Modular container

Abstract

A modular container for the storage or display of articles, formed from a foldable unitary blank of sheet material. The container has a base panel, opposed first and second side panels and an end panel. A container-locating aperture is located adjacent the second side panel and is formed on the end panel, together with a tab-locating aperture that is located adjacent the first side panel. A container connecting tab projects from the first side panel, and may selectively be folded to locate in the tab-locating aperture, or to locate in the container-locating aperture of another container and thereby connecting the containers together in side-by-side relationship.

1 . A modular container comprising: 
 a base panel, first and second opposed wall forming side panels, and at least one wall forming end panel extending between the side panels, thereby defining respective first and second common edges;    at least one end container connecting tab projecting from the end panel, or from the first side panel, at or adjacent the first common edge;    at least one container-locating aperture formed in the end panel at or adjacent the second common edge; and    a tab-locating aperture formed in the end panel at or adjacent the first common edge, 
 wherein the end container connecting tab of an erected container may selectively be engaged in the tab-locating aperture, or engaged In the end container-locating aperture of another container thereby to connect the containers together.  
   
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base panel, the first and second wall forming side panels, and the wall forming end panel are formed from a foldable unitary blank of sheet material.  
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the, end container connecting tab is formed from the inner portion of the tab-locating aperture provided in the end panel, which is partially cut out, whereby the end container connecting tab is foldable at or about the first common edge to selectively be positioned either in or out of the tab-locating aperture.  
     
     
         4 . A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end panel is formed from at least two end panel portions, at least one end panel portion being provided on each of the first and second side panels.  
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein the end panel portions are joined to each other by engageable complemental tab and aperture formations provided thereon.  
     
     
         6 . A container according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the end panel of an erected container is connected to the side panels at the respective common edges.  
     
     
         7 . A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein end reinforcing panels are provided on the base panel.  
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 7 , wherein the end reinforcing panels are formed of outer and inner panel portions which may be folded over the end panel, thereby enveloping the engaged tab and aperture formations.  
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner panel portion of the end reinforcing panel has a projecting tongue which is engageable within a complemental slot formed on the base panel.  
     
     
         10 . A container according to any one of  claims 7  to  9 , wherein the end container connecting tab is folded to locate in the tab-locating aperture, and is thereby enveloped by the reinforcing panels.  
     
     
         11 . A container according to either  claim 8  or  9 , wherein the end container connecting tab is located in the end container-locating aperture of a second like container and thereby enveloped by the reinforcing panels of the second container.  
     
     
         12 . A container according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: 
 a wall forming front panel;    a front container connecting tab projecting from the first side panel, or from the front panel, at or adjacent the interface between the front panel and the first side panel;    a front tab aperture formed on the front panel at or adjacent the first side panel; and    a front container-locating aperture formed on the front panel at or adjacent the second side panel, 
 wherein the front container connecting tab of an erected container may selectively be engaged in the front tab aperture, or engaged in the front container-locating aperture of the second container.  
   
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 12  wherein the front panel is formed from at least two front panel portions, at least one front panel portion being provided on each of the first and second side panels.  
     
     
         14 . A container according to either  claim 12  or  13 , wherein the front panel portions are joined to each other by engageable complemental tab and aperture formations provided thereon.  
     
     
         15 . A container according to any one of  claims 12  to  14 , wherein the side panels are connected to the upstanding edges of the front panels of an erected container.  
     
     
         16 . A container according to any one of  claims 12  to  15 , wherein front reinforcing panels are provided on the base panel.  
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein the front reinforcing panels are formed of outer and inner panel portions which may be folded over the front panel thereby enveloping the engaged tab and aperture formations.  
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 17 , wherein the inner panel portion of the front reinforcing panel has a projecting tongue which is engageable within a complemental front slot formed on the base panel.  
     
     
         19 . A container according to any one of  claims 16  to  18 , wherein the front container connecting tab is engaged in the front tab aperture, and is thereby enveloped by the reinforcing panels.  
     
     
         20 . A container according to any one of  claims 16  to  18 , wherein the front container connecting tab is engaged in the front container-locating aperture of a second like container and is thereby enveloped by the reinforcing panels of the second container.  
     
     
         21 . A container according to any one of  claims 12  to  20 , wherein the front panel of the erected container is lower than the end panel.  
     
     
         22 . A container according to  claim 21 , wherein the side panels are chamfered thereby providing accessibility and visibility into the container.  
     
     
         23 . A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein partitions are located within the container thereby forming compartments.  
     
     
         24 . A container according to  claim 23 , wherein the partitions are secured within the container by co-operating tongue and slot formations provided on the partitions and on the wall forming panels of the container respectively.  
     
     
         25 . A container according to either  claim 23  or  24 , wherein the partitions are cut from the waste sheet material surrounding the blank when the blank is itself cut from the sheet material.  
     
     
         26 . A container according to any one of  claims 8  to  11 , wherein the inner and outer panel portions of the end panels have a flap cut out of the panel to enable labels and the like to be inserted therein.  
     
     
         27 . A container according to any one of  claims 17  to  20 , wherein the inner and outer panel portions of the front panels have a flap cut out of the panel to enable labels and the like to be inserted therein.  
     
     
         28 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the end panel is provided on one of the side panels and is connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to the other side panel.  
     
     
         29 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the end panel is provided on the base panel and is connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to both side panels.  
     
     
         30 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the front panel is provided on one of the side panels and is connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to the other side panel.  
     
     
         31 . A container according to  claim 12 , wherein the front panel is provided on the base panel and is connected by complemental tab and aperture formations to both side panels.  
     
     
         32 . A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a top panel is provided.  
     
     
         33 . A container according to  claim 32 , wherein the top panel is provided on the first and/or second side panel.  
     
     
         34 . A container according to  claim 32 , wherein the top panel is formed from the inner panel portion of the end and/or front reinforcing panels.  
     
     
         35 . A container according to any one of  claims 32  to  34 , wherein the top panel is operable to close the container.  
     
     
         36 . A plurality of the containers of  claims 1  to  35  connected in side-by-side relationship.  
     
     
         37 . A unitary blank for a modular container, the blank being formed from a foldable sheet material and comprising: 
 a base panel;    a wall forming first side panel;    a wall forming second side panel;    a wall forming end panel having a container-locating aperture at or adjacent the second side panel, and a tab-locating aperture at or adjacent the first side panel; and    a container connecting tab projecting from the first side panel at or adjacent the front panel, 
 wherein the container connecting tab of a container erected from the blank may be selectively folded to engage within the tab-locating aperture, or to engage in the container-locating aperture of a second container, thereby to connect the containers together.  
   
     
     
         38 . A blank according to  claim 37 , wherein the blank further comprises: 
 a wall forming front panel;    a front tab-locating aperture formed on the front panel at or adjacent the first side panel;    a front container connecting tab projecting from the first side panel at or adjacent the front panel; and    a front container-locating aperture formed on the front panel located adjacent to the second side panel, 
 wherein the front container connecting tab of an erected container may selectively be folded to engage in the front tab-locating aperture, or to engage in the front container-locating aperture of the second container.  
   
     
     
         39 . A blank according to either  claim 37  or  38 , wherein the blank is formed from a corrugated polymeric sheet material.  
     
     
         40 . A blank according to either  claim 37  or  38 , wherein the blank is formed from a foldable material selected from a group including card, cardboard and/or plastic.  
     
     
         41 . A container substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         42 . A blank substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.