Article case

Abstract

 An article case, consisting of a generally flat profiled body (5) of elongate shape which is divided into a first (1 ), second (2), third (3) and fourth (4) part by three predetermined transverse folding lines (12, 23, 34) by virtue of which said first part can be folded in the manner of a book against said second part and be securely fixed to it such as to form a containing pocket which is closed by said third and fourth parts by folding them in the manner of a book, said third part being able to be rotated to the side of the pocket.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a case or holder for containing generally small articles, in general articles of elongate shape such as writing articles.

[0002] An object of the invention is to provide a case or holder for such articles which can be produced in a short time at low cost.

[0003] Another object of the invention is to provide a case which is light and manageable, and able to retain its contents in an ordered manner.

[0004] A further object is to provide a case whose opening and closure, and access to its contents, are practical, simple and rapid.

[0005] Said objects are attained by virtue of the characterising elements indicated in the claims.

[0006] In a totally general sense, the case (or holder) of the invention is produced starting from a single thin synthetic sheet of elongate shape which is subjected to thermoforming in order to obtain a generally flat profiled body comprising, in one piece, all the constituent elements of the case.

[0007] Said flat profiled body of elongate shape is divided into a first, second, third and fourth part which are defined by a first, second and third predetermined folding line.

[0008] By virtue of said first predetermined folding line said first part can be folded in the manner of a book against said second part and be securely fixed to it such as to form a containing pocket which is closed by the fourth part by folding it in the manner of a book about the third predetermined folding line and against the first part.

[0009] Mutual engagement means, for example a snap-locking system, are preferably provided between said first part and said fourth part, which acts as the closure element or lid.

[0010] With regard to said second predetermined transverse folding line, this enables the third part, after opening the lid, to be rotated to the side of the pocket to create an access region through which the user can remove articles from it and insert them into it.

[0011] Moreover, after said outward rotation, the said third part lies transversely to the pocket to provide a resting foot which collaborates with the base of the pocket to dispose the case on a support surface in an inclined position and with the mouth of the pocket raised, so that the case can be used by the user for example as an article case for table use, and by the seller of the articles as a display case therefor.

[0012] Means are preferably provided to maintain the case stable in said inclined position of use.

[0013] The constructional characteristics and merits of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing detailed description, given with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing a generally flat thermoformed body or blank from which a case according to the invention is obtained.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing how the constituent parts of said blank are hinged together.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing how the blank is folded to create the containing pockets of the case.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the finished case in its closed configuration.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the case open.

[0014] Said figures, and in particular Figure 1, show a generally flat body 5 of elongate shape which has been profiled by thermoforming starting from a generally thin sheet or strip of generally rigid flexible synthetic material. For the purposes of the invention a plastic material such as PVC has proved suitable, but there is nothing to prevent the use of another similar synthetic material. The said plastic material can be transparent or not. Moreover, in the illustrated example the thickness of the starting synthetic sheet is 0.3 mm, but this is of no significance.

[0015] One face of said thermoformed body 5, namely that visible in particular in Figures 1 and 2, is generally recessed, and correspondingly the opposite face is generally in relief, the first face being intended to provide the internal space of the case (see Figures 3 and 5), and the second face its outer surface (Figure 4).

[0016] As can be seen in particular in Figure 1, said body presents a first 12, a second 23 and a third 34 predetermined transverse folding line which divide the body 5 into a first part 1, a second part 2, a third part 3 and a fourth part 4.

[0017] Said parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 have the same width (see Figure 2) but are generally of different length.

[0018] Specifically, said parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 comprise a base wall 101, 102, 103 and 103 respectively, along the opposing longitudinal edges of which there are two lateral walls 111, 112, 113 and 114 respectively, the terminal edges respectively 121, 122, 123 and 124 of which are bent outwards at a right angle.

