FR2719290A1 - Stackable and nestable box with vertical pillars. - Google Patents

Abstract

The plastics container is rectangular in shape, with a base (11) and side walls (3, 5, 7, 9) which extend upwards from it and are corrugated to form alternating outward (23) and inward (25) projections. The container is smaller at the bottom than at the top, so that a number of them can be stacked fitting partially one inside another when aligned one way and stacked one on top of another when one container is reversed in relation to the one below it. The number and position of the pillars formed by the wall corrugations are different on the container's opposite side and end walls, so that the pillars projecting outwards on one side of the container lie opposite pillars projecting inwards on the opposite side.

Description

The invention relates to handling boxes of general shape

  parallelepiped, of substantially rectangular section, preferably made of plastic, which can be stacked or nested in particular with boxes of the same type. Of course, we already know, in this area, many stackable boxes in one position and

nestable in another.

  In practice, it turns out that it is essential to be able very easily not only to nest the trays one inside the other, without users having to fumble for this, but also that the trays can be stacked or sheaved together on others without having to fumble, no matter how

we want to build the batteries.

  In addition, an important requirement expressed by the users relates to the possibility of obtaining an internal volume of loading of the tank which remains large, despite the requirements expressed above, which impose conformations of side walls often tending to

limit this volume.

  After having made an overview of the existing bins, the Applicant has found that to optimize a handling case having a large internal volume, while offering easy stacking and nesting possibilities, in particular allowing stable stacking in columns or crossed, with solidity conditions compatible with the strictest requirements, it was advisable to propose a box comprising substantially vertical side walls, essentially full and having, from about 50% of their height, an external overhang to which corresponds a inner rim, said walls carrying, over at least about half of their height, a succession of vertical projecting pillars (at least in the lower part of the body) and a succession of cooperating hollow housings extending as far as the top of said body , each housing being arranged in the same vertical plane as a pillar, so & ensure nesting & envi ron 50% of several such boxes identical one inside the other, in successively identically oriented positions of said superimposed boxes, and the stack bearing on each other of these same boxes, for successive positions

inversely oriented.

  As will have been noted, rather than providing a few pillars from place to place on the side walls of the box, the invention requires the provision of a succession of pillars (and therefore a succession of housings) preferably formed both inside and outside and over most of the height of the body, giving it a "crenellated" appearance with a slight

  depth offset approx. & mid-height.

  In this regard, in order to promote efficient cross-stacking of the boxes (whether they are of the same size or of different dimensions as will be seen below), an additional characteristic of the invention provides that the pillars of a wall have dimensions and / or advantageously different shape (s) from

those of an adjacent wall.

  Still for reasons of stability and solidity, pillars and housings with a substantially trapezoidal horizontal section are recommended, as well as maintaining a constant distance between the middle of two successive "standard" pillars (similarly

  width), this from one wall to the other.

  And according to an additional characteristic, two adjacent walls will advantageously have not only different widths and / or pillar shapes, but also a shift in the positions of the pillars (and therefore of the housings) on the walls in question, so that relative positions superimposed crossed & around 90 in an angle of two such identical boxes. the pillars of one of the boxes rest in a stack, without practically nesting, on the other box, always finding at least part of them

  of a pillar of the lower case.

  Under the advantages of the invention, it will be noted that in this way it will be possible to have series of boxes of sizes which may be different, these boxes being able to be stacked together without any additional accessories (in particular covers), said boxes being in practice nestable only for

cases of the same format.

  In addition, the boxes of the invention closely meet the delicate requirements of storage on pallets, by offering the possibility of heterogeneous palletization, the stacking of boxes in both stacked and stacked position being carried out in a particularly easy manner, which was not always the case for cross sheave overlays when real stability

  and effective referral of efforts had to be obtained.

  Other features and benefits of

  the invention will appear from the description which follows

  follow, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a top view of a container according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a sectional view in the direction of arrow II - II of the Figure 1, - Figure 3 is a view in the direction of arrow III of Figure 1, - Figure 4 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a tray also according to the invention, - Figure 5 is a half-section view in the direction of the arrow V - V of Figure 4, - Figure 6 shows, with local cutaway, two trays identical to that of Figure 1 arranged stacked crossed at an angle, l 'one on the other, and - Figure 7 shows, with local cutaway, dt.iy bins conforming to that of Figures 1 to 3 arranged in cross stacking on three bins conforming to that of Figures 4 and 5. In the figures in particular 1 to 3, we see represents a first rectangular parallelepiped 1 tank 1, with two opposite side walls 3, 5, more s great length (L) and two other equally opposite walls 7, 9, of shorter length (1) defining respectively, for the walls 3, 5, the

  length of the tank and for the walls 7, 9, its width.

  as seen in Figures 2 and 3, these four walls are substantially vertical and stand at

  from a bottom 11 assumed to be horizontal.

