GB2130555A

GB2130555A - Transport storage and sales container

Info

Publication number: GB2130555A
Application number: GB8324722A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Horst Berlit
Original assignee: Bellaplast GmbH
Current assignee: Bellaplast GmbH
Priority date: 1982-10-05
Filing date: 1983-09-15
Publication date: 1984-06-06
Also published as: DK402183A; GB8324722D0; FR2533897B3; FR2533897A1; GB2130555B; DK402183D0; NL8303118A

Abstract

A container (10) comprising a stackable body (11) for receiving in particular planted flower pots in rows alongside one another has internal wall parts are formed for laterally bracing and holding the inserted objects. The body (11) is of shell-like construction and has a bottom (12), and wall parts which serve laterally to hold and brace the inserted objects are formed on raised portions (16, 17, 18) provided on the bottom and are designed to be capable of receiving pots of differing sizes in differing arrays. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transport, storage and sales container The invention relates to a transport, storage and sales container having a stackable housing body for the insertion of cylindrical and conical objects, in particular planted flower pots, serially alongside one another and in the interior of which wall parts are formed for laterally bracing and supporting the inserted objects.

Frame-like or stackable members of this type are known which are manufactured frame-wise from foamed plastics material and which have quadratic or circular apertures of equal size disposed in two or more rows. These known transport and storage containers are therfore only suitable for holding objects, for example flower pots, which are of one diameter. This means, for example when the containers are used for planted flower pots having diameters of 8 cm. to 13 cm., that at least two different sizes of container must be produced and kept in stock. A further substantial disadvantage of the known foamed plastic containers resides in the fact that telescopic stacking of the containers is not possible and therefore considerabl space is required for storage and for transporting the empty containers.By virtue of the porous surface of the foamed material, the containers are highly susceptible to contamination by dirt. Since the objects, for example flower pots, which have to be accommodated in such containers are generally inexpensive articles and therefore have a considerable range of tolerance in their diameter, the known container bodies can lead to considerable fitting difficulties. Where the known stackable containers are concerned, the cylindrical and/or conical objects are passed through the quadratic or circular apertures and generally protrude from and on both sides of the stackable container. Therefore, it is only to a limited extent possible for such loaded and stacked containers to move freely on roller ocnveyors.In connection with the use of the known stackable containers for holding planted flower pots, there is the disadvantage that no water supply is possible, so that the plants dry out relatively quickly during transport. For use of the known stackable containers as an insert for cardboard packaging of plants, there is the disadvantage that emerging residual water may soften the cardboard. The known stackable containers can therefore only be used as an insert in corrugated cardboard containers which have first been made waterproof on the inside by the use of some synthetic plastic coating. Thus, the price of such corrugated cardboard packaging is increased substantially and moreover, any exchange of air from the interior to the outside of the package is rendered impnssible.

In the light of this fact, the invention is based on the problem of providing an inexpensively produced lightweight transport, storage and sales container which can be stacked together when empty and which can be produced in one model and yet be used for a large number of objects of different sizes and which has a substantially smoothly closable bottom, so that stackable containers which are charged with objects such as planted flower pots, can be transported safely on all kinds of conveyor means, particularly roller conveyor systems.

According to the invention, the problem posed is resolved in that the stackable member is of shell-like construction and has a bottom and in that the lateral wall parts which serve laterally to support and brace the inserted objects are formed on raised portions provided on the bottom. The bottom of the container and these raised portions in the stackable member of the transport, storage and sales container according to the invention form housings into which objects can be inserted without the need for a fixed accurate fitting orjamming process. Since the objects inserted into the stackable member substantially retain their position by being seated on the bottom, the raised portions on the bottom can be so limited that they contact only relatively small areas of the peripheral surface of the inserted objects.In consequence, the raised portions can be used to form housings for objects of different diameters. In the example according to the invention, which relates to stackable members to hold flower pots, it is possible with a single size or construction of stackable member to accommodate any such size of flower pot ranging from 8 cm. to 13 cm. in diameter. Due to the construction of the raised portions on the bottom of the stackable member, the transport, storage and sales containers according to the invention, can when empty be stacked inside one another and stored in a space-saving manner. Filling or loading the stackable members can be carried out easily and makes it possible to insert into one and the same stackable member objects, for example flower pots, which are of different sizes.By reason of the shell-like construction, the stackable members according to the invention can be attractive in colour and shape, so that the stackable members can even be used as sales containers. The fact that the bottom of the containers is substantially smooth ensures satisfactory movement of the loaded containers on any roller conveyor belt.

in a particularly advantageous embodiment, the bottom comprises a central raised portion and a plurality of marginal raised portions which form the peripheral wall of the stackable member, concavely bulbous supporting faces of different radii of curvature being formed on the marginal raised portions.

