EP3247648A1

EP3247648A1 - Display container

Info

Publication number: EP3247648A1
Application number: EP16701316.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Huizingh; Richard Kellerer
Original assignee: IFCO Systems GmbH
Current assignee: IFCO Systems GmbH
Priority date: 2015-01-22
Filing date: 2016-01-22
Publication date: 2017-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-22
Also published as: TR201906909T4; US20200002058A1; AR103479A1; AR116525A2; RU2722004C2; US20170305598A1; US10442571B2; DE102015100886A1; US11097870B2; ES2969948T3; EP3247648B1; EP3489162B1; HUE044499T2; EP3489162A1; DK3247648T3; RU2017129538A3; RU2690277C2; ES2726042T3; RU2019116191A; PL3247648T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (2) for transporting and storing goods, which container has a base (4) and side walls (6, 8, 10, 12) extending from the base (4). According to the invention, at least one of the side walls (6) or a part thereof is formed by a lattice structure (20), which is expandable and compressible or can be pulled apart and pushed together in at least one direction and in the side wall plane in order to delimit or seal the container (2) to the side in a first position and to expose the container (2) to the side in a second position.

Description

description

display container

The present invention relates to a container for transport and the

Storage of goods according to the preamble of claim 1. In particular, the invention relates to a display container for the presentation of goods.

Goods are usually in transport containers or boxes for

Retailers shipped and there from the transport container on shelves

rearranged. Instead of taking them out of the transport containers and in

To give sales shelves and thus to present to the customer, one has gone over in recent years for cost and space reasons increasingly to the goods in entire groups or stacks of goods or even in the

Present transport boxes to the customer. Since a variety of goods are sold in bags, cardboard packaging, etc., which can be easily damaged during transport, the transport crates must protect the delivered goods as possible from all sides and completely against external force. Furthermore, these may only have a low weight and should be compactable in the empty state, to save space between these or intermediate storage

to transport back. For this purpose, folding or folding plastic containers are usually used. However, these containers are only partially suitable for presenting goods for sale, since the side walls, which protect the goods during transport from all sides, also cover the goods.

If, as proposed in the publications US Pat. No. 6,305,566 B1 and WO 2011/048259 A1, a side wall is omitted for presentation purposes, there is a danger that the goods will be left on the side of the omitted part during transport

Side wall can fall out or be damaged. The same applies to the container described in GB 2 449 757 A, in which a side wall is provided only a frame with a large display opening, or the container according to EP 0 835 816 A2, in which a U-shaped recess in the side wall is provided. at other systems known from GB 2 068 338 A or WO 94/10049 A1, at least one side wall can be folded outward. However, this requires a corresponding space to the side or to the front, which is why these containers can not be stacked close to each other or folded side walls hidden under the stacked goods container. A likewise unconvincing compromise is the systems according to US 2008/142530 A1 and US 2004/020821 A1, in which the side wall is divided several times and an upper half or two thirds of a side wall can be folded outward, or the systems according to US Pat 2008/142530 A1 and US 2010/147840 A1, in which sidewalls can be completely removed, which in turn raises the question of what the removed

Side walls should happen or where they should be stored temporarily.

From WO 2011/131301 A1 a container is known, which could in principle be suitable for the application described above, since there one of the four

Sidewalls can be removed. In this container, the removed and loose side wall can be stored in a specially designed receptacle in the bottom area. However, this results in the disadvantage that the container due to the storage compartment has a greater overall height and thus both in the shelf and during return transport in the empty state has a higher space requirement.

Against this background, the present invention seeks to provide a container which is equally suitable for transport and the

Presentation of goods is suitable and easily the top of the

Relates with the problems described in the prior art.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1.

The container according to the invention is suitable for the transport and storage of goods. This may in particular be a so-called display container or display container, which is suitable for the presentation of goods. In this case, the container has a, in particular substantially rectangular, bottom and extending from the bottom side walls. At least one of the

Side walls, in particular a longitudinal side wall, or a part thereof by a formed lattice-shaped structure. This latticed structure is in at least one

Direction, preferably a vertical direction or a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface, and in the side wall plane stretchable and compressible or auseinanderzieh- and compressible to limit the container to the side in a first position or close and in a second position the Container to the side release. In other words, the lattice-shaped structure in the first position secures the goods inside the container, in particular during transport or handling of the container, and in the second position allows the goods to be viewed unhindered from this side and also out of the container on that side can be taken.

This results in a logistically optimized and space saving solution. The open front allows an unobstructed view or unhindered access to the goods. By virtue of the fact that the grid-like structure in the sidewall plane can be pulled apart and compressed, i. whose extension can be extended or shortened in at least one direction, it requires no space to open the side wall, either inwards or outwards. It also requires no storage space in the tank bottom, as z. B. in the container according to WO 2011/131301 A1 is the case, so that with respect to this container, the height can be reduced or the loading volume of the container can be maximized.

