EP2994274B1 - Container assembly - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container assembly, comprising at least one stackable container having a base unit with a main receiving body, wherein the main receiving body defines a main receiving space accessible at its upper side via a main opening, that of a bottom and one of the edge of the bottom is limited in a height direction of the container upstanding peripheral side wall, wherein the container in the region of its top has a arranged on the main receiving body carrying handle and wherein on the base unit coupling means are arranged, which are adapted to at least two stacked in the height direction container detachably couple to a mutual lifting in the height direction preventing stack composite.

One from the EP 2 551 210 A1 known container arrangement of this type includes, inter alia, a plurality of stackable containers of the same type, each having a base unit consisting of an open-top main receiving body and arranged on the main receiving body, upstanding rigid carrying handle. The markable as the main opening upper opening of the main receiving body allows any insertion and removal of objects, such as tools. By each container is equipped with appropriate coupling means, there is the possibility of several Stack containers in a height direction to each other and summarized by the coupling means into a contiguous stack composite, which can be easily transported by detecting the carrying handle of the uppermost container.

In the from the EP 2 551 210 A1 known container is located in the main receiving body content through the main opening is always accessible. This allows easy handling. On the other hand, the contents of the main accommodating body can be easily contaminated by the main opening constantly open. Also, the container is less suitable for the storage of small parts, as they can easily fall out due to the constantly exposed main opening and may be lost.

From the EP 2 315 701 B1 and the EP 0 555 533 B1 In each case, a stack container arrangement is known which has a plurality of stackable and mutually stackable container, each consisting of a lower part and a lid, so that an access to an interior of the container enabling opening can be closed if necessary.

The EP 0 721 893 B1 discloses a container whose interior is closed by a lid and which is equipped with a multiple small container having insert system, which makes it possible to take advantage of the space of the container for storing products to save space.

From the US 1,345,247 is a combination of a toolbox and a sawhorse known, the toolbox has swing-out elements, with the aid of which the tool box can be converted into a sawhorse.

The invention has for its object to provide a container assembly which has at least one stacking and vertical coupling enabling container, the interior of which is suitable for a well-organized storage and protected housing of objects.

This object is achieved in conjunction with the features mentioned above in that the container has two in a retracted basic position while covering the main opening side by side sitting on the main receiving body additional receiving body, each having an accessible at its upper side via an additional opening additional receiving space defined by a bottom and an upstanding from the edge of the bottom in a height direction of the container upstanding peripheral side wall, each additional accommodating body with respect to the main receiving body, while maintaining its relation to the main receiving body spatial orientation due to existing storage under Execution of a transitional movement in a main opening for access to the main receiving space at least partially releasing and thereby laterally above the main receiving body projecting extended access position is movable, and wherein at each An additional receiving body is disposed between a closed position covering the associated additional opening and at least one releasable position releasable opening movable closure lid, wherein in the stacked and coupled state of a plurality of containers the basic position engaging additional receiving body of a respective lower container together with their closing position engaging closure caps are arranged between the main receiving bodies of the directly stacked containers.

The stackable container formed in accordance with the invention provides the user with a plurality of receiving spaces for the separate storage of items when required. All of the receiving spaces defined by the various receiving bodies can be put into a state in which they are closed to the environment. Thus, the main opening of the main receiving space is closed by the retracted in the retracted position auxiliary receiving body, while the additional receiving bodies formed in the additional receiving bodies can be closed by the relevant movable and in particular pivotally arranged closure lid when not in use. In this way, the products housed inside are protected from contamination and prevented from falling out, so that the at least one stackable container especially for storing small parts, such as machine tools such as drills or small hardware such as screws or nails, is suitable. Preferably, larger objects can be accommodated in the main receiving space, for example hand tools, while the additional receiving spaces are particularly suitable for receiving the already mentioned small parts. Each recording room can also be divided into individual compartments if required. There is also the possibility of releasably inserting into one or more of the receiving spaces additional small containers for the sorted accommodation of small parts. All receiving spaces are easily accessible if required, since the additional receiving body can be moved in the context of a transitional movement between the retracted basic position covering the main opening and an extended access position extended at least partially laterally beyond the main receiving body. The design is in particular made such that the additional receiving body in the access position completely clear the main opening of the main reception room. Preferably, the additional receiving body can be positioned independently of each other either in the normal position or in the access position.

The coupling means disposed on the base unit allow the stackable container to be vertically stacked with one or more similar containers, despite the movable auxiliary receiving bodies, and to couple into a contiguous stackable composite which is easily transported by gripping the carrying handle of the uppermost container. Depending on the configuration of the at least one container can be ensured that the additional receiving body and closure lid of each placed below an upper container container alone by the stacking of multiple containers and / or preferably by special locking means are fixed so that they do not when transporting the stacked composite accidentally extend into the access position or be moved to the release position. It is particularly advantageous if the stackable container has locking means which make it possible to releasably lock the closure lid in its closed position and to block the additional holding body in its basic position, in particular indirectly by means of this locking, in particular if a stackable container is used alone and preferably also in the state of a produced by coupling, vertically contiguous stack composite.

Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Conveniently, the container assembly has a plurality of stackable container of the type described above, which are both used individually and in their height direction stackable on each other to be coupled by the coupling means provided to them in pairs releasably, so that there is a stack composite, within which the coupled containers in the height direction tensile strength connected to each other and prevented from lifting each other. These multiple stackable containers are suitably identical.

The additional receiving body are expediently arranged at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the associated container next to each other, wherein they have a minimum distance from one another in the basic position and occupy a maximum distance between them in the extended access position of both additional receiving body. Preferably, the additional receiving body are elongated and arranged alongside one another.

The execution of the guided transition movement enabling bearing means are in particular designed as a pivot bearing means, so that the transitional movement is at least partially and preferably in its entirety a pivotal movement, in the execution of the additional receiving body does not change its spatial orientation with respect to the main receiving body. In this way it is prevented that the additional-receiving body is tilted during pivoting, for example, which could result in recorded objects fall out. This is ensured by the consistently maintained spatial alignment between the auxiliary receiving bodies and the main receiving body when performing any transitional movement.

