EP0941934B1 - Ergonomischer handgetragener Einkaufskorb - Google Patents

Ergonomischer handgetragener Einkaufskorb Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0941934B1
EP0941934B1 EP98301843A EP98301843A EP0941934B1 EP 0941934 B1 EP0941934 B1 EP 0941934B1 EP 98301843 A EP98301843 A EP 98301843A EP 98301843 A EP98301843 A EP 98301843A EP 0941934 B1 EP0941934 B1 EP 0941934B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
basket
hand
side wall
held
handle
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
EP98301843A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0941934A1 (de
Inventor
Christopher M. Flink
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to CA002229191A priority Critical patent/CA2229191C/en
Priority to ES98301843T priority patent/ES2170450T3/es
Priority to EP98301843A priority patent/EP0941934B1/de
Priority to PT98301843T priority patent/PT941934E/pt
Priority to DK98301843T priority patent/DK0941934T3/da
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AT98301843T priority patent/ATE210579T1/de
Priority to DE69802896T priority patent/DE69802896T2/de
Publication of EP0941934A1 publication Critical patent/EP0941934A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0941934B1 publication Critical patent/EP0941934B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/20—External fittings
    • B65D25/205—Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like
    • 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
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/38—Baskets or like containers of skeleton or apertured construction
    • 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
    • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/28—Handles
    • B65D25/2882—Integral handles
    • B65D25/2891—Integral handles centraly located in open container

