EP3456648B1

EP3456648B1 - Stackable crate provided with slidingly extractable shelves

Info

Publication number: EP3456648B1
Application number: EP18154978.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sergio Tontarelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-09-19
Filing date: 2018-02-02
Publication date: 2020-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-02
Also published as: EP3456648A1

Description

The present patent application relates to a stackable crate.
Various types of stackable crates are known on the market.
A first type of crates provides for crates with parallelepiped shape that can be stacked in such a way that the bottom of a crate is disposed on the upper edge of another crate, without interfering with the products contained in the lower crate. Such a type of crates is impaired by the fact that, when they are empty, the crates cannot be stacked one inside the other in a minimum volume configuration.
A second type of crates provides for crates with tapered shape that can be stacked one inside the other in a minimum volume configuration. Such a type of crates is impaired by the fact that, when they are full, the crates cannot be stacked because the bottom of a crate would be disposed on the products contained in the lower crate.
A third type of crates provides for crates with tapered shape and provided with male elements (ribs) and female elements (grooves). The male and female elements are disposed asymmetrically on two opposite sides of the crate. In view of the above, when two crates are disposed in the same direction, they can be stacked one inside the other in a minimum volume configuration because the ribs of the upper crate are inserted in the grooves of the lower crate. Instead, when two crates are disposed in the opposite direction (i.e. a crate is rotated by 180° relative to the other crate), they can be stacked one on top of the other because the ribs of the upper crate do not match the grooves of the lower crate. This type of crates is impaired by the fact that the user needs to rotate and direct the crate according to the way it is to be stacked. Such an operation is especially uncomfortable when a heavy and cumbersome crate is lifted by the user and the position of the lower crate is not easy to see.
An additional drawback of this type of crate is encountered when the crate is provided, only on one of its longitudinal walls, with an opening that allows to see and recognize the product contained in the crate, also when the user is standing in front of a stack of crates, in which each crate prevents from seeing the contents of the crate in immediately lower position.
In such a case, said inspection opening would be visible only on the front side of the stack of crates in an alternate way because each crate of the stack is rotated by 180° relative to the crate in immediately lower position.
GB2289881 discloses a crate according to the preamble of claim 1.
DE102016112399 discloses a stackable container comprising a holding body, which has a bottom and a lateral wall, which bound a holding chamber. The holding body has stacking elements which can be moved from a first position to a second position.
GB2180820 discloses a nestable container for packaging rubber sheets or blocks for sea transport formed by a framework of generally L-shaped cross-section members comprising uprights and base members with a tubular rail joining the tops of the uprights.
The purpose of present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a stackable crate suitable for being stacked on top of another crate and also for being disposed inside another identical crate, in a minimum volume configuration, without the need to give a specific direction to the crate.
Another purpose is to disclose such a crate that is practical, versatile and simple to use for the user.
Another purpose is to disclose such a crate that is reliable, inexpensive and easy to produce.
These purposes are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics of the independent claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention appear from the dependent claims.
The advantages of the crate of the invention are evident. In fact, when the shelves are in extracted position, said crate can be easily stacked on top of another crate without the need to identify the correction direction of the crate.
Instead, when the shelves are in retracted position, the crate can be inserted inside another crate.
Additional features of the invention will appear clearer from the detailed description below, which refers to merely illustrative, not limiting embodiments, illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a set of two crates according to the invention, stacked one on top of the other;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the set of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the section plane III-III of Fig. 2;
Figs. 3A and 3B are enlarged views of details of Fig. 3 that show a shelf of the lower crate in extracted position and a shelf of the upper crate in extracted position and disposed on the lower crate, respectively;
Fig. 4 is the same sectional view as Fig. 3, except for it shows a crate inserted inside another crate;
Fig. 4A is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig.4, which shows the shelf in retracted position;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the sectional plane V-V of Fig. 2, wherein the shelves of the crates are omitted;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the sectional plane VI-VI of Fig. 2;
Fig. 7 is a top perspective view of a shelf of the crate according to the invention;
Fig. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the shelf of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a slider of the shelf of Fig. 7;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the slider of Fig. 9 fastened to a crate;
Fig. 11 is a sectional perspective view of the slider of the shelf fastened to a crate;
Fig. 12 is a bottom perspective view of a crate according to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the spring used to push the shelf in its extracted position is omitted;
Figs. 12A and 12B are two enlarged views of Fig. 12, showing the hook of the shelf when the shelf is in extracted position and when the shelf is in retracted position, respectively;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the shelf of the crate of Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the crate according to the invention, wherein said sliding shelves are omitted in order to show the configuration of the longitudinal guides used to support said sliding shelves.

