EP0817750B1 - Ineinandersetzbare steige zum präsentieren von waren - Google Patents

Ineinandersetzbare steige zum präsentieren von waren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0817750B1
EP0817750B1 EP95937313A EP95937313A EP0817750B1 EP 0817750 B1 EP0817750 B1 EP 0817750B1 EP 95937313 A EP95937313 A EP 95937313A EP 95937313 A EP95937313 A EP 95937313A EP 0817750 B1 EP0817750 B1 EP 0817750B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
crate
pylons
floor
wall portion
lower wall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95937313A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0817750A1 (de
EP0817750A4 (de
Inventor
William P. Apps
Gerald R. Koefelda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rehrig Pacific Co Inc
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Rehrig Pacific Co Inc
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Publication date
Application filed by Rehrig Pacific Co Inc filed Critical Rehrig Pacific Co Inc
Publication of EP0817750A1 publication Critical patent/EP0817750A1/de
Publication of EP0817750A4 publication Critical patent/EP0817750A4/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0817750B1 publication Critical patent/EP0817750B1/de
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/70—Trays provided with projections or recesses in order to assemble multiple articles, e.g. intermediate elements for stacking
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D27/00—Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
    • A45F5/00—Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a nestable display crate for transporting and storing containers, more particularly, the present invention relates to crates or trays that combine nestability and high strength with high visibility for displaying bottles.
  • Bottles particularly for soft drinks and other beverages, are often stored and transported during the distribution stages thereof in crates or trays.
  • the term "crate” or “tray” as used herein includes crates, trays and similar containers having a bottom and peripheral sidewall structure. These crates generally are configured to be stacked on top of each other when loaded with bottles, and nested together when empty of bottles.
  • the plastic crates provide advantages such as conservation of storage space and efficient, easy handling and recyclability.
  • low depth crates in which the bottles bear most of the load of above-stacked crates.
  • Crates having a higher peripheral sidewall, approximately the same height as the bottles generally are referred to as "full depth” crates in which the crates themselves bear most of the load of above-stacked crates.
  • Low depth crates are generally less expensive and lighter in weight than similarly constructed full depth crates. Thus, low depth crates are used extensively. Generally, low depth crates have been designed with a plurality of columns interconnecting a top band to a floor. An example of such a low depth tray for cans is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,184,748, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The tray disclosed in the '748 patent is a nestable tray meaning that identical empty trays can be nested together to conserve retail or storage space.
  • the bottle crate of the '819 patent has a sidewall structure with upright adjacent panels, alternating ones of which are raised such that their lower surfaces are spaced above the floor. The top and bottom edges of the sidewall thereby have an undulating configuration such that empty trays can nest together.
  • Single serve bottles are generally packed by bottlers in cases or other containers, several bottles to the case, for shipment to retailers or for storage. Cases of bottles are customarily stacked on top of each other.
  • One way of handling the cases of bottles is to stack the cases on pallets which can be lifted and moved about by fork-lift trucks.
  • a technique for interconnecting columns of cases is called cross-stacking, and is often used to improve stability of a stack of cases, or for display purposes by the retailer.
  • bottles having the same or similar capacity may have differently sized bottle tops.
  • US 5213211 corresponds to the pre-characterising portion of claim 1.
  • a principal object of the present invention to provide a low depth bottle crate which is nestable with other similar crates when empty to conserve space, and which is stackable and cross-stackable with other similar crates when loaded with bottles or containers for storing, displaying and transporting the containers.
  • the crate of the present invention includes features for nesting empty crates and for stably stacking and cross-stacking loaded crates.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a low depth, nestable crate which has sufficient structural strength to withstand repeated and rough handing.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy low depth, nestable crate which also provides maximum visibility of the bottles or containers for display purposes.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a low depth, nestable crate which makes efficient use of space both when loaded and stacked and when empty and nested.
  • the present invention also has structural features which securely engage the tops of variously sized bottle tops.
  • a new low depth, nestable crate for bottles is herein provided.
  • the preferred configuration is for single serve capacity bottles of sixteen or twenty ounce capacity. It will be understood that while the preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured for retaining bottles, the crate may be used to store or transport any type of container.
  • This crate is formed by integrally molding from plastic, two basic components -- a floor and a wall structure extending up from the floor and extending around the periphery of the floor.
  • the floor preferably has an open lattice design which not only allows unwanted fluids to drain out of the crate, but also requires less material and thus is lighter than a solid floor design.
