EP2840034B1 - Latch device for locking and unlocking collapsible or folding side walls of a container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device for locking and unlocking folding or foldable side walls of a container, in particular a reusable container, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Containers with hinged or foldable side walls are well known. These have the advantage that you can erect for transporting and storing goods, the side walls and, if you no longer use the container, the side walls fold or fold to store the container to save space.

In the erected condition of the sidewalls, it must be ensured that they do not fold or fold on their own. That the container must provide a means of releasably locking or locking the sidewalls in the erected state in some way. Various such locking devices are known from the prior art.

DE 101 37 328 A1 discloses a folding container with a bow-like locking body which extends over the entire length of a side wall and the loose ends in the erected state of the side walls with corresponding latching hooks of the two adjacent side walls cooperate or releasably engageable with these. To unlock the latch body must be raised in the vertical direction of the container.

Out EP 2 112 080 A1 a similar folding container is known in which the locking body for unlocking the side walls in the opposite direction, ie down, must be pressed.

However, it has been shown that these over the entire side wall extending latch body often unlock only one side, if they are not moved vertically when unlocking. If these locking bodies are actuated eccentrically, they can tilt and unlock the side wall only on one side. Due to the length of the lock body, this leads to larger positional differences of the locking ends. The tilting often also causes the locking body jammed and difficult to be solved again.

In EP 2 128 035 A1 discloses a folding container with a locking device, which has an actuating element and a locking element. The actuating element is connected via a parallel guide with the folding container. The locking element is connected to the folding container and with the actuating element in each case via a rotary joint.

The object of the present invention is to provide a locking device which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a locking device to be provided, which allows reliable locking and unlocking hinged or foldable side walls.

This object is achieved by a locking device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A locking device according to the invention is suitable for locking and unlocking foldable or foldable side walls of a container, in particular a reusable container. If a side wall and at least one other side wall adjacent thereto are in an upright position, in particular a position perpendicular to a container bottom, at least one locking element formed on the one side wall can be brought into a locking position. In the locking position, this causes a positive connection between the one side wall and the at least one other adjacent side wall, so that the one side wall can not be folded or folded inwards. More specifically, the locking element engages the at least one other adjacent side wall. Furthermore, this is at least one Locking element can be brought into an unlocking position, in which at least one side wall can be folded or folded inwards or in which the at least one adjacent side wall which releases a side wall. That is, the locking element is in the unlocked position out of engagement with the adjacent side wall. In this case, the at least one locking element is rotatably arranged on the one side wall and rotatable via a translationally, in particular in the vertical direction of the container, manually operable actuator at least in the unlocked position.

Thus, the locking and unlocking via an at least two-part locking mechanism, which has different movement patterns. The user-operated actuator is translated, for example vertically, i. up and / or down, moves. This simplifies the unlocking and / or locking operation to be performed by the user, e.g. can be performed when gripping the container with your fingers. The locking element, which ultimately allows the locking and unlocking of the side walls or a releasable engagement with the adjacent side wall, however, is rotated. The locking element is, e.g. via a pivot, rotatably mounted on the side wall. About the storage of the locking element, the rotational movement of the locking element is clearly defined. Since a rotational movement device technology can be defined much easier and more precise than a translational movement, it can be prevented that the locking element jammed or spread between the side walls. Inaccurate actuation of the actuator thus does not lead to a jamming of the locking element with the adjacent side walls.

The physical or physical separation of actuator and locking element also opens up the possibility to interpose motion converter, transmission or similar devices. As a result, the movements of actuator and locking element can be coordinated and adjusted to each other differently, eg that large movements of the actuator lead only to small rotational movements of the locking element and vice versa. This also allows any incorrect operations or improper actuation of the actuator compensate what is in a one-piece bar body in which the locking portion always linearly follows the movement of the operating portion is not possible.

The bipartite actuator and locking element has even more advantages. Thus, the actuator or the locking element can be designed as a common part, which is used in containers of different sizes used and the (size) adjustment is made only by the choice of a different locking element or actuator.

In addition, the containers with the locking device according to the invention can be much easier and cheaper to maintain or repair, since not the entire locking body must be replaced if only the locking element or the actuator has been damaged in use.

