EP0729892B1 - 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, e.g. are known from EP-A-0 602 536, are suitable for Storage of various articles. Should they go to Transportation of these items can be used so yourself however, problems arise, especially when the containers transported, sorted and together with other goods be handled. For example, it shows that it while transporting plastic containers at the same time and cardboard boxes to damage the cardboard boxes can come.

Furthermore, plastic containers are not suitable good for handling and distribution in plants, which for Cardboard boxes have been laid out. The plastic containers often get stuck in the system. this leads to to constipation and damage.

Therefore the task arises of a container of the type mentioned in the introduction so that it the mentioned disadvantages of the prior art at least partially avoided.

This task is accomplished by the container Claim 1 solved.

As it turns out, the design of the Edge area of the container to prevent the entrance problems mentioned important. By turning or rounding off the lower end of the reinforcement wall can be one In contrast, edge or rib in this part of the border area to avoid known solutions. This will the risk of damage to other goods and the risk of getting stuck.

Preferably goes the bent end of the Reinforcement wall into the corresponding one Sidewall above. This results in an amplification of the Edge areas and breaks in the outer wall are avoided.

Preferably serve as a support for the lid Ribs that are between the side walls and the outer wall extend. Corresponding lie on these ribs Rib the lid. Such a requirement on relative short ribs can be manufactured much more precisely than one Rest on the long edge of the side or reinforcement wall. The ribs are preferably under a small one Angles arranged against each other so that there is a results in a secure circulation.

In a preferred embodiment, the lid rounded downwards in its outer area. It educates hence the rounded top edges of the container. Preferably it goes over a small air gap without edge or Change of direction in the reinforcement wall.

Between the top edge of the side walls and the Lid can be arranged a circumferential sealant so that the container has higher tightness requirements enough. If the lid is still on at the same time the ribs mentioned above, so the sealant no excessive force even when the containers are stacked exposed.

Can be used to connect the lid and base elastic tongues are used. These are for example attached to the edge of the lower part and snap in the lid. To solve the connection must the tongues are pressed inwards. For this are in Cover or in the reinforcement wall of the edge area, actuation openings intended. Every actuation opening is much smaller than the tongue underneath and is laterally centered over this. Through this central arrangement of the actuation opening above the tongue ensures that when the tongue is actuated a central force is exercised. The actuation opening also acts as a safety cover, which prevents that the container is opened unintentionally.

The container should preferably be without a lid can be nested and stacked with a lid. Further 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 construction of a first preferred embodiment of the container results from Figures 1 and 2. Here note that the lid in Figure 2 is upside down is shown.

The container is in two parts and has one Lower part 1 and a cover 2. The lower part 1 comprises a bottom wall and four side walls 3, which run single-walled are 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 The bottom wall, like all the other outer edges of the container, rounded.

The lower part forms at its upper end 1 a peripheral edge area 4. This edge area is double-walled and includes the inside wall respective side walls 3 and an outer wall as a reinforcing wall 5. The side walls 3 run in the edge area and the reinforcement wall 5 substantially vertical and parallel. The edge area 4 reinforces the entire container and imparts the necessary shape retention.

At its lower end 6 is the reinforcement wall 5 rounded inwards and goes into the respective Side wall 3 over. This is particularly the case in FIG. 6 shown.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the Cover 2 is rounded in its outer area 13 and goes in a vertical wall section 14 over. This wall section 14 ends above the reinforcement wall 5 of the lower part 1, being between the vertical wall section 14 and the reinforcement wall 5 an air gap of about 1 mm in height is formed becomes.

Between the side walls 3 and the reinforcement wall 5 extend short and long ribs 7 and 8. These ribs are vertical and form a reinforcement the edge area. The long ribs 8 are up tapers and form lateral guides when putting on the Cover. The short ribs 7 have horizontal top edges 10 and form a support for the lower edges 11 accordingly Ribs 12 of the cover 2.

To ensure a secure circulation, ribs 7 and 12 do not run exactly parallel to one another. This is particularly evident 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 is clearly visible here 7 and 12. This angle prevents the Ribs 12 laterally next to when the cover is deformed the ribs 7 can come to rest. So it turns out a secure, well-defined circulation that is able to also absorb large stacking forces.

Openings 9 can also be seen in FIG. 3, which at regular intervals at the bottom, horizontally extending end 6 of the reinforcement wall 5 are spared. These openings prevent it from moving 4 water can accumulate in the edge area.

For fastening the cover 2 to the lower part 1 is one in at the two ends of the container Fastening tongue shaped as a snap element 15 provided. The arrangement and mode of operation of this Tongues are best seen in Fig. 4.

Each tongue 15 is at the lower end of the edge area 4 attached and extends vertically upwards. At its upper end it is with a projection 16 Chamfer provided, which in a projection 17 of the Cover 2 snaps into place. To release the connection, the Tongue are pressed inward against their spring force. For this purpose, an actuation opening 18 is provided in the cover. It is centered laterally above the upper end of the tongue 15 and ensures that the Compressive force is always exerted centrally on the tongue 15. Furthermore, the actuating opening 18 acts as a protective cover and prevents the tongue from accidentally turning inwards is pressed.

