Patent Application
20230067173
This invention relates generally to storage containers constructed of plastic structural panels; and, more specifically, to a deck storage box utilizing injection molded split plastic panels capable of being packaged and shipped in a knocked-down and compact configuration using a shipping container that is half the length of a conventional deck box shipping container.
Plastic storage containers for household items and the like are well known. Patios, porches, swimming pools, balconies, and boat docks are just a few places that benefit from weather-resistant storage containers. For ease of explanation, such containers will be referred to as a deck box, which is a term that may be used interchangeably with dock box, patio box, storage box, container box, storage container, or the like descriptive terms.
Deck boxes may be used to store gardening supplies, pool supplies, beach supplies, furniture covers/cushions, towels, toys and so forth, all subject to the owner's individual preference. The deck box is typically rectangular shaped, defining a storage area having front and rear walls, opposing end walls, a bottom wall, and a hinged cover.
Deck boxes employ blow molded or extruded panels coupled together with connector members that facilitate an engagement between the panels to form a complimentary edge configuration. For ease of storage and shipping, the deck boxes are manufactured in a disassembled configuration wherein the panels are coupled together to form the deck box by the end consumer. Applicant's prior registrations directed to such storage containers includes: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,464,115; 7,028,859; 8,689,992; USD421181; USD429418; USD593773; USD647299; USD658374; USD715049; USD715050; USD717542; USD723803.
While conventional deck boxes are sold in a disassembled state, the associated packaging remains a long rectangular shape. Such packaging includes air space, as the wall panels are not the same length. In particular, a conventional deck box has wall panels to form the bottom, front, rear, and cover. A short panel is used to form the end walls. The result is a rectangular shipping carton that requires packing material to fill dead air space, as the end walls are dissimilar in size to the wall lengths. In addition, oblong shipping cartons may cost more to store and ship due to length.
What is lacking in the industry is a deck box formed from wall panels that can be stacked and nested to provide compact storage and shipping by use of substantially square packaging.
The present invention provides a kit formed from injection molded plastic panels which combine to form a deck storage box. The panels interlock with an adjoining panel to form top, bottom, front and rear walls. The adjoining panels are secured in position with screw fasteners. Injection molding allows the panels to be formed with integral cross-bracing, ribs and gussets for increased rigidity. In a disassembled state, the panels are substantially the same size, allowing efficiency in storage and reduced shipping costs by employing substantially square packaging. Panels are stored in a nested configuration to eliminate the shipping of containers requiring fillers to address free air space.
An objective of the invention is to provide a deck box that can be easily manufactured, packaged and shipped using multiple wall panels while providing structural integrity combined with modularity and excellent aesthetic appearance in concealing wall panel joints.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a compact wall panel deck box which resists panel separation, buckling, racking and weather infiltration.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide security for stored items, wherein the wall panels are substantially the same size and connect in such a way as to unify the entire enclosure.
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a deck box formed from relatively few component parts that are inexpensive to manufacture by conventional techniques. The deck storage box must also be capable of being packaged and shipped in a knocked-down and nested state to minimize or avoid a package having air voids.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide a deck box that meets ergonomic needs to achieve acceptance by the end user. The deck box is easily and quickly assembled using minimal hardware and requiring a minimal number of tools. Further, the system must not require excessive strength to assemble or include heavy component parts. Moreover, the system must assemble together in such a way so as not to detract from the internal storage volume of the resulting deck storage box or otherwise detract from the internal storage volume of the resulting deck storage box, or otherwise negatively affect the utility of the deck storage box.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a deck box with integrated connectors which accommodates injection molding plastic formation of the panel components for increased structural integrity.
Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Referring to the drawings in general, depicted is the injection molded deck box storage container 10 with a cover 12 formed from a left panel 14 and a right panel 16. The left panel 14 is defined by a front edge 18, a rear edge 20, a side edge 22 and an interconnecting edge 24; the interconnecting edge 24 having a lower extension tab 26 forming a U-shaped track 28 to prevent water from entering the deck box by underlying an upper extension tab 30 of the adjoining right panel 16. The right panel 16 is defined by a front edge 32, a rear edge 34, a side edge 36 and an interconnecting edge 38 wherein the upper extension tab 30 is constructed and arranged to allow said right panel 16 to be raised independent of said left panel 14. The upper extension tab 30 provides a shield to said U-shaped track 28 for diverting rain water from entering the storage box. The outer surfaces 40, 42 of the left panel 14 and right panel 16, respectively, have a surface configuration that may contain channels 44 to provide an ascetically pleasing appearance. The inner surfaces 46, 48 of the left panel 14 and right panel 16 are formed with integral cross-bracing, ribs and gussets 50 for increased rigidity. Injection molding allows the panels to be formed with integral cross-bracing, ribs and gussets for increased rigidity while maintaining a lightweight construction that can be easily assembled and moved. The extra rigidity substantially prevents the panels from bowing inwardly and/or outwardly to resist panel racking and separation over time to maintain an aesthetically pleasing water resistant enclosure.
