WO2006113508A2

WO2006113508A2 - Multi-functional shoe storage box

Info

Publication number: WO2006113508A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/014211
Authority: WO
Inventors: Der Liang Mu; Lisa Lynn Kim
Original assignee: Der Liang Mu
Priority date: 2005-04-14
Filing date: 2006-04-14
Publication date: 2006-10-26
Also published as: WO2006113508A3; WO2006113508B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a multi-functional shoe storage box comprising transparent outer and outer containers so that the inner container is slid through the side opening in and out of the outer container, a substantially transparent side tab extending from the outer container bottom plate where the side tab has a hole, and a deodorant panel disposed against an inner side of the inner container and within the outer container.

Description

MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SHOE STORAGE BOX

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a multi-functional shoe storage box realizing see- through transparency to meet esthetic demand, wall-mount capacity to enhance product reliability, and deodorant application to maximize users' satisfaction.

Background Art

Conventional shoe storage boxes come with paper containers. One of the disadvantages of the conventional paper shoe storage boxes is that each cover has to be opened for display on shoe racks and thus shoe pairs displaced to a different shoe storage box and tainted, thereby causing annoyances to the seller. Further, considering the shopper usually sees the label on the shoe storage box first, the inconveniences generated by the open paper shoe storage boxes, like unmatched design or shoe size by the frequent displacements, would probably disappoint the shoppers and affect the business itself. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

A demand on the market is to provide a shoe storage box that allows shoppers to shop shoes in clean and convenient manners while shop owners enjoy a variety of display options to attract shoppers and satisfy shoppers needs. Another demand is to introduce a shoe box that allows a user to see the shoes through the box container without opening the box.

Technical Solution

An objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose shoe storage box realizing see-through transparency to meet esthetic demand, wall-mount capacity to enhance product reliability, and deodorant application to maximize users' satisfaction.

Another objective is to provide a multi-functional shoe storage box satisfying convenience and display options as well as storage purpose.

A further objective is to provide a multi-functional shoe storage box adopting clear and transparent see-through mechanism enabling clear view of the shoe pair inside without opening the box container.

Advantageous Effects

An dvantage of the shoe storage box is that the multi-functional shoe storage box adopts a sidewϊse sliding mechanism in which the inner container is slid into the outer container. Further, the wall-mount mechanism by the provision of the side tap enables shoe stores to display shoe boxes in a wide variety of decorative layouts and serves to escalate product satisfaction in furtherance of transparent see-through characteristics enabling clear view of the shoe pair inside without opening the box. In addition, the deodorant panel applied between the containers minimizes a user's discomfort resulting from limited ventilation, thereby improving usability and marketability.

Description of Drawings

[8] FIG. 1 is a construction view showing assembly of a first embodiment of this invention;

[9] FIG. 2 is an application view showing the first embodiment;

[10] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment;

[11] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-iV in FIG. 3;

[12] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 3;

[13] FIG. 6 is a constructioaview showing assembly of a second embedment of this invention;

[14] FIG. 7 is an application view showing the second embodiment;

[15] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment;

[16] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 6;

[17] FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. 6;

[18] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of FIG. 6; and

[19] FIG. 12 is a view showing a vertical stack of the second embodiment.

Best Mode

[20] FIRST EMBODIMENT

[21] FIGS. 1 to 5 each show construction and application of a multi-functional shoe storage box 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, the shoe storage box 10 comprises an outer container 12 and an inner container 14 where the outer container 12 receives the inner container 14 with a pair of shoes 16 stored inside. Here, each of the outer and inner containers 12, 14 is preferably formed of a substantially transparent material.

[22] The outer container 12 is defined by a bottom plate 18 and first to third side plates

20, 22, 24. The first and second side plates 20, 22 are formed to face each other, and the third side plate 24 serves to complete the outer container 12 with a fourth side of the outer container 12 being a slide opening 26.

[23] In order to improve usability of the shoe storage box 10 there is provided a substantially transparent cover 28 to the outer container 12. The cover 28 has a top plate 30 hingedly extending from the second side plate 22. A wing plate 32 is formed to extend from the top plate 30 so that when the cover 28 is hingedly closed the wing plate 32 becomes overlapped onto the first side plate 20.

[24] The inner container 14 also formed of a substantially transparent material is defined by a bottom plate 34 and first to fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42. The inner container first and second plates 36, 38 are formed to face each other, and the inner container third and fourth plates 40, 42 are formed to face each other. In this construction, the inner container 14 is slid through the slide opening 26 in and out of the outer container 12. [25] To facilitate wall mounting of the shoe storage box 10 for shopping convenience and store display, a side tab 44 is provided as an attachment to the outer container 12. The side tab 44 is preferably formed of a substantially transparent to extend outwardly from the outer container bottom plate 18 and adjacent to the slide opening 26 where the side tab 44 has a hole 46 to accept a wall mounting aid such as a hook and a nail head.

