GB2281286A - Containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container assembly 10, preferably a fishing tackle box, has an lower unit 12 and an upper unit 14, each unit comprising a hollow box with a hingedly mounted lid thereon, where the upper unit 14 is seated on the lid 20 of the lower unit 12. Feet of the box 40 of the upper unit are received within notches in the lid 20 while toggle clips 80 mounted on the upper unit 14 engage with a rim 24 of the lower unit 12 to connect the two units together and restrain them from relative movement. These clips 80 have associated recesses in which they are accommodated when not in use. Each unit 12 and 14 comprises internal storage means while the upper unit further comprises drawers extendable from its side walls. A strap is provided on the lower unit 12 for carrying the unit with mounting means on the upper unit to facilitate support of this strap when the units are connected together to stabilize the assembly 10 when carried. <IMAGE>

Description

TACKLEBOX EXTENSION The present invention relates to an extension unit in combination with a hinged lid box and was primarily developed for use as an extension unit for a fishing tackle box.

Fishing tackle boxes having hinged lids are well known to those skilled in the art, usually comprising a upwardly opening generally rectangular hollow box in which the interior may be divided into storage units such as an array of trays, compartments etc. for storing fishing tackle, with a hinged lid for covering the top opening. A feature of such boxes is that the lid has a flat upper surface which may permit the box to be used as a seat when closed.

However, as the angler, almost inevitably, increases the tackle required to support the sport it is likely that such tackle will eventually exceed the storage space provided by conventional fishing tackle boxes, usually necessitating in the purchase of new and/or larger tackle boxes. Additionally, as fishing tackle boxes increase in size it becomes more inconvenient to access the equipment which they contain.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which alleviates the aforementioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a container assembly comprising a first container unit having an open topped container part and a lid hingedly mounted on that part by which the open top is openable and closeable, and a second container unit having at least one storage part for the storage of contents discloseable from and enclosable within said second unit, wherein said second unit is seated on the lid of said first unit and retaining means is provided which co-operates between the first and second unit to releasably retain the second unit in its seating on the lid.

Preferably, the second container unit comprises a second open topped container part and a lid hingedly mounted on that second part by which the open top of that second container part is openable and closeable to disclose and open a storage part of the second container part. Furthermore, the second unit may have at least one drawer therein for the storage of contents which is openable from and closeable into the second unit.

The retaining means will usually comprise clip means carried by and extending from one of the units and releasably engageable with the other of the units. Conveniently the aforementioned other of the units will comprise flange means with which the clip means is releasably engageable, usually by snap engagement. The retaining means may be associated with a recess provided in the unit which carries that means, whereby when the retaining means is not in use it may be accommodated in the associated recess (for example to be unobtrusive of the unit that carries it if the retaining means, particularly if the form of clip means, is likely to be snagged or dirtied).

Preferably, the retaining means is carried by the second unit and releasably engageable with the container part of the first unit.

The first container unit will usually have a carrying strap/handle which extends upwardly therefrom during carriage.

The second container unit may comprise locating means with which the strap/handle is engageable for carrying of the assembly so that during such carriage the strap/handle extends upwardly from the second unit at predetermined locations which provide for stability in carrying of the assembly by the strap/handle. In a preferred embodiment, the locating means will comprise C-shaped brackets within which the strap/handle is receivable.

Usually, the first container unit will have a storage capacity greater than that of the second container unit and the lid of the first unit and the second unit will be profiled for the second unit to be seated on the lid of the first unit to restrain relative sliding displacement therebetween.

The retaining means will preferably serve to restrain the lid of the first unit from being opened when the second unit is retained on the lid of the first unit to alleviate strain on the hinges of the first unit. However, if required, the retaining means may cooperate between the second unit and the lid of the first unit so that the second units pivotable with the lid of the first unit.

Preferably, the first and second container units will substantially comprise plastics mouldings.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a container unit for seating on a hinged lid of an open topped container part, said unit having at least one storage part for the storage of contents discloseable and enclosable within said unit, and wherein said unit has retaining means intended for co-operation with said container part to releasably retain the unit on its seating on the lid of the container part. This latter unit will usually comprise an open topped container part and a lid hingedly mounted on that part by which the open top of the container part is openable and closeable to disclose and open a storage part. Preferably, the unit has at least one drawer therein for the storage of contents, which is openable and closeable into the unit, and it is also preferred that the unit has locating means, usually in the form of C-shaped brackets, for engaging with a strap/handle of the container part on which the unit sits for positioning such handles/straps in a predetermined location on the unit which provide for stability in carrying the unit when mounted on the lower container part. It is also preferred that the unit has recess means, associated with each retaining means, for accommodating the retaining means when not in use, the retaining means usually being in the form of clip means.

