EP1160170B1 - Shipping container - Google Patents

Abstract

A transport container consists of a folded carton with a base panel (1) and a number of side panels (6-9) linked along a fold line (2-5) to the base. The wall panels have cut-outs (24,24') for plastics injection-molded link fittings.

Description

The invention relates to a transport container according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such transport containers are generally rectangular, ie their bottom portion has a rectangular base and two side wall portions and two end wall portions, which are connected via respective along an edge of the bottom portion extending fold lines with the bottom portion. A container in which the connecting elements are not formed as separate plastic parts, but as to be inserted through the recesses cardboard sections, for example, from the British patent application GB 2 324 293 A known. By erecting the two end walls and the two side walls, a container with a bottom and four closed walls is created from the flat carton blank. In this case, adjacent to the two side walls in each case two additional wall sections which correspond in size substantially each one end wall and cover the end wall in an upright position of the walls. The recess for connecting the walls is formed by handle openings in the central region of the end walls. In this case, all the wall sections which overlap the end sections formed on the bottom section have aligned handle openings. In the innermost or outermost paperboard layer in the region of an end wall, the paperboard material is not completely cut out of the handle opening, but firmly connected to the corresponding paperboard layer in the region of the upper edge of the handle opening. To connect the wall sections with each other, this cardboard material is inserted through all aligned handle openings and folded over.

From the prior art, a plurality of other transport containers is known, in which the recesses are formed by slots in the container wall, in which protrude projections on the edge of another container wall made of cardboard. Examples are the British patent application GB 2 142 000 A and the German utility model DE 295 09 021 U1 ,

The said transport containers all have the disadvantage that the connecting elements formed by a cardboard section offer only a low resistance to mechanical stress.

In contrast, a higher load capacity have containers with plastic fasteners, as for example from the publications DE 23 37 794 B2 . GB 2 343 883 A . EP 0 842 858 A1 or GB 2 277 731 A are known. In the DE 23 37 794 B2 Plastic connecting elements are proposed, which project through aligned recesses in the wall and the bottom of a carton in the manner of a blind rivet and connect wall and floor together. The wall of the container itself is not stabilized by these fasteners. In the GB 2 343 883 A Plastic reinforcing elements are proposed for the handle opening and the corner regions of the container wall. Here, the plastic elements themselves create no connection, but have in mutually opposite sections aligned holes for receiving a rivet, which ensures the firm connection of the plastic element to the wall. The plastic elements are provided only for reinforcing the cardboard wall, but not for connecting two or more wall elements. Due to the required separate rivets (four each in the two described embodiments of the plastic elements), the plastic elements are made of GB 2 343 883 A quite costly and complicated to handle. In the EP 0 842 858 A1 Plastic connector elements are proposed which do not protrude through recesses, but enclose parts of the wall sections. Although this considerably increases the stability of the corner, the connecting elements are quite cumbersome to install.

The named GB 2 277 731 A according to the current state of knowledge, represents the closest state of the art. Here resilient locking hooks are integrally formed on both sides of connecting plates made of injection-molded plastic, which engage behind corresponding recesses in the cardboard walls. In addition to the connecting elements, plastic edge rails are provided which comprise the upper longitudinal edges and transverse edges of the container and have a stepped upper surface with an outer abutment collar. On the edge rails made of plastic, the bottom of another container can be placed, the outer collars of the four edge rails prevent slipping of the stacked containers. This development is quite expensive due to the variety of differently designed plastic parts in the production and in handling when assembling the container quite cumbersome. In addition, there is a risk that the edge rails, which are not positively connected to the container, are lost during use.

Although the known connecting elements are usually made of plastic by injection molding, elements of other materials, in particular of cast metal or sheet metal are quite conceivable.

From the publication FI-A-780247 a transport container with vertical container walls is known. On each transverse wall of this container, two plastic connecting clips are attached near the corners, which have two mutually parallel bracket legs with locking projections. The latching projections pass through openings in the transverse wall of the container. The narrow upper end face of the connecting bracket has a rib which is intended to project through an opening in the bottom of a container stacked above. The opening in the bottom of the container considerably weakens it and reduces its tightness against the ingress of dirt and dust. In addition, the small footprint of the connecting brackets cause an unsteady state of the stacked containers. The narrow rib offers only little protection against slipping of two stacked containers to each other.

