GB2459746A

GB2459746A - Collapsible container with internal partition formed by folding inwards a portion cut in the side walls

Info

Publication number: GB2459746A
Application number: GB0822330A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Chichester
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-06
Filing date: 2008-12-08
Publication date: 2009-11-11
Also published as: GB0822330D0; GB0808115D0

Abstract

The container suitable for storing supermarket shopping items, has a base 103, and side wall panels 101a, 101b, 102a, 102b that are hinged together along edge portions 104a, 104b. A pair of cuts or slits 122a, 122b, spanning across an edge portion 104a, 104b, between two adjacent walls defines a region 123 that may be arranged to extend inwardly of the container, for example, for supporting a bottle. The base can be collapsed by pushing the base flaps in a direction inwards of the container, and it is formed by a series of base tapered flaps (Fig. 7, 116a, 116b, 117a, 117b) each pivotally extending from the lower edge 104c of a corresponding wall panel. An opposing pair of flaps (Fig.7, 116a, 116b) is provided with lines of weakness (Fig.7, 121) and each opposing flap is separately coupled to one adjacent flap (Fig.7, 117a or 117b). The side walls also comprise corresponding upper flaps 109a, 109b, 110a, 110b pivotally coupled to their upper edges 104d thereof. The upper flaps are also each pivotally coupled to each other at 115a, 115b. Opposing flaps 109a, 109b are provided with crease lines 112 which allow all the flaps to fold down to form a top wall, by folding flaps 110a, 110b, over flaps 109a, 109b. The side walls, as well as the flaps can be provided with handle-type holes 124.

Description

Container The present invention relates to a container and a storage system and particularly, but not exclusively to a container and a storage system for a shopping trolley.

When shopping in a supermarket, the goods to be purchased are typically placed randomly within a shopping trolley and then taken to a checkout. The goods are then removed from the trolley, only to be replaced after the purchase is recorded to be taken to a vehicle, for example. However, before replacing the goods within a trolley, the goods are typically placed within a bag or box. Moreover, it is common to place similar goods within the same bag to facilitate their removal to a cupboard or fridge. For example, all frozen goods may be placed in one bag so that they can be conveniently taken to a fridge freezer.

A problem with this is that the goods often accumulate at the checkout after being scanned as it is difficult to quickly separate the goods into separate bags. In addition, bottles containing liquid are often overturned within a bag, which can lead to the contents leaking from the bottle.

A further problem arises with the disposal of plastic bags, as plastic bags are not biodegradable.

I have now devised a container and a storage system which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a container, the container comprising a base and side walls which extend from the base, the side walls being coupled together to form a plurality of wall edges, the container further comprising a first cut and a second cut formed within at least one pair of adjoining walls of the container and which extend around an edge between the adjoining pair of walls, such that, a region of the adjoining pair of walls that extends between the first and second cuts can be reconfigured to extend inwardly of the container.

The inwardly projecting region of the adjoining walls can thus act to hold bottles and the like in an upright configuration to prevent their contents from leaking from the bottle closure.

Preferably, the container is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the base and side walls of the container extend substantially parallel to each other, and a second configuration in which the base extends in a plane substantially perpendicularly to the side walls.

The base preferably comprises a plurality of flaps pivotally coupled to a lower edge of the side walls and wherein at least two flaps that extend from adjoining walls of the container are coupled together such that when the container is arranged in the second configuration, then upon moving at least one of the at least two flaps inwardly of the container, the container is caused to become reconfigured into the first configuration.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a reconfigurable container, the container being reconfigurable between a first configuration in which a base and side walls of the container extend substantially parallel to each other, and a second configuration in which the base extends in a plane substantially perpendicularly to the side walls, wherein, the base comprises a plurality of flaps pivotally coupled to a lower edge of the side walls and wherein at least two flaps that extend from adjoining walls of the container are coupled together such that, when the container is arranged in the second configuration, then upon moving at least one of the at least two flaps inwardly of the container, the container is caused to become reconfigured into the first configuration.

Accordingly, after the container has been used, it can be reconfigured into a substantially flat configuration and conveniently stored in the boot of a car, for example, forfurtheruse.

Preferably, the side walls are coupled together to form a plurality of wall edges.

Preferably, the container further comprises a first cut and a second cut formed within at least one pair of adjoining walls of the container and which extend around an edge between the adjoining pair of walls, such that, a region of the adjoining pair of walls that extends between the first and second cuts is arranged to be reconfigured to extend inwardly of the container when the container is arranged in the second configuration.

The container preferably further comprises at least two handle regions formed in the side walls.