By reason of constructing a central raised portion and marginal raised portions on the peripheral wall of the stackable member and by constructing concavely bulbous supporting faces, a plurality of housings can be provided for objects, in particular flower pots, these housings being disposed so that they space-savingly interengage to accommodate objects of different diameter. The pairwise oppositely disposed supporting faces of the same radius of curvature are at the same time so constructed that they lie in a common cylindrical or conical generatrix. Also, the middle raised portion can be constructed with housings for objects. For example, the middle raised portion may have one, two or more depressions with a cylindrical or conical concave supporting face.Such a construction can for exam ple provide for the support faces in the depressions in the middle raised portion to have superposed mutually staggered partial support faces, the axes of these mutually staggered partial support faces possibly being laterally offset in relation to one another.

Thus, also in the region of the middle raised portion there is formed a particularly advantageous overlap of housings for objects of different diameters to guarantee optimum capacity utilisation within the stackable member.

The bottom of the stackable member may be completely closed. The stackable member itself then forms a shell in which it is possible to carry a supply of water for planted flower pots while they are being transorted. Certainly, if the bottom is closed the peripheral wall of the stackable member may have at least one hole for supply and emptying of liquid, preferably at a distance above the bottom and serving as a water overflow if stackable members which are loaded with flowerpots are set up outdoors.

In an improved embodiment of the invention in which the stackable member can be constructed with or without a water overflow, there are in the peripheral wall oftheshell-like membertransparent wall zones, a tight seal still being maintained. Thus, it is possible to see into the interior of the shell-like member and easily check the level of any liquid, for example water, which may be contained inside the stackable member. The see-through areas of the wall represent only parts, and in fact generally only relatively small parts of the wall of the member. The walls of the stackable member can therefore be substantially opaque and may be constructed on the outside with any desired decorative effect.Generally relatively small transparent areas of wall provide adequate opportunity for inspection and do not affect the functioning of the stackable members even if the walls thereof have to be left virtually imper viols to light for any reason.

Preferably, the shell-like stackable member may be deep-drawn with an integral and substantially opaque peripheral wall and floor, and at least one transparent wall strip is provided which extends through the bottom and the oppositely disposed peripheral wall parts of the stackable member. For example, a transparent wall strip may be provided which extends in the longitudinal direction of the stackable member. This offers the particular advantags that if the filled container is positioned obliquely, it is possible to see whether there is still liquid, for example water for plants, present at the higher end of the container or whether the level of liquid at the lower end is too high.In the case of a transport and storage container of this preferred embodiment according to the invention, an even more favourable opportunity for inspection is afforded if - viewed in the longitudinal direction, there is in each of the two end zones of the stackable member a transparent wall strip which extends transversely over the member.

There are then on the peripheral wall of the stackable member four inspection points which reveal for example the level of liquid at all four corner zones of the stackable member. A similar effect can also be achieved if two transparent wall strips are provided which extend in the longitudinal direction of the stackable member and which extend in the vicinity of the side walls through the bottom and the end parts of the peripheral wall.

If the stackable member is moulded under heat from flat, for example sheet-like or strip-like semifinished synthetic plastics material, then the semifinished product can, by extrusion from various materials of which one is transparent, be so prepared that one or more transparent wall strips can be integrally moulded into the bottom and into the peripheral wall of the container. Preferably, the stackable container body can be moulded by their mo-moulding from flat, for example sheet-like or strip-like semi-finished product which consists of thermoplastic material.If it is desirable to provide the transport and storage container acording to the invention with a decorative colouring on the outside, then the walls of the stackable member, can, in opaque areas, be moulded in one piece as a laminated material with a carrier layer and an external decorative layer and, in the transparent wall strips, constructed from a single thickness of transparent or see-through synthetic plastics material.