With reference to the Figures, a crate according to the invention is disclosed, which is generally indicated with reference numeral (1).
As shown in Fig. 1, the crate (1) is stacked on a lower crate (1') that is identical to the crate (1).
With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the crate (1) comprises four corner pieces (2) disposed according to the angles of a rectangle. The corner pieces (2) are angular sections with "L"-shaped cross-section.
One bottom wall (20), two longitudinal walls (21) and two transverse walls (22) are connected to the corner pieces (2), in such a way to form a tapered crate, with increasing dimensions going from the bottom wall (20) upwards. In view of the above, the crate (1) can be disposed inside the lower crate (1') in a minimum volume configuration.
The crate (1) may be devoid of the corner pieces (2), and in such a case the longitudinal walls (21) and the transverse walls (22) are connected to the bottom wall (20).
The longitudinal walls (21) are longer than the transverse walls (22). The longitudinal walls and the transverse walls may be provided with lightening and ventilation slots (25).
The transverse walls (22) are provided with hand-holding openings (23) in upper position to permit the insertion of the user's hand to lift the crate (1).
Each corner piece (2) ends with a lower foot (26) that protrudes in lower position with respect to the bottom wall (20) in order to rest on the ground. In view of the above, when the crate rests on the ground with the feet (26), the bottom wall (20) of the crate is spaced from the ground.
The transverse walls (22) have an upper edge (27). With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the upper edge (27) of the transverse walls of the crate has an upward groove (28).
With reference to Fig. 5, two longitudinal guides (3) extend under the bottom wall (20), being joined to the bottom wall, near the feet (26). The longitudinal guides (3) protrude in lower position from the bottom wall by a height that is lower than the height of the feet (26) in such a way not to interfere with the ground when the crate (1) rests on its feet (26).
If the crate (1) is not provided with feet (26), the longitudinal guides (3) rest directly on the ground.
Each longitudinal guide (3) has a groove (30).
The grooves (30) of the longitudinal guides (3) are directed one towards the other.
With reference to Fig. 6, the crate (1) comprise two shelves (4) that are slidingly mounted in the longitudinal guides (3).
With reference to Figs. 7 and 8, each shelf (4) is shaped like a plate and comprises a front edge (40) that faces the exterior of the crate (1).
The shelf (4) can slide from an extracted position (Figs. 3A and 3B), wherein the front edge (40) of the shelf protrudes externally with respect to the bottom wall (20), to a retracted position (Fig.4A), wherein the front edge (40) of the shelf does not protrude externally with respect to the bottom wall (20).
When the shelf (4) is in extracted position, the front edge (40) of the shelf is stopped and supported on the front edge (27) of the transverse walls (22) of the lower crate (1'), in such a way to stack the crate (1) on the lower crate (1'), preventing the crate (1) from falling inside the lower crate (1').
With reference to Fig. 8, the shelf (4) comprises retention teeth (41) that protrude in lower position from the front edge (40) of the shelf to engage in the groove (28) of the upper edge (27) of the transverse walls (22) of the lower crate (1') when the shelf (4) is in extracted position.
With reference to Figs. 7 and 8, the shelf (4) is provided with lateral edges (42) suitable for slidingly engaging in the grooves (30) of said longitudinal guides (3). Advantageously, the longitudinal guides (3) and the lateral edges (42) of the shelf have a step-like shape and are mutually complementary.
Travel stop means (M) are obtained in the shelf (4) and in the longitudinal guides (3) to stop the translation travel of the shelf (4).
The travel stop means (M) comprise elastic tabs (43) disposed in housings (44) obtained in the lateral edges (42) of the shelf (4). Each elastic tab (43) has an end (45) that protrudes externally with respect to the lateral edges (42) of the shelf.
The end (45) of the elastic tab slides inside a guide (30a) obtained in said groove (30) and ending with a slot (30b), as shown in Fig. 14.
When the shelf (4) reaches its maximum extraction position, said end (45) is inserted and elastically stopped inside said slot (30b), thus hindering the free backward sliding of the shelf (4).
Because of the provision of the elastic tabs (43), the shelf (4) can be easily mounted in the longitudinal guides (3), preventing the involuntary release of the shelf (4) from the longitudinal guides (3).
With reference to Figs. 3A, 3B and 4A, spring means (5) are disposed between a counter piece (29) that protrudes in lower position from the bottom wall (20) and the shelf (4) in order to stress the shelf (4) towards its extracted position. Advantageously, the spring means (5) comprise a helical spring.
With reference to Figs. 7 and 3A, the shelf (4) comprises a housing (46) suitable for receiving the spring means (5). The housing (46) of the shelf (4) is shaped like a channel disposed in central position and provided with a stop wall (47) whereon a first end (50) of the spring means (5) is stopped. A second end (51) of the spring means is stopped against the counter piece (29) of the bottom wall of the crate.
