DE9305720U1 - Packaging containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a packaging container consisting of plate parts with locking elements attached to them.

Such packaging containers of the type mentioned above are commercially available on the market. The individual panel parts are usually screwed and/or nailed together, especially in the case of larger wooden packaging containers. This means that the individual panel parts have to be held by several people until they are connected. Since the connection of the individual panel parts is only possible using tools, packing individual objects is very labor- and time-intensive. In many cases, the packaging container is only stable when all panel parts are completely assembled. The same disadvantage also applies when opening the packaging container, since all connectors have to be pulled out of the packaging container before they can be opened and usually dismantled by several people. In many cases, the panel parts are so damaged when the container is opened that they cannot be recycled or can only be recycled to a limited extent.

The invention is therefore based on the object of improving a packaging container of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that, with a high level of stability of the packaging container, even in a partially assembled or disassembled state, a rapid, uncomplicated and cost-effective assembly or disassembly of the plate parts forming the packaging container is possible, essentially without the use of assembly tools.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the locking elements have engagement elements that can be brought into locking engagement at least vertically for a plug-in connection of locking elements of adjacent plate parts.

By using the locking elements, which form a plug-in connection with the engagement elements, each individual panel part can be easily inserted into its predetermined position and thus locked. This makes it possible to assemble and disassemble the individual panels.

parts without tool connectors and therefore less personnel, easy and quickly.

Because the engagement elements are in vertical locking engagement, the individual panel parts have greater stability among each other and do not need to be held, stiffened or supported until complete assembly, as was previously the case.

It is advantageous that the two plate parts facing each other are identical. This design simplifies the assembly of the packaging container and reduces the number of plate parts.

To make it easier to load the container, it is sometimes necessary to install individual side walls later. However, to ensure that the existing walls have sufficient stability by then, it is advantageous if each side wall is engaged with the adjacent side wall by at least two locking elements. A particularly simple and therefore inexpensive embodiment is obtained by locking elements being profile strips with a rectangular cross-section and forming a frame on the plate parts, which consists in particular of an upper and lower horizontal profile strip and two vertical profile strips, with the vertical profile strips being arranged between the horizontal profile strips.

For locking two walls together, it is particularly advantageous if the upper horizontal profile strip on adjacent side walls is of different lengths, especially if the length of the upper horizontal profile strip with the short side walls is one profile width shorter at both outer ends than the length of the lower horizontal profile strip. This creates a step in the frame on both sides of the ends of the upper profile strip, which has an engagement element. Complementary to this, the length of the upper horizontal profile strip on the long side walls is one profile width longer at both ends than the long lower horizontal profile strip, and the upper profile strip has end sections projecting over the vertical profile strips on both sides, which also have engagement elements. This extension

guide not only provides good stability between two side walls, but is also very easy to manufacture, e.g. from wood. For very large side walls, it can therefore also be useful to use several of these heel-end section pairs in a side wall connection for stability reasons.

For a particularly good supporting and locking effect, it is therefore advantageous if the projecting end sections of the upper profile strips of the long side wall rest on the shoulders of the frame part of the short side wall.

In a preferred embodiment, the short side walls are inserted into the floor first. For the subsequent insertion and locking of the long side walls between the already mounted short side walls, it is preferred to provide the frame of the long side walls with vertical grooves on the vertical end faces. This makes it possible to insert the long side walls from top to bottom, so that the grooves run along the laterally arranged pins of the engagement elements and guide the side wall downwards and also ensure lateral locking.

To facilitate the assembly of larger side walls to form a packaging container, e.g. for the sea packaging of machine tools or control cabinets, it is advantageous if the vertical locking elements have horizontal grooves on the inner sides of the frame, which lead into the vertical grooves. This means that the side wall can first be inserted laterally between the short side walls via the vertical grooves and then locked downwards and then dismantled again in the opposite way. The side wall can therefore practically be "folded in" to connect to the adjacent side walls and finally sealed with only a short vertical movement path. This means that the vertical insertion of the side wall over its entire height is practically eliminated.