The publication FR-A-2 690 135 shows a transport container with a complex connecting element for the transverse walls. This connecting element consists of two mutually parallel wall webs, which each extend U-shaped and engage over the end portions of the longitudinal walls and in each case a transverse wall in the region of the upper edge. Again, the container walls are vertical. Border elevations lying outside the container contour make it possible to place the bottom of a second container on the complex connecting elements and to stack the containers in this way. The complex U-shaped fasteners are very expensive and expensive to manufacture and have a large space requirement, so that they require a large transport volume during transport without the container.

The object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-use and cost-effective transport container, which is easy to stack.

This object is achieved in a generic transport container by the features of the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

The connecting elements can be formed from two positively and detachably interconnected parts. These fasteners can be solved as often as desired due to the resistance of the plastic material. This makes it possible to disassemble the transport container, after he has transported a certain product from the manufacturer to the dealer, and unfold into its flat carton blank, without causing the fasteners are damaged. In a connection of the container walls on cardboard sections according to the prior art, this was possible only to a very limited extent. In a transport container according to the present invention, the connecting elements can be opened and closed as often as desired. For return transport from the dealer to the manufacturer of the transport container can be unfolded and several carton blanks are transported one above the other to save space.

In particular, the plastic connecting element according to the invention makes it possible to considerably increase the stackability of the transport container. The connecting elements are designed such that they protrude by a certain amount from the wall to which they are fixed into the interior of the container and thus form a projecting into the container supporting surface on which another transport container can be placed. In order to form the support surface near the upper edge of the container, the recesses projected through the connection elements must be arranged near the upper edge of the respective container wall.

The contour encompassed by the inside of the container walls in the region of the upper edge of the container substantially corresponds to the outer contour of the container in the region of the bottom, so that the container bottom can be readily inserted up to the wings in the upper portion of another container. In order for the transport containers to be stacked without undue effort, it is advantageous if their walls have a slightly trapezoidal course, i. sloping from the bottom to the top.

In a preferred embodiment, for example, in the lateral regions of the two end walls recesses for receiving a respective connecting element near the upper edge of the respective end wall. The wings of all fasteners lie in erected container walls essentially in a horizontal plane running parallel to the floor surface, so that a container floor placed on the wings rests on the bearing surfaces of all four connecting elements.

Through these wings, it is possible to stack the containers with significantly increased security each other. The wings of the plastic fasteners have a significantly increased strength compared to the upper edge of the container wall itself.

In contrast to the subject matter of the above-mentioned GB 2 277 731 A is ensured only by the connecting element both the stable connection of the wall sections of the container and the good stackability. The connecting element itself forms the bearing surface for a second container stacked on the container. As the wings protrude into the container, the edge of the container wall above the connector encloses the bottom of the stacked container and prevents slippage. Alternatively, in the event that the support surface is formed by a resting on the container edge portion of the connecting element, the connecting element stops or Arretierungskörper. There are thus no additional elements such as skirting required to form a wing and to fix the stacked container. By integrating the connection function and the support function for the stacked containers into a plastic element, an extremely easy-to-use and functional device is provided.

The connecting element can be fixed in any way to the wall of the container. For example, it may consist of two mutually movable parts, one of which is first inserted through the recess in the container wall and engages behind the edge of the opening after the displacement with respect to the first part. Alternatively, a connecting element also consist of two parts, which are connected either detachably or non-detachably by insertion into one another. For releasable connection, the two parts may be formed as complementary threaded elements or form a kind of bayonet closure. For the permanent connection for the single use of the Connecting elements may be provided a positive locking between the two parts of the connecting elements. The parts can also be glued or welded together.

As mentioned above, the transport container according to the invention is preferably rectangular with two side walls and two end walls. In order to provide sufficient support for a container bottom resting on the wings, it is recommended that the wings have an extension of at least 10 mm in the direction at right angles to the wall to which the respective connecting element is fastened.