  • the floor also has container support areas, preferably in an array.
  • the floor of the crate has an outer or bottom surface which is configured for accommodating the tops of bottles in a similar crate underneath.
  • the floor bottom surface preferably has upwardly recessed receiving areas disposed to receive the tops of bottles contained in a similar crate therebeneath.
  • the receiving areas aid in retaining the bottles vertically upright which enhances the stability of stacked loaded crates.
  • the receiving areas are each constructed to securely receive at least two different sizes of bottle tops. The receiving areas also prevent a crate from free-sliding along the tops of bottles in a crate underneath it.
  • peripheral surfaces of the receiving areas are beveled to allow the crate to disengage the tops of the bottles when the crate is rotated about a vertical axis so that once disengaged, the crate may slide along the tops of the bottles in the lower crate to facilitate handling.
  • the wall structure comprises a lower wall portion adjacent the floor and a plurality of integrally formed pylons arranged around the periphery of the floor of the crate.
  • pylon denotes the upwardly extending hollow columns or posts.
  • the lower wall portion is of double-walled construction since the hollow pylons naturally lend themselves to being integrally formed with such a double-walled lower portion.
  • the hollow pylons are preferably angled toward the interior of the crate and tapered to be smaller in cross section at the top and larger near the lower wall portion so as to allow pylons of empty crates to nest within one another.
  • the pylons are preferably arranged along opposing sidewalls of the crate. and each pylon is positioned between adjacent support areas of the floor so that in profile, the sidewalls of the crate have a sawtooth-like appearance as shown in FIG. 1.
  • a pylon is positioned at each corner.
  • the bottles loaded in the crate are visible through the open spaces between the pylons.
  • the endwalls of the crate comprise integrally molded handles which are configured to allow for palm-up or palm-down gripping.
  • the crate of the present invention combines the advantages of a nesting crate with sufficient strength afforded by its double-walled construction with maximum, unobstructed visibility of the bottles.
  • the present invention is a low depth crate which has structural features to afford sufficient strength, facilitate nesting of empty crates and stable stacking and cross-stacking of loaded crates, and provide maximum visibility to the bottles or containers.
  • the present invention is especially adaptable for single serve capacity bottles, either glass or plastic.
  • the crate 20 comprises two basic elements, a floor 22 and a wall structure 24.
  • the wall structure that defines the periphery of crate 20 comprises a lower wall portion 26 and a plurality of pylons including comer pylons 28 and side pylons 30 and pylons 31.
  • Crate 20 is preferably rectangular and the wall structure comprises sidewalls 25 and endwalls 27. Although a rectangular crate is shown and described, the present invention is not limited thereto and may comprise sidewalls and endwalls of equal length resulting in a square crate.
  • Floor 22 preferably has a lattice-like configuration having a pattern of open spaces as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, which illustrate the top and bottom views of the floor respectively.
  • the open floor design provides a light weight crate, and is practical for allowing any liquids to drain through floor 22.
  • the floor is generally flat and open so as not to interfere with secondary wraps or binding means around multi-packs of bottles such as plastic wrap.
  • floor 22 has an upper or top surface 32 which is generally flat and includes a plurality of preferably circular support areas or rings 34 for supporting bottles thereon.
  • corner support areas 35 Arranged at the corners of crate 20 are corner support areas 35 which are similar to support areas 34 in most respects, and will be described in detail herebelow.
  • endwall support areas 35a Arranged along the endwalls are endwall support areas 35a which also are similar to support areas 34 and will be described in detail herebelow.
  • Support areas 34, 35 and 35a are connected to each other by a system of grid-like longitudinal struts 36 and lateral struts 38 traversing floor 34 in perpendicular relation to one another, and diagonal struts 40 extending preferably radially from support areas 34.
  • Interstitial lattice members 42 are preferably circular elements located between support areas 34 and 35 and are integrally formed with the longitudinal, lateral and diagonal struts.
  • Perpendicular struts 36 and 38 extend generally the full length and width of floor 22, and connect the rows and columns of support areas 34, 35 and 35a. Some perpendicular struts 36 and 38 are joined radially to circular lattice members 42.
  • Diagonal struts 40 radially connect lattice members 42 and support areas 34, 35 and 35a.
  • Lattice members 42 are preferably in uniform size except for three larger circular lattice members 43 located along the longitudinal axis of the crate from endwall to endwall.