Preferably, the side walls comprise a plurality of flaps that are pivotally coupled to an upper edge thereof. The flaps are preferably moveable between a first configuration in which the flaps extend in substantially the same plane as the side wall to which they are coupled, and a second configuration in which the flaps extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the side walls to which their are coupled, to substantially close the container.

Preferably, at least one of the flaps that are pivotally coupled to an upper edge of the side walls comprises a line of weakness, which enables the at least one flap to fold.

Preferably, the flaps that are coupled to an upper edge of the side walls are coupled together along side edges thereof.

Preferably, the flaps that are coupled to an upper edge of the side walls comprise at least two handle regions.

Preferably, the side walls comprise a first pair of opposing walls and a second pair of opposing walls. Preferably, each of the first and second walls comprise a handle region.

Preferably, each wall of the first and second pair of opposing side walls comprise a flap coupled to an upper region thereof. Preferably, each flap comprises a handle region.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a third aspect, there is provided a storage system for compartmentalising a space within a shopping trolley, the system comprising at least two containers, the at least two containers comprising at least one container of the first aspect and/or at least one container of the second aspect.

The storage system thus enables the containers to be placed in a trolley prior to placing any goods within the trolley, so that the goods can be organised and separated as they are placed within the trolley. Moreover, if this process is performed prior to arriving at the checkout, then goods within the separate containers can be scanned for purchase in turn, so that the goods remain organised for replacement into the appropriate container.

Preferably, the at least two containers are sized to substantially occupy all the space within the trolley.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention, arranged in an operative configuration; Figure 2 is a plan view of the container of figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the container according to an embodiment of the present invention, arranged in a storage configuration; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention, arranged in an operative configuration; Figure 5 is a plan view of the container of figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of the container according to an embodiment of the present invention, arranged in a storage configuration; Figure 7 is a view from the under side of the container of figure 1 or 4; and, Figure 8 is a plan view of a storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention, arranged within a shopping trolley.

Referring to figure 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a container 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The container 100 may be manufactured from paper based products or plastic materials that are biodegradable. The container is reconfigurable between an operative configuration as shown in figures 1, in which the container 100 can be used to hold items (not shown) and a storage configuration as shown in figure 3, in which the container 100 can be folded substantially flat so that it can be stored easily within a boot of a car (not shown), for

example.

Referring to figure 1 of the drawings, the container 100 arranged in the operative configuration comprises a first and second pair of opposing side walls lOla, bib, 102a, 102b which extend from a base region 103 of the container 100, substantially perpendicularly thereto. The first and second pair of walls 101, 102 extend along longitudinal and lateral sides respectively, of the base region 103 and are pivotally coupled together along side edges 104a, 104b thereof to form a plurality of corner edges 105-108 of the container 100.

Each side wall lOla, bib, 102a, 102b comprises a flap 109a, 109b, llOa, liOb extending along an upper edge 104d thereof and which is pivotally coupled to the respective side wall by a line of weakness or pre-defined crease 111. Each flap 109 that is coupled to the first pair of opposing walls 101 further comprise a pair of creases 112 formed therein which separately extend from corners of the respective flap 109a, 1 09b where the proximal longitudinal edge of the flap 1 09a, 1 09b meets the respective wall lOla, 101 b, to a position that is substantially at the centre of the distal longitudinal edge of the flap 109a, 109b. The creases 112 formed within each flap 109a, 109b on the first pair of walls lOla, 101 b, enable the flaps 1 09a, 1 09b to fold downwardly over the container 100, as regions 11 3a, 11 3b of each flap 1 09a, 1 09b separately fold down over the respective region 1 14a, 1 14b. The flaps 109, 110 that are coupled to the first and second pair of walls 101, 102 are pivotally coupled together along side edges liSa, 11 Sb thereof and so as the flaps I 09a, 1 09b that are coupled to the first pair of opposing walls lOla, bUlb fold downwardly, the flaps llOa, blOb formed on the second pair of opposing walls 102a, 102b also fold down. The flaps 109, 110 are sized such that as the flaps 109, 110 that are coupled to each pair of opposing walls 101, 102 fold downwardly, they serve to close the container 100.

Referring to figures 2 and 7 of the drawings, the base region 103 of the container 100 is formed by a series of base flaps 11 6a, 11 6b, 11 7a, 11 7b, which are pivotally coupled at a proximal edge thereof, to a lower edge 1 04c of the side walls 101, 102 by a line of weakness or pre-defined crease 118. Each side wall 101, 102 comprises a base flap 116, 117 that extends along the length of the lower edge 104c of the respective wall 101, 102. The side edges 119 of each base flap separately converge away from the proximal edge to a distal edge thereof. One of the base flaps 116a that extend from the lower edge 104c of one of the first walls lOla further comprises a notched region 120 formed in one of the side edges 119 thereof.

