U.S. patent application number 16/665389 was filed with the patent office on 2021-04-29 for foldable storage box.
The applicant listed for this patent is IMMANUEL INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to KUN-YI LI.
Application Number | 20210122521 16/665389 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004438486 |
Filed Date | 2021-04-29 |
![](/patent/app/20210122521/US20210122521A1-20210429\US20210122521A1-2021042)
United States Patent
Application |
20210122521 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LI; KUN-YI |
April 29, 2021 |
FOLDABLE STORAGE BOX
Abstract
A foldable storage box includes a bottom panel, a rear panel,
two lateral panels, a front panel, and a lid. The bottom panel has
a rear edge with a first pivotal connection portion, two lateral
edges each with a second pivotal connection portion, and a front
edge with a third pivotal connection portion. The rear panel has a
first bottom edge with a fourth pivotal connection portion
pivotally connected to the first pivotal connection portion. Each
lateral panel has a second bottom edge with a fifth pivotal
connection portion pivotally connected to one of the second pivotal
connection portions. The front panel has a third bottom edge with a
sixth pivotal connection portion pivotally connected to the third
pivotal connection portion. The lid is detachably connected to the
rear panel, the two lateral panels, and the front panel to form the
foldable storage box and the receiving space therein.
Inventors: |
LI; KUN-YI; (TAINAN CITY,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
IMMANUEL INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. |
TAINAN CITY |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004438486 |
Appl. No.: |
16/665389 |
Filed: |
October 28, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2313/04 20130101;
B65D 11/1833 20130101; B65D 7/26 20130101; B65D 21/0209
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/18 20060101
B65D006/18; B65D 21/02 20060101 B65D021/02 |
Claims
1. A foldable storage box, comprising: a bottom panel formed with a
rear edge, two opposite lateral edges, and a front edge, wherein
the rear edge is provided with at least one first pivotal
connection portion, each of the two lateral edges is provided with
at least one second pivotal connection portion, and the front edge
is provided with at least one third pivotal connection portion; a
rear panel detachably connected to the bottom panel and formed with
a first bottom edge corresponding in position to the rear edge,
wherein the first bottom edge is provided with a fourth pivotal
connection portion corresponding in position to the first pivotal
connection portion, and the fourth pivotal connection portion is
pivotally connected to the first pivotal connection portion such
that the rear panel is able to be folded and unfolded with respect
to the bottom panel; two lateral panels detachably connected to the
bottom panel and each formed with a second bottom edge
corresponding in position to one of the two lateral edges, wherein
each of the two second bottom edges is provided with a fifth
pivotal connection portion corresponding in position to the second
pivotal connection portion of the corresponding one of the two
lateral edges, and the fifth pivotal connection portion of each of
the two second bottom edges is pivotally connected to the second
pivotal connection portion of the corresponding one of the two
lateral edges such that the two lateral panels are able to be
folded and unfolded with respect to the bottom panel; a front panel
detachably connected to the bottom panel and formed with a third
bottom edge corresponding in position to the front edge, wherein
the third bottom edge is provided with a sixth pivotal connection
portion corresponding in position to the third pivotal connection
portion, and the sixth pivotal connection portion is pivotally
connected to the third pivotal connection portion such that the
front panel is able to be folded and unfolded with respect to the
bottom panel; and a lid detachably connected to the rear panel, the
two lateral panels, and the front panel such that the bottom panel,
the rear panel, the two lateral panels, the front panel, and the
lid jointly form a receiving space.
2. The foldable storage box of claim 1, wherein each of the first
pivotal connection portion, each said second pivotal connection
portion, and the third pivotal connection portion is a pivotal
connection groove formed by a curved plate, and each of the fourth
pivotal connection portion, each said fifth pivotal connection
portion, and the sixth pivotal connection portion is a pivot
shaft.
3. The foldable storage box of claim 1, wherein the second pivotal
connection portions are lower than the first pivotal connection
portion and the third pivotal connection portion.
