EP2792611B1 - Storage box with venting means - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a storage box according to the preamble of claim 1.

From the Scriptures DE 20 2005 020 035 U1 is a generic storage box known. The lid is designed so that it is able to close the interior of the container in the closed position airtight. In order to be able to ventilate the interior of the container optionally, a closure element is inserted into the lid of the container, which can optionally be placed or not. In addition, there is a non-return valve, with which a vacuum is to be built up and held in the container.

The separate closure element is not optimal in handling, since it can be lost as a separate component. In the manufacture of the components, an additional effort by a separate tool and the assembly of parts. Finally, the care is difficult because the component geometries of the closure element create many corners and edges in which residues of food can settle, which are difficult to remove there again.

From the Scriptures EP 1 279 606 A1 is a generic storage box known. The container disclosed there has a lid, which is always placed only in a sealing position in the closed position. A closure position in which a continuous ventilation of the interior of the container to the outside is possible, can not be found in this document.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a storage box, which is closable, but optionally also with little effort be ventable closed.

The object is achieved for a generic storage box by the characterizing features of claim 1.

According to the invention in a conventional manner, the lid is placed in the closed position on the container when the inserted into the container Good to be secured against unwanted falling out and / or protected against undesired contact with other objects. In contrast to the previously known The prior art, however, the user can now choose whether he wants to put the lid in a sealing position or a closed position on the container. The vents in the side wall of the container namely open the possibility that even with the lid still gases, but also liquids and solids between the interior of the container and the external environment can be replaced. The lid is designed so that it rests in its sealing position with a wall portion sealingly in a region on the side wall of the container in which the or the ventilation openings are, so that they are sealed with the adjacent wall portion of the lid, and in his Closing position open the ventilation ducts at the ventilation openings, so that the ventilation openings are not covered by it and a gas exchange or an exchange of liquids and solids between the interior of the container and the environment remains possible. The sealing position differs from the closure position thus in that the container is not only generally closed by placing the lid, wherein still the ventilation openings are connected via the ventilation channels formed in the lid with the interior of the container, but is closed so that the Ventilation openings are covered by one or more sealingly adjacent to the ventilation openings Wandungsabschnitte the lid and thereby closed, so that a gas exchange or exchange of liquids or solids through the ventilation holes is at least largely avoided. In the sealing position so the interior of the environment is not necessarily completely sealed, but the content is at least spitzwassergeschützt, and dust can not penetrate unhindered into the interior of the container. In this sense, the term of the sealing layer is used in the description.

One or more ventilation openings can be formed in the container. It may be sufficient for the ventilation purposes to form only a single vent opening in the container, but it can also be provided a plurality of ventilation openings. These may have a different size, shape and positioning on the container.

So that the cover in the sealing and closing position can optionally cover the ventilation openings, it is necessary to arrange the ventilation openings in a section of the side wall into which the cover extends at least in the sealing position with a wall section. Depending on the position of the ventilation openings the wall sections formed on the lid thus also reach down into the lower region of the container.

By the term of the ventilation ducts is meant a molding in the lid, in which the lid surface closed to the outside reaches to a height in which it projects beyond the ventilation openings in the closed position of the lid, at least in the region of the outer edge of the lid, and the lid in the mouth region of the lid Ventilation ducts on the ventilation openings has no wall portion which sealingly abuts the side wall of the container in the region of the ventilation opening, so that gas can flow through the ventilation openings into the container interior and out of this. A separate ventilation duct can be provided in the cover for each ventilation opening, but it is also possible to form a ventilation channel for a plurality of ventilation openings in the cover, in which case in each case one advantageously in the space between the recesses in the wall sections in which the ventilation duct opens at a ventilation opening Apron can be arranged in an area of the lid, in which it rests in the sealing position of the lid sealingly against the associated ventilation opening.

