Patent Publication Number: US-2023144082-A1

Title: Storage box and semi-finished product of second rectangular plate body thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention provides an article for storage and package, particularly a storage box that is easy to be disassembled into plate-like structures. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     A common storage box normally includes a bottom face and four lateral faces extending upward from the edges of the bottom face to form a 3D structure. If a special picture is to be formed on a storage box, a picture-forming process, such as a printing process, a transfer-printing process or a spray process, should be performed beforehand on the bottom face or four lateral faces, which are materials used to build the storage box. Then, an assembly process is used to engage and secure the bottom face and four lateral faces to form a storage box having an accommodating space. In other words, if the fabrication of a storage box involves a picture-forming process, the picture-forming process must be completed before the assembly process. If the assembly process is performed to form a 3D-structured storage box in advance, it will be inconvenient to perform a picture-forming process on the storage box. Further, it is also inconvenient to store or transport the storage boxes. 
     In the conventional mass-production process of storage boxes, the manufacturer is less likely to mass produce storage boxes beforehand and then respectively form different pictures on the storage boxes. After receiving the requirement of a customer, the manufacturer normally performs the picture-forming process firstly; after pictures have been formed on the bottom face or four lateral faces, the manufacturer then starts the assembly process of the bottom face and four lateral faces. Therefore, the conventional technology is more suitable to mass produce products having fixed pictures or solid-shade products free of any picture. The conventional technology limits the throughput to the volumes of the existing orders and affects the regulation of the production capacity. Besides, the finished storage boxes occupy a lot of space, inconvenient to store or transport. 
     Nowadays, many daily necessities require customization. For example, a consumer may provide his beloved photos or pictures to order special-style storage boxes. The original manufacturer producing the storage boxes is unlikely to fabricate the pictures on the few customized storage boxes. The customization manufacturer will dismantle the storage boxes, which have been assembled well, into plates and then perform the picture-forming process. After the customized pictures are completed, the plates are assembled to the original structures of the storage boxes. Therefore, the conventional mass-production technology is unfavorable to the sale and popularization of customized storage boxes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a storage box, whose structure favors mass production and picture formation, has advantages of reducing volume for storage and transportation, and facilitates picture customization. In order to achieve the abovementioned objective, the storage box of the present invention comprises a first rectangular plate body, which includes two first long sides and two first short sides, wherein one of the two first long sides and the two first short sides form a first joint member; a second rectangular plate body, which includes two second long sides and two second short sides, wherein the two second long sides and one of the two second short sides form a second joint member, and wherein the total length of the second joint member is equal to the total length of the first joint member; and a joint module, which includes a first joint element and a second joint element, wherein the first joint element is disposed on the first joint member, and wherein the second joint element is disposed on the second joint member, and wherein the first joint member and the second joint member are joined through the connection of the first joint element and the second joint element to make the first rectangular plate body and the second rectangular plate body form an accommodating space after being joined. 
     In one embodiment, the first rectangular plate body has two first bendable areas, which are parallel to the two first short sides; the two first bendable areas divide the first rectangular plate body into a first box face area, a second box face area and a third box face area in sequence; the two first bendable areas enable the first box face area, the second box face area and the third box face area to be bent into be a U-shaped 3D body; the second rectangular plate body has a second bendable area, which is parallel to the two second short sides; the second bendable area divides the second rectangular plate body into a fourth box face area and a fifth box face area; the second bendable area enables the fourth box face area and the fifth box face area to be bent into an L-shaped 3D body. 
     In one embodiment, the first box face area, the second box face area, the third box face area, the fourth box face area and the fifth box face area are square shape. 
     In one embodiment, first enhancing boards are disposed inside the first rectangular plate body and respectively corresponding to the first box face area, the second box face area, and the third box face area; second enhancing boards are disposed inside the second rectangular plate body and respectively corresponding to the fourth box face area and the fifth box face area. 
     In one embodiment, a pattern layer is formed on the surface of the first rectangular plate body. 
     In one embodiment, a pattern layer is formed on a surface of the second rectangular plate body. 
     In one embodiment, the joint module is a zipper; the first joint element is a first zipper strip; the second joint element is a second zipper strip. 
