TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a magnetically connectible storage device. BACKGROUND ART

In commerce, a lot of trouble is caused by the storing of various storage devices (e.g. bottles), especially if place is to be provided for a stock of a high number of items. In most cases such goods are located on shelves. The disadvantage of this approach is that storage requires a large horizontal storing surface. Various bottles are disclosed in the Hungarian utility model Nos. 593, 1181 and 1359. In view of known approaches, there is a demand for a storage device, which allows to make storage simpler compared to the known approaches.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a storage device, which is free of disadvantage of prior art approaches to the greatest possible extent. A further object of the invention is to provide a storage device, by means of which storage can be simplified in comparison with known approaches in case, for example surface suitable for magnetic connection is available for storage.

The objects of the invention can be achieved by the storage device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example with reference to the following drawings, where

Fig. 1 is a drawing illustrating a view of an embodiment of the storage device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a front view illustrating the storage device of Fig. 1 without closure element,

Fig. 3 is a top view showing the storage device of Fig. 1 without closure element, Fig. 4 is a side view showing the storage device of Fig. 1 without closure element,

Fig. 5 is a drawing illustrating the storage device of Fig. 1 without closure element, and

Fig. 6 is a drawing illustrating a further embodiment of the storage device according to the invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The storage device according to the invention is magnetically connectible. The magnetic connection of the storage device (making use of the attraction force between the magnetic element and, e.g., iron-containing elements of a shelf structure) is provided by its magnetic element, i.e. by means of its magnetic element, it can be 'sticked' to an object made of an appropriate material (e.g. which has an appropriate iron content), and hence by means of the storage device according to the invention, the storing can be substantially simplified. There is no need for horizontal surfaces/shelves for holding (supporting) the storage device. In case a sort of food industry product (e.g. syrup or yoghurt) is stored in the inner space of the storage device according to the invention, surfaces not used for storage thus far can be applied for storing in the shop, for example the side surfaces (panels) of refrigerators and refrigerated display cases, or the front surfaces or vertical beams of metal shelves made of an appropriate material.

The surface used for magnetic connection is preferably vertical (for example, the side surface of a refrigerator or a vertical surface containing iron), but a different structure made of an appropriate material and having an arbitrary arrangement may also be applied for the magnetic connection. The applied surface or structure may be arbitrarily small, but it is important that it should be suitable by means of its magnetic element for arranging somehow thereon the storage device according to the invention.

A storage device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1. The storage device 10 has an inner space and a filling aperture 14 opening (leading) to the inner space and being closeable (sealable) by a closure element 18. A connection indentation 16 is formed on the outer wall of the storage device 10 and a connection surface 15 is formed in the connection indentation 16, and a magnetic element 12 is connected (attached) to the connection surface 15 (the surface 15 and the indentation 16 are shown in Fig. 5, because in Fig. 1 the magnetic element 12 covers the indentation 16).

Preferably a - preferably can be screwed off or can be snapped off - closure element is arranged on the filling aperture (filling opening), i.e. the storage device according to the invention preferably has a closure element.

The magnetic element 12 is arranged partly protruding from (projecting out of) the connection indentation 16. 'Partly protruding' means that it has such a part which at least slightly protrudes from the indentation, i.e. projects out from the surface surrounding the indentation (with the remaining part arranged in the indentation). Preferably a contiguous surface protrudes, which helps the storage device according to the invention in being connected magnetically with the appropriate strength. For example, the magnetic element is made of a material similar to that of refrigerator magnets. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 , the connection surface 15 is arranged in the connection indentation 16 according to the figure in a way that the surface 15 is at the bottom of the indentation 16, and it is surrounded by the rim (edge) of the indentation 16. Relative to the filling aperture 14, the indentation 16 is preferably located on the side of the storage device 10, and, therefore, by means of the magnetic element 12 arranged in the indentation 16, the storage device 10 can be magnetically connected to a vertical surface made of an appropriate material so that the filling aperture 14 faces upwards.

Fig. 1 shows the closure element 18 (closure cap) closing the filling aperture 14 of the storage device 10; and the filling aperture 14 is shown in Figs. 2 to 5 illustrating the storage device 10 without the closure element 18.

