GB2207417A

GB2207417A - Stockable/nestable containers

Info

Publication number: GB2207417A
Application number: GB08717268A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hubert James Holiday
Original assignee: Perstorp AB
Current assignee: Perstorp AB
Priority date: 1987-07-22
Filing date: 1987-07-22
Publication date: 1989-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-22
Also published as: SE8802393D0; GB8717268D0; FI883425A0; FI91234C; FR2618413A1; FI883425A; SE8802393L; DE3824858A1; GB2207417B; FR2618413B1; FI91234B

Description

1 - 220 7 4 17 Improvements in or relating to a container THE PRESENT

INVENTION relates to containers and more particularly relates to containers adapted to stack in one relative orientation and to nest in another relative orientation.

Prior proposed nesting and stacking containers are usually of elongate form, usually having a substantially rectangular configuration when viewed from above.

Many conventional containers of this type are injection moulded of a plastic material, and are so designed that the containers will nest when the containers are superimposed in the same relative orient- ation, that is to say when an upper container is lowered into a lower container, with each container being precisely the same-way-round. The containers are also designed so that they will stack when the containers are superimposed with alternate containers in a reversed orientation, that is to say with odd containers in the stack one-way- round and even containers in the stack the other-way-round.

It is sometimes the case that containers of this type are not totally symmetrical. Thus, for exar,.Dle, the containers may be provided, for example, with an aperture of substantial size in one end wall to provide access to the interior of the container. Alternatively, containers of this type may be provided with means, on one elongate side wall, forming a ticket 1 holder adapted to hold a label or the like identifying the contents of the container.

It is to be understood that when the priorproposed containers of the type discussed above are stacked, since the containers are located in alternate orientations, if the containers have aperture in their end walls, these apertures appear, successively, on opposite sides of the stack. Also, if the containers are of the type which have the above-mentioned ticket holders, then these ticket holders will be alternately located on opposite sides of the stack.

When a person is stacking containers which are full of produce or other items, especially if those containers are to be despatched to a point of sale, it would be very attractive for the containers to be stacked with all the containers having the same relative orientation, that is to say so that all the containers stack the same-way-round. Thus a person creating a stack of containers could create them in a logical and straightforwardway, locating all the successive containers on the stack in sequence in the same orientation, thus providing a stack of satisfactory appear- ance.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a container which can stack in this way, but which can still be nested with other containers of a substantially identical design.

According to this invention there is provided a container, said container being adapted to nest and stack with similar containers, the arrangement being such that the containers stack when in the same relative orientation and nest when alternate containers are in a reverse orientation.

1 j i i i i i i i i 1 i 1 i According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a container, said container comprising means defining a base and side walls and end walls, the container being provided with means. on the interior of the container, defining inwardly projecting lands in the region of the upper part of the container, the exterior of the container being provided with means defining outwardly extending projections in the region of the lower edge of the container, the said lands and projections being so located that when a second such container is lowered on to a first such container, the projections of the exterior of the second container are engaged and supported by the lands on the interior of the first container thus enabling the containers to be stacked; the exterior of each container also being provided with cutaway portions, and the interior of each container also being provided with means defining spaces, such that if second container is lowered on to a first container in reversed orientation, then the cut away portions and said spaces will receive the means defining said land, and the means forming said projections, thus enabling the containers to be rested.

Preferably the means defining said lands and projections are formed adjacent the opposed ends of the container, on the side wall or on the end wall on either side of an axial plane passing through the container.

Conveniently said axial plane is a plane of symmetry which intersects the container, the plane of symmetry being such that the operative interengaging parts of the container on either side of the plane of symmetry are symmetrical.

Advantageously there are three or more regions defining inwardly projecting lands and spaces and projections on either side of said axial plane.

Preferably each region on the interior of the container defining said lands comprises a, relatively large inwardly directed projection located adjacent the base of the container. having an upper surface, and a smaller outwardly directing projection extending above the first projection.. the upper surface of the first projection merging in to a. step which partly surrounds the base of the upper projection.

Conveniently each said land is provided with a peripheral rib.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiinert of the container in accordance with the invention, and FIGURE 2 is a part sectional view taken on the line A-A of Figu:-e 1.

