DE9405765U1 - Flat stackable container - Google Patents

Description

Flat stackable container

The invention relates to a flattenable stacking container according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such stacking containers are known as reusable transport containers in the form of small containers and are designed for multiple circulation in materials management. They have a base in the form of a continuous base plate or a slatted arrangement onto which a flat structure can be placed. The structure is designed as a so-called folding frame, i.e. the longitudinal and end walls are connected to one another in a hinged manner, for example via straps, so that the structure is held together, but can be folded and laid flat on the floor for the purpose of space-saving return transport. The two end walls are often split and also held together in a hinged manner by a strap, so that the structure does not protrude beyond the floor when folded and placed on the floor.

The disadvantage of such stacking containers is the relatively

Postbank: Karlsruhe 769 79-7&Idigr;&Agr; rSvfokenti: tteytsghe fewik &G Villingen (BLZ 694 700 39) 146 332 V.A.T. No. DE142989261

relatively low inherent stability when erected. For this reason, they are only available as small containers.

Stacking containers have also become known that have a base with an undercarriage structure in the form of a so-called Euro pallet, into which side walls can be inserted individually and are held together by connecting elements. These connecting elements are usually angle brackets that are guided laterally over the edge of two adjacent side walls and engage in correspondingly designed recesses in the side walls. This allows the realization of a structure that is relatively stable. To further increase stability, the side walls are often additionally secured by nails.

The disadvantage of such stacking containers, however, is that they are relatively complicated to handle, as a large number of loose components must be handled individually. The assembly also requires a high degree of skill, as attaching the angle brackets is relatively complicated. Furthermore, a large number of individual parts must be held together securely when returned in a flat state, as otherwise there is a risk that the connecting elements in particular will be lost. This is probably the reason why such stacking containers have not yet been able to establish themselves on a large scale, despite the general trend towards reusable packaging.

The invention was therefore based on the problem of providing a flat stacking container of the type mentioned above, which no longer has the disadvantages described. In particular, a stacking container for

which has a high level of inherent stability even when larger dimensions are realized, in particular in the dimensions of a Euro pallet.

This problem is solved by a stacking container having the features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified by the features of the subclaims.

The invention is based on the idea of equipping the floor with a floor frame that is flush with the outside, against which the foldable walls of the structure are placed when erected, and the floor frame also has inward-facing positioning elements that engage with correspondingly designed counter-elements attached to the walls of the structure. This ensures that the structure is stabilized in the floor area. This is achieved by resting on the floor frame and by the positioning elements that provide additional support. The structure has sufficient inherent stability at the top, as the individual walls are held together like hinges with bands that run lengthways. The final stability is achieved by placing another stacking container on top, the floor group of which, in particular the undercarriage structure in the case of the preferred pallet, is adapted to the dimensions of the structure in such a way that it surrounds the walls inside and/or outside.

According to a preferred variant, a surrounding mounting frame is provided, which is placed on top of the erected structure and thus gives it an extremely high level of inherent stability. A

Another stacking container with its undercarriage structure is placed on top in such a way that it is surrounded by the mounting frame on the outside.

Pins that are attached to the floor frame have proven to be effective positioning elements. These point inwards and are aligned with corresponding holes in the walls of the structure. Just a few positioning elements of this kind are enough to achieve a high level of stability.

In a further preferred embodiment, brackets are screwed to the base frame, with a leg designed as a tab pointing inwards and engaging in a corresponding slot in the side wall of the structure. It has been shown that with such a solution, two oppositely arranged brackets are sufficient to ensure the desired stability.

Another variant has angle fittings as positioning elements, which are screwed onto the floor frame in each of the four corners. They engage in appropriately designed slots in the corner area of two adjacent side surfaces, so that the structure is also safely guided. The angle fittings also stabilize the floor frame, which in this case is designed for the highest loads.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the embodiments shown schematically in the figures.

Figures 1 to 7 show a stacking container in a first

embodiment,

Figures 8 to 14 stacking containers in a second embodiment and

Figures 15 to 23 Stacking containers in a third version

form of formation.

