ES2850548A1 - FOLDING CONTAINER (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Collapsible container, comprising a base (2), hinged side walls (3) configured to fold separately on the base, and hooking means between adjoining side walls in the armed position: characterized in that the hooking means comprise an element of retention (6), arranged on a side wall, and a flap (7), configured to be retained by the retention element of an adjoining side wall, in the assembly of the container. It can comprise a conventional flexible interior structure for separating and protecting the products to be transported, so that the hooking means prevent it from having to be disassembled when folding. The hinge is materialized by axes (4) defined by slits made in the side walls. It is equipped with a cover (11) with handles (15) that facilitate its handling. The base can be integral with a platform (14) with support blocks (17), pallet type, to facilitate its stacking and handling by forklifts. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

FOLDING CONTAINER

Object of the invention

The present invention refers to a collapsible container, the main objective of which is to facilitate its folding / assembly, for which the connection between the adjacent side walls that constitute the container is simplified.

The invention is applied to any type of container that requires to be folded to occupy less space in its storage and transport when it has been emptied, such as pallet-type containers or any other. Thus, in one type of container in which the invention is applied, it is in those that comprise a conventional flexible interior structure, configured to carry out the separation and protection of the products to be transported, in which case, in addition, the invention has as its object avoid having to disassemble said flexible interior structure or any of its parts, when folding, so that in these cases the folding / assembly is considerably simplified.

Background of the invention

At present, collapsible containers are marketed that are equipped with a base from which emerge side walls that fold separately, folding them towards the interior of the container. Once the side walls have been folded, the assembly is closed by means of a cover that covers them. This lid is also used to close the container when it is unfolded and assembled.

In this sense, the Spanish utility model with application number U9601828 can be cited, in which a folding container pallet is described comprising a base and straight quadrangular side plates that can be folded sequentially on the base. It also comprises a foldable prismatic laminar piece with a band, washer or band, which, in the deployed position of the side plates, is arranged outside and around said side plates, sheathing them to maintain the deployed position. It also comprises a closure cap both in the folded and unfolded position. The container can be made of different materials, such as plastic, cardboard, wood, metal, etc.

This configuration has the drawback that the incorporation of the foldable prismatic sheet is required, and the need to manipulate it when assembling the container, which complicates the structure of the container and its folding / assembly.

To simplify the previous configuration, another type of folding container was created in which its side walls are materialized by means of the foldable prismatic laminar piece of the previous model, which forms the hoop, avoiding the use of folding straight square plates. In this case, it is required that the configuration of the foldable primary laminar piece be more resistant and heavy, so that in the armed position it is inserted into the base, so to carry out the folding, it is required to remove it from the base, lift its weight, fold it and lay it down on the base, and in the assembly operation the reverse operation is carried out, which makes it difficult to handle, both at the time of assembly and folding.

The existence of other types of thick-walled and heavier containers that are manufactured and marketed by numerous companies, such as Schoeller Allibert, Schoeller Arca System, Ropak, UTZ, Qpall, Kaiser + Kraft or Auer, can also be cited.

In this sense, mention can be made of the European patent document with publication number EP0911268, which describes a folding container provided with a base, with separately folding side walls, towards the inside of the container, and provided with hooking formations with the adjoining walls. , which fit the walls in the assembly, and which furthermore, the folding is carried out on hinges, which also house the hooking formations of the adjoining side wall when the container is folded, to hook them in the fold. This container has the drawback of being equipped with a rather complex hooking structure that makes the product more expensive and makes handling difficult.

Description of the invention

To achieve the objectives and solve the aforementioned problems, the invention consists of a container that, like those envisaged in the state of the art, comprises a base and hinged side walls, configured to be folded separately on said base, and further comprising hooking means between the adjoining side walls in the armed position.

The main novelty of the invention focuses on the hooking means, which comprise a retention element, arranged on a side wall, and a flap arranged on a contiguous side wall, configured to be inserted into the retention element when the assembly is carried out. of the container. The number of side walls of the preferred embodiment is four, although it could be any other number, depending on the required needs.

The flap is folded inward, and the retainer is spaced a distance from the edge of the side wall where it is arranged, so that this distance is a function of the width of the flap to allow insertion into the retainer. .

In the preferred embodiment, the hooking means comprise a flap insertion slot, so that adjacent side walls are fixed. For this, the retaining element comprises an extension which together with the side wall to which it is fixed form the insertion groove of the flap.

In one embodiment it is envisaged that the groove can be made in the retaining element, without the need for the side wall to intervene in the catch.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the retention elements are arranged on the same side wall, and the flaps on the same adjoining side wall, to facilitate assembly and unfolding, although it is also possible that on the same side wall, they can hooking elements are arranged alternating with flaps, that is to say each side wall comprises a hooking element, and a flap on the opposite side, so that the same hooking functionality is achieved.

