EP1818270B1

EP1818270B1 - Large modular container with reduced storage volume

Info

Publication number: EP1818270B1
Application number: EP07002611A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Villa
Original assignee: PATENTWERKE AG
Current assignee: PATENTWERKE AG
Priority date: 2006-02-14
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2009-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-07
Also published as: EP1818270A1; ITMI20060269A1; DE602007000444D1; ATE420032T1

Abstract

A large modular container (1) with reduced storage volume, comprising a base plate (2) to which collapsible walls (10,11,12) are connected, the container further comprising hinge elements (20) which are constituted by a first body (21) and a second body (24), which can be articulated to each other and are provided with interlocking means (25) for detachable connection in seats (26) provided respectively in the base plate (2) and the collapsible walls (10,11,12).

Description

The present invention relates to a modular container with reduced storage volume according to the preamble of claim 1.
As is known, large containers are frequently used in the industrial field and are usually provided in the form of crates which can be palletized thanks to the presence of feet or beams arranged at the base, so as to allow the insertion of the forks of a fork-lift truck.
FR-A-2118271 discloses a container according to the preamble of claim 1 and comprising a base support structure, which comprises on each corner of the support structure hinge elements. The container side wall elements are pivoted on the hinge elements for folding and unfolding the side elements.
Such large containers can be stored easily when they are full, but when they are empty in most cases they do not allow to reduce their size, and therefore it is necessary to transport them with great economical expenditure due to their high volume/weight ratio.
The aim of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above by providing a large modular container with reduced storage volume which can be easily collapsed when empty, so as to reduce its volume to approximately one third, consequently simplifying all storage and transport operations.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a large container which can meet the specific requirements of the most disparate commercial sectors thanks to the easy interchangeability of its walls and bottom.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a large container which is completely made of plastics, so that the container, by having no metallic inserts, is more durable and is further completely recyclable, allowing to disassemble it for easy replacement of any damaged parts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a large container which, thanks to its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a large modular container with reduced storage volume which can be obtained easily starting from commercially available elements and materials.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a large modular container with reduced storage volume, according to the invention, comprising a base plate to which collapsible walls are connected, and hinge elements which are constituted by a first body and a second body, which can be articulated to each other and are provided with interlocking means for detachable connection in seats provided respectively in said base plate and said collapsible walls.
Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a large container in the position for use, according to the present inevntion;
Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the container;
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the container;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the container;
Figure 5 is a schematic view of the container with one main wall collapsed;
Figure 6 is a view of the step for closing the two side walls;
Figure 7 is a schematic view of the container in the collapsed position;
Figure 8 is a schematic view of the container, illustrating in cross-section the collapse of the front wall and of the rear wall;
Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the container in the collapsed position;
Figure 10 is a view of the connection of the hinge elements;
Figure 11 is a partially cutout view of the latch means for connecting the walls;
Figure 12 is a sectional view, taken along a vertical plane, of a wall with an openable door;
Figure 13 is a view of a detail of the hinge of the openable door.