Referring to the drawings a container 1 in accordance with the invention is a generally elongate container which is injection moulded from a plastics material. The container is generally rectangular when viewed from above.

The container 1 is so designed as to be symmetrical about a substantially vertical plane extending along a central longitudinal axis o--^ the rectangular container. The plane is identified by means of a dashed line 2 which illustrates where the plane of symmetry intersects the container.

1 i i 1 i 1; 1 1 1 The container of the invention, as will be described in more detail belowg is provided with means defining inwardly projecting lands located adjacent the opposed ends of the container, these lands being formed on the interior of the container. On the exterior of the container there are formed projections which are so located that when a second identical container is mounted on the described container in the same orientation as the described container the projections on the exterior are supported by the lands. However, the exterior of the container is also provided with cutaway-portions so that, if a second container is lowered on to a first container in a reversed orientation, in other words turned the other way about, then the cut- away portions will be located in a region occupied by the said lands of the second container. Furthermore the container is provided with cut-away portions on the interior of the container which are located adjacent said projections. these interior cut-away portions being dimensioned to receive the parts of the second container defining the projections. Thus the containers may be nested, at least partially.

Referring in more detail to the accompanying drawing the container 1 comprises two opposed side walls 3, 4 interconnected by two relatively short end walls 5, 6. It can be seen that the illustrated container is not a totally symmetric container in that the end wall 5 defines a relatively large aperture 7 therein to provide a relatively free access to the interior of the container 1, whereas the corresponding part of the ends wall 6 is constituted by a closed panel 8.

Located in the interior of the container adjacent the side wall 3, and indeed formed integrally with the side wall 3, are a series of projections provided in two regions 9, 10 which define a plurality of lands. The region 9 is of the same design as the region 10. Each of the regions 9, 10 includes a first portion 11 adjacent the base of the container. the portion 11 projecting inwardly from the rest of the side wall 3.

The portion 11 is substantially rectangular when viewed from above and also substantially rectangular when viewed from one side. The top surf ace 12 of the projection 11 is -substantially horizontal and is lo.cated at a distance above the level of the base 13 of the con- tainer. which is substantially one half of the overall height of the container.

A further projection 14 is provided in each of the regions 9,, 10, the projection 14 again projecting inwardly from the side wall 3. but being located above the projection 11. The upper part of the projection.14 defines a rectangular land 15 which is substantially horizontal, this land being located above part of the upper surface 12 of the projection 11, but having a lesser extent, both in width and length than the upper surface 12 of the projection 11. The projection 14 is substantially rectangular when viewed from the side, and in the described embodiment the projection is formed integrally with the projection 11. However, a small strip 16 at the same level as the upper surface 12 of the projection 11 surrounds the base of the projection 14, forming a substantially inwardly directed step. As can be seen from Figure 2 the outer part of this step may be chamfered rather than substantially horizontal.

This step extends all the way round the interior of the container 1.

It is to be noted that above the part of the upper surface 12 of the projection 11 which is not covered by the projection 14 of the associate land 15 there is an empty space 17 which is open towards the top of the container 1 and is thus able to receive an i 1 j i i i element which is lowered in to it. In the region 9, as described, the space 17 merges into a further larger space 18 located adjacent a central portion of the side wall located intermediate the above-described region 9 and the region 10. However, the space 17 in the region 10 is located between the projection 14 and the end wall 6.

The projection 14 is provided with a small lip 19 at the free edge of the upper surface of land 15, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 2. The purpose of this lip 19 will be described hereinafter.

It will be appreciated that the side wall 4 is provided with similar regions 9, 10, provided with projections which are a mirror-image of the projections described above, and thus these projections need not be described in detail at this stage.

Figure 1 illustrates the configuration of the side wall 4. This side wall includes many reinforcing ribs and apertures which are not essential to the present invention and which will thus not be described in detail. However, the present description will confine itself to those features of the side wall 4 that are of importance to the presently described invention.

