MODULAR CARDBOARD CONTAINER FOR OBJECTS REQUIRING EASY INSPECTION, CONSISTING OF A STACKABLE INTERCHANGEABLE HOLLOW PART OR "TUNNEL" AND AND A PULL-OUT DRAWER

Abstract

A container made of bent cardboard and composed of a rectangular tunnel-shaped part in which a drawer is inserted, the drawer having longitudinal walls glued to their respective inner walls with a trapezoidal recess on the two shorter sides for fitting in complementary flaps present at the two sides of the front and rear inner walls of the drawer. The front wall of the drawer is greater than the span of the tunnel so preventing the drawer from penetrating beyond the rear opening of the tunnel, it being pulled out from the front due to the presence of two apertures making a finger-grip. The front wall forms part of a structure holding together the longitudinal walls of the drawer by two spacer flaps joined to the sides of the front inner wall, pressed against two windowed bands joined perpendicularly to their respective longitudinal walls of the drawer, and matching with the front wall on the inner side.

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention concerns the field of cardboard packaging and, more particularly, a modular cardboard container for goods, said container consisting of a stackable interchangeable hollow tunnel-shaped part from which a drawer may be pulled out. The invention may be applied to containers for holding any type of object compatible with cardboard, to be shown to a potential purchaser, said container then being returned to its place, after removal of the contents consequent upon a purchase, without upsetting the order of the other goods displayed. The invention is particularly applicable to the sale of footwear.

PRESENT STATE OF THE ART

A problem that arises during retail sales, made in small shops or large stores, is that of being able to make an effective display of the goods for sale while maintaining a certain degree of order when showing them to customers, whether or not followed by a sale. In the case of footwear, for example, the boxes need to be kept piled according to the model or size number. This order will be correctly established before opening hours, but shortly after will be interfered with during sales work. For the sales assistant this creates a difficulty in quickly noting which models have been sold and must therefore be replaced, and involves extra work by continually having to put piles of boxes back into their right order.

The kind of footwear boxes with lids at present used cannot solve the problem as, in order to take off the lid and see what is inside any one box, all those above it will have to be moved. If that particular model is then sold, the pile will have to be put in order again to fill up the space left free after the sale. The sales assistant will not immediately see which models have to be replaced and, the former order having been destroyed, will take some time to decide about replacements involving a check on missing sizes, ordering them from a warehouse and, when received, re-establishing their order for display. This process will have to be repeated every time a few sales have been made. What has been said above for footwear can clearly apply to the many kinds of articles needing the same type of handling.

On careful consideration of the needs to be fulfilled by such a cardboard container, for one thing it is evident that a certain degree of rigidity is required to withstand the weight of the pile; the container must be without a lid to avoid having to move those above when needing to take out its contents, and the structure of the pile must remain unaltered when the model inside any one box has been sold and the box remains empty.

The cardboard containers at present on the market do not appear to include anything of this kind; for example, those most like it include a box for “packing men's shirts”, or else “matchboxes” of a larger size than normal.

The first of these types consists of a cardboard box open at the top, its sides bent inwards to form a double wall for greater strength, there being along each edge a flap that, to hold the whole together, extends from the end of one inner wall towards the other thus occupying a complementary free area. The package is completed by a flexible transparent plastic cover of the same depth as the box. The double wall so formed undoubtedly renders the box sufficiently rigid to make a pile of boxes holding a light-weight article such as a shirt, but would not be strong enough for piles of boxes containing something heavier. Further, the presence of a lid creates the drawback described above and would continue to exist even if the lid were replaced by a hollow casing of the same flexible transparent material.

The matchbox comprises two parts: one being a hollow casing, or “tunnel”, the other being an open box containing matches that slides in and out of the casing so that matches can be taken from either end. But neither is this type of container suitable for the purpose as the cardboard would have to be very strong in order to support a pile of boxes containing heavier articles while, to pull a box out by pressing on one of the two visible faces, would require a space for access to the back of the pile making it impossible to stand it up against a wall for greater stability and for reducing the space occupied. Pulling the box out of its hollow casing by pressing on one of its sides would still be necessary even if such a casing were used, instead of a lid, to cover boxes of men's shirts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Purpose of the present invention is therefore to solve the above problem by means of a cardboard container, one part of which consists of a hollow casing, or “tunnel”, into which a second box-shaped part slides, said box-shaped part, here called a drawer, having a base joined to perpendicular sides folded over inwards to form an internal wall for greater strength, said drawer also including:

• • one or more finger-grip apertures cut in a front wall;
  • an external wall narrower than the front wall to which it is perpendicularly joined towards the inside of the drawer;
  • an internal front wall perpendicularly joined to said external wall;
  • a spacer wall perpendicularly joined to the internal front wall towards the front wall;
  • first and second windowed hemi-walls joined to the respective opposing longitudinal walls of the drawer in contact with the front wall inside said drawer;
  • a first pair of flaps perpendicularly joined to the internal front wall at the two sides of it, with their edges against the respective windowed hemi-walls, each flap being flush with said external wall and extending for a length shorter than that of said sides;
  • a second pair of flaps perpendicularly joined to the internal front wall at the two sides of it, towards the inside of the drawer, next to the flaps of the first pair, and in contact with the respective opposing longitudinal walls, within complementary seats made in the relative longitudinal inner walls, as described in claim 1.

The invention also concerns a method for producing a cardboard container possessing the characteristics stated in claim 1. This method follows the steps for impressing the required creases and making the cuts in the two sheets of cardboard, one sheet for the tunnel and the other for the drawer, for bending them at the creasing points and any other operations needed to complete the container.

Further characteristics of the present invention considered as innovative are described in the dependent claims.

The longitudinal internal walls are preferably glued to their respective side walls, and the joins between flaps and internal walls stabilise the front structure of the drawer preventing the longitudinal walls from diverging and causing it to open partially.

There are preferably two apertures in the front wall placed side by side at a convenient distance, so making it easy to insert two fingers and pull and drawer out. The lower side of each opening is rounded better to accommodate the fingers, and marked off above by a crease in the cardboard at a retroflexed flap of the same shape as the aperture.

Summing up what has been said of that end of the drawer described so far, the invention presents a frontage structure combining three functions:

• • the object in the drawer is isolated from the environment so that dust cannot enter;
  • the drawer is made more rigid while a base, broader than is usual in such cases, is supplied making it possible to form a pile of even heavier objects;
  • the drawer is extracted by pulling on it so avoiding any risk of its falling out of the tunnel at the other end; saving space and allowing for application of a handle to the drawer for picking it up complete and carrying it.

According to a further aspect of the invention, two pairs of matching triangular walls are included between the rear wall of the drawer and the internal wall associated to said rear wall, there being one pair on each side wherein, for each pair:

• • a first triangular wall is joined to the rear wall of the drawer in contact with said rear wall;
  • a second triangular wall is joined to the longitudinal wall on the same side of the drawer, perpendicular to said longitudinal wall;
  • these two triangular walls being joined by a crease, common to both inclined towards a meeting point of all the walls concerned.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the drawer includes a third pair of flaps joined to both sides of the wall at the rear end of the drawer, perpendicular to said wall and in contact with a respective longitudinal wall at a recess whose outline matches that of the flap so forming a join that stabilises the rear structure of the drawer.

As mentioned above, it is useful to have a handle connected to the rear wall to facilitate picking up the drawer. The handle may simply be a piece of cord the ends of which are fitted into the central holes cut in the wall and firmly fixed, the associated inner wall preventing entry of dust.

It will be clear from the above that the invention fully solves the technical problems described, in that an orderly pile of boxed goods can be created on the shelves (or even set up on the floor) allowing articles to be removed without altering the order of those remaining in the pile. The front openings enable the drawer to be pulled out leaving its tunnel in place; the fact that tunnels are interchangeable makes it possible to complete boxing with another tunnel, and finally, the handles at the back make it easier to pick up and carry the whole drawer.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further purposes and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of an example already realised and from the attached drawings provided for purely explanatory reasons and therefore implying no limitation, in which:

FIG. 1 gives a view, in perspective, of a cardboard “tunnel” as used in the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show front and rear views, in perspective, of a drawer as used in the present invention;

FIG. 4 gives a view, in perspective, of the tunnel in FIG. 1 with its drawer, as in FIG. 2, partially pulled out;

FIG. 5 shows a view, in perspective, of the tunnel in FIG. 1, where the drawer, as in FIG. 3, is completely closed inside;

