EP2108461B1 - Container for fountain or decorative fountain - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a tub and a lid existing containers for showers or ornamental fountains.

Such show jumping or ornamental fountains according to the preamble of claim 1, for example, by DE 20 2005 014 628 U1 known. In this fountain a consisting of a pool and a cover existing container is provided, wherein in the pool a pump is used. The cover includes a lockable pump port, multiple preformed ports for passage of a pump tubing, and a number of narrow slots for well water return. The cover is common as in such containers for showers or ornamental fountains, loosely placed on the pool and is therefore held only by their weight. If such containers are to be stacked and transported, it must be ensured that the cover does not come loose from the water basin and fall off. This risk is usually countered by the fact that the entire container is secured by means of a package and thus prevents the cover from dissolving the pool.

From the packaging technology is through the DE 88 06 082 U1 a container with a slip lid made of plastic for packing, storing and transporting food known. The container points slightly conical walls and a bottom on the lower side of a circumferential support edge is formed. At the upper end of the walls, a container edge is formed with a pulled-down closure bead. The upper container edge serves on the one hand when sealing the container as a sealing surface for a aufzusiegelnde film and on the other hand for the safe support of the slip lid.

After placing the slip lid, an inwardly bent closure edge engages around the closure bead of the container walls. The lid also has on its upper side a peripheral collar bead, which is formed so that when placing another container whose support edge engages in the flat bead formed by the collar of the lid of the lower container.

Although such trained containers may give a general indication for the development of anti-slip stackable transport vessels, however, they can provide no stimulus to create stackable and transportable containers for showers or ornamental fountains, as these for their actual purpose, namely as a receptacle for the liquid of the well serve, a special, suitable for this design need.

From the field of well engineering is further by the DE 10 2004 044 909 A1 a system for facilitating the placement of lines in wells known. Although this well has a trough and in a preferred embodiment, a plate-shaped cover member, but it is not intended that the tub and the cover form a stackable and transportable container.

By the US Pat. No. 7,341,203 B1 Another fountain system is known, similar to DE 20 2005 014 628 U1 comprising a container consisting of a water basin and a cover. Since even with this container, the cover rests loosely on the edge of the pool, he is in the same way unsuitable for stacking and transporting.

The invention has for its object to provide a container for showers or ornamental fountains, which is stackable and transportable in a simple and safe way.

The object is achieved in that in the container, which consists of a bottom plate and side walls having a tray and resting on the upper edge of the side walls lid, the bottom plate has a footprint whose horizontal dimensions are smaller than the horizontal distance dimensions of the upper edges the side walls, that at the upper edge of the side walls, a circumferential flange is formed, that the lid has a circumferential offset flange, which is supported on resting on the trough lid on the flange of the trough, that the lid formed by the height offset of the flange recess in their horizontal dimensions corresponds to the horizontal dimensions of the footprint of the bottom plate, that the cover of two mutually spaced, at their edges in the region of the flange interconnected plates is formed, that between the plates supporting elements and pipe sections are arranged, wherein the pipe sections are open in the axial direction and sealed in the radial direction and that the flanges of the trough and the lid are releasably connected to each other.

By the above-mentioned embodiment of the container on the one hand the possibility is created, the resting on the tub cover z. B. by screwing firmly to this, whereby the container is a self-contained and thus warp-resistant object. Thus, since the lid can not be automatically released from the tub in this container, no separate packaging is thus required when stacking and transporting the fully assembled container. On the other hand is created by the recess formed in the lid known per se further way to stack a plurality of containers one above the other, that the bottom plate of each mounted container comes to lie with its footprint in the recess of the lid of the underlying container. In this way, the containers stacked one above the other grip one another in a form-fitting manner in the horizontal direction, as a result of which a container stack formed in this way is insensitive to horizontally acting pushing forces.

By the measure, the cover of two mutually spaced to form at their edges in the region of the flange interconnected plates, wherein between the plates supporting elements are arranged, a high bending and torsional rigidity of the lid is achieved. By further measure, to provide in the cover substantially vertically directed pipe sections, which are sealed in the axial direction and in the radial direction, allows the well water can flow back into the tub without getting into the interior of the lid. If the pipe sections have a high strength and are firmly connected to the two plates of the lid, they can at least partially take over the function of the support elements. The thus formed container can thus serve both as a transport and storage container, as well as a receptacle for the liquid of the well.

