DE102022103248A1 - REUSABLE TRANSPORT CONTAINER WITH WATER DRAIN OPENING - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a reusable transport container (2) with a base (12) and a wall (6, 8, 14) extending away from the base, preferably vertically, with at least one functioning as a drainage opening in the wall (6, 8, 14). Opening (30, 32) is provided so that liquid can be discharged from the inside to the outside through the wall (6, 8, 14). According to the invention, the wall (6, 8, 14) has at least one double-walled first area (16) and at least one single-walled second area (18) and is the at least one opening (30, 32), preferably exclusively, in the at least one first area (16) is provided.

Description

technical field

The present disclosure relates to a reusable transport container with water drainage openings.

Reusable transport containers are used in many areas of industry and logistics. The reusable transport containers are used to transport and store goods and semi-finished products. The reusable transport containers are often designed with water drainage openings, on the one hand to allow water that is used when cleaning the reusable transport containers to drain off and thus to accelerate a drying process of the reusable transport container, and on the other hand to drain rainwater and/or extinguishing water that gets into the reusable transport container. In this way, it can be prevented that the weight of the reusable transport container increases due to the water, which could lead to impermissible overloading, for example in a high-bay warehouse. Furthermore, the water drainage openings can ensure that the goods or the semi-finished product that is stored in the reusable transport container is not in the water for longer than necessary. In this way, damage to the goods or the semi-finished product caused, for example, by corrosion or by rotting, can be reduced or prevented.

Reusable transport containers are often double-walled with an outer cover layer, an inner cover layer and a support structure connecting the cover layers. Such a double-walled design of the reusable transport container increases the stability of the reusable transport container and at the same time offers a smooth outer wall and a smooth inner wall on which water can run off and which has few beads and edges in which dirt can settle. At the same time, the smooth design avoids snagging on the wall.

The disadvantage of such a double-walled design is that if the reusable transport container is designed with water drainage openings, the water drainage openings penetrate both cover layers and water that flows out through the water drainage opening from the inside of a container can get into a space between the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer. This water can increase the weight of the reusable transport container, lead to an odor nuisance if it is left standing for a long time and/or get into the environment and/or onto the goods stored in the reusable transport container and damage them. Up until now, the water drainage opening has therefore been designed as a channel with channel walls and a channel floor between the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer, which makes manufacture complex and requires expensive tools. Furthermore, such a design represents a potential source of error if the duct walls and/or the duct floor are not completely sealed.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a reusable transport container which has the advantages of a double-walled reusable transport container and at the same time ensures that water in the reusable transport container can drain away reliably and as completely as possible without the above disadvantages.

This object is achieved by a reusable transport container according to claim 1. Advantageous developments are part of the dependent claims.

Specifically, the object is achieved by the reusable transport container with a base and a wall extending away from the base, preferably vertically, with at least one opening functioning as a drainage opening or water drain opening being provided in the wall, so that liquid, e.g. water, can flow from the inside to the outside can be dissipated through the wall. The wall contains at least one double-walled first area and at least one single-walled second area. In the at least one first area, the wall is formed from an outer cover layer facing the environment and an inner cover layer facing the interior of the reusable transport container, the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer being connected to one another by a support structure. In the at least one second area, the wall has a single wall. The at least one opening is provided, preferably exclusively, in the at least one second area.

The core of the invention is therefore to form the wall of the reusable transport container with both double-walled areas and single-walled areas, with water drainage openings in the form of openings being formed in the single-walled areas.

With such a design of the wall of the reusable transport container, large parts of the bottom edge can be double-walled and thus ensure high stability of the wall with surfaces that are as smooth as possible at the same time. Through the (exclusive) training Because of the at least one opening in the single-walled area, the opening can be formed inexpensively and with simple molds, and at the same time water can be prevented from getting into a space between the outer cover layer and the inner cover layer of the double wall.

In one aspect, the reusable transport container can be designed with a base pan, which includes the base and a peripheral base edge, and side walls that extend essentially at right angles away from the base and are preferably foldable. Together with the side walls, the bottom edge forms the wall of the reusable transport container. The bottom edge can contain at least the first area, in which the bottom edge is double-walled, and at least the second area, in which the bottom edge is single-walled. The at least one opening which connects an interior of the reusable transport container to an area surrounding the reusable transport container can be formed in the second region.