  • the central lattice member 43a is shown in cross section in FIG. 12, and is the preferred location of injection point 44 for injection molding crate 20.
  • the support areas are arranged in rows and columns to thereby define one or more arrays.
  • a four by six array accommodates twenty-four sixteen or twenty-ounce bottles.
  • one liter bottles may be arranged in a three by four array of twelve or in a three by five array of fifteen.
  • the support areas are configured so that bottles in an array are retained in relatively close relation so as to prevent jostling of the bottles during handling. Excess movement of the bottles is to be avoided in order to ensure that the bottles remain in a vertically upright position to most advantageously bear the load of bottles stacked or cross-stacked thereabove.
  • Each support area or ring 34, 35, 35a is sized to seat bottles and is connected to the other support areas by perpendicular struts 36, 38 and diagonal struts 40.
  • Support areas 34, 35 and 35a preferably have solid, generally flat surfaces with the support areas around the periphery of the crate having drain holes 46.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates a detailed view of a portion of an endwall support area 35a, the area marked in FIG. 3.
  • Floor 22 has a bottom surface 48 which has distinctive structural features.
  • Floor bottom surface 48 is configured to allow for stacking and cross-stacking of loaded crates. Cross-stacking is done by rotating a top crate 90 degrees about a vertical axis and lowering onto a bottom crate or crates.
  • Cross-stacking is done by rotating a top crate 90 degrees about a vertical axis and lowering onto a bottom crate or crates.
  • crates may be moved by machines and it is advantageous to use crates which can be stably stacked or cross-stacked. Additionally, when the crates are used to display the containers in a retail setting, the retailer may wish to cross-stack the crates for display or space reasons.
  • Floor bottom surface 48 has a plurality of upwardly recessed bottle top receiving areas 50, best shown in FIG. 11.
  • the peripheries of the recessed receiving areas 50 are defined by circles 52 and arcs 54 which are integrally molded with and form part of floor bottom surface 48.
  • the positions of circles 52 and arcs 54 are determined to provide a range within which the bottle tops in a loaded crate therebeneath may reside and still provide safe stacking and cross-stacking.
  • Receiving areas 50 help retain bottles in vertically upright positions to bear the load of bottles stacked or cross-stacked thereabove.
  • peripheral receiving areas 50 that is, those adjacent to the wall structure defined by arcs 54, and the central receiving areas are defined by circles 52.
  • Receiving areas 50 which are centrally located on the floor bottom surface are less offset from their corresponding support areas 34 than those nearer the wall structure.
  • a detailed cross section of a portion of a circle 52 is shown in FIG. 10.
  • the peripheral surfaces of receiving areas 50 are beveled surfaces 56.
  • the receiving areas prevent a crate from sliding freely along the bottle tops in a lower crate, once the receiving areas are disengaged from their retaining positions, that is the stacked or cross-stacked positions, the upper crate may slide along the bottles tops in the lower crate to facilitate handling.
  • Bevel 56 allows crate 20 to ride up onto the bottle tops in a lower crate when the upper crate is rotated slightly about a vertical axis.
  • Receiving area 50 is constructed to accommodate more than one size of bottle tops.
  • outer zone 50a is defined by the beveled surface 56 around the periphery of the receiving area 50, and can accommodate a bottle top having a 38 mm diameter.
  • the area immediately inside of bevel 56 is preferably a flat area 57, and in the first preferred embodiment is approximately 5 mm wide.
  • Inner zone 50b is preferably defined by a spherical surface 58 whose edge is concentric to the bevel 56.
  • Spherical surface 58 is further recessed upward than receiving area 50, and in the first preferred embodiment, snugly engages a bottle top having a 28 mm diameter.
  • the edge of spherical surface 58 may facilitate disengaging the bottle tops therebeneath for sliding the crate along the bottle tops.
  • the inner and other receiving zones are constructed as described above, appropriately proportioned for the particular crate.
  • Crate 20 of the present invention holds a relatively closely packed arrangement of bottles, and the crate may be slid along the bottle tops. This is due to the closely packed arrangement of bottles which tend to be more vertically stable.
  • Wall structure 24 defines the periphery of crate 20 with opposing sidewalls 25 and opposing end walls 27.
  • Wall structure 24 has a lower wall portion 26, the interior 60, of which is integral with floor 22.