The pivot bearing means are in particular designed so that the transitional movement takes an arcuate course. It is useful if each additional-receiving body in the Transitional movement changes its height position, in particular, passes through a highest point and wherein it is expedient if the occupied relative to the main receiving body height position of the additional receiving body in the normal position is the same as in the access position.

Particularly useful is a realization of the pivot bearing means as parallelogram storage by means of multiple Gelenkparallelogramme. In this case, each additional receiving body is preferably pivotably mounted by means of two pairs of guide arms, which are each pivotally mounted on the one hand to the additional receiving body and on the other hand on the base.

It is advantageous if the guide arms protrude into storage chambers of the main receiving body and of the additional receiving body formed by double-walled wall sections of the side walls and are stored therein, wherein in the basic position the additional receiving body is concealed towards the outside of the container are. In this way, damage or contamination of the pivot bearing means are avoided. It is also advantageous if the guide arms are also sealed off from both the main receiving space and the respective associated additional receiving space, so that the pivoting movement can not be hindered by objects located in the respective receiving space.

The coupling means serving for vertically coherent coupling of a plurality of containers are expediently arranged in the region of axial end faces of the basic unit which are oriented oppositely to one another in the axial direction of a longitudinal axis of the container. In this way, the additional receiving body can freely perform their transitional movement. It is advantageous only in the region of these two axial end faces for the vertical coupling of several containers to provide serving coupling means. The coupling means are expediently arranged directly on the main receiving body.

A particularly expedient embodiment of the coupling means provides that in each case at least one and preferably exactly one coupling unit is arranged in the region of each of the two axial end faces, which consists of a arranged in the vicinity of the bottom of the main receiving body lower coupling element and an upper uppermost Coupling element composed. At least one of the coupling elements is movable in order to be able to establish or release a coupling engagement with a coupling element of a further container arranged above or below. Stacked containers are releasably coupled in particular by means of an upper coupling element of the lower container and a lower coupling element of the upper container. Preferably, the respective upper coupling element is a coupling element which is movable for producing and releasing a coupling.

The coupling units are expediently arranged at the center of each of the axial end faces of the basic unit, which offers the advantage of placing them in the region between the two additional receiving bodies.

Particularly advantageous is an embodiment of the movable coupling element in the form of a pivotably mounted on the base unit coupling tab. The coupling element which cooperates with the coupling lug is expediently a one-part or multi-part coupling projection which can engage over the coupling lug. The coupling tab is especially designed to be comparable to a flap can only be pivoted, but can not perform a translational movement.

The upper coupling elements of the coupling means are expediently placed at the level of the upper side of the basic position engaging additional receiving body. There are also the cap when they take the closed position. This makes it possible to keep as short as possible the distance to be bridged by the components to be coupled together of two containers. In particular, in this context, it is advantageous if the upper coupling elements are arranged on upwardly projecting beyond the side wall of the main receiving body support columns of the base unit, which extend in the basic position of the additional receiving body expediently between these additional receiving bodies upwards. Preferably, the support columns are integrally connected to the main receiving body.

The support columns may be part of a rigid structure forming the carrying handle. They may also be part of a subdivision wall extending in the longitudinal direction of the base part, which subdivides the main receiving space into two subspaces next to one another. The partition wall may be hollow and open towards the bottom of the floor, so that for stacking two containers, the above-mentioned carrying handle of the lower container can be dipped from below into the slit-shaped cavity of the partition wall.

It is advantageous if the basic unit has further interface means which make it possible to combine the container with stackable containers of another type to form a stack composite. This is especially thought of interface means that a coupling with containers the Indian EP 2 315 701 B1 or in the EP 0 555 533 B1 allow described type.

As already indicated, it is advantageous if the at least one stackable container has locking means which enable releasable locking of the closure cover located in the closed position. These locking means are located partly on the base unit and partly on the closure lids, wherein they are arranged on the part of the base unit, in particular on the main receiving body. With the help of such locking means, the closed closure lid can be locked when the additional receiving body are in their normal position. The locking means are in particular designed so that they allow simultaneous locking of both closure lid.

Such a configuration of the locking means also has the advantage that when locked closure lids at the same time the swiveled basic position of the respectively associated additional receiving body is secured. Since the closure lids are arranged on the additional receiving bodies, they can not perform the transitional movement when the closure lids are locked in their closed position.

Particularly advantageous is an embodiment in which the locking means are formed at least partially in unit with the coupling means used to produce a vertical stack of several containers. In this way, a particularly simple and inexpensive construction of the container arrangement is possible.

Preferably, the coupling means and the locking means have at least one common, relative to the base unit movable coupling and locking element which is selectively positionable in an operative position locking the closed closure lid or in an ineffective position releasing the closure lid for opening. This common or combined coupling and locking element is designed so that it is in the stacked state of several containers when taking the operative position in coupling engagement with another container to this further container in the height direction zugfest with the movable coupling and locking element coupling container having a positive fit. The at least one combined coupling and locking element can thus be used independently of the locking of the closed closure lid, whether another container is stacked or not. If another container is stacked, the combined coupling and locking element also serves for the mechanical coupling of the stacked containers.

Expediently, a combined coupling and locking element is assigned to both axial end faces of the basic unit. However, the locking function with respect to the closure lid can already be fulfilled if only one of two movable upper coupling elements assigned to one end face of the basic unit is designed as a combined coupling and locking element.

Each closure lid is preferably pivotably mounted on the associated additional receiving body to be moved in the context of a pivoting movement between its closed position and its release position can.

