Modular container

Abstract

A modular container for the storage or display of articles, formed from a foldable unitary blank of sheet material. The container has a base panel, opposed first and second side panels and an end panel. A container-locating aperture is located adjacent the second side panel and is formed on the end panel, together with a tab-locating aperture that is located adjacent the first side panel. A container connecting tab projects from the first side panel, and may selectively be folded to locate in the tab-locating aperture, or to locate in the container-locating aperture of another container and thereby connecting the containers together in side-by-side relationship.

Description

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0001] THIS invention relates to a modular container for the storage or display of articles.

[0002] Numerous containers that are folded and erected from blanks of sheet material are known. Many of these containers may be collapsed when not required and stored as flat sheets, ready to be re-erected when needed. Some of the containers of this type may be connected to one another in side-by-side relationship or in a stackable orientation. Many containers that are arranged in this manner have tabs projecting from the walls of the container, which may be glued to another identical container. Once glued these containers are not easily separated without damage being inflicted to the container walls. Accordingly, it is difficult to repeatedly erect and collapse such containers after they have been joined to other containers.

[0003] Certain containers known to the art incorporate engagement tabs which pass through co-operating slots of another like container, or several containers are arranged in an overlapping relationship. However, such arrangements do not provide adequate coupling of the containers and containers that are joined together in this manner are typically prone to separation. Alternative means for connecting containers are known to the art, whereby co-operating connecting tabs may be inter-linked to connect containers together, but such linkage formations are not particularly strong and may be damaged easily with repeated use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to the invention there is provided a modular container that comprises:

[0005] a base panel, first and second opposed wall forming side panels, and at least one wall forming end panel extending between the side panels, thereby defining respective first and second common edges with the first and second side panels;

[0006] at least one end container connecting tab projecting from the end panel, or from the first side panel, at or adjacent the first common edge; and

[0007] at least one container-locating aperture formed in the end panel at or adjacent the second common edge,

[0008] wherein the end container connecting tab of an erected container may be engaged in the container-locating aperture of another container, thereby to connect the containers together.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a modular container that comprises:

[0010] a base panel, first and second opposed wall forming side panels, and at least one wall forming end panel extending between the side panels, thereby defining respective first and second common edges;

[0011] at least one end container connecting tab projecting from the end panel, or from the first side panel, at or adjacent the first common edge;

[0012] at least one container-locating aperture formed in the end panel at or adjacent the second common edge; and

[0013] a tab-locating aperture formed in the end panel at or adjacent the first common edge,

[0014] wherein the end container connecting tab of an erected container may selectively be engaged in the container-locating aperture, or engaged in the end container-locating aperture of another container thereby to connect the containers together.

[0015] The container preferably further comprises:

[0016] a wall forming front panel;

[0017] a front container connecting tab projecting from the first side panel, or from the front panel, at or adjacent the interface between the front panel and the first side panel;

[0018] a front tab aperture formed on the front panel at or adjacent the first side panel; and

[0019] a front container-locating aperture formed on the front panel at or adjacent the second side panel,

[0020] wherein the front container connecting tab of an erected container may selectively be engaged in the front tab aperture, or engaged in the front container-locating aperture of the second container.

[0021] According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a unitary blank for a modular container, the blank being formed from a foldable sheet material and comprising:

[0022] a base panel;

[0023] a wall forming first side panel;

[0024] a wall forming second side panel;

[0025] a wall forming end panel having a container-locating aperture at or adjacent the second side panel, and a tab-locating aperture at or adjacent the first side panel; and

[0026] a container connecting tab projecting from the first side panel at or adjacent the front panel,

[0027] wherein the container connecting tab of a container erected from the blank may be selectively folded to engage within the tab-locating aperture, or to engage in the container-locating aperture of a second container, thereby to connect the containers together.