A further embodiment of the invention relates to the possibility of being able to stack upon one another a series of filled containers, particularly those which are filled with planted flower pots, such stacking involving only negligible additional cost, objects, in particular plants in flower pots, which are inserted into the stackable members, enjoying complete security against damage during transport.This is achieved in that the peripheral wall of the stackable member is given, encircling the peripheral face, a retaining rim which, on its outer part, forms an all-round open-bottomed slot which is disposed outside the actual peripheral wall, its inner part defining a supporting shoulder which merges into the actual peripheral wall and which is subtantially parallel with the opening area of the stackable member and in that between the supporting shoulder and the peripheral groove of stackable members which have to be superposed, collar-like spacers are provided for insertion. These collar-like spacers can be made from cardboard or other flexible material.

They then offer on the one hand a secure and reliable support if they are inserted into the openbottomed receiving groove on the retaining rim of the shell-like stackable member. These collar-like spacers are particularly inexpensive and simple elements, the return transport of which is in most cases not even considered. Even if these collar-like spacers have to be carried back, then after they have been removed from the receiving slot on the stackable member, they can be folded flat.

In orderto provide additional grip forthe collarlike spacers in the region of the supporting shoulders as well so that they are kept in their stiffened form, a preferred embodiment of the invention envisages having in the region of the peripheral wall raised portions on the container bottom and extending substantially into the opening area of the shell-like stackable member, being constructed as inwards-limiting projections for the supporting shoulders.

In their simplest embodiment, these collar-like spacers can be constructed as panel-like elements which can be flexed in one direction and which extend in each case over a corner zone of the stackable member. It is also possible to construct the collar-like spacers as panel elements which can be bent in one direction and which extend over a longitudinal or transverse side and two corner zones of the stackable member. Finally, it is possible to construct the collar-like spacers as panel elements which can be bent in one direction and which extend over the entire periphery of the stackable member. In this case, these panel elements can be preformed with folds extending in one direction and at which they can be bent for adaptation to the corner zones of the stackable member.If the collar-like spacers used for stacking purposes all-in-all largely occupy the periphery of the stackable member, then they can be provided with apertures to allow the ingress of light and air to potted plants which are transported in the transport and storage containers according to the invention.

The security of objects, particularly planted flower pots, which are inserted into the transport and storage containers according to the invention can particularly in the case of stacked transportation of such filled containers - be substantially enhanced in that the raised portions constructed on the bottom wall of the container are constructed with lateral supporting and guidance surfaces for the objects which are to be inserted and extending into the opening area of the shell-like stackable member. In this way, objects such as flower pots which are inserted into the transport and storage containers can be supported laterally almost to their upper rim, so virtually excluding the possibility of the objects falling over during transport.

It is also possible to have a perforated construction of wall in the bottom of the stackable container for the ingress and egress of liquid. In such a case, the stackable members can be used for cultivating plants in ready-to-ship units and on greenhouse tables. In such a case, if it is desired to top up the water supply during transport, then an outer shell which accommodates the stackable members can be provided with a bottom in which there are no raised portions. Once the stackable member has been removed, this outer shell can likewise be collapsed and so space-savingly stored or transported back as empty material. If it is not required to send back the outer shell as empty packaging, then it can be used for other purposes, for example as a germination crate for starting young plants or as a packaging container of any general kind.

It is particularly advantageous if the stackable members and possibly the outer shell are moulded in a thin-gauge from thermo-plastics material and for there to be in the region of the opening rim of at least the stackable member an annular stacking support which extends all round the container. As a result, it is possible to achieve a particularly low weight if the product is of thin-gauge construction and also the stacking capacity of the empty stackable members and of the empty outer shell will be substantially improved.

A further improvement in the stacking capacity of the empty stackable member can be achieved if the said member is of thin-gauge construction with concave support faces tapering towards the bottom of the container and if it has an annular stacking support in the region of its opening rim. Above all, this substantially facilitates the singling out of stackable members from a stack.

