DE20215367U1 - Small parts bins - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a small parts container made of plastic, consisting of a trough-shaped base part and a lid for closing the base part, wherein a closure mechanism is arranged at one end of the small parts container and the closure mechanism consists of at least one tab formed on the lid, each with at least one opening and at least one locking lug arranged at a corresponding point on the base part, wherein the locking lug engages in the opening to close the small parts container.

Such small parts containers are known. In particular, they are cuboid-shaped containers, so-called display boxes. These are made of a transparent or translucent plastic material and are used primarily as a sales aid in self-service stores for displaying small iron parts such as nails, pins, screws, or small electrical parts and the like. A corresponding small parts container is described in DE 92 01 488.7 U.

The disadvantage of these known small parts containers is that they can be opened and closed at any time, so that it is possible that the corresponding goods can be removed from the small parts container without permission. It is not possible to determine whether the corresponding small parts container already has a

opening process has taken place. To avoid this, DE 86 14 142.2 U describes a sales box for holding small parts, in which locking elements or the locking mechanism are arranged on a wall protruding from the lid, whereby the wall shields a corresponding side wall of the sales box against deforming finger pressure. A section of the wall forms a so-called break-out part, which can be removed to open the sales box. To open the sales box, the break-out part must be removed, so that its absence immediately shows that the sales box has already been opened.

The disadvantage of the above-mentioned construction, however, is that on the one hand it is very complex in terms of construction and on the other hand there is a risk that if the break-out part, which represents part of the wall on which the locking mechanism is arranged, is torn off, the latter will also be damaged, so that the small parts container can no longer be used.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a small parts container of the type mentioned at the outset, which, using simple structural means, provides the possibility of being able to make a reliable statement as to whether the small parts container has already been opened at least once.

This problem is solved by a small parts container with the features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the small parts container according to the invention are described in the subclaims.

In a small parts container according to the invention, a locking lug of a locking mechanism and/or the locking mechanism is surrounded by a bracket-like element arranged on a bottom part of the small parts container, wherein the element is designed to be removable in such a way that the locking mechanism is freely accessible after removal of the element.

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The small parts container and/or the bracket element are made of a soft plastic. The bracket-like element acts as a kind of seal that protects the locking mechanism underneath from unauthorized access. Only complete removal of the bracket-like element allows free access to the locking element and thus opening of the small parts container. However, since this always involves removing the bracket-like element during the first opening process, it is possible to see at any time whether the small parts container is still in its original state, i.e. that it has not yet been opened. In addition, the structural separation of the locking mechanism and the bracket-like element ensures that the locking element and its functionality are not impaired in any way when the bracket-like element is removed. The use of a soft plastic for the small parts container and/or the bracket element supports the easy removal of the bracket element. The plastic can also be transparent so that it is always possible to see from the outside which parts are inside the small parts container.

In an advantageous embodiment of the small parts container according to the invention, the base part and the lid are connected to one another via a film hinge at the end of the small parts container opposite the locking mechanism. The film hinge ensures a secure and permanent folding connection between the base part and the lid of the small parts container.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ends of the bracket-like element that are adjacent to the base part are tapered in the direction of the base part. This makes it easier to separate the bracket-like element from the base part. It is also possible for a gripping tab to be formed on the bracket-like element. This design also serves to make it easier to remove the bracket-like element from the base part.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a tab of the locking mechanism is curved at the end facing away from the lid. Such a design allows the tab to easily slide over the locking lug of the locking mechanism and also ensures easier handling when opening the small parts container with regard to the locking mechanism.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, edge elements are formed on the lid in the direction of the base part for engaging in the base part. In particular, these edge elements are arranged offset inwards from the edge of the lid. The design of the edge elements ensures a flush and tight seal between the lid and the base part.

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiment described below and illustrated in the drawings.

Show it

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an inventive

small parts container; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of the small parts container according to the invention in

unfolded state.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a small parts container 10 comprising a tub-shaped base part 12 and a lid 14 for closing the base part 12. The small parts container 10 is made of plastic, in particular a soft and transparent plastic. At one end 16

A locking mechanism 18 is arranged on the small parts container 10, the locking mechanism 18 consisting of a tab 20 formed on the lid 14 with an opening 36 and a locking lug 22 arranged at a corresponding point on the base part 12. To close the small parts container 10, the locking lug 22 engages in the opening 26. To securely close the small parts container 10, a guide lug 28 is formed in the area of the opening 36.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the locking lug 22 or the locking mechanism 18 is surrounded by a bracket-like element 32 arranged on the base part 12. The bracket-like element 32 is designed to be removable, such that after removing the element 32, the locking mechanism 18 is freely accessible. Furthermore, it can be seen that a grip tab 34 is formed on the bracket-like element 32.

At the end of the small parts container 10 opposite the closure mechanism 18, the base part 12 and the lid 14 are connected to one another via a film hinge 26. Edge elements 30 for engaging in the base part 12 are formed on the lid 14 in the direction of the base part 12. The edge elements 30 are arranged offset inwards from the edge of the lid.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the small parts container 10 in the opened state. It can be seen that the ends 38 of the bracket-like element 32 that are adjacent to the base part 12 are tapered in the direction of the base part 12. This allows the bracket-like element 32 to be easily removed from the base part 12. In addition, the connection between the base part 12 and the lid 14 can be seen via the film hinge 26. A bracket-like hanging or carrying device 24 is also arranged at the end 16 of the small parts container 10.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the tab 20 is attached to the cover 14

is curved at the pointing end.

In addition to the small parts container 10, the bracket element 32 is also made of a soft, transparent plastic.

Claims (8)

1. Small parts container made of plastic, consisting of a trough-shaped base part ( 12 ) and a lid ( 14 ) for closing the base part ( 12 ), wherein a closure mechanism ( 18 ) is arranged at one end ( 16 ) of the small parts container ( 10 ) and the closure mechanism ( 18 ) consists of at least one tab ( 20 ) formed on the lid ( 14 ), each with at least one opening ( 36 ) and at least one locking lug ( 22 ) arranged at a corresponding point on the base part ( 12 ), wherein the locking lug ( 22 ) engages in the opening ( 36 ) to close the small parts container ( 10 ), characterized in that the locking lug ( 22 ) of the closure mechanism ( 18 ) and/or the closure mechanism ( 18 ) is held by a bracket-like element arranged on the base part ( 12 ). ( 32 ), wherein the element ( 32 ) is designed to be removable such that after removal of the element ( 32 ) the locking mechanism ( 18 ) is freely accessible and the small parts container ( 10 ) and/or the bracket element ( 32 ) consist of a soft plastic. 2. Small parts container according to claim 1, characterized in that the small parts container ( 10 ) and/or the bracket element ( 32 ) consist of a transparent plastic. 3. Small parts container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the end of the small parts container ( 10 ) opposite the closure mechanism ( 18 ), the base part ( 12 ) and the lid ( 14 ) are connected to one another via a film hinge ( 26 ). 4. Small parts container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ends ( 38 ) of the bracket-like element ( 32 ) resting on the base part ( 12 ) are tapered in the direction of the base part ( 12 ). 5. Small parts container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a grip tab ( 34 ) is formed on the bracket-like element ( 32 ). 6. Small parts container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tab ( 20 ) is curved at the end pointing away from the lid ( 14 ). 7. Small parts container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that edge elements ( 30 ) for engaging in the base part ( 12 ) are formed on the lid ( 14 ) in the direction of the base part ( 12 ). 8. Small parts container according to claim 7, characterized in that the edge elements ( 30 ) are arranged offset inwards from the edge of the lid ( 14 ).