The invention provides for the possibility that the container can be provided with a conventional flexible internal structure, of the type that is configured to separate and protect the products to be transported in the container. For this, the container must comprise side walls with flaps on their opposite edges, so that on opposite side walls, a bar is arranged on which the flexible inner structure is slidably fixed. This configuration, together with the hooking means described, prevent the flexible interior structure from having to be disassembled when folding the container.

The hinge of the side walls is materialized by means of axes defined by slits made in said side walls. The hinge axes of opposite side walls are arranged at the same height, and those of the lateral walls adjacent to the previous ones are arranged at different heights, so that first the side walls whose axes are arranged at a lower level are folded. height and then the ones of greater height are folded over the previous ones, which facilitates the folding of some side walls over others.

In one embodiment, the container comprises a closing lid that is used both in the position in which it is assembled, to close the container and protect its contents, and in the folded position to cover and protect the side walls, and to obtain a compact folded container. The lid is expected to include handles to facilitate handling.

In the lower part of the side walls and below the hinges, it comprises a perimeter band for fixing and reinforcing said side walls, on which, in addition, it is possible to incorporate corner pieces for reinforcing and fixing adjacent side walls.

In the preferred embodiment, the base is integral with a platform with support blocks, pallet type, to facilitate the stacking and handling of the containers by means of forklifts. Furthermore, the lid includes stops for centering the containers in the stack.

The described configuration facilitates the assembly and folding of the container by a single person without the use of force, which guarantees great ease and comfort of use.

In short, the configuration described has the following advantages compared to the state of the art:

- It facilitates the handling of the container, since it is not necessary to disassemble any element separating it from the set. In the case in which it includes a flexible interior structure, its separation is not required either, remaining inside the container once folded.

- Provides greater ergonomics, since it is not necessary for the user to use force to lift the body of the container during extraction, since no element must be removed. Therefore, it improves the ergonomic conditions of the end user.

- Allows the possibility of applying it to customizable containers in number of side walls, dimensions, width, depth and height to be defined by the client.

- It involves a weight reduction compared to injected containers, with the consequent savings in transport and emissions derived from logistics, taking care of the environment.

- It simplifies the configuration of the container, since it does not require a return ring fixed to the pallet for containers with an interior.

Description of the figures

To complete the description and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, accompanying this specification, as an integral part thereof, is a set of figures in which the following has been represented by way of illustration and not limitation:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of the invention of an armed container with a lid on.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the previous figure in which the cover has been removed. In addition, a detail of the hooking means and a partial top plan view of a corner of the container have been represented to facilitate understanding of how the container is assembled.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the previous figure, in the position in which the folding of the container has begun.

Figure 4 shows the container in a more advanced phase of folding.

Figure 5 shows the container in the folded position and with the lid on.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

A description of the invention is made below based on the aforementioned figures, which consists of a folding container 1, equipped with a base 2 and side walls 3 hinged by axes 4, defined by slits made in the side walls 3 , to allow its folding, separately, on the base 2. In the example, the base of the container is of a quadrangular configuration, with four side walls, but it could have any other configuration with any other number of side walls, depending on the needs. required.

The axes 4 of the opposite side walls 3 are arranged at the same height and the axes 4 of the other two walls, contiguous to the previous ones, are arranged at the same height but different from the previous ones, to allow their folding, as will be described later.

The side walls 3 are provided with hooking means between adjacent side walls to carry out the assembly and folding of the container.

The hooking means comprise a retention element 6, provided on one of the side walls 3, which are complemented by flaps 7, folded inward and provided on the side walls 3 adjacent to the previous ones, so that the elements retaining elements 6 are spaced a certain distance from the edge 5 of the side wall, which is a function of the width of the flaps 7, to allow the flap to be retained in the retaining elements 6. In addition, for this purpose said retaining elements 6 They are provided with an extension 8, which, together with the side wall to which it is attached, defines a slot 9 for inserting and retaining the flap 7, so that the side walls 3 can be assembled and folded.

The possibility is envisaged that the groove 9 could be provided directly on the retaining element itself, without the need for the side wall to intervene in retaining the flap 7.

In the exemplary embodiment, the retention elements 6 are provided on the same side wall and the flaps on the same adjacent side wall, to facilitate their folding / assembly, although obviously they can be distributed by altering them on the same side wall.

The invention also provides for the possibility that the container can incorporate a flexible interior structure, which has not been represented in the figures because it is conventional and is not the object of the invention, such as, for example, an interior compartmentation for separation and protection of the products contained in the container. This flexible structure, for example, can be of a textile nature, such as a canvas or the like that, by means of rings, is retained on bars 10, through which they can slide to be able to extend or collect it during assembly / folding. These bars 10 are arranged between the flaps 7 of opposite side walls, which facilitates their handling.

In addition, the container has a lid 11, which closes it both in its folded and in the assembled position, on the upper face of which it includes handles 15 to facilitate its handling.

At the bottom of the container, and below the folding axes 4, it comprises a perimeter band 13, with reinforcing corners 12, to give the container greater resistance.

Next, starting from the structure described, it is preceded to explain the way in which the folding and assembly of the container is carried out.

Starting from the assembled container and with the lid 11 on (figure 1), first the lid 11 must be removed (figure 2), and then one of the side walls that include the two flaps 7 must be pulled back slightly. , so that they come out of the grooves 9, releasing the side wall. Depending on the dimensions of the side walls, the flaps 7 of the same side wall can be released one after the other, or simultaneously. Once released, the side wall folds towards the base along its axis 4.

The opposite side wall is then released and folded towards the base in the same way (Figure 3).

To carry out the correct folding, the height of the axis 4 of these side walls must be greater than the width of the flaps 7.

In the case in which the container includes a flexible interior structure, and since it is fixed on the bars 10, provided between the flaps 7, the circumstance occurs that when folding the side walls towards the interior of the container, they take with them to the flexible structure, placing it on the base where it occupies a certain space, so, in this case, the height of the axes 4 of these side walls must also be above this flexible structure when it has been folded, so that said flexible structure is housed under said side walls.

Therefore the height of the axes 4 is a function of the width of the flaps 7, or of the space occupied by the flexible structure, depending on which is greater.

Finally, the other two side walls that do not have a flap 7, that is, those that are equipped with the retention elements 6, have also been released and are folded towards the inside of the container (figure 4), which being the height of its upper axes 4 are perfectly located on the previous side walls. Finally, the lid 11 is placed on the side walls, leaving the container folded forming a compact structure (figure 5).

The unfolding process is the reverse, that is, starting from the folded position of the container, and with the lid 11 on (figure 5), first the lid 11 is removed and the side walls equipped with the retention elements 6 are deployed. and then those that include the flaps 7. Next, the flaps 7 are inserted into the slots 9, for which it is simply necessary to accompany each wing 7 until it passes the retention element 6 and then allow it to recede slightly until the flap is inserted into slot 9.

Since the container in the example includes the flexible interior structure, the tension it exerts when unfolding limits the total opening of the container and once the flaps 7 have been inserted into the slots 9, this tension also favors the retention of the flaps 7 in slots 9.

In the exemplary embodiment, the base 2 is integral with a platform 14 with support blocks 17, pallet type, to allow it to be stacked and handled by forklifts. The upper face of the cover 11 includes stops 16, configured to facilitate the centering of the support blocks 17 during the stacking operation.

Claims (16)

1. - Collapsible container, comprising a base (2), hinged side walls (3) configured to fold separately on the base, and hooking means between adjacent side walls in the armed position; It is characterized by the fact that the coupling means comprise: - a retaining element (6) arranged on a side wall, - a flap (7) arranged on a contiguous side wall, configured to be retained by the retention element, in the assembly of the container. 2. - Container, according to claim 1, where the flap (7) is folded inward, and the retaining element (6) is separated a distance from the edge (5) of the side wall, a distance that is a function of the width flap to allow insertion into the retention element. 3. -Container, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hooking means comprise a slot (9) for inserting the flap (7). 4. - Container according to claim 3, wherein the retention element (6) of the hooking means comprises an extension (8) that together with the side wall form the slot (9) for inserting the flap. 5. - Container according to claim 3, where the groove is provided in the retention element. 6. - Container according to any one of the preceding claims, where the retention elements are arranged on the same side wall and the flaps are arranged on the same adjacent side wall. 7. - Container according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a flexible interior structure for separating and protecting the products to be transported in the container. 8. - Container according to claims 6 and 7, where the flexible interior structure is fixed on bars (10) arranged between the flaps (7) of opposite side walls. 9. - Container according to any one of the preceding claims, where the hinge of the side walls is materialized by axes (4) defined by slits practiced on said side walls. 10. - Container according to claim 9, where the height of the hinge axes of opposite side walls are arranged at the same height and those of the adjacent side walls are arranged at different heights, to facilitate the folding of the side walls , one on top of the other. 11. - Container according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a container closure lid (11) both in the folded position and in the armed position. 12. - Container according to claim 11, wherein the lid comprises handles (15). 13. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, which further comprises in the lower part of the side walls and below the hinges, a perimeter band (13) for fixing and reinforcing said side walls. 14. - Container according to any one of the preceding claims, which further comprises in the lower part of the side walls and below the hinges, corner pieces (12) for reinforcing and fixing the side walls. 15. -Container, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is integral with a platform (14) with support blocks (17), pallet type. 16. - Container according to claim 15, wherein the lid comprises centering stops (16) of the containers, in the stack.