According to the invention, only one of the side walls can have such a lattice-shaped structure, but preferably also two can each other

opposite sides of the container have such a stretchable and compressible grid (sliding) mimic, so that with the container, the goods can be presented on both sides. According to one embodiment, all can also

Side walls, in particular all four side walls, be provided with such a grid structure.

In a stretchable and compressible or auseinanderzieh- and

compressible grid-shaped structure, the material is only on

predetermined joint or hinge points claimed (folded or folded) and otherwise exposed to any strain or compression. This allows the 7

4

individual structural elements forming the lattice-shaped structure with a higher

Bending and buckling strength be provided so as to meet the daily stresses of such a transport and display container. Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, selected struts or structural elements of the

Grid structure Articulated sections for pulling apart and compressing the grid structure.

According to one aspect of the invention, the latticed structure is integrally formed, in particular made of plastic. This not only facilitates its manufacture, but also the installation of the container. Another significant advantage of the one-piece is the fact that the degrees of freedom of the individual

Grid structure elements or their relative mobility is limited and defined. Therefore, there can be no jamming, as is usually the case with loosely cooperating sliding elements of the case. Thus, the handling of the container when opening or compressing the grid structure and closing the

Sidewall or pulling the structure simplified. If the grid-like structure is integrally formed from plastic, this can be produced in a simple and above all cost-effective manner by injection molding.

According to one aspect of the invention, the lattice-shaped structure is formed by a plurality of substantially parallel strips and connecting sections arranged between the strips. The strips extend perpendicular or transversely to the direction of actuation of the grid-like structure, i.

horizontally operable in a vertical direction or stretch and

compressible grid and vertically in a horizontally (laterally to the left or right) actuated or stretchable and compressible grid. The connecting portions disposed between adjacent ledges are configured to crease or fold in the sidewall plane, i. have corresponding hinge portions, so as to shorten the distance between two adjacent strips or to increase again when the compressed grid is pulled apart again. The connecting sections are therefore for the

Length change of the lattice-shaped structure responsible or authoritative.

Preferably, between each adjacent bars several such Arranged connecting portions. In particular, these are evenly distributed or spaced so as to ensure a uniform compression or elongation of the lattice structure. According to one embodiment, the

Be connecting portions between a pair of adjacent bars to another adjacent bar pair in the transverse direction to each other.

According to one aspect, the latticed structure at the upper and / or lower end, when the lattice-shaped structure is movable in the vertical direction, and at the left and / or right end when the lattice-shaped structure is movable in the lateral direction, a reinforced and / or straight end strip exhibit. This end strip can be used for better handling of the lattice-shaped structure and also increases its strength.

According to one aspect, each connecting portion may consist of two, in particular equal length, connecting portions, which are connected together centrally via a film hinge, so as to fold the two connecting portions together and apart. The pivot axis of the film hinges extends in an axis perpendicular to the side wall plane axis. The connecting sections are in turn also via film hinges with the corresponding, z. B. upper and lower bar, so as to be pivoted in the sidewall plane to the respective bar out and away. In this way, these invention verbsch n itte not only allow a connection between two strips, but also a change in the distance between these strips to each other.

According to one aspect of the invention, the connecting portions are arranged on the strips, in particular laterally offset therefrom, so that two superposed strips can be brought into abutment in the second position or in the fully compressed position, so that the height of the grid-shaped Structure in the second or compressed position in

Essentially the sum of the cross-sectional heights alier bars corresponds.

Preferably, the connecting portions have the same wall thickness as the strips or are cut out of the strips by a kind of Material tongues formed, which come in the second or compressed position also one above the other or folded in abutment.

According to one aspect, the at least one side wall may be replaced by a

Frame element and arranged within the frame lattice-shaped structure are formed. In this case, outer end portions of the strips may each be movably received in a guide groove in the corresponding portion of the frame member. That the outer ends of the strips are in grooves of the

Guided frame element in the actuation or sliding direction. In this case, the frame element can be hingedly connected to the floor to save the container in the empty state with all folded inward side walls to save space

due. In this display function of the invention does not limit the folding ability of the container, since the lattice-shaped structure does not have the

Side wall thickness or frame thickness of the side wall vortritt. The stackability of the container is not affected by the grid structure.

The total width of the strips together with connecting sections is preferably less than the wall thickness of the frame element or of the other side walls.

Alternatively, the at least one side wall may be formed solely by the lattice-shaped structure, and the ledges may be received and guided in corresponding guides or grooves in the adjacent side walls. As a result, the opening on the entire side surface is increased or maximized.