It would be conceivable if the locking elements were formed as one piece with the corresponding plate part.

Depending on the material used, it is advantageous, for example in the case of a packaging container made of wood, if the locking elements are screwed to the corresponding panel part, which preferably consists of chipboard, pressed wood or plywood with a thickness of between 3 and 30 mm.

If several packaging containers are to be stacked, or even with larger packaging containers, it is advantageous for stability if the frame has stiffening struts. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement elements are pins and associated counter-openings (bores). This combination represents a very simple and secure plug-in connection. The pins are preferably conical or at least conically chamfered at their front end, to facilitate insertion into the bore, into which the pins engage with little play to ensure a tight fit.

When using other materials such as plastic or metal, it can be advantageous if the pin is made in one piece with the locking element.

It is advantageous if the lid and/or the base only have counter openings in the locking elements. This simplifies the pre-assembly of the individual panel parts, for example.

In the event that objects are packaged in several packaging containers but belong to one shipment, it would be particularly advantageous if a panel part had a frame on both sides consisting of locking elements provided with engagement elements. This means that the panel part can be used as an intermediate floor so that several packaging containers can be connected to one another and built up on top of one another in a modular manner. At the same time, a floor or lid that would otherwise be required is also saved and the individual packaging containers in the stack are prevented from slipping relative to one another.

Heavier packaging containers are usually transported with forklifts or pallet trucks. For this reason, it would be advantageous if the underside of the base could be connected to a Euro pallet.

To make it easy to open a packaging container without tools, it is advantageous if the lid has handles. A simple and therefore inexpensive way of designing these handles is to create recesses in the top edge of at least two side walls.

To ensure safety during transport, it is advantageous if the panel parts are secured against one or more circumferential straps that wrap around the packaging box. To secure the position of such tension straps, it is advantageous if at least one circumferential recess is provided along the outer surface of the packaging container in which the circumferential strap is protected.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment and the associated drawings. These show:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging container according to the invention,

Fig. 2 a side view of the packaging container in which only two short side walls are inserted into a base,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a long side wall of the packaging container,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a short side wall of the packaging container,

Fig. 5 a top view of a lid or bottom of the packaging container,

Fig. 6 is a side view of an intermediate floor of the packaging container, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modular packaging container using the

Intermediate floor according to Fig. 6.

In Fig. 1, a packaging container, hereinafter referred to as a packaging box, is shown in three-dimensional representation. The cuboid-shaped packaging box 1 consists of six rectangular plate parts that can be plugged together, a base 2, two short side walls 3, two long side walls 4 and a lid 5. The two opposite side walls 2 and 5 or 3 and 4 are identical. A Euro pallet 6 is attached to the underside of the base 2. On the outer surfaces of the base 2 of the lid 5 and the long side walls 4, two circumferential recesses 7 are provided in each case, in which a circumferential band 8 is inserted and tightened. This band 8 forms a transport lock for the packaging box 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, on the inward-facing side of each panel part 2, 3, 4, 5, which is designed as a pressed panel, e.g. made of wood chips glued together without phenolic resin or of conventional chipboard or plywood panels with a thickness of 0.3 to 30 mm (depending on the packaging task and transport load), locking elements 9 are fastened, which have engagement elements 10 in the form of engagement pins 31 and counterbores 32 into which the engagement pins 31 engage tightly. In this way, locking elements 9 of adjacent panel parts are brought into locking engagement with one another by a plug connection. The locking elements 9 consist of profile strips with a rectangular cross-section, such as squared timbers, and form a rectangular frame 14 which is screwed, nailed and/or glued to the inside of the base 2, side walls 3, 4 and the cover 5.

The frame 14 consists, as can be seen in Fig. 3, 4 and 5, of an upper profile strip 11, 15, 18 and a lower horizontal profile strip 12, 16, 19 as well as vertical profile strips 13, 17, 20, which are arranged between the horizontal profile strips 11 and 12, 15 and 16, 18 and 19. The profile strips 11 to 20 run parallel to one of the outer edges of the plate parts 2, 3, 4, 5, with the vertical profile strips 13, 17, 20 with their outer long sides flush with the end faces 21 of the lower horizontal

zontal profile strips 12,16,19 are aligned.

