EP4653336A1

EP4653336A1 - Stackable container including a lid

Info

Publication number: EP4653336A1
Application number: EP25177190.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Innocenti
Original assignee: CAPP Plast Costruzione Articoli Plastici Prato Srl
Current assignee: CAPP Plast Costruzione Articoli Plastici Prato Srl
Priority date: 2024-05-22
Filing date: 2025-05-19
Publication date: 2025-11-26

Abstract

A stackable container of medium or large size and with a medium or large load capacity, comprising a lid, for the storage and transport of products in general, comprising: a body (1) open at the top, delimiting a compartment (V) for containing said products, and a lid (2) configured to close said body (1) and the relative compartment (V) at the top, wherein the body (1) comprises: a polygonal base (3), side walls (4, 5) which are provided along the perimeter of said base and adapted to delimit with said base (3) the compartment (V) for containing said products, said side walls defining an upper edge (B) which delimits said compartment (V) at the top; wherein the lid (2) comprises a closure wall (2A), which extends substantially horizontally, having a perimeter portion (2B) adapted to rest on the upper edge (B) of the side walls (4, 5).

Description

The present invention relates to a stackable container, made of plastic material, of medium or large size and with a medium or large load capacity comprising a lid, for the storage and transport of products in general, according to the pre-characterising part of the main claim.
As used therein, containers of medium size and with a medium load capacity are understood to mean containers having a load volume of at least 200 litres and with a width and a length of at least 600 x 800 mm and a height of at least 300 mm, while containers of large size and with a large load capacity are understood to mean containers having a load volume of at least 300 litres and with a width and a length for example of 800 × 600 mm, 1200 × 800 mm, 1200 × 1000 mm and 1200 × 1600 mm, and a height of at least 500 mm. This type of containers may have capacities and dimensions which are different from the capacities and dimensions indicated above; the above values should therefore be considered to be indicated by way of non-limiting example.
Such containers of medium and large size and with a medium or large load capacity are designed as reusable containers and for this purpose it is known that the side walls of the container can be expected to be positioned perpendicular to a bottom wall of the container so as to delimit a loading compartment, or in a position parallel and superimposed on the bottom wall when the container is not to be used for loading and the size thereof is to be reduced.
The containers according to the invention are made of plastic.
A container of the above mentioned type is described for example in the Italian patent IT0001375959 .
In known containers, it is generally not possible to quickly and easily attach a standard safety seal to the lid and to the upper edge of the side walls of the container body on which the lid rests, which allows to verify whether or not the lid has been released from the container.
To apply these safety seals, it is known to drill a hole in the lid and in the upper edge of the side walls of the container and thus create a through hole in which the strap of the safety seal can be inserted, making a portion of the strap protrude from the side wall, under the upper edge thereof, which portion of the strap is then folded upwards and therefore remains external to the side wall in which the hole has been made.
KR 2012 0049649 A describes a container having a safety seal according to the pre-characterising part of claim 1.
CN 206 032 160 U , US 2014/259542 A1 , CN 107 826 442 A describe containers comprising strap-shaped safety seals.
DE 20 2008 015157 U1 describes a stackable container.
US 10 766 677 B2 describes a strap-shaped safety seal.
The object of the present invention is to provide a container of the above mentioned type which simplifies and makes easier the operations necessary to secure the lid to the upper edge of the side walls of the container by means of one or more safety seals and more generally an elongated connecting element, and which facilitates the passage of said safety seal, and in particular of said elongated element, through inlet and outlet openings provided in the container for said safety seal.
A further object is to provide a container of the type described above which allows for the protection of the portions of the safety seal and more generally of the elongated connecting element, which remain external to the container, when the containers are handled, and / or stacked and / or placed side by side during their transport or handling.
These and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are achieved by a container according to the pre-characterising part of the main claim. For a better understanding of the present invention, drawings are attached by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial, schematic perspective view of a container according to the invention,
Figure 2 is a partial, schematic perspective view of two containers according to the invention, when stacked on top of each other,
Figure 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the detail indicated by the arrow X1 in Fig. 1,
Figure 4 shows a schematic front view and a sectional view taken along line IV in Fig. 3 of the detail of this figure,
Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the detail in Fig. 3 when both the lid and the element connecting the lid to the container body have been removed,
Figure 6 is an enlarged schematic view of the detail indicated by the arrow X2 in Fig. 2,
Figures 7A and 7B are schematic perspective views of usual safety seals which can be used in a container according to the invention.

Figures 1 to 6 illustrate a stackable container according to the invention, of large size and with a large load capacity, for the storage and transport of products in general.
The container, as conventional for those skilled in the art, comprises:
a body 1 open at the top, delimiting a compartment V (Fig. 1) for containing said products, and a lid 2 configured to close said body 1 and the relative compartment V at the top.
The body 1 comprises: a polygonal base 3, side walls 4 and 5, adapted to delimit with said base the compartment V for containing said products, and adapted to define an upper edge B (Fig. 5) which delimits said compartment V at the top.
The lid 2 adapted to close the body 1 at the top comprises a closure wall 2A, which extends substantially horizontally, having a perimeter portion 2B (Fig. 3) adapted to rest on the upper edge B of the side walls 4, 5, and a lower face 2C (Fig. 4) facing the compartment V of the body 1 of the container and an upper face 2D opposite to the lower face 2C.
The lid 2 when closing the compartment V of the body 1, and at least one of the side walls 4 and 5 (in the Figures it is the wall 4) comprise a seat 6 (Fig. 4) adapted to delimit a path configured for the passage and for guiding an at least partially flexible elongated portion 8A of a connecting element 8, preferably of a safety seal 8, adapted to constrain the lid 2 to said at least one side wall.
According to the invention, the seat 6 comprises:

a first inlet through opening 7A (Fig. 5) and a first outlet through opening 7B spaced apart from each other, provided in the upper edge B of at least one of the side walls 4 and 5 (in the Figures, the openings are provided in the largest and parallel walls 4), and connected to each other by a connecting channel 7C which extends in the side wall 4 below said edge B,
and a second inlet through opening 7D and a second outlet through opening 7E, provided in the lid 2 at the perimeter edge 2B of the lid and in such positions that the first and second inlet openings 7A, 7D and the first and second outlet openings 7B, 7E are substantially superimposed when the lid 2 closes the compartment V of the body 1, so that said openings 7A-7E and said channel 7C delimit the path for the passage of the elongated portion 8A of the connecting element 8, preferably of the safety seal, so that a central section 8B of the elongated portion 8A can be housed inside said seat 6 and the end sections 8D and intermediate section 8C thereof can protrude from the upper face 2D of said lid 2, at the perimeter edge 2B of the lid and of the underlying perimeter edge B of the at least one side wall 4, 5.

