EP4257507A1

EP4257507A1 - Container with lid retainer system

Info

Publication number: EP4257507A1
Application number: EP22382328.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luis Asensio Cotillas; Manuel Blay Orenga
Original assignee: Cabka Group GmbH
Current assignee: Cabka Group GmbH
Priority date: 2022-04-06
Filing date: 2022-04-06
Publication date: 2023-10-11
Also published as: WO2023194169A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container with a lid retainer system. Said system comprises a body (1) with four side walls (2), which are opposite one another in pairs, an upper opening, and a base; and a lid (3) with a skirting (4) which projects along the perimeter. When the lid (2) is in a closed position, it completely covers the upper opening of the body (1), and the skirting (4) extends along the outer portion of the side walls (2) of said body (1). The container comprises a lid retainer system with housings (5) on at least two opposite side walls (2), said housings facing one another, and retainer devices (6) which are housed in the recesses (5) of the side walls when the lid (2) is arranged in an open position, such that the lid (2) is supported on two side walls (2) opposite one another.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention falls within the technical field of containers for the transport and/or storage of goods. More specifically, a container comprising a lid retainer system is described.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of containers for the storage and/or transport of goods is a widespread practice nowadays. In most cases, these containers comprise, in addition to the body of the container (in which the goods are housed), a lid for closing the access to the inside of the container.
When the container is opened to access the content therein, it is convenient to be able to place the lid in a nearby location to simplify the operations. Likewise, in some cases the containers are foldable. In said case, when empty containers are to be transported, the body of the container is folded up. In these cases, the lid is used to protect the folded walls of the body of the container.
Some solutions for keeping the lid of the container connected to the body of the container are known from the state of the art. Patent document DE102005008695 describes a container with a base, a container body and a lid comprising hooks for hanging the lid on a side wall, on the outer side of the container. The hooks interact with the upper edge of the side wall and are arranged on the inner side of the lid. The hooks are formed as a single piece and are moulded to a reinforcing rib and/or edge angle of the lid.
Patent document US4345697 describes a hinge assembly which allows pivoting movement between two panels of at least 90° and which allows separation of said panels anywhere along the pivoting movement. The hinge assembly comprises a first portion located on the first panel, a lip extending perpendicularly from the first portion, and a hinge member rigidly coupled to the first panel and having an intermediate portion extending perpendicularly from the first panel and a leg extending substantially and perpendicularly from the intermediate portion towards the lip. The distal edge of the lip and the distal edge of the leg define a slot which receives a second portion located on the second panel to thereby pivotally couple the panels.
Additionally, patent document US3015405 describes a container the lid of which comprises recesses acting as hooks for supporting the lid at an upper end of one of the walls of the body of the container. When the lid is supported on a side wall, it extends from upwardly above the body of the container.
Patent document JP00200302160 discloses a container with a lid in which the lid comprises on the inside thereof guides which are configured for retaining stops formed by protrusions arranged on two side walls of the body of the container. As a result of the guides and stops, the lid and the body of the container are always connected to one another. The guides determine the movement of the lid when it is being opened.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a container with a lid retainer system. The retainer system comprises at least two housings, which are located on opposite side walls of a body of the container, and it comprises retainer devices arranged in a lid of the container, configured for being housed in the corresponding housing when the lid is in the open position.
The retainer devices extend from the inside of the lid, and more specifically from opposite sides of said lid, such that they are protected from possible external blows. In the open position of the lid, the lid is supported on two opposite walls of the body of the container. Better securing of the lid to the body of the container is thereby ensured with a double safety since the retaining system always comprises at least two housings and at least two retainer devices, assuring two different support and retention points.
The retainer devices may likewise comprise a tab which allows better coupling, and therefore retention of the lid in the housings of the opposite side walls on which the lid is supported in the open position.
In a preferred embodiment, the retainer devices are located in the central portion of each opposite side of the skirting and in such a way that they are facing one another. This allows the interchangeable placement of the lid, orienting one way or the opposite way (with a 180° rotation), such that in both cases the lid is correctly retained in the housing of the retainer system when it is in the open position.
In the embodiments in which the retainer device comprises a tab, said tab can extend beyond the width of the skirting, which allows the retainer device to be protected against blows or accidental impacts with other elements.
The container can be foldable. To that end, the side walls are foldable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

To complete the description, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, this description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represents the following:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the container of the invention with the lid in the open position.
Figure 2 depicts a detail view in which part of the retainer system of the container can be observed.
Figure 3 depicts another detail view in which part of the retainer system of the container can be observed from another angle.
Figure 4 depicts a view of the retainer device arranged in the housing, and a tab of the retainer device can be seen therein.
Figure 5 depicts a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, from another angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention should not be limited to the embodiment described herein. Other configurations may be carried out by those skilled in the art based on the present description. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.
The container with a lid retainer system of the present invention has been depicted in Figure 1. As can be seen, the container comprises a body (1) and a lid (2). In this case, the container has been depicted with the lid (2) in the open position, that is, allowing access to the inside of the body (1).
As can be seen in said figure, the body (1) of the container is formed by four side walls (2), which are opposite one another in pairs, an upper opening, and a base. Likewise, the lid (3) of the container has a configuration corresponding to the plan section of the body (1) and a skirting (4) which projects along the perimeter such that when the lid (2) is in a closed position, it completely covers the upper opening of the body (1) and the skirting (4) extends along the outer portion of the side walls (2) of said body (1).
The key to the container of the present invention is that it comprises a lid retainer system. The retainer system comprises housings (5) and retainer devices (6) configured for being housed in the housings (5) when the lid (2) is in an open position, as shown in Figure 1.
A close-up of part of the retainer system has been shown in Figure 2. The retainer system comprises housings (5) arranged on at least two opposite side walls (2), said housings facing one another. Likewise, the retainer system comprises, complementary, retainer devices (6), formed by projections extending from the lid (3), on opposite sides of the skirting (4), towards the interior of said skirting (4), and where the retainer devices (6) are configured for being housed in the recesses (5) of the side walls when the lid (2) is arranged in an open position, such that the lid (2) is supported on two side walls (2) opposite one another. The retainer devices (6) preferably project from the skirting (4).
Part of the retainer system is shown in Figure 3 from another angle. As can be seen, the retainer device (6) has a symmetrical configuration, such that it has two identical ends, in such a way that either of the two ends is configured for being housed in the housing (5) of the retainer system. That is, the retainer device (6) can be used in the same way by supporting one or the other of its ends in the housing (5). This feature enhances the versatility of the retainer system since, in the event of an end of any of the retainer devices (6) breaking, the system can still be used by using the other ends of the retainer devices (6).
In another possible embodiment such as the one shown in Figure 4, for example, the retaining system may comprise at least one tab (7), in correspondence with each retaining device, which tab projects from the end of the retainer device (6) with a specific angle of inclination, which allows the tab (7) to be tightened on the upper edge of the corresponding side wall (2) to a greater or lesser extent in the housing (5) in which said retainer device (6) is placed. Therefore, the tab (7) acts as an additional retaining element and guide system when the lid (3) slides along the upper edge of the body of the container, that is, it contributes to ensuring the position of the retainer device (6) in the housing (5).
In an embodiment of the invention, the retainer devices (6) are arranged in the central portion of the skirting, on the corresponding side. In a possible embodiment, they are arranged at the mid-point on the corresponding side of the skirting (4).
In an exemplary embodiment, the housings (5) are formed on an upper edge of the corresponding side wall (2).
The housings (5) can be arranged at one end of an upper edge of the corresponding side walls (2) or at both ends of the upper edge of the corresponding side walls (2) such that the lid (3) can be retained at either of said ends.

Claims

A container with a lid retainer system comprising:
- a body (1) of the container formed by four side walls (2), which are opposite one another in pairs, an upper opening, and a base; and

- a lid (3) of the container having a configuration corresponding to the plan section of the body (1) and a skirting (4) which projects along the perimeter such that when the lid (2) is in a closed position, it completely covers the upper opening of the body (1) and the skirting (4) extends along the outer portion of the side walls (2) of said body (1),
and the container (1) is characterised in that it comprises a lid retainer system with:
- housings (5) arranged on at least two opposite side walls (2), said housings facing one another;

- retainer devices (6), formed by projections extending from the lid (3), on opposite sides of the skirting (4), towards the interior of said skirting (4), and where the retainer devices (6) are configured for being housed in the recesses (5) of the side walls when the lid (2) is arranged in an open position, such that the lid (2) is supported on two side walls (2) opposite one another.
The container according to claim 1, wherein the retainer devices (6) have a symmetrical configuration such that they have two identical ends in such a way that either of the two ends is configured for being housed in the housing (5) of the retainer system.
The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainer devices (6) project from the skirting (4).
The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainer system further comprises at least one tab (7) which projects at a specific angle from the retainer device (6).
The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housings (5) are formed on an upper edge of the corresponding side wall (2).
The container according to claim 5, wherein the housings (5) are arranged at one end of the upper edge of the corresponding wall (2).
The container according to any one of claims 5 to 6, comprising housings (5) at two opposite ends of the upper edge of the corresponding side wall (2).
The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainer devices (6) are arranged in the central portion of the skirting, on the corresponding side.
The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side walls (2) are foldable.