Each base flap 116a, 116b that extends from a lower edge 104c of the first pair of opposing walls lOla, lOib is separately coupled to a base flap 117a, 117b that extends from a lower edge 104c of the second pair of opposing walls 102a, 102b.

Accordingly, one base flap that extends from one of the first walls is coupled to one base flap that extends from one of the second walls.

Each base flap 1 17a, 1 17b that extends from the lower edge 104c of the second pair of walls 102a, 102b comprises a line of weakness or pre-defined crease 121 formed therein which extends from a corner of the respective base flap 11 7a, 11 7b where the proximal edge of the base flap 117a, 117b meets the respective wall 102a, 102b, to a position that is on the distal longitudinal edge of the base flap 11 7a, 11 7b. The crease 121 enables the coupled pair of base flaps 11 6a, 11 7a and 11 6b, 11 7b to fold inwardly of the container 100, which by virtue of their coupling to the respective walls 101, 102 causes the side walls 101, 102 to move into a substantially parallel configuration, namely the storage configuration illustrated in figures 3 of the drawings.

Referring to figure 1 of the drawings, the side walls 101, 102 further comprises two pairs of cuts or slots 122a, 122b formed therein, which extend substantially parallel to each other and to the lower edge 1 04c of the side walls 101, 102. The cuts 122 of each pair are arranged one above the other in spaced relation from the lower edge 104c of the respective side walls 101, 102. One pair of cuts 122 extend from a position near a first corner edge 105 on one of the first walls 101 b, to a position around the first corner edge 105 to a position on the adjoining second wall 102a. The other pair of cuts 122 extend from a position near a second corner edge 107 on one of the first walls lOla that is arranged diagonally (of the container 100) opposite the first corner edge 105, to a position around the second corner edge 107 to a position on the adjoining second wall 102b. The region 123 of the side walls 101, 102 that extend between the respective pair of cuts 122 can be reconfigured to extend inwardly of the container 100 and thus present a holder for a bottle or similar (not shown), as shown in figure 2 of the drawings.

Each of the side walls 101, 102 and each of the flaps 109, 110 further comprise handle regions 124 formed therein, which comprise a partially cut aperture. The aperture of each handle region can be opened to enable a user's fingers (not shown) to be inserted therein, by folding the closure (not shown) to the aperture.

Referring to figure 4 of the drawings, there is shown a container 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The container 200 is substantially the same as the container 100 of first embodiment and like features have been assigned the same reference numerals, but increased by one hundred. The container 200 of the second embodiment differs from that of the first, in that the container 200 of the second embodiment does not comprise any cuts or slots 122 formed in the respective side walls 201, 202, for providing a holder for a bottle (not shown), for example.

In use, the container 100, 200 of the first or second embodiment may be reconfigured from the storage configuration to the operative configuration by forcing together opposite corner edges 105, 107, 205, 207, as shown in figure 3 and 6. The coupling of the base flaps 116, 117, 216, 217 to the side walls 101, 102, 201, 202 and to each other causes the base flaps 116, 117, 216, 217 to move into a plane substantially perpendicular to the side walls 101, 102, 201, 202, as the side walls 101, 102, 201, 202 move apart into the operative configuration. If required, the bottle holders 123 of the first embodiment may then be reconfigured to extend inwardly of the container 100 and items (not shown) may then be placed into the container 100. Bottles and the like (not shown) held within the bottle holders 123 will thus be held upright by virtue of the arrangement of the side walls 101, 102 near the respective corner edges 105, 107.

When the container 100, 200 has been suitably filled, the container 100, 200 can then be lifted by using the handles 124, 224 on the flaps 109, 110, 209, 210. Alternatively, the flaps 109, 110, 209, 210 can be folded down to close the container 100, 200 and the container 100, 200 can be lifted using the handles 124, 224 formed in the side walls 101, 102,201,202.

Once the container 100, 200 has been emptied, the bottle holders 123 can be returned to the side walls 101, 102 and a user (not shown) can then grip the base flap 116, 216 comprising the notch 120, 220 by placing their finger (not shown) under the notch 116, 216 formed in a side edge 119, 219 thereof and lift the base flap 116, 216 inwardly of the container 100, 200. This movement causes the side walls 101, 102, 201, 202 and the base flaps 116, 117, 216, 217 to move into a substantially parallel configuration, namely the storage configuration, which is a substantially flat configuration that is suitable for storage.