[26] The shoe storage box 10 further comprises an elongate handle 48 detachably attached to an outer surface 50 of the first side plate 36 of the inner container 14. The elongate handle 48 is externally exposed sequentially through a first slot 52 formed in the outer container first side plate 20 and through a second slot 54 formed in the wing plate 32. The elongate handle 48 is preferable formed of a substantially transparent material in a flat mode. The handle 48 is formed adjustable such that it stays flat unless pulled up for carrying purpose. It is recommended that each end 56 of the handle 48 is releasably inserted through the inner container first side plate 36 in a hookable mode.

[27] The shoe storage box 10 includes a locking member 58 to detachably attach the wing plate 32 to the outer container first side plate 20. The locking member 58 may be formed of a hook and pile alternately formed on an outer surface portion of the outer container first side plate 20 and on an inner surface portion of the cover wing plate 32. Alternately, the locking member 58 is formed of an insert 64 extending from the wing plate 32 and an insert slit 66 formed in the outer container first side plate 20.

[28] Meanwhile, the outer container first and second side plates 20, 22 are connected to the outer container third side plate 24 by a tab-to-slit mechanism of an outer fly tab 68 selectively extending from the outer container first to third side plates 20, 22, 24 and an outer fly slit 70 formed in the outer container first to third side plates 20, 22, 24 to accept the corresponding fly tab 68. In correspondence, the inner container first and second side plates 36, 38 are connected to the inner container third and fourth side plates 40, 42 by a tab-to-slit mechanism of a pair of inner fly tabs 72 selectively extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 and a pair of inner fly slits 74 formed in the inner container first to fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 to accept the corresponding fly tabs 72 such that the outer fly tab 68 is placed between the inner fly tabs 72 when the inner container 14 is slid into the outer container 12.

[29] Alternately, the tab-to-slit mechanism may be formed of a pair of outer fly tabs 68 selectively extending from the outer container first to third side plates 20, 22, 24 and a pair of outer fly slits 70 formed in the outer container first to third side plates 20, 22, 24 to accept the corresponding fly tabs 68, whereas the inner container first and second side plates 36, 38 are connected to the outer container third and fourth side plates 40, 42 by a tab-to-slit mechanism of three inner fly tabs 72 selectively extending from the inner container first to fourth side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 and three inner fly slits 74 formed in the inner container first to third side plates 36, 38, 40, 42 to accept the corresponding inner fly tabs 72 such that the pair of outer fly tabs 68 are alternately placed among the three inner fly tabs 72 when the inner container 14 is slid into the outer container 12. In this construction, it is preferred that the tabs 68, 72 are formed to stay inside the shoe storage box 10 when assembled.

[30] For a better performance, the fourth side plate 42 of the inner container 14 has a grip opening 76 around a center 78 thereof to facilitate a manual push-in and pull-out of the inner container 14 against the outer container 12. The fourth side plate 42 may have a top opening 80 above the grip opening 76 to further facilitate the manual push- in and pull-out of the inner container 14 against the outer container 12 to enable easier finger grip together with the grip opening 76 for the pull-out opening of the inner container 14 from the outer container 12. Also, for a ventilation purpose, each of the third side plates 24, 40 of the outer and inner containers 12, 14 has a ventilation opening 82 in a corresponding mode.

[31] To maximize the see-through characteristics of the shoe storage box 10, each and every part is possibly formed of a transparent material. Specifically, the containers 12, 14, cover 28, side tab 44, and elongate handle 48 are each formed of one selected from transparent polypropylene (PP) for transparency and durability, and transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for better transparency quality.

[32] As further shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in an embodiment, a top surface 84 of the bottom plate 18 is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous openings 86, preferably four porous openings 86 in four corners 88 of the top surface 84 of the bottom plate 18. To match with this bottom plate construction of the outer container 12 , a lower surface 90 of the inner container bottom plate 34 is selectively embossed to form a plurality of bosses 92 to fit in the porous openings 86 when the inner container 14 is slid through the slide;opening 26. For a space saving stacking purpose, the top plate 30 may be formed such that a top surface 94 of the top plate 30 is selectively pitted to form a plurality of porous openings 96.

[33] SECOND EMBODIMENT

[34] FIGS. 6 to 12 illustrate a second embodiment of this invention. As shown therein, the shoe storage box 10 includes an outer container 12 and an inner container 14. The outer container 12 is characterized to have substantial transparency and also the inner container 14 carries substantial transparency in characteristics to allow a user to view through the transparent containers 12, 14 shoes 16 stored in the inner container 14.

