EP1854728A1 - Flaschenkasten mit Verstärkungen - Google Patents

Flaschenkasten mit Verstärkungen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1854728A1
EP1854728A1 EP06076025A EP06076025A EP1854728A1 EP 1854728 A1 EP1854728 A1 EP 1854728A1 EP 06076025 A EP06076025 A EP 06076025A EP 06076025 A EP06076025 A EP 06076025A EP 1854728 A1 EP1854728 A1 EP 1854728A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
crate
undulations
columns
side walls
column
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Withdrawn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
EP06076025A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Francis Isenborghs
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.)
DW Plastics NV
Original Assignee
DW Plastics NV
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 DW Plastics NV filed Critical DW Plastics NV
Priority to EP06076025A priority Critical patent/EP1854728A1/de
Publication of EP1854728A1 publication Critical patent/EP1854728A1/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B65D1/24—Boxes or like containers with side walls of substantial depth for enclosing contents with moulded compartments or partitions
    • B65D1/243—Crates for bottles or like containers
    • 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
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
    • B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
    • B65D2501/24012—Materials
    • B65D2501/24019—Mainly plastics
    • 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
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
    • B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
    • B65D2501/2405—Construction
    • B65D2501/24121—Construction of the bottom
    • B65D2501/24133—Grid, mesh
    • 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
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
    • B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
    • B65D2501/24197—Arrangements for locating the bottles
    • B65D2501/24203—Construction of locating arrangements
    • B65D2501/2421—Partitions
    • B65D2501/24216—Partitions forming square or rectangular cells
    • 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
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
    • B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
    • B65D2501/24197—Arrangements for locating the bottles
    • B65D2501/24203—Construction of locating arrangements
    • B65D2501/24235—Pillars
    • B65D2501/24254—Pillars of star-like cross-section
    • 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
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/24—Boxes or like containers with moulded compartments or partitions
    • B65D2501/24006—Details relating to bottle crates
    • B65D2501/24197—Arrangements for locating the bottles
    • B65D2501/24203—Construction of locating arrangements
    • B65D2501/24261—Ribs on the side walls

