Container openable and closable in different ways

Abstract

A container includes a first and a second hollow case forming two halves of the container and defining at one side with an opening each, and a plurality of connecting strips having different designs, words, and/or numerals provided on both sides thereof. At least two of the connecting strips are extended along an outer wall surface of the first case with two ends of the strips separately connected to front and rear edges of the openings of the first and second cases, respectively, and at least a third one of the connecting strips is extended along an outer wall surface of the second case with two ends of the strip separately connected to front and rear edges of the openings of the second and first cases, respectively, so that the two cases could be opened and closed from different directions, and the connecting strips could be turned inside out.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container openable and closable in different ways, and more particularly to a container openable and closable in different ways and therefore very suitable for use as stationery case, name card case, spectacles case, cosmetic case, gift box, purse, or other types of packaging boxes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional container typically includes a U-sectioned receiving box and an inverted U-sectioned cover. The cover may be directly put on an open top of the box to vertically open or close the box, or pivotally connected to an upper rear edge of the box so as to be turned open from or closed on to the box. In either type, the container is widely employed to hold and store different things and items, and may appear in the form of packaging box, gift box, stationery case, spectacles case, cosmetic case, purse, etc.

Since the conventional container has box and cover that could be assembled only in the above-described manners, it is not easy to change the container's appearance once its outer surfaces are printed, sprayed, or labeled with any decorating or advertising designs, words, or numerals. Therefore, the conventional container has monotonous appearance and fails to frequently attract consumers. Moreover, the conventional container having a pivotally connected cover usually has an open side suitable for a right-hander, and is therefore not so convenient for use by a left-hander.

It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a container that could be opened or closed in different ways and is therefore more convenient for use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a container openable and closable indifferent ways, which can be more conveniently operated to open or close, and allows changes in decorations and advertisements provided on its outer surfaces to create different visual effects.

To achieve the above and other objects, the container openable and closable in different ways according to the present invention includes a first and a second case, and a plurality of connecting strips having different designs, words, and/or numerals provided on both sides thereof. The first and second cases are in the form of open-side hollow cases forming two halves of the container and defining at an open side with an opening each. At least two of the connecting strips are connected at an end to a front edge of the opening of the first case, and then extended along an outer wall surface of the first case to connect the other opposite end to a rear edge of the opening of the second case, and at least a third one of the connecting strips is connected at an end to a front edge of the opening of the second case, and then extended along an outer wall surface of the second case to connect the other opposite end to a rear edge of the opening of the first case, so that the connecting strips function like movable connecting elements between the first and second cases, allowing the two cases to be opened and closed from different directions. And, whenever the first and the second case are turned to open or close from a different direction, the connecting strips are also turned inside out to show different designs thereof and give the container a different appearance.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an attractive structure is provided at each of the front and rear edges of the openings of the first and second cases to prevent the first and second cases in a closed state from being easily opened. In an embodiment of the present invention, the attractive structure includes a magnet provided at each of the front and rear edges of the openings of the first and second cases. In another embodiment of the present invention, the attractive structure includes magnets provided at the front and rear edges of the opening of the first case and iron plates provided at the front and rear edges of the opening of the second cases. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the attractive structure includes magnets provided at the front and rear edges of the opening of the first or the second case, while the other case is made of a steel material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container openable and closable in different ways according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing two cases of the container of FIG. 2 are to be opened from front edges thereof;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are fragmentary and enlarged views of

FIG. 3 showing front and rear edges of the two cases of the container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the two cases of the container of FIG. 2 have been opened from the front edges thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 9 are cross-sectional views showing the two cases of the container of FIG. 2 are further turned open in the same direction;

FIGS. 8 and 10 are perspective views corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 9, respectively;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the two cases of the container of FIG. 2 have been turned one full circle and could be opened from the rear edges thereof; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 that are exploded and assembled perspective views, respectively, of a container openable and closable in different ways according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For the purpose of concision, the present invention is also briefly referred to as “the container” throughout the specification. As shown, the container of the present invention mainly includes a first case 1, a second case 2, and a plurality of connecting strips 3, 3′.

The first case 1 and the second case 2 are open-side hollow cases forming two halves of the container of the present invention and defining at an open side with an opening 11, 21 each. Each of the openings 11, 21 has a front edge 111, 211 and a rear edge 112, 212, such that the first and the second case 1, 2 could be closed to each other at the openings 11, 21 to form a complete container. The first and the second case 1, 2 may be of any cross-sectional shape, such as semicircular, rectangular, polygonal, or any other regular or irregular geometrical shapes. Moreover, the first and the second case 1, 2 may be provided on respective outer wall surfaces 12, 22 with different designs, words, and/or numerals.

