U.S. patent application number 11/778823 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-22 for box assembly that is assembled easily and quickly.
Invention is credited to Hung - Sen Chang.
Application Number | 20090020528 11/778823 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40264005 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090020528 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang; Hung - Sen |
January 22, 2009 |
Box Assembly that is Assembled Easily and Quickly
Abstract
A box assembly includes a plurality of storage boxes each having
an inside formed with a receiving space, a plurality of connecting
members mounted between the storage boxes to combine the storage
boxes together in a vertical direction, and a plurality of
fastening members mounted between the storage boxes to combine the
storage boxes together in a horizontal direction. Thus, the storage
boxes are expandable in the vertical direction by connection of the
connecting members and are expandable in the horizontal direction
by connection of the fastening members so that the box assembly is
expandable in a two-dimensional manner to satisfy a user's
requirement.
Inventors: |
Chang; Hung - Sen; (Taoyuan
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KAMRATH & ASSOCIATES P.A.
4825 OLSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 245
GOLDEN VALLEY
MN
55422
US
|
Family ID: |
40264005 |
Appl. No.: |
11/778823 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 57/16 20130101;
B65D 21/066 20130101; A47B 57/06 20130101; A47B 47/0083 20130101;
A47B 87/0253 20130101; A47B 57/40 20130101; A47B 96/1408
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/4.27 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/28 20060101
B65D006/28 |
Claims
1. A box assembly, comprising: a plurality of storage boxes each
having an inside formed with a receiving space; a plurality of
connecting members detachably mounted between the storage boxes to
combine the storage boxes together in a vertical direction.
2. The box assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the
storage boxes has two opposite side walls each formed with a
plurality of receiving channels to receive the connecting members
respectively.
3. The box assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the
connecting members has a first end pivotally mounted in the
respective receiving channel of each of the storage boxes and a
second end formed with a locking hook that is movable to protrude
outwardly from the respective receiving channel of each of the
storage boxes.
4. The box assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of the
storage boxes has a top portion formed with a plurality of locking
grooves; the connecting members are pivotable downward relative to
each of the storage boxes; the locking hook of each of the
connecting members on each of the storage boxes is inserted into
and detachably locked in a respective locking groove of a lower one
of the storage boxes to combine the storage boxes together in the
vertical direction.
5. The box assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the
connecting members is pivotally mounted in a respective receiving
channel of each of the storage boxes.
6. The box assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of the
connecting members is movable relative to each of the storage boxes
between an expanded position where each of the connecting members
protrudes outwardly from the respective receiving channel of each
of the storage boxes and a folded position where each of the
connecting members is fully hidden in the respective receiving
channel of each of the storage boxes.
7. The box assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of the
receiving channels of each of the storage boxes is defined by two
protruding upright support plates.
8. The box assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein each of the
support plates of each of the storage boxes has a lower end formed
with a through hole; the first end of each of the connecting
members is formed with a pivot hole; the box assembly further
comprises a plurality of linking rods each extended through the
through hole of each of the support plates of each of the storage
boxes 1 and the pivot hole of each of the connecting members so
that each of the connecting members is pivotally mounted on each of
the storage boxes.
9. The box assembly in accordance with claim 8, wherein each of the
linking rods is rotatably mounted on each of the storage boxes and
has a distal end provided with an enlarged grip portion to
facilitate a user rotating each of the linking rods.
10. The box assembly in accordance with claim 8, wherein each of
the linking rods is rotatable relative to each of the storage boxes
to drive the connecting members to pivot relative to each of the
storage boxes simultaneously.
11. The box assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising
a plurality of fastening members detachably mounted between the
storage boxes to combine the storage boxes together in a horizontal
direction.
12. The box assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein each of
the storage boxes has a top portion formed with a plurality of
locking slots; each of the fastening members has two downward
extending snapping portions each inserted into and detachably
locked in a respective locking slot of each of the storage
boxes.
13. The box assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
snapping portions of each of the fastening members are locked in
the respective locking slots of any two juxtaposed storage boxes to
combine the storage boxes together in a horizontal direction.
