Packaging, storage and display apparatus and system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a packaging, storage and display system for articles, such as small tools, like drill bits and the like. An index for holding the articles is pivotably mounted in a case. A rack, which may be selected from a variety of rack structures, is mounted within the index, for holding articles having particular sizes and shapes. A frame structure is resistively pivotably mounted on the index, so that the frame structure may be pivoted to a particular position relative to the index, and will tend to remain in that position, until a force in excess of a particular amount is exerted on the frame structure. The index and/or the frame structures may be interchangeably mounted.

1 . A packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles, comprising: 
 a case, having at least one case section that defines an interior volume for receiving articles;    at least one index, pivotably mounted in the at least one case section, the at least one index being pivotably movable between a stowed position within the at least one case section, and a deployed position;    the at least one index being operably configured to receive and retain an end of at least one article;    a frame structure, pivotably mounted to the index.    
   
   
       2 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 rotation control structure interconnecting the frame structure and the index, operably configured to enable at least a portion of the frame structure to remain in a first position relative to the index until a force greater than a predetermined amount is applied, prompting the portion of the frame structure to move to one of a plurality of possible second positions relative to the index, and to further enable the portion of the frame structure to remain in the one of a plurality of second positions upon removal of the force.    
   
   
       3 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one index comprises: 
 a rack having structure formed thereon for receiving and retaining at least one article;    a first index cover part having interior structures therein configured for positioning and receiving the rack in juxtaposed position against the first index cover part;    a second index cover part configured to matingly join the first index cover part to capture the rack between the first index cover part and the second index cover part.    
   
   
       4 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 2 , wherein the frame structure comprises: 
 a first web of material, having first and second free ends, which are spaced apart and configured to be connected to the index, such that the frame structure is configured to pivot between a first position wherein the first web of material encloses an area in which at least one article would be retained by the index, and a plurality of other positions relative to the index wherein the frame structure is pivoted away from the area in which the at least one article would be retained by the index.    
   
   
       5 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 4 , wherein the first web of material is connected directly to the index, and the rotational control structure is disposed between mating surfaces of the first web of material and the index.  
   
   
       6 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one intermediate frame structure, formed from at least one second web of material, and the rotational control structure is disposed between one of mating surfaces of the first web of material and the index; and mating surfaces of the first web of material and the at least one intermediate frame structure.  
   
   
       7 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 4 , wherein the frame structure is selected from a plurality of frame structures having different shapes and configurations for defining different shapes and areas of spaces between the webs of the frame structures and the index, when each of the frame structures is mounted on the index.  
   
   
       8 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 2 , wherein the frame structure includes at least one surface which engages with a corresponding mating surface of the at least one index, and the rotation control structure comprises mating ratchet structures disposed on the at least one surface of the frame structure and the corresponding mating surface of the at least one index.  
   
   
       9 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles, according to  claim 3 , further comprising structure for rotatably mounting the at least one index within the at least one case section, comprising: 
 apertures disposed in opposing ends of the at least one index;    pivot pins, operably configured to be insertingly received and retained within the apertures;    structures within the at least one case section defining opposed slots for receiving the pivot pins.    
   
   
       10 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 3 , wherein the rack is selected from a plurality of racks, each rack being operably configured to be mounted within the at least one index, each rack having a different structure for engaging and releasably retaining an end of at least one article, for a variety of combinations of articles.  
   
   
       11 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame structure is selected from a plurality of frame structures, each frame structure being operably configured to be pivotably mounted onto the at least one index.  
   
   
       12 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one retaining pin, operably positioned in the at least one case section, for releasably engaging and retaining at least one of the frame structure and the at least one index when the at least one index is disposed in its stowed position.    
   
   
       13 . A system for packaging, storing and displaying articles, comprising: 
 a case, having at least one case section that defines a volume for receiving articles;    at least one pair of first and second index cover parts;    a plurality of racks, each rack being operably configured to be mounted between and received within a joined pair of first and second index cover parts to form at least one index, each rack having a different structure for engaging and releasably retaining an end of at least one article, for a variety of combinations of articles;    each such formed index being operably configured to be mounted in the at least one case section, for pivotable movement between a stowed position within the at least one case section, and a deployed position;    a plurality of frame structures, each frame structure being operably configured to be pivotably mounted onto the at least one index,    whereupon a case may be selectively fabricated to receive and retain articles in a customized manner, by specifically selecting among the pluralities of racks and frame structures for a rack and a frame structure that corresponds to a particular group of articles to be received and retained within the case.    
   
   
       14 . The system for packaging, storing and displaying articles, according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 rotation control structure interconnecting the frame structure and the index, operably configured to enable at least a portion of the frame structure to remain in a first position relative to the index until a force greater than a predetermined amount is applied, prompting the portion of the frame structure to move to one of a plurality of second positions relative to the index, and to further enable the portion of the frame structure to remain in the one of a plurality of second positions upon removal of the force.    
   
   
       15 . The system for packaging, storing and displaying articles, according to  claim 13 , wherein each first index cover part has interior structures therein configured for positioning and receiving the rack in juxtaposed position thereto; and 
 each second index cover part is configured to matingly join a respective first index cover part to capture a rack between the first index cover part and the second index cover part.    
   
   
       16 . A method for making apparatus for packaging, storing and displaying articles, comprising: 
 providing a case, having at least one case section that defines a volume for receiving articles;    providing at least one pair of first and second index cover parts;    selecting from a plurality of racks, each rack being operably configured to be mounted between and received within a joined pair of first and second index cover parts to form at least one index, each rack having a different structure for engaging and releasably retaining an end of at least one article, for a variety of combinations of articles;    mounting a rack between said at least one pair of first and second index cover parts to form an index;    mounting the formed index in the at least one case section, for pivotable movement between a stowed position within the at least one case section, and a deployed position;    selecting from a plurality of frame structures, each frame structure being operably configured to be pivotably mounted onto the at least one index,    mounting a frame structure onto the formed index;    whereupon a case may be selectively fabricated to receive and retain articles in a customized manner, by specifically selecting among the pluralities of racks and frame structures for a rack and a frame structure that corresponds to a particular group of articles to be received and retained within the case.    
   
   
       17 . The method for making apparatus for packaging, storing and displaying articles, according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 providing rotation control structure interconnecting the frame structure and the index, operably configured to enable at least a portion of the frame structure to remain in a first position relative to the index until a force greater than a predetermined amount is applied, prompting the portion of the frame structure to move to one of a plurality of second positions relative to the index, and to further enable the portion of the frame structure to remain in the one of a plurality of second positions upon removal of the force.    
   
   
       18 . The method for making apparatus for packaging, storing and displaying articles according to  claim 16 , wherein each first index cover part has interior structures therein configured for positioning and receiving the rack in juxtaposed position thereto; and 
 each second index cover part is configured to matingly join a respective first index cover part to capture a rack between the first index cover part and the second index cover part.    
   
   
       19 . A holder for packaging, storing and displaying articles, comprising: 
 an index, having positioned therewithin a rack which is operably configured to engage and releasably retain an end of at least one article;    a frame structure, pivotably mounted to the index;    rotation control structure interconnecting the frame structure and the index, for providing resistance to relative rotation between the frame structure and the index, until a torsional force is applied between the frame structure and the index which is in excess of a predetermined amount of torsional force is exerted, whereupon relative pivoting to is enabled, and whereupon removal of the torsional force, in excess of a predetermined amount of torsional force, the frame structure and the index will remain in position relative to each other.    
   
   
       20 . The holder for packaging, storing and displaying for articles according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one index comprises: 
 a first index cover part having interior structures therein configured for guiding and receiving the rack;    a second index cover part configured to matingly join the first index cover part to capture the rack between the first index cover part and the second index cover part.    
   
   
       21 . The holder for packaging, storing and displaying articles according to  claim 19 , wherein the frame structure comprises: 
 a web of material, one end of which is connected to and extends from one end of the at least one index for a predetermined distance, across the width of the at least one index and proceeds at the other end of the web, to the other end of the index, to form a loop which encloses a defined space between the frame structure and the index, within which the articles received by the index are to be positioned.    
   
   
       22 . The holder for packaging, storing and displaying articles according to  claim 21 , wherein the frame structure is selected from a plurality of frame structures having different shapes and configurations for defining different shapes and areas of spaces between the webs of the frame structures and the index, when each of the frame structures is mounted on the index.  
   
   
       23 . The holder for packaging, storing and displaying articles according to  claim 19 , wherein the frame structure includes at least one surface which engages with a corresponding mating surface of the at least one index, and the rotation control structure comprises mating ratchet structures disposed on the at least one surface of the frame structure and the corresponding mating surface of the at least one index.  
   
   
       24 . An index for packaging, storing and displaying articles, comprising: 
 a rack, operably configured to receive and retain an end of at least one article;    a first index cover part, having interior structures therein configured for positioning and receiving the rack;    a second index cover part configured to matingly join the first index cover part to capture the rack between the first index cover part and the second index cover part;    at least one pair of barbed prong structures disposed on one of the first and second index cover parts; and    at least one notch defined on the other of the first and second index parts, for receiving and interlockingly engaging said one of the first and second index cover parts, for maintaining the first and second index cover parts in juxtaposed assembled configuration with the rack captured therebetween.