The present container according to FIGS. 1-3 is splashproof. For this purpose, between the upper edge 22 (Fig. 2) of the side wall 3 and the lid 1 an elastic Sealing ring 20 (Fig. 4) is provided. This sealing ring lies in a groove 21 of the cover and extends attached lid along the entire upper edge 22 of the Side wall 3. The interior of the container is thus sealed all around.

It should be noted here that the sealing ring 20 does not act as a support for the lid - for this purpose the ribs 7 and 12 are provided. This prevents that the sealing ring 20 additionally when stacking the container is squeezed.

Figure 5 shows a partial view of an alternative Execution of the container according to the invention. At This container has a handle opening on each face 24 provided. This opening extends through the Edge area 4 of the lower part 1 and the lid 2, wherein in Edge area 4 and corresponding openings in the lid 2 are formed. The border area and the Cover a rounded handle 25. The sealing ring 20 runs within the handle opening 24 so that a seal the inside of the container remains guaranteed.

5 there are the fastening tongues not on the forehead but on the Long side of the container. Because this container is larger than 1, there are two on each long side Fastening tongues 15 are provided. One of them is in the Partial view shown in Figure 6.

As can be seen from Fig. 6, this is also the case Execution of the reinforcement wall 5 at its lower End 6 rounded inwards and goes into the corresponding one Side wall 3 over. This is except for the grip area in the essentially the case along the entire circumference of the container.

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

In the nesting shown in Figure 7 is the lower end of the edge region 4 of a container on the upper end of the edge area 4 'of a next lower one Container. For this, the lower part is below of the edge area tapers.

In the stacking of the Each container stands in a recess 30 of the Lid of each lower container, the recess 30 is adapted to the shape of the container bottom. Thus ensures secure, aligned stacking.

The container according to the invention is suitable for Manufacturing by injection molding.

Claims (13)

1. Plastic container with a lower part (1) and a lid (2), wherein the lower part (1) comprises single-walled bottom and side walls (3), wherein the side walls (3) form, together with an outer reinforcing wall (5), a circumferential double-walled edge section (4) in an upper section, and wherein the lid lies with an outer section (13) on the edge section (4), characterised in that at its lower end (6) at least along part of the circumference of the edge section (4) the reinforcing wall (5) is bent inwards in rounded manner towards the side walls.
2. Container of claim 1, characterised in that at least along part of the circumference of the edge section (4) the reinforcing wall (5) ends at its lower end (6) laterally in the side walls (3).
3. Container of one of the preceding claims characterised in that the gap formed between the side walls (3) and the reinforcing wall (5) is open towards its lid side.
4. Container of one of the preceding claims characterised in that substantially along the whole circumference of the edge section (3) the reinforcing wall (5) is bent inwards in rounded manner at its lower end (6).
5. Container of one of the preceding claims characterised in that first ribs (7) extend between the side walls (3) and the reinforcing wall (5).
6. Container of claim 5, characterised in that second ribs (12) are arranged in the outer section (13) of the lid (2), wherein the lower edges (11) of the second ribs (12) lie on the upper edges (10) of the first ribs (7) when the lid is on the container.
7. Container of claim 6, characterised in that the lower edges (11) of the second ribs (12) and the upper edges (10) of the first ribs (7) are not parallel but under an angle in respect to each other.
8. Container of one of the preceding claims characterised in that the lid (2) is bent downwards in rounded manner in the outer section (13) and ends in the top of a vertical wall section (14), and that the reinforcing wall (5) is extending substantially vertical, wherein the vertical wall section (14) ends above the reinforcing wall (5).
9. Container of claim 8, characterised in that an air gap is provided between the vertical wall section (14) and the reinforcing wall (5).
10. Container of one of the preceding claims characterised in that the lateral walls (3) end in a top edge (22), which is in contact with a circumferential sealing means (20) arranged at the lid (2).
11. Container of claim 10, characterised in that handle openings (24) are provided in the edge section (3) of the lower part (1) and in the outer section (13) of the lid, which are lying on top of each other when the lid is on the container and form at least one handle (25), and that the handle openings (24) are arranged outside the sealing means (20).
12. Container of one of the preceding claims characterised in that in the edge section (4) of the lower part (1) or in the outer section (13) of the lid (2) elastic tongues (15) are arranged as closing members, which can elastically be snapped into the lid or lower part, respectively, and can be opened by pressure from the outside, and that an actuation opening (18) is provided above each tongue (15) in the lid (2) or in the reinforcing wall (5), such that a pressure acting on the tongue (15) can be exerted through the actuation opening (18).
13. Container of one of the preceding claims characterised in that the lid (2) and the lower part (1) are die-cast moulded parts.

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