EP0786412A1 - Transport and storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a rectangular base (30) and four side walls (10, 20). When the container is empty, the top of each wall is folded inwards about a pivot axis parallel to the base edges. Two opposite first walls have curved corner sections (11). These, and the second side walls, have overlapping connection sections (12, 22) of a thickness, which is reduced by approx. 50%. The base has plinth parts (31), with rounded corner sections. Two opposite second side walls (20) have sideward projecting shoulders (21), which are positioned between the base and the round wall corners, when the walls are upright.

Description

The invention relates to a transport and storage container with a substantially rectangular bottom and with four side walls.

Various types of transport and storage containers are known, plastic containers in particular being increasingly used as reusable containers and replacing disposable packaging. In order to be able to transport and store empty reusable containers in a space-saving manner, it is expedient and already known to design these containers with foldable side walls.

A first collapsible transport box is known from DE 29 00 857 A1. This transport box consists of a right-angled base plate and four rib-stiffened side walls that are hinged to the floor and can be folded inwards. In this case, a pair of opposite side walls with cams attached to them are guided in arcuate guide slots in the other pair of opposite side walls. The dividing line between the adjacent side walls runs directly in the corner area of the transport box.

It is considered a disadvantage of this known transport box that its manufacture by the circular arc Guide slots guided cams is comparatively complex and that the cams represent damage-sensitive parts that break off or deform easily when improperly handled, so that the function of the transport box is impaired. In addition, since the dividing line between the adjacent side walls runs directly in the corner area, each of the four side walls represents a flat plate in itself which, despite the stiffening ribs provided thereon, is relatively easily deformable. This means that this transport box is not very suitable for storing and transporting heavier loads, especially when stacking several loaded transport boxes on top of one another.

A collapsible container is also known from EP 0 655 392 A2, the four side walls of which can also be folded. In this container, the swivel axes for the side walls are arranged in pairs at different heights, the highest swivel axes of one pair of side walls being arranged so high that a height reduction of the folded container to only about a third of the original height can be achieved with the side walls erected.

Furthermore, a collapsible container is known from EP 0 385 914 B1, which comprises a lower part and four side walls, the side walls also being able to be folded inwards. The one pair of side walls is formed with wall areas encompassing corners, so that the container has a comparatively high stability and resilience, in particular when several loaded containers are stacked one above the other. However, this known container also has the disadvantage that only a limited height reduction is achieved in the collapsed state, since the remaining container height with the side walls folded in is still approximately 40% of the initial height of the container with the side walls erected.

From DE 81 19 990 U1 a collapsible transport box is known, consisting of a base plate, four inwardly foldable pairs of side walls arranged opposite one another and a plurality of hinges for articulating the side walls on the base plate, preferably two side walls arranged opposite one another directly and the two other side walls arranged opposite one another are articulated indirectly to the base plate via edges directed substantially perpendicular to the base plate, and the side walls are provided with guide pins, guide recesses corresponding to the guide pins and locking elements for connection to one another in the opened state. It is further provided in this known transport box that the side walls articulated over the edges of the base plate are provided with stop strips for the side walls directly articulated on the base plate at their edges which extend vertically to the base plate in the opened state. In this known transport box, a good reduction in the height of the box is achieved by folding in the side walls, however, the box is not very stable due to the design of its side walls and can only be loaded to a small extent by additional transport boxes placed on it. This transport box therefore lacks the necessary security for economical use in practical use. In addition, it is considered disadvantageous that the locking of the side walls relative to one another in the opened state is unreliable and thus the stability of the container is not adequately guaranteed. Finally, the assembly of the container is very complex, which is caused in particular by the large number of hinges becomes.

Finally, a collapsible container is known from WO95 / 18048, which likewise has an essentially rectangular base and four pivotally connected, inwardly collapsible side walls. It is essential in this known container that the side walls are formed with flange areas which engage in a toothed engagement with one another in the erected state. This interlocking engagement requires a relatively complicated shape of the connection areas of the side walls with one another and leads to complex production. In addition, when the side walls are connected to one another in their upright position, precise positioning of the connection areas is necessary in order to produce the engagement. Furthermore, this known container is considered to be disadvantageous in that when several loaded containers are stacked one on top of the other, it does not have a high load-bearing capacity, since the side walls are essentially formed by flat rectangles which are not inherently resistant to torsion. This known container is therefore not very suitable for the storage and transport of relatively heavy goods.

It is therefore the task of creating a transport and storage container that has a high durability and stability, even when stacking several loaded containers on top of each other, that is easy to manufacture and handle, and in which a greater reduction in the height in comparison between the Height with the side walls erected and the height with the side walls folded in is reached.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a transport and storage container according to claim 1.

Due to the corner-encompassing wall end areas of the first side walls and the base-corner areas of the base which also encompass the corner, the container becomes particularly stable and is suitable for absorbing both high content loads and high stacking loads. The wall base areas provided on the floor under the first side walls ensure a high stability of the floor, so that it does not bend even under high loads. The laterally projecting widenings of the second side walls ensure an uninterrupted forwarding of stack loads acting in the vertical direction from top to bottom on the wall end regions of the first side walls. At the same time, they allow the pivot axes to be arranged as far out as possible near the edge of the container base without impeding the ability to fold in the first side walls with the wall-end regions encompassing the corner. The arrangement of the pivot axes of the first side walls and the second side walls at different heights enables the folded side walls to be easily stacked one above the other, the second side walls lying under the first side walls in the folded state. By feature g) of claim 1, the essential advantage is achieved that the wall end areas with their side edges in the erected state lie in the folded state on the bottom of the container, so that a very large height reduction between the initial height of the container with erected side walls and Height is reached with the side walls folded.

An alternative embodiment of the container is specified in claim 2. In this embodiment, an even greater reduction in height is achieved, since here the front end edges of the wall-end regions encompassing the corners come to lie in the folded state at the level of the underside of the floor.

