EP1468927A1 - Zusammenfaltbarer Behälter - Google Patents

Zusammenfaltbarer Behälter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1468927A1
EP1468927A1 EP03008987A EP03008987A EP1468927A1 EP 1468927 A1 EP1468927 A1 EP 1468927A1 EP 03008987 A EP03008987 A EP 03008987A EP 03008987 A EP03008987 A EP 03008987A EP 1468927 A1 EP1468927 A1 EP 1468927A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rim
base
cut
side walls
collapsible container
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03008987A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jens Hausen
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.)
Curver Rubbermaid France SAS
Original Assignee
Curver Rubbermaid France SAS
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
Application filed by Curver Rubbermaid France SAS filed Critical Curver Rubbermaid France SAS
Priority to EP03008987A priority Critical patent/EP1468927A1/de
Publication of EP1468927A1 publication Critical patent/EP1468927A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • 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
    • B65D1/22—Boxes or like containers with side walls of substantial depth for enclosing contents
    • B65D1/225—Collapsible boxes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a collapsible container comprising a base, a first and a second pair of opposite side walls and a rim wherein each wall of the first pair of opposite side walls comprises at least two adjacent panels which are adapted to be horizontally aligned.
  • Collapsible containers especially when made from plastic have become common household articles. Such containers when collapsed can be conveniently stored. At present, a variety of collapsible containers is available on the market.
  • DE 92 18 977 U1 a collapsible container made from plastic is disclosed which is especially suited for transporting and storing vegetables.
  • This container is made in one piece and comprises four side walls which are joined to the edges of a rectangular base via film hinges.
  • DE 92 18 977 U1 further focuses on a reliable engagement of the side walls with the base as well as with each other.
  • a foldable container made from plastic which comprises a base and lid which are both made from two panels which can be linked to the side walls via hinges.
  • the side walls can be divided into two or more panels which can be joined by film hinges.
  • a container which comprises a base and separately manufactured side walls can be derived whereby the side walls are attached to the base via film hinges which are glued onto the base. According to DE 35 22 511 A1 it is important to produce the base and the side walls separately.
  • a collapsible container having a base, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls.
  • the base has a pair of opposite upstanding end flanges integral thereto defining a comer line.
  • Each end wall is securely held by a living hinge.
  • the container according to WO 99/32362 is adapted to being nestable when in the collapsed position.
  • the side walls are joined to the base by use of mechanical hinges.
  • connecting means which connect the container rim and those side walls which are attached to said container rim, the base and those side walls which are attached to the base and/or two adjacent panels of a side wall whereby said connecting means comprise at least one film hinge, in particular at least two film hinges which are separated by a cut-out.
  • the connecting means is usually aligned along a folding axis between the rim and a side wall, the base and a side wall and two adjacent panels of a side wall.
  • a cut-out can vary in size to a great extent, and can be a narrow cut, a slit or an even broader gap.
  • the container of the present invention also comprise crates and other receptacles.
  • the container also comprises a lid which is joined to said rim via at least one film hinge, in particular at least two film hinges which are separated by a cut-out.
  • said container in particular the film hinges, is/are made from a plastic material or plastic materials, in particular from polypropylene.
  • plastic materials also comprise for example other polyofefins such as polyethylene, polyesters such as PBT and PET, aliphatic polyketones, polyphenylene ether, polyamides, styrol-copolymers such as SAN, ASA or ABS, or mixtures thereof. Also impact modified variants of the aforementioned polymers are encompassed with the term plastic material.
  • the film hinges are made from an aliphatic polyketone, in particular from alternating ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymers. Suitable aliphatic polyketones and their manufacture is for example disclosed in EP 0 322 018 A2.
  • said container is in one piece, in particular made by injection molding.
  • the container of the invention can be made by injection molding, extrusion, coextrusion, compression molding, transfer molding, reaction injection molding or reinforced reaction injection molding, in particular in one piece.
  • the wall system is made from polypropylene, in particular by injection molding.
  • the rim and the base have a rectangular or square-like shape which in particular correspond in size.
