DE9403716U1 - Corrugated cardboard containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container made of corrugated cardboard with a base, a lid and side walls.

Such containers are used in a variety of ways to transport goods. The problem often arises that the degree of filling of the containers varies. If containers of the same height are used, a half-full container may be transported, which means that transport can no longer be carried out economically.

The object of the invention is to design a container in such a way that it can be adapted to the respective filling level.

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This object is achieved according to the invention in a container of the type described at the outset in that the side walls are composed of several annular sections which are arranged one above the other and slightly overlap at their connection points at least along part of their circumference.

Because the container is composed of several ring-shaped sections in its side wall area, it is possible to vary the height of the container by varying the number of sections placed one above the other and thus to adapt it to the respective filling level.

It is advantageous if, according to a first preferred embodiment, the sections at a connection point have a groove-shaped recess in their front edge, into which the adjacent section engages. This ensures that the sections are fixed in place in the transverse direction by mutual engagement and form a defined and closed side wall.

It is advantageous if the wall thickness of the sections decreases from the side of the groove-shaped recess to the opposite side. This makes it easier to insert the sections into the groove of the adjacent section.

In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the cross-section of the container is rectangular and that one long side has a vertical fold line which

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is located at a distance from a corner that is equal to the length of a side wall. This special design makes it possible to fold the ring-shaped section in such a way that a short side wall and the equally long section of the adjacent longer side wall are folded inwards, so that overall a folded package is created whose total length corresponds to that of the long side wall. This makes it possible to accommodate such a folded package or possibly several packages inside a single section, which is then shipped as an empty container with a base and lid part and can be increased to the desired height as required.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that each section has an annular band and that several U-shaped folded stiffening profiles are arranged along the band in such a way that they accommodate the band in their interior and protrude upwards over the band with their upper edge. This makes it very easy to obtain annular sections that form a receiving groove for the adjacent section on their upper side, because the laterally protruding walls of the stiffening profile define such a groove above the band. At the same time, these profiles stiffen the inherently flexible wall of the annular band.

It is advantageous if the stiffening profiles leave short ring areas free between them and thus form bendable areas of the band between them.

In particular, the band can be free of stiffening profiles in the four corner areas of the ring, so that the band can act as a hinge in the corner area.

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Also in the area of the vertical fold line, the tape is preferably free of stiffening profiles so that each section can be folded together in the manner described.

In a preferred embodiment, the areas of the stiffening profiles that protrude upwards are bevelled at their lateral edges. This means that no sharp edges are created in the folding area of the ring-shaped section, and the risk of injury is avoided.

It is advantageous if the areas of the stiffening profiles that protrude upwards are folded inwards and dip into the spacers between the upper edge of the band and the stiffening profile. This causes the walls of the stiffening profile to point slightly outwards from bottom to top, giving the stiffening profile a slightly V-shaped cross-section. At the same time, the groove formed on the top of the section is widened slightly, making it easier to insert the upper section. This upper section has a smaller width at its lower end and can therefore be easily inserted into the groove that widens upwards.

In particular, it can be provided that the part of the stiffening profiles folded inwards is folded upwards again at its free edge, so that in the upper edge area of the band between this and the stiffening profile a double layer of the stiffening profile is arranged as a spacer. This increases the aforementioned expansion effect.

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It is advantageous if the free edge of the stiffening profile ends at the top edge of the band; this free edge then forms, together with the top edge of the band, the bottom of the annular groove into which the adjacent section is inserted.

The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention serves to explain in more detail in conjunction with the drawing. They show:

Figure 1

a perspective view of a container with three annular sections in disassembled state;

Figure 2

a sectional view along line 2-2 in Figure 1 of an assembled container;

Figure 3

a plan view of an annular section of the container in the unfolded state (solid lines) and in the folded state (dash-dotted lines) and

Figure 4

a partial perspective view of an annular section.

The container 1 shown in the drawing comprises a base 2 with a flat base surface 3 and vertical edge strips 4 protruding from it at the sides, as well as a lid 5 which is constructed in exactly the same way as the base 2.

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In addition, the container 1 is constructed from several ring-shaped sections 6, which are placed on top of one another in a manner to be explained in more detail below, such that they form a common side wall for the container 1.

Each section 6 is structured in the same way, so only one such section 6 will be described in more detail below.

Each section 6 comprises a self-contained and thus ring-shaped band 7, which can be formed, for example, from a two-layer corrugated cardboard.

This band 7 is inserted into several profile strips 8, which are all constructed the same apart from their length. Each profile strip 8 consists of an essentially rectangular, single-layer cut of corrugated cardboard, which is folded in a U-shape so that two completely identical side wall parts 10 are connected to a narrow base strip 9. These wall parts 10 are higher than the band 7 and protrude from it on both sides. Each wall part 10 is folded inwards by 180° in the upper area and then again by 180° upwards, creating two edge strips 11 and 12 running parallel to the upper edge of the profile strips 8, with the inner edge strip 12 lying directly against the band 7, while the middle edge strip 11 is arranged between the edge strip 12 and the wall part 10. The middle edge strip 11 extends from the upper edge of the profile strip 8 downwards to a lower bending edge 13, which is arranged below the upper edge of the band 7.