4. The foldable storage box of claim 1, wherein the rear panel has
two lateral edges adjacent to the first bottom edge and each formed
as a first lateral connection edge, each of the two lateral panels
is formed with a second lateral connection edge to be disposed
adjacent to and in contact with one of the two first lateral
connection edges, each of the two first lateral connection edges is
provided with at least one first connection portion, each of the
two second lateral connection edges is provided with at least one
second connection portion, and the second connection portion of
each of the two second lateral connection edges is configured to
engage securely with the first connection portion of the
corresponding one of the two first lateral connection edges.
5. The foldable storage box of claim 4, wherein each of the first
connection portions is an engaging groove, and each of the second
connection portions is an engaging block.
6. The foldable storage box of claim 4, wherein the second
connection portion of each of the two second lateral connection
edges is configured to disengage from the first connection portion
of the corresponding one of the two first lateral connection edges
in a direction toward the bottom panel.
7. The foldable storage box of claim 4, wherein each of the two
first lateral connection edges is protrudingly provided with a
first protective cover.
8. The foldable storage box of claim 1, wherein the front panel has
two lateral edges flanking the third bottom edge and each
protrudingly provided with a second protective cover.
9. The foldable storage box of claim 1, wherein the rear panel is
further formed with a first top edge, the first top edge and the
first bottom edge are two opposite edges of the rear panel, each of
the two lateral panels is further formed with a second top edge,
the second top edge and the second bottom edge of each of the two
lateral panels are two opposite edges, and the lid has a bottom
side concavely provided with an accommodating portion for
accommodating the first top edge and the two second top edges.
10. The foldable storage box of claim 9, wherein the accommodating
portion is a square U-shaped groove.
11. The foldable storage box of claim 1, wherein the front panel is
further formed with a third top edge, the third top edge and the
third bottom edge are two opposite edges of the front panel, the
front panel is provided with at least one first magnetic element at
a position adjacent to the third top edge, the lid has a bottom
side provided with a second magnetic element corresponding in
position to the first magnetic element, and the first magnetic
element and the second magnetic element are magnetically securable
to each other.
12. The foldable storage box of claim 1, wherein the front panel is
notched to form a pulling portion.
13. The foldable storage box of claim 1, wherein the bottom panel
has a bottom side protrudingly formed with a first joining portion,
and the lid has a top side concavely formed with a second joining
portion to be joined to the first joining portion of another said
bottom panel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a box structure and more
particularly to the structure of a box that can be disassembled or
folded in order to reduce the volume of, or the space required to
store, the box.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] The typical storage box structure includes a box body and a
lid. The box body generally has a fixed configuration and cannot be
folded, so the resulting storage box takes up a fixed amount of
space that may hinder storage, transportation, or use of the
box.
[0003] As a solution, Taiwan Utility Model Patent No. M349894,
entitled "Assembled Shoebox" and granted on Feb. 1, 2009, discloses
a shoebox whose box body includes a left part and a right part. The
left and the right parts are symmetric with respect to each other
and are each composed of a first plate and a second plate that can
be bent with respect to each other to form an L shape. The male and
the female engaging structures at the free ends of the two plates
of one of the left and the right parts are removably engageable
with those of the other of the left and the right parts in order
for the two parts to form an open box body, and once the open ends
of the open box body are mounted respectively with a front cover
and a rear cover, a shoebox that can be rapidly disassembled and
reassembled is completed.
[0004] While this patented shoebox can be folded up and thus
reduced in volume, it is difficult to securely stack a plurality of
such shoeboxes in the folded configuration, and a loose stack still
occupies a considerable amount of space during transportation.
