GB1584100A - Boxes capable of engamement with other similar boxes - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BOXES CAPABLE OF ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER SIMILAR BOXES (71) We, GEFITEC S.A., a Swiss Body Corporate of Avenue de la Gare, 5 - tool, Lausanne 1, Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a box comprising means facilitating its connection to an identical box, more particularly a box comprising at least two generally flat and parallel sides, provided with complementarily shaped formations which are recessed and in relief facilitating the tight connection of the box to an identical box by sliding engagement of the complementary formation parallel to said sides.

It is known to provide rectangular boxes with complementarily shaped formation, generally "eagle tails" or "dove tails" facili tatingtheir connection in a set. Boxes of this type are used in particular for storage in general, in particular for storing or paacking screws, small electrical parts. cassettes for magnetic tape, articles for fishermen.

Known boxes have complementarilv shaped fdrmations extending over the entire width of the box. A construction of this type has various drawbacks. both as regards use and manufacture. Since a certain clearance is necessary to facilitate sliding of the com- plementary formations one in the other over the entire width of the box. when slanting of one box with respect to the other occurs. the slanting causes jamming. which may possibly be repeated several times over the length of the engaging travel.

Two different tvpes of these complementarily shaped formations are known.

A first type consists of a bead of rectangular shape which is in relief. comprising an inclined face on each of its two major sides.

facilitating locking with a complementary recessed bead, each of these faces heing of opposed direction. At the time of manufacture, which generally takes place by moulding, this type of complementary formation requires stripping of the part of plastics material by sliding the latter over the entire length of the complementary formations from the mould. This method is slow and involves the danger of seizing and breaking of the part during said sliding operation.

In order to obviate this drawback, a second type of known complementary section comprises inclined faces which are parallel and no longer of opposed direction, connection of the two parts thus requiring at least two complementary sections. At the time of manufacture. this method eliminates the necessity of sliding over a considerable length for stripping. but on the other hand requires a mould comprising movable parts which are as long as the complementarily shaped formation, these movable parts which are frequently referred to as "slides" being necessary for stripping.A mould of this type is more complicated. more expensive and more fragile than a mould without such moving parts A mould of this type generally comprises a smaller number of impressions, therefore a smaller number of parts manufactured upon each moulding operation, than a mould without such moving parts, owing to the space required by said moving parts and to the fact that their movement is considerable.

The present invention intends to obviate these drawbacks.

A box according to the present invention comprises at least two sides defining com- plementarily shaped formations to enable the box to be slidingly engaged with a second similar box, one formation defining a recess and a second formation of complementary shape to said first formation defining a portion standing out in relief. two of the complementary formations defined by each of the said two sides of the box being aligned on a straight line of length equal to a dimension of said one side of the box in a direction in which the box can slide to engage with the second box and each formation being located adjacent an edge of said side of the box at one end portion of said straight line respectively.

Since the complementarily shaped formations are short, the engagement travel is short and a slight slant is not sufficient to cause jamming over this short distance.

Slanting is furthermore reduced owing to the fact that since the engagement of all complementarily shaped formation takes place approximately simultaneously, each engagement acts as alignment means for the other engagement located on the same line.

Owing to the reduced engagement travel, it is furthermore possible to reduce the clearance, since it is necessary to overcome friction solely over a short distance, which makes it possible to have a tighter connection and better guidance in each of the engagements. As regards manufacture. the short length of the formations and their position at the edge of the box make it possible not only to dispense with moulds comprising slides for stripping the com- plementarily shaped formations. but also to increase the total number of impressions in the mould. therefore to increase the number of parts manufactured.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention. by way of example.

Figitre I shows one of the parallel sides of a box comprising the connecting formations.

Figure 2 shows the other parallel side of the box.

FiSirre 3 is a side view of the box.

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the connection of two boxes.

Figures 5. 6 and 7 show three successive stages of interconnection of two boxes. in a sectional view on line 1-1 of Figure 1.

The box shown is of rectangular parallelepipedal shape. comprising two major flat parallel sides I and 2 on which the engage ment formations are provided. The box is open one one of its narrow sides 3 to facilitate the insertion of a slide or flap (not shown). The side 1 comprises six formations in relief in the shape of a dove tail arranged in three pails 4 and 5. 6 and 7. 8 and 9 respectively. The formations of each pair are aligned in the engagement direction parallel to the short edge of the side I and are contiguous to each of the long cdges of this side 1.The length of the formations is only a fraction of the width of the side 1. In this example. the total length of the two formations is also only I fraction of the width of the side 1. A rims I() which rises from the formation 6 in the direction of the formation 7 also extends between the for mations 6 and 7. This ramp is followed by a notch 11. One of the ends 4a of the formation 4, respectively 6a and 8a of the formation 6 and 8, is slightly bevelled to facilitate the engagement of the formation in relief in the recessed formation. as will become apparent from the description of the connection.

