Storage tray for thin dies
Disclosed as a storage tray for dies including a base portion that has a plurality of slots adapted to receive the dies, a cover portion adapted to be rotatably coupled to the base portion at the rear of the base portion, a hinge groove formed at the rear of the base portion, a hinge boss formed at the rear of the cover portion, wherein the hinge boss is adapted to engage the hinge groove and the hinge boss and the hinge groove form a hinge and the hinge cover is coupled to the hinge portion.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/488,512 (Attorney Docket No. 021919-001400US) filed Jul. 17, 2003 and is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure relates to storage devices and more particularly pertains to a new storage tray for transporting, storing, and presenting dies used for die cutting and embossing applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURECommon die-cutting devices and the associated dies allow crafters to enhance scrapbook pages, greeting cards and more, right in the convenience of their homes. Using a typical die-cutter, a piece of material is placed on a cutting form that has sharp edges protruding from its surface. By pressing the piece of material against the cutting form or die with enough force, the sharp edges of the die cut through the material to create various shapes, depending on the shape of the die. The dies may also be used for embossing. A user of such a die cutting press may have several differently shaped dies to choose from to make various fanciful shapes.
As a user's collection of dies increases, it is cumbersome for the user to organize, store, and transport the user's collection of dies. Many users store the dies in boxes or envelopes which does not keep the dies organized, nor protects the dies from normal wear and tear and damage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure provides a storage tray for dies. The storage tray also may be used for storing thin dies, such as chemical etched dies. The storage tray disclosed is a storage tray for dies including a base portion that has a plurality of slots adapted to receive the dies, a cover portion adapted to be rotatably and releasably coupled to the base portion at the rear of the base portion, a hinge groove is formed at the rear of the base portion, a hinge boss is formed at the rear of the cover portion, wherein the hinge boss is adapted to engage the hinge groove and the hinge boss and the hinge groove form a hinge, and the hinge cover is coupled to the hinge portion.
In one embodiment, the cover portion has a top surface and the top surface has debossed regions configured to receive a bottom potion of the base portion, when the cover portion is removed from and located under the base portion.
In one embodiment, the storage tray also has a latch mechanism located on a front portion of the base portion, and a slot located on a front portion of the cover, where the slot is configured to receive the latch mechanism, so as to positively close the cover portion in a closed position. In one aspect, the storage tray also includes a spring biased pin configured to help open the cover portion when the latches are released from the cover portion.
In one embodiment, the storage tray's cover portion includes a foam section adhered to an inside surface of the cover portion, so as to hold any dies located on any of the slots in place when the cover portion is in a closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like elements bear like reference numerals, and wherein:
FIGS. 2A-B show the storage tray of
FIGS. 5A-E illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the storage tray of the present disclosure, with
FIGS. 6A-G illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the base portion of the storage tray;
FIGS. 7A-E illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the cover portion of the storage tray;
Disclosed is a storage tray for storing dies, particularly thin dies otherwise known as chemical etched dies. The chemical etched dies have a plastic backing on one side and an ejection foam on the opposite side.
A hinge 114 enables the motion of the cover portion 104 with respect to the base portion 102. That is to say, when the user opens the storage tray and lifts the cover portion 104 relative to the base portion 102, the cover portion 104 pivots about a hinge 114. As is shown in
Although any hinge configuration that allows the cover portion 104 to rotate relative to the base portion 102 would be suitable, in one embodiment disclosed herein, the hinge allows the cover portion 104 to be separated from the base portion 102 if desired by the user. The hinge groove 602, in this embodiment, includes a radiused end 603 that enables the cover portion 104 to stay in place when the cover portion is fully opened relative to the base portion 102. A groove 602 is configured to receive the boss 702, as shown in
A locking or latching mechanism 112 is located on the base portion 102 which engages slots or openings 113 in the cover portion to positively close the cover portion 104 when closed. This allows the user to carry the storage tray 100 by the handles 106 and 107 without fear of the cover portion 104 becoming disengaged from the base portion 102. When the latch mechanism 112 is activated and the cover portion 104 is locked in the closed position relative to the base portion 102, the bosses 702 are resting in the groove radiused ends 603.
In one embodiment, buttons or protrusions 109 connected to and extending from the latch mechanism 112 are configured so that a user may press the protrusions or buttons inward using the user's thumb and index fingers simultaneously to cause the latch mechanism to disengage the slots 113 in the cover portion 104.
In one embodiment, the base portion 102 as well as the cover portion 104 are each manufactured utilizing plastic material. The cover portion 104 may be made from a clear plastic to allow for convenient viewing of the dies 108 through the cover portion 104, when the cover portion 104 is in the closed position.
FIGS. 5A-E illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the storage tray according to the present disclosure showing various details.
