FR2780035A1 - Foldable container able to be dismantled and stacked in folded and unfolded states - Google Patents

Abstract

The transport or storage container comprises a bottom carried by a plinth and four panels (30,41,51). Some of these panels are made from a trellis of welded steel wires. Two of the panels are made from a frame of two horizontal (31) and two vertical tubes to which the trellis is fixed. Each lateral panel (30) is hinged relative to the plinth around spindles (35) fixed to the plinth and can be dismantled from the plinth.

Description

i "Removable, foldable container, stackable in its two folded states and

  unfolded, and adapted to support heavy loads "The present invention relates to a container suitable for the transport and storage of products, of the type of those which, in general parallelepiped shape, consist of a bottom and four side walls, some of which at the fewer are made from a mesh of welded steel wire. Such containers are well known and generally designed so that they can be stacked under load for the storage of products, thereby gaining floor space in the halls of Provision has also been made to make such containers foldable and stackable in this folded state in order to limit their volume in this state during storage or during their empty transport. If wire mesh containers have many advantages, allowing for example good visibility of the products they contain, they have the disadvantage that, given the shocks they can receive handle ion, for example from the forks of industrial trucks, maintenance is expensive when they are not

  removable, the damaged wall cannot be changed inexpensively.

  This is why we have proposed containers of this type which are

removable.

  A collapsible, foldable, stackable container in its two folded and unfolded states is for example described in document FR-A-2 611 656. However, the four walls of the container described in this document are made of wire mesh, or wire mesh, and we understand that when such containers are

  superimposed under load, this can only be limited.

  Containers adapted to support heavy superimposed loads are known; this is the case, for example, of the container described in document US-A-4 662 532, the four walls of which are bordered by four robust tubular uprights capable of supporting heavy loads; if such a container is also foldable and stackable, it has the disadvantage of not

not be removable.

  The present invention relates to a removable container, foldable, stackable in its two states folded and unfolded, and adapted to support heavy loads. Thus, according to the invention a container, of generally parallelepiped shape, suitable for transporting and storing products, of the removable, foldable and stackable type in its two folded and unfolded states, consisting of a bottom and four side walls, some of which at least are made from a mesh of welded steel wires, is characterized in that two of the walls which face each other are side panels each consisting of a tube frame, two horizontal and two vertical or uprights , to which

is attached to a trellis.

  Advantageously, the bottom is carried by a base.

  Preferably, each side panel is articulated relative to the

  base around axes fixed to the base in a removable manner.

  Advantageously, each side panel is articulated relative to the base by means of a bracket fixed to each upright, said bracket

  extending perpendicular to the plane of the side panel.

  Preferably, the other two walls each consist of a

  lower door and an upper door.

  Advantageously, each door consists of a wire frame

  surrounding a trellis to which it is secured.

  Preferably, each wire frame has an upper horizontal strand, a lower horizontal strand and two vertical strands, the length of the horizontal strands corresponding to the distance between the uprights of the

  side panels between which the doors extend.

  Preferably, the uprights of the side panels each face a stirrup defining a slide in which the lower door is caused to slide by means of the vertical strands of its

wire frame.

  Advantageously, the lower door is mounted with articulation relative to the base which carries two bridges detachably fixed and defining a slender opening extending vertically and in which is trapped the lower horizontal strand of the wire frame of the lower door whose strands vertical have a relief camber. Preferably, the upper door is hinged mounted on the door

  lower, to the upper part of it.

  Advantageously, the upper door carries at least one sliding bolt lock adapted to cooperate with a keeper carried by one of the uprights

  side panels; the keeper is an oblong hole made in the upright.

  Preferably, the base carries longitudinal members whose lower end corners are broken, each break comprising a horizontal span and

  a side inclined inward.

  Advantageously, the upper part of the uprights of the panels

  side carries guides facilitating the stacking of unfolded containers.

  Preferably, the base carries angle plates provided, on their inner face perpendicular to the side members, frustoconical reinforcements

  extending in height to the right of the beams tapering down.

  Advantageously, the corner plates have, at the level of the reinforcements,

a guide notch.

