EP0729892A1 - Transport container with lid - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a cover (2) for a lower part (1), which has single thickness base and side walls (3). A region (4) of double thickness is formed on the upper edge of the container, by the combination of the side wall and a reinforcing wall (5). The cover has an outer area which can rest on this region. The lower end (6) of the reinforcing wall is rounded in towards the side wall over at least part of its perimeter, and may also join the wall laterally. The space between the reinforcing wall and the side wall may also be open towards the cover.

Description

The invention relates to a container according to the preamble of the first claim.

Such plastic containers are suitable for storing a wide variety of articles. If they are to be used to transport these items, problems can arise, especially if the containers are transported, sorted and handled together with other goods. For example, it can be seen that the simultaneous transport of plastic containers and cardboard containers can damage the cardboard containers.

Furthermore, plastic containers are not well suited for handling and distribution in systems that have been designed for cardboard boxes. The plastic containers often get caught in the system. This leads to constipation and damage.

The task therefore arises of designing a container of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it at least partially avoids the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned.

This object is achieved by the container according to claim 1.

As it turns out, the design of the edge region of the container is important to prevent the problems mentioned at the beginning. By bending or rounding the lower end of the reinforcement wall, an edge or rib in this part of the edge area can be avoided in contrast to known solutions. This reduces the risk of damage to other goods and the risk of getting caught.

The reinforcement wall is preferably rounded at its lower end and goes into the corresponding one Sidewall above. This results in a strengthening of the edge area and interruptions in the outer wall are avoided.

Ribs, which extend between the side walls and the outer wall, preferably serve as a support for the cover. Corresponding ribs of the cover rest on these ribs. Such a support on relatively short ribs can be produced much more precisely than a support on the long edge of the side or reinforcement wall. The ribs are preferably arranged at a small angle to one another, so that there is a secure support.

In a preferred embodiment, the lid is rounded downward in its outer area. It thus forms the rounded top edges of the container. It preferably merges into the reinforcement wall via a small air gap without an edge or change of direction.

A circumferential sealant can be arranged between the upper edge of the side walls and the lid, so that the container meets higher sealing requirements. If the lid is still resting on the above-mentioned ribs, the sealant is not subjected to excessive force even when the containers are stacked.

Elastic tongues can be used to connect the lid and base. These are attached to the edge of the lower part, for example, and snap into the lid. To release the connection, the tongues must be pressed inwards. For this purpose, actuation openings are provided in the cover or in the reinforcement wall of the edge area. Each actuation opening is significantly smaller than the tongue underneath and is laterally centered above it. This central arrangement of the actuation opening above the tongue ensures that a central force is exerted when the tongue is actuated. The actuation opening also acts as a safety cover, which prevents the container from being opened unintentionally.

The container should preferably be nestable without a lid and stackable with a lid. Furthermore, it should have at least one grip opening in the edge area.

• Fig. 1 eine erste Ausführung des erfindungsgemässen Behälters in geschlossenem Zustand,
• Fig. 2 den Behälter von Fig. 1 mit abgehobenem, umgedrehten Deckel,
• Fig. 3 eine Draufsicht auf einen Teil des Randbereichs, wobei Teile des Deckels gestrichelt dargestellt sind,
• Fig. 4 einen Schnitt durch den Behälterrand im Bereich eines Verschlussorgans,
• Fig. 5 eine zweite Ausführung des Behälters mit Griff,
• Fig. 6 eine Ansicht des Verschlussorgans der Ausführung nach Fig. 5,
• Fig. 7 verschachtelte Behälter nach Fig. 1, und
• Fig. 8 gestapelte Behälter nach Fig. 1.

Further advantages and features of the container result from the following description of some preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. Show:

• 1 shows a first embodiment of the container according to the invention in the closed state,
• 2 shows the container of FIG. 1 with the lid lifted, turned over,
• 3 shows a plan view of part of the edge region, parts of the cover being shown in broken lines,
• 4 shows a section through the edge of the container in the area of a closure member,
• 5 shows a second embodiment of the container with a handle,
• 6 is a view of the closure member of the embodiment of FIG. 5,
• Fig. 7 nested container of FIG. 1, and
• 8 stacked container according to FIG. 1st

The structure of a first preferred embodiment of the container is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be noted that the lid in FIG. 2 is shown upside down.

The container is in two parts and has a lower part 1 and a lid 2. The lower part 1 comprises a bottom wall and four side walls 3, which are single-walled and have a substantially constant thickness. The side walls 3 converge somewhat downwards. The vertical edges between the side walls 3 and the horizontal edges between the side walls 3 and The bottom wall, like all the other outer edges of the container, is rounded.

At its upper end, the lower part 1 forms a peripheral edge region 4. This edge region is double-walled and comprises the respective side walls 3 as the inner wall and a reinforcement wall 5 as the outer wall. In the edge region, the side walls 3 and the reinforcement wall 5 run essentially vertically and parallel. The edge area 4 reinforces the entire container and gives the necessary shape retention.

At its lower end 6, the reinforcement wall 5 is rounded inwards and merges into the respective side wall 3. This is particularly shown in Figure 6.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the lid 2 is rounded in its outer region 13 and merges into a vertical wall section 14. This wall section 14 ends above the reinforcement wall 5 of the lower part 1, an air gap of approximately 1 mm in height being formed between the vertical wall section 14 and the reinforcement wall 5.

Short and long ribs 7 and 8 extend between the side walls 3 and the reinforcement wall 5. These ribs are vertical and form a reinforcement of the edge area. The long ribs 8 are tapered upwards and form lateral guides when the cover is put on. The short ribs 7 have horizontal upper edges 10 and form a support for the lower edges 11 of corresponding ribs 12 of the cover 2.

