EP0220257A1 - Kiste - Google Patents
KisteInfo
- Publication number
- EP0220257A1 EP0220257A1 EP19860902855 EP86902855A EP0220257A1 EP 0220257 A1 EP0220257 A1 EP 0220257A1 EP 19860902855 EP19860902855 EP 19860902855 EP 86902855 A EP86902855 A EP 86902855A EP 0220257 A1 EP0220257 A1 EP 0220257A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- frame
- side walls
- crate
- base
- tray
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
- A01G9/028—Multi-compartmented pots
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
- B65D1/22—Boxes or like containers with side walls of substantial depth for enclosing contents
- B65D1/225—Collapsible boxes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
- B65D1/34—Trays or like shallow containers
- B65D1/36—Trays or like shallow containers with moulded compartments or partitions
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a crate, more particularly to a folding stackable and disposable crate particularly intended for the transport and warehousing of plant pots and other articles.
- Plant pots are often presently transported in trays of injection moulded plastics material wherein the tray is formed with a series of recesses adapted to hold the plant pots.
- trays are expensive to produce and therefore usually have to be returned empty to the sender. Since plants are often thus conveyed from one country to another, the cost of return carriage is significantly high.
- Plant pots are also transported in solid blocks of foamed plastics again formed with a series of recesses for receiving the plant pots.
- Such blocks are also quite expensive to produce, and in addition they tend to deteriorate by cracking and crumbling of the foamed plastics material.
- plant pots may be transported in cardboard holders which are produced as blanks which are then erected and have areas which are pushed through to receive the plant pots. While such cardboard holders are cheap to produce they are not rugged, and their biggest problem is that they are not waterproof and lose most of their strength when wet or humid. As a result, the contents they carry are frequently damaged by the crates collapsing.
- the present invention aims to provide a means for conveying plant pots and other articles which overcomes the various disadvantages of the plant pot carriers described above.
- the invention provides a crate, particularly intended for transporting and storing plant pots and other articles, which comprises a frame made of plastics material and comprising a base and side walls, the side walls being adapted to be locked together when the frame is erected, and a lining or tray (hereinafter referred to as a tray) having recesses or openings for supporting the said articles within the erected frame.
- a crate particularly intended for transporting and storing plant pots and other articles, which comprises a frame made of plastics material and comprising a base and side walls, the side walls being adapted to be locked together when the frame is erected, and a lining or tray (hereinafter referred to as a tray) having recesses or openings for supporting the said articles within the erected frame.
- the side walls of the frame are preferably hinged to the base thereof, for example by integral hinges of plastics material, but alternatively the side walls may - be detachably connectable to the base, for example by clips which permit the side walls to be folded relative to the base when the side walls and base are connected together.
- the frame of the crate of the invention may be folded between a first position wherein the base and the side walls thereof lie generally in the same plane and a second, erected, position wherein the side walls are disposed generally transversely, usually perpendicular, to the plane of the base, in which erected position the side walls are locked together, usually interlocked together, to form the erected frame which with the tray thus constitutes a box for holding articles such as plant pots by means of the tray therein.
- the foldable. stackable crate of the invention is particularly suitable for transporting and storing plant pots at a competitive cost, while avoiding the problems of the prior art as mentioned above.
- the crate of the invention may essentially comprise a skeleton frame and a tray which is supported by the frame.
- the frame itself may be a solid or open structure, or some parts thereof may be solid while other parts are open.
- the base of the frame is preferably constituted by a series of interconnecting ribs.
- the base of the frame may consist of • a perimeter rib only, to which the frame side walls are attached, and it is to be understood that such a frame having a base portion comprising a perimeter only may in certain intended uses of the crate be adequate for the purposes of the invention.
- the frame is made of plastics material such as polypropylene, while the tray is preferably made of a plastics material such as polystyrene or any other plastics or other material such as cardboard.
- the purpose of making the frame as a skeleton is to keep the crate extremely light weight, and. therefore, of low cost while at the same time giving the crate a certain amount of rigidity for the purpose of stacking.
- the purpose of the tray is to retain and support the contents of the box formed by the erected frame.
- the frame consists of a base and four side walls preferably connected to the base in one piece. This is most preferably achieved through an integral hinge which is a fine section of plastics material which can be bent when the side walls are folded up.
- the hinge may extend along the whole of the adjacent edges of the base and a respective side wall, but it is preferred that portions only, suitably spaced, of the said adjacent edges are hinged together.
- the tray suitably comprises a sheet of approximately the same dimensions as the base of the frame, which sheet will in use lie in a plane adjacent the plane of the upper end of the erected frame, which sheet is provided with a series of recesses therein for supporting plant pots.