The side 2 of the box comprises six recessed formations in the shape of dove tails arranged in the same manner as the formations 4 to 9 in relief and which are complementarily to those formations in relief. The recessed formation 13. 15 and 17 are extended by grooves 18, 19 and 20 respectively, open ractangular sections facilitating preparatory engagement of the sectional parts in relief 4, 6 and 8 respectively.

of another identical box. There is also provided between the recessed formation 14 and the groove 19, a projection 21 forming a saw tooth above the surface of the side 2.

this projection being intended to engage in the notch It. of complementary section, at the end of the engagement travel. Furthermore, the inlet 12a of the recessed formation 12, and 14a and 16a respectively of the formations 14 and 16 is widened slightly to facilitate the introduction of the formations in relief, 5. 7 and 9 respectively.

The connection of two identical boxes will be described hereafter with reference to Figures 4 to 7. The boxes are placed in parallel one against the other in a staggered position, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. such that the formations in relief 4. 6 and 8 of box A engage respectively in the open grooves 18, 19 and 20 of box B. By sliding box A on box B in the direction of arrow F. the formations in relief 4. 6 and 8 of box A, guided by the grooves 18. 1C) and 20 of the box B. engage automatically in the recessed formations 13. 15 and 17 respectively of box B. Simultaneously. the formations in relief 5. 7 and 9 of box A engage respectively in the recessed formations 12. 14 and 16 of box B. as shown in Figure 6. At the time of this engagement. or shortlv thereafter. the ramp I() of box A comes into contact with the project 21 of box B thus creating a certain resistance. One continues to move box A with respect to box B. despite this resistance. By forcing the latter slightly. one causes the ramp 1() of box A to pass beyond the projection 21 of box B by elastic deformation of the walls of the boxes. At the end of its travel. the projection 21 engages in the notch 11 and abuts against the vertical side of the latter as shown in Figure 7.

In the same way. it is possible to fix a third box or arrangement of boxes either to box A or to box B.

Numerous variations are possible without divergine from the framework of the inven tion. In particlar, it is possible to eliminate the formations in relief 6 and 7 and their counterparts 14 and 15 and to manage with four formations per side.

Furthermore, it is not necessary that all the formations in relief are on the same side of the box. According to one variation, the formations in relief 4, 6 and 8 are replaced by recessed formations, whereas the formation 7 in relief is eliminated. On the other side of the box, the recessed formations 13, 15 and 17 are replaced by formations in relief, whereas the recessed formation 14, as well as the open grooves 18, 19 and 20 are eliminated. A projection similar to the projection 21 is provided at the location of the formation 7, which projection is intended to co-operate with a notch on another box and is provided at the location of the recessed formation 14.This construction makes it possible to simplify the mould still further.

It is even possible to be limited to a single pair of complementarily shaped formations per side, namely 6 and 7 and their counterparts 14 and 15, on condition that these formations are sufficiently wide. This construction facilitates a further simplification of the mould.

The box according to the invention may be used for general storage, in particular the storage or packaging of cassettes for tape recorders, screws, small electrical parts, articles for fishermen etc.

Moreover the invention is not limited to a box of rectangular shape, but extends to all shapes of boxes comprising two substantially planar sides which are parallel. the contour defined by the edges of these sides being able to be that of any shape including polygons. circulas and ovals.

It is also possible to connect boxes whose two connecting sides are not parallel. but form an angle, thus making it possible to form a circular arc with several boxes.

It is also possible to connect two boxes whose two connecting sides are parallel, but in a manner such that two consecutive boxes are slightly staggered longitudinally or vertically one with respect to the other. an assembly of several boxes forming a type of staircase arrangement.

It is also possible to combine the two preceding constructions. namely nonparallel sides and a slightly staggered connection, an arrangement of boxes thus forming a spiral. which has the advantage of being able to connect a large number of boxes.