By integrating the ventilation option in the housing and the lid can be dispensed with a separate closure element. An additional installation effort is eliminated, since it remains in the housing and the cover part. The integration of the ventilation openings in the side wall of the housing also eliminates complicated component geometries that are difficult to clean. Since no additional separate component is required in addition to the housing and the lid, this can not be lost. The cleaning of the components is simplified possible, the container also has hygienic advantages.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the ventilation openings are arranged in the upper region of the container. If the escape of liquids from the container is to be made difficult despite the ventilation openings, this arrangement is advantageous. In particular, the ventilation openings can be arranged directly below the peripheral edge.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the ventilation openings have a non-circular shape. By a non-circular shape, which may be configured, for example, slit or elliptical, the maximum width of the ventilation opening remains in spite of an overall larger area of a ventilation opening in relation to their Limited length so that items stored in the container can not easily fall out of the container through the ventilation holes depending on their shape and size, but nevertheless a the total realized area of the ventilation openings corresponding ventilation rate can be achieved. The ventilation openings may also be formed in a circular shape, but then the diameter of the openings in relation to the surface of the ventilation openings may be larger than in a non-circular design. Depending on the contents, for which the container is provided, but this can be uncritical.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal axes of the ventilation openings extend in the horizontal direction. Due to the horizontal extent of the longitudinal axis, the ventilation openings occupy a smaller height in relation to their width. In particular, if the ventilation openings are arranged in the upper region of the container and closer to the peripheral edge, the protective function of the side wall is maintained over almost its entire height. With a horizontal position of the container, liquids can barely even spill out of the container when the container is moved because the fluid is still mostly under the lowest edge of the ventilation openings.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the peripheral upper edge has a non-circular shape, in which the lid can be placed on the container only in certain form-fitting predetermined positions. Due to the non-circular shape, the user is forced to decide whether he wants to put the lid in the sealing position or the closed position on the container, because not any Aufsetzposition the lid is possible. In the case of round shapes of the peripheral upper edge, it would be possible, depending on the rotational position, to place the lid in intermediate positions on the container in which the ventilation openings are only partially closed.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the lid with the container via latching connections can be latched and / or closed with closures. By simply activatable by firmly placing the cover latching connections, the lid is held in its closed position and can be solved only with a special effort again from the container. By locking the lid is held in particular safer in the sealing position, in the gases or liquids can not get unhindered out of the container or into this, because the wall sections of the lid sealingly against the ventilation openings are held adjacent. Special closures such as sliding latch, clamping straps or the like require a separate operation, but can also provide an increased level of security against accidental opening of the lid, especially if multiple closures are available.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of ventilation openings in a horizontal direction spaced from each other on one side of the circumferential side wall and the ventilation openings have a smaller width than the intermediate portions of the side wall. Due to the smaller width of the ventilation openings in relation to the width of the intermediate sections of the side wall, it is possible to design the sealing portions of the lid sealingly against the ventilation openings wall sections of the lid so broad that they overlap the width of the ventilation openings in the sealing system overlapping , which increases the tightness.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the container has a symmetrical basic shape and the ventilation openings are arranged on opposite sides of the circumferential side wall and not mirror-symmetrical to a line connecting the two sides in the middle of their width. With such an arrangement of the ventilation openings in a symmetrical container and tight in the sealing layer adjacent wall portions of the lid must not necessarily be arranged mirror-symmetrically to a connecting the two sides in the middle of their width line, if they are to rest in the sealing position sealing. In particular, when the arranged on the opposite sides of the circumferential side wall ventilation openings have no lateral offset from each other in relation to the connecting the two sides in the middle of their width line, results in a design of the lid and the container, wherein the lid only to 180 ° must be rotated about its vertical axis in order to spend this from a sealing position into a closed position and vice versa. As a symmetrical basic shape, for example, a rectangular shape is considered.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the container and / or the lid are made of a transparent or translucent plastic material. Through the transparent or translucent plastic material, a user can recognize whether he has placed the lid in a sealing or sealing position on the container.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the Wandungsabschnitte are arranged in a position on the lid, in which they sealingly rest in the sealing position on the ventilation openings and release the vents upon rotation of the lid by 180 ° about the vertical axis. In this embodiment, the ventilation function for the user of the storage box is easy to use, because he has to decide only one of two ways to support the lid on the container.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the wall sections have a greater width and height than the ventilation openings. Due to the larger dimensions of the wall sections a good covering effect is ensured.

It is expressly understood that the embodiments of the invention described above, each alone, but also in any combination with each other with the subject of claim 1 are combined, as far as the non-technical constraints are opposed.

