Patent Application
20180042403
The present invention pertains to the field of protective transport, storage and display cases. More specifically, the present invention relates to a transport, storage and display case and system of stacking compartments that can be interconnected and formed into multiple orientations depending upon the user's needs.
Transport, storage and display cases are used throughout the world in trade and service industries to transport, sell and store goods, tools and other objects. These cases are very important for protection and presentation, and some cases are compartmentalized to provide further organization and security.
Vendors are constantly seeking novel ways in which to ensure the protection of their goods during transport and storage. Often the protection provided in transport and storage cases is of a generic design and does not take into account the customization required for the particular needs of a specific good. Therefore, there is a need for the vendor to have the ability to quickly and easily alter the orientation of a transport or storage case in order to provide the user with a wide range of functional uses of a case, including enhanced protection for the specific good that will be transported or stored.
Vendors are also constantly seeking novel ways to display their goods for sale in a convenient and appealing way to consumers. Often, these vendors are also required to transport their goods to different locations in order to attend trade fairs or visit potential clients. Many available transport cases are cumbersome and aesthetically unappealing and so vendors are required to transport and display their goods in alternative containers. Therefore, there is need for an appealing display case that is also able to safely transport goods.
Accordingly, there is need for a transport, storage and display case that can provide both security and protection for goods during transport, along with appealing and secure display capabilities, while allowing the user to orient the case in a customized manner to suit their particular needs.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a transport, storage and display system that can be used to protect goods during transport or storage, while having the capability to display goods securely and in an aesthetically appealing way. Accordingly, the present system is readily convertible between a display configuration and a stacked transport/storage configuration.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a transport, storage and display case system convertible between a display configuration and a stacked transport/storage configuration, the system comprising (i) two or more stackable cases and (ii) a top portion. Each case comprises a bottom portion and a frame portion associated with the bottom portion. The frame portion comprises a first end portion, a second end portion a first side portion, and a second side portion. The first end portion upwardly projects from a first end of the bottom portion and transversely extends between a first side and a second side of the bottom portion; and the second end portion upwardly projecting from a second end of the bottom portion and transversely extending between the first side and the second side of the bottom portion. The first side portion extends from the first end of the bottom portion to the second end of the bottom portion and projects upwardly from the first side of the bottom portion. The second side portion extends from the first end of the bottom portion to the second end of the bottom portion and projects upwardly from the second side of the bottom portion. Each of the first and second side portion further comprise one or more magnets located on an outer surface, the magnets being provided to facilitate secure interaction between adjacent cases arranged in the display configuration. The first end portion, the second end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion of the frame portion each have an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edges having an outwardly oriented first rabbet ledge, the upper edges having a transversely extending, inwardly oriented second rabbet ledge, and the upper edges together forming an upper periphery of a case. The top portion is configured to longitudinally extend between the first end portion and the second end portion and transversely extend between the first side portion and the second side portion of the frame portion of the uppermost case of two or more cases in the stacked transport/storage configuration. The bottom portion is configured to engage the lower edges of the first end portion, the second end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion of the frame portion, and the bottom portion of an upper case is shaped to engage with the upper periphery of a lower case when two or more of said cases are in the stacked transport/storage configuration.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a transport, storage and display case system convertible between a display configuration and a stacked transport/storage configuration, the system comprising: (i) two or more stackable cases and (ii) a top portion. Each case comprises a bottom portion and a modular frame portion associated with the bottom portion. The modular frame portion comprises a central module comprising a first central side portion, a second central side portion, and at least one divider portion transversely extending between the first central side portion and the second central side portion. The modular frame portion also comprises a first end module and a second end module. Each of the first and second end modules comprises an end portion and two end side portions, one of the end side portions longitudinally extending from the end portion along the first side of the bottom portion toward the first central side portion of the central module and the other of the end side portions longitudinally extending from the end portion along the second side of the bottom portion toward the second central side portion of the central module, wherein two end side portions and the central portion together form a side portion of the modular frame portion. The first end portion, the second end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion of the modular frame portion each have an upper edge and a lower edge, the lower edges having a transversely extending, outwardly oriented first rabbet ledge, the upper edges having a transversely extending, inwardly oriented second rabbet ledge, and the upper edges together form an upper periphery of a case. Each of the first side portion and the second side portion of the modular frame portion further comprise one or more magnets located on an outer surface, the magnets being provided to facilitate secure interaction between adjacent cases arranged in the display configuration. The top portion is configured to longitudinally extend between the first end portion and the second end portion and transversely extend between the first side portion and the second side portion of the modular frame portion of the uppermost case of two or more cases in the stacked transport/storage configuration. The bottom portion is configured to engage the lower edges of the first end portion, the second end portion, the first side portion of the frame portion, and the second side portion, and the bottom portion of an upper case is shaped to engage with the upper periphery of a lower case when two or more of said cases are in the stacked transport/storage configuration.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a case
Embodiments of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following Figures, in which:
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
The present invention provides a protective transport, storage and display case and system comprising a plurality of stackable storage cases. In accordance with the present invention, the system is easily converted from a stacked transport/storage configuration to a secure display configuration. In one embodiment, the system comprises two or more stackable cases. In the transport/storage configuration, the cases are stacked for convenient transportation. In such a configuration, the bottom of an upper case acts as a cover for the case below, and the uppermost case of the stack is provided with a top configured to cover the open upper face of the case.