The connecting strips 3, 3′ are narrow long strips with different designs, words, numerals, and/or any combination thereof provided on two sides thereof, and can therefore show different visual effects.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, at least two connecting strips 3 and at least one connecting strip 3′ are employed. Each of the connecting strips 3 is connected at an end to the front edge 111 of the opening 11 of the first case 1, and then extended along the outer wall surface 12 of the first case 1 to connect the other opposite end to the rear edge 212 of the opening 21 of the second case 2. The connecting strip 3′ is connected at an end to the front edge 211 of the opening 21 of the second case 2, and then extended along the outer wall surface 22 of the second case 2 to connect the other opposite end to the rear edge 112 of the opening 11 of the first case 1. In this manner, the connecting strips 3 and 3′ function like movable connecting elements between the first and the second case 1, 2 to allow the two cases 1, 2 to turn open or close from different directions.

Please refer to FIGS. 3, 3A, and 3B. Attractive structures 13, 23 are respectively provided in front and rear edges 111, 211 and 112, 212 of the openings 11, 21 of the first and second cases 1, 2, so that the first and second cases 1, 2 in a fitly closed state mutually attract each other without the risk of being arbitrarily opened. In an embodiment of the present invention, the attractive structures 13, 23 include magnets 131, 231 respectively provided at free ends of the front edges 111, 211 and the rear edges 112, 212 of the openings 11, 21 of the first and the second case 1, 2. The magnets 131 and 231 respectively provided at front and rear edges of each opening 11, 21 have different polarities, and the magnets 131, 231 respectively provided at the front edges 111, 211 and the rear edges 112, 212 of the two openings 11, 21 have different polarities, too, so that the first and the second case 1, 2 magnetically attract each other to firmly close together. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, the attractive structures 13, 23 respectively include at least one magnet provided on the first case 1 at the same location as that in the above-mentioned embodiment, and an iron plate (not shown) provided on the second case 2 at a location corresponding to the magnet on the first case 1, so that the first and the second case 1, 2 magnetically attract each other to firmly close together. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the attractive structures 13, 23 respectively include at least one magnet provided on the first case 1 at the same location as that in the above-mentioned embodiments, and the second case 2 is made of a steel material, so that the first and the second case 1, 2 magnetically attract each other to firmly close together.

The container of the present invention may appear in many different forms for different usages, such as a stationery case, a name card case, a spectacles case, a cosmetic case, a gift box, a purse, or other types of packaging boxes. When the first and second cases 1, 2 of the container of the present invention are closed to each other as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connecting strips 3, 3′ are fitly extended along and attached to the outer wall surfaces 12, 22 of the two cases 1, 2 to show the designs, words, and/or numerals provided on one side of the connecting strips 3, 3′. And, when a user wants to put something in the container, the first and the second case 1, 2 could be freely opened from the front edges 111, 211, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

When it is desired to change a direction from which the container is opened or to change an appearance of the container, the user may first open the first and the second case 1, 2 in the above-described manner, and then keeps turning the cases 1, 2 relative to each other, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10. When the two cases 1, 2 have been turned one full circle relative to each other to close together again, as shown FIGS. 11 and 12, the rear edges 112, 212 of the openings 11, 21 are moved into a position for opening the first and the second case 1, 2 conveniently. Meanwhile, the connecting strips 3, 3′ extended along and attached to outer wall surfaces 12, 22 of the first and second cases 1, 2 are also turned inside out to show the designs, words, and/or numerals provided on the other side thereof and create a different appearance and visual effect for the container of the present invention.

With the above arrangements, the container of the present invention includes two cases 1, 2 that could be turned relative to each other to change the position from where the container is opened. In other words, the container of the present invention could be opened from front or rear edges 111, 211 or 112, 212 of the openings 11, 21 of the two cases 1, 2 to adapt to right-hander and left-hander at the same time, and is therefore more convenient for use. Moreover, since it is possible to show designs, words, and/or numerals on another side of the connecting strips 3, 3′ when the two cases 1, 2 are turned to change the open direction of the container, the container of the present invention is particularly suitable for use as a packaging container to provide enhanced advertising effects.

Claims

1. A container openable and closable in different ways, comprising:

a first case and a second case in the form of open-side hollow cases forming two halves of said container and defining at an open side with an opening each, and each of said opening having a front and a rear edge; and

a plurality of connecting strips; at least two of said connecting strips being connected at an end to said front edge of said opening of said first case, and then extended along an outer wall surface of said first case to connect the other opposite end to said rear edge of said opening of said second case; and at least one of said connecting strips being connected at an end to said front edge of said opening of said second case, and then extended along an outer wall surface of said second case to connect the other opposite end to said rear edge of said opening of said first case; whereby said connecting strips function like movable connecting elements between said first and said second case for said first and second cases to freely turn relative to each other, and allow said first and second case to be opened from different directions.

2. The container openable and closable in different ways as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first case and said second case are provided on said outer wall surfaces with designs, words, numerals, and/or any combination thereof.

3. The container openable and closable in different ways as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting strips are provided on two sides with different designs, words, numerals, and/or any combination thereof.

4. The container openable and closable in different ways as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front edges and said rear edges of said openings of said first and second cases are provided with an attractive structure each for said first and said second case in a closed state to attract each other without the risk of being arbitrarily opened.

5. The container openable and closable in different ways as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said attractive structures includes at least one magnet provided at a free end of each of said front and rear edges of said openings of said first and second cases.