In order to be able to benefit from the three preceding possibilities. with boxes whose sides are parallel and not staggered longitudinally. it is possible to insert mem- bers comprising two flat sides including the same complementary formations as the boxes, to which they are to be connected and whose sides are not parallel and/or staggered. Such intermediate members are mounted one by one between each consecutive box of an assembly, in order to form a circular arc, a staircase arrangement or a spiral.

Finally, it is not necessary that the sides provided with complementary formations are absolutely planar, these sides may have a slight curvature provided the complementary formations compensate for this curvature.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A box comprising at least two sides defining complementarily shaped formations to enable the box to be slidingly engaged with a second similar box, one formation defining a recess and a second formation of complementary shape to said first formation defining a portion standing out in relief, two of the complementary formations defined by each of the said two sides of the box being aligned on a straight line of length equal to a dimension of said one side of the box in a direction in which the box can slide to engage with the second box and each formation being located adjacent an edge of said side of the box at one end portion of said straight line respectively.

2. A box as claimed in claim 1. in which a recessed formation is aligned with a relief formation respectively at each end portion of said straight line.

3. A box as claimed in claim 1, in which one of said two sides defines only recessed formations and the other of said two sides defines only relief formations, each recessed formation defining a grooved portion in which a complementarily shaped portion of the relief formations can initially respectively engage to guide the relief formations into engagement with the recessed formations.

4. A box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tion. In particlar, it is possible to eliminate the formations in relief 6 and 7 and their counterparts 14 and 15 and to manage with four formations per side. Furthermore, it is not necessary that all the formations in relief are on the same side of the box. According to one variation, the formations in relief 4, 6 and 8 are replaced by recessed formations, whereas the formation 7 in relief is eliminated. On the other side of the box, the recessed formations 13, 15 and 17 are replaced by formations in relief, whereas the recessed formation 14, as well as the open grooves 18, 19 and 20 are eliminated. A projection similar to the projection 21 is provided at the location of the formation 7, which projection is intended to co-operate with a notch on another box and is provided at the location of the recessed formation 14.This construction makes it possible to simplify the mould still further. It is even possible to be limited to a single pair of complementarily shaped formations per side, namely 6 and 7 and their counterparts 14 and 15, on condition that these formations are sufficiently wide. This construction facilitates a further simplification of the mould. The box according to the invention may be used for general storage, in particular the storage or packaging of cassettes for tape recorders, screws, small electrical parts, articles for fishermen etc. Moreover the invention is not limited to a box of rectangular shape, but extends to all shapes of boxes comprising two substantially planar sides which are parallel. the contour defined by the edges of these sides being able to be that of any shape including polygons. circulas and ovals. It is also possible to connect boxes whose two connecting sides are not parallel. but form an angle, thus making it possible to form a circular arc with several boxes. It is also possible to connect two boxes whose two connecting sides are parallel, but in a manner such that two consecutive boxes are slightly staggered longitudinally or vertically one with respect to the other. an assembly of several boxes forming a type of staircase arrangement. It is also possible to combine the two preceding constructions. namely nonparallel sides and a slightly staggered connection, an arrangement of boxes thus forming a spiral. which has the advantage of being able to connect a large number of boxes. In order to be able to benefit from the three preceding possibilities. with boxes whose sides are parallel and not staggered longitudinally. it is possible to insert mem- bers comprising two flat sides including the same complementary formations as the boxes, to which they are to be connected and whose sides are not parallel and/or staggered. Such intermediate members are mounted one by one between each consecutive box of an assembly, in order to form a circular arc, a staircase arrangement or a spiral. Finally, it is not necessary that the sides provided with complementary formations are absolutely planar, these sides may have a slight curvature provided the complementary formations compensate for this curvature. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A box comprising at least two sides defining complementarily shaped formations to enable the box to be slidingly engaged with a second similar box, one formation defining a recess and a second formation of complementary shape to said first formation defining a portion standing out in relief, two of the complementary formations defined by each of the said two sides of the box being aligned on a straight line of length equal to a dimension of said one side of the box in a direction in which the box can slide to engage with the second box and each formation being located adjacent an edge of said side of the box at one end portion of said straight line respectively.

2. A box as claimed in claim 1. in which a recessed formation is aligned with a relief formation respectively at each end portion of said straight line.

3. A box as claimed in claim 1, in which one of said two sides defines only recessed formations and the other of said two sides defines only relief formations, each recessed formation defining a grooved portion in which a complementarily shaped portion of the relief formations can initially respectively engage to guide the relief formations into engagement with the recessed formations.

4. A box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.