In order to be able to insert into and remove from the stackable containers objects, for example planted flower pots, conveniently, even though the lateral supporting and guidance faces have been raised, it is advisable to form on the inner supporting faces of the raised portions which are constructed on the bottom wall depressions which project downwardly from the opening area of the stackable member, for gripping the objects which are or have been inserted into the stackable container.

Examples of the embodiment of the invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of the stackable member of a transport, storage and sales container according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a section taken on the line 2 - 2 through a stackable member according to Figure 1; Figure 3 shows on an enlarged scale the area 3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the stackable member according to Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an enlarged partial section taken on the line 5 - 5 in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a side elevation of two stackable containers filled with planted flower pots and stacked above each other by means of collar-like spacers; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a simple embodiment of collar-like spacer;; Figure 8 is a perspective of another embodiment of collar-like spacer and Figure 9 is a side view of a stackable member during insertion into an outer shell which is shown in section.

The examples illustrated in the drawings are of transport, storage and sales containers 10 with, in each case, a stackable member 11 into which planted flower pots, for example flower pots ranging from 8 cm. to 13 cm. in diameter, can be inserted. The stackable member 11 has a bottom 12 and a peripheral wall 13 and is of thin-gauge construction, moulded, for example, deep-drawn from thermoplastics material. In the upper rim zone, the peripheral wall 13 of the stackable member 11 is shaped into an all-round extending annular stacking support 14 which has in the interior of the stackable member 11 an all-round extending supporting shoulder 26.

Above the stacking support 14 there is formed an encircling and outwardly returned retaining rim 15 which forms an open-bottomed housing slot 25 disposed outside the actual peripheral wall 13.

As Figures 1 and 2 show, and as Figure 3 shows more clearly, raised portions 17 and 18 provided in the region of the peripheral wall 13 extend on the bottom substantially as far as the opening area of the shell-like member 11,so forming inwards limiting projections 27 for the supporting shoulder 26. Figure 3 shows on an enlarged scale the marginal or rim construction of the shell-like member 11 with collar-like spacers 40 inserted. As can be seen, these collar-like spacers 40 have their upper edge zone inserted into the open-bottomed receiving slot 25, their lower edge zone standing on the supporting shoulder 26 so that the spacers are held between the restricting projection 27 and the annular stacking support 14.Thus, the collar-like spacers are held in their stiffened form even if they are in themselves only made from relatively inexpensive, yielding or flexible material, for example cardboard.

In order to form lateral wall parts on which the peripheral walls of the flower pots inserted into the stackable member 11 are supported, a middle raised portion 16 is constructed on the bottom 12 and marginal raised portions 17 are constructed on the long sides of the stackable member while marginal raised protions 18 are constructed on the transverse sides of the member 11. Both the middle raised portion 16 and also the marginal raised portions 17 and 18 extend with substantial parts into the opening plane of the stackable member 11. The marginal raised portions 17 and 18 are formed directly into the peripheral wall 13 of the stackable member 11.

Constructed on the middle raised portion 16 and on the marginal raised portions 17 and 18 are concavely curved support faces 19,21 and 22 of which the support faces 22 are located in two depressions 20 in the middle raised portion 16, while the support faces 19 and 21 are constructed as pairwise oppositely disposed support face parts on the oter periphery of the middle raised portion 16 and on the inside of the marginal raised portions 17 and 18. The pairwise oppositely disposed support face parts have the same radius of curvature and lie in a common conical generatrix.As Figure 1 shows, the following disposition is adopted: Formed in each of the corner zones of the stackable member 11, i.e. at the transition from a marginal raised portion 17 into a marginal raised portion 18 there is a supporting face 19 in the form of approximately two-thirds of a circle, the radius of curvature of which is adapted to flower pots of 13 cm. diameter. Each of these support faces 19 has opposite to it, in each corner zone of the middle raised portion 16, a supporting face 19 which has the same radius of curvature and which takes the shape of substantially a quarter of a circle.In the middle of each ofthe two marginal raised portions 17 and shaped substantially as an eighth of a circle, there is a supporting face 19, the radius of curvature of which is adapted to flower pots of 13 cm. diameter.

Opposite this supporting face 19 and shaped substantially as one third of a circle there is a support face 19 disposed in the midle of the long side of the middle raised portion 16, which in turn has the same radius of curvature.

