Modular case for holding articles

• US 6,820,950 B1
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ching-Ching Trading Co.
• Original Assignee: Ching-Ching Trading Co.
• Inventors: Sun, Chun-Hsia
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/227,459
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 312/108, 312/111, 312/257.1, 312/263, 312/265.5, 220/4.16, 220/4.21, 220/4.28, 220/4.31, 403/364, 403/382, 403/403, 163/86, 163/16, 163/12, 163/14, 52/799, 525/911, 522/70, 525/912
• US Class Current: 312/108
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/042 Panels connected without frames

Abstract

A modular case is designed to hold articles and is formed by fitting together various panels of the standardized size and design. The panels are held together by retaining slots and retaining projections. A plurality of shelves are slidably disposed in the V-shaped grooves of the panels. One or more doors are pivoted to the panel by a plurality of pivoting lugs, each having an inclined guide face enabling the doors to swivel automatically. Certain retaining projections and retaining slots are provided with arcuate side walls to enhance the retaining effect. The rear panels have two wavy longitudinal sides to minimize the swaying of two rear panels which are joined together side by side.

Claims

1. A modular case for holding articles comprising:

at least three upright side panels of a geometric form and identical in construction and in dimension, each of the upright side panels having a plurality of retaining projections in a rear longitudinal side wall thereof and a plurality of retaining slots in a longitudinal top end wall and a longitudinal bottom end wall thereof, each of the upright side panels having a plurality of grooves arranged at intervals in an inner side thereof, each of the upright side panels having a plurality of pivoting lugs arranged at intervals in a front longitudinal side wall thereof;

at least two upright rear panels identical in geometric form to said upright side panels and identical in construction to each other, the upright rear panels having a plurality of retaining slots in two longitudinal side margins at an inner side thereof corresponding in location to the retaining projections of the rear longitudinal side wall of the upright side panels, the upright rear panels further having a plurality of retaining slots in a longitudinal top end wall and a longitudinal bottom end wall thereof, each of the upright rear panels is fitted to two of said upright side panels such that the retaining projections of the rear longitudinal side walls of the two upright side panels are retained respectively in the retaining slots of the two longitudinal side margins of the inner side of the upright rear panel;

at least two top panels of a geometric form and identical in construction to each other, the top panels having a plurality of retaining projections in three side walls thereof corresponding in location to the retaining slots of the longitudinal top end wall of the upright side panels and the retaining slots of the longitudinal top end wall of the upright rear panels, each of the top panels being fitted to two of the upright side panels and to one of the upright rear panels such that the retaining projections of said top panel are retained respectively in the retaining slots of the longitudinal top end walls of the upright side panels and the retaining slots of the longitudinal top end wall of the upright rear panel;

at least two bottom panels identical in geometric form to the top panels, the bottom panels being identical in construction to each other, the bottom panels having a plurality of retaining projections in three side walls thereof corresponding in location to the retaining slots of the longitudinal bottom end wall of the upright side panels and the retaining slots of the longitudinal bottom end wall of the upright rear panels, each of the bottom panels being fitted to two of said upright side panels and to one of the upright rear panels such that the retaining projections of the bottom panel are respectively retained in the retaining slots of the longitudinal bottom end walls of the upright side panels and the retaining slots of the longitudinal bottom end wall of the upright rear panel;

a plurality of shelves slidably disposed in said grooves of said upright side panels; and

at least one door having a plurality of pivoting lugs at one end thereof and fastened pivotally with one of the upright side panels such that the pivoting lugs of the door are pivoted with the pivoting lugs of the upright side panels, each of said grooves of the upright side panels having a V-shaped cross section, said plurality of shelves having a retaining edge in opposite sides thereof corresponding in cross section to said grooves, the retaining edges of said shelves being slidably disposed respectively in said grooves, each of said plurality of pivoting lugs of the upright side panels having an inclined guide face, said pivoting lugs of the door having an inclined guide face, the doors being pivoted to the upright side panels such that said inclined guide face of the pivoting lugs of the door contacts the inclined guide face of the pivoting lugs of the upright side panels so as to urge the door to swivel automatically toward the upright side panels, each of the upright rear panels having two wavy longitudinal sides on opposite sides thereof, the retaining projections of the top panels having two arcuate side walls opposite to each other, the retaining slots of the longitudinal top end wall of the upright side panels having two arcuate side walls opposite to each other, the retaining projections of the top panels being retained respectively in the retaining slots of the longitudinal top end wall of the upright side panels such that the arcuate side walls of the retaining projections are in contact with the arcuate side walls of the retaining slots.

2. The modular case of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one drawer having a rib in two opposite outer side walls corresponding in cross section and location to said grooves of the upright side panels, the drawer being disposed between two of the shelves such that the ribs of the drawer are respectively slidably received in said grooves of the upright side panels.