  • the walls of the second pair of opposite side walls are each joined to the rim via at least one film hinge, in particular at least two film hinges which are separated by a cut-out, slit or gap
  • the upper panel of a first side wall of the first pair of side walls, in particular a longitudinal side wall is joined to the rim via at least one film hinge, in particular at least two film hinges which are separated by a cut-out, slit or gap
  • said side wall comprises at least two adjacent panels which are adapted to be aligned horizontally and which are joined via at least one film hinge, in particular at least two film hinges which are separated by a cut-out, slit or gap, the lowest panel of said side wall being joined to the base via at least one film hinge, in particular at least two film hinges which are separated by a cut-out, slit or gap, and the opposite side of the base is joined to the lowest panel of the second side wall of the first pair of opposite side walls via at least one film hinge, in particular at least two film hinges which are separated by
  • fastening means which reversibly or irreversibly join, in particular an edge of, the base or, in particular an edge of, the rim with the lowest panel of a side wall of the first pair of side walls or with the upper panel of a side wall of a fist pair of side walls, respectively.
  • the container is made in one piece, e.g. by injection molding, at least one side wall is usually to be joined to either the circumferential rim or the base in order to arrive at a collapsible container.
  • all four side walls of a container are joined to the base there remains one edge of a side wall unattached which is opposite to an edge which is joined to the base or the rim.
  • This edge can be joined to an edge of the circumferential rim, e.g. by mechanical means or by welding or glueing.
  • Such a connection can also be adapted to be flexible as are the film hinges.
  • all four side walls are attached to the circumferential rim there remains one opposite edge unattached which then can be joined to one edge of the base, e.g. by mechanical means or by welding or glueing.
  • the fastening means comprises at least one locking device, in particular a snap-fit and/or hole, opening or cut-out, on the top surface or at the edge of the base and/or at the lower edge of the lowest panel of a side wall which is adapted to interact with a respective locking device, in particular an opening, hole or cut-out and/or snap-fit, in the base and/or in the lower edge of the lowest panel.
  • a locking device in particular a snap-fit and/or hole, opening or cut-out, on the top surface or at the edge of the base and/or at the lower edge of the lowest panel of a side wall which is adapted to interact with a respective locking device, in particular an opening, hole or cut-out and/or snap-fit, in the base and/or in the lower edge of the lowest panel.
  • the fastening means comprises at least one locking device, in particular a snap-fit and/or a hole, opening or cut-out, at the upper edge of an upper panel of a side wall and/or on the circumferential rim which is adapted to interact with a respective locking device, in particular an opening, hole or cut-out and/or snap-fit, in the circumferential rim and/or in the upper edge of the upper panel.
  • a locking device in particular a snap-fit and/or a hole, opening or cut-out, at the upper edge of an upper panel of a side wall and/or on the circumferential rim which is adapted to interact with a respective locking device, in particular an opening, hole or cut-out and/or snap-fit, in the circumferential rim and/or in the upper edge of the upper panel.
  • the collapsible container according to the invention further comprises at least two rim portions as part of the base and/or on the top surface and essentially at opposite, in particular lateral, edges of the base adapted to form a, in particular uniform, plain with a respective side wall when the container is uncollapsed.
  • Such upper portions which project in particular vertically from the base are well suited to interact with the lowest panel of those side walls which are adjacent to the side wall which forms a plain surface with said rim portion.
  • the lowest panel of a, in particular longitudinal, side wall is adapted to interact with at least one, in particular vertical edges of said, rim element of the base via at least one, in particular two, lateral guiding devices which is/are adapted to lockably interact with at least one rim element, in particular with a vertical edge of said rim element.
  • the lateral guiding devices are located at the lower vertical edge of the lowest panel and have a tongue-like shape.
  • the vertical edges of the rim portion of the base then comprises a notch into which the tongue-like guiding device of the lowest panel can be introduced.
  • the fastening means and/or the lateral guiding device is/are joined to the base or the rim via ultrasonic welding, glueing, or vibrational welding furnishing an non-detachable attachment.
  • the invention comprises embodiments wherein the base comprises an essentially circumferential rim.
  • the base comprises an essentially circumferential rim.
  • the mechanical stability of the base can be increased, in particular with regard to torsional movements.
  • vertical guiding means to the rim it can be provided for opposite, in particular lateral, rim portions of the base which have a greater elevation than those rim portions between those elevated rim portions.
  • At least one panel, wall and/or base comprises at least one opening, hole and/or cut-out, in particular a pattern of openings, holes and/or cut-outs.
  • a method for preparing a collapsible container which comprises a rim, a first and a second pair of opposite side walls and a base, in particular a collapsible container according to the invention, wherein said container is manufactured via injection molding, extrusion, coextrusion, compression molding, transfer molding, reaction injection molding or reinforced reaction injection molding, in particular in one piece.
  • the wall system is made from polypropylene, in particular by injection molding.
  • the injection molded product is removed by a robot and/or assembled by a robot.
  • a collapsible container 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated when completely unfolded.
  • the entire container 1 is made in one piece as can be derived from Fig. 1, and comprises a rim 2, a pair of opposite lateral side walls 4 and 6, a pair of opposite longitudinal side walls 8 and 10 and a base 12.
  • the longitudinal side walls 8 and 10 each comprise a pair of adjacent panels 14, 16 and 18, 20, respectively.
  • To the rim 2 which is of rectangular shape two oppositely located lateral side walls 4, 6 are attached via film hinges 22 and 24.
  • the film hinges 22 and 24 each comprise two distinct film hinges 22.1, 22.2 and 24.1, 24.2. These film hinges are separated by cut-outs 26 and 28, respectively.
  • One of the longitudinal sides of rim 2 is connected to panel 14 of side wall 8 via a sequence of film hinges 30.1, 30.2, 30.3 and 30.4, each separated by a cut-outs 31.1 to 31.3.
  • the two side panels 14 and 16 are joined via film hinges 32.1 to 32.4.
  • the base 12 is joined to the lower panels 16 and 18 by use of film hinges 36.1 to 36.4 and 38.1 to 38.4.
  • side panels 18 and 20 are joined via film hinges 40.1 to 40.4.
  • the rim 2, the base 12 and the longitudinal side walls 8 and 10 can be easily folded in such away that the upper side panel 20 is adjacent to that edge of rim 2 which so far has been left unoccupied. By folding lateral walls 4 and 6 towards the base the final form of the container 1 is already stabilized.
  • the panels or walls can also comprise holes (not shown) to save material and to furnish a light-weight article.
  • a collapsible container 1' which differs from the container 1 of Fig. 1 in that the lateral side walls 4' and 6' are connected to the exterior of the rim 2' and not to the interior part of said rim.
  • the film hinges which connect the lateral side walls of the container to the rim can also be located centrally at the bottom of said rim (not shown).
  • FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment of a container 1" is illustrated which essentially comprises the same components as depicted in Fig. 1. Different from Fig. 1 side wall 42 is no longer attached via film hinges to base 12" but to the rim 2" via film hinges 46.1 to 46.4.
  • FIG. 4 an alternative embodiment of a collapsible container 1'" is shown which different from the container 1" of Fig. 3 has lateral side walls 48' and 50' which are joined to rim 2"' via film hinges 22' and 24' inwards rim 2"'.
  • Fig. 5 shows a collapsible container 1 when folded.
  • the side walls 4, 6 and 8 are connected via film hinges 22, 24 and 30 to rim 2, whereas panel 20 of side wall 10 is fixed to rim 2 by engaging (not shown) as described for a container according to Figs. 3 and 4 in the following.
  • the container when unfolded is very stable and is designed in such a way that the lateral side walls neatly fit between both opposite longitudinal side walls.
  • Fig. 6 shows how according to one embodiment of the invention the lower panel 94 of a container 1"" can be affixed to base 92 by use of snap-fits 60 and 62 which fit into corresponding holes 64 and 66 of the base 92.
  • Snap-fits 60 and 62 are part of the lowest panel 94 which is joined to the adjacent panel 96 via a sequence of separated film hinges 98.
  • the engagement between the base 92 and the panel 94 is increased by lateral guiding devices 84 which comprise a tongue-like element 88.
  • These guiding device 84 can be introduced into a notch 86 which is part of a rim element 82 which is an extension of one side edge of base 92.
  • This locking device can be adapted for reversible and irreversible assembly of the container of the invention. In case of irreversible fastening the lateral guiding device and/or the engaged snap-fits can be welded or glued to each other.
EP03008987A 2003-04-17 2003-04-17 Zusammenfaltbarer Behälter Withdrawn EP1468927A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03008987A EP1468927A1 (de) 2003-04-17 2003-04-17 Zusammenfaltbarer Behälter

