U.S. patent application number 10/907772 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-19 for multi-functional shoe storage box.
Invention is credited to LISA LYNN KIM, DER LIANG MU.
Application Number | 20060231602 10/907772 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37107535 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060231602 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MU; DER LIANG ; et
al. |
October 19, 2006 |
MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SHOE STORAGE BOX
Abstract
A multi-functional shoe storage box comprising an outer
container defined by a bottom plate and first to third side plates,
the first and second side plates facing each other, the third side
plate completing the outer container with a fourth side being a
slide opening. A cover has a top plate hingedly extending from the
second side plate with a wing plate extending from the top plate so
that when the cover is hingedly closed the wing plate becomes
overlapped onto the first side plate. An inner container with its
first and second plates facing each other, the inner third and
fourth plates facing each other, whereby the inner container is
slid through the slide opening in and out of the outer container. A
side tab extending outwardly from the outer container bottom plate
has a hole.
Inventors: |
MU; DER LIANG; (RANCHO PALOS
VERDES, CA) ; KIM; LISA LYNN; (RANCHO PALOS VERDES,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IPLA P.A.
3580 WILSHIRE BLVD.
17TH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90010
US
|
Family ID: |
37107535 |
Appl. No.: |
10/907772 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/125.015 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/38 20130101; B65D
85/187 20130101; B65D 5/302 20130101; B65D 2301/20 20130101; B65D
5/4295 20130101; B65D 5/4208 20130101; B65D 5/6661 20130101; B65D
5/46024 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/125.015 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/00 20060101
B65D043/00 |
Claims
1. A multi-functional shoe storage box, comprising: a) a
substantially transparent outer container defined by a bottom plate
and first to third side plates, the first and second side plates
facing each other, the third side plate completing the outer
container with a fourth side of the outer container being a slide
opening; b) a substantially transparent cover to the outer
container, wherein the cover has a top plate hingedly extending
from the second side plate, wherein a wing plate extends from the
top plate so that when the cover is hingedly closed the wing plate
becomes overlapped onto the first side plate; c) a substantially
transparent inner container defined by a bottom plate and first to
fourth side plates, the inner container first and second plates
facing each other, the inner container third and fourth plates
facing each other, whereby the inner container is slid through the
slide opening in and out of the outer container; and d) a
substantially transparent side tab extending outwardly from the
outer container bottom plate and adjacent to the slide opening, the
side tab having a hole.
2. The shoe storage box of claim 1 further comprising an elongate
handle detachably attached to an outer surface of the first side
plate of the inner container, wherein the elongate handle is
externally exposed sequentially through a first slot formed in the
outer container first side plate and through a second slot formed
in the wing plate.
3. The shoe storage box of claim 1 further comprising a locking
member to detachably attach the wing plate to the outer container
first side plate, wherein the locking member is a hook and pile
alternately formed on an outer surface portion of the outer
container first side plate and on an inner surface portion of the
cover wing plate.
4. The shoe storage box of claim 1 further comprising a locking
member to detachably attach the wing plate to the outer container
first side plate, wherein the locking member is formed of an insert
extending from the wing plate and an insert slit formed in the
outer container first side plate.
5. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the outer container
first and second side plates are connected to the outer container
third side plate by a tab-to-slit mechanism of an outer fly tab
selectively extending from the outer container first to third side
plates and an outer fly slit formed in the outer container first to
third side plates to accept the corresponding fly tab, wherein the
inner container first and second side plates are connected to the
inner container third and fourth side plates by a tab-to-slit
mechanism of a pair of inner fly tabs selectively extending from
the inner container first to fourth side plates and a pair of inner
fly slits formed in the inner container first to fourth side plates
to accept the corresponding fly tabs such that the outer fly tab is
placed between the inner fly tabs when the inner container is slid
into the outer container.
6. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the outer container
first and second side plates are connected to the outer container
third side plate by a tab-to-slit mechanism of a pair of outer fly
tabs selectively extending from the outer container first to third
side plates and a pair of outer fly slits formed in the outer
container first to third side plates to accept the corresponding
fly tabs, wherein the inner container first and second side plates
are connected to the inner container third and fourth side plates
by a tab-to-slit mechanism of three inner fly tabs selectively
extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates and
three inner fly slits formed in the inner container first to fourth
side plates to accept the corresponding inner fly tabs such that
the pair of outer fly tabs are alternately placed among the three
inner fly tabs when the inner container is slid into the outer
container.
7. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the fourth side plate of
the inner container has a grip opening around a center thereof to
facilitate a manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container
against the outer container.
8. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the fourth side plate
has a top opening to further facilitate the manual push-in and
pull-out of the inner container against the outer container.
9. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein each of the third side
plates of the outer and inner containers has a ventilation opening
in a corresponding mode.
10. The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the containers, cover
and side tab are each formed of one selected from transparent
polyprophylene (PP) and transparent PVC.
11. A multi-functional shoe storage box, comprising: a) a
substantially transparent outer container defined by a bottom plate
and first to third side plates, the first and second side plates
facing each other, the third side plate completing the outer
container with a fourth side of the outer container being a slide
opening, wherein a top surface of the bottom plate is selectively
pitted to form a plurality of porous openings; b) a substantially
transparent cover to the outer container, wherein the cover has a
top plate hingedly extending from the second side plate, wherein a
wing plate extends from the top plate so that when the cover is
hingedly closed the wing plate becomes overlapped onto the first
side plate; c) a substantially transparent inner container defined
by a bottom plate and first to fourth side plates, the inner
container first and second plates facing each other, the inner
container third and fourth plates facing each other, wherein a
lower surface of the inner container bottom plate is selectively
embossed to form a plurality of bosses to fit in the porous
openings when the inner container is slid through the slide
opening; and d) a substantially transparent side tab extending
outwardly from the outer container bottom plate and adjacent to the
slide opening, the side tab having a hole.
12. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein a top surface of the
top plate is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous
openings.
13. The shoe storage box of claim 11 further comprising an elongate
handle detachably attached to an outer surface of the first side
plate of the inner container, wherein the elongate handle is
externally exposed sequentially through a first slot formed in the
outer container first side plate and through a second slot formed
in the wing plate.
14. The shoe storage box of claim 11 further comprising a locking
member to detachably attach the wing plate to the outer container
first side plate, wherein the locking member is a hook and pile
alternately formed on an outer surface portion of the outer
container first side plate and on an inner surface portion of the
cover wing plate.
15. The shoe storage box of claim 11 further comprising a locking
member to detachably attach the wing plate to the outer container
first side plate, wherein the locking member is formed of an insert
extending from the wing plate and an insert slit formed in the
outer container first side plate.
16. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein the outer container
first and second side plates are connected to the outer container
third side plate by a tab-to-slit mechanism of an outer fly tab
selectively extending from the outer container first to third side
plates and an outer fly slit formed in the outer container first to
third side plates to accept the corresponding fly tab, wherein the
inner container first and second side plates are connected to the
inner container third and fourth side plates by a tab-to-slit
mechanism of a pair of inner fly tabs selectively extending from
the inner container first to fourth side plates and a pair of inner
fly slits formed in the inner container first to fourth side plates
to accept the corresponding fly tabs such that the outer fly tab is
placed between the inner fly tabs when the inner container is slid
into the outer container.
17. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein the outer container
first and second side plates are connected to the outer container
third side plate by a tab-to-slit mechanism of a pair of outer fly
tabs selectively extending from the outer container first to third
side plates and a pair of outer fly slits formed in the outer
container first to third side plates to accept the corresponding
fly tabs, wherein the inner container first and second side plates
are connected to the inner container third and fourth side plates
by a tab-to-slit mechanism of three inner fly tabs selectively
extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates and
three inner fly slits formed in the inner container first to fourth
side plates to accept the corresponding inner fly tabs such that
the pair of outer fly tabs are alternately placed among the three
inner fly tabs when the inner container is slid into the outer
container.
18. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein the fourth side plate
of the inner container has a grip opening around a center thereof
to facilitate a manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container
against the outer container, wherein the fourth side plate has a
top opening above the grip opening to further facilitate the manual
push-in and pull-out of the inner container against the outer
container.
19. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein each of the third side
plates of the outer and inner containers has a ventilation opening
in a corresponding mode.
20. The shoe storage box of claim 11 wherein the containers, cover
and side tab are each formed of one selected from transparent
polyprophylene (PP) and transparent PVC.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe storage box and,
more particularly, to a multi-functional shoe storage box
satisfying convenience and esthetic demand as well as storage
purpose.
[0002] Conventional shoe storage boxes come with paper containers.
One of the disadvantages of the conventional paper shoe storage
boxes is that each cover has to be opened for display on shoe racks
and thus shoe pairs displaced to a different shoe storage box and
tainted, thereby causing annoyances to the seller. Further,
considering the shopper usually sees the label on the shoe storage
box first, the inconveniences generated by the open paper shoe
storage boxes, like unmatched design or shoe size by the frequent
displacements, would probably disappoint the shoppers and affect
the business itself.