Further advantageous refinements and developments of the container according to the invention are specified in claims 3 to 31. The claims 3 and 4 describe configurations of the bottom and the side walls. Claims 5 to 9 describe the articulated connection between the side walls on the one hand and the floor on the other hand by means of hinges provided between them and protective measures against damage to this articulated connection. In the claims 10 to 21 specific embodiments of the locking means are set out in the form of bars. In the claims 21 and 23, means for mutual centering of the side walls when erecting and locking against each other are explained. Claims 24 to 30 in turn relate to further developments and refinements of the base and the side walls of the container. Finally, claim 31 mentions features of the container according to the invention which allow it to be stacked together with conventional rigid containers.

Figur 1

einen Boden, eine erste Seitenwand und eine zweite Seitenwand eines Behälters vor deren Verbindung miteinander, in einer schematischen perspektivischen Darstellung,

Figur 2

den Boden, die erste Seitenwand und die zweite Seitenwand des Behälters nach deren Verbindung miteinander, jeweils in einer schematischen perspektivischen Darstellung, wobei in beiden Figuren die zwei weiteren Seitenwände aus Übersichtlichkeitsgründen weggelassen sind,

Figur 3

einen Behälter in Ansicht auf den linken unteren Teil einer seiner Stirnseiten, wobei die Zeichnungsebene parallel zur Ebene der zweiten Seitenwände in deren aufgerichteter Stellung verläuft,

Figur 4

eine zweite Seitenwand eines Behälters in einer Teilansicht auf ihren linken oberen Eckbereich, mit einem Riegel zur Arretierung zweier benachbarter Behälterseitenwände gegeneinander,

Figur 4a

den Riegel aus Figur 4 in einer Teil-Draufsicht,

Figur 5

einen Behälter in einer Teilansicht auf den linken oberen Bereich seiner Stirnseite, mit einem in Verriegelungsstellung befindlichen, gegenüber Figur 4 geänderten Riegel,

Figur 6

den Behälter aus Figur 5 im Teil-Horizontalschnitt entlang der Linie VI - VI in Figur 5,

Figur 7

den Behälter in gleicher Darstellung wie in Figur 5, aber nun mit in Entriegelungsstellung befindlichem Riegel,

Figur 8

eine zweite Seitenwand eines Behälters in einer Teilansicht auf ihren linken unteren Bereich und

Figur 9

eine erste Seitenwand eines Behälters in einer Teilansicht auf den mittleren unteren Bereich ihrer Außenseite vor Verbindung der Seitenwand mit dem Boden,

Figur 10

die Seitenwand aus Figur 9 in einem Teil-Querschnitt entlang der Linie X - X in Figur 9 und

Figur 11

einen Behälter in einem Vertikal-Teilschnitt parallel zur Ebene der aufgerichteten zweiten Seitenwände, wobei die erste Seitenwand eingeklappt ist und die zweite Seitenwand zeichnerisch nicht dargestellt ist.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to a drawing. The figures in the drawing show:

Figure 1

a bottom, a first side wall and a second side wall of a container before their connection to one another, in a schematic perspective illustration,

Figure 2

the bottom, the first side wall and the second side wall of the container after their connection to one another, in each case in a schematic perspective illustration, the two further side walls being omitted in both figures for reasons of clarity,

Figure 3

a container in view of the lower left part of one of its end faces, the plane of the drawing running parallel to the plane of the second side walls in their upright position,

Figure 4

a second side wall of a container in a partial view of its upper left corner area, with a bolt for locking two adjacent container side walls against each other,

Figure 4a

4 in a partial top view,

Figure 5

4 shows a container in a partial view of the top left area of its end face, with a bolt located in the locked position and modified compared to FIG. 4,

Figure 6

5 in partial horizontal section along the line VI - VI in FIG. 5,

Figure 7

the container in the same representation as in Figure 5, but now with the bolt in the unlocked position,

Figure 8

a second side wall of a container in a partial view of its lower left area and

Figure 9

a first side wall of a container in a partial view of the middle lower region of its outside before connecting the side wall to the bottom,

Figure 10

the side wall of Figure 9 in a partial cross-section along the line X - X in Figure 9 and

Figure 11

a container in a vertical partial section parallel to the level of the erected second side walls, wherein the first side wall is folded and the second side wall is not shown in the drawing.

As FIG. 1 of the drawing shows, the container 1 has a base 30 with an essentially rectangular outline shape and with an underside 33, which is not visible here, and an upper side 35. A wall base area 31 protrudes from each of the two longitudinal edges of the base 30 above, which is integral with the bottom 30. On the two end faces of the base 30 there is also a further wall base area 32, the height of which is, however, significantly lower than that of the wall base areas 31 mentioned first. In addition, in the second wall base regions 32, the wall thickness measured in the horizontal direction is only approximately half as large as the wall thickness of the first wall base regions 31.

Furthermore, the container 1 comprises a total of four side walls 10, 20, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing in order to obtain a clearer representation. 1, the rear side wall 10 shows the first side wall 10 before it is connected to the floor 30. The side wall 10 has at its lateral ends a wall area 11 encompassing a corner, in the course of which the wall thickness is reduced from the original value in one step to approximately half. The wall area with the reduced thickness forms a connecting wall area 12, which will be discussed in more detail later. The two wall areas 11 encompassing the corners with the connecting wall areas 12 end in a vertical end edge 16.

On the lower edge 13 of the side wall 10, a plurality of hinge elements 14 are attached, which project downwards. These hinge elements 14 can be inserted into suitable hinge receiving openings 314 in the upper side of the associated wall base area 31 and can preferably be latched there.