14. The box assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
snapping portions of each of the fastening members are bent inward
toward each other to combine the storage boxes closely.
15. The box assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein each of
the fastening members has a substantially inverted U-shaped
cross-sectional profile.
16. The box assembly in accordance with claim 3, further comprising
a plurality of upright support posts surrounding the storage boxes
so that the storage boxes are supported by the support posts and
are arranged in the vertical direction.
17. The box assembly in accordance with claim 16, wherein each of
the support posts is formed with a plurality of locking holes; the
connecting members are pivotable outwardly relative to each of the
storage boxes; the locking hook of each of the connecting members
on each of the storage boxes is inserted into and detachably locked
in a respective locking hole of each of the support posts to secure
the storage boxes between the support posts.
18. The box assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the
storage boxes are expandable in the vertical direction by
connection of the connecting members and are expandable in the
horizontal direction by connection of the fastening members so that
the box assembly is expandable in a two-dimensional manner.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a box assembly and, more
particularly, to a box assembly for storing parts or components of
a hardware.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional box is used for storing parts or components
of a hardware. A conventional parts rack comprises a plurality of
horizontal plates supported and separated by a plurality of upright
frames to define multiple storage spaces for storing the parts or
components. However, the conventional parts rack has a fixed size
which cannot be expanded freely according to a user's requirement,
thereby causing inconvenience to the user when the parts or
components have a larger size.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a box assembly, comprising a plurality of storage boxes each having
an inside formed with a receiving space, and a plurality of
connecting members detachably mounted between the storage boxes to
combine the storage boxes together in a vertical direction.
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a box assembly that is assembled easily and quickly.
[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
box assembly that is expandable in both of the vertical and
horizontal directions according to a user's requirement.
[0008] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
box assembly, wherein the storage boxes are expandable in the
vertical direction by connection of the connecting members and are
expandable in the horizontal direction by connection of the
fastening members so that the box assembly is expandable in a
two-dimensional manner to satisfy a user's requirement.
[0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
box assembly, wherein the storage boxes are assembled easily and
quickly, thereby facilitating the user assembling the box assembly,
and thereby saving the working time.
[0010] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
box assembly, wherein the storage boxes are combined with the
support posts to form a parts rack to enhance the versatility of
the box assembly.
[0011] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0012] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a storage
box of a box assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the storage box of
the box assembly as shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view showing combination of the storage
boxes of the box assembly as shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view showing combination of the storage
boxes of the box assembly as shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a box assembly in accordance
with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of the box assembly as shown in FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a box
assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention comprises a plurality of storage boxes 1 each having an
inside formed with a receiving space 10 for storing parts or
components of a hardware, a plurality of connecting members 21
detachably mounted between the storage boxes 1 to combine the
storage boxes 1 together in a vertical direction as shown in FIG.
3, and a plurality of fastening members 3 detachably mounted
between the storage boxes 1 to combine the storage boxes 1 together
in a horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 4.
[0019] Each of the storage boxes 1 has a top portion formed with a
plurality of locking grooves 11 and a plurality of locking slots
14. Each of the storage boxes 1 has two opposite side walls each
formed with a plurality of receiving channels 12 to receive the
connecting members 21 respectively. Each of the receiving channels
12 of each of the storage boxes 1 is defined by two protruding
upright support plates 16. Each of the support plates 16 of each of
the storage boxes 1 has a lower end formed with a through hole
13.
[0020] Each of the connecting members 21 is pivotally mounted in a
respective receiving channel 12 of each of the storage boxes 1.