[0028] Preferably the blank further comprises:

[0029] a wall forming front panel;

[0030] a front tab-locating aperture formed on the front panel at or adjacent the first side panel;

[0031] a front container connecting tab projecting from the first side panel at or adjacent the front panel; and

[0032] a front container-locating aperture formed on the front panel located adjacent to the second side panel,

[0033] wherein the front container connecting tab of an erected container may selectively be folded to engage in the front tab-locating aperture, or to engage in the front container-locating aperture of the second container.

[0034] Typically, the end container connecting tab is formed from the inner portion of the tab-locating aperture provided in the end panel, which is partially cut out, whereby the end container connecting tab is foldable at or about the first common edge to selectively be positioned either in or out of the tab-locating aperture.

[0035] The front and end panels may be provided on the first or the second side panels, or on the base panel. The upstanding edges of the front and end panels of an erected container must be connected to the side panels, either by being provided on at least one of the side panels and being connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to the other, or by being connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to both side panels. Preferably, the front and end panels are formed from two panels, provided on the first and second side panels, which are joined to each other by complemental tab and aperture formations.

[0036] Furthermore, it is preferable that front and/or end reinforcing panels are provided on the base panel. These reinforcing panels may be formed of outer and inner panel portions, which are folded over the respective front and back panels, thereby enveloping the joins formed from the tab and aperture formations.

[0037] In a container erected from the blank, the end container connecting tab may be folded to locate in the end tab aperture. Similarly the front container connecting tab may be folded to locate in the front tab aperture, and thereby also be enveloped by the reinforcing panels.

[0038] Alternatively, the end container connecting tab may be located in the end container-locating aperture of another like container and thereby be enveloped by the reinforcing panels of that container. Similarly, the same may apply in respect to the front container connecting tab. This may be applied to a plurality of connected containers arrange side-by-side.

[0039] The inner panel portions of the front and end reinforcing panels preferably have a projecting locating tongue which is engageable within a complemental slot formed on the base panel.

[0040] The unitary blanks are preferably formed from a corrugated polymeric sheet material, although card, cardboard, plastic and other similar foldable materials may be used.

[0041] A top panel may be provided on the container which is provided on the blank adjacent to the first and/or second side panel, or formed from one of the inner panel portions of the reinforcing panels described above, preferably the end panel portion. The top panel may operate to close the container.

[0042] Partitions may be located within the container, thereby forming compartments. The partitions may be secured within the container by co-operating tongue and slot formations formed on the partitions and on the wall forming panels of the container respectively. The partitions are preferably cut from the waste sheet material surrounding the blank when the blank is itself cut from the sheet material.

[0043] The front panels of the erected container are preferably lower than the end panels, and the side panels and partitions may be chamfered accordingly, to provide better accessibility and visibility into the containers.

[0044] The inner and outer panel portions of the front and back panels may have a flap cut out of the panel to enable labels and the like to be inserted therein.

[0045] An embodiment of the invention is described in detail in the following passages of the specification, which refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are merely illustrative of how the invention might be put into effect, so that the specific form and arrangement of the features shown is not to be understood as limiting on the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an underside plan view of a blank, from which a modular container according to the invention may be formed;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the blank depicted in FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of a partially erected modular container, formed from the blank;

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of a single erected modular container showing, in exploded view, partitions which may be incorporated within the container; and

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of two partially erected modular containers which are to be joined together in side-by-side relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0051] A modular container 10 according to the invention is depicted in FIG. 4. The container is formed from a unitary blank 12 of corrugated polymeric sheet material. The container is intended for the convenient storage or display of articles, and may easily be erected to form a single container, or may simply be adapted to be joined to other like containers. The containers joined in this manner may easily be separated again to form single containers, or may be collapsed back into flattened blanks for convenient storage.

[0052] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the blank 12 which has a base panel 14, and opposed first and second side panels 16 and 18 extending from the sides of the base panel. When folded into a vertical orientation, the first and second side panels form the side walls of the container. On the side panels are provided respective first and second end panel portions 20 and 22 which are foldable from the first and second side panels respectively. The first end panel portion has a projecting tab 24, which is engageable with a corresponding aperture 26 formed in the second end panel portion. When the projecting tab of the first end panel portion is engaged in the aperture of the second end panel portion, the end panel of the container is assembled, the end panel being shown generally as reference numeral 28 in FIG. 3.

