EP0341074A1 - Behälter - Google Patents

Behälter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0341074A1
EP0341074A1 EP89304527A EP89304527A EP0341074A1 EP 0341074 A1 EP0341074 A1 EP 0341074A1 EP 89304527 A EP89304527 A EP 89304527A EP 89304527 A EP89304527 A EP 89304527A EP 0341074 A1 EP0341074 A1 EP 0341074A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
support members
support
container
side walls
connecting member
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Withdrawn
Application number
EP89304527A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
David Lewis Jones
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Styropack UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Styropack UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB888810735A external-priority patent/GB8810735D0/en
Application filed by Styropack UK Ltd filed Critical Styropack UK Ltd
Priority to EP89304527A priority Critical patent/EP0341074A1/de
Publication of EP0341074A1 publication Critical patent/EP0341074A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
    • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
    • B65D21/06—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together with movable parts adapted to be placed in alternative positions for nesting the containers when empty and for stacking them when full
    • B65D21/062—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together with movable parts adapted to be placed in alternative positions for nesting the containers when empty and for stacking them when full the movable parts being attached or integral and displaceable into a position overlying the top of the container, e.g. bails, corner plates

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a container.
  • a stacking/nesting container which has a flap hingedly attached to each of two opposed side walls.
  • the flaps are pivotable between one position in which they allow a further container to nest inside the first container, and another position in which they can support the further container upon the first container.
  • GB-A-2177377 Another type of container is disclosed in GB-A-2177377. According to this specification a hinged flap is mounted at each corner of the container. In total there are four flaps each of which is pivotable between one position in which they allow a further container to be nested inside the first container, and a second position in which they ca support the further container upon the first container.
  • a container comprising a body having a base, two pairs of opposed side walls extending upwardly from the base to define a corner between adjacent side walls, four support members, each support member being disposed at a respective corner, the support members being selectively movable between a first position in which a further container can be nested inside the body, and a second position in which the support members can support the further container above the base, characterised in that a first pair of said support members is connected together by a first connecting member provided therebetween, and a second pair of said support members is connected together by a second connecting member provided therebetween.
  • each connecting member is generally elongate with a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to an axis passing through the two support members to which it is connected.
  • each connecting member is less than the corresponding lateral dimension of each support member.
  • This lateral dimension can be measured in a direction towards the opposing connecting member.
  • each connecting member is provided with a support surface which can support the further container when the support members are in the second position.
  • Each connecting member is preferably provided with a plurality of recesses along its length, and two opposed side walls of the body are preferably provided with a plurality of co-operating anti-torsion formations; the formations are received in said recesses when said support members are in the second position.
  • Similar recesses and co-operating formations can also be provided in the support members and the side wall in the region of the support members.
  • the anti-torsion formations and corresponding recesses are preferably substantially elongate and may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connecting members.
  • a stregthening formation can be provided which extends, preferably substantially continuously, over each support member and along the respective connecting member to which each support member is connected, each strengthening formation engaging the inner surface of said side walls when the support members are in the second position.
  • the ends of this formation may be received in a recess provided in the side wall. This arrangement transfers the weight of the other containers onto a particulr area of the side wall, which area can be be especially strengthened.
  • the support members and the sidewalls are provided with complementary detent means for securing the support members in the second position;