  • the corners of crate 20 are rounded and integral with lower wall portion 26.
  • a corner pylon 28 is formed in each corner 20.
  • arranged along sidewalls 25 are a plurality of side pylons 30 and along endwalls 27 are end pylons 31. All pylons 28 and 30 and 31 are integrally formed with lower wall portion 26 and with the floor.
  • Pylons 28, 30 and 31 are preferably hollow, and extend upward from the floor and beyond the top surface of lower wall portion 26.
  • pylons 28 and 30 and 31 are preferably angled toward the interior of the crate, and tapered so that their cross sections at their tops are smaller than their cross sections nearer the lower wall portion.
  • Endwalls 27 of crate 20 comprise handles 90 which are integrally molded to extend from one end pylon 31 to the other. Handles 90 are flush with the tops of pylons 31. The length of handle 90 preferably spans two container support areas along the endwall.
  • the palm-up position refers to the position of a user's hands when the fingers are inserted below the handle bar 90 from the outside such that the palms generally face up and inward.
  • the palm-down position refers to the position of a user's hands when the fingers are inserted below handle bars 90 from the inside of the crate such that the backs of the hands are facing each other and the palms are generally facing down and/or outward.
  • the height of handles 90 and their length, two container support areas ensures that a user's hands have sufficient clearance to grasp the handle in either the palm-up or palm-down positions.
  • Providing a user with the option of handling the crate in either hand position helps alleviate fatigue and prevent hand-wrist injuries since a natural grasping motion can be used.
  • the importance of this feature can be appreciated when the crate is loaded with bottles.
  • the handles on prior crates or trays may have been too constricting on some user's hands, and may have required awkward and harmful hand/wrist positions, particularly when lifting and handling heavy loaded crates.
  • Endwall column 92 is arranged underneath handle 90 between endwall support areas.
  • Endwall column 92 is integrally mold with floor 22 and is preferably shaped to extend somewhat between the adjacent bottles on the endwall support areas.
  • pylons 28 and 30 and 31 are integral with the interior lower wall portion 60 and also with exterior lower wall portion 62.
  • Interior lower wall portion or panel 60 and exterior lower wall portion or panel 62 combine to provide a double-walled construction to crate 20 such that they are respectively contiguous with the interior and exterior surfaces of the pylons.
  • the tops 86 of lower wall portions smoothly connect interior lower wall portion 60 to exterior lower wall portion 62. This construction ensures that crate 20 will have sufficient strength and rigidity for a variety of handling situations.
  • FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 show that exterior lower wall portion 62 is preferably not quite flush with floor bottom surface 48, such that floor bottom surface 48 is left exposed somewhat in profile. Leaving exterior lower wall portion 62 slightly higher than floor bottom surface 48 facilitates handling by allowing hand trucks to slide easily under the crate, and prevents the exterior lower wall portion from catching on bottle tops when the crate is being slid along the bottle tops as described above.
  • the periphery of floor bottom surface 48 is finished with a beveled edge 49.
  • the bottom surfaces of circles 52 and arcs 54 are the lowermost surfaces of the floor bottom 48. These are collectively labeled as bottom surface 53 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-6.
  • the edges of bottom surface 53 are also finished with beveled surfaces 55. Therefore, when crate 20 rests on a flat surface, bottom surface 53 is in contact with the flat surface. Bevels 49 and 55 facilitate handling of the crate.
  • lower wall portion 26 also has an open bottom so that empty crates can be nested together.
  • Side pylons 30 and 31 are arranged between adjacent support areas 34 (or 35 as the case may be) and define spaces or windows 63 therebetween. In this manner, when crate 20 is loaded with bottles which are seated on support areas 34 and 35, the sides of the bottles are visible through windows 63 for attractive displays, especially in a retail setting.
  • Corner pylons 28 preferably have apertures 64 disposed on the interior surface thereof to allow sufficient clearance for below-nested corner pylons to nest or travel into. As best seen in FIG. 14, aperture 64 in comer pylon 28 extends to floor 22 where corner support area 35 is also configured with a cut-away 66 so as to clear a below-nested corner pylon.
  • the upper interior portions of corner pylons 28 include corner panels 65 which extend down from the tops of the corner pylons to apertures 64.
  • Central panels 70 define bottom surfaces 75, best seen in FIG. 4. Slots 31 are provided at the juncture between the top of pylons 28 and corner panels 65.
