EP0749907A1 - Nestable and stackable container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a cross section which tapers downwards, so that it can be stacked on, or nested inside, a similar container. It has at least one moving part (20) in its bottom half, which when it is in its rest position when the container is nested, lies inside an imaginary extension of the cross section. When it is in its operating position when the container is stacked, the part projects so far beyond the side wall (3), that its outer end forms a surface to rest on the upper edge (10) of the next lower container in the stack. The moving part may be in the form of an arm which can pivot about an axis (21).

Description

The invention relates to a container with a downwardly tapering cross section, which is designed so that it can be nested (nested) as well as stacked.

Various known containers have this property. The simplest are containers with an elongated rectangular cross-section, which can be nested in the same position of the cross-section because of their tapering cross-section, so that an upper container dips more or less deeply into the next lower container. If, however, an upper container is placed transversely on the lower container, the upper container is supported on the upper edge of the next lower container. Apart from the fact that a stack of such containers does not make a nice picture and is therefore unsuitable for presentation, With these simply designed containers, reliable latching means are often not always available, which certainly prevent an upper container from slipping on the lower container. A stack of such containers therefore does not have the required stability. In the so-called rotary stacking containers, these locking means have been further developed so that they can be built up into a stable stack. Known containers with a downwardly tapering cross-section of another design are designed so that they are offset in their longitudinal direction by a small amount either in the position in which they can be nested or in the position in which they can be stacked on top of one another . These containers usually have recesses and projections on their upper and lower edges, which require complex injection molds of these containers, which are generally made of plastic.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to improve these known plastic containers with a downwardly tapering cross-section, that is to say plastic containers that can be nested, in particular to give them a simpler shape.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that in the lower half of the container, which generally has a rectangular cross-section, at least one movable part is provided which is in the rest position (nest position) within the possibly extended lower container cross-section, in its However, the working position assigned to the stacking position, for example, rotates so far beyond the side wall that its outer end rests on the upper edge of a container next to the bottom in the stacking position suitable is.

With the movable part extended in the working position, the container can then be placed in alignment over a container underneath with the help of the movable part standing in the working position, like a container whose side walls run at right angles from the container bottom. However, if the movable part is at rest, this container can be nested like the known containers because of its downwardly tapering cross section, because the movable part does not protrude beyond this cross section and is completely within the contour of the tapering cross section.

In embodiments of the invention, the movable part can be designed differently if it only supports the upper container on the next lower container in its working position, e.g. is rotationally fixed with respect to a horizontal axis, e.g. abuts a stop, and in its rest position does not interfere with the nesting (boxing) of the containers. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, this movable part consists of a slide which is guided on the container bottom in the direction transverse to the side wall and which is advanced in this direction in the working position that the front end of the slide over the surface of the side wall protrudes and forms a support with which the container is supported on the upper edge of the next lower container.

In another embodiment of the invention, this movable part is formed by a lever pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the bottom of the container, which lever is pivoted so far in its rest position that it does not have the cross section of the container protrudes at this point, but which can be swung out so far in its working position that its free end extends beyond the cross section of the container at this point so far that this end forms a support for the container on the upper edge of the next lower container.

In both of the aforementioned embodiments, this movable part can also be moved by an upwardly extending rod or the like if necessary.

In another embodiment of the invention, the movable part consists of a lever which is pivotally mounted about an axis running parallel to the plane of the container bottom and which, in the working position at a stop limiting the rotational movement, projects beyond the cross-section of the container at this point and which Forms the support of the container on the upper edge of the next lower container, but which is pivoted so far in the rest position that it lies completely within the possibly extended cross-section of the container, that is, for example, protrudes into the free space below the bottom of an upper container in nested containers .

This embodiment of the invention can be further developed in that the stop that limits the pivoting movement of the lever is formed by a shoulder in the container wall.

In embodiments of the invention, the movable part is arranged at least in one position completely above the extension of the base surface, which is possibly intended. This embodiment of the invention has the advantage that the container can be placed on a flat surface so securely that it forms a stable base for containers stacked on it.