[0005] Taiwan Utility Model Patent No. 386529, entitled "Foldable
Storage Box Structure" and granted on Apr. 1, 2000, discloses an
integrally formed storage box body. A plurality of ribs extend from
the periphery of the bottom portion of the box body and are
respectively extended with a front panel, a rear panel, and two
lateral panels. Each of the two lateral ends of each of the front
and the rear panels is provided with an engaging plate configured
to be engaged in an engaging groove in the corresponding lateral
panel so as to bring the box body into the assembled state, and a
lid can be placed on the assembled box body. To put a plurality of
such storage boxes into a box or container for shipment, the panels
of the box body of each storage box can be folded against one
another onto the bottom portion of the box body, before the folded
box body is fitted into the corresponding lid to form a compact
folded storage box, the objective being to reduce the space
occupied and thereby meet the requirement for economic
benefits.
[0006] As the bottom portion, the front panel, the rear panel, and
the two lateral panels of the box body in the '529 patent are
integrally formed, the design and manufacture of this patented
storage box are rather complicated, not to mention that the
junction between each panel and the bottom portion may break after
long-term use. Moreover, should any of the panels be damaged, the
entire box body will be useless and hence cannot but be discarded,
which constitutes a waste of resources.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of the conventional
foldable storage box bodies, the present invention provides a
foldable storage box that includes a bottom panel, a rear panel,
two lateral panels, a front panel, and a lid. The bottom panel is
formed with a rear edge, two opposite lateral edges, and a front
edge. The rear edge is provided with at least one first pivotal
connection portion. Each of the two lateral edges is provided with
at least one second pivotal connection portion. The front edge is
provided with at least one third pivotal connection portion. The
rear panel is detachably connected to the bottom panel and is
formed with a first bottom edge corresponding in position to the
rear edge. The first bottom edge is provided with a fourth pivotal
connection portion corresponding in position to the first pivotal
connection portion, and the fourth pivotal connection portion is
pivotally connected to the first pivotal connection portion such
that the rear panel can be folded and unfolded with respect to the
bottom panel. The two lateral panels are detachably connected to
the bottom panel and are each formed with a second bottom edge
corresponding in position to one of the two lateral edges. Each
second bottom edge is provided with a fifth pivotal connection
portion corresponding in position to the second pivotal connection
portion of the corresponding lateral edge, and the fifth pivotal
connection portion of each second bottom edges is pivotally
connected to the second pivotal connection portion of the
corresponding lateral edge such that the two lateral panels can be
folded and unfolded with respect to the bottom panel. The front
panel is detachably connected to the bottom panel and is formed
with a third bottom edge corresponding in position to the front
edge. The third bottom edge is provided with a sixth pivotal
connection portion corresponding in position to the third pivotal
connection portion, and the sixth pivotal connection portion is
pivotally connected to the third pivotal connection portion such
that the front panel can be folded and unfolded with respect to the
bottom panel. The lid is detachably connected to the rear panel,
the two lateral panels, and the front panel such that the lid and
all the panels jointly form a receiving space.
[0008] The foregoing technical features have the following
advantages:
[0009] 1. The rear panel, the two lateral panels, and the front
panel can be folded and unfolded with respect to the bottom panel
independently of one another to reduce the volume of the storage
box, lest the storage box take up too much space while in
storage.
[0010] 2. When folded up, the storage box can be securely stacked
on another such folded storage box to save space and facilitate
transportation.
[0011] 3. When unfolded and securely assembled, the storage box can
also be stacked on another such unfolded and securely assembled
storage box to save space.
[0012] 4. As the rear panel, the two lateral panels, the front
panel, and the lid are individually connected and can be detached
independently of one another, the design and manufacture of the
storage box are made easy, and should any of the components be
damaged, the storage box can still be used after the damaged
component is replaced and therefore need not be discarded
wastefully as in the case of an integrally formed storage box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the storage box
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows how the rear panel of the storage box in FIG. 1
is connected to the bottom panel;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the circled area III in FIG.
2;
[0016] FIG. 4 shows how the two lateral panels of the storage box
in FIG. 1 are connected to the bottom panel;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the circled area V in FIG.