In detail it is shown:

Figure 1 Stacking container, laid flat, stacked on top of each other, side view and view from the right,

Figure 2 Stacking container, laid flat, in perspective view,

Figure 3 Stacking container, structure erected but still partially folded, in perspective view,

Figure 4 Stacking container, fully assembled, in perspective view,

Figure 5 Mounting frame, in different views,

Figure 6 Stacking container, fully assembled, mounting frame attached, in perspective view,

Figure 7 Stacking containers, set up, stacked on top of each other, in side view and view from the right;

Figure 8 Stacking containers, laid flat, stacked on top of each other, in side view and view from the right,

Figure 9 Stacking container, laid flat, in perspective view,

Figure 10 Stacking container, structure erected but still partially folded, in perspective view,

Figure 11 Stacking container, fully assembled, in perspective view,

Figure 12 Mounting frame in different views,

Figure 13 Stacking container, fully erected, mounting frame attached, in perspective view,

Figure 14 Stacking containers, set up, stacked on top of each other, in side view and view from the right/

Figure 15 Stacking containers, laid flat, stacked on top of each other, in side view and view from the right,

Figure 16 Stacking container, laid flat, in perspective view,

Figure 17 Stacking container, structure erected but still partially folded, in perspective view,

Figure 18 Detailed view according to Figure 17,

Figure 19 Stacking container, fully assembled, in perspective view,

Figure 20 Detailed view from above,

Figure 21 Mounting frame, in different views,

Figure 22 Stacking container, erected, mounting frame attached, in perspective view and

Figure 23 Stacking containers, set up, stacked on top of each other, in side view and view from the right.

First, the first embodiment of a stacking container 1 is explained using various stages during construction, as shown in Figures 1 to 7.

The stacking container 1 has a base 2 to which an undercarriage structure 3 is attached. It is used to grasp and transport the stacking container 1 (in a manner not shown here) with the fork of a forklift truck or hand pallet truck. Its basic dimensions therefore correspond approximately to those of a so-called Euro pallet, so that in terms of logistics it is fully compatible with the widely used Euro pallets.

The undercarriage structure consists of two rows of blocks 31, 32, of which two corner blocks 32 are attached in the corner area and are stabilized by a connecting bar 33 with a support block 31 in the middle between them. In contrast to the undercarriage structures of Euro pallets, this one is not completely flush with the floor 2 on the outside, but rather runs slightly back inwards. It is thus matched to a support frame 6 in such a way that it can be inserted into it when stacked on top of one another and is therefore sideways.

A floor frame 4 is placed flush on the outside of the floor 2, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a continuous floor plate 21. It consists of

two cross slats 42 and two longitudinal slats 43, which are fastened flush on the outside all the way around the base plate 21. The base frame 4 carries the pins 45 that serve as positioning elements. Two pins 45 are spaced apart and attached to the longitudinal slat 43, pointing inwards.

A structure 5 can be placed on the floor 2, which is formed by end walls 51 and longitudinal walls 53. The end walls 51 are divided and consist of the two partial walls 51a, 51b. All walls 51a, 51b, 53 are connected to one another in a hinge-like manner, so that the structure 5 as a whole is designed to be foldable. This makes it possible to fold the structure 5 as required by folding the partial walls 51a and 51b inwards and lay it flat on the floor 2 or to set it up and bring it into contact with the floor frame 4 from the inside. The height of the structure cannot be chosen arbitrarily, but is limited by the transverse extension that results between the two longitudinal slats 43. The structure 5 is thus laid flat on the floor in the folded state and must therefore not exceed the area defined by the floor frame 4. The height of the slats 42, 43 is also selected such that when the structure 5 is laid flat and placed on the floor 2, they protrude at least a little bit above it. This allows another stacking container 1 to be placed on top so that its undercarriage 3 can rest on the floor frame 4 or on the mounting frame 6 placed on it without touching the structure 5 lying flat inside the floor frame 4.

Such a situation is shown in Figure 1, in which two stacking containers 1 with a flat structure 5 (not visible) are stacked on top of each other. The undercarriage structure 3 of the upper stacking container 1 is in the mounting frame.

men 6 of the stacking container 1 underneath, so that both stacking containers 1 are exactly aligned. All components of the stacking container 1, i.e. floor frames 4, mounting frame 6, and undercarriage structure 3, are selected in their dimensions so that they do not protrude beyond the floor 2 at any point, and thus the standardized external dimensions are not exceeded anywhere.

