EP2389321B1 - Container for transporting and storing goods, having a container floor and at least two side walls foldable over one another - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container for transport and storage of goods with a container bottom and at least two superposed side walls according to the preamble of claim 1.

Empty containers or boxes with fixed side walls take up a lot of storage space. Therefore, containers are known which have hinged side walls to reduce the empty transport volume accordingly.

Such Klappbehäiter usually have a container bottom with a rectangular plan, at the edges of the hinged side walls are hinged by means of hinges.

In the unfolded position of the side walls, a latching connection of the side walls takes place with one another, with corresponding latching bars usually engaging on a pair of oppositely disposed side walls behind corresponding latching hooks on the other pair of oppositely disposed side walls.

In many containers, the side walls are formed higher than half the width of the container bottom, so that when two oppositely disposed side walls are folded toward each other, it comes to an overlap of the side walls. In this case, the last folded-over side wall is obliquely over the frontal outer edge of the first folded side wall away and does not come parallel to the container bottom, but at an angle to it, ie in an inclined position to lie. If several containers are stacked on top of each other, a corresponding bending moment results on the inclined upper side wall, which brings with it the risk of deformation or damage over time. In such containers results auausßerdem the disadvantage that several collapsed containers can not be stably stacked under certain circumstances.

In order to avoid the disadvantages, it is known to articulate the side walls at different height designed edge strips of the soil, so that the side walls are hinged according to different heights, initially the less highly ajar side wall and then the higher hinged side wall is folded, whereby in the folded position both side walls plan are aligned to the ground.

In order to prevent bending of an upper foldable side wall, which rests on a lower foldable side wall, it is known to provide hinge pin receptacles with recesses in which the hinge pins are vertically displaceable from a lower to an upper end position ( AU-B-45117/85 ) and US, 6,460,717 B1 ,

The invention has for its object to provide a simply constructed and robust folding mechanism for a container with hinged side walls, which allows a flat superimposition of two collapsed side walls.

The object is achieved by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized by the features of the subclaims.

It is provided that the superimposed hinged side walls are hinged by hinges on the container bottom, the hinges are hingedly mounted with hinge pin in hinge pin receptacles and the hinge pin receptacles have recesses formed such that the hinge pin in the hinge pin receptacles from a lower end position, in which rests the folded side wall on the container bottom, as far as are movable into an upper end position, that a flat superimposition of two side walls is possible.

In particular, the recesses have upper portions with first widths and lower portions with second widths, wherein the first widths are smaller than the second widths. The hinge pins are arranged in the lower end positions in the lower regions of the recesses and arranged in the upper end positions in the upper regions of the recesses.

Such hinged superimposed side walls can be folded in any order and come flat on each other to lie. The user no longer has to worry about which side wall has to be collapsed first.

In a preferred embodiment, the recesses have perpendicular to the container bottom lengths which are greater than the thickness of the side wall, preferably formed approximately between the single and the double thickness of the side wall. As a result, the hinge pins are movably mounted in the hinge pin receptacles over the lengths determined in this way.

In a preferred embodiment, the hinge pin receptacles of the recesses and a, preferably integrally formed with the container bottom, laterally molded edge strip with an outer wall and an inner wall are formed. The edge strip formed in one piece with the container bottom can be produced inexpensively and in a material-saving manner by injection molding together with the container bottom.

Preferably, the skirt is formed higher in a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls than in the other pair of opposed sidewalls, such that a pair of opposed sidewalls are hinged vertically upwardly of the container bottom with respect to the other pair. Thereby, an order can be given which pair of opposite side walls should be folded first and which one last, for example the shorter side walls first and the longer side walls above. The pair of first folded-in side walls has the hinge according to the invention, if necessary, the hinge according to the invention can also be provided on the pair of last-folded side walls.

The hinge pins preferably have lugs which point vertically downwards when the side wall is folded over. When the side wall is folded down, the hinge pins have horizontal extensions and vertical extensions, the size of which being vertical Distances include the length of the noses. The horizontal extents are smaller than the vertical extents.

It is advantageous if the recesses have upper portions with first widths and lower portions with second widths, wherein the first widths for receiving the hinge pin with the side wall folded down are formed approximately in the size of the horizontal hinge pin extensions and the second widths for receiving the Hinge bolts are formed with the folded and erected side wall in approximately the size of the vertical hinge pin extensions. This ensures that the side wall in the unfolded position is always in the lower region of the recess, since it does not fit in the unfolded position in the upper region of the recess.