[35] The substantially transparent outer container 12 is preferably defined by a bottom plate 18 and first to fourth side plates 20, 22, 24, 26. The first and second side plates 20, 22 are aligned to face each other, and the third side plate 24 is aligned to face the bottom plate 18 whereas an opposing side of the fourth side plate 26 is open to have a side opening 28. It is preferred that an aerial plane of the side opening 28 is as large as the fourth side plate 26. Here, the fourth side plate 26 and the side opening 28 are each less than any other side plate of the outer container 12.

[36] In order to fit in the outer container 12, the substantially transparent inner container 14 is defined by a bottom plate 30 and first to fourth side plates 32, 34, 36, 38. An opposing side of the bottom plate 30 of the inner container 14 is open to have a top opening 40 so that the shoes 16 can be placed within the inner container 14 for storage. The first and second plates 32, 34 of the inner container 14 is aligned to face each other, and the third and fourth plates 36, 38 of the inner container 14 are aligned to face each other to complete the inner container 14, whereby the inner container 14 is slid through the side opening 28 in and out of the outer container 12 with the shoes 16 placed in the inner container 14.

[37] To improve usability of the shoe storage box 10, there is provided a substantially transparent side tab 42 extending from the bottom plate 18 and adjacent to the side opening 28 of the outer container 12. The side tab 42 is provided to have a hole 44 so that the shoe storage box 10 can be hooked on a shoe store wall for display or decoration purposes. It is recommended that the side tab 42 in this mechanism is formed to extend straight from the bottom plate 18 of the outer container 12 to facilitate wall mount of the shoe storage box 10.

[38] In an embodiment, the jfourth side plates 26, 38 of the containers 12, 14 are each indented from atop to secure ventilation of the shoe storage box 10 and easy grip to the user. For a better performance, the third side plate 36 of the inner container 14 is also indented from atop to communicate with the indentation 46 of the fourth side plate 26 of the outer container 12 to provide an aerial passage for ventilation between interior and exterior of the shoe storage box 10 in addition to an easy grip to the user.

[39] The fourth side plate 38 of the inner container 14 is holed below the indentation 48 thereof to form a ventilation opening 50 while providing an easier grip for a pull-out of the inner container 14 from the outer container 12. So the user can utilize the indentations 46, 48, 50 for manipulation of the shoe storage box 10 by simply hooking a user's fingers in the indentations and ventilation opening 46, 48, 50.

[40] FIG. 9 shows a ridge rail mechanism. As shown therein, the shoe storage box 10 further comprises a ridge rail 52 carried on and along each ridge 54 of the side plates 32, 34, 36, 38 of the inner container 14 to smooth the slide of the inner container 14. That is, the ridge rail 52 serves to minimize friction between the plate ridge 54 of the inner container 14 and the third plate 24 of the outer container 12. Further, the ridge rail 52 is provided to sustain downward pressure when a plurality of shoe storage boxes 10 are vertically stacked. The ridge rail 52 has elastic wings 53 to removably hold each ridge 54.

[41] To secure transparency characteristics of the shoe storage box 10, the containers 12

, 14 and the side tab 42 are each formed of one selected from transparent polypropylene (PP) and transparent polyvinyl chloride PVC).

[42] In a preferred embodiment, the substantially transparent outer container 12 is formed such that the first side plate 20 has an outer slot 56 to receive an elongate handle 58 from the inner container 14. Here, each end 60 of the elongate handle 58 is detachably and controllably fitted in a pair of inner slots 62 formed through the inner container first side plate 32 so that when the inner container 14 is slid and closed in the outer container 12, the handle 58 becomes exposed through the outer slot 56 of the outer container 12 to facilitate carriage of the shoe storage box 10.

[43] The elongate handle 58 is preferably formed of a flexible material with elasticity, such as flexible plastic and flexible polyvinyl chloride. When the elongate handle 58 is removed from the inner container 14 can be used as a storage box for other purposes. For example, the inner container 14 can be used as CD storage box.

[44] For the best performance, the shoe storage box 10 further comprises a deodorant panel 64 disposed against the fourth plate 26 of and within the outer container 12. The deodorant panel 64 serves to provide fragrance and to deodorize the shoe storage box 10. Also, the deodorant panel 64 serves to protect the fourth side plate 26 against the slide-in action of the inner container 14. Preferably, the deodorant panel is formed equal to or slightly less than the fourth side plate 26 of the outer container 12 so as to stably fit within the outer container 12. In this construction, t he deodorant panel 64 is detachably attached to the outer container fourth side plate 26. The deodorant panel 64 is formed of a natural material. In a preferred version, the deodorant panel 64 is formed of cedar.