In Figure 2, a single stacking container 1 can be seen, in which the mounting frame 6 rests on the base frame 4. Corner tabs 65 and guide tabs 66 attached to the mounting frame 6 rest on the inner sides 42b, 43b of the cross slats 42 and longitudinal slats 43. They position the mounting frame 6 in relation to the base frame 4. The mounting frame 6 also consists of a circumferential profile 61, which is L-shaped in cross section and can therefore take over the lateral fixation of the undercarriage structure 3 of another stacking container 1.

In Figure 3, the mounting frame 6 has been removed so that the structure 5 could be placed on the floor board 21. The structure 5 is still partially folded, i.e. the partial walls 51a, 51b are not yet aligned to form a continuous front wall 51. In the lower area of the longitudinal walls 53, two holes 55 can be seen which are aligned with two pins 45. Four of these pins 45 are attached to the floor frame 4, with two pins 45 each being attached to the longitudinal slats 43 at a distance.

In the position shown in Figure 4, the structure is fully erected, with the end walls 51 and the longitudinal walls 53 each being brought to rest against the inner sides 42b, 43b of the slats 42, 43 in the lower area. The pins 45 are inserted into the holes 55 so that the

•■

Structure 5 is fixed in relation to the base frame 4.

To further increase the stability of the structure 5, the mounting frame 6 (Figure 5) is placed from above on the front walls 51 and longitudinal walls 53. The corner brackets 65 and guide brackets 66 are guided on the outside of the front walls 51 and longitudinal walls 53. The structure 5 is thus prevented from moving outwards as a result of the load from additional stacking containers 1 placed on top, since all walls are guided both at the top by the mounting frame 6 and at the bottom by the floor frame 4.

Figure 7 shows two stacking containers 1 stacked on top of each other in the set-up state.

From the above it follows that with the help of the stacking container according to the invention it is possible to lay the stacking container 1 flat quickly and with little effort for the purpose of space-saving return transport, whereby an extremely stable stacking container can be created, which meets the highest requirements, in particular through the frame construction in conjunction with the positioning elements. It is therefore possible to design this concept for large containers with the dimensions of a Euro pallet.

The stacking container 1 shown in Figures 8 to 14 is largely identical to the stacking container described above. The only difference is the design of the positioning elements 46 and the corresponding recesses 56 made in the longitudinal walls 53. In this variant, as can be seen in Figure 10, for example, the positioning element is designed as an angle 46. It consists of a tongue 46a which is directed inwards and is intended to be inserted into a slot 56,

- 11 -

which is mounted in the longitudinal wall 53. The second leg of the angle 46 is designed as a fastening leg 46b, which allows the angle 46 to be placed on the longitudinal bar 43 from above and outside and screwed to the outside 43a. This type of attachment is simpler and more cost-effective than attaching the pins 45 of the embodiment described above. Due to the large dimensions of the angle 46, it is also sufficient to attach just one of these angles 46 to the longitudinal bar 43. In practice, it provides the same stability as the two pins 45 of the embodiment described above and is also easier to manufacture and attach.

The third embodiment shown in Figures 15 to 23 is again largely consistent with the two variants described above. As can be seen in particular from the illustrations in Figures 17 and 18, the positioning elements are designed as angle fittings 47. The floor frame 4 has an angle fitting 47 of this type on each corner, which is placed and screwed from above in the corner area between the crossbar 42 and the longitudinal bar 43. The angle fitting 47 also encompasses the crossbar 42 and the longitudinal bar 43 on the outer sides 42a, 43a and also rests on the top side 42a, 43a, so that it has an additional stabilizing effect on the floor frame 4. Correspondingly, a slot 57 is provided in the corner area of the front wall 51 and the longitudinal wall 53, which is cut diagonally and is thus matched to the angle fitting 47. In this case, the structure 5 is not positioned and fixed over the longitudinal walls 53, but in the corner area of the structure 5. This is illustrated in Figure 20, which shows the view from above. The front wall 51 and the longitudinal wall 53 are relatively

pushed far into the angle fitting 47 so that a large support surface is formed.

Figure 20 also shows the hinge-like connection between the front wall 51 and the longitudinal wall 53. In both walls, a groove 51c, 53c is milled continuously from top to bottom, into which a band 50 is inserted. It is secured in the grooves 51c, 53c in a manner not shown here, so that it cannot slip out. The grooves 51c, 53c are provided with groove covers 52, 54, which are attached to the walls 51, 53 from above and below. In addition, this type of connection is equally suitable for the two variants of the stacking container 1 described above, whereby an extremely high-quality finish can be achieved in contrast to the previous nailed-on walls.

