Knockdown containers and displays with optional lighting features
A knockdown container or display in the shape of a 3-dimensional container is provide which comprises of two main element types, namely Sheet elements and Edge elements. In this design, all of the main elements of the container are joined one to another by sliding with respect to each other in a sequence that make an open or closed display or container that can easily assembled or disassembled. In particular, the edges of the Sheet elements have a shape that is fitted into matching slots of the Edge elements. The position and orientation of elements are such that they securely restrict unwanted movement of the elements with respect to one another, while minimizing the number of needed fasteners or number of additional restricting components needed to secure the Edge elements.
1. A knockdown container or display of the type having a three-dimensional shape wherein said container or display is constructed from two main structural element types comprised of at least one Sheet element; and a plurality of Edge elements,
wherein said Sheet element is a sheet material having a polygonal shape having edges, and wherein at least a portion of the edge of each Sheet element defines an essentially planar, and substantially linear sheet edge area, and
each of said Edge elements is an essentially linear shaped component having one or more linear slots along their entire length, and said Edge element form a framework wherein both ends of essentially all of said Edge elements are mated to an adjacent Edge element so that essentially all of said Edge elements are prevented from sliding in the direction of said adjacent Edge element, and whereby, essentially all of said Edge elements are secured in place in said framework,
wherein each of said Sheet elements in said container or display is separated by an Edge element to which it is connected, in a sliding engagement, so that the edge of said Sheet element is positioned in, and slid within, the slot in said Edge element,
wherein at least one end of at least one Edge element but not more than the end of at least three Edge elements, is a Free-ended and is not mated to any adjacent Edge element so as to allow said Free-ended Edge element to be slid away from sliding engagement with said Sheet element, and
wherein once all Edge elements and Sheet elements are assembled they secure each other, and in final assembly condition only one Edge element will have a Free-ended end, and this Free-ended Edge element was the last assembled Edge element, so that only this last assembled Edge element will be able to move only along the direction parallel to its longitudinal profile direction.
2. A knockdown container or display as claimed in claim 1 having two Edge elements having an end which is Free-ended.
3. A knockdown container or display as claimed in claim 1 having only a single Edge element having an end which is Free-ended.
4. A knockdown container or display as claimed in claim 1 wherein any or all of said Free-ended ends are temporarily attached to an adjacent Edge element or Sheet element using a temporary locking device.
5. A knockdown container or display as claimed in claim 4 wherein said temporary locking device is a setscrew, a screw or a lock, or is a corner element.
6. A knockdown container or display according to claim 5 wherein said Corner element prevents the Free-ended end of said Edge element from moving, and wherein said Corner element is an element that is snap fitted at the corners of the assembled container so as to be in contact with said Edge elements at a corner area, and wherein the corner element is used for securing the end of at least one of the Edge elements.
7. A knockdown container or display as claimed in claim 6 wherein corner elements are fitted to two or more corners of said container or display, and provide some protection at the corner against sharp edges or damages at corner area due to possible impact loads during usage or handling of assembled container.
8. A knockdown container or display as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Sheet element and said Edge element are in one of two possible sliding engagements between said slot in said Edge element and said sheet edge of said Sheet element, wherein a first type of sliding engagement is an End-to-end sliding joint wherein the said slots in said Edge element will engage with a matching shape of the linear sheet edge of said Sheet element, from one end of said slot to the other end of said slot, by moving said sheet edge in a sliding manner in said slot, only while said slot in Edge element and said edge of Sheet element are in an essentially parallel orientation and aligned for engagement, and
wherein a second type of said sliding engagement is a Simple sliding joint between an Edge element and Sheet element, wherein the linear sheet edge of said Sheet element can also be slid into said slot in the Edge element while moving said Sheet element in a direction at an angle to the direction of said Edge element slot, and
wherein at least one sliding engagement for each Edge element is an End-to-end sliding joint.
9. A knockdown container or display as claimed in claim 1 wherein the knockdown container or display has shared Sheet elements or shared Edge elements with one or more adjacent knockdown containers or displays.
10. A knockdown container or display according to claim 1 where said Edge elements are manufactured using an extrusion process, and wherein said Edge elements are extruded in shapes which match the form for engagement with edges of Sheet elements where extruded profiles can be made from one or multiple pieces with same or different materials, or where multiple pieces can be bonded, adhered, or fastened together.
11. A knockdown container or display according to claim 10 wherein said Edge elements have at least one additional longitudinal groove or hole for the passage of wires.
12. A knockdown container or display according to claim 1 where selected Edge elements have slots that allow incorporation of LED strips or other similar lighting materials by inserting said LED strips or other lighting materials into said slots, or wherein LED strips or other lighting materials are mounted onto said Sheet elements or are incorporated into said Sheet elements.
13. A knockdown container or display according to claim 1 wherein the shape of the slot in Edge element is “L”-shape, and the L-shaped slot that extends along the entire length of the Edge element, and wherein the edge of the engaging Sheet element has a straight outer edge cut along with a straight groove that is parallel to, but offset from the straight outer edge, and wherein said straight groove extends along the entire length of the outer edge of said Sheet element, so that said groove in said Sheet element creates an step that will engage with an inner edge of the “L”-shaped slot.
14. A knockdown container or display according to claim 13 wherein sliding said Sheet element with said groove into said L-shaped slot in said Edge element, creates an End-to-end sliding joint.
15. A knockdown container or display according to claim 1 in the shape of a prism with a polygon shaped Sheet element either at the top or bottom but not both, so as to form a Strong Open prism container, or wherein said knockdown container or display is in the shape of a prism with a polygon shaped Sheet element at both the top and bottom, so as to form a Strong Closed prism container.
16. A knockdown container or display according to claim 1 additionally comprising shelves, wherein said shelves are created by providing shelf holes on the inner faces of selected Edge elements, which holes are directed towards inside of the container; and said shelf holes are used for installation of shelving supports, on which said shelves are positioned; and wherein said knockdown container or display optionally additionally comprises divider elements attached to said shelves.
17. A knockdown container or display according to claim 1 in the shape of Cuboid, Rectangular-prism, a Triangle prism, a Pentagon-prism, a Hexagon prism, or an octagon prism.
18. A method for the production of a three-dimensional knockdown container or display, wherein said method comprises providing at least one Sheet element, and a plurality of Edge elements,
wherein said Sheet element is a sheet material having a polygonal shape having edges, and wherein at least a portion of the edge of each Sheet element defines an essentially planar, and substantially linear sheet edge area, and
each of said Edge elements is an essentially linear shaped component having one or more linear slots along their entire length,
wherein each edge of said Sheet element is sliding engaged with said linear slot in said Edge element so that the edges of said Sheet element are positioned in, and slid within, the slot in said Edge element,
sliding engaging a further Sheet element with a second slot in said Edge element and placing further Edge elements around the edges of said further Sheet element;
repeating this last step until each of said Sheet elements in said container or display is separated by an Edge element to which it is connected, in a sliding engagement, and said Edge elements form a framework wherein both ends of essentially all of said Edge elements are mated to an adjacent Edge element so that essentially all of said Edge elements are prevented from sliding in the direction of said adjacent Edge element, and whereby, essentially all of said Edge elements are secured in place in said framework,
wherein at least one end of at least one Edge element, but not more than the end of at least three Edge elements, is Free-ended and is not mated to any adjacent Edge element, so as to allow said Edge element to be slid away from sliding engagement with said Sheet element, and
wherein once all Edge elements and Sheet elements are assembled they secure each other, and in final assembly condition only one Edge element will have a Free-ended end, and this Free-ended Edge element was the last assembled Edge element, so that only this last assembled Edge element will be able to move only along the direction parallel to its longitudinal profile direction.
19. A method for the production of a three-dimensional knockdown container or display as claimed in claim 18 wherein said container or display comprises only End-to-end sliding joints, and has only a single Edge element having a single Free-ended end, and said single Edge element having a single Free-ended end is the last Edge element inserted into said container or display.