GB2185238A - Case structure adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A case structure adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like offers the possibility of joining two or more cases 1 together in a modular and removable manner so as to practically form a single case having bigger capacity. The modular union between the single cases 1 is obtained through mutually connectable means 7 and 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Case structure adapted to contain pens pencils or the like The present invention relates to a case struc ture adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like. More particularly said structure offers the possibility of joining two or more cases to gether in a modular and removable manner, so as to practically form a single case having bigger capacity.

It is known that the use of modular structures to accomplish containers or the like has been adopted for many years in many industrial fields owing to the undoubted practical and economical advantages it offers. In fact containers having the same modular structure can be easily and quickly joined to each other so as to accomplish a modular unit of any size and in many cases of any spatial configuration. This practical advantage is supported by an important economical advantage due to the fact that by using a single equipment for producing each individual container it is possible to obtain, at least theoretically as above said, an infinite number of modular units different from each other.

For the above reasons the use of modular structures for example to accomplish drawer folders which when joined together can give rise to real shelves acting as card-index and filing boxes or the like has proved to be convenient.

A further example is given by the use of modular structures to accomplish containers for small-sized items such as ironmonger's items or the like.

A still further example is given in the hospital field by the presence of suitable test-tube containers adapted to be coupled to each other in order to create a compact assembly consisting of a plurality of test-tubes containing samples to be submitted to the same tests.

Obviously many further examples may be made as to the use of modular structures to accomplish containers or the like but they are intentionally omitted herein for the sake of conciseness.

It is to be noted however that in the specific field of stationery items, reference being particularly made to pen and pencil cases or the like, the modular structure conceipt has not been taken into consideration yet.

In this connection, referring particularly and by way of example only to the package for coloured felt-pens it is necessary to point out that in plants for the production of the latter suitable cases in which said feltpens are packed up are also usually provided. Obviously a predetermined amount of felt-pens having each a predetermined colour is introduced into each case so that it is possible to obtain a felt-pen box constituting the final product for sale.

To this end different types of cases are pre sently used. For example metal or plastic cases are currently known which are provided with an upper cover articulated to and adapted to be snap-closed onto a base receptacle. Thin cardboard cases are also known and they are widely used due to their low production costs. A further example of known cases is also given by an envelope made of plastic material provided with one or more closing flaps. Obviously many other types of cases are known in the art but we have intentionally omitted them herein in order to make the description more concise.

Anyway the use of known cases involves important problems. In order to best emphasize the whole stiuation it is necessary to point out that firms operating in this particular field according to the demandsof the market usually commercialize each type of item to be sold using different types of packing boxes.

Always referring to coloured felt-pens it is possible to notice that many manufacturers produce at least three different types of boxes for said items, that is 12-piece, 24-piece and 36-piece boxes.

When cases of known types are used, the production of each type of packing requires a particular equipment adapted to manufacture cases of appropriate sizes and to automatically and suitably introduce the felt-pens or any other item for which said cases have been designed thereinto.

This problem is further made worse by the fact that only 12-piece packing boxes allow the use of relatively simple and completely automatic equipments, whereas when 24-piece or 36-piece packing boxes are concerned, many technical difficulties arise and as a result said felt-pens cannot be introduced into their respective cases in a completely automatic manner.

Obviously such a drawback adversely affects the whole production from an economical standpoint. First of all one disadvantage is given by the expenses necessary to produce the moulds for each type of packing box. In this connection it is important to point out that the cost of the single moulds increases in proportion to the sizes and capacities of the packing boxes it is wished to obtain. As a result, the actual costs for the moulds are mainly increased by the necessity of producing moulds for 24 and 36-piece boxes.

Secondly, the difference between the production costs for 12-piece boxes and those for 24 and 36-piece boxes is further increased by the constructional complexity and malfunctioning proper to the equipments relating to the last mentioned boxes. In addition, 24 and 36-piece boxes, due to the high sale prices to which they are subjected, have a much lower marketability as compared to 12-piece boxes.

As a result, global production costs which are above all affected, as specified above, by the presence of 24 and 36-piece boxes, have to be amortized by increasing the sale prices for all types of boxes, 12-piece boxes inclusive.

It is clear that under this situation the availability of cases having a modular structure would be convenient, so that it would be possible to obtain 24 and 36-piece boxes by joining two or more 12-piece boxes together.

The object of the present invention is therefore to introduce the modular conceipt into the stationery field so as to accomplish a case adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like enabling the elimination of all problems and drawbacks proper to the known art.

A further object of the invention is to provide a case structure of easy and cheap construction.