- the sheet may instead be provided with a series of openings instead of recesses which will support the plant pots by virtue of the frusto-conical shape of the latter.
- the provision of recesses shaped to correspond to the shape of plant pots is preferred.
- the tray also suitably comprises side walls depending down from the upper sheet of the tray; there may be two facing side walls only, or alternatively four side walls of the tray.
- the bases of the respective recesses may be provided with means, suitably cross-shaped, for supporting plant pots or the like while defining a space at the bottom of the recess, below the base of a plant pot inserted therein, for holding liquid draining from the contents of the plant pot.
- the lower ends of the tray side walls are preferably located by clips or in channels formed inside and adjacent the lower ends of the frame side walls, to better locate the tray within the frame.
- the upper ends of the tray side walls may be suitably retained by clips formed at the upper ends of the frame side walls, or may be retained by folded back or hinged portions of the upper ends of the frame side walls.
- the tray is preferably, but not necessarily, formed of thermo-foamed plastics material. Increasing the gaseous content of the foam may give a tray of adequate or even increased strength while making it cheaper to manufacture.
- the side walls of the tray can be printed on the outside and the frame may be designed in such a way that windows or openings in the side walls thereof allow the printing on the sides of the tray to be visible.
- the erectible frame can be of a standard size to accommodate the standard size trays, which is an advantage since the trays are variable .only in terms of the number and size of their recesses, while the frame itself may be a standard item. Thus, in manufacturing terms, separate moulds are required for producing the trays only, while the frame may be a custom built skeleton.
- Figure 2 is a section taken along the line A-A in Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a section taken along the line B-B in Figure 1;
- Figure 4 is a plan view of a tray of a crate according to the invention
- Figure 5 is a section taken along the same line A-A in Figure 2 but with the side walls of the frame in the erected position thereof and the tray positioned within the erected frame, the tray being shown along the section C-C of Figure 4
- Figure 6 is a section taken along the same line B-B in Figure 3 and the tray positioned on the base of the frame, the tray being shown along the section D-D of Figure 4;
- Figure 7 is a section corresponding to Figure 6 but with the side walls of the frame in the erected position thereof;
- Figures 8 and 9 illustrate other embodiments of trays having different arrangements of recesses of smaller size and greater number than in the tray of Figure 4; and Figure 10 is a sectional view of a recess formed in another embodiment of a tray of a crate according to the invention.
- the crate shown in the drawings comprises a frame formed a base 1 comprising a series of ribs la, lb and four side walls, two of which are short-side walls 6 and two of which are long-side walls 7 which are preferably window walls, ie, large openings or windows are formed therein.
- the base 1 and the side walls 6, 7 are made of a plastics material such as polypropylene.
- ribs la may be formed as shown in Figure 1, it is preferred that the ribs are disposed orthogonally with respect to the edges of the base 1.
- the base 1 comprises a network of ribs la connected to a perimeter rib lb, as mentioned previously in certain circumstances it may be sufficient if the base 1 consists of the perimeter rib lb only.
- the base 1 is connected to the side walls 6, 7 by integral hinges 2 which are constituted by fine, ie, relatively thin, sections of plastics material which can be readily bent when the side walls are folded up to erect the frame.
- the hinges 2 may extend along the whole length of the adjacent edges of the base and each side wall, but the hinges 2 preferably comprise a series of fine sections of plastics material, suitably spaced apart along the length of the base and side wall edges.
- the frame may lie generally flat wherein the base and the side walls are disposed in the same plane. In this position several such crates may be stacked together for easy transport thereof.
- the side walls 6. 7 are provided with lateral ribs 4 for strength, as shown.
- the ribs also serve to assist in stacking erected crates one upon the other. Further, the upper and lower corners of the erected crate may be shaped to assist stacking.
- portions 3 are also provided along the side walls 7 hinged portions 3 as shown, for assisting in retaining a tray 5 which forms the other component part of the crate.
- the portions 3 are suitably hinged to the side walls 7 by hinges similar to the said hinges 2.
- the tray 5 is made of a foamed plastics material, such as polystyrene. As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the tray 5 essentially comprises a sheet 8 of approximately the same dimensions as the base of the frame, the sheet 8 lying in use a plane approximately corresponding with the plane of the upper end of the erected frame, as shown in particular in Figure 5.
- the sheet 8 is provided with a series of recesses 9 shaped to correspond to the shape of plant pots.
- the recesses 9 are frusto-conical in shape and have side walls 9a and bases 9b adjacent the base 1 of the frame.