In order to lock the loose end of a latch body in a translatory movement with the adjacent side wall, as is the case in the prior art, it requires a hook-shaped geometry on the side of the adjacent side wall, which from the loose end of the latch body in the locked position Hinter-. or is overruled. Such hook-shaped geometries can break off very easily, especially with plastic containers, whereupon locking with the corresponding side wall is no longer possible. Also, their production is much more difficult. According to the invention the locking element is locked not in a translatory, but a rotational movement. This results in much more advantageous and less damaging geometries on the side of the adjacent side wall. The locking element can engage in a rotary movement, for example, in a slot or a recess or recess of the adjacent side wall. Under certain circumstances, no special geometry must be provided if the locking element can interact with an already provided in the adjacent side wall geometry.

In order to convert the translational movement of the actuator into a rotational movement of the locking element, a motion converter section is provided.

The motion converter portion is formed by two overlapping and loosely cooperating end portions of the actuator and the at least one locking element, wherein at least one of the two end portions is provided with a rolling and / or sliding geometry.

Thus, the actuator and the locking element are not directly connected to each other, but only in contact with each other. Due to the mounting of the locking element and the guide of the actuator, the actuator and the locking element are positively coupled together. The rolling and / or sliding geometry facilitates the relative movement of the two contacting and rolling or sliding parts to each other.

The at least one locking element may comprise a first locking element for locking the one side wall with a first adjacent side wall and a second locking element for locking the one side wall with a second adjacent side wall, wherein actuated by the actuator both locking elements are actuated together.

As a result, the side wall can be locked and unlocked by a single movement with both adjacent side walls. This also facilitates the handling of the rotatable locking elements which, if the user actuates them directly, i. Turn, wanted to require two hands or two handles for locking the side wall with both adjacent side walls.

The actuator and / or the at least one locking element can be resiliently biased, so that the at least one locking element automatically rotates into the locking position.

This simplifies the handling of the locking device, since it must be manually operated only for unlocking.

On the locking element may be arranged a spring element, in particular a one-piece formed with the locking element spring tongue, which is always in abutment with a support surface or rib portion of the first side wall.

The one-piece reduces the number of parts required for the locking device and it also simplifies their assembly. The locking element with the spring tongue formed thereon can be produced in a simple manner by injection molding. Since the spring tongue always bears against a corresponding support surface of the side wall, the locking element is held in its position. This also prevents the locking device causes vibration noise during transport or other handling.

The locking element can engage in the locking position in a recess or depression of the adjacent side wall or engage behind a rib or a, in particular hook-shaped projection portion. As a result of the rotational mobility of the locking element, as already explained above, various geometries can be realized which can interact with it.

A locking portion of the rotatable in the plane of the side wall locking member may protrude laterally at least in the locking position of an edge portion of a side wall.

This simplifies the locking with the adjacent side wall.

The actuator may be vertically guided on the one side wall and the locking member may be brought into the unlocked position by the actuator is pressed down or pulled upwards

This corresponds to the natural movement of the user, who is now also accustomed to folding containers.

The actuator may be in the range of a handle of the container, in particular be conveyed above or below a formed in the side wall handle opening.

As a result, the user does not have to embrace the unlocking or locking the side wall, but can do this from the handle.

The locking device may be received in a recess of the outer surface structure of the first side wall.

This allows for a space-saving accommodation of the locking device and on the other hand it ensures that the locking device is not easily inadvertently actuated.

Further advantages and technical effects will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

• Fig. 1 shows a side view of a container with a locking device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• Fig. 2 shows the side view of Fig. 1 in which, for purposes of illustration, an adjacent side wall is missing, with the locking device in a locking position;
• Fig. 3 shows a partial view of Fig. 2 with the locking device in an unlocked position;
• Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the container with two adjacent side walls and the locking device in an unlocked position;
• Fig. 5 shows the perspective view of Fig. 4 in which, for purposes of illustration, an adjacent side wall is missing, with the locking device in an unlocked position;
• Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the container, in which, for illustrative purposes, an adjacent side wall is missing, with the locking device in a locking position.