The shelf (4) is normally disposed in extracted position (Fig.3A) and can be pushed in retracted position (Fig.3C) against the action of the spring means (5) that are compressed and loaded. Therefore, when the crate (1) is to be disposed inside the lower crate (1'), the crate (1) is slightly inclined and the front edge (40) of the shelf is pushed against the internal surface of the transverse wall (22) of the lower crate (1'). Consequently, the shelf (4) slides to the retracted position and the crate (1) can be disposed inside the lower crate (1'), as shown in Fig. 4.
With reference to Fig. 7, the shelf (4) comprises a slider (6). The slider (6) is slidingly mounted in a housing (48) of the shelf (4).
The slider (6) has a front edge (60) that faces the exterior of the crate (1).
The slider (6) is slidingly mounted on the shelf (4) in order to go from a retracted position (Fig. 3A), wherein the front edge (60) of the slider (6) is retracted with respect to the front edge (40) of the shelf (4), to an extracted position (Fig.3A), wherein the front edge (60) of the slider (6) is aligned with the front edge (40) of the shelf (4).
With reference to Figs. 9 and 10, the slider (6) has retention teeth (61) that extend under the front edge (60) of the slider (6). The retention teeth (61) have an "L"-shape. The retention teeth (61) of the slider (6) are suitable for being engaged in fit-in and snap-in coupling mode into locking slots (7) obtained in an upper portion of the transverse wall (22) of the lower crate (1') when the crate (1) is stacked on top of a lower crate (1').
The slider (6) has pins (62) that protrude in lower position from the slider.
With reference to Fig. 8, the pins (62) of the slider (6) are slidingly engaged in slots (8) obtained in the shelf (4). The slots (8) of the shelf (4) act as guide and travel stop for the translation travel of the slider (6).
Advantageously, each pin (62) of the slider (6) comprises two elastic tabs (63) provided with retention teeth (64) that protrude outwards. In view of the above, when the slider (6) is to be mounted in the shelf (4), the elastic tabs (63) of the pins (62) of the slider (6) are bent inwards in order to be inserted in the slots (8) of the shelf (4) and are elastically released outwards in such a way that the retention teeth (64) of the pins (62) of the slider (6) retain the slider (6) on the shelf (4).
With reference to Fig. 3A, the shelf (4) comprises an elastic tab (140) with a tooth (141) that protrudes upwards. The tooth (141) of the elastic tab (140) of the shelf (4) is engaged in a housing (160) obtained in the slider (6), when the slider (6) is in retracted position, in such a way to retain the slider (6) in retracted position.
The slider (6) is normally in retracted position (Fig. 3A) and is manually actuated by the user by pulling the front edge (60) of the slider (6) in order to bring it towards the extracted position; successively, the elastic tab (140) of the shelf (4) is bent downwards to let the slider (6) slide. When the cursor (6) reaches the extracted position (Fig.3B), the retention teeth (61) of the slider (6) are engaged in the locking slots (7) of the lower crate (1') in such a way to firmly hold the crate (1) on the lower crate (1'), preventing the crate (1) from being lifted from the lower crate (1').
Fig. 11 shows the slider (6) in extracted position, wherein the retention teeth (61) of the cursor (6) are engaged in the locking slots (7) of the transverse wall (22) of the lower crate (1').
Figs. 12 and 13 show a second embodiment of the crate (1) wherein the spring means are not provided. In such a case, the shelf (4) is moved manually by the user.
The shelf (4) comprises fastening means (9) suitable for being fastened in a projection (90) obtained in the bottom wall (20) of the crate, when the shelf (4) is in retracted position.
The fastening means (9) comprise two elastic tabs (91) of the fastening means (9) that protrude from the back of the shelf (4). The elastic tabs (91) of the fastening means are provided with retention teeth (92).
The projection (90) has a parallelepiped shape and a front stop surface (93), a back stop surface (94) and two lateral edges (96).
With reference to Fig. 12A, when the shelf (4) is in extracted position, the retention teeth (92) of the fastening means (9) are stopped against the front surface (93) of the projection (90). When the shelf (4) is pushed towards the retracted position, the elastic tabs (91) are separated and the retention teeth (91) slide on the lateral edges (96) of the projection (90) until the shelf (4) reaches the retracted position (Fig. 12B), wherein the retention teeth (91) pass beyond the back stop surface (94) and the elastic tabs (91) are elastically released inwards in such a way that the retention teeth (92) are stopped against the back edge (94) of the projection (90), holding the shelf in retracted position.
The length of the projection (90) is selected according to the travel of the shelf (4).
Preferably, the crate (1) and its sliding shelves (4) are made of plastic material.
Equivalent variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiments of the invention, which are within the reach of an expert of the field, falling in any case within the scope of the invention as disclosed by the attached claims.