The right side in FIG. 1 shows the second side wall 20, which in each case has a widening 21 on its lower side regions, each of which projects outwards. The top of each widening 21 forms a contact surface 27, on each of which one of the wall regions 11 encompassing the corners of the first side walls 10 stands in its upright position. Furthermore, it can be seen in the second side wall 20 that in its lateral edge regions each above the widenings 21 has a wall thickness reduced to approximately half of the original wall thickness. As a result, connecting wall regions 22 are formed which correlate with the connecting wall regions 12 of the first side walls 10.

On its underside 23, the second side wall 20 likewise has a plurality of hinge elements 24 which also protrude downward here and can be inserted into corresponding hinge receiving openings 324 in the second wall base region 32 of the base 30. Both the hinge receptacle openings 314 and the hinge receptacle openings 214 are expediently also open at the bottom and - insofar as it does not interfere with the function - are designed with dimensions that allow a relatively large amount of play, so that dirt particles which may penetrate cannot become lodged and collect. The folding mechanism is very insensitive to dirt.

Both the first side wall 10 and the second side wall 20 are upwards through a smooth upper edge 15 or 25 limited.

Figure 2 of the drawing shows the container with side walls 10 and 20 in the state connected to the bottom 30. The two other side walls are also omitted here for reasons of clarity; to form the complete container 1 these are of course part of it. The design and arrangement of the two side walls not shown here is mirror-symmetrical to the side walls 10, 20 shown, so that a separate illustration and explanation is not necessary.

In the state of the container 1 shown in FIG. 2, the hinge elements on the underside of the first side wall 10 and second side wall 20 are latched into the associated hinge receiving openings 314, 324 and are no longer visible. As a result, a pivot axis 18 and 28 is formed for each side wall 10, 20, which are shown in FIG. 2 by dash-dotted lines. The pivot axes 18, 28 run within the wall base regions 31 parallel to the edges of the container base 30, but at different heights. The pivot axis 18 is arranged at a greater vertical distance from the floor 30 than the pivot axis 28.

As indicated by the swivel arrows 19, 29, the side walls 10, 20 can be folded inward toward the floor 30 about their associated swivel axes 18, 28. When the container 1 collapses from its use position with the side walls 10, 20 erected, the shorter second side walls 20 at the front are first folded inwards in the direction of the pivot arrow 29 until they rest on the floor 30. Thereafter, the longer side walls 10 can also be folded inwards in the direction of the swivel arrow 19. By appropriate selection of the dimensions of the wall areas surrounding the corner 11 and the height of the pivot axis 18 above the floor 30 is achieved that in the folded position of the side walls 10, the front edges 16 of the corner-encompassing wall areas 11 come to lie substantially at the level of the floor 30, in the present embodiment exactly at the level of the underside of the floor 33. In this way, the minimum possible remaining height, which is possible at all, is ensured in the folded state of the container 1. A limitation of the folding in of the first side walls 10 is formed by the step at the beginning of the connecting wall areas 12 resting on the top of the second wall base areas 32.

Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 2 how the two connecting wall regions 12, 22 of the first side wall 10 and second side wall 20 interact. In the erected state of the side walls 10, 20, these connecting wall areas 12, 22 overlap one another, their wall thicknesses again adding up to the total wall thickness in the area of the side walls 10, 20 outside the connecting wall areas 12, 22. In these connecting wall areas 12, 22 additional locking means are provided, which can be released manually or also by automatic handling devices, in order to be able to lock the side walls 10, 20 in their erected position on the one hand and on the other hand to detach them from one another with little effort and then to fold them in .

Finally, FIG. 2 also illustrates the function of the widenings 21 and the contact surfaces 27 on the second side wall 20. As can be seen on the far right in FIG. 2, the contact surfaces 27 lie in one plane with the upper edge of the wall base regions 31. Together, they thus form a continuous Support surface for the lower edge 13 of the second side wall 10. This is the side wall 10 highly resilient, which allows the stacking of several loaded containers 1 on top of each other easily and with sufficient security.

The height of the side walls 10, which form the longer side of the container 1, is dimensioned such that, when folded, the two opposite long side walls 10 come to lie in front of one another with their upper edges 15. In this state, the two first side walls 10 then assume a horizontal position, which permits the stacking of several unloaded, folded containers 1 without the risk of stacking uncertainties.

The container 1 is preferably made of plastic, the bottom 30 and the four side walls 10, 20 being expediently each produced as plastic injection molded parts. In addition, the bottom 30 and the side walls 10, 20 are expediently designed as ribbed parts on the outside in order to achieve high stability with low weight. If necessary, the bottom 30 and / or the side walls 10, 20 can also be provided with ventilation and / or drainage openings or slots. In addition, 20 handle openings are provided at least on the two second side walls, but are not specifically shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment shown, the second side walls can also form the longer sides of the container and the first side walls can form the shorter sides of the container.

FIG. 3 of the drawing shows the lower part of a corner region of the foldable transport and storage container 1, with the bottom 30 with the wall base regions 32 and 31 made in one piece with it being visible in the lower part of the illustration. In the right part of the figure 3, the left end region of one of the second side walls 20 is visible above the wall base region 32; In the left part of FIG. 3, the wall area 11 encompassing a corner of one of the two first side walls 10 is visible above the wall base area 31. The side wall 20 has on its underside 23 the hinge elements 24 which are inserted into the hinge receiving openings 324 in the wall base area 32. Since both the hinge elements 24 and the associated hinge receiving openings 324 are not visible from the outside, they are shown in broken lines in FIG. In a corresponding manner, the side wall 10 is also connected to the associated wall base region 31, with one of the hinge elements 14 concealed in the wall base region 31 also being shown in dashed lines here. The side wall 10 is pivotable about the axis 18; the side wall 20 can be pivoted about the axis 28, in each case towards the interior of the container.