As transitions between the supporting faces 19 in the corner zones and the supporting faces 19 disposed centrally in the long side of the stackable member there are constructed in each marginal raised portion 17 two support faces 21 representing substantially a quarter of a circle and opposite which are support faces 21 which are constructed on the long sides of the middle raised portions 16 between the support faces 19. Furthermore, there are formed on the marginal raised portions 18 between the support faces 19 and in the corner zones central support faces 21 shaped substantially as a third of a circle, opposite which there are, on the end faces of the middle raised portion 16, support faces 21 in the shape of substantially a quarter of a circle. All support faces 21 have the same radius of curvature and are adapted to suit flower pots of 9 cm.

diameter.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, there are constructed on the inner support faces of the raised portions 16, 17, 18 constructed on the bottom wall 12 or in the peripheral wall 13 depressions 28 which project downwardly from the opening area of the stackable member 11, said recesses 28 serving to assist gripping of the objects inserted into the stackable container. By reason of these recesses or depressions, the user can insert his fingers quite some way into the region of the support faces 19, 21, 22. By reason of the fact that the support faces 19, 21 and 22 are of only partially circular shape and by reason of the fact that the depressions are provided, there extends between the middle raised portion 16 and the marginal raised portions 17 and 18 formed in the peripheral wall an encircling depression.The stackable member 11 can therefore be loaded with flower pots of different sizes, for example the following types: a) six flower pots of 12 and/or 13 cm. diameter in two rows of three each, set against the supporting faces 19; b)eight flower pots of 10 and/or 11 cm. diameter in two outer rows of three each and a middle row of two inserted in the region of the support faces 19 and the support face parts 22.Although the flower pots of 11 cm. diameter are loose between the support face parts 19, they are held sufficiently secure in their seating by reason of the height of the supporting faces and the middle row of flower pots; c) twelve flower pots of 8 and/or 9 cm. diameter, inserted in three rows of four flower pots each, the outer rows resting against the support faces 21 and inserted between the support faces 19 and the middle row being supported on the support faces 21 and 22.The flower pots inserted loose between the support faces 19 are held sufficiently firmly by the other flower pots; d) mixed loading in all manner of ways, for example two flower pots of 13 cm. diameter inserted at one end of the member 11 between the support faces 19; four flower pots of 11 cm. diameter inserted between the support faces 19 of the other end of the stackable member 11 and between the supportfaces 19 in the middle partofthe longitudinal sides and three flower pots of 8 cm. diameter inserted as a middle row between the flower pots of 11 cm. diameter, between the support faces 21 and at one end ofthestackable member 11 and between the support faces 22 of the depression 20. Corresponding examples of mixed loading could be given at will.

The stackable member 11 shown in Figures 1 and 3 is preferably constructed with a closed bottom 12.

In this way, it is possible to keep a supply of water in the member 11 for watering planted flower pots. In order to be able to check from outside that such a water supply is present, and is level, it is recommended to provide transparent wall zones on the stackable member 11. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bottom 12 and the peripheral wall 13 of the stackable member 11 are deep-drawn in one piece substantially from opaque thermoplastics material, with a laminated structure such as is described for example in connection with Figure 5.

Extending centrally through the floor 12 and the end parts of the peripheral wall 13 is a transparent wall strip 31 which is integrally moulded into the bottom 12 and the peripheral wall 13. This transparent wall strip 31 consists likewise of thermo-plastics material, but in this case the material is transparent. During deep-drawing of the stackable member 11, therefore, also the middle raised portion 16 in the bottom of the container, the marginal raised portions 18, the stacking support 14 and the returned outer rim 15 are likewise moulded into the transparent wall strip 31 just as they are into the remaining but opaque wall part.Naturally, the demarcations between the transparent wall strip 31 and the other opaque wall parts will be to a greater or lesser degree nonrectilinear as the bottom raised portion 16, the marginal raised portions 18, the stacking rim 14 and the peripheral edge 15 are moulded (cannot be shown in the drawings). This non-rectilinear form of the boundary lines of the transparent wall strip 31 do not however have any disadvantageous effect on the construction of inspection points providing a view of the interior of the shell-like stackable member 11.

