Stackable Boxes and a Storage Device

Abstract

When stackable boxes ( 1 ) are coupled together, which are optionally provided with a cover ( 1 a ), all the boxes and covers have locking means, which are formed by at least one gripper part ( 2, 2 a ) at their underside, which is preferably biased ( 2, 3 ), and which is capable of gripping an edge ( 4,4 a ) provided at the upper side of the boxes or the covers. Hereby, boxes and covers may always be coupled together in an arbitrary order. In a first embodiment, the boxes and the covers have snap locks ( 2, 2 a ) and edges ( 4, 4 a ) in their gables, while, in a second embodiment, they are constructed with a gripper part and an edge in their one gable, while, in the other gable, they are provided with hooks or flanges which are capable of engaging fixing holes. The stackable boxes may generally be used as a storage device.

1 . Stackable boxes which may be coupled to each other by locking means, said locking means being formed by locking parts at the bottom of a box which is capable of cooperating with locking means at the top of a box, wherein a removable cover has locking means at the bottom which are of the same type as the locking means at the bottom of a box, and wherein the cover has locking means at the top of the cover which are of the same type as the locking means at the top of a box. 
   
   
       2 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking means at the bottom of the boxes and the covers are formed by at least one snap lock, which is adapted to grip an edge at the top of the boxes or the covers. 
   
   
       3 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 2 , wherein the covers and the boxes have two snap locks and two edges. 
   
   
       4 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one snap lock is biased. 
   
   
       5 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 1 , wherein the covers are provided with a carrier grip which is recessed in the cover. 
   
   
       6 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 2 , wherein the covers and the boxes have a snap lock at the bottom and an edge at the top in their one gable, while they have hooks or flanges at the bottom in their opposite gable which are capable of engaging fixing holes provided at the top of the cover or the box. 
   
   
       7 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 1 , wherein the snap locks are provided in the gables or on the sides of the boxes and the covers. 
   
   
       8 . A storage device comprising two boxes which may be coupled together in a stack on top of each other, wherein the boxes have upper and lower coupling means, and wherein, when the boxes are stacked on top of each other, the lower coupling means of the upper box cooperates with the upper coupling means of the lower box in order to couple the boxes together, and wherein at least one of the boxes is provided with a cover, and wherein each cover has upper and lower coupling means which are of the same type as the upper and lower coupling means of the boxes, whereby, when the boxes are stacked on top of each other, the lower coupling means of each cover cooperates with the upper coupling means of the associated box, and if this box is positioned at the bottom in the stack, its upper coupling means cooperates with the lower coupling means of the overlying box in order to couple covers and boxes together. 
   
   
       9 . A storage device according to  claim 8 , wherein the lower coupling means of each box and of each cover comprises at least one snap coupling, and wherein the upper coupling means of each box and of each cover comprises at least one edge for cooperation with respective snap couplings. 
   
   
       10 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 2 , wherein the covers are provided with a carrier grip which is recessed in the cover. 
   
   
       11 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 3 , wherein the covers are provided with a carrier grip which is recessed in the cover. 
   
   
       12 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 10 , wherein the covers and the boxes have a snap lock at the bottom and an edge at the top in their one gable, while they have hooks or flanges at the bottom in their opposite gable which are capable of engaging fixing holes provided at the top of the cover or the box. 
   
   
       13 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 6 , wherein the snap locks are provided in the gables or on the sides of the boxes and the covers. 
   
   
       14 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one snap lock is biased. 
   
   
       15 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 4 , wherein the covers are provided with a carrier grip which is recessed in the cover 
   
   
       16 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 4 , wherein the covers and the boxes have a snap lock at the bottom and an edge at the top in their one gable, while they have hooks or flanges at the bottom in their opposite gable which are capable of engaging fixing holes provided at the top of the cover or the box. 
   
   
       17 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 14 , wherein the covers and the boxes have a snap lock at the bottom and an edge at the top in their one gable, while they have hooks or flanges at the bottom in their opposite gable which are capable of engaging fixing holes provided at the top of the cover or the box. 
   
   
       18 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 5 , wherein the covers and the boxes have a snap lock at the bottom and an edge at the top in their one gable, while they have hooks or flanges at the bottom in their opposite gable which are capable of engaging fixing holes provided at the top of the cover or the box. 
   
   
       19 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 3 , wherein the snap locks are provided in the gables or on the sides of the boxes and the covers. 
   
   
       20 . Stackable boxes according to  claim 4 , wherein the snap locks are provided in the gables or on the sides of the boxes and the covers.