In other words, the reusable transport container can contain the in particular one-piece base pan, which contains the horizontal base and the peripheral base edge extending perpendicularly/normally away from the base on a perimeter of the base. A plane in which the outside of the bottom edge is located corresponds to a plane in which the outside or outermost peripheral surface of the bottom is located. In the at least one first area, the bottom edge is formed from an outer cover layer facing the environment and an inner cover layer facing the interior of the reusable transport container, the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer being connected to one another by a support structure. In the at least one second area, the bottom edge has a single wall. The at least one first area and the at least one second area are preferably planar to one another on a side facing the interior of the reusable transport container.

At least one opening, which penetrates the bottom edge, can preferably be formed exclusively in the at least one second region. The wall of the reusable transport container preferably contains the side walls, which extend away from the bottom edge in the direction of the bottom edge.

Such a design of the bottom edge of the reusable transport container allows large parts of the bottom edge to be double-walled and thus ensure a high level of stability of the base pan with surfaces that are as smooth as possible at the same time. By providing the at least one first area and the at least one second area in the floor pan, the side walls can be flat.

In one aspect, the at least one opening can be formed in a hinge area of the wall. The hinge area can be an area in which the wall, which is preferably formed from the side walls, is connected to the floor pan in an articulated manner by means of a hinge.

In other words, the at least one opening and the hinge area can be formed in the second area, in which the wall is formed as a single wall. By designing the hinge area in the second area, the overall wall thickness of the reusable transport container can be kept small and at the same time an inner surface facing the inside of the reusable transport container can be made as smooth as possible.

In another aspect, the floor rim may function as an end stop for the foldable side panels in an erected condition and an aperture area of the at least one aperture in the floor pan may correspond to a cut-out area in selected side panels.

In other words, preferably in the hinge area, the side walls and the bottom edge can be arranged parallel to one another in sections or contact one another over a large area. In order to ensure that water runs off reliably and as evenly as possible through the opening in the bottom edge of the floor pan, the side walls can be attached directly to the border at least one breakthrough, be designed with a cutout. The cutout area is a cross-sectional area of the cutout in a plane parallel to the sidewall that has the cutout. The breach area is a cross-sectional area of the breach normal to the floor.

In a further aspect, the aperture area of the at least one aperture and the cutout area of the cutout in the side wall may be aligned.

In other words, in the state where the side walls are normal to are oriented to the ground, ie the reusable transport container is unfolded, viewed from a direction normal to the breakthrough surface, be in cover. In this way, the water can flow out of the reusable transport container through the opening in the wall with as little resistance as possible and without additional turbulence or backwater.

In a further aspect, the at least one second area can be reinforced by a reinforcement structure, in particular by reinforcement ribs, and the at least one opening can be segmented by the reinforcement structure, preferably in a direction normal/perpendicular to the floor

In other words, the at least one opening can be formed with the reinforcement structure in the form of reinforcement ribs aligned normal to the floor. The reinforcement ribs can divide the breakthrough area evenly. In an extension parallel to the floor, an extension of the reinforcement rib can essentially correspond to a distance between the outer cover layer and the inner cover layer in the first region of the wall.

The reinforcement structure allows the second area of the wall of the reusable transport container to be reinforced, in particular in a direction normal to the floor. In this way, a strength and rigidity of the wall can be achieved in the second area, which essentially corresponds to a strength and rigidity of the wall in the first area. In addition, the penetration itself can be stabilized and buckling or collapsing of the penetration in a direction normal to the ground can be prevented.

In a further aspect, the side walls can be hinged at different heights on the bottom edge in order to be able to be folded inwards and over one another, the at least one opening being provided in the hinge area which is the least distance from the bottom, preferably at the level of the bottom.

In other words, the side walls may include two first long wall members extending away from the floor on long sides of the floor pan and hinged to the floor pan. Furthermore, the side walls can include two second short wall elements which extend away from the floor on short sides of the floor pan and are hinged to the floor pan. The two first wall elements can be hinged at a greater distance from the floor than the two second wall elements. The at least one opening can be formed at a distance from the first layered wall element on the long side of the floor pan in the floor edge.

