Tabletop dispenser for storage of office utensils

Abstract

The tabletop dispenser includes a number of containers (2) being adapted for detachable mutual connection with each other. The tabletop dispenser (1) includes a number of separate connection members (4) each including at least a first coupling element (5) and a second coupling element (6). A bottom side (3) of each container (2) is provided with a number of coupling elements. At least one of the number of connection members (4) is, by means of its first coupling element (5), detachably connected to one of the coupling elements of a first one of the containers (2), and is, by means of its second coupling element (6), detachably connected to one of the coupling elements of a second one of the containers (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a tabletop dispenser for storage of office utensils, such as pens, pencils or the like, the tabletop dispenser including a number of containers being adapted for detachable mutual connection with each other, each container having a bottom side for facing a desktop.

[0002] GB 2 185 238 A discloses a case structure adapted to contain pens, pencils or the like, offering the possibility of joining two or more cases together in a modular and removable manner so as to form a single case having bigger capacity. The means enabling the mutual connection of the cases is located on two opposed sides of each case and consists of at least a first restrained fixing tailpiece and at least a second restrained fixing tailpiece matching the shape of the first tailpiece, which are engageable with each other in a removable manner. However, the disclosed cases can only be connected in one single row of cases and an unused connection means will be visible at either end of the row of cases. Therefore, the possibilities in terms of adapting the case structure according to different needs in an office environment for storage of different kinds of office utensils are limited, and furthermore, the possibilities in terms of possible design options are also limited.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a versatile tabletop dispenser being adaptable to varying storage needs in an office and not having connection means directly visible during normal use.

[0004] In view of this object, the tabletop dispenser includes a number of separate connection members each including at least a first coupling element and a second coupling element, the bottom side of each container is provided with a number of coupling elements, and at least one of the number of connection members, by means of its first coupling element, is detachably connected to one of the coupling elements of a first one of the containers, and, by means of its second coupling element, is detachably connected to one of the coupling elements of a second one of the containers.

[0005] In this way, the containers may be flexibly interconnected in various ways without the connection members being directly visible when the containers are arranged on a tabletop, because the connection members are provided at the bottom side of each container.

[0006] In an embodiment, the coupling elements of the at least one separate connection member are male connectors, and the coupling elements of the bottom side of each container are female connectors. Thereby, the coupling elements may be relatively thinner, because they just need to connect the male connectors. Consequently, the coupling elements may be less visible from the side of the tabletop dispenser when the dispenser is placed on a tabletop.

[0007] In an embodiment, the coupling elements of the at least one separate connection member form a friction fit connection with the respective coupling elements of the bottom side of each container. Thereby, an easy and stable connection may be provided.

[0008] In an embodiment, each coupling element of the at least one separate connection member includes a tapering section, and each coupling element of the bottom side of each container includes a tapering section corresponding to the tapering section of the coupling elements of the at least one separate connection member. Thereby, an even more stable connection may be provided, because a wedge effect may be obtained.

[0009] In an embodiment, each separate connection member includes a flat part having a bottom side adapted to stand on a desktop and a top side provided with the first coupling element and the second coupling element. Thereby, the flat part of the connection member may function as a foot for the containers.

[0010] In an embodiment, the first coupling element and the second coupling element of each separate connection member each includes a first section arranged on the flat part and tapering away from the flat part and a second section arranged on top of the first section and having an at least substantially constant cross section. Thereby, the above-mentioned wedge effect of the first tapering section may be combined with a more precise positioning effect of the second section having an at least substantially constant cross section.

[0011] In a structurally particularly advantageous embodiment, a height of the first section is at least two times a height of the second section.

[0012] In an embodiment, the first section and the second section of the first coupling element and the second coupling element each have an at least substantially square-formed cross section. Thereby, relative rotation and / or displacement between mutually arranged containers may be avoided.

[0013] In an embodiment, at least one of the number of connection members, by means of its first coupling element, is detachably connected to a first coupling element of one of the number of containers, and, by means of its second coupling element, is detachably connected to a second coupling element of the same one of the number containers. Thereby, some connection members may be used for connection of two or more containers and may also function as feet for the containers, and other connection members may be used entirely as feet for containers. In this way, each container may be balanced in relation to the table top in order to stand sturdily.

[0014] In an embodiment, the first coupling element and the second coupling element of each separate connection member are arranged at a mutual coupling distance, and each container has at least one side wall along which the bottom side of the container is provided with a number of coupling elements, each of which is arranged at approximately half said coupling distance to the side wall. Thereby, said side walls of neighbouring containers may be pressed against each other in order to provide a solid connection between the containers.