Similar to the one from the GB 2 324 293 A also known transport container and the transport container according to the invention preferably in the end wall region a plurality of mutually overlapping wall sections, which each have mutually aligned recesses for receiving a connecting element. In order to increase the total wall thickness of the two preferably provided with handle openings end walls, close to each side wall on fold lines two wall sections, which in each case overhang an end wall in an upright position. In addition, an inner wall section can be arranged at the free end of the end wall, which can be folded over to the end wall by 180 °. The end wall thus consists of four cardboard layers, namely on the one hand formed on the bottom wall portion wall itself, the integrally formed on the first side wall wall portion, integrally formed on the second side wall wall portion and integrally formed on the free end of the end wall inner wall portion. In this way, the cardboard material in the region of the handle opening, which is formed by aligned openings in all said wall sections, very thick. As a result, the risk of injury to a person carrying the container is considerably reduced.

Preferably, a narrow web portion is arranged between the end wall and the inner wall portion, wherein on both sides of the web portion two fold lines parallel to each other, one of which connects the web portion with the end wall and the other the web portion with the inner wall portion. The inner wall section is - folded inwardly by 180 °, starting from the end wall, wherein each of the two fold lines delimiting the web section is bent by 90 ° in each case. The web section thus lies on the edges of the two wall sections formed on the side walls on. In this way, the various cardboard layers of the end wall are covered by the web section. The bridge section is also excellent for receiving stickers with labels or bar codes to identify the goods contained in the transport container. Since when stacking the transport container according to the invention, an upper transport container rests on the projecting into the container interior of the lower transport container wings and thus surrounded by the upper edge region of the peripheral container wall of the lower transport container, the web portion on the end wall of each transport container is always visible. There is no danger that a label picked up on it will be covered by a stacked container.

An alternative possibility for fully automatic identification of a transport container provides the connecting element made of plastic. In this connection element may be inserted an electronic circuit with data memory, the memory contents can be read out either by connecting a connecting cable to electrically conductive contacts or preferably contactless and overwritten. Such memory chips are also known by the term transponder for contactless data exchange. They have a non-volatile memory and a dipole antenna. This dipole antenna transmits both the necessary operating energy and digital signals and data on the transponder. Upon receipt of a particular digital control command, the transponder sends its memory content to an external receiving device. Another command overwrites the memory contents with new data. Since the connecting elements are reusable over a very long period of time, a transponder can readily be inserted at least into a connecting element of each transport container, which allows the marking of the container by storing certain data and identification by reading out these data.

As already mentioned, a handle opening is preferably provided in the middle of each end wall. In conjunction with the two bearing surfaces, the handle opening can be used to close the transport container when its upper edge is up to a few millimeters higher when erected container walls than the support surface of the arranged on both sides of the handle opening fasteners. In this way, the transport container can be closed with a flat cardboard cover whose contour is essentially the Inner circumference of the transport container at the level of the upper edge of the two opposite handle openings corresponds. At the two end edges of the lid projections are provided which protrude into the handle openings. The lid edge itself lies in the lateral areas of the end edges on the bearing surfaces of the connecting elements. In a stacking of the transport container which rests on the support surface of the connecting element cardboard material of the lid is merely compressed without tearing or damage can be. Of course, the transport container according to the invention can be stacked without a lid, since the wings are formed for a stacked transport container from the connecting elements of the lower transport container.

The connecting elements can be realized in various ways. Preferably, a part of the connecting element on a cardboard material on one side of the recess engaging behind the head portion. The second part can, as already mentioned, be detachably connected to the first part. For this example, elastically deformable hook or locking elements are suitable. Also, a connection in the manner of a bayonet lock is conceivable.

Alternatively, the second connecting element can be fixed inseparably but rotatably on the connecting element with head section. To connect the container walls of the rotatable part without a head portion is inserted through the recess and then rotated so that it engages behind the cardboard material on the opposite side of the head portion of the recess.

In the case of parts of the connecting element which can be latched together in a releasable manner, a connecting plate can be arranged between these parts. This is preferably made of plastic and can be folded down along two mutually parallel film hinges, so that the two adjacent to the parts of the connecting elements areas of the connecting plate from the recess upwards to the upper edge of the container wall and the web between the two film hinges the upper edge the container wall covers. The said connection plate forms a further receiving surface for stickers or advertising prints.