An embodiment of a container assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a container assembly according to the present invention comprising two connected container units.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the assembly of Figure 1 as viewed from the left in that Figure.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the assembly of Figure 1.

FIGURE 4 is an underside plan view of the upper container unit of Figure 1.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the top of the upper container unit of Figure 1.

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of the upper container unit of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the upper container unit of Figure 1 as viewed from the right in that Figure.

As seen in Figure 1, a container assembly 10 comprises a lower container unit 12 and an upper container unit 14 mounted on the lower container unit 12. The lower unit 12 is a substantially hollow, plastics moulded, rectangular box having substantially vertical side walls which incline slightly outwards from a base 16 as they increase in height from that base. At its top, the unit 12 may have a rectangular opening (not shown) which is sealed by a lid 20 which is mounted on the unit 12 by hinges 22 extending along an upper edge of a rear wall 17 of the unit 12, so that the lid 20 can be raised or lowered to respectively open or close the opening of the unit 12. Around the top edges of the walls of the unit 12, surrounding the opening, is a rim 24 which extends outwardly from the unit 12 to form a flange surrounding the opening.

The lid 20 is also rectangular and when in its closed position (Figures 1 - 3) it sits on and abuts the rim 24 of the unit 12. This lid 20 is lockable with the unit 12 whereby internal clips on the lid (not shown) may snap engage internal flanges formed on the internal walls of the unit 12. These clips are releasable by simple button release mechanisms 26 in the unit 12 which, when depressed, move the internal clips of the locking mechanism out of engagement with the associated internal flanges.

The upper surface of the lid 20, not shown, is generally flat and horizontal, with an upstanding wall extending along each of its four edges (Figure 5 shows a similar arrangement for the lid 62 of the upper unit 14). These walls do not extend the complete length of each side of the lid, but the ends of adjacent walls approach one another to form rectangular notches at each corner of the lid which communicate, by means of narrow channels between adjacent walls, with the upper surface of the lid 20. In practice, this flat surface may be used as a seat while the narrow channels between adjacent walls provides means of draining away water which may otherwise collect on the lid.

This container unit 12 also has a carrying strap 30, usually formed of nylon webbing and of adjustable length, which has its opposed ends connected to longitudinally opposed sides 13a and 13b of the unit 12.

Mounted on the rectangular base 16, towards each of its four corners, are integrally moulded plastic feet 17.

The upper container unit 14 is of a similar design to that of unit 12 but having a greatly reduced volume. The unit 14 also comprises a substantially hollow, plastics moulded, rectangular box 40. This box has, at its top, a rectangular opening (not shown) which is covered by a hingedly mounted lid 42 mounted by hinges 44 extending along an upper edge of a rear wall 43 of the box 40.

This lid 42 sits on upper edges of the side walls of the box 40 when in its closed position (Figures 1-3) and is lockable with the box 40 in a similar manner to that of the unit 12.

Internal clips on the lid 42 (not shown) may snap engage internally formed flanges (not shown) on the box 40 in a conventional manner when the lid 42 is in its closed position.

These clips are releasable by simple button release mechanisms 46 in the box 40 which, when depressed, move the internal clips out of engagement with their associated internal flanges, allowing the lid to be freely lifted to open the unit 14.

The upper surface 62 of the lid 42 (Figure 5) is again similar to that of the lid 20, being substantially flat and horizontal. Towards each of the edges of the lid 42 are upstanding walls 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d which do not extend the full length of the respective edges of the lid 42 but form rectangular notches Sla, slob, Slc and 51d respectively between the adjacent ends of adjacent walls which coincide with the corners of the lid 42. These notches lie on the same horizontal plane as the surface 62 of the lid 42 and communicate with this surface 62 by means of channels 53 between the adjacent ends of the adjacent walls 50, providing means to allow water to drain from the lid 42.

