DE1178774B - Nestable and stackable trays for forming containers - Google Patents

Description

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

GERMAN

PATENT OFFICE

EDITORIAL

Boarding school KI .: B 65 d

German class: 81 c -11

Number: 1178 774

File number: L 39230 VII b / 81 c

Filing date: June 13, 1961

Opening day: September 24, 1964

The invention relates to and relates to improvements in bowls or containers in particular a tray which is shaped to fit together with an inverted similar tray can form a container that can nest with similar trays when empty and that it can be associated with similar trays to form a stack of generally perpendicular to one another to form aligned trays or containers.

"Bowls" are mentioned in the description and claims, and that term is intended too include the following items: crates, boxes, baskets, trays or floors, platforms, so-called transport pallets, documents and similar devices for picking up Articles that can form containers that have at least one open side. If in the Description and claims the term "container" is used, this term denotes a construction that is composed of two such shells, one of which is opposite the other is inverted with the open sides of the shells facing each other are facing. The term "similar bowls" refers to all bowls of the same type for stacking serving support parts that work together when stacking, and / or with similar ones for training container supporting members that cooperate in forming containers, and regardless of whether the vertical height of the bowls is the same or different. These bowls can be stacked on top of each other when in use and together when empty to save space nest.

Nestable shells have become known in the most varied of embodiments. You can e.g. B. consist of wire baskets, with the individual wire baskets being stacked one on top of the other Spacers are interposed, which usually have a similar shape to the wire baskets. It is also known to assemble two bowls of different construction to form a container, wherein the one shell has grooves on its edge into which the correspondingly formed projections intervene in the other shell when assembling. All known bowls have the main disadvantage that at least two types of trays or trays and spacers are kept ready have to. In addition to making the manufacturing process more expensive, this makes storage more difficult and assembling.

Nestable and stackable trays for
Forming containers

Applicant:

Warren Holcomb Lockwood,

Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. (V. St. A.)

Representative:

Dipl.-Phys. H. Schroeter, patent attorney,

Munich 5, Papa-Schmid-Str. 1

Named as inventor:

Warren Holcomb Lockwood,

Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. (V. St. A.)

Claimed priority:

V. St. ν. America 13 June 1960 (35 535)

The object of the invention is to create a shell that can be easily nested as can also be assembled with a similar second shell to form a container, at the same time the The position of the placed or stacked shells should be clearly given.

According to the invention, locking strips of the same type are provided on the upper edges of the side wall parts of each shell and locking grooves are provided so that when two shells are put together to form a container each grip the locking strips of one shell in the locking strips of the other shell and thus the Fix the position of the shells against each other exactly. Shells designed in this way can easily be nested, can be assembled into containers and stacked on top of one another, as they are not movable Have parts and their surfaces are relatively smooth. In addition, the shell is characterized by the Invention by their low manufacturing costs, their strength and stability, their small space requirements when nesting with similar shells, the multitude of their functional advantages and their lightness.

The advantages of the invention are related in the description of several exemplary embodiments explained in more detail with the drawing and the claims.

409 688/234

3 4

F i g. 1 shows in plan a first form of a men and the two upper shells in turn one

Peel; Form container;

Fig. 2 shows the underside of the tray according to Fig. 21 is a partial section along the line 21-21

Fig. 1; in Fig. 20;

F i g. Figure 3 is a side view of the shell of Figure 5. 22 shows a cart in a side view

Figures 1 and 2; with a tray receiving surface as a support

FIG. 4 is a side view of two shells nested with one another for FIG. 19, wherein

nested similar shells according to FIG. 1 corresponding parts of the shells in vertical

and 2; "Alignment stand so that similar shells become one

5 shows a side view of the same similarly high, stable stacks that can be combined;

borrowed bowls in a position in which they a F i g. 23 is a side view of several similar ones

form holder; Shells of a fifth form with low-

6 is a side view of these two subsequent modifications to the shell according to FIG

borrowed bowls that assume their stacking position; FIGS. 19-21, the ten shown in FIG

F i g. Figure 7 is a partial vertical section along the fifteen shells forming five separate containers

Line 7-7 in Figure 5; each composed of two shells and where

F i g. 8 is a vertical partial section along the two mutually perpendicular containers in each case

Line 8-8 in Figure 6; attack each other in the stacking position;

F i g. 9 shows a second figure in plan in volume. 24 is part of an end view of the in FIG

Form a shell together with the stack shown in dashed line 20 Fig. 20 and leaves upon observation

The contour shape of a predecessor stack from the line 24-24 in FIG. 25 is indicated by the indicated lines

borrowed shell immediately before their movement in the details of those used for stacking the shells