It is also possible to form the part of the connecting element without head section to the part with head section in a direction parallel to the plane of the container wall, preferably vertically displaceable. To connect the wall sections of the container, the two parts are shifted to each other so that their contours are substantially aligned. Subsequently, both parts are inserted through the recess in the container wall, whose cross-section substantially corresponds to the contour of the two parts in front view. By moving the second part to the first part, the second part engages behind a portion of the container wall and locks the various overlapping wall sections of the container wall against each other.

Finally, the second part of the connecting element may be formed as a pivotable part, wherein this part is inserted in a first pivot position through the recess in the overlapping wall sections and then pivoted into a second pivot position, in which it engages behind the edge regions of the recess and in the the pivoting part locked with the other part of the connecting element.

The wings of the connecting elements and the bottom of the transport container may have additional fixing elements which fix the position of a set up on the wings transport container. This is particularly necessary if the edge portion of the peripheral container wall above the wings is not high enough or interrupted and for this reason does not provide sufficient support for the stacked container. The fixing elements at the bottom of the transport container can be formed in the simplest case by holes in each corner of the floor. The hereby cooperating fixing elements on the wings of the connecting elements may consist of thorn-like projections approximately in the middle of each wing. When stacking the pin-like projections engage in the holes in the corners of the container bottom.

The said fixing elements are particularly advantageous if the height of at least one side wall of the transport container is less than the height of the end walls. This is advantageous, for example, if the in this goods are placed together with the container in a store shelf, ie when the goods are to be sold directly from the transport container out. Through the gap between the bottom of a stacked on the wings container and the lower edge of the side wall, a customer can see on the shelf, with which goods the transport container is filled. At least one side wall section may for this purpose have an additional fold line. After folding along this fold line by 180 °, this fold line forms the upper edge of the side wall. If this additional folding line lies in the middle of the side wall, then at least one protruding tab can be formed on the free edge of the side wall, which can be inserted into a slot in the container bottom in order to fold the folded section of the side wall parallel to the fold after folding along the additional fold line to fix on the floor adjacent section of the side wall.

In addition to the connection of the wall sections of the container by means of the connecting elements, at least some of the wall sections can be glued together. For example, a pressure-sensitive adhesive when setting up the carton blank ensure that the wall sections remain in their predetermined position to each other and the connecting elements can be easily inserted through the mutually aligned recesses. Also, an adhesive can enhance the structural strength of the container.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf den Kartonzuschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Transportbehälters,

Fig. 2

die schaubildliche Darstellung des Vorgangs des Aufrichtens der Wände des Transportbehälters,

Fig. 3

eine schaubildliche Darstellung des Transportbehälters mit aufgerichteten Wänden,

Fig. 4

eine entlang der Schnittlinie IV-IV in Fig. 3 geschnittene Darstellung einer Stirnwand des Transportbehälters,

Fig. 5

eine entlang der Schnittlinie V-V in Fig. 3 geschnittene Darstellung einer Stirnwand des Transportbehälters mit einigefügtem Verbindungselement,

Fig. 6

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht zweier übereinandergestapelter Transportbehälter,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf einen Transportbehälter mit Deckel,

Fig. 8

eine schaubildliche Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform des Verbindungsgliedes mit einem Abschnitt der Stirnwand des Transportbehälters,

Fig. 9

eine schaubildliche Darstellung der Stirnwand des Transportbehälters mit eingefügtem Verbindungselement,

Fig. 10

eine geschnittene Draufsicht auf die Stirnwand des Transportbehälters mit eingefügtem Verbindungselement,

Fig. 11

eine geschnittene Darstellung der Stirnwand mit einer anderen Ausführungsform des Verbindungselements,

Fig. 12

eine der Fig. 11 entsprechende Darstellung mit in die Aussparung der Stirnwand eingefügtem Verbindungselement,

Fig. 13

eine schaubildliche Darstellung der Stirnwand des Transportbehälters mit daran befestigtem Verbindungselement gemäß den Fig. 11 und 12,

Fig. 14

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht der Stirnwand des Transportbehälters mit einer weiteren Ausführungsform des Verbindungselementes,

Fig. 15

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht der Stirnwand des Transportbehälters mit eingefügtem Verbindungselement aus Fig. 14

Fig. 16

eine entlang der Schnittlinie XVI-XVI geschnittene Darstellung des Verbindungselements und der Stirnwand des Transportbehälters,

