US20060037964A1

US20060037964A1 - Stackable box

Info

Publication number: US20060037964A1
Application number: US10/924,304
Authority: US
Inventors: Chung-Sung Su
Original assignee: TOP GOAL ENTERPRISE Ltd
Current assignee: TOP GOAL ENTERPRISE Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-23
Filing date: 2004-08-23
Publication date: 2006-02-23

Abstract

The present invention provides a stackable box which comprises a container, a plurality of supporting elements, a hand-held bar and two transparent lids. The container has a concave structure on its sidewall for accepting the hand-held bar. In addition, the container has a plurality of mouths on its sidewall to attach to the supporting elements of another provided stackable box so the two or more provided stackable boxes can form a stacked, unit for use; when not in use, the supporting elements can be accepted inside a plurality of mouths on the back of the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a box, and more particularly to a stackable box.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Today, items are produced constantly day and night to meet various requirements and needs. For storing personal items, tools, and peripherals, various boxes are designed to these purposes, such as pencil case, etui, toolbox, and storage box. Various items could be managed, stored, and categorized by being placed in these boxes. A good storage box design does not only save the manufacturing cost but also save the space the produced box is going to occupy. In contrast, an ill storage box design will not only increase the manufacturing cost and the space the produced box is going to occupy, but also cause inconvenience to their users. A typical box usually comprises a container and a lid. Moreover, a typical box usually has a joint to link the lid and the container in a way that the lid can be flipped open to allow access to the container. However, when a plurality of stackable boxes are stacked up, there is no such a structure in the mentioned traditional box design for holding the whole stack steadily, and the occupied space by the whole stack is not be saved either. Furthermore, the contents of the traditional box can not be seen without opening the lid, and finding an wanted item can be no easy a job when a plurality of boxes are to be searched. Therefore, it is desired to improve the traditional box design to lower the manufacturing cost, strengthen the stacking structure, and meet the convenience requirement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the previous description, to meet the requirement of a more convenient box, the present invention provides a new stackable box to steadily hold a stack of boxes. It can not only satisfy the mentioned requirement but also achieve the economic effects for industry.
One object of the present invention is to provide a stackable box. In accordance with the present invention, the provided stackable box has a container and a plurality of supporting elements mounted at the bottom of the container. The supporting elements are foldable and can either protrude outside or hide under the bottom of the container. In addition, these supporting elements are demountable. Moreover, at least one transparent lid for covering the container is provided such that the contents of the box could be seen without opening the lid. On the other hand, the whole design provided in this present invention is based on DIY (Do It Yourself philosophy in order to let users conveniently assemble and disassemble the provided boxes by themselves at will.
As described above, the present invention disclosed a stackable box which comprises a container, a plurality of supporting elements, a hand-held bar, and two transparent lids. The container is a basin which comprises a bottom plate and a unified, laddered sidewall surrounding the bottom plate. The hand-held bar is attached to a concave structure on the laddered sidewall and can spin freely so the hand-held bar can be accepted by the concave structure. A plurality of first stacking months are located on the top surface of the laddered sidewall to attach to a plurality of supporting elements correspondingly located at the bottom of the container of another provided box, whereupon two or more provided stackable boxes can form a stacked unit for use. In addition, the plurality of supporting elements at the bottom of the container can be accepted by a plurality of second stacking mouths at the bottom of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
FIGS. 1A-1E show diagrams of a stackable box in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS. 2A-2C show diagrams of a stackable box in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Having summarized various aspects of the present invention, reference will now be made in detail to the description of the invention as illustrated in the drawings. While the invention will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed therein. On the contrary the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
It is noted that the drawings presents herein have been provided to illustrate certain features and aspects of embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated from the description provided herein that a variety of alternative embodiments and implementations may be realized, consistent with the scope and spirit of the present invention.
It is also noted that the drawings presents herein are not consistent with the same scale. Some scales of some components are not proportional to the scales of other components in order to provide comprehensive descriptions and emphasizes to this present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1A and 1B, in a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided a stackable box 100 which comprises a container 110, a plurality of supporting elements 120, a hand-held bar 130, and two transparent lids 140. The container 110 comprises a unified, laddered sidewall 105 surrounding a first surface of a plate 110A to enclose out a basin for containing stuff. As shown, the laddered sidewall 105 comprises an outer wall 115 and an inner wall 125, wherein the outer wall 115 is slightly higher than the inner wall 125 so that when the transparent lids 140 are closed, the transparent lids 140 can be supported by the inner wall 125 and the top surfaces of the transparent lids 140 are as high as the top surface of the outer wall 115. Furthermore, the outer wall 115 comprises (in turn) a first surface 115A, a second surface 115B, a third surface 115C, and a fourth surface 115D, wherein the first surface 115A and the third surface 115C face each other and the second surface 115B and the fourth surface 115D face each other. The first surface 115A has a concave structure 115E wherein the concave structure 115E has two first attaching mouths 135A, each on one of the two ends of the concave structure 115E. The two first attaching mouths 135A are used to link the two ends of the hand-held bar 130 so the hand-held bar 130 can spin freely and be accepted by the concave structure 115E. The concave structure 115E further comprises a first jointing agent 165A to lock up the two transparent lids 140 when the two transparent lids 140 are closed. As shown, each of the second surface 115B and the fourth surface 115D has two second attaching mouths 135B wherein the four second attaching mouths 135B are correspondingly located in pairs and are used to link and fix the two transparent lids 140 in a way that the two transparent lids 140 can spin freely for opening and closing. A plurality of first stacking mouths 145A are located on the boundary of the inner wall 125 and the second surface 115B and the boundary of the inner wall 125 and the fourth surface 115D, respectively, for attaching to a plurality of the supporting elements 120, whereupon a plurality of the provided stackable boxes 100 can be stacked up and form a stacked unit for use. Besides the above mentioned first jointing agent 165A, a second jointing agent 165B is located on top the surface of the third surface 115C to help lock up the two transparent lids 140 The second jointing agent 165B is opposite to the first jointing agent 165A. Moreover, the plate 110A has a plurality of second stacking mouths 145B on a second surface of the plate 100A to attach to or accept a plurality of the supporting elements 120.