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the general field of hand baskets, and more particularly to stackable hand-held shopping baskets which are used for carrying groceries and other goods in supermarkets and other retail stores.
  • Hand baskets commonly used in retail settings generally have a rectangular crate-like construction. These baskets usually have one or two pivoting handles which are attached to the long sides of the rectangular basket and extend over the opposite sides to permit stacking.
  • the handles are usually thin strips of wire or plastic, often having a small diameter or a sharp edge which can cut into or pinch the hand, making them uncomfortable to grip and carry as the baskets become filled and heavy.
  • handles do not provide proper balance for carrying a shopping basket.
  • the manner in which these handles are attached to shopping baskets, the long moment arm of the load, and the small diameter of the grip allow the basket to pivot and sway when the shopper is walking, which may cause items to shift in the basket or spill from it. Fragile items within the basket may be damaged if shifting causes impact against a hard surface.
  • the traditional shopping baskets are not ergonomically shaped, generally having straight sides which do not conform to the curve of a user's body. If the basket is held close to the body, the straight rigid sides make the baskets awkward and uncomfortable to carry and walk with.
  • DE 29 508 742 (Hoffmann, Siegfred) describes a hand-held shopping basket comprising a bottom, side walls and two end walls defining a cavity, the walls having an outwardly-turned peripheral top edge forming a lip, the basket having a handle and an area of curvature in the proximal side wall.
  • the invention is directed to a stackable ergonomic hand-held shopping basket according to claim 1. Further, preferred embodiments are disclosed in dependent claims 2 to 14.
  • the present invention generally comprises a stackable, ergonomic hand-held shopping basket 10 contoured to the shape of an average adult human user's natural body curve and having a centrally located handle projecting from the bottom.
  • the basket is preferably constructed of thermo-plastic material by injection molding process.
  • the shopping basket has a bottom 12 having an inner side 14 and an outer side 16. Extending upwardly from the inner side 14 of the bottom 12 are opposed side walls 18, 19 and end walls 20 defining a cavity adapted to receive items.
  • the side wall 18 to the top of Figure 1 is the wall intended to he proximate to the user's body when carried, and may be referred to in this description and in the claims as the proximal side or proximal side wall 18.
  • the opposite side wall may be referred to as the distal side or distal side wall 19.
  • the side walls 18, 19 and the end walls 20 slope generally outwardly from the center of the basket 10, providing a basket that can be stacked with an identical basket 10(a) in a nested arrangement, as shown in Fig. 3.
  • the proximal side wall 18 curves inwardly towards the center of the shopping basket 10 in a contour adapted to the shape of an adult user's natural body curve, so the basket can be held comfortably against the user's body.
  • the term curved is intended to encompass a smooth curvature such as shown in the drawings, and also to encompass an effective curvature which can be obtained by straight surfaces angled inward toward the longitudinal axis of the basket.
  • the curvature is adapted to an adult user's natural body curve in the sense that the basket will normally be along the side of the body at the mid to lower thigh region, and must accommodate fore and aft movement of the thigh during walking.
  • the basket can also be held against the torso along the upper hip area using the alternative finger grip described below.
  • the side walls 18, 19 and end walls 20 have an outwardly-turned peripheral top edge to form a lip 22.
  • the lip is extended further downward along the proximal side wall to form a cushion portion 28 to further spread the point of contact and make the contact against a yielding surface.
  • the distal side wall 19 may be straight, or also be curved inward, but in the depicted embodiment the distal side wall is curved outward away from the longitudinal axis of the basket.
  • the distal side wall has an outward curvature substantially symmetrical to the inward curvature of the proximal side wall 18.
  • the lip on the distal side wall may have a short center extension wherein the lip is extended outward along a center section of the distal side wall to form a finger grip 29.
  • the finger grip 29 allows the user an alternative means to grasp the basket, usually while pressing the proximal side wall against the torso.
  • the finger grip 29 also acts as a bumper and shield for advertising material beneath it, as described hereafter
  • the basket bottom 12 may be provided with ventilation slots 24, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to prevent the trapping of air between adjacent baskets while nesting and allow drainage from the basket.
  • the side walls 18 or end walls 20 may also have ventilation slots 25, as shown in the embodiment in Fig. 6. These slots 24, 25 also reduce the amount and weight of plastic material, and hence the cost of the basket.
  • the distal side wall 30 has a display panel 32.
  • the display panel 32 is a smooth surface (no ventilation slots) where advertising may be displayed.
  • a transparent cover (not shown) may be placed over the display panel 32, creating a pocket for receiving advertising sheets.
  • the owner such as a supermarket chain
  • the finger grip 29 previously described acts as a bumper and shield for display panel, transparent cover, and advertising material.
  • Standoff fins 27 are located along the periphery of the basket, between the side walls 18 and the lip 22, and the end walls 20 and the lip 22. Although shown primarily at the corners in the depicted embodiments, the standoff fins may be located at other spaced intervals. The standoff fins act as points of contact with the lip of a lower nested basket when the baskets are stacked, and thus can be placed at many combinations of regular locations. However, these standoff fins 27 are not provided beneath the cushion portion 28, thus allowing the cushion portion 28 to flex and cushion impact with the user's body.
  • a centrally located handle 34 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 12.
  • the handle 34 comprises a first upstanding post 36, a second upstanding post 38, and a grip portion 40.
  • the grip portion 40 extends between and connects the upstanding posts, defining a hand-receiving opening 42 so that a user may grasp the grip portion
  • the handle 34 is oriented so that the longitudinal axis L g of the grip portion 40 is substantially aligned with, herein parallel to and above, the longitudinal axis L b of the basket, as shown in the Fig. 5, This orientation provides for a more natural and comfortable grip by the user, much like carrying a suit case.