It can be seen that in a first region 20 of the side wall 4 which is located opposite the region 9 described above, the side wall 4 defines, at the level of its lower edge, an outwardly directed projection 21 in the form of a horizontally extending web which is associated with reinforcing webs 22 of triangular configuration located between the outwardly directed projection 21 and a substantially vertical part of the side wall 4 so that the outwardly directed part 21 can be considered to have load-bearing properties. The web i 21 is dimensioned to be received within the space 17 within the region 10 on the side wall 3 of a corresponding containert as described above. Located immediately adjacent the projecting web 21 is effectively a portion 23 which is cut-away, as can possibly be seen most clearly from Figure 2. Thus the portion 23 has an open bottom 249 and is bounded by two side walls 25, 26 and is also bound at the top by an outwardly directed flange 27 that forms part of a reinforcing rib formed integrally with the side wall 4. Thus the space 23. as can be seen from Figure 1 is of substantially rectangular configuration, and this space is dimensioned to receive. slidingly, the projection 14 provided in the region 10 on the side wall 3 of the container. The draft angle of the space 2, 3 and the projection 14 consist in this sliding engagement, but the projection 14 is of a lesser size, since the space 23 effectively forms the interior of a projection 11 on the inside of the container. and the projection 14 is smaller than the projection 11 as is evidenced by the step 16.

At the opposed end of the container 1, that is to say in a region 28 of the side wall 4 opposite the region 10 of the side wall 3 as described above, at the end region of the side wall there is formed a space 23' corresponding to the space 23 described above, say that the space 231 is bounded solely by one side wall 25 and the upper projecting rib 27. Also in this region 28 of the container the side wall 3 defines a further outwardly projecting web portion 21 and associated reinforcing webs 22 of triangular form, so that said web portion 21 again possesses load bearing properties. The space 23' is dimensioned to be able to receive the projection 14 in the region c) of the side wall 'P of the container, and the load bearing web 21 is dimensioned to be received within the space 17 provided above the surface 12 on the upper part of the projection 11 in the region 9 of the side wall 3 of the container.

J i 1 i t q i 1 1 i i i 1 1 -g- It is to be appreciated that if containers, as described abovey are stacked together, with successive containers in the stack having the same orientation, that is to say that the containers are so orientated that the aperture 7 is always provided on the same side of the stack. then the outwardly projecting webs 21 formed on the exterior of an upper container will rest on the lands 15 formed on the top of the projections 14 formed on the interior of the lower container. Thus the containers may be stacked. The lands 15 are provided with a rib or bead 19 formed at the free edges thereof in order to securely engage the webs 21, which may indeed be provided with recesses adapted to receive the ribs 19 thus enabling the containers to be stacked securely together, the engagement between the ribs 19 and the protruding webs 21 resisting any temptation for the side walls of the container to buckle outwardly under an applied load.

However, it is equally to be understood that if a container, as described, is lowered on to an identical container whilst in a reverse orientation, that is to say with the apertured end wall 5 of the upper container being located above the non-apertured end wall 6 of the lower container. the projection 15 in the region 10 of the side wall 3 of the lower container will pass into the space 23 formed in the region 20 on the exterior of the side wall 4 of the container, and similarly the projection web 21 in the region 20 on the exterior of the side wall 4 of the container will be inserted into the space 17 provided in the region 10 on the interior of the side wall 3 of the container. Similarly the projection 14 in the region 9 on the interior of the side wall 3 of the container will be received in the space 23' exterior of side wall 4 of outwardly directed web 21 - t in the region 28 on the the container, whereas the in the region 28 on the exterior of the side wall 4 of the container will be received within the space 17 in the region 9 on the interior of the side wall 3 of the container. The lands 15 provided on the tops of the projections 14 as described above will engage the outwardly directed flanges 27 formed on the exterior of the side wall 4 of the container, and similarly the load- bearing webs 21 formed on the exterior of the side wall 4 of the container will engage the upper surfaces 12 of the projections 11. Also. it will be observed that a lower part 29 of the side wall 4 of the container is at the same level as the load-bearing flanges 21. This part will rest on the step 16 surrounding the base of the upper projection 14 on the interior of the side wall 3, and it can be seen that this step 16 extends substantially along the entire length of the container and, indeed, part of the inwardly directed step 16 extends across the ends of the container. Of course, similar events will occur, in a minor image manor, on the opposite side of the plane of symmetry.

Thus the containers -may be nested, at least to an extent of substantially 50%. Of course, a third container, having the same orientation as the first container, may then be stacked on top of the second container.