It is envisaged that several containers, selected from the containers 100, 200 of the first and second embodiment and having different dimensions, may be used to compartmentalise a shopping trolley 300 as shown in figure 8. The system shown in figure 8 comprises three containers 200a-c of the second embodiment and one container lOOa of the first embodiment. The containers lOOa, 200a-c are sized to substantially fill the interior of the shopping trolley 300 and enable a user (not shown) to organise items (not shown) within separate containers lOOa, 200a-c to minimise the time spent during the checkout process and further facilitate the removal of the items (not shown) to a specific cupboard, fridge, freezer (not shown) etc. The handles 124, 224 formed in the flaps 109, 110, 209, 210 of the containers 100, 200 are further arranged to extend over the top of the trolley 300 50 that the user (not shown) can easily lift the respective container lOOa, 200a-c from the trolley 300.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the container and storage system provides a simple yet effective means of organising and carrying items. ! 9

Claims

Claims 1. A container, the container comprising a base and side walls which extend from the base, the side walls being coupled together to form a plurality of wall edges, the container further comprising a first cut and a second cut formed within at least one pair of adjoining walls of the container and which extend around an edge between the adjoining pair of walls, such that, a region of the adjoining pair of walls that extends between the first and second cuts can be reconfigured to extend inwardly of the container.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the base and side walls of the container extend substantially parallel to each other, and a second configuration in which the base extends in a plane substantially perpendicularly to the side walls.
3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the base comprises a plurality of flaps pivotally coupled to a lower edge of the side walls.
4. A controller according to claim 3, wherein at least two flaps that extend from adjoining walls of the container are coupled together such that when the container is arranged in the second configuration, then upon moving at least one of the at least two * * flaps inwardly of the container, the container is caused to become reconfigured into the first configuration. S... * .* 25
5. A reconfigurable container, the container being reconfigurable between a first S configuration in which a base and side walls of the container extend substantially S.....* parallel to each other, and a second configuration in which the base extends in a plane *:::* substantially perpendicularly to the side walls, wherein, * the base comprises a plurality of flaps pivotally coupled to a lower edge of the S.....

* 30 side walls and wherein at least two flaps that extend from adjoining walls of the container are coupled together such that, when the container is arranged in the second configuration, then upon moving at least one of the at least two flaps inwardly of the container, the container is caused to become reconfigured into the first configuration. V. 10
6. A reconfigurable container according to claim 5, wherein the side walls are coupled together to form a plurality of wall edges.
7. A reconfigurable container according to claim 6, further comprising a first cut and a second cut formed within at least one pair of adjoining walls of the container and which extend around an edge between the adjoining pair of walls, such that a region of the adjoining pair of walls that extends between the first and second cuts is arranged to be reconfigured to extend inwardly of the container when the container is arranged in the second configuration.
8. A container according to any preceding claim further comprising at least two handle regions formed in the side walls.
9. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the side walls comprise a plurality of flaps that are pivotally coupled to an upper edge thereof.
10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the flaps are moveable between a first configuration in which the flaps extend in substantially the same plane as the side wall to which they are coupled, and a second configuration in which the flaps extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the side walls to which their are coupled, to substantially close the container. * S.
11. A container according to claim 9 or 10, wherein at least one of the flaps that are *.. S pivotally coupled to an upper edge of the side walls comprises a line of weakness, * 25 which enables the at least one flap to fold. * S * * S.*5S**S *
12. A container according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the flaps that are *:*::* coupled to an upper edge of the side walls are coupled together along side edges * thereof.

S..... S *
13. A container according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the flaps that are coupled to an upper edge of the side walls comprise at least two handle regions.
14. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein, the side walls comprise a first pair of opposing walls and a second pair of opposing walls. . 11
15. A container according to claim 14, wherein each of the first and second walls comprise a handle region.
16. A container according to claim 14 or 15, wherein each wall of the first and second pair of opposing side walls comprise a flap coupled to an upper region thereof.
17. A container according to claim 16, wherein each flap comprises a handle region.
18. A storage system for compartmentalising a space within a shopping trolley, the system comprising at least two containers, the at least two containers comprising at least one container according to claim 1 and/or at least one container according to claim 5.
19. A storage system according to claim 18, wherein the at least two containers are sized to substantially occupy all the space within the trolley. * ** * * * S. **. * * *.*. *. S * * S * S.SI..... * * * ** * . S * S. **.**..