The FIG. 1 shows a container 2, which is preferably a plastic container which is produced by injection molding. The container 2 has a bottom 4, which has a substantially rectangular basic shape and on whose outer edges four upwardly and inwardly hinged side walls 6 are hinged. Here are the respective opposite side walls 6-1 and 6-2, which are preferably short side walls, and 6-3 and 6-4, which are preferably long side walls, formed identical.

The side walls 6-1 and 6-2 are pivoted about an axis A hinged or hinged to the bottom 4, while the other two side walls 6-3 and 6-4 hinged about an axis B or are arranged pivotally, wherein the Axles A and B are at different heights. More specifically, the pivot axis B of the side walls 6-3 and 6-4 is higher than the pivot axis A, so that when folding inward of the side walls 6, the side walls 6-3 and 6-4 to lie over the side walls 6-1 and 6-3 come. The pivot axes A and B are spaced from a bottom surface of the bottom 4, that the side walls 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 come to lie horizontally or parallel to the bottom 4 in the folded state inwardly.

The bottom 4 has along its outer edges, on which the side walls 6-3 and 6-4 are articulated, each having a stop 8, the pivoting movement of the side walls 6-3 and 6-4 outwardly respect. A vertical to the bottom 4 alignment or position limited. The pivoting range of the other two side walls 6-1 and 6-2 is limited in the erected position by vertical edge portions 10 of the side walls 6-3 and 6-4 which extend around the corner edges of the side walls 6-3 and 6-4 pulled the side walls 6-1 and 6-2 are. With these come corresponding edge portions 12 of the side walls 6-1 and 6-2 in the erected position in Appendix (see FIG. 2 ).

The side walls 6 have a circumferential and reinforced frame-like portion 14 which defines a wall portion 16. In the upper region of the side walls 6-1 and 6-2, a handle opening 18 for gripping and lifting the container 2 is formed centrally below the frame section 14 in the wall section 16.

The wall sections 16 of all side walls 6 also have in the present embodiment, a plurality of openings or slots 20, which serve for ventilation of the goods to be transported, but also to save weight. The self-formed wall portion 16 may further include corresponding reinforcing or stiffening geometries such as ribs or beads.

Also in the upper region of the side wall 6-1 or 6-2 or in the wall portions 16, a locking device 22 is provided, with which the side walls 6-1 and 6-2 with the other two side walls 6-3 and 6-4 in erected state can be releasably locked to prevent the four side walls 6 to fold inward. The locking device 22 is located in a recess of the wall portion 16, so that the locking device 22 does not protrude laterally beyond the outer shell defined by the side walls.

For unlocking and / or locking the side walls 6, the locking device 22 must be operated accordingly, as will be described in more detail below.

The FIG. 2 shows the same view as the FIG. 1 in which, however, the side wall 6-3 is missing for illustrative purposes.

The locking device 22 has a bow-like shape and extends over the entire length of the side wall 6-1 and 6-2. The locking device 22 is constructed in several parts and has a centrally disposed actuator 24, via which two locking elements 26 can be actuated, which are arranged in the respective outer portions of the side wall 6-1 and 6-2.

The actuator 24 has a central gripping portion 28, which in the in the FIG. 2 shown locking position, located immediately below the handle opening 18 so that it does not hide or obstruct the handle opening 18. The proximity to the handle opening 18, however, allows the user of the container 2 to reach the gripping portion 28 with his fingers if he has his hands in the region of the handle opening 18 and the frame portion 14 arranged above it. By pulling upward or vertical lifting of the gripping portion 28 and thus of the actuator 24, the locking elements 26 can be brought into the unlocked position, as in the FIG. 3 is shown.

The actuator 24 is guided vertically on the side wall 6-1 and 6-2, more precisely in the wall section 16. For this purpose, the actuator 24 in each case outside of the gripping portion 28 an integrally formed pin 30 which has at its free end a widened portion or latching hook, so that the pin 30 which is guided in a vertically extending and formed in the wall portion 16 slot 32, on the inside of the wall portion 16 is positively secured against falling out. Thus, the actuator 24 can slide without significant play on the outside of the wall portion 16 in the vertical direction. In order to mount the pin 30, this has a diametrical slot 34, so that the two pin halves for assembly and disassembly in the slot 32 can be compressed.