  The bottom 11 is bordered perimeter, inside the tank, by a gutter 13, so that the bottom 11 is slightly raised by presenting, in view from below, a peripheral projecting frame with four slots 15, 17, aligned in pairs, forming in top view (Figure 1) two junction bridges spanning the gutter 13, the width of these bridges corresponding substantially to twice the thickness (e) of the upper belt 19 of the tank, so as to block several bins

stacked in stacked position.

  The four side walls are essentially full, except possibly locally to define handles such as 21 (FIG. 3) formed in the upper perimeter belt 19 of the

checkout.

  Preferably, both viewed from the outside and from the inside, the side walls of the box follow a crenellated shape, with a succession of projecting vertical pillars 23 separated by hollows 25 extending essentially continuously over the entire perimeter of the body, and this substantially vertically for each pillar. It will be noted that each vertical pillar 23 is in fact leaned against a corresponding hollow 25, and this alternately inside and outside the box, this over at least 50% of its height, so as to ensure a nesting at approximately 50% of several identical boxes one inside the other in successively identically oriented positions of the superimposed boxes, and the stacking in abutment one on the other of these same boxes for successively inversely oriented positions, by rotation of 180 ′ from one box to the other with respect to the vertical axis 27 passing through the

middle of each background.

  At about half height (H), we will notice a break around the whole perimeter of the body in the vertical continuity of the hollows and the housings, this break being created, on the outside, an overhang 29 and, inside, a rim 31, thus limiting nesting to

the desired height.

  Preferably, both the pillars and the housings will in fact extend beyond this line: substantially from the bottom of the body and to the fallen edge formed by the belt 19 outside, for the pillars, while at inside, the housings will extend to the top of the body, the interior pillars image of the exterior hollows being interrupted before the top edge of the body to constitute from places to places substantially coplanar portions forming the edge of support 32 when the boxes are superimposed, crossed at

  90 or vice versa oriented at 180 '.

  As illustrated, the succession of pillars and housings has, both: inside and outside of the body, a shape in substantially trapezoidal section, with a distribution of the pillars and housings, on each wall, according to a symmetry with respect to the vertical median plane 33, 35 passing through the midpoints respectively of the walls of shorter length (7, 9) and of greater

length (3, 5).

  Given the dimensions of the body shown in Figures 1 & 3 (400 x 600 mm), it will also be noted that on one of the two large walls (wall), the two end pillars close to the corresponding angles, have a width different from that of the other three more central pillars, all the others

  pillars of the illustrated body being identical.

  Anyway, the box presented here was designed so that the distance (d) between the midpoints of two successive pillars (or two housings) is constant, and this on each wall, as well as a wall & l other, with, taking into account the stacking / embossing positions chosen, an external pillar centered on two adjacent sides (5 and 7 in this case), to which corresponds a hollow

  exterior centered on the other two sides (3 and 9 here).

  For, as will be explained in more detail below, to facilitate good support in the crossed position & 90 ′ of two identical boxes in accordance with the invention or of the same type but of different dimensions, the pillars 23 of a wall will have preferably dimensions and / or shapes (remaining trapezoidal in this case) different from those of an adjacent wall, the pillars or housings facing one wall at a

  facing wall remaining identical two by two.

  Let us now take a brief look at the representations of Figures 4 and 5 where we see an alternative embodiment of the box of figures

previous.

  The box 10 shown in these figures

  incorporates most of the above characteristics.

  By way of difference, however, the increased width (1 ′) of the central outer pillar 23 ′ of the wall 3 ′ which will of course correspond, on the opposite wall, 5 ′, to an enlarged central external hollow 25 ′, this due to the fact an elongation in length of the body 10 relative to the body 1, the body 10 being able to have dimensions of the order of 400 x 800 mm (for 400 x 600 mm

for the cash register 1).

  We will also note on this same wall 3 ', rather than following, for the pillars other than the central pillar 23', a constant pillar width (lp), we preferred also to widen the two corner pillars 23'1 and 23'2, so as to prevent the body from presenting externally, in its two successive angles, a hollow

  or recess which could have damaged its stability.

  Thus, by matching the two pillars 23'3 and 23'4 closest to the corners of the wall 5 ', there is not, on the wall 3', an external recess, but

a pillar extension.

  The box of FIGS. 4 and 5 is therefore such that on its two opposite side walls of greater length, it has, externally, intermediate pillars disposed between end pillars each adjacent to one of the corresponding angles of the box, on one side, a large central pillar, and

the other, a large central hollow.

  Even more markedly than in the previous version, we will also note the different shape of the pillars of the short sides 7 ', 9' opposite those of the long sides 3 ', 5', although the "step" (d) between two successive "standard" pillars, that is to say similarly

width (lp) remains constant.

  Always as in the previous version, we find on this box an odd number of pillars on two adjacent walls and an even number of pillars on the

two other walls.

  Note also the difference which remains between the positioning, on a given wall, of the first hollow or of the first pillar closest to one of the two angles which limit this wall, in comparison with the positioning of the first pillar or first hollow on the adjacent wall, the two distances being different, so as to obtain a lateral offset favorable to stacking

crossed crates.

  Thus, when, as shown in FIG. 7, two series of boxes of different dimensions will be superimposed crossed at 90 'at an angle, from one layer to the other, with, as here, two 400 x 600 mm boxes stacked crossed on three 400 x 800 mm boxes, the pillars of the upper boxes can come to rest in a stack, without practically nesting, on at least one underlying box, always finding under them, at least about half of a pillar of the (of) lower box (es), as it appears clearly on figure 7 in the parts torn off, as well as on figure 6

  in the context of two identical cases.

  We can therefore store as many boxes as possible in layers, both homogeneous (for example, four cases of 400 x 600 mm format) and heterogeneous (for example, two cases of 400 x 600 mm and one case of 400 x 1200 mm) , the distribution of the pillars and housings making it possible, moreover, to authorize the nesting of a box of smaller dimensions in a box of larger dimension according to the invention only by type of identical formats (400 x 600 mm boxes not fitting into 400 x 1200 mm bins, or even into 400 x 800 mm boxes). It will also be noted that the support of an external pillar of an upper box on an internal pillar of a lower box, even if it is by force only a partial support in a cross relative arrangement, may be insured regardless of how

the cases are presented.

REVNDICATIONS

  1. Handling box of generally parallelepiped shape with substantially rectangular section, comprising a bottom (11) from which side walls (3, 5, 7, 9, 3 ', 5', 7 ', 9') are substantially vertical, essentially full and having, from about 50% of their height, an external overhang (28) to which an internal rim (30) corresponds, said walls carrying, on at least half of their said height, a succession of vertical pillars (23, 23 ') extending at least in the lower part of the body and a succession of cooperating housings (25, 25') extending at least in the upper part of the body, each housing being arranged in the same vertical plane that a pillar, to ensure the nesting at about 50% of several such boxes (1, 1 ') identical to each other in successively identically oriented positions of said superimposed boxes, and the stack in abutment on each others of these same cases p for positions

successively inversely oriented.

  2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the pillars (23, 23 ') and housings (25, 25') are arranged on each of the walls of the box and extend, both inside and the outside thereof, over most of its height, presenting an upper part and a lower part offset in depth with respect to each other & the location of a perimeter shoulder defining said exterior externally

  overhang and internally said edge.

  3. Box according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that on the two side walls of greater length facing each other (3, 5, 3 ', 5') as well as on the two side walls of shorter length also facing each other (7, 9, 7 ', 9'), the pillars (23, 23 ') as well as the housings (25, 25') to which they are attached, are arranged essentially symmetrically with respect to the vertical median plane ( 33, 35) passing through the mediums respectively of the walls of more

  great length of the walls of shorter length.

  4. Cash box according to any one of

  previous claims, characterized in that the

  pillars (23, 23 ') and the housings (25, 25') have a

  horizontal section substantially trapezoidal.

  5. Cash box according to any one of

  previous claims, characterized in that the

  pillars and the housings of a side wall of the body have dimensions and / or shapes different from those

of an adjacent wall.

  6. Cash box according to any one of

  previous claims, characterized in that both

  opposite side walls of greater length (3, 5, 3 ', 5') comprise intermediate pillars disposed between end pillars each adjacent to one of the corresponding angles of the body, and, for one of said walls, a central pillar, and for the other wall, a central hollow, each of a width greater than that (lp)

  of each of said intermediate pillars.

  7. Cash register according to any one of

  previous claims, characterized in that on

  each given side wall of the body, the distance (d) between the middle of two successive pillars (23, 23 ') is constant, this distance being identical from one wall to the other. 8. Box according to the nL & w r cda p.óEsaentv, characterized in that the dimensions and / or the shape of the pillars and of the housings to which they lean are different between the walls of greater length (3, 5, 3 ', 5') and the walls of shorter length (7, 9, 7 ', 9'), with an offset in their arrangement on said walls, so that in relative superimposed position crossed has about 90 in an angle of two such identical cases, the outer pillars of an upper case always come into partial support, for example half, on part of a pillar

  interior of a lower case.

  9. Set consisting of at least two cases,

  each according to any of the claims

  previous, said boxes being of the same dimensions or of different dimensions while being such that the

  width of the smallest box is equal to half

  length of the largest box, the successive pillars (23, 23 ') and recesses (25, 25') of the two boxes being, on each box, arranged with a lateral offset on two adjacent walls in their distribution relative to the corresponding angle of the body, so that in relative overlapped cross position has about 90 in an angle from one body to the other, or from the smallest body to the largest, the pillars of the shorter walls of the upper box rest in a stack, without practically nesting, on the other box, always finding under them, at least about half of a

pillar of the lower body.