In order to ensure a secure support, the ribs 7 and 12 do not run exactly parallel to one another. This can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, which shows a plan view of the edge region of the container. The parts of the cover are drawn with dashed lines. The angle between the ribs 7 and 12 is clearly recognizable here. This angle prevents the ribs 12 from being laterally adjacent when the cover is deformed the ribs 7 can come to rest. The result is a safe, well-defined support that is able to absorb large stacking forces.

In FIG. 3, openings 9 can also be seen, which are cut out at regular intervals at the lower, horizontally running end 6 of the reinforcement wall 5. These openings prevent water from accumulating in the edge area 4.

To fasten the lid 2 to the lower part 1, a fastening tongue 15 shaped in the form of a snap element is provided on each of the two end faces of the container. The arrangement and mode of operation of these tongues can best be seen in FIG. 4.

Each tongue 15 is attached to the lower end of the edge area 4 and extends vertically upwards. At its upper end, it is provided with a projection 16 with a bevel which snaps into a projection 17 of the cover 2. To release the connection, the tongue must be pressed inwards against its spring force. For this purpose, an actuation opening 18 is provided in the cover. It is located laterally centered over the upper end of the tongue 15 and ensures that the pressure force is always exerted on the tongue 15 in the center. Furthermore, the actuating opening 18 acts as a protective screen and prevents the tongue from being inadvertently pressed.

The present container according to FIGS. 1-3 is splash-proof. For this purpose, an elastic sealing ring 20 (FIG. 4) is provided between the upper edge 22 (FIG. 2) of the side wall 3 and the cover 1. This sealing ring lies in a groove 21 in the lid and, when the lid is in place, extends along the entire upper edge 22 of the side wall 3.

It should be noted here that the sealing ring 20 does not act as a support for the cover - the ribs 7 and 12 are provided for this. This prevents that the sealing ring 20 is additionally compressed when the containers are stacked.

Figure 5 shows a partial view of an alternative embodiment of the container according to the invention. In this container, a handle opening 24 is provided on each end face. This opening extends through the edge region 4 of the lower part 1 and the cover 2, with corresponding openings being formed in the edge region 4 and in the cover 2. The edge area and the lid form a rounded handle 25. The sealing ring 20 extends within the handle opening 24, so that a seal of the interior of the container remains guaranteed.

5, the fastening tongues are not on the front but on the long side of the container. Since this container is larger than that according to Figure 1, two fastening tongues 15 are provided on each longitudinal side. One of them is shown in the partial view according to FIG. 6.

As can be seen from FIG. 6, the reinforcement wall 5 is also rounded inwards at its lower end 6 in this embodiment and merges into the corresponding side wall 3. Except for the handle area, this is essentially the case along the entire circumference of the container.

The container according to the invention is designed such that it can be nested without a lid and stacked with a lid. This is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

In the nesting shown in FIG. 7, the lower end of the edge area 4 of a container rests on the upper end of the edge area 4 'of a next lower container. For this purpose, the lower part is tapered below the edge area.

In the stacking of the containers shown in FIG. 8, each container stands in a recess 30 in the lid of the respective lower container, the recess 30 being adapted to the shape of the container bottom. This ensures safe, aligned stacking.

The container according to the invention is suitable for production using the injection molding process.

Claims (13)

Plastic container with a lower part (1) and a lid (2), the lower part (1) having single-walled bottom and side walls (3), the side walls (3) in an upper area together with a reinforcing wall (5) form a surrounding, double-walled edge region (4) and wherein the cover rests with an outer region (13) on the edge region (4), characterized in that the reinforcement wall (5) at least along part of the circumference of the edge region (4) at its lower end (6) is rounded inwards against the side walls. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing wall (5) opens out laterally into the side walls (3) at least along the part of the circumference of the edge region (4) at its lower end (6). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the space formed between the side walls (3) and the reinforcement wall (5) is open towards the lid side. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcing wall (5) is bent inwards in a substantially rounded manner along the entire circumference of the edge region (3) at its lower end (6). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that first ribs (7) run between the side walls (3) and the reinforcement wall (5). Container according to Claim 5, characterized in that second ribs (12) are arranged in the outer region (13) of the lid (2), with lower edges (11) of the second ribs (12) on upper edges (10) of the second lid (2) being placed on the lid rest the first ribs (7). Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower edges (11) of the second ribs (12) and the upper edges (10) of the first ribs (7) do not run parallel but at an angle to one another. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (2) in the outer region (13) is curved downward and ends at the top in a vertical wall section (14), and the reinforcing wall (5) extends essentially in the vertical direction, wherein the vertical wall section (14) ends above the reinforcement wall (5). Container according to claim 8, characterized in that an air gap is provided between the vertical wall section (14) and the reinforcing wall (5). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls (3) open into an upper edge (22) which is in contact with a circumferential sealing means (20) arranged on the lid (2). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that handle openings (24) are provided in the edge region (3) of the lower part (1) and in the outer region (13) of the lid (2), which lie on top of one another when the lid is attached and at least one handle ( 25) form, and that the grip openings (24) are arranged outside the sealing means (20). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that elastic tongues (15) are arranged in the edge region (4) of the lower part (1) or in the outer region (13) of the lid (2), which tongues can be snapped into place in the lid or lower part and can be disengaged by pressure from the outside, and that an actuating opening (18) is provided above each tongue (15) in the cover (2) or in the reinforcement wall (5), in such a way that the tongue is passed through the actuating opening (18) (15) Acting pressure can be exerted. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (2) and the lower part (1) are injection molded parts.

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