A left side wall 52 is formed from a single panel having a lower edge 54 securable to a bottom wall 60. The bottom wall 60 is formed from a first bottom panel 56 secured to a second bottom panel 58. The first bottom panel 56 has a left closed edge 62, a rear closed edge 64, a front closed edge 66, and a first interconnecting edge 68; the inner surface 65 of the first bottom panel 56 having a smooth texture. The outer surface 67 of the first bottom panel 56 is formed with integral cross-bracing, ribs and gussets 69 for increased rigidity. The second bottom panel 58 has a right closed edge 70, a rear closed edge 72, a front closed edge 74, and a second interconnecting edge 76. The first interconnecting edge 68 is secured to the second interconnecting edge 76 by screw fasteners 78; the inner surface 75 of the second bottom panel 58 having a smooth texture. The outer surface 77 of the second bottom panel 58 is formed with integral cross-bracing, ribs and gussets 79 for increased rigidity. The left side wall 52 is defined by the lower edge 54, upper edge 55, front edge 57 and rear edge 59. A right side wall 80 is formed from a single panel having a lower edge 82 securable to the right closed edge 70 of the second bottom panel 58. The right side wall 80 is defined by the lower edge 82, upper edge 84, front edge 86 and rear edge 88, having an inner wall surface 87 and an outer wall surface 89.
A rear wall 90 is formed from a first panel 92 having an inner surface 93 and an outer surface 94 defined by a lower edge 96 secured to the closed edge 64 of the bottom wall panel 56, a left edge 98 securable to the rear edge 59 of the left side wall 52, and a right edge 103 secured to the interconnecting edge 108 of a second panel 110 by the use of screw fasteners 111. An upper edge 102 includes a first and second hinge member 104, 106, providing a hinged coupling to the left panel 14. Hinge member 104 is illustrated in
The second rear wall panel 110 has an inner surface 112 and an outer surface 114 defined by a lower edge 116 secured to the closed edge 64 of the bottom wall panel 56, a right edge 118 securable to the rear edge 88 of the right side wall 80, an upper edge 120, and the interconnecting edge 108 secured to the interconnecting edge 103 of the first panel 92. The upper edge 120 includes a second and third hinge member 122, 124 providing a hinged coupling to the right panel 16. A steel reinforcement bar 100 provides rigidity between the first panel 92 and the second panel 110. A first boss 126 provides spacing between the inner surface 93 of the first panel 92 and the reinforcement bar 100, and a second boss 128 provides spacing between the inner surface 112 of the second panel 110 and the reinforcement bar 100. The reinforcement bar 100 is attached by screw fasteners 129. The bosses provide a stand-off to provide rigidity to the rear wall; the reinforcement bar 100 bridging the interconnecting edges 103 and 108.
A front wall 130 is formed from a first panel 132 having an inner surface 134 and an outer surface 136 defined by a lower edge 138 secured to the front closed edge 74 of the bottom wall panel 58, a left edge 140 securable to the left closed edge 62 of the left side wall 52, and a right edge 142 secured to interconnecting edge 144 of a second panel 150 by the use of screw fasteners 152. An upper edge 154 includes a first indentation 156 to allow an individual to place their fingers into the indentation for purposes of raising the cover 12. The second panel 150 has an inner surface 158 and an outer surface 160 defined by a lower edge 162 secured to the closed edge 66 of the bottom wall panel 56, a left edge 164 securable to the front edge 18 of the right side wall 80, an upper edge 167, and the interconnecting edge 142 secured to interconnecting edge 144 of the first panel 132. The upper edge 167 includes a second indentation 168 for purposes of raising the cover 12. A steel reinforcement bar 170 provides rigidity between the first panel 132 and the second panel 150. A first boss 172 provides spacing between the inner surface 134 of the first panel 132 and the reinforcement bar 170, and a second boss 174 provides spacing between the inner surface 158 of the second panel 150. The reinforcement bar 170 is attached by screw fasteners 176. The bosses provide a stand-off to provide rigidity to the front wall; the reinforcement bar 170 bridging the interconnecting edges 142 and 144.
The split panels allow stacking in a substantially square configuration as depicted by
Referring to
The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.”
The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
