U.S. patent application number 12/196873 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-11 for foldable box structure.
Invention is credited to Yaw-Tzer CHEN.
Application Number | 20080302790 12/196873 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40094903 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080302790 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; Yaw-Tzer |
December 11, 2008 |
Foldable Box Structure
Abstract
A foldable box structure comprises two main bodies and at least
four actuation bodies. Each of the main bodies has a first lateral
and a second lateral. Each of the actuation bodies has a first
pivotal edge and a second pivotal edge. The first pivotal edges of
the actuation bodies are pivotally coupled to the first laterals
and second laterals of the main bodies to form rotation axes. The
actuation bodies, which are coupled to the main bodies and at the
same side of the main body, are pivotally coupled to each other in
the second pivotal edges to form other rotation axes. The actuation
bodies are pivotally rotated with respect to the rotation axes and
stacked between the main bodies to have a close state. The
actuation bodies are pivotally rotated with respect to the rotation
axes to expand together with the main bodies and have an open
state.
Inventors: |
CHEN; Yaw-Tzer; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRENKEL & ASSOCIATES
3975 UNIVERSITY DR., STE. 330
FAIRFAX
VA
22030
US
|
Family ID: |
40094903 |
Appl. No.: |
12/196873 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/0036
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/6 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/00 20060101
B65D006/00 |
Claims
1. A foldable box structure comprising two main bodies each having
a first lateral and a second lateral; and at least four actuation
bodies each having a first pivotal edge and a second pivotal edge,
wherein said first pivotal edges of said actuation bodies are
pivotally coupled to said first laterals and said second laterals
of said main bodies to form rotation axes; said actuation bodies,
which have been coupled to said main bodies and are at a same side
of said main body, are pivotally coupled to each other in said
second pivotal edges to form other rotation axes; said actuation
bodies are pivotally rotated with respect to said rotation axes and
stacked between said main bodies to have a close state; said
actuation bodies are pivotally rotated with respect to said
rotation axes to expand together with said main bodies and have an
open state.
2. The foldable box structure according to claim 1, wherein said
two main bodies have an identical base area; said first lateral and
said second lateral are symmetrically arranged at two sides of said
main body.
3. The foldable box structure according to claim 2, wherein each of
said actuation bodies has a base area of about one half of the base
area of said main body.
4. The foldable box structure according to claim 1, wherein said
first lateral and said second lateral of said main body form a
first contained angle; said first laterals or said second laterals
form a second contained angle; said first contained angle and said
second contained angle limit an open angle of said foldable box
structure.
5. The foldable box structure according to claim 4, wherein said
first contained angle is equal to said second contained angle.
6. The foldable box structure according to claim 5, wherein said
first contained angle and said second contained angle are both of
90 degrees; said main bodies and said actuation bodies are expanded
to lie on a same plane in said open state.
7. The foldable box structure according to claim 5, wherein said
first contained angle and said second contained angle are smaller
than 90 degrees; said main bodies and said actuation bodies are
expanded to lie on different planes in said open state.
8. The foldable box structure according to claim 1, wherein at
least one pivotal member is installed in said rotation axis.
9. The foldable box structure according to claim 8, wherein said
pivotal member is a hinge.
10. The foldable box structure according to claim 8, wherein said
pivotal member couples flexible lateral boards of said main body
and said actuation body or couples flexible lateral boards of said
actuation bodies.
11. A foldable box structure comprising two main bodies each having
a first lateral and a second lateral forming a first contained
angle, opening or closing relatively to have an open state or a
close state, and having an open angle in said open state; and a
plurality of actuation bodies each having a first pivotal edge and
a second pivotal edge, wherein said first pivotal edges are
pivotally coupled to said first laterals and said second laterals
of said main bodies to form rotation axes; said actuation bodies,
which have been coupled to said main bodies and are at a same side
of said main body, are pivotally coupled to each other in said
second pivotal edges to form other rotation axes; said first
laterals or said second laterals form a second contained angle; in
a close state, said actuation bodies are pivotally rotated with
respect to said rotation axes and stacked between said main bodies;
in an open state, said actuation bodies are pivotally rotated with
respect to said rotation axes to expand together with said main
bodies; said first contained angle and said second contained angle
limit an open angle of said two main bodies.
12. The foldable box structure according to claim 11, wherein said
first contained angle is equal to said second contained angle.
13. The foldable box structure according to claim 11, wherein said
first contained angle and said second contained angle are both of
90 degrees; said foldable box structure is expanded to lie on a
same plane in said open state.
14. The foldable box structure according to claim 11, wherein said
first contained angle and said second contained angle are smaller
than 90 degrees; said foldable box structure is expanded to lie on
different planes in said open state.
15. The foldable box structure according to claim 11, wherein said
two main bodies have an identical base area; said first lateral and
said second lateral are symmetrically arranged at two sides of said
main body.