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a reinforced plastic crate suitable for storing and transporting bottles or similar objects. More in particular, the present invention relates to a plastic crate which comprises a bottom part and side walls. Support columns extend from the bottom part to support any further crates when the crate is used in a stack.
  • British Patent GB 1 096 183 discloses a plastic crate provided with support pillars. Each pillars has the cross-sectional shape of a quarter circle and is provided with a buckling section.
  • One or more bracing members serve to resist the tendency of the pillars to buckle.
  • the bracing members are constituted by ribs which extend horizontally over the exterior surfaces of the side walls. This structure has the disadvantage that the provision of a buckling section inevitably introduces a weak spot in the crate.
  • the bracing members necessarily have to be strong to compensate for the weakness of the buckling sections. As a result, the ribs require relatively much plastic material and contribute significantly to both the cost and the weight of the crate.
  • European Patent EP 0 527 745 B1 suggests to solve the above-mentioned problem by providing vertical hollow columns spaced along the side walls and vertical ribs extending from the side walls near the corners of the crate.
  • the vertical hollow columns have a substantially triangular cross-section.
  • the vertical ribs further contribute to the amount of plastic required, and therefore to the cost and the weight of the crate.
  • the present invention provides a plastic crate, comprising a bottom part from which side walls and substantially hollow support columns extend, characterised in that at least some of the support columns are provided with reinforcing undulations extending substantially along the height of the columns.
  • the strength of the columns is significantly increased.
  • the load bearing capacity of the crate is increased without increasing the thickness of the crate walls or of the column walls.
  • a crate having the same load bearing capacity but more interior space may be provided, as columns having the same strength may have smaller dimensions when provided with the undulations according to the present invention.
  • An added advantage of the present invention is that the undulations increase the corresponding mould surface, which results in faster cooling and reduced production cycle times.
  • the undulations or corrugations may have a sinusoidal, stepped (rectangular), triangular or any other suitable cross-sectional shape.
  • the undulations preferably extend over the entire height of the columns, but may also extend over only part of their height. In the latter case, additional measures may be taken to reinforce those parts of the columns which are not provided with undulations, for example providing local reinforcing ribs.
  • the undulations of the present invention do not alter the basic cross-sectional shape of the columns.
  • the column provided with one or more undulations essentially retains its basic cross-sectional shape, which may for example be circular, triangular, or rectangular, although the undulations of course deviate from this basic cross-sectional shape.
  • the undulations of the present invention are to be distinguished from corners and similar basic cross-sectional shape defining features that the hollow reinforcing columns may exhibit, and from securing formations for inserts and similar auxiliary features that are designed for other purposes than reinforcing the columns.
  • the bottom part will extend substantially horizontally, while the support columns and any side walls will extend substantially vertically. Accordingly, the undulations will also extend substantially vertically. It will be understood that the support columns and/or the side walls may not extend exactly at right angles relative to the bottom part, and deviations from a right angle are possible.
  • the support columns are preferably located at or near a corner of the crate. Other locations are also possible, but it has been found that a support column located at a corner is the most effective. This is particularly true if two side walls join at a support column.
  • the reinforcing undulations may be located at any side of the columns, and may cover the whole perimeter of the columns. It is preferred, however, that the reinforcing undulations face the interior of the crate. This leaves the exterior of the crate unaffected.
  • Each reinforced support column may be provided with any suitable number of undulations, for example one to seven undulations. However, it is preferred that three undulations per reinforced column are provided. This number achieves a good reinforcement using undulations which have suitable dimensions.
  • the crate of the present invention advantageously has at least two side walls, preferably four side walls, for example two longer side walls and two shorter side walls.
  • the side walls serve to contain and protect any articles present in the crate.
  • embodiments can be envisaged in which columns extend from the base part, the side walls being very low or even absent. In a preferred embodiment, however, the columns have almost or entirely the same height as the side walls.
  • the reinforced columns are integrated in the side walls. That is, the side walls constitute part of the walls of the column. By providing columns which are integral with the side walls, in particular if the side walls and the columns have approximately the same height, a strong crate structure is achieved. In addition, material is saved as the columns and the side walls will have some wall surfaces in common.
  • each side wall is provided with a handle section.
  • handle sections are provided in the shorter side walls only.
  • a central handle may be provided in addition to, or instead of, handle sections in the side walls.
  • the bottom part may be constituted by a closed surface but preferably comprises an open structure, for example a lattice structure or any other suitable structure.
  • An open structure saves both material and weight and facilitates cleaning.
  • the crate according to the present invention is preferably suitable for storing and/or transporting bottles.
  • the crate may be provided with divider elements to define bottle positions.
  • the bottle crate 1 shown merely by way of non-limiting example in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises side walls 2 and 3, and a bottom part 4.
  • the side walls have a top rim 5.
  • a reinforcing column 6 is located at a corner 7 of the crate.
  • the column 6 is provided with undulations 8, which will later be discussed in more detail.
  • a handle opening 9 in the (shorter) side wall 2 defines a handle section 10.
  • the side walls 2 and 3 are both hollow so as to provide a light-weight but strong structure, but hollow side walls are not essential and substantially solid side walls may be used instead.
  • Fig. 1 shows a 45° cross-sectional view of a corner section of a bottle crate according to the present invention.
  • a column 6 extends from the bottom part 4 almost until the upper rim 5.
  • the column 6 ends a few centimetres from the upper rim 5 so as to facilitate the stacking of the crate, but in other embodiments (not shown) the column 5 may extend up to or even beyond the rim 5.
  • the column 6 is located at the corner 7 where the side walls 2 and 3 meet. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the columns 6 shares wall sections with the side walls 2 and 3, thus providing a integral hollow structure.
  • the undulations 8 extend over the full height of the column 6 so as to reinforce the column over its full height. In other embodiments, the undulations 8 may extend over only part of the height of the column 6.
  • the column 6 has three undulations 8.
  • the number of undulations may be varied and may depend, amongst other things, on the wall thickness and the type of plastic used.
  • the dimensions of the column 6 may also depend on the dimensions of the bottles to be carried in the crate 1. Only a single undulation may be used, but other numbers, like two, four, five, six, seven or even more undulations are possible. Typically, the size of the undulations will decrease as their number increases.
  • the undulations 8 are shown to be substantially sinusoidal ("S-shaped”), but other shapes are possible, for example triangular or rectangular (“stepped”) shapes.
  • additional columns 11 and 12 are provided which are not reinforced in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen, these additional columns 11 and 12 each extend next to a handle opening 9. Of course it is possible to provide these additional columns with reinforcing undulations according to the present invention, but this is not always necessary.
  • the columns 6, 11 and 12 are all hollow, but this is not essential and solid columns may be used instead.
  • the bottom part 4 of the crate 1 consists of an open structure comprising a rectangular lattice and circular bottle support elements. This can be seen more clearly in the bottom view of Fig. 3.
  • the crate 1 is further provided with a bottle divider lattice 13 which additionally serves to reinforce the crate.
  • the crate 1 is preferably integrally formed and may be made of a suitable plastic material, such as HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene).
  • HDPE High Density PolyEthylene
  • the present invention is based upon the insight that a column surface having vertically extending undulations greatly increases the strength of the column without increasing its weight to any significant extent. As a result, a crate having relatively thin walls can have a high load bearing capacity.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
EP06076025A 2006-05-09 2006-05-09 Flaschenkasten mit Verstärkungen Withdrawn EP1854728A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06076025A EP1854728A1 (de) 2006-05-09 2006-05-09 Flaschenkasten mit Verstärkungen

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06076025A EP1854728A1 (de) 2006-05-09 2006-05-09 Flaschenkasten mit Verstärkungen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1854728A1 true EP1854728A1 (de) 2007-11-14

Family

ID=37037065

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06076025A Withdrawn EP1854728A1 (de) 2006-05-09 2006-05-09 Flaschenkasten mit Verstärkungen

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1854728A1 (de)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5823376A (en) * 1996-11-06 1998-10-20 Alpha Holdings, Inc. Nestable crate for beverage bottles
US6401960B1 (en) * 2001-06-29 2002-06-11 Norseman Plastics Limited Two liter bottle crate
DE102004023044A1 (de) * 2004-05-06 2005-11-24 Linpac Materials Handling(Germany)Gmbh Flaschenkasten aus Kunststoff

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5823376A (en) * 1996-11-06 1998-10-20 Alpha Holdings, Inc. Nestable crate for beverage bottles
US6401960B1 (en) * 2001-06-29 2002-06-11 Norseman Plastics Limited Two liter bottle crate
DE102004023044A1 (de) * 2004-05-06 2005-11-24 Linpac Materials Handling(Germany)Gmbh Flaschenkasten aus Kunststoff

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