  To better understand the object of the invention, we will now describe, by way of example, purely illustrative and not limiting, a mode

  of embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

  In these drawings: - Figure 1 is a front view of a container according to the invention in the operational position; - Figure 2 is a top view relative to Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a half side view from the left with respect to Figure 1; - Figure 4 shows the magnifying glass IV of Figure 1, on a larger scale - Figure 5 is a partial view along arrow V of Figure 4; - Figure 6 shows the magnifying glass Vl of Figure 1, on a larger scale - Figure 7 is a partial view along arrow VII of Figure 1, on a larger scale; - Figure 8 shows the magnifying glass VIII of Figure 3, on a larger scale - Figure 9 is a section showing, on a larger scale, a detail of Figure 8; - Figures 10 and 11 are similar to Figures 1 and 3 and show two containers, according to the invention, superimposed; - Figure 12 shows two folded containers, according to the invention, superimposed; - Figure 13 is a half left side view relative to the

  Figure 1 2, only the bases being shown.

  Referring to Figures 1 to 9, we see that a container according

  the invention comprises, at its lower part, a monobloc base, mechanically

  welded, made up of tubes, flat bars and U-profiles suitably assembled. Four corner plates 11 materialize the perimeter

container size.

  Four sheets 12 extend between the corner sheets 1 1, the assembly encircling the lower part of the container which is thus protected from possible knocks by the forklifts, in particular when handling the container for, for example , its introduction in a

  truck or its extraction from it.

  Grids 21 are riveted to base 10, here two in number, made of welded steel wires, materializing the bottom 20 of the container. Two longitudinal members 13, integral with the base 10, allow the container to be moved on a roller conveyor while allowing it to be gripped by a forklift. The container, of generally parallelepiped shape, also comprises two side panels 30, on two of its parallel faces, while its two other parallel faces each consist of two doors, a lower door 41 and an upper door 51 hinged together. More specifically, each side panel 30 is made up of a rectangular frame made of assembled tubes, two horizontal tubes 31 and two vertical tubes or uprights 32, to which a lattice 33 of welded steel wires is secured. Each side panel 30 is articulated relative to the base 10; to do this, each upright 32 carries at its lower part a bracket 34, extending perpendicular to the plane of the side panel 30 and inwardly of the container; this bracket 34 is mounted articulated around

  an axis 35 carried by the base 10 in a removable manner.

  Thanks to this arrangement, each side panel 30 can be folded, around the axes 35, towards the interior of the container and, thanks to the offset of the axes 35 relative to the plane of the side panel 30, the vertical position thereof is stable. ; in addition, it is sufficient to disassemble the pins 35 to disassemble the side panels 30, which facilitates the change thereof, and therefore

maintenance operations.

  As already mentioned above, the other two sides of the container are

  each materialized by a lower door 41 and an upper door 51.

  Each lower door 41 consists of a wire frame 43 surrounding a lattice 44 of welded steel wire, the wire frame 43 and the lattice

44 being joined by welding.

  The wire frame 43 of each lower door 41 has two horizontal strands, namely an upper horizontal strand 45 and a lower horizontal strand 47, as well as two vertical strands 46; the length of the horizontal strands 45 and 47 corresponds to the distance which separates the uprights 32 from the side panels 30 between which it extends so that, and this is also true for the upper door 51 described below, it locks

  said uprights 32, therefore the side panels 30, in a vertical position.

  To maintain, in its vertical position, the lower door 41, the uprights 32 of the side panels 30 each bear visually a stirrup 36 extending along the upright 32 to which it is secured, for example by welding , the two stirrups 36 associated with the lower door 41 being open towards the inside of the container facing each other; thus is defined a slide in which the lower door 41 is caused to slide by means of the vertical strands 46, of its wire frame 43, which take place in the stirrups 36; thus, the lower door is maintained

  by its weight, increased by that of the upper door 51 described above

  below, in its vertical position.

  To facilitate folding of the container, it is preferable to mount the lower door 41 with articulation relative to the base 10; to do this, it carries two bridges 14 secured to the angle plates 11 in a removable manner, here by screws 15, Figures 6 to 9; each trigger guard 14 defines an elongate opening 16 extending vertically in which is trapped the lower horizontal strand 47 of the wire frame 43 of the lower door 41: thus, the lower door 41 can be moved vertically by a height corresponding to the height of opening 16; to be able to fold

  the lower door 41 towards the inside of the container with a view to folding it

  Ci, it is of course necessary to take out the vertical strands 46, from the wire frame 43 of the lower door 41, from the stirrups 36; for this purpose, the vertical strands 46 have a relief camber 48 whose width, measured horizontally, is greater than the height of the wings of the stirrup 36, and whose height, measured vertically in line with the stirrup 36, is greater than the height of the stirrup 36; when the lower horizontal strand 47 of the wire frame 43 of the lower door 41 is in the low position, in the bottom of the opening 16 defined by the trigger guard 14, the part of the vertical strand 46, of the wire frame 43, located at above the arch 48 is in the stirrup 36, and the lower door 41 is kept vertical; when said lower horizontal strand 47 is in the highest part of the opening 16, the camber 48 is in line with the stirrup 36 which it bypasses and, the vertical strand 46 then escaping from the stirrup 36,

  the lower door 41 can be folded towards the inside of the container.

  Each upper door 51 also consists of a wire frame 53 surrounding a trellis 54 of welded steel wire, the wire frame 53 and the

  trellis 54 being joined by welding.

  An upper door 51 is placed above a lower door 41, the upper 51 and lower 41 doors extending in the same plane,

between two uprights 32.

  The wire frame 53 of each upper door 51 has two horizontal strands, namely an upper horizontal strand 55 and a horizontal strand

  lower 57, as well as two vertical strands 56.

  The upper door 51 is hingedly mounted on the lower door 41, at the upper part thereof; here, two joints 50 are made up of rings enclosing the lower strands 57 and upper 45 respectively of the wire frames 43 and 53 of the upper 51 and lower 41 doors; the upper door 51 is held in a vertical position by two latches 37 having a sliding bolt which can be moved manually and which cooperates with a keeper carried by each of the uprights 32, produced here in the form of an oblong hole whose large dimension extends vertically, said latches 37 being secured, here by welding, to the trellis 54 of the upper door 51. To facilitate the introduction of the bolt into the oblong hole constituting the keeper, a stop is provided integral with an upright 32,

  or both, to the right of said oblong hole, interior side.

  To consolidate the holding of the upper door 51 in its vertical position, pins 39, here in the shape of a U, alternately plated and welded to one of the trellis 44, 54 of the two lower doors 41 and upper 51 overlap the lower horizontal strands 57 and upper 45 respectively wire frames 43 and 53 of upper doors 51 and

lower 41.

  The latches 37 are placed outside the doors 41 and 51, and the

  pins 39 inside of them.

  It follows from these provisions that the upper door 51 may be, after opening the latches 37, open towards the outside of the container, but

  not inward, rocking around the joints 50.

  Thus, the container according to the invention is removable, which facilitates maintenance operations: by unscrewing the screws 15, the bridges 14 are separated from the base 10 and the sub-assemblies each consisting of an upper door 51 and a lower door 41, assembled by the joints 50, can be removed. According to a variant not shown, said joints 50 are removable and the upper 51 and lower 41 doors can be separated. By unscrewing the axes 35, the panels

  side 30 can also be separated from base 10.

  The grids 21 of the bottom 20 are also removable: they are secured to crosspieces 22, carried by the base 10, by jumpers 23

  fixed to said crosspieces 22 by screws.

  The container according to the invention is also foldable; this results from the

  description above; to fold the container, just unlock the

  latches 37, to lift the upper door 51, which in this movement drives the lower door 41, to disengage the lower door 41 from the stirrups 36, to fold the upper door 51 towards the lower door 41, to pivot the assembly of the doors 41 , 51 inwards, around the lower horizontal strand 47 of the lower door 41, and lay this assembly on the bottom of the container; it then remains to fold the side panels 30 inward on the set of doors 41, 51. The container in position

  folded is visible in Figures 12 and 1 3.

  Of course, the placing in operational position of the container, in volume, is obtained by performing the above operations in reverse. The containers according to the invention are also stackable one on the other, both in their position for which they are operational, in volume, FIGS. 10 and 11, and in their position for which they are folded,

Figures 12 and 13.