The interior of the box 40 will usually contain subdivided compartments (not shown) which are accessible when the lid 42 is opened and may also comprise a removable tray (not shown) which lies across these compartments in a conventional manner and can be lifted clear of the box 40 to allow access to the compartments contained therein. Additionally, slidable drawers 64 are accommodated in the longitudinally opposed side walls 65a and 65b of the box 42, two drawers 64 in each of the two sides 65a and 65b respectively. These drawers 64 are separately formed of moulded plastics and slideably engage moulded rails within an associated cavity formed in the box 40 to be slidable into and out of that cavity in a conventional manner. Each drawer 64 has an outwardly facing handle 75 formed within a recess 66 in the drawer, and an upper surface of this handle 75 frictionally engages an inner surface of the cavity accommodating this drawer, when the drawer is fully inserted in the cavity, to hold the drawer in this closed position. This frictional force is easily overcome by pulling the handle 75 away from the unit 14 to reduce the frictional force therebetween as the handle is pulled away from the inner surface of the cavity.

The underside 70 (Figure 4) of the upper unit 14 is flat and horizontal and has at each corner four rectangular feet 72 extending from the surface 70. These feet 72 extend downwardly from the underside 70 and flush with the longitudinally extending edges of the unit 14 but project longitudinally from the laterally opposed edges of the unit 14. When the unit 14 is mounted on the lid 20 of the lower unit 12 these feet 72 engage the four notches of the lid 20 (not shown but are similar to notches 51a to 51d of the lid 40 described) while the lower surface 70 of the upper unit 14 sits on the four upstanding walls (not shown but are similar to walls 50a to 50d of the lid 40 as described). The engagement of the feet 72 of the upper unit with the notches of the lower unit 12 restrains the upper unit 14 from displacement in a horizontal plane relative to the lid 20 of the lower unit 12 (Figure 1).

The two units are releasably held together and restrained from vertical displacement by four toggle clips 80, two mounted on each of the two longitudinally opposed sides 65a and 65b of the upper unit 14 vertically above the feet 72. These toggle clips 80 are hingedly mounted about their lower edge 84 on the upper unit 14 so as to be pivoted about this lower edge 84 to extend between the two units 12 and 14 as shown in Figure 2. A flange 86 on each of the clips 80 may then be caused to snap engage the underside of the rim 24 of the lower unit 12, locking the upper unit 14 directly to the lower unit 12, restraining the two units 12 and 14 from relative displacement. When these toggle clips 80 are engaged the lid 20 of the lower unit 12 can not be opened accidentally.

When required, the upper unit 14 can be removed from the lower unit 12 by moving the flanges 86 of the clips 80 out of engagement with the rim 24 of the lower unit 12 and simply lifting the upper unit 14 clear of the lower unit 12. The toggle clips 80 further comprise a second hinge 88 extending laterally across its mid-section so as to divide the clip 80 into two sections. This hinge allows the clip 80 to folded, when not in use, so as to reduce its size. Furthermore, the upper unit 14 has four recesses 90, one associated with each of the clips 80, and each clip 80 is hinged about its lower edge 84 at the bottom of its associated recess 90 so that when the clips 80 are not being used they may be folded about their hinge 88 to reduce their size and then rotated about their other hinge (at 84) to be accommodated within the recess 90, the frictional force between the clip 80 and the hinge at 84 being sufficient to retain the clip 80 in a required position.

One further feature of the present invention are handle mountings 100a and 100b attached, in parallel, on the opposed sides 65a and 65b respectively of the lid 42 of the upper unit 14. These handle mountings comprise two identical C-shaped plastics holders 100a and 100b riveted to the unit 14, each holder having two gently curved arms which converge to almost meet at a centre position, leaving a gap between the two arms. In use, when the two units 12 and 14 are secured together, these mountings receive the strap 30 of the lower unit 12 through their respective gaps so that the strap extends from, and is supported by, the upper unit 14. These mountings 100a and 100b are positioned so that when they support the strap 30, the assembly 10 may be easier carried since they position the strap at a predetermined position with respect to the centre of gravity of the assembly 10 which provides for greater stability of the assembly 10 when carried, especially in comparison to the strap only being connected to the lower unit 12.