FIG. 6 shows the piece of creased cardboard, as used to make the tunnel, when spread out flat;

FIG. 7 shows the carton in FIG. 6, in perspective, when partially bent;

FIG. 8 shows the cardboard, creased and cut to make the drawer, spread out flat;

FIGS. 9 to 12 show views, in perspective, of the drawer in its various stages of construction;

FIG. 11A shows the view in FIG. 4 cut through on plane A-A in FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 shows a frontal perspective view of a pile of shoe boxes each consisting of a tunnel and drawer, realised according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF REALISING THE INVENTION

In the following description the same parts that appear in different figures are marked with the same numbers; in describing any one figure reference may be made to parts not appearing in that figure but in previous ones.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cardboard structure 1 is bent to a hollow parallelepiped shape, consisting of five walls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, perpendicular to each other and joined, two by two, by parallel creases in the cardboard; of these, the wider walls 3 and 5 form two bases, walls 2 and 4 are narrower and used to form side walls, while part 6, the narrowest with an inwardly tapering edge, is a band glued to the inner face of side wall 2 to keep the structure 1 stable. The two bases 3, 5 and the band 6, are slightly longer than the side walls 2 and 4 by two or more thicknesses of cardboard. Access to the inside of structure 1 is made through its opposite open ends which explains why it will henceforth be referred to as a “tunnel”.

With reference to FIG. 2, this shows a second cardboard structure 7 bent into a parallelepiped and consisting of a base 8 from which two longer side walls, 9 and 10 stand up perpendicularly on opposite sides, and two shorter walls 11 and 12 on the remaining opposite sides. This structure 7 is open at the top and for this reason will henceforth be referred to as a “drawer”. Walls 9, 10, 11 and 12 are joined to the base 8 by creases in the cardboard; walls 11 and 12 are perpendicular to walls 9 and 10 to which they are joined each by its respective connecting structure, 13, 14, of which a full description is given further on.

The length of drawer 7 is about equal to that of the tunnel 1, the width of drawer 7 being such that it easily enters the tunnel 1, remaining in contact with walls 2, 4 (and 6) while doing so.

Wall 11 of the drawer 7 is slightly longer than the external width of tunnel 1; pressing against the edge of tunnel 1, said wall 11 is prevented from sliding out beyond said tunnel's open end. Approximately in the centre of wall 11 are two apertures, 15 and 16, placed horizontally and serving to pull the drawer 7 out from the tunnel 1; for this reason wall 11 is described as being at the “front”.

FIG. 3 shows the “rear” side of the drawer 7; the presence of a handle 17 on the wall 12 will be noted. In this particular case, handle 17 consists of a cord the ends of which penetrate inside two holes, 18 and 19, in the wall 12, where, on the other side, they fit into rigid tubes to stop them sliding out.

FIG. 4 shows the drawer 7 partially inside the tunnel 1; it will be seen here that the front wall 11 of drawer 7 extends at the sides for two short lengths, or shoulders, 11a and 11b, beyond the side walls 9 and 10, said lengths 11a and 11b being greater than, or equal to, the thickness of the cardboard used to make the tunnel 1. The drawer 7 can be pulled out by the two front apertures, 15 and 16, suitably rounded to favour a finger grip. FIG. 5 shows the drawer 7 from the rear end when completely inside the tunnel 1. When in this position, the whole can be lifted by the handle 17 without the tunnel 1 sliding downwards due to opposition from shoulders 11a and 11b of drawer 7 in contact with the edge of tunnel 1.

FIG. 6 shows a sheet of cardboard, 1CART, cut and creased, laid out flat, providing the basic material for making the tunnel 1. Parallel creases 2a, 3a, 4a, and 5a have been made in the 1CART cardboard, these lying crosswise to the length of the piece and to be used to form the walls of tunnel 1. The pairs of creases 2a-3a and 4a-5a respectively mark off the two bases 3 and 5. The pair of creases 3a-4a mark off the side wall 4. The other side wall 2 is marked off by crease 2a and by a shorter strip of the 1CART cardboard. The band 6 to be glued is marked off by crease 5a and by the other shorter strip of the 1CART cardboard. The figure shows the greater length of bases 3 and 5 compared with lateral walls 2 and 4 on both sides for a length equal to, or greater than, the thickness of the cardboard. FIG. 7 shows the sheet of 1CART cardboard bent round the creases referred to above to form the tunnel 1, shown when not completely closed in order to emphasise the band 6 to be glued onto the corresponding strip of the internal wall 2.

