IT1174590B | 1987-07-01 | |||
US4984906A | 1991-01-15 | |||
US3777862A | 1973-12-11 | |||
US20030010780A1 | 2003-01-16 | |||
DE29510812U1 | 1995-11-02 | |||
GB2220407A | 1990-01-10 |
1. | Packing casing (1,1') having the form of a hexahedron, which comprises a uniform joint (8) along which the casing (1, 1') can be opened and closed, whereby the end points (6,7) of the joint (8) are situated in two different inner corners of the casing (1, 1'), between which corner the path of the joint consists of seven edges (A, B, C) of the casing in such a way that when the casing is opened all six sides (25) of it can be spread in one plane, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the form of the plane has the form of an S consisting of said six sides, a part of the sides (3', 5 in figure 1 or 20,40, 50, 40'in figure 2) forming a middle section and the rest of the sides (2,4' and 4,3 in figure 1 or 30 and 30'in figure 2) forming two side sections on opposite sides of the middle section, and, in relation to each other, one side section being at the upper part of the middle section, the other side section being at the lower side of the middle section. |
2. | Packing casing of claim 1, characterized in that the form of the plane is S shaped in such a way that it consists of three rectangles, the middle of which consisting of four sides (20, 40, 50,40') of the casing 1', the remaining two sides (30,30') situating on the opposite sides of the middle rectangle. |
3. | Packing casing of claim 1, characterized in that the form of the plane consists of two rectangles, each consisting of three sides (3', 4,3 and 5,4', 2) of the casing 1 and with two of the sides (3', 5) besides each others, the plane being Sshaped when turning it 90°. |
4. | Packing casing of claim 1, characterized in that the casing 1, 1'has the form of right angled hexahedron. |
5. | Packing casing of claim 1, characterized in that the diagonal of the hexahedron is formed between the end points (6,7) of the joint. |
6. | Packing casing of any of claims 16, characterized in that the joint comprises a closing means 8 with which the opening and closing of the casing 1,1' take place along the path of the joint by proceeding progressively. |
7. | Packing casing of claim 7, characterized in that the closing means 8 is formed of a zipper 8 from end to end (6,7). |
8. | Packing casing of any of claims 16, characterized in that the joint consists of two successive zippers which starts from different end points (6,7) of the joint and meet between the end points (6,7). |
9. | Packing casing of claim 9, characterized in that the zippers meet in the middle of the joint (8). |
10. | Packing casing of claim 9, characterized in that the zippers meet in the corner 10 of the casing (1) so that one of them extends over the length of two or three and the other one over the length of four or five edges. |
BACKROUND ART Typical packing casings, which mainly have the form of a right-angled polyhedron, are suitcases, transport boxes and containers. Such casings have much space and placed beside each other, the transport space can be efficiently used.
Characteristic for suitcases is that the opening of them is limited. For example in an open suitcase, the relatively high edge going around it limits its space for things.
Different transport boxes have usually been assembled from flat fabricates by folding them along folding lines, which have been defined in advance. Generally such boxes are meant to be assembled before packing things in them. Also the opening of boxes is limited if the box is not broken when removing it from being around the goods.
Transport boxes are mainly meant for one-time use only and therefore they are not generally foreseen with any closing means for repeated opening and closing of the box.
Different attempts to solve these problems are known. For example US patent 6,334, 519 presents a utility pack that includes four folds and two sidings that are deployed on both sides of the fourth fold so that the four folds will form a pouch with sidings on both sides once the sealing zipper is drawn to close the bag.
US patents 4,984, 906 presents an other utility bag comprising a uniform joint along which the casing can be open and closed and which bag can be spread in one plane in open condition. The end points of the joints are then situated in two different corners of
the casing between which corner the path of the joint proceeds over seven edges of the casing in a such a way that when the casing is opened, all six sides of it can be spread into one plane having the form of a T.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to form a packing casing, such as e. g. a suitcase, a tool box, a utility bag, a tent or a casing or coat for things, which is opened in such way that it enables an easier loading or unloading of things than in prior art and which easily can be opened and closed and which is suitable for repeated transports for longer use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is related to a packing casing having the form of a hexahedron and comprises a uniform joint along which the casing can be opened and closed. The end points of the joint are situated in two different corners of the casing. Between the corner, the path of the joint consists of seven edges of the casing in such a way that when the casing is opened, all six sides of it can be spread into one plane. The invention is characterized in that the form of the plane has the form of an S consisting of said six sides, a part of the forming a middle section and the rest of the sides forming two side sections on opposite sides of the middle section, and, in relation to each other, one side section being at the upper part of the middle section, the other side section being at the lower side of the middle section.
The preferable embodiments of the invention has to characteristics of the sub claims.
"S-form"means in this invention a plane shaped into an S achieved by placing six rectangles or quadrates in relation to each other so that they form an S.
In one preferable embodiment, the form of the plane is S-shaped in such a way that it consists of three rectangles, the middle of which consists of four sides of the casing, the remaining two sides situating on the opposite sides of the middle rectangle.
