FR2563810A1 - Display shelf-container, particularly for boxes of eggs - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a front face consisting of several flaps, for example 3, it being possible to fold over the two upper flaps against the fixed lower flap in order to facilitate access to the inside. An intermediate floor 19 may be retracted, when the upper volume has been emptied. Application : transport and sale in a retail shop of boxes of eggs and of other similar items.

Description

 The subject of the present invention is a display container, used for the transport and delivery of products to be offered for sale, in a retail store, and at the same time serving as a display for the sale of the products that it served to transport. The container according to the invention is particularly suitable for the transport and sale of eggs in boxes, but it can also advantageously be suitable for the transport and sale of other articles having similar characteristics, sale in small size bundles, fearful products crushing, etc.

 The object of the invention is to propose a container of large dimensions, making it possible to house a large number of articles inside, while offering easy access to the articles displayed for sale, as and when the articles are removed and the container empties.

 In accordance with the present invention, a flower-display tale for the transport, delivery and retail sale of articles such as boxes of eggs of generally parallelepipedal shape, is remarkable in particular by the fact that it comprises at least one retractable intermediate floor, and a vertical wall at least part of which is foldable.

 As the items are removed from the display, the vertical wall can be folded back to facilitate access to the items in the lower layers. In the following, the front wall will denote said folding wall, since it is through this side that buyers have access to the articles. When the volume located above the intermediate floor is completely emptied, this floor is retracted, and access to the articles arranged below. It is thus possible to dispose of the articles over a significant height without causing the crushing of the boxes placed at the bottom, since the intermediate floor supports the loading of the upper part and transmits the force to the structure of the container.

 Advantageously, the intermediate floor is foldable against the rear vertical wall (the one which is opposite to the vertical wall having a foldable part) and it can also be foldable on itself. The front wall may comprise three substantially equal flaps, a fixed lower flap, a middle flap and an upper flap, the latter being able to be folded up against the middle flap, and these two flaps being able to be folded up against the fixed lower flap.

 Other characteristics of the invention will become apparent during the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example with regard to the attached drawings, - and which will make it clear how the invention can be implemented.

In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention, showing the different parts;
Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams of the articulation of the front face of the container, seen in profile;
Figure 4 is a diagram of the articulation of the intermediate floor, seen in profile;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a support and guide slide for the intermediate floor;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are schematic perspective views of a container in different access or opening positions; and
Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view of a container leg showing how it is placed for the superposition of two containers.

 The container shown by way of example in FIG. 1 has the shape of a parallelepiped; it has a fixed bottom or floor 10, on which are fixed four lova feet, 10b, 10c, 10d. The front face 11 consists of three flaps 11a, 11b, 11c having substantially the same dimensions. The lower flap lla is fixed relative to the bottom 10. The flap llb is articulated on the upper edge 12 of the flap lia and the lic flap is articulated on the opposite edge 13 of the flap llb. The side walls and the rear wall are each made up two panels; for the rear wall, a lower panel 15a and an upper panel 15b and for the side walls each a lower panel 16a, 17a respectively and a lower panel 16b, 17b respectively.

 The lower panels 15a, 16a and 17a are fixed relative to the bottom. There is therefore a rigid structure formed by the bottom 10, the lower panels 15a, 16a, 17a and the lower front flap 11a. The upper panels 15b, 16b, 17b are each articulated on the upper edge of the lower panel. An intermediate floor 19 separates the container into two substantially equal volumes. A number of locks, including four 20a, 20b, 20c, 2Od, are shown in the vicinity of the upper edge of the container used to hold it in the position shown in FIG. 1.

 Figures 2 and 3 schematically show a method of folding the front wall 11. After having released the locks 20a and -20h, the flap llc is simply folded against the flap 11h. The container is then in the position shown in Figure 6. If the container, serving as a display is placed in a store, customers have easy access to the upper part. The dimensions of the display container can be adapted to this use. A container may be approximately between 1.50 and 2 m high, for example 1.80 m. This height is adapted to the height of the buyers. The dimensions of the sides may be of the order of a meter for example, depending on the handling means available.

 When the level of the articles drops, the second flap llb can be folded against the flap lla. The folding can be done as shown schematically in Figure 3. In the position of Figure 2, no hooking is necessary. In the position of Figure 3, a properly placed articulated hook keeps the flap Ilc in the position shown.

 When the upper volume, above the floor 19, is completely emptied, the floor 19 is retracted, in accordance with a characteristic of the invention. By way of example, the floor 19 may consist of two panels 19a, 19b, articulated one on the other, along a common side 21. The panel 19a is articulated by its other side 22, on the side common to panels 15a and 15b of the rear wall. The two panels 19a and 19b can be folded up as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. The ends of the free side 23 of the panel 19b can include means allowing the setting in the retracted position (FIG. 7) or in the flat position (FIG. 6). These means can be extensions sliding in side rails 25, placed at the top of the lower panels 16a and 16b. These slides can be constituted by a profile (Figure 5) provided with a notch 26 allowing the setting of the panels l9a, l9b in the retracted position. When in the position of Figure 7, the container allows buyers access to the bottom.

 When it is completely empty and must be returned to its place of origin, the container can be folded down to reduce its bulk during the empty return journey. The front wall panels remain folded. The intermediate floor 19 is replaced, the latches 20c and 20d are undone, which allows the three upper panels 15b, 16b and 17b to be folded down on the floor.

The container then has the appearance of FIG. 8. Advantageously, the feet 10a - 10d are offset towards the outside, which allows an easy superposition during transport, and if desired, the fixing between them of the panels. superimposed.

 In FIG. 9, two superimposed containers are shown, both in the folded state of FIG. 8. An upper container 1 ′ is placed on a lower container 1. As already indicated above, the foot lo'a of the upper container is offset towards the outside, so as to wedge the containers in the lateral direction. The foot 10'a rests on an upper edge 30 of the lower panel of the container 1. According to the invention, the container 1 comprises, at each upper corner of the lateral lower panels 16a, 17a a wedging element constituted by a balonnette upright 31 which opposes a front-to-rear movement of one container with respect to the other, this upright protruding upwards, above all of the folded upper panels.

 The container is advantageously made of metal wire, for example stainless steel. This allows a light construction, both in weight and appearance. The realization of the hinges is simple, safe and economical, between two parallel and adjacent metal rods.

 Depending on the products presented, it may be useful to provide more than one intermediate floor. The total height of the container will however be limited by the possibility that buyers must have, to access the upper part to catch the items that they wish. Dividing the front panel into three is convenient and simple.

 The container according to the invention thus allows a transport of a large volume in a single package, the sale and the gradual flow of this large volume under practical conditions and the return of the container with a smaller volume.

 The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described; on the contrary, it is subject to modifications and variations which will appear to those skilled in the art.

Claims (7)

 1 - Container-display, for the transport and the retail sale of articles such as boxes of eggs, of generally parallelepiped shape, advantageously constructed of metal wire, characterized in that it comprises at least one intermediate floor (19 ) retractable, and a vertical front wall (11) of which at least one upper part (llc, llb) is foldable downwards.  2 - A display container according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate floor (19) is articulated by its rear side (22) and is foldable in the middle (21).  3 - display container according to claim 2, characterized in that the front edge (23) of the intermediate floor (19) has extensions sliding in lateral rails (25), advantageously comprising a setting notch (26) to maintain the folded floor.  4 - display container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the front face consists of three flaps (lla, llb, llc) substantially the same dimensions, the upper flap (llc) being foldable on the flap median (11b) and all of the upper and middle flaps (llc, llb) being foldable against the fixed lower flap (lla).  5 - display container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the parts (15b, 16b, 17b) of the rear and side vertical walls, located above the intermediate floor (19) are foldable against this floor (19).  6 - container-display according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises feet (loa-lOd) offset to the outside, to allow to be placed externally has an identical container placed below.  7 - display-container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at each upper corner of the lower panels the sides (16a, 17a) a wedging element (31) projecting upwards above of the set of upper panels (15b, 16b, 17b) when they are folded over the floor (19).