Thus, each of the connecting members 21 is movable relative to each
of the storage boxes 1 between an expanded position as shown in
FIG. 3 where each of the connecting members 21 protrudes outwardly
from the respective receiving channel 12 of each of the storage
boxes 1 and a folded position as shown in FIG. 1 where each of the
connecting members 21 is fully hidden in the respective receiving
channel 12 of each of the storage boxes 1. Each of the connecting
members 21 has a first end pivotally mounted in the respective
receiving channel 12 of each of the storage boxes 1 and a second
end formed with a locking hook 23 that is movable to protrude
outwardly from the respective receiving channel 12 of each of the
storage boxes 1. Thus, the connecting members 21 are pivotable
downward relative to each of the storage boxes 1, and the locking
hook 23 of each of the connecting members 21 on each of the storage
boxes 1 is inserted into and detachably locked in a respective
locking groove 11 of a lower one of the storage boxes 1 to combine
the storage boxes 1 together in the vertical direction. The first
end of each of the connecting members 21 is formed with a pivot
hole 22.
[0021] The box assembly further comprises a plurality of linking
rods 20 each extended through the through hole 13 of each of the
support plates 16 of each of the storage boxes 1 and the pivot hole
22 of each of the connecting members 21 so that each of the
connecting members 21 is pivotally mounted on each of the storage
boxes 1. Each of the linking rods 20 is rotatably mounted on each
of the storage boxes 1 and has a distal end provided with an
enlarged grip portion 24 to facilitate a user rotating each of the
linking rods 20. Thus, each of the linking rods 20 is rotatable
relative to each of the storage boxes 1 to drive the connecting
members 21 to pivot relative to each of the storage boxes 1
simultaneously.
[0022] Each of the fastening members 3 has a substantially inverted
U-shaped cross-sectional profile and has two downward extending
snapping portions 30 each inserted into and detachably locked in a
respective locking slot 14 of each of the storage boxes 1. Thus,
the snapping portions 30 of each of the fastening members 3 are
locked in the respective locking slots 14 of any two juxtaposed
storage boxes 1 to combine the storage boxes 1 together in a
horizontal direction. In addition, the snapping portions 30 of each
of the fastening members 3 are bent inward toward each other to
combine the storage boxes 1 closely.
[0023] In assembly, referring to FIGS. 1-3, each of the linking
rods 20 is rotatable relative to each of the storage boxes 1 to
drive the connecting members 21 to pivot relative to each of the
storage boxes 1 simultaneously. Thus, the connecting members 21 are
pivotable downward relative to each of the storage boxes 1 by
rotating the linking rods 20, and the locking hook 23 of each of
the connecting members 21 on each of the storage boxes 1 is
inserted into and locked in the respective locking groove 11 of a
lower one of the storage boxes 1 to combine the storage boxes 1
together in the vertical direction so that the storage boxes 1 are
expandable in the vertical direction.
[0024] Alternatively, referring to FIG. 4 with reference to FIGS. 1
and 2, the snapping portions 30 of each of the fastening members 3
are locked in the respective locking slots 14 of any two juxtaposed
storage boxes 1 to combine the storage boxes 1 together in a
horizontal direction so that the storage boxes 1 are expandable in
the horizontal direction.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,
the box assembly further comprises a plurality of upright support
posts 4 surrounding the storage boxes 1 so that the storage boxes 1
are supported by the support posts 4 and are arranged in the
vertical direction. Each of the support posts 4 is formed with a
plurality of locking holes 40. Thus, the connecting members 21 are
pivotable outwardly relative to each of the storage boxes 1, and
the locking hook 23 of each of the connecting members 21 on each of
the storage boxes 1 is inserted into and detachably locked in a
respective locking hole 40 of each of the support posts 4 to secure
the storage boxes 1 between the support posts 4.
[0026] Accordingly, the storage boxes 1 are expandable in the
vertical direction by connection of the connecting members 21 and
are expandable in the horizontal direction by connection of the
fastening members 3 so that the box assembly is expandable in a
two-dimensional manner to satisfy a user's requirement. In
addition, the storage boxes 1 are assembled easily and quickly,
thereby facilitating the user assembling the box assembly, and
thereby saving the working time. Further, the storage boxes 1 are
combined with the support posts 4 to form a parts rack to enhance
the versatility of the box assembly.
[0027] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood
that many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is,
therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will
cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true
scope of the invention.
* * * * *