Thanks to this conformation of the seat 6, the portions of the connecting element that are not housed in the seat do not protrude from the side walls of the container but they only protrude from the upper face of the lid and at the perimeter edge 2B of the lid. Consequently, since the connecting element 8 does not protrude externally and laterally, two containers can be placed side by side (for example during their transport), and since the connecting element protrudes from the lid only at the perimeter edge 2B of the lid, a container can also be stacked on the lid of a container below, as discussed in more detail below and as highlighted in Fig. 2.
Preferably, the channel 7C has an arched extension, preferably it has the shape of a circular arc, and / or extends in such a way that the side walls 9B, 9C delimiting the channel 7C have straight sections forming together angles which are greater than 90°.
Thanks to this conformation of the channel, the insertion of the flexible portion of the connection element into the channel 7C is facilitated.
Preferably, the channel 7C extends below the edge B of the side wall 4 in which the channel is provided and is sized so as not to protrude either with respect to the external shape or the internal shape of the side wall 4 in which said channel is provided. For this purpose, the channel has a depth or width D2 (Fig. 5) which is less than or equal to the maximum width D1 of the shape of the side wall 4 in which said channel is provided, and / or of the width D1' of the upper edge B of said side wall 4. Thanks to this sizing of the channel 7C, the seat 6 for the passage of the connecting element 8, preferably of the safety seal, does not change the dimensions of the container and can be made in conventional containers having usual and / or standardized dimensions, for example by modifying the moulds necessary for the creation of the side walls.
Preferably, the channel 7C is a channel only defined by a bottom wall 9A (Fig. 5) which is parallel to and preferably coinciding with a section of a flat portion 10A of the side wall 4 which provides the channel 7C, and two arched side walls 9B, 9C which are perpendicular to the bottom wall 9A of the channel, so that the walls of the channel delimit an externally open channel. This conformation simplifies the construction of the channel, taking into account that the channel is provided in the side walls 4, 5 of the body 1 of the container and that these walls, and preferably also the entire container, are made, as is usual for those skilled in the art, by moulding a plastic material.
Preferably, the two arched side walls 9B, 9C perpendicular to the bottom wall 9A of the channel 7C are connected to reinforcement portions 9D, 9E which are external to the channel 7C and perpendicularly extend outwardly from the flat portion 10A of the side walls 4, 5 in which the channel is provided. These reinforcement portions 9D, 9E are designed to avoid deformations of the arched walls 9B, 9C during the moulding of the wall.
Preferably, the channel 7C runs along a 180° angle.
Preferably, the section of the superimposed through openings 7A-7E of the edge B of the side wall 4, 5 and the lid 2 are substantially equal to each other and are also substantially equal to or larger than the cross-section of the channel 7C in order to facilitate the insertion of the elongated part 8A of the connecting element 8, and to avoid its movement being hindered by steps or protrusions during insertion. Preferably, the section of the through openings 7A-7E and the channel 7C has an area which is between 20 square millimetres and 50 square millimetres, so as to allow easy insertion of the elongated part 8A of the connecting element 8. Preferably, the distance D3, D4 (Fig. 4) between the first and the second openings 7A, 7B, 7D, 7E is between 30 mm and 100 mm, more preferably it is equal to approximately 50 mm, and / or the length of the seat 6 is between 60 mm and 120 mm, more preferably it is equal to approximately 80 mm, so as to allow the use of safety seals of the strap type as connecting elements 8, having lengths of a type which is usual for those skilled in the art.
The fact that the channel 7C is open externally is also advantageous in that this solution allows any flows of water that may enter from the through openings 7A-7D to drain outside the container, and / or any dirt or material which could accumulate in the channel and obstruct the passage of the elongated part 8A of the connecting element 8 to be discharged to the outside.
Preferably, the lid 2 has a side element 2F (which is dotted in Fig. 3) at least at its openings 7D, 7E for the passage of the elongated portion 8A of the connecting element 8 and at its perimeter edge 2B, for at least partially protecting the portion of the connecting element 8 which is housed in the channel 7C and for at least partially closing said channel 7C.
Thanks to the protection side element 2F, the portion of the connecting element 8 housed in the channel 7C is protected for example against accidental impacts that could damage it and it is also difficult to access if malicious people wanted to tamper with it. Furthermore, the side protection element 2F, by at least partially closing the channel 7C, facilitates and simplifies the passage of the flexible portion of the connecting element 8 into the channel.
The protection side element 2F extends downwardly perpendicularly and at the perimeter edge 2B of the horizontal closure wall 2A, at least at the through openings 7D, 7E of the lid (Fig. 3).
As shown in the Figures, the lid 2 includes a side wall 2G which extends downwardly perpendicularly and at the entire perimeter edge 2B of the horizontal closure wall 2A; the protection side element 2F according to this embodiment can therefore advantageously be a part of this side wall.
The side wall 2G and / or the protection element 2F (when it is not part of the side wall) are sized and shaped to flush close the container, substantially abutting or being spaced a few millimetres from the external shape of the upper portion of the side walls 4, 5 of the body 1 of the container.
As shown in Figure 1, the container can include a plurality of seats (6) for the passage and for guiding the elongated portion 8A of the connecting element 8, which are distributed along the edge of the side walls in order to prevent malicious people from being able to lift the lid even partially and / or to lift even just some portions thereof. By way of example, as shown in Figure 1, the longer walls 4 of the container each have two seats 6 spaced apart from each other; these seats 6 in the container shown in Figure 1 are not provided at the shorter wall 5 but they could also be provided in these walls.
The body 1 of the container, as well as the lid 2 with the exception of the parts delimiting the seat(s) 6 for the connecting element, are of a conventional type for those skilled in the art and will not be, therefore, described in detail below.
The side walls 4 and 5, as conventional for those skilled in the art, can be made as a single piece with the base 3 or can be associated with the base 3 by means of hinges so that they can be folded down onto the base 3 itself, thus saving space when the container is not in use.
The side walls 4 and 5, as usual for those skilled in the art, have a flat part 4A, 5A (Fig. 1) which internally delimits a substantially continuous flat face, and which externally provides reinforcement and stiffening portions protruding outwardly departing from said flat parts 4A, 5A and may for example have the shape of vertical boards 11 or horizontal boards 12 or even of protruding elements 13A-C having for example a parallelepiped shape and increased thickness, provided for example at the external corners of the container and / or in the central parts and / or of the lower edge of the walls.
The base 3 is also conventional for those skilled in the art and comprises feet 15A which depart from the corners of said base, preferably also further feet 15B which are provided centrally along the perimeter of the base 3 and preferably also in the centre of the base 3, and preferably connected to the angular and / or central feet by means of crosspieces 15C which are adapted to rest on the support surface of the container. The feet 15A, B are adapted to space the base 3 from the support surface of the container, and to allow the container to be handled, for example, by means of conventional trolleys or motorised means with fork lifting devices of the type used for handling pallets.
The feet 15A, B, as usual for those skilled in the art, can be made as a single piece with the base 3 or the base 3 can include seats designed to house a portion of usual feet removably attached to the base 3.
As is usual for those skilled in the art, to allow the containers to be firmly and safely stacked on top of each other, at least the corner feet 15A have a recessed perimeter part 15D (Figs. 1 and 6) at their lower end, into which an upwardly protruding step 2H provided in the corners of the lid 2 engages; thanks to this engagement between the step 2H and the recess 15D, when two containers are stacked on top of each other, horizontal movements (longitudinal and transverse) of the container with respect to the lid and the container below are prevented. Thus, in usual containers the support surface of the feet of the containers and also the support surface, if present, of the crosspieces 15C which connect said angular feet 15A to each other are not flush with the external shape of the container and the lid, but are set back by a section D6 equal to or slightly greater than the thickness D8 of the base of the steps 2H. The section D6 has, for example, a dimension which is between 30 mm and 60 mm, more preferably equal to approximately 40 mm. As shown in Fig. 6, the fact that the usual crosspieces 15C are set back from the external shape of the container and the lid allows, when two containers are stacked on top of each other, to always have a free space S (Fig. 6), not occupied by the feet and / or the crosspieces, at the upper edge of the side walls 4, 5 or, according to the invention, at the space where the parts 8C, 8D, 8E (Fig. 3) of the connecting element which come out from the seat 6 and protrude from the upper face of the lid are provided. Therefore, according to the invention, the parts 8E 8C 8D (Fig. 3) of the connecting element 8 which protrude from the upper face 2A of the lid 2 never come into contact, even when stacking a container on top of the other, and cannot be damaged by the feet 15A, B and / or the crosspieces 15C of a container, if any, stacked on the one having the connecting element.
The lid 2 also comprises, as is usual for those skilled in the art, projecting parts 2K shaped and sized in such a way that their edges come into contact with and lock the edges of the crosspieces 15C of the feet 15A, B, thus cooperating to prevent longitudinal and transverse movements of containers stacked on top of each other. The container is preferably made entirely of plastic material, by moulding.
The connecting element 8 can be of any type conventional to those skilled in the art and includes a flexible portion 8A designed to be inserted into and to pass in the seat 6, that is through the openings 7A, B, D, E and into the channel 7C, and parts 8C, 8D, 8E adapted to protrude from the seat 6 and designed to be constrained to each other, in order to connect the lid 2 firmly to the upper edge of the side walls 4, 5 of the container.
Preferably, the connecting element 8 has the shape of a usual safety seal of the type comprising an elongated portion 8A, for example a plastic strap (Fig. 7A) or a metal cable, which extends from a locking portion 8E configured in such a way as to allow a free end section 8D of the elongated portion 8A that comes out of the seat 6 (as shown in Fig. 3) to be locked in an unbreakable manner. The elongated portion 8A as usual comprises an intermediate portion 8C which is sized and shaped in such a way as to remain out of the seat 6 and extends from the locking portion 8E, a portion 8B which is sized and shaped in such a way as to be inserted into the seat 6, and an end portion 8D which is sized and shaped in such a way as to remain out of the seat 6 and cooperate with the locking portion 8E in order to clamp said end portion 8D firmly to said locking portion 8E.
Preferably, the connecting element 8 also comprises an additional portion 8F which departs from the locking portion 8E, for example having a flat shape sized and shaped so that a label and / or writing can be applied on it.
Figure 7A shows by way of example a connecting element 8 of the usual type which is shaped like a usual safety seal entirely made of plastic material of the type also represented in Figures (1, 3, 4, 6); Figure 7B shows a variant 8' of the connecting element 8, wherein the parts in common with the connecting element of Fig. 7B have been indicated with the same numbering but with the addition of a prime and will not be further described. The connecting element 8' is also of the usual type and comprises an elongated part 8A' shaped for example like a metal cable, and an also metal locking part 8E', having a through hole in which the end portion 8D' of the elongated part 8A' can be inserted, and designed to be deformed, as usual for those skilled in the art, to permanently lock said end portion to said locking part when the seal has been connected to the parts to be connected to each other.
Preferably, the maximum lateral dimension L1 (Fig. 7A, B) of the connecting element 8, 8' is between 0.5 cm and 4 cm so that, as shown in Fig. 6, the parts of the connecting element that remain outside the lid can still be provided for in a part of the lid 2 that does not come into contact with a container that is possibly stacked on a container below having the connecting element.
It should be noted that the scope of protection of the invention also includes the use of other conventional connection elements in addition to those illustrated so far.
It should be noted that the invention has the advantage of allowing the use of connecting elements and in particular of conventional type safety seals and does not require dedicated connecting elements, thus the user of the container according to the invention can freely choose, according to his or her needs, which element for which protection is to be granted to use.
It should be reiterated, ultimately, that the embodiments illustrated so far have been provided by way of example and that numerous variants are possible all falling within the same inventive concept, so for example the shape of the channel 6C of the seat for the insertion of the connecting element could be different from the circular one illustrated so far; the semicircular walls 9B, 9C which delimit the channel 6C could for example be formed by a succession of straight sections, with an internal angle between one section and the next section greater than 110°, for example four sections forming a regular semi-octagon.
The channel 6C could also be not continuous as described and illustrated so far, and be for example shaped as a plurality of channel sections in series with each other, but separate and distinct from each other, in any case adapted to form a path for the insertion and for guiding the connecting element 8.

Claims

A stackable container of medium or large size and with a medium or large load capacity comprising a lid, for the storage and transport of products in general, comprising:
- a body (1) open at the top, delimiting a compartment (V) for containing said products, and a lid (2) configured to close said body (1) and the relative compartment (V) at the top,

- wherein the body (1) comprises: a polygonal base (3), side walls (4, 5) which are provided along the perimeter of said base and adapted to delimit with said base (3) the compartment (V) for containing said products, said side walls defining an upper edge (B) which delimits said compartment (V) at the top;

- wherein the lid (2) comprises a closure wall (2A), which extends substantially horizontally, having a perimeter portion (2B) adapted to rest on the upper edge (B) of the side walls (4, 5), and a lower face (2C) facing the compartment (V) of the body (1) of the container and an upper face (2D) opposite to the lower face (2C);

- wherein the lid (2) when closing the compartment (V) of the body (1), and at least one of the side walls (4, 5), comprise at least one seat (6) adapted to delimit a path configured for the passage and for guiding an at least partially flexible elongated portion (8A) of a connecting element (8), preferably of a safety seal, adapted to constrain the lid (2) to said at least one side wall (4, 5);
wherein said at least one seat (6) for the connecting element (8) comprises:
- a first inlet through opening (7A) and a first outlet through opening (7B) spaced apart from each other, provided in the upper edge (B) of at least one of the side walls (4,5),

- and a second inlet through opening (7D) and a second outlet through opening (7E), provided in the lid (2) at the perimeter edge (2B) of the lid (2) and in such positions that the first and second inlet openings (7A, 7D) and the first and the second outlet openings (7B, 7E) are substantially superimposed when the lid (2) closes the compartment (V) of the body (1),
said seat (6) being configured:
- to be able to house therein a central section (8B) of said elongated portion (8A) of the connecting element (8),

