EP1312552A1 - Polyhedral canister with lateral reinforcement - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1), e.g. of 20-liter capacity and designed for stacking, is made from a plastic material by extrusion-blowing. It has side (2, 3), bottom (4) and top (5) walls, a handle (22) and an opening (21). At least to opposite side walls (2) have reinforcing zones (14, 16) that project outwards above and below their central zones (10), extending as far as the top and bottom walls.

Description

The present invention relates to a container of general shape polyhedral and of the type comprising a belt of side walls, a wall lower and an upper wall which close the belt of side walls, and edge regions along which the side walls, bottom and are linked together.

The invention applies in particular to small cans capacity, especially about 20 liters.

We know in the prior art such cans which are parallelepiped shape and which are made of plastic. Their shape parallelepipedic allows to group a significant number in a volume reduced, in particular by stacking on pallets, which facilitates their handling and storage.

It would be desirable to reduce the cost of these cans. A solution would be to reduce the thickness of their walls and therefore the amount of material used. However, this solution would reduce their rigidity and their resistance to stacking, which is not desirable.

An object of the invention is to solve this problem by providing a can of the aforementioned type which is of reduced cost and which has rigidity and satisfactory stacking resistance.

To this end, the invention relates to a container of the aforementioned type, characterized in that at least two opposite side walls each comprise at minus one reinforcement region projecting outwards, the reinforcement regions extending substantially from the bottom wall to the top wall or from the upper wall to the lower wall.

• au moins deux parois latérales opposées comprennent chacune deux régions de renfort en saillie vers l'extérieur, dont une première région inférieure de renfort s'étend depuis la paroi inférieure vers la paroi supérieure et une deuxième région supérieure de renfort s'étend depuis la paroi supérieure vers la paroi inférieure ;
• chaque région de renfort est espacée latéralement des régions d'arêtes reliant la paroi latérale à laquelle elle appartient aux parois latérales adjacentes ;
• les régions de renfort sont formées par des renflements des parois latérales auxquelles elles appartiennent ;
• le bidon est de forme générale parallélépipédique ;
• le bidon est réalisé en matière plastique ; et
• le bidon a été obtenu par extrusion-soufflage.

According to particular embodiments, the container can include one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically possible combination:

• at least two opposite side walls each include two outwardly projecting reinforcement regions, a first lower reinforcement region extending from the lower wall towards the upper wall and a second upper reinforcement region extending from the wall upper towards the lower wall;
• each reinforcement region is spaced laterally from the edge regions connecting the side wall to which it belongs to the adjacent side walls;
• the reinforcement regions are formed by bulges in the side walls to which they belong;
• the container is generally parallelepipedic;
• the container is made of plastic; and
• the container was obtained by extrusion blow molding.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un bidon selon l'invention,
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues schématiques latérales du bidon de la figure 1, illustrant respectivement la forme de ses grandes parois latérales et de ses petites parois latérales,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique de dessus du bidon de la figure 1,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique de dessous du bidon de la figure 1, et
• la figure 6 est une section partielle et schématique prise suivant la ligne VI-VI de la figure 5 et illustrant la forme d'une région d'arête ascendante reliant une grande paroi latérale à une petite paroi latérale.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given only by way of example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container according to the invention,
• FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic side views of the container of FIG. 1, respectively illustrating the shape of its large side walls and its small side walls,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the container of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view from below of the container of FIG. 1, and
• Figure 6 is a partial and schematic section taken along line VI-VI of Figure 5 and illustrating the shape of an ascending edge region connecting a large side wall to a small side wall.

There is shown in Figures 1 to 6 a container 1 of a capacity 20 liters produced by extrusion blow molding of a plastic material such as polyethylene.

This can 1 is generally rectangular in shape and includes two large opposite side walls 2, two small side walls opposite 3, a lower wall 4 and an upper wall 5.

The large side walls 2 are connected to the small walls lateral 3 along regions of ascending edges 6 which extend from the lower wall 4 to the upper wall 5. Thus, the side walls 2 and 3 form a wall belt closed by the lower 4 and upper walls 5.

The large side walls 2 are connected to the lower walls 4 and upper 5 by edge regions 7 which extend from a small wall lateral 3 to the other.

The small side walls 3 are connected to the lower walls 4 and upper 5 by edge regions 7 which extend from a large wall lateral 2 to the other.

