GB2088337A - Containers for displaying articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for photographs is a moulded plastic box with a hinged lid (8) providing a window into the box. Photographs are located by barriers (5) arranged inside of the walls (2, 3, 4) of the box so that they can easily be prised out. The underside of the lid has means (16, 17) for holding a photograph up against the transparent portion to provide a display. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to containers This invention relates to containers, and it is primarily intended to apply to boxes for containing photographs and negatives.

Generally, when a film has been developed, the photographs and negatives are returned in a paper or very light board wallet. These can very easily be bent or otherwise damaged, are not particularly secure, and provide an inadequate means of permanent storage. Also, when closed the photographs are entirely concealed.

The aim of this invention is to provide a more robust container that will provide means suitable for an organised storage and filing system, that will make photographs just as accessible as from a wallet, and which can also serve as a display case.

According to the present invention there is provided a container comprising a generally rectangular box, a lid for closing the box transparent at least over a central portion, means for locating card or paper articles, such as photographs, clear of at least one wall of the box, and means for retaining such an article close up against the underside of the lid to display through said transparent portion.

Conviently, the box will be of moulded plastics material. The lid may be of entirely clear plastics, although it could have an opaque margin, as by "frosting", leaving a rectangular (or possibly oval or other shaped) central window.

The locating means may be integrally moulded barriers upstanding from the floor of the box, preferably alongside but spaced from all four walls. They will allow a finger to be inserted to catch hold of an edge of a photograph and lift it clear.

The lid will preferably be hinged and seat within the upper edges of the walls of the box, resting on the barriers. It will conveniently have a snap closure.

For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a box for photographs without its lid, Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il of Figure 1 including a partially opened lid, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the lid.

The box is shallow and rectangular, having a floor 1, a rear wall 2, a front wall 3 and side walls 4. It is integrally formed from moulded plastics material. Upstanding from the floor 1 there are short barriers 5 of generally trapezoidal form, parallel to the adjacent walls. There are sets of three in alignment along but spaced from the front and rear walls, and sets of two in alignment along but spaced from the side walls 4. They define a rectangular space in which to confine photographic prints, which will be kept clear of the walls and be easiiy extractable by prising out with a finger between adjacent barriers 5. The spacing of the respective pairs of side wall barriers is such that they can locate a strip of negative, indicated by the broken line 6.

The rear wall 2 is low with a downwardly and inwardly sloping upper edge 7 for abutment by a corresponding edge on the lid 8. This is also of moulded plastics and will be transparent at least over the rectangular area defined by the barriers 5.

It hinges to the box by means of integral studs 9 which engage the side walls 4 adjacent the rear wall 2. It has down-turned peripheral flanges 10 along the shorter sides and the side which is to cooperate with the front wall 3 and a somewhat larger flange 11 which has the sloping lower edge that co-operates with the edge 7 in the closed position of the lid. In this position, the flanges 10 fit closely between the barriers 5 and the front and side walls 3 and 4. The other barriers 5 are spaced from the rear wall 2 to give freedom of movement for the flange 11.

At the centre of the upper edge of the front wall 3 there is a depression or cut-out 1 2 which freely receives a lug 13 on the front edge of the lid 8.

This is used for opening the box. The lid is shut with a snap action, the inside of the front wall 3 having adjacent its upper edge two shallow triangular projections 14 with which angled recesses 1 5 in the front edge of whe lid 8 cooperate as the lid is closed. When closed, it rests on the barriers 5.

Inside the front flange 10 of the lid 8 there are two studs 1 6 which provide ledges for a card frame which can line the inside of the lid.

Corresponding studs 1 7 are provided on the rear flange 11 of the lid. A photograph may be placed up against the underside of the lid to show through it, and can be held in place and framed by a card snapped over the lugs 1 6 and 1 7. Thus, the box can be used as a display case, with the remaining photographs resting on the floor of the box and located clear of the walls by the barriers 5.

1. A container comprising a generally rectangular box, a lid for closing the box transparent at least over a central portion, means for locating card or paper articles, such as photographs, clear of at least one wall of the box and means for retaining such an article close up against the underside of the lid to display through the transparent portion.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the box is of moulded plastics material.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locating means are integrally moulded barriers upstanding from the floor of the box.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the barriers are arranged alongside but spaced from all four walls.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lid is hinged to the box and seats within the upper edges of the walls of the box to rest on the barriers.

