CONTAINER

Abstract

 A container (1) comprising: a casing (2) identifying a longitudinal axis (Y) and provided with a through hole (3) for the insertion of an object (A); a bottom (4) for closing the through hole (3) and comprising a shaped support (5) configured to receive an object (A). The container (1) comprises means (6) for connecting the bottom (4) and the casing (2) to each other in a stable but removable manner for mutual rotation when the shaped support (5) is placed inside the casing (2), such connection means (6) comprising a fissure (9) present in the bottom (4) and an abutment edge (10) belonging to the casing (2) configured to be mutually coupled.

Description

[0001] The invention regards a container for objects, particularly a container with mainly longitudinal development, which is particularly suitable for containing wine, liquor, perfume bottles, or ornamental objects such as for example statues, ceramic artefacts and the like.

[0002] It is known that many consumption products and artefacts are stored, transported and sold being housed in containers made using materials of various types.

[0003] Such containers are frequently also used for show-casing the product contained therein and in these cases the shapes thereof and the materials they are made of may be also particularly precious.

[0004] Containers for wine, liquor and perfume bottles or containers for ceramic objects or other artistically precious artefacts that consist of boxes, generally made of good quality rigid cardboard with multicoloured surfaces, on which there are present stampings indicating the characteristics of the product, may be mentioned by way of example.

[0005] Boxes of this type are usually prismatic-shaped having a base for resting against a show-casing surface, a roof arranged above the base and a lateral surface consisting of faces of which at least one is hinged to the face adjacent thereto, so that the box is openable.

[0006] When the hinged face is arranged in open position with the base resting against a support surface, it serves as an element for show-casing the product it contains.

[0007] Boxes of the type described now are especially used for containing and show-casing bottles of various types and furthermore such bottles - when arranged in closed configuration - enable storing and transporting the bottle or bottles contained therein, while they serve as a show-casing element when they are arranged in open configuration with the base resting against a support surface. Obviously, the boxes described can be obtained in various shapes and dimensions, depending on the type of object to be contained.

[0008] However, the boxes described reveal the known drawback lying in the fact that, when they are used in the open configuration in which they serve as a show-casing element, the product is only visible on the side or sides of the box that can be opened and thus the observer has just a partial view of the object contained in the box.

[0009] Containers for objects are known from the patent documents US 2013/0213516 and NL 9300509 which however reveal the drawback lying in the fact that they cannot be utilised for show-casing the objects contained therein.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawback outlined above by providing a container regarding which there are two possible use configurations and in particular a closed configuration, in which the container is used for storing and transporting the product contained therein, and an open configuration, in which the container is used for show-casing the product and enables an all-around view of the same.

[0011] The aforementioned object is attained by a container for objects according to the main claim to which reference will be made.

[0012] Further characteristics of the invention are outlined in the dependent claims. This and any other objects of the invention will be outlined further hereinafter in the description of preferred embodiments of the invention provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

• fig. 1 shows an axonometric view of the casing of the container of the invention;
• figs. 2 and 3 show two different views of the casing of fig. 1;
• fig. 4 shows an axonometric view of the base of the container of the invention;
• figs. 5 and 6 show two different views of the base of fig. 4;
• figs. 7 to 11 show - in axonometric view - different steps for the composition of the container of the invention;
• fig. 12 shows a longitudinal section of the container of the invention and an enlarged detail of the same container;
• fig. 13 shows the plan view of fig. 12;
• fig. 14 shows another longitudinal section of the container of the invention and an enlarged detail of the same container;
• fig. 15 shows the plan view of fig. 14;
• figs. 16 to 18 show variant embodiments of the invention.

[0013] The container of the invention is shown in the axonometric view of fig. 11 where it is indicated in its entirety with 1.

[0014] Furthermore, figures 7 to 10 show the different parts that it is made up of and the different steps for the composition thereof leading to the final shape of the container in the configuration shown in fig. 11.

[0015] It should be observed that the container 1 comprises a prismatic-shaped casing 2 with polygonal base, preferably but not necessarily square-shaped, identifying a longitudinal axis Y and it is provided with a through hole 3 for the insertion of an object A to be encased.

[0016] The container 1 also comprises a removable bottom 4 which serves as a closure for the through hole 3 and it is provided with a shaped support 5 configured to receive the base of the object A to be encased in the casing 2.

[0017] In particular, the removable bottom 4 comprises a polygonal-shaped base plate 8, preferably but not necessarily square-shaped, to which the shaped support 5, also polygonal-shaped, preferably but not necessarily square-shaped, belongs projecting from the surface 8a of the base plate 8 in the direction defined by the longitudinal axis Y and it is contained in the perimeter 8b of the same base plate 8.

[0018] According to the invention, the container 1 comprises means 6 for connecting the removable bottom 4 and the casing 2 to each other in a stable but removable manner for mutual rotation when the shaped support 5 is arranged inside the casing 2.

[0019] As regards the connection means 6, they are particularly visible from figures 12 to 15 and comprise a fissure 9 present in the removable bottom 4 and an abutment edge 10 belonging to the casing 2, which are configured to be mutually coupled when the removable bottom 4 and the casing 2 are mutually rotated according to the longitudinal axis Y, prior to inserting the shaped support 5 into the casing 2 through the through hole 3.

[0020] As observable, the fissure 9 is comprised between the base plate 8 and the shaped support 5 and it is recessed towards the inside of the shaped support 5 with respect to the outer perimeter edge 5a of the shaped support 5. Furthermore, the fissure 9 extends in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Y and parallel to the sides of the shaped support 5 and the casing 2, according to the polygonal-shaped perimeter, preferably but not necessarily square-shaped, but still similar to that of the base of the casing 2, of the shaped support 5 and of the base plate 8.

[0021] At the fissure 9, the shaped support 5 is spaced from the surface 8a of the base plate 8 in the direction defined by the longitudinal axis Y. In order to define the fissure 9, the shaped support 5 is applied to the surface 8a of the base plate 8 by interposing a separator element 13 having the same thickness as the fissure 9, as observable in figures 12 and 14.

[0022] Thus, the sides of the fissure 9 extend according to directions that are parallel to the base plate 8 and thus orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Y.

[0023] A variant embodiment observable in fig. 16 provides for that the removable bottom 4 be obtained as one block and the fissure 9 be obtained through a groove obtained in the bottom 4 between the base plate 8 and the shaped support 5.

[0024] As regards the abutment edge 10 it should be observed that it projects towards the inside of the casing 2 and delimits the inner perimeter 3a of the through hole 3.

[0025] In particular, the abutment edge 10 extends according to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Y and parallel to the sides of the shaped support 5 and the casing 2, delimiting the inner perimeter 3a of the polygonal-shaped through hole 3, preferably but not necessarily square-shaped, but still similar to that of the base of the casing 2, of the shaped support 5 and of the base plate 8.

[0026] In particular, it should be observed that both the through hole 3 and the shaped support 5 are polygonal-shaped with the perimeters, respectively inner 3a and outer 5a, mutually congruent so that they are slidably coupled when the shaped support 5 is inserted into the through hole 3 according to the direction Y.

[0027] Furthermore, when the shaped support 5 is inserted into the through hole 3, the surface 8a of the base plate 8 rests against the abutment edge 10, as observable in particular in figures 12 and 14.

[0028] It should be observed that the fissure 9 extends along the entire perimeter of the shaped support 5, but it may regard only a part of the perimeter in a different embodiment.

[0029] Similarly, the abutment edge 10, which - in the configuration described herein - delimits the entire inner perimeter 3a of the through hole 3, may also regard only one part in a different embodiment.

[0030] The figures also show that the shaped support 5 comprises a cavity 5b configured to receive, as previously mentioned, the end part or the base for supporting the object A.

[0031] A variant embodiment observable in fig. 17 provides for that the shaped support 5 comprises a projection 5c obtained inside the cavity 5b and configured to be received in a corresponding cavity present in the object A. Another variant embodiment observable in fig. 18 provides for that the shaped support 5 be provided solely with the projection 5c configured to be received in a corresponding cavity present in the object A.

[0032] Preferably but not necessarily, inside the casing 2 there are arranged rotation limiting means 12 consisting of abutment cores 12a fixed to the inner surface 2a of the casing 2 at the abutment edges 10.

[0033] The presence of the rotation limiting means 12 enables the mutual rotation of the casing 2 and of the shaped support 5 only in one direction, clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on the position in which the rotation limiting means 12 are arranged.

[0034] For example, in the configuration of the invention shown in the figures, the shaped bottom 4 is hindered from rotating in the clockwise direction.

[0035] Operatively, the removable bottom 4 is arranged resting against a support surface and then the base of the object A to be packaged is inserted into the cavity 5b of the shaped support 5 with the aim of obtaining the container 1, as observable in figures 7 and 8.

[0036] Then the casing 2 is arranged coaxial above the removable bottom 4 according to the longitudinal axis Y ensuring, as observable in fig. 9, that the outer perimeter 5a and the inner perimeter 3a respectively of the shaped support 5 and of the through hole 3 are congruent and thus coincident so that the shaped support 5 can be axially slidably inserted into the through hole 3. Once the coupling occurs, the casing 2 and the removable bottom 4 are arranged in the position observable in fig. 10 and in particular in figures 12 and 13, where it is observed that the abutment edge 10 is arranged coplanar to the fissure 9 and externally with respect thereto.

[0037] Thus, upon applying to the casing 2 and to the removable bottom 4 a mutual rotation that arranges them in the configuration shown in fig. 11 and in particular in figures 14 and 15, the abutment edge 10 penetrates into the fissure 9 at the four angular positions indicated with B in fig. 15 constraining the casing 2 and the removable bottom 4 to each other.

[0038] In this situation, if the casing 2 is lifted, the bottom 4 with the object A associated thereto follow it in the lifting too due to the interference that the abutment edge 10 of the casing 2 causes with respect to the removable bottom 4 when it is inserted into the fissure 9.

[0039] The mutual rotation of the casing 2 and the removable bottom 4 in the directions opposite to the previous rotation returns the container 1 to the configuration of fig. 10 in which the casing 2 can be separated from the removable bottom 4.

[0040] Thus, the container of the invention attains the previous object of being used as a container for transporting or storing the object A when it is arranged in the configuration of fig. 11 and it can also be used for show-casing the object A when the removable bottom 4 with the object A is without the casing 2, as observable in fig. 8.

[0041] The container of the invention and all embodiments described attain the preset and outlined objects.

[0042] In particular, the container 1 of the invention in closed configuration is used for transporting and storing the product contained therein, while it is used for show-casing the product in question in open configuration.

[0043] The container of the invention may provide for variant embodiments or modifications neither described herein nor shown in the drawings.

[0044] However, it must be understood that any variants and/or modifications not described, not shown and not claimed, but falling within the scope of the invention, shall be deemed all protected by the present patent.

Claims

1. Container (1) comprising:

- a prismatic-shaped casing (2) identifying a longitudinal axis (Y) and provided with a through hole (3) for introducing at least one object (A);

- a bottom (4) for closing said through hole (3), said bottom (4) comprising a shaped support (5) configured to receive said at least one object (A) and a base plate (8) to which said shaped support (5) projecting from the surface (8a) of said base plate (8) in the direction defined by said longitudinal axis (Y) belongs and it is contained in the perimeter (8b) of said base plate (8);

- means (6) for connecting said bottom (4) and said casing (2) to each other in a stable but removable manner for mutual rotation when said shaped support (5) is arranged inside said casing (2), said connection means (6) comprising at least one fissure (9) present in said bottom (4) and at least one abutment edge (10) belonging to said casing (2) which extend according to a direction orthogonal to said longitudinal axis (Y) and parallel to the sides of said shaped support (5) and said casing (2) for mutual coupling when said bottom (4) and said casing (2) are mutually rotated according to said longitudinal axis (Y), characterised in that said fissure (9) is comprised between said base plate (8) and said shaped support (5) and it is recessed from the perimeter edge (5a) of said shaped support (5) so that at said fissure (9) said shaped support (5) is spaced from the surface (8a) of said base plate (8).

2. Container (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said abutment edge (10) projects towards the inside of said casing (2) and delimits at least one part of the perimeter (3a) of said through hole (3), the inner perimeter (3a) of said through hole (3) and the outer perimeter (5a) of said shaped support (5) having the mutual coupling surfaces congruent with respect to each other.

3. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said fissure (9) extends along at least one part of the perimeter of said shaped support (5).

4. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said fissure (9) extends along the entire perimeter of said shaped support (5).

5. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said abutment edge (10) delimits the entire perimeter (3a) of said through hole (3).

6. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said shaped support (5) comprises at least one cavity (5b) configured to receive at least part of said object (A).

7. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said shaped support (5) comprises at least one projection (5c) configured to be received in a cavity of said object (A).

8. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises rotation limiting means (12) arranged inside said casing (2) and comprising one or more abutment cores (12a) that are fixed to the inner surface (2a) of said casing (2) at said abutment edges (10).

9. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said casing (2) is parallelepiped-shaped with square-shaped base.

Drawing