The base 30 is designed with a circumferential, web-like, downwardly projecting stack edge 331, which springs back somewhat in relation to the outer contour of the wall base regions 31, 32. The dimension of this recess is slightly larger than the thickness of the side walls 10, 20, so that a safe stacking of the container 1 with similar containers with the side walls 10, 20 erected is possible. Stacking with conventional, rigid containers of corresponding dimensions is also possible in this way.

At the lower left corner of the side wall 20 one of the widenings 21 can be seen, which extends in the direction of the wall base region 31 and towards the side wall 10. When the side walls 10, 20 are erected, as shown in FIG. 3, the widening 21 lies between the wall area 11 encompassing the corner of the first side wall 10 and the floor 30, more precisely the lower wall base area 32 which is integral with it. The top side The widening 21 forms a contact surface 27 for the underside of the wall area 11 encompassing the corner of the first side wall 10. In addition, an extension 211, which projects outward, ie in FIG. 3, is provided on the widening 21, the upper side of which is aligned with the contact surface 27. To accommodate this bracket 211, a suitable lowering 321 is provided at the top of the front end of the wall base area 31, so that the boom 211 lies between the underside of the corner wall area 11 of the first side wall 10 and the wall base area 31 when the side walls are erected. As a result, the connection of the side walls 10, 20 to one another and to the floor and its wall base regions 31, 32 is improved when the side walls 10, 20 are erected and in particular when loaded from above by additional containers 1 stacked on top.

In the upper part of FIG. 3 it is shown that in the areas in which the side walls 10, 20 adjoin each other, both have overlapping wall end areas 12, 22, the wall end area 12 of the first side wall 10 being on the outside of the container 1, that is to say faces the viewer, while the wall end area 22 of the second side wall 20 lies on the inside of the container 1 and is therefore covered by the wall end area 12 for the viewer. In the overlap area, the wall end areas 12, 22 are each approximately half as thick as the side walls 10, 20 in their remaining areas, so that the wall end areas 12, 22 again add up to the total thickness of the side walls 10, 20.

As already mentioned, several containers 1 can be stacked one above the other; For this purpose, the upper sides 15, 25 of the side walls 10, 20, which are not visible in FIG surrounds stacked containers 1.

In the embodiment of the container 1 shown in Figure 3, the side walls 10, 20 are designed as surfaces with outwardly projecting ribs 100 and 200, which run both in the vertical and in the horizontal direction. In the case of the horizontally extending ribs 100 of the first side wall 10, steps 131 can be seen on the far left in FIG. In the folded-in state of the side walls 10, these steps 131 form a vertical offset in the surface of the folded container 1. In this state of the container 1, the steps 131 serve to secure an attached further container 1 against slipping transversely to the longitudinal direction of the first side walls 10. For this purpose, the stacking edge 331 engages behind the steps 131 on the underside of the container 1 placed on top, as a result of which the desired securing against horizontal displacement is achieved. Corresponding steps 131 are provided on all four corners of the container 1, so that when the side walls 10 are folded in, there are continuous steps in the contour of the upper side on two opposite end faces of the container 1.

Finally, it can be seen from FIG. 3 that the wall base region 31 is designed, at least over part of the length of its upper side, with a bevel 311 that slopes away from the inside of the container. The first side wall 10 is designed on its underside in the corresponding areas with a slope 101 matching the slope 311. By means of these bevels 101, 311 it is achieved that when the container 1 is loaded, especially from its first side wall 10, the tendency of the lower end of the side wall 10 to emigrate towards the interior of the container is counteracted from above. In addition, these contours of the underside of the first side walls 10 and the top of the associated Wall base areas 31 achieved that, starting from the erected position of the side walls 10, a certain frictional resistance must first be overcome when folding in towards the interior of the container. This resistance serves to hold the erected first side walls 10 automatically in this position, even if the second side walls 20 have not yet been erected and are connected to the first side walls 10. This in particular facilitates and accelerates the transfer of the container 1 from its state with the side walls 10, 20 folded into its state with the side walls 10, 20 erected, since the first side walls 10 which have been erected first remain in their position without further measures, so that the operator, which opens the container 1, both hands free for simultaneous erection of the two second side walls 20.

To lock the side walls 10, 20 against each other in their erected state, a total of four bolts 4 are provided in the container 1, which are provided in pairs on the two second side walls 20. Figure 4 of the drawing shows a section of one of the side walls 20 with a bolt 4. Each bolt 4 consists of a flat elongated base body 40, the outer, i.e. each end facing the side wall 10 not shown here forms a locking end 44. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the bolt 4 assumes its locking position and the locking end 44 is in its outer position for engagement with the adjacent side wall 10, not shown.

In addition to the base body 40, each bolt 4 includes an actuating end 42 with an actuating handle 43, which is designed here as an eyelet for receiving a human thumb or finger. Furthermore, the base body 40 carries two spring arms which diverge in a V-shape 41, which are supported on the side wall 20, more precisely on ribs 200 or a step 241 of the container 1 embodied therein.

The bar 4 is displaceably guided in its longitudinal direction in openings 204 which lie in several of the ribs 200 on the outside of the side wall 20 facing the viewer. The spring arms 41 load the bolt 4 with a force acting in the locking direction, whereby the bolt 4 is held in its locking position as long as no other external forces are exerted on it.

Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows in the connecting wall area 22 a centering means for centering the foldable side walls 10, 20 when they are erected. The centering means here consists of a centering cam 222 projecting outward from the connecting wall region 22, for which an opening 122 is provided in the side wall 10.

On each of the two side walls 20, two bars are arranged mirror-symmetrically to the central perpendicular of the side wall 20. Below the actuating ends 42 with the actuating handles 43 there is a handle opening 201 in the side wall 20, which is used to grip the container 1 when the side walls 10, 20 are upright. The actuating handles 43 of the two bolts 4 are arranged directly above the handle opening 201 and are at such a distance from one another that simultaneous actuation of the two bolts 4 by an operator's thumb and index finger is easily possible. To release the locking, it is sufficient to move the bolts 4 towards one another by exerting a corresponding force on the actuating handles 43, whereby the engagement of the locking ends 44 of the bolts 4 with the side walls 10 is canceled.