[0015] In an embodiment, each container is connected to one or more other containers by at least two separate connection members. Thereby, an even more sturdy connection between the containers may be provided.

[0016] In an embodiment, each separate connection member forms a foot protruding downward from a bottom surface of the respective containers. Thereby, the containers may be even better balanced in relation to the table top in order to stand sturdily.

[0017] The invention will now be explained in more detail below by means of examples of embodiments with reference to the very schematic drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view obliquely from above of a tabletop dispenser according to the present invention, before assembly of five containers; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tabletop dispenser of Fig. 1, after assembly of the five containers; Fig. 3 is a perspective view obliquely from below of the tabletop dispenser of Fig. 1, before connection of the five containers by means of connection members; Fig. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to that of Fig. 1, however, after connection of the five containers by means of connection members; Figs. 5 to 8 are views corresponding to those of Figs. 1 to 4, respectively, however, of another embodiment of the tabletop dispenser according to the present invention, including two containers; Fig. 9 is a cross section through the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 8, before connection of the two containers by means of connection members; Fig. 10 is a cross section corresponding to that of Fig. 9, however, after connection of the two containers by means of connection members; Fig. 11 is a side view of one of the connection members of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 12 is an end view of the connection member of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a perspective view obliquely from above of the connection member of Fig. 11; Fig. 14 is a detail of Fig. 9, on a larger scale; and Fig. 15 is a detail of Fig. 10, on a larger scale.

[0018] In the following, generally, similar elements of different embodiments have been designated by the same reference numerals.

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a tabletop dispenser 1 according to the present invention, for storage of not shown office utensils, such as pens, pencils or the like. In this embodiment, the tabletop dispenser includes five containers 2 being adapted for detachable mutual connection with each other. Each container 2 has a bottom side 3 for facing a not shown desktop and an open top side for insertion of utensils. The tabletop dispenser 1 includes a number of separate connection members 4 each including a first coupling element 5 and a second coupling element 6 as further illustrated in Figs. 11 to 15. The bottom side 3 of each container 2 is provided with a number of coupling elements 7, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and some of the connection members 4 are, by means of their first coupling element 5, detachably connected to one of the coupling elements 7 of a first one of the containers 2, and, by means of their second coupling element 6, detachably connected to one of the coupling elements 7 of a second one of the containers 2.

[0020] Of course, the tabletop dispenser 1 according to the present invention may include any suitable number of containers, such as for example two containers as illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8.

[0021] The containers 2 and the separate connection members 4 are preferably made from a plastic material, preferably by injection moulding.

[0022] In the embodiments illustrated, the coupling elements 5, 6 of the separate connection members 4 are male connectors, and the coupling elements 7 of the bottom side 3 of each container 2 are female connectors.

[0023] In the embodiments illustrated, the coupling elements 5, 6 of the separate connection members 4 form a friction fit connection with the respective coupling elements 7 of the bottom side 3 of each container 2. A friction fit, also known as a pressed fit or an interference fit, is a form of fastening between two tightfitting mating parts that produces a joint which is held together by friction after the parts are pushed together.

[0024] In the embodiments illustrated, as best seen in Figs. 11 to 13, each coupling element 5, 6 of the separate connection members 4 includes a tapering section 8, and, as seen in Figs. 14 and 15, each coupling element 7 of the bottom side 3 of each container 2 includes a tapering section 9 corresponding to the tapering section 8 of the coupling elements 5, 6 of the separate connection members 4.

[0025] In the embodiments illustrated, each separate connection member 4 includes a flat part 10 having a bottom side 11 adapted to stand on a desktop and a top side 12 provided with the first coupling element 5 and the second coupling element 6.

[0026] As best seen in Fig. 13, in the embodiments illustrated, the first coupling element 5 and the second coupling element 6 of each separate connection member 4 each includes a first section 8 arranged on the flat part 10 and tapering away from the flat part 10 and a second section 13 arranged on top of the first section 8 and having an at least substantially constant cross section.

[0027] Preferably, as indicated in Fig. 12, a height H of the first section 8 is at least two times a height h of the second section 13.

[0028] As best seen in Fig. 13, in the embodiments illustrated, the first section 8 and the second section 13 of the first coupling element 5 and of the second coupling element 6 each have an at least substantially square-formed cross section. In alternative embodiments, the first section 8 and / or the second section 13 may have any suitably cross sections, such as rectangular, circular, oval, etc.

