U.S. patent application number 10/483801 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-09 for ballot box that can be assembled and disassembled.
Invention is credited to Gregorio Gracia, Oscar Rodolfo.
Application Number | 20040173610 10/483801 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8498626 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040173610 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gregorio Gracia, Oscar
Rodolfo |
September 9, 2004 |
Ballot box that can be assembled and disassembled
Abstract
A ballot box is disclosed which is susceptible to easily and
quickly being assembled and disassembled, without needing accessory
elements, instruments or tools of any type. The ballot box has a
lower base, four side walls and a cover, all of them formed by
means of flat panel elements, the linking between them being
carried out by means of the formation of mutually fitting tabs and
grooves, and the cover being provided with hinging means integral
therewith. In an alternative embodiment, the tabs and grooves of
the panels constituting the side walls of the ballot box can be
replaced with channeled formations on two opposing walls,
susceptible to receiving and housing other flap-like formations
carried out on the other two alternate side walls.
Inventors: |
Gregorio Gracia, Oscar Rodolfo;
(Madrid, ES) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JORDAN AND HAMBURG LLP
122 EAST 42ND STREET
SUITE 4000
NEW YORK
NY
10168
US
|
Family ID: |
8498626 |
Appl. No.: |
10/483801 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 28, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/ES02/00255 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 11/1873 20130101;
B65D 43/164 20130101; G07C 13/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/004.28 |
International
Class: |
B65D 006/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 16, 2001 |
ES |
U 200101825 |
Claims
1.- A mountable and demountable ballot box of the type used for
receiving ballot papers, susceptible to being easily and quickly
assembled or disassembled without needing to use accessory
elements, instruments or tools of any type, characterized in that
it is constituted of a base (7) with tabs (9) and grooves (8), four
flat panel-like parts (1, 3) for constituting the side walls, of
which walls two parts (1) are provided with grooves (2), and the
other two parts (3) are provided with grooves (6) and tabs (4),
which can be respectively fitted to one another and to the base
(7), and a cover (10) provided with tabs (11) constituting hinging
means, and with a possible conventional lock (12) completing the
locking elements.
2.- A ballot box according to claim 1, characterized in that in an
alternative embodiment, the base (7) incorporates a lower stepped
area with the formation of channels (8) on its sides, and tabs (17)
projecting from the two minor edges of the base, coplanar to the
latter; the side panels (1) are provided with grooves (18) made
next to their respective lower edge, adapted and dimensioned so as
to allow internally housing the tabs (17) of the base (7); the
panels (1) constituting the side walls of the ballot box also
comprise, in correspondence with their side edges, the formation of
pairs of short walls, projecting orthogonally to the panel,
parallel to one another, separated so as to give rise to the
formation of a channel (19); and the front and rear panels (3) are
provided with flaps (20) respectively projecting from each one of
their side edges, in a manner coplanar to the panel (3) to which
they belong, and arranged in positions such that when the ballot
box is assembled, said flaps (20) are housed in the respective
adjacent channels (19) of the side wall panels (1) of the ballot
box.
Description
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention refers to a mountable and demountable
ballot box providing essential novelty features and significant
advantages with regard to the means known and used for the same
purposes in the current state of the art.
[0002] More specifically, the invention proposes the development of
a ballot box of the type used when carrying out elections of any
type, prepared to internally receive the ballot papers used by all
those present in the place where it is installed, designed such
that it is constituted of a number of individual panels susceptible
to mutual linkage, which allow being assembled and disassembled
when it is necessary to mount/demount the ballot box, without
needing to use any type of fittings, accessories or tools of any
type. Furthermore, the design of the panels, particularly the front
panel and the panel constituting the cover, is carried out such
that they allow incorporating secure closing means preventing
unwanted access to the interior, as well as the adaptation, when
necessary, of conventional means (electronic, etc.) for counting
the number of votes inserted in the ballot box.
[0003] The field of application of the invention is comprised
within the sector of public institutions, advertising, marketing,
promotional companies, etc., for the purpose of holding elections,
lot drawings or the like.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is generally known that when elections of any type are
held, either for covering vacant posts eligible among several
candidates, or for the purpose of political elections, or for any
other reason, ballot boxes, generally transparent, provided with an
upper cover for opening/closing the ballot box, said upper covers
being provided with a slot opening, being rather narrow and
suitable in length, through which each voter introduces his/her
paper ballet(s), are arranged in the vote collection areas. Once
voting has concluded, opening of the upper cover enables accessing
the inside of the ballot box to remove, select and count the votes
deposited therein.
[0005] Currently existing ballot boxes generally consist of
parallelepipedic boxes with considerable dimensions, whereby
handling and storage thereof requires considerable space, and
furthermore, when elections are carried out, for example political
elections, in which a large number of voting areas must be
outfitted throughout a territory or an entire country, this implies
a very significant investment of transportation time and costs to
their placement in the different places chosen for that
purpose.