The bottom wall 4 defines with each pair of side walls 2 and 3 adjacent a top or bottom corner 8. Thus, the can 1 has four lower vertices 8.

The upper wall 5 defines with each pair of side walls 2 and 3 adjacent a top or upper corner 9. Thus, the can 1 has four upper vertices 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the container 1 has a height H of approximately 408 mm, the large side walls 2 have a width L of approximately 285 mm. The small side walls 3 have a width I (FIG. 3) of approximately 225 mm.

Each side wall 2 comprises a central section 10, a section lower 11 and an upper section 12. The sections 11 and 12 separate the central section 10 respectively of the bottom wall 4 and the wall upper 5.

The lower 11 and upper 12 sections each have a height about 106 mm and the central section has a height of about 196 mm.

The side wall 2 considered comprises in its lower section 11 a lower reinforcement bulge 14 which projects outwards.

As illustrated by FIG. 2, this bulge 14 a, from the front, substantially an isosceles trapezoid shape converging upwards. He's stretching from the lower wall 4 to the upper wall 5, substantially up to a horizontal offset line 15 separating the central section 10 and the lower section 11.

This line 15 extends over most of the width of the wall 2 considered but does not extend to the edge regions 6 connecting it to adjacent walls 3.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the reinforcement bulge 14 protrudes by a distance d relative to the rest of the lower section 11. This distance d decreases as it approaches the hooking line 15.

The reinforcement bulge 14 is spaced laterally from the two edge regions 6 connecting the wall 2 considered to the small side walls 3 adjacent.

The reinforcement bulge 14 is substantially symmetrical with respect to to a median plane P1, vertical and orthogonal, that is to say normal, to the wall 2 considered. The trace of this plane P1 has been represented in dashed lines on the Figures 2 and 4. This plane P1 is located substantially equidistant from the two small side walls 3.

The wall 2 considered also has a reinforcing bulge upper 16 which is symmetrical with the lower bulge 14 with respect to a median plane P2, horizontal and orthogonal, that is to say normal, to the wall lateral 2 considered. The trace of this P2 plan has been represented in phantom in FIG. 2. This plane P2 extends substantially at equal distance from the wall lower 4 and upper wall 5.

Due to the mentioned symmetry, the structure of the bulge upper 16 will not be described in detail. It will simply be noted that the upper bulge 16 extends from the upper wall 5 downwards up to a horizontal offset line 17 separating the central section 10 and the upper section 12 of the side wall 2 considered.

As seen in Figure 3, the central section 10 is, thanks to the hook lines 15 and 17, slightly set back towards the inside of the can 1 relative to the lower 11 and upper 12 sections of the wall 2 considered. This central section 10 is intended to receive a label bearing information on the contents of the can 1 or a packing sleeve.

The central section 10 is convex and has in the plane P1 a radius of curvature R1 substantially constant and around 4586 mm and in the plane P2 a radius of curvature R2 substantially constant and of approximately 957 mm. The outer ends of spokes R1 and R2 have been materialized by arrows in Figures 3 and 4. To facilitate understanding, the arc of a circle corresponding to radius R1 has been extended in phantom in Figure 3 beyond of the central section 10, and the curvature of this arc has been exaggerated.

Similarly, the arc corresponding to the radius R2 has been extended in dashed line in FIG. 4 beyond the central section 10.

The lower 11 and upper 12 sections have, in the plane P1, substantially constant radii of curvature and approximately 333 mm in the bulges 14 and 16 and about 380 mm outside of these bulges.

Each side wall 3 also includes a central section 10, a lower section 11 and an upper section 12.

The central section 10 of the wall 3 considered is separated from the lower section 11 by a horizontal hook line 15 and the upper section 12 by a horizontal drop line 17. These lines 15 and 17 are placed in the extension of lines 15 and 17 of the large adjacent side walls 2, so that the central sections 10, lower 11 and upper 12 of the side walls 2 and 3 extend laterally.

The central section 10 of the wall 3 considered is also doubly convex and has, in a median plane P3, vertical and orthogonal, that is to say normal, to the wall 3 considered, a radius of curvature R3 substantially constant and around 4586 mm. The trace of the P3 plane is shown in phantom in Figures 3 and 4 and the outer end of the radius R3 has been indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2. The plane P3 extends substantially equal distance from the large side walls 2.

