EP0669259B1 - Stackable, nestable container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (10) has bearing blocks (30) each having an abutment surface (52) which is horizontal in a nesting position, while the stacking surface (54), on the abutment surface side facing away from the corresponding transverse wall (14) extends vertically upwards. The bearing blocks each have a vertical elongated hole in which bearing pins are mounted. The stacking surface in a stacking position is flush with the top of the container. The bearing pin goes through the elongated hole and has a radially outward extending locking plate (42) on its free end.

Description

The invention relates to a container with a rectangular Floor from which there are two transverse walls and two Longitudinal walls extend upwards and an extended one form a rectangular opening, with at least one contact surface, which extends along the area of the top one of the opposite transverse walls essentially extends horizontally outwards, with at least one elongated pile hanger, which is transverse at its ends its longitudinal cheeks with bearing journals has, which in bulges on the opposite Longitudinal walls in bearing blocks can be pivoted are that the stacking bracket from a nest position, in he in the area of the transverse walls on the support surface rests and opens the opening in a stacking position is pivotable, in which it limits the opening and with his bearing cheeks at a facility in the Bulge is present, the stacking bracket being a stacking surface and has a stop surface that is substantially are arranged perpendicular to each other so that the Stacking surface in the stacking position essentially horizontal runs while the stop surface on the the corresponding transverse wall facing side of the stacking surface extends substantially vertically upwards.

Such a container is known from EP-A-0 293 687. This container has two stacking brackets, which consist of one Nest position swivels through 180 ° into a stacking position are. In the nest position, the stacking brackets give the Opening of the container freely, so that several identical containers can be stacked in a space-saving manner. In the stacking position limits the opening of the container, so that a container whose bottom surface is longer is as the distance between the facing each other End faces of the stacking brackets and is shorter than the distance between the stop surfaces securely on the stacking surfaces the stacking bracket can be put on.

In the known containers, the stacking surface is located the stacking bracket in the stacking position below the top of the container so that the bottom of a attached container below the top of the container lies and thus the volume of the container decreased.

The invention has for its object the generic Containers with structurally simple means develop that the entire volume of the container for Storage of goods can be exploited, even if several containers are stacked on top of each other.

This object is achieved in that that the stop surface in the nest position essentially runs horizontally while the stacking surface on the side facing away from the corresponding transverse wall Stop surface extends essentially vertically upwards, and that the pillow blocks are each one essentially have vertically extending slot opening, in which the trunnions are each mounted so that they in the nest position in the upper area of the slot opening and in the stacking position in the lower area the slot opening are arranged.

Due to the arrangement of the stop surface according to the invention and the stacking surface of the stacking bracket and through the arrangement of the bearing pins according to the invention in the elongated holes it is possible that the stacking area in the Stacking position of the stacking bracket is flush with the top of the container or higher than this. For this reason can store the entire volume of the container Goods are used. In addition, it is possible to use the stacking brackets as graspable stacking brackets because the stacking bracket from its stacking position into one Carrying position can be raised, in which the bearing pin on Hit the upper end of the slot opening. Reaching around the stacking bracket is possible can also be difficult loaded containers can be safely lifted.

The stacking surface is preferably in the stacking position flush with the top of the container.

To prevent accidental loosening of the stacking bracket the trunnion goes through the slot opening through and at the free end of each journal a locking device extending radially outwards intended.

A simple and quick assembly of the stacking bracket is possible if the locking device from one extending radially perpendicular to the axis of the journal elongated plate is formed, the length of which is less than the length of the slot opening and greater than the width the slot opening and its width is less than that Width of the slot opening is.

If, viewed in the direction of the pivot axis of the stacking bracket, the longitudinal axis of the plate in the nest position and in the stacking position at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the slot opening runs and in an assembly position of the Stacking bracket corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the slot opening, can the stacking bracket in the nest position and do not loosen in the stack position.

