EP0443327A2 - Collapsible transport box - Google Patents

Abstract

A transport box made of a rigid material such as wood, plastic or metal comprises side walls (40, 42, 46) whose pivoting axes are at differing distances from the ground (34), so that the transport box can be folded down flat when not in use, the side walls lying parallel on one another and on the ground (34) in the collapsed state. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a collapsible transport box with a base and four side walls which are pivotally mounted on the base in such a way that they can be folded from their vertical functional position towards the base into a storage position which is essentially parallel to the base.

On the one hand, collapsible transport boxes in the form of folding boxes are known, such as those used as moving boxes. Such folding boxes require comparatively little space when folded, but on the other hand their stability leaves something to be desired. Especially after frequent use, such moving boxes are often so damaged that they are unusable. Furthermore, the unfolding and folding of the folding carton is not without its problems, in particular for the inexperienced user.

Furthermore, stable wooden boxes are known as transport boxes, which are sufficiently robust, but cannot be folded are so that they take up a lot of space when not in use.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a transport box for repeated use which can be folded and assembled in a simple manner, is sufficiently stable and requires little space in the folded state.

This object is essentially achieved in that the side walls are pivotable about pivot axes which - at least in the folded storage position of the side walls - are spaced differently from the floor according to the distance of the respective folded side wall from the floor.

A transport box constructed in this way can be folded up or set up in the simplest manner essentially only by closing or opening the side walls, the space occupied by the transport box being minimal in the folded position of the side walls, due to the different height arrangement of the pivot axes of the side walls these lie parallel to one another and thus in the closest possible packing.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the pivot axes are arranged in a fixed position relative to the floor at the required height. It is then when the side walls are folded in a certain order to be observed, which, however, can easily be ensured by suitable labeling of the side walls or the like.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the pivot axes are variable in relation to the ground and in this case no fixed sequence of folding in the side walls is specified after the pivot axis always automatically assumes the required height when folding in a certain side wall.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the feature of the variable-distance swivel axes can be realized specifically in that the swivel axes are formed from guide elements, such as pins or the like, which extend parallel to the floor and are formed on the side walls and in guide grooves running perpendicular to the floor intervene, which are formed on components firmly connected to the floor. In particular, a stand extending perpendicular to the floor can be attached to each of the corner regions of the floor and each has a guide groove on its two inner sides.

In an expedient development of the invention, it is provided that corner connection elements which can be placed on the corner regions of adjacent side walls in their functional position are provided are used to fix the side walls in their functional position. The angle-shaped corner connecting elements in cross-section are preferably U-shaped in cross section and have webs pointing downwards at their two ends, which engage in corresponding recesses on the upper end faces of the side walls. To set up the collapsible transport box, the side walls only have to be opened into their vertical position and fixed in this vertical position by plugging in the corner connecting elements.

The collapsible transport box expediently further comprises a lid which can be placed on the side walls in the functional position, and if necessary, suitable means for fixing the lid to the side walls can also be provided. Furthermore, in a preferred development of the invention, the cover can have means such as, in particular, projections or depressions in order to fix an additional transport box placed thereon in its position; In this way, the transport boxes are stackable and can also be used as a shelf or the like, if necessary, by leaving one of the side walls in their folded position, so that the interior of the transport box is accessible from the side in this way.

At least two opposite ones can also be on the inside Side walls of guiding or holding means for at least one intermediate compartment may be provided, the guiding or holding means preferably being designed as grooves in order to prevent guide strips or the like from increasing the storage space required for the transport box in the folded state.

In an expedient development of the invention, foldable legs can also be attached to the underside of the floor, so that the transport box according to the invention can also be used as a sales table or cupboard. Furthermore, it can be expedient, according to a further advantageous feature of the invention, to form laterally extendable and, if appropriate, foldable handles on the underside of the base, which ensure comfortable gripping and safe transport of the transport box.