Instead of this one transparent wall strip 31, it would also be possible to provide two (not shown) transparent wall strips which could extend between the central raised portions 16 on the bottom and the marginal raised portions 17 through the bottom wall 12 and thence to both sides through the lateral end zones of the end peripheral wall part 13, the annular stacking support 14 and the peripheral rim 15.

In the example according to Figure 4 and as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1, instead of the one transparent wall strip 31 extending in a longitudinal direction of the stackable member 11,two strip-like wall parts 32 are provided which - viewed in the longitudinal direction - are disposed in the two end zones of the stackable member 11. These transparent wall strips 31 extend transversely over the stackable member 11 through the bottom and the lateral parts of the peripheral wall 13 as well as through the annular stacking support 14 and the peripheral rim 15. As indicated in Figure 1,the location of the transparent wall strips 32 may be so chosen that they extend between the middle raised portion 16 on the bottom of the container and the end marginal raised portions 18 in the bottom 12.

With this arrangement, the transparent wall trips 32 are deformed only relatively little, i.e. for practical purposes only on the region of the peripheral wall 13, the stacking support 14 and the peripheral rim 15.

This is of advantage particularly if the transparent plastics material forming the transparent wall strips is less readily shapable than the synthetic plastics material from which the opaque wall areas are consitituted.

Figure 5 shows a detail of the peripheral wall 13 in the region of a transparent wall strip 32, in section. In this embodiment, which may also be used in the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bottom wall 12, the peripheral wall 13, the stacking support 14 and the peripheral rim 15 are constructed in one piece by moulding under heat, for example deepdrawing. The opaque areas 33 consist of laminated material, in fact a preferably dark, for example black-dyed carrier layer 34 and a decorative backing layer 35 which is coloured as desired. The carrier layer 34 can thereby be formed from re-cycled synthetic plastics material. The dark, preferably black colouring then serves not only to mask any existing colouring but is advantageous also to the creation of a desired imperviousness to light.

In spite of the one-piece construction of transparent wall strips 31,32, the stackable member 11 is easy to manufacture in either of the two embodiments. In the known coextrusion processes, it is possible to manufacture strip-like or sheet-like semifinished product by coextrusion wherein a laminated material comprising carrier layer and baking layer is formed in the opaque zone while transparent strips of transparent plastics material are formed between these opaque areas 33. This semi-finished product can readily be subjected to heat moulding or deepdrawing, so that the desired stackable members 11 can be formed therefrom.

A further opportunity of monitoring and controlling the supply of water contained in the stackable members 11 takes the form of holes 36 in the peripheral wall 13 and intended for the supply and discharge of liquid. These holes 36 are disposed at a distance 37 of for instance 10 mm above the bottom wall 12 and serve as a liquid overflow. Buy reason of these holes 36, it is possible for planted flower pots contained in laoded stackable members 11 to be set up outdoors, even in rainy weather. The excess water collecting in the stackable members will then run off through these holes 36. Generally, a single hole 36 in the peripheral wall 13 of the stackable member 11 would be sufficient.As shown in the drawing, however, it is preferable to provide four holes 36, in fact at those zones 38 of the long sides of the stackable member 11 at which the adjacently disposed bulbous supporting faces 19 and 21 meet.

It could be envisaged to provide only one such hole 36 in each long side of the stackable member 11.

Preferably, one hole 36 could be provided in each corner zone of the stackable member 11 to serve as a water overflow. Underneath this hole 36 is formed a bulge 39 which protrudes outwardly from the peripheral wall in order to carry water along and past the wall of a flower pot which is inserted therein.

As Figure 2 shows, the depressions 28 extend to just, i.e. a distance of about 1 cm. above the bottom wall 12. Therefore, these depressions form inside the stackable member 11 overflow elements so that water collecting inside the stackable member can flow via the depressions 28 from one zone of the stackable member 11 to the other zone and finally reach an overflow hole 36.