It is to be appreciated that containers in accordance with the invention may be utilised to contain produce or other productsq and may be stacked, in the same relative orientation, with no risk of the products being compressed or crushed, provided that the products are only introduced into each container up to the level of the lands 15 provided at the tops of the projections 14. If the containers have aperutres in the side walls, all these apertures will be at one side of the stack. Two stacks may thus be palleted with the apertured sides 1 i i j J 1 together. thus keeping any producer or other items In the containers securely in the containers. Also the containers may be loaded with certain produce, such as soft fruity up to the level defined by the upper portions 12 of the projections 11 and the associated inwardly directed step 16. The containers may then be stacked in a nested format, with alternate containers being located in the reverse orientation.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to one embodiment it is to be appreciated that many modifications may be effected to the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

In particular, whilst the arrangements of projections and recesses have been shown as being mounted on the interior and exterior of two opposed side walls of the container, corresponding projections may be located on the interior and the exterior of the two opposed end walls of the container. Also, whilst the invention has been descri.bed with reference to an embodiment in which two areas defining the projections and recesses are formed on the interior and exterior of each side wall, embodiments of the invention could be devised having three or more areas defining such projections and recesses and, indeed, if a container in accordance with the invention has significant length it may be desirable to provide three such regions.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to an embodiment of single-skin construction, it is to be appreciated that embodiments of the invention could be of double-skin cons truct. i on. Thus, for example, the portion immediately above the outwardly projecting web 21 would not be open, as illustrated, but instead would be closed, therebeing an outer skin pro- i i 1 i vided to close off the void which is presently illustrated as containing the triangular reinforcing webs 22.

1 Whilst the lands 15 have been illustrated as being located at positions slightly below the level of the tops of the side walls 3 and 4 of the container. these supporting lands may be flush with the tops of the side walls of the container, or may even project above the tops of the side walls. In such an embodiment the webs 21 may be associated with downwardly depending skirts adapted to partially surround the projections 14, to provide secure engagement between an upper container and a lower container when in the stacked condition.

i i i 1 i 1 1 1 A

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container, said container being adapted to nest and stack with similar containers, the arrangement being such that the containers stack when in the same relative orientation and nest when alternate containers are in a reverse orientation.

2. A container, said container comprising means defining a base and side walls and end walls. the container being provided with means, on the interior of the container, defining inwardly projecting lands in the region of the upper part of the container. the exterior of the container being provided with means defining out- wardly extending projections in the region of the lower edge of the container, the said lands and projections being so located that when a second such container is lowered on to a first such container. the projections of the exterior of the second container are engaged and supported by the lands on the interior of the first container thus enabling the containers to be stacked; the exterior-of each container also being provided with cut-away portions, and the interior of each container also being provided with means defining spaces, such that if a second container is lowered on to a first container in a reversed orientation, then the cut away portions and said spaces will receive the means defining said land, and the means forming said projections, thus enabling the containers to be rested.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the means defining said lands and projections are formed adjacent the opposed ends of the container, on the side wall or on the end wall on either side of an axial plane passing through the container.

4. A container according to claim 3 wherein said axial plane is a plane of symmetry which intersects the container, the plane of symmetry being such that the operative interengaging parts of the container on either side of the plane of symmetry are symmetrical.

5. A container according to claim 3, 4, or 5 wherein there are three or more regions defining inwardly projecting lands and spaces and projections on either side of said axial plane.

6. A container according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein each region on the interior of the con tainer defining said lands comprises a relatively large inwardly directed projection located adjacent the base of the container, having an upper surface, and a smaller outwardly directing projection extending above the first projection, the upper surface of the first pro jection merging in to a step which partly surrounds the base of the upper projection.

7. A container according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein each said land is provided with a perip heral rib.

8. A container substantiallv as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.

Flublished 1988 Lt The Patem. Ofnee, Stp-te Hallse. e671 High Ho'born. Londor. 1ATC1.7t 4TF crie5: mpy be obuined Tbe PWAI-t Off1Ce.

S-n'es Branch. S- or!zngt,,r. Ken' LF15 3ED Printed by -ec-hi-,--,,-.es itJ',. S Ma- n C= I E', y he. 1 1 1