Now referring to FIG. 1A to 1D, in this embodiment, each supporting element 120 comprises a first fastening element 150 and a second fastening element 155. A linking agent 150A is located at one end of the first fastening element 150 to attach to the second stacking mouth 145B; on the other hand, one end of the second fastening element 155 attaches to the first stacking mouth 145A. Furthermore, the other end of the first fastening element 150 is joined with the other end of the second fastening element 155 such that these two fastening elements can spin along the joint axis and be folded and accepted inside the second stack mouth 145B, as shown in FIG. 1C. In addition, a plurality of the second fastening elements 155 of the supporting element 120 can be pulled out to serve as supporting legs for the stackable box 100. Two linking elements 140A are located on one side of each transparent lid 140 to attach to the two second attaching mouths 135B on the second surface 115B and the fourth surface 115D in a way that the two transparent lids 140 can spin freely. The two transparent lids 140 further comprise two locking agents 140B which are located respectively corresponding to the first jointing agent 165A on the concave structure and the second jointing agent 165B on the third surface, i.e., the two locking agents 140B are opposite to each other. By working together and with help of two third fastening elements 160, the locking agents 140B and the first jointing agent 165A/second jointing agent 165B can lock up the two transparent lids 140 when the two transparent lids 140 are closed. What should be noticed is that the third fastening element 160 can equally work with any of the two locking agents 140B.
Referring to FIG. 2A to 2C, in a second embodiment of the present invention there is provided a stackable box 200 which comprises a container 210, a plurality of supporting elements 220, a hand-held bar 230, and a transparent lid 240. The container 210 comprises a unified, laddered sidewall 205 surrounding a first surface of a plate 210A to enclose out a basin for containing stuff. As shown, the laddered sidewall 205 comprises an outer wall 215 and an inner wall 225, wherein the outer wall 215 is slightly higher than the inner wall 225 so that when the transparent lid 240 is closed, the transparent lid 240 can be supported by the inner wall 225 and the top surface of the transparent lid 240 is as high as the top surface of the outer wall 215. Furthermore, the outer wall 215 comprises (in turn) a first surface 215A, a second surface 215B, a third surface 215C, and a fourth surface 215D, wherein the first surface 215A and the third surface 215C face each other and the second surface 215B and the fourth surface 215D face each other. The first surface 215A has a concave structure 215E wherein the concave structure 215E has two first attaching mouths 235A, each on one of the two ends of the concave structure 215E. The two first attaching mouths 235A are used to link the two ends of the hand-held bar 230 so the hand-held bar 230 can spin freely and be accepted by the concave structure 215E.
As shown in FIG. 2A to 2C, in this embodiment, the concave structure 215E further comprises at least one jointing agent 265A to lock up the transparent lid 240 when the transparent lids 240 is closed. At least one first stacking mouth 245A is located on the boundary of the inner wall 225 and the second surface 215B and the boundary of the inner wall 225 and the fourth surface 215D, respectively, for attaching to a plurality of the supporting elements 220. As shown, the third surface 215C has a mouth 225A in the middle of it, wherein the mouth 225A has two attaching mouths 235B to link and fix the transparent lid 240. On the other hand, the mouth 225A further has at least one first stacking mouth 245A to attach to a plurality of the supporting elements 220, whereupon a plurality of the provided stackable boxes 200 can be stacked up and form a stacked unit for use. Moreover, the plate 210A has a plurality of second stacking mouths 245B on a second surface of it to attach to or accept a plurality of the supporting elements 220.
As shown in FIG. 2A to 2C, in this embodiment, each supporting element 220 comprises a first fastening element 250 and a second fastening element 255. A linking agent 250A is located at one end of the first fastening element 250 to attach to the second stacking mouth 245B; on the other hand, one end of the second fastening element 255 attaches to the first stacking mouth 245A. Furthermore, the other end of the first fastening element 250 is joined with the other end of the second fastening element 255 such that these two fastening elements can spin along the joint axis and be folded and accepted inside the second stack mouth 245B. In addition, a plurality of the second fastening elements 255 of the supporting element 220 can be pulled out to serve as supporting legs for the stackable box 200. Two linking elements 240A are located on one side of the transparent lid 240 to attach to the two second attaching mouths 235B on the third surface 215C in a way that the transparent lid 240 can spin freely. The transparent lid 240 further comprises at least one locking agents 240B which is located corresponding to the at least one jointing agent 265A on the concave structure 215E on the first surface 215A. By working together and with help of at least one third fastening element 260, the at least one locking agent 240B and the at least one jointing agent 265A can lock up the transparent lid 240 when the transparent lid 240 is closed. What should be noticed is that the at least one third fastening element 260 can equally work with any of the at least one locking agent 240B.
In the embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of stacking mouths are utilized to attach to a plurality of supporting elements, whereupon a plurality of provided stackable boxes can be stacked up and form a stacked unit for use. Besides, all components of the present invention are designed to be assembled and disassembled freely. It is convenient for users to assemble the present invention by themselves at will. What should be noticed is that the application of the present invention is not limited to the design of a storage box, but also equally to any other kind storage apparatus.
The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. In this regard, the embodiment or embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the inventions as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breath to which they are fairly and legally entitled.

