WO2004004509A1 - Case - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a case for storing objects, such as watches and jewellery, comprising the case (10), a tray (12) which is intended to be disposed inside the case (10) in order to receive the objects, and positioning means. The inside of the case comprises: a base (16) which is intended to receive the aforementioned tray (12); flexible flaps (18-21) which are disposed around the base (16) so as to cover said tray (12) at least partially; flexible means (26, 28, 30) of assembling the flaps, one of the aforementioned flaps comprising two solidly connected parts (26; 28, 30); and a rigid stiffening element (22, 56, 58) comprising a flat surface. The inventive case is particularly suitable for use as a travel case for transporting valuable objects.

Description

 Box

The present invention relates to boxes intended to contain delicate or very valuable objects. Such boxes can comprise an envelope, formed of a rigid box comprising a receptacle and a cover mounted hinged on this receptacle. The latter is arranged to receive one or more trays intended to support the objects considered, for example watches or jewelry. Such a box is, moreover, provided with a clasp and a handle to facilitate transport. It is particularly well suited to house and transport a collection of pieces, in order to present it to customers.

We also know cases for watches or jewelry, in which a single object is stored. They also include a receptacle, a cover pivotally mounted on the receptacle, and a padding arranged inside the receptacle and intended to position and protect the object under consideration. Neither the boxes nor the boxes are suitable for storing valuables in individual luggage. The boxes described above are designed to receive a large number of parts, and must be worn individually. The boxes are quite large and have metal hinges that can hang on the fabric of a garment, which can damage it. Certain luggage has a compartment intended to receive such objects. They offer good storage conditions while on the move, but require transferring items to the hotel room safe. It is also necessary to choose the baggage in its entirety, with this accessory.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a box arranged to serve as a means of storage for valuables, like watches or jewelry, easily transportable in luggage and without risk of damaging the clothes in the immediate vicinity. It comprises, in known manner, a envelope and a tray arranged in this envelope and provided with at least one housing intended to receive at least one of these objects.

It is characterized in that the envelope comprises:

• a seat intended to receive the tray, • flaps, made of flexible material, arranged around the seat and arranged so that they at least partially cover the tray,

Means for holding the flaps also in flexible material and comprising two parts each secured to one of the flaps, and

• a stiffening member, made of rigid material, having a flat surface.

In addition, the positioning means comprise two integral parts, one of the stiffening member and the other of the plate and cooperating with each other to position the plate with reference to the envelope.

Such a box does not have any external part capable of damaging the surrounding objects. In addition, different types of trays can be offered, making it possible to store one or more objects, under optimal conditions, these cannot be damaged by the materials constituting the box.

In a first embodiment, the stiffening member is formed by a plate integrated in the seat. The first part of the positioning means comprises a protuberance secured to the plate and the second part a hole made in the plate and arranged so as to be able to receive the protuberance, to define together the position of the plate with reference to the envelope.

So that the position of the plate on the seat is well defined, the first part of the positioning means comprises two protrusions, having the form of pins and integral with the plate, and the second part two holes dimensioned so that the pins are forcibly engaged therein.

In a second embodiment, the stiffening member comprises two plates, each integrated in one of the flaps. The positioning means comprise a groove formed in two of the lateral faces of the plate and a boss fixed to each of the plates. The grooves and bosses are arranged so that one is engaged in the other when the plate occupies the correct position on the seat.

Advantageously, the flexible material forming the flaps and the holding means are made of leather. This material gives a warm and distinguished appearance, while effectively protecting the tray and the object supported. It is durable, requiring little care and pleasant contact.

Such a box has a particularly attractive appearance when it is treated by techniques specific to upholstery, the production of the envelope in several pieces making it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost. This is why it is advantageous that the seat and the flaps are each formed of a piece of leather, that forming the seat being rectangular in shape and those forming the flaps being each attached to one of the sides of the seated.