[0006] As a primary objective, the present invention proposes the
development of a ballot box intended for said vote collection
activity, by means of which all the drawbacks associated to the
distribution and use of currently existing ballot boxes are
significantly simplified.
[0007] This objective has been completely achieved by means of the
ballot box which will be described hereinafter, which is
constituted of an assembly of panels intended for constituting the
sides, the lower base, and the closure cover of the box, said
panels being designed and configured such that they allow mutual
coupling, where applicable, such that they can be assembled at the
time of voting and disassembled once voting has finished. Thus,
handling, transport and storage of the ballot boxes requires
considerably less space than that of conventional ballot boxes,
with much shorter times and lower costs of transportation than
those associated to said conventional ballot boxes.
[0008] According to the invention, the ballot box is configured
from four flat side panels, preferably made of a transparent,
heavy-duty plastic, which on their respective side edges have
groove- and/or tab-like formations prepared for coupling with the
tabs and/or grooves provided, respectively, either on the panels
constituting the adjacent walls or on the lower base. For its part,
in addition to including an elongated narrow groove having a
predetermined length, the panel forming the upper closure cover has
been provided with integrated hinging elements formed in
correspondence with one of its length-wise edges, these hinging
elements being susceptible to adaptation in grooves provided for
that purpose on the rear side panel, whereas near the opposite
edge, the cover panel can include locking means ensuring
maintenance of the cover in its closed state during the time it is
to be used.
[0009] As an alternative to the previously described embodiment,
the panels can be configured such that a part of them is provided
on their edges with the formation of a projecting flap, coplanar
with the panel to which it belongs, extended along said edges,
whereas the panels intended for coupling to the aforementioned ones
are provided, in correspondence with their coupling edges, with the
formation of a respective channel, orthogonal to the plane of the
panel, having a width and length corresponding to the flap they are
to internally receive and house. As in the previous case, the
closure cover is provided with a groove for inserting the ballot
papers, hinging means next to the rear edge, and closing means next
to the front edge.
[0010] In either of the alternatives discussed, the ballot box of
the invention can include other additional conventional means for
the purpose of increasing security or for providing additional
information, such as, for example, a lock formed by numerical
cylinders or even an electronic code lock, or mechanical or
electronic means as well, mounted on the upper cover, for counting
the votes inserted inside the ballot box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] These and other features and advantages of the invention
will become more clearly evident from the following detailed
description of a preferred embodiment, given only as an
illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the
attached drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the different
panels constituting the ballot box of the invention according to a
first embodiment thereof;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a ballot box obtained
from the elements of FIG. 1, with the upper cover separated and
ready to be coupled;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the elements
constituting a ballot box according to an alternative embodiment of
the invention, together with two enlarged details, and
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a ballot box obtained
from the elements of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] According to the foregoing, the detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention will be carried out
hereinafter with the aid of the figures of the attached drawings,
throughout which drawings the same numerical references are used to
designate equal or similar parts. Thus, first with reference to
FIG. 1 of the drawings, an exploded perspective view of the
different elements constituting the ballot box of the invention can
be seen. As can be seen, the ballot box is obtained from four side
panels referenced with numbers 1 and 3, of which two panels 1,
constituting the walls of both sides, are provided with grooves 2
in positions near both respective side edges, whereas panels 3,
intended for forming the front and rear walls of the ballot box,
are provided with tabs 4 projecting from both side edges, coplanar
with the panel to which they belong, and grooves 6 in
correspondence with the lower positioning edge.
[0017] For its part, a panel 7, intended for constituting the lower
base of the ballot box, is configured such that it is provided with
an opening 8 on each one of the minor sides, dimensioned such that
it allows inserting and receiving the lower edge of panel 1 of that
side, as well as upwardly projecting tabs 9 dimensioned such that
they allow being inserted in the grooves 6 of the respective front
and rear panels 3 when the ballot box is assembled. The front panel
3 is also provided with an opening 5 near its upper edge, intended
for cooperating with the closing means of the upper cover, whereas
the rear panel 3 is provided with a pair of openings 13 near its
upper edge, intended for receiving and housing hinging means
associated to the upper cover.
[0018] Said upper cover, constituted of a panel referenced with
number 10, is flat, it is provided with a conventional-type opening
14, being somewhat narrow and having a predetermined length,
intended for allowing passage of the paper ballots through it
towards the internal space of the ballot box, and in relation to
its rear edge, it has been provided with hinging means 11, integral
therewith, configured and dimensioned so as to be housed in the
grooves 13 of said rear panel 3. In relation to the front edge, at
a position near the latter, arrangement of a lock 12 has been
provided for, the attachment means of which is housed inside the
groove 5 made on the front panel 3 when the cover is closed.