The system is readily converted from the transport/storage configuration to the display configuration, by unstacking the cases, and setting the respective cases side by side to facilitate display of the contents of the cases.
The individual cases are provided with magnets that are located to facilitate a secure display configuration. Accordingly, the cases can be magnetically fastened or interconnected to one another, and formed into different orientations depending upon the desired application of the system. The individual cases are further provided with magnets to facilitate secure transportation in the stacked transport/storage configuration.
In one embodiment, the system further comprises a strapping system comprising a handle and one or more straps suitably sized to wrap around the plurality of storage cases in the stacked transportation configuration to facilitate transportation. In a preferred embodiment, the strap(s) are provided with magnets located to correspond to, and interact with, magnets on the individual storage cases to provide additional security during transportation.
Further, it is contemplated that the present invention can be utilized to store, transport and display any number or type of items. For example, the system may be suitable for use in displaying and transporting retail goods. It is also contemplated that the system disclosed herein may be used in any context where flexibility in the configuration of the system is desired, for example, in the secure transport or storage of an assembled system in an irregularly shaped space.
The storage case in accordance with the present invention can generally be described as having a bottom portion, and a frame portion associated with the bottom portion, the frame portion having a first end portion, second end portion, at least one first side portion and at least one second side portion. The storage case may also be provided with a top portion (cover).
In one embodiment, each case comprises a bottom portion having a first end and a second end and a first side and a second side. Associated with each bottom portion is a frame portion, wherein the frame portion comprises a first end portion and a second end portion. Each of the end portions extends transversely between the first side and the second side of the bottom portion. The frame portion also comprises first and second side portions extending from the first end of the bottom portion to the second end of the bottom portion.
The bottom portion is configured to engage the first end portion, the second end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion of the frame portion at their lower edges. In one embodiment, the lower edges of the first end portion, the second end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion have an inwardly oriented flange, wherein the bottom portion is configured to rest on the inwardly oriented flange. In another embodiment, the lower edges of the first end portion, the second end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion have an inwardly oriented channel, wherein the bottom portion is configured to fit within the inwardly oriented channel.
In one embodiment, the frame portion further comprises at least one divider portion extending between the first and second sides of the frame and/or between the first and second ends of the frame, wherein the ends of the divider portion(s) abut an inner surface of the side portions and/or end portions. The divider(s) may thus form two or more distinct compartments within the frame, the compartments being of suitable size and shape for the desired display and/or transport requirements. In a further embodiment, the system optionally includes molded inserts sized to fit within the compartments and suitably shaped to accommodate the goods being displayed.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the frame portion associated with the bottom portion is provided as a modular frame portion. In this embodiment, the modular frame portion comprises a central module and first and second end modules. In one embodiment, the central module comprises a first and second central side portion and at least one divider portion transversely extending between the first and second central side portions. In one embodiment, each of the first and second end modules comprises a respective end portion and two end side portions, each of the end side portions longitudinally extending from the end portion along a respective side of the bottom portion toward the central side portion of the central module.
In this embodiment, the first and second side portions of the frame portion are each formed of three parts, wherein the two end side portions and the first central side portion together form the side portion of the modular frame portion.