  • side pylons 30 and 31 are also configured to allow sufficient clearance for below-nested side pylons to nest into.
  • the interior sides of side pylons 30 and 31 also have apertures 68, but instead of being left open, an integral central panel 70 having upper panel portion 72 and lower panel portion 74 extends down to floor 22.
  • Central panels 70 are preferably angled outwardly from the floor toward the top of the pylons, and connect the pylons to the floor. In this way, central panels 70 will extend somewhat between adjacent bottles when crate 20 is loaded with bottles.
  • Slots 31 are also provided at the juncture between the top of pylons 30 and 31 and upper panel portions 72.
  • At least two types of positive "stops" are preferably provided.
  • the stops are provided to prevent nested crates from becoming wedged together, and to prevent any damage or deformation to the pylons or wall structure from repeated nesting and bearing the weight of above-nested crates.
  • the first stop is inside the hollow pylons and the second stop is on the outside of the pylons.
  • the outside the pylon stops 76 are integrally formed boxed-in structures on the lower panel portions 74 of side pylons 30 and 31. Stops 76 extend vertically upward from floor 22, and the top ledges 78 of the stop act as bearing surfaces for panel bottom surfaces 75 when crates 20 and 20' are nested.
  • stops 76 also enhance the strength of central panel 70 which connects the pylons to the floor. Stops 76 are preferably provided on all side pylons 30 and 31, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration and stops 76 may be formed on fewer pylons. In conjunction with stops 76 are ribs 79 which extend upward from top edges 78 and are integral with central panels 70. Ribs 79 help strengthen the central panels of the pylons.
  • the inside the pylon stops or bridging ribs 80 are integrally formed in the hollow spaces inside pylons 28, 30 and 31. Bridging ribs 80 are best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 15 in cross section, and an exemplary bridging rib 80 has been drawn in phantom line on crate 20 of FIG. 15. Ribs 80 preferably are located in the upper part of pylons 28, 30 and 31, and hidden from view by corner panels 65 of corner pylons 28 and upper panel portions 72 of side pylons 30 and 31. FIG. 4 best illustrates how ribs 80 preferably span the inside of pylons 28, 30 and 31, bridging their interior and exterior surfaces.
  • ribs 80 When crates are nested, ribs 80 bear against the tops of pylons 28, 30 and 31. Referring to FIG. 15, ribs 80 of crate 20 rest on the tops of pylons 28' and 30' and 31' of lower crate 20'.
  • An additional feature of the present invention is the provision of a flat label section 84 formed as part of exterior lower wall portion 62 for molding in logos, advertisements or the like.
  • the crate of the present invention combines the features of nestability, strength and visibility.
  • many design parameters must be determined with the goal of enhancing the above mentioned characteristics without unduly sacrificing any of them. Visibility is important both for permitting attractive display but also for ensuring that UPC labels on the sides of the bottles may be read or scanned through windows 63 without having to remove the bottles.
  • Increasing visibility of the bottles, that is, enlarging windows 63 between the pylons means decreasing the size of the pylons which results in an overall reduction in strength.
  • large windows increases the chance of bottles hopping out of the crate through the windows.
  • the present invention provides maximum visibility for its size without sacrificing strength and nestability.

Claims (10)

  1. Behältersteige mit einem Boden (22) und einer an dem Boden (22) angeformten Wandstruktur (24), wobei der Boden (22) eine Bodenoberseitenfläche (32) und eine Bodenunterseitenfläche aufweist, wobei die Bodenoberseitenfläche (32) mehrere Stützbereiche zum Stützen einer Behälteranordnung aufweist, die mit dem Boden einstückige Wandstruktur längs des Bodenumfangs verläuft und entgegengesetzte Stirnwände (27) sowie entgegengesetzte Seitenwände (25) aufweist, die Steige ferner mehrere kegelförmige Pylone (28, 30, 31) aufweist, die von dem Boden aufragen und Seitenpylone (30) aufweisen, die in Abstand voneinander längs der Seitenwände (25) der Steige angeordnet und zwischen benachbarten Stützbereichen positioniert sind, wobei die Seitenpylone (30) Zwischenbereiche definieren, durch die in die Steige gelegte Behälter sichtbar sind, wobei die Pylone ferner Eckpylone (28), die in den Ekken der Steige angeordnet sind, und Stirnpylone (31), die längs der Stirnwände (27) der Steige angeordnet sind, aufweisen; wobei die Steige ferner eine Griffstruktur (90) aufweist, die an jeder der Stirnwände (27) der Steige angeformt ist, gekennzeichnet durch:
    einen unteren Wandbereich (26) benachbart zu und einstückig mit dem Boden (22), wobei der untere Wandbereich (26) doppelwandig aufgebaut ist und einen inneren, unteren Wandbereich (60) und einen äußeren, unteren Wandbereich (62) aufweist; und dadurch daß
    die Griffstruktur (90) über wenigstens einen Stützbereich verläuft und einstückig mit den zwei benachbarten Stirnpylonen (31) der Steige geformt ist, wobei ein generell offener Bereich unter der Griffstruktur (90) definiert ist, und wobei die Oberseitenfläche der Griffstruktur (90) mit den Oberseitenflächen der zwei benachbarten Stirnpylone (31) fluchtet, um einen ausreichenden Freiraum für die Hand eines Benutzers zu schaffen, um die Griffstruktur (90) um ihren gesamten Umfang bequem und frei greifen zu können.