4;
[0018] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the circled area VI in FIG.
4;
[0019] FIG. 7 shows how the front panel of the storage box in FIG.
1 is connected to the bottom panel;
[0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the circled area VIII in FIG.
7;
[0021] FIG. 9 shows how the lid of the storage box in FIG. 1 is
connected to the rear panel, the two lateral panels, and the front
panel;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the lid of the
storage box in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 11 is an assembled perspective view of the storage box
in FIG. 1, with the front panel opened;
[0024] FIG. 12 shows a stack of storage boxes according to the
embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 13 is an assembled perspective view of the storage box
in FIG. 1, with the lid removed;
[0026] FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 13 except that the two lateral
panels have been folded with respect to the bottom panel;
[0027] FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 14 except that the rear panel has
been folded with respect to the bottom panel;
[0028] FIG. 16 is similar to FIG. 15 except that the front panel
has been folded with respect to the bottom panel;
[0029] FIG. 17 shows how the folded box body in FIG. 16 is covered
with the inverted lid; and
[0030] FIG. 18 shows a stack of folded storage boxes according to
the embodiment of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1 for the foldable storage box according
to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage box includes
a bottom panel 1, a rear panel 2, two lateral panels 3, a front
panel 4, and a lid 5.
[0032] The bottom panel 1 is formed with a rear edge 11, two
opposite lateral edges 12, and a front edge 13 along its periphery.
The bottom panel 1 is further formed with a first joining portion
14, which protrudes from the bottom side of the bottom panel 1. The
rear edge 11 of the bottom panel 1 is protrudingly provided with a
plurality of first pivotal connection portions 15. The two lateral
edges 12 of the bottom panel 1 are each protrudingly provided with
a plurality of second pivotal connection portions 16. The front
edge 13 of the bottom panel 1 is protrudingly provided with a
plurality of third pivotal connection portions 17. Each first
pivotal connection portion 15 as well as each second pivotal
connection portion 16 and each third pivotal connection portion 17
is a pivotal connection groove formed by a curled plate. The second
pivotal connection portions 16 are lower than the first pivotal
connection portions 15 and the third pivotal connection portions
17.
[0033] The rear panel 2 is detachably connected to the bottom panel
1 as shown in FIG. 2. The rear panel 2 is formed with a first
bottom edge 21 corresponding in position to the rear edge 11. The
two lateral edges of the rear panel 2 that are adjacent to the
first bottom edge 21 are each formed as a first lateral connection
edge 22. Each of the two first lateral connection edges 22 is
protrudingly provided with a first protective cover 26. The first
bottom edge 21 is provided with a plurality of fourth pivotal
connection portions 23 corresponding in position respectively to
the first pivotal connection portions 15, wherein each of the
fourth pivotal connection portions 23 is a pivot shaft. The fourth
pivotal connection portions 23 are received in and pivotally
connected to the first pivotal connection portions 15 respectively
(see FIG. 3) such that the rear panel 2 not only can be detached
from the bottom panel 1, but also can be folded and unfolded with
respect to the bottom panel 1, i.e., rotated to and away from the
bottom panel 1 about an axis defined by the fourth pivotal
connection portions 23. Each of the two first lateral connection
edges 22 of the rear panel 2 is provided with at least one first
connection portion 24 adjacent to the corresponding first
protective cover 26. The first connection portions 24 are engaging
grooves. The rear panel 2 is further formed with a first top edge
25, which is the opposite edge of the first bottom edge 21.