In other words, the two second short wall elements can be hinged essentially at the height of the floor of the floor pan and the two first long wall elements can be hinged on the floor pan at a distance from the floor. A hinge axis of the two first long wall elements can be formed parallel to the floor at a distance substantially from the floor by twice the distance between the outer cover layer and the inner cover layer. The at least one opening can be formed in a vertical direction of the reusable transport container at floor level. The height direction of the reusable transport container is oriented normal to the ground.

By designing the first and second wall elements in this way, the first and second wall elements can be folded onto one another essentially parallel to the floor of the floor pan. Furthermore, the formation of at least one opening at floor level ensures that even small amounts of water can flow out of the reusable transport container through the opening and as little water as possible remains in the reusable transport container.

In a further aspect, the bottom can be inclined outwards in a breakthrough area of the at least one breakthrough.

In other words, the breakthrough area, which is a surface of the base that faces away from the interior of the reusable transport container and faces the environment, can be formed at an angle inclined to a horizontal. In other words, a first point of the opening floor, which is arranged closer to the interior of the reusable transport container, is arranged higher in the vertical direction of the reusable transport container than a second point of the opening floor, which is arranged further away from the interior of the reusable transport container.

In this way it can be ensured that water from the interior of the reusable transport container flows outwards, but not water that drains outside of the reusable transport container through the opening into the interior of the reusable transport container.

In a further aspect, the at least one opening in a first extension be greater in the direction parallel to the floor than in a second direction of extension normal to the floor.

In other words, the at least one opening is a slit-shaped opening, with the slit-shaped opening being aligned parallel to the floor or horizontally.

Such a slot-shaped design of the opening can ensure that the largest possible area of the wall is provided with an opening without material stored in the reusable transport container being able to fall out through the opening. In addition, the slit-like design of the opening prevents the opening from being clogged or blocked by the material, which could prevent water from flowing out. At the same time, the largest possible water drainage cross-section is formed at floor level.

In a further aspect, the at least one first area of the wall can be larger than the at least one second area of the wall.

In a further aspect, the at least one first area of the bottom edge can be larger than the at least one second area of the bottom edge.

In other words, the bottom edge is double-walled to a large extent. In other words, the bottom edge is mainly double-walled and single-walled only in local areas, preferably in the hinge areas. In this way, the highest possible stability of the floor pan and, in addition, the smoothest possible surface can be achieved. Only the areas in which the single-walled design of the bottom edge offers advantages are designed as single-walled.

In a further aspect, a first wall thickness of a wall in the single-walled area can essentially correspond to a second wall thickness of the outer cover layer and/or the inner cover layer in the double-walled area.

In another aspect, the reinforcement structure may taper in a direction away from the container interior. In other words, the reinforcement structure can be designed with draft angles.

In a further aspect, a large number of openings can be formed in the wall of the reusable transport container.

In a further aspect, the openings can be distributed evenly over the circumference of the reusable transport container.

In a further aspect, the openings can be arranged at a distance from corner areas of the reusable transport container.

In another aspect, the apertures may be arranged symmetrically across each side of the returnable shipping container with respect to a widthwise direction extending parallel to the bottom.

In a further aspect, a large number of the openings can only be formed on two opposite sides of the reusable transport container.

In a further aspect, the reusable transport container can be made of plastic.

character list

• 1 is a perspective view of a reusable transport container according to the invention;
• 2 Figure 12 is a short side view of the reusable shipping container of the present invention;
• 3 Fig. 14 is an illustration of a corner portion of the returnable transport container according to the present invention from an inside; and
• 4 Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the corner portion of the returnable shipping container of the present invention from the inside.

Description of the exemplary embodiments

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below based on the accompanying figures.

1 and 2 show a reusable transport container 2 according to the invention with a floor pan 4 and first short side walls 6 articulated to the floor pan 4 and second long side walls 8. The first short side walls 6 are hinged to short sides of the floor pan 4. The second long side walls 8 are hinged to the long sides of the floor pan 4 . Feet 10 are formed on a side of the floor pan 4 facing away from the first side walls 6 and second side walls 8 . The feet 10 are arranged with a rectangular base in corners of the essentially rectangular floor pan 4 and extend away from the floor pan 4.