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03008987A EP1468927A1 (de) 2003-04-17 2003-04-17 Zusammenfaltbarer Behälter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1468927A1 true EP1468927A1 (de) 2004-10-20

Family

ID=32892906

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03008987A Withdrawn EP1468927A1 (de) 2003-04-17 2003-04-17 Zusammenfaltbarer Behälter

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1468927A1 (de)

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2172047A1 (de) * 1972-02-18 1973-09-28 Roddier Roger
DE3522511A1 (de) 1985-06-24 1987-01-02 Vdo Schindling Kastenfoermiger behaelter
EP0322018A2 (de) 1987-12-09 1989-06-28 Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. Herstellung von Polyketonen
NL8800937A (nl) * 1988-04-11 1989-11-01 O T B Kartonneermachines B V Verpakkingshouder alsmede een plano voor een dergelijke houder.
US5064068A (en) * 1991-01-11 1991-11-12 Sheng Tony L Letter by legal folding basket
DE4319099A1 (de) 1993-06-08 1994-12-15 Schoeller Plast Ag Faltcontainer
DE9218977U1 (de) 1992-01-17 1996-08-08 Schoeller Plast Ag Behälter aus Kunststoff, insbesondere Gemüsebehälter, mit klappbaren Seitenwänden
DE19640541A1 (de) * 1996-10-01 1998-04-02 Reichenecker Hans Storopack Verpackungssystem
WO1999032362A1 (en) 1997-12-19 1999-07-01 Rehrig Pacific Company Collapsible container
DE20120563U1 (de) 2001-12-19 2002-04-04 Boedeker Bollenz Herriet Tragkorb

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2172047A1 (de) * 1972-02-18 1973-09-28 Roddier Roger
DE3522511A1 (de) 1985-06-24 1987-01-02 Vdo Schindling Kastenfoermiger behaelter
EP0322018A2 (de) 1987-12-09 1989-06-28 Shell Internationale Researchmaatschappij B.V. Herstellung von Polyketonen
NL8800937A (nl) * 1988-04-11 1989-11-01 O T B Kartonneermachines B V Verpakkingshouder alsmede een plano voor een dergelijke houder.
US5064068A (en) * 1991-01-11 1991-11-12 Sheng Tony L Letter by legal folding basket
DE9218977U1 (de) 1992-01-17 1996-08-08 Schoeller Plast Ag Behälter aus Kunststoff, insbesondere Gemüsebehälter, mit klappbaren Seitenwänden
DE4319099A1 (de) 1993-06-08 1994-12-15 Schoeller Plast Ag Faltcontainer
DE19640541A1 (de) * 1996-10-01 1998-04-02 Reichenecker Hans Storopack Verpackungssystem
WO1999032362A1 (en) 1997-12-19 1999-07-01 Rehrig Pacific Company Collapsible container
DE20120563U1 (de) 2001-12-19 2002-04-04 Boedeker Bollenz Herriet Tragkorb

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