Figur 1

einen stapelbaren Behälter vorteilhaften Aufbaus der erfindungsgemäßen Behälteranordnung in einer perspektivischen Darstellung, wobei sich die Zusatz-Aufnahmekörper in ihrer Grundstellung befinden und die Verschlussdeckel eine verriegelte Schließstellung einnehmen,

Figur 2

den Behälter aus Figur 1 mit in die Zugangsstellung verschwenkten Zusatz-Aufnahmekörpern, wobei der Verschlussdeckel des einen Zusatz-Aufnahmekörpers geschlossen und der andere geöffnet ist,

Figur 3

einen Stapelverbund bestehend aus zwei in einer Höhenrichtung aufeinandersitzenden und vertikal zusammenhängend miteinander gekoppelten Behältern der in Figuren 1 und 2 gezeigten Art in einer perspektivischen Darstellung,

Figur 4

die Behälteranordnung aus Figur 3 im voneinander abgehobenen Zustand der beiden Behälter,

Figur 5

einen Längsschnitt durch die Behälteranordnung aus Figur 3 gemäß Schnittlinie V-V aus Figur 3,

Figur 6

den in Figur 4 strichpunktiert umrahmten Ausschnitt VI in einer vergrößerten Darstellung, wobei ein kombiniertes Kopplungs- und Verriegelungselement in einer unwirksamen Stellung gezeigt ist, wobei der Ausschnitt dem in Figur 3 strichpunktiert umrahmten Ausschnitt VIa entspricht, in dem das kombinierte Kopplungs- und Verriegelungselement in einer wirksamen Stellung gezeigt ist,

Figur 7

einen Ausschnitt des in Figur 1 illustrierten Behälters im Längsschnitt gemäß der dortigen Schnittlinie VII-VII, und

Figur 8

einen Ausschnitt der in Figur 3 gezeigten Behälteranordnung im Längsschnitt gemäß der dortigen Schnittlinie VIII-VIII.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this show:

FIG. 1

a stackable container advantageous structure of the container assembly according to the invention in a perspective view, with the additional receiving body are in their normal position and the closure lid occupy a locked closed position,

FIG. 2

the container off FIG. 1 with additional receiving bodies pivoted into the access position, the closure lid of one additional receiving body being closed and the other being opened,

FIG. 3

a stack composite consisting of two in a height direction aufeinanderitzenden and vertically contiguous coupled containers of in FIGS. 1 and 2 shown type in a perspective view,

FIG. 4

the container assembly FIG. 3 in the raised state of the two containers,

FIG. 5

a longitudinal section through the container assembly FIG. 3 according to section line VV off FIG. 3 .

FIG. 6

the in FIG. 4 dash-dotted framed section VI in an enlarged view, wherein a combined coupling and locking element is shown in an inoperative position, wherein the cutout the in FIG. 3 dash-dotted framed section corresponds to VIa, in which the combined coupling and locking element is shown in an operative position,

FIG. 7

a section of the in FIG. 1 illustrated container in longitudinal section according to the local section line VII-VII, and

FIG. 8

a section of in FIG. 3 shown container arrangement in longitudinal section according to the local section line VIII-VIII.

From the drawing, an advantageous embodiment of the container assembly 1 according to the invention can be seen, which consists of at least one stackable container 2, which is suitable to be stacked with at least one other similar stackable container 2 in a direction indicated by a dashed line height direction 3. Preferably, the container assembly 1 contains a plurality of identically designed stackable container 2, which - are stackable on each other - in particular in any order, so that one out Figures 3 and 5 exemplary container stack 4 results. For example, such a container stack 4 may comprise two or more stackable containers 2 stacked on top of each other.

Each of the stackable containers 2, which is simply referred to below as a container, has a vertical axis 5 extending in the vertical direction 3, the vertical axes 5 of the containers 2 stacked on one another coinciding.

Each container 2 of the container arrangement 1 is preferably equipped with coupling means 6, which make it possible to detachably connect two containers 2 of a container stack 4 arranged directly above one another to form a stack composite 7 of which the stacked containers 2 are positively connected with each other in the height direction 3 and prevented from lifting each other. The coupling means 6 are in particular designed such that a container 2 can be coupled both with a container 2 placed on it and with a container 2 arranged below it in the vertical direction 3, in particular by mutual locking. If necessary, a stack composite 7 realized by the coupling can be simply lifted and transported by grasping the container 2 arranged at the top in the stack composite 7 and correspondingly handling it.

Each container 2 is also usable individually. The stackability and the coupling ease of storage and transport in the presence of a plurality of containers. 2

The container 2 can be suitably also stacked and coupled with a non-identical further container, that is, with a container of another type, if it has the same type of coupling means 6 as the described container 2. Also, the coupling means 6 can preferably be used to fix the container 2 alone or as the lower member of a container stack 4 on a support structure, for example on a trolley or on a Staubabsauggerät.

In addition to the coupling means 6, the container 2 may have mechanical interface means 8 enabling its attachment to a container of a different type stacked therewith, which does not have coupling means 6 compatible with the coupling means 6. By way of example, in particular in the region of the underside of the container 2, a plurality of interface means 8 are present, one in the height direction 3 allow inextricable coupling with containers of a type that can be found in the EP 0 555 533 B1 and in the EP 2 315 701 B1 are described. For example, the interface means 8 are adapted to engage engagement recesses of a container of a different type or are formed by at least one locking projection which permits cooperation with a rotary latch of a container of a different type.

Each container 2 of the container arrangement 1 expediently has a rectangular plan view and has an imaginary longitudinal axis 11 perpendicular to the vertical axis 5 and a transverse axis 12 perpendicular to the vertical axis 5 and the longitudinal axis 11. The container 2 expediently has its longitudinal direction determined by the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 11 over a greater length than in the determined by the axial direction of the transverse axis 12 transverse direction. The two opposite, oriented in the longitudinal direction end faces of the container 2 are referred to below for better distinction as axial end faces 13.

In the usual position of use of the container assembly 1, the vertical axes 5 are oriented vertically. In addition, each container 2 has a in its usual position of use upwardly oriented top 14 and an oppositely downward oriented bottom 15. Within a container stack 4 and stack composite 7, the top 14 and the bottom 15 are directly adjacent container.

Each container 2 has a carrying handle 16 assigned to the upper side 14. At it, each individual container 2 or the uppermost container 2 of a stacked composite 7 can be gripped and lifted with one hand and transported.

In the following, a preferred construction of the at least one stackable container 2 of the container arrangement 1 will be discussed in greater detail.