As can be seen in Fig. 3 and 4, the upper horizontal profile strips 11, 15 of the side walls 3, 4 are of different lengths compared to the respective lower horizontal profile strips 12, 16.

A long side wall 4 is shown in Fig. 3. The length of the upper horizontal profile strip 11 is one profile width longer at both ends 22 than the lower horizontal profile strip 12 and has end sections 23 projecting beyond the vertical profile strips 13 on both sides, which serve for plug-in locking with adjacent short side walls 3.

A short side wall 3 is shown in Fig. 4. The length of the upper horizontal profile strips 15 is one profile width smaller at both ends 24 than the length of the lower horizontal profile strip 16 and thus forms a shoulder 25 in the frame 14 at both ends 24. This shoulder 25 serves for locking engagement with the projecting end sections 23 of the upper profile strip 11 of the long side wall.

In Fig. 5, a base 2 or cover 5 is shown in which the two horizontal profile strips 18, 19 are of equal length. In the side walls 3, 4, the vertical distance between the horizontal profile strips 11, 12 and 15, 16 and the parallel outer edges of the panel part is approximately one profile strip height. In the base 2 and cover 5, the vertical distance between the horizontal profile strips 18, 19 and the outer edges of the panel part is approximately one panel thickness. In the short side wall 3, the length of the lower profile strip 16 corresponds to the length of the side wall 3, so that the end faces 26 of the lower horizontal profile strip 16 are aligned with the vertical outer edges.

In the long side wall 4, the length of the lower horizontal profile strip 12 is smaller on both sides than the length of the panel part by the sum of a profile strip width and a panel thickness. The horizontal profile strips 18, 19 of the cover 2 and the bottom

dens 5 are just as long as the upper horizontal profile strips 16 of the long side walls 3, so that these profile strips 11,18,19 are shorter on both sides by approximately one panel thickness than the panel parts are long.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, each frame 14 can have one or more stiffening struts 27. On the long side walls 4, the frame 14 has vertical grooves 29 on the vertical end faces 28, which extend over the entire length of the end face 28. These grooves 29 enable the long side wall 4 to be pushed vertically into the guides formed by the laterally projecting pins 31 of the frame 14 of the two adjacent short side walls 3.

In another embodiment of the long side walls (not shown) it is conceivable that the vertical locking elements have horizontal grooves in the inner sides of the frame, which open into the vertical groove. This makes it possible to practically "fold" the long side walls by engaging the guide pins protruding from the frame of the short side walls in these horizontal grooves, and to lock and assemble them by a short vertical movement by engaging their lower pins in the complementary counter-bores in the floor.

As shown in Fig. 3, two corresponding guide pins 30 are arranged opposite one another on the short side wall 3 in the locking elements 9 adjacent to the vertical groove 29, which are in engagement with the vertical groove 29. Each locking element 9 has at least two engagement elements 10 in the form of chamfered pins 31 and associated counterbores 32. On the horizontal profile strips 11, 12, 15, 16, the pins 31 are formed perpendicular to the locking engagement in the corner areas of the side walls 3, 4 and on the shoulders 25. The counterbores 32 are formed in the other profile strips 18, 19, 20 and in the projecting end sections 23, whereby the

The base 2 and the cover 5 exclusively have counterbores 32 in the locking elements 9 for the plug-in locking engagement of the pins 31 projecting upwards and downwards from the frame structures 14 of the side walls 3, 4.

It is also conceivable that, depending on the size of the packaging box 1, a larger or smaller number of engagement elements 10 are arranged on the individual locking elements 9. The pins 31 are inserted into the locking elements 9 and nailed, pinned or screwed to them, if necessary with additional gluing. In the present embodiment, the pins 31 are also made of wood. Since the packaging box 1 is essentially made entirely of wood in this way, it can be easily recycled.

