GB2180820A

GB2180820A - Nestable container

Info

Publication number: GB2180820A
Application number: GB08618557A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Lam Sen Choo
Original assignee: SEN DAVID LAM CHOON
Current assignee: SEN DAVID LAM CHOON
Priority date: 1985-09-25
Filing date: 1986-07-30
Publication date: 1987-04-08
Also published as: GB8523635D0; MY102891A; GB2180820B; GB8618557D0

Abstract

A nestable container 1 for packaging rubber sheets or blocks for sea transport is formed by a framework of generally L-shaped cross-section members comprising uprights 2 and base members 3 with a tubular rail 4 joining the tops of the uprights 2. Gussets 5 may be provided for strengthening the long sides of the container 1. The sides of the framework of the container 1 may be open or filled by a mesh structure of interlinked chains 6 or bars 72. The container 1 has a base 7 which is corrugated for strength and may be provided with channels 8, 9 for receiving the forks of a forklift truck. Retractable members may be provided at the corners of the base 7 for additional stability and to facilitate stacking of filled containers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container The present invention relates to containers for transporting goods. In particular the invention relates to containers for packaging rubber sheets or blocks for sea transport. The traditional method of transporting such sheets or blocks is to pack them in wooden crates which are destroyed at the destination port.

There is therefore a need for a robust, reusable container which, when empty, can be shipped back to the departure port at minimum cost.

A first aspect of the invention provides a container having the shape of a rectangular or square frusto-pyramid, whereby empty containers can be stacked one inside another.

Another aspect of the invention provides a container comprising an open sided framework in which the sides are traversed by a mesh which may be formed by interlinked chains.

The invention further provides a container having a base which is corrugated, thus providing enhanced strength. Slots or channels for receiving the forks of a forklift truck are preferably provided in the base.

The container may be formed from sheet metal sections which are shaped by stamping and then fixed together by welding or riveting etc. The container may be manufactured from metal, for example, aluminium or steel.

Preferably the container is of plastics material for lightness and durability. Extruded plastics sections may be used for the framework with a moulded base. The sections may be joined by gluing or welding etc. Alternatively the container may be integrally moulded.

The mesh structure filling the container sides may be moulded of plastics or of metal chains linked to the container framework. Alternatively, the mesh may be constructed from bars connected to the container framework. In this case, the structure may comprise one or more flat bars (i.e. bars of rectangular crosssection) orientated substantially horizontally and supported by one or more substantially vertically orientated flat bars.

Very preferably the base of the container is provided with retractable members which may extend laterally from the container base to stabilise the container and also to support a container on top of another container when stacking filled containers.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a cross-section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a plan of the embodiment of Fig.

6; Figure 8 is a cross-section along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7; Figures 9a and 9b are cross-sections at the base of the container of Fig. 5 in the region of arrow Y; Figure 10 is a side view of a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 11 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 10; Figure 12 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 10; Figure 13 is a cross-section along the line X-X of Fig. 12; Figure 14 is an underside view of the embodiment of Fig. 10; Figure 15 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 16 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 15; Figure 17 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 15; Figure 18 is a cross-section along the line Xl-XI of Fig. 17; Figure 19 is an underside view of the embodiment of Fig. 15; and Figures 20a and 20b are cross-sections at the base of the containers of Figs. 12 and 17 in the region of arrow XII.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a container 1 according to the invention. The container is formed by a framework of generally L-crosssection members comprising uprights 2 and base members 3 with a tubular rail 4 joining the upper ends of the uprights 2. Gussets 5 strengthen the long sides of the container 1.

The container sides are open and are filled by a mesh of interlinked chains 6 attached to the vertical and horizontal members.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2 the shape of the container is frusto-pyramidal, that is tapering towards the base so that one container will sit inside another.

The base 7 of the container is corrugated (Figs. 3 and 4) for strength, a corrugated plate sitting on and being attached to the L-shaped base members 3 as seen in Fig. 4. The corrugations of the base provide inverted channels 8, 9 for receiving the forks of a forklift truck, corresponding apertures 10, 11 being provided in the base members 3.

The container is preferably constructed of plastics material.

Figs. 5 to 9 show a second embodiment of the invention which is constructed in a similar manner to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4. Lshaped cross-section upright members 22 are joined at their upper ends by a channel section rim 24 (see Fig. 8) having an indent 31 in its central web portion 32. 'L' shaped crosssection base members 23 join the iower ends of the uprights 22 and aaguard plate 33 extends a short way up the container sides from the base members 23. Gussets 34 strengthen the join between the guard plates 33 and uprights 22. A chain like mesh 26 fills the sides of the container 21.

The base 27 is corrugated and provided with channels 28 for receiving the forks of a forklift truck, with corresponding recesses 40, 41 being provided in the base members 23.

Rectangular cross-section extension members 35 are housed in slots 36 at the four corners of the base and arranged to be slid outwardly (Fig. 9b) to provide additional stability for the container and to support the container on top of a like container. The members 35 each have a bar 37 at their inner end, which slides in apertures 38 in the walls of slots 36 to limit the sliding movement of the members 35.

Figs. 10 to 14 shows a third embodiment of the invention which is constructed in a similar manner to the second embodiment described above. 'L'-shaped cross-section upright members 50 are joined at their upper ends by a channel section rim 52 which is similar to the rim 24 described with reference to Fig. 8. The upright members 50 are joined at their lower ends by 'L' shaped cross-section base members 54 and a guard plate 56 extrudes a short way up the container sides from the base members 54.

The container has a base 58 which is corrugated, but has fewer corrugations than the base 27 of the second embodiment. The base 58 is provided with a pair of channels 60 extending parallel to the sides of the container for receiving the forks of a forklift truck. Corresponding recesses 62 are provided in the base members 54. The channels 60 are formed with sloping sides.

The base 58 is provided with a further pair of rectangular cross-section channels 64 also for receiving the forks of a forklift truck. The channels 64 extend parallel to the ends of the container.

The points at which the channels 60 and 64 cross are each covered by a cover plate 66.

Rectangular cross-section extension members 68 are housed in slots 70 (Fig. 20a) at the four corners of the base and arranged to be slid outwardly (Fig. 20b) to provide additional stability for the container. The construction and functions of the extension members 68 and slots 70 are similar to the extension members described with reference to Fig. 9a and 9b.

The sides of the container are filled with a mesh structure 72 which is formed from four horizontal bars supported by four flat-bars which are angled with respect to the vertical.

The flat bars may be welded or glued at their points of intersection 74, and ends of the flat bars which contact the upright members 50 and the guard plates 56 may be glued or welded thereto so as to fix the mesh structure to the container.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to Figs. 15 to 20. The container of the fourth embodiment is similar to the container of the third embodiment and so elements similar to both embodiments bear the same reference numerals. The fourth embodiment differs from the third in that the walls of the container are not filled with a mesh structure. Rubber sheets or blocks packed into the container shown in Figs. 15 to 19 may be secured in position by means of shrink wrapping.

Claims

1. A container having the shape of a rectangular or square frusto-pyramid and a base, whereby empty containers can be stacked one inside another.

2. A container having the shape of a rectangular or square frusto-pyramid, whereby empty containers can be stacked one inside another, and wherein the base is corrugated.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising an open sided framework.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the sides of the open-sided framework are traversed by a mesh.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the mesh is formed by interlinked chains.

6. A container according to claim 4, wherein the mesh is constructed from bars connected to the container framework.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the bars are flat bars, and one or more of the flat bars are orientated substantially horizontally and supported by one or more substantially vertically orientated flat bars.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, formed from sheet metal sections which are shaped by stamping and then fixed together by welding or riveting.

9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims manufactured from metal.

10. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7 manufactured from a plastics material.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein extruded plastics sections are used for the framework and a moulded base section is used for the base.

12. A container according to claim 11, wherein the extruded plastics sections are attached to the base.

13. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein slots or channels for receiving the forks of a forklift truck are provided provided in the base.

14. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is pro vided with retractable members which can extend laterally from the base for stabilising the container and for supporting filled containers one on top of another when stacked.

15. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, Figs. 5 to 9a and 9b, Figs. 10 to 14 and 20a and 20b, or Figs. 15 to 20a and 20b of the accompanying drawings.