According to an advantageous embodiment, on the inside of

Side edges of the bottom grooves may be provided, which are aligned with the guide grooves of the adjacent side walls, so that the grid can be lowered completely to the ground and the adjacent side walls can be folded over the compressed grid to the inside. Thus, even with a frameless display container, a foldability of the remaining side walls is made possible.

According to one aspect, the latticed structure may be at least in the first or upper and / or second or lower position, in particular via latching geometries, tool-free and releasably lockable. This ensures that on the one hand the grid is opened or closed remains in its respective position and by simple handling, eg. B. slight push or pull, in each other

Position can be brought. These may be locking lugs in the

Acting guide, which can overcome the outer ends of the strips resiliently under appropriate tensile or compressive force.

According to one aspect, the strips may be wavy, whereby the rigidity of the individual strips or of the grid structure as a whole can be increased in a direction perpendicular to the side wall surface or outwards and inwards.

According to one aspect of the invention, in the second position, the fully compressed or compressed strips completely disappear behind a side edge of the bottom or a bottom-side portion of the frame element. This ensures that when loading and unloading the container

Grid structure on the one hand does not hinder access to the container interior and on the other hand can not be damaged. In addition, the grid does not impair the appearance of the product presented with the container according to the invention.

Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention with a side wall in a first position;

Fig. 2 shows the container according to the first embodiment of the invention with the side wall in a second position; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the container according to the first

Embodiment of the invention with the side wall in the second position from a rear view;

4 shows a detailed detail from FIG. 1;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment of the invention with a side wall in a first position; and

Fig. 6 shows the container according to the second embodiment of the invention with the side wall in a second position.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a container 2 according to a first embodiment, which is suitable for transport and storage, in particular for the presentation of goods. In this case, the container 2 has a substantially rectangular bottom 4, on whose outer edges substantially vertically upwardly extending and interconnected side walls 6, 8, 10 and 12 are provided. The side walls 6 and 8 are long side walls and the side walls 10 and 12 are the two short side walls. All four side walls 6, 8, 10 and 12 are pivotally connected to the bottom 4 and can each be folded inwards and one above the other. The short side walls 10 and 12 each have a handle opening 14 for handling the container 2 centrally and in the upper area. Incidentally, the side walls 8, 10 and 12 each with reinforcing ribs and

Provided ventilation openings.

While the rear long side wall 8 with the exception of the ventilation openings is a closed side wall, the front long side wall 6 is formed by a frame 16 which defines the outer dimensions of the side wall 6 and over which the side wall 6 with the bottom 4 and the adjacent side walls 10 and 12 is connected or connectable. The frame 16 biases a large-area display opening 18, which by a sliding grid or a gate-shaped structure 20 can be closed (see FIG. 1) or opened (see FIG. 2). In the open or second position, as shown in FIG. 2, the grid 20 is located within a bottom-side portion 22 of the frame 16, as can be seen from the perspective rear view of FIG. 3.

The lattice structure 20 has a plurality of wave-shaped strips 24 arranged one above the other, which extend over the entire width of the display opening 18 or of the frame 16 and are connected to one another via a multiplicity of connecting sections 26. The respective outer ends 28 of the strips 24 are guided vertically in grooves 30, which on the insides of vertical

Frame sections are formed. In the guide grooves 30 (not shown) locking lugs may be formed to the lattice structure 20 in the first or closed or exploded position shown in FIG. 1 and / or in the second or open or compressed shown in FIG To hold or arrest position.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 1 in order to describe the structure of the latticed structure 20 in more detail.

The connecting portions 26 each have two, substantially equal length connecting portions 34 which are hingedly connected to each other via a film hinge 36, so that the connecting portions 34 in each case in the plane of the side wall 6 can be folded and unfolded. On the strip side, the two connecting sections 34 are also corresponding

Film hinges 36 connected to the corresponding bar 24. In this way, two strips 24 arranged one above the other can be approximated and removed from one another via the connecting sections 26 in the manner of a scissors joint.

As can also be seen from FIG. 4, the FIGS

Connecting portions 34 substantially to material tongues of the respective strips 24, which can be pivoted on the film hinges 36 corresponding to the strips 24 upwards or downwards. These connecting portions 34 are laterally, more precisely arranged inside to the strips 24, so that two superimposed strips 24 are brought completely flat in abutment when the grid 20 is fully compressed, as can be seen from Fig. 3. The connecting portions 26 are then laterally, more precisely inside to the superimposed strips 24th

From Fig. 1 it is further seen that between adjacent strips 24, a plurality of connecting portions 26, more precisely, three connecting portions 26 are arranged, which are spaced approximately equally spaced to each other, wherein the connecting portions 26 which are located below or above

Join bar pair 24, are laterally offset to this. This ensures that the strips 24 are moved substantially parallel when pulling apart or compressing each other and the grid 20 is not tilted so easily. This is further enhanced by the fact that the film hinges 36 between the

Connecting portions 34 partially facing in opposite directions.