[0053] Located on the other ends of the first and second side panels 16 and 18 are provided first and second front panel portions 30 and 32, the first front panel portion having a projecting tab 34 which is engageable within an aperture 36 formed in the second front panel portion. When so engaged, the first and second front panel portions form the front panel, shown generally as reference numeral 38 in FIG. 3.

[0054] An end container connecting tab 40 is partially cut out of the first end panel portion 20. The fold between the first side panel 16 and the first end panel portion forms a hinge 42 for the end container connecting tab, enabling the end container connecting tab to be positioned in a tab-locating aperture 44 or folded out therefrom. Similarly, there is a front container connecting tab 46 formed out of a front tab-locating aperture 48 in the first front panel portion 30. The front container connecting tab may also be positioned in or out of the front tab-locating aperture.

[0055] Extending from the base panel 14, there is provided an end reinforcing panel, shown generally as reference numeral 50, which comprises an end outer panel portion 52 and an end inner panel portion 54. There is a corresponding front reinforcing panel, shown generally as reference numeral 56, which comprises a front outer panel portion 58 and a front inner panel portion 60.

[0056] FIG. 3 clearly shows the end and front panels 28 and 38 in assembled configuration, with the projecting tabs 24 and 34 engaged in the corresponding apertures 26 and 36. The end reinforcing panel 50 is then folded from the base panel 14, such that the end outer panel portion 52 abuts the end panel. The end inner panel portion 54 is then folded over the end panel, thereby enveloping the end panel together with the engaged projecting tab and aperture 24, 26. A projecting tongue 62 is provided on the end inner panel portion, which is positioned in a complemental slot 64 cut out of the base panel. Similarly, the front reinforcing panel 56 is folded over the front panel to envelop it, and a projecting tongue 66 engages a complemental slot 68 provided on the base panel.

[0057] When a single modular container 10 is required, the end container connecting tab 40 is positioned within the tab-locating aperture 44. The engaged tab and aperture is then enveloped within the end outer and inner panel portions 52 and 54. Accordingly, in this configuration there are no tabs projecting from the modular container and no slots or apertures are visible when the container is erected, as is depicted in FIG. 4.

[0058] Should it be desired that a second container 10 be connected to the first container then, prior to the end and front reinforcing panels 50 and 56 being folded over the end and front panels 28 and 38, the end container connecting tab 40 of the first container is folded out externally from the tab-locating aperture 44 to project from the first side panel 16. The second end panel portion 22 of each container is provided with a container-locating aperture 70, formed adjacent to the second side panel 18. The size and shape of the container-locating aperture is configured to be identical and complemental to the tab-locating aperture 44 formed on the first end panel portion 20.

[0059] Prior to the end and front reinforcement panels 50 and 56 being folded over the end and front panels 28 and 38, the end container connecting tab 40 of the first container is positioned into the container-locating aperture 70 of the second container. This is clearly illustrated in FIG. 5. When the end container connecting tab is engaged in the container-locating aperture, the end reinforcing panel may be folded over the end panel into the assembled position. If a further container had been required, the end container connecting tab 40 of the second container would have been folded out from the corresponding tab-locating aperture 44 to project away from the second container prior to the end reinforcing panel being placed in position.

[0060] The front container connecting tab 46 may be connected in a similar fashion to a front container-locating aperture 72 formed on the front panel portion 32. The front reinforcing panel 56 could then be folded into the assembled configuration in a similar manner to that described in relation to the end reinforcing panel.

[0061] In this manner it is possible to cover all of the interconnecting tab and aperture formations formed on the blanks 12, whether they are connected to form a single modular container 10 or a plurality of containers connected in side-by-side relationship.

[0062] As can be seen from the drawings, it is preferred that the front panel 38 of the container 10 is of a lesser height than the end panel 28. This enables greater accessibility and visibility into the container.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as depicted in FIG. 4, partitions 74 and 76, having co-operating alignment slots 78 and 80, are positioned within the container 10 to form compartments therein. Numerous projections 82 extend from the partitions and having chamfered edges 84 to facilitate location within co-operating panel slots 86 formed in the walls of the container. This enables convenient separation of articles within the container or, alternatively, provides support for tall items arranged in the container.

[0064] The first and second side panels 16 and 18 may have chamfered or shaped edges 88, to account for the reduced height of the front panels 38 relative to the back panel 28. The partition 76 may also be shaped accordingly.

[0065] A flap 90 may be cut from any one of the front or end reinforcement panel portions to enable a card or label to be inserted in the flap. This would be particularly suitable for identifying articles contained in the container or for advertising or promotional material which may be used in relation to the articles.

[0066] There are various alternative embodiments of the container which are possible and that fall within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the containers may be formed from blanks of a sheet material that are manufactured from card, cardboard, polymeric sheets, corrugated boards or other similar materials. Polymeric sheets are particularly useful as they may be easily cleaned with a cloth and reused.

[0067] The main advantage of the invention is that containers may easily be connected securely to one another in a side-by-side configuration. In addition, if desired, the containers may be again released from one another and collapsed to form flat blanks enabling convenient storage of the containers when not required. Any number of containers may be connected together making the container suitable for applications on shelving, and especially for the storage of small items such as nuts and bolts in a workshop, or for the display of articles in shops. Due to the reinforcing panels, at the front and end of the containers, and the double wall sections between connected containers, the arrangement is particularly resilient and rigid.

[0068] It should be appreciated that the containers described in relation to the present invention may have more that two side panels and may accordingly be polygonal in shape. This enables the containers to be joined in side-by-side relationship to form circles. Accordingly, the phrase “opposed” in the claims should be understood in this manner, and not should not be interpreted to limit the containers to only two side walls, arranged in a substantially parallel configuration.

Claims

1. A modular container comprising:

a base panel, first and second opposed wall forming side panels, and at least one wall forming end panel extending between the side panels, thereby defining respective first and second common edges;

at least one end container connecting tab projecting from the end panel, or from the first side panel, at or adjacent the first common edge;

at least one container-locating aperture formed in the end panel at or adjacent the second common edge; and

a tab-locating aperture formed in the end panel at or adjacent the first common edge,

wherein the end container connecting tab of an erected container may selectively be engaged in the tab-locating aperture, or engaged In the end container-locating aperture of another container thereby to connect the containers together.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the base panel, the first and second wall forming side panels, and the wall forming end panel are formed from a foldable unitary blank of sheet material.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the, end container connecting tab is formed from the inner portion of the tab-locating aperture provided in the end panel, which is partially cut out, whereby the end container connecting tab is foldable at or about the first common edge to selectively be positioned either in or out of the tab-locating aperture.

4. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end panel is formed from at least two end panel portions, at least one end panel portion being provided on each of the first and second side panels.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the end panel portions are joined to each other by engageable complemental tab and aperture formations provided thereon.

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the end panel of an erected container is connected to the side panels at the respective common edges.

7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein end reinforcing panels are provided on the base panel.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the end reinforcing panels are formed of outer and inner panel portions which may be folded over the end panel, thereby enveloping the engaged tab and aperture formations.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the inner panel portion of the end reinforcing panel has a projecting tongue which is engageable within a complemental slot formed on the base panel.

10. A container according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the end container connecting tab is folded to locate in the tab-locating aperture, and is thereby enveloped by the reinforcing panels.

11. A container according to either claim 8 or 9, wherein the end container connecting tab is located in the end container-locating aperture of a second like container and thereby enveloped by the reinforcing panels of the second container.

12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

a wall forming front panel;

a front container connecting tab projecting from the first side panel, or from the front panel, at or adjacent the interface between the front panel and the first side panel;

a front tab aperture formed on the front panel at or adjacent the first side panel; and

a front container-locating aperture formed on the front panel at or adjacent the second side panel,

wherein the front container connecting tab of an erected container may selectively be engaged in the front tab aperture, or engaged in the front container-locating aperture of the second container.

