EP0542821A1 - Collapsible ballot box. - Google Patents

Collapsible ballot box.

Info

Publication number
EP0542821A1
EP0542821A1 EP91914267A EP91914267A EP0542821A1 EP 0542821 A1 EP0542821 A1 EP 0542821A1 EP 91914267 A EP91914267 A EP 91914267A EP 91914267 A EP91914267 A EP 91914267A EP 0542821 A1 EP0542821 A1 EP 0542821A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ballot box
walls
lid
ballot
box
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91914267A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0542821B1 (en
Inventor
Richard George Plumb
Margaret Louise Plumb
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BALLOT SERVICE Ltd
Original Assignee
BALLOT SERVICE Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BALLOT SERVICE Ltd filed Critical BALLOT SERVICE Ltd
Publication of EP0542821A1 publication Critical patent/EP0542821A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0542821B1 publication Critical patent/EP0542821B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C13/00—Voting apparatus
    • G07C13/02—Ballot boxes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C7/00—Collapsible or extensible purses, luggage, bags or the like
    • A45C7/0018—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
    • A45C7/0036—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to collapsible ballot boxes.
  • Conventional ballot boxes are formed from metal and are provided with a hinged lid in which there is a slot for allowing ballot papers to be inserted.
  • the size of a ballot box is determined by the maximum number of ballot papers which it would be required to receive. Since ballot boxes are in use for only a very limited amount of time, there is a significant problem associated with their storage. This problem is paricularly acute in the case of democratic societies, such as trade unions, which are required by their constitutions to hold ballots as part of their decision making process. Such societies are often of limited means and the space required to store a suitable number of ballot boxes can be a drain on resources, resulting from increased property rental charges etc..
  • the volume of space occupied by ballot boxes also makes it commercially unrewarding for a firm to provide a ballot box rental service.
  • the cost of suitable warehousing would result in the rental charges being higher than the market could stand.
  • Furthermore the weight of conventional ballot boxes can present transport problems.
  • Collapsible boxes are known but these are generally for packaging purposes and therefore not suitable for use as ballot boxes as they are not constructed in a way that would enable them to provide the required level of security.
  • Canadian Patent No.1118734 disclosed a disposable ballot box constructed of pape board which can be assembled from a flat condition into an erected condition. This box however is only intended to be used once and discarded after use so it is intentionally not of a very rugged construction. Neither does it provide a particularly high level of security.
  • the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a re-usable ballot box which is rugged and secure in construction, which can be stored in a flat planar condition but erected when required for use and which can be used repeatedly.
  • the present invention provides a re-usable ballot box having walls, base and a lid and is characterised in that said walls, base and lid are provided by a flexible bag-like outer member, reinforcing means being associated with said walls so as to be rearrangable from a collapsed position into an erected position to maintain the ballot box in its erected configuration.
  • the reinforcing means preferably comprises a rigid panel associated with each wall of the ballot box.
  • the panels may be solid or be in the form of latices.
  • a zip fastener may be employed to maintain the integrity of the ballot box in its erect condition, such that when the zip fastener is undone the ballot box may be collapsed.
  • other fastening means such as Velcro could be substituted for the zip.
  • a method of collapsing a re-usable ballot box including first, second and third walls, comprising displacing the first and second walls such that they lie parallel to the third wall.
  • the method according to the present invention comprises the steps of releasing a closure member, displacing a reinforcing member such that a fourth ballot box wall becomes flaccid, displacing said first wall such that it lies parallel to said third wall, deforming said fourth wall such that said second wall lies parallel to said first wall.
  • Figure 1 shows a re-usable ballot box according to the present invention in its erect condition
  • Figure 2 shows the re-usable ballot box of Figure 1 in its collapsed condition
  • Figures 3 to 5 show a re-usable ballot box according to the present invention at stages in its disassembly intermediate those shown in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the re-usable ballot box 1 in its erect condition is in the form of a hollow cuboid, having six walls including a front wall 2, a rear wall 3, first and second side walls 4,5, a base 6 and a lid 7, and formed from flexible sheet material, such as a synthetic-fibre textile.
  • the ballot box maintains its erected shape by. the incorporation of reinforcing members associated with respective walls of the box.
  • An open box-like lower portion 8 is formed by five walls 2,3,4,5,6 of the cube and is joined along the upper margin 3a of the rear wall 3 to the rear margin 7a of the closure member, or lid, 7.
  • the lid 7 covers the entire opening of the lower portion 8 and is maintained in that position by fastening means such as a first zip 9 which unites the three free margins of the lid 7 with respective upper margins of the side walls 4,5 and the front wall 2.
  • the first zip 9 includes two sliding tabs 10,11 which are arranged so that each can be used to fasten a portion of the first zip 9.
  • the tabs 10,11 are adjacent each other and can be coupled by means of a padlock which can be passed through holes 10a,11a provided in the tabs 10,11.
  • the re-usable ballot box 1 is dimensioned such that, when considered in its erect state, its height is no greater than the distance separating the front and rear walls 2,3.
  • the lid 7 is provided with a slit 12 through which ballot papers may be inserted.
  • the slit 12 is also closable by fastening means such as a second zip 13.
  • the zip 13 is provided with a pair of sliding tabs 14,15 which may be padlocked together, in the same manner as the sliding tabs 10,11 of the first zip 9.
  • a transparent plastics window 16 is located on the outer surface of the front wall of the ballot box 1, behind which a card may be placed. Such a card may carry information concerning the location of the ballot box. Additionally, a legend such as "BALLOT BOX" may be imprinted on the top surface of the ballot box.
  • the re-usable ballot box 1 is maintained in its collapsed, i.e. folded, condition by means of a pair of press studs 18.
  • FIG. 3 shows the re-usable ballot box 1 with the lid 7 open and folded back.
  • reinforcing means in the form of three fixed reinforcing members 19, associated with the base 6, the rear wall 3 and the front wall 2 respectively.
  • Fourth and fifth reinforcing members 20,21 are associated with respective side walls 4,5.
  • Fourth reinforcing member 20 is hingebly mounted in a corner defined by the intersection of the front wall 2 and the first side wall 4 and reinforcing member 21 in the corner defined by the intersection of the rear wall 3 and the second side wall 5.
  • the reinforcing members are formed from cardboard, though they could equally well be formed from a light metal such as aluminium.r"
  • the reinforcing member 22 associated with the lid 7 is of reduced area in order to allow the lid to wrap partially around the rest of the ballot box 1, when it is in its collapsed condition.
  • a method* of collapsing the re-usable ballot box 1, shown in Figure 1, will now be described.
  • the first zip 9 is undone and the iid 7 folded back. This allows any ballot papers within the ballot box 1 to be removed.
  • the hingebly mounted reinforcing members 20,21 can then be displaced about their hinges so that they lie flat against the front and rear walls 2,3 respectively.
  • the front wall 2 is folded into the lower portion 8 and comes to rest overlying the base 6.
  • the side walls 4,5 have been folded in on themselves by this action to form the illustrated triangular end shapes. Inward pressure applied to the side walls 4,5 will now cause the back wall 3 to fold down onto the front wall 2, as shown in Figure 5.
  • the lid 7 can now be wrapped around the open end 23 of the collapsed ballot box 1 and its free end restrained by means of the press stud portions 18a cooperating with complementary structures on the outer surface of the base.
  • the re-usable ballot box of the present invention has a number of advantages over conventional ballot boxes. Its reduced wieght and size mean that it is readily transportable. The nature of its construction means that it is durable, i.e. it will not rust nor is there any paint to peel, and it can conveniently be produced in a wide range of colours etc. suitable for diverse applications. It also has the advantage over known disposable ballot boxes that it can be reused and provides greater security due to the combination of the flexible outer bag-like member and the collapsible reinforcing panels associated therewith. With the known disposable cardboard ballot box, access to the contents of the box can easily be achieved.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)