In a further embodiment of the invention remain in the unfolded position of the side wall between the hinge pin with its lugs and the inner wall of the skirt and / or between the hinge pin with their noses and the outer wall of the skirt small column of preferably about two to three tenths of the widths of the lower Areas of recesses. Thus, a game of the side wall is provided in the hinge bolts, which facilitates both the opening and closing and protects the vulnerable hinge pin against mechanical stress when erected side wall.

For horizontal positioning of the side wall in the unfolded position stops are preferably formed on the inner wall of the edge strip stops and at the lower end of the side wall downwardly directed projections, wherein in an erected position of the side wall, the downwardly directed projections abut against the stops. As a result, in particular the frontal locking is made easier with the adjacent side walls, since the side wall is placed in a fixed position.

In an advantageous development, the side wall has at its lower end outwardly directed lugs, which in an erected position of the side wall to the outer wall hit the sidebar. The stop of the outwardly directed lugs of the side wall on the edge strip also proves to be particularly advantageous for carrying out the frontal locking of the side wall with the adjacent side walls, since the side wall is positioned horizontally fixed.

For vertical positioning of the side wall in the unfolded position are preferably formed on the edge strip in the upper region on the inside of the outer wall inwardly directed lugs, and formed at the level of inwardly directed lugs on the outer surface of the side wall recesses, wherein in an upright position of the side wall inwardly directed lugs are inserted into the recesses. The inwardly directed lobes of the side wall and the recesses on the edge strip fix the side wall in the unfolded position in height, which makes the box easier to handle for the user, since the container bottom and the side wall have less play relative to each other.

In preferred embodiments, the side wall is hinged to the container bottom by means of at least two, preferably three to four hinges according to the invention.

In the following description of the figures further preferred embodiments of the invention are given.

Figur 1

einen Behälterboden und zwei Seitenwände in Schnittansicht gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

Figur 2

einen Teil eines Behälterbodens und einer umgeklappten Seitenwand in einer ersten Endlage entlang eines Schnitts X-X;

Figur 3

einen Teil eines Behälterbodens, einer umgeklappten Seitenwand in einer zweiten Endlage und einen Teil einer gegenüberliegenden Seitenwand entlang eines Schnitts X-X;

Figur 4

einen Teil eines Behälterbodens und einer Seitenwand in aufgeklappter Stellung entlang eines Schnitts X-X;

Figur 5

einen Teil eines Behälterbodens und einer Seitenwand in aufgeklappter Stellung entlang eines Schnitts Z-Z;

Figur 6

einen Teil eines Behälterbodens und einer Seitenwand während des Klappens entlang eines Schnitts Z-Z;

Figur 7

einen Teil eines Behälterbodens und einer Seitenwand während des Klappens entlang eines Schnitts X-X;

Figur 8

einen Ausschnitt einer Seitenwand in Draufsicht mit Darstellung der Schnitte X-X und Z-Z;

Figur 9

einen Ausschnitt einer weiteren Seitenwand in Draufsicht;

Figur 10

einen Ausschnitt einer weiteren Seitenwand in Draufsicht und

Figur 11

einen Ausschnitt einer weiteren Seitenwand in Draufsicht.

Show it

FIG. 1

a container bottom and two side walls in sectional view according to the prior art;

FIG. 2

a part of a container bottom and a folded side wall in a first end position along a section XX;

FIG. 3

a part of a container bottom, a folded side wall in a second end position and a part of an opposite side wall along a section XX;

FIG. 4

a part of a container bottom and a side wall in the unfolded position along a section XX;

FIG. 5

a portion of a container bottom and a side wall in the unfolded position along a section ZZ;

FIG. 6

a portion of a container bottom and a side wall during folding along a section ZZ;

FIG. 7

a part of a container bottom and a side wall during folding along a section XX;

FIG. 8

a section of a side wall in plan view showing the sections XX and ZZ;

FIG. 9

a section of another side wall in plan view;

FIG. 10

a section of another side wall in plan view and

FIG. 11

a section of another side wall in plan view.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a container 100 of the prior art, which has four side walls and a container bottom 102. Shown are two opposing side walls 101 and 101 a, which are coupled via hinges 103 and 103 a to the container bottom 102. The hinges 103 and 103a are arranged in the region of a skirt 105 formed on the container bottom 102. The skirt 105 is up, ie perpendicular to a plane through the container bottom 102 on the container bottom 102 out. The side wall 101 is folded down and lies horizontally and flat on the container bottom 102. The side wall 101a is also folded over and, since the two side walls 101 and 101a overlap in a middle region M of the container bottom 102, comes to lie on an end edge 104 of the side wall 101. Although the side walls 101 and 101a overlap, they are not flat on one another but the last folded-over side wall 101a projects in the overlapping area M with a widening gap 106 obliquely over the first folded-over side wall 101.