[0003] A demand on the market is to provide a shoe storage box that
allows shoppers to shop shoes in clean and convenient manners while
shop owners enjoy a variety of display options to attract shoppers
and satisfy shoppers needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is contrived to overcome the
conventional disadvantages. Accordingly, an objective of the
present invention is to provide a multi-functional shoe storage box
satisfying convenience and esthetic demand as well as storage
purpose.
[0005] Another objective is to provide a multi-functional shoe
storage box adopting clear and transparent see-through mechanism
enabling clear view of the shoe pair inside without opening its
cover. A further objective is to provide a multi-functional shoe
storage box enabling space saving stackable design.
[0006] To achieve these and other objectives, a multi-functional
shoe storage box according to the present invention comprises a
substantially transparent outer container defined by a bottom plate
and first to third side plates, the first and second side plates
facing each other, the third side plate completing the outer
container with a fourth side of the outer container being a slide
opening.
[0007] Further provided is a substantially transparent cover to the
outer container where the cover has a top plate hingedly extending
from the second side plate. A wing plate extends from the top plate
so that when the cover is hingedly closed the wing plate becomes
overlapped onto the first side plate. In this construction, a
substantially transparent inner container is defined by a bottom
plate and first to fourth side plates, the inner container first
and second plates facing each other, the inner container third and
fourth plates facing each other, whereby the inner container is
slid through the slide opening in and out of the outer
container.
[0008] For a better performance, a substantially transparent side
tab is formed to extend outwardly from the outer container bottom
plate and adjacent to the slide opening where the side tab has a
hole.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the multi-functional shoe storage
box comprises a substantially transparent outer container defined
by a bottom plate and first to third side plates, the first and
second side plates facing each other, the third side plate
completing the outer container with a fourth side of the outer
container being a slide opening, wherein a top surface of the
bottom plate is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous
openings. In this formation, a substantially transparent inner
container defined by a bottom plate and first to fourth side
plates, the inner container first and second plates facing each
other, the inner container third and fourth plates facing each
other, wherein a bottom surface of the inner container bottom plate
is selectively embossed to form a plurality of bosses to fit in the
porous openings when the inner container is slid through the slide
opening.
[0010] Advantages of the present invention are numerous in that:
(1) the multi-functional shoe storage box adopts a sidewise sliding
mechanism in which the inner container is slid into the outer
container while minimizing friction during the slide by utilizing
porous openings in the outer container and corresponding bosses in
the inner container such that the bosses enables minimal friction
sliding of the inner container and serves as a retainer of the box
when seated in the porous openings, thereby improving product
reliability; (2) the clear and transparent see-through
characteristics enabling clear view of the shoe pair inside without
opening its cover maximizes retail display effects while
maintaining the shoe pair in clean and original tempting condition
by minimizing chances to open the cover; and (3) the stackable
design implemented by forming porous openings in the upper surface
of the top plate to receive corresponding bosses of another shoe
storage box realizes space saving vertical stacking and
subsequently the user's satisfaction.
[0011] Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the
full understanding of the invention can be obtained by the
following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a construction view showing assembly of a
multi-functional shoe storage box according to the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an application view showing a shoe storage of the
multi-functional shoe storage box according to the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-iV in
FIG. 3;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in
FIG. 3; and
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] FIGS. 1 to 5 each show construction and application of a
multi-functional shoe storage box 10 according to the present
invention. As shown therein, the shoe storage box 10 comprises an
outer container 12 and an inner container 14 where the outer
container 12 receives the inner container 14 with a pair of shoes
16 stored inside. Here, each of the outer and inner containers 12,
14 is preferably formed of a substantially transparent
material.
[0019] The outer container 12 is defined by a bottom plate 18 and
first to third side plates 20, 22, 24. The first and second side
plates 20, 22 are formed to face each other, and the third side
plate 24 serves to complete the outer container 12 with a fourth
side of the outer container 12 being a slide opening 26.
[0020] In order to improve usability of the shoe storage box 10
there is provided a substantially transparent cover 28 to the outer
container 12. The cover 28 has a top plate 30 hingedly extending
from the second side plate 22. A wing plate 32 is formed to extend
from the top plate 30 so that when the cover 28 is hingedly closed
the wing plate 32 becomes overlapped onto the first side plate
20.
[0021] The inner container 14 also formed of a substantially
transparent material is defined by a bottom plate 34 and first to
fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42. The inner container first and
second plates 36, 38 are formed to face each other, and the inner
container third and fourth plates 40, 42 are formed to face each
other. In this construction, the inner container 14 is slid through
the slide opening 26 in and out of the outer container 12.
[0022] To facilitate wall mounting of the shoe storage box 10 for
shopping convenience and store display, a side tab 44 is provided
as an attachment to the outer container 12. The side tab 44 is
preferably formed of a substantially transparent to extend
outwardly from the outer container bottom plate 18 and adjacent to
the slide opening 26 where the side tab 44 has a hole 46 to accept
a wall mounting aid such as a hook and a nail head.