Recognize clockwise in the direction of the arrow in those support parts;

Position in which this shell together with FIG. 25 shows in a schematic plan view

forms a container shown in volume; 25 the top of the lower shell in Fig. 24 in full

FIG. 10 shows the underside of the in FIG. 9 in solid lines and the underside of the upper shell in

lines drawn shell and part of the bottom F i g. 24 in double-dot-dash lines at the side

a similar displacement drawn in dash-dotted lines as well as in ordinary dash-dot

the shell immediately before its movement in the vertical lines in the stacking position

Clockwise in the direction of the arrow in the half of the lower shell;

Position in which the shell on the stackable F i g. 26 shows persons serving in perspective on a larger scale Supporting parts of the rods drawn in solid lines are one of the used for stacking the shells Attacking shell; Support parts;

Fig. 11 is a side view of the tray of Fig. 27 showing in perspective another shape

Fig. 9; 35 of a support part which is used for stacking and which

F i g. 12 shows, in a side view, two similar figs. 23 in the example shown in FIG. 24 and 25

Shells of the embodiment according to FIG. 9 can be used in a cautious manner,

nesting position; The first shell shape is shown in FIGS. 1-8.

Fig. 13 is a side view of three similar ones. This tray 10 is designed to be

Shells of the embodiment according to FIG. 9, whereby the two 40 possible, firstly in cooperation with an envi-

the lower shells form a container, while inverted similar shell 10 according to FIG

the two upper shells are in the stacking position. 5 to form a container 11, secondly

to take; according to FIG. 6 with similar bowls to a stack

F i g. 14 is a vertical partial section along the join and thirdly according to FIG. 4 with

Line 14-14 in FIG. 9 by two similar shells, 45 like shells to be nested. the

which together form a container; Stacking position according to Fig. 6 enables in particular

F i g. 15 is a vertical partial section along the other, several lines formed from two shells 10 each 15-15 in FIG. 9 by two shells, which fasteners 11 according to FIGS. 13, 20 and 23 together form a container; stack up.

F i g. 16 is a vertical partial section along the 50. The shells 10 can be used in a wide variety of forms

Line 16-16 in Fig. 10 through two in the stack forms and from numerous different ones

shells in position; Manufacture materials. You can e.g. B. from im

17 shows in perspective, on a larger scale, vacuum-formed plastic and drawn aluminum the four minium sheeting, wide-meshed wire mesh, used for stacking the bowls, in hollow support plates, after removing the same from the 55 molded plastic or plywood bottom part the shell according to FIG. 10; stand. The walls of the bowls can be solid or

Fig. 18 is a partial section similar to Fig. 16 made of open wire mesh,

by a third form of shell, d. H. one The shell 10 comprises in rigid connection with-

Variant of the second form according to FIGS. 9 to 16, with each other a base part 12 for receiving a

the supporting part used for stacking is different from the load, e.g. B. an object 13 (Fig. 3 and 5),

is formed; two side wall parts 14 and two side wall parts 15,

19 shows a side view of three similar ones which are rigidly connected to the base part 12, with

Shells of a fourth embodiment in their verse, the side wall parts on the top of the base

nesting position; partly and move away from it upwards.

F i g. 20 is a side view of four similar 65 lines to form part of a container 11;

Shells of the embodiment according to FIG. 19, the further serving to form containers with the

two lower shells form a container, the parts 12, 14 and 15 firmly connected and on the same

both middle shells assume their stacking position on the upper side of the base part 12

16, which make it possible to produce two similar shells according to FIG. 5 to unite to a container, as well as with some of the cited parts rigidly pre-bound, supporting parts 20 which are used for stacking and which work together, according to FIG. 6 to hold similar trays in the stacking position; these support parts 20 comprise cooperating sections serving for stacking, which are on the one of the parts 14, 15 and 16 facing away from the underside of the base part 12 are arranged.

The use of the container 11 is particularly useful when objects 13 over longer distances are to be sent, whereby it is desirable to protect the objects on all sides. The supporting parts 16 serving to form containers comprise four strips 17 which are generally on the surface of a rectangular parallelepiped, one of which is in the same plane as the base part 12. The strips 17 form projecting sections 18 and for receiving the projecting ones Sections serving sections 19. According to FIG. 5 is a container 11 made up of two shells

10 together, namely one in the correct position arranged lower shell and one in reverse Layered similar upper shell, in which the parts 16, the strips 17 and the sections 18 and 19 of both shells attack one another. The protruding portions 18 are in the relevant Receiving sections 19, and the side wall parts 14 and 15 forming a container are perpendicular placed one on top of the other to form a fully closed container 11. When the corners are in vertical alignment between the side wall parts 14 and 15 of the similar shells the container 11 is formed in the correct manner.