Abstract

Boîte de scrutin (1) pliable et réutilisable qui comporte un élément extérieur souple, semblable à un sac, formant les parois (2, 3, 4, 5), la base (6) et le couvercle (7) de la boîte. Les parois comprennent des panneaux de renforcement (19, 20, 21). Les panneaux latéraux (20, 21) sont reliés par une fixation formant charmière à l'élément semblable à un sac et peuvent se plier contre les parois avant et arrière (2, 3) pour permettre de replier la boîte. L'élément semblable à un sac est de préférence fabriqué en matériau de fibres synthétiques et le couvercle (7) est fixé de façon détachable aux parois latérales (2, 3, 4, 5) au moyen d'une fermeture éclair (9). Le couvercle comprend également une fente (12) fermée par une fermeture éclair (13).Collapsible and reusable ballot box (1) comprising a soft, bag-like outer member forming the walls (2, 3, 4, 5), base (6) and lid (7) of the box. The walls include reinforcement panels (19, 20, 21). The side panels (20, 21) are attached by a hinged attachment to the bag-like element and are foldable against the front and rear walls (2, 3) to allow the box to be folded. The bag-like element is preferably made of synthetic fiber material and the cover (7) is detachably attached to the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) by means of a zipper (9). The lid also includes a slot (12) closed by a zipper (13).

Description

Collapsible Ballot Box
DESCRIPTION
This invention relates to collapsible ballot boxes.
Conventional ballot boxes are formed from metal and are provided with a hinged lid in which there is a slot for allowing ballot papers to be inserted. The size of a ballot box is determined by the maximum number of ballot papers which it would be required to receive. Since ballot boxes are in use for only a very limited amount of time, there is a significant problem associated with their storage. This problem is paricularly acute in the case of democratic societies, such as trade unions, which are required by their constitutions to hold ballots as part of their decision making process. Such societies are often of limited means and the space required to store a suitable number of ballot boxes can be a drain on resources, resulting from increased property rental charges etc.. The volume of space occupied by ballot boxes also makes it commercially unrewarding for a firm to provide a ballot box rental service. The cost of suitable warehousing would result in the rental charges being higher than the market could stand. Furthermore the weight of conventional ballot boxes can present transport problems.
_.-
Collapsible boxes are known but these are generally for packaging purposes and therefore not suitable for use as ballot boxes as they are not constructed in a way that would enable them to provide the required level of security.
Canadian Patent No.1118734 disclosed a disposable ballot box constructed of pape board which can be assembled from a flat condition into an erected condition. This box however is only intended to be used once and discarded after use so it is intentionally not of a very rugged construction. Neither does it provide a particularly high level of security. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a re-usable ballot box which is rugged and secure in construction, which can be stored in a flat planar condition but erected when required for use and which can be used repeatedly.
It is an aim of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings associated with conventional and/or disposable ballot boxes.
The present invention provides a re-usable ballot box having walls, base and a lid and is characterised in that said walls, base and lid are provided by a flexible bag-like outer member, reinforcing means being associated with said walls so as to be rearrangable from a collapsed position into an erected position to maintain the ballot box in its erected configuration.
The reinforcing means preferably comprises a rigid panel associated with each wall of the ballot box. The panels may be solid or be in the form of latices. Conveniently, a zip fastener may be employed to maintain the integrity of the ballot box in its erect condition, such that when the zip fastener is undone the ballot box may be collapsed. Alternatively, other fastening means such as Velcro could be substituted for the zip.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of collapsing a re-usable ballot box, including first, second and third walls, comprising displacing the first and second walls such that they lie parallel to the third wall.
Preferably, the method according to the present invention comprises the steps of releasing a closure member, displacing a reinforcing member such that a fourth ballot box wall becomes flaccid, displacing said first wall such that it lies parallel to said third wall, deforming said fourth wall such that said second wall lies parallel to said first wall. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a re-usable ballot box according to the present invention in its erect condition;
Figure 2 shows the re-usable ballot box of Figure 1 in its collapsed condition; and
Figures 3 to 5 show a re-usable ballot box according to the present invention at stages in its disassembly intermediate those shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Referring to Figure 1, the re-usable ballot box 1 in its erect condition is in the form of a hollow cuboid, having six walls including a front wall 2, a rear wall 3, first and second side walls 4,5, a base 6 and a lid 7, and formed from flexible sheet material, such as a synthetic-fibre textile. The ballot box maintains its erected shape by. the incorporation of reinforcing members associated with respective walls of the box. An open box-like lower portion 8 is formed by five walls 2,3,4,5,6 of the cube and is joined along the upper margin 3a of the rear wall 3 to the rear margin 7a of the closure member, or lid, 7. The lid 7 covers the entire opening of the lower portion 8 and is maintained in that position by fastening means such as a first zip 9 which unites the three free margins of the lid 7 with respective upper margins of the side walls 4,5 and the front wall 2. The first zip 9 includes two sliding tabs 10,11 which are arranged so that each can be used to fasten a portion of the first zip 9. When the first zip 9 has been completely done up, the tabs 10,11 are adjacent each other and can be coupled by means of a padlock which can be passed through holes 10a,11a provided in the tabs 10,11.
The re-usable ballot box 1 is dimensioned such that, when considered in its erect state, its height is no greater than the distance separating the front and rear walls 2,3.
The lid 7 is provided with a slit 12 through which ballot papers may be inserted. The slit 12 is also closable by fastening means such as a second zip 13. The zip 13 is provided with a pair of sliding tabs 14,15 which may be padlocked together, in the same manner as the sliding tabs 10,11 of the first zip 9.
A transparent plastics window 16 is located on the outer surface of the front wall of the ballot box 1, behind which a card may be placed. Such a card may carry information concerning the location of the ballot box. Additionally, a legend such as "BALLOT BOX" may be imprinted on the top surface of the ballot box.
Referring to Figure 2, the re-usable ballot box 1 is maintained in its collapsed, i.e. folded, condition by means of a pair of press studs 18.
Figure 3 shows the re-usable ballot box 1 with the lid 7 open and folded back. Within the ballot box 1 are reinforcing means in the form of three fixed reinforcing members 19, associated with the base 6, the rear wall 3 and the front wall 2 respectively. Fourth and fifth reinforcing members 20,21 are associated with respective side walls 4,5. Fourth reinforcing member 20 is hingebly mounted in a corner defined by the intersection of the front wall 2 and the first side wall 4 and reinforcing member 21 in the corner defined by the intersection of the rear wall 3 and the second side wall 5. The reinforcing members are formed from cardboard, though they could equally well be formed from a light metal such as aluminium.r"
i-
Referring to Figure 5, the reinforcing member 22 associated with the lid 7 is of reduced area in order to allow the lid to wrap partially around the rest of the ballot box 1, when it is in its collapsed condition.
A method* of collapsing the re-usable ballot box 1, shown in Figure 1, will now be described. Firstly, the first zip 9 is undone and the iid 7 folded back. This allows any ballot papers within the ballot box 1 to be removed. The hingebly mounted reinforcing members 20,21 (see Figure 3) can then be displaced about their hinges so that they lie flat against the front and rear walls 2,3 respectively. Referring to Figure 4, the front wall 2 is folded into the lower portion 8 and comes to rest overlying the base 6. The side walls 4,5 have been folded in on themselves by this action to form the illustrated triangular end shapes. Inward pressure applied to the side walls 4,5 will now cause the back wall 3 to fold down onto the front wall 2, as shown in Figure 5. The lid 7 can now be wrapped around the open end 23 of the collapsed ballot box 1 and its free end restrained by means of the press stud portions 18a cooperating with complementary structures on the outer surface of the base.
It is envisaged that other folding arrangements or fastening means may be employed.
The re-usable ballot box of the present invention has a number of advantages over conventional ballot boxes. Its reduced wieght and size mean that it is readily transportable. The nature of its construction means that it is durable, i.e. it will not rust nor is there any paint to peel, and it can conveniently be produced in a wide range of colours etc. suitable for diverse applications. It also has the advantage over known disposable ballot boxes that it can be reused and provides greater security due to the combination of the flexible outer bag-like member and the collapsible reinforcing panels associated therewith. With the known disposable cardboard ballot box, access to the contents of the box can easily be achieved.