[0034] The two lateral panels 3 are detachably connected to the
bottom panel 1 as shown in FIG. 4. Each of the two lateral panels 3
is formed with a second bottom edge 31 corresponding in position to
one of the two lateral edges 12. Each of the two lateral panels 3
is further formed with a second lateral connection edge 32 to be
disposed adjacent to and in contact with one of the two first
lateral connection edges 22. Each second bottom edge 31 is provided
with a plurality of fifth pivotal connection portions 33
corresponding in position respectively to the second pivotal
connection portions 16 of the corresponding lateral edge 12,
wherein each of the fifth pivotal connection portions 33 is a pivot
shaft. The fifth pivotal connection portions 33 of each lateral
panel 3 are received in and pivotally connected to the
corresponding second pivotal connection portions 16 respectively
(see FIG. 5) such that the two lateral panels 3 not only can be
detached from the bottom panel 1, but also can be folded and
unfolded with respect to the bottom panel 1, i.e., each rotated to
and away from the bottom panel 1 about an axis defined by the
corresponding fifth pivotal connection portions 33. Each of the two
second lateral connection edges 32 of the two lateral panels 3 is
provided with at least one second connection portion 34. The second
connection portions 34 are engaging blocks. The second connection
portion 34 of each second lateral connection edge 32 is configured
to be securely engaged in the first connection portion 24 of the
corresponding first lateral connection edge 22 (see FIG. 6) so that
the two lateral panels 3 are connected to the rear panel 2 and are
in an upright unfolded state with respect to the bottom panel 1.
The second connection portion 34 of each second lateral connection
edge 32 is also configured to disengage from the first connection
portion 24 of the corresponding first lateral connection edge 22 in
a direction toward the bottom panel 1 such that the corresponding
lateral panel 3 is detached from the rear panel 2 and folded with
respect to the bottom panel 1. Each of the two lateral panels 3 is
further formed with a second top edge 35. The second top edge 35
and the second bottom edge 31 of each lateral panel 3 are two
opposite edges.
[0035] The front panel 4 is detachably connected to the bottom
panel 1 as shown in FIG. 7. The front panel 4 is formed with a
third bottom edge 41 corresponding in position to the front edge
13. The third bottom edge 41 is provided with a plurality of sixth
pivotal connection portions 43 corresponding in position
respectively to the third pivotal connection portions 17, wherein
each of the sixth pivotal connection portions 43 is a pivot shaft.
The sixth pivotal connection portions 43 are received in and
pivotally connected to the third pivotal connection portions 17
respectively (see FIG. 8) such that the front panel 4 not only can
be detached from the bottom panel 1, but also can be folded and
unfolded with respect to the bottom panel 1, i.e., rotated to and
away from the bottom panel 1 about an axis defined by the sixth
pivotal connection portions 43. The front panel 4 is further formed
with a third top edge 45, which is the opposite edge of the third
bottom edge 41. Two first magnetic elements 44 are provided on the
front panel 4 at positions adjacent to the third top edge 45. The
two first magnetic elements 44 may be magnets or magnetically
attractable metal. The front panel 4 is also notched to form a
pulling portion 42 between the two first magnetic elements 44. In
addition, the front panel 4 has two lateral edges that flank the
third bottom edge 41 and are each protrudingly provided with a
second protective cover 46.
[0036] The lid 5 is detachably connected to the rear panel 2, the
two lateral panels 3, and the front panel 4 as shown in FIG. 9. The
bottom side of the lid 5 is provided with an accommodating portion
51 as shown in FIG. 10. The accommodating portion 51 is a square
U-shaped groove configured to accommodate the first top edge 25 of
the rear panel 2 and the two second top edges 35 of the two lateral
panels 3 and thereby keep the rear panel 2 and the two lateral
panels 3 upright, allowing the bottom panel 1, the rear panel 2,
the two lateral panels 3, the front panel 4, and the lid 5 to
jointly form the receiving space A of the storage box as shown in
FIG. 11. The bottom side of the lid 5 is further provided with two
second magnetic elements 54 corresponding in position respectively
to the two first magnetic elements 44. The two second magnetic
elements 54 may be magnets or magnetically attractable metal so
that each second magnetic element 54 and the corresponding first
magnetic element 44 can be magnetically secured to each other. In
addition, the top side of the lid 5 is concavely formed with a
second joining portion 52. The second joining portion 52 is
configured to be joined to the first joining portion 14 of another
storage box of the same configuration.