  To this end, the lower end corners of the side members 13 are broken, each break having a horizontal surface 17, adapted to cooperate with the flat upper end of the uprights 32 of the side panels 30, and a side 18 inclined inwards. used for guiding and centering the upper container relative to the lower container during the stacking operation, when the containers are stacked in their operational position, in volume, Figures 10 and 1 1; The guiding operation is facilitated by cooperation of the ends of the side members 13 with guides 38 with an inwardly inclined profile carried by the upper part of the uprights 32

side panels 30.

  The longitudinal members 13 extend perpendicularly to the side panels 30, in planes slightly offset towards the inside with respect to the planes of the side panels 30. For stacking the containers in their position for which they are folded, FIGS. 12 and 13, the angle plates 11 carry on their inner face perpendicular to the beams 13, to the right of these, frustoconical reinforcements 19, extending practically over the entire height of the angle plate 1 1 to the right of the beams 1 3, and tapering down; the spans rest on the upper base of the reinforcements 1 9

  i17 of the side members 13 when the folded containers are stacked.

  Advantageously, at their upper part, the angle plates 11 have, in line with the reinforcements 19, a guide notch 24 with a profile

  inverted trapezoidal facilitating the operation.

  Note that the folding and unfolding operations of the

  container according to the invention are simple operations and in limited number.

  It should also be noted that the container according to the invention has no protuberance outside: the maneuvers of the operators are thus facilitated, in particular when being placed in the truck; moreover, the juxtaposition of the containers is also facilitated; the container according to the invention also has no inward projection capable of injuring the products placed in the container, in particular those which are protected by a

plastic film.

  Anyway, the container according to the invention is robust and can withstand heavy loads, even when other containers are

superimposed over him.

Claims (11)

  1. Container, generally rectangular in shape, suitable for transporting and storing products, of the removable, foldable and stackable type in its two folded and unfolded states, consisting of a bottom (20) and four walls (30,41- 51) side of which at least some are made from a mesh (33,44-54) of welded steel wire, characterized in that two of the walls which face each other are side panels (30) each a tube frame (31,32), two horizontal (31) and two vertical   (32) or uprights, to which is attached a trellis (33).   2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the   bottom (20) is carried by a base (10).   3. Container according to claims 2, characterized in that   each side panel (30) is articulated relative to the base (10) around   pins (35) fixed to the base (10) in a removable manner.   4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that each side panel (30) is articulated relative to the base (10) by means of a bracket (34) fixed to each upright (32), said bracket   extending perpendicular to the plane of the side panel (30).   5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the   the other two walls each have a door   lower (41) and an upper door (51).   6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that each door (41,51) consists of a wire frame (43,53) surrounding a   trellis (44) to which it is secured.   7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that each wire frame (43,53) comprises an upper horizontal strand (45, 55), a lower horizontal strand (47,57) and two vertical strands (46, 56 ), the length of the horizontal strands (45,55,47,57) corresponding to the distance between the uprights (32) of the side panels (30) between which the doors (41,51) extend.   8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the uprights (32) of the side panels (30) each bear visually a stirrup (36) defining a slide in which the lower door is made to slide ( 41) by means of the vertical strands (46) of its wire frame (43). 9. Container according to claim 8, claim 5 being   attached to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the door   lower (41) is articulated with respect to the base (10) which carries two bridges (14) detachably fixed and defining an elongated opening (16) extending vertically and in which is trapped the lower horizontal strand (47) the wire frame (43) of the lower door (41)   whose vertical strands (46) have a recess (48).   10. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the upper door (51) is hinged on the lower door (41), at the upper part of it.   1 1. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the upper door (51) carries at least one latch (37) with sliding bolt adapted to cooperate with a keeper carried by one of the uprights (32) of the panels side (30).   1 2. Container according to one of claims 2 to 11, characterized by the   causes the base (10) to carry beams (13) whose lower end corners are broken, each break comprising a bearing (17)   horizontal and a side (1 8) inclined inward.   13. Container according to claim 12, characterized in that the upper part of the uprights (32) of the side panels (30) carries   guides (38) facilitating stacking of unfolded containers.   14. Container according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized   by the fact that the base (10) carries angle plates (11) provided, on their inner face perpendicular to the side members (13), frustoconical reinforcements (19) extending in height in line with the side members (13) in tapering down. 15. Container according to claim 14, characterized in that the corner plates (11) have, in line with the reinforcements (19), a notch of guide (21).