16. The foldable box structure according to claim 15, wherein each
of said actuation bodies has a base area of about one half of the
base area of said main body.
17. The foldable box structure according to claim 11, wherein at
least one pivotal member is installed in said rotation axis.
18. The foldable box structure according to claim 17, wherein said
pivotal member is a hinge.
19. The foldable box structure according to claim 17, wherein said
pivotal member couples flexible lateral boards of said main body
and said actuation body or couples flexible lateral boards of said
actuation bodies.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a foldable box structure,
particularly to a foldable box structure having boxes receiving
articles and actuating each other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] For box structures usually seen in the market, please refer
to Taiwan patents Nos. 341164, M244279, M254427, M268313, M274327,
M274328 and M294234, a China patent No. CN2392421, and a U.S. Pat.
No. 4,998,616.
[0003] Among them, the box structures disclosed in the Taiwan
patents Nos. 341164 and M294234 has a plurality of boxes and a
housing that can be scrolled into a cylinder. The boxes are
arranged in different vertical and horizontal positions of the
housing. When the housing is scrolled, the boxes are also scrolled
into the housing. When the housing is expanded, the boxes are also
expanded to have a form of stairsteps. However, the entire
structure is only supported by the lowest box when the housing is
expanded. Thus, the prior-art box structure is unstable and apt to
topple, and the articles thereinside are likely to drop.
[0004] The Taiwan patents Nos. M244279, M268313, M274327 and
M274328 all disclosed a gift box structure comprising a base seat,
a top cover, and a plurality of boxes. The boxes are arranged
between the top cover and the base seat and pivotally rotatable
with respect to the base seat. When a user intends to take out an
article in the base seat, he has to open the top cover and
sequentially rotate the boxes to reveal the base seat. When the
user intends to restore the article to the base seat, he has to
sequentially rotate the boxes and close the top cover. Therefore,
the operation of the prior-art gift box is complicated and
time-consuming. The China patent No. CN2392421 disclosed a cosmetic
box structure, which has a plurality of boxes stacked layer by
layer at two sides thereof. Each box is coupled to the overhead box
with a connecting rod, whereby the boxes can be expanded to have a
form of stairsteps. However, the article in the lowest box cannot
be taken out unless all the boxes thereabove are sequentially
opened. Therefore, the prior-art cosmetic box is also inconvenient
to use.
[0005] The U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,616 and Taiwan patent No. M254427
disclosed a foldable and stackable box structure, which comprises a
plurality of boxes. Every box has an upper casing and a lower
casing, which are pivotally coupled to each other. The adjacent
boxes are pivotally coupled to each other via the upper casing or
lower casing thereof. When the box structure is opened, the upper
and lower casings are pivotally rotated and expanded. When the box
structure is closed, the upper and lower casings are pivotally
rotated and stacked.
[0006] In all the conventional box structures mentioned above, a
user cannot see and reach the article in one box unless he
sequentially opens the boxes thereabove, and then he has to
sequentially close the opened boxes after usage. Therefore, the
conventional box structures mentioned above all have a disadvantage
of inconvenient operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a foldable box structure, wherein the boxes thereof can be expanded
simultaneously, whereby a user can conveniently take out an article
from one of the boxes or place an article in one of the boxes.
[0008] To achieve the abovementioned objective, the present
invention proposes a foldable box structure, which comprises two
main bodies and at least four actuation bodies arranged between the
main bodies. Each of the main bodies has a first lateral and a
second lateral. Each of the actuation bodies has a first pivotal
edge and a second pivotal edge. The first pivotal edges of the
actuation bodies are pivotally coupled to the first laterals and
the second laterals of the main bodies to form rotation axes. The
actuation bodies, which have been coupled to the main bodies and
are at the same side of the main body, are pivotally coupled to
each other in the second pivotal edges to form other rotation axes.
The actuation bodies are pivotally rotated with respect to the
rotation axes and stacked between the main bodies to have a close
state. The actuation bodies are pivotally rotated with respect to
the rotation axes to expand together with the main bodies and have
an open state. A user can completely open or close the foldable box
structure via only operating the main bodies to automatically
rotate the actuation bodies. Thus, the foldable box structure of
the present invention is easy to operate.
[0009] Therefore, the operation of the present invention is simple
and time-saving in comparison with the prior arts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a close
state of a foldable box structure according to a first embodiment
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the
operation of a foldable box structure according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing an open
state of a foldable box structure according to the first embodiment
of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view along Line 4-4 in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a close
state of a foldable box structure according to a second embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing an open
state of a foldable box structure according to the second
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Below, the technical contents of the present invention are
described in detail in cooperation with the drawings
[0017] Refer to FIG. 1. The present invention proposes a foldable
box structure 1 comprising two main bodies 10 and 20 and at least
four actuation bodies 30 arranged between the main bodies 10 and 20
and linked to each other or to the main body 10/20. The main bodies
10 and 20 respectively have fastening members 13 and 23 used to
secure the actuation bodies 30 between the main bodies 10 and 20.