To pull the grid 20 apart or press together, the top bar 24 may be used.

According to a second embodiment of a container 2 'shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the uppermost strip 24 is replaced by a reinforced, also straight closing or handling strip 38, which in the first or

5 closed flush with the upper edges of the adjacent side walls 10, 12 and which in the second or open position, as shown in FIG. 6, flush with an upper

Side edge 40 of the bottom 4 completes. The side edge 40 of the bottom 4 also has centrally small recesses or depressions 42 to the

Handle bar 38 in the second or lowered position to better grip.

The handle bar 38 may be integral with the rest

Lattice structure elements (strips 24 and connecting portions 26) are formed. Alternatively, the handling bar 38 may be a separately manufactured component which is connected to the uppermost bar 24 or to the uppermost connecting sections 26 is connected or is connectable, in particular solvable and / or tool-free connectable, for example, is clipped.

In a variant of the second embodiment, the lattice structure 20 'on both sides, i. additionally also on the lower side, have a closing strip.

While in the first embodiment, the grid structure 20 is received and guided in a frame 16, in the second embodiment, the grid structure 20 'is directly received in grooves 44 and guided vertically, which at the

Inside the side walls 10 and 12 are formed.

The other structure of the container 2 'and in particular the lattice structure is similar to the first embodiment, for which reason reference is made in this regard to the comments on the first embodiment.

Alternatively to both embodiments described above, the

Rear side or the side wall 8 may be constructed similarly to the front side wall 6 or likewise have a display opening 18 accessible via a grid structure. In the variant without the frame 16, the empty stack height of the container 2 can be further reduced.

An embodiment of an inventive device has been described

Display container 2 and some variations, which offers a much more space-saving solution in contrast to all pan, folding or blind systems, on the one hand to transport goods safely and on the other hand to present them on site on the shelf customers. This is made possible by the above-described, one-piece and made of plastic mesh structure 20, which is completely

can be compressed, thus reducing the height of the grid 20 to a minimum height, and which can be pulled apart to completely close the display opening 18. It should be noted that the

Actuation direction of the grid 20 according to the invention can be done not only in the vertical direction, but also in the horizontal direction or to the left or to the right.

Claims

claims

1. container (2), in particular display container, for the transport and storage or presentation of goods with a, in particular substantially rectangular, bottom (4) and from the bottom (4) extending side walls (6, 8, 10, 12 ), characterized in that

at least one of the side walls (6), in particular a longitudinal side wall, or a part thereof is formed by a lattice-shaped structure which is stretchable and compressible or at least in one, in particular vertical, direction and in the sidewall plane or pull-out and compressible in one first position to limit the container (2) to the side or to close and release the container (2) to the side in a second position.

2. Container (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the grid-shaped structure (20) in one piece, in particular made of plastic, is formed.

3. Container (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the latticed structure (20) by a plurality of transversely to the one direction extending and substantially parallel to each other extending strips (24) and by between the strips (24 ) arranged connecting portions (26), wherein the connecting portions (26) are configured such kink or foldable in the side wall plane, that the distance between two adjacent strips (24) can be shortened.

4. Container (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that each connecting portion (26) by two via a film hinge (36) connected to connecting portions (34) of two adjacent strips (24) is formed, each in turn via a film hinge (36). with the corresponding bar (24) are connected.

5. Container (2) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the strips (24) in the second position or completely compressed position of lattice-shaped structure are one above the other in abutment and the connecting portions (34) are arranged laterally to the strips (24) or in each case complete the corresponding strip (24).

6. Container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one side wall (6) by a, in particular hingedly connected to the bottom frame member (16) and arranged within the frame lattice-shaped structure (20) is formed wherein outer end portions (28) of the strips (24) are each movably received in a guide groove (30) in the frame member (16).

7. Container (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one side wall (6) is formed solely by the latticed structure (20), wherein outer end portions (28) of the strips (24) each in one Guide groove a corresponding adjacent side wall (10, 12) are movably received.

8. Container (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grid-shaped structure (20) at least in the first and / or second position, in particular via locking geometries, tool-free and releasably lockable.

9. Container (2) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the strips (24) are formed wave-shaped.

10. Container (2) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the compressed or compressed strips (24) in the second position completely behind a side edge of the bottom (4) or a bottom-side portion (32) of the frame element ( 16) are hidden.