The angle between the longitudinal axis of the slot opening and the longitudinal axis of the plate is in the nest position and preferably about 45 ° in the stacked position. This also ensures that the trunnion of the stacking bracket is not disengaged from the Slot opening can come when the stacking bracket as Carrying handle can be used.

The contact device is expediently designed in this way is that the bearing cheek in the stacked position on the Underside and on the side facing away from the corresponding transverse wall Bears against the facility. Hereby is achieved that in the stacked position a positive connection is present between the stacking bracket and the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the bulges towards the outside are the longitudinal walls of the collar a stiffening collar and the Distance between the longitudinal walls of the stiffening collar in the area of the opposite bulges corresponds to the length of the one stored in the bulges Stacking bracket. The inside wall of the container serves this version as a support for the stacking bracket, so that the stacking bracket becomes heavier when stacked Container does not bend as much. At the same time the outer wall of the container on the outer edge of the stacking bracket support, which thus acts as a pressure rod.

For a positive connection between container and Stacking bracket in the stacking position is between at least a bearing block and the corresponding longitudinal wall of the collar an opening open at the top is provided and at the Appropriate end face of the stacking bracket is an approach arranged, which is essentially the same Direction extends like the corresponding bearing cheek and engages in the opening in the stacking position.

The length of the approach is such that it is is outside the opening and the stacking bracket in the Nest position can be pivoted when the stacking bracket raised from the stacked position as far up is that the pin at the top of the slot opening strikes.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Behälters;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines oberen Eckbereichs der Behälters von Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

einen Stapelbügel;

Fig. 4

einen Teilquerschnitt des Behälters von Fig. 1 mit dem Stapelbügel in Neststellung;

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf einen Eckbereich des Behälters von Fig. 1 mit dem Stapelbügel in Neststellung;

Fig. 6

einen Teilquerschnitt des Behälters von Fig. 1 mit dem Stapelbügel in Stapelstellung;

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf einen Eckbereich des Behälters von Fig. 1 mit dem Stapelbügel in Stapelstellung;

Fig. 8

den Teilschnitt VIII-VIII von Fig. 6;

Fig. 9

einen Teilquerschnitt des Behälters von Fig. 1 mit dem Stapelbügel in Tragestellung.

Advantageous exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a container;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of an upper corner portion of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a stacking bracket;

Fig. 4

a partial cross section of the container of Figure 1 with the stacking bracket in the nest position.

Fig. 5

a plan view of a corner region of the container of Figure 1 with the stacking bracket in the nest position.

Fig. 6

a partial cross section of the container of Figure 1 with the stacking bracket in the stacking position.

Fig. 7

a plan view of a corner region of the container of Figure 1 with the stacking bracket in the stacking position.

Fig. 8

the partial section VIII-VIII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9

a partial cross section of the container of FIG. 1 with the stacking bracket in the carrying position.

The container 10 shown in Fig. 1 is made of plastic, made in one piece, for example by injection molding. It has a substantially flat rectangular bottom 11 (Fig. 5), of which two are opposite Longitudinal walls 12 and two opposite transverse walls 14 extend upwards. The longitudinal walls 12 and the transverse walls 14 are slightly inclined outwards and therefore border a rectangular opening on the top of the container 10 15, which is larger than the bottom 11 of the container.

The upper edge of the container 10 is of a stiffening collar 16 with essentially vertical longitudinal walls of the collar 17 and collar transverse walls 19 surround. The Longitudinal collar walls 17 and transverse collar walls 19 are at a distance arranged to the longitudinal walls 12 and the transverse walls 14 and integrally connected to them.

As shown in Fig. 2, the top are Edges of the longitudinal walls 12 and the collar longitudinal walls 17 a height. The upper edge 21 of the transverse walls 14 is below the upper edge of the collar transverse walls 19 is arranged.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the upper edge is the Transverse wall 14 over a bearing surface 20 forming horizontal web 22 with the parallel to the transverse wall 14 arranged Collar transverse wall 19 connected.