Finally, it can be advantageous if the floor plan of the transport box is rectangular and the height of two opposite side walls corresponds at most to approximately half the width of the floor in such a way that these side walls do not overlap when folded; In this case, the side walls are only in three, possibly even only two levels in the folded state, as a result of which the height of the transport box in the folded state and thus the storage space can be further reduced.

In contrast to the known folding boxes, the box according to the invention consists of stable, essentially rigid materials such as in particular wood, plastic or metal.

Fig. 1

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Transportkiste in perspektivischer Darstellung mit ortsfest angeordneten Schwenkachsen,

Fig. 2

eine Prinzipdarstellung der Transportkiste gemäß Fig. 1, welche die unterschiedlichen Höhen der Schwenkachsen der Seitenwände skizziert,

Fig. 3

eine Vorderansicht der Transportkiste gemäß Fig. 1 im zusammengeklappten Zustand,

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Transportkiste mit höhenvariablen Schwenkachsen,

Fig. 5

ein Detail gemäß Fig. 4, welches den Eingriff der Schwenkachsen in die Nuten der Ständer zeigt,

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht einer Seitenwand der Transportkiste gemäß Fig. 4,

Fig. 7

ein weiteres Detail der Transportkiste gemäß Fig. 7 in perspektivischer Darstellung, welches die oberen Eckverbindungen zeigt,

Fig. 8

eine Draufsicht auf die Transportkiste gemäß Fig. 4 im zusammengeklappten Zustand der Seitenwände,

Fig. 9

eine Schnittansicht der Transportkiste gemäß Fig. 8 in Richtung der Pfeile IX - IX,

Fig. 10

eine Schnittansicht der Transportkiste gemäß Fig. 8 in Richtung der Pfeile X - X,

Fig. 11

eine Draufsicht auf die zusammengeklappte Transportkiste ähnlich Fig. 8, wobei die Seitenwände jedoch in einer anderen Reihenfolge eingeklappt sind,

Fig. 12

eine Transportkiste ähnlich derjenigen gemäß Fig. 4 bis 11 in perspektivischer Darstellung mit aufgeklappten Beinen und ausgezogenen und hochgeklappten Griffelementen, in schematischer Darstellung , und

Fig. 13

eine zerlegbare mehrstöckige Vitrine.

Further advantageous features of the invention emerge from the remaining subclaims and from the following description, in which several exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows in a semi-schematic representation:

Fig. 1

1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a transport box according to the invention in a perspective view with pivot axes arranged in a stationary manner,

Fig. 2

1, which outlines the different heights of the pivot axes of the side walls,

Fig. 3

2 shows a front view of the transport box according to FIG. 1 in the folded state,

Fig. 4

2 shows a plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of a transport box according to the invention with height-adjustable swivel axes,

Fig. 5

4, which shows the engagement of the pivot axes in the grooves of the stand,

Fig. 6

3 shows a side view of a side wall of the transport box according to FIG. 4,

Fig. 7

7 shows a further detail of the transport box according to FIG. 7 in a perspective view, which shows the upper corner connections,

Fig. 8

4 in the folded state of the side walls,

Fig. 9

8 shows a sectional view of the transport box according to FIG. 8 in the direction of arrows IX-IX,

Fig. 10

8 shows a sectional view of the transport box according to FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows X - X,

Fig. 11

8 shows a plan view of the folded transport box similar to FIG. 8, but the side walls are folded in a different order,

Fig. 12

a transport box similar to that of FIGS. 4 to 11 in a perspective view with legs open and extended and folded handle elements, in a schematic representation, and

Fig. 13

a demountable multi-storey showcase.

First of all, reference is made to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3. To simplify the illustration, the cover which is present per se is omitted in these figures.