Claims

1. A re-usable ballot box having walls, a base and a lid characterised in that said walls, base and lid are provided by a flexible bag-like outer member, reinforcing means (20,21) being associated with said walls so as to be rearrangable from a collapsed position into an erected position to maintain the ballot box (1) in its erected configuration.
2. A ballot box according to claim 1 characterised in that said reinforcing means comprises a rigid panel (19,20,21) associated with each wall of the ballot box.
3. A ballot box according to claim 2 the characterised in that said walls comprise a front wall (2) , a rear wall (3), and two side walls (45), the panels (20,21) being associated with said side walls and being displaceable relative thereto.
4. A ballot box according to claim 3 characterised in that the displaceable panels (20,21) are hingably mounted such that they can be displaced to lie flat against said front and rear walls (2,3) respectively.
5. A ballot box according to any preceding claim characterised in that said outer member is provided with a slit (12) and fastening means (13) operable to close said slit.
6. A ballot box according to any preceding claim characterised in . that the lid (7) is provided with fastening means (9) operable to maintain said lid in a closed position.
EP91914267A 1990-08-09 1991-07-31 Collapsible ballot box Expired - Lifetime EP0542821B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9017492A GB2246759B (en) 1990-08-09 1990-08-09 Collapsible ballot box
GB9017492 1990-08-09
PCT/GB1991/001298 WO1992002901A1 (en) 1990-08-09 1991-07-31 Collapsible ballot box