In Fig. 1 the magnetic element 12 is placed into the connection indentation 16, and therefore Fig. 1 only shows the frame of the indentation 16 partly, and furthermore the magnetic element 12 covers (conceals) the connection surface. Fig. 5 - which shows similarly to Fig. 1 the storage device 10, but without the closure element 18 - shows the connection surface 15 and the connection indentation 16, because in this figure the magnetic element 12 has been removed, i.e. it is not arranged in the indentation 16.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 , the magnetic element 12 and the connection indentation 16 have shapes matching to each other (the side wall of the indentation 16 surrounds the magnetic element 12 like a frame), and the magnetic element 12 is fitted into the connection indentation 16. As illustrated by the embodiment of Fig. 1 , too, this means that the magnetic element has a part the contour of which fits into the connection indentation. As shown also by Fig. 1 , the magnetic element 12 has a shape of a plate preferably, and this plate has a shape which fits into the indentation, but matching in shape is not only conceivable in the case of a lamellar shape, but by way of example the magnetic element may also have a shape which widens (as a cone) towards the mouth of the indentation (in order to ensure as large an connection surface as possible). The benefit of such implementation shapes is that at the time of manufacturing, the magnetic element can be easily fitted into the connection indentation and the indentation has a magnetic element orienting function as well.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 , the magnetic element 12 has a shape of a plate, which has a first connection side surface (connection side, connection side sheet) connected to the connection surface 15 (this side surface is not shown in Fig. 1 , because this is the side surface which is inside, facing the connection surface) and a second connection side surface 17 being adapted for magnetic connection (this is the side surface facing outwards and shown also in Fig. 1), wherein the first connection side sheet and the second connection side sheet are oppositely arranged. The sides of the plate may be rounded or the edges can be bevelled with a 45° cut by way of example. The plate-shaped magnetic element does not necessarily have a shape which fits into the connection indentation; for example it could be smaller or a plate of such a shape which fits into an indentation of a different shape.

In the present embodiment the magnetic element has a lamellar shape, and the first connection side surface is connected to the connection surface, therefore the magnetic element does not protrude laterally beyond the connection indentation, the magnetic element only bulges above the connection indentation. ln the embodiment shown, the magnetic element 12 has a shape of a plate. The shape of the plate may be rectangular as in the embodiment shown, but a magnetic element implemented with a circular plate or an amorphous shape for decoration purposes may also be applied. The advantage of such embodiments is that a plate-shaped magnetic element can be manufactured at a low cost (especially the plates [e.g. rectangular plates] with which the plane can be covered). Furthermore, the thickness of the plate can be adjusted precisely in a way that it protrudes to an appropriate extent from the indentation, and therefore it can be produced by generating as little surplus material as possible. The thickness of the plate-shaped magnetic element (magnetic plate) is - advisably much - smaller than its lateral dimension (lateral size), i.e. than the width dimensions of the magnetic panel. In the case of a non-rectangular shaped magnetic element, the lateral dimension means a characteristic size, for example the effective diameter, and not the lateral size. The magnetic element 12 is arranged in the connection indentation 16 in a way that it protrudes at least partly therefrom. In the case a plate-shaped magnetic element is used, of course the extent of protrusion is preferably uniform along the plate, but in general such a magnetic element may also be conceived, which only has one part of it protruding from the indentation. In an embodiment of the storage device according to the invention, the magnetic element 12 is arranged so as to protrude from the connection indentation 16 by up to (maximum) 1mm. It is a great advantage of this embodiment that the magnetic element applied does not excessively keep away the storage device according to the invention from the attaching magnetic surface. In a further embodiment of the storage device according to the invention, the magnetic element 12 is arranged in a way that it protrudes by up to 0.25mm from the connection indentation 16. The extent of protrusion is especially favourably 0.2mm ± 0.05mm. It is a great advantage of the current embodiment that the magnetic element keeps away the storage device from the surface to which it is attached by a very small extent only. Such a magnetic element can be easily produced in a material-economical way, even if relatively large manufacturing tolerances are allowed.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 , the storage device further has a closure element 18 closing the filling aperture 14 and a foil layer covering at least a part of the closure element 18 and at least a part of the magnetic element 12, and a perforation 20 is formed in the foil layer between the magnetic element 12 and the closure element 18. The foil layer may be transparent, but it may also be coloured, for example featuring figurative patterns characterising the product in the storage device. When the foil layer is arranged as described above, it practically functions as a warranty indicator element (if the foil layer is undamaged, it is a proof that the closure element has not been removed yet). The foil layer is preferably vacuum wrapped on the storage device 10 (and accordingly fits tight), i.e. as much air as possible is removed by suction from between the foil layer and the storage device 10.