The collapsible transport box according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is approximately cubic overall in the assembled state and comprises a base 10 and four side walls 12, 14, 16 and 18 which are pivotably mounted on the base 10 by means of suitable hinges, bearings, etc. Such hinges and bearings are known to the person skilled in the art and therefore require no further explanation. The pivoting of the side walls 12 to 18 is possible from the vertical position shown in FIG. 1 to a substantially horizontal position, each inwards in the direction of the base 10. In order to ensure that when the transport box is folded, the side walls 12 to 18 rest on one another and on the floor 10, the axes of rotation of the individual side walls 12 to 18 are arranged at different distances from the floor 10, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 2. Here, the pivot axis 20 corresponds to that of the side wall 12, the pivot axis 22 to that of the side wall 14, the pivot axis 24 to that of the side wall 16 and the pivot axis 26 to that of the side wall 18. The pivot axis 20 is arranged relative to the top of the bottom 10 such that the side wall 12 lies flat on the floor 10 in its folded state. If the pivot axis is arranged in the region of the lower inner longitudinal edge of the respective side wall, the pivot axis 20, as shown in FIG. 2, is practically at the top of the bottom 10. The pivot axis 22 is the distance d that The pivot axis 24 is arranged by the distance 2d and the pivot axis 26 by the distance 3d above the base 10 or the pivot axis 20, where d corresponds to the thickness of the side walls 12 to 18.

In order to achieve the different heights of the pivot axes 20 to 26, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, bases 28, 30, 32 can be formed on the floor at a suitable height, which support the side walls 14, 16 and 18, respectively.

If the transport box is now folded from the state shown in FIG. 1 to the state shown in FIG. 3, the side wall 12 is first folded inwards until it lies on the floor, then the side wall 14 is folded inwards until it rests on the side wall 12, then the side wall 16 is folded inwards until it rests on the side wall 14 and finally the side wall 18 is folded inwards until it rests on the side wall 16; This collapsed state, in which the individual side walls are arranged one above the other to save space, is shown in FIG. 3.

1 to 3, the side walls 12 to 18 are pivoted in the reverse order into their vertical position shown in FIG. 1. In the vertical position, the side walls can be on their top Corner areas are fixed with suitable corner connecting elements, as will be described in more detail below using the further exemplary embodiment. It can be seen that the transport box according to FIG. 1 is also easily stackable in the assembled state and can be used, for example, by folding the side wall 12 into its horizontal position as a laterally accessible container or, in the case of several stacked boxes, as a shelf element.

In the following, reference is made to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 11. It should be noted that, in the case of these figures, the cover itself is not shown for the sake of clarity of illustration.

4 to 11 comprises a floor 34, on the underside of which two parallel reinforcing and standing strips 36, 38 are fastened. With the reference numerals 40, 42, 44 and 46, the side walls of the transport box are designated. The box has a base area of approximately 40 x 60 cm and a height (height of the side walls) of approximately 30 cm. The transport box is essentially made of wood or plywood.

On the floor 34, four stands 48, 50, 52 and 54 with a square cross section are attached to the corner regions and extend perpendicularly upwards from the floor at a right angle. The stands 48 to 54 have on their respective inner sides in the longitudinal direction of the stands, that is to say perpendicular to the bottom 34, grooves 56, compare in particular FIGS. 5 and 6, engage in the bearing pins 58, which laterally on the lower ends of the side walls 40 to 46 are formed and extend parallel to the floor 34 and parallel to the plane of the respective side wall. Each side wall is thus supported by two journals 58 in opposing grooves 56 of adjacent stands. It should be noted that the grooves 56 end shortly before the upper end of the stands 48 to 54 in order to prevent the journals 58 and thus the side walls from sliding out of the stands.