  • the complementary detent means may comprise at least one resilient tongue on each support member adapted to extend through a respective aperture on the side wall and engage a respective resilient tongue on the side wall.
  • each resilient tongue on the support members preferably lies between the resilient tongue on the side walls and the space within the container body.
  • the resilience of the or each tongue on the support members may be such that they can be snapped out of engagement with the respective tongue on the sidewalls with the application of a predetermined amount of force. This feature is useful in case the support members inadvertently are placed in the second position, or if it is desired to re­use the container.
  • a lower portion of the or each tongue on the support member curves in a direction towards the respective tongue on the sidewalls to facilitate the snap-release.
  • the support surface of the support members and the connecting members is preferably provided with a locating formation for locating the further container on the top thereof.
  • the locating formation may also serve to retain the further container in position, and to strengthen the container.
  • the locating formation extends substantially continuously between the support members.
  • the connecting members confers a number of advantages over the prior art.
  • the connecting members enable a more rigid, stronger container to be provided.
  • the connecting members also enable the two connected support members to be moved from the first to the second positions (and vice versa) simultaneously.
  • the connecting members can provide a surface which assists with supporting and retaining the further container.
  • the container may be a plastics material such as polypropylene, and can be formed by injection moulding.
  • a container generally designated 10 comprises a body having a base 12 and two pairs of opposed side walls 14 and 16 which extend upwardly from the base 12.
  • the base 12 and the side walls 14 and 16 define a substantially hexahedral volume which can receive produce such as fruit and vegetables including mushrooms.
  • Adjacent side walls 14 and 16 are joined at corners 15 a , 15 b , 15 c and 15 d .
  • the side walls 14 and 16 are provided with a plurality of apertures 18 and strengthening formations in the form of ribs 20.
  • the base 12 is also provided with strengthening formations in the form of ribs 22; the ribs 22 are arranged to be in line with the plastics flow during the formation of the container 10.
  • the side walls 14 and 16 are all provided with a lip comprising an outwardly extending portion 24 and a downwardly extending portion 26.
  • a plurality of ribs 28 are provided under the outwardly extending portion 24.
  • a hand grip formation 30 is provided at opposing sides of the container 10 on the side walls 14.
  • the hand grip formation 30 extends outwardly from the bottom of the downwardly extending portion 26 to provide a surface 31 which can be gripped underneath the rim in order to lift the container 10.
  • a support member 32 a , 32 b , 32 c , and 32 d is provided on a respective one of the corners 15 a , 15 b , 15 c , and 15 d of the container 10; in Figure 3 the support members 32 a , 32 b , 32 c and 32 d have been omitted for clarity.
  • the support members 32 a and 32 b are connected by an integral connecting member 34, whilst the support members 32 c and 32 d are connected by an integral connecting member 36.
  • the support members 32 a , 32 b , 32 c and 32 d and the connecting members 34 and 36 are pivotally movable between a first position in which a further container (not shown) can be received within the container 10, and a second position in which the further container can be supported above the base 12 by the members 32 a , 32 b , 32 c , 32 d , 34 and 36.
  • the support members 32 a , 32 b , 32 c and 32 d are provided with respective support surfaces 33 a , 33 b , 33 c and 33 d upon which the further container can be supported; also, the connecting members 34 and 36 are provided with respective support surfaces 35 and 37 upon which the further container can be supported.
  • the width of the connecting member 36 measured in the direction substantially normal to the plane of the side wall 16 is designated W′ in Figure 1.
  • the width of the support members 32 c and 32 d in the same direction is designated W ⁇ ; it will be observed that W′ is less than W ⁇ ; it is preferred that W′ is about one third of W ⁇ . Similar properties apply to the support members 32 a and 32 b , and the connecting member 34.
  • connecting members 34 and 36 are of elongate configuration, whilst the support members 32 a , 32 b , 32 c and 32 d are substantially triangular.
  • FIG. 9 shows a surface of the support member 32 b opposite to the support surface 33 b .
  • the support member 32 b includes an inner detenting formation in the form of a downwardly extending projection 40 having three tongues 42 extending therefrom.
  • the side walls 14 are provided with an aperture 44 in the outwardly extending portion 24 and three downwardly extending co-­operating detents in the form of tongues 46.