There are various ways to design the container so that the horizontal dimensions of the footprint of the bottom plate are smaller than the horizontal distance dimensions of the upper edges of the side walls. A preferred embodiment is that the side walls of the trough starting from its upper edge in the direction of the bottom plate obliquely inwards, so that the trough tapers in the direction of its bottom plate.

The stability of a stack formed from a larger number of successive containers can be increased by pulling at least one strapping band around this stack. To fix the position of such straps flat recesses are provided on the tub and / or on the lid, in which engage the strapping. If, for example, both at the Tub as well as on the lid of each container each two opposing recesses are formed for only one strapping, the strapping will engage only in the recesses on the tub of the lowest container and the recesses on the lid of the uppermost container. By attaching additional strapping the stability of such a stack of containers can be increased so that it can be safely transported in any position.

By screwing the lid to the tub, although a solid cohesion of the container is already achieved, however, it may be appropriate to arrange a strapping around each container, z. B. if this is to fulfill the function of a seal of the container.

If each individual container and also a stack formed from a plurality of containers is to be provided with strapping bands, separate recesses may be provided on the tub and the lid of each container for each strapping band. However, it is also possible to associate the short strapping bands for one container and the long strapping bands for a container stack in each case common recesses.

If after loading a container, the lid is to be loaded with heavy covering elements, it is expedient to arrange a support within the tub, which at one end to the bottom plate of the tub and the other at the bottom of the Lid rests to prevent in this way a bending or even a break of the lid.

If a larger number of heavy containers to be stacked, it may occur despite the use of arranged inside the tub supports that bend in the lower containers due to the large load on them weight of the containers above them, the lid down. To prevent this, slightly longer supports could be used in the lower containers than in the upper containers. With the help of the longer supports, the lids would get a preload when screwed to the respective tub, whereby they slightly warped upwards. When stacking the container would now by the weight load, the previously upwardly curved lid deformed so far down that they are now flat. In this way, all containers of a stack could be stored in undeformed state, so that even long storage times in the stack would not lead to permanent deformation of the lid from below containers.

Since it would not make sense to provide a larger number of different length supports, it is proposed to provide a uniform support and form length adjustable in the way that it has at least two cross-shaped carrier and a base plate that the base plate on a pitch radially arranged holding elements for the carrier, whose number is a multiple of the number of carriers is that the bearing surfaces of the support members for the carrier groupwise stepped distances from the base plate, wherein the respective diametrically opposite bearing surfaces each have the same distance from the base plate and that the base plate is releasably connectable to the carriers.

According to an advantageous development, the support-contains a second base plate, which corresponds in its construction of the first base plate and is arranged in mirror image to the first.

The aforementioned support can be assembled without the aid of tools and, if necessary, dismantled just as easily. It can be varied or determined by the choice of the corresponding holding elements and thus the distance between the support surface of the holding elements and the base plate, the effective total length of the support according to the respective needs. Here, the number of different gradations of the bearing surfaces results in a corresponding number of different effective total lengths of the support.

For secure support of the support within the container a side guide for the corresponding base plate of the support is provided on the bottom plate of the tub and on the lid.

It is also advantageous to choose the outer dimensions of the container to correspond to standard package sizes. Namely, when a larger number of containers transported in a standard container should be, so these containers can space, that is stacked while avoiding unused cavities in the container.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1:

eine Draufsicht auf den Deckel eines Behälters;

Fig. 2:

eine Schnittdarstellung eines Behälters nach Linie II-II der Fig.1;

Fig. 3:

eine Schnittdarstellung nach Linie II-II der Fig.1, wobei im Behälter eine Stütze eingesetzt ist;

Fig. 4:

eine vergrößerte Schnittdarstellung des Randbereiches des Deckels;

Fig. 5:

eine vergrößerte Schnittdarstellung des Randbereiches der Wanne;

Fig. 6:

eine schaubildliche Darstellung einer Stütze;

Fig. 7:

einen Schnitt eines ersten Halteelementes der unteren Grundplatte;

Fig. 8:

einen Schnitt eines zweiten Halteelementes der unteren Grundplatte;

Fig. 9:

einen Schnitt eines dritten Halteelementes der unteren Grund platte;

Fig.10:

einen Schnitt eines ersten Halteelementes der oberen Grundplatte;

Fig.11:

einen Schnitt eines zweiten Halteelementes der oberen Grundplatte;

Fig.12:

einen Schnitt eines dritten Halteelementes der oberen Grundplatte;

It shows

Fig. 1:

a plan view of the lid of a container;

Fig. 2:

a sectional view of a container according to line II-II of Fig.1 ;