[0023] In a preferred mode, the shoe storage box 10 further
comprises an elongate handle 48 detachably attached to an outer
surface 50 of the first side plate 36 of the inner container 14.
The elongate handle 48 is externally exposed sequentially through a
first slot 52 formed in the outer container first side plate 20 and
through a second slot 54 formed in the wing plate 32. The elongate
handle 48 is preferable formed of a substantially transparent
material in a flat mode. The handle 48 is formed adjustable such
that it stays flat unless pulled up for carrying purpose. It is
recommended that each end 56 of the handle 48 is releasably
inserted through the inner container first side plate 36 in a
hookable mode.
[0024] The shoe storage box 10 includes a locking member 58 to
detachably attach the wing plate 32 to the outer container first
side plate 20. The locking member 58 may be formed of a hook and
pile alternately formed on an outer surface portion of the outer
container first side plate 20 and on an inner surface portion of
the cover wing plate 32. Alternately, the locking member 58 is
formed of an insert 64 extending from the wing plate 32 and an
insert slit 66 formed in the outer container first side plate
20.
[0025] Meanwhile, the outer container first and second side plates
20, 22 are connected to the outer container third side plate 24 by
a tab-to-slit mechanism of an outer fly tab 68 selectively
extending from the outer container first to third side plates 20,
22, 24 and an outer fly slit 70 formed in the outer container first
to third side plates 20, 22, 24 to accept the corresponding fly tab
68. In correspondence, the inner container first and second side
plates 36, 38 are connected to the inner container third and fourth
side plates 40, 42 by a tab-to-slit mechanism of a pair of inner
fly tabs 72 selectively extending from the inner container first to
fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 and a pair of inner fly slits 74
formed in the inner container first to fourth side plates 36, 38,
40, 42 to accept the corresponding fly tabs 72 such that the outer
fly tab 68 is placed between the inner fly tabs 72 when the inner
container 14 is slid into the outer container 12.
[0026] Alternately, the tab-to-slit mechanism may be formed of a
pair of outer fly tabs 68 selectively extending from the outer
container first to third side plates 20, 22, 24 and a pair of outer
fly slits 70 formed in the outer container first to third side
plates 20, 22, 24 to accept the corresponding fly tabs 68, whereas
the inner container first and second side plates 36, 38 are
connected to the outer container third and fourth side plates 40,
42 by a tab-to-slit mechanism of three inner fly tabs 72
selectively extending from the inner container first to fourth side
plates 36, 38, 40, 42 and three inner fly slits 74 formed in the
inner container first to third side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 to accept
the corresponding inner fly tabs 72 such that the pair of outer fly
tabs 68 are alternately placed among the three inner fly tabs 72
when the inner container 14 is slid into the outer container 12. In
this construction, it is preferred that the tabs 68, 72 are formed
to stay inside the shoe storage box 10 when assembled.
[0027] For a better performance, the fourth side plate 42 of the
inner container 14 has a grip opening 76 around a center 78 thereof
to facilitate a manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container
14 against the outer container 12. The fourth side plate 42 may
have a top opening 80 above the grip opening 76 to further
facilitate the manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container
14 against the outer container 12 to enable easier finger grip
together with the grip opening 76 for the pull-out opening of the
inner container 14 from the outer container 12. Also, for a
ventilation purpose, each of the third side plates 24, 40 of the
outer and inner containers 12, 14 has a ventilation opening 82 in a
corresponding mode.
[0028] To maximize the see-through characteristics of the shoe
storage box 10, each and every part is possibly formed of a
transparent material. Specifically, the containers 12, 14, cover
28, side tab 44, and elongate handle 48 are each formed of one
selected from transparent polypropylene (PP) for transparency and
durability, and transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for better
transparency quality.
[0029] As further shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in an embodiment, a top
surface 84 of the bottom plate 18 is selectively pitted to form a
plurality of porous openings 86, preferably four porous openings 86
in four corners 88 of the top surface 84 of the bottom plate 18. To
match with this bottom plate construction of the outer container
12, a lower surface 90 of the inner container bottom plate 34 is
selectively embossed to form a plurality of bosses 92 to fit in the
porous openings 86 when the inner container 14 is slid through the
slide opening 26. For a space saving stacking purpose, the top
plate 30 may be formed such that a top surface 94 of the top plate
30 is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous openings
96.
[0030] Although the invention has been described in considerable
detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other
versions are possible by converting the aforementioned
construction. Therefore, the scope of the invention shall not be
limited by the specification specified above and the appended
claims.
* * * * *