In use, the two units 12 and 14 may be considered as separate units which may be used as required for storage of fishing tackle and then connected together as described for ease of carrying. To access the lower unit 12 it will be necessary to remove the upper unit 14, however, it is possible to access the upper unit 14 while still connected to the lower unit.

Furthermore, the drawers 64 in the upper unit 14 are easily accessible at any time, and so the use of the upper unit will allow easy access to essential equipment while providing additional storage space when connected to the lower unit 12.

It will also be appreciated that variations to the preferred embodiment of the present invention as herein described and illustrated are possible. For example, various types of connecting means other than toggle clips could be used for connecting the two units together, such as snap engaging flanges between the feet of the upper unit and the walls on the lid of the lower unit. Furthermore, if required, the toggle clips could engage with the lid of the lower unit rather than the rim of the box, thus allowing the lid to be opened with the upper unit attached.

Still further, different types of handles could be used, such as rigid plastics handles and the drawers in the upper unit could be removed, increased in number or mounted differently.

Similarly, the actual shapes of the units herein described could be varied to suit different requirements.

It will also be appreciated that the present invention could extend to more than two units, where a third (or more) units could be seated and attached to the second unit 14 using a similar arrangement to that described.

Claims (23)

1. A container assembly comprising a first container unit having an open topped container part and a lid hingedly mounted on that part by which the open top is openable and closeable; a second container unit having at least one storage part for the storage of contents discloseable from and enclosable within said second unit; and wherein said second unit is seated on the lid of said first unit and retaining means is provided which co-operates between the first and second unit to releasably retain the second unit in its seating on the lid.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the second container unit comprises a second open topped container part and a lid hingedly mounted on that second part by which the open top of that second container part is openable and closeable to disclose and open a storage part of the second container part.

3. An assembly as claimed in either of the preceding claims in which the second unit has at least one drawer therein for the storage of contents which is openable from and closeable into the second unit.

4. An assembly as claimed in any one of the previous claims in which the retaining means comprises clip means carried by and extending from one of said units and releasably engageable with the other of said units.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the other of said units comprises flange means with which the clip means is releasably snap engageable.

6. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the retaining means is associated with a recess provided in the one of said units which carries said retaining means and said recess is arranged to accommodate the retaining means when the retaining means is not in use.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the retaining means is carried by the second unit and releasably engageable with the container part of the first unit.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first container unit has a carrying strap/handle which extends upwardly therefrom during carriage and the second container unit comprises locating means with which the strap/handle is engageable for carrying of the assembly so that during said carriage the strap/handle extends upwardly from the second unit at predetermined locations which provide for stability in carrying of the assembly by the strap/handle.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 in which the locating means comprises C-shaped brackets within which the strap/handle is receivable.

10. An assembly as claimed in any one of the previous claims in which the first container unit has a storage capacity greater than that of the second container unit.

11. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the lid of the first unit and the second unit are profiled for said second unit to be seated on the lid of the first unit and to restrain relative sliding displacement therebetween.

12. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the retaining means restrains the lid of the first unit from being opened when said second unit is retained on said lid of the first unit.

13. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second container units substantially comprise plastics mouldings.

14. A container assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and in the form of a fishing tackle box.

15. A container unit for seating on a hinged lid of an open topped container part, said unit having at least one storage part for the storage of contents discloseable and enclosable within said unit; and wherein said unit has retaining means intended for cooperation with said container part to releasably retain the unit on its seating on the lid of the container part.

16. A unit as claimed in claim 15 which itself comprises an open topped container part and a lid hingedly mounted on that part by which the open top of the container part is openable and closeable to disclose and open a storage part.

17. A unit as claimed in either claim 15 or claim 16 which has at least one drawer therein for the storage of contents which is openable and closeable into the unit.

18. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17 in which the retaining means comprises clip means.

19. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18 in which the retaining means has associated therewith a recess formed in the unit and said retaining means is capable of being accommodated in said recess when not in use.

20. A unit as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19 comprising a locating means with which a strap/handle of the container part, on which the unit is seated, is engageable for carrying the unit and container part to which the unit is secured so that during such carriage the strap/handle extends upwardly from the unit at predetermined locations which provide for stability during carrying of the secured unit and container part.

21. A unit as claimed in claim 20 in which the locating means comprises C-shaped brackets within which the strap/handle is receivable.

22. A container assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings

23. A container unit as claimed in claim 15 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.