As Figure 6 shows, the stackable members 11 filled with objects, particularly planted flower pots, can easily be stacked on top of one another in that collar-like spacers 40 are placed on the stackable members 11 underneath, in such a way that the collar-like spacers 40 have thier bottom edge resting on the support shoulder 26 and are held between the stacking edge 14 and the limiting projections 27 (see Figure 3). The next filled stackable member 11 has its retaining rim 15 placed on these collar-like spacers 40 so that the top edge of the latter is held in the housing slot 25. Figure 6 shows two such superposed stacked members 11 and on the upper stackable members 11 there are already placed in position collar-like spacers 40 on which can be placed the next stackable member 11 with its retaining rim 15 and housing slot 25.

Examples of embodiment of such collar-like spacers 40 are shown in Figures 7 and 8. In the example in Figure 7, the collar-like spacer 40 comprises a sheet-like element 41 of cardboard, the length of which is suited to the fact that it fits around the corner zone of the stackable member 11, extending infactfrom behind one marginal raised portion 18 on the narrow side to a location behind a marginal raised portion 17 on a long side of the stackable member 11. The width of the sheet-like element 41 is suited to the desired stack-height, i.e. the desired distance from stackable member 11 to stackable member 11. In its middle zone, the sheet-like element 41 is constructed to be flexible in one direction by means of parallel preformed bending creases 43 so that it can be adapted as closely as possible to the radius of the corner of the stackable member 11.The end zones 44 have no creases but are of increased rigidity.

In the example shown in Figure 8, the collar-like spacer 40 is constructed as a sheet-like element 42, the length of which is such that it can extend over one narrow side of the stackable member 11 and in the two adjacent corner zones, in fact from behind one lateral raised portion 17 one one long side, past the corner zone and the lateral raised portions 18 on the narrow side and the second corner zone until it is behind the next marginal raised portion 17 on the other long side. To this end, the sheet-like element which in this example may also consist of pressed paper or cardboard, has two areas which are flexible in one direction by reason of bending creases 43, two rigid outer zones 44 and one stiff middle zone 45.In this example, the stiff middle zone 45 is provided with a circular opening 46 which forms a passage for air and light to the potted plante accommodated in the stackable member. As a further possibility, a collar-like spacer could be provided which has three zones with bending creases, three interposed stiff wall zones and two end zones. Such a collar-like spacer could then be placed around the entire periphery of the stackable member. In such a case, it is particularly important to provide apertures in the sheet-like element in order to allow air and light through to the potted plants accommodated in the stackable element.

In the examples explained above, the stackable members 11 are constructed with a closed bottom.

However, it is also possible to provide in the bottom 12 holes through which water or fertiliser solution can be introduced from outside into a stackable member 11 which is filled with planted flower pots. If the stackable member 11 is provided with such bottom apertures, then it is advisable to provide an additional outer shell 24 having a substantially flat closed floor which is free from raised portions and which has moreover an identical annular stacking support and the same marginal construction 15 as the stackable member 11. As Figure 9 shows, the stackable member 11 can be means of the stacking support 14 be nested inside the outer shell 24 and also lifted at anytime easilyfrom the outer shell 24.

The wall thickness, bot of the stackable member 11 and also of the outer shell 24 can be chosen according to the stability desired. If it is intended to use the stackable member 11 only in conjunction with the outer shell 24, then both elements can be manufactured from particularly thin-gauge material.

However, if it is envisaged to use the stackable member 11 always or from time to time without the outer shell 24, as a transport, storage and sales container, then greater stability and correspondingly thicker walls will e preferred for the stackable member 11. In the same way, where the outer shell 24 is concerned, greater stability and correspondingly greater wall thickness will be preferred if there is any question of a second usage for the outer shell 24.

Preferably, the stackable member 11 and the outer shell 24 are deep-drawn from thermo-plastics material. If it is desired that a corresponding colour be applied to the outer face of the stackable member 11 or outer shell 24, then these elements can also be made from a laminate of thermo-plastics material, by a deep-drawing process, the supporting inner layer of this laminate being produced of recycled material and coloured in a dark colour. It is also possible forthe stackable member 11 and/orthe outer shell 24 to be manufactured from a mixture of thermo-plastics material and other organic recycled materials such as shredded paper or sawdust. In such a case, it will be preferable to produce the stackable member or the outer shell from such a mixture by an injection moulding process.