The floor pan 4 includes a floor 12 which extends essentially horizontally in the form of a plate. At a perimeter of the floor 12, a floor edge 14 extends substantially perpendicularly away from the floor 12. The floor edge 14 extends further in a direction normal to the floor on the long sides of the floor pan 4 than on the short sides of the floor pan 4. Different In other words, the bottom edge 14 is higher on the long sides of the floor pan 4 than on the short sides of the floor pan 4. The bottom edge 14 of the floor pan 4 contains double-walled areas 16 and single-walled areas 18. The double-walled areas 16 and the single-walled areas 18 are alternating in Circumferential direction of the bottom edge 14 arranged. The single-walled areas 18 are designed with a grid-like support structure 20 towards an outside of the reusable transport container 2 . The first side walls 6 and the second side walls 8 are preferably double-walled. The second side walls 8 (each) include a hinged flap 22 which can be opened independently of the second side walls 8 . The first side walls 6 and the second side walls 8 form an opening edge on a side facing away from the floor pan 4 .

3 shows an inside view of a corner between the base 12 and the base edge 14. The base 12 and the base edge 14 are bonded to one another, preferably by means of welding or gluing. The first short side wall 6 is hinged to the short side of the floor pan 4 with first hinges 24 in direct proximity to the floor 12 . In other words, a first hinge axis K of the first short side wall 6 runs adjacent to the floor 12. On the long side of the floor pan 4, the second long side wall 8 is spaced apart from the floor 12 and hinged with second hinges 26. In other words, a second hinge axis L of the second long side wall 8 runs at a distance from the base 12. Both the first side wall 6 and the second side wall 8 contain latching elements 28 in a hinge area, which enable the side walls 6, 8 in the bottom edge 14 of the floor pan 4 in an erected state of the side walls 6, 8 allow.

The first hinges 24 and the second hinges 26 are each formed in single-walled areas 18 of the bottom edge 14 . First water drainage openings 30 and second water drainage openings 32 are formed in the floor pan 4 in the floor edge 14 at the level of the floor 12 in the form of openings in the floor edge 14 . The first water drainage openings 30 are formed in the short sides of the floor pan 4 and the second water drainage openings 32 are formed in the long sides of the floor pan 4 . The water drainage openings 30, 32 connect the interior of the reusable transport container 2 with the environment surrounding the reusable transport container 2. The water drainage openings 30, 32 are formed in particular in the hinge areas of the bottom edge 14.

On the short side of the floor pan 4, the first water drainage openings 30 penetrate the hinge 24 in a direction parallel to the floor 12. In other words, the first water drainage opening 30 runs on the short side of the floor pan 4 through the first hinge axis K. Here, the first water drainage opening penetrates 30 both the single-walled area 18 of the bottom edge 14 and the hinge 24 in the first side wall 6.

On the long side of the base pan 4, the second water drainage opening 32 only penetrates the base edge 14 in a direction parallel to the base 12. In other words, the second water drainage opening 32 runs on the long side of the base pan 4 at a distance from the second hinge axis L. The second water drainage opening penetrates only the single-walled area 18 of the bottom edge 14 on the long side of the floor pan 4. The second water drainage openings 32 are segmented by the grid-like support structure 20 on the outside of the reusable transport container 2. In other words, the latticed support structure 20 divides the second water drainage openings 32 in a direction normal to the floor 12. The water drainage openings 30, 32 or positions of the water drainage openings 30, 32 are additionally shown in FIG 1 and 2 clarified.

4 shows the corner 3 in a sectional view, the section running through the first water drainage opening 30 and the second water drainage opening 32 . A drainage slope 34 is formed on a side of the first water drainage opening 30 and the second water drainage opening 32 that faces the floor 12 . The run-off slope 34 is inclined at an angle with respect to the floor 12 .

In the single-walled areas 18 the grid-like support structures 20 are formed on the side of the first side wall 6 and second side wall 8 facing away from the interior of the reusable transport container 2 . Stop surfaces 36 are formed in the bottom edge 14 of the floor pan 4 above the first hinge axis K and the second hinge axis L. The abutment surfaces are designed provided, the first side wall 6 and the second side wall 8 in the erected State to contact flat and thus folding over of the side walls 6, 8 to prevent.

