PLASTIC FOLDABLE STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract

The plastic foldable storage device is made from hollow and comb-shaped plastic plates, and includes a rectangular base plate, two first side plates extended respectively from two shorter edges of the base plate, and two second side plates extended respectively from two longer edges of the base plate. The first and second side plates are edge-to-edge joined by joining strips. Each first side plate has two folding lines along its inner surface. The first and second side plates, through the joining strips and the folding lines, are selectively folded into a level positon resting on the base plate or unfolded into an upright position to form a storage space with the base plate. The plastic foldable storage device therefore provides convenient use and storage, while offering additional advantages such as repeated usage, moisture proof, and robustness.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(A) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to storage devices, and more particular to a foldable plastic storage device.

(B) Description of the Prior Art

The delivery of commodities is of major concern to commodity manufacturers. Before the commodities are shipped out, their packages have to ready in advance and, as such, may take up significant storage space. Conventionally, commodities are packaged using paper-based boxes or containers as they are light-weighted, and may be collapsed for easy storages. However, these paper-based storage devices are susceptible to moisture, bugs, and impact. Usually some special treatment has to be conducted so that the paper-based storage devices are better moisture and impact proof and the stored community may be reliably protected, especially for delicate electronic products or cosmetics, which inevitably increases their cost. Furthermore, the paper-based storage device, once used, is difficult to be used again. This lack of reusability not only increases cost but also is not environmentally friendly. Therefore, there are plastic storage devices that may be put to repeated use. However, these plastic storage devices usually are not collapsible and take up a significant space for their storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To obviate the above-described shortcomings, a plastic foldable storage device is disclosed. The plastic foldable storage device is made from hollow and comb-shaped plastic plates, and includes a rectangular base plate, two first side plates extended respectively from two shorter edges of the base plate, and two second side plates extended respectively from two longer edges of the base plate. The first and second side plates are edge-to-edge joined by joining strips. Each first side plate has two folding lines along its inner surface extending obliquely from a lower corner to an upper edge of the first side plate. Each second side plate has two notches respectively at two upper corners of the second side plate for conveniently and selectively flipping or folding the side plates into an upright position to form a storage space with the base plate, or into a level positon resting on the base plate. The plastic foldable storage device therefore provides convenient use and storage, while offering additional advantages such as repeated usage, moisture proof, and robustness.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a foldable plastic storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram showing the foldable plastic storage device of FIG. 1 when it is collapsed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing a number of the foldable plastic storage devices of FIG. 1 stacked after they are collapsed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a foldable plastic storage device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is made from plastic, comb-shaped plates. The foldable plastic storage device 10 includes a rectangular base plate 11, a pair of first side plates 14 extended respectively from two shorter edges of the base plate 11, and a pair of second side plates 16 extended respectively from two longer edges of the base plate 11. The base plate 11 and the first and second side plates 14 and 16 are integrally formed with pre-configured first folding lines 12 between the base plate 11 and the first and second side plates 14 and 16. The first and second side plates 14 and 16 are folded into an upright position to form a hollow and top-opening storage space. Two thin connection pieces 141 are respectively extended from the lateral sides of the first side plates 14. The first and second side plates 14 and 16 are then edge-to-edge joined by high-frequency welding or hot pressing the connection pieces 141 to form joining strips 13 in-between. Each first side plate 14 has two second folding lines 15 along its inner surface, each obliquely extending from a lower corner to an upper edge of the first side plate 14. As such, the two upper corners of the first side plates 14 may be folded inward towards the base plate 11. As such, the first and second side plates 14 and 16 may turn from their upright position into a level positon resting on the base plate 11. Each second side plate 16 has two notches 17 respectively at its two upper corners immediately adjacent to the first side plates 14. The notches 17 allows automatic assembly where the second side plates 16 may be lifted by their notches 17 from their level position and, along with the first side plates 15, into the upright position. As described above, when the foldable plastic storage device 10 is not in use, the first side plates 14, along with the second side plates 16, may be collapsed and lie flat on the base plate 11. As the foldable plastic storage device 10 is collapsed into a flat object, it has a much reduced dimension and may be stacked for convenient storage. A cap device (not shown) may be structured similarly whose side plates are of a lower height. The opening top of the plastic foldable storage device 10 then can be sealed by the cap device. The plastic plates provide effective and moisture proof, and anti-deformation. Their smooth surface is also convenient for adhering and peeling off labels.

The gist of the present invention lies in the use of plastic, comb-shaped plates, the thin joining strips 13 for connecting the side plates, and the symmetrical folding lines 15 on the shorter first side plates 14. As such, the longer second side plates 16, through the joining strips 13 and the folding lines 15, may be folded onto the base plate 11, significantly reducing the dimension of the plastic storage device 10 similar to that of paper-based storage devices. The notches 17 of the second side plates 16 adjacent to the first side plates 14 facilitate the unfolding of the plastic foldable storage device 10 and its packaging commodities.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A plastic foldable storage device, comprising:

a rectangular base plate;

two first side plates extended respectively from two shorter edges of the base plate; and

two second side plates extended respectively from two longer edges of the base plate;

wherein the first and second side plates are edge-to-edge joined together by joining strips;

each first side plate has two folding lines along its inner surface; and

the first and second side plates, through the joining strips and the folding lines, are selectively folded into a level positon resting on the base plate or unfolded into an upright position to form a storage space with the base plate.

2. The plastic foldable storage device according to claim 1, wherein each second side plate has two notches respectively at two upper corners of the second side plate.

3. The plastic foldable storage device according to claim 1, wherein each folding line extends obliquely from a lower corner to an upper edge of the first side plate.

4. The plastic foldable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the joining strips are formed from two thin connection pieces respectively extended from lateral sides of each first side plate.