According to FIG. 6 and 8 you can have multiple containers

11 anchor together in the stacking position so that a stack of containers is created in which the for Stacking serving support parts 20 of similar shells 10 interlock. The support parts used for stacking 20 each act on those of similar trays in order to access the trays in the stacking position keep. The support members 20 comprise projections 21 for stacking and for receiving them Projections serving portions 22, the latter of which are offset from the former inwardly and in the stack position according to FIG. 6 and 8 work together. According to FIG. 6 and 8 are the den Container forming side wall parts 14 and 15 each in vertical alignment, so that all the shells 10 can easily be held in the stacking position, the stack can even be very high. When the corners of the trays 10 are aligned vertically with one another, those used for stacking are available Support members 20 in proper engagement with one another.

If there are several similar shells 10 in the same position, they can be shown in FIG. 4th easily bring into their nesting position by bringing their bases 12 closer together so that the upper shell moves down into the lower shell. After removing the items 13 from the trays 10 or the containers 11, one can thus move the empty trays into this nesting position bring them as stacks of small dimensions to the sender or to the filling station to send back.

As can be seen from the following, the description of the construction and handling in the preceding paragraphs, which relates to the trays 10 and the containers 11, also applies mutatis mutandis to the parts, etc. identified in the same way, which are shown in FIG. 9 through 27 are shown.
Otherwise, the description is divided into two main parts. First the corresponding parts of the other shell shapes are shown in FIG. 9 to 27 are briefly identified in the introduction. Second are the operations of forming containers, stacking

ίο the shells and the nesting of the same are described. Each of these operations is fully described for each shell shape before the next operation is skipped.

F i g. 9 to 17 show a tray 30 with rigidly interconnected sidewall portions 34 and 35, a base part 32, for forming containers serving support members 36 with four for forming containers serving edge 37, projecting portions 43 c and 43 d as well as those portions receiving portions 43 a and 43 b, as well as with supporting parts 40 used for stacking the trays with protruding sections 47 a and 47 c used for stacking and sections 476 receiving these sections.

as shown in Fig. 18 shell 30 'has the <same shape as the shell 30, apart from the modified form of the base member 32', and except that the serving for stacking support members 40 ', one of which is shown, while there are actually four support parts, protruding sections 47 a 'and sections 32 a' and 47 δ 'receiving these sections.

F i g. 19 to 22 and FIG. 24 to 26 show a tray 50 with rigidly interconnected sidewall portions 54 and 55, a base part 52, for forming containers serving support members 56 with four for forming containers serving edge 57, projecting portions 63 c and 65 and these portions receiving portions 63 b and 64, further with d serving for stacking support parts 60 serving for stacking projecting portions 60 and 6 NC (Fi g. 24 and 26) and these portions receiving portions 60g.

F i g. 23 and 27 show trays 50 'with essentially the same parts as are present in the tray 50 according to FIGS Serving support parts 60 'according to FIG. 27 comprise projecting sections 60 d' and 60e 'as well as sections 60 g' receiving these sections.

The various in Fig. 1 to 27 shown shapes of bowls have the most varied of shapes of supporting parts serving to form containers.

The shell 10 according to FIG. 1 to 8 has supporting parts 16 serving to form containers which are arranged along four edges serving to form containers and each protruding Sections 18 and sections 19 receiving these sections comprise. According to FIG. 1 are these Sections 18 and 19 on the opposite edges 17 are arranged in an inverted mirror image. In Fig. 1, the edges 17 form a square on a surface of a right-angled Cuboid, this square lying in a plane parallel to the base part 12. If you have two

7 8

len 10, one of which is the correct position a sections 18 are arranged. While the other is turned over, this section takes up with the steps shown in FIG. 3 a horizontal delimitation aid of its line of the container or the shell 10, which is used to form a container 10 is turned over, the upper shell can be so-15 are arranged vertically one above the other. It should be noted with one swift movement and without hanging that the container can be formed, if left, bring the inverted upper shell 10 of FIG. 5 into vertical alignment with the lower shell so that they can be used to form any of the assumes four positions each at 90 ° around the lower container serving (FIG. 5), in the right axis Y according to FIG. 1 staggered positions io which it can fall down on the lower shell,
occupies, since the protruding portions 18 and the shells 30 of FIG. 9 to 17 and the

the sections 19 accommodating them corresponding to len30 'according to FIG. 18 can be designed according to FIG. 13, so that four different positions are possible in exactly the same way for a container 31 to form a container. unite so that a description of the trays 30. In other words, the container 11 15 should suffice. To form a container, not only in a certain position, but in the case of nende support parts 36 are provided along four edges 37 serving to form each of these four positions offset by 90 ° from a container. The educate. This is because of any two support members 36, four in one plane opposite one another to form a flange 43, the edges 17 serving from the side wall members 34 of the container each include not just one 20 and 35 outwardly and generally parallel to the base of said container Sections, but both a part 32 extend, further inwardly directed hook projecting section 18 and a Auf- 43 a at corresponding ends of each flange and receiving section 19 for a section 18 has. each a hole 43 b and a protruding hump

According to Fig. 5, the container consists of two 43 c on each flange. The support parts 36 consist of similar or similar shells 10 together. 25 preferably made of a resilient material, e.g. B. One recognizes, however, that with several ahn- made of steel, so that after a previous re-Iichen, z. B. those with different give can come into mutual engagement. Depth, the same benefits achieved. Each of these ahn- To form a container 31, the borrowed trays have the same type of flanges 43 of two similar trays for stacking F i g. 6 cooperate, and similar, to the upper one is turned over, in a parallel position in the formation of a container serving support parts 16, which are separated by a vertical distance in the position according to FIG. 5 work together, at levels and in vertical alignment with each other, which two shells form a container. Some Then, the upper shell 30 counter-clock-shells, however, may have a smaller depth of eg 35 pointer sense of Fig. 9 about the vertical while other trays accurately axis X have mm about 75, is rotated so that they are shaped with respect to the senkebenso, However, a greater depth is offset from the right alignment position and which have, for example, about 100mm, so that it is ahn- Fig. 9 with dot-dash lines indicated lent shells. Since all support parts 16 and 20 is in position; the base part 32 of the upper shell are similar, you can have two shells 10 with a 40 is moved down to the lower shell 30, depth of about 75 mm each or a shell with until the flanges 43 of both shells lie on top of each other to a depth of about 75 mm and a shell can be grasped with and by the hook 43 α; a depth of about 100 mm to a container then the upper shell is turned clockwise by a few. These shells with the two different the vertical axis X, ie opposite to the depth dimensions, thus enable when the first mentioned direction is present, rotated until the side wall parts 34 and 35, which each have several shells forming the container, have three different lowering containers Depth gauges; three are right in line with each other in order to allow different depths of the shells in the position F i g. 13 to form a container 31. There are six different depths of the container; four the hooks 43 α of each shell over a flange of the different depths of the shells allow 50 other shell, and the hump or stool 43 c ten different depths of the container, etc. engage releasably in the holes 43 b of the other shell These similar shells of different depths a. Since the flanges 43 according to FIG. 9 and 10 can be shown in FIG. 4 nesting with one another, forming a square, the similar shells in FIG. 1 cannot, however, be used with as good space utilization as any one of four about the vertical axis X around the shells according to FIG. 4 with the same depth. 55 90 ° mutually offset positions with each other

It can be seen further below that the unconnect in order to form a container 31. The indirectly preceding paragraphs prevent hooks 43 α from detaching the container writing of the shells used to form containers from each other perpendicularly, the support parts 16 also for the same way if not the upper shell in the opposite one drew parts, positions, etc. according to FIG. 9 to 60 direction, ie according to FIG. 9 am to 6 pm applies. is rotated around the axis X in the pointer direction. To a

Two shells 10 form according to FIG. 5 a loading unintentional apart rotating the trays to holder 11, when their prevent the axis X to form a container grab the stool 43 c serving support members 16 work together, the four releasably b in the holes 43 a, so that the bars 17, which must apply a certain torque on the sides of a ⁶ 5 hand in order to be arranged in a square; each bar 17 comprises the shells to be detached from one another. Of course, rod-like projections, which in mutual spacing, instead of holes 43 b and stool 43 c, would also stand in two parallel rows as projecting resilient clips, pins or other releasable connections.

provide bindings. It can thus be seen that projecting portions are formed by the humps 43 c and by the portions 43 d of the flanges 43, which are each received by a hook 43 a of an adjacent, similar shell 30 of the container 31.

The containers 50 and 50 'shown in FIGS. 19 to 27 have similar support members 56 serving to form a container, so that it should suffice to describe only the containers 50. The support parts 56, which are formed on flanges 63 lying generally in one plane and which extend from mutually opposite side wall parts 54 at their edges 57, comprise a strip 63 c as a protruding section and a slot 63 on the upper side of each flange 63 in straight alignment b to include this section. Further, the support members 56 each include a hook portion 64, preferably made of spring steel to be resiliently deformable, and a hook receiving portion 65, these two portions extending from the top of the flange 63 in opposite perpendicular directions and at opposite ends of the container 50 are provided between side wall parts 54, which have protruding portions 63 c and the receiving portions 63 b .

To form a container 51, two similar trays 50 are provided, one of which is in the correct position while the other is inverted; then the resilient hook 64 is left on the right-hand end of the upper shell as shown in FIG. 20 spring away over the hook receiving section 65 at the right end of the shell part located immediately below; the upper shell is now pivoted counterclockwise around this right end as the axis of rotation until the sections 63 b and 63 c interlock, as shown in FIG. 20 and 21 and the hook receiving portion 65 of the upper shell snaps into the resilient hook 64 of the shell immediately below; now the two shells form a container.

The tray 50 could prove useful when shipping products that are by a closed container 51 must be protected, as is particularly the case with protective covers Products is the case. After releasing the shells 50 from each other, each shell could be called Use display containers because the upper edges 57 of the side wall portions 54 are inclined. It should be noted that the inverted shell 50 is only anchored in one position to a lower similar shell can to form a container 51, and not in four positions offset by 90 °, as it is in the containers according to Fi g. 1 to 18 is the case.

In the following, the processes of stacking shells are dealt with, which are caused by the for stacking serving support parts 20 according to FIG. 6 or 40 according to FIG. 13 or 40 'according to FIG. 18 or 60 according to FIG. 24 and 60 'according to FIG. 27 are made possible.

Similar trays 10 can be stacked on top of one another according to FIG. 6, the ones used for stacking Support parts 20 interlock. According to FIG. 2, the support members 20 of each shell are fixed to the underside of the base part 12 and connected along the sides of a square at equal intervals arranged by the four container delimitation edges 17 and centered with respect to the base part 12. on of each stacking support face 26 are stacking protruding portions 21 and 12 these sections receiving sections 22 arranged so that the sections on opposite one another Sides and vice versa in relation to the intersections of adjacent sides

xo are distributed in mirror image. From this it can be seen that with two similar shells 10, one of which is shown in FIG. 6 assumes the correct position, while the lower one is turned over, the support parts 20 used for stacking can interlock in such a way that the similar shells according to FIG. 6 can be held in the stacking position with the container delimiting edges 17 in vertical alignment with one another when the trays are in any of four about the vertical axis Y in FIG. 1 positions offset by 90 ° are stacked on top of one another. As can be seen from the following, the description given in this paragraph of the construction and handling of the support parts 20 used for stacking also applies to the parts, positions, etc. according to FIGS. 9 to 18 which are identified in the same way.

According to FIG. 2 include the stacking support members 20 along each stacking support Page 26 arranged strip-like projections of square cross-section, which are used as stacking serving protruding portions 21 are arranged alternately in two parallel rows. The protruding Sections 21 form according to FIG. 6 at the lower shell 10 a horizontal boundary line, so that when the upper shell 10 is on the lower shell is put on, it is possible to pull the upper shell quickly over the lower shell, without it getting stuck, whereupon the upper shell vertically down into the stacking position falls, in which it is according to FIG. 6 is generally anchored in the same way as it is with regard to interlocking of the protruding portions 18 in the position for forming a container according to FIG. 5 has already been described.

Similar trays according to FIGS. 9 and 17 are held in the stacking position in that their support parts 40, which are used for stacking, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 16, interlock. In each shell 30, the support parts used for stacking comprise four plates or sheets 47 which are arranged on the circumference of a square with four sides 46 used for stacking (FIG. 10). Each sheet metal 47 attached to the underside of the base part 32 has a hook 47a which, together with the underside, forms an opening 47 &. The plates 47 are of the same design and are arranged in a similar relationship to each edge and corner reversed mirror images of each other so that the center line of two diagonally opposite hooks 47a according to FIG. 10 along an identical radial line R to the central vertical axis of rotation X of Container extends.

Two similar shells 30, of which the upper one assumes the correct position, while the lower one is turned over, as applies to the two upper shells in FIG Axis X of Fig. 10 rotates in substantially the same manner as it does at

409 688/254

Hand of fig. 9 has been described with respect to the interlocking parts 36. Here, each hook 47 a enters a corresponding opening 47 b of the other shell in order to be releasably anchored in the stacking position. As can be seen from the following, the description of the construction and handling given in this paragraph applies in the same way to the correspondingly designated parts, positions, etc. in the case of the shells 30 'according to FIG. 18. ίο

According to FIGS. 16 and 17, the shell 30 has on each support part 40 used for stacking a projecting stool 47 c which is used for anchoring and which is formed on an inner surface of each hook or projection 47 a and into an opening or a receiving section 47 formed by the hook b protrudes in such a way that the stools of similar shells move past one another and therefore according to FIG. 16 can interlock during this rotary movement in order to anchor the trays in the stacking position. In order to detach the shells from one another, they must be rotated accordingly in the opposite direction. The sheets 47 can be made of any suitable resilient material, e.g. B. made of spring steel, so that they allow this anchoring by their yielding.

According to FIG. 18, the shells 30 'are anchored to one another in the stacking position in that the supporting parts 40' provided for stacking are brought into engagement with one another. Four plates or metal sheets 47 'are attached to the bottom of each shell 30' in the same arrangement as the four metal sheets 47 according to FIG. Each sheet 47 'forms a hook 47 a' and an opening 47 b ' with a recess 32 a' on the underside of the base part 32 '. The recess 32a 'is in vertical alignment with the through the hook 47 a' limited part of the opening 47 V and extends at least horizontally over the length of this part of the opening, to form together with the hook includes a portion for receiving a projection. As soon as the described rotary movement about the vertical axis X has taken place and the upper shell 30 'is aligned vertically with the lower shell according to FIG the recess or the receiving portion 32 a 'of the other shell can engage in order to hold the shells according to FIG. 18 in the stacking position. This interlocking acts as a lock that opposes a twisting apart of the shells about the vertical axis X a resistance. In order to detach the shells from one another, the upper shell would have to be lifted in order to disengage the hooks 47 a 'from the depressions 32 a' before the rotary movement about the axis X used for releasing can take place.

In Fig. 19 to 21 and 24 to 26, each shell 50 has four stacking support parts 60. Each support part 60 comprises structurally uniform sections, preferably made of flexible spring steel, in the form of a fastening flange 60 a attached to the underside of the base part 52, a vertically extending section 60 b, a horizontally extending section 60 c and an inwardly angled section 60 d. As shown in solid lines in FIG. 25, these four support parts 60 are attached to the base part 52 in such a way that corresponding sections of all four support parts extend parallel to the horizontal directional line D. It should be noted that the two upper support parts according to FIG. 25 compared to the two lower support parts are slightly offset to the left with respect to a vertical line, that the upper support parts are horizontally aligned with one another and that the lower support parts are parallel to line D also in horizontal alignment. According to FIG. 26, each support part has a stool 6Qe at its section 60d , which forms a projecting section which is received by a channel 60g which forms a section for receiving the hump on a similar shell.

When the lower shell 50 is shown in FIG. 24 is in the position shown with solid lines in FIG. 25, the lower shell 50 of FIG. 24 can thus be moved horizontally from its position shown with double-dot-dash lines in FIG. 25 in the direction of line D into the position shown with dot-dash lines , which is the stack position according to FIG. 24 acts. This process takes place as a straight relative movement along the line D in FIG. 25 between a normally arranged and a similar but inverted shell (Fig. 24). Here, the stool will be g e 60 of the upper shell to the corresponding bumps of the lower shell in the upper left corner and the upper right corner of F i. 25 moves past with a snap action as the stools at the lower left corner and lower right corner of the upper shell approach the corresponding cusps of the lower shell. Finally, the two shells are firmly anchored to one another in the stacking position. It can be seen that the upper shell 50 according to FIG. 25 can also approach the lower shell from the right side and can then be brought into the anchoring position by a movement along the line Z), but in the opposite direction. It can also be seen that the upper shell is rotated by 180 ° about a vertical axis and then attached to the lower shell as shown in FIG. 25 can anchor by moving along line D in one direction or the other. In any case, the stool 6Oe basically work together in the same way.

The support parts 60, which according to FIG. 25 must be moved along the line D in one direction or the other, would be particularly suitable for rectangular shells or for those shells in which one end must always point in a certain direction, as shown in FIG. 19 in the case of the shells 50 oriented on one side in their nesting position, according to FIG. 20 with the shells 50 in the container formation position and according to FIG. 23 is the case with the trays 50 'in the container stacking position.

From the following it can be seen that the description given in the preceding paragraphs of the Construction and handling of the support parts 60 also for the parts identified in the same way, Positions, directions and movements according to FIGS. 23 and 27 apply.

Four stacking support members 60 'according to FIG. 27 are at the bottom of each tray 50' F i g. 23 in the same manner as described with respect to the support members 60 each

13 14

Support part 60 'is to be held as a unitary component in such a position that the stack is not made of a resilient or resilient material, e.g. B. tips over. According to FIG. 19, each higher-lying spring steel, and includes a mounting flange shell 50, is shifted slightly to the left, so 60 a ', a vertical section 60 b', that the stack with increasing height top-heavy a horizontally extending section 60 c ', a 5 and can tip over. If, however, the inwardly angled section 60 d, a Ka stack according to FIG. 19 in a recess 80 α of a nal 60 / and a stool 60e '. The section 60 d ' cart 80 according to Fig. 22, one can build one and the stool 6Oe' form a protruding vertical stack, in which all-section, the base parts 52 of the individual shells 50 geKanal 60g 'A similar bowl is added, ίο are inclined relative to the horizontal. In terms of

Further, let the only difference between the support members of the three lower containers 51 'in Fig. 23 be made

60 and 60 'consists in the fact that the end section notices that it is the upwardly diverging side

60 / according to fig. 26 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the supporting wall part 55 'enable all shells 50' in one

partly 60 and to the line D in FIG. 25 stretches, stacks off. vertically stacked containers

during each support part 60 'to arrange an end portion 60 /' 15 in each case vertically one above the other, instead of that

which diverges outward to counteract the shells in the manner shown in FIG

set ends to act as a guide, while the laterally offset from each other, which is on the

Relative movement between the shells 50 'along the perpendicular side wall parts to be returned.

Line D in FIG. 25 is in one or the other row. Although the shells 50 'according to FIG. 23

processing takes place to the trays in the stacking position 20 container 51 'of somewhat oblique shape, but this is

to anchor to each other. of no practical importance. Regarding the two

The following describes the construction, upper container 51 'of FIG. 23 it should be noted that

which is needed to make the nesting positions the vertical alignment of a stack of these

4, 12, 19 and 22 to bring about. containers placed one on top of the other, each

In order to enable perfect nesting, at least some of the side wall parts of each shell speaking the center point K must be arranged upside down from the base of the group of support parts used for stacking diverge. For example, diver- 60 ', which is fixed by the equal distances G from the yaws of the side wall parts 14 and 15 according to FIG 30 center point / the horizontal dimension N of the inappropriately arranged, similar trays 10 on the reverse side of the base part 52 to the true middle box by placing the upper tray point K of the vertical boundary of a stack formed from the containers 51 'downward into the nesting position is relocated. The with F i g. 4 moved; Here, the base parts 12 are approximated to routes designated E, F and G for the purpose of changing. It should be noted that this description of the symmetrical arrangement of the practice of the nesting process also applies to the support parts 60 'relative to the center line K. The support parts 60' used for trays 30 according to FIG 19 and the shells 50 'according to FIG. 23 apply, symmetrical arrangement to the center K of the largest because the side wall parts 34, 35 or 54 or 54', 55 'dimension M of each shell 50', which in FIG. 23 diverge in these shells from the base parts 40 horizontally and generally parallel to the upwards. In the case of the shell shapes according to FIG. 1 up to the level of the base part 52 and generally parallel to 18 and 23, all side wall planes of each inclined flange edge 63 are measured. part up in this way. 19-22, while the stacking support members are being used, the side wall portion 55 extends perpendicular to the base 60 'through a generally horizontal rectilinear storage portion 52, but nesting is possible as 45 movement along line D in FIG. 25 can diverge upwards and bring the side wall parts 54 into engagement, it is obvious that the support parts 40 according to FIG. or 40 'according to FIG. 18 instead of the support parts 60'

According to FIG. 19, the trays 50 and 50 'according to FIG. 23 can be used, the inein-F i g. 19 and 23 in the anchoring and interlocking 5 ° by a relative rotary movement between the nesting position secured against larger horizontal movements of mutually perpendicular containers 51 '. Since the shells 50 and 50 'in FIG. 23 about a vertical axis K in the substantially identical manner, limited in the same way as it is based on the description of the shell 50. The above Fig. 10 was described with respect to the axis Z, jumping sections 63 c, the as support parts for the 55 According to FIG. 23, nested construction of a container can therefore be used and belong to the supporting shells 50 'without using the cart 80 in lowering parts 56, and the projecting right-hand alignment can be stacked. The containers 5Γ are sections 63 d are designed so that they are arranged in accordance with regardless of whether they are reversed to each other Fig. 19 in similar shells working together, as in Fig. 23 with the three and anchored to each other, since they are pairs of 60 lower container 51 is shown 'or whether aligned sections perpendicular in all 63 c containers, the right side up as it 63 form and d which at the top and the underside in F i g. 23 is shown for the two upper containers, side of the flanges 63 are provided. This down held in vertical alignment if they always cut 63 b, 63 c and 63 d extend along the dimension F i g. 25 along the line D in one direction according to FIG. 19 to the base part 52 obliquely downwards 65 or in the opposite direction to the converging flange 63 on the other.

F i g. 22 and 23 illustrate two methods, the stacking support members 20 in FIG. 6,

around trays combined to form a vertical stack in 40 in Fig. 13, 40 'in Fig. 18, 60 in Fig. 24 and

60 'in Fig. 27 are each in a suitable arrangement but it should be noted that their number, their relative arrangement or their function can vary. The design of the support parts is only based on their mutual relationship, where it depends on the corresponding arrangement in a different shell. You'd get any two stacked trays of any two different sizes can anchor together as long as the arrangement of the support parts on the two shells is the same. It would be possible the four Attaching supports to the four corners of a single plate that can be placed on any flat surface could attach, which has similar parts to which a connection is to be made. Further There may be more than four or less than four stacking support members on each tray be. If the shells are rotated relative to a common central axis, z. B. the axis Z in Fig. 9 and 10, anchored to each other one could use three or any other suitable number of support members for stacking Provide at even arc spacing.

Claims (18)

Patent claims: 1. Shell with a base and at least three side wall parts fastened to the base, the upper edges of which lie in one plane and which can optionally be assembled with "similar" shells to form a container or can be nested with one another, characterized in that on the upper edges of the side wall parts ( 14, 15) of each shell (10) similar locking strips (18 or 43 a, 43 c, 63 c, 64) and locking grooves (19 or 43, 43 b, 63 b, 65) are provided so that when assembling two shells (10) to a container (11) each the locking strips (18 or 43 a, 43 c, 63 c, 64) of the one shell in the locking grooves (19 or 43, 43 b, 63 b, 65) of the grab another shell and thus precisely fix the position of the shells against each other. 2. Shell according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking strips (18) and locking grooves (19) are formed by strip-like projections (17) which alternate in two parallel rows are arranged. 3. Shell according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edges in flanges (43) run out, the flanges of each shell (30) bearing similar locking grooves and locking strips. 4. Shell according to claim 3, characterized in that on each wall part (34,35) only one locking groove formed as a hook (43 α) is provided which, when two shells (30) are assembled to form a container, the flanges (43 ), with one or more bosses (43 c) and detents (43 b) receiving them preferably being provided on the flanges for further securing. 5. Shell according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that preferably continuous hooks (64) are made of resilient material and only on one side of the container are arranged, while on an opposite side of the flange to one of the Hook (64) corresponding locking strip (65) is rolled up. 6. Shell according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the provided at the edges of each shell flanges (63) on their upper side strips (63 c) and on their underside corresponding grooves (63 b) which when nesting the Snap shells into one another. 7. Shell according to one of claims 1 to 6, which with a second shell to a container is composed, characterized in that for secure stacking of the containers on top of each other each shell (10, 30, 50) on its bottom outside also similar locking strips and Has locking grooves. 8. Shell according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by at least one perpendicular extending side wall part (55; Fig. 19 to 22). 9. Shell according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that all mentioned side wall parts (14,15) diverge upwards from the base part (Figs. 1 to 18; 23). 10. Shell according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least some of the support parts (63) serving to form containers along a converging to the base part (52) Extend diagonal (Fig. 19 to 23). 11. Shell according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the upper edges (17) the container (10) lie in a plane parallel to the base part (12). 12. Shell according to claim 11, characterized in that the edges (17) in the to the Base part (12) parallel plane to form a square. 13. Shell according to one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the base part (32) parallel flanges (43) each have an inwardly directed hook (43 a), the Flanges (43) of the shells (30), however, out of the vertical alignment in one direction are arranged offset by an angle. 14. Shell according to claim 13, characterized in that the hook (43 a) is attached to the underside of the base part (32). 15. Tray according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by a recess (32a ') formed in the underside of the base part (32) which is aligned perpendicularly with the opening (47 b') formed by the hook (47 a ') and is at least horizontally aligned with the opening. 16. Shell according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that four for stacking the shells (50 ') serving support parts (60') with corresponding sections (6OZ /, 60 c ', 6Od') extending along parallel lines are present are, with the protruding sections (60i) ', 60c', 60d ') interlocking parallel to the lines in the case of a straight relative movement between a shell (50') and an inverted further shell (50 '). 17. Shell according to claim 16, characterized in that each support part (60) has parallel to its longitudinal axis (see. Line D) extending end portions (60 / '). 18. Shell according to claim 16, characterized in that each support part (60 ') after has externally diverging end portions (6Of), which during the mentioned rectilinear Relative movement serve as guides. Documents considered: Belgian Patent No. 542 752; French Patent No. 997 440; British Patent No. 510,629; U.S. Patent No. 2,577,120. For this purpose 2 sheets of drawings 409 688/234 9. 64 ι Bundesdruckerei Berlin