The actuator 24 has on both sides of the gripping portion 24 each have a parking portion 36, via which the respective locking element 26 can be actuated.

The locking element 26 is a one-piece component, which is rotatably mounted and secured axially via a pivot pin 38 formed on the edge section 16 and projecting outwards. The pivot 38 is similar to the pivot 30 constructed with a flared end portion 40 and a diametrical slot 42, so that the locking member 26 rotate only in the plane of the sides 6-1 and 6-2, more precisely in the plane of the wall portion 16 can and only can turn. The locking element 26 has a locking portion 44 which is located on the outside with respect to the pivot pin 38 and passes through a slot 46 formed in the edge area of the side wall 6-1 or 6-2, more precisely in a slot 46 formed in the frame portion 14 and in an overlapping area protrudes, in which the edge portions 10 and 12 of the two to be locked side walls 6, z. B. side walls 6-1 and 6-3, overlap.

On the opposite side of the locking portion 44, the locking member 26 has a setting portion 48 which cooperates with the adjusting portion 36 of the actuator 24. The two actuating portions 36 and 48 are formed so that they can overlap each other and loose, d. H. only by contact, can work together. Due to the guidance of the actuator 24 in the slots 32 and the pivotal mounting of the locking element 26 via the pin 38, the actuator 24 and the locking element 26 are to some extent positively coupled.

The adjustment section 48 has a corresponding receptacle or slot 50 into which a projection section 52 of the adjustment section 36 can engage loosely and is received therein. Simplified, the receptacle 50 can also be formed by a type of L-profile or U-profile, which rests against the wall section 16, so that the projection section 52 is received between the wall section 16 and the L-profile or U-profile.

Like from the FIG. 5 can be seen in particular, the projection portion 52 is at least at its portion which cooperates with the unlocking operation with the adjusting portion 48, cam-shaped or has a Abrollgeometrie 54, so as the relative movement between the only translationally moving adjusting portion 36 and the rotationally moving adjusting portion 48th to facilitate or improve. The adjusting portion 48 of the locking element 26 may have a corresponding Abrollgeometrie 56.

The locking element 26 further comprises an integrally formed spring tongue 58 which in the upper portion or on a frame portion 14 of the side wall 6-1 or 6-2 facing side integrally formed. The spring tongue 58 abuts a support surface, more precisely on an inner side of the frame portion 14, so that the locking element 26, in particular the locking portion 44 only in the in the FIG. 5 shown position can be brought when the spring force of the spring tongue 58 is overcome by operating the actuator 24. If the actuator 24 is released, the spring tongue 58 presses the locking element 26 with its locking portion 44 in the unlocked position and moves through the contact between the two adjusting portions 48 and 36 and the actuator 24 in its unlocked position.

By the rotational movement of the locking member 26, the locking portion 44 is releasably engaged with a corresponding counter-geometry formed in the edge portion 10 of the adjacent side wall 6-3 and 6-4, respectively releasably engaged. This geometry may be a hook-shaped element, in which the locking portion 44 engages when locking from below.

However, this can also be a recess or a slot, which essentially faces the slot 46, which is formed in the edge section 6-1, and in which the locking section 44 engages through the rotary movement. As in particular from the FIG. 5 can be seen, the locking portion 44 is wedge-shaped, whereby the locking facilitates and jamming of the corresponding cooperating geometries is prevented. Is in the edge portion 10 of the adjacent side wall 6-3 or 6-4 provided a similar wedge-shaped geometry, so can only by pressing the side wall 6-1 and 6-2 against the upright side wall 6-3 or 6-4 and through the cooperating wedge surfaces an automatic evasion of the locking element 16, ie, without manual operation of the actuator 24 can be achieved.

The adjusting portion 48 may alternatively be formed so that the actuator 24 can actuate the locking member 26 only in the unlocked position, but not in the locking position, since the latter takes place automatically by the spring tongue 58 anyway. In other words, only one occurs between the adjusting section 36 of the actuator 24 and the adjusting section 48 of the locking element Contact, when the actuator is operated in the unlocked position, ie pulled upwards, but not in the opposite direction. This in turn means that the locking element alone can be brought into the unlocked position, for example, when the side wall 6-1 is pressed against the side wall 6-3 and escapes via wedge surface geometries, the locking element in the unlocked position. That is, the locking element 26 alone, ie, without the actuator 24, can be brought into the unlocked position when pressing the two locking geometries of the adjacent sides against each other when erecting the side surface 6-1 and 6-2. Due to the decoupling of the actuator 24 and locking element 26 in a direction of adjustment, this does not have to be actuated with the entire actuator 24.