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0542821A1 true EP0542821A1 (en) 1993-05-26
EP0542821B1 EP0542821B1 (en) 1996-04-24

Family

ID=10680414

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91914267A Expired - Lifetime EP0542821B1 (en) 1990-08-09 1991-07-31 Collapsible ballot box

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0542821B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69119075T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2089223T3 (en)
GB (1) GB2246759B (en)
WO (1) WO1992002901A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
LU500218B1 (en) 2021-05-28 2022-11-28 Hey Circle Gmbh I G Foldable transport container
LU500217B1 (en) 2021-05-28 2022-11-28 Hey Circle Gmbh I G Foldable transport container

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES1050321Y (en) * 2001-07-16 2002-07-16 Akril Art S L FULLY DISASSEMBLE BOX OR URNA FOR ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY WITHOUT SCREWS, OR ELEMENTS AND / OR ACCESSORIES OR TOOLS.
WO2006020693A1 (en) * 2004-08-10 2006-02-23 A. Rifkin Co. Collapsible, wheeled security luggage
GB2447619A (en) * 2007-03-23 2008-09-24 Itw Ltd Collapsible ballot box
US11751648B2 (en) 2020-05-22 2023-09-12 A Wood Products LLC Collapsible travel case
DE102021113829B3 (en) 2021-05-28 2022-07-28 Hey Circle GmbH Foldable transport container

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US1673769A (en) * 1928-06-12 Collapsible ballqt box
FR1045451A (en) * 1951-11-26 1953-11-26 School bag that can be transformed into a travel bag
FR1174502A (en) * 1957-05-03 1959-03-12 Improvement in soft suitcases
FR1315104A (en) * 1961-12-04 1963-01-18 Suitcase
US3822037A (en) * 1972-02-14 1974-07-02 Dalpak Corp Compactor bag and method of manufacture
GB1346887A (en) * 1972-12-07 1974-02-13 Jones L H A Plastics packaging
GB1462192A (en) * 1973-05-18 1977-01-19 Grounds A F Blow-moulded plastics containers
GB1468345A (en) * 1974-05-15 1977-03-23 Learoyd Paper Mills Ltd Container for merchandise
US3963165A (en) * 1974-12-24 1976-06-15 Jan Hughes Scored blank to be folded into disposable savings bank
US4160496A (en) * 1977-05-10 1979-07-10 Knight Kenneth R Foldable hand baggage
GB2066772A (en) * 1980-01-09 1981-07-15 Stonehaven Packaging Products Bag with stiffening insert
CA1118734A (en) * 1981-02-16 1982-02-23 Professional Packaging Limited Ballot box
US4622693A (en) * 1985-04-22 1986-11-11 Cvp Systems, Inc. Collapsible bag and liner combination
FR2589269B1 (en) * 1985-10-29 1988-01-08 Doublet Festitub Sa BALLOT BOX

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
See references of WO9202901A1 *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
LU500218B1 (en) 2021-05-28 2022-11-28 Hey Circle Gmbh I G Foldable transport container
LU500217B1 (en) 2021-05-28 2022-11-28 Hey Circle Gmbh I G Foldable transport container
WO2022248308A1 (en) 2021-05-28 2022-12-01 Hey Circle GmbH Foldable transport container
WO2022248569A1 (en) 2021-05-28 2022-12-01 Hey Circle GmbH Foldable transport container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2246759A (en) 1992-02-12
DE69119075D1 (en) 1996-05-30
DE69119075T2 (en) 1996-09-12
EP0542821B1 (en) 1996-04-24
ES2089223T3 (en) 1996-10-01
WO1992002901A1 (en) 1992-02-20
GB9017492D0 (en) 1990-09-26
GB2246759B (en) 1994-08-31

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