[0037] To place an object into the storage box, referring to FIG. 1
and FIG. 11, the pulling portion 42 of the front panel 4 can be
pulled to separate the two first magnetic elements 44 from the two
second magnetic elements 54, and by doing so, the front panel 4
will be opened with respect to the bottom panel 1 (i.e., rotated
away from the bottom panel 1 about the axis defined by the sixth
pivotal connection portions 43), allowing the object to be put into
the receiving space A. After that, the front panel 4 can be pushed
back in place so that the two first magnetic elements 44 and the
two second magnetic elements 54 are magnetically secured to each
other again to close the receiving space A.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 12, a plurality of storage boxes having
the foregoing configuration can be stacked up, with the first
joining portion 14 of the bottom panel 1 of an upper storage box
placed on the second joining portion 52 of the lid 5 of the
adjacent lower storage box to save space.
[0039] When the storage box described above needs to be transported
or stored, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 9, the volume of the
storage box can be reduced as follows. First, the lid 5 is
separated from the rear panel 2, the two lateral panels 3, and the
front panel 4 as shown in FIG. 13. Then, each of the two lateral
panels 3 is folded with respect to the bottom panel 1 as shown in
FIG. 14. More specifically, each lateral panel 3 is rotated toward
the bottom panel 1 about the axis defined by the corresponding
fifth pivotal connection portions 33 such that the second
connection portion 34 of the lateral panel 3 is disengaged from the
corresponding first connection portion 24 and each lateral panel 3
ends up separated from the rear panel 2 and collapsed on the bottom
panel 1. Following that, the rear panel 2 is folded with respect to
the bottom panel 1, i.e., rotated toward the bottom panel 1 about
the axis defined by the fourth pivotal connection portions 23 as
shown in FIG. 15. Since the first pivotal connection portions 15
are higher than the second pivotal connection portions 16, the
folded rear panel 2 will lie substantially flat on the two folded
lateral panels 3 without tilting up. Moreover, the rear panel 2 and
its two first protective covers 26 will cover half of the two
folded lateral panels 3 to give the folded box body a pleasant,
integral look. Next, the front panel 4 is folded with respect to
the bottom panel 1, i.e., rotated toward the bottom panel 1 about
the axis defined by the sixth pivotal connection portions 43 as
shown in FIG. 16. Since the third pivotal connection portions 17
are also higher than the second pivotal connection portions 16, the
folded front panel 4 will lie substantially flat on the two folded
lateral panels 3 without tilting up and be as high as the folded
rear panel 2. In addition, the front panel 4 and its two second
protective covers 46 will cover the other half of the two folded
lateral panels 3 to give the folded box body a pleasant, integral
look. Lastly, the lid 5 is turned over and placed on the folded box
body, with the concave second joining portion 52 lying on the
folded rear panel 2, the two folded lateral panels 3, and the
folded front panel 4 as shown in FIG. 17. The inverted second
joining portion 52 also gives the resulting assembly a pleasant,
integral look. Once the folding and assembling steps are completed,
the volume of the storage box is effectively reduced. A plurality
of such folded storage boxes can be stacked up to facilitate
transportation, with the first joining portion 14 of the bottom
panel 1 of an upper folded storage box placed in the accommodating
portion 51 of the inverted lid 5 of the adjacent lower folded
storage box as shown in FIG. 18 to reduce the space occupied by the
stack.
[0040] The embodiment described above shall be able to enable a
full understanding of the operation, use, and effects of the
present invention. The embodiment, however, is but a preferred one
of the invention and is not intended to be restrictive of the scope
of the invention. All simple equivalent changes and modifications
based on the appended claims and the disclosure of the present
specification shall fall within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *