Metallic Storage Box

Abstract

The metal storage box is formed from a sheet of metal, which is cut in such a manner to allow assembly of the box from the cut sheet. The construction uses the elastic properties of the sheet metal to ensure stability and strength in the assembled box.

1 . A storage box, comprising a front panel ( 1 ), a back panel ( 2 ) and two side panels ( 3 ); the entire upper edges of the front panel ( 1 ) and back panel ( 2 ) are folded outwards horizontally to form flanges ( 5  and  6 ), and the upper edges of the sides ( 3 ) are also folded outwards ( 7 ) to form a channel with an inverted “U” shape which forms a skirt ( 8 ) and a flap ( 15 ) on its outer side, wherein the box is formed by folding a cut-out shape suitable for assembly by this method and that tends to form an inverted truncated pyramid shape in which the front panel ( 1 ) and the back panel ( 2 ) have co-planar extensions on each end that form hooks ( 9 ) facing outwards with respect to the box and that, by insertion from inside the box towards the exterior, engage with corresponding slots cut near to the upper edges of the side panels ( 3 ) in the corresponding wings ( 10 ) that form co-planar extensions at both ends of the side panels ( 3 ) of the box, extending downwards from said folds ( 7 ); with respect to the final configuration of the box, the width of the front panel ( 1 ) and the back panel ( 2 ) is adjusted according to the separation between the side panels ( 3 ) and the position of the hooks ( 9 ) with respect to the slots ( 11 ) is such that the inside of the hook ( 9 ) is pressed against the outermost vertical edge of the slot ( 11 ), coinciding with an assembly position in which the entire lengths of the edges of the front panel ( 1 ) and the back panel ( 2 ) fit perfectly against the inner faces of the sides ( 3 ), while at the same time, the outer faces of the front panel ( 1 ) and the back panel ( 2 ) are level with the edges of said side panels ( 3 ); the apertures in the hooks are wider than the thickness of the wings ( 10 ), and the horizontal dimension of the slots ( 11 ) is comfortably greater than that of the hooks ( 9 ) in the direction of longitudinal insertion into them from the inside to the outside of the box.  
   
   
       2 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the flanges ( 5 ,  6 ) of the front panel ( 1 ) and the back panel ( 2 ) and of the skirts ( 8 ) have their long edges finished by a flap ( 13 ,  14 ,  15 ) folded back against the hidden faces of said flanges ( 5 ,  6 ) and skirts ( 8 ).  
   
   
       3 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the box incorporates at least one rigid noise-reducing element ( 12 ) of suitable thickness attached to the lower face of the bottom panel ( 4 ) of the box.  
   
   
       4 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid noise-reducing element ( 12 ) is a sheet with a cavernous form consisting of multiple cavities ( 16 ) separated by thin vertical walls ( 17 ).  
   
   
       5 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the side panel wings ( 10 ) are slightly lower in height than the thickness of the aforesaid rigid noise-reducing element ( 12 ).  
   
   
       6 . The storage box of  claim 1 , wherein the hooks ( 9 ) are bent upwards ( 9   a ) to guarantee their permanence in their respective slots ( 11 ).