Accordingly, the container 2 has a base unit 17 with a preferably at least substantially box-like main receiving body 18 which defines an interior designated as the main receiving space 21. The main receiving body 18 has a preferably plate-shaped bottom 22 with a rectangular outline and along the edge of the bottom 22 extending, in the height direction 3 upwardly projecting side wall 23. The side wall 23 framed laterally from the bottom 22 limited main receiving space 21st The upwardly facing peripheral edge 24 of the side wall 23 defines an opening of the main receiving space 21, referred to as the main opening 25, through which the interior of the main receiving space 21 is accessible when not covered. The main receiving space 21 is suitable for storing any objects, such as hand tools.

The mentioned carrying handle 16 is a part of the basic unit 17 and expediently attached to the main receiving body 18. Preferably, the carrying handle 16 projects from the main receiving body 18 in the axial direction of the vertical axis 5 upwards, so that it projects beyond the upper edge 24 of the side wall 23. Although it would be possible, for example, to form the carrying handle 16 as a folding handle or as a telescopic handle, it is advantageous if it is connected to the main receiving body 18 to form a rigid unit.

Preferably, the carrying handle 16 is formed as a bow handle, which applies to the embodiment. Two gripping arms 16 a, 16 b, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the container 2, are firmly connected to the main receiving body 18 are, project upwards and are connected at their upper end by a hand embracing support web 16c.

The carrying handle 16 expediently extends in a median plane 26 of the basic unit 17, which is spanned by the longitudinal axis 11 and the vertical axis 5.

Conveniently, the carrying handle 16 is always in front of the upper side 14 with respect to the adjacent components of the container 2 upwards. This is especially true for example in FIG. 1 In order that this is not disturbing when stacking with a similar container 2, the base unit 17 is provided in vertical alignment with the carrying handle 16, for example in the median plane 26, with a slot-shaped cavity 27 which is in the region of Floor 22 is open to the bottom 15. He has a sufficient width and length to allow when stacking the container 2 from below the immersion of the top 14 of the underlying container 2 projecting component of the carrying handle 16. The vertical section in FIG. 5 illustrates how the carrying handle 16 of the lower container 2a of two stacked containers 2 from below into the slit-shaped cavity 27 of the upper container 2b of the two stacked container 2 is immersed.

Conveniently, the slot-shaped cavity 27 and the carrying handle 16 are dimensionally matched to one another such that a mutual stabilization of the stacked container 2 sets in a plane defined by the longitudinal axis 11 and the transverse axis 12 horizontal plane 28.

The slot-shaped cavity 27 is expediently formed by the interior of a hollow-shaped partition wall 31, which extends in the main receiving space 21 between the two axial end faces 13 associated end wall portions 23 a, 23 b of the circumferential side wall 23. Through this subdivision wall 31, which expediently extends beyond the peripheral edge 24 of the side wall 23 piecewise upward, the main receiving space 21 is divided into two adjacent subspaces 21a, 21b in the axial direction of the transverse axis 12.

The two gripping arms 16a, 16b are expediently arranged on the dividing wall 31, from which they protrude upwards. The supporting web 16 extending in the longitudinal direction of the container 2 is arranged at a vertical distance above the dividing wall 31.

The container 2 furthermore has two additional attachment bodies 33, 34 movable relative to the base unit 17 and in particular with respect to the main receiving body 18 by means of a transition movement 32 illustrated by double arrows. With the transition movement 32, the two additional receiving bodies 33, 34, in particular independently, between an in FIGS. 1 . 3 and 4 illustrated retracted home position and one out FIG. 2 apparent extended access position are shifted. The described mobility results from bearing means 35, via which each additional receiving body 33, 34 is movably mounted on the base unit 17 and in particular on the main receiving body 18. A special feature of this bearing means 35 is that it is the spatial orientation of the additional receiving body 33, 34 during the transition movement 32 with respect to the main receiving body 18 constant and, in particular, both in the basic position and in the access position.

This is advantageous above all because each additional receiving body 33, 34 defines a receiving space designated as an additional receiving space 36, which is oriented upward in the same way as the main opening 25 of the main receiving space 21, for better distinction as additional opening 37 Opening has. Thus, it is ensured that regardless of the current position of an additional receiving body 33, 34 whose additional opening 37 has the same orientation as the main opening 25th

Each additional receiving body 33, 34 is expediently box-shaped and has expediently a rectangular outline when viewed in the axial direction of the vertical axis 5. He has a bottom arranged bottom 38, along the edge of which extends a circumferential, upstanding side wall 41, the upper Edge 42 framed the aforementioned additional opening 37.

In the retracted basic position take the additional receiving body 33, 34 a side by side on the main receiving body 18 seated while the main opening 25 covering position. In particular, they are contoured so that the container 2 in the retracted basic position has the same outline in the retracted basic position in the region of the additional receiving body 33, 34 as in the area of the main receiving body 18. In this way, the side wall 23 of the main receiving body 18 and the Side walls 41 of the two additional receiving body 33, 34 together the circumferential side surface 43 of the container 2. Together considered define the main receiving body 18 and located in the basic position Additional receiving body 33, 34 an at least substantially cuboid-shaped structure.

Each additional receiving body 33, 34 has a longitudinal axis 44 which is parallel to the longitudinal axis 11. The length dimensions of the additional accommodating bodies 33, 34 are at least substantially the same as those of the main accommodating body 18.

In the exemplary embodiment, each additional receiving body 33, 34 in the basic position covers one of the subspaces 21a, 21b of the main receiving space 21. For this purpose, each additional receiving body 33, 34 has a width measured in the axial direction of the transverse axis 12, which is half the width of the main -Aufnahmekörpers 18 minus half the width of the composite of the carrying handle 16 and the partition wall structure 31 results. It is thus achieved that each additional receiving body 33, 34 is seated when taking the basic position with its underside on the upper edge 24 of the side wall 23 of the main receiving body 18 and on the other additional receiving body 33, 34 facing inside of the carrying handle 16 and / or the partition wall 31 is flanked.