3:

a sectional view according to line II-II of Fig.1 wherein a support is inserted in the container;

4:

an enlarged sectional view of the edge region of the lid;

Fig. 5:

an enlarged sectional view of the edge region of the tub;

Fig. 6:

a perspective view of a support;

Fig. 7:

a section of a first holding element of the lower base plate;

Fig. 8:

a section of a second holding element of the lower base plate;

Fig. 9:

a section of a third holding element of the lower base plate;

Figure 10:

a section of a first retaining element of the upper base plate;

Figure 11:

a section of a second retaining element of the upper base plate;

Figure 12:

a section of a third retaining element of the upper base plate;

The in Fig. 2 The container 2 includes a bottom plate 4, the base surface is denoted by 5, and four side walls 6, at the upper edge 7 each have a transversely projecting flange section. 8 is trained. The flange portions 8 of the four side walls 6 together form a peripheral flange 9. The side walls 6 extend from its upper edge 7, starting in the direction of the bottom plate 4 obliquely inwardly directed, so that their horizontal dimensions are smaller than the horizontal distance dimensions of the edges 7. As in particular out Fig. 5 shows, the side walls 6 in the region of its edge 7 on the inside a chamfer 10. In the flange portions 8 are stepped bores 11 for receiving fastening screws 12 included. On the inside of the bottom plate 4 in the middle of an upwardly open ring 13 is attached.

The cover 3 consists of two mutually spaced plates 15, 16, which are connected at their edges by narrow obliquely extending side plates 17 firmly together. Here, the inclined position of the side plates 17 substantially corresponds to the angular course of the chamfers 10 of the side walls 6. The side plates 17 project beyond the top of the upper plate 15 and each include a transversely projecting flange portion 18. The flange portions 18 of the four side plates 17 together form a circumferential Flange 19. In the flange portions 18 threaded holes 20 for the aforementioned mounting screws 12 are included. As in particular from Fig. 4 shows, the flange 19 is offset in height relative to the upper plate 15, whereby in the lid 3, a shallow recess 21 is formed. The horizontal dimensions of the recess 21 in the region of the top of the upper plate 15 in this case correspond to the horizontal dimensions of the base 5 of the bottom plate. 4

Between the plates 15, 16 a larger number of tubular support members 22 is arranged and fixedly connected to them. By these support members 22, a high bending and torsional rigidity of the lid 3 is achieved. How out Fig. 1 As can be seen, an irregularly shaped plant trough 23 is formed in the upper plate 15. Furthermore, 3 unspecified openings for a pump, not shown, and a lighting device are provided in the lid. Thus sucked by the pump from the tub 2 and z. B. as a fountain discharged water can flow back into the tub 2, are open in the lid 3 at its upper and lower end open pipe sections 24. The pipe sections 24 are attached to the plates 15, 16 and sealed in the radial direction, ie relative to the interior of the lid 3. By attaching the pipe sections 24 to the plates 15, 16, they contribute to Stiffening of the lid 3 at. In the lower plate 16, a flat cylindrical recess 25 is formed in the central region.

As in the Fig. 1 to 3 shown, in the flange 19 of the lid 3 a plurality of mutually opposite pairs of flat recesses 26 are formed, which serve for receiving and lateral guidance of a plurality of unillustrated strapping. Similar recesses can also be provided at the bottom of the side walls 6 of the tub 2.

Between the flange 9 of the tub 2 and the flange 19 of the lid 3, a sealing ring 30 is arranged. The thickness of the sealing ring 30 is dimensioned so that when mounted and screwed lid 3 whose obliquely extending side plates 17 do not come into contact with the bevels 10 of the side walls 6.

Since the container 1 aufgesetzem on the tub 2 and fixedly connected to this cover 3 forms a completely closed housing, it can simultaneously during transport for receiving the accessories for the showers or ornamental fountains, such as pump, control units, lighting parts, cable connections u. ä. serve.

It is advantageous to provide for these accessories own containers, such as smaller boxes 27, which can be detachably connected to the bottom plate 4 or on the side walls 6 of the tub 2 by means of adhesive connections and / or hook and loop fasteners. In a preferred embodiment, those boxes 27, which serve to receive electrical parts or devices, may be arranged in the region of the underside of the cover 3 on the side walls 6.

In order to prevent bending or even breaking of the lid 3 at high weight load, a support 40 is used for the lid 3 in the tub 2. The support 40 is according to Fig. 6 of two cross-shaped plate-shaped carriers 41, 42, which together a support cross 43rd form, and a lower and an upper base plate 44, 45, wherein the lower base plate 44 with the lower and the upper base plate 45 with the upper end of the support cross 43 is detachably connectable.