Thereafter, the container 1 can be folded. Another pair of two bars 4 is provided on the second side wall 20 lying in the background, the arrangement being mirror-symmetrical. In this way, a simultaneous actuation of a total of four bolts 4 by the two hands of an operator can take place easily.

Finally, in the example of the bolt 4 shown in FIG. 4, an engagement element 48 is also provided on the upper side of the bolt base body 40 facing the viewer. This engagement element 48 consists of a V-shaped web that opens towards the locking end 44. With the engagement element 48, in particular an actuating member of an automatic handling device, for example an automatic container washing system, can be brought into actuating engagement in order to e.g. to be able to transfer the container 1 from its state with erected side walls 10, 20 into a state with the side walls 10, 20 folded in within a washing process, without manual intervention being required for this.

The attachment of the bolt 4 to the side wall 20 carrying and guiding it is very easy to accomplish: the bolt 4 is inserted with its locking end 44 forward according to FIG. 4 from right to left one after the other into the openings 204 until the spring arms 41 through the in FIG 4 right opening 204 have passed. In this position, a displacement stop 46, which protrudes from the rear of the bolt base body 40, finally snaps into the associated slot 246 of the side wall 20, after which the bolt 4 then assumes the position shown in FIG. In this state, the bolt 4 is captively connected to the side wall 20. Since when installing the bolt 4, an assembly movement only in one Direction is required, this assembly process can also be automated relatively easily, which contributes to low manufacturing costs of the container 1. The side walls 20 are preferably already equipped with their associated bolts 4 before they are connected to the bottom 30 of the container 1.

In order to prevent the bolt 4 from being moved beyond its locking position shown in FIG. 4, the bolt 4 has a widening 46 'at the transition from its base body 40 to the locking end 44, which acts as a stop and which is shown in the locking position of the bolt 4 abuts the rib 200 of the side wall 20 running there.

At the same time, however, there remains the possibility of replacing the bolt 4 if necessary, in particular in the event of its damage, for which purpose the displacement stop 46 must be pressed out of its slot 246 with elastic-flexible deformation of the bolt 4.

FIG. 4a shows the bolt 4 from FIG. 4 in a partial top view. The locking end 44 of the bolt 4, which merges into the base body 40 to the right, can be seen on the left. In the transition area between the locking end 44 and the base body 40 is the widening 46 ', which causes the stop to limit the displaceability of the bolt 4 in the direction of the locking position. The displacement stop 46 lies on the rear side, which is not visible in FIG. 4 and which points upward in FIG. 4 a. As FIG. 4 a clearly shows, the displacement stop 46 is wedge-shaped, the flat end facing the locking end 44. With this design it is achieved in particular that the bolt 4 can be inserted without hindrance into the openings 204 in the ribs 200 when it is installed in the associated side wall 20. The higher side of the Displacement stop 46 forms the stop to limit the displaceability of the bolt 4 in the unlocking direction.

Figure 5 illustrates the shape and function of the bolt 4 using a second embodiment, the adjacent side wall 10 is now also shown. The side wall 10 with its wall area 11 encompassing a corner and its connecting wall area 12 can first be seen on the left in FIG. To the right, the side wall 20 adjoins it with its ribs 200 and its handle opening 201.

The bolt 4 is guided with its base body 40 and its actuating end 42 axially displaceably in the openings 204, the openings 204 being provided in the ribs 200, respectively. Since the base body 40 and the actuating end 42 of the bolt 4 can be made relatively flat, a relatively small height of the openings 204 is sufficient, which practically does not impair the function of the ribs 200 with regard to the stiffening and stabilization of the side wall 20.

FIG. 5 shows the bolt 4 in its locking position, in which it assumes its position which is maximally displaced towards the associated side wall 10. In this position, the locking end 44 of the bolt 4 engages in a matching, slot-shaped bolt receptacle 104 in the side wall 10. In this state, the side wall 20 cannot be folded down relative to the side wall 10 towards the interior of the container, since such movement is prevented by the engagement between the latch 4 and the side wall 10.

In its position described, the bolt 4 is held by the two spring arms 41, which are made in one piece with the other parts of the bolt 4 and are supported on support webs 241 which are formed in one piece with the side wall 20.

At the right end of the bolt 4 shown in FIG. 5, the actuating handle 43 can be seen, which lies at the inner end of the actuating end 42 of the bolt 4 above the handle opening 201 of the side wall 20 and here has the shape of a right-angled bend.

FIG. 6 illustrates in particular the flat and space-saving design of the bolt 4 and its guidance in the openings 204 in the ribs 200 of the side wall 20 on the basis of the section along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5. The side wall 10 is again in the left edge region of FIG. 6 visible with its wall area 11 encompassing the corner and the connecting wall area 12. The associated connecting wall area 22 of the side wall 20 lies behind, ie in FIG. 6 above the connecting wall area 12. In this area the side walls 10, 20 are also locked against one another by the bolt 4, more precisely through its locking end 44. FIG. 6 shows the engagement of the locking end 44 in the locking receptacle 104 of the side wall 10 is particularly clear. In order to ensure that the locking position is assumed automatically when the side wall 20 is also erected following the erection of the side wall 10, the corner-encircling wall region 11 of the side wall 10 is provided with a Inlet slope 105 and the locking end 44 are formed with a wedge-shaped tip 45. It is hereby achieved that, in the manner of a door lock, the bolt slides back as far as the side wall 20 is erected without further actuation, ie is moved to the right according to FIG. 6, until the locking end 44 automatically snaps into the bolt receptacle 104 under the action of the spring arms 41.