When another container is stacked on the container 100, a bending or torque results on the last folded-over side wall 101a around the edge 104 as a bending or rotation axis, since the bottom of the upper container rests on the inclined side wall 101a and pushes them down.

FIG. 2 shows a part of a container bottom according to the invention 2 and a folded side wall 1 in a sectional view along a section XX according to FIG. 8 , The cutting plane of the FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7 goes through the line XX and the cutting plane of the Figures 5 and 6 goes through the line ZZ.

The side wall 1 is articulated by means of a hinge 3 to the container bottom 2. The hinge 3 has here purely by way of example a hinge pin 4 and a hinge pin receptacle 5. The hinge pin 4 is formed in the manner of a conventional hinge component. In the FIGS. 8 to 11 For this purpose, exemplary embodiments are shown.

FIG. 2 further shows a nose 6, which is formed as an extension of the hinge pin 4 and directed vertically downwards. When the side wall 1 is folded over, the hinge pin 4 has a horizontal extension of the size D ₁ (cf. Fig. 3 ) and a vertical extent of size D ₂ , wherein the size D _{2 of} the vertical hinge pin extension includes the length of the nose 6 and is greater than D ₁ .

The hinge pin receptacle 5 is box-shaped and is formed by a skirt 7 and a recess 8. The edge strip 7 is formed integrally with the container bottom 2 and is integrally formed on the container bottom 2 to the full extent. It surrounds the recess 8, which forms a cage with a horizontal clearance and a vertical clearance for the hinge pin 4. The skirt 7 is open on the underside open in the manner of an inverted "U", wherein the legs of the "U" form an outer wall 9 and an inner wall 10 of the skirt 7. In further embodiments, the edge strip 7 may be formed closed on the underside and completely enclose the recess 8 in the sense of a frame.

The recess 8 has vertical, d. H. Also shown is the maximum thickness D of the side wall 2. The recess 8 is greater in its length L than the simple thickness D of the side wall 1, approximately between single and double thickness D. formed the side wall.

The recess 8 is divided into an upper region 11 with a horizontal extent or first width B ₁ defined in the illustrated sectional plane and a lower region 12 with a second width B ₂ , ie it has these areas which provide a horizontal clearance for the hinge pin 4 and thus define the horizontal position of the side wall 1. The upper portion 11 has a width B ₁ which is smaller than the width B ₂ . The width B ₁ is designed to accommodate the hinge pin 4 in about the size D _{1 of} the horizontal hinge pin extension. The lower region 12 has a width B ₂ of approximately the size D _{2 of} the vertical hinge pin extension.

In FIG. 2 If the side wall 1 is folded down and is fed on the container bottom 2. The position of the side wall 1 to the container bottom 2 corresponds to that of the side wall 101 FIG. 1 , This is referred to as the lower end position of the side wall 1 to the container bottom 2.

FIG. 3 also shows the part of the container bottom 2 and the folded side wall 1 in a sectional view. Shown is also one of the side wall 1 opposite side wall 1a, which is folded. Between a front side 13 of the folded side wall 1a and an outer side 14 of the inner wall 10 of the skirt 7 remains a gap 15, since the side wall 1a is indeed formed higher than half the width of the container bottom 2 but lower than the entire width of the container bottom 2.

The opposite side wall 1a is folded down first, so that it rests directly, ie in the lower end position on the container bottom 2. The side wall 1 is due to the hinge pin receptacle 5 according to the invention compared to the arrangement in FIG. 2 arranged higher lying around the side wall thickness D, that is offset perpendicular to the container bottom 2 by about the side wall thickness D parallel upward and in turn is flat on the opposite side wall 1a. This denotes an upper end position of the side wall 1 to the container bottom 2, wherein apparent in the stacking position no torque because of the overlapping of the side walls 2 in the central region of the container bottom 2 and thus no adverse bending stress on the overhead folded side wall 1 acts.

To achieve this, the recess 8 is formed so high that the hinge pin 4 is movable in the recess 8 from the lower end position to the upper end position. In the upper end position, the hinge pin 4 is arranged in the upper region 11 of the recess 8. In this case, the width B _{1 of} the recess 8 in the upper region 11 is approximately matched to the size D _{1 of} the horizontal hinge pin extension, so that substantially no play of the side wall 1 remains horizontally. The nose 6 points in the upper end position of the side wall 1 down.

