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The invention relates to a linkable crate, comprising a base and side walls, at least one side wall of which is provided with one or more linking elements for linking the crate to another crate.
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Such a linkable crate is known in the art as a component of a so-called split box. A split box of this kind comprises two identical part crates, which are detachably connected to one another with the aid of linking elements. To this end, a side wall of each part crate is provided with a linking element in the form of a small projection which is positioned in a corresponding recess in a side wall of the other part crate, in order to bring about the linking. One part crate can be linked to one other part crate. The split box is often used for storing and transporting containers, such as bottles, so that it is possible to sell the part crates separately or for the user/purchaser to transport them one by one and then to link them together again at home.
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A drawback of the linkable crates constructed in this manner is that only one part crate can be linked to one other part crate. It is not possible to link more than two crates to one another, since only one side wall of each part crate is provided with linking elements.
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A further drawback of this known split box is presented by the small projections which form the linking elements. These projections are so small that the strength of their connection to the side wall is relatively low, even though the strength of the linking elements for linking the part crates is in itself sufficient. As a result, the projections can easily be damaged or even broken off during transportation and use, as a result of which the part crates can no longer be linked to one another.
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The object of the invention is to provide a crate with increased possibilities for linkage, so that a plurality of linkable crates can be linked to one another in series.
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Another object of the invention is to reduce the risk of damage to the linking elements and/or side walls of the crate.
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A further object of the invention is to improve the strength of the connection of the linking elements to the side wall of the linkable crate, so that the risk of the linking elements being damaged is lower than in the case of the known crate.
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A linkable crate of the above-described type according to the invention is characterized in that a first side wall provided with one or more linking elements comprises a wall part, which is offset towards the inside of the crate, and the linking element does not extend beyond the plane defined by the corners of the first side wall, and that a second side wall situated opposite the first side wall comprises a wall part, which part is offset outwards.
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According to the invention a first side wall having linking elements comprises a wall part, which is offset towards the inside of the crate. The opposite second side wall comprises a wall part, which is offset outwards. When crates of the type according to the invention are linked together the first side wall of a first crate faces the second side wall of another crate. Thus the crates are linkable in a technically unlimited number. Furthermore the linking element fixed to the first side wall does not project beyond the plane defined by the corners of the first side wall, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the linking elements. This also enables to adjust the size of an individual crate, as well as the size of linked crates to the standard outer unit size used in the art, without any projections extending beyond said standard size.
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In a preferred embodiment of the crate according to the invention the top face of a linking element does noat project above the top surface of the crate, in particular its top face is at the same level as the top edge of the crate. Such a configuration of the linking elements provides a further reduction of the risk of damage to the linking elements.
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A preferred linking element used in the crate according to the invention is a hook element, which in the linked state is positioned over a top edge of the second side wall of another crate. In an embodiment of this kind of the linking element according to the invention, the linkable crates can be linked to one another in series by hooking the latter together, so that more than two crates linked together can be transported.
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Preferably, the connecting surface of the hook element extends over at least half the length of the side face. As a result, the strength of the connection of the hook element to the side wall in question is greater than is required for linking crates, as a result of which the risk of the hook element being damaged or breaking is reduced.
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Advantageously, the top edge of the second side wall is provided with a recess which corresponds to the thickness and length of the hook element. In the linked-together state, the hook element then lies level with the top face of the side walls of each crate. This also limits possible movement of linked crates with respect to one another.
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Furthermore, in order to limit the margin between the hook element and the second side wall of another crate which is to be linked thereto, the gap between a hook part of the hook element, which runs essentially parallel to the first side wall, and this side wall corresponds to the offset wall part of the second side wall.
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The hook part of the hook element and the side walls of the crate which are involved in the linking may furthermore be provided with handgrips which are aligned with one another. This is particularly advantageous since the linking is manually supported when picking up the crates. Also, in this way it is relatively simple to handle more than two crates simultaneously.
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In order to prevent the crates from being able to move away from one another at the bottom, if desired additional linking elements, such as projections and recesses, may be present in the region of the bottom of the side wall which is to be linked, in particular in the offset part of the side wall.
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The invention will be explained below with reference to the drawing, in which:
- Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of crates linked to one another in accordance with a preferred embodiment according to the invention;
- Fig. 2 shows a top view of a crate according to Fig. 1; and
- Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the crate according to Fig. 2 on the line I-I.
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Fig. 1 diagrammatically depicts two crates 1 and 2 linked to one another. The crates 1 and 2 are identical and are made, for example, of plastic. Each crate comprises a base 3 and upright side walls 4-7 (cf. Figs. 2 and 3). The first side wall 4 comprises corner surfaces 8 and 9, respectively, at either side, as well as faces 10 and 11 running inwards at an angle and an offset wall part 12 which extends between these faces 10 and 11 and is situated parallel to the corner surfaces 8 and 9. At the top edge of the wall part 12, a hook element 13 is connected thereto, the top face 14 of which element is at the same level as the top edge. A hook part 15 of the hook element 13 lies in the plane defined by the corner surfaces 8 and 9 of the side wall 4 and is situated parallel to the wall part 12. The length of the connecting surface of the hook element 13 to the wall part 12 occupies the entire width of this part. A gap 16, the width of which corresponds to the thickness of the opposite side wall 7, is present between the hook part 15 and the wall part 12.
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The opposite (second) side wall 7 is correspondingly offset outwards, and comprises corner surfaces 17 and 18, faces 19 and 20 running obliquely outwards, and a wall part 21 which extends between these faces and is parallel to surfaces 17 and 18. A recess 22, the length and height of which correspond to the dimensions of the hook element 13, is provided in the wall part 21, so that the distance between the first side wall 4 and hook part 15, as well as the shape and dimensions of the recess 22, counteract mutual displacement of the linked crates 1 and 2.
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Furthermore, openings which form aligned handgrips 23, 24 and 25 are arranged in the hook element 13, wall parts 12 and 21.
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Therefore, when the two crates are in the linked state, the side walls 4 and 7 bear against one another, the hook element 13 coming to rest in the recess 22 of the side wall 7 and over the top edge thereof, thus bringing about linkage. If desired, these side walls may be provided at the bottom with additional linking elements which interact with one another and are preferably arranged in the wall parts 12 and 21.
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Fig. 2 shows a top view of one of the crates 1, 2. In this figure, components which correspond to Fig. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals. It is clear that the outwardly offset wall part 21 of side wall 7 is offset by a smaller distance (thickness of one side wall) than the wall part 12 of side wall 4 is offset inwardly (twice the thickness of one side wall).
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For the purpose of explanation, Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through the above-described crate according to the invention.
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A lattice frame (not shown) may be arranged in each crate for the purpose, for example, of positioning bottles, for example 6 bottles. Furthermore, the base of the crate according to the invention may be shaped such that it partially rests in another crate, which increases the stability when crates of this kind are stacked, as is generally known in the art.