To limit the displacement path of the bolt 4 in its assembled state, a displacement stop 46 is provided on the underside or rear side of the base body 40 facing the side wall 20 and engages in a suitably shaped slot 246 in the side wall 20.

The actuating end 42 with the actuating handle 43 of the bolt 4 is visible on the right in FIG. In order to make it easier for an operator to grasp the actuating handle 43, in this embodiment of the bolt 4 the actuating end 42 is bent slightly outwards relative to the plane of the side wall 20. This bending is achieved in that a short side wall rib 205 projecting outward from the plane of the side wall 20 is attached below the actuating end 42 of the bolt 4.

In the background, a small part of the bottom 30 of the container is still visible in the side walls 10, 20 in FIG.

Figure 7 of the drawing shows the bolt 4 in the same representation as Figure 5, but now in its unlocked position. To transfer the bolt 4 into this unlocking position, an actuating force is exerted thereon, preferably by gripping the actuating handle 43 with the thumb or forefinger of an operator's hand and shifting it in the direction of the movement arrow drawn on the actuating handle 43. As a result, the bolt 4 is displaced against the force of the spring arms 41 until its locking end 44 disengages from the bolt receptacle 104 in the side wall 10. If, at the same time, the same unlocking process is carried out with the bolt 4, which is not visible in FIG. 7 and is attached to the right on the side wall 20, the side wall 20 can be relative to the side walls 10 can be folded towards the inside of the container. After a short distance of the folding path, the actuating force exerted on the actuating handle 43 can be released again; the latch 4 then moves under the action of the spring force of the spring arms 41 back into its locking position, in which, however, it does not hinder the further folding in of the side wall 20.

FIG. 8 of the drawing shows one of the second side walls 20 in a partial view, the lower part of the left edge and the left and also the middle part of the lower edge of the side wall 20 being shown.

The lower part of the connecting wall area 22 can be seen at the top left in FIG. 8, in whose lower end area a centering cam 222 is arranged. The connecting wall area 22 interacts with the corresponding connecting wall area 12 of the adjacent first side wall 10, which has already been explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2; the centering cam 222 also interacts with a centering opening in the adjacent side wall 10.

The widening 21, whose upper side forms the contact surface 27, can be seen below the connecting wall region 22. The boom 211 extends to the left in alignment with this.

Furthermore, FIG. 8 shows two of a plurality of hinge elements 24 which extend downward from the lower edge 23 of the side wall 20 and which in the exemplary embodiment shown are each formed by a pair of downwardly projecting webs 248, which in turn have a hinge axis which points outwards through two Axle stub 249 is formed, wear. The outer ends of the stub axle 249 are tapered towards the bottom beveled. This bevel serves to facilitate the assembly of side walls 10, 20 and base 30, wherein the hinge elements 24 are pressed into the corresponding hinge receiving openings 314, 324 of the base 30 only by exerting a corresponding force and are thereby latched. This connection of the side walls 10, 20 to the floor 30 by mutual locking in the area of the hinge elements 14, 24 is advantageously carried out in the folded position of the side walls, since this ensures good mutual guidance which facilitates assembly. In addition, in this way the hinge receiving openings 314, 324 in the base 30 can be made narrower in their upward direction and thus absorb greater forces, which improves the load-bearing capacity of the container 1, in particular if it is gripped and raised in the region of its side walls 10, 20 becomes.

Between two hinge elements 24, in the embodiment of the side wall 20 shown in FIG. 8, wings 247 projecting downward from the lower edge 23 are provided, which in the erected state of the side walls 10, 20 are each on the outside on the upper edge of the associated wall base area 31, 32 of the in Figure 8 not shown bottom 30 come to rest. These wings 247 prevent the side wall 20 in its lower part from being pressed into the interior of the container by disengaging the hinge elements 24 by the action of external forces. The same applies to the correspondingly configured first side walls 10.

Finally, FIG. 8 shows in its right part two webs 209 running essentially parallel to one another, which together form a holder for a container label or container accompanying documents. The label or the accompanying documents can be inserted from above and are therefore suitable for transport or Storage kept sufficiently secure on the container.

FIG. 9 of the drawing shows a section of the first side wall 10, namely its central lower region on the outside, the side wall 10 being shown here in a state separated from the floor. At the bottom, the side wall 10 is delimited by the lower edge 13. A continuous apron 147 extends from the inside downwards.

Finally, in the middle lower part of FIG. 9, one of the hinge elements 14 can be seen, which extends downwards starting from the lower edge 13 of the side wall 10, its extent also being considerably greater than the length of the apron 147 in the vertical direction. The hinge element 14 according to FIG. 9 also consists of two parallel webs 148 which run downwards and each carry an axle stub 149 on the outside. In cooperation with the hinge receptacles 314 in the base 3 (not shown here), these stub axles 149 serve to pivot the side wall 10.

In order to prevent the side wall 10 from pivoting outwards over its erected position relative to the floor, the apron 147 is attached. In the erected state of the side wall 10, this apron strikes the inside on the upper edge area of the associated wall base area 31 of the base 3. In order to further prevent undesired automatic falling back of the erected side walls 10 before the second side walls 20 are also erected, latching cams 148 ′ are attached to the two webs 148 above the axle stub and project laterally. In the upright position of the side wall 10, these latching cams 148 'act as a locking device by engaging with correspondingly designed areas of the hinge receptacles 314 on the floor 3.

FIG. 10 shows the design of the lower edge area of the first side wall 10 with one of the associated hinge elements 14 in section along the line X - X in FIG. 9. A part of the first side wall 10 can be seen at the top left, which is reinforced by a rib 100 lying in the background. The lower part of the wall area 11 encompassing the corner is visible to the right of the side wall 10. Further to the right in FIG. 10, the connecting wall region 12 adjoins the wall end region 11 encompassing the corner, which ends in the free edge 16. One of the centering openings 122 can be seen within the connecting wall region 12.