Fig. 17

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht der Stirnwand des Transportbehälters mit einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Verbindungselements,

Fig. 18

eine Vorderansicht der Stirnwand des Transportbehälters mit Ausnehmung zur Aufnahme eines Verbindungselements,

Fig. 19

eine der Fig. 17 entsprechende Darstellung mit in die Ausnehmung eingefügtem Verbindungselement,

Fig. 20

eine Vorderansicht der Stirnwand mit in die Ausnehmung eingefügtem Verbindungselement aus Fig. 19,

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the transport container according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show in:

Fig. 1

a plan view of the carton blank of a transport container according to the invention,

Fig. 2

the perspective view of the process of erecting the walls of the transport container,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the transport container with erect walls,

Fig. 4

one along the section line IV-IV in Fig. 3 sectional representation of an end wall of the transport container,

Fig. 5

one along the section line VV in Fig. 3 sectional view of an end wall of the transport container with einigefügtem connecting element,

Fig. 6

a sectional side view of two stacked transport containers,

Fig. 7

a top view of a transport container with lid,

Fig. 8

a perspective view of a first embodiment of the connecting member with a portion of the end wall of the transport container,

Fig. 9

a perspective view of the end wall of the transport container with inserted connecting element,

Fig. 10

a sectional plan view of the end wall of the transport container with inserted connecting element,

Fig. 11

a sectional view of the end wall with another embodiment of the connecting element,

Fig. 12

one of the Fig. 11 corresponding representation with inserted into the recess of the end wall connecting element,

Fig. 13

a perspective view of the end wall of the transport container with attached fastener according to the FIGS. 11 and 12 .

Fig. 14

a sectional side view of the end wall of the transport container with a further embodiment of the connecting element,

Fig. 15

a sectional side view of the end wall of the transport container with inserted connecting element Fig. 14

Fig. 16

a cut along the section line XVI-XVI representation of the connecting element and the end wall of the transport container,

Fig. 17

a sectional side view of the end wall of the transport container with a further embodiment of a connecting element,

Fig. 18

a front view of the end wall of the transport container with a recess for receiving a connecting element,

Fig. 19

one of the Fig. 17 corresponding representation with inserted into the recess connecting element,

Fig. 20

a front view of the end wall with inserted into the recess connecting element Fig. 19 .

The in Fig. 1 shown blank for a transport container consists of a bottom portion 1, to the fold lines 2 - 5 more wall sections, namely two side wall sections 6,7 and two end wall sections 8,9 are adjacent. Adhere to the lateral edges of the side wall portion 6 via further fold lines 10,11 two wall sections 12,13, whose surface corresponds substantially to the surface of an end wall portion 8,9. Likewise, the side wall portion 7 via lateral fold lines 14,15 in wall sections 16,17 over. Two inner wall sections 20 and 23 adjoin the free edge of each end wall section 8, 9 via two fold lines 18, 19 and 21, 22, respectively.

Both the end walls 8, 9 and the wall sections 12, 13, 16, 17 formed on the side walls 6, 7 and the inner wall sections 20, 23 have identical apertures, namely two recesses 24 and one handle opening 25 for erecting the container walls 6-9, first the wall sections 12, 13, 16, 17 are folded by 90 ° upwards about the respective crease lines 10, 11, 14, 15 and then the side walls 6, 7 are also folded upwards by approximately 90 °. The lines of intersection of the edges of the wall sections 12,13,16,17 and the fold lines are such that the side walls are folded 6.7 to slightly less than 90 °, so that they run slightly obliquely outwards. The same applies to the wall sections 12, 13, 16, 17. In the erected state cover the wall sections 12 and 16 and the wall sections 13 and 17 each other. Subsequently, the two end walls 8 and 9 are bent upwards. Finally, the inner wall sections 20 and 23 are folded over about the two fold lines 18, 19 and 21, 22, respectively, so that they are parallel to the end walls 8, 9 and the wall sections 12, 13, 16, 17 adjoining the side walls 6, 7 lie against the inner sides of the end walls 8,9 of the container.