  2. Steige nach Anspruch 1, ferner gekennzeichnet durch eine Stirnwandsäule, die unterhalb jeder der Griffstrukturen (90) zwischen benachbarten Stirnwandstützbereichen angeordnet ist, um sicherzustellen, daß die Behälter an den Stirnwandstützbereichen in aufrechter Position bleiben.
  3. Steige nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Pylone (28, 30, 31) zum Inneren der Steige hin geneigt und wenigstens in ihrem unteren Bereich hohl sind, so daß ein Ineinanderschieben der Pylone (28, 30, 31) in entsprechende Pylone in einer ähnlichen Steige darunter möglich ist.
  4. Steige nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Eckpylone (28) eine Ecköffnung (64) aufweisen und die Seitenpylone (30) jeweils eine Einschiebeöffnung (68) und eine Mittelplatte (70) aufweisen, die von der Oberseite der Seitenpylone (30) nach unten verläuft, um einstückig mit dem Boden zu sein, wobei die Mittelplatte (70) die Einschiebeöffnung halbiert, und die Ecköffnungen und die Einschiebeöffnungen einen ausreichenden Freiraum für die Pylone schaffen, um entsprechende Pylone einer ähnlichen, darunter eingeschobenen Steige aufzunehmen.
  5. Steige nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die mehreren kegelförmigen Pylone (28, 30, 31) unterhalb der Oberseite des unteren Wandbereichs verlaufen, wobei die Innenflächen der Pylone (28, 30, 31) einstückig mit dem inneren, unteren Wandbereich und die Außenflächen der Pylone (28, 30, 31) einstückig mit dem äußeren, unteren Wandbereich sind, und wobei die Pylone (28, 30, 31) zum Inneren der Steige hin geneigt und wenigstens in ihrem unteren Bereich hohl sind, so daß ein Ineinanderschieben in entsprechende Pylone in einer ähnlichen, leeren Steige darunter möglich ist.
  6. Steige nach Anspruch 1 oder 5, ferner gekennzeichnet durch eine Stirnwandsäule (92), die unterhalb jeder der Griffstrukturen (90) zwischen den benachbarten Stirnwandstützbereichen angeordnet ist, um sicherzustellen, daß die Behälter an den Stirnwandstützbereichen in aufrechter Position bleiben.
  7. Steige nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein innerer, unterer Wandbereich (60) und ein äußerer, unterer Wandbereich (62) durch eine Oberseitenfläche (86) verbunden sind.
  8. Steige nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der untere Wandbereich (26) zwischen den Seitenpylonen (30) längs der Seitenwände (25) der Steige verläuft.
  9. Steige nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Griffstruktur (90) innere und äußere Flächen aufweist, die zwischen einem oberen Bereich der zwei benachbarten Stirnpylone (31) eingespannt sind.
  10. Steige nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Griffstruktur (90) zwischen benachbarten Stirnpylonen (31) verläuft und über mehr als einen Stützbereich an jeder der Stirnwände (27) der Steige gespannt ist und verläuft.