  • the first upstanding post 36 and second upstanding post 38 are generally rounded at their top edge, as shown in Fig. 4.
  • the handle 34 may also be formed so that the first upstanding post 36 and second upstanding post 38 slope outwardly toward the bottom wall 12 (i.e. narrow as they rise from bottom to top). This provides an inherent tendency to self-align as one basket is nested on top of another basket.
  • the handle 34 defines a channel 44 which extends through the bottom 12 of the basket and is open to the outer side 16 of the bottom 12. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this channel 44 is adapted to receive the handle 34 of a substantially identical shopping basket 10 when the baskets are stacked in a nesting condition.
  • the grip portion 40 comprises a hollow channeled body portion 46 having a longitudinal center beam crossed by lateral reinforcing webs 48, and a lower portion 50 contoured to provide a gripping surface 52.
  • the body portion 46 has slots 54 located adjacent the first upstanding post 36 and the second upstanding post 38.
  • a detachable cover 56 is provided with flanges 58 adapted to removably engage through the slots 54.
  • the handle need not be folded away for stacking, it is kept to a relatively short vertical dimension above the cavity of the basket to raise the basket higher on the user's body when carried and give the user more control with less torque.
  • the handle should extend above the lip of the basket, but not more than about eight inches above the lip of the basket.
  • the handle also serves as a dividing element, decreasing the tendency of heavy items to slide around.
  • the areas in front and behind the handle are each the approximate size of a one gallon plastic milk container.
  • a display plate 60 may be disposed in the grip between the hollow channeled body portion 46 and the cover 56, and is supported by the reinforcing webs 48.
  • the display plate 60 is adapted to support or contain advertising material.
  • the cover 56 is made of a transparent material, so that the advertising may be viewed.
  • the basket 10 may be injection molded in a one-piece or two-piece injection mold thermo-plastic construction.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Holders For Apparel And Elements Relating To Apparel (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
  • Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
  • Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)
  • Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Handgetragener Korb (10) aufweisend:
    einen Boden (12), eine proximale Seitenwand (18), eine distale Seitenwand (19) und zwei Stirnwände (20), die eine Mulde definieren, wobei die Mulde eine Längsachse aufweist und die proximale Seitenwand zur Achse hin in einer Kontur einwärts gebogen ist, die an den menschlichen Körper eines Erwachsenen angepaßt ist, und die Seitenwände und Stirnwände einen nach außen umgebogenen oberen Umfangsrand aufweisen, der eine Lippe (22) bildet, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die distale Seitenwand (19) von der Achse in einer Kontur nach außen gebogen ist, die im wesentlichen symmetrisch zur Kontur der proximalen Seitenwand (18) ist.
  2. Handgetragener Korb nach Anspruch 1, in welchem die Lippe (22) zumindest entlang einem Abschnitt der proximalen Seitenwand zur Ausbildung eines Polsterungsbereiches (28) nach unten verlängert ist.
  3. Handgetragener Korb nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, in welchem die Lippe entlang einem mittleren Abschnitt der distalen Seitenwand (19) zur Ausbildung eines Fingergriffs (29) nach außen verlängert ist.
  4. Handgetragener Korb nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in welchem ein Haltegriff (34) vorgesehen ist, der einen Griffabschnitt (40) aufweist, der oberhalb der Mulde positioniert ist, wenn der Korb vom Benutzer getragen wird.
  5. Handgetragener Korb nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in welchem Abstandsrippen (27) längs des Umfangs vom Korb zwischen der Lippe (22) und den Stirnwänden (20) und Seitenwänden (18, 19) vorgesehen sind.
  6. Handgetragener Korb nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, in welchem der Haltegriff (34) einen Kanal (44) definiert, der sich durch den Korbboden (12) erstreckt, wobei der Kanal dazu ausgelegt ist, den Haltegriff eines im wesentlichen identischen Korbes aufzunehmen, der direkt unterhalb in einem Stapel eingeschoben ist.
  7. Stapelbarer handgetragener Korb nach Anspruch 4, 5 oder 6, ferner umfassend den Haltegriff (34), der sich vom Boden des Korbes zum Griffabschnitt (40) erstreckt, welcher höher als der obere Rand der proximalen Seitenwand (18) liegt.
  8. Stapelbarer handgetragener Korb nach Anspruch 7, in welchem eine Längsachse des Griffabschnitts (40) im wesentlichen mit der Längsachse des Korbes (10) ausgerichtet ist.
  9. Handgetragener Korb nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in welchem zumindest eine Seitenwand ein Anzeigefeld (32) aufweist.
  10. Handgetragener Korb nach Anspruch 9, ferner aufweisend eine transparente Abdeckung über dem Anzeigefeld, wobei das Anzeigefeld und die transparente Abdeckung eine Tasche begrenzen, die dazu ausgelegt ist, austauschbare Werbeblätter aufzunehmen.
  11. Stapelbarer handgetragener Korb nach einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 10, in welchem der Haltegriff einen ersten und zweiten aufrecht stehenden Pfeiler (36, 38) umfaßt, wobei die Pfeiler zur Ausbildung des Griffabschnitts verbunden sind.
  12. Stapelbarer handgetragener Korb nach Anspruch 11, in welchem der erste aufrecht stehende Pfeiler (36) und der zweite aufrecht stehende Pfeiler (38) sich, sowie sie die Bodenwand durchsetzen, nach außen neigen.
  13. Handgetragener Korb nach einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 12, in welchem der Griffabschnitt (40) des Haltegriffs (34) eine transparente abnehmbare obere Abdeckung (36) und Mittel umfaßt, um eine Werbeanzeige unterhalb der Abdeckung zu halten.
  14. Handgetragener Korb nach Anspruch 13, wobei der Griffabschnitt ferner ein hohles rinnenartiges Gehäuse (46) umfaßt, in welchem laterale Verstärkungsstege (48) vorgesehen sind, und wobei die Werbeanzeige eine Platte (60) ist, die in den Stegen angeordnet und von diesen gehalten ist.
EP98301843A 1998-03-11 1998-03-12 Ergonomischer handgetragener Einkaufskorb Expired - Lifetime EP0941934B1 (de)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002229191A CA2229191C (en) 1998-03-11 1998-03-11 Ergonomic hand-held shopping basket
EP98301843A EP0941934B1 (de) 1998-03-11 1998-03-12 Ergonomischer handgetragener Einkaufskorb
PT98301843T PT941934E (pt) 1998-03-11 1998-03-12 Cesto de compras de mao ergonomico
DK98301843T DK0941934T3 (da) 1998-03-11 1998-03-12 Ergonomisk håndbåren indkøbskurv
ES98301843T ES2170450T3 (es) 1998-03-11 1998-03-12 Cesta de mano ergonomica para la compra.
AT98301843T ATE210579T1 (de) 1998-03-11 1998-03-12 Ergonomischer handgetragener einkaufskorb
DE69802896T DE69802896T2 (de) 1998-03-11 1998-03-12 Ergonomischer handgetragener Einkaufskorb