The locking means, which securely hold containers stacked on top of one another and therefore ensure a safe stack in all work areas, can be designed in different ways.

In one embodiment of the invention, the movable part has latching means at its outer end which, in the working position of the part, engage with a container arranged underneath at the upper end.

These locking means can engage in the locking position with a play of 2 to 4 mm, which means that commercially available containers with walls running at right angles to the bottom of the container can be placed on the container according to the invention, in which in many cases the locking means have such a play to compensate for tolerances .

In embodiments of the invention, the container can also have a catch which holds the movable part, e.g. a swiveling lever that holds in the working position. This lever is then pivoted by hand into the rest position for nesting.

In other embodiments of the invention, for example in embodiments in which the movable part is pivotally mounted about an axis running parallel to the plane of the bottom of the container, the weight distribution within the lever can be provided such that when the container is removed from the base or a lever in a stack below the lever due to its weight pivoted downward and, if necessary, also has inclined surfaces which pivot the lever further inwards when the container is nesting, that is to say when the upper container is immersed in a lower container.

In further embodiments of the invention, the above-mentioned catch can also be designed such that it engages the lever in the working position when required or can be disengaged, for example, by connection to a rocker such as in an electrical switch, so that the lever is lifted off swings the pad into its rest position. In these embodiments, the lever can remain in the working position when it is lifted from the base or from the stacked position of the container, or can swivel into its rest position for nesting, as required.

In embodiments of the invention, on two mutually opposite side walls of the container, levers pivotable about an axis parallel to the plane of the bottom surface of the container can be connected by a rod to a bracket, which in the working position spans at least part of its length, preferably the major part its length, forms a support for the edge of the next lower container in a stack.

This embodiment of the invention can be further developed in such a way that the load is transmitted from the stop limiting the pivoting movement in the working position of the bracket via the front lever end to the bracket rod and from there to the upper edge of the next lower container via the front bracket end. In this way, a favorable load transfer of a stack of full containers is achieved.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the claims and the drawing. The individual features can be implemented individually or in groups in embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht, teilweise geschnitten, von zwei aufeinander gestapelten Behältern;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles II auf die in Figur 1 dargestellten Behälter;

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt nach der Linie B-B der Fig. 4 durch zwei aufeinander genestete Behälter;

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht von oben auf einen Eckbereich eines Behälters,

Fig. 5

einen der Fig. 3 entsprechenden Schnitt durch einen Stapel, der zwei bekannte Behälter mit etwa senkrechten Wänden aufweist, zwischen denen ein erfindungsgemäßer Behälter angeordnet ist.

Fig. 6

einen Stapel gemäß Fig. 5 in einem Schnitt nach der Linie A-A der Fig. 7,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf den gegenüber der Fig. 4 um 90° gedrehten Eckbereich des Behälters.

The edge region of an embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a view, partly in section, of two stacked containers;

Fig. 2

a view in the direction of arrow II on the container shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3

a section along the line BB of Figure 4 by two nested containers.

Fig. 4

a top view of a corner region of a container,

Fig. 5

a section corresponding to FIG. 3 through a stack which has two known containers with approximately vertical walls, between which a container according to the invention is arranged.

Fig. 6

5 in a section along the line AA of FIG. 7,

Fig. 7

a plan view of the corner region of the container rotated by 90 ° with respect to FIG. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, two containers 1 and 2 are stacked on top of one another in FIG. 1, each of which has a downwardly tapering cross section, which is achieved in that all side walls 3 and 4 run obliquely downwards and inwards. The container preferably has a rectangular cross section.

At the upper end of each container adjoins the side walls 3, 4 with the formation of a shoulder 5, a wall section 7 extending at right angles to a container bottom 6 and having outwardly projecting edge strips 8 arranged at the lower end of the wall section 7. At the upper end of the wall section 7 also run outward edge strips 9 and 10, but the edge strip 10 on the left side of the container 3 in FIG. 3 runs somewhat below the upper edge 11 of the edge strip 9 adjoining at right angles. At a distance from the corner of the container formed by the edge strips 9 and 10 there is a projection 12 which projects upwards at right angles in the drawing, the upper edge of which, in the embodiment shown, runs in the same plane as the upper edge 11 of the edge strip 9.