[45] To maximize the see-through characteristics of the shoe storage box 10, each and every part is possibly formed of a transparent material except the deodorant panel 64. Specifically, the containers 12, 14, side tab 42, and elongate handle 58 are each formed of one selected from transparent polypropylene (PP) for transparency and durability, and transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for better transparency quality.

Industrial Applicability

[46] The multi-functional shoe storage box adopts a sidewise sliding mechanism in which the inner container is slid into the outer container. Further, the wall-mount mechanism by the provision of the side tap enables shoe stores to display shoe boxes in a wide variety of decorative layouts and serves to escalate product satisfaction in furtherance of transparent see-through characteristics enabling clear view of the shoe pair inside without opening the box. In addition, the deodorant panel applied between the containers minimizes a user's discomfort resulting from limited ventilation, thereby improving usability and marketability.

Claims

[1] Claim 1

A multi-functional shoe storage box, comprising: a) a substantially transparent outer container defined by a bottom plate and first to fourth side plates, the first and second side plates facing each other, the third side plate facing the bottom plate, an opposing side of the fourth side plate being a side opening; b) a substantially transparent inner container defined by a bottom plate and first to fourth side plates, an opposing side of the inner container bottom plate being a top opening, the inner container first and second plates facing each other, the inner container third and fourth plates facing each other, whereby the inner container is slid through the side opening in and out of the outer container; and c) a substantially transparent side tab extending from the outer container bottom plate and adjacent to the side opening, the side tab having a hole.

[2] Claim 2. .

The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the side tab extends straight from the bottom plate of the outer container.

[3] Claim 3.

The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the fourth side plates of the containers are each indented from atop, wherein the third side plate of the inner container is indented from atop to communicate with the indentation of the fourth side plate of the outer container.

[4] Claim 4.

The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the fourth side plate of the inner container is holed below the indentation thereof to form a ventilation opening while providing a grip for a pull-out of the inner container from the outer container.

[5] Claim 5.

The shoe storage box of claim 1 further comprising a ridge rail carried on and along each ridge of the side plates of the inner container to smooth the slide of the inner container.

[6] Claim 6.

The shoe storage box of claim 1 wherein the containers and the side tab are each formed of one selected from transparent polypropylene and transparent polyvinyl chloride.

[7] Claim 7.

The shoe storage box of claim 1 further comprising an elongate handle whose ends are detachably and controllably fitted in a pair of inner slots formed through the inner container first side plate so that when the inner container is slid and closed in the outer container the handle becomes exposed through the outer slot to facilitate carriage of the box, whereinthe elongate handle is formed of a flexible material.

[8] Claim 8.

A multi-functional shoe storage box, comprising: a) a substantially transparent outer container defined by a bottom plate and first to fourth side plates, the first side plate having an outer slot, the first and second side plates facing each other, the third side plate facing the bottom plate, an opposing side of the. fourth side plate being a side opening; b) a substantially transparent inner container defined by a bottom plate and first to fourth side plates, an opposing side of the inner container bottom plate being a top opening, the inner container first and second plates facing each other, the inner container third and fourth plates facing each other, whereby the inner container is slid through the side opening in and out of the outer container; c) a substantially transparent side tab extending from the outer container bottom plate and adjacent to the side opening, the side tab having a hole; d) an elongate handle whose ends are detachably and controllably inserted in a pair of inner slots formed through the inner container first side plate so that when the inner container is slid and closed in the outer container the handle becomes exposed through the outer slot to facilitate carriage of the box; and e) a deodorant panel disposed against the fourth plate of and within the outer container.

[9] Claim 9.

The shoe storage box of claim 8 wherein the deodorant panel is detachably attached to the outer container fourth plate.

[10] Claim 10.

The shoe storage box of claim 8 wherein the deodorant panel is formed of cedar.

[11] Claim 11.

The shoe storage box of claim 8 wherein the side tab extends straight from the bottom plate of the outer container.

[12] Claim 12.

The shoe storage box of claim 8 wherein the fourth side plates of the containers are each indented from atop, wherein the third side plate of the inner container is indented from atop to communicate with the indentation of the fourth side plate of the outer container.

[13] Claim 13.

The shoe storage box of claim 8 wherein the fourth side plate of the inner container is holed below the indentation thereof to form a ventilation opening while providing a grip for a pull-out of the inner container from the outer container.

[14] Claim 14. .

The shoe storage box of claim 8 fUrther comprising aridge rail carried on and along each ridge of the side plates of the inner container to smooth the slide of the inner container.

[15] Claim 15.

The shoe storage box of claim 8 wherein the containers and the side tab are each formed of one selected from transparent polypropylene and transparent polyvinyl chloride.