If both additional receiving bodies 33, 34 are positioned in the basic position, there is a slit-like gap 45 between them, in which the carrying handle 16 extends. The gap 45 is open at the top 14 of the container 2, where the carrying handle 16 protrudes upward so that it can be taken for the transport of the container 2.

Preferably, the carrying handle 16 is, as mentioned, rigidly arranged on the main receiving body 18, so that it protrudes upward beyond the additional receiving bodies 33, 34 independently thereof, whether the container 2 is now used individually or coupled to a stack composite 7.

Not shown is an embodiment in which the carrying handle 16 is slidably mounted on the main receiving body 18 and / or is designed to be telescopic, that it can be inserted into the gap 45 when not in use.

Is an additional receiving body 33, 34 in one out FIG. 2 has been displaced apparent access position, he stands in the axial direction of the transverse axis 12 laterally beyond the main receiving body 18 and thereby simultaneously the previously hidden from him area of the main opening 25 free, so that the main opening 25 is accessible for inserting or removing an object.

The additional receiving body 33, 34 and the bearing means 35 are in particular designed so that each additional receiving body 33, 34 completely releases the covered by him in the basic position section of the main opening 25 when taking his access position. By way of example, this means that the additional receiving body 33, 34 is arranged in the access position with at least approximately its full outline above the main receiving body 18 laterally next to this. This becomes clear FIG. 5 , in which the extended access position of an additional receiving body at 34 'is indicated by dash-dotted lines. In this way optimal accessibility of the exposed main receiving space 21 is ensured.

The bearing means 35 allow an independent transition movement 32 of the two additional receiving body 33, 34. In this way it is possible, leaving the one additional receiving body 33 in the basic position to spend only the other additional receiving body 34 in the access position.

Each additional receiving body 33, 34 is equipped with a closure lid 46, with which the associated additional opening 37 can optionally close or release. In a closed position, the closure lid 46 extends beyond the associated additional opening 37 and covers it so that objects located in the additional receiving space 36 can not fall out. In addition, the closure cap 46 may expediently be pivoted relative to the associated additional receiving body 33, 34 so that it occupies a release opening releasing the additional opening 37, thereby making it possible to place objects in the additional receiving space 36, by executing a swivel movement 51 indicated by a double arrow to put in or take out from there. In FIG. 2 is in the right-most additional receiving body 34, the closed position and the left-side additional receiving body 33, a release position of the closure lid 46 is shown.

If required, individual small containers 67 can also be used in the main receiving space 21 and in each additional receiving space 36, in which, in particular, small parts can be stored very well. This is in FIG. 5 illustrated.

For opening and closing, the closure lid 46 is pivotably mounted on the associated additional receiving body 33, 34. The dash-dotted lines indicated pivot axis 47 extends in the longitudinal direction of the container 2. The pivoting movement 51 enabling pivot bearing device 48 is in particular designed so that the pivot axis 47 of the carrying handle 16 in the transverse direction of the container on remote outer longitudinal wall portion 41a of the side wall 41 is assigned. It is located there in particular at the upper edge 42.

For example, the closure cap 46 may be pivotally supported via a film hinge to a bearing portion fixed to the outer longitudinal wall portion 41a.

By such a bearing it is achieved that in the pivoting movement 51 of the other additional receiving body 33, 34 facing the longitudinal inner edge portion 46a of the closure lid 46 is pivoted. This longitudinal-side inner edge region 46a of the closure lid 46 rests in the closed position on the edge 42 of the inner long-side wall section 41b of the side wall 41 of the additional holding body 33, 34 adjacent to the carrying handle 16.

In other words, when opening or closing the associated additional opening 37, a closure lid 46 is raised or lowered at its longitudinal side inner edge region 46a facing the carrying handle 16 in order to carry out the pivoting movement 51.

A plurality of containers 2 may be stacked when each lower container 2a disposed below an upper container 2, 2b is in a state in which its auxiliary accommodating bodies 33, 34 occupy the normal position and at the same time the associated closure caps 46 are in the closed position. Then additional receiving body 33, 34 and closure cover 46 of the respective lower container 2, 2a between the main receiving bodies 18 of the two stacking container 2, 2a, 2b incorporated. Already thereby can advantageously be prevented that an additional receiving body 33, 34 is accidentally moved into the access position or that a closure lid 46 enters a release position. This results in a high storage security for the stored items.

However, it is advantageous if the container 2 is also equipped with special locking means 49 which, regardless of whether a container 2 is present individually or in the stack, a locking of the closure cover 46 in the closed position and a locking of the additional receiving body 33, 34 in their basic position. This will be discussed below.

The additional receiving body 33, 34 are in particular mounted on the main receiving body 18, that they are moved away from each other or towards each other in the transition between the basic position and the access position in the axial direction of the transverse axis 12. In principle, this movement may well involve a linear movement, for example by the additional receiving bodies 33, 34 being mounted on the main receiving body 18 so as to be displaceable via guide rails. As much more advantageous, however, a realized in the embodiment design is considered, in which the bearing means 35 are designed as a pivot bearing means 35a, so that the transition movement 32 is at least partially and preferably in its entirety a pivoting movement. Irrespective of this, however, it is also ensured here that the additional receiving bodies 33, 34 always maintain their spatial orientation with respect to the main receiving body 18. No matter in which relative position an additional receiving body 33, 34 is currently with respect to the main receiving body 18, the additional openings 37 always in the same direction, which coincides expediently with the orientation of the main opening 25.

The pivot bearing means 35a are preferably formed so that each additional receiving body 33, 34 in the transitional movement 32 passes through an arcuate trajectory 50 which in FIG. 5 is indicated. As it traverses this trajectory 50, the height position of the respective additional holding body 33, 34 assumed with respect to the main receiving body 18 changes, so that it temporarily occupies a higher position than in the basic position. This is, inter alia, an aspect that prevents the container 2 in the stacked state, even without separate locking means 49, that an additional receiving body 33, 34 accidentally gets into the access position. The additional receiving body 33, 34 is blocked by the container 2 placed on it and prevented from performing the arcuate transition movement 32.