Each end wall is now formed in the region of the upper edge of four cardboard layers, consisting of an end wall section 8 and 9, two wall sections 12,16 and 13,17 adjoining side walls and an inner wall section 20 and 23, respectively. The breakthroughs in these wall sections aligned in the erected condition of the container walls with each other (see. Fig. 3 ).

In the Fig. 3 to 5 It can be seen that the two web portions 26,27 cover the upper container edges in the region of the end faces, so that from above the individual mutually covering cardboard layers of the end wall are not visible. The web portions 26,27 are suitable for receiving labels with labels or barcodes. Alternatively, the web portions 26, 27 and the adjoining inner wall portions 20, 23 may be eliminated without weakening the structural stability of the container. In this case, the individual layers of the end wall of the container are visible. A label may then, for example, on a suitable surface of a connecting element, for example, the below in connection with the FIGS. 11-13 Bonded connection plate 40 are glued.

As mentioned and as in particular in Fig. 4 recognizable, create the four superimposed cardboard layers in the region of the end wall 8 a handle opening 25 with a large material thickness, so that the risk is reduced that a person carrying the transport container injured at a sharp edge in the region of the handle opening 25.

Also ensure the four in the end wall 8 superposed cardboard layers that connect each of the two end walls 8.9 with each of the two side walls 6.7, a simple, reliable and, if necessary, releasable connection of the four walls 6,7,8,9 of the container.

This in Fig. 5 illustrated connecting element 28 is shown in detail in the Fig. 8 to 10 shown. It consists of a holding part 29 with a rectangular cross-section and a round head portion 30. At the head portion 30 opposite side of the holding part 29, a support member 31 is rotatably mounted. The support member 31 has substantially the same rectangular cross section as the base part 29. In a first in Fig. 8 shown rotational position of the support member 31, in which its contour coincides with the contour of the base 29, support member 31 and base 29 through the recess 24 in the end wall 8 and all these end wall 8 überdekkenden wall sections 12, 16 and 20 are pushed. The contour of the recess 24 substantially corresponds to the contour of the base part 29 and the holding part 31, so that a slight insertion into the recess 24 and a tight fit of the holding member 29 is ensured in the recess 24. After insertion, the support member 31 is rotated by 90 ° (see Fig. 9 ). The upper surface of the rotary member 31 forms in this rotational position, a support surface 32, which projects into the interior of the transport container by about 10 mm.

In the 6 and 7 the double benefit of the wings 32 can be seen, which are formed in all four corners of the transport container by the inserted into the four recesses 24 connecting elements 28.

First, the four wings 32 allow stacking of the transport container according to the invention. As in particular in Fig. 6 to recognize the walls of the transport container run obliquely outwards, so that their cross-section at the upper edge is greater than in the region of the bottom 1 of the transport container. The upper transport container is securely supported by the four wings 32 in the corner regions of the lower transport container. Due to the four superimposed cardboard layers in the region of the two end walls 8,9 of the lower transport container, the carrying capacity is securely introduced via the connecting elements into the container wall.

Furthermore, the support surface 32 in conjunction with the handle openings 25 offers the possibility of attaching a cover 33 to the transport container. The cover 33 is a flat cardboard element whose surface corresponds substantially to the clear cross-section which is bounded by the walls of the transport container at the level of the handle opening 25. In the middle of the two end edges of the lid 33, two protruding tabs 34 are arranged, which protrude into the handle openings 25. In the lateral areas of its front edges, the lid 33 rests on the four wings 32. The upper edge of the handle opening 25 should be about the thickness of the lid 33 higher than the wings 32 so that the cover 33 rests without distortion or bending on the support surfaces 32, wherein the cover tabs 34 protrude through the handle openings 25. As in Fig. 7 recognizable, the lid in its left half near the left tab 34 has a about 10 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide recess that can be accessed for gripping the lid when the lid is to be removed from the transport container.

The Fig. 11 to 13 The connecting element 35 consists of two parts, namely a holding part 36 and a support member 37. The holding part 36 is inserted into the recess 24 in the region of the end wall of the transport container and has a latching recess 38, in which latching projections 39 of the support member 37 can be inserted to form a positive and releasable connection between the holding part 36 and the support member 37. The holding part 36 and the supporting part 37 are connected to each other via a connecting plate 40, which consists of an outer portion 41, an inner portion 42 and an intermediate web 43. The web 43 is connected in each case via a film hinge 44 with the outer portion 41 and the inner portion 42 of the connecting plate 40. When the holding member 36 is connected to the support member 37 via the locking devices 38,39, the upper surface of the support member 37 forms the support surface 58. Holding member 36, support member 37 with the locking projections 39 and the connecting plate 40 with the two film hinges 44 may be as one piece Plastic part are manufactured by injection molding.

