US20060273083A1 - Modular bin system and bin - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular bin system. The system comprises a plurality of panels having a first edge provided with one or more first hinge halves and a second edge provided with one or more second hinge halves. The first and second edges are parallel to each other and the first and second hinge halves are positioned so that the first hinge halves on a first panel can mate with the second hinge halves on a second panel to form a complete hinge. The panels are joined together to form the walls of a bin. The system also comprises one or more bin bottoms.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to bins or containers, such as bins or containers used for holding and displaying items offered for sale.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Modular systems for assembling a bin or container are known in the art. Such systems consist of bin components from which a user may assemble a bin having desired characteristics for his particular needs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,090 to Crosslen discloses a multi-sided merchandise display rack. Brackets are hinged together into a cylindrical structure having a selectable number of sides. Display means are connected to the brackets. U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,973 discloses a modular panel having a plurality of spaced-apart fingers that interdigitate with the spaced-apart fingers of an adjacent panel having similar fingers. Several panels of identical or varied configurations may be interconnected to form a display board or container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention provides a modular system for assembling a bin. The bin may be used, for example, to display one or more items offered for sale. The system of the invention comprises a plurality of panels. Each panel has first and second vertical edges that are parallel to each other. The first vertical edge is provided with a number of first hinge halves and the second vertical edge is provided with an equal number of second hinge halves. The first and second hinge halves are positioned along the first and second vertical edge, respectively, so that each first hinge half on the first vertical edge on a first panel can mate with a second hinge half on a second panel, so as to form a complete hinge. In this way, the first and second panels are articulated in a hinge joint. One or more additional panels are then added in a similar fashion. After a predetermined number of panels have been concatenated in this way, the panel structure is closed into a cylindrical configuration having any desired cross-sectional shape, such as a triangular, square, hexagonal or irregularly cross-sectional shape.
• The modular bin system of the invention also includes one or more bin bottoms. After assembly of the panels into the cylindrical structure, a bin bottom is selected having a shape corresponding to the desired cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical structure. For example, for a bin having the hexagonal cross-sectional shape, an hexagonal bin bottom is selected. The selected bin bottom is inserted into the cylindrical structure and is supported by the supports projecting from the surface of the panels in the inside of the cylindrical structure. The level at which the bin bottom is positioned inside the cylindrical shutter may be selectable so as to obtain a bin having a depth and volume suitable for the object or objects to be placed in the bin. At any time when the bin is not needed, the bottom may be removed and the cylindrical structure collapsed for convenient storage or transporting.
• The invention thus provides a modular bin system comprising:
• (a) A plurality of panels, each panel having
• • i) A front surface and a back surface; and
  • ii) a first edge having one or more first hinge halves and a second edge having one or more second hinge halves, the first and second edges being parallel to each other, the first and second hinge halves being positioned to allow the first hinge halves on a first panel to mate with the second hinge halves on a second panel; and
• (b) one or more bin bottoms.
• The invention also provides a bin formed from the modular bin system of the invention and a panel for use in the modular bin system of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
• FIG. 1 shows a modular bin system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 2 shows a panel of the modular system ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 shows joining of two panels;
• FIG. 4 shows construction of a bin using the modular bin system ofFIG. 1; and
• FIG. 5 shows bins in accordance with additional embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• FIG. 1 shows a modular system1 for assembling a bin in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The bin may be used, for example, to display one or more items offered for sale. The system1 comprises a plurality ofpanels2, andhinge pins24. Thehinge pins24 are used to assemble thepanels2 into the walls of the bin as explained below. The system1 further comprises one ormore bin bottoms32. The system1 may optionally contain one ormore inserts18 to be inserted into one or more of thepanels2, as explained below.
• FIG. 2 shows thepanel2 in greater detail. Thepanel2 has afront surface7 shown inFIG. 2aand aback surface9 shown inFIG. 2b.Thepanel2 has a firstvertical edge4, a second vertical edge6, a top edge8 and abottom edge10. The first and second vertical edges are parallel to each other. In thepanel2 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the top and bottom edges are straight and perpendicular to the vertical edges, so that the panel has a generally rectangular shape. This is by way of example only, and the panels may have any shape that allows the panels to be assembled together, as explained below. Thepanels2 may be formed from any suitable material such as molded plastic, cardboard or sheet metal.
• The firstvertical edge4 is provided with one or morefirst hinge halves12 located in indentations11 in theedge4. The second vertical edge6 is provided with one or moresecond hinge halves14 located inindentations13 in theedge4. The number of first hinge halve12 is equal to the number ofsecond hinge halves14. The first and second hinge halves are positioned along the first and second vertical edge, respectively, so that each first hinge half on the first vertical edge on afirst panel2 can mate with asecond hinge half14 on asecond panel2, so as to form a complete hinge, as explained below.
• Thefront surface7 of thepanel2 may be configured to receive aninsert18. The insert is affixed to the face16 by means ofprojections20 extending and from thefront surface7. Thefront surface7 may have a recessed portion16 dimensioned to receive theinsert18 so that theinsert18, when received in the recessed portion16, is flush withmargins22 of thepanel2 surrounding theinsert18. Theinsert18 may be imprinted with advertising or other promotional material relating to items offered for sale to be displayed in the assembly bin.
• Bottom supports19 projects from theback surface9 of thepanel2, as shown inFIG. 2b.Thebottom supports19 are used to support abin bottom32 in the assembled bin, as explained below. The bottom supports19 may be positioned at two or more heights above thebottom edge10 of thepanel2, as shown inFIG. 2b,so as to allow the height of the bottom32 above thebottom edge10 to be selectable.
• FIG. 3 shows a first panel2aand a second panel2beach of which is identical to thepanel2 ofFIGS. 1 and 2. The first and second panels2aand2bare positioned inFIG. 3 so that the second vertical edge6aof the panel2ais juxtaposed to the firstvertical edge4bof the panel2b.In this arrangement each second hinge half14aof the panel2amates with a first hinge half12bof the panel2b.The first and second hinge halves my form acomplete hinge26, for example, simply by snapping together. Alternatively, ahinge pin24 can be inserted into through each pair of mated first hinge half14aon the panel2aand the corresponding second hinge half12bon the panel2bto form acomplete hinge26. The hinges26 are coaxial. Thus, after formation of thehinges26, the panels2aand2bare rotatable about the axis of thehinges26, so that virtually any angle may be achieved between the panels2a,2b.
• One or moreadditional panels2 are then added to the two panel structure shown inFIG. 3, as just explained with reference toFIG. 2. After a predetermined number ofpanels2 have been concatenated in this way, the structure is closed into acylindrical configuration30 shown inFIG. 4a.Thecylindrical configuration30 has six sides. This is by way of example only, and thepanels2 may be arranged into a cylindrical configuration consisting of any number ofpanels2 that is at least three. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of thecylindrical structure30 may also be selected. For example, a cylindrical structure assembled from6panels2, may have a hexagonal cross-section, as shown inFIG. 4a,or a triangular cross-section, where for instance, each side of the triangle is formed from twocoplanar panels2.
• After assembly of thepanels2 into thecylindrical structure30, a bottom32 is selected having a shape corresponding to the desired cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical structure. For example, for a bin having the hexagonal cross-sectional shape shown inFIG. 4a,the hexagonal bottom32cshown inFIG. 1 is selected. The bottom32 is inserted into thecylindrical structure30 and is supported by thesupports19 on theback surface9 of thepanels2 at a height above thebottom edge10 to give a desired depth to the bin above the bottom32. Thebin bottoms32 may be provided withtongues21 along its edges (FIGS. 1 and 4d) that fit into appropriately positionedslots23 in theback surface9 of the panels2 (FIG. 2b). After the bottom32 has been inserted into thecylindrical structure30, abin36 is formed by the bottom32 and the panels2 (FIG. 4b). The level at which the bottom32 is positioned inside the cylindrical shutter is determined so as to obtain a bin having a volume suitable for the object or objects to be placed in the bin. At any time when thebin36 is not needed, the bottom32 may be removed and the cylindrical structure collapsed for convenient storage or transporting, as shown inFIG. 4d.
• Aninsert18 may be inserted into each of one or more of thepanels2, either before or after assembly into the bin. If thebin36 is to be used for the display of merchandise to be offered for sale, the insert may contain information relating to pricing, advertising, or other promotional effects related to the displayed merchandise.FIG. 4eshows thebin36 after insertion of inserts into thepanels2.
• Other possible configurations of a bin that may be assembled from the system1 are shown inFIG. 5.FIG. 5ashows a bin40 from six panels arranged into a cylindrical structure having a triangular cross-section. The triangular bottom32bshown inFIG. 1 is used in thebin40.FIG. 5bshows a bin42 formed from fourpanels44. Thepanels44 are generally oval in shape. Each of thepanels44 has a firstvertical edge48 and a secondvertical edge49. The first and second vertical edges are provided with first and second hinge halves12 and14, respectively. Thepanels44 are assembled in a similar fashion to the assembly of thepanels2, described above. The bin42 has a square cross sectional shape and includes the square bottom32 shown inFIG. 1. Thepanels44 are configured to receive an insert, such as the insert18b.

