The present invention relates to a container system, in particular a case system, comprising a container, in particular a case, for the storage of objects, which container has a container top part and a container bottom part. At least one additional container, which is suitable for storing further objects, can be releasably attached to the container. Such container systems are used to store and/or transport various objects, such as tools.
A container, such as a case, often has a container bottom part and a container top part, which can be folded together by means of a hinge in order to jointly close off an interior. By swinging open the container top part in relation to the container bottom part, the interior and the objects, for example tools, stored therein can be made accessible. For the convenient transporting of the container, this often also has a handle.
For the user of the container, it may be desirable to enlarge the storage capacity of the container or to provide separate compartments for the storage of specific objects, such as accessories, dirtied tools, special instruments or consumables.
DE 203 03 536 shows a toolbox comprising a side wall having inner and outer walls which can be folded relative to each other. Between these inner and outer walls are provided compartments, which serve to receive specific tools.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,680 is shown a modular system in which various additional containers can be attached to the side of a tool case. Depending on the objects to be stored therein, these additional containers can be differently designed. Such case systems are also shown in DE 94 17 348 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,159,712.
In these systems, the tool case can be enlarged, according to the requirement of the user, with those additional containers which contain the respectively specifically required objects. Hence the user does not have to store and transport a large number of different tools together in a large tool case. He can instead only house frequently used and multipurpose tools in the case, for instance, while the special tools are stored in the additional containers. According to which special tools are specifically required, the case can then be supplemented by the additional containers which are respectively appropriate.
These said case systems have the drawback, however, that the additional containers can easily fall off the case if they are not properly attached to the case, for example, or if the user bangs against them somewhere while carrying the case. Moreover, it is possible that the additional containers are not properly closed and spring open, for instance, when the case is lifted up or carried. At least in some case systems of the prior art, the fastening of the additional containers, furthermore, is awkward.
One object of the present invention is to define a container system in which an additional container can be easily releasably attached to a container, wherein an unintentional fall-off of the additional container from the container is prevented.
This object is achieved by a container system having the features of claim 1. Further embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
The present invention thus provides a container system having the following features:
a container, in particular a case, having a container top part and a container bottom part, which latter has a base and, attached thereto, a peripheral side wall, wherein the side wall, together with the base, delimits an interior of the container, which interior is suitable for storing objects, and wherein the container has a closed state in which the container top part and the container bottom part jointly close off the interior to the outside and has an open state in which the interior is accessible from the outside; and
at least one additional container, which has a connecting structure and which is suitable for storing further objects, wherein the additional container, in the open state of the container, can be releasably attached to the side wall, in particular slipped onto this, by means of the connecting structure.
At the same time, the container top part is arranged relative to the container bottom part in the closed state such that it prevents removal of the additional container from the container.
The additional container can thus be attached to or removed from the container only in the open state thereof. In the closed state, this is prevented by the container top part. An unintentional release of the additional container from the container is thereby, in the closed state thereof, effectively prevented. The additional container can here be designed such that it forms a form closure with the container when it is attached thereto, and that the container top part, in the closed state, prevents release of the form closure.
The additional container can here be constituted, for instance, by a container for the storage of further objects, such as, for example, accessories, a dirtied tool, special objects or consumables. The additional container can, in particular, be a closable container and can have, for instance, specific compartments for the reception of certain objects such as drills, saw blades, fishing articles, sewing accessories, first aid equipment, etc. It can also be constituted, however, by an open container.
Preferably, the connecting structure can be slipped onto the side wall in a direction of displacement, wherein the container top part covers the connecting structure in the closed state in order to prevent displacement, in particular counter to the direction of displacement. In this way, the additional container can be attached to the container in a particularly easy manner for the user. The direction of displacement is advantageously directed toward the base and runs, in particular, substantially perpendicular to the base.
Advantageously, the connecting structure, in the closed state of the container, is held, in particular even clamped, in a region between the container bottom part and the container top part. Removal of the additional container from the container can hence easily be prevented by the container top part.
The connecting structure preferably comprises a suspension element, such as, for example, a suspension bracket, which can be hooked over the side wall such that it projects into the interior. The suspension element here advantageously rests on a top edge of the side wall and extends from there preferably into the interior and, adjacent to an inner side of the side wall, toward the base of the container bottom part. The attachment and separation of the additional container to and from the open container can hence be realized in a particularly easy manner for the user. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable, however, for a downwardly closed rail to be configured, for example, on the outside of the container bottom part, and for the connecting structure to be designed as a profile which can be introduced into the rail from above, wherein the container top part, in the closed state, covers the rail from above. Removal of the additional container from the container in the closed state is thereby likewise prevented. It is also possible, of course, for the rail to be configured on the additional container, and the profile on the container bottom part. The additional container can also be hookable inward into the case, while the described advantageous features are maintained.
The side wall can have a retaining element, which projects into the interior and is configured to enter into a releasable latching connection with the suspension element. The suspension element advantageously then has an appropriately complementary latching element, such as a recess, a depression, grooves, ribs, etc.