[0029] Preferably, as seen for instance in Fig. 4, some of the connection members 4 are, by means of their first coupling element 5, detachably connected to a first coupling element 7 of one of the containers 2, and are, by means of their second coupling element 6, detachably connected to a second coupling element 7 of the same one of the containers 2. Thereby, some connection members 4 may be used for connection of two or more containers 2 and may also function as feet for the containers, and other connection members 4 may be used entirely as feet for containers. In this way, each container 2 may be balanced in relation to the table top in order to stand sturdily.

[0030] Preferably, as illustrated in Fig. 14, the first coupling element 5 and the second coupling element 6 of each separate connection member 4 are arranged at a mutual coupling distance D, and each container 2 has at least one side wall 14 along which the bottom side 3 of the container 2 is provided with a number of coupling elements 7, each of which is arranged at approximately half said coupling distance D to the side wall 14. In the illustrated embodiments, said side wall 14 is flat, however, it could also be curved.

[0031] As seen in Figs. 1 to 8, the containers 2 may apart from a flat side wall 14 also have a rounded side wall. Generally, any suitable form of the walls is possible.

[0032] Preferably, each container 2 is connected to one or more other containers 2 by at least two separate connection members 4.

[0033] Preferably, each separate connection member 4 forms a foot 15 protruding downward from a bottom surface 16 of the respective containers 2.

Claims

1. A tabletop dispenser (1) for storage of office utensils, such as pens, pencils or the like, the tabletop dispenser including a number of containers (2) being adapted for detachable mutual connection with each other, each container having a bottom side (3) for facing a desktop, characterised in that the tabletop dispenser (1) includes a number of separate connection members (4) each including at least a first coupling element (5) and a second coupling element (6), in that the bottom side (3) of each container (2) is provided with a number of coupling elements (7), and in that at least one of the number of connection members (4), by means of its first coupling element (5), is detachably connected to one of the coupling elements (7) of a first one of the containers (2), and, by means of its second coupling element (6), is detachably connected to one of the coupling elements (7) of a second one of the containers (2).

2. A tabletop dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the coupling elements (5, 6) of the at least one separate connection member (4) are male connectors, and wherein the coupling elements (7) of the bottom side (3) of each container (2) are female connectors.

3. A tabletop dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling elements (5, 6) of the at least one separate connection member (4) form a friction fit connection with the respective coupling elements (7) of the bottom side (3) of each container (2).

4. A tabletop dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each coupling element (5, 6) of the at least one separate connection member (4) includes a tapering section (8), and wherein each coupling element (7) of the bottom side (3) of each container (2) includes a tapering section (9) corresponding to the tapering section (8) of the coupling elements (5, 6) of the at least one separate connection member (4).

5. A tabletop dispenser according to claim 4, wherein each separate connection member (4) includes a flat part (10) having a bottom side (11) adapted to stand on a desktop and a top side (12) provided with the first coupling element (5) and the second coupling element (6).

6. A tabletop dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the first coupling element (5) and the second coupling element (6) of each separate connection member (4) each includes a first section (8) arranged on the flat part (10) and tapering away from the flat part (10) and a second section (13) arranged on top of the first section (8) and having an at least substantially constant cross section.

7. A tabletop dispenser according to claim 6, wherein a height (H) of the first section (8) is at least two times a height (h) of the second section (13).

8. A tabletop dispenser according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first section (8) and the second section (13) of the first coupling element (5) and the second coupling element (6) each have an at least substantially square-formed cross section.

9. A tabletop dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the number of connection members (4), by means of its first coupling element (5), is detachably connected to a first coupling element (7) of one of the number of containers (2), and, by means of its second coupling element (6), is detachably connected to a second coupling element (7) of the same one of the number containers (2).

10. A tabletop dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first coupling element (5) and the second coupling element (6) of each separate connection member (4) are arranged at a mutual coupling distance (D), and wherein each container (2) has at least one side wall (14) along which the bottom side (3) of the container (2) is provided with a number of coupling elements (7), each of which is arranged at approximately half said coupling distance (D) to the side wall (14).

11. A tabletop dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each container (2) is connected to one or more other containers (2) by at least two separate connection members (4).

12. A tabletop dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each separate connection member (4) forms a foot (15) protruding downward from a bottom surface (16) of the respective containers (2).

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