GB2053851A - Stack and nest containers - Google Patents

Abstract

In a stack/nest container having wires 30 pivotable between stacking and nesting positions end portions 32, 34 of the wires 30 are inserted through apertures 24, 26 in spaced ribs 16, 22, further ribs 18, 20 being provided to limit axial movement of the portions 32, 34. To facilitate assembly, one rib 20 may be formed initially having an aperture 28 which is closed by a rivet 36 when the wires 30 have been placed in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to stack and nest containers This invention relates to stack and nest containers and more particularly the provision of wires in stack and nest containers.

Stack and nest containers are well known articles which in general comprise an open topped container of rectangular transverse section which tapers towards the container bottom. On each of two opposite sides of the container a wire is provided which is movable between a position where it extends across the open top of the container and a position where it lies along the outer side of the container so that access to the open top of the container is uninterrupted. The first of these positions enables loaded containers to be stacked one on top of another, each container resting upon the wires of the container below it. In the second position empty containers can be nested one within another.

The most common form of wire is one of Ushaped form, the web of which is sufficiently long to extend across the container. The free ends of the arms are inturned towards each other and are received in apertures in external ribs on the container so that the wire can be rotated between the first and second positions aforesaid. The general practice in the past has been to dimension the wire and position the apertured ribs such that the wire can be "sprung" into place on the container by slight distortion thereof. What this means, however, is that in use the wire can become dislodged from its connection with the container if, for example, the container receives a blow or is otherwise roughly handled. Once the container loses a wire it cannot be used in the stacked condition.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of this problem.

According to the invention there is provided an open topped stack/nest container having a wire mounted on at least one side thereof movable between a position extending across the open top of the container and a position that does not obstruct the open top of the container, the wire being of U-shaped form with the free ends of the arms in-turned towards each other, two pairs of spacedapart ribs being provided on the exterior of said one side of the container, an aperture in that rib of each pair that is nearest the corner of the container for receiving the said in-turned ends of the wire, lateral movement of the wire relative to the container being limited by engagement of the free ends of said in-turned ends on the other rib of each pair and the in-turned ends of the wire projecting through said apertures sufficiently to prevent the wire being removed from the container by distortion of the wire and/or container.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of a part of a container showing a wire being assembled; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the assembled unit: and Figure 3 shows a detail of Figure 2 on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawing an open topped stack/ nest container 10 is provided with an externally projecting flange 12 around the open top and a second flange 14 parallel to flange 12 and spaced apart therefrom which projects from the sides of the container. Two pairs of parallel, spaced-apart vertical ribs 16,18 and 20,22 are provided on the end wall of the container, each pair being adjacent a corner of the container. Horizontal apertures 24 and 26 are provided in ribs 16 and 22 respectively. Afurther horizontal aperture 28 is provided in rib 20. A wire 30 has the general U-shape with in-turned free ends 32 and 34 as in prior art containers. However, in the present invention, as can be seen in the drawing the length of the in-turned ends 32 and 34 is considerably greater.

In order to assemble the wire on the container, the end 34 is threaded through apertures 26 and 28 as can be seen in Figure 1. The wire is then moved towards the right (as viewed in the drawing) so that end 32 of the wire is received in aperture 24 and end 34 of the wire is removed from aperture 28 (Figure 2). Aperture 28 is then closed by means of a rivet 36 as shown in Figure 3.

As can be seen in Figure 2 the length of ends 32 and 34 projecting inwardly from ribs 16 and 22 respectively is sufficiently great to prevent any removal of the wire from the container by distortion of the wire and/or container such as might occur when the container is in use. For example the ends 32 and 34 may project as aforesaid by from 1 to 2 inches as compared with only about 3/8 inches in prior art arrangements.

In order to ensure that the rivet 36 remains in place it may be heat swaged or otherwise locked in position. It is not essential to employ a rivet and any other means for closing aperture 28 can be employed if desired.

1. An open topped stack/nest container having a wire mounted on at least one side thereof and movable between a position extending across the open top of the container and a position that does not obstruct the open top of the container, the wire being of U-sahped form with the free ends of the arms in-turned towards each other, two pairs of spaced apart ribs being provided on the exterior of said one side of the container, an aperture in the rib of each pair that is nearest the corner of the container for receiving the in-turned ends of the wire, the distance between said in-turned ends being less than distance between the said ribs of each pair provided with an aperture and greater than the distance between the other ribs of each pairwhereby, lateral movement of the wire is limited by engagement of the free ends of said in-turned ends on the said other rib of each pair, the in-turned ends of the wire projecting through said apertures suffi gently to prevent the wire being removed from the container by distortion of the wire and/or container.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to stack and nest containers This invention relates to stack and nest containers and more particularly the provision of wires in stack and nest containers. Stack and nest containers are well known articles which in general comprise an open topped container of rectangular transverse section which tapers towards the container bottom. On each of two opposite sides of the container a wire is provided which is movable between a position where it extends across the open top of the container and a position where it lies along the outer side of the container so that access to the open top of the container is uninterrupted. The first of these positions enables loaded containers to be stacked one on top of another, each container resting upon the wires of the container below it. In the second position empty containers can be nested one within another. The most common form of wire is one of Ushaped form, the web of which is sufficiently long to extend across the container. The free ends of the arms are inturned towards each other and are received in apertures in external ribs on the container so that the wire can be rotated between the first and second positions aforesaid. The general practice in the past has been to dimension the wire and position the apertured ribs such that the wire can be "sprung" into place on the container by slight distortion thereof. What this means, however, is that in use the wire can become dislodged from its connection with the container if, for example, the container receives a blow or is otherwise roughly handled. Once the container loses a wire it cannot be used in the stacked condition. The present invention has been made from a consideration of this problem. According to the invention there is provided an open topped stack/nest container having a wire mounted on at least one side thereof movable between a position extending across the open top of the container and a position that does not obstruct the open top of the container, the wire being of U-shaped form with the free ends of the arms in-turned towards each other, two pairs of spacedapart ribs being provided on the exterior of said one side of the container, an aperture in that rib of each pair that is nearest the corner of the container for receiving the said in-turned ends of the wire, lateral movement of the wire relative to the container being limited by engagement of the free ends of said in-turned ends on the other rib of each pair and the in-turned ends of the wire projecting through said apertures sufficiently to prevent the wire being removed from the container by distortion of the wire and/or container. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of a part of a container showing a wire being assembled; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the assembled unit: and Figure 3 shows a detail of Figure 2 on an enlarged scale. Referring to the drawing an open topped stack/ nest container 10 is provided with an externally projecting flange 12 around the open top and a second flange 14 parallel to flange 12 and spaced apart therefrom which projects from the sides of the container. Two pairs of parallel, spaced-apart vertical ribs 16,18 and 20,22 are provided on the end wall of the container, each pair being adjacent a corner of the container. Horizontal apertures 24 and 26 are provided in ribs 16 and 22 respectively. Afurther horizontal aperture 28 is provided in rib 20. A wire 30 has the general U-shape with in-turned free ends 32 and 34 as in prior art containers. However, in the present invention, as can be seen in the drawing the length of the in-turned ends 32 and 34 is considerably greater. In order to assemble the wire on the container, the end 34 is threaded through apertures 26 and 28 as can be seen in Figure 1. The wire is then moved towards the right (as viewed in the drawing) so that end 32 of the wire is received in aperture 24 and end 34 of the wire is removed from aperture 28 (Figure 2). Aperture 28 is then closed by means of a rivet 36 as shown in Figure 3. As can be seen in Figure 2 the length of ends 32 and 34 projecting inwardly from ribs 16 and 22 respectively is sufficiently great to prevent any removal of the wire from the container by distortion of the wire and/or container such as might occur when the container is in use. For example the ends 32 and 34 may project as aforesaid by from 1 to 2 inches as compared with only about 3/8 inches in prior art arrangements. In order to ensure that the rivet 36 remains in place it may be heat swaged or otherwise locked in position. It is not essential to employ a rivet and any other means for closing aperture 28 can be employed if desired. CLAIMS

1. An open topped stack/nest container having a wire mounted on at least one side thereof and movable between a position extending across the open top of the container and a position that does not obstruct the open top of the container, the wire being of U-sahped form with the free ends of the arms in-turned towards each other, two pairs of spaced apart ribs being provided on the exterior of said one side of the container, an aperture in the rib of each pair that is nearest the corner of the container for receiving the in-turned ends of the wire, the distance between said in-turned ends being less than distance between the said ribs of each pair provided with an aperture and greater than the distance between the other ribs of each pairwhereby, lateral movement of the wire is limited by engagement of the free ends of said in-turned ends on the said other rib of each pair, the in-turned ends of the wire projecting through said apertures suffi gently to prevent the wire being removed from the container by distortion of the wire and/or container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said other ribs in provided with an opening to permit the wire to be mounted on the container, means being provided for closing the or each opening in said other rib when the wire is assembled in the container.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for closing the opening comprises a rivet.

4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the distance between the in-turned ends of the wire is less than the distance between the centre line intermediate each pair of ribs.

5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pairs of ribs are provided on the end wall of the container.

6. A container substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.