Storage box

Abstract

 A combination storage box includes a collapsible fabric box body (1), the box body having side panels (11) with hinged top flaps (12) around a top opening thereof, a stretcher frame (2) inserted into the box body (1) to support the box body in shape, hook (13) and loop (14) materials respectively provided at the side panels and the top flaps (12) for enabling the top flaps (12) to be covered over the peripheral sides of the stretcher frame (2) and secured to the inside of the side panels (11) to fix the stretcher frame (2) to the box body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage box and, more particularly, to a combination storage box, which comprises a collapsible box body, and a stretcher frame mounted in the box body to support the box body in shape.

[0002] In houses or offices, different storage boxes or cabinets may be used for storing different things. FIG. 7 shows a prior art storage box extended out. This structure of storage box comprises a collapsible box body and a plurality of rigid support panels. The collapsible box body comprises a plurality of side panels A, and connecting flaps B at two sides of each side panel A. When setting up, the connecting flaps B of the side panels A are adhered to one another, and then the rigid support panels are respectively attached to the side panels A to support the box body into shape. Because rigid support panels are used to support the box, the cost of the storage box is high. Further, because the connecting flaps of the side panels are respectively adhered to one another, when adhesion area between each two side panels may be forced to break when a load is carried on the storage box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention provides a combination storage box, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. It is one object of the present invention to provide a combination storage box, which is inexpensive to manufacture. It is another object of the present invention to provide a combination storage box, which is durable in use. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a combination storage box, which is collapsible. According to one aspect of the present invention, the combination storage box comprises a collapsible fabric box body, the box body having side panels with hinged top flaps around a top opening thereof, a stretcher frame inserted into the box body to support the box body in shape, hook and loop materials respectively provided at the side panels and the top flaps for enabling the top flaps to be covered over the peripheral sides of the stretcher frame and secured to the inside of the side panels to fix the stretcher frame to the box body. According to another aspect of the present invention, the stretcher frame is comprised of a horizontal open frame, and two vertical side frames respectively pivoted to two opposite sides of the horizontal open frame. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the horizontal open frame and the vertical side frames are formed of metal wire rods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] 

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a combination storage box according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational assembly view of the combination storage box according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an alternate form of the stretcher frame for the combination storage box according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an assembly view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate form of the collapsible box body for the combination storage box according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of another alternate form of the stretcher frame for the combination storage box according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an extended out view of a storage box according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, a combination storage box is shown comprised of a collapsible box body 1, and a stretcher frame 2 adapted to support the box body 1 in shape. The box body 1 is made of soft sheet material (for example, canvas) by stitching, comprising four side panels 11 disposed at the four sides surrounding the top opening thereof, four top flaps 12 respectively hinged to the topmost edge of each of the side panels 11, strips of hook material 13 respectively provided at the inner surface of each of the top flaps 12, strips of loop material 14 respectively provided at the inner surface of each of the side panels 11 near the top for engagement with the strips of hook material 13 respectively, a name card case 16 provided at the outer surface of one side panel 11 and adapted to hold a paper or plastic name card 16 for classification of storage items, and a cover panel 15 hinged to one side panel 11 and adapted to close the top opening of the box body 1. The stretcher frame is an open frame constructed with wire rods. Preferably, the stretcher frame is folding collapsible so that it can be arranged into a flat manner to minimize its storage space when not in use. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the stretcher frame 2 is comprised of a rectangular horizontal wire-rod frame 21, and two vertical wire-rod frames 22 respectively pivoted to two opposite short sides of the rectangular horizontal wire-rod frame 21 by pivots 23. When not in use, the rectangular vertical wire-rod frames 22 are respectively turned inwards from vertical to horizontal and closely attached to the horizontal wire-rod frame 21.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 again, after the vertical wire-rod frames 22 have been respectively extended out from the horizontal wire-rod frame 21, the stretcher frame 2 is inserted into the box body 1, and then the top flaps 12 are respectively turned inwards and covered over the wire rods of the horizontal wire-rod frame 21 to force the respective strips of hook material 13 into engagement with the respective strips of loop material 14, and therefore the stretcher frame 2 is firmly secured to the inside of the box body 1 to support the box body 1 in shape. Because the stretcher frame 2 is constructed of wire rods, its manufacturing cost is low.

[0007] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternate form of the stretcher frame 2. According to this alternate form, the stretcher frame 2 is comprised of a rectangular horizontal wire-rod frame 21, and two vertical wire-rod frames 22 respectively coupled to two opposite short sides of the rectangular horizontal wire-rod frame 21. The vertical wire-rod frames 22 are respectively made of a substantially U-shaped wire rod having two ends respectively terminating in a U-turn 24 and then a cured retaining tip 25. When in use, the U-turns 24 of each of the vertical wire-rod frames 22 are respectively hooked on the two opposite short sides of the rectangular horizontal wire-rod frame 21, keeping the cured retaining tips 25 of each of the vertical wire-rod frames 22 respectively stopped at the two opposite long sides of the rectangular horizontal wire-rod frame 21. When not in use, the vertical wire-rod frames 22 can be directly separated from the rectangular horizontal wire-rod frame 21.

[0008] FIG. 6 shows another alternate form of the stretcher frame 2. According to this alternate form, the vertical wire-rod frames 22 are respectively formed integral with the two opposite short sides of the rectangular horizontal wire-rod frame 21, i.e., the stretcher frame 2 is not collapsible.

[0009] FIG. 5 shows an alternate form of the collapsible box body 1. This embodiment eliminates the aforesaid cover panel 15. Further, partition boards may be installed in the box body 1 to divide the holding space of the box body 1 into multiple compartments. Furthermore, male snap elements and female snap elements may be used and respectively installed in the side panels and top flaps of the box body 1 instead of the aforesaid strips of hook material 13 and strips of loop material 14.

[0010] A prototype of combination storage box has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1∼6. The combination storage box functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0011] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A combination storage box comprising:

a collapsible box body, said box body comprising a top opening, a plurality of side panels surrounding said top opening, and a plurality of top flaps, said top flaps each having a fixed end respectively hinged to said side panels and a free end; and

a stretcher frame inserted into said box body to support said box body in shape, said stretcher frame comprising a horizontal open frame, and two vertical side frames respectively connected to two opposite sides of said horizontal open frame; and

fastening means respectively at said box body and adapted to secure the free end of each of said top flaps to said side panels over peripheral sides of said horizontal open frame.

2. The combination storage box of claim 1 wherein said vertical side frames are respectively pivoted to two opposite sides of said horizontal open frame.

3. The combination storage box of claim 1 wherein said vertical side frames are U-shaped frames, each comprising two U-turns respectively hooked on two opposite short sides of said horizontal open frame, and two cured retaining tips respectively extended from said U-turns and respectively stopped at two opposite long sides of said horizontal open frame.

4. The combination storage box of claim 1 wherein said vertical side frames are formed integral with two opposite short sides of said horizontal open frame.

5. The combination storage box of claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises strips of hook material respectively provided at said top flaps of said box body, and strips of loop material respectively provided at said side panels of said box body for engagement with said strips of hook material.

6. The combination storage box of claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises male snap elements respectively provided at said top flaps of said box body, and female snap elements respectively provided at said side panels of said box body for engagement with said male snap elements.

Drawing