In another preferable form of the plane, the S-form consists of two rectangles, each consisting of three sides of the casing and with two of the sides besides each others, the description being viewed 90° in relation to the foregoing paragraph.
The casing has generally the form of right angled hexahedron, but if the material of the casing is flexible enough, the angles might somewhat deviate from 90°.
The diagonal of the hexahedron is formed between the end points of the joint, which enables tightening of the joint, e. g. when the joint consists of a cord.
The joint comprises a closing means with which the opening and closing of the casing take place along the path of the joint by proceeding progressively. The closing means is formed of a zipper from end to end or it can consist of two successive zippers which starts from different end points of the joint and meet between the end points. The zipper can e. g. meet in the middle of the joint. Alternatively, the zippers meet in the corner of the casing so that one of them extends over the length of two or three and the other one over the length of four or five edges.
The casing of the invention has six sides, each having the form of a quadrangle, and twelve edges limiting the sides of casing. As the angle between the edges are 90°, it is questing about a right-angled polyhedron. If the edges furthermore have the same length, it is questing about a cube.
As a packing casing of the invention is without edges when fully opened, the placing and removing of things in the casing from it is especially easy and can take place without lifting up the thing for example by drawing or rolling. When loading, the goods can be placed on the side that forms the bottom of the casing, whereafter the remaining sides are assembled around the goods to form a closed casing. This is
especially easy in the invention, since three sides of the bottom of the casing is closed and three"walls"are formed after closing of only the first two edges.
When desired, the invention also enables the opening of the casing only partly by for example by opening the joint in a such a way that the topside of the casing and one of the sides can be turned into the level of the bottom of the casing, the three remaining sides of the casing staying in position.
The packing casing of the invention can be manufactured of a suitable material, the stiffness of which can vary as long as the five edges of the casing, which are not on the path of the joint, have been formed as folding lines, which allow the spreading of the casing into a plane. If the material of the casing is flexible, such as for example of thin plastic or textile, the opened casing can be rolled or folded in a very little space.
Also a more stiff material can be folded along the folding lines of the edges. Thanks to its opening possibility, the casing is easy to clean as no difficult inner corners exist.
The opening and closing of the packing casing of the invention is preferably arranged to proceed progressively along the path of the joint. The opening and closing of the casing is quick and easy as the closing means of the joint works so that it directs itself.
A zipper is an especially suitable closing means for the casing of the invention but also other gliding closers can come in the question, such as means comprising a longitudinal track and a rib to be pressed onto that, which are used for example in plastic bags ("minigrips"). Also pegs arranged successively one after another on the joint line and holes corresponding to them into which the pegs are locked, or a Velcro following the joint line, are possible. The placing of the zipper into a uniform unbranched joint also guarantees that the casing does not open itself very easily and the closing means thus works as a seal.
The casing of the invention can hereby be foreseen with a single closing means extending from one end of the joint to the other, such as with a zipper, whereby the casing can be opened and spread into a plane simply by drawing from the zipper.
Alternatively the joint can be for seen with two zippers arranged after each other or some other closing means, which start from the opposite ends of the joint and which has a common meeting or end point between the ends of the joint. The casing is hereby opened by drawing the zippers from their common endpoint into different directions. The endpoint of the zipper can be placed in the middle of the joint, in the middle point of the edge in question, or it can be situated in the corner of the casing, which can be chosen in such a way that by opening one of the zippers, an appropriate partial opening of the casing is achieved, such as the opening of the side and the topside of the casing into the plane of the bottom.
The casing preferably works for example as a tool casing, one inner side of it working as a work base after the opening of the casing. The other inner sides of the casing can be foreseen with holders, to which the tools and equipments to be transported in the casing are fastened, and which all turns into the work base when opening the casing.
In the following, the invention is described in more detail by means of examples by referring to the enclosed drawings. The intention is not to restrict the invention to the details of the drawings or the accompanying text.
FIGURES Figure 1 is a top view of a packing casing of the invention opened and spread into one plane.
Figure 2 presents an other casing of the invention spread into one plane.
Figure 3 presents a packing casing of figure 1 partly cut as the casing is closed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION In figure 1, the schematically presented packing casing 1 is spread into one plane and when it is closed it forms a casing 1 having the form of a right-angled polyhedron of figure 3.
The edges A define the height of the casing, the edges B its breadth and the edges C its depth. There are twelve edges A, B and C altogether and they restrict six sides of the casing including the topside 2, two long sides 3,3'and two short sides 4,4'and the bottom 5 of the casing.
The form of the plane in figure 1 consists of two rectangles, each consisting of three sides 3', 4,3 and 5,4', 2 of the casing 1 and with two of the sides 3', 5 besides each others, the plane being S-shaped when turning it 90°.
The closing means with which the casing 1 can be opened and closed is formed by a zipper 8 situated in the corner of the casing and advances from one end point 6 to the other endpoint 7 through the seven edges A, B, C, B', A', B"and C" (or vice versa).
Said order of the edges corresponds to the drawing direction of the zipper 8 when opening the casing 1. Those five edges of the casing 1, which are not included in the path of the zipper 8, or to the joint, along which the casing is opened and closed, have been formed as folds between the sides of the casing, which enables the spreading of the opened casing in a way presented by figure 1. In figure 1, the folds corresponding to these edges have been shown with broken lines 9.
If in figure 1, the left rectangle (consisting of the three sides 3,4, 3'), is narrow compared to the right rectangle (also consisting of three sides, i. e. 2,4', 5), there is achieved a hollow in the casing after only two movements, i. e. when the path of the joint has reached edges A and B. An advantage is also that a narrow rectangle is folded more easily when closing the casing.
An advantage of the casing of figure 1 is that the closing of it proceeds in such a way that three sides of the bottom of the casing is in an upright position after closing of the two first edges, i. e. after"two movements". In other words, the closing of the casing
proceeds in such a way that after closing of the joint 8 over the two first edges A, B when starting from end point 6, the three walls (or sides) 2,4', 5 are in upright position and the remaining three walls or sides) 3', 4,3 form an elongated base, one of which constitutes the bottom 3'. When starting the closing from endpoint 7, the sides 3', 4,3 are in upright position, while the remaining sides 5,4', 2 form the elongated base of which side 5 constitutes the bottom. Things can now be easily placed in the casing getting support from the walls and after the placing of the things the closing can be completed.
If in figure 3 the zipper 8 is opened only over the length of five edges A, B, C, B', A' the top side 2 of the casing and one of its shorter sides 4 or 4'can be turned into the plane of the bottom 5 of the casing so that three sides of the casing still remains fastened to each other. If the casing is foreseen with two successive zippers instead of only one zipper 8 the lengths of those can be chosen to enable said partial opening of the casing by means of one zipper. The meeting point of the chains would then be in the corner 10 of the casing between the edges A and B". Another suitable meeting point of successive zippers would be in the middle of the joint in the middle point of edge B'.
In figure 2, another casing 1'can be seen spread into one plane, in which the principle of the invention with one uniform joint line is realised. When figure 2 is turned 90°, it has the form of an S as well. In figure 2, the path of the joint between its end points 6, 7 proceeds over the edges A, B, A', C, B', A"and B" (or vice versa). In figure 2, the edges restrict the six sides 30,20, 40,50, 40'and 30'of the casing 1'.
The form of the plane in figure 1 is S-shaped in such a way that it consists of three rectangles, the middle of which consisting of four sides 20,40, 50,40'of the casing 1', the remaining two sides 30,30'situating on the opposite sides of the middle rectangle.
The path of the joint in figure 2 forms a spiral and in the closed casing, the diagonal of the casing is between the two end points 6,7 of the joint. One of the end points is in the bottom of the casing and the other one in the top side. This allows a tightening of the joint by drawing the closing means, when being e. g. a core, in opposite directions.
The casing can also be opened from either one of the end points, if the closing means consists of e. g. two zippers, which is very practical in use. Furthermore, a flap remains before closing the last three edges B', A"and B", which also is very practical when placing things into the casing.
It is characteristic for the casing of the invention that the opened casing can be closed so that any side of it can be the outer surface of the casing when the opposite side becomes the inner surface of the casing.
Common for the different embodiments of the invention presented in figures 1-2 is also that they have two inner angles that correspond to the corners of the closed casing, which corners form the opposite endpoints 6,7 of the joint.
The S-forms of the invention has several advantages to the T-form of prior art. When closing a casing having the T-form when spread into a plane, it does not take its intended form as quick as the S-forms and thus the T-form leaves a smaller opening left for packing during with corresponding extent of closing than the S-form.
When the casing of figure 1 is closed partly, i. e. when the two edges A, A, B, B are closed, a part of the sides 2,4', 5 are in an upright position in a supporting way and the rest of the sides form the base in a better way than the T-form, which forms a very unstable construction in this stage with unclosed parts extending in two directions. In other words, a T-form requires closing of more sides, i. e. three sides, to be stable. This form is very advantageous e. g. when a part of the products to be packed have to hang in an upright position on walls, e. g. with additional fastening means, or if e. g. the casing has to be spread into one plane, for example a medical tool bag.
A special advantage with figure 2 is the position of the inner corners in relation to each other as the line between them is a diagonal.
When the casing is formed of disposable material a uniform closing means can be an opening means as well connected to the casing at its manufacturing, for example a drawing core in the joint, whereby the casing can be opened immediately without
breaking its content. It thus does not need to be poured or dig out. Such a casing does not waist any transporting space and thus uses the transporting space efficiently.
The fact that the casing can be spread into one plane has advantages also during its manufacturing making the forming of the joints easy etc.
For one skilled in the art it is clear that the applications of the invention is not restricted to these specific examples but can vary in scope of the patent claims. The casing does not for example need to be absolutely right angled and it can for example become narrower upwards. Also the stiffness of the material can vary as with flexible materials, such as textiles, its form can in practice vary depending on how it is packed. The position of e. g. the bottom and the top side of the casing are of course interchangeable depending on how the casing is turned.
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