It is, of course possible, to make a tray in a variety of shapes and materials. In a particularly effective and economical solution, the plate comprises a shell of rigid material, of generally parallelepiped shape, with an upper face and a lower face. This shell is provided with the positioning hole in its lower face and at least one cell in its upper face. A sheath surrounds the shell, and lines the cell to thereby form a protective wall for the housing. If a storage box has several boxes, each containing one or more different objects, it can be difficult to quickly find the right one. In order to facilitate the search, at least one of the flaps is provided with a cutout defining a window. The tray can then be identified by a distinctive sign, visible through the window. It is also possible that the flap only partially covers the housing, so that the object is partially visible.

When the objects to be preserved are delicate, it may be necessary to protect them in a particularly effective way. To this end, the interposition of a cushion arranged between the tray and the flaps guarantees good positioning of the object and prevents it from being crushed. This cushion advantageously includes a pocket intended to receive thin objects, for example papers such as banknotes, guarantee slip, etc.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

• Figures 1 and 2 show, in perspective, a box according to a first embodiment of the invention, respectively in the closed and open position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the box of FIGS. 1 and 2, and

• Figure 4 illustrates, seen in section, a box according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The boxes represented in the drawing comprise an envelope 10, a plate 12 and a cushion 14 covering the plate 12, both housed inside the envelope 10 and clearly visible in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The envelope 10 is formed of five assembled pieces, that is to say a rectangular seat 16 and four flaps 18 to 21, each sewn on one of the sides of the seat 16. These pieces comprise two overlapping skins, sewn together and whose flower side faces outward. The seaming of the leathers and flaps 18 to 21 on the seat 16 is done by the techniques used in the field of saddlery, which gives it a very attractive appearance.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, a base plate 22, of rigid material, for example wood, metal or hard plastic (Figures 2 and 3) is interposed between the leather of the seat 16. It carries two protruding pins 24, extending perpendicular to its surface and passing through unreferenced holes that the upper skin of the seat 16 includes.

The flaps 18 and 20, arranged on either side of the seat 16, have one 18 an opening 26 and the other 20 a tongue 28 and a loop 30, the function of which will be specified below.

The plate 12 comprises a rigid shell 34 of generally parallelepiped shape (FIG. 3). Its lower face is provided with two holes 36 arranged so as to serve as a housing for the pins 24 and respectively forming a first and a second part of the means for positioning the plate 12 on the casing 10. Its upper face is pierced with cells 36 to 39.

The plate 12 further comprises a padding layer 40, of damping material, for example a wadding, placed against the edges of the cells 38 and 39, a sheath 42 covering the padding 40 and masking the shell 34, and a cover 44 closing the socket 37. The sheath 42 can be made of leather as well as of fabric. These different cells can serve as receptacles for objects such as a ring, a necklace, a watch, etc. The cells 36 to 39 can be adapted, by their shapes, their size and their packing, to the object to be housed there. The cushion 14 has a length and a width substantially equal to that of the plate 12, being thus dimensioned so as to cover it. It comprises a tote 46 and a padding 48 giving it its shape (Figure 3). It is provided with a pocket 50 in which it is possible to slip securities or a guarantee bulletin.

To ensure the storage of an object in the box according to the invention, it suffices to place this object in one or the other of the cells of a tray 12, then to place the latter on an envelope 10, the pins 24 being engaged in the holes 36. In this way, the plate 12 is perfectly positioned. The diameter of the holes 36 and / or their position is chosen so that the pins 24 are frictionally engaged, ensuring that the plate is held in place on the envelope.

The cushion 14 is then placed on the plate 12. The flaps 19 and 21, 20, then 18 are brought back over the plate 12. The loop 30 is engaged in the opening 26. It remains to close the box by sliding the language 28 in loop 30.

As can be seen in Figure 1, either of the flaps may be provided with a cutout 52, through which a symbol, for example a mark 54, is visible. It is thus possible to identify the plate 12 contained in the envelope 10, and thereby its content.