Claims

1. Container having a stackable body for the insertion of cylindrical and conical objects, in particular planted flower pots, in rows alongside one another and in the interior of which container wall parts are formed for laterally bracing and holding the inserted objects, characterised in that the stackable member is of shell-like construction and has a bottom and in that the lateral wall parts which serve laterally to hold and brace the inserted objects are formed on raised portions provided on the bottom.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that the bottom comprises a central raised portion and a plurality of peripheral raised portions forming the peripheral wall of the stackable member, concavely curved supporting surfaces of differing radii of curvature being formed on the peripheral raised portions and in that pairs of oppositely disposed supporting surfaces are constructed with the same radius of curvature and lie in a common cylindrical or conical surface generatrix.

3. Container according to claim 2, characterised in that the central raised portion has one, two or more depressions which have at least one cylindrical or conical concave supporting surface.

4. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the stackable member is constructed with a closed bottom and with at least one hole in the peripheral wall for the supply and discharge of liquid spaced above the bottom.

5. Container according to claim 4, characterised in that a hole is provided in each of four corner portions of the stackable member.

6. Container according to claim 4, characterised in that the hole is provided at the junction between two adjacent curved supporting surfaces.

7. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the bottom of the stackable member is perforated for the supply and discharge of liquid.

8. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that transparent wall zones are provided in the peripheral wall of the stackable member.

9. Container according to claim 8, characterised in that the shell-like stackable member is deepdrawn with a one-piece substantially opaque peripheral wall and bottom and includes at least one transparent strip which extends across the bottom and oppositely disposed parts of the peripheral wall of the stackable member.

10. Container according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the stackable member is formed by moulding under heat from a flat, for example panel-like or strip-like semi-finished synthetic plastics material while the transparent strip is integrally moulded in one piece by extrusion of the flat semi-finished product from various materials of which one is transparent, and is formed into the bottom and into the peripheral wall of the stackable member.

11. Container according to claim 10, characterised in that the stackable member is moulded by a thermal process from flat, for example panel-like or strip-like, semi-finished synthetic plastics product, the wall of the stackable member being, in the opaque zones, formed as a laminated material with a carrier layer and an outer supporting layer and is, in the transparent wall strips, formed from a single layer of transparent synthetic plastics material.

12. Container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the peripheral wall has, surrounding the opening of the shell-like stackable member, a retaining rim, an encircling outwardly open receiving groove disposed outside the actual peripheral wall, while its inner part defines a supporting shoulder which is substantially parallel with the opening of the stackable member and which merges into the actual peripheral wall, and in that between the supporting shoulder and the receiving slot there are risers which are to be positioned at intervais above one another.

13. Container according to claim 12, characterised in that raised portions provided in the region of the peripheral wall and on the bottom are constructed as inwards-extending limiting projections of the supporting shoulders and extend substantially into the area of opening of the shell-like stackable member.

14. Container according to claim 12 or 13, characterised by collar-like spacers in the form of panel-like elements, for example of cardboard, which extend over a corner zone of the stackable member and which can be bent in one direction.

15. Container according to claim 12 or 13, characterised by collar-like spacers in the form of panel-like elements, for example of cardboard, which extend over a longitudinal or transverse side and two corner zones of the stackabie member and which can be bent in one direction.

16. Transport, storage and sales container according to claim 12 or 13, characterised by collarlike spacers in the form of panel-like elements, for example of cardboard, which can be bent in one direction and which extend over the entire periphery of the stackable member.

17. Transport and storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised by an outer shell having a bottom in which there are no raised portions and which is intended to receive the stackable member.

18. Transport and storage container according to claim 17, characterised in that the stackable and the outer shell are of thin-gauge and are moulded form thermo-plastics material and are constructed in the region of the opening rim with matching-fit annular stacking supports which extend all round.

19. Transport and storage container according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterised in that the stackable member is of thin-gauge construction, has concave supporting surfaces which extend towards the bottom and is constructed in the region of its opening rim with annular stacking supports for nesting the empty containers.

20. Container according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that on the inner supporting faces of the raised portions which are constructed on the bottom there are constructed, so that they protrude downwardly from the opening area of the stackable member, engaging depressions for the gripping of objects which are or which have to be inserted into the container.