From the above description it is clear that the side walls 40 to 46 are pivotable with respect to the bottom 34 and at the same time are kept vertically displaceable, so that when the side walls are folded in, the journals 58 (together with the corresponding side wall) can move upward, if necessary, in order for all the side walls to lie parallel on one another to enable. In the same way, the side walls slide down again when opened, until they rest on the bottom 34 with their underside.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 6, the side walls 40 to 46 each have a thickening 60 along their lower end region, which has the advantage that the side wall is strengthened in the area of the bearing journal 58 without thereby having to accept the disadvantage of a correspondingly higher side wall package when the transport box is folded. The thickening 60 is in particular chosen with regard to its height in such a way that it is arranged between the adjacent uprights when the side walls are folded in and thus does not protrude into the overlap area, as is evident, for example, from FIG. 11. It should also be pointed out that with each side wall 40 to 46 the thickening 60 extends outwards with respect to the side wall, so that the side wall to be underneath can just rest on the floor 34.

To fix the side walls in the unfolded, vertical position, corner connecting elements 62 are provided, which are each plugged onto adjacent side walls from above at the four corner regions and only one of which is sketched in FIG. 4. 7 shows the corner connection situation in greater detail. The corner connection elements 62 are of an angular shape in plan view and each of the two legs of the corner connection elements is U-shaped in cross section, the open side being at the bottom. The two ends of the corner connecting elements 62 are closed by webs 64 pointing downward. When the side walls are opened, the upper corner areas become more adjacent Side walls each fixed in position by a corner connecting element 62, for which purpose the corner connecting element 62, as shown in FIG. 7, is pushed onto the side walls from above. The webs 64 engage in corresponding incisions 66 in the upper side wall areas, as a result of which the respective side walls are securely fixed in their position after the corner connecting element has been plugged on.

The folding of the side walls of the transport box from the functional position into the storage position can be done in any order. Two preferred possibilities are shown in FIGS. 8 and 11. In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8, the two narrower side walls 44 and 46 were first folded over, which rest on the floor 34 without overlapping. The side wall 40 and finally the side wall 42 were then folded over. Here, the axes of the two side walls 40 and 42 have moved upwards by the required amount, which corresponds to the corresponding multiple of the side wall thickness. In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 11, the side wall 42 was first folded down, then the side wall 40 and finally the two narrow side walls 44 and 46.

Fig. 12 shows a highly schematic representation of a third alternative embodiment of a transport box according to the invention, the transport box itself, for example, as in the embodiment described above can be formed.

The transport crate shown there, designated overall by reference numeral 68, in turn comprises a base 70, side walls 72 to 78 and an attached, removable cover 84. In addition, hinged legs 80 are attached to the underside of the base 70, so that the transport crate can also be used if necessary Sales counter or the like can be used. It is understood that the transport box can also be used as a table or the like when the side walls are folded. Thus, the transport box according to the invention is particularly useful for exhibitors at trade fairs etc., now that a stable container is now available, which on the one hand is used to transport the goods to be transported, on the other hand can be folded up in a space-saving manner in a space-saving manner and finally also as Sales counter, sales shelf or the like can be used.

The folding mechanism for the legs 80 is not described in detail after such mechanisms are familiar to the person skilled in the art. On the underside of the base 70, two grip elements 82 are also mounted displaceably and can be pulled out, which can be pulled out laterally if necessary and pivoted upwards into the position shown, essentially parallel to the side walls 78 and 76. When not needed the handle elements 82 are folded back into their essentially horizontal position and then inserted under the floor 70 in the direction of the arrow.

As can also be seen from FIG. 12, the transport box according to the invention can also be used as a laterally accessible container in that one of the side walls, here side wall 72, is folded down onto floor 70 while the other side walls are in their vertical position.

The invention is not limited to the design of the container as a transport box, but can also be implemented for other containers, in particular for a showcase or a showcase system.

13 comprises a plurality of components 88 which can be placed one on top of the other, the number of individual components 88 being arbitrarily variable and being able to be adapted to the respective requirements. The display case shown in FIG. 13 comprises three identical components 88 and an upper cover plate 90, which can be closed if necessary. Each component can be designed in the manner shown in FIG. 1 or 4 to 11 in principle. The component 88 consists essentially of plexiglass. The bottom of each component 88 sits positively, for example, via grooves, projections or the like on the side walls of the component below.