The invention has been described using the example of a container with four hinged side walls, but is also in other container forms, e.g. in containers with foldable side walls, applicable, in which at least two side walls must be locked together in one position.

It is also conceivable that the actuator for unlocking the locking element must be pressed down and the locking element is thereby rotated in the other direction.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

container

4

ground

8th

attack

10

edge section

12

edge section

14

frame section

16

wall section

18

grip opening

20

openings

22

locking device

24

actuator

26

locking element

28

cross section

30

spigot

32

Long hole

34

slot

36

setting section

38

pivot

40

locking lug

42

slot

44

locking section

48

setting section

50

slot

52

projecting portion

54

Abrollgeometrie

56

Abrollgeometrie

58

spring tongue

Claims (10)

1. Latch device (22) for locking and unlocking collapsible or foldable side walls (6) of a container (2), in particular of a reusable container, wherein, when a side wall (6-1, 6-2) and at least one other, adjacent side wall (6-3, 6-4) are in an upright position, in particular a position perpendicular to a container bottom (4), at least one locking element (26) formed at said side wall (6-1, 6-2) can be brought into a locking position, in which it causes a form-fit between said side wall (6-1, 6-2) and the at least one other, adjacent side wall (6-3, 6-4), so that said side wall (6-1, 6-2) cannot be collapsed or folded inward, and can be brought into an unlocking position, in which at least said side wall (6-1, 6-2) can be collapsed or folded inward, wherein
   the at least one locking element (26) is pivotably arranged at said side wall (6-1, 6-2) and can be pivoted at least into the unlocking position via a translationally, in particular in the vertical direction of the container (2), manually operable controlling element (24),wherein
   a movement converter portion (36, 48) is provided which converts the translational movement of the controlling element (24) into a pivoting movement of the locking element (26),
   characterized in that
   the movement converter portion (36, 48) is formed by two overlapping and loosely interacting end portions (36, 48) of the controlling element (24) and of the at least one locking element (26), wherein at least one of the two end portions (36, 48) is provided with a rolling and/or sliding geometry (54, 56).
2. Latch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one locking element (26) comprises a first locking element (26) for locking said side wall (6-1, 6-2) with a first adjacent side wall (6-3) and a second locking element (26) for locking said side wall (6-1, 6-2) with a second adjacent side wall (6-4), wherein by operating the controlling element (24), both locking elements (26) are operated together.
3. Latch device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controlling element (24) and/or the at least one locking element (26) is resiliently pre-stressed, so that the at least one locking element (26) automatically pivots into the locking position.
4. Latch device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring element (58), in particular a flexible tongue integrally formed with the locking element (26), is arranged at the locking element (26), wherein the spring element (58) is always in contact with a support surface portion or rib portion (14) of said side wall (6-1, 6-2).
5. Latch device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (26) in the locking position engages in a recess or indentation of the adjacent side wall (6-3, 6-4) or engages behind a rib or a projection portion, in particular formed as a hook.
6. Latch device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking portion (44) of the locking element (26) being pivotable in the plane of said side wall (6-1, 6-2), projects at least in the locking position laterally from an edge portion (14) of said side wall (6-1, 6-2).
7. Latch device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controlling element at said side wall (6-1, 6-2) is vertically guided and the locking element (26) is brought into the unlocking position by pressing the controlling element (24) downward or by pulling it upward.
8. Latch device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controlling element (24) is arranged in the region of a handle of the container, in particular above or underneath of a grip opening (18) formed in said side wall (6-1, 6-2).
9. Latch device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latch device (22) is received in an indentation of the outer surface structure (16) of said side wall (6-1, 6-2).
10. Container with a container bottom and four side walls (6) hinged thereto being collapsible or foldable, wherein a respective latch device (22) according to one of the preceding claims is provided at two opposite side walls (6-1, 6-2).

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