However, an upper container 2b can fulfill a blocking function with respect to the additional accommodating bodies 33, 34 placed below it even if the transitional movement 32 does not follow a curved path. It then only requires a corresponding mutual creative coordination between on the underside of the main receiving body 18 downwardly projecting feet 52 and the outside of the closure lids 46 formed engagement recesses 53, in which the feet 52 engage in the stacked state of the container 2. In the exemplary embodiment, such feet 52 are designed in such a manner on engagement recesses 53 of the closure lid 46 that adjusts a positive blockage in the horizontal plane 28 and thereby the stacked containers additionally or alternatively to the immersed into the cavity 27 carrying handle 16 a displacement safety between the stacking containers. 2 Experienced.

The pivot bearing means 35a are preferably designed in this way and the additional receiving bodies 33, 34 are designed to fit the main receiving body 18 in such a way that the additional receiving bodies 33, 34 occupy the same height position with respect to the main receiving body 18 in the pivoted out access position as in FIG the basic position.

Preferably, the pivot bearing means 35a per additional receiving body 33, 34 realized by means of multiple Gelenkparallelogramme 54. Each of these Gelenkparallelogramme 54 includes two rigid guide arms 54a, 54b, which are each mounted on the one hand on the additional receiving body 33, 34 and on the other hand on the main receiving body 18, wherein the four hinge points 54c lie in the vertices of a regular parallelogram.

Each auxiliary receiving body 33, 34 is preferably assigned its own articulated parallelogram 54 arranged in the region of one of the axial end faces 13 of the container 2. This is the case in the embodiment. It is advantageous if the end-side wall portions 23a, 23b of the side wall 23 of the main receiving body 18 as well as in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 44 facing end wall portions 41c, 41d of the side wall 41 of the additional receiving body 33, 34 are at least partially double-walled and edge form open storage chambers 55, in which the guide arms 54a, 54b of Gelenkparallelogramme 54 protrude. In this way, the Gelenkparallelogramme 54 in the basic position of the additional receiving body 33, 34 on the one hand to the outside of the container 2 towards concealed and on the other hand also separated inwardly from both the main receiving space 21 and the associated additional receiving space 36 or sealed off. The articulation points 54c are preferably located within these bearing chambers 55.

In this way, damage to the pivot bearing means 35a and object-induced obstructions or blockages of the pivot bearing means 35a can be excluded.

The already mentioned coupling means 6 are arranged on the base unit 17, so that within a stack composite 7 a tensile connection between the basic units 17 of the stacked container is present and the bearing means 35 are relieved.

It is furthermore advantageous if the coupling means 6, preferably exclusively, are arranged on the base unit 17 in the region of the two axial end faces 13. Moreover, it is advantageous if the coupling means 6 are arranged on the main receiving body 18.

In the exemplary embodiment, each of the axial end faces of the base unit 17 oriented in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 11 is assigned exactly one coupling unit 56, which is composed of a lower coupling element 56a arranged near the bottom 22 of the main receiving body 18 and an upper coupling element 56b arranged further up , This single coupling unit 56 is preferably arranged on the base unit 17 at the center of the width, relative to the axial direction of the transverse axis 12. In this way, a coupling can take place in the center of gravity of the container 2, with minimal manufacturing and operating costs.

In one embodiment, not shown, the coupling means 6 include a plurality of coupling units 56 per end side of the base unit 17th

While the lower coupling element 56a is formed stationary with respect to the base unit 17 and in particular is rigidly arranged on the base unit 17, the upper coupling element 56b is designed to be movable relative to the base unit 17 and in particular with respect to the main receiving body 18. Although this arrangement can also be reversed, but the mobile design of the upper coupling element 56b has the advantage that it is easily accessible for actuation and that it can be used in a manner yet to be explained as part of the already mentioned locking means 49.

To simplify the description, the movable coupling element formed by way of example by the upper coupling element 56b will also be denoted by the reference numeral 56 'and the stationary coupling element by the reference numeral 56' '.

The coupling units 56 assigned to the same end face 13 are now designed such that in the vertically stacked state of two containers 2, the upper coupling element 56b of the respective lower container 2a can be brought into coupling engagement with the lower coupling element 56a of the respective upper container 2, 2b. This coupling engagement is designed so that in the height direction 3, 5 sets a tensile, positive connection, which prevents mutual vertical lifting of the stacked containers 2a, 2b.

The movement of the movable coupling element 56 'to be executed for coupling and uncoupling the coupling means 6 of two stacked containers 2 is referred to as working movement 57. In the context of this working movement 57, the coupling element 56 'can optionally be in an operative position producing the coupling engagement - in FIG. 8 illustrated - or in one the disengaged inoperative position which is in FIG. 6 is illustrated, positioned.

Preferably, the movable coupling element 56 'is designed as a coupling strap 58 mounted pivotably on the base unit 17, while the stationary coupling element 56 "is preferably realized in the form of at least one coupling projection 59 protruding from the base unit 17. The coupling tab 58 has a recess 58 a, which is bounded by a coupling edge 58 b, wherein the coupling projection 59 engages in the operative position so that it dips into the recess 58 a and is overlapped on its pointing in the direction of height 3 side of the coupling edge 58 b ,

The coupling tab 58 is expediently mounted only pivotably on the base unit 17, so that the working movement 57 is a pure pivoting movement. In principle, however, the coupling tab 58 could also have other degrees of freedom of movement. The stationary in the embodiment with respect to the base unit 17 pivot axis of the coupling plate 58 is in FIGS. 7 and 8 indicated at 62, it is parallel to the transverse axis 12th

The upper coupling elements 56b are expediently placed at the level of the upper side of the additional holding body 33, 34 which occupies the basic position, that is to say at a height at which the closing covers 46 engaging the closed position are located. This results in how out FIG. 8 In addition, this advantageously makes it possible to use the upper, at the same time movable coupling element 56b, 56 'as a component of the locking means 49 for locking the closed position of the closure cover 46.