However, it is also conceivable to form the guide and engagement pins 30, 31, which together with the counterbores 32 and the vertical grooves 29 form the most heavily loaded connecting elements of the packaging box 1, from polarized plastic, which can be easily separated from the wooden parts like metal parts in a recycling process. If necessary, the counterbores 32 can also be formed by plastic sleeves made of the same plastic that are pressed into the locking elements 9.

On the short side walls 3, recesses 34 are arranged centrally on the upper edges 33 of the plate parts, which provide a grip for the lid 5.

An intermediate floor 35 is shown in Fig. 6. This consists of a plate part such as a floor 2 or cover 5, on which a frame 14 is arranged on both sides, which also has locking elements 9 provided with counter bores 32.

With this intermediate floor, a packaging box 1 in modular construction is shown in Fig. 7, consisting of two packaging box parts that are put on top of each other or easily separable individual packaging boxes. The structure is

any additional base or lid required is completely identical.

In this way, a packaging box can easily be combined to form a larger packaging unit and used to package different but related components together, whereby the height of the box parts above and below the intermediate floor 35 can of course be different (combination of packaging boxes 1 of different heights).

The packaging box 1 can be assembled simply by simply putting together the individual panel parts 2, 3, 4, 5, or more precisely the associated frame structures 14. First, as shown in Fig. 2, the pins 31 of the lower horizontal profile strip 16 of the frame structures 14 of the short side walls 3 are inserted from above into the counter holes 32 of the profile strip 20 of the base 2, so that the lower edge 36 of the short side wall 3 rests on the inner surface of the base 2. The lower horizontal profile strips 16 also rest on the profile strips 20 of the base 2. These supports enable the side walls 3 to stand stably and freely, so that they no longer need to be held after they have been assembled.

The long side walls 4 are then pushed in from above between the opposing short side walls 3. The vertical grooves 29 slide over the inwardly projecting guide pins 30 of the frame 14 of the short side walls 3, so that the long side wall 4 is guided when pushed in. When the long side wall 4 is pushed into the locking position, the pins 31 of the lower horizontal profile strip 12 of the long side wall 4 are pushed into the counter bores 32 of the profile strip 18 or 19 of the base 2, with the profile strip 12 of the side wall 4 resting on the profile strip 18 or 19, while a lower edge 37 of the long side wall 4 rests on the inner surface of the base 2. On the other hand, the projecting end sections 23 of the upper horizontal profile strip 11 of the long side wall 4 are also pushed onto

the shoulders 25 of the frame 14 of the short side walls 3
placed, whereby the pins of the shoulders 25 fit into the counter bores 32 of the projecting end sections 23 of the upper profile strip 11
and the long side wall 4 forms a connection between
the short side walls 3.

Even an inserted long side wall 4 stabilizes the
Side walls 3, 4 so that a certain amount of caulking of objects within the partially assembled
Packing box 1 is possible.

Alternatively, a modified side wall (not shown) with additional horizontal grooves can be used, especially for large side walls. In this case, the long side walls
then not pushed over the guide pins from above,
but they are first swung in from the side over the horizontal grooves until the guide pins are in the vertical groove
The side walls can then be pushed down into the lowest position and locked.

Finally, the lid 5 is placed on the side walls 3, 4 from above
for flush closing of the packing box 1. The packing box 1 is to be closed in reverse order
easy to disassemble. To make it easier to open the lid 5, the recesses 34 on the short side walls 3 serve as a handle.

The packaging box 1 in modular design with intermediate floor 35 according to Fig. 6 is constructed in the same way, with assembly and disassembly taking place using the intermediate floor 35.

Optionally, the packaging box 1 or the packaging box 1 in modular design, which can also be understood as a stack of several packaging boxes, can be secured with a circumferential drawstring 8, whereby circumferential recesses for protection and
Guide of the drawstring 8 provided in the packaging box 1

Fastening a Euro pallet 6 to the base 2 is also useful in many cases. The base 2 can either be screwed, nailed or glued to the Euro pallet 6 or can be made in one piece.

This invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment; rather, other designs for the engagement elements can also be selected, in which the advantages of an uncomplicated plug connection are preserved. In addition, the packaging box 1 can also form a different geometric shape, in particular a cube with side edges of equal length.