EP95937313A 1995-04-18 1995-10-17 Ineinandersetzbare steige zum präsentieren von waren Expired - Lifetime EP0817750B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US42334795A 1995-04-18 1995-04-18
US423347 1995-04-18
PCT/US1995/012564 WO1996033104A1 (en) 1995-04-18 1995-10-17 Nestable display crate

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0817750A1 EP0817750A1 (de) 1998-01-14
EP0817750A4 EP0817750A4 (de) 1998-07-15
EP0817750B1 true EP0817750B1 (de) 2004-03-31

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95937313A Expired - Lifetime EP0817750B1 (de) 1995-04-18 1995-10-17 Ineinandersetzbare steige zum präsentieren von waren

Country Status (17)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0817750B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH11503699A (de)
KR (1) KR100356879B1 (de)
CN (1) CN1070804C (de)
AT (1) ATE263059T1 (de)
AU (1) AU691994B2 (de)
BR (1) BR9510576A (de)
CA (1) CA2218138C (de)
CZ (1) CZ291736B6 (de)
DE (1) DE69532823T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2221668T3 (de)
HK (1) HK1008204A1 (de)
MX (1) MX9707997A (de)
PL (1) PL181533B1 (de)
RU (1) RU2138431C1 (de)
WO (1) WO1996033104A1 (de)
ZA (1) ZA958785B (de)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2837801C (en) 2013-01-11 2015-09-29 Parmalat Canada Inc. Stackable trays for jugs, stacked arrangements and stacking methods
USD750975S1 (en) 2013-10-15 2016-03-08 Parmalat Canada Inc. Tray for jugs
CA153484S (en) 2013-10-15 2014-11-19 Parmalat Canada Inc Tray for jugs
CA153482S (en) 2013-10-15 2014-11-19 Parmalat Canada Inc Tray for jugs
EP2980512B1 (de) * 2014-07-31 2017-03-29 Plastic Frost B.V. Abstandshalter
MX2017007424A (es) * 2014-12-08 2017-09-28 Corning Inc Aparato para soportar y retener articulos de vidrio.
EP3247683B1 (de) * 2015-01-23 2021-06-09 Corning Incorporated Vorrichtung zum halten und fixieren von glasartikeln
CN113562227B (zh) * 2021-09-26 2022-01-07 潍坊新松机器人自动化有限公司 一种板条箱、装箱机器人工作站及装箱方法

Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4928841A (en) * 1988-05-13 1990-05-29 Scepter Manufacturing Company Limited Bottle tray
US5213211A (en) * 1990-05-06 1993-05-25 Schoeller-Plast Sa Stackable container made from plastic material for accomodating objects, in particular cans

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4101049A (en) * 1977-03-10 1978-07-18 Hopple Plastics, Inc. Shipping tray for fruit
GB8720422D0 (en) * 1987-08-28 1987-10-07 Procter & Gamble Self-supporting storage shipping & display assembly
US5060819A (en) * 1988-04-26 1991-10-29 Rehrig-Pacific Company, Inc. Nestable low depth tray
US4978002A (en) * 1988-04-26 1990-12-18 Rehrig-Pacific Company, Inc. Cross-stacking bottle case
US5421477A (en) * 1994-05-11 1995-06-06 International Container Systems, Inc. Ergonomic container case

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4928841A (en) * 1988-05-13 1990-05-29 Scepter Manufacturing Company Limited Bottle tray
US5213211A (en) * 1990-05-06 1993-05-25 Schoeller-Plast Sa Stackable container made from plastic material for accomodating objects, in particular cans

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1185137A (zh) 1998-06-17
AU691994B2 (en) 1998-05-28
AU3945695A (en) 1996-11-07
JPH11503699A (ja) 1999-03-30
ZA958785B (en) 1996-08-26
CA2218138C (en) 2002-05-28
MX9707997A (es) 1997-11-29
KR19990007840A (ko) 1999-01-25
EP0817750A1 (de) 1998-01-14
DE69532823D1 (de) 2004-05-06
HK1008204A1 (en) 1999-05-07
BR9510576A (pt) 1999-01-05
ES2221668T3 (es) 2005-01-01
ATE263059T1 (de) 2004-04-15
RU2138431C1 (ru) 1999-09-27
CZ291736B6 (cs) 2003-05-14
PL324401A1 (en) 1998-05-25
PL181533B1 (pl) 2001-08-31
CA2218138A1 (en) 1996-10-24
EP0817750A4 (de) 1998-07-15
WO1996033104A1 (en) 1996-10-24
DE69532823T2 (de) 2005-02-17
KR100356879B1 (ko) 2003-05-09
CN1070804C (zh) 2001-09-12

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