The upper edges of the longitudinal walls 12 and those parallel to them Collar side walls 17 are over the largest part the length of the longitudinal walls through a horizontal crossbar 23 connected.

The longitudinal wall 12 is in the corner region of the container 10 recessed. As can be seen in Fig. 4, runs the edge of the recess 24 in the upper region perpendicular to the upper edge of the longitudinal wall 12 and then runs obliquely down to the transverse wall 14. Below the level of The bearing surface 20 is essentially the edge of the recess 24 semicircular. At the end of the semicircle the edge of the recess 24 at the level of the support surface 20 horizontally up to the contact surface 20.

The edge of the recess 24 is essentially one connection surface running at right angles to the longitudinal wall 12 26 connected to the collar longitudinal wall 17, the the horizontal portion of the recess 24 in the Contact surface 20 merges. Through the connecting surface 26 is a lateral bulge 25 in the corner area of the Container 10 formed outwards through the longitudinal wall of the collar 17 is limited. Such a bulge 25 is located in each corner area of the container 10.

In this bulge 25 is a plate-shaped bearing block 30 arranged parallel to the longitudinal wall 17 of the collar. In the bearing block 30 has a vertical slot opening 32 provided downward from the semicircular Section of the recess 24 is limited. The top end the slot opening 32 is located above the plane the bearing surface 20. The bearing block 30 is over a stiffening web 34 running at right angles to it the collar longitudinal wall 17 connected to the adjacent to the Slot opening 32 between the slot opening 32 and the collar transverse wall 19 is arranged. The top edge of the Stiffening web 34 is flush with the horizontal Upper edge of the bearing block 30.

3 shows an elongated stacking bracket 18, each parallel to the transverse walls 14 in the Bulges 25 is pivotally mounted. So there are two stacking brackets 18 attached to the container 10.

As shown in FIGS. 4 through 9, the stacking bracket is 18 with both ends in a bearing block 30 pivotally mounted.

The stacking bracket 18 consists of a bar 36, the Length essentially the distance between the longitudinal walls 17 of the collar corresponds to 25 in the region of the bulge Both ends of the bar 36 are each a bearing cheek 38 arranged perpendicular to the bar 36. The two cheeks 38 extend parallel in the same direction. In extends near the free end of the bearing cheeks 38 each a bearing pin 40 to the outside, on the free end a radially extending to the journal 40 Bearing plate 42 is attached. Through the Bearing pin 40 becomes the pivot axis of the stack bracket 18 educated.

The end faces of the strip 36 go into an approach 39 over that in the same direction as the bearing cheek 38 extends, but is much shorter than that Bearing flange 38. In this way, a groove 41 (FIG. 8) formed between the Langerwange 38 and the approach 39. The end face of the strip 36, the outer surface of the approach 39 and the outer surface of the corresponding bearing plate 42 lie essentially in one plane.

The width of the plates 42 corresponds to the diameter of the Bearing pin 40 so that the plates 42 do not laterally over protrude the journal 40. The width of the plate 42 is also slightly less than the width of the slot 32. The length of the plate 42 is less than the length of the elongated hole 32 and larger than the width of the elongated hole 32. The plate 42 is at its ends the ends of the slot opening 32 rounded accordingly.

4, the stacking bracket 18 is in its nest position shown. In this position, the bottom wall 46 is the Bar 36 of the stacking bracket 18 vertically flush with the transverse wall 14 arranged. On the opposite side of the bearing cheeks 38 One side is essentially one in the stacking bracket 18 rectangular recess 50 (FIG. 7), the nest position shown in Fig. 4 down through a horizontal stop surface 52 and on the Bearing cheeks 38 side facing through a stacking surface 54 is limited. The depression 50 is upwards in FIG there and on the side facing away from the bearing cheeks 30 open. Fig. 7 shows that the recess 50 laterally in the vicinity of the bearing blocks 30 limited by transverse stops 56 becomes.

The stacking bracket 18 is dimensioned so that it is in the nest position below that through the collar walls 17, 19 formed top of the container 10 is located. Furthermore the plate 42 is arranged so that, in the direction of Seen pivot axis of the stacking bracket 18, the longitudinal axis the plate 42 in the nest position at an angle of runs approximately 45 ° to the longitudinal axis of the slot opening 32, the radially outwardly extending end the plate 42 obliquely down into the from the transverse wall 14 shows the opposite direction. This prevents that the stacking bracket 18 can unintentionally detach.

The bearing pin 40 is in the nest position at the top End of the slot opening 32.

6 to 8 show the stacking bracket 18 in its Stacking position by swiveling the stacking bracket 18 is reached by 90 ° from the nest position. Like it in 6 can be seen, the bearing cheek 38 is complementary trained to the recess 24 so that they with their Side edge on the side facing away from the transverse wall 14 and with its free end on the connecting surface 26 between the edge of the recess 24 and the longitudinal wall of the collar 17 rests. The end face 28 facing away from the transverse wall 14 of the stacking bracket 18 lies on the upper vertical section the connecting surface 26.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the approach 39 engages the stacking position in the opening 35 between the stiffening web 34 and the upper portion of the interface 26 a. The bearing block 30 is therefore with its upper section partially in the groove 41. Die Depth of the groove 41 is selected so that the bottom of the groove in the Stacking position on the upper edge of the bearing block 30 lies on. This creates a positive connection created by container 10 and stacking bracket 18, the one higher resilience allowed because of both a deflection of the stacking bracket 18 and an expansion of the Container 10 largely reduced with increased stacking load becomes. With external force, the Support the longitudinal wall 17 of the collar on the stacking bracket 18. Of the Bar bracket 18 acts as a pressure rod, the one Deformation of the longitudinal walls 12 counteracts.

The stacking bracket 18 is dimensioned so that the stacking surface 54 in the stacking position flush with the top of the container 10. The longitudinal axis of the plate 42 runs in the stacking position also at an angle α of approximately 45 ° to the longitudinal axis of the slot opening 32, whereby in the stacked position this extends further outwards extending end of the plate 42 obliquely downwards in Direction of the transverse wall 14 shows.

In Fig. 6 it can also be seen that the journal 40 in the stacking position in the lower area of the Slot opening 32 is located. That means that the Pivot point of the stack bracket 18 when pivoting down from the nest position to the stack position has shifted. So it is possible that in the Stacking position of the stack bracket 18 so far vertically pull up until the journals 40 on rest at the upper end of the slot opening 32 (Fig. 9). This allows the distance between the bar 36 of the stacking bracket 18 and the edge between the transverse wall 14 and the support surface 20 to enlarge, so that it it is possible to grasp the stack bracket 18 by hand. The stack bracket 18 can thus be used as a handle with which the carrying of the container 10 is also possible is when the container 10 is loaded with heavy goods is.

The length of the approach 39 is chosen so that it is the free end of the neck 39 in that shown in FIG. 9 Carrying position out of engagement with the opening 35 above of the stiffening web 34 is when the pin 40 on strikes the upper end of the slot opening 32. This allows the stacking bracket 18 over the stiffening web 34 to pivot away to the nest position.

When the stacking bracket 18 approximately from the stacking position is moved by 45 ° in the direction of the nest position the longitudinal axis of the plate 42, in the direction of the pivot axis seen the stacking bracket 18, with the longitudinal axis of Slot opening 32 match. In this assembly position it is possible to the bearing pin 40 with the plates 42 Disassembly of the stacking bracket 18 from the slot openings 32 pull out.

The distance between the two parallel to the opposite Transverse walls 14 arranged stack bracket 18 is selected so that the distance of the facing each other in the stacking position End faces 28 of the stacking bracket 18 less and the distance between the stop surfaces 52 of the stacking brackets 18 is greater than the length of the bottom one on the stacking surface 54 to be placed container, which preferably the container 10 corresponds to the invention. The length of the Well 50 is chosen to be slightly longer than the width of the container 10 to be placed.