In the modular frame embodiment, the central side portion and end side portions that together form the side portion are connected via any suitable connection arrangement. One suitable arrangement is a tongue and slot arrangement, wherein a tongue on one portion projects into a corresponding slot on an adjacent portion. In one embodiment, the projecting tongue is secured within the receiving slot by way of securing means including, but not limited to, an adhesive such as glue, a mechanical fasteners such as a screw, or by frictional fit.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cases have one or more magnets located on an outer surface of the side portions and/or end portions. The magnets are located in a position that facilitates secure interaction between adjacent cases arranged in the display configuration. For example, when the cases are arranged side by side in the display configuration, the magnets on the outer surface of the side portions of adjacent cases are in a suitable position to maximize the magnetic interaction between adjacent cases, thereby providing a secure display configuration. It is also contemplated that magnets located on the outer surface of the end portions facilitate a secure end to end display configuration.
In one embodiment, the magnets are provided in recesses in the side portions and/or end portions of the cases, thereby ensuring that the sides of adjacent cases are in contact with each other while also maintaining the necessary magnetic interaction to securely hold the adjacent cases in the desired display configuration.
In one embodiment, at least one of an outer surface of the first end portion and an outer surface of the second end portion further comprises at least one handle. These handles are provided to facilitate conversion from the stacked configuration to the display configuration, and vice versa.
In accordance with the present invention, the lower edges of the frame portion are further configured to securely engage the bottom portion when the bottom portion and the frame portion are assembled to form the case.
In one embodiment, the lower edges of the first and second end portions and the first and second side portions of the frame have a transversely extending, outwardly oriented first rabbet ledge. In one embodiment, the upper edges of the first and second end portions and the first and second side portions of the frame have a transversely extending, inwardly oriented second rabbet ledge.
In a preferred embodiment, the transport, storage and display system of the present invention comprises a plurality of assembled cases. It is contemplated that the system in the stacked transport/storage configuration may comprise any number of cases, provided that the stacked assembly is transportable. The number of cases that may be considered to be suitable will be determined by the size of the respective individual cases and the resulting overall size of the stacked cases. In one embodiment, the system comprises between 2 to 15 cases.
In accordance with the present invention, an assembled case is configured to stack upon another assembled case. To facilitate stacking, the bottom portion of an upper case is shaped to engage with an upper periphery formed by the upper edges of a lower case.
In a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of upper magnets are provided around the upper periphery of each of the cases, and a plurality of corresponding lower magnets are provided around the periphery of the bottom portion of each of the cases. In this embodiment, the upper magnets and the lower magnets are located to provide secure interaction between adjacent cases when two or more of the cases are in the stacked transport/storage configuration.
In accordance with the present invention, the system further comprises a top portion sized and shaped to provide a cover for the uppermost case of the two or more stacked cases. In one embodiment, the top portion is configured to longitudinally extend between the first and second end portions and transversely extend between the first and second side portions of the frame portion of the uppermost case of two or more cases in the stacked transport/storage configuration.
In one embodiment, the top portion further comprises a downwardly and outwardly facing perimeter rabbet ledge, wherein an outer perimeter surface of the downwardly and outwardly facing perimeter rabbet ledge of the top portion engages an inner surface of the second rabbet ledge of the first side portion, an inner surface of the second rabbet ledge of the second side portion, an inner surface of the second rabbet ledge of the first end portion and an inner surface of the second rabbet ledge of the second end portion of one of the frame portion.
In one embodiment, the top portion is provided with magnets around its periphery. In this embodiment, the top portion magnets are located at positions suitable to interact with the plurality of upper magnets provided around the upper periphery of the case to ensure that the top portion is held securely in place.
In accordance with the present invention, the system further comprises a strapping system comprising one or more straps of a suitable length to wrap around a plurality of storage cases in the stacked transport/storage configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the ends of the straps overlap at the respective ends when wrapped around the stacked cases in the transport/storage configuration. The ends of the straps may be attached to each other using any suitable fastener mechanism known in the art, including, but not limited, to Velcro® (hook and loop) fasteners, or snap fasteners, or buttons.