The foregoing and still further objects that will become more apparent in the following are substantially achieved by a case structure adapted to contain pens, pencils ar the like of the type comprising a base receptacle engageable with a cover in a removable manner, characterized in that said structure consists of one or more modular cases provided with means enabling the mutual connection thereof.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention given hereinafter by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a case having a structure according to the invention,; Fig. 2 is a side view of the case seen in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of the case; Fig. 4 shows several cases having the structure according to the invention joined to each other in a modular manner; Fig. 5 is an interrupted sectional view taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings a case adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like and having a structure according to the invention has been globally identified by reference numeral 1.

In a known and conventional manner, the case 1 essentially consists of a base receptacle 2 and a cover 3 detachably engaged with each other by means of respective snap fitting reliefs 2a and 3a.

As shown in the drawings and according to a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the case 1 has the form of a parallelepiped with a rectangular base and that the cover 3 is made of transparent material.

It is also provided that inside the base receptacle 2 a separation element 4 is disposed so that the base receptacle 2 may be divided into a series of spaces 5 within each of them a felt-pen for example or any similar item may be disposed. More particularly, according to the embodiment shown, twelve spaces 5 disposed in two rows are defined inside the base receptacle 2.

In an original manner, according to the structure in question the base receptacle 2 is provided, on one of its external sides, with a first restrained fixing tailpiece 7 and with a second restrained fixing tailpiece 8 matching the shape of the first tailpiece and provided with suitable means adapted to define a fitting area therebetween as more clearly explained hereinafter.

According to a preferred embodiment said restrained fixing tailpieces 7 and 8 substantially have an elongated annular conformation and extend each along one of the minor vertical walls of the base receptacle 2. More precise ly, referring particularly to Fig. 5, the restrained fixing tailpiece 7 essentially consists of a recessed portion 9 concentrically to which a first annular project ion 10 extends which is provided, on its outside wall, with a first fitting lug 11.

The second restrained fixing tailpiece 8, in turn, is comprised of a second annular projection 12 into which the first annular projection 10 engages. On the inner wall of the annular projection 12 a second fitting lug 13 is provided which, in cooperation with the first fitting lug 11, is adapted to create a fitting area between the tailpieces 7 and 8. In this way, as clearly seen in Fig.4, it is possible to join two or more cases 1 one after the other in a modular manner so as to substantially form a single case of bigger capacity. In the example shown in Fig. 4 three cases 1 joined together in a modular manner give advantageously rise to a 36-piece modular case.

The present invention attains the intended purposes. In fact, the possibility of joining two or more cases to each other in a modular manner allows that 24 or 36-piece boxes are obtained by the only use of 12-piece cases. In this way it is no longer necessary to study and prepare complicated moulds and equipments specifically adapted to produce 24 and 36-piece boxes. The functions of said moulds and equipments are in fact completely performed by the simpler, more functional and less expensive moulds and equipments adapted to produce 12-piece boxes.

Practically this allows the global production costs to be reduced to about one third with respect to the actual costs for producing cases of known type.

In addition, the present invention is fit for promoting the commercialization of 24 and 36-piece boxes. As a matter of fact the user has the possibility of purchasing the 12-piece boxes separately and joining them together afterwards thereby creating a 24-piece box or a 36-piece box.

Obviously many modifications and variations can be made to the present invention, all falling within the scope of the inventive idea characterizing it.

Actually case 1 can take different forms and sizes, depending upon the conformation and number of the items to be contained. Also the structure of the restrained fixing tailpieces 7 and 8 may be of any nature, provided that it is adapted to join two or more cases 1 to each other in a modular manner and without difficulty. Practically, the restrained fixing tailpieces 7 and 8 may also consist of adhesive strips, magnetic elements or the like.

Claims (5)

1. A case structure adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like, of the type comprising a base receptacle engageable with a cover in a removable manner, characterized in that said structure consists of one or more modular cases provided with means enabling the mutual connection thereof.

2. A case structure adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said means enabling the mutual connection thereof is located on two opposed sides of said base receptacle and consists of at least a first restrained fixing tailpiece and at least a second restrained fixing tailpiece matching the shape of the first tailpiece, which are engageable with each other in a removable manner.

3. A case structure adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said restrained fixing tailpieces substantially have an elongated annular conformation along the corresponding side of said base receptacle.

4. A case structure adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said first restrained fixing tailpiece comprises a first annular projection extending concentrically to a recessed portion located on the corresponding side of said base receptacle, said first annular projection being provided, on its outside wall, with a first fitting lug.

5. A case structure adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like as claimed in claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said second restrained fixing tailpiece comprises a second annular projection with which said first annular projection is engageable and on the inner side of which a second fitting lug is located which lug cooperates with said first fitting lug in order to create a fitting area between said first and second tailpieces.