Another variant of a connecting element 45 is in the Fig. 14 to 16 to recognize. Here again, the holding part 46 has a head section 47. The support member 48 is slidably mounted in the vertical direction and latched in two different positions on the holding part 46. In the first position ( Fig. 14 ) cover the contours of the support member 48 and the support member 46 so that both parts 46,48 can be inserted through the recess 24. Subsequently, the support member 48 is pushed downward so that it engages behind the recess 24 lying within the region of the inside of the end wall of the transport container. The projecting into the container interior upper surface of the support member 48 forms the support surface 49th

Another embodiment of a connecting element 50 is in the Fig. 17 to 20 shown. The recess for this connecting element 50 is composed of an upper rectangular section and a lower, substantially trapezoidal section. The connecting element 50 in turn has a holding part 51 with a head section 52. The cross section of the lower portion of the holding part 51 corresponds in essentially the cross section of the trapezoidal portion of the recess 24 'and extends to the upper edge thereof.

To the holding part 51, a support member 53 is pivotally connected about a pivot axis 55. The support member 53 is in the raised position ( Fig. 17 ) is pushed through the upper rectangular portion of the recess 24 '. Subsequently, the support member 53 is pivoted about the pivot axis 55 down, wherein a latching hook 56 is latched with a latching recess 57 in the support member 53. The support member 53 engages in the downwardly pivoted position, the wall portions laterally of the trapezoidal portion of the recess 24 '. The upper surface of the support member 53, which projects into the interior of the container, in turn forms the support surface 54.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the described carton blank. Depending on the loads of the container, wall sections may be added or fewer wall sections provided without departing from the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

bottom section

2-5

fold line

6

Sidewall portion

7

Sidewall portion

8th

End wall section

9

End wall section

10.11

fold line

12.13

wall section

14.15

fold line

16.17

wall section

18.19

fold line

20

inner wall section

21.22

fold line

23

inner wall section

24.24 '

recess

25

Handle opening, recess

26

web section

27

web section

28

connecting element

29

holding part

30

header

31

supporting part

32

wing

33

cover

34

cover flap

35

connecting element

36

holding part

37

supporting part

38

recess

39

catch projection

40

connecting plate

41

outer portion

42

inner portion

43

web

44

film hinge

45

connecting element

46

holding part

47

header

48

supporting part

49

wing

50

connecting element

51

holding part

52

header

53

supporting part

54

wing

55

swivel axis

56

latch hook

57

latching opening

58

wing

Claims (24)