In summary, it can be said that both the water drainage openings 30, 32 and the hinges 24, 26 are formed in the single-walled areas 18 of the bottom edge 14. The single-walled areas 18 are distributed evenly over the circumference of the floor pan 4 and are spaced apart from one another by the double-walled areas 16 . A width of the single-walled areas 18 essentially corresponds to a hinge width B. A width of the water drainage openings 30, 32 also essentially corresponds to the hinge width B.

In the embodiment shown here, both the single-walled area 18 and the double-walled area 16 each extend over the full height of the bottom edge 14, starting from the bottom 12. Embodiments are also conceivable in which both the single-walled area 18 and the double-walled Area 16 extend only over parts of the height of the bottom edge 14.

In the embodiment shown here, the support structure 20 is in the form of a lattice. However, support structures are also conceivable which are not embodied in the form of a lattice or are not exclusively embodied in the form of a lattice. For example, a triangular support structure is conceivable.

The embodiment shown here shows a foldable reusable transport container 2, ie a reusable transport container 2 in which the first side walls 6 and the second side walls 8 can be folded/folded onto one another essentially parallel to the base 12. However, embodiments are also conceivable which have fixed side walls and first partial sections of the wall are single-walled and second partial sections of the wall are double-walled. In this embodiment, the water drainage openings are also formed exclusively in the single-walled first partial section of the wall.

For the sake of simplicity, it was assumed in the present application that the medium is water, which flows out of the reusable transport container 2 through the water drainage openings 30 , 32 . Of course, any other liquid or any free-flowing solid can also flow out of the reusable transport container through the water drainage openings 30, 32.

Reference List

2

reusable transport container

4

floor pan

6

first side wall

8th

second side wall

10

stand

12

Floor

14

bottom edge

16

double wall area

18

single wall area

20

support structure

22

flap

24

first hinge

26

second hinge

28

locking element

30

first water drain hole

32

second water drain hole

34

drainage slope

36

stop surface

K

first hinge axis

L

second hinge axis

B

hinge width

Claims (10)

Reusable transport containers (2) with a base (12); and a wall (6, 8, 14) extending away from the base, preferably perpendicularly; at least one opening (30, 32) functioning as a drainage opening being provided in the wall (6, 8, 14), so that liquid can be drained from the inside to the outside through the wall (6, 8, 14), characterized in that the wall (6, 8, 14) has at least one double-walled first area (16) and at least one single-walled second area (18), and the at least one opening (30, 32), preferably exclusively, in the at least one second area (18) is provided. Reusable transport container (2) after claim 1 , characterized by a floor pan (4) which includes the floor (12) and a peripheral floor edge (14); and a plurality of side walls (6, 8) which, preferably foldable, are connected to the bottom edge (14) and together with the bottom edge (14) form the wall (6, 8, 14), the bottom edge (14) forming the first areas (16) and the second areas (18). Reusable transport container (2) after claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one opening (30, 32) is formed in a hinge area of the wall (6, 8, 14). Reusable transport container (2) after claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the bottom edge (14) acts as an end stop (36) for the foldable side walls (6, 8) in an erected state and an opening surface of the at least one opening (30, 32) in the floor pan (4) has a cut-out surface in selected side walls (6) corresponds. Reusable transport container (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the at least one second area (18) is reinforced by a reinforcing structure (20), in particular reinforcing ribs, and the at least one opening (30, 32) is segmented through the reinforcing structure (20), preferably perpendicular to the floor . Reusable transport container (2) according to one of claims 2 until 5 , characterized in that the side walls (6, 8) are hinged to the bottom edge (14) at different heights in order to be able to be folded inwards and over one another, the at least one opening (30, 32) being at the least distance from the bottom Hinge area, preferably at the level of the floor (12), is provided. Reusable transport container (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the bottom (12) in a breakthrough area (34) of the at least one breakthrough (30, 32) is inclined outwards. Reusable transport container (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the at least one opening (30, 32) is larger in a first direction of extent parallel to the base (12) than in a second direction of extent normal to the base (12). Reusable transport container (2) according to one of claims 2 until 8th , characterized in that the at least one first area (16) of the bottom edge (14) is larger than the at least one second area (18) of the bottom edge (14). Reusable transport container (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that a first wall thickness of a wall in the single-walled area essentially corresponds to a second wall thickness of the outer cover layer and/or the inner cover layer in the double-walled area.

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