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002229191A CA2229191C (en) 1998-03-11 1998-03-11 Ergonomic hand-held shopping basket
EP98301843A EP0941934B1 (de) 1998-03-11 1998-03-12 Ergonomischer handgetragener Einkaufskorb

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0941934A1 EP0941934A1 (de) 1999-09-15
EP0941934B1 true EP0941934B1 (de) 2001-12-12

Family

ID=33435756

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98301843A Expired - Lifetime EP0941934B1 (de) 1998-03-11 1998-03-12 Ergonomischer handgetragener Einkaufskorb

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0941934B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE210579T1 (de)
CA (1) CA2229191C (de)
DE (1) DE69802896T2 (de)
DK (1) DK0941934T3 (de)
ES (1) ES2170450T3 (de)
PT (1) PT941934E (de)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU780021B2 (en) * 1999-05-31 2005-02-24 Market To Market Media Pty Ltd. Carry basket display
AUPQ073399A0 (en) * 1999-05-31 1999-06-24 Impulse In-Store Marketing Services Pty Ltd Carry basket display
GB2396346A (en) * 2002-12-16 2004-06-23 D W Plastics Nv Container handle
DE102006009187A1 (de) * 2006-02-24 2007-09-06 Vitembal Gmbh Verpackung für Lebensmittel und System aus einer Mehrzahl von Verpackungen
AU2007229264A1 (en) * 2006-03-21 2007-09-27 Peter Drury A receptacle
DE102007048541A1 (de) * 2007-10-09 2009-04-16 Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik Gmbh Handkorb

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1142663A (en) * 1966-05-09 1969-02-12 Tetra Pak Ab Improvements in and relating to crates of plastics material
US3463353A (en) * 1968-05-21 1969-08-26 Peebles David M Nesting container assembly
US4478344A (en) * 1983-01-28 1984-10-23 Houston Rehrig Hand carrying basket
DE4129200A1 (de) * 1990-12-29 1992-07-02 Kirsching Franz Dipl Ing Flaschenkasten, insbesondere flaschenbierkasten, cola-, fanta-, apfelsaft- u. sprudelkasten
DE9113550U1 (de) * 1991-10-31 1992-02-13 Lin Pac Friedrich GmbH, 4444 Bad Bentheim Klapp-Box mit Etikettentasche
DE29508742U1 (de) * 1995-05-26 1995-09-21 Hoffmann, Siegfried, 67691 Hochspeyer Korb, insbesondere Wäschekorb

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2170450T3 (es) 2002-08-01
CA2229191A1 (en) 1999-09-11
EP0941934A1 (de) 1999-09-15
CA2229191C (en) 2001-03-06
DE69802896D1 (de) 2002-01-24
ATE210579T1 (de) 2001-12-15
DE69802896T2 (de) 2002-08-14
DK0941934T3 (da) 2002-04-15
PT941934E (pt) 2002-05-31

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