NZ200056A - Branched hollow container as building element - Google Patents

Description

200056 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 PATENTS ACT 19 5 3 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No. 200056 dated 19 March 1982 "A CONTAINER" I, CHRISTOPHER JOHN CHASTON of 2 Quarry Street, Christchurch, New Zealand, being a British subject and New Zealand citizen, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - 1 200056 to CO •m o This invention relates to a container and more particularly relates to a container for confectionery, drinks or the like which container after use can be used as a building component.

An object of the present invention is to provide a modular container for confectionery, drinks or the like which container when emptied can be used as a building component or plaything.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a modular container usable as a building component, element or plaything which container offers to the public a useful alternative choice.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example.

According to a broadest aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular hollow container for a drink or confectionery liquid, the container including a central core region of the same horizontal and vertical cross section from the periphery of which arms extend at the ends of which are integrally formed equal numbers of male members and female sockets the placement of the male members and female sockets the placement of the male members and female sockets being such that a plurality of such modular containers can be clipped together by engagement of male members with female sockets of adjacent containers to build two or three dimensional structures therefrom.

Each modular container can be injection moulded from a plastics material with a cavity therein in which a drink or confectionery can be stored and in which an opening thereof is formed in one of the male engaging members, the opening is complementary in shape to the female sockets. •1 200056 The engagement between the female sockets and the male members can be a clipping, sliding or nestling engagement.

The configuration of male engaging members and female sockets on the periphery of the container can be such that 5 a pack of similar articles can be linked together by a peripheral strap or straps to be sold as one item.

Further aspects of the present invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of 10 example only.

Examples of the present invention can be seen from the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: shows a perspective view from the side of an example of container according to 15 the present invention; Figure 2: shows a diagrammatic section of the engagement between a male engaging member and a female socket of two similar containers; Figure 3: shows a plan view of a number of . similar emptied containers according to the invention formed as a planar (two dimensional) grid; and Figure 4: shows a diagrammatic perspective view of part of a three dimensional grid which can be formed by a plurality of emptied containers according to the present invention. The containers according to the present invention can initially be filled with a drink, confectionery or the 200056 like and are available for purchase in any retail outlets by persons who require the goods therein.

The containers are preferably formed in an injection moulding machine from a plastics material. The containers 5 can be formed with a cavity or cavities therein.

Each container includes a central core region of any shape, for example, square, rectangular, circular, octagonal or other polygon shape in section. The core region has at least one male engaging member and generally on an 10 opposite side thereof at least one female engaging socket.

One of the male members generally constitutes a filling opening to the cavity which opening is closed by a disposable cap.

In the first example shown in Figure 1 the central 15 core region of the container is generally indicated by arrow 1. The core, region 1 has formed on the periphery thereof three male members 2 and three female sockets 3. A plurality of containers of this type can be, when emptied, used to build a three dimensional grid of indefinite 20 dimensions (see Figure 4) .

An alternative construction of container is shown in Figure 3 and this can be used to form a two-dimensional grid. This container is formed by manufacturing a container with two male members 2 (Figure 3) and two female 25 sockets 3 on opposite sides thereof so that a two dimensional grid can be built from a plurality of similar emptied containers.

The engagement between an adjacent male member and a . f-x - 4 - ' . \ \v\ % ^ / 200056 female socket . can be any clipping, sliding or nestling engagement. For example, as shown in Figure 2 the male engaging member 2 is formed with a peripheral lip 5 surrounding a circular, square of other shape of opening A. The opening A is normally closed by a disposable cap (shown only at B on Figure 3) when the container is initially marketed. After the contents of the cavity have been consumed and a plurality of the emptied containers are available they can be used to erect structures of two or three dimensions depending on the constructions of the containers.

Each container has at least a similar number of complementary or if desired more female sockets which are generally indicated by arrow 6 in Figures 1 and 2.

Each socket 6 includes a shaped skirt 7 in which the lip 5 of an adjacent male engaging member can engage. The shape and dimensions in section of the male members and female sockets are numerous. For example, the shapes can be complementary dovetailed shapes, tongue and groove shaped, and other shapes so that adjacent similar containers can be clipped, nestled, slid or the like together.

In Figure 3 is shown a plurality of similar containers 9 which connect together to form a two dimensional grid, the size of which is restricted only by the space in which it is built.

In Figure 4 is shown a perspective view of part of a 0056 three dimensional structure built from a number of similar containers 8 of the type shown in Figure 1. Again the overall size is only restricted by the space in which the structure is built.

A major advantage of the present invention is to provide a container used for normal retail use which container doubles because of its shape and formation as a building unit or element. It is therefore envisaged that rather than the container being disposed of hap-10 hazardly it will be retained and used to build, for example, by children an interesting structure.

It is envisaged that a pack of similar articles according to the invention can be sold as one item. The containers are held together as a pack by their engage-15 ment when full or can be held together by straps. For example the sides thereof can have male and female grooves so that they are slid together and held by a strap or straps around the periphery thereof e.g. in an aligned groove or grooves in the sides of the containers. 20 Thus by this invention there is provided a modular container for confectionery, drinks or the like which can be used when emptied as a building component.

Particular examples of the present invention have been described herein by way of example and it is 25 envisaged that improvements and modifications thereto can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (15)

* WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 'ATEiTrCFPCRS 2 6 1985 200056 received j

1. A modular hollow container for a drink or confectionery liquid, the container including a central core region of the same horizontal and vertical cross section from the periphery 5 of which arms extend at the ends of which are integrally formed equal numbers of male members and female sockets the placement of the male members and female sockets being such that a plurality of such modular containers can be clipped together by engagement of male members with female sockets of 10 adjacent containers to build two or three dimensional structures therefrom.

2. A modular hollow container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container is injection moulded from a plastics material is filled with said drink or confectionery liquid is stored and 15 in which an opening thereto is formed in one of the male engaging members, the opening being of complementary shape to the female sockets thereof.

3. A modular hollow container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the central core region thereof is square, rectangular, 20 circular, octagonal or polygon shape in both vertical and horizontal section.

4. A modular hollow container as claimed in claim 3 wherein said arms extend from opposite sides of the core region in substantially the same plane. 25

5. a modular hollow container as claimed in claim 4 wherein the core region has four arms extending radially therefrom at regular intervals in one plane, the ends of the opposite extending arms have formed therein female sockets and male members respectively. - 7 - 200056

6. A modular hollow container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the core has six arms extending radially therefrom to form a three dimensional container in which three of the arms have formed thereon male members and the other three arms have formed therein female sockets.

7. A modular hollow container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each female socket includes a shaped skirt in which a lip formed on an adjacent male member can engage.

8. A modular hollow container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the shape and dimensions of the male members and female sockets are complementary.

9. A modular hollow container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A pack of similar modular hollow containers of the type claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 9 which are linked together by a peripheral strap or straps.

11. A pack of similar modular hollow containers as claimed in claim 10 wherein the individual containers are also held together by engagement between said male members and said female sockets.

12. A two dimensional structure built from two or more modular hollow containers of the type claimed in claim 1, the structure being formed by clipping, sliding or nestling said male members and said female sockets of adjacent modular containers into engagement with each other. 200056

13. A three dimensional structure built from two or more modular hollow containers of the type claimed in claim 6, the structure being formed by clipping, sliding or nestling said male members and said female sockets of adjacent modular containers into engagement with each other.

14. A two dimensional structure built from two or more modular hollow containers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A three dimensional structure built from two or more modular hollow containers substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. CHRISTOPHER JOHN CHASTON By His Attorneys BALDWIN, SON & CAREY