6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid is of clear plastics material

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to containers This invention relates to containers, and it is primarily intended to apply to boxes for containing photographs and negatives. Generally, when a film has been developed, the photographs and negatives are returned in a paper or very light board wallet. These can very easily be bent or otherwise damaged, are not particularly secure, and provide an inadequate means of permanent storage. Also, when closed the photographs are entirely concealed. The aim of this invention is to provide a more robust container that will provide means suitable for an organised storage and filing system, that will make photographs just as accessible as from a wallet, and which can also serve as a display case. According to the present invention there is provided a container comprising a generally rectangular box, a lid for closing the box transparent at least over a central portion, means for locating card or paper articles, such as photographs, clear of at least one wall of the box, and means for retaining such an article close up against the underside of the lid to display through said transparent portion. Conviently, the box will be of moulded plastics material. The lid may be of entirely clear plastics, although it could have an opaque margin, as by "frosting", leaving a rectangular (or possibly oval or other shaped) central window. The locating means may be integrally moulded barriers upstanding from the floor of the box, preferably alongside but spaced from all four walls. They will allow a finger to be inserted to catch hold of an edge of a photograph and lift it clear. The lid will preferably be hinged and seat within the upper edges of the walls of the box, resting on the barriers. It will conveniently have a snap closure. For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a box for photographs without its lid, Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il of Figure 1 including a partially opened lid, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the lid. The box is shallow and rectangular, having a floor 1, a rear wall 2, a front wall 3 and side walls 4. It is integrally formed from moulded plastics material. Upstanding from the floor 1 there are short barriers 5 of generally trapezoidal form, parallel to the adjacent walls. There are sets of three in alignment along but spaced from the front and rear walls, and sets of two in alignment along but spaced from the side walls 4. They define a rectangular space in which to confine photographic prints, which will be kept clear of the walls and be easiiy extractable by prising out with a finger between adjacent barriers 5. The spacing of the respective pairs of side wall barriers is such that they can locate a strip of negative, indicated by the broken line 6. The rear wall 2 is low with a downwardly and inwardly sloping upper edge 7 for abutment by a corresponding edge on the lid 8. This is also of moulded plastics and will be transparent at least over the rectangular area defined by the barriers 5. It hinges to the box by means of integral studs 9 which engage the side walls 4 adjacent the rear wall 2. It has down-turned peripheral flanges 10 along the shorter sides and the side which is to cooperate with the front wall 3 and a somewhat larger flange 11 which has the sloping lower edge that co-operates with the edge 7 in the closed position of the lid. In this position, the flanges 10 fit closely between the barriers 5 and the front and side walls 3 and 4. The other barriers 5 are spaced from the rear wall 2 to give freedom of movement for the flange 11. At the centre of the upper edge of the front wall 3 there is a depression or cut-out 1 2 which freely receives a lug 13 on the front edge of the lid 8. This is used for opening the box. The lid is shut with a snap action, the inside of the front wall 3 having adjacent its upper edge two shallow triangular projections 14 with which angled recesses 1 5 in the front edge of whe lid 8 cooperate as the lid is closed. When closed, it rests on the barriers 5. Inside the front flange 10 of the lid 8 there are two studs 1 6 which provide ledges for a card frame which can line the inside of the lid. Corresponding studs 1 7 are provided on the rear flange 11 of the lid. A photograph may be placed up against the underside of the lid to show through it, and can be held in place and framed by a card snapped over the lugs 1 6 and 1 7. Thus, the box can be used as a display case, with the remaining photographs resting on the floor of the box and located clear of the walls by the barriers 5. CLAIMS

1. A container comprising a generally rectangular box, a lid for closing the box transparent at least over a central portion, means for locating card or paper articles, such as photographs, clear of at least one wall of the box and means for retaining such an article close up against the underside of the lid to display through the transparent portion.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the box is of moulded plastics material.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locating means are integrally moulded barriers upstanding from the floor of the box.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the barriers are arranged alongside but spaced from all four walls.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lid is hinged to the box and seats within the upper edges of the walls of the box to rest on the barriers.

6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid is of clear plastics material with an opaque margin.

7. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid has snap closure.

8. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.