[0019] In correspondence with the first predetermined folding line 12 the parts 1 and 2 present respective transverse walls 10 and 11, in correspondence with the third predetermined folding line 34 the parts 3 and 4 being provided with similar transverse walls 31 and 32 (see Figures 1 and 2). With regard to said second predetermined transverse folding line 23, this comprises two opposing portions which are interrupted at a cut 66 shaped as a U with its concavity facing the transverse wall 11 of the second part 2.

[0020] Said cut 66 defines a connection plate 77 presenting two teeth 88 which are aligned in a direction transverse to the body 5, and project outwards from said connection plate (Figure 5).

[0021] The free end portion of the base wall 101 of the first part 1 is also corrugated, the base wall 102 of the second part 2 presenting similar corrugations.

[0022] Along the free transverse edge of the fourth part 4, which forms the closure lid for the case, there is a recess 55 acting as an engagement seat for opening said lid.

[0023] On each lateral wall 114 of said fourth part 4 or lid, there is provided a small projection 44 to snap-engage a matching recess 33 provided in the first part 1 of the body 5.

[0024] Finally, the fourth part 4 presents an internal profile which matches the external profile of the first part 1.

[0025] Starting from the flat body 5 of Figure 1, the case is formed in the following manner.

[0026] The part 1 is folded in the manner of a book against the part 2, with the free end of said part 1 extending beyond the second predetermined folding line 23 and the respective bent edges 121 and 122 mating (Figures 4 and 5).

[0027] Having done this the edges 121 and 122 are securely joined together, for example by bonding, by which the case is finished.

[0028] Specifically, the parts 1, 2 and 3 provide a pocket for containing a group of articles of elongate shape, four in number in the illustrated example, for example writing articles, not shown for questions of simplicity and clarity. Said articles are in ordered arrangement as they are contained in respective housings provided by the corrugations present in said parts 1, 2 and 3, and by the respective lateral walls 111,112 and 113.

[0029] To close the case the fourth part 4 is folded in book manner against the first part 1, with simultaneous engagement of the projections 44 and recesses 33 (see Figure 7) and mating of the bent edges 124 and 121.

[0030] To extract and insert the articles from and into the pocket, after releasing the part 4 or lid, the third part 3 is rotated to the side of the pocket as shown in Figure 5, to completely free the pocket mouth.

[0031] It should be noted that when the case is open, and has generally the right-angled configuration of Figure 5, the base of the pocket and the distant end of the third part 3 provide two resting regions which enable the case to be placed on a support surface in an inclined position with its mouth facing upwards.

[0032] By this means the case can be used either as a table-top pen holder for a user, or as a display case for a seller of writing articles.

[0033] The said utilization configuration is made stable by the parts 3 and 4 which, after their closure in book manner as shown in Figure 5, are maintained in position by the teeth 88 against which the free transverse edge of the fourth part of lid 4 rests.

[0034] The merits and advantages of the invention are apparent from the aforegoing and from an examination of the accompanying figures.

Claims

1. An article case, characterised by consisting of a generally flat profiled body of elongate shape which is divided into a first, second, third and fourth part by three predetermined transverse folding lines by virtue of which said first part can be folded in the manner of a book against said second part and be securely fixed to it such as to form a containing pocket which is closed by said third and fourth parts by folding them in the manner of a book, said third part being able to be rotated to the side of the pocket.

2. A case as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the constituent parts of said pocket are provided with means for maintaining the articles present therein in ordered arrangement.

3. A case a claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said fourth part presents an internal profile able to mate with the external profile of said first part.

4. A case a claimed in claim 3, characterised in that mutual engagement means, such as a snap-locking system, are provided between said fourth part and said first part.

5. A case a claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said snap-locking system comprises at least one projection arranged to engage a matching recess as a lightly forced fit.

6. A case as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising means for stabilizing said third part when in said inclined configuration.

7. A case a claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said means comprise at least one projecting element associated with said second part and acting as a resting member for the fourth part when folded in book manner against said third part.

Drawing