With reference to the figures, the large modular container with reduced storage volume, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a base plate 2, which is provided in a downward region with supporting elements, which can be constituted by ordinary supporting feet or optionally by supporting feet 3 joined by beams 4 so as to stiffen the assembly and allow engagement with conventional fork-lift trucks.
A front wall, designated by the reference numeral 10, a rear wall 11, and mutually opposite side walls, designated by the reference numeral 12, are connected to the base plate 2.
The walls are collapsible and the base plate 2 defines, at the side walls 12, a shoulder 15 so that the pivoting of the side walls 12 occurs at a higher level than the pivoting level of the front and rear walls 10 and 11.
A peculiarity of the invention consists in that hinge elements are provided, generally designated by the reference numeral 20, which have a first body 21, defining a sleeve 22 in which a pivot 23 engages, the pivot being connected to a second body 24 providing the hinge element, which is constituted by the two bodies 21 and 24 which can be mutually articulated.
The bodies 21 and 24 are provided with interlocking means, constituted by an elastic tab 25 with an engagement tooth 25a.
The bodies 21 and 24 can be inserted in corresponding seats 26 and 27, which are defined respectively on the base plate and on the corresponding walls and are provided with openings 28 and 29 for the interlocking coupling of the teeth 26, thus achieving correct positioning, of the hinge elements which allow to tip the walls.
As shown more clearly in Figures 8 and 9, in order to provide the volume reduction or compaction of the container, the front and rear walls are collapsed first, and by mutually overlapping partially, arrange themselves at a level which is lower than, or at most equal to, the level of the shoulder 15, so that the side walls 12 can then be folded over them and, due to the fact that the containers typically have a rectangular shape, they arrange themselves so as to be adjacent to each other, one on the continuation of the other.
If there is a lid arranged so as to close the crate, such lid can be arranged above the compacted container and is retained in position by means of the centering pins 30, which are provided at the corners of the base plate and allow the stacking of the crates in the folded position, while in the active position stacking is achieved by means of the stacking pins 31 1 provided at the upper edge of the side walls 12.
In order to fix the walls to each other, as shown more clearly in Figure 11, a latch 40 is provided, which is accommodated slidingly on the front and rear walls.
The latch 40 has a coupling tooth 41, which is inserted above an abutment edge 42 provided on the upright of the side walls; the tooth 41 is arranged at the end of a handle body 43, provided with a grip wing 44 which allows the translational motion of the latch, which is kept in position because at the end of the latch 40 an elastic curved region 45 is provided which acts in practice as a spring, pushing the engagement tooth 41 in the extracted position, and which can be compressed in order to disengage the tooth 41.
The coupling is completed by an engagement tooth 47, which is provided monolithically on the wall provided with the latch 40 and enters a corresponding curved region 48 formed by the contiguous wall.
As shown in Figures 12 and 13, it is possible to provide a wall which has an openable door 50 constituted by a portion of a wall which affects the upper free edge and can be tilted thanks to the presence of a coupling hinge 51, constituted by means of a fixing plate 52 which is connected by ultrasonic welding or the like to a wall and defines the hinge pin 53, which enters a bush 54 provided in the openable door 50; in this manner, the wall can be collapsed by tipping.
In order to keep the door 50 in a raised position, i.e., so that it completes the wall, a latch is provided which is structurally identical to the latch 40 but is smaller.
It should be added to what has been described above that all the walls can be equipped with label holders and also have flat surfaces in order to customize them with the company logo, and it is further possible to provide perforated walls.
Assembly of the different elements is extremely simple, since it is substantially achieved by inserting the hinge bodies in the appropriately provided seats, such insertion being possible without using tools but by simple manual interlocking.
From what has been described above it is therefore evident that the invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that with the particular structure used, a large container is provided which allows to obtain a drastic volume reduction when the container is not being used, assuming a particularly compact and easily transportable shape.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

Large modular container (1) with reduced storage volume, comprising a base plate (2) to which collapsible walls (10, 11, 12) are connected and hinge elements (20) which are constituted by a first body (21) and a second body (24) which can be articulated to each other, characterized in that the first body (21) and the second body (24) are provided with interlocking means (25) for detachable connection in seats (26, 27) provided respectively in said base plate (2) and said collapsible walls (10, 11, 12).
The large container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said collapsible walls (10, 11, 12) comprise a front wall (10), a rear wall (11) and side walls (12), said front and rear walls (10, 11) being pivoted at a different level with respect to said side walls (12).
The large container (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, on said base plate (2), a shoulder (15) at each of said side walls (12), for pivoting at a higher level than the pivoting level of said front and rear walls (10, 11).
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hinge elements (20) have a first body (21) which defines a sleeve (22) in which a pivot (23) engages which is connected to a second body (24) which provides the other hinge element.
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said interlocking means (25) comprise an elastic tab (25) with an engagement tooth (25a) which can be inserted in corresponding openings (28, 29) formed in said seats (26, 27) provided in said base plate (2) and in the corresponding walls.
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises centering pins (30) at the corners of the base plate (2) for stacking said container (1) in a compacted position, and stacking pins (31) provided at the upper edge of said side walls (12) for stacking said containers in the position for use.
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for coupling said walls which comprise a latch (40) which is accommodated slidingly on said front and rear walls (10, 11), said latch (40) having a coupling tooth (41) which can be inserted above an abutment tooth (42) provided on the upright of said side walls, said coupling tooth (41) being arranged at the end of a handle body (43) which has a grip wing (44) for the translational motion of said latch (40), an elastic curved region (45) being further provided which acts as a spring, pushing said coupling tooth (41) into the extracted position.
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an engagement tooth (47) which is monolithically associated with the wall provided with said latch (40) and can be inserted in a curved region (48) defined on the contiguous wall.
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one wall which has an openable door (50) constituted by a portion of wall which affects the upper free edge, said wall portion being able to tip due to the presence of a coupling hinge (51).
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coupling hinge (51) comprises a fixing plate (52) which is connected by welding to said wall and defines a hinge pin (53) which can be inserted in a bush (54) provided on said openable door (50).
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said walls (10, 11, 12) have flat portions for customizing said container (1).
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises label holders defined on said walls.
The large container (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises grille-like portions on at least one of said walls.