13. A container according to claim 12 wherein the front panel is formed from at least two front panel portions, at least one front panel portion being provided on each of the first and second side panels.

14. A container according to either claim 12 or 13, wherein the front panel portions are joined to each other by engageable complemental tab and aperture formations provided thereon.

15. A container according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the side panels are connected to the upstanding edges of the front panels of an erected container.

16. A container according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein front reinforcing panels are provided on the base panel.

17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the front reinforcing panels are formed of outer and inner panel portions which may be folded over the front panel thereby enveloping the engaged tab and aperture formations.

18. A container according to claim 17, wherein the inner panel portion of the front reinforcing panel has a projecting tongue which is engageable within a complemental front slot formed on the base panel.

19. A container according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the front container connecting tab is engaged in the front tab aperture, and is thereby enveloped by the reinforcing panels.

20. A container according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the front container connecting tab is engaged in the front container-locating aperture of a second like container and is thereby enveloped by the reinforcing panels of the second container.

21. A container according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the front panel of the erected container is lower than the end panel.

22. A container according to claim 21, wherein the side panels are chamfered thereby providing accessibility and visibility into the container.

23. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein partitions are located within the container thereby forming compartments.

24. A container according to claim 23, wherein the partitions are secured within the container by co-operating tongue and slot formations provided on the partitions and on the wall forming panels of the container respectively.

25. A container according to either claim 23 or 24, wherein the partitions are cut from the waste sheet material surrounding the blank when the blank is itself cut from the sheet material.

26. A container according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the inner and outer panel portions of the end panels have a flap cut out of the panel to enable labels and the like to be inserted therein.

27. A container according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the inner and outer panel portions of the front panels have a flap cut out of the panel to enable labels and the like to be inserted therein.

28. A container according to claim 1, wherein the end panel is provided on one of the side panels and is connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to the other side panel.

29. A container according to claim 1, wherein the end panel is provided on the base panel and is connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to both side panels.

30. A container according to claim 12, wherein the front panel is provided on one of the side panels and is connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to the other side panel.

31. A container according to claim 12, wherein the front panel is provided on the base panel and is connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to both side panels.

32. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a top panel is provided.

33. A container according to claim 32, wherein the top panel is provided on the first and/or second side panel.

34. A container according to claim 32, wherein the top panel is formed from the inner panel portion of the end and/or front reinforcing panels.

35. A container according to any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein the top panel is operable to close the container.

36. A plurality of the containers of claims 1 to 35 connected in side-by-side relationship.

37. A unitary blank for a modular container, the blank being formed from a foldable sheet material and comprising:

a base panel;

a wall forming first side panel;

a wall forming second side panel;

a wall forming end panel having a container-locating aperture at or adjacent the second side panel, and a tab-locating aperture at or adjacent the first side panel; and

a container connecting tab projecting from the first side panel at or adjacent the front panel,

wherein the container connecting tab of a container erected from the blank may be selectively folded to engage within the tab-locating aperture, or to engage in the container-locating aperture of a second container, thereby to connect the containers together.

38. A blank according to claim 37, wherein the blank further comprises:

a wall forming front panel;

a front tab-locating aperture formed on the front panel at or adjacent the first side panel;

a front container connecting tab projecting from the first side panel at or adjacent the front panel; and

a front container-locating aperture formed on the front panel located adjacent to the second side panel,

wherein the front container connecting tab of an erected container may selectively be folded to engage in the front tab-locating aperture, or to engage in the front container-locating aperture of the second container.

39. A blank according to either claim 37 or 38, wherein the blank is formed from a corrugated polymeric sheet material.

40. A blank according to either claim 37 or 38, wherein the blank is formed from a foldable material selected from a group including card, cardboard and/or plastic.

41. A container substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

42. A blank substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.