FIG. 4 shows the side wall 1 in the unfolded position to the container bottom 2. In the unfolded position is the hinge pin 4 in the lower portion 12 of the hinge pin receptacle 5. The nose 6 points in the direction of the opposite side wall 1a, not shown here. The recess 8 is formed such that between the hinge pin 4 with its nose 6 and the inside 16 of the inner wall 10 of the skirt 7 a gap 17 remains. The gap 17 is about two to three tenths of the width B _{2 of} the lower portion 12 of the recess 8. In another embodiment, the hinge pin 4 and the nose 6, the lower portion 12 of the recess 8 also fill so that horizontally substantially no play the side wall 1 remains. In still further embodiments, a corresponding gap may also remain between the hinge pin 4 and the inside of the outer wall 19 of the skirt 7.

FIG. 5 shows a further sectional view of a portion of the container bottom 2 and the side wall 1 in the unfolded position, wherein the section slightly offset from the in the FIGS. 2 to 4 shown cuts lies. The edge strip 7 is formed in this area from the inner wall 10 and the outer wall 9 and is open at the top and bottom. On the edge strip 7, an inwardly directed nose 20 is formed as a positioning in the upper region on the inner side 19 of the outer wall 9. On the inner wall 10, a stop 21 is formed as a further positioning.

The side wall 1 has at the level of the inwardly directed nose 20 on its outer surface a recess 22. On the side wall 1 positioning elements in the form of an outwardly directed nose 23 and a downwardly directed projection 24 are formed at the lower end portion.

By this structure, a Verspannmechanismus the hinge 3 is formed. In order to fix the side wall 1 vertically, the inwardly directed nose 20 is inserted in an erected position of the side wall 1 in the recess 22. So that the side wall 1 is fixed horizontally in the raised position, the projection 24 abuts against the stop 21 on the edge strip 7 and the outwardly directed nose 23 against a lower part of the inner side 19 of the outer wall 9 of the skirt 7.

The bracing mechanism for stabilizing the side wall 1 in an upright position is provided at the height of the flat-shaped hinge element along the line Z - Z (cf. Fig. 8 ). Therefore, the hinge pins 4 may be mechanically unclaimed when the side wall 1 is erected, for example, by 7 game between the hinge pin 4 and the skirt.

In a further embodiment, instead of or in addition to the recesses 22, the side wall 1 may have outwardly directed lugs which cooperate with recesses formed instead of or in addition to the inwardly directed lugs 20 of the skirt 7.

FIG. 6 shows an intermediate position when opening or closing the side wall 1 in the sectional plane XX. Shown is the interaction of the outwardly directed nose 23 with the inside 19 of the outer wall 9 of the skirt 7. In the folded-down position of the side wall 1, the outwardly directed nose 23 points upwards. When the side wall 1 is opened, then the outwardly directed nose 23 rotates about the axis as a result of the rotation of the side wall 1 and touches the inner side 19 of the skirt 7 at a moment. As it unfolds, the nose 23 slides on the inside 19 of the skirt 7 down until the side wall 1 is firmly positioned.

FIG. 7 shows an intermediate position when opening or closing the side wall 1 in the sectional plane along the line ZZ. If the side wall 1, starting from the in FIG. 3 unfolded upper end position, then hits due to the caused by the folding movement of the hinge pin 4, the nose 6 on an inner side 25 of the inner wall 10 of the skirt 7. In this case, the side wall 1 displaced by means of the nose 6 to the outside. Since the hinge pin 4 and the nose 6 in the upper portion 11 of the recess 8 only fit when the side wall 1 is folded and the nose 6 is directed vertically down, is during the unfolding from the upper end position, in which the hinge pin 4 in the upper region 11, the hinge pin 4 is supplied to the lower region 12 of the recess 8.

Starting from the in FIG. 1 shown first end position, the side wall 1, however, can be converted to a fixed axis of rotation in the unfolded position until the projection 24 abuts against the stop 21 and thereby limits the rotation.

In the FIGS. 8 to 11 are cutouts of side walls in plan view to illustrate various embodiments of hinge elements 26 shown. The choice is not intended to limit the invention in any way but merely exemplify ways to use the invention. On the side wall 1 two extensions are formed in the direction of the container bottom 2. In the FIG. 8 illustrated extensions 27 have a rectangular plan and the in FIG. 9 shown Projections 28 have a trapezoidal floor plan. It can be like in FIG. 10 also shown rod-shaped projections 29 protrude from the side wall 1 or the hinge member 26 may, as in FIG. 11 shown in the side wall 1 be embedded. At the lower end of the extension both a hinge pin 4 and a plurality of hinge pins 4 may be arranged. The hinge pin 4 is apart from its nose 6 usually designed as a pin and can have material-saving recesses.