When the foil layer is arranged as described above, it has the following further advantage. Because the perforation 20 is located between the magnetic element 12 and the closure element 18, the top part of the foil layer positioned towards the closure element 18 can be removed by releasing the perforation. The bottom part of the foil layer positioned towards the magnetic element 12 stays in place even when the perforation 20 is released, and it may serve for keeping the magnetic element 12 in its place, i.e. in the indentation 16. This function can be performed even more efficiently, if the foil layer covers as large a part of the magnetic element 12 as possible (even the whole magnetic element). Thereby the magnetic element 12 can be held in its place by the foil layer on its own (it can be pressed into the indentation 16 by keeping it in its place by the help of the foil layer) and it is not necessary to secure the magnetic element 12 to the connection surface 15 in other way. Preferably, the foil layer part remaining on the storage device 10 fits tightly to the side of the storage device 10 and on the magnetic element 12. Preferably, the foil layer completely surrounds the closure element 18 also, and because of the preferably vacuum wrapping, it fits tightly thereon. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 , the closure element 18 has such a shape that it can be easily grasped and snapped off the filling aperture 14. To this end, the closure element 18 has an edge 21 arranged in a semi-circular shape, as well as an indentation 22 suitable for arranging a finger. At the indentation 22 (preferably also arranged in a semi-circular shape), the closure element 18 can be grasped preferably by the thumb and index finger around roughly half of the periphery.

Fig. 2 shows the storage device 10 without the closure element 8 (the magnetic element 12 is shown from the front; the indentation 16 is marked at its edge). Accordingly, the filling aperture 14 is shown in Fig 2. In the current embodiment, the storage device 10 is practically a bottle, which has a usual neck part ending in the filling aperture 14. The storage device can be any container having a different filling aperture and an inner space which can be filled up through this aperture. Fig. 3 shows the storage device 10 from above - again without the closure element 18. This figure illustrates the filling aperture 14 which has a round shape in the present embodiment, and the edge 24 of the storage device 10, which edge supports the closure element 18. The connection line of the closure element 18 and the storage device 10 runs along the edge 24. The top view of Fig. 3 illustrates the protruding character of the magnetic element 12, i.e. the part of the magnetic element 12 protruding from the indentation 16 is shown in this top view. The side view of Fig. 4 shows the situation according to Figs. 2 and 3 (i.e. the storage device 10 is shown without the closure element 18). It is also shown in Fig. 4 that the magnetic element 12 protrudes from the surface of the storage device 10. Figs. 2 to 4 do not show the foil layer part which remains on the storage device 10 after the removal of the closure element 18. Preferably, the foil layer is vacuum wrapped on the storage device 10, and is therefore tightly fitting to its shape.

In the view of Fig. 5, not only the closure element 18, but also the magnetic element 12 is removed from the storage device 10 (in this case, of course, there is no foil layer on the storage device 10). The figure clearly shows the connection indentation 16, the rim (edge) of which surrounds as a frame the connection surface 15.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 differs from that of Fig. 1 in that no foil layer is used in the embodiment of Fig. 6 (accordingly, no perforation is shown). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the magnetic element 12 is to be held in its place differently, e.g. it can be glued to the connection surface 15.

The storage device according to the invention is a bottle in a realisation example. In this example, the weight of the bottle is approx. 5 - 6gramm (which depends on the exact selection of material, but it has an appropriately low weight to make sure that it can be magnetically secured by means of the magnetic element), its volume is 53cm ³ , and its height is 79mm without the closure element (the largest width is 42.38mm and the largest thickness is 28.17mm), at the magnetic element designed as a rectangular plate, the side lengths of the rectangle are 40.8mm and 25.6mm.

The manner of industrial applicability of the model follows from the character of the design corresponding to the description above. As shown in the discussion above, the invention achieves its objective highly advantageously in comparison with the prior art. The invention is, of course, not limited to the preferred embodiments described in detail above, but further variants, modifications and developments are possible within the scope of protection determined by the claims.