A container for money, tokens or savings stamps

Abstract

 A container (2) for money, tokens or savings stamps, which container (2) comprises a body portion (4) for receiving the money, tokens or savings stamps, and feed means (6) through which the money, tokens or savings stamps are fed to the body portion (4), the container (2) being such that it is foldable and unfoldable to a flat condition and an erect condition, and the feed means (6) being such that in the erect condition of the container (2) the feed means (6) has at least one primary opening (8) through which the money, tokens or savings stamps are inserted, and baffle means (14) for at least hindering the return passage of the money, tokens or savings stamps from the body portion through the primary opening (8).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a container for money, tokens or savings stamps.

[0002] Collecting apparatus for money, tokens or savings stamps is well known. The collecting apparatus usually comprises a rigid container made of a metal or a plastics material. Because the container is rigid, it will be appreciated that considerable storage space is occupied by the collecting apparatus. The required storage space may not always be available. Furthermore, if it is desired to send lots of the containers to a central charity for distribution, then mailing and shipping problems can become involved due to the bulk of the package that has to be sent.

[0003] In addition to the problem of the size of the known collecting apparatus, there is an additional problem in that it is desirable to collect funds with a reasonable degree of security. Whilst the donating public are ready to assume total trust and integrity on the part of collectors, nevertheless many members of the public welcome the opportunity to see that their donations are secure. Similarly, many collectors welcome the opportunity for their integrity not to be questionable.

[0004] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a container which reduces the above mentioned problem of the size of known collecting apparatus, whilst at the same time does not give rise to the above mentioned problem of lack of security for funds collected.

[0005] Accordingly, this invention provides a container for money, tokens or savings stamps, which container comprises a body portion for receiving the money, tokens or savings stamps, and feed means through which the money, tokens or savings stamps are fed to the body portion, the container being such that it is foldable and unfoldable to a flat condition and an erect condition, and the feed means being such that in the erect condition of the container the feed means has at least one primary opening through which the money, tokens or savings stamps are inserted, and baffle means for at least hindering the return passage of the money, tokens or savings stamps from the body portion through the primary opening.

[0006] The container of the present invention is thus such that it may be folded flat for despatch, for example for despatch through the post. The container may also be folded flat for storage thus providing advantageous savings on space as compared with a rigid container that does not collapse. The container of the present invention is easily erected for use, for example for fund raising for charities or other causes. The feed means is able to provide demonstrable security so that members of the public can see that their donations are secure and so that collectors are not put in the invidious position of their integrity being questionable.

[0007] Preferably, the body portion is provided with creases which render the container foldable and unfoldable by a hand squeezing action.

[0008] The creases may define size of the body portion when the container is in its erect condition.

[0009] Preferably the creases extend in a longitudinal direction of the container. Also preferably, the creases are made on the inside of the container.

[0010] The body portion is preferably made from cardboard. Other materials may however be employed. A presently preferred type of material is that known as boxboard.

[0011] Preferably, the grain of the material from which the body portion is made extends traversely of the direction in which the creases extend.

[0012] Preferably, the feed means is foldable and unfoldable.

[0013] The feed means may be provided with creases which render the feed means foldable and unfoldable by a hand squeezing action.

[0014] Advantageously, there are two of the primary openings. One of the primary openings may then be situated on each of two opposing sides of the container.

[0015] The or each primary opening will usually be a slot but other types of primary opening may be employed if desired.

[0016] The baffle means may comprise a funnel portion and a secondary opening which is positioned at the bottom of the funnel portion and which communicates with the inside of the body portion.

[0017] The secondary opening will usually be a slot but other types of opening may however be employed if desired.

[0018] The feed means preferably has stiff sides when the container is in the erect condition. The feed means may be made from cardboard and, generally the feed means may be made from the same material as the material from which the body portion is made.

[0019] If desired, the feed means may have limp sides when the container is in the erect condition. Thus, for example, the feed means may be a sleeve made from a floppy material such for example as a textile material. This sleeve may thus be made from cotton,rayon or any desired synthetic or natural floppy material.

[0020] An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container for money, tokens or savings stamps;

Figure 2 is a front view of the container in a folded flat condition;

Figure 3 is a side view of the container in an unfolded erect condition;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a sheet of material and shows how the sheet of material needs to be cut, creased and provided with feed means in order to form the container shown in Figures 1 to 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the feed means shown in Figure 4.

[0021] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a container 2 for money, tokens or savings stamps. The container 2 comprises a body portion 4 for receiving the money, tokens or savings stamps, and feed means 6 through which the money, tokens or savings stamps are fed to the body portion 4.