The upper main body 20 has a holding member 24, whereby a user can
conveniently carry about the foldable box structure 1. Refer to
FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The main bodies 10 and 20 have an
identical base area. The main body 10 has a first lateral 11 and a
second lateral 12. The main body 20 has a first lateral 21 and a
second lateral 22. Each of the actuation bodies 30 has a base area
of about half the base area of the main body 10/20 and has a first
pivotal edge 31 and a second pivotal edge 32. The first pivotal
edges 31 of the actuation bodies 30 are pivotally coupled to the
first laterals 11 and 21 and the second laterals 12 and 22 of the
main bodies 10 and 20 to form rotation axes. The actuation bodies
30, which have been coupled to the main bodies 10 and 20 and are at
the same side of the main body 10 or 20, are pivotally coupled to
each other in the second pivotal edges 32 to form other rotation
axes. At least one pivotal member 14 or 33 is installed in the
rotation axis. The pivotal members 14 and 33 may be hinges coupling
the flexible lateral boards of the main body 10/20 and the
actuation body 30 or coupling the flexible lateral boards of the
actuation bodies 30. The flexible lateral board is made of cloth,
leather, or plastic. Thereby, the actuation bodies 30 rotate
pivotally with respect to the rotation axes to stack between the
main bodies 10 and 20 and have a close state, as shown in FIG. 1,
or the actuation bodies 30 rotate pivotally with respect to the
rotation axes to expand together with the main bodies 10 and 20 and
have a open state, as shown in FIG. 3. Above is described the
structure of the present invention. Once a user lifts one of the
main bodies 10 and 20, the actuation bodies 30 are also
automatically opened simultaneously, and the user can see at the
same time all the articles placed in the foldable box structure 1,
such as cosmetics, skin-care products and accessories. After usage,
the user folds up the main bodies 10 and 20, and the actuation
bodies 30 are automatically stacked into between the main bodies 10
and 20. Therefore, the operation of the foldable box structure 1 of
the present invention is simple and time-saving.
[0018] In the main body 10, the first lateral 11 and the second
lateral 12 form a first contained angle .theta.1. In the main body
20, the first lateral 21 and the second lateral 22 also form the
first contained angle .theta.1. Two actuation bodies 30 are
pivotally coupled at the second pivotal edges 32 thereof. The first
laterals 11 and 21 (or the second laterals 12 and 22), which are
respectively near two borders of the coupled actuation bodies 30,
form a second contained angle .theta.2. The first contained angle
.theta.1 and the second contained angle .theta.2 limit the open
angle of the foldable box structure 1. The first contained angle
.theta.1 may be equal to the second contained angle .theta.2. As
shown in FIG. 3, the first contained angle .theta.1 and the second
contained angle .theta.2 are both of 90 degrees. When the foldable
box structure 1 is opened, the main bodies 10 and 20 and the
actuation bodies 30 are expanded to lie on a same plane. In the
present invention, the foldable box structure 1 is not limited to
have a heart shape but may have another shape, such as the diamond
shape of a foldable box structure 1a shown in FIG. 5. Refer to FIG.
6. The first contained angle .theta.1a and the second contained
angle .theta.2a of the foldable box structure 1a are both smaller
than 90 degrees. For example, the first contained angle .theta.1a
and the second contained angle .theta.2a ate of 60 degrees or 75
degrees. When the foldable box structure 1a is opened, the main
bodies 10 and 20 and the actuation bodies 30 are limited by the
first contained angle .theta.1a and the second contained angle
.theta.2a and lie on different planes. Thus, the opened foldable
box structure 1a has a 3-D configuration.
[0019] In the present invention, the rotation axes are formed
between the main body 10/20 and the actuation body 30 and also
formed between two actuation bodies 30; the first contained angle
.theta.1 and the second contained angle .theta.2 formed by the
rotation axes control the open angle of the foldable box structure
1. A user needn't operate the main bodies 10 and 20 and the
actuation bodies 30 one by one to open or close the foldable box
structure 1; he can completely open or close the foldable box
structure 1 via only operating the main bodies 10 and 20 to
automatically rotate the actuation bodies 30. Therefore, the
foldable box structure 1 of the present invention is easy to
operate.
[0020] Compared with the prior arts, the present invention has the
advantage of simple and time-saving operation.
[0021] The embodiments described above are only to exemplify the
present invention but not to limit the scope of the present
invention. Any equivalent modification or variation according to
the spirit of the present invention is to be also included within
the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *