EP3838785A1

EP3838785A1 - Container with a bale arm having a tapered hinge pin

Info

Publication number: EP3838785A1
Application number: EP19217683.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrew Christopher Cope
Original assignee: Schoeller Allibert GmbH
Current assignee: Schoeller Allibert GmbH
Priority date: 2019-12-18
Filing date: 2019-12-18
Publication date: 2021-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-18
Also published as: EP3838786A1; EP3838785B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (1) having at least one bale arm (6) being pivotably supported in opposing side walls (3) in such a manner that it is movable between a stacking position, in which a transverse member (8) of the bale arm (6) extends between the opposing side walls (3) forming a support for a base (2) of another container stacked thereon, and a resting position in which the stacking member (8) is removed from the opening and rests against a resting wall portion of the container (1), wherein a hinge pin (7) is provided at each end portion (11) of the at least one bale arm (6) and is configured to be received in a respective hinge eye (5) inside of a respective slot (4) formed in each of the opposing container side walls (3), the hinge pin (7) having an end face (12) including an inclined surface, wherein in an assembling position of the bale arm (6), in which the transverse member (8) is arranged in the stacking position, the inclined surface of the end face (12) faces the slot (4) in an assembling direction in order to provide an insertion ramp for inserting the hinge pin (7) into the slot (4) and into the hinge eye (5) formed therein.

Description

The present invention relates to a container having at least one bale arm for being pivotably supported in opposing side walls in such a manner that it is movable between a stacking position, in which a transverse member of the bale arm extends between the opposing side walls forming a support for a base of another container stacked thereon, and a resting position in which the stacking member is removed from the opening and rests against a resting wall portion of the container, wherein a hinge pin is provided at each end of the at least one bale arm and is configured to be received in a respective hinge eye inside of a respective slot formed in each of the opposing container side walls.

Prior art

For example, WO 2019/096378 A1 and US 5 617 953 A respectively disclose a stackable nestable container, which has a base and two pairs of opposed walls extending upwards from the base in an expanding manner and stacking members or bale arms, which are mounted pivotably on the container walls and movable between a stacking position, in which the stacking member is at least positioned across the opening to support a base of a structurally identical container stacked thereon, and a nesting position, in which the stacking member is removed from the opening to allow nesting of the containers. The bale arm has hinge portions which are rounded and received in corresponding round openings or hinge eyes so as to provide a rotational movement relative to the container wall on one hand. However, the bale arm may be bent due to the load of another container stacked thereon and in consequence, the hinge portions may slip out of the hinge eyes.
Further, EP 0 918 694 B1 discloses a similar container in which end portions of the bale arms form hinge portions which are respectively mounted within slots in an upper container rim. However, for mounting such a bale arm, the wall sections forming the slot have to be bent apart in order to widen the slit and to receive the hinge portions. Accordingly, assembling the bale arm is strenuous even if the container is warm and, additionally, finding a hinge eye within the slot for insertion of the hinge portion is difficult. Moreover, aforementioned bale arms which provide a secure and pivotable connection to the container walls may be difficult to remove from the hinge eyes, in particular from the slots. Therefore, a broken bale arm may be difficult to replace.
Additionally, bale arms may support high loads and require high stability. Thus, they often comprise a different material than that of the container, such as polypropylene including talcum, glass fibres or the like, or polyamide or similar materials. Therefore, the bale arms and the container have to be recycled separately. Accordingly, the bale arms being difficult to remove from the hinge eyes is of particular disadvantage.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a container having at least one bale arm which avoids problems of the prior art. In particular, a container having a bale arm should be provided, which is easy to assemble and/or to disassemble and which provides a stable support for any loads stacked on top of the bale arm.
The aforementioned object is achieved by a container according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are subject of subclaims.
In detail, the object is solved by a container having at least one bale arm for being pivotably supported in opposing side walls in such a manner that it is movable between a stacking position, in which a transverse member of the bale arm extends between the opposing side walls forming a support for a base of another container stacked thereon, and a resting position in which the stacking member is removed from the opening and rests against a resting wall portion of the container, wherein a hinge pin is provided at each end portion of the at least one bale arm and is configured to be received in a respective hinge eye inside of a respective slot formed in each of the opposing container side walls, the hinge pin having an end face including an inclined surface, and wherein in an assembling position of the bale arm, in which the transverse member is arranged in the stacking position, the inclined surface faces the slot in an assembling direction in order to provide an insertion ramp for inserting the hinge pin into the slot and into the hinge eye formed therein.
Accordingly, for assembly, the bale arm is placed on the container in the assembling position, such that the transverse member extends between the opposing side walls, in particular such that the bale arm is supported by said side walls. That is, the bale arm is arranged at a stable, predefined position in which it does not have to be held additionally. Advantageously, a user assembling the bale arm has both hands free for subsequent assembly steps. Furthermore, in the assembling position, the hinge pins are arranged next to the slots, preferably lying directly against a slot opening or hanging down next to said slot opening. Each hinge pin slopes or tapers in a direction towards the slot opening such that a length of the hinge pin, at a side thereof facing towards the slot opening in the assembling position, is reduced compared to a side of the hinge pin which opposes the slot opening, thereby forming the insertion ramp. Moreover, the inclined surface may extend over the whole end face of the hinge pin or may form a portion of the end face, preferably sloping towards and adjoining an edge of the end face. Preferably, the length of the side of the hinge pin facing the slot opening corresponds to a slot width or smaller so as to be easily insertable into the slot opening. That is, the tapering or sloping direction or the direction, in which the inclined surface faces, corresponds to an assembling direction. Expressed in other words, the hinge pins form wedges which may be inserted and wedged into the slots during assembly of the bale arm to the container.
The bale arm is advantageously mirror symmetrical. Preferably, two bale arms may be provided which are further preferably identically structured but attached to the container mirror symmetrically for supporting a second stacked container on two sides thereof. Further stacking structures may be provided on the upper rim of the container in which case one single bale arm may suffice as support for a second container. The bale arm is preferably U-shaped and hinge pins extend from the end portions of the bale arm in an outwards direction relative to the container, wherein the hinge eye is formed at an outer slot wall. Alternatively, the hinge pin may extend in an inwards direction relative to the container and the hinge eye is formed at an inner slot wall. With such a U-shaped bale arm, the end portions of the bale arm which connect the hinge pins and the transverse member are substantially perpendicular to the transverse member. At the end faces of the hinge pins, the respective inclined surfaces are oriented sideward relative to the end portions of the bale arms. That is, the insertion ramps respectively slope in a direction which is at an angle between 30° and 150°, preferably between 60° and 120°, further preferably 90°, relative to the end portions of the bale arm. Due to this, a simple structure of the bale arm as well as the container wall in the area of the slot achieves that the insertion ramp faces the slot opening when the bale arm is in the assembling position.
It is further preferred that at a slot wall within the slot, a slot wall recess is provided, which serves as a guiding groove guiding the hinge pin from to slot opening towards the hinge eye during assembly of the bale arm. Accordingly, finding the location of the hinge eye within the slot for inserting the hinge pin is facilitated. Preferably, the guiding groove is wide at the slit opening in order to easily receive the hinge pin and narrows in the mounting direction, i.e. towards the hinge eye, for guiding the hinge pin to the hinge eye. Alternatively or additionally preferably, the guiding groove includes or forms at least a section of a circle connecting a position of the slit opening, at which the hinge eye rests in the assembling position, and the hinge eye, whereas the position, at which the transverse member rests in the assembling position, defines a center of the circle. Thereby, the hinge pin may slide from the slit opening to the hinge eye without the transverse member moving from the stacking position or assembling position. That is, during assembly, the transverse member in the stacking position or assembling position serves as or extends along a rotating axis around which the bale arm rotates.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, in a disassembly position, the inclined surface or the insertion ramp of each end face faces towards a corresponding slot opening opposite of the assembling direction in order to provide a removal ramp for removing the hinge pin from the hinge eye. For disassembly of the hinge pin, e.g. a lever element such as a screw driver may be used in order to push the hinge pin out of the hinge eye. The lever element may either inserted into the slot in order to apply a disassembling force to the bale arm. For this, the lever element may e.g. reach underneath the hinge pin or it may engage corresponding ledges or holes provided at the end portions of the bale arm. Alternatively or additionally, the lever element may be applied directly to the hinge pin from an outer or inner surface of the corresponding side wall. Accordingly, in order to provide easy access to the hinge pin for disassembly of the bale arm, at least one, preferably each, of the hinge eyes may open in an outer surface of the corresponding side wall. That is, the hinge eye forms a through hole opening towards an lateral outer surface of the container. It is particularly advantageous if the disassembly position corresponds to the resting position, in which the bale arm rests against the resting wall portion. Thus, in this position the bale arm does not have to be held in position by a user who has both hands free for disassembly.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if each end portion of the bale arm has a first circumferential surface portion provided at a rear side of the inclined surface of the end face, the first circumferential surface portion facing in a direction opposite to the assembling direction when the bale arm is in the stacking position and providing a stop of the hinge pin at the hinge eye in order to prevent the hinge pin from slipping out of the hinge eye. Expressed in other words, the hinge pin has the inclined surface at its end face which defines two directions relative to the bale arm and/or relative to the container when the bale arm is arranged in above described positions at the container: A first direction is a direction in which the length of the hinge pin is reduced or the hinge pin is shortened due to the inclination, such that pushing the hinge pin into the slot opening or out of the hinge eye is facilitated, as described above. A second direction is a direction in which the length of the hinge pin is increased or reaches a maximum length due to the inclination. In this manner, a first circumferential surface portion of the hinge pin, which is located in the second direction at the rear of the inclined surface or facing away from the inclined surface, serves as a blocking side or blocking element or the stop between the hinge pin and the hinge eye, thus preventing removal of the hinge pin from the hinge eye if the first circumferential surface portion faces towards the slot opening (i.e., opposite to the assembling direction or a disassembling direction).
Expressed in other words, the hinge pin is substantially wedge shaped, forming a ramp on one side and a stop at the rear side of said ramp. Depending on the position and orientation of the bale arms, the hinge pin either provides an insertion ramp or a removal ramp via the inclined surface or a stop which prevents removal of the hinge pin from the hinge eye via at least the first circumferential surface and optionally, via a second circumferential surface described below in more detail. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a secure hold of the hinge pin in a position in which load is applied to the bale arm (i.e., the stacking position) and to provide an easy disassembly of the hinge pin to enable recycling or substitution in a position in which little to no load is applied to the bale arm (the resting position).
Further preferably, the bale arm is movable to an intermediate gripping position in which the bale arm can serve as a handle and in which the inclined surface faces in a direction which is transverse relative to the assembling direction, providing a second circumferential surface portion facing in a direction opposite to the assembling direction and providing a stop of the hinge pin at the hinge eye in order to prevent the hinge pin from slipping out of the hinge eye. That is, while the first circumferential surface is at a rear of the inclined surface, the second circumferential surface is besides the inclined surface. In this case, the second circumferential surface substantially functions in the same manner as the first circumferential surface, blocking a removal of the hinge pin from the hinge eye transverse to the sloping direction of the inclined surface. In particular, in the gripping position, the transverse member is at an uppermost position which is achievable with the substantially U-shaped bale arm being mounted on the container or at an angle between +/-20° relative to said uppermost position. Accordingly, the second circumferential surface of the hinge pins faces substantially towards the transverse member. Unlike the first circumferential surface, the length of the hinge pin at the location of the second circumferential surface is not as long as that at the first circumferential surface. I.e., the first circumferential surface is larger or wider than the second circumferential surface. However, the blocking of accidental removal via the second circumferential surface is sufficient for blocking accidental removal of the hinge pin when at least the intermediate load of carrying the container via the bale arms as handles is applied.
According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the hinge pin is out-of-round and extends in a direction of the insertion ramp formed by the inclined surface of each end face, such that a length of the insertion ramp is increased. This way, an inclination angle of the inclined surface may be larger than with a circular hinge pin, and the wedge formed by the hinge pin may be particularly narrow at its insertion side (i.e. at the side to which the inclined surface tapers), thus providing better positioning of the hinge pin for insertion into the slot. Alternatively, the inclined surface may have a low inclination angle with a greater ramp length relative to a circular hinge pin, thus reducing a force needed to push the hinge pin into the slot. The cross section of the hinge pin may for example be oval or form a drop-like shape, the (rounded) tip of which may be oriented in the sloping direction of the inclined surface.
Preferably, the resting wall portion is an upper rim of an additional side wall connecting the opposing side walls which pivotably support the bale arms. Preferably, in the resting position, the transverse member is supported by the upper rim of the additional side wall at several portions along the length of the transverse member or continuously along substantially its entire length, such that any load applied to the transverse member is transmitted directly to the upper rim of the additional side wall. Alternatively or additionally, in the resting position, the additional side wall may form a protective structure for protecting the transverse member from contact to potentially load applying structures. E.g., a recess corresponding to the transverse member in the resting position may be formed for more uniform load transfer from the transverse member to the additional container wall and/or a protrusion may be provided which protrudes upwards and/or laterally outwards over the resting wall portion of the container to receive loads without the transverse member being arranged in the path of load transfer. Moreover, the resting position may advantageously be a nesting position in which the container can receive another container in a nesting manner. That is, in the nesting position, the bale arm may not extend across an interior of the container so as to leave an upper opening of the container unblocked. In particular, the nesting position may be chosen such that a wall portion of a lower container provides a stop which defines a completely nested position of an upper container nested in the lower container. This way, if the inclined surface serves as a removal ramp in the resting position, no load is applied to the bale arm and a risk of accidentally removing the bale arm from the container is reduced. This enables a large number of containers to be efficiently transported and stored without having to remove the bale arms.
Preferably, the slot opens in an upper rim of the side walls of the container. This is advantageous for positioning the bale arms in the assembling position. A risk of the bale arm being displaced during assembly is minimized. Alternatively, the slot may open in a lateral surface of the container side such that for assembly, the transverse member is supported in the assembling position which is the stacking position, preferably on the upper rim of the opposing side walls, and the end portions of the bale arm may hang down so as to rest laterally against the lateral slot opening.

Fig. 1 shows a container according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 shows a bale arm of the embodiment.
Fig. 3 shows a detail top view of a container corner of the embodiment.
Fig. 4 shows a detail view of an end portion of the bale arm of the embodiment in the assembling position.
Fig. 5 shows a detail view of the end portion of the bale arm of the embodiment in a stacking position.
Fig. 6 shows a detail view of the end portion of the bale arm of the embodiment in a gripping position.
Fig. 7 shows a detail view of the end portion of the bale arm of the embodiment in a disassembling or nesting position.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A container has a base 2 and two pairs of opposing side walls 3 which are fixedly connected to each other and to the base and are inclined so as to be nestable with a similar container. One pair of the opposing side walls 3 forms four slots 4 or form double walled portions which are arranged at each top corner of the container 1, at an upper rim thereof. In each slot 4, a hinge eye 5 is provided which forms a through hole connecting a slit interior with an outer wall surface of the container 1. Substantially U-shaped bale arms 6 are provided which form a hinge pin 7 at each of their free ends, the hinge pins 7 having a round or oval cross section, which are respectively inserted into the slots 4 and received in the hinge eyes 5 so as to provide a pivotable support of the bale arms 6 at the container walls 3. In Fig. 1, the bale arms 6 are pivoted to inner end stops formed by the upper rim of the opposing side walls 3 of the container 1 such that middle portions or transverse members 8 of the bale arms 6 extend across a container interior and are supported by the inner end stops. In this position, the bale arms 6 are in a stacking position where they may provide support for a similar second container stackable thereon. Accordingly, the base 2 of the container has base grooves or base recesses 9 at its lower side which are shaped according to a cross section of the bale arms 6 and located according to the transverse members 8 in the stacking position in order serve as an engagement portion against lateral relative movement of the two containers. Each bale arm 6 may be pivoted around the hinge pin 7 towards an outer end stop formed at a resting wall portion at the upper rim of the container 1, particularly on top of an additional container wall 3 which connects the opposing container walls 3 which support the bale arms 6. This position is a resting position or a nesting position in which two similar containers are nestable, since the transverse members 8 of the bale arms 6 do not block access to the container interior from the top.
Fig. 2 shows a bale arm 6 of the above described container 1 with a detailed view of one end of the bale arm 6. The bale arm 6 is substantially U-shaped, having the transverse member 8 connecting two end portions 11 which are perpendicular to the transverse member 8 and parallel to each other. At the free ends of the end portions 11 and of the bale arms 6, the hinge pins 5 are formed and extend outwards with regard to the container 1 or the U-shape of the bale arm 6. When received in the hinge eye 5, the bale arms 6 are pivotable via the hinge pins 7 in a predetermined angle range between the stacking position and the nesting position. Further, each hinge pin 7 has an end face 12 facing outwards. The end face 12 has an inclined surface which includes substantially one half of the end face 12 and forms an insertion ramp and/or a removal ramp. The insertion and/or removal ramp faces in a direction which is substantially transverse or perpendicular to a direction in which the end portions 11 extend. Expressed in other words, the ramp faces in a direction which is substantially transverse or perpendicular to a plane defined by the U-shape of the bale arm 6.
In Fig. 3, a top corner of the container 1 is shown in which the bale arm 6 is arranged in the nesting position (described in more detail below with reference to Fig. 7) in which the transverse member 8 does not extend across the interior of the container 1. Further, the slot 4 in which the bale arm 6 is received has an inner and an outer slot wall, wherein the outer slot wall has a slot wall recess 10 within the slot 4, which slot wall recess 10 narrows towards the base 2, serving as a receiving and guiding groove for receiving the hinge pin 7 at a slot opening and guiding it towards the hinge eye 5 during assembly of the bale arm 5.
Fig. 4 shows a detail view of the top corner of the container 1 with the bale arm 6 in an assembling position, in which the transverse member 8 is at the inner end stop corresponding to the stacking position, and the hinge pin 7 is located at the slot opening above the slot wall recess 10. In this position, the bale arm 6 can be (exclusively) supported by the upper rim without a user providing additional hold. That is, in the assembling position, relative to the stacking position, the bale arm 6 is rotated around an axis of transverse member 8 which is stationary during a transition from the assembling position to the stacking position. In the assembling position, the bale arm 6 is positioned in such a manner that the tapering side is located so as to face towards the slot opening or towards the base. Due to the inclined surface at the end face 12 of the hinge pin 7, the hinge pin 7 is partially inserted into the slot 4 and the insertion ramp or wedge formed by the end face 12 is at least partially inserted into the slot wall recess 10. Expressed in other words, since the length of the hinge pin 7 is reduced in the sloping direction of the inclined surface, the thus formed receiving ramp can easily be pressed into the slot 4 via a downwards pressure applied by a user and indicated by a corresponding arrow in Fig. 4.
When the hinge pin 7 is being inserted into the slot opening, the inclined surface pushes the outer slot wall outwardly, thereby widening the slot 4. When the hinge pin 7 is lastly received in the hinge eye 5, the outer slot wall restores and the hinge pin 7 is secured in the hinge eye 5.
Fig. 5 shows a detail view of the top corner of the container 1 in which the bale arm 6 is in the stacking position. That is, the transverse member 8 is located at the inner end stop, supported on the upper rim of the container, and the hinge pins 7 are pivotably received in the hinge eyes 5. Although during push-in of the hinge pin 7 into the slot 4, an orientation of the hinge pin has changed slightly, the receiving ramp substantially faces downwards. Accordingly, a rear side of the hinge pin 7 (a first circumferential surface portion of the hinge pin 7) at which the length of the hinge pin 7 is non-reduced forms a blocking side or a stop, which blocks the bale arm 7 from moving out of the hinge eye 5 in a disassembling direction, i.e. upwards or towards the slit opening. This is of particular advantage, since in the stacking position, a load may be applied to the bale arm which may lead to deformations and stress in the bale arm 7 and could, if not for the blocking side or stop, result in the hinge pin 7 slipping from the hinge eye 5.
From the stacking position, the bale arm 6 may be rotated, approximately 90 degrees, around the hinge pins 7 received in the hinge eyes 5 towards a gripping position shown in Fig. 6, in which the end portions 11 extend vertically upwards. In this state, the container 1 may be picked up by a user using the transverse members 8 as handles. The receiving ramp formed by the inclined end face 12 of each hinge pin 7 is dimensioned and arranged such that a side of the hinge pin 7 (a second circumferential surface portion of the hinge pin 7) facing towards the slot opening in this position also forms a blocking side or a stop in order to prevent the hinge pin 7 form slipping out of the hinge eye 5 when under load.
If the bale arm 6 is rotated even further, approximately another 90 degrees, towards the nesting position shown in Fig. 7 which in this embodiment corresponds to the disassembly position, the receiving ramp faces upwards or towards the slot opening (that is, in a direction opposite to the assembling direction or in a disassembling direction). Accordingly, pivoting the bale arm 6 to the nesting position achieves that the receiving ramp may now function as a removal or disassembling ramp. E.g. via a screw driver or the like, the hinge pin 7 may be easily dislodged from the hinge eye 5 in order to substitute or recycle the bale arm 6. By pushing or pulling the hinge pin 7 upwardly, the upwardly oriented inclined surface, pushes the outer slot wall outwardly, thereby widening the slot 4. When the hinge pin 7 finally leaves the slot 4, the outer slot wall restores.

