EP4176758A1

EP4176758A1 - Stackable basket and assembly of basket and support

Info

Publication number: EP4176758A1
Application number: EP22205541.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Santiago Del Solar Contreras
Original assignee: Shopping Basket SLU; Shopping Basket SL
Current assignee: Shopping Basket SLU; Shopping Basket SL
Priority date: 2021-11-04
Filing date: 2022-11-04
Publication date: 2023-05-10
Also published as: ES1287814Y; ES1287814U

Abstract

The invention relates to a basket (B) provided with two handles (A), in which a mouth (1), a bottom (2) of the basket having a smaller section than the mouth (1) are defined, wherein the dimension of the mouth (1) according to the longitudinal direction (X) is comprised in the range of [36 cm; 38 cm] and the dimension of the bottom (2) is comprised in the range of [33 cm; 35 cm] and the dimension of the mouth (1) according to the transverse direction (Y) is comprised in the range of [18 cm; 20 cm] and the dimension of the bottom (2) is comprised in the range of [15 cm; 17 cm], or the dimension of the mouth (1) according to the transverse direction (Y) is comprised in the range or in the range of [27 cm; 30 cm] and the dimension of the bottom (2) is comprised in the range of [22.5 cm; 25.5 cm], the height is comprised in the range of [31 cm; 33 cm], with the handles (A) being inclined with respect to the vertical direction (Z) towards the mouth (1) at an angle exceeding 3°.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a stackable basket of the type made of a single piece and provided with two handles and to an assembly formed by the basket and a support for the stacking of baskets.

BACKGROUND

Remote shopping, i.e., online shopping, is becoming increasingly widespread, particularly for buying groceries and everyday products. Once the order is placed, suppliers must prepare the order for distribution. This means that at some point there is a need to perform product selection and prepare bags to be delivered to the customer. Therefore, one of the steps of the process is the collection of products for preparing the order. This process is similar to shopping in a supermarket: a person must go through the warehouse and select the products, an action known as "picking", which is also used in the field of component selection and collection in a warehouse for product manufacture.
Likewise, this process is performed using bags of a size manageable by one person, i.e., with a volume in the order of 7-10 liters at most.
Moreover, the final dispatch of the products is performed by means of larger, stackable boxes of standardized dimensions, where the products that have been picked end up.
An objective of the present invention is to facilitate the process from picking to the preparation of boxes which are loaded into delivery vehicles and also to eliminate plastic bags with which the products are delivered to the end customer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the stated objective, a first aspect of the present invention proposes a basket as defined in claim 1.
Stacking should be understood to mean that the baskets can be fitted one inside the other, such that they take up less space. This stacking can be performed in any direction, with the preferred direction being vertical, and in this case both face up and face down.
A basket which allows optimizing the picking phase and preparation phase of shipping boxes or BACs, according to French terminology, is provided with the aforementioned features. Specifically, on one hand, the basket has a manageable size for the operator who selects and collects the products, and on the other hand, it is designed to fit in shipping boxes, by two or three in number. The most commonly used boxes have a width of 40 cm and a height of 34 cm, the length of which being about 60 cm. Once the baskets have been introduced in the boxes, it is common practice to stack the boxes themselves. This is where the feature of the handles comes into play, as their inward-angled configuration allows them to be folded inward when the top box is placed on top of the box containing the baskets, or when it is closed. The basket is designed for different uses, such that once the customer has received and emptied them, they can then be returned to the supplier for reuse, which is not the case with the current bag delivery system.
In some embodiments:

the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the mouth, are comprised in the ranges of [36.5 cm; 37.5 cm] and [18.5 cm; 19.5 cm], respectively;
the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the bottom, are comprised in the ranges of [33.5 cm; 34.5 cm] and [15.5 cm; 16.5 cm], respectively;
the dimension according to the vertical direction from the bottom to the mouth is comprised in the range of [31.5 cm; 32.5 cm].

In some embodiments:

the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the mouth, are about 37 cm and 19 cm, respectively;
the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the bottom, are about 34 cm and 16 cm, respectively;
the dimension according to the vertical direction from the bottom to the mouth is about 32 cm.

In some embodiments:

the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the mouth, are comprised in the ranges of [36.5 cm; 37.5 cm] and [28 cm; 29 cm], respectively;
the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the bottom, are comprised in the ranges of [33.5 cm; 34.5 cm] and [23 cm; 24 cm], respectively;
the dimension according to the vertical direction from the bottom to the mouth is comprised in the range of [31.5 cm; 32.5 cm].

In some embodiments:

the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the mouth, are about 37 cm and 28.5 cm, respectively;
the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the bottom, are about 34 cm and 23.5 cm, respectively;
the dimension according to the vertical direction from the bottom to the mouth is about 32 cm.

Some of these embodiments comprise openings in the walls, and ribs oriented towards the inside of the basket on the inside of the walls and close to the bottom, such that they define a support surface for supporting an identical basket stacked with respect to the basket, with the support surface being arranged according to the vertical direction above the lowermost side of the lower openings, in order to minimize the suction effect when stacking the baskets.
The walls of the basket extend between the mouth of the basket and the bottom of the basket. In the present disclosure, and in the context of the basket, the expression "above" should be understood as being farthest away from the bottom of the basket according to the vertical direction defined by the basket and in the direction from the bottom of the basket towards the mouth of the basket.
The openings of the walls of the basket reduce the amount of material required for the basket and the weight of the basket compared to a basket without such openings. In addition, the openings reduce the suction effect to which two baskets are subjected when stacked given that, unlike a solid wall, the openings allow the free circulation of air. This free circulation of air prevents the vacuum required for the suction effect from being generated in the openings.
The ribs of the basket facilitate the stacking of baskets, given that it is not necessary to introduce a basket all the way to the bottom of another basket, rather it is sufficient to introduce it until it is supported on the ribs.
The arrangement of the support surface above the lowermost side of the lower openings allows ensuring a still further reduction of the suction effect generated between the two baskets in the stack, given that the lower part of the introduced basket will be at or very close to the depth of the lower openings of the outer basket. To that end, most of the air pushed into the stack comes out freely through the openings of the outer basket instead of being forced out, generating a suction effect between the two baskets.
In some embodiments, the basket is made from a plastic having a hardness comprised between 40 and 50 Shore, and preferably 45 Shore. This hardness is suitable as a compromise between a sufficient rigidity, so that the basket does not deform too much when loaded and maintains its dimensions for placement and fitting in the boxes together with the other baskets, and a not-too-high rigidity which allows bending the handles when the box is closed or when a box is placed on top of the box containing the basket.
In some embodiments, the angle of inclination of the handles is 8°. This angle of inclination not only allows the user to carry the bags comfortably, but also facilitates the stacking of the baskets.
In some embodiments, the handles have a substantially rectangular opening with a dimension of about 10 cm according to the longitudinal direction and 6 cm according to the vertical direction. These openings allow a user to easily and comfortably grab the handles by hand.
In some embodiments, the handles comprise an over-thickness arranged on the outer side and adjacent to the opening of the handle, such that they allow the formation of a support surface for the user's hand. This over-thickness allows increasing the comfort with which the user grabs the handles by hand.
The basket is preferably manufactured in one piece by injection.
According to another aspect, the invention relates to an assembly of a basket according to the first aspect of the present invention and a support for the stacking of baskets, the support comprising an upper part, a base, and walls extending from the upper part to the base and having an inclination complementary to the inclination of the inner face of the walls of the basket with respect to the vertical direction, such that when the basket is coupled to the support, the inner face of the walls of the basket is supported on the walls of the support.