1. A transport container made from a thin-walled blank preferably consisting of cardboard, which comprises a base portion (1) and a plurality of wall portions (6-9), which adjoin the base portion (1) in each case via fold lines (2-5) and, after erection by folding along the fold lines (2-5), form a continuous container wall, the wall portions (6-9) comprising openings (24, 24', 25), through which a separate connecting element (28, 35, 45, 50), in particular of injection-moulded plastics, projects to connect the wall portions (6-9) together in their erected position, the openings (24, 24', 25) being arranged close to the upper edge of the respective wall (8, 9) of the container and each connecting element (28, 35, 45, 50) comprising a supporting surface (32, 58, 49, 54) for supporting a second container stacked on the container, characterised in that the supporting surface (32, 58, 49, 54) of each connecting element (28, 35, 45, 50) projects into the inside of the transport container and in that the container comprises, in the area of its upper edge, a contour enclosed by the inner sides of the container walls (6-9) which is at least as wide and as long as the outer contour in the area of the base portion (1) of the container.
2. A transport container according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting element engages behind the wall area surrounding the opening (24, 24', 25) on both sides of the container wall.
3. A transport container according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the connecting element (35) consists of two parts (36, 37), which are connected together interlockingly and preferably detachably.
4. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base portion (1) is rectangular in shape and two side wall portions (6, 7) and two end wall portions (8, 9) adjoin the base portion (1) of the cardboard blank.
5. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the supporting surfaces (32, 58, 49, 54) of the connecting elements (28, 35, 45, 50) extend substantially parallel to the base portion (1) close to the upper edge of the walls of the transport container.
6. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the supporting surface (32, 58, 49, 54) extends by at least 10 mm in a direction at right angles to the wall to which the connecting element (28, 35, 45, 50) is attached.
7. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plurality of wall portions (8, 12, 16, 20; 9, 13, 17, 23) connected together by fold lines (2-5, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22) overlap one another in the erected position and comprise mutually aligned openings (24, 24', 25), through which the connecting element (28, 35, 45, 50) projects.
8. A transport container according to claim 7, characterised in that each side wall (6; 7) is adjoined by two wall portions (12, 13; 16, 17), which each substantially overlap one end wall (8; 9) in the erected position.
9. A transport container according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that the free end of each end wall (8, 9) is adjoined by an inner wall portion (20, 23), which may be folded over by 180° relative to the end wall (8, 9).
10. A transport container according to claim 9, characterised in that between the end wall (8; 9) and the inner wall portion (20; 23) there is provided a narrow web portion (26; 27), which is connected via two mutually parallel fold lines (18, 19; 21, 22) on the one hand to the end wall (8; 9) and on the other hand to the inner wall portion (20; 23).
11. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that between two openings (24, 24'), which are arranged in the same end wall (8, 9) or side wall of the transport container, there is arranged a handle opening (25), the upper edge of which lies a few millimetres higher than the supporting surface (32, 58, 49, 54) when the container wall is in the erected position.
12. A transport container according to claim 11, characterised in that it comprises a flat lid (33) of substantially rectangular cross-section, in the middle of each of whose short end edges there is arranged a lid lug (34) which may be inserted into a handle opening (25).
13. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one part (29, 46, 51) of the connecting element (28, 45, 50) comprises a head portion (30, 47, 52) engaging behind the cardboard material on one side of the opening (24).
14. A transport container according to claim 13, characterised in that the connecting element (28) consists of two parts (29, 31) which may be turned relative to one another, the part (31) without head portion (30) engaging behind the cardboard material on the opposite side of the opening (24) from the head portion (30) after insertion through the opening (24) and turning.
15. A transport container according to claim 3, characterised in that the two parts (36, 37) of the connecting element (35) may be connected together by two mutually complementary latching elements (38, 39), a connecting plate (40) being arranged between the two parts (36, 37).
16. A transport container according to claim 15, characterised in that the connecting plate (40) consists of plastics and may be folded along two mutually parallel film hinges (44), such that its regions adjoining the two parts (36, 37) each extend upwards from the opening (24) to the upper edge of the container wall (8), which is covered by the web (43) between the two film hinges (44).
17. A transport container according to claim 13, characterised in that the part (48) of the connecting element (45) without head portion (47) is attached to the part (46) with head portion (47) so as to be displaceable parallel to the plane of the container wall.
18. A transport container according to claim 13, characterised in that a supporting part (53) is attached swivellably to the part (51) of the connecting element (50) with head portion (52), these two parts (51, 53) being connectable together by two mutually complementary latching elements (56, 57).
19. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the supporting surface and the base (1) of the transport container comprise mutually engaging fixing elements.
20. A transport container according to claim 19, characterised in that the fixing elements on the base (1) of the transport container are formed by holes in each corner of the base and the fixing element on the supporting surface of each connecting element is formed by a projection, which is insertable into one of the stated holes.
21. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the height of at least one side wall (6, 7) is less than the height of the end walls (8, 9) of the transport container.
22. A transport container according to claim 21, characterised in that at least one side wall portion (6, 7) of the cardboard blank comprises an additional fold line, which extends parallel to the fold line extending between this side wall portion (6, 7) and the base portion (1), the side wall portion (6, 7) of the transport container being folded over by 180° along this additional fold line below the edge of the end walls (8, 9) in the erected position.
23. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of its connecting elements comprises an electronic circuit with memory, the memory content of which may preferably be read out and overwritten in contactless manner.
24. A transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least some of the wall portions (6-9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 23) are adhesively bonded to one another.

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