FIG. 8 shows a second sheet of 7CART cardboard, cut and creased and laid out flat to be used for making the drawer 7. The series of creases is somewhat complex as this sheet includes the two connecting structures 13 and 14 (FIG. 2) respectively placed at the front and rear ends of the drawer. The structure of cuts and creases of sheet 7CART is symmetrical in relation to a centre line but is less symmetrical along the transversal axis because of the difference between the two connecting structures 13 and 14. Departing longitudinally from left to right a series of bands 45, 44, 42, 11, 8, 12, 20 may be distinguished, placed side by side and marked off by their respective crosswise creases 43, 41, 40, 33, 32, 21. To state it more precisely, the terminal band 45 lies between the left-hand edge of the cardboard and the crease 43; band 44 lies between creases 43 and 41; band 42 lies between creases 41 and 40; band 11 lies between creases 40 and 33; band 8 lies between creases 33 and 32; band 12 lies between creases 32 and 21, while the terminal band 20 lies between crease 21 and the right-hand edge of the cardboard. The central band 8 is longer than the others and forms the base of the drawer; the lengths of bands 44, 11, 12 and 20 are practically the same; bands 45 and 42 are practically of the same length but are much shorter than band 44. Creases 33 and 32 are longer than creases 43, 41, 40 and 21 which completes the planimetry of the connecting structure 13 and 14.

The 7CART sheet also shows the arrangement of longitudinal creasing to define bands of perpendicular creasing with respect to those already mentioned. Specifically, a first crease 35 at one longer side of band 8 marks off this latter from a band 9 adjoining band 8 and, on the opposite side, adjoining a second band 38 by means of a crease 34. Similarly, a second crease 36, at the opposite side of band 8, marks this latter off from a band 10 adjoining a second band 39 by means of a crease 37. Bands 9 and 10 each contain a strip, 9a and 10a, prepared for gluing respectively to creases 35 and 37.

The profiles of the two opposing terminal bands 38 and 39 are partially recessed on their opposite free sides. To put this more precisely, in the dual description, on its side towards the terminal band 20, the profile of band 38 (39) presents a short oblique length 38b (39b) that departs from the end of the band and joins a length 38a (39a) perpendicular to the external edge of said band. On its side facing terminal band 45, the profile of band 38 (39) presents a short practically central oblique length 38d (39d) joined by one end to a length 38c (39c) that perpendicularly joins the crease 34 and, at the opposite end, a length 38e (39e) that perpendicularly joins the external ends of the band.

Present on one side of crease 32, and on the same side in relation to the centre line, is a connecting part 26 (30) comprised between a crosswise crease 25 (29), on the side of band 9 (10), and a longitudinal crease 24 (28) at the side of band 12. The profile of connecting part 26 (30) is a rectangular pseudo-trapezoid, its upper base and oblique side being slightly inclined inwards and towards the rounded edge, point of departure of a diagonal crease 27 (31).

The terminal band 20 presents two rectangular trapezoidal-shaped lateral flaps, 22 and 23, their greater bases being on the respective longitudinal creases 22a and 23a at the sides of band 20, their oblique sides, respectively 22b and 23b, being on the side of crease 21. The width at the greater base, respectively 22c and 23c, is much narrower than that of the band 20. The rectangular trapezoidal shape matches with that of the corresponding lateral profile of bands 38 and 39.

On the same side as that of crease 33 and on the same side in relation to the centre line, the dual description makes reference to a band 52 (53) adjoining band 9 (10), by means of the crease 33, separated from band 11 by a longitudinal cut 51t (50t) that enables it to pivot round said crease 33. In band 52 (53) is a rectangular window 54 (55) open on the free side parallel to crease 33. The cut 51t (50t) extends beyond the line of crease 35 by at least the thickness of the cardboard, creating extra width 11b (11a) on band 11 in relation to band 8. Altogether, this extra width is at least twice the thickness of the cardboard.

Band 11 presents two curved cuts, 15t and 16t, separated from each other in a crosswise direction, the semicircular end being joined to two short rectilinear parallel lengths respectively by a crease, 15b and 16b, around which the residual cardboard flaps, respectively 15a and 16a, can pivot. The distance between creases 15b (16b) and 40 is at least equal to that between the external continuous edge of band 52 (53) and the side of window 54 (55). The length of said window 54 (55) is greater than that of the apertures 15a (16a).

Band 44 presents two lateral flaps, indicated by arrows 48 and 49. These two flaps extend beyond the width of band 44 (ideally comprised between creases 35 and 36) departing from their respective creases 46 and 47 at the sides of said band 44. In the dual description, the width of flap 48 (49) is practically the same as that of terminal band 45, and is about half (or only a very little less) than the width between the straight edges, 39c and 39e (38c and 38e), of band 38 (39). Flap 48 (49) is crossed by an approximately central oblique cut, 48t (49t), so being divided into two adjoining rectangular trapezoidal flaps, 48a and 48b (49a and 49b). The angle of inclination of this cut 48t (49t) is of an absolute value equal to that of the oblique length 39d (38d). Length of the external edge of flap 48b (49b) is about the same as that of length 39e (38e).

The 7CART piece of cardboard is then bent as shown in the following figures, wherein FIG. 9 shows the first operation that consists of turning the two bands 38 and 39 up against bands 9 and 10 respectively and gluing the parts 9a and 10a prepared for this purpose. FIG. 10 shows the how the drawer appears after turning lateral walls 9 and 10 inward by 90° around creases 35 and 36, gluing them to their respective inner walls 38 and 39 so providing extra lateral strength. At this stage the two connecting parts 26 and 30 are also pulled inward by turning the respective walls to which they are joined. It will be noted that, at the end of the drawer being formed, the two windowed bands, 52 and 53, are drawn towards the inside of walls 9 and 10 to which they are joined, and are also turned a further 90° inwards round crease 33 common to both, thereby creating a window of double length on the front of the drawer. The figure also shows that band 11, with everything connected to it, begins to turn inwards around crease 33. Simultaneously with this turning movement, band 44 together with the narrower band 42, starts to make a further inward turn around crease 40 causing the lateral flaps to become separated from each other.

FIG. 11 repeats in greater detail what has been said above about the complex way the cardboard has to be bent at the front end of the drawer. From this figure it will be seen that the two windowed bands, 52 and 53, pivot around the short sides of lateral walls 9 and 10. On completing their turn, windows 54 and 55 become one single window facing onto openings 15 and 16 in the front wall 11 due to the crossing movement made by flaps 15a and 16a. Note should be also taken of the configuration produced by the reciprocal positions assumed by flaps 48a and 48b, 49a and 49b. Flaps 48b and 49b, nearer to terminal band 45, make a 90° turn outwards round their respective creases 47 and 46, while the other flaps, 48a and 49a, nearer to band 42, make a 90° turn inwards; this means that the flaps departing from one and the same lateral crease of band 44, reciprocally rotate at 180° in relation to their respective creases, occupying a double width on the plane containing them. The seat to be occupied by flap 48b is seen foreshortened on the side wall 10, as marked off by lateral edge 39e, 39d and 39c of the inner wall 39, centrally inclined towards the base 8.

FIG. 11A shows a section view of how the structure in the preceding figure looks when bending has been completed. It will be seen from this Figure that, starting from the incomplete structure with the two windowed bands, 52 and 53, lying sideways to their respective side walls 9 and 10, a strong frontal structure can be obtained by the following sequence of bending operations:

• • bending band 11 at 90° in relation to the base 8 so forming a front wall of the drawer 7 matching with the two windowed bands 52, 53;
  • rotation at 90° of the two flaps 48a, 49a towards the inside of drawer 7, and rotation at 90° of the two flaps 48b and 49b in the opposite direction;
  • introduction of band 44 and related flaps (bent as above) into the space inside the drawer, marked off by inner longitudinal walls 38, 39 and by the pair of windowed bands 52 and 54 crosswise to said walls, movements that automatically cause inward bending of intermediate band 42 joining the front wall 11 to band 44, to form an inner wall inside the drawer 7;
  • rotation of terminal band 45 towards the front wall 11 and its insertion beneath the two windowed bands 52 and 53, with the edge in contact with wall 11. This movement is made jointly with insertion of the two flaps 48b and 49b into their respective complementary seats in the longitudinal inner walls 39 and 38;
  • inward rotation of flaps 15a and 16a around creases 15b and 16b by fitting two fingers into apertures 15 and 16 when the drawer is first pulled out from its tunnel.

The bending movements described in relation to FIGS. 11 and 11A can be made independently of those for the rear of the drawer. The strengthening structure on the front of the drawer, seen in FIG. 11A, comprises:

• • a front wall 11 with apertures cut in it, joined to the base 8 of the drawer 7 and perpendicular to said base;
  • an external wall 42, narrower than the preceding one, perpendicularly joined to the front wall 11 inside the drawer 7;
  • an internal wall 44 joined perpendicularly to the external wall 42;
  • a spacer wall 45 perpendicularly joined to the internal wall 44 towards the front wall 11;
  • first and second windowed walls, 52 and 53, joined to their respective lateral walls 9 and 10 of drawer 7, in contact with the inside of the front wall 11 of the drawer 7;
  • a first pair of spacer flaps, 48a and 49a, perpendicularly joined to the two sides of the internal wall 44, with the edge against their respective windowed walls, 52 and 53, departing from the external wall 42 and extending for a length shorter than said sides;
  • a second pair of spacer flaps 48b and 49b next to the spacer flaps of the first pair perpendicular to the inner wall 44 towards the inside of the drawer 7, in contact with their respective opposing side walls, 9 and 10, in complementary seats made in the inner walls 38 and 39.

FIG. 11A shows a compact structure internally strengthened by the position of the flaps 48a and 49a whose edges press against the windowed walls 53 and 52, which in turn press against the front wall 11. The lower band 45 doubles the thickness of the base of the drawer in that area and, fitting in below the windowed bands 52 and 53, keeps the structure's internal space completely isolated from the inside of the drawer 7, thus preventing dust from entering. The join made by flaps 48b and 49b in the rectangular trapezoidal seats of the inner longitudinal walls 39 and 38, hinders any possibility of the wall 44 turning towards said flaps, which would weaken the structure at the front of the drawer, thus helping to keep the side walls 9 and 10 anchored to the front wall 11. Frontal rigidity is also increased by flaps 16a and 16b when these are fully pressed inwards.

FIG. 12 gives an illustration of how the cardboard is bent to form the rear of the drawer 7 starting from the ideal configuration in FIG. 10. In actual fact this configuration cannot be realized on account of elasticity of the diagonal creases 27 and 31 that tend to fold up the triangular bands that meet there, as shown by FIG. 12. The rear structure of the drawer 7 can be completed by a continuous turn of the terminal wall 20 towards the inside of the drawer 7 till flaps 22 and 23 are fully fitted into their respective complementary seats on the sides of the inner walls 38 and 39. Application of slight pressure to band 12 assists the manoeuvre. The triangular parts close at the same time as band 12 rises, closure being completed when said band becomes perpendicular to the base 8; further pressure against the terminal band 20 causes it to turn around the crease 21 till is makes contact with parts 26 and 30. Simultaneously with rotation of band 20, the two flaps 22 and 23 become bent inwards at 90° by pressure against them from the side walls 9 and 10 of the drawer 7. Flaps 22 and 23 become fully bent back at 90° when band 20 enters in contact with parts 26 and 30, at which point flaps 22 and 23 are already fitted into their seats. The resulting join keeps the structure well pressed between the rear wall 12 and the inner wall 20 thus keeping the side walls 9 and 10 of the drawer 7 up against the rear wall 20. Due to the presence of as many as four thicknesses of cardboard reciprocally in contact, this structure maintains a sufficiently rigid rear end of the drawer.

The final configuration of the join may be seen in FIG. 2 which is achieved by completing bending work as in FIG. 12, with the rectilinear section 23c (22c) of the flap 23 (22) in contact with the rectilinear edge 39a (38a) of the inner wall 38 (39), and the oblique section 23b (22b) in contact with the oblique edge 39c (38c). FIG. 12 also shows two rigid tubes 17a and 17b that keep the ends of the cord 17, serving as a handle, firmly in place.

From the description given of a preferred realization of the invention, it is clear that a number of changes can be made to it by an expert in the field without thereby departing from the sphere of the invention as will appear from the following claims.

FIG. 13 shows three piles of drawers, inside their tunnels, all containing footwear arranged according to the model—MOD1, MOD2, MOD3—and, within each pile, according to foot size that increases from the bottom upwards. It will be seen that some sizes are missing having already been sold but the tunnel holding that drawer remains in place thus maintaining the initial order of the pile. One drawer has been partly pulled out to show the contents. The figure illustrates a particularly unfavourable situation due to the presence of an empty space right at the bottom of the pile: in that case the tunnel must sustain the weight of the entire pile without adequate reinforcement, but for this situation the present invention offers a solution: all that is needed is to fit in some drawer of a colour different from the others.

Claims

1. Cardboard container composed of a first part shaped like a tunnel (1) within which slides a second part shaped like a drawer (7), said drawer having a base (8) joined to walls (9, 10, 11, 12) perpendicular to the base, said walls being bent over inwards along longitudinal creases (34, 37, 40, 41, 21) to form internal walls (38, 39, 20, 44) for strengthening the drawer from the inside, characterized in that the drawer also includes the following:

one or more finger-grip apertures (15, 16) cut in a front wall (11);

an external wall (42) narrower than the front wall to which it is perpendicularly joined towards the inside of the drawer (7);

an internal front wall (44) perpendicularly joined to said external wall (42);

a spacer wall (45) perpendicularly joined to the internal front wall (44) towards the front wall (11);

first and second windowed hemi-walls (52, 53) joined to the respective opposing longitudinal walls (9, 10) of the drawer (7) in contact with the front wall (11) inside said drawer (7);

a first pair of flaps (48a, 49a) perpendicularly joined to the internal front wall (44) at the two sides of it, with their edges against the respective windowed hemi-walls (52, 53), each flap being flush with said external wall (42) and extending for a length shorter than that of said sides;

a second pair of flaps (48b, 49b) perpendicularly joined to the internal front wall (44) at the two sides of it, towards the inside of the drawer (7), next to the flaps of the first pair, and in contact with the respective opposing longitudinal walls (9, 10), within complementary seats made in the relative longitudinal inner walls (38, 39).

2. The container as in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal inner walls (38, 39) are glued to the respective longitudinal walls (9, 10).

3. The container as in claim 1, wherein said complementary seats are recesses on the side of the respective longitudinal inner walls (38, 39) their profile (38c, 38d, 38e; 39c, 39d, 39e) matching with the profile of the flap (49b, 48b).

4. The container as in claim 3, wherein said matching profile is that of a rectangular trapezium.

5. The container as in claim 1, wherein the perforated finger-grips (15, 16) consist of two suitably spaced apertures placed side by side, facing onto the windows (54, 55) in the hemi-walls (52, 53) in contact, so facilitating a pull on the drawer by insertion of two fingers.

6. The container as in claim 5, wherein each aperture (15, 16) is rounded at one end to suit the shape of the fingers and, at the other end (15b, 16b) is joined to a retroflexed flap (15a, 16a) of the same shape as the aperture.

7. The container as in claim 1, wherein the drawer (7) also includes two pairs of matching triangular walls placed between a rear wall (12) of the drawer (7) and the rear inner wall (20) associated to it, one pair for each side, where, for each pair:

a first triangular wall is joined (24, 28) to the rear wall (12) of the drawer (7) in contact with said rear wall;

a second triangular wall is perpendicularly joined (25, 29) to the longitudinal wall (38, 39) on the same side of the drawer;

the two triangular walls are joined by a crease (27, 31), common to both inclined towards a meeting point of all the walls concerned.

8. The container as in claim 7, wherein the drawer (7) also includes a third pair of flaps (22, 23) perpendicularly joined to the rear inner wall 12 of the drawer (7) at the two sides, and in contact with a respective longitudinal wall (9, 10) by means of a recess on the side of the associated inner longitudinal wall (38, 39) whose profile matches with that of the flap so forming a join that stabilises the rear structure of the drawer (7).

9. The container as in claim 8, wherein said matching profile is that of a rectangular trapezium.

10. The container as in claim 1 wherein the drawer (7) includes a handle (17) joined to the rear wall (12) and used to raise said drawer (1, 7).

11. The container as in claim 2, wherein said complementary seats are recesses on the side of the respective longitudinal inner walls (38, 39) their profile (38c, 38d, 38e; 39c, 39d, 39e) matching with the profile of the flap (49b, 48b).