This support is capable of supporting a large number of stacked baskets, specifically up to 52 baskets, in a stable manner. In addition, the placement of a first basket on the support is easy.
In some embodiments, the support is made from a single piece manufactured by means of injection.
In some embodiments, the walls of the support have an opening. These openings allow reducing the suction effect caused by the stacking between the support and the lower basket of the stack, i.e., the basket the walls of which are in contact with the support.
In some embodiments, the base of the support comprises protrusions for coupling to another support for stacking the basket. This allows mechanically connecting several supports to one another, such that it is very easy to place the supports correctly and optimally with respect to one another, particularly for their placement on a pallet. In some of these embodiments, each support comprises protrusions for coupling to four other supports.
In some embodiments, the support is hollow, i.e., the support defines an empty interior volume. This hollow support or support with a lower opening allows further reducing the amount of material and the weight of the support, while allowing a high stacking stability to be achieved at the same time, given that it is the mass of the side periphery of the base of the support which contributes to greater mechanical stability of the support and of the stack of baskets.
The different aspects and embodiments of the invention defined above may be combined together, provided that they are mutually compatible.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows and will be particularly indicated in the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As a complement to the description, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with practical exemplary embodiments of the invention, said description is accompanied by a set of figures which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a basket according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a front view of a basket according to the invention.
Figure 3 is a side view of a basket according to the invention.
Figure 4 is a plan view of a basket according to the invention.
Figure 5 is a front view of a cross-section of two baskets according to the invention stacked.
Figure 6 shows a portion of the inside of the bottom of a basket according to the invention.
Figure 7 shows a portion of the inside of the bottom of two baskets according to the invention stacked.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a support for the stacking of baskets according to the invention.
Figure 9 is a side view of a cross-section of two baskets stacked on a support according to the invention.
Figure 10 is a plan view of several supports according to the invention.
Figure 11 shows an enlarged section of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a support for the stacking of baskets according to the invention.
Figure 13 shows a box of standardized dimensions, in which three baskets according to the invention fit perfectly.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the description of the possible preferred embodiments of the invention, it is necessary to give numerous details to enable a better understanding of the invention. Even so, it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the invention can be implemented without these specific details. Furthermore, the well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.
Figure 1 shows a basket B defining a longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction Y, and a vertical direction Z. The basket B comprises a mouth 1 through which there can be introduced in the basket B take-away products or other baskets B for stacking baskets B. The basket comprises a bottom 2 and walls WB extending from the mouth 1 to the bottom 2.
The mouth 1 and the bottom 2 of the basket B have a rectangle shape with rounded corners. The dimension of the mouth 1 of the basket B according to the longitudinal direction X is 37 cm. The dimension of the mouth 1 according to the transverse direction Y is 19 cm. The dimension of the bottom 2 of the basket B according to the longitudinal direction X is 34 cm. The dimension of the bottom 2 of the basket B according to the transverse direction Y is 16 cm. Therefore, the cross-section of the mouth 1 according to a plane containing the longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y defined by the basket B is larger than the cross-section of the bottom 2 according to a plane containing the longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y defined by the basket B.
Continuing with Figure 1, the walls WB are inclined with respect to the vertical direction Z such that they define a tapering of the basket B.
The dimension of the basket B from the bottom 2 to the mouth 1 according to the vertical direction Z is about 32 cm.
With these dimensions, it is possible to fit three baskets in a standardized box, as shown in Figure 13. It is also conceivable that the dimensions of the basket in the transverse direction are 50% larger, such that two baskets can be fitted together.
As explained above, the picking process is greatly simplified because the baskets according to the invention are gradually filled and arranged in the standardized box BX. This furthermore ensures correct placement of the products in the shipping box. During the picking process, the operator places the products correctly in the basket. Once placed, there is no further handling of the products, so they are well arranged until delivery. In contrast, at present, when products are taken out of the picking baskets to be put in the carton, the process is not done correctly (particularly taking into account that the products may not be seen because they are in bags and/or stacked) and some of them, the less protected ones, may be damaged.
As derived from Figures 1 and 4, the cross-sections of the basket B resulting from sectioning the basket B along its walls WB with planes containing the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y defined by the basket B are rectangular sections with rounded corners.
The walls WB of the basket B comprise openings 3 connecting the inside of the basket B to the outside. In particular, the openings are arranged in the central part of the walls WB, with the periphery of the walls WB being devoid of openings, such that greater resistance to deformation is conferred to the basket B as compared to a basket having openings in the vertical located at the corners of the basket.
The walls WB comprise solid regions R for marking the basket B, for example, with an identifier of the basket B. These solid regions R are laser engravable or labels can be adhered thereon. In some embodiments, the mark is a one-dimensional code, such as a bar code, for example, or a two-dimensional code, such as a QR code, for example. The presence of the solid regions R enables the marking of the basket B during the manufacture of the basket B.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the basket B is provided with two handles A arranged above the walls WB of the basket B and attached to the walls WB of the basket B defining the largest horizontal dimension of the basket B. Each handle A has a substantially rectangular opening AA with dimensions that allow fingers to be introduced through the opening AA to grab the corresponding handle A.
Continuing with Figures 2 and 3, the handles A comprise an over-thickness AS arranged on the outer side and adjacent to the opening AA. This over-thickness is located on the upper side of the opening AA of the handle A, i.e., on the side of the opening AA farthest from the bottom 2 of the basket B towards the vertical direction Z defined by the basket B.
The handles A have a flexible mechanical attachment with the walls WB of the basket B. The flexible mechanical attachment is such that it tilts the handles A an angle θ of repose of 5° with respect to the vertical direction Z defined by basket B.
The flexible mechanical attachment of the handles A with the walls WB of the basket B allows folding the handles A above 5° and, as shown in Figure 9, allows unfolding the handles A. This unfolding facilitates the stacking of the baskets B.
As illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the basket B comprises ribs N on the bottom 2 of the basket B. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a stack of two identical baskets B, B1.
The ribs N of the basket B define a support surface NA for supporting another basket B1 stacked together with the basket B. The support surface NA of the ribs N of the basket B has a shape complementary to the outer shape of the corners of the bottom 2 of the other basket B1, such that the contact surface between the support surface NA of the basket B and the outer part of the corners of the bottom 2 of the basket B1 is maximized.
As derived from Figure 5, the ribs N of the basket B allow ensuring that, during stacking, the greater part of the portion of the walls WB of the basket B1 below the openings 3 of the basket B1 is at the depth of openings 3 of the basket B, such that the suction effect between said portion of the basket B1 and the basket B is minimized.
The ribs N mechanically connect a wall WB of the basket B with the bottom 2 of the basket B. This allows, when stacking the baskets B, the load derived from the stacking and transmitted to the ribs N to be distributed between the wall WB and the bottom 2 of the basket B.
Figure 8 shows a support C for the stacking of baskets B comprising an upper part 4, a base 5, and walls 7 attaching the upper part 4 with the base 5.
Support C defines:

a longitudinal direction XC corresponding to the largest horizontal dimension of the support C;
a transverse direction YC perpendicular to the longitudinal direction XC and corresponding to the smallest horizontal dimension of the support C;
a vertical direction ZC perpendicular to the longitudinal direction XC and the transverse direction YC defined by the support C and directed from the base 5 to the upper part 4 of the support C.

Therefore, in the position in which the support C supports the basket B1 in a stack, a position illustrated in Figure 9, the following is complied with:

the longitudinal direction XC defined by the support C is parallel to the longitudinal direction X defined by the basket B;
the transverse direction YC defined by the support C is parallel to the transverse direction Y defined by the basket B;
the vertical direction ZC defined by the support C is parallel to the vertical direction Z defined by the basket B.

The dimensions of the support C illustrated in Figure 8 according to the longitudinal direction XC, the transverse direction YC of the base 5, are comprised in the ranges of [38 cm; 40 cm] and [19 cm; 21 cm], respectively.
The dimensions of the support C illustrated in Figure 8 according to the longitudinal direction XC, the transverse direction YC of the base 4, are comprised in the ranges of [35 cm; 37 cm] and [17 cm; 19 cm], respectively.
The dimensions of the support C illustrated in Figure 8 according to the vertical direction ZC from the bottom 2 to the mouth 1 is comprised in the range of [17.5 cm; 19.5 cm].
In some embodiments, the walls of the base 5 of the support C are parallel to the vertical direction ZC defined by the support C.
Continuing with Figure 8, the support C comprises an opening in each wall 7.
The support C comprises an opening in the lower part of the base 5.
As illustrated in Figure 10, two supports C can be attached by means of a mechanical connection 6. Figure 11 is an enlarged view of a mechanical connection 6 of Figure 10. Figures 8 and 11 illustrate examples of these mechanical connections 6. In particular, one of the supports C comprises protrusions 61 defining a receptacle the shape of which is complementary to the shape of a protrusion 62 of another support, such that the supports are mechanically connected by inserting the protrusion 62 into the receptacle. The direction of insertion of the protrusion 62 into the receptacle defined by the protrusion 61 is the vertical direction ZC defined by the support C, and the shapes of the protrusion 62 and of the receptacle are such that upon insertion of the protrusion 62 into the receptacle, the protrusion 62 does not come out of the receptacle by applying forces contained in a plane containing the longitudinal direction XC and the transverse direction YC defined by the support C, but requires application of a force in the vertical direction ZC defined by the support C.
Figure 9 illustrates two baskets B, B1 stacked such that the basket B1 is arranged inside the basket B. The support surfaces NA of the ribs N of the basket B are supported on the outer part of the bottom 2 of the basket B1. The inner surface of the walls WB of the basket B is in contact with the outer surface of the walls WB of the basket B1.
As can be deduced from Figures 8 and 9, the lower surface of the base 5 of the support C is a support surface defining a plane containing the longitudinal direction XC and the transverse direction YC defined by the support C. Therefore, the geometry of the lower surface of the base 5 is suitable to allow a stable support on another parallel surface such as the surface of a pallet P or a floor.
In light of this description and figures, the person skilled in the art may understand that the invention has been described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, but that multiple variations may be introduced in said preferred embodiments without departing from the object of the invention as claimed.
In this text, the term "comprises" and its derivations (such as "comprising", etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense. That is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include more elements, steps, etc.

Claims

A basket (B) provided with two handles (A), with the basket (B) having a rectangular horizontal section with rounded corners, the basket (B) being provided with tapering to allow its stacking, such that there are defined:
- a mouth (1) of the basket;

- a bottom (2) of the basket having a smaller section than the mouth (1);

- a longitudinal direction (X) corresponding to the largest horizontal dimension of the basket (B);

- a transverse direction (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and corresponding to the smallest horizontal dimension of the basket (B);

- a vertical direction (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y) and directed from the bottom (2) to the mouth (1),
characterized in that:
the dimension of the mouth (1) according to the longitudinal direction (X) is comprised in the range of [36 cm; 38 cm] and the dimension of the bottom (2) according to the longitudinal direction (X) is comprised in the range of [33 cm; 35 cm];
and

the dimension of the mouth (1) according to the transverse direction (Y) is comprised in the range of [18 cm; 20 cm] and the dimension of the bottom (2) according to the transverse direction (Y) is comprised in the range of [15 cm; 17 cm]; or

the dimension of the mouth (1) according to the transverse direction (Y) is comprised in the range or in the range of [27 cm; 30 cm] and the dimension of the bottom (2) according to the transverse direction (Y) is comprised in the range of [22.5 cm; 25.5 cm];

the dimension according to the vertical direction (Z) from the bottom (2) to the mouth (1) is comprised in the range of [31 cm; 33 cm];

with the handles (A) being inclined with respect to the vertical direction (Z) towards the mouth (1) at an angle exceeding 3°.
The basket (B) according to claim 1, wherein:
the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y) of the mouth (1), are comprised in the ranges of [36.5 cm; 37.5 cm] and [18.5 cm; 19.5 cm], respectively;

the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y) of the bottom (2), are comprised in the ranges of [33.5 cm; 34.5 cm] and [15.5 cm; 16.5 cm], respectively;

the dimension according to the vertical direction (Z) from the bottom (2) to the mouth (1) is comprised in the range of [31.5 cm; 32.5 cm].
The basket (B) according to claim 2, wherein:
the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y) of the mouth (1), are about 37 cm and 19 cm, respectively;

the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y) of the bottom (2), are about 34 cm and 16 cm, respectively;

the dimension according to the vertical direction (Z) from the bottom (2) to the mouth (1) is about 32 cm.
The basket (B) according to claim 1, wherein:
the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y) of the mouth (1), are comprised in the ranges of [36.5 cm; 37.5 cm] and [28 cm; 29 cm], respectively;

the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y) of the bottom (2), are comprised in the ranges of [33.5 cm; 34.5 cm] and [23 cm; 24 cm], respectively;

the dimension according to the vertical direction (Z) from the bottom (2) to the mouth (1) is comprised in the range of [31.5 cm; 32.5 cm].
The basket (B) according to claim 4, wherein:
the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y) of the mouth (1), are about 37 cm and 28.5 cm, respectively;

the dimensions according to the longitudinal direction (X) and the transverse direction (Y) of the bottom (2), are about 34 cm and 23.5 cm, respectively;

the dimension according to the vertical direction (Z) from the bottom (2) to the mouth (1) is about 32 cm.
The basket (B) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising openings (3) in the walls (WB), and ribs (N) oriented towards the inside of the basket on the inside of the walls (WB) and close to the bottom (2), such that they define a support surface (NA) for supporting an identical basket stacked with respect to the basket (B), with the support surface (NA) being arranged according to the vertical direction (Z) above the lowermost side of the lower openings (3), in order to minimize the suction effect when stacking the baskets (B).
The basket (B) according to any of the preceding claims, being made in one piece from a plastic with a hardness comprised between 40 and 50 Shore, and preferably 45 Shore.
The basket (B) according to any of the preceding claims, being made of a low-density polyethylene resin.
The basket (B) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the angle of inclination of the handles is 5°.
The basket (B) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the handles (A) have a substantially rectangular opening (AA) with a dimension of about 10 cm according to the longitudinal direction (X) and 6 cm according to the vertical direction (Z).
The basket (B) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the handles (A) comprise an over-thickness (AS) arranged on the inner or outer side and adjacent to the opening (AA) of the handle (A), such that they allow the formation of a support surface for the user's hand.
An assembly of a basket (B) according to any of the preceding claims and a support (C) for stacking baskets (B), the support (C) comprising an upper part (4), a base (5), and walls (7) extending from the upper part (4) to the base (5) and having an inclination complementary to the inclination of the inner face of the walls (WB) of the basket (B) with respect to the vertical direction (Z), such that when the basket (B) is coupled to the support (C), the inner face of the walls (WB) of the basket (B) is supported on the walls (7) of the support (C).
The assembly of basket (B) and support (C) according to claim 12, wherein the walls (7) of the support (C) have an opening.
The assembly of basket (B) and support (C) according to claim 13, wherein the basket (B) is a basket according to claim 6, and wherein the opening of the walls (7) of the support (C) is arranged such that when the basket (B) is coupled to the support (C), the opening is located at a depth of the basket at which the openings (3) of the walls (WB) of the basket (B) are located.
The assembly of basket (B) and support (C) according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the base (5) of the support (C) comprises protrusions (61, 62) for coupling to another support for stacking the baskets (B) according to any of claims 1 to 11.