As a rule, the individual compartments of the multi-storey showcase must be open from the seller's side in order to enable the removal of an item if necessary. A side wall will therefore usually remain in its folded position, and the objects are then simply placed on the folded side wall. If necessary, the opposite side wall can also be folded inwards so that the compartment of a display case is accessible from two opposite sides.

Should now, i.e. If the display case has already been set up, an originally open side has to be closed, then only the component arranged above has to be raised slightly, the side wall folded up into its vertical position and the component above it then lowered again, so that this side wall is now vertical Position is fixed. Of course, this can be accomplished particularly simply in the case of the uppermost component, since in this case only the cover plate 90 has to be raised.

The side wall lying at the top in the folded state of the component, that is, in the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the side wall 18 can be provided on its outer or top side with latching means, and in the stacked state of the components with corresponding latching means Work together on the underside of the respective floor to prevent the stack from slipping.

In individual cases, it may also be advantageous to use a single component as a display case, which can be closed from above by means of a cover plate.

Reference symbol list

Claims (18)

Collapsible transport box with a base and four side walls which are pivotally mounted on the base in such a way that they can be folded from their vertical functional position towards the base into a storage position substantially parallel to the base, characterized in that the side walls (10, 12, 14, 16; 40, 42, 44, 46; 72, 74, 76, 78) can be pivoted about pivot axes (20, 22, 24, 26; 58) which - at least in the folded storage position of the side walls - correspond to the distance between the respective folded side walls from the floor are differently spaced from the floor (10, 34, 70). Transport box according to claim 1, characterized in that the swivel axes (20, 22, 24, 26) are arranged in a stationary manner relative to the floor (10). Transport box according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axes (58) are variable in relation to the floor (34). Transport box according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the swivel axes are formed by guide elements (58), such as pins or the like, which extend parallel to the floor (34) and which run in guide grooves running perpendicular to the floor (56) engage, the guide elements (58) being movable relative to the guide grooves (56). Transport box according to Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the guide elements (58) on the side walls (40, 42, 44, 46) and the guide grooves (56) on components (48, 50, 52) which are firmly connected to the base (34). 54) are formed. Transport box according to claim 5, characterized in that a stand (48, 50, 52, 54) which extends perpendicular to the floor and which has a guide groove (56) on each of its two inner sides is fastened to the corner regions of the floor (34) . Transport box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that corner connecting elements (62) which can be placed on the corner regions of adjacent side walls (40, 42, 44, 46) in their functional position are provided for fixing the side walls in their functional position. Transport box according to Claim 7, characterized in that the corner connecting elements (62) which are angular in plan view are U-shaped in cross section and have webs (64) pointing downwards at their two ends, which engage in corresponding recesses on the upper end faces of the side walls. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cover (84) which can be placed on the side walls in the functional position. Transport box according to claim 9, characterized in that the cover (84) has means such as, in particular, projections or depressions in order to fix an additional transport box placed thereon in its position. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that guide or holding means (86) for at least one intermediate compartment are provided on the inside of at least two opposite side walls (44, 46; 76, 78). Transport box according to claim 11, characterized in that the guide or holding means are guide grooves (86) formed in the side walls. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that fold-out legs (80) are attached to the underside of the base (70). Transport box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the underside of the base (70) laterally extendable and possibly foldable handles (82) are formed are. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plan of the transport box is rectangular and the height of the side walls (40, 42, 44, 46) corresponds at most to approximately half the width of the base (34) such that there are two opposite side walls (44, 46) do not overlap when folded. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it essentially consists of wood, plastic or metal. Collapsible container with the features of one or more of the preceding claims. Container according to claim 17, which is designed as a one-storey or multi-storey, dismountable display case, in which at least the side walls consist of glass or plexiglass.

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