The central section 10 of the wall 3 considered has, in a median P4 plane, horizontal and orthogonal, i.e. normal, to wall 3 considered, a substantially constant radius of curvature R4 of approximately 316 mm. The trace of the plan P4, which is confused with the plan P2 mentioned previously, has been shown in phantom in Figure 3, and the end outside of radius R3 has been indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4.

In the example shown, the small side walls 3 do not have no reinforcing bulges like the side walls 2 but, in a variant not shown, such bulges can be provided there.

The edge regions 7 extend substantially continues all the way around the underside 4, passing through the lower vertices 8, and around the entire periphery of the upper face 5, in passing through the upper vertices 9.

The upper wall 5 includes a central region 20 set back provided with an opening 21 for discharging the contents of the container 1 and a handle 22 manual entry. The orifice 21 is intended to be closed by screwing a cap not shown.

The handle 22 protrudes slightly above the region peripheral 23 of the upper wall 5. This peripheral region 23 also has three reliefs 24 which also project slightly towards the high compared to the rest of the peripheral region 23.

The protruding part of the handle 22 and the reliefs 24 are intended to engage in complementary cavities, respectively 25 and 26, provided in the lower wall 4 (Figure 5).

This lower wall 4 further forms a support base by through which the can 1 can rest on another can 1 or on the ground to be in its position shown in Figures 1 to 4.

• un tronçon central 30, situé entre les tronçons centraux 10 des parois latérales 2 et 3 adjacentes correspondantes,
• un tronçon inférieur convexe 31, situé entre les tronçons inférieurs 11 des parois latérales 2 et 3 adjacentes correspondantes,
• un tronçon supérieur convexe 32, situé entre les tronçons supérieurs 12 des parois latérales 2 et 3 adjacentes correspondantes.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, each edge region 6 comprises:

• a central section 30, located between the central sections 10 of the corresponding adjacent side walls 2 and 3,
• a convex lower section 31, located between the lower sections 11 of the corresponding adjacent side walls 2 and 3,
• a convex upper section 32, located between the upper sections 12 of the corresponding adjacent side walls 2 and 3.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the lower sections 31 extend upward from the lower vertices 8, and the sections upper 32 extend downward from the upper vertices 9.

Note that in FIG. 6, the thickness of the edge region 6 and lower 4 and upper 5 walls has not been shown.

The central sections 30 are vertical.

Each lower section 31 has, in a vertical plane orthogonal, i.e. normal, to the corresponding edge region 6 (such as the plane of Figure 6), a radius of curvature R5 of about 200 mm.

Similarly, the upper sections 32 of the two edge regions 6 those furthest from the orifice 21 (behind in FIG. 1) have also the radius of curvature R5, in orthogonal vertical planes, that is to say normal, to the corresponding edge regions 6.

It will be noted that the radii R5 of the lower section 31 and of the section upper edge region 6 of Figure 6 have been materialized by arrows in this figure.

Each edge region 7 has, practically in each vertical plane and orthogonal, that is to say normal, to the corresponding side wall 2 or 3, a radius of curvature R of approximately 12 mm. The outer end of this radius R a been shown by an arrow in Figure 2, this radius then being taken in the plane P3 mentioned previously, by an arrow in FIG. 3, this radius R then being taken in the plane P1 mentioned previously, and by an arrow in FIG. 6, this radius R then being taken in the section plane of FIG. 6.

This radius R remains substantially constant over the entire periphery of the lower face 4 and upper face 5, including in the bulges of reinforcement 14 and 16, except possibly in a short central section of the edge region 7 adjacent to orifice 21.

It was found that the reinforcement bulges 14 and 16 in the side walls 2 stiffen the can 1 and increase its resistance to stacking.

We can consider that this increase in resistance to stacking is partly due to the fact that these bulges 14 and 16 increase the surfaces of the lower wall 4 and the upper wall 5 intended for take support on another container 1 and serve as support for another container 1.

The use of bulges to constitute reinforcements 14 and 16 keeps a side wall thickness 2 constant throughout their width. The reinforcements 14 and 16 therefore do not induce an increase in the mass of container 1.

It was also found that the convexity of the side walls 2 to both in the plane P1 and in the plane P2, and the convexity of the side walls 3 both in the P3 plane and in the P4 plane also contribute, but from independently, to increase the rigidity of the can 1 and its resistance to stacking.