Claims (27)

Protection claims 1. Packaging container, consisting of plate parts, with locking elements fastened to them, characterized in that the locking elements (9) have engagement elements (10) which can be brought into locking engagement at least vertically for a plug-in connection of locking elements (9) of adjacent plate parts (2,3,4,5). 2. Packaging container, consisting of six plate parts, each with two short side walls, two long side walls, a lid and a base, according to claim 1, characterized in that the two plate parts (2 and 5, 3 and 4) and locking elements (9) lying opposite one another are designed to match. 3. Packaging container according to claim 2, characterized in that each side wall (3, 4) is engaged with the adjacent side wall (3, 4) by at least two locking elements (9). 4. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking elements (9) are profile strips (11 to 20) with a rectangular cross-section and form a frame (14) on the plate parts (2,3,4,5). 5. Packaging container according to claim 4, characterized in that the frame (14) consists of an upper (11,15,18) and lower horizontal profile strip (12,16,19) and two vertical profile strips (13,17,20). 6. Packaging container according to claim 5, characterized in that the vertical profile strips (13,17,20) are arranged between the horizontal profile strips (11,12 and 15,16 and 18,19). 7. Packaging container according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the upper horizontal profile strip (11, 15) is of different lengths on adjacent side walls (3, 4). 8. Packaging container according to claim 7, characterized in that the length of the upper horizontal profile strip (15) at the short side walls (3) at both outer ends (24) is less than the length of the lower horizontal profile strip (12) by one profile width, and a shoulder (25) is formed in the frame (14) on both sides of the ends (24) of the upper profile strip (15). 9. Packaging container according to claim 8, characterized in that the shoulder (25) of the frame (14) of the short side walls (3) has an engagement element (10). 10. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the length of the upper horizontal profile strip (11) at the long side walls (4) at both ends (22) is greater by one profile width than the long lower horizontal profile strip (12) and the upper horizontal profile strip (11) has end sections (23) projecting on both sides beyond the vertical profile strips (13). 11. Packaging container according to claim 10, characterized in that the projecting end sections (23) have engagement elements (10). 12. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the projecting end sections (23) of the upper horizontal profile strip (11) of the long side wall (4) rest on the shoulders (25) of the frame (14) of the short side wall (3). 13. Packaging container according to claim 12, characterized in that the end section (23) is locked on the shoulder (25) of the frame (14) of the short side wall (3) by means of a pair of engagement elements (31, 32). 14. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 4 to 13, characterized in that the frame structure (14) of the long side walls (4) has vertical grooves (29) on the vertical end faces (28) for engagement from inwards from the frame structure (14) of the shorter side walls (3) projecting guide pins (30). 15. Packaging container according to claim 14, characterized in that the vertical profile strips in the inner sides of the frame have horizontal grooves which open into the vertical grooves. 16. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the locking elements (9) are formed in one piece with the associated plate part (2,3,4,5). 17. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the locking elements (9) are screwed to the associated plate part (2,3,4,5). 18. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the frame (14) has stiffening struts (27). 19. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the engagement elements are pins (31) and associated counter-openings (32). 20. Packaging container according to claim 19, characterized in that the pin (31) is formed integrally with the locking element (9). 21. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the lid (5) and/or the base (2) have exclusively counter-openings (32) as engagement elements in the locking elements (9). 22. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 21, characterized in that a plate part (2, 3, 4, 5) has on both sides a frame (14) consisting of locking elements (9) provided with engagement elements (11). 23. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 22, characterized in that an underside of the base (2) can be connected to a Euro pallet (6). 24. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the lid (5) has handles (33). 25. Packaging container according to claim 22, characterized in that the handles (33) on at least two side walls (3, 4) are formed by recesses in an upper edge of the side wall. 26. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 25, characterized in that at least one circumferential recess (7) is provided along the outer surfaces of the packaging container (1). 27. Packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 26, characterized in that a circumferential band (8) secures the plate parts (2,3,4,5) against spontaneous detachment from one another.