The lower base plate 44 has a total of twelve holding elements 50, which are arranged on a pitch circle in each case the same mutual distances and radially aligned. Each of the twelve retaining elements 50 is provided with a radially directed groove 54, the bottom of each of which forms a bearing surface 55 for the lower ends of the support cross 43 , In this case, the width of the grooves 54 corresponds to the thickness of the carriers 41, 42, so that their ends are inserted into the grooves 54 and held therein. The grooves 54 are formed such that the distance of the bearing surfaces 55.1 of the holding element group 51 to the top of the base plate 44 has the lowest value, the distance between the bearing surfaces 55.2 of the holding element group 52 to the top of the base plate 44, an average value and the distance of the bearing surfaces 55.3 of the holding element group 53 to the top of the base plate 44 has the largest value. In the FIGS. 7 to 9 are enlarged sectional views of parts of the holding element groups 51, 52 and 53 shown with the different height bearing surfaces 55.1, 55.2 and 55.3.

The upper base plate 45 is arranged in mirror image to the lower base plate 44 and is formed in the same way. It therefore also has twelve retaining elements 60, which are arranged on a pitch circle in each case the same mutual distances and radially aligned. Each of the twelve retaining elements 60 is provided with a radially directed groove 64, the bottom of each of which forms a contact surface 65 for the upper ends of the support cross 43 , In this case, the width of the grooves 64 corresponds to the thickness of the carriers 41, 42, so that their ends are inserted into the grooves 64 and held therein. The grooves 64 are included designed so that the distance between the contact surfaces 65.1 of the holding element group 61 to the bottom of the base plate 45 has the lowest value, the distance of the contact surfaces 65.2 of the holding element group 62 to the underside of the base plate 45, an average value and the distance of the contact surfaces 65.3 of the holding element group 63 to the underside of the base plate 45 has the largest value. In the FIGS. 10 to 12 are enlarged sectional views of parts of the holding element groups 61, 62 and 63 shown with the different height contact surfaces 65.1, 65.2 and 65.3.

When the mating of the support cross 43 with the two base plates 44 and 45, the lower end of the carrier 41 and 42 are inserted into the grooves 54 of the holding element group 51 and the upper end of the carrier 41 and 42 in the grooves 64 of the holding element group 61, then the support 40 achieves the smallest effective overall length. If, on the other hand, the lower end of the carriers 41 and 42 are inserted into the grooves 54 of the holding element group 53 and the upper end of the carriers 41 and 42 into the grooves 64 of the holding element group 63, then the greatest effective overall length is achieved for the support 40.

Since the support cross 43 when connecting to the two base plates 44 and 45, each with three different distances between the bearing surfaces 55.1, 55.2 and 55.3 of the holding element groups 51, 52, 53 and three different distances between the contact surfaces 65.1, 65.2 and 65.3 of the holding element groups 61, 62nd , 63 can be combined, thus resulting in a total of six different effective overall lengths of the support 40th

When introducing the finished composite support 40 into the container 1, the lower base plate 44 is inserted into the ring 13 on the bottom plate 4, whereupon it forms a lower side guide for the support 40. Subsequently, when the lid 3 previously provided with a pump and optionally with a lighting device is placed on the tub 2, its recess 25 slides over the upper base plate 45 and forms on this Way for the support 40 an upper side guide. Thereafter, the lid 3 is screwed by means of screws 12 on the tray 2.

If it is intended to stack several such prefabricated container 1 for the purpose of storage and / or transport on top of each other, should be made in the event that the container 1 has a large weight, provision for the lid 3 of the lower container. 1 do not bend through the weight of the container 1 over them. Here, by using longer supports 40, the lids 3 of the lower container 1 can be given a preload so that they curl slightly upward in the still unloaded state. When stacking the container 1, the lid 3 of the lower container 1 are deformed so far downwards by the weight load acting on them, that they now return to a flat shape. Since the size of the bias voltage depends on the amount of the expected load, one needs a corresponding number of marginally slightly differing supports 40. Here, the respectively required length of support can now be realized in a simple manner by the length adjustability of the supports 40 described above.

As soon as such a stack formed by containers 1 is dissolved and therefore the previously acting load on the lid 3 of the lower container 1 is canceled, the length of the support 40 can be changed by correspondingly changing the rotational position of the base plate 44 and / or 45 in the containers 1 concerned adapted to the new situation.