So that the upper coupling elements 56b can assume the described height position, the base unit 17 expediently has, in the region of the two axial end faces 13, a supporting column 63 projecting upwards beyond the side wall 23, on which, in particular at its upper end region, the upper coupling element 56b is mounted is.

The support columns 63 may be formed independently of the structure of the carrying handle 16 or they form, as in the embodiment, a structural unit with the carrying handle 16. For example, the support columns 63 may be fixed and in particular integrally formed with a respective adjacent handle legs 16a and 16b.

In the basic position of the two additional receiving body 33, 34, the support column 63 is expediently flanked by the two additional receiving bodies 33, 34, wherein it extends in particular between these two additional receiving bodies 33, 34 upwards.

As already mentioned, the at least one stackable container 2 is preferably equipped with locking means 49 which allow releasable locking of the closure lid 46 located in the closed position when the additional holding bodies 33, 34 are in their basic position. In this case, preferably indirectly, the additional receiving body 33, 34 blocked in its normal position and prevented from unintentional displacement in the access position.

The locking means 49 are arranged per container 2 partially on the base unit 17 and partially on the closure lids 46. Conveniently, they are divided into two locking units 64, each in the range of one of axial end faces 13 of the container 2 are arranged. Particularly advantageous is the illustrated embodiment, in which the locking means 49 are at least partially formed in the unit with the coupling means 6, which has the example result that at least one and suitably on each axial end face 13 in addition to a coupling unit 56, a locking unit 64 is present which has at least one and expediently exactly one component in common with the coupling unit 56. The common component is formed by the upper, movable coupling element 56b, 56 '. This acts as a combined, relative to the base unit 17 movable coupling and locking member 65 which is in the context of the working movement 57 in a locking engagement with a Gegenverriegelungselement 66 of each closure cover 46 can be brought and thereby prevents pivoting of the respective closure lid 46 in a release position.

The locking position of the combined coupling and locking element 65 automatically results whenever it is pivoted into the above-mentioned effective position, which also causes a locking coupling engagement with the base unit 17 of the container 2 arranged above it in the stacked state of two containers.

If two closed containers stacked on top of each other, the coupling and locking element 65 can be selectively positioned in an operative or in an inoperative position as part of the working movement 57, wherein it locks in the operative position on the one hand, the closure cover 46 in the closed position and on the other hand, a positive coupling with the upper container 2b placed over it. This is for example in Figures 3 and 8th illustrated.

In the inoperative position, both the coupling engagement and the locking engagement are canceled, so that an upper container 2b removed and the lower container 2a can be opened. It is advantageous that after decoupling the upper container 2, 2a automatically without a further actuation step, the closure lid 46 and thus also the additional receiving body 33, 34 are unlocked and ready for use.

With regard to the operation of the combined coupling and locking member 65, it makes no difference whether or not an upper container 2b is present. Even with an individual container 2, the effective position of the coupling and locking element 65 causes the locking of the closure cover 46 and indirectly the additional receiving body 33, 34. This is in FIGS. 1 and 7 illustrated.

In the combined embodiment as a coupling and locking element 65, the coupling tab 58 also acts as a locking tab 60. In this context, it is advantageous if the counter-locking elements 66 are formed as locking projections 66a, in the operative position in the same recess 58a of the coupling tab 58th engage like a coupling projection 59. However, it would also be readily possible to provide at the same time acting as a locking tab 60 coupling tab 58 separate recesses for the various projections.

It is expedient in any case when the locking means 49 are formed so that in the operative position of the coupling and locking element 65 at the same time both closure lid 46 are locked. This results in a kind of central locking.

At each closure lid 46, the counter-locking element 66 is expediently located in the transition region between the longitudinal inner edge region 46a and the adjoining frontal edge region 46b. In the locked state, therefore, the closure lid 46 can no longer be swung up.

Preferably, the at least one container 2 consists at least largely of a plastic material. The closure cover 46 may at least partially consist of a transparent material, so that it can be seen without opening the closure lid 46, whether a content is in the associated additional receiving space 36.

Claims (15)