The side wall 10 is bounded at the bottom by its lower edge 13, from which the hinge element 14 extends downwards. One of the webs 148 faces the viewer, from which the centering cam 148 'and further below the stub shaft 149 rise to form the pivot axis 18.

On the right below the lower edge 13 of the side wall 10, the apron 147 can finally be seen in section, which serves to limit the pivotability of the side wall 10 beyond its upright position.

FIG. 11 of the drawing shows, using a partial section, the state of the container 1 with the first side wall 10 folded in, the second side wall 20 not being shown here for reasons of clarity of illustration.

In the lower part of FIG. 11, the bottom 30 with the lower stacking edge 331 integrally formed thereon can first be seen. The wall base region 31, which is shown on the right in FIG. 11, is also made in one piece with the base 30. With this wall base area 31, the first side wall 10 is articulated by means of the hinge elements 14, one of which is visible here. The hinge element 14 is inserted into the matching hinge receiving opening 314 of the wall base area 31. In its folded state, the side wall 10 runs parallel to the floor 30 above the latter. In the space remaining between the now downward facing inner side of the first side wall 10 and the upper side of the base 30 are the second side walls 20 which have been folded in first and are not shown here. The side walls 20 are connected in an articulated manner to the wall base region 32 visible here in the background, for which purpose this has the hinge receiving openings 324. The hinge receiving openings 324 are each formed with inlet bevels 324 ′ that point toward the interior of the container and widen in this direction, which facilitate the insertion of the hinge elements 24 when the side wall 20 and base 30 are assembled. The hinge receiving openings 314 for the first side walls 10 are also designed accordingly. Both the first side walls 10 and the second side walls 20 are connected to the floor 3 in their folded or lying position in the exemplary embodiment of the container 1 shown here. For this reason, the inlet bevels 324 ′ and the corresponding inlet bevels for the first side walls are arranged such that they point towards the interior of the container 1.

As already described above, the wall base area 31 is designed with a bevel 311 on the upper side at least over part of its length, as can also be seen in FIG. 11 at the top right. At the bottom right in FIG. 11 it can be seen that the wall base region 31 is also designed on its underside with an underside 311 ′ running parallel to the bevel 311. This slope 311 'serves to add another container 1', which is indicated here in dashed lines folded side walls 10, 20 to fit stacked and secure against displacement on the lower container 1. At the same time, the wall base areas 31 are designed with such a height and contour of their upper side that the attached further container 1 'with its underside stacking edge 331' is surrounded on the outside by the wall base areas 31, so that a mutual displacement of the individual containers 1, 1 'within the Stack transversely to the wall base areas 31 is excluded. Securing the containers 1, 1 'against displacements relative to one another in a direction parallel to the wall base region 31 is prevented by the steps 131 in the ribs 100 of the first side wall 10. In FIG. 11, one of the ribs 100, which are now pointing upward, is visible on the folded-in first side wall 10, on the end of which, facing away from the viewer, lies the step 131 already explained with reference to FIG. 3. As FIG. 11 further shows, this step 131 is gripped by the lower stack edge 331 'of the upper container 1'. Reaching behind takes place in the same way on the opposite end face of the container 1, as a result of which a displacement in both directions parallel to the wall base region 31 is excluded.

At the same time, FIG. 19 shows that when containers 1, 1 'are stacked with the side walls 10, 20 folded one above the other, the folded side walls 10, 20 are not loaded in the vertical direction. This prevents damage to the side walls 10, 20, in particular to their hinge elements 14, 24.

Claims (31)