The obliquely downwardly extending side wall 3 has at its lower end a shoulder 13 (FIG. 3), which is connected to the container base 6 by a curve 14. The container bottom 6 has baseboards 15 projecting downward on all four sides. In the nested position shown in Figure 3, the upper container 1 dips with its sloping side walls 3, 4 into the next lower container 2 until the edge strip 8 or the outside of the shoulder 5 on the upper edge of the projection 12 and the upper edge 11 of the Edge bar 9 rests.

On two opposite side walls 4, the containers 1 and 2 each have an indentation 16, the upper edge 17 of which extends away from the shoulder 13 in a plane parallel to the container base 6, but then opens into a semicircular arch piece 18, which ends at a section 19 extending at right angles to the container base 6 merges, which connects the curved piece 18 to the container base 6. In this indentation 16 a bracket leg 20 is pivotally mounted about an axle pin 21. The thickness of the stirrup leg and the extent to which the axle pin protrudes outward from the container wall 4, or the depth of the indentation 16, are selected such that the stirrup leg 20 and the axle pin 21 do not extend beyond the extension of the side face 4 protrude. On the two opposite sides 4 pivotally mounted bracket legs 20 are connected to each other at their outer end by a bar 22 representing a yoke, preferably in one piece with the bracket legs 20. The bracket legs 20 have a recess 23 at their free end with a flat lower surface 24 , which is followed by an inclined surface 25, which opens into an upper edge surface 26, which runs parallel to the container bottom 6 in FIG. 1 and to which, in the region of the axle bolt 21, an eye for receiving the axle bolt 21 is connected. Parallel to the surface 26, the bracket leg 20 has a flat surface 27 following the recess 23, which in turn is connected to the eye at its inner end by an inclined surface 28. The bar 22 connecting the two bracket legs can have the same cross-section as the shape of the free end of the bracket legs 20. This bar 22, which is profiled in one embodiment of the invention, is in a section below shown in Figure 3.

When nesting, the bracket 20, 22 is pivoted downward about the axle pin 21, as shown in FIG. 3. In this position, pivoted downwards, the bracket is located, in particular because of its inclined surface 25, completely within the extension of the conical container contour, it projects into the free space 29 between the container base 6 of the lower container 2 and the container base 6 of the upper container 1. In this position, it is still in the interior of the container 2, which is not reduced by the indentation 16 (see FIG. 3).

The stirrup legs 20 in this position have a position which extends obliquely outwards and downwards from the axle pin 21, so that when they are placed on a support 30, due to the weight of the container, they swivel so far that the lower edge 27 of the stirrup leg 20 and thus possibly the lower one Edge of the bar 20 are in a plane with the lower edge of the baseboards 15 of the container.

In this position, the bracket 20, 22 can be held by a not shown notch.

In this position of the bracket 20, 22, the containers 1 and 2 can be stacked on top of one another. The lower surface 24 of the bracket 20, 22 of the container 1 comes to rest on the upper edge 10 of the container 2, the level of which is somewhat lower than the edge 9 on the other sides of the container 2. The lower surface 24 at the outer end of the strip Where there is a projection 12 on the edge strip 10, 22 has a recess 31 into which the projection 12 engages. The projection 12 and the recess 31 form Latching means with which the upper container 1 is held securely on the next lower container 2 during stacking, among other things. In addition, the shoulder surface 32 of the bracket is immersed in the lower container 2, so that this surface is also held against lateral sliding by the vertical wall section 7. However, the latching means 12 and 31 engage in each other with a game 33 (FIG. 1) and the wall 32 also has a game with respect to the wall 7, so that this corresponding positioning of the bracket and the inner wall of the container (FIG. 4) does this in the known ones Containers usual game is present. Such a game can be provided in the longitudinal and transverse directions, for example, as in the stacking of containers with vertical walls. Through this game, a conical container according to the invention is also compatible with the known containers with vertical walls. If a container with vertical walls is placed on an ironing container according to the invention, the possible offset (stacking play) is determined by the gap 33 shown in FIG. 1 between the bottom 6 and the inner edge of the wall section 7. In the opposite case, a gap between the inside edge of the foreign container and the outside edge of the bracket and in the direction perpendicular thereto the distance of the wall section 7 from the surface 32 of the bracket determines the usual play in these cases.