When stacking the container 1, the bottom plate 4 of each mounted container with its base 5 is received by the recess 21 in the lid 3 of the underlying container, whereby the stacked container 1 in the horizontal direction positively engage with each other. Although such a stack formed is quite insensitive to horizontal shear forces, it may still be appropriate to additionally secure him by attaching straps. Such not shown in the drawing Strapping bands are mounted so that they engage in their intended recesses 26 on the lid 3 and possibly also provided in the tub 2 similar depressions, whereby they are secured against slipping.

If the containers 1 have to be sealed for export for customs reasons, it may be expedient to arrange a strapping band around each individual container 1, which in this case additionally fulfills the function of sealing the container 1.

If each individual container 1 and also a stack formed from a plurality of containers 1 is to be provided with strapping bands, separate recesses 26 on the tub 2 and / or the lid 3 of each container 1 can be provided for each strapping band. However, it is also possible to associate the short strapping bands for a respective container 1 and the long strapping bands for a container stack in each case common recesses 26.

Claims (15)

1. Container (1) for fountains or decorative fountains with a trough (2), comprising a base plate (4) and side walls (6) and with a cover (3) resting on the upper edge (7) of the side walls (6), having the following features:

   a) the base plate (4) has a standing surface (5) whose horizontal dimensions are less than the horizontal distance dimensions of the upper edges (7) of the side walls (6),

   b) a peripheral flange (9) is formed on the upper edge (7) of the side walls (6),

   c) the flange (9) of the trough (2) and the flange (19) of the cover (3) can be detachably connected to one another, characterized by the following features:

   d) the cover (3) has a peripheral height-offset flange (19) which is supported on the flange (9) of the trough (2) when the cover (3) rests on the trough (2),

   e) the depression (21) formed in the cover (3) by the height offset of the flange (19) corresponds in its horizontal dimensions to the horizontal dimensions of the standing surface (5) of the base plate (4),

   f) the cover (3) is formed by two spaced-apart plates (15, 16) which are connected to one another at their edges in the region of the flange (19),

   g) supporting elements (22) and pipe portions (24) are arranged between the plates (15, 16), wherein the pipe portions (24) are open in the axial direction but are sealed in the radial direction.
2. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that, starting from their upper edge (7), the side walls (6) of the trough (2) extend obliquely inwards in the direction of the base plate (4).
3. Container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least some of the supporting elements (22) are designed as pipe portions.
4. Container according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the trough (2) and/or the cover (3) have shallow recesses (26) for one or more strapping bands.
5. Container according to Claim 4, characterized in that the strapping bands are assigned to a plurality of containers (1) stacked on one another.
6. Container according to Claim 4, characterized in that the strapping bands are assigned to individual containers (1).
7. Container according to Claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that a separate recess (26) is provided for each strapping band.
8. Container according to Claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that a plurality of strapping bands are in each case assigned to common recesses (26).
9. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that receptacles (27) for accessories of the fountains or decorative fountains are arranged on the base plate (4) and/or the side walls (6).
10. Container according to Claim 9, characterized in that the receptacles (27) are detachably connected to the base plate (4) or the side walls (6) using fastening means.
11. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that a support (40) is arranged in the container (1) and bears at one end against the base plate (4) of the trough (2) and at the other end against the cover (3).
12. Container according to Claim 11, characterized in that the support (40) comprises at least two carriers (41, 42) arranged in a cross-shaped manner with respect to one another and a base plate (44), in that the base plate (44) has holding elements (50) for the carriers (41, 42) which are arranged radially on a graduated circle and whose number is a multiple of the number of the carriers (41, 42), in that the bearing surfaces (55.1, 55.2, 55.3) of the holding elements (50) for the carriers (41, 42) have distances from the base plate (44) which are graduated in groups, wherein the bearing surfaces (55.1, 55.2, 55.3), which are each situated diametrically opposite one another, each have the same distance from the base plate (44), and in that the base plate (44) can be detachably connected to the carriers (41, 42).
13. Container according to Claim 12, characterized in that the support (40) comprises a second base plate (45) which corresponds in its structure to the first base plate (44) and is arranged in mirror-image fashion with respect to the first base plate (44).
14. Container according to Claim 13, characterized in that a respective lateral guide (13), (25) for the corresponding base plate (44), (45) of the support (40) is provided on the base plate (4) of the trough (2) and on the cover (3).
15. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the outside dimensions of the container (1) correspond to standard packet sizes.

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