from a bottom end of the protrusion  521  and slidably fitted into the lower slide groove  512 . The rib  522  has a width narrower than that of the protrusion  521 . 
     With the guide unit  5  of this embodiment, the movement of the interior container  32  relative to the exterior container  31  can be fully guided by the guide unit  5 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the fourth embodiment of the container assembly of this invention. The fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment only in that the container assembly further includes a pair of magnetic members  71 ,  72  respectively provided on the second bottom wall  321  and the driven member  43  such that the pair of magnetic members  71 ,  72  are attracted to each other. 
     With the provision of the magnetic members  71 ,  72 , the interior container  32  can be prevented from accidentally falling off the exterior container  31  when moved outward by the driven member  43 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the fifth embodiment of the container assembly of this invention. The fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment only in that the container assembly further includes a pair of wedge-shaped recesses  81  and a pair of wedge-shaped protrusions  82 . 
     The wedge-shaped recesses  81  are respectively formed in the inner surface of the sidewalls  316  of the first surrounding wall  312 . The wedge-shaped protrusions  82  are formed in the outer surface of the second surrounding wall  322 . The wedge-shaped protrusions  82  are detachably engaged to the wedge-shaped recesses  81 . 
     Of course, the number and positions of the wedge-shaped recesses and protrusions  81 ,  82  can be changed based on the size and the shape of the container assembly, and should not be limited to this embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the sixth embodiment of the container assembly of this invention. The sixth embodiment differs from the fifth embodiment only in that the container assembly further includes two torsion springs  91  and a pair of buffer members  92 . 
     Each torsion spring  91  is disposed around one of the first pivot pin elements  414  and abuts against and urges the driving member  41  so that the cover  33  is moved away from the first top opening  313 . 
     The buffer members  92  are rubber sleeves which are disposed respectively around the first fulcrum pin elements  413 , and contact frictionally the sidewalls  316  and the driving member  41  to absorb a shock induced by an opening movement of the cover  33 . 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.