When a container 1 is subjected to a vertical compression force too large, the side walls deform laterally towards the inside of the can. The double convexity of the side walls 2 and 3 of the container 1 of Figures 1 to 5 makes it possible to delay this deformation and therefore to increase the resistance of the container 1 for stacking.

Furthermore, this characteristic does not induce an increase in the mass of container 1.

Note that this characteristic may be present only on some of the side walls.

It was also found that the radius of curvature R5 of the sections lower 31 and some of the upper reaches 32 of the edge regions 6 allows, independently, to increase the rigidity of the can 1 and its resistance to stacking.

Indeed, on radius of curvature R5 ensures thickness substantially homogeneous of the container in the edge regions 6, and in particular in their lower 31 and upper 32 sections. However, the radius R5 is sufficiently weak to limit the "rolling" effect of these sections 31 and 32, which effect would lead to premature crushing of the container 1 during its stacking by displacement of the sections 31 and 32 towards the central sections 30 edge regions 6.

It should be noted that this characteristic does not induce an increase in the mass of container 1 and that it may only be present in certain sections lower 31 and / or higher 32.

It was also found that the radius of curvature R of the regions 7 allows, independently, to increase the rigidity of the can 1 and its resistance to stacking. We can consider that this radius R is large enough to avoid stress concentrations in the regions 7, which concentrations would decrease the resistance of can 1. It is also sufficiently weak to limit the "rolling" effect of the regions 7, which effect would lead to premature crushing of the container 1 during of its stacking by displacement of the edge regions 7 towards the sections central 10 of the side walls 2 and 3.

It will also be noted that this characteristic does not induce increase in the mass of the container 1.

Thus, the thickness of the walls of the container 1 and its mass can be reduced in rigidity and constant stacking resistance.

Thus, the mass of the container 1 can be approximately 700 grams which corresponds to a reduction of around 20% compared to conventional cans. The amount of material required to make the container 1 and its cost are therefore reduced.

Furthermore, the handle 22 and the reliefs 24 allow, with the complementary cavities 25 and 26 to limit the relative displacements between two 1 cans stacked one on top of the other.

In general, the radii R1 and R3 can be understood between about 4000 and about 5000 mm, and preferably between 4300 and approximately 5000 mm, or advantageously between approximately 4500 and approximately 4800 mm.

Generally also, the radius of curvature R2 can be between approximately 200 and approximately 1700 mm, and preferably between approximately 600 and approximately 1300 mm, or advantageously between approximately 900 and approximately 1000 mm.

The radius R4 can be between approximately 200 and about 1700 mm, or between about 225 and about 600 mm, or preferably between about 250 and about 350 mm.

The radius R5 can be between approximately 100 and about 1500 mm, or between about 125 and about 800 mm, or between about 150 and about 350 mm.

Also generally, the radius R can be between about 8 and about 16 mm or preferably between about 10 and about 14 mm or advantageously between approximately 12 and approximately 13 mm.

The above principles can be applied to canisters of forms general polyhedral other than parallelepipedic.

Claims (6)

Can (1) of generally polyhedral shape and of the type comprising a side wall belt (2, 3), a bottom wall (4) and a top wall (5) which close the side wall belt, and edge regions (6, 7) along which the side, bottom and top walls are interconnected, characterized in that at least two opposite side walls (2) each comprise at least one reinforcement region (14, 16) projecting towards the exterior, the reinforcing regions (14, 16) extending substantially from the bottom wall (4) to the top wall (5) or from the top wall (5) to the bottom wall (4), at least two opposite side walls (2) each comprise two reinforcement regions (14, 16) projecting outwards, a first lower reinforcement region (14) extending from the lower wall (4) towards the upper wall (5 ) and a second upper reinforcement region (16) extends d from the upper wall (5) towards the lower wall (4), the first reinforcement region (14) increasing the surface of the lower wall (4) intended to bear on another container and the second reinforcement region (16 ) increasing the surface of the upper wall (5) intended to serve as a support for another container, and in that each reinforcement region (14, 16) is spaced laterally from the edge regions (6) connecting the side wall (2, 3) to which it belongs to the adjacent side walls (2, 3). Can according to claim 1, characterized in that the first reinforcement region (14) is spaced from the second reinforcement region (16). Can according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcement regions (14, 16) are formed by bulges in the side walls (2, 3) to which they belong. Can according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a generally parallelepiped shape. Can according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of plastic. Can according to claim 5, characterized in that it was obtained by extrusion blow molding.

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