The container is preferably designed in such a way, in accordance with a standard construction, that the container top part is connected to the container bottom part pivotably about a pivot axis. The additional container is then preferably attached in a region of the side wall which runs substantially transversely to this pivot axis.
As is usual with many containers, the container can further have a fastening between the container top part and the container bottom part, which fastening is suitable for locking the container in the closed state and is disposed in a region of the side wall that lies opposite the pivot axis.
Preferably, the container is of a standard container shape such that it has a handle which is used to carry the container and which is disposed in a region of the side wall of the container that lies opposite the pivot axis. This handle is preferably attached to the container bottom part, and particularly preferably to the side wall of the container bottom part. It can also, however, be attached to the container top part.
The container can essentially have an overall cuboid basic shape, which, in particular, can be flattened such that two opposite faces of this basic shape are substantially larger than, preferably even at least twice as large as, every other face of the cuboid basic shape.
In a preferred embodiment, the additional container has an additional container bottom part having a receiving space suitable for storing objects, and also has a lid suitable for, in a closure position, closing off the receiving space to the outside and, in an opening position, opening this up to the outside.
Preferably, the container top part, in the closed state of the container, then cooperates with the lid in such a way that movement of the lid from the closure position into the opening position is prevented. The additional container attached to the container can thus only be opened and closed when the container is in the open state. Unintentional springing open of the additional container, for example, while the container is being carried, is thereby prevented.
In order to realize such cooperation of the container top part with the lid, the lid advantageously has a cover region, which, in the closure position of the lid and in the closed state of the container, is covered by the container top part.
The cover region is preferably configured as a flange, which, in the closure position of the lid and in the closed state of the container, is held, in particular even clamped, in a region between the side wall and the container top part.
Preferably, the lid is pivotably connected to the additional container bottom part in a region disposed on a side of the additional container that is facing away from the container. This connection of the lid to the additional container bottom part can be effected, for instance, via a hinge, in particular via a film hinge. However, a standard axial hinge can also, of course, be used.
The additional container can additionally or alternatively have a fastening between the additional container bottom part and the lid, which fastening is suitable for locking the additional container in the closure position.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the tool case can have in its side wall at least one guide element, in which a guide element of the additional container can engage.
Furthermore, the additional container can have a double eyelet, by means of which the lid of the additional container can be held closed even when the fastening is open.
The additional container can have at least one suspension bracket, and the suspension bracket can have a bottom bracket and a top bracket, whereby the fastening of the additional container to the case can be further improved.
In the side wall of the additional container can be arranged guides, into which partitions, made of plastic, for instance, can be inserted.
On the inner side of the side wall of the tool case or of the additional container can be arranged guide rails, into which insert plates can be introduced. Said insert plates can here be part of a fastening system for objects to be transported in the case or additional container.
The above described additional container does not necessarily have to be used solely together with the case. It is equally conceivable to use the additional container without the case.
Thus the additional container can also be introduced, for instance, into a suitable receiving apparatus of a fixed machine, or else into an appropriately equipped shelving system. In this instance, the receiving apparatus can be configured, in particular, analogously to the corresponding case side wall.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which serve merely as illustration and should not be interpreted restrictively. In the drawings:
In
As is shown, in particular, in
The case bottom part 12 and the case top part 11 are pivotably connected to each other by a hinge 13. The hinge 13 here connects a top edge of the side wall 122 to a bottom edge of the casing 112 and is arranged along a longitudinal side of the case 1. The hinge 13 can here have any chosen embodiment according to the prior art. By the hinge 13 is defined, in particular, a pivot axis, about which the case top part 11 can be pivoted relative to the case bottom part 12.
The hinge 13 allows the case top part 11 to be pivoted toward the case bottom part 12 in such a way that the case top part 11 closes off to the outside the interior delimited by the case bottom part 12. The case 1 is then in a closed state (
On that side of the case 1 that lies opposite the hinge 13, two fastenings are present in order to lock together the case bottom part 12 and the case top part 11 in the closed state of the case 1. Alternatively, however, just one, or more than two fastenings, could also be provided. The fastenings are respectively formed by a locking clamp 124 movably attached to the case bottom part 12 and by a locking structure 113 configured on the case top part 11. For the locking of the case 1 in the closed state, the locking clamp 124 can be engaged by means of a pivot motion in the locking structure 113, which has a depression complementary to the locking clamp 124. Of course, the locking clamp could also be attached to the case top part 11 and the locking structure 113 could be configured on the case bottom part 12. Moreover, any other chosen fastenings according to the prior art are also conceivable.
In order to secure the content stored in the interior of the case 1 against, for instance, unauthorized removal, clasps 114 and 126, which can be connected, in particular, with a padlock, are provided here. The clasps 114 and 126 are here disposed on the casing 112 of the case top part 11 and on the side wall 122 of the case bottom part 12, on that side of the case 1 that lies opposite the hinge 13, such that they can be connected to each other by means of a commercially available padlock.