  • the tongues 42 are a snap-fit with the tongues 46.
  • the tongues 42 slide over the tongues 46 and deform them.
  • the projections 46 and the projection 40 and tongues 42 can be resiliently deformable. In this is way the support member 32 b is secured to the side wall 14 in the second position.
  • the tongues 42 Due to the resiliency of the tongues 42, when an upward force is applied to the support member 32 b the tongues 42 can disengage from the tongues 46 thereby permitting the support member to be moved to the first position. To facilitate this, the lower end of the tongues 42 is curved in a direction towards the tongues 46.
  • the support member 32 b is also provided with an outer detenting formation in the form of a projection 48 (not shown in Figure 13) which can co-operate with a corresponding formation in the form of a recess 49 in the side wall 14.
  • a projection 48 not shown in Figure 13
  • the side wall 14 is effectively clamped between the inner and outer detenting formations to provide a secure locking.
  • the support member 32 b is also provided with a strengthening formation 50 which includes a projection 52.
  • the formation 50 is shaped to be able to sit in a co-operating formation in the form of a recess 54 in the rim of the side wall 14.
  • part of the strengthening formation 50 sits in the recess 54, and the projection 52 bears against an inner surface 14 a of the side wall 14. This arrangement serves to transfer the load of the further container onto the side wall 14 and helps to reduce damage to the support members 32 a , 32 b , 32 c and 32 d through stress.
  • the strengthening formation 50 extends continuously along the connecting members 34 and 36, a significant part of the weight on the side walls is also transferred to the side wall 14 in the region of the recess 54. This is advantageous because the number of strengthening formations in the region of the recesses 54 can be made especially large to cope with higher load (see Figure 2).
  • the strengthening formation 50 is located such that when the connecting member 34 is in the second position, the strengthening formation bears against the inner surface of the side wall 16.
  • the support surface 33 b of the support member 32 b is bounded by a locating formation 56 (not shown in Figure 12) which is configured such that the further container can be supported by the support surface 33 b and can bear against the locating formation 56.
  • the locating formation 56 helps to align the further container in the correct position.
  • the locating formation 56 also helps to maintain the further container in the correct position on top of the container 10.
  • the locating formation 56 provides extra strengthening.
  • the support member 32 b is pivotally connected to the side wall 16 by a hinge 58.
  • the hinge 58 enables the support member 32 b to pivot between the first and second positions.
  • the support member 32 b is provided with a recess 60 in the region of the hinge 58 which can receive an anti-torsional formation 62 on the side wall 16. This arrangement provides resistance to torsional forces.
  • the connecting members 34 and 36 are substantially identical, so only the member 34 will be described in detail.
  • the connecting member 34 is integral with the support members 32 a and 32 b and is integrally connected to the side wall 16 by a plurality of hinges 64.
  • the hinges 64 enable the connecting member 34, together with the support members 32 a and 32 b to be pivotted between the first and second portions.
  • the support member 34 is provided with a plurality of recesses 66, in the region of the hinges 64, which can receive a respective one of a plurality of anti-torsion formations 68 on the side wall 16.
  • the recesses 66 and formations 68 also provide resistance to torsional forces.
  • the formation 56 on the support member 32 b extends over the support surface 35 of the connecting member 36 and connects with a corresponding formation 56 on the support member 32 a .
  • the formation 56 is substantially continuous between the support members 32 a , and 32 b .
  • the support members 32 a , 32 b , 32 c and 32 d are movable between the first position in which they lie outside the body of the container 10 and the second position in which the detenting formations on the support members 32 a , 32 b , 32 c and 32 d engage the co-­operating formations on the side walls 14.
  • the containers 10 In the first position the containers 10 can be stacked one inside the other, so that a large number of containers can be stored in a small space.
  • support members 32 a , 32 b , 32 c and 32 d together with connecting members 34 and 36 can be pivotted to the second position and secured in that position. This enables the further container to be stacked on the container 10 without crushing the produce contained therein.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
EP89304527A 1988-05-06 1989-05-05 Behälter Withdrawn EP0341074A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP89304527A EP0341074A1 (de) 1988-05-06 1989-05-05 Behälter

