Inserts for an Assortment Box

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (1), such as an assortment box, comprising a storage assembly, wherein said storage assembly is for storing contents inside said container (1), said storage assembly comprising at least one storage unit (17) and a reception layer (16), wherein said at least one storage unit (17) is adapted to be connected to said reception layer (16) in a releasable manner by use of a first connection means.

Claims

1. A container (1), such as an assortment box, comprising a storage assembly, wherein said storage assembly is for storing contents inside said container (1), where said storage assembly comprises at least one storage unit (17) and a reception layer (16) fixated inside said container, wherein said at least one storage unit (17) is adapted to be connected to said reception layer (16) in a releasable manner by use of a first connection means, characterised in that said reception layer (16) is fixated with an inner part of the container (1) in a releasable manner by use of a second connection means, where said first connection means comprises at least one releasable snap engagement and at least one protruding part (22,22,22,22) and one recess part (21), and where a tap (24,24) of the at least one releasable snap engagement and said at least one protruding part (22,22,22,22) are arranged on and protruding from a lower surface of the storage unit (17), and the reception layer (16) comprises symmetrically distributed recesses (21,23) of the first connection means for receiving said tap (24,24) and at least one protruding part (22,22,22,22).

2. A container (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that said first connection means comprises at least one releasable snap engagement.

3. A container (1) according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that said first connection means comprises at least one protruding part (22,22,22,22) and one recess part (21).

4. A container (1) according to claim 3 characterised in that said storage unit (17) comprises the at least one protruding part (22,22,22,22), and said reception layer (16) comprises the at least one recess part (21) adapted to receive the at least one protruding part (22,22,22,22).

5. A container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the first connection means is arranged at the reception layer (16) and at a lower surface of the at least one storage unit (17).

6. A container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the reception layer (16) is adapted to be fixated with an inner part of the container (1) in a releasable manner by use of a second connection means.

7. A container (1) according to claims 1-5 characterised in that a bottom (4) of the container (1) is the reception layer (16).

8. A container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that at least part of the first connection means is arranged symmetrically on the lower surface of the at least one storage unit (17) relative to a plane which is parallel with and intersects the longitudinal axis of said at least one storage unit (17) and which is orthogonal with at least one side of said at least one storage unit (17).

9. A container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the reception layer (16) is adapted to connect with more than one storage unit (17) at a time.

10. A container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the at least one storage unit (17) is arranged adjacent to one or further storage units (17) when connected with said reception layer (16).

11. A container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the at least one storage unit (17) comprises straight walls (18, 18, 18, 18) being orthogonal to the lower surface of the at least one storage unit (17).

12. A container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a limited section of the reception layer (16) does not comprise at least part of the first connection means.

13. A reception layer (16) fora container (1) according to any of claims 1-12, characterised in that said reception layer (16) is adapted to connect to a container (1) and to at least one storage unit (17) in a releasable manner by use of connection means.

14. A storage unit (17) for a container (1) according to any of the claims 1-13, characterised in that said storage unit (17) comprises a bottom and at least one side part (18, 18, 18, 18), said bottom and at least one side part (18, 18, 18, 18) defining an inner volume (19) of said storage unit (17), and wherein said storage unit (17) is adapted to connect to a reception layer (16) in a releasable manner by use of a connection means.

Description

[0035] The structure and function of the container, storage unit and reception layer, and the method of using them will be described in more detail below with references to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings wherein,

[0036] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a container with a reception layer connected to the inner part of the container and with a storage unit connected to the reception layer, seen in a perspective view.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a container with a reception layer connected to the inner part of the container and with a storage unit connected to the reception layer, seen in a perspective view from the side.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary view of one embodiment, where the storage unit is connected to the reception layer.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the container seen from below, where a reception layer in connected to an inner part of the container.

[0040] In the figures, the container, the storage unit and the reception layer are shown having a rectangular cross section. However, it should be understood that other cross sections, such as circular, oval, square etc., are also intended within the scope of the present invention.

[0041] In the figures, the embodiments illustrate that the storage assembly may be for a toolbox or an assortment box. The person skilled in the art will understand that the illustrated combination of storage assembly and container is not to be understood as exhaustive and that one kind of storage assembly may be used with several kinds of containers, and one kind of storage unit may be used with several kinds of reception layers, and that the storage units may contain various types of contents, such as tools, nails, screws, spare parts, electronic components, groceries, tool components, bits, small tool devices etc.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a container with a reception layer connected to the inner part of the container and with a storage unit connected to the reception layer, seen in a perspective view.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment, the container 1 is seen with an upper lid part 2 separated from a lower container part 3.

[0044] The lower container part 3 is seen to have a substantially rectangular cross section and comprises a bottom part 4 and a first 5, second 5, third 5, and fourth side part 5 being substantially orthogonal to each other and to the bottom part 4. The third side part 5 comprises two angled ends 6,6 and a central part 7 projecting into the inner opening 8 of the lower container part 3 thus defining a recess in the third side part 5 arranged for comprising a handle 9 for the container 1.

[0045] The periphery of the cross section of the upper lid part 2 is seen to have substantially similar shape and size as the periphery of the cross section of the lower container part 3 such that an inner edge 10 of the upper lid part 2 can engage with an upper edge 11 of the lower container part 3 when the upper lid part 2 closes the opening of the lower container part 3. The upper lid part 2 may be pivotally connected to the lower container part 3 by use of a pivotal connection 12, such as hinges 12. When the container 1 is closed, i.e. the lower container part 3 and the upper lid part 2 engage with each other, the container 1 may be locked by use of a first and second locking unit. Each of the locking units comprises a sliding part 13, 14 and a holding part 13, 14. The sliding parts 13, 14 may be slid over each their respective holding part 13, 14 when the container 1 has been closed. Thus, the container 1 has been locked, and the lower container part 3 and upper lid part 2 cannot be separated before the first and second locking units have been unlocked again. Thus, the user can now pick up the container 1 by the handle 9 and transport the container 1 without any risk of the contents of the container 1 falling out.

[0046] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the upper lid part 2 may comprise a transparent material so that the content in the inner opening 8 of the container 1 may be seen both when the container 1 is open and closed.

[0047] The inner surface 15 of the upper lid part 2 may comprise several small areas 15, so called U-profiles 15, each of which bends slightly out from the upper lid part 2.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, a reception layer 16 has been connected with an inner part, i.e. the bottom 4, of the container 1 in a releasable manner by use of a second connection means. A storage unit 17 has been connected to the reception layer 16 in a releasable manner by use of a first connection means. Together, the at least one storage unit 17 and the reception layer 16 form a storage assembly for storing contents inside said container 1. The reception layer 16 may have a planar shape and may fill the entire bottom of the container 1, but other shapes and sizes of the reception layer 16, such as where the reception layer 16 fills e.g. the major part or half of the bottom of the container 1, are foreseen within the present invention.

[0049] The storage unit 17 may comprise a first 18, second 18, third 18 and fourth side wall 18 and a lower surface (not shown), where said side walls 18, 18, 18, 18 are all orthogonal to each other and to the lower surface and together define an inner volume 19 of the storage unit 17. The opening of the storage unit 17 may be directed towards the upper lid part 2 and thus towards the opening of the container 1, and parts such as nails, screws, bolts or electronic components, may be introduced into or removed from the inner volume 19 via the opening. When the upper lid part 2 engages the lower container part 3, the upper lid part 2 and thus part of the U-profiles 15 come in close contact with the opening of the storage unit 17 which means that the parts contained in the storage unit 17 will not escape the storage unit 17 even if the container 1 is moved around.

[0050] The reception layer 16 has been connected with the inner part of the container 1 by use of a second connection means in the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrated by a first 20, second 20, third 20 and fourth snap engagement (not shown). The reception layer 16 may comprise at least one recess part 21 for receiving at least one protruding part of the storage unit 17. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the storage unit 17 comprises a first 22, second 22, third 22 and fourth protruding part (not shown), such as feet of the storage unit 17. The reception layer 16 is also shown to comprise at least one slot 23 adapted to receive a first 24 and second tap 24 of a snap engagement (not shown) of the storage unit 17. Providing a first connection means for connecting the reception layer 16 and at least one storage unit 17 facilitates that the at least one storage unit 17 does not fall out of the inner opening 8 of the lower container part 3 in case the container 1 is e.g. kicked by accident.

[0051] As the reception layer 16 may be connected with the inner part of the container 1 by use of a second connection means, the user has the possibility of installing the reception layer 16 in the container 1 if wanted, but may also remove it if there is no need to have a storage assembly in the container 1. The user may also install the type of reception layer 16 that is appropriate for the purpose. For example, if various parts are to be stored, then a reception layer 16, which may connect to several storage units 17 as shown in FIG. 1, may be installed. On the other hand, if the user only needs to have storage units 17 for a limited number of parts, then a reception layer 16, where a limited section of the reception layer 16 does not comprise at least part of the connection means, may be installed. Then, e.g. a tool may be stored in the inner volume of the container 1 defined by said limited section.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a container 1 with a reception layer 16 connected to the inner part of the container 1 and with a storage unit 17 connected to the reception layer 16, seen in a perspective view from the side. For similar parts, similar reference numbers have been used as in FIG. 1.

[0053] In the exemplary embodiment, the container 1 is seen with an upper lid part 2 separated from a lower container part 3.

[0054] A reception layer 16 has been connected to an inner part of the container 1 in a releasable manner. At least one storage unit 17 has been connected to the reception layer 16 in a releasable manner. The user may now fill parts into the inner volume 19 of the storage unit 17 and may connect more storage units 17 to the reception layer 16.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary view of one embodiment, where the storage unit 17 is connected to the reception layer 16. For similar parts, similar reference numbers have been used as in the previous FIGS.

[0056] The storage unit 17 has been connected to the reception layer 16. The storage unit 17 may have a shape of a rectangular cuboid comprising a first 18, second 18, third 18 and fourth side wall 18 and a lower surface (not shown), where all said side walls 18, 18, 18, 18 are orthogonal to each other and to the lower surface and together define an inner volume 19 of the storage unit 17. Other shapes are foreseen within the present invention. A first 22, second 22, third 22 (not shown) and fourth protruding part (not shown) is each received by a recess part 21 of the reception layer 16.

[0057] The reception layer 16 may also comprise at least one slot 23 adapted to receive a first 24 and second tap 24 of the snap engagement (not shown) of the storage unit 17. The snap engagement facilitates that the at least one storage unit 17 does not fall out of the inner opening 8 of the lower container part 3 in case the container 1 is e.g. kicked by accident.

[0058] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the releasable snap engagement comprises a first 24 and second tap 24 (not shown) on the storage unit 17, where the taps 24,24 may have the shape of a hook, i.e. have a straight body and a head at the end of the body that protrudes away from the end of the body in a direction orthogonal to the extension of the body. The taps 24,24 may be slightly misaligned with the slots 23 when the taps 24,24 are placed adjacent to each their slot 23 and are thus ready to be connected. Thus, when the taps 24,24 meet their respective slot 23, the user needs to press the storage unit towards the reception layer 4, whereby the taps 24,24 are bent in a direction towards the slots 23, and the taps 24,24 including the heads become aligned with the slots 23 and thus engage with the slots 23. The slots 23 may become wider below their opening so that the taps 24,24 may bend back towards their original position relative to the storage unit 17 after the taps 24,24 including head have passed the opening of the slots 23, i.e. the taps 24,24 may snap-engage with the slots 23. Thus, the taps 24,24 may show an elastic behaviour. The storage unit 17 cannot be easily removed from the reception layer 4. To remove the storage unit 17 from the reception layer 4, the user has to pull the storage unit 17. Thereby, the taps 24,24 including their heads bend and thus align with the opening of the slots 23, whereby the engagement between the taps 24,24 and the slots 23 disengages.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the container 1 seen from below, where a reception layer 16 is connected to an inner part of the container 1. For similar parts, similar reference numbers have been used as in the previous Figs.

[0060] The first 20, second 20, third 20 and fourth releasable snap engagement 20 may each comprise two arms each comprising a protrusion 27,27 at the ends and of a first 25, second 25, third 25 and fourth hole 25 in the bottom 26 of the container 1 through which the protrusions 27,27 protrude. When the reception layer 16 is connected to the inner part of the container 1, the distance between the tips of the protrusion 27,27 at the ends of the two arms is larger than the diameter of each of their respective holes 25,25,25,25. Thus, the reception layer 16 will not disconnect from the inner part of the container 1 unless the user presses the two arms for each of the snap engagements 20,20,20,20 together so that the distance between the tips of the protrusion 27,27 at the ends of the two arms is smaller than the diameter of said holes 25,25,25,25.