Claims

Crate (1) comprising:
- a bottom wall (20), two longitudinal walls (21) and two transverse walls (22) disposed in such a way that the crate has a tapered shape with increasing dimensions going from the bottom wall (20) upwards in order to permit the insertion of the crate (1) inside a lower crate (1') that is identical to the crate (1),

- longitudinal guides (3) disposed under the bottom wall (20) of the crate, and

- two shelves (4) slidingly mounted in said longitudinal guides (3),
wherein each shelf (4) can be:
a) in an extracted position, wherein a front edge (40) of the shelf protrudes externally with respect to the bottom wall (20) of the crate in order to be stopped and supported on an upper edge (27) of the transverse walls (22) of the lower crate (1'), in such a way to stack the crate (1) on the lower crate (1');

b) in a retracted position, wherein the front edge (40) of the shelf does not protrude externally with respect to the bottom wall (20) of the crate in such a way to not hinder the insertion of the crate (1) inside the lower crate (1'), characterized in that
said shelf (4) comprises a slider (6) provided with a front edge (60) that faces the exterior of the crate, and retention teeth (61) disposed under said front edge (60); said slider (6) being slidingly mounted on said shelf (4) in such a way to be disposed:
a) in a retracted position, wherein the front edge (60) and the retention teeth (61) of the slider (6) are retracted with respect to the front edge (40) of the shelf (4); and

b) in an extracted position, wherein the front edge (60) and the retention teeth (61) of the slider (6) are aligned with the front edge (40) of the shelf (4) and the retention teeth (61) of the slider (6) are engaged in locking slots (7) obtained in the transverse walls (22) of said lower crate (1').
The crate (1) of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal guides (3) comprise grooves (30) wherein the lateral edges (42) of said shelf slide.
The crate (1) of claim 1 or 2, comprising travel stop means (M) obtained in said shelf (4) and in said longitudinal guides (3) to stop the translation travel of said shelf (4).
The crate (1) of claim 3, wherein said travel stop means (M) of the shelf (4) comprise elastic tabs (43) disposed in housings (44) obtained in lateral edges (42) of the shelf (4); said elastic tabs (43) being provided with an end (45) that protrudes externally with respect to the lateral edges of the shelf (4) and slides inside a guide (30a) obtained in said groove (30) and ending with a slot (30b) that receives and stops said end (45) when the shelf (4) reaches the end of its extraction travel.
The crate (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said shelf (4) comprises retention teeth (41) that protrude in lower position from the front edge (40) of the shelf (4) to engage in a groove (28) obtained in the upper edge (27) of the transverse walls (22) of the lower crate (1').
The crate (1) of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said slider (6) comprises pins (62) that are slidingly engaged in slots (9) of said shelf (4).
The crate (1) of claim 6, wherein said pin (62) of the slider (6) comprises two elastic tabs (63) with retention teeth (64).
The crate (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf (4) comprises an elastic tab (140) with a tooth (141) that protrudes upwards and is engaged in a housing (160) obtained in the slider (6) when the slider (6) is in retracted position, in such a way to hold the slider (6) in retracted position.
The crate (1) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising spring means (5) disposed between a counter piece (29) that protrudes in lower position from the bottom wall (20) and the shelf (4) to stress the shelf (4) towards its extracted position.
The crate (1) of claim 9, wherein said spring means (5) comprise a helical spring disposed in a housing (46) of said shelf (4); said helical spring (5) having a first end (50) stopped against a stop surface (47) of said housing of the shelf (4) and a second end (51) stopped against said counter piece (29) of the bottom wall (20) of the crate (1).
The crate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said shelf (4) comprises fastening means (9) suitable for being fastened in a projection (90) of the bottom wall (20) of the crate (1) when the shelf (4) is in retracted position.
The crate (1) of claim 11, wherein said fastening means (9) comprise two elastic tabs (91) that protrude from the back of the shelf (4) and are provided with retention teeth (92); and the projection (90) has a parallelepiped shape and a front stop surface (93), a back stop surface (94) and two lateral edges (96).