     In comparison with the conventional technologies, the embodiments of the present invention enable mass-production of storage boxes, wherein while the storage boxes of the present invention are in transportation or sale, the joint module does not undertake joining but let the first rectangular plate body and the second rectangular plate body be separated, whereby the first rectangular plate bodies and the second rectangular plate bodies can be separately stacked and stored conveniently. While the storage box is to be used, the joint module is used to engage the first rectangular plate body and the second rectangular plate body. While unfolded, the first rectangular plate body or the second rectangular plate body is in the form of a strip-like planar body, whereby a picture-forming process can be performed on the first rectangular plate body or the second rectangular plate body easily. Therefore, one of the advantages of the storage box of the present invention is that customized pictures can be printed, sprayed or sewed on the surfaces of the storage box. Thus, the manufacturers may mass produce storage boxes free of pictures beforehand and sell the storage boxes to customers. If the customer desires to have customized pictures on the surfaces of the storage boxes, the picture-forming process may be directly performed on the storage boxes easily. Further, different pictures may be respectively formed on two sides of the first rectangular plate body or the second rectangular plate body. The user may overturn the first rectangular plate body or the second rectangular plate body and then use the joint module to engage the first rectangular plate body and the second rectangular plate body, whereby a different picture may be presented on the exterior of the storage box. Because pictures can be easily formed on the storage box provided by the present invention, the storage box provided by the present invention is very suitable for the process of forming customized pictures. For example, the user may transform the pictures of beloved pets, relatives, friends or paintings into the pattern layers and attach the pattern layers to the storage boxes of the present invention. In the prior arts, because components must be fabricated into 3D-structured conventional storage boxes via assembling, many fabrication processes of the conventional storage boxes rely on manpower. If the design of the present invention, which divides a storage box into a first rectangular plate body and a second rectangular plate body, is adopted, the storage boxes may be mass produced automatically or semi-automatically. Hence, storage boxes can be fabricated faster. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a semi-finished product of the second rectangular plate body of the storage box, whereby the second rectangular plate body may be delivered in form of the semi-finished product to enable the down industries or retailers to print, spray, or sew customized pictures by themselves. In order to achieve the abovementioned objective, the semi-finished product of the second rectangular plate body of the storage box comprises a first outer layer and a second outer layer. The shapes of the first outer layer and the second outer layer are matched with and stacked on each other. The edge of the first outer layer is sewn to the second outer layer with an opening reserved. 
     In one embodiment, the edge of the first outer layer is folded toward the second outer layer to form a first folded member; the edge of the second outer layer is folded toward the first outer layer to form a second folded member. The first folded member and the second folded member are positions for sewing. 
     The embodiments of the present invention will be demonstrated with examples and drawings below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a storage box in an unassembled state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded view of a storage box in an unassembled state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram schematically showing an assembly method of a storage box in an unassembled according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a storage box in an assembled state according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram schematically showing that a pattern layer is to be formed on a first rectangular plate body of a storage box according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram schematically showing that a pattern layer has been formed on a first rectangular plate body of a storage box according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram schematically showing that a pattern layer is to be formed on a second rectangular plate body of a storage box according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram schematically showing that a pattern layer has been formed on a second rectangular plate body of a storage box according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram schematically showing a semi-finished product of the second rectangular plate body according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  4   , a storage box  100  includes a first rectangular plate body  10 , a second rectangular plate body  20 , and a joint module  30 . The joint module  30  includes a first joint element  31  and a second joint element  32 . 
     The first rectangular plate body  10  includes two first long sides  11  and two first short sides  12 , wherein both the two first short sides  12  and one of the two first long sides  11  form a first joint member  1 . 
     The second rectangular plate body  20  includes two second long sides  21  and two second short sides  22 , wherein the two second long sides  21  and one of the two second short sides  22  form a second joint member  2 , and the total length of the second joint member  2  is equal to the total length of the first joint member  1 . 
     In the embodiment, the joint module  30  is exemplified by a zipper; the first joint element  31  is exemplified by a first zipper strip; the second joint element  32  is exemplified by a second zipper strip; a zipper head  33  is disposed on the first joint element  31  or the second joint element  32  and used to close or open a zippered state of the first joint element  31  and the second joint element  32 . In the embodiment, the zipper head  33  is disposed on the first joint element  31 . The first joint element  31  is disposed on the first joint member  1 , which is formed by one first long side  11  and two first short side  12 . The second joint element  32  is disposed on the second joint member  2 , which is formed by two second long side  21  and one second short side  22 . Then, the first joint member  1  and the second joint member  2  are joined by the first joint element  31  and the second joint element  32  to form an accommodating space. In the embodiment, the joint module  30  is exemplified by a zipper, which is convenient to use and easy to operate. In some embodiments, the joint module  30  may be replaced by a detachable component such as a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     The first rectangular plate body  10  has two first bendable areas  13 , which are parallel to two first short sides  12 . Two first bendable areas  13  divide the first rectangular plate body  10  into a first box face area  14 , a second box face area  15  and a third box face area  16  in sequence, whereby the first rectangular plate body  10  may be bent to form a U-shaped 3D body. 
     The second rectangular plate body  20  has a second bendable area  23 , which is parallel to the second short sides  22 . The second bendable area  23  divides the second rectangular plate body  20  into a fourth box face area  24  and a fifth box face area  25 , whereby the second rectangular plate body  20  may be bent to form an L-shaped 3D body. 
     The first box face area  14 , the second box face area  15 , the third box face area  16 , the fourth box face area  24  and the fifth box face area  25  are square-shaped. In application, first enhancing boards  17  are disposed inside the first rectangular plate body  10  and respectively corresponding to the first box face area  14 , the second box face area  15 , and the third box face area  16 ; second enhancing boards  26  are disposed inside the second rectangular plate body  20  and respectively corresponding to the fourth box face area  24  and the fifth box face area  25 . In practice, a soft material or a fabric material may be adopted to form the first rectangular plate body  10  and the second rectangular plate body  20 ; a material having higher supporting ability, such as a thick cardboard or a plastic board, may be adopted to form the first enhancing boards  17  and the second enhancing boards  26 , whereby the first enhancing boards  17  and the second enhancing boards  26  can provide higher structure-supporting force to the storage box  100 . 
     Refer to  FIG.  5    to  FIG.  8   . In a disassembled state, the first rectangular plate body  10  and the second rectangular plate body  20  may be unfolded to be strip-like planar bodies. Therefore, a picture-forming process can be easily performed on the first rectangular plate body  10  and the second rectangular plate body  20 . For example, a sewing machine, a printing machine, a spray machine, a hot soft printing machine or a sublimation printing machine may be used to form pattern layers  40  on the first rectangular plate body  10  and the second rectangular plate body  20 . In the embodiment, the pattern layer  40  is a fabric layer sewed on the first rectangular plate body  10  or the second rectangular plate body  20 . In practice, the pattern layer  40  is not necessarily a fabric layer; the materials, which are used to form the pattern layer  40 , may be directly printed, sprayed, or transfer-printed on the first rectangular plate body  10  or the second rectangular plate body  20 . After the picture-forming processes are completed, the first rectangular plate body  10  and the second rectangular plate body  20  are joined with the joint module  30 , whereby the pictures are presented on the exterior of the storage box  100 . However, the present invention is not limited by the embodiment. In another embodiment that is not shown in the drawings, the pattern layer  40  is presented on the interior of the storage box  100 . 
     Besides, the picture-forming processes may be performed on both sides of the first rectangular plate body  10  or the second rectangular plate body  20  (not shown in the drawings). The user may overturn the first rectangular plate body  10  or the second rectangular plate body  20  and use the joint module to perform joining, whereby different pictures may be presented on the exterior. Alternatively, the original first rectangular plate body  10  or second rectangular plate body  20  may be replaced with the first rectangular plate body  10  or second rectangular plate body  20 , which has a different picture, to change the picture presented on the storage box  100 . 
     Refer to  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  9   . In order to facilitate the downstream industries to print, spray or sew customized pictures, the second rectangular plate body  20  of the storage box  100  is delivered in form of a semi-finished product  20   a . The semi-finished product  20   a  of the second rectangular plate body  20  includes a first outer layer  201  and a second outer layer  202 . The shape of the first outer layer  201  matches and stacks the shape of the second outer layer  202 . The edge of the first outer layer  201  is sewn to the edge of the second outer layer  202 , but an opening  203  is reserved. Thus, the semi-finished product  20   a  represents a pocket-like structure. In practice, the edge of the first outer layer  201  is folded toward the second outer layer  202  to form a first folded member  2011 ; the edge of the second outer layer  202  is folded toward the first outer layer  201  to form a second folded member  2021 ; the first folded member  2011  and the second folded member  2021  are sewn together to form the semi-finished product  20   a.    
     While printing, spraying or sewing is to be performed on the semi-finished product  20   a , the operator splits the unsewn regions of the first outer layer  201  and the second outer layer  202  through the opening  203 , whereby the first outer layer  201  or the second outer layer  202  can be singly placed into an automatic or semi-automatic machine for printing (including but not limited to sublimation transfer printing), spraying or sewing. After printing, spraying or sewing of the first outer layer  201  or the second outer layer  202  has been completed, the pocket-like semi-finished product  20   a  is turned inside out to expose the first folded member  2011  and the second folded member  2021  for sewing. After the sewing of the first folded member  2011  and the second folded member  2021  is completed, the pocket-like semi-finished product  20   a  is turned outside in to conceal the first folded member  2011  and the second folded member  2021 . Then, two second enhancing boards  26  are placed into the pocket-like semi-finished product  20   a . Thus, the portions of the second rectangular plate body  20 , which are corresponding to the fourth box face area  24  and the fifth box face area  25 , accommodate the second enhancing boards  26  thereinside. After the placement of two second enhancing boards  26  is finished, the opening  203  is completely closed by sewing. Then, the second joint element  32  is sewn to the second rectangular plate body  20 . Thus, the first rectangular plate body  10  and the second rectangular plate body  20  can be joined together by the joint module  30 . 
     The abovementioned embodiments are only to exemplify the present invention but not to limit the scope of the present invention. Any simple substitution or equivalent variation according to the specification and claims of the present invention is to be also included by the scope of the present invention.