[0022] The container 2 is such that it is foldable and unfoldable from a flat condition to an erect condition. The erect condition is shown in Figures 1 and 3 whilst the flat condition is shown in Figure 2. The feed means 6 is such that in the erect condition of the container 2, the feed means 6 has a pair of primary openings in the form of primary slots 8 through which the money, tokens or savings stamps are inserted. The primary slots 8 are arranged one in each of two opposite sides 10,12 of the container 2.

[0023] The feed means also comprises baffle means 14 for at least hindering the return passage of the money, tokens or savings stamps from the body portion 4 through the primary slots 8.

[0024] The container 2 is such that it is able to fold flat for storage and for despatch, for example through the post. The container 2 is easily erected for fund raising purposes, with the feed means 6 providing the required security.

[0025] The body portion 4 is provided with creases 16 as shown. The creases 16 enable the container 2 to be foldable and unfoldable by a hand squeezing action. As can be seen from Figure 1, the creases 16 define opposite sides 18,20 of the container 2. The creases 16 extend in the longitudinal direction of the container 2 as can be seen from the drawings. The creases are made from the inside of the container so that the sides 18,20 deform inwardly as the sides 18,20 are squeezed by hand and the container unfolds from its flat condition as shown in Figure 2 to its erect condition as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The body portion 4 is preferably made of boxboard but various types of thin cardboard may be employed together with other suitable and appropriate materials. The grain of the boxboard is arranged to extend tranversely of the direction in which the creases 16 extend.

[0026] As can most clearly be seen from Figure 5, the feed means 6 is foldable and unfoldable. The feed means 6 is provided with creases 22 which render the feed means 6 foldable and unfoldable by a hand squeezing action. This is the same hand squeezing action that folds and unfolds the body portion 4 of the container 2.

[0027] The feed means 6 includes the baffle means 14 as mentioned above. The baffle means 14 comprises a funnel portion 24 and a secondary opening in the form of a secondary slot 26 which is positioned at the bottom of the funnel portion 24 and which communicates with the inside of the body portion 4. As can be seen from Figure 5, the feed means has stiff sides when the container is in the erect condition. The feed means may be made from the same material as the body portion 4.

[0028] The container 2 as formed has a top tag portion 28 and a bottom portion 30.

[0029] Figure 4 shows how a sheet of material needs to be creased to provide the creases 16. Two side portions 32,34 can then be folded inwardly about three lines 16A to form the rear side 12 of the container 2. The side portion 32 folds on top of the side portion 34 and is stuck thereto by a strip of adhesive 36. In the stuck position of the side portions 32,34 a tag 38 can be folded upwardly and stuck over the top of the side portions 32, 34 by means of strips of adhesive 40,42.

[0030] As the side portions 32,34 are stuck together, apertures 44,46 come together to form part of one of the primary slots 8. The other part of the primary slot 8 is formed in the adjacent side of the baffle means 14 as will be appreciated from the drawings.

[0031] The side portion 34 has a top part 48 which is narrower than the remainder of the side portion 34 and which does not have the strip of adhesive 36. This top part 48 is stuck in position, along with a similar top part 50 on the side portion 32 by means of two strips of adhesive 52,54 as shown.

[0032] It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the container 2 may be of a different shape and different patterns for the creases 16 may be employed. Similarly, the feed means 6 may be of a different shape than has been shown.

[0033] The container 2 may be sold under the trade mark PAKFLAT. The present invention also extends to the various component parts of the container, taken separately or in any combination.

Claims

1. A container for money, tokens or savings stamps, which container comprises a body portion for receiving the money, tokens or savings stamps, and feed means through which the money, tokens or savings stamps are fed to the body portion, the container being such that it is foldable and unfoldable to a flat condition and an erect condition, and the feed means being such that in the erect condition of the container the feed means has at least one primary opening through which the money, tokens or savings stamps are inserted, and baffle means for at least hindering the return passage of the money, tokens or savings stamps from the body portion through the primary opening.

2. A container according to claim 1 in which the body portion is provided with creases which render the container foldable and unfoldable by a hand squeezing action.

3. A container according to claim 2 in which the creases extend in a longitudinal direction of the container, and in which the creases are made on the inside of the container.

4. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the feed means is foldable and unfoldable.

5. A container according to claim 4 in which the feed means is provided with creases which render the feed means foldable and unfoldable by a hand squeezing action.

6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are two of the primary openings, there being one of the primary openings situated on each of two opposing sides of the container.

7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the or each primary opening is a slot.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the baffle means comprises a funnel portion and a secondary opening which is positioned at the bottom of the funnel portion and which communicates with the inside of the body portion.

9. A container according to claim 8 in which the secondary opening is a slot.

10. A container for money, tokens or savings stamps, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawing