DE29921409U1 - Molded insulating material container - Google Patents

Description

Container made of molded foam insulation material

The invention relates to a container made of insulating material with a ceiling, a base, a surrounding peripheral wall, a front opening and a closure for closing the front opening.

Such containers are known and are used in particular for storing and shipping consumer goods, especially foodstuffs in temperature-controlled logistics chains. The known containers consist of a rigid outer frame construction or shell that is lined with an internal insulating layer. This construction is relatively complex and has a relatively high weight in order to achieve sufficient rigidity of the container with the required insulating properties.

The object of the invention is therefore to develop a container of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that a lightweight, self-supporting construction with sufficient strength and sufficient insulating properties is available.

This problem is solved according to the invention in the container of the type mentioned at the beginning with a first alternative in that the lower section of the peripheral wall together with the bottom form a one-piece bottom pan.

The above object is achieved according to the invention in a container of the type mentioned at the outset with a second alternative in that the left side of the peripheral wall together with a section of the rear side of the peripheral wall and with a section of the ceiling and with a section of the base form a one-piece side part.

The advantages of the invention according to the first alternative are in particular that the lower section of the peripheral wall together with the bottom of the container form a one-piece base pan, which is made from the selected insulating material, preferably expanded polypropylene, after which panels made of insulating material are then connected and for this purpose are preferably placed bluntly or chamfered on the peripheral peripheral wall section of the base pan and connected to the base pan. The production of a base pan from sufficiently insulating but also sufficiently strong panel material gives the entire container increased strength. An additional full-surface sheathing to increase strength can then be dispensed with.

The advantages of the invention according to the second alternative are in particular that the left side of the peripheral wall together with a section of the rear side of the peripheral wall and with a section of the ceiling and with a section of the base form a one-piece side part which is made from a selected insulating material, preferably from expanded polypropylene (EPP). The manufacture of a left side part from sufficiently insulating but also sufficiently strong material gives the entire container increased strength. An additional full-surface casing to increase strength can then also be dispensed with. Particularly preferably, the right side of the peripheral wall together with a section of the rear side of the peripheral wall with a section of the ceiling and with a section of the base form a one-piece side part which preferably has a shape corresponding to the left side part, advantageously identical, is made of identical material and is arranged opposite the left side part in mirror image. This embodiment further improves the rigidity of the container without the need for an additional solid casing or reinforcement.

Particularly preferably, the upper section of the peripheral wall (first alternative) of the container together with its cover forms a one-piece head pan, which preferably has a shape corresponding to the bottom pan, advantageously identical to it, is made of identical material and is a mirror image of the bottom pan.

This design further improves the rigidity of the container without the need for additional solid casing or reinforcement.

Particularly preferably, the base pan and the head pan have a rectangular base area, and plate-shaped wall elements are arranged between the head pan and the base pan. The front opening is provided opposite the rear wall and extends from the upper edge of the base pan to the lower edge of the cover pan. The front opening can be closed with a closure, which preferably consists of a flexible insulating mat. The (partially) flexible closure (insulating mat) is preferably attached to the container at its upper end and has a Velcro strip in its edge, which interacts with a corresponding Velcro strip attached to the container and therefore easily forms a detachable closure for the front opening. The Velcro strip attached to the container is preferably attached to the front edges of the two side walls, the front opening extends from side wall to side wall and from the base pan to the head pan and/or to the ceiling.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, if special reinforcement is desired, the container has a frame made of metal profiles, which in particular has corner profiles that protect the edges of the container. The special reinforcement can also consist of a casing made of, for example, stainless steel, which encloses the outside on all sides and also protects the edges of the container. The corner profiles can be designed as angle profiles that run along the edges of the container and are connected to one another. In addition, flat profiles or profiles with a different cross-section can also be used, which are provided as struts between corner profiles.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a rolling base is attached under the floor pan, which - as a special embodiment - can also be designed to be removable.

The inner surfaces of the peripheral wall are preferably provided with vertical grooves in order to achieve cold circulation and, in particular, to prevent the formation of heat pockets in the area of goods resting against the inner wall.

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According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, horizontal guide grooves are also provided in the side walls, which can accommodate grid-shaped or closed floor inserts.

Preferably, the outer profile of the container corresponds exactly to the inner profile of a standard roll container, so that even if the standard roll containers touch each other, the containers are not damaged.

Advantageously, the container also contains at least one opening through which cold snow can be blown in. Cooling elements can also preferably be provided in the container.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized by the features of the subclaims.

In the following, an embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. They show:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container with closed front opening (invention according to first alternative);

Fig. 2 is a section through the container according to Figures 1 and 2, looking downwards;

Fig. 3 View of a container with closed front opening (invention according to second alternative);

Fig. 4 Cross section through a container according to the invention according to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 View of a side wall of a container according to the invention;

Fig. 6 further cross-sectional view of a container according to the invention with inclined bottom wall;

Fig. 7 View of a container on a standard roll container; and

Fig. 8 View of a container on a standard roll container.

Figures 1 and 2 show a container 2 in a perspective view with a closed front opening (Figure 1) and in a cross-section (Figure 2). In the embodiment shown, see Figure 2, the container 2 has a base 3 with a rectangular cross-section, a peripheral wall 5, a front opening 12 and a closure 14 for closing the front opening 12. The peripheral

Wall 5 consists of two parallel side walls 6 and a rear wall 8 connecting the side walls. Opposite the rear wall 8 there is a front opening 12.

The lower section of the peripheral wall 5 and the base 3 together form a one-piece base pan 4. In the same way, the upper section of the peripheral wall 5 together with the ceiling 9 forms a one-piece head pan 10. The base pan 4 and head pan 10 are arranged opposite one another in mirror image and are held at a predetermined distance from one another by plate-shaped insulating material which forms the side walls 6 and the rear wall 8. Opposite the rear wall 8 is the front opening 12 which extends from the upper edge of the base pan 4 to the lower edge of the head pan 10 and from one side wall 6 to the other side wall 6. A flexible insulating mat 14 is attached or fastened to the head pan, specifically by means of the strip 15, just above the front opening 12. The mat has a Velcro strip 16 on its edge, which interacts with a corresponding Velcro strip 18 that is attached to the front sides of the side walls 6 and in the upper area of the base pan 4 - opposite the stop edge of the insulating mat 14 - on the container. The insulating mat has a rectangular shape that overlaps the front opening 12 around the Velcro strip and closes the front opening 12 when the Velcro strip 16 and the Velcro strip 18 adhere to one another.

A roller base 30 is detachably attached under the base pan 4, on the underside of which several rollers 32 are attached. In the embodiment shown, the container has rectangular side walls 6, a rectangular rear wall 8, as well as a base pan and a head pan with a rectangular base. To reinforce the edges and/or to stiffen the container, a frame made of corner profiles 20 is provided on the outside, which run along the edges of the container, protect the edges and are connected to one another in order to improve the rigidity of the container. Between the parallel corner profiles 20 running along the longitudinal edges, flat profiles 22 are provided, which stiffen the longitudinal profiles.

An opening 34 is provided in the head pan 10 through which cold snow can be blown in. Handles 35 are attached to the outside of the side walls 6 - next to the front opening 1 2.

The container consists of plate-shaped elements and the head pan 10 as well as the base pan 4. The plate-shaped elements as well as the base pan 4 and the

Head pans 10 are preferably made of expanded polypropylene and have a wall thickness of between 10 mm and 50 mm. The base pan 4 and the head pan 10 are each formed from one piece, the plate-shaped elements between the two pans 4, 10 abut bluntly or chamfered on the peripheral edges and are connected to the pans 4, 10 there, for example glued.

The inner surfaces of the peripheral wall 5 are provided with vertical grooves (not shown), and in addition, guide grooves (not shown) are arranged in the side walls 6 at a predetermined distance in order to be able to insert floor inserts.

Figure 3 shows the view of a container according to the invention according to a second alternative, in which the left side of the peripheral wall together with a section of the rear side of the peripheral wall and with a section of the cover and a section of the base form one-piece side parts. Figure 1 therefore shows the container 2, which consists of a first side part 40 (left) and a second part 41 (right). Each side part consists of a side wall 42 or 43, a base part 44 or 45, a rear wall part 46 or 47 and a cover part 48 or 49. Both side parts correspond to one another and are assembled (e.g. glued) at the end faces of the cover parts, the rear wall and the base and thus form the container 2. The closure 14 (see description of Figures 1 and 2) can be provided to close the container.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the container according to Figure 3. It can be seen that the side walls consist of two layers 50 and 51, respectively, which are placed on top of each other and which have a different bevel course.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the container according to Figure 1 or Figure 3 (longitudinal section). The rear wall, the ceiling and the base are shown in cross-section, the side wall in plan view. The side wall has several grooves 53 (or ribs) so that even when the container is filled with goods (e.g. boxes) channels are still formed on the side walls so that even when the container is full a cooling circuit is still formed on the side walls so that the goods can be cooled. The depth of the grooves or ribs can be several millimeters, in some cases even several centimeters.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment in which the bottom has a bevel

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so that the goods placed in the container are always inclined towards the rear wall and cannot automatically fall out of the container opening. This "slant" on the inside can also be achieved by placing the entire container "slanted", for example by cutting away the base plate at an angle. By forming a base plate which is inclined towards the rear wall of the container, it is ensured that container goods which may have been carelessly placed in the container do not fall out of the container when the closure is opened. The inclination can be a few degrees, for example up to 20°. The inclination can also be achieved by placing an element which has an inclined plane in cross section into the container as described in Figures 1 and 3. An inclined position of the container can also be achieved by attaching an element which has an inclined plane in cross section under the container base.

The entire container is preferably accommodated in a standard roll container (Figures 7 and 8). Such roll containers are internationally standardized and the external dimensions of the container described above should correspond exactly to the internal dimensions of the roll container. The profile of the external structure of the container should possibly correspond to the structure and profile of the roll container or its inside, so that when the container is placed in the roll container, it is sufficiently securely fixed due to the pressure/friction between the roll container and the container. Of course, the attachment between the container and the standard roll container can be improved by using additional fastening elements (brackets, Velcro straps, screw connections, etc.).

In order to improve the cold circulation, in addition to the formation of vertical grooves on the side walls (possibly also on the rear wall), it is also advantageous to apply a stainless steel layer (possibly also provided with grooves) to the floor.

The container according to the invention is characterized by its extremely low weight because the container consists of a self-supporting insulated container made of expanded polypropylene (wall thickness e.g. 50/60 mm). The door flap made of PVC (with a food-safe coating on the inside) also contains insulating elements (wall thickness 50 mm) and is closed with a Velcro strip all around, as described. If the container is placed on a standard roller pallet

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its external dimensions should essentially be 81Ox 720 mm.

Figure 7 shows the view of the container according to the invention, which is placed on a roll container. It can also be seen that the base is inclined towards the rear wall and that the closure flap can be folded away over the ceiling, which is advantageous for operating the container. Figure 8 shows the container according to the invention stored on a standard roll container with a closed front flap.

Figure 7 also shows that the front flap essentially consists of two parts, so that the front flap can be folded back into itself when folded away and then lies on the ceiling of the container. The front flap can be firmly attached to the ceiling. To make the front flap flexible, it is advisable to equip the front flap in the bend area with a flexible material, such as foam rubber.

Claims (29)

1. Container made of molded foam insulating material, with a ceiling, a bottom, a surrounding peripheral wall, a front opening and a closure for closing the front opening, characterized in that the lower section of the peripheral wall ( 5 ) together with the bottom form a one-piece bottom pan ( 4 ). 2. Container made of molded foam insulating material with a ceiling, a base, a surrounding peripheral wall, a front opening and a closure for closing the front opening, characterized in that the container consists of two substantially corresponding side parts and a side part is formed in one piece by a side wall together with a portion of the rear of the peripheral wall and a portion of the ceiling and a portion of the base. 3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper section of the peripheral wall ( 5 ) together with the ceiling ( 9 ) form a one-piece head trough ( 10 ). 4. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base pan ( 4 ) and the ceiling pan ( 10 ) have a rectangular base area, and that plate-shaped side walls ( 6 ) and a plate-shaped rear wall ( 8 ) and the front opening ( 12 ) opposite the rear wall are provided between the ceiling pan ( 10 ) and the base pan ( 4 ). 5. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base pan ( 4 ) and the ceiling pan ( 10 ) are identically designed. 6. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an external stiffener ( 20 , 22 ) around the container. 7. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a frame ( 20 , 22 ) made of metal profiles around the container. 8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the frame ( 20 , 22 ) contains corner profiles ( 20 ) which protect the edges of the container and are connected to one another. 9. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rolling base ( 30 ) is detachably attached under the base pan ( 4 ). 10. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner surfaces of the peripheral wall ( 5 ) and/or the side wall are provided with vertical grooves (ribs) to form cooling channels. 11. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by horizontal guide grooves in the side walls ( 6 ) for inserting base inserts. 12. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front opening ( 12 ) extends from the base pan ( 4 ) to the ceiling pan ( 10 ). 13. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure contains a flexible insulating mat ( 14 ). 14. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that the flexible insulating mat ( 14 ) is attached to the container at its upper end and carries a Velcro strip ( 16 ) on its edge, which cooperates with a corresponding Velcro strip ( 18 ) attached to the container. 15. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an opening ( 34 ) for blowing in cold snow. 16. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that cold snow is blown in from the opening ( 34 ) and the CO ₂ produced is sucked out. 17. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by cooling elements in the container. 18. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container walls consist of expanded polypropylene. 19. Container according to claim 17, characterized in that the wall thickness of the container walls ( 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 ) is between 10 and 65 mm. 20. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the left side of the peripheral wall together with a portion of the rear side of the peripheral wall and with a portion of the ceiling and with a portion of the base form the left one-piece side part and that the right side of the peripheral wall together with a portion of the rear side of the peripheral wall with a portion and with a portion of the base form the right one-piece side part. 21. Container according to claim 20, characterized in that the bottom and the ceiling have a rectangular base and that the peripheral wall consisting of the left side wall, the rear wall and the right side wall runs between the ceiling and the bottom and the rear wall is provided opposite the front opening. 22. Container according to claim 21, characterized in that both side parts are essentially identical. 23. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an external casing is provided around the container, which also protects the edges. 24. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front opening extends from the upper edge of the base to the lower edge of the ceiling. 25. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure of the front opening contains a partially flexible closure mat into which plates of molded foam insulating material are inserted and that the flexibility of the closure mat is increased by the introduction of flexible material, for example foam rubber, when the closure mat is relieved of load. 26. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that openings are provided for sucking air out of the interior of the container and for blowing cooled air into the interior of the container. 27. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container parts consist of expanded polypropylene (EPP). 28. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom is inclined towards the rear wall. 29. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is designed in terms of its external dimensions so that it fits exactly on a standard roll container.