1. Container assembly, comprising at least one stackable container (2), which has a base unit (17) with a main accommodating body (18), the main accommodating body (18) defining a main accommodating chamber (21), which is accessible at its top via a main opening (25) and which is bounded by a bottom (22) and a continuous side wall (23) projecting upwards from the edge of the bottom (22) in a vertical direction of the container (2), wherein the container (2) has a carrying handle (16) on the main accommodating body (18) in the region of its top side (14), and wherein coupling means (6) suitable for the releasable coupling of at least two containers (2) stacked in the vertical direction to form a stacked composite (8) preventing a mutual lift-off in the vertical direction (3) are provided on the base unit (17), characterised in that the container (2) comprises two auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34), which in a retracted home position are placed adjacent to one another on the main accommodating body (18) while covering the main opening (25) and each of which defines an auxiliary accommodation chamber (36), which is accessible at its top via an auxiliary opening (37) and which is bounded by a bottom (38) and a continuous side wall (41) projecting upwards from the edge of the bottom (38) in a vertical direction of the container (2), wherein each auxiliary accommodating body (33, 34) can be moved relative to the main accommodating body (18), while maintaining its spatial orientation adopted relative to the main accommodating body (18) owing to bearing means (35) provided, and while performing a transitional movement (32), into an extended access position, which at least partially uncovers the main opening (25) for access to the main accommodating chamber (21) while laterally projecting beyond the main accommodating body (18), and wherein a closing cover (46) movable between a closed position covering the associated auxiliary opening (37) and at least one release position uncovering the auxiliary opening (37) is provided on each auxiliary accommodating body (33, 34), wherein, in the stacked and coupled state of several containers (2), the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34) of a respective lower container (2, 2a), which adopt the home position, are, together with their closing covers (46) adopting the closed position, placed between the main accommodating bodies (33, 34) of the containers (2, 2a, 2b) located directly on top of one another.
2. Container assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of the stackable containers (2), which both can be used individually and can be stacked on top of one another in the vertical direction (3) and releasably coupled in pairs using the coupling means (6) to form a stacked composite (7) preventing a mutual lift-off in the vertical direction (3).
3. Container assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least one container (2) has a longitudinal axis (11), which is perpendicular to the vertical direction, wherein the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34) are arranged adjacent to one another at right angles to the longitudinal axis (11) and are moved away from one another or towards one another in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (11) in the transition between the home position and the access position.
4. Container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the bearing means (35) are configured as pivot bearing means (35a) in such a way that the transitional movement (32) is at least partially a pivoting movement in which the respective auxiliary accommodating body (33, 34) is pivoted while maintaining its spatial orientation relative to the main accommodating body (18).
5. Container assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that the pivot bearing means (35a) are designed such that each auxiliary accommodating body (33, 34) traverses an arc-shaped path curve (50) in its transitional movement (32), in particular in such a way that it changes its vertical position adopted relative to the main accommodating body (18) during the transitional movement (32), wherein each auxiliary accommodating body (33, 34) expediently adopts in the access position the same vertical position relative to the main accommodating body (18) as in the home position.
6. Container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pivot bearing means (35a) are implemented by means of a plurality of articulated parallelograms (54), each of which expediently comprises two guide arms (54a, 54b) hinged at the auxiliary accommodating body (33, 34) on the one hand and at the main accommodating body (18) on the other hand, the pivot points (54c) lying in the corner points of a parallelogram.
7. Container assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the guide arms (54a, 54b) of the articulated parallelograms (54) project into bearing chambers (55) of the main accommodating body (18) and of the auxiliary accommodating body (33, 34), which are formed by double-walled sections of the side walls (23, 41), in such a way that they are covered towards the outside in the home position of the associated auxiliary accommodating body (33, 34) and in addition are bulkheaded towards the inside both from the main accommodating chamber (18) and from the associated auxiliary accommodating chamber (36).
8. Container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the at least one container (2) has a longitudinal axis (11) perpendicular to its vertical direction, and in that the transitional movement (32) of the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34), if viewed in the vertical direction of the container (2), is oriented in the axial direction of a transverse axis (12) of the container, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (11), the coupling means (6) being, in particular exclusively, located in the region of opposite axial end faces (13) of the base unit (17), which are oriented in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis (11).
9. Container assembly according to claim 8, characterised in that each of the coupling means (6) comprises, in the region of the two axial end faces (13) of the base unit (17), at least one coupling unit (56) consisting of a lower coupling element (56a) located near the bottom (22) of the main accommodating body (18) and an upper coupling element (56b) located at a higher level, wherein at least one of these coupling elements (56a, 56b) is movable for optionally establishing or releasing a coupling engagement between two containers (2, 2a, 2b) sitting on top of one another, wherein the coupling units (56) are designed such that, in the stacked state of two containers (2, 2a, 2b), an upper coupling element (56b) of the bottom container (2, 2a) can be releasably coupled to a lower coupling element (56a) of the top container (2, 2b).
10. Container assembly according to claim 9, characterised in that precisely one coupling unit (56) is provided on each axial end face (13) of the base unit (17) in the middle of its width, and/or in that the upper coupling element (56b) is a coupling element (56') which is movable relative to the main accommodating body (18), while the lower coupling element (56a) is stationary on the base unit (17).
11. Container assembly according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the movable coupling element (56') is a coupling tab (58) pivotably mounted on the base unit (17), the other coupling element (56") expediently being at least one coupling projection (59) which can be encompassed by the coupling tab (58), and/or in that the upper coupling elements (56b) are placed at the level of the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34) adopting the home position, and/or in that the upper coupling elements (56b) are located on support columns (63) of the base unit (17), which project upwards beyond the side wall (23) of the main accommodating body (18) and which expediently extend upwards between the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34) in the home position of the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34).
12. Container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the at least one container (2) is provided with locking means (49), which are located partly on the base unit (17) and partly on the closing covers (46) and which allow the closing covers (46) to be releasably locked when the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34) are in their home position, the locking means (49) being expediently designed for the simultaneous locking and unlocking of both closing covers (46), wherein expediently the locking means (49) are at least partially designed as an assembly with the coupling means (6), expediently in such a way that, when containers (2, 2a, 2b) stacked on top of one another are coupled, the closing covers (46) are locked in the closing position at the same time.
13. Container assembly according to claim 12, characterised in that the coupling means (6) and the locking means (49) comprise at least one common combined coupling and locking element (65), which is movable relative to the base unit (17) and which can optionally be positioned in an active position locking the closed closing covers (46) or in an inactive position unlocking the closing covers (46), wherein the combined coupling and locking element (65) is, if adopting its active position when a further container (2, 2b) is placed on the container (2, 2a) to form a stacked composite (7), in coupling engagement with this further container (2, 2b) as well, and wherein the coupling engagement with the further container (2, 2b) is cancelled in the inactive position of the combined coupling and locking element (65), wherein expediently the coupling means (6) comprise in the region of each of the two axial end faces (13) of the base unit (17) at least one coupling unit (56) consisting of a lower coupling element (56a) located near the bottom (22) of the main accommodating body (18) and an upper coupling element (56b) located at a vertical distance therefrom at a higher level on the base unit (17), a combined coupling and locking element (65) being represented by the movable upper coupling element (56b) of at least one and expediently of each of the coupling units (56).
14. Container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the carrying handle (16), starting from the main accommodating body (18), projects upwards between the two auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34) and is flanked on opposite sides by the two auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34), wherein the carrying handle (16) expediently projects upwards above the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34) in the home position of the two auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34), and wherein the main accommodating body (18) further has a slot-shaped cavity (27) open towards its underside, into which cavity (27) the carrying handle (16) of a further container (2) placed below the container (2) can dip in the stacked state of two containers (2).
15. Container assembly according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that there is a gap (45) between the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34) adopting the home position, through which gap (45) the carrying handle (16) extends upwards from the main accommodating body (18), the carrying handle (16) expediently projecting upwards beyond the auxiliary accommodating bodies (33, 34), and/or in that each closing cover (46) is pivotably mounted relative to the associated auxiliary accommodating body (33, 34) in order to be movable between its closing position and its release position.

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