- and to allow end sections (8C, 8D) of said elongated portion (8A) of the connecting element (8), which are not housed in said seat (6), to protrude from the upper face (2D) of said lid (2), at the perimeter edge (2B) of the lid and the underlying perimeter edge (B) of said at least one side wall (4, 5), so that end portions (8C, 8D, 8E, 8F) of said connecting element (8) which are not housed in said seat (6) only protrude from the upper face (2D) of said lid (2), at the perimeter edge (2B) of the lid, characterized in that:
said first inlet through opening (7A) and said first outlet through opening (7B) are connected to each other by means of a connecting channel (7C) which extends into the side wall (4) below said upper edge (B),

said openings (7A, 7B, 7D, 7E) and said channel (7C) delimiting said path for the passage of the elongated portion (8A) of the connecting element (8).
The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (3) comprises feet (15A) which depart from the corners of said base, and preferably also further feet (15B) which are provided centrally at least along the perimeter of the base (3), and crosspieces (15C) which connect said feet to each other, adapted to rest on a support surface of the container, wherein said feet (15A, B) and crosspieces (15C) are adapted to space the base (3) from the support surface of the container,
wherein the support surface of the feet (15A, 15B) of the containers and also the support surface of the crosspieces (15C) which connect said feet to each other are not flush with the external shape of the container and / or the lid, but are set back by a section (D6) having a dimension between 1.5 cm and 6 cm, more preferably equal to approximately 4 cm,

so that it is possible to always have a free space (S) for the parts (8C, 8D, 8E, 8F) of the connecting element (8) which protrude from the lid (2) of the container below, when two containers are stacked on top of each other, and to avoid contact between said protruding parts (8C, 8D, 8E, 8F) and the feet (15A, 15B) and / or the crosspieces (15C) of the container above.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (7C):
a) has an arched extension, preferably it has the shape of a circular arc,

b) and / or extends in such a way that the side walls (9B, 9C) delimiting the channel (7C) have straight sections forming together internal angles which are greater than 110°;

c) and / or in that the channel (7C) extends below the edge (B) of the side wall (4) in which the channel is provided and is sized so as not to protrude either with respect to the external shape or the internal shape of the side wall (4) in which said channel (7C) is provided.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (7C) has a depth (D2) which is less than or equal to the maximum width (D1) of the shape of the side wall (4, 5) in which said channel (7C) is provided, and / or of the width (D1') of the upper edge (B) of said side wall (4, 5) in which said channel is provided.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (7C) is a channel only defined by a bottom wall (9A) which is parallel to and preferably coinciding with a section of a flat portion (10A) of the side wall (4, 5) which provides the channel (7C), and two side walls (9B, 9C) which are perpendicular and departing from the bottom wall (9A) of the channel, so that the walls of the channel delimit an externally open channel, wherein preferably the two side walls (9B, 9C) are perpendicular to the bottom wall (9A) of the channel (7C), are connected to reinforcement portions (9D, 9E) which are external to the channel (7C) and perpendicularly extend outwardly from the flat portion (10A) of the side walls (4, 5) in which the channel (7C) is provided.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it provides one or more of the following features:
a) the section of the superimposed through openings (7A, 7D, 7B, 7E) of the edge (B) of the side wall (4, 5) and of the lid (2) are substantially equal to each other and are also substantially equal to or larger than the cross-section of the channel (7C);

b) and / or the section of the through openings (7A, 7D, 7B, 7E) and the channel (7C) has an area of at least one square centimetre;

c) and / or the distance (D3, D4) between the first and the second openings (7A, 7B, 7D, 7E) is between 5 cm and 30 cm, more preferably it is equal to approximately 12 cm;

d) and / or the length of the seat (6) for the connecting element (8) is between 8 cm and 30 cm, more preferably it is equal to approximately 20 cm;

e) and / or the channel (7C) has a continuous uninterrupted extension;

f) and / or the container has medium size and load capacity and provides: a load volume of at least 200 litres and with a width and a length of at least 600 x 800 mm and a height of at least 300 mm;

g) and / or the container has large dimensions and load capacity and provides: a load volume of at least 300 litres and with a width and length of 800 × 600 mm, and / or 1200 × 800 mm, and / or 1200 × 1000 mm and / or 1200 × 1600 mm, and a height of at least 500 mm.
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (2) has a side element (2F), at least at its openings (7D, 7E) for the passage of the elongated portion (8A) of the connecting element (8) and at its perimeter edge (2B), for at least partially protecting the portion of the connecting element (8) housed in the channel (7C) and for at least partially closing said channel (7C), wherein said protection side element (2F) extends downwardly perpendicularly and at the perimeter edge (2B) of the horizontal closure wall (2A), at least at the through openings (7D, 7E) of the lid, wherein preferably said protection side element (2F) is part of a side wall (2G) of the lid (2), which extends downwardly perpendicularly and at the entire perimeter edge (2B) of the horizontal closure wall (2A).
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (8) has the shape of a safety seal of the type comprising an elongated portion (8A), for example a plastic strap or a metal cable, which extends from a locking portion (8E) configured in such a way as to allow a free end section (8D) of the elongated portion (8A) that comes out of the seat (6) for the connecting element (8) to be locked in an unbreakable manner when said free end section (8D) has been inserted in a locking opening of said locking portion (8E), wherein the elongated portion (8A) comprises an intermediate portion (8C) which is sized and shaped in such a way as to remain out of said seat (6) and extends from the locking portion (8E), a central portion (8B) which is sized and shaped in such a way as to be inserted into said seat (6), and an end portion (8D) which is sized and shaped in such a way as to remain out of said seat (6) and cooperate with the locking portion (8E) in order to clamp said free end portion (8D) firmly to said locking portion (8E).
The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the maximum lateral dimension (L1) of the connecting element (8, 8') is between 0.5 cm and 4 cm.
A stackable container comprising a connecting element (8),
wherein said container is of medium or large size and with a medium or large load capacity, for the storage and transport of products in general, wherein said container comprises:
- a body (1) open at the top, delimiting a compartment (V) for containing said products, and a lid (2) configured to close said body (1) and the relative compartment (V) at the top,

- wherein the body (1) comprises: a polygonal base (3), side walls (4, 5) provided along the perimeter of said base, and adapted to delimit with said base (3) the compartment (V) for containing said products, said side walls defining an upper edge (B) which delimits said compartment (V) at the top;

- wherein the lid (2) comprises a closure wall (2A), which extends substantially horizontally, having a perimeter portion (2B) adapted to rest on the upper edge (B) of the side walls (4, 5), and a lower face (2C) facing the compartment (V) of the body (1) of the container and an upper face (2D) opposite to the lower face (2C);

- wherein the lid (2), when closing the compartment (V) of the body (1), and at least one of the side walls (4, 5), comprise at least one seat (6) for the connecting element (8), adapted to delimit a path configured for the passage and for guiding an at least partially flexible elongated portion (8A) of said connecting element (8), adapted to constrain the lid (2) to said at least one side wall (4, 5);

- wherein the connecting element is a safety seal (8) comprising:
said elongated portion (8A), namely a plastic strap or a metal cable, which extends from a locking portion (8E) configured in such a way as to allow a free end section (8D) of said elongated portion (8A) that comes out of said seat (6) to be locked in an unbreakable manner, wherein said elongated portion (8A) comprises an intermediate portion (8C) which is sized and shaped in such a way as to remain out of said seat (6), and extends from said locking portion (8E), a central portion (8B) which is sized and shaped in such a way as to be inserted into said seat (6), wherein said free end section (8D) is sized and shaped in such a way as to remain out of said seat (6) and cooperate with the locking portion (8E) in order to clamp said free end portion (8D) firmly to said locking portion (8E);

wherein said at least one seat (6) for the connecting element (8) comprises:
- a first inlet through opening (7A) and a first outlet through opening (7B) spaced apart from each other, provided in the upper edge (B) of at least one of the side walls (4,5),

- and a second inlet through opening (7D) and a second outlet through opening (7E), provided in the lid (2) at the perimeter edge (2B) of the lid and in such positions that the first and second inlet openings (7A, 7D) and the first and second outlet openings (7B, 7E) are substantially superimposed when the lid (2) closes the compartment (V) of the body (1),

said seat (6) being configured:
- to be able to house therein a central section (8B) of said elongated portion (8A) of the connecting element (8),

- and to allow end sections (8C, 8D) of said elongated portion (8A) of the connecting element (8), which are not housed in the seat (6), to protrude from the upper face (2D) of said lid (2), at the perimeter edge (2B) of the lid and the underlying perimeter edge (B) of said at least one side wall (4, 5), so that end portions (8C, 8D, 8E, 8F) of said connecting element (8) which are not housed in said seat (6) only protrude from the upper face (2D) of said lid (2), at the perimeter edge (2B) of the lid, characterized in that:

said first inlet through opening (7A) and said first outlet through opening (7B) are connected to each other by means of a connecting channel (7C) which extends into the side wall (4) below said upper edge (B),

said openings (7A, 7B, 7D, 7E) and said channel (7C) delimiting said path for the passage of said elongated portion (8A) of the connecting element (8).