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The inner edge strip 12 runs from this lower bending edge 13 to exactly the upper edge of the band 7, so that the upper edge of the band 7 and the upper edge of the inner edge strip 11 of the two wall parts 10 together form the bottom 14 of a longitudinal groove 15 at the upper edge of each section 6. This longitudinal groove 15 is laterally limited by the wall parts 10 of the profile strip 8 and the middle edge strip 11 folded onto it. It is slightly widened outwards, since both the edge strip 11 and the edge strip 12 form spacers between the wall part 10 and the band 7 and lead to a slightly V-shaped cross section of the profile strip 8. The width of the bottom 14 essentially corresponds to the outer width of the profile strip 8, so that it is largely flush with the longitudinal groove 15. In Figure 2, the spaces between the two sections in the area of the longitudinal groove 15 are shown somewhat exaggerated for reasons of clarity.

The profile strips 8 and the band 7 are glued or bonded together, so that a rigid and stable wall is created.

The profile strips 8 leave short areas 16 of the band 7 free between them, so that the band 7 is not stiffened in these areas, but remains flexible to a small extent; these areas therefore act as hinge areas.

In the embodiment of a container with a rectangular cross-section shown in the drawing, such flexible areas 16 are provided at the four corners of the container, as well as in the area of one of the two longitudinal sides.

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ten 17, namely at a distance from the shorter side of the section that corresponds exactly to the length of this shorter side. This design makes it possible to fold the rectangular section so that a short side 18 and the adjacent area of the long side 17 with the same length as the short side 18 can be folded inwards (shown in dashed lines in Figure 3), while the opposite short side and the remaining part of the divided long side and the opposite undivided long side accommodate the inwardly folded parts between them. In this way, it is possible to fold sections in a space-saving manner, so that a larger number of sections folded in this way can be inserted into a stretched section, as is indicated in the lower section in Figure 1.

The profile strips 8 are bevelled at their respective ends on their upper part, which protrudes over the belt 7, in order to avoid damage to the container and injuries in this area.

The container described can be delivered at a very low height, because it is sufficient to unfold one section and insert it into the base 2. Further sections can be folded up and inserted into this section, this very low container is then closed with the lid 5.

To use, the folded sections arranged inside the container are removed and unfolded and stacked on top of each other in the desired number as required. By inserting the lower edges of the

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By inserting sections 6 into the longitudinal grooves of the sections below, a container of any height can be constructed, which is closed at the top with the lid 5.

After using the container, you can proceed in reverse order; it is always possible to fold the sections together again in the manner described after use and thereby reduce the height of the container.

Claims (1)

PROTECTION CLAIMS Container made of corrugated cardboard with a base and a lid and with side walls, characterized in that the side walls are composed of several annular sections (6) which are arranged one above the other and slightly overlap at their connection points at least along part of their circumference. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the sections (6) have a groove-shaped recess (15) in their front edge at a connection point, into which the adjacent section (6) engages. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the wall thickness of the sections (6) decreases from the side of the groove-shaped recess (15) to the opposite side. CORRUGATED CARDBOARD ANSBACH ... : ; ··!' * ! '" · A/ 53^89 u 4 March 1994 u-214 - 11 - 4. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of the container (1) is rectangular and that one longitudinal side has a
vertical fold line located at a distance from a corner equal to the length
a short side wall. 5. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each section (6) has a
annular band (7) and that along the band (7) several U-shaped folded stiffening profiles (8) are arranged in such a way that they receive the band (7) in their interior and with their upper
Edge protrudes upwards over the band (7). 6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the stiffening profiles (8) leave short ring areas (16) free between them and thus
form flexible areas of the band (7). 7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that in the four corner areas of the ring the band (7) is free of stiffening profiles (8). 8. Container according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized characterized in that the vertical fold line is free of stiffening profiles (8). CORRUGATED BOARD ANSBACH ... : I'T * &idigr;&idigr;· · A* 53:889 u 4 March 1994 u-214 - 12 - 9. Container according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the upwardly projecting regions of the stiffening profiles (8) are bevelled at their lateral edges. 10. Container according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the upwardly projecting areas of the stiffening profiles (8) are folded inwards and dip as spacers between the upper edge of the band (7) and the stiffening profile (8). 11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the inwardly folded part of the stiffening profiles (8) is folded upwards again at its free edge, so that in the upper edge region (7) between this and the stiffening profile (8) a double layer of the stiffening profile (8) is arranged as a spacer. 12. Container according to claim 11, characterized in that the free edge of the stiffening profile (8) ends with the upper edge of the band (7).