The mounting frame 6 shown in Figure 21 is designed somewhat differently. It does not have any corner tabs in the manner of the corner tabs 65 described above, but only guide tabs 66, with three guide tabs 66 assigned to each of the sides. The omission of the corner tabs is due to the fact that when it is placed on the base frame 4, the angle fittings 47 are attached in the corner area, so that these points are no longer used as supports for the mounting frame 6.

Building on the basic principle described, further variants of stacking containers can be realized, whereby in particular the selection and placement of the positioning elements and the recesses are within the reach of the expert, who can easily realize a corresponding variation.

Dipf.-lng. KLAUS WESTPHAL Dr. rer.nat. BERND MUSSGNUG Dr.-lng. PETER NEUNERT

JD-7?O4$ V S-

•Telephone (07721) 56007 Teläx . 7921573 wemu d 'Tllefli 107721)55164

Dr. rer. nat. OTTO BÜCHNER

PATENT ATTORNEYS European Patent Attorneys

Flossmannstrasse 30 a
D-81245 MUNICH

Telephone (089) 832446 Fax (089) 8340966

hoiOQy

List of reference symbols

Stacking container

2 Floor 21 Base plate 3 Undercarriage construction 31 Support block 32 Corner block 33 Connecting bar 4 Floor frame 42 Crossbar 42a Outside 42b inside 42c Top 43 Longitudinal batten 43a Outside 43b inside 43c Top 45 cone 46 angle 46a Tongue 46b Mounting leg 47 Angle fitting

Construction

Postbank: Karlsruhe 769 79-754 feaiSkfcontci: Dfetfteche Ba"nS;.AG Spillingen (BLZ 694 700 39) 146 332 V.A.T. No. DE142989261

50 Wall 51 Front wall 51a Partial wall 51b Partial wall 51c Groove 52 Groove cover 53 Longitudinal wall 53c Groove 54 Groove cover 55 drilling 56 slot 57 slot 6 Mounting frame 61 profile 65 Corner tab 66 Guide tab

Claims (8)

Protection claims 1. A stackable container that can be laid flat with a base that is preferably provided with an undercarriage structure in the manner of a pallet, and a structure that consists of longitudinal and end walls, which are connected to one another in particular via hinges in such a way that the structure can be laid flat on the base when folded, characterized in that a base frame (4) is attached to the base (2) flush on the outside and all around, against which the end walls (51) and the longitudinal walls (52) are brought into contact from the inside when the structure (5) is in the erected state, and that the base frame (4) is provided with inwardly facing positioning elements (45; 46; 47) which, when the structure (5) is in the erected state, engage with corresponding recesses (55; 56; 57) made in the longitudinal walls (53). 2. Stacking container according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning elements are designed as pins (45) and the recesses as bores (55). 3. Stacking container according to claim 2, characterized in that the base frame (4) has four pins (45) which are assigned to four corresponding holes (55), each of the two longitudinal walls (53) Postbank: Karlsruhe 76979-754.IiWAPtItO; Beatsche'Baok Ä&Villingen (bank code 69470039) 146332 V.A.T. No. DE142989261 —2— two holes (55). 4. Stacking container according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning elements are designed as angles (46) and the recesses as slots (56). 5. Stacking container according to claim 4, characterized in that two angles (46) are attached to the base frame (4) and are aligned with two corresponding slots (56), with one slot being attached to each of the two longitudinal walls (53). 6. Stacking container according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning elements are designed as angle fittings (47) which are placed on the base frame (4), and the recesses are designed as essentially diagonally running slots (57) which are arranged in the corner region of two abutting end walls (51) and longitudinal walls (53). 7. Stacking container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a surrounding mounting frame (6) for the fixed reception of another stacking container, in particular for mounting the undercarriage structure (3), with downward-facing retaining tabs (65, 66), which can be placed on the base frame (4) when the structure (5) is laid flat, and from above on the end walls (51) and longitudinal walls (53) when the structure (5) is erected. 8. Stacking container according to claim 7, characterized in that the retaining tabs (65, 66) in the flattened state of the structure (5) are attached to the inside of the base frame (4), and in the erected state of the structure (5) from the outside to the end walls (51) and longitudinal walls (53) are brought into contact.