Transport and storage container with an essentially rectangular bottom (30) and with four side walls (10, 20), with the following features: a) when the container (1) is empty, at least the upper part of the side walls (10, 20) can be folded inwards about pivot axes (18, 28) parallel to the edges of the base (30) and towards the base (30), b) two mutually opposite first side walls (10) are formed with wall end regions (11) encompassing corners, c) the corner-encompassing wall end regions (11) of the first side walls (10) and the second side walls (20) are formed with connecting wall regions (12; 22) overlapping one another in the erected state, in which the wall thickness is in each case reduced by approximately 50% and of which the connecting wall regions (12) forming part of the first side walls (10) are on the outside, d) the bottom (30) is formed with two wall base regions (31) which are opposite one another and form the lower part of the first side walls (10) and have end end regions (131) encompassing corners at their front ends, the length of the base end regions (131) encompassing corners being smaller is the circumferential length of the wall end areas (11), e) two opposing second side walls (20) are formed in their lower area with laterally projecting widenings (21) at the height of the wall base areas (31), which, when the side walls (10, 20) are erected, viewed in the vertical direction between the corner-encompassing wall end areas (11) and the floor ( 30) lie, f) the pivot axes (18) of the first side walls (10) are arranged at a greater vertical distance above the floor (30) than the pivot axes (28) of the second side walls (20) and g) the vertical distance of the swivel axes (18) of the first side walls (10) from the upper side (35) of the base (30) is essentially the same as the length of the circumferential wall end regions measured in the horizontal state from the swivel axis (18) 11) match. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that instead of the feature g) it is provided that the vertical distance of the pivot axes (18) of the first side walls (10) from the underside (33) of the base (30) essentially corresponds to that in the erected state in the horizontal direction from the pivot axis (18) from the measured length of the corner-encompassing wall end regions (11) and that it is additionally provided that the outer edge of the bottom (30) in the region of the second side walls (20) springs back by an amount which is essentially the same Wall thickness of the corner-encompassing wall end regions (11) of the first side walls (10) corresponds. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer edge of the base (30) in the area of the second side walls (20) springs back by an amount which is essentially the reduced wall thickness of the connecting wall areas (12) of the corresponds to the first side walls (10), and that on each of these two recessed edges of the base (30) there is a second wall base area (32) which rises up from the floor and whose height is essentially the length of the connecting wall area (12 ) corresponds to the first side walls (10). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length, measured in the upright position in the horizontal direction, of each corner end wall region (11) of the first side walls (10) is between 5 and 15%, preferably between 8 and 10% of the length of the side wall (10) between their wall end areas (11). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in order to form the pivot axes (18, 28), the side walls (10, 20) each have on their lower edge (13, 23) downwardly projecting hinge elements (14, 24) which, in Matching hinge receiving openings (314, 324) can be snapped into the wall base areas (31, 32) or in the floor (30). A container according to claim 5, characterized in that the hinge elements (14, 24) are each formed by projecting webs (148, 248) with side stub axles (149, 249). A container according to claim 6, characterized in that the stub axles (149, 249) are beveled in a wedge shape on their end faces and that the hinge receiving openings (314, 324) are designed with opposing wedge-shaped beveled inlet bevels (324 '). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a continuous or interrupted apron (147) projects from the lower edge (13) of the first side walls (10), which in the erected state of the first side walls (10) on the inside at the upper edge of the associated Wall base area (31). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of wings (247) projecting downwards from the lower edge (13, 23) of the first and / or second side walls (10, 20) are provided which, when the side walls (10 , 20) rest on the outside against the upper edge of the associated wall base area (31, 32). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls (10, 20) are provided with releasable, mutually lockable or lockable or hookable or clampable locking means at their regions (12, 22) which are directly adjacent to one another in the erected state. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking means are formed by at least two pairs of bolts (4), a pair of bolts (4) being arranged and guided on two mutually opposite side walls (20) and each bolt (4 ) between a locking position, in which it locks two adjacent side walls (10, 20) against each other, and an unlocking position, in which the locking is released. Container according to claim 11, characterized in that each bolt (4) is loaded with a force acting outside the locking position in the locking direction. Container according to claim 12, characterized in that the force can be generated by at least one spring element per bolt (4) or per pair of bolts. A container according to claim 13, characterized in that a spring element in the form of at least one elastic-flexible spring arm (41) is provided on each bolt (4), the free end of which is supported on the side wall (20) guiding the bolt (4) . A container according to claim 14, characterized in that the spring element is formed by two spring arms (41) which diverge in a V-shape. Container according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that each bolt (4) has a tongue-like, wedge-shaped tapered locking end (44) and that the further side wall (10) to be locked, which interacts with the locking end (44) in each case, has a slot-shaped locking receptacle (104) with an inlet slope (105). Container according to one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that at least the side walls (20) guiding the bolts (4) have stiffening ribs (200) on the outside and that the bolts (4) are captively guided in openings (204) which lead into the Ribs (200) are attached. Container according to one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the two bolts (4) of the pair of bolts a side wall (20) of the same design and are arranged mirror-symmetrically to the perpendicular to the side wall (20). Container according to Claim 18, characterized in that the ends (42) of the bolts which point towards one another and towards the center of the side wall (20) are designed with actuating handles (43) and in that the actuating handles (43) are arranged at a distance from one another such that the simultaneous actuation of an operator's thumb and index finger is possible. Container according to one of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that the side walls (10) which have no latches (4) are automatically or completely erected in relation to the floor (30) by sufficiently large frictional forces and / or by latching elements (148 ') Position are durable. Container according to one of claims 11 to 20, characterized in that at least one engagement element (48) is provided on each bolt (4) at a distance from the actuation handle (43), with which an actuation element of an automatic handling device, in particular an automatic container washing system, engages in actuation is feasible. Container according to one of claims 10 to 21, characterized in that, in addition to the locking means in the connecting wall regions (12, 22), centering means (122, 222) which engage with one another when the side walls (10, 20) are erected and connected are provided. Container according to claim 22, characterized in that the centering means through each inner connecting wall area (22) at least one outwardly projecting centering body (222) and at least one centering recess or opening (122) receiving the centering body (222) in the erected state of the side walls (10, 20) are formed by each outer connecting wall region (12). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner connecting wall areas (22) each have at least one reinforcing rib (223) extending outwards up to the full wall thickness at their upper edge and in that the outer connecting wall areas (12) each have a step-shaped recess or depression (123) which receives the reinforcing rib (223) in the erected state of the side walls (10, 20). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper side of the wall base regions (31) is formed at least at the corner regions of the container (1) in each case with a slope (311) falling towards the outside of the container and that the underside of the foldable first side walls (10 ) is formed with bevels (101) which are opposite to the bevels (311). Container according to Claim 25, characterized in that the bevels (101, 311) are inclined at an angle between 4 and 8 °, preferably 6 °, to the plane of the base (30). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall base areas (31) have a height exceeding the height of the folded-in side walls (10, 20) measured perpendicular to the plane of the bottom (30), and that when they are folded in Side walls (10, 20) the top of the wall base areas (31) forms a footprint for an additional container (1 ') with an underside stacking edge (331'). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the widenings (21) are formed with low, laterally projecting cantilevers (211), the top of which is flush with the top of the widenings (21), and in that the wall base regions (31) are at their Base end areas (131) are each formed with a step-shaped depression (321) for receiving the brackets (211) when the side walls (10, 20) are erected. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom (30) is formed with a stacking edge (331) on the underside and running around the edge and in that the first side walls (10) on their side pointing upwards in the folded state near their front ends in their Contour have a vertical step (131) which can be gripped behind by a stacked additional container (1 ') on the underside of the stack edge (331). Container according to claim 29, characterized in that the bottom stack edge (331) is interrupted in each case in the longitudinal center of the bottom (30), the length of the interruption being at least twice the wall thickness of one of the side walls (10, 20). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed with an underside stacking edge (331) and with an upper-side stacking edge (332) and with surface dimensions which are comparable to those of conventional rigid, stackable transport and storage containers are compatible.

Images