The case bottom part 12 further has a handle 123, which is used for carrying of the case 1 by a user. Just like the locking clamps 124 and the clasps 126, the handle 123 is fitted on that side of the case 1 that lies opposite the hinge 13.
As is shown in
The detailed design of the additional containers 2 of this illustrative embodiment is shown in
On the top edge of a region of the side wall 222 that is facing toward the case 1 are configured two downwardly extending suspension brackets 223, which form a connecting structure. These two suspension brackets 223 serve to hook the additional container 2 in the open state of the case 1 over a side wall 122 of the case 1. The attachment of the additional container 2 to the case bottom part 12 is here effected by the suspension brackets 223 being slipped onto the side wall 122 in a direction of displacement directed from top to bottom. The suspension brackets 223 then rest on the top edge of the side wall 122 and extend from there into the interior of the case 1 and downward along the inner side of the side wall 122. In the open state of the case 1, the additional containers 2 are thus easily attachable to the case bottom part 12 or removable therefrom. In the closed state, the suspension brackets 223 are covered, however, by the case top part 11, so that the suspension brackets 223 cannot be displaced from the bottom upward. In particular, the suspension brackets 223, in the closed state of the case 1, are held between the top edge of the side wall 122 and the bottom edge of the casing 112 of the case top part 11. In this state, the additional container 2 forms a form closure with the case 1. In this closed state of the case 1, removal of the additional containers 2 from the case 1 is therefore not possible.
As in the present illustrative embodiment, on the top edge of a region of the side wall 222 that is facing away from the case 1, a lid 21 can be pivotably attached to the container bottom part 22 by a hinge 23. The hinge 23 can here be constituted, for instance, by a film hinge or some other hinge according to the prior art. The lid 21 here serves to close off the receiving space of the container bottom part 22 in a closure position. The lid 21 here has a top face 211, from which a peripheral casing 212 extends downward. To the bottom rim of the casing 212 can be attached side brackets 213, which are part of a fastening for holding the lid 21 of the additional container 2 in the closure position. The side brackets 213 can be configured, for example, to enter into snap-locking connection with a complementary structure (not shown in the figures) configured on the container bottom part 22. In this embodiment, the additional containers can thus be opened and closed irrespective of whether the case 1 is in the open or closed state.
A second embodiment of an inventive container system is shown in
The embodiment shown in
The case top part 11, the case bottom part 12, the container bottom part 22 and the lid 21 are advantageously configured in one piece and produced by injection molding. Particularly advantageous is a design of the additional containers 2 as in the present illustrative embodiment, where the entire additional container 2 is configured as a whole in one piece and the connection of the container bottom part 22 to the lid 21 is effected via a film hinge 23.
The invention is obviously not limited to the preceding illustrative embodiments and a multiplicity of modifications is possible. In particular, the case 1 does not have to have the described flat and cuboid shape. Any chosen designs are conceivable for this purpose. Moreover, the handle 123 could be fitted, instead of to the case bottom part 12, centrally on the top face 111 of the case top part 11, for instance. Alternatively or additionally, a carrying strap could also be provided.
The additional containers 2 could also be attachable to the case 1 in a different manner according to the prior art. For instance, an embodiment in which a vertically extending rail is attached to the outside of the side wall 122 is conceivable. The rail would have two L-shaped, mutually facing side profiles, which delimit an intervening channel. The additional container of such an embodiment would then have an outwardly projecting T-profile, which would be configured complementary to this rail such that it can be inserted from above into this channel as far as a bottom stop. The case top part could then be correspondingly designed such that, in the closed state of the case, it covers the rail from above in order to prevent removal of the additional container from the case. The rail and the T-profile could also, however, extend perpendicularly to the above-stated vertical direction, in a direction pointing toward the pivot axis of the hinge 13. The direction of displacement for the attachment of the additional container 2 to the case 1 would then be directed in the same direction pointing toward the pivot axis, or in an opposite direction thereto. In such an embodiment, the case top part 11 could have, for example, a downwardly projecting element, which in the closed state of the case 1 hampers displacement of the additional container 2 relative to the case 1 and thereby prevents removal of the additional container 2 from the case 1.
Moreover, the additional containers 2 do not necessarily have to have a lid 21. In the absence of a lid, tools or other objects could also be held in the additional container 2 by custom-made receiving pockets. The additional container can also be realized as a textile pocket. A suspension bracket or rail, which is fixedly connected to the textile, for example by sewing, welding or riveting, and is made, for instance, of plastic or metal, can then serve to attach the additional container to the case. The hinge 13 does not necessarily have to be provided and could also be replaced by fastenings, for instance, as are provided on the opposite side of the case and are labeled with the reference symbols 124 and 113. The same applies to the hinge 23 of the additional containers. A multiplicity of further modifications is possible.
For further clarification, a perspective representation of the arrangement, in which the respective top parts have been omitted and the additional container 2′ is shown disposed on the case 1′, is appended in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
20 2010 000 340.7 | Mar 2010 | DE | national |
20 2010 014 027.7 | Oct 2010 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2011/053469 | 3/8/2011 | WO | 00 | 10/4/2012 |