Further modifications and preferred embodiments of the invention can be taken from the following description and the drawings.

Fig. 1:

eine Ansicht auf eine Aufbewahrungsbox von schräg unten,

Fig. 2:

eine Ansicht auf einen Deckel von schräg oben,

Fig. 3:

eine Ansicht auf einen Behälter von schräg oben,

Fig. 4:

eine Schnittansicht auf eine offene Belüftungsöffnung entlang der Schnittlinie A-A in Fig. 3 mit aufgesetztem Deckel in Verschlusslage, und

Fig. 5:

eine Schnittansicht auf eine geschlossene Belüftungsöffnung entlang der Schnittlinie A-A in Fig. 3 mit aufgesetztem Deckel in Dichtlage.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a view of a storage box from diagonally below,

Fig. 2:

a view on a lid from above,

3:

a view on a container from diagonally above,

4:

a sectional view of an open ventilation opening along the section line AA in Fig. 3 with lid in closed position, and

Fig. 5:

a sectional view of a closed ventilation opening along the section line AA in Fig. 3 with attached lid in sealing position.

In Fig. 1 a storage box 2 is shown from a view obliquely from below. The storage box 2 has a container 4, can be inserted into the food or other items, the interior of the container 4 is limited to the side of a side wall 6, which ends at the top 8 at the top, and a lid 10th , which is placed on the upper edge 8. The storage box 2 can be turned off with the bottom 12 of the container 4.

At the visible in the view of the front side of the container 4 are below the upper edge 8 four ventilation openings 14. The ventilation openings 14 are configured slit-shaped. Outwardly, the ventilation openings 14 are covered by the lid 10 and the bead-shaped projecting upper edge 8, so that they are not visible in the side view shown.

In Fig. 2 is a lid 10 shown from a view obliquely from above. In the lid 10, the molded ventilation ducts 16 can be seen. The ventilation channels 16 are not arranged mirror-symmetrically to a line 18 connecting the two end faces in the middle of their width. Between the ventilation channels 16 are wall sections 20 which rest in the sealing position of the lid 10 sealingly against the ventilation openings 14. The ventilation ducts 16 and the wall sections 20 are located on the opposite side of the cover 10 in each case at the same location, insofar as the arrangement of the ventilation ducts 16 and the wall sections 20 about the transverse axis 22 is mirror-symmetrical. If the cover 10 is rotated by 180 ° about the vertical axis 24, so come where in the in Fig. 2 shown position a ventilation duct 16 is to lie a wall portion 20, while at the points where in Fig. 2 the wall sections 20 are located after the rotation by 180 °, the ventilation ducts 16 are arranged. Thus, the lid 10 comes to lie by a 180 ° rotation in the embodiment either in the sealing position or in the closed position on a container 4 when the lid 10 is placed on it.

In Fig. 3 is a view of a container 4 shown obliquely from above. In this perspective, the inner walls of the container 4 are partially visible. In the view can be seen that the upper edge 8 is formed as a circumferential bead, in which the side wall 6 is folded in an arc by about 180 ° down. The container 4 has a cuboid basic shape, the corners of the side wall 6 and the upper edge 8 are rounded. At the two front sides of the container 4, two ventilation openings 14a and 14b are arranged on the left side of the connecting line 18 in the transition area from the side wall 6 to the upper edge 8 and two ventilation openings 14a 'and two ventilation openings 14b' can be seen on the right side of the connecting line 18. As with the ventilation ducts 16 and the wall sections 20 in the cover 10, the ventilation openings 14 and the intervening sections of the side walls 6 are not arranged mirror-symmetrically to a line 18 connecting the two end sides in the middle of their width. With a corresponding arrangement of the ventilation ducts 16 and the wall sections 20 in the cover 10, it is possible to ventilate the interior of the container 4 through the ventilation openings 14 depending on the attachment of the lid 10 on the container 4 in the sealing position or the closed position or not , While the arrangement of the ventilation openings 14a / 14b is not mirror-symmetrical to the ventilation openings 14a '/ 14b' when mirroring over the connecting line 18, the ventilation openings 14a, 14a ', however, are positioned to the transverse axis 22 mirror-symmetrical to the ventilation openings 14b, 14b'.

In Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the container 4 and the lid 10 along the line AA in Fig. 3 shown. In the picture in Fig. 4 is the lid 10 in the closed position in which a free gas exchange between the interior of the container 4 and the external environment is possible via the vent opening 14, as indicated by the double arrow. In the cross-sectional view, the ramp is clearly visible, by which the level of the lid 10 is guided from the lower level in the central region of the lid 10 in the higher level of the lid edge. In the edge region, the wall of the cover 10 projects beyond the upper edge of the ventilation opening 14 in the closed position, so that it is not covered by the cover 10 in the closed position. In the view in Fig. 4 It can also be seen that the wall portion 20 in the closed position sealingly abuts a portion of the side wall 6, which is located between adjacent ventilation openings 14 and is executed closed.

In Fig. 5 is the sectional view taken along the line AA Fig. 3 shown when the lid 10 is in the sealing position. In the view in Fig. 5 It can be seen that now the wall portion 20 of the lid 10, the ventilation opening 14 is covered over the entire surface and sealingly applied to the side wall 6, so that now no more free gas exchange between the interior of the container 4 and the external environment is possible. The ventilation duct 16 is now in a position in which he before the closed space between the side wall 6 between two adjacent ventilation openings 14 is located. Since the side wall 6 as in Fig. 5 shown formed closed in the region of the ventilation duct 16, via the ventilation duct 16 in the sealing position of the lid 10 no air exchange takes place between in the interior of the container 4 and the external environment. The ventilation opening 14 is covered in the sealing position of the lid 10 by the wall portion 20 over the entire surface and gas-tight.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the subject embodiment described above. It is not difficult for a person skilled in the art to adapt the invention to a specific application in a manner which seems appropriate to him, in which the exemplary embodiment is modified.

Claims (11)

1. Storage box (2) comprising a container (4) having a peripheral side wall (6), and a removable lid (10), the container (4) comprising an upper peripheral rim (8) and the lid (10) lying on the upper peripheral rim (8) when in its closed position and resting in a sealing manner on a part of the interior wall by means of a wall portion of the lid (10), the lid (10) being able to be placed on the container (4) in either a sealed position or a closure position when in the closed position, the side wall (6) comprising one or more ventilation openings (14) in a portion in which the lid (10), when in the sealed position, extends downwards by the wall portion (20) such as to be in sealing contact, characterised in that, in the wall portion of the lid (10), one or more venting ducts (16) are formed, which extend from the interior of the container (4) as far as to the side wall (6) of the container (4) when the lid (10) is in the closure position and open into the ventilation opening(s) (14) when a wall portion (20) of the lid (10) is not in sealing contact in the region of the venting duct.
2. Storage box (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the ventilation openings (14) are arranged in the upper region of the container.
3. Storage box (2) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the ventilation openings (14) have a non-round shape.
4. Storage box (2) according to claim 3, characterised in that the longitudinal axes of the ventilation openings (14) extend in the horizontal direction.
5. Storage box (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper peripheral rim (8) has a non-round shape, whereby the lid (10) can only be placed on the container (4) in certain predetermined form-fitting positions.
6. Storage box (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lid (10) can be latched to the container (4) by means of latching connections and/or can be closed by closures.
7. Storage box (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plurality of ventilation openings (14) are arranged on one side of the peripheral side wall (6) in a manner spaced apart from one another in the horizontal direction, and the ventilation openings (14) have a smaller width than the portions of the side wall (6) therebetween.
8. Storage box (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (4) has a symmetrical basic shape and the ventilation openings (14) are arranged on opposite sides of the peripheral side wall (6) and not in mirror symmetry with a line (18) that connects the two sides in the centre of their width.
9. Storage box (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (4) and/or the lid (10) are made of a transparent or translucent plastics material.
10. Storage box (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wall portions (20) are arranged in a position on the lid (10) in which they rest on the ventilation openings (14) in a sealing manner when in the sealed position and open the ventilation openings (14) when the lid (10) is rotated 180° about the vertical axis.
11. Storage box (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wall portions (20) have a greater width and height than the ventilation openings (14).

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