FIGS. 6A-E illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the storage tray base portion. The base portion 502 includes a hinge groove 602 shown in
FIGS. 7A-E illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the storage tray cover portion showing various details including the hinge bosses 702 as shown in
In one alternative embodiment, the hinge 114 may also be spring biased (not shown) by using a coiled spring to help open the cover portion 104 when the latch mechanism 112 is released from the cover portion 104. Alternatively, a spring loaded pin located on either the base portion 102 or the cover portion 104 may be used to help open the cover portion 104 when the latch mechanism is released from the cover portion 104.
Therefore disclosed is a storage tray for dies including a base portion having a plurality of slots adapted to receive the dies. The cover portion is adapted to be rotatively coupled to and removably coupled from the base portion at the rear of the base portion. A hinge comprising grooves and bosses are formed at the rear of the base and cover portions to accommodate the rotatively and removably coupling relationship between the cover portion and the base portion.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. For example, the base portion may include any number of inside slots for holding the dies; the case and its components may be made of any material suitable for the purpose of carrying accessories such as dies for die cutting applications. These other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following proposed claims.
Claims
1. A storage tray for dies, comprising:
- a base portion having a plurality of slots configured to receive the dies; and
- a cover portion, coupled to the base portion.
2. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein the cover portion is removably coupled to the base portion at a rear portion of the base portion.
3. The storage tray of claim 2 wherein the cover portion is hingedly coupled to the base portion.
4. The storage tray of claim 3 wherein the base portion includes a hinge groove at the rear portion of the base portion.
5. The storage tray of claim 4 wherein the cover portion includes a hinge boss at the rear of the cover portion and the hinge boss is adapted to engage the hinge groove with the hinge boss and the hinge groove forming a hinge when the cover is removably coupled to the base portion.
6. A storage tray for dies, comprising:
- a base portion having a plurality of slots adapted to receive the dies;
- a cover portion adapted to be rotatably coupled to the base portion at the rear of the base portion;
- a hinge groove formed at the rear of the base portion;
- a hinge boss formed at the rear of the cover portion, the hinge boss adapted to engage the hinge groove to form a hinge when the cover is coupled to the base portion.
7. The storage tray of claim 6, wherein the cover portion comprises a top surface and the top surface includes a debossed region configured to receive a bottom portion of the base portion when the cover portion is removed from the base portion and located under the base portion in a stacked configuration.
8. The storage tray of claim 6, further comprising:
- a latch mechanism located on a front portion of the base portion, and a slot located on a front portion of the cover portion, the slot configured to receive the latch mechanism so as to positively close the cover portion in a closed position.
9. The storage tray of claim 8, further comprising:
- a resilient material located inside of the cover portion so as to provide a lifting action to the cover portion when the cover portion is released from the latch mechanism.
10. The storage tray of claim 8, further comprising a spring means to help open the cover portion when the latches are released from the cover portion.
11. The storage tray of claim 6, wherein the cover portion further includes a foam section adhered to an inside surface of the cover portion so as to hold any dies located in any of the slots in place when the cover portion is in the closed position.
12. The storage tray of claim 6, wherein the cover portion is adapted to be rotatably and releasably coupled to the base portion at the rear of the base portion.
13. The storage tray of claim 7, wherein the bottom portion of the base portion includes protrusions that rest in the corresponding debossed regions in the top surface.
14. A storage tray for storing dies, comprising:
- a base portion having a plurality of slots configured to receive dies;
- a cover portion that is rotatably coupled to the base portion; and
- the cover portion having a foam section located in an inside surface of the cover portion so as to hold any dies located in any of the slots in place when the cover portion is in a closed position.
15. The storage tray of claim 14, wherein the cover portion is removable from the base portion.
16. The storage tray of claim 15, wherein the cover portion is optionally removable or not from the base portion.
17. The storage tray of claim 15, wherein the base portion and the cover portion combine to comprise a hinge at the rear of the cover and base portions.
18. The storage tray of claim 17, further comprising:
- a latch mechanism located at the front of the base portion in a slot located at the front of the cover portion, the slot configured to receive the latch mechanism so as to positively close the cover portion in a closed position.
19. The storage tray of claim 18, wherein the foam section located inside of the cover portion provides a lifting action to the cover portion when the cover portion is released from the latch mechanism.
20. The storage tray of claim 19, wherein the latch mechanism comprises two opposing spring loaded hooks located in the base portion which mate with corresponding recesses located in the cover portion.
21. The storage tray of claim 20, wherein the latch mechanism further comprises depressable protrusions extending from the base portion, wherein the buttons are connected to the spring loaded hooks.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 16, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 3, 2005
Applicant: Ellison Educational Equipment, Inc. (Lake Forest, CA)
Inventor: Kevin Corcoran (Mission Viejo, CA)
Application Number: 10/893,107