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888810735A GB8810735D0 (en) 1988-05-06 1988-05-06 Container
GB8810735 1988-05-06
EP89304527A EP0341074A1 (de) 1988-05-06 1989-05-05 Behälter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0341074A1 true EP0341074A1 (de) 1989-11-08

Family

ID=26121898

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89304527A Withdrawn EP0341074A1 (de) 1988-05-06 1989-05-05 Behälter

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0341074A1 (de)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0577872A1 (de) * 1992-07-07 1994-01-12 Peter Seitz Lagerordnungskasten
FR2698072A1 (fr) * 1992-11-16 1994-05-20 Port Plastip Plastiques Indls Cageot gerbable emboîtable à volets rabattables.
GB2331290A (en) * 1997-11-18 1999-05-19 Aldershine Ltd A tray
WO2004092028A3 (en) * 2003-04-07 2005-02-17 Rehrig Pacific Co Storage container
GB2435031A (en) * 2003-04-07 2007-08-15 Rehrig Pacific Co Storage container
US7357269B2 (en) 2005-11-01 2008-04-15 Rehrig Pacific Company Container
US7641066B2 (en) 2007-06-11 2010-01-05 Rehrig Pacific Company Collapsible container
US7717283B2 (en) 2007-11-06 2010-05-18 Rehrig Pacific Company Collapsible container
US8317045B2 (en) 2008-12-02 2012-11-27 Rehrig Pacific Company Collapsible container
US10167110B2 (en) 2010-05-27 2019-01-01 Rehrig Pacific Company Dual height collapsible container

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE807074C (de) * 1949-03-12 1951-06-25 Baumgarten Geb Fischversandkiste fuer Frisch- und Raeucherfisch
FR1269427A (fr) * 1960-08-17 1961-08-11 Bergs Maskin As Récipient pour le transport et l'emmagasinage
GB2177377A (en) * 1985-07-02 1987-01-21 Tempodew Ltd Container

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE807074C (de) * 1949-03-12 1951-06-25 Baumgarten Geb Fischversandkiste fuer Frisch- und Raeucherfisch
FR1269427A (fr) * 1960-08-17 1961-08-11 Bergs Maskin As Récipient pour le transport et l'emmagasinage
GB2177377A (en) * 1985-07-02 1987-01-21 Tempodew Ltd Container

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0577872A1 (de) * 1992-07-07 1994-01-12 Peter Seitz Lagerordnungskasten
FR2698072A1 (fr) * 1992-11-16 1994-05-20 Port Plastip Plastiques Indls Cageot gerbable emboîtable à volets rabattables.
GB2331290A (en) * 1997-11-18 1999-05-19 Aldershine Ltd A tray
GB2415690B (en) * 2003-04-07 2007-08-01 Rehrig Pacific Co Storage container
GB2415690A (en) * 2003-04-07 2006-01-04 Rehrig Pacific Co Storage container
US6994216B2 (en) 2003-04-07 2006-02-07 Rehrig Pacific Company Storage container
WO2004092028A3 (en) * 2003-04-07 2005-02-17 Rehrig Pacific Co Storage container
GB2435031A (en) * 2003-04-07 2007-08-15 Rehrig Pacific Co Storage container
US7357269B2 (en) 2005-11-01 2008-04-15 Rehrig Pacific Company Container
US7726502B2 (en) 2005-11-01 2010-06-01 Rehrig Pacific Company Container
US7641066B2 (en) 2007-06-11 2010-01-05 Rehrig Pacific Company Collapsible container
US7717283B2 (en) 2007-11-06 2010-05-18 Rehrig Pacific Company Collapsible container
US8317045B2 (en) 2008-12-02 2012-11-27 Rehrig Pacific Company Collapsible container
US10167110B2 (en) 2010-05-27 2019-01-01 Rehrig Pacific Company Dual height collapsible container

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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 ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19900420

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: STYROPACK (UK) LIMITED

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19910814

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: 19911228