Patent Publication Number: US-2006006183-A1

Title: Box for receiving chip seats

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a box for receiving chip seats, and more particularly to a box which can prevent chip seats being received therein from exceeding a predetermined quantity.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      During manufacture of chips, finished or semi-finished chips are generally received in chip seats, and multiple chip seats are stacked in a box. Thus, the box with the chip seats can be carried for further processing.  
      As illustrated in  FIGS. 10-11 , the chip seat ( 20 ) has a rectangular base (not numbered), and a flange ( 21 ) is formed at an upper surface of the base. Multiple slots ( 22 ) are defined in the flange ( 21 ) for receiving chips (not shown). A recess (not shown) is defined at a bottom surface of the base and corresponds to the flange ( 21 ). In the stacked status, a flange ( 21  ) of another chip seat below this chip seat can be positioned in the recess of this chip seat, so the chip seats ( 20 ) can be stably stacked together. A chamfer ( 23 ) is defined at a corner of the base for indicating the orientation of the chip seat ( 20 ) in stacking.  
      The box ( 30 ) has a hollow body ( 31 ) with an upper face, a lower face, and four side faces between the upper face and lower face. An opening ( 32 ) is defined at a first side face of the hollow body ( 31 ). A hole ( 35 ) is defined through a second side face ( 34 ) opposed to the first side face. Two closed walls ( 33 ) are formed at third and fourth sides between the first and second side faces ( 34 ). Multiple elastic strips ( 36 ) are formed at the upper and lower faces and slightly bent inwards. When stacked chip seats ( 20 ) are received in the box ( 30 ) through the opening ( 32 ), the elastic strips ( 36 ) are deformed outwards to stably clamp the chip seats ( 20 ) in the box ( 30 ).  
      In general, as a standard quantity, eleven chip seats ( 20 ) are packed in the box ( 30 ). However, the box ( 30 ) can receive twelve chip seats ( 20 ) at most, as shown in  FIG. 12 , although this is seldom found in practice. Because the chip is a product with a higher value weight for weight than gold, the manufacture cost will be increased even if a packaging mistake happens only once a day.  
      Therefore, the invention provides a box for receiving chip seats to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The main objective of the present invention is to provide a box for receiving chip seats which can prevent chip seats being received in the box from exceeding a predetermined quantity.  
      Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of chip seats and a box in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the box in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the box receiving eleven chip seats;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the box receiving twelve chip seat;  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of another embodiment of the box in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a further embodiment of the box in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the box in  FIG. 6  receiving eleven chip seats;  
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the box in  FIG. 6  receiving twelve chip seats;  
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the box in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of chip seats and a conventional box;  
       FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of the conventional box receiving eleven chip seats; and  
       FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of the conventional box receiving twelve chip seats. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , a box ( 10 ) in accordance with the present invention is used for receiving chip seats ( 20 ). The chip seat ( 20 ) has a rectangular base (not numbered), and a flange ( 21 ) is formed at an upper surface of the base. Multiple slots ( 22 ) are defined in the flange ( 21 ) for receiving chips (not shown). A recess (not shown) is defined at a bottom surface of the base and corresponds to the flange ( 21 ). In the stacked status, a flange ( 21  ) of another chip seat below this chip seat can be positioned in the recess of this chip seat, so the chip seats ( 20 ) can be stably stacked together. A chamfer ( 23 ) is defined at a corner of the base for indicating the orientation of the chip seat ( 20 ) in stacking.  
      The box ( 10 ) has a hollow body ( 11 ) with an upper face, a lower face, and four side faces between the upper face and lower face. An opening ( 12 ) is defined at a first side face of the hollow body ( 11 ). A hole ( 15 ) is defined through a second side face ( 14 ) opposed to the first side face of the box ( 10 ). Two closed walls ( 13 ) are formed at third and fourth sides between the first and second side faces ( 14 ). Multiple elastic strips ( 16 ) are formed at the upper and lower faces and slightly bent inwards. When stacked chip seats ( 20 ) are received in the box ( 10 ) through the opening ( 12 ), the elastic strips ( 16 ) are deformed upwards to stably clamp the chip seats ( 20 ) in the box ( 10 ).  
      According to the present invention, multiple stopping members are formed inside the hollow body ( 10 ) for preventing chip seats exceeding a predetermined quantity received in the box ( 10 ).  
      In a first embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the second side face ( 14 ) has four first stops ( 141 ) respectively formed at four corners thereof.  
      In a second embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6 , at least one closed wall ( 13 ) has at least two second stops ( 131 ) respectively formed beside inner ends of upper and lower elastic strips ( 16 ).  
      With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 7 , when a predetermined quantity, such as eleven, of chip seats ( 20 ) are received in the box ( 10 ), the elastic strips ( 16 ) are deformed outwards to stably clamp the chip seats ( 20 ) in the box ( 10 ). In this case, the chip seats ( 20 ) are just positioned between the first or second stops ( 141 ,  131 ).  
      With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 8 , when twelve chip seats ( 20 ) are received in the box ( 10 ), the lowest chip seats ( 20 ) are blocked by the lower first or second stops ( 141 ,  131 ), so the stacked chip seats ( 20 ) cannot be completely received in the box ( 10 ). Thus, a worker can find that the quantity of the stacked chip seats ( 20 ) is wrong.  
      With reference to  FIG. 5 , in a third embodiment, the stops in the box ( 10 ) can be two first bars ( 142 ) respectively formed at upper and lower sides of the second face ( 14 ) of the box ( 10 ). Thus, the potential excess quantity of chip seats ( 20 ) also can be blocked by the first bars ( 142 ).  
      With reference to  FIG. 9 , in a fourth embodiment, the stops in the box ( 10 ) can be at least two second bars ( 132 ) respectively formed at upper and lower sides of the second face ( 13 ) and beside the elastic strips ( 16 ). Thus, the potential excess quantity of chip seat ( 20 ) also can be blocked by the second bars ( 132 ).  
      It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.