- the tray also has the facing side walls 10 depending down from the sheet 8.
- the lower ends of the tray side walls 10 are located by clips 11 formed inside and adjacent the lower ends of the erected frame side walls 7, to better locate the tray within the erected frame.
- the upper ends of the tray side walls 10 are retained by the hinged portions 3 provided at the upper ends of the tray side walls 7. and extending back slightly into the crate in the erected position of the frame.
- the hinged portions 3 have detent portions 3a for firmly engaging corresponding recesses 3b (see Figure 1) formed in the frame side walls 6, thus giving - the erected frame as a whole a more rigid structure.
- Figures 8 and 9 show other embodiments of trays having different arrangements of recesses 9 of smaller size and greater number than in the tray of Figures 4 to 7.
- the crate may if desired be provided with a suitable lid.
- Figure 10 shows another embodiment of a tray 5 wherein the recesses 19 have the base 19b thereof formed with an upwardly extending portion 20. which is preferably cross-shaped as viewed in plan.
- the portion 20 supports the base of a plant pot and defines together with the side wall 19a of the recess a space 21 below the plant pot for receiving water or other liquid draining from the plant pot.
- the tray 5 When assembling the crate, the tray 5 is located in the erected frame and retained therein by means of the clips 11 and hinged portions 3.
- the crate is made light in weight by virtue of the skeleton structure of the frame, and the foamed plastics of the tray, is cheap to produce, and yet is strong and does not deteriorate.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
- Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
- Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8510582 | 1985-04-25 | ||
GB858510582A GB8510582D0 (en) | 1985-04-25 | 1985-04-25 | Crate |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0220257A1 true EP0220257A1 (de) | 1987-05-06 |
Family
ID=10578201
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19860902855 Withdrawn EP0220257A1 (de) | 1985-04-25 | 1986-04-25 | Kiste |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0220257A1 (de) |
JP (1) | JPS62502608A (de) |
AU (1) | AU5815186A (de) |
GB (2) | GB8510582D0 (de) |
WO (1) | WO1986006348A1 (de) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2603173B1 (fr) * | 1986-09-03 | 1990-03-09 | Cittadini Daniel | Feuille a compartiments |
JPS63105616A (ja) * | 1986-10-23 | 1988-05-10 | 永松 睦雄 | 芝生等の植物植栽用土 |
NL1013838C2 (nl) * | 1999-12-14 | 2001-06-15 | Synprodo Plantpak B V | Systeem omvattende een in een bak positioneerbare plaatvormige drager. |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL6807251A (de) * | 1968-05-22 | 1969-11-25 | ||
GB1347989A (en) * | 1971-10-21 | 1974-02-27 | Sharp A J | Containers |
DE2502417A1 (de) * | 1975-01-22 | 1976-08-05 | Juergens Walter | Container |
CH598082A5 (en) * | 1975-12-02 | 1978-04-28 | Robert Giavarini | Packaging for clock and watch dials |
US4136773A (en) * | 1976-01-12 | 1979-01-30 | Booth Darcy L | Container for artist's crayons |
NL7713224A (en) * | 1977-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | Emperor Plantpot B V | Plastic plant pot one piece holder - has recesses for pots formed with strip, sprung converging side surfaces ending in lips |
CH630020A5 (de) * | 1978-06-13 | 1982-05-28 | Wez Kunststoff | Vorrichtung zur halterung und lagerung von plattenfoermigen gegenstaenden. |
GB2138782A (en) * | 1983-04-29 | 1984-10-31 | Halsey Colin Denis | Foldable blank for container |
GB8420962D0 (en) * | 1984-08-17 | 1984-09-19 | Rosenorn E | Crate |
-
1985
- 1985-04-25 GB GB858510582A patent/GB8510582D0/en active Pending
-
1986
- 1986-04-25 GB GB08610105A patent/GB2174074A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1986-04-25 WO PCT/GB1986/000225 patent/WO1986006348A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1986-04-25 EP EP19860902855 patent/EP0220257A1/de not_active Withdrawn
- 1986-04-25 JP JP50249286A patent/JPS62502608A/ja active Pending
- 1986-04-25 AU AU58151/86A patent/AU5815186A/en not_active Abandoned
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO8606348A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8610105D0 (en) | 1986-05-29 |
GB8510582D0 (en) | 1985-05-30 |
JPS62502608A (ja) | 1987-10-08 |
AU5815186A (en) | 1986-11-18 |
GB2174074A (en) | 1986-10-29 |
WO1986006348A1 (en) | 1986-11-06 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19870416 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19871221 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19880702 |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: ROSENORN, EVELYN |