The invention is not limited to that the hinge pin 4 is formed as part of the side wall 1 and the hinge pin receptacle 5 is formed as part of the container bottom 2, i. the hinge pin may be formed as part of the container bottom 2 and cooperate with a hinge pin receptacle, which is formed as part of the side wall 1.

Claims (10)

1. A container for transporting and storing goods with a container base (2) and at least two sidewalls (1, 1 a) foldable on top of one another, wherein the sidewalls (1, 1a), which are foldable on top of one another, are linked to the container base (2) through hinges (3), and the hinges (3) are provided with hinge bolts (4) which are pivotably supported in hinge bolt receivers (5) wherein the hinge bolt receivers (5) comprise recesses (8) which are configured, so that the hinge bolts (4) are movable in the hinge bolt receivers (5) from a lower end position, in which the folded down sidewall (1) contacts the container base (2), far enough into an upper end position, in which the hinge bolts (4) are disposed in the upper portion (11) of the recesses (8), so that a planar placement of two sidewalls (1, 1a) on top of one another is facilitated characterized in that the recesses, which comprise upper portions (11) with first widths (B₁) and lower portions (12) with second widths (B₂), wherein the first widths (B₁) are smaller than the second widths (B₂) and that the hinge bolts (4) are disposed in the lower portions (12) of the recesses (8) in case of a sidewall (1) folded upon the container bottom (2) and that the hinge bolts (4) are arranged in the upper portion (12) in their upper end position.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the recesses (8) comprise lengths (L) perpendicular to the container base (2), which are greater than one thickness (D) of the sidewall (1) and which are preferably between one thickness (D) and two thicknesses (D) of the sidewall (1).
3. The container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge bolt receivers (5) are formed from the recesses (8) and an edge bar (7) preferably integrally configured with the container base (2) and integrally molded laterally at the container base (2), wherein the edge bar comprises an outer wall (9) and inner wall (10).
4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the edge bar (7) for one pair of sidewalls disposed opposite to one another is configured taller than for the other pair of sidewalls disposed opposite to one another, so that the one pair of sidewalls disposed opposite to one another is linked at the container base (2) at a position that is displaced in a vertically upward direction relative to the other pair.
5. The container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge bolts (4) comprise lugs (6) which are formed as a protrusion of the hinge bolts (4) and are oriented in a vertically downward direction for a folded down sidewall (1) and the hinge bolts (4) comprise horizontal extensions (D₁) and vertical extensions (D₂) for a folded down sidewall (1), wherein the size (D₂) of the vertical extension includes the length of the lugs (6), wherein the horizontal extensions (D1) are smaller than the vertical extensions (D2) and wherein the first widths (B₁) are configured for receiving the hinge bolts (4) for a folded down sidewall (1) approximately with the dimension (D₁) of the horizontal hinge bolt extensions, and the second widths (B₂) for receiving the hinge bolts (4) for a folded down and a folded up sidewall (1) are configured approximately with the dimension (D₂) of the vertical hinge bolt extensions.
6. The container according to claim 5, wherein gaps (17) preferably with approximately two to three tenths of the widths (B₂) of the lower portions (12) of the recesses (8) remain in a folded up position of the sidewall (1) between the hinge bolts (4) with their lugs (6) and the inner wall (10) and/or the outer wall (9) of the edge bar (7).
7. The container according to one of the claims 3 through 6, wherein inward oriented lugs (20) are configured at the edge bar (7) in the upper portion at the inside (19) of the outer wall (9) and recesses (22) are configured at the elevation of the inward oriented lugs (20) at the outer surface of the lateral wall (1), wherein the inward oriented lugs (20) are inserted into recesses (22) in a folded up position of the sidewall (1).
8. The container according to one of the 3 through 7, wherein stops (21) are configured at the inner wall (10) of the edge bar (7) and the sidewall (1) comprises downward oriented protrusions (24) at its lower end, wherein the stops (21) contact the downward oriented protrusions (24) in a folded up position of the sidewall (1).
9. The container according to one of the 3 through 8, wherein the sidewall (1) comprises outward oriented lugs (23) at its lower end, wherein the lugs contact the outer wall (9) of the edge bar (7) in a folded up position of the sidewall (1).
10. The container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sidewall (1) is linked to the container base (2) through at least two, preferably three to four, hinges (3).

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