GB2130180A

GB2130180A - Stackable and nestable handling crates

Info

Publication number: GB2130180A
Application number: GB08329372A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Claude Bouhanna
Original assignee: Allibert SA
Current assignee: Allibert SA
Priority date: 1982-11-12
Filing date: 1983-11-03
Publication date: 1984-05-31
Also published as: IT1175007B; EP0109325A1; BE898194A; ES275673Y; FR2536043B1; ZA838271B; ES275673U; FR2536043A1; IT8346875A0; GB8329372D0; IT8346875A1

Description

SPECIFICATION Stackable and nesting handling crates of the type having substantially vertical supporting columns The object of the present invention is handling crates of generally parallelepipoidal form which are substantially rectangular in section and are stackable and nestable, of the type having substantially vertical supporting columns. More precisely, the handling crate to which the invention relates is of the type which includes I-shaped columns which are substantially vertical and which form projections on the lateral faces over the bottom part of the crate, including an upper belt capable of supporting these columns when two superimposed crates are in the same relative positions and of receiving these columns in cavities or detents provided for this purpose in the said upper belt when the superimposed two crates are inverted relative to one another, thus ensuring stacking on one another of crates which are identically oriented and up to about 50% nesting within one another of superimposed crates which are in successively inverted positions. The invention relates to improvements in such crates which permit, by a particular configuration and positioning of the columns, stacking of the crates on top of one another by simply allowing the base of the supporting columns of an upper crate to slide on the upper edge of the belt of a lower crate. This is achieved in accordance with the invention by providing columns of at least two different widths. Also advantageously, on at least certain of the surfaces of the crate, the wider columns will be arranged nearer to the corners than the narrower columns.With such an arrangement and configuration of columns, it is apparent that the formation of stacks is considerably facilitated because an upper crate can stack on top of an identically-orientated crate which is already in position by in effect sliding the crate placed on top of the pile like a drawer which will engage on the edge of the belt of the underlying crate. Thus, the narrowest columns, by virtue of their positioning, will not be in danger, during this sliding, of falling into the cavities provided in the belt to receive the widest or narrowest columns,.whilst the widest columns can pass over the cavities of the belt provided to receive the narrowest columns without the risk of catching in these cavities.. Other characteristics, objects, and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent with the aid of the description which follows and which refers to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate according to the invention, Figure 2 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 1 in which has been shown above in fine lines a superimposed crate oriented in the same manner as the lower crate;Figure 3 shows on a smaller scale in plan how an upper crate can be positioned by sliding onto a lower crate, Figure 4 shows to the same scale as Figure 3 a plan view of a crate, Figure 5 shows in the same manner as Figure 4 an underneath plan view of a crate, Figures 6 and 7 show in transverse section two details of the crate which form ticket holders at the level of the arrows VI and VII shown in Figure 2, Figures 8, 9 and 10 show on a larger scale three variations of embodiment of the bottoms and tops of cooperating columns so as to permit an improved interlocking of the crates forming a stack. Figure 1 will be referred to first. According to the embodiment shown, the crate is generally parallelepipoidal, rectangular in section, and comprises a base 1, two larger lateral faces 2 and 3 and two smaller lateral faces 4 and 5. On each larger lateral face are formed two wide columns L,, L2 and less wide or narrow columns I1 and 12 respectively. Wide detents or cavities C,, C2 and less wide or narrow detents or cavities c,, c2 correspond respectively to these columns. On the smaller faces are to be found respectively two wider columns L3, L4 and two narrower columns I3, I4 to which correspond respectively wider cavities C3, C4 and narrower cavities c3, c4. In a stacking position in which the crates are orientated identically as is shown in Figure 2, the columns located identically on one crate relative to the other, and identicated by a prime index for the upper crate, obviously become superimposed, permitting the formation of a stack of superimposed crates. On the other hand, if the crate is turned through 180. about its vertical axis, each wider column such as L',, L'2, L'3, L'4 will be received in the corresponding cavities C,, C2, C3, C4 of the underlying crate, and in the same manner the

will become engaged in the narrower cavities c,, c2, c3, c4 of a lower crate. As will be more clearly apparent from Figure 3, the particular positioning of the wider columns such as L,, L2 in the neighbourhood of the corners of the crate permits drawer-like sliding in the direction of the arrow F of an upper crate S onto a lower crate I with the base of the columns L',, L'2 supported by the upper edges 12, 13 of the belt of the lower crate. Given that the cavities c,, C2 are narrower than the columns L'1, L' 2' the columns will pass smoothly across the cavities until the whole of the belt of the upper crate engages in the opening of the lower crate.Further, given that the wider columns L',, L'2 have been provided close to the corners of the crate, there is no risk of jamming in the wider cavities C2, C, of the lower crate I at the beginning of the sliding movement of the upper crate S onto the lower crate I, because the forward surface 5 of the upper crate S will automatically come into engagement beyond the line joining the cavities C,, C2 arranged close to the corners of the lower crate. It will be noted that the above description of the sliding engagement of two crates on top of one another in a direction parallel to the median plane located at 10 passing through the centres of the smaller faces of a crate can be repeated for the positioning of two crates on top of one another in the perpendicular direction which passes through the centres of the larger faces of the crate, provided that in this case also, the wider columns such as L3, L4 are disposed in the immediate neighbourhood of the corners of the crate. It will be noted from an examination of the figures that the columns are arranged symmetrically with reference to the median plane 10 passing through the centres of the smaller sides of the crate. The cavities, the positions of which correspond to those of the columns on rotation through 1800 about the vertical axis of the crate clearly confirm to the same symmetrical arrangement. In order to improve the interlocking of stacked crates, there are advantageously provided on the base of the columns and at their tops at the level of the upper edge 12, 13, 14, 15 of the belt, grooved or toothed cooperating surfaces which form non-slip means. Such means are shown in Figures 1 to 5 by small corrugations. Figures 8 and 9 show on a larger scale two configurations which may be chosen for these corrugations, the embodiment of Figure 9 facilitating, by the inclination of the teeth, the sliding engagement of an upper crate S on a lower crate I in the direction of the arrow F, as has been shown in Figure 3. Instead of employing corrugations, the upper and lower parts of the columns can be given a form which is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal which provides some interlocking as is shown in Figure 10.. Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown the particular configuration which can be conferred on one of the smaller faces of the crate such as face 5 so as to form ticket holders in the regions indicated. Thus, in Figure 6, it may be seen that face 5 includes in its central region a sort of blind window closed by a wall 16 in the interior of a frame 17 in.which there can be engaged and held a ticket 18. Inside the frame 17, there may be provided a band 19 having a flange which allows engagement and holding of a ticket 20 of smaller dimensions. The ticket thus located will permit the correct despatch of the transported product and also the orientation of the crate facilitating stacking (on identical orientation of the crates), or nesting (on inverted orientation).Under the ticket holders shown in Figure 6, there may be provided another ticket-carrying system formed simply by feet 21 projecting slightly in front of the openings 22 in the wall, permitting the engagement of a ticket 23 between these feet 21 and the surface of the adjacent wall 5. Referring again to Figure 1, it has been shown that it is also possible advantageously to provide in the belt perforations 24 formed under the supporting edge and preferably under the edges 12, 13 of the larger sides outside the region of the concave gripping handles 25 of the crate. The displacement of the supporting columns towards the corners permits the provision of such perforations without weakening the mechanical properties of the crate. In Figure 1, it may also be seen that the base 1 has been given a certain undulating shape which provides a measure of reinforcement to the base. Orifices (not shown) can be formed in the concave part of the undulations to facilitate cleaning and drying of the crates.

Claims

1. Handling crates of generally parallelepipoidal form and of substantially rectangular section of the type with substantially vertical columns projecting from the lateral faces over the lower part of the crate, including an upper belt capable of supporting these columns when two superimposed crates are in the same relative positions and of receiving these columns in cavities or detents provided for this purpose in the said upper belt when two crates are superimposed in inverted positions relative to one another, thus permitting stacking on one another of identically orientated crates, and up to about 50% nesting within one another when the superimposed crates are successively inverted, the said crate being characterised in that with a view to facilitating stacking of crates on top of one another by permitting sliding of the base of the supporting columns (L, I) of an upper crate onto the upper edge of the belt of a lower crate, the said columns (L, I) are of at least two different widths.

2. Crate according to claim 1, characterised in that on at least some of the faces (2, 3, 4, 5) of the crate, the wider columns (L) are arranged closer to the corners than the narrower columns (I).

3. Crate according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the columns (L, I) are arranged symmetrically with reference to the median plane (10) passing through the centres of the smaller sides (4, 5).

4. Crate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base of the columns (L, I) and the edge of the belt (12, 13, 14, 15) includes grooved or toothed cooperating surfaces which form anti-slip means when two crates are superimposed.

5. Crate according to claim 4, characterised in that the said grooved or toothed surfaces are oriented in such a way as to facilitate the sliding engagement of one crate superimposed on another.

6. Crate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base (1 ) of the crate includes undulations, and orifices formed in the concave part of the undulations.

7. Crate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper belt includes perforations (24) formed beneath the supporting edge.

8. Crate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that indentations (16, 22) are provided on at least one external wall (5) of the crate for housing a ticket (18, 20, 23) and include various feet or flanges (17, 19, 21) for the engagement of tickets of various widths.

9. Crate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at each corner of the crate, there are juxtaposed a wider column L on one face of the crate and a wider cavity C on the other face which forms the angle of the crate.