Claims (11)

1. A modular bin system comprising:

(a) A plurality of panels, each panel having

i) A front surface and a back surface; and

ii) a first edge having one or more first hinge halves and a second edge having one or more second hinge halves, the first and second edges being parallel to each other, the first and second hinge halves being positioned to allow the first hinge halves on a first panel to mate with the second hinge halves on a second panel; and

(b) one or more bin bottoms.

2. The modular bin system ofclaim 1 wherein the panels are configured to support an edge of a bin bottom.

3. The modular bin system ofclaim 2 wherein supports project from the back surface of a panel for supporting a bin bottom.

4. Modular bin system according toclaim 1 wherein the front surface of a panel is configured to receive an insert.

5. The modular bin system according toclaim 1 wherein the front surface has a recessed portion configured to receive an insert.

6. The modular bin system according toclaim 4 further comprising one or more inserts.

7. The modular bin system according toclaim 1 wherein the first and second hinge halves are configured to snap together to form a complete hinge.

8. The modular bin system according toclaim 1 wherein the first and second hinge halves are configured to receive a hinge pin when mated to form a complete hinge.

9. The modular bin system according toclaim 8 further comprising one or more hinge pins.

10. A bin formed from the modular bin system according toclaim 1.

11. A panel for use in the modular bin system according toclaim 1.

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