Claims

1. A stackable box, comprising:

a container, said container comprises a laddered sidewall surrounding a first surface of a plate to enclose out a basin for containing stuff, said laddered sidewall comprises an inner wall and an outer wall wherein said outer wall further comprises a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, and a fourth surface in order;

a concave structure on said first surface of said outer wall, said concave structure comprises two first attaching mouths each on one of the two ends of said concave structure, said two first attaching mouths are used to link the two ends of a hand-held bar so said hand-held bar can spin freely and be accepted by said concave structure, said concave structure has a first jointing agent in the middle;

two second opposite attaching mouths on said second surface and said fourth surface, and a plurality of first stacking mouths in opposite pairs on the boundary of said inner wall and said second surface and the boundary of said inner wall and said fourth surface, respectively;

a second jointing agent on said third surface, said second jointing agent is opposite to said first jointing agent;

a plurality of second stacking mouths on a second surface of said plate;

a plurality of supporting elements wherein each said supporting element comprises a first fastening element and a second fastening element, one end of said first fastening element attaches to said second stacking mouth via a linking agent, one end of said second fastening element attaches to said first stacking mouth, the other end of said first fastening element is joined with the other end of said second fastening element such that the two said fastening elements can spin along the joint axis and be folded and accepted inside said second stacking mouth;

two transparent lids, wherein each said transparent lid has two linking elements on one side to attach to said two second attaching mouths in a way that said two transparent lids can spin freely;

a locking agent on the other side of each said transparent lid, said locking agent is close to said first jointing agent and said second jointing agent, respectively; and

two third fastening elements to work with said locking agent and said first jointing agent/said second jointing agent for locking up said two transparent lids.

2. The stackable box of claim 1, wherein said outer wall is slightly higher than said inner wall so that when said two transparent lids are closed, said two transparent lids can be supported by said inner wall and the top surfaces of said two transparent lids are as high as the top surface of said outer wall.

3. The stackable box of claim 1, wherein said locking agents are located corresponding to said first jointing agent on said concave structure and said second jointing agent on said third surface, respectively.

4. The stackable box of claim 1, wherein said fastening element can work with any of said locking agents.

5. A stackable box, comprising:

a concave structure on said first surface of said outer wall, said concave structure comprises two first attaching mouths each on one of the two ends of said concave structure, said two first attaching mouths are used to link the two ends of a hand-held bar so said hand-held bar can spin freely and be accepted by said concave structure;

at least one jointing agent on said concave structure of said first surface;

at least one first stacking mouth on the boundary of said inner wall and said second surface and the boundary of said inner wall and said fourth surface;

a mouth in the middle of said third surface wherein said mouth has two second attaching mouths and at least one first stacking mouth;

a plurality of second stacking mouths on a second surface of said plate;

a plurality of supporting elements wherein each said supporting element comprises a first fastening element and a second fastening element, one end of said first fastening element attaches to said second stacking mouth via a linking agent, one end of said second fastening element attaches to said first stacking mouth, the other end of said first fastening element is joined with the other end of said second fastening element such that the two fastening elements can spin along the joint axis and be folded and accepted inside said second stacking mouth;

a transparent lid, wherein said transparent lid has two linking elements on one side to attach to said two second attaching mouths on said third surface in a way that said transparent lid can spin freely;

at least one locking agent on the other side of said transparent lid corresponding to said jointing agent on said concave structure; and

at least one third fastening element to work with said locking agent and said at least one jointing agent for locking up said transparent lid.

6. The stackable box of claim 5, wherein said outer wall is slightly higher than said inner wall so that when said transparent lid is closed, said transparent lid can be supported by said inner wall and the top surface of said transparent lid is as high as the top surface of said outer wall.

7. The stackable box of claim 5, wherein said locking agent is located corresponding to said at least one jointing agent on said concave structure on said first surface.

8. The stackable box of claim 5, wherein said fastening element can work with any of said at least one locking agent.