As shown in Figure 4, other means of positioning the tray on its seat are possible. In this embodiment, the stiffening member is formed by two rigid plates 56 and 58, respectively trapped in the skins of the flaps 18 and 20 and arranged so that they are opposite the sides of the plate 12. The positioning means comprise a first part, formed by bosses 60, for example wooden slats, fixed on the plates 56 and 58, and a second part, formed of grooves 62, formed on the sides of the plate 12 adjacent to the flaps 18 and 20, and arranged so that the bosses 60 engage there. In this way, the plate 12 is positioned by folding the flaps 18 and 20. In a variant which has not been shown, the flaps can be perforated so that the upper surface is partially visible, making it possible to see a part objects contained in the accommodation, which facilitates their identification when several boxes are stored in the same place.

It is obvious that the box as described and claimed allows many variations. It is, of course, possible to superimpose two trays in the same envelope. It is also possible to provide the tray with a drawer. The choice of materials also offers many possibilities, certain fabrics can advantageously replace leathers.

Thus, thanks to the fact that the envelope is made of a flexible material, in its part in contact with the outside, it is possible to place the box described in practically any environment without risk for objects which could enter in contact with him.

Claims

claims 1. Box intended to serve as a storage means for objects, like watches or jewelry, comprising an envelope (10), a tray (12) intended to be placed inside the envelope (10 ) and arranged to receive said objects, and positioning means, characterized in that said envelope comprises: A seat (16) intended to receive said plate (12), Flaps (18 - 21), made of flexible material, arranged around the seat (16) and arranged so that they at least partially cover said plate (12), Means for assembling (26, 28, 30) the flaps also made of flexible material and comprising two integral parts (26; 28, 30) each of one of the flaps, and • a stiffening member (22; 56, 58), made of rigid material, having a flat surface, and in that said positioning means comprise two parts (24, 26; 60, 62) integral with one (24; 60 ) of the stiffening member (24; 56, 58) and the other of the plate (12) and cooperating with each other to position the plate (12) with reference to the envelope (10). 2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiffening member is formed by a plate (22) integrated in said seat (16), and in that said first part comprises a protuberance (24) integral with said plate (22) and the second part a hole (36) made in said plate (12) and arranged so as to be able to receive said protuberance (24), to define together the position of the plate (12) with reference to the envelope ( 10). 3. Box according to claim 2, characterized in that the first part of the positioning means comprises two protrusions (24), having the shape of pins and integral with the plate (22), and the second part two holes (36) dimensioned so that the pins are forced into it. 4. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that said stiffening member comprises two plates (56, 58) each integrated in one of the flaps (18, 20) and in that the positioning means comprise a groove (62 ) formed in two of the lateral faces of the plate (12) and a boss (60) fixed to each of said plates (56, 58), the grooves (62) and the bosses (60) being arranged so that one is engaged in the other when the plate (12) occupies the correct position on the seat (16). 5. Cabinet according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said flexible material is leather. 6. Cabinet according to claim 5, characterized in that the seat (16) and the flaps (18-21) are each formed of a piece of leather, that forming the seat (16) being rectangular and those forming the flaps (18-21) each being attached to one of the sides of the seat (16). 7. Cabinet according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said tray (12) comprises a shell (34) of rigid material, of generally parallelepipedal shape, with an upper face and a lower face, and provided with said hole (36) in its lower face and at least one cell (36-39) in its upper face, and a sheath (42) surrounding said shell (34) and lining said cell (36-39) to form a protective wall said accommodation. 8. Cabinet according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one of said flaps (21) is provided with a cutout (52) defining a window. 9. Box according to claim 8, characterized in that the plate (12) carries a distinctive sign (54), visible through said cutout (52). 10. Box according to claim 8, characterized in that said flaps only partially cover said housing and in that said object, when in place, is thus partially visible. 11. Box according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a cushion is interposed between the plate and the flaps. 12. Cabinet according to claim 10, characterized in that said cushion comprises a pocket intended to receive a thin object.