Reference signs

1: Container
2: Base
3: Side wall
4: Slot
5: Hinge eye
6: Bale arm
7: Hinge pin
8: Transverse member
9: Base recess
10: Slot wall recess
11: End portion
12: End face

Claims

Container (1) having at least one bale arm (6) being pivotably supported in opposing side walls (3) in such a manner that it is movable between
a stacking position, in which a transverse member (8) of the bale arm (6) extends between the opposing side walls (3) forming a support for a base (2) of another container stacked thereon, and

a resting position in which the stacking member (8) is removed from the opening and rests against a resting wall portion of the container (1),
wherein a hinge pin (7) is provided at each end portion (11) of the at least one bale arm (6) and is configured to be received in a respective hinge eye (5) inside of a respective slot (4) formed in each of the opposing container side walls (3), the hinge pin (7) having an end face (12) including an inclined surface,
characterized in that
in an assembling position of the bale arm (6), in which the transverse member (8) is arranged in the stacking position, the inclined surface of the end face (12) faces the slot (4) in an assembling direction in order to provide an insertion ramp for inserting the hinge pin (7) into the slot (4) and into the hinge eye (5) formed therein.
Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein in a disassembly position, which preferably corresponds to the resting position, the inclined surface of each end face (12) faces towards a corresponding slot opening opposite of the assembling direction in order to provide a removal ramp for removing the hinge pin (7) from the hinge eye (5).
Container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each end portion (11) of the bale arm (6) has a first circumferential surface portion provided at a rear side of the inclined surface of the end face (12), the first circumferential surface portion facing in a direction opposite to the assembling direction when the bale arm is in the stacking position and providing a stop of the hinge pin (7) at the hinge eye (5) in order to prevent the hinge pin (7) from slipping out of the hinge eye (5).
Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bale arm (6) is movable to an intermediate gripping position in which the bale arm (6) can serve as a handle and in which the inclined surface of the end face (12) faces in a direction transverse relative to the assembling direction, providing a second circumferential surface portion facing in a direction opposite to the assembling direction and providing a stop of the hinge pin () at the hinge eye (7) in order to prevent the hinge pin (7) from slipping out of the hinge eye (5).
Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge pin (7) is out-of-round and extends in a direction of the insertion ramp formed by the inclined surface of each end face (12), such that a length of the insertion ramp is increased.
Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the resting position is a nesting position in which the container (1) can receive another container in a nesting manner.
Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot (4) opens in an upper rim of the side walls (3) of the container (1).
Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the resting wall portion is an upper rim of an additional side wall (3) connecting the opposing side walls (3) which pivotably support the bale arms (6).
Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at a slot wall within the slot (4), a slot wall recess (10) is provided which serves as a guiding groove guiding the hinge pin (7) from to slot opening towards the hinge eye (5) during assembly of the bale arm (6).
Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the hinge eyes (5) opens in an outer surface of the corresponding side wall (3).