In one embodiment, the strap(s) are further provided with a series of magnets located to interact with the magnets located on the outer surface of the frame portion of the plurality of cases when the cases are in the stacked transport/storage configuration and the straps are wrapped around the stacked cases.
The strapping system further comprises a handle attached to the strap(s) in a location suitable for convenient transport of the stacked cases. In one embodiment, the handle is removably connected to the straps by a suitable clipping system. In this implementation, the handle may be removed, for example, to access the uppermost case without requiring removal of the magnetically engaged straps while in the stacked transport/storage configuration.
In a further embodiment, the system further comprises wheels attached to the bottom portion of a lowermost case of a plurality of cases in the stacked transport/storage configuration. The wheels are provided to facilitate transport of the cases in the stacked configuration.
In one embodiment, at least one of an inner surface of the second rabbet ledge of the first side portion, the second side portion, the first end portion and the second end portion and at least one of the upper edge of the first side portion, the upper edge of the second side portion, the upper edge of the first end portion, the upper edge of the second end portion are chamfered, rounded or filleted.
In one embodiment, an upper perimeter surface and an inner perimeter surface of the upwardly projecting perimeter rim are chamfered, rounded or filleted.
In one embodiment, a case may be further provided with a false bottom, wherein a perimeter edge of the false bottom is received in the inwardly oriented, extending channel on the lower edges of the first and second end portions and the first and second side portions.
Turning to
In this embodiment, bottom portion 12 is analogous and identical to top portion 14. In other embodiments, it is also contemplated that these two components are not identical such that top portion 14 is only suitable for use as a cover, as will be readily understood by the skilled person. For example, top portion 14 may be formed of a clear material suitable for display purposes, such as a polymeric material or glass. In one embodiment, top portion 14 is formed of polypropylene.
As can be seen in
In this embodiment, storage case 10 has a first end portion 16 located at a first end of storage case 10 and a second end portion 18 located at a second end of storage case 10. Further, both first end portion 16 and second end portion 18 extend upwardly between bottom portion 12 and top portion 14, and extend transversely between a first side of storage case 10, and second side of storage case 10. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that first end portion 16 or second end portion 18 optionally include one or more handles 40.
As will be readily appreciated by the skilled person, it is contemplated that both the first side portion and second side portion can each be comprised of a single component or any number of multiple components suitably interconnected as required by the needs of the instant application.
In one embodiment, the first side portion and the second side portion are each formed of two or more side portions that, when placed end to end, extend longitudinally between a first end 16 of storage case 10 and a second end 18 of storage case 10 and extend transversely upwardly between bottom portion 12 and top portion 14. In this embodiment and as will be discussed in further detail below, the multiple individual side portions can be interconnected by a tongue and slot interconnection, however other arrangements will also be readily appreciated by the skilled person. In some embodiments it is contemplated that the slot can further include a hole (that communicates with the interior space enclosed by or exterior space surrounding the case) that is adapted to receive adhesive.
In one embodiment, storage case 10 further includes at least one divider portion 30 that extends transversely between the first side and second side of storage case 10 in a manner that can be analogous to both first end portion 12 and second end portion 14, as discussed above.
In a preferred embodiment, the frame portion is provided as a modular system. In such an embodiment, the frame portion is formed from a first end module, a second end module, and a central module.
Turning to
In this embodiment, first end portion 16 and a second end portion 18 of the frame portion extend upwardly from bottom portion 12. Further, both first end portion 16 and second end portion 18 also extend transversely between the first and second sides of frame portion 11 of storage case. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that first end portion 16 or second end portion 18 could further and optionally include one or more handles 40.
Turning to
In the modular embodiment depicted in
Accordingly, each side component has one of a projecting tongue 24 or a cooperating slot 26 such that multiple adjacent side components 20A-C and 22A-C can be interconnected to result in a single continuous side portion that extends longitudinally from the first end portion 16 to the second end portion 18 of the frame portion 11 of the storage case, as will be discussed in further detail below.