If a nested container is removed from the stack and placed on a flat surface, for example a conveyor belt, the brackets - as mentioned - automatically fold into the stacking position and are held there by a not shown notch. This eliminates the need for additional devices or handles. From this stacking or working position of the stirrup legs 20, they are generally moved by hand into the swung-down nest position. There is no risk of injury by pinching your hand.

In the stacked position, the upper edge 26 of the stirrup leg 20 bears against the shoulder 13 and the upper edge 17 of the bulge 16, which thereby form a stop for the stirrup leg 20, which limits its pivoting movement about the axis 21 upwards. Characterized the bracket leg 20 and thus the bracket 20, 22 is held in a rotationally fixed in this stacking position.

The play in the locking means can be 2 to 4 mm in all directions of movement, if necessary, and the cross-section of the containers can have any shape (for example square, triangular, round, oval or the like) if it tapers downwards only so that the containers can be nested.

In Fig. 4 it is shown that the wall 4 has a bulge 34 which extends from above to the indentation 16 or its upper edge 17 and which adjoins the remaining wall 4 via a circular segment 35. The bulge 34 projects so far outwards that the stirrup leg 20 arranged in the bulge 16 does not protrude beyond the extension of the wall of the bulge 34 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). The wall 36 which delimits the indentation 16 inwardly runs approximately in the extension of the wall 4. In order to be able to accommodate the bulge 34 when nesting, the bulge 34 also runs in the edge part 37 which has vertical walls.

In Fig. 1 two containers according to the invention are shown stacked on top of each other. In contrast, FIGS. 5 and 6 show how the container according to the invention can be stacked between two containers 38 and 39 with vertical walls. That extending over the entire height of the container according to the invention Circular arc segment 35 increases the rigidity of the container wall in the same way as a rib.

Claims (14)

Container with a downwardly tapering cross section, which is designed such that it can be nested (nested) as well as stacked, characterized in that in the lower half of the container (1) at least one movable part (20) is provided, which is in the rest position (nest position) within the possibly extended container cross-section, but in its working position assigned to the stacking position projects beyond the side wall (3) to such an extent that its outer end supports the upper edge (10) of the next lower one in the stacking position Forms container (2). Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable part (20) is designed as a lever pivotably mounted about an axis (21). Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the working position the rotatable part (20) rests on a shoulder (17, 13) which limits the rotational movement. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable part (20) is located in at least one position completely above the level of the bottom surface (6) of the container. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable part (20, 22) and the upper edge (10) of the container (1, 2) have latching means (12, 31) which, in the working position of the movable part (20, 22) engage with each other. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching means (12, 31 or 32) engage in one another with play in the latched position. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container has at least one catch which holds the movable part (20, 22) in its working position. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable part is formed by two stirrup legs (20) which are pivotally mounted in opposite side walls about an axis (21) and which are connected to one another by a bar (22) forming a stirrup yoke. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that in the working position the bracket (20, 22) lies at least partially with its upper edge (26) on a shoulder (13, 17) of the container wall, with its lower edge (24) a support for forms the upper edge of the next lower container. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable part (20, 22) is arranged in an indentation (16) in the container wall (4). Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the indentation (16) is followed by an indentation (34) in the container wall which extends to the upper edge of the container. Container according to claim 11, characterized in that the bulge (34) connects laterally to the remaining wall (4) via a circular segment (35) forming a shoulder. Container according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the inner surface of the wall delimiting the indentation (36) extends approximately in the plane of the inner surface of the wall (4). Container according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the distance between the outer boundary surfaces of the corresponding moving parts (20) is somewhat smaller than the opening of commercially available containers with vertical walls (Fig. 6).

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