[0019] The ballot box can be kept disassembled when not in use,
then occupying a reduced space since the entire ballot box is
formed by flat panels and, therefore, having a minimum volume. When
the ballot box is to be used, its assembly can be carried out
without the need of instruments or tools of any type, but rather
the operation assembly is easy, fast and susceptible of being
carried out manually. For this purpose, to assemble the ballot box
it is enough to couple the panels 1, 3 to one another and to the
base 7 with the use of the tab-like formations 4 of the front and
rear panels 3 to be inserted into the grooves 2 of the side panels
1, the insertion of the lower edges of the side panels 2 into the
channels 8 of the base, and the insertion of the tabs 9 of said
base 7 into the grooves 6 of the front and rear panels 3. A ballot
box, such as the one shown 2, is obtained with this, with a minimum
effort and in reduced time.
[0020] Then, the cover 10 (already provided with its corresponding
lock 12) is coupled by means of inserting the hinging means 11 into
the grooves 13 formed for that purpose on the rear panel 3. The
ballot box is thereby prepared for use. Furthermore, as will be
understood, disassembly is equally simple and fast, by repeating
the same operations as before, but only in a reverse order.
[0021] Referring now to the representation in FIG. 3, an exploded
perspective view of the elements involved in a ballot box
corresponding to an alternative embodiment of the invention can be
seen. As in the first embodiment described, the ballot box
comprises two panels 1 intended for forming the side walls, two
panels 3 intended for providing the front and rear walls of the
ballot box, a panel 7 constituting the lower base, and a panel 10
intended for forming the upper cover of the ballot box. The rear
panel 3 is provided with grooves 13 next to its upper edge for
receiving the hinging means 11 incorporated by the upper cover
panel 10, whereas in this case, it was preferred to show the option
corresponding to the use of closing means constituted of a lock of
the numerical cylinder type, referenced with number 15, and a
foldable latching element, referenced with number 16, and
incorporated on the front edge of the upper cover 10.
[0022] In this embodiment, the linkage between panels constituting
the four side walls and the base and/or cover, is carried out with
the aid of mutual coupling tabs, grooves, flaps and channeled
formations. In effect, if looking at the different views of FIG. 3,
it can be seen that in addition to the channels 8, the base 7 is
provided with outwardly projecting tabs 17 on two minor sides,
coplanar with the actual base 7, whereas the panels 1 constituting
the minor sides of the ballot box are provided with grooves 18 near
their lower edge, in a position correspondingly facing said tabs
17, whereas along both side edges they are provided with short,
orthogonal walls, parallel to and separated from one another for
the formation of a channel 19 on either side; for their part, the
panels 3 intended for constructing the front and rear walls of the
ballot box are provided with outwardly projecting flaps 20 in
correspondence with each one of their side edges, coplanar to the
actual panel to which they belong, and formed such that they face
the respective adjacent channel 19 of the side wall panel 1. In
these conditions, and according to the different successive
assembly phases shown in FIG. 3, obtaining the mounted ballot box
appearing in FIG. 4 is attained with the coupling of lower edges of
the front and rear panels 3 in the perimetral, stepped, channeled
portion of the base 7, and the subsequent coupling of each side
panel 1 after inserting the tabs 17 projecting from the base 7 into
the grooves 18 carried out on each mentioned panel 1, and then
taking each side panel 1 to its upright position, such that the
flaps 20 of each front and rear panel 3 are housed inside the
channels 19 formed in both mentioned side panels 1. Detail D1 shows
an enlarged view of the coupling between a tab 17 of the base 7 and
a groove 18 of a side panel 1.
[0023] Then, coupling of the cover is carried out by simply
inserting the hinging means 11 in the grooves 13 made for that
purpose next to the upper edge of the rear wall 3, the assembly
thereby being ready for use. Detail D2 shows an enlarged view of
the insertion of the hinging means 11, integral with the cover 10,
into the inside of a groove 13 of the rear wall 3.
[0024] As will be understood, to carry out the disassembly of the
ballot box, as in the case of the first embodiment discussed, it is
enough to carry out the same operations as for the assembly but in
a reverse order.
[0025] On the other hand, the definition of the positions of the
grooves, tabs, flaps and channels set forth in the foregoing and
which are represented in the drawings, should not be interpreted as
limiting of the invention, since said positions could be reversed,
obtaining the same results.
[0026] It is not deemed necessary to extend the content of this
description so that a person skilled in the art can understand its
scope and the advantages derived from the invention, as well as to
develop and carry out into practice the object thereof.
[0027] However, it must be understood that the invention has been
described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, as a result
of which it is susceptible to modifications without implying any
alteration whatsoever of the basis of said invention, said
modifications being able to especially affect the shape, size
and/or the manufacturing materials of the assembly or of its
parts.
* * * * *