As depicted in
For example, in a preferred embodiment, one or more recesses 50 may be provided along the upper edge of frame portion 11, for example, on an upper edge of the end portions 16, 18, on an upper edge of the first side portion 20 and/or on an upper edge of the second side portion 22. These recesses each provide a mounting surface for an upper magnet. In a further embodiment, a corresponding lower magnet is located on a lower edge of the end portions 16, 18, on a lower edge of the first side portion 20 and/or on a lower edge of the second side portion 22. In an alternative embodiment, the corresponding lower magnet is located around the periphery of the bottom portion. In each of these embodiments, the lower magnets are located to correspond to the locations of the magnet(s) on the upper edges to ensure that stacked storage cases are held securely through magnetic attraction.
In a further preferred embodiment, first side portion 20 and second side portion 22 (and optionally end portions 16, 18) are each provided with one or more secondary recesses 52 on an outer surface. These secondary recesses each house a magnet. In this embodiment, the magnet(s) on the first side portions are each located to correspond to the magnet(s) on the second side portions such that when storage cases are placed side by side each other in a display configuration, adjacent cases are held securely through magnetic attraction.
Further, it is contemplated that in some embodiments, secondary recess 52 is circular in shape and can optionally include a centrally located bore hole 53 as shown in
It is also contemplated that end portion 16, 18 (or analogously, first side portion 20 or second side portion 22) can optionally include a bore hole 54 that permits a user to mount a label or sign with a cooperating detent.
Turning to
In the embodiment of a strapping system 90A shown in
In the embodiment of a strapping system 90B shown in
As depicted in
Turning to
In some embodiments, it is also contemplated that the lower, outer edges of the first side portion 20, second side portion 22, and end portions 16, 18 are finished with an outwardly and downwardly facing rabbet ledge 64 (i.e., a cutout ledge having two perpendicular walls). Other profile shapes are also contemplated as required by the particular embodiment and as will be readily appreciated by the skilled person.
In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the lower, inner edge of at least one of the first side portion 20, second side portion 22, or end portion 16, 18 can further include an inwardly projecting flange 66. In one embodiment, bottom portion 12 is configured to rest on the inwardly oriented flange (not shown). In some embodiments, it is contemplated that inwardly projecting flange 66 is perpendicularly oriented to, for example, first side portion 20, second side portion 22, or end portion 16, 18 as will be readily understood by the skilled person. Further, it is contemplated that the distal edge of inwardly projecting flange 66 can be finished with a chamfer, among other finishing arrangements that will be readily appreciated by the skilled person.
In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the lower, inner surface of at least one of the first side portion 20, second side portion 22, or end portion 16, 18 can further include a secondary inwardly projecting flange 68 that is spaced apart from inwardly projecting flange 66. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that secondary inwardly projecting flange 68 can also be perpendicularly oriented to, for example, first side portion 20, second side portion 22, or end portion 16, 18 as will be readily appreciated by the skilled person. Further, it is contemplated that an upper side of the secondary inwardly projecting flange 68 can be finished with a rounded fillet, among other finishing arrangements that will be readily appreciated by the skilled person.
In this embodiment inwardly projecting flange 66 and secondary inwardly projecting flange 68 define an inwardly opening channel 78 therebetween. In one embodiment, bottom portion 12 is configured to fit within the inwardly opening channel (not shown). As will be appreciated by the skilled person, in some embodiments channel 78 will extend fully around the perimeter of the lower inner surface of frame portion 11 of the storage case. In other embodiments, it is contemplated that channel 78 only extends partially around the lower inner surface of frame portion 11 of the storage case in a discontinuous manner.
In one embodiment, it is contemplated that a false bottom (not shown) can also be held within channel 78. It is contemplated that the false floor can be manufactured of polymer, cardboard, felt or any other suitable material as will be readily appreciated by the skilled person.
Turning back to
Further, in embodiments that include secondary recesses, multiple storage cases can be aligned side by side in a transverse manner and interconnected by way of magnets or any other suitable connectors.
It is further contemplated that a cover can be provided in order to provide protection to multiple interconnected, stacked storage cases. In this way, the storage case system can be secured and further protected from rain, prying eyes, or being upset during transport.
It will be readily understood that all components discussed herein can be constructed of any suitable materials including but not limited to polymeric materials, wood, cardboard. Further, all components discussed herein can be manufactured by any suitable process that will be readily appreciated by the skilled person.
It is obvious that the foregoing embodiments of the invention are examples and can be varied in many ways. Such present or future variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the description, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CA2016/050275 | 3/11/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62132279 | Mar 2015 | US |