In the described embodiment, the transverse walls shorter than the longitudinal walls 12. The transverse walls can but also the same length or longer than that Longitudinal walls 12.

Claims (10)

1. A container with

   a rectangular base, from which two transverse walls (14) and two longitudinal walls (12) extend upwards and form an enlarged rectangular opening (15),

   at least one supporting surface (20) which extends substantially horizontally outwards along the region of the upper edge (21) of one of the opposing transverse walls (14),

   at least one elongate stacking cleat (18) which at its ends has, extending transversely to its longitudinal direction, bearing sideplates (38) with journals (40) which are pivotably mounted in bearing blocks (30) in recesses in the opposing longitudinal walls (12) so that the stacking cleat (18) can be pivoted from a nested position, in which in the vicinity of the transverse walls (14) it rests on the supporting surface (20) and clears the opening (15), into a stacking position, in which it bounds the opening (15) and with its bearing sideplates (38) abuts against an abutment means (26) in the recess (25),

   wherein the stacking cleat (18) has a stacking surface (54) and a stop surface (52), which are arranged substantially perpendicular to one another so that the stacking surface (54) extends substantially horizontally in the stacking position, whereas on the side of the stacking surface (54) nearest the corresponding transverse wall (14) the stop surface (52) extends substantially vertically upwards,
   characterised in that

   the stop surface (52) extends substantially horizontally in the nested position, whereas on the side of the stop surface (52) remote from the corresponding transverse wall (14) the stacking surface (54) extends substantially vertically upwards, and in that

   the bearing blocks (30) each have a substantially vertically extending slot (32) in which the journals (40) are respectively mounted so that in the nested position they are arranged in the upper region of the slot (32) and in the stacking position they are arranged in the lower region of the slot (32).
2. A container according to Claim 1, characterised in that in the stacking position the stacking surface (54) is flush with the upper side of the container (10).
3. A container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the journal (40) passes through the slot (32) and a radially outwardly extending locking means (42) is provided at the free end of each journal (40).
4. A container according to Claim 3, characterised in that the locking means is formed by an elongate plate (42) which extends radially perpendicular to the axis of the journal (40), the length of which plate is less than the length of the slot (32) and greater than the width of the slot (32) but the width of which plate is less than the width of the slot (32).
5. A container according to Claim 4, characterised in that, viewed in the direction of the pivot axis of the stacking cleat (18), the longitudinal axis of the plate (41) in the nested position and in the stacking position extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the slot (32), and in an assembly position of the stacking cleat (18) coincides with the longitudinal axis of the slot (32).
6. A container according to Claim 5, characterised in that the angle between the longitudinal axis of the slot (32) and the longitudinal axis of the plate (42) in the nested position and in the stacking position is approximately 45°.
7. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the abutment means (26) is designed so that in the stacking position the bearing sideplate (38) abuts against the underside and on the side remote from the corresponding transverse wall (14) it abuts against the abutment means (26).
8. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the recesses (25) are delimited towards the exterior by longitudinal collar walls (17) of a reinforcing collar (16), and in that the distance between the longitudinal collar walls (17) of the reinforcing collar (16) in the vicinity of the opposing recesses (25) corresponds to the length of the stacking cleat (18) mounted in the recesses (25).
9. A container according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that an upwardly open aperture (35) is provided between at least one bearing block (30) and the corresponding longitudinal collar wall (16), and in that on the corresponding end face of the stacking cleat (18) there is disposed an extension (39) which extends substantially in the same direction as the corresponding bearing sideplate (38) and in the stacking position engages in the aperture (35).
10. A container according to Claim 9, characterised in that the length of the extension (39) is calculated so that it is situated outside the aperture (35) and the stacking cleat (18) can be pivoted into the nested position if the stacking cleat (18) is raised to such an extent from the stacking position that the journal (40) abuts against the upper end of the slot (32).

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