GB2237560A

GB2237560A - Stackable/nestable crates

Info

Publication number: GB2237560A
Application number: GB9020270A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gert Forslund
Original assignee: Elopak Systems AG
Current assignee: Elopak Systems AG
Priority date: 1989-09-18
Filing date: 1990-09-17
Publication date: 1991-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-17
Also published as: FI904563A0; SE8903081D0; GB9020270D0; GB2237560B; RU2037454C1; SE8903081L; NO904045D0; NL9002051A; NO904045L

Abstract

A stackable crate (1) has four vertical walls (2-5) and a base (6). The walls (2-5, 2'-5') are arranged with at least four separate supporting elements which are located to one side of the base and a corresponding number of recesses which are located to the opposite side of the base. When two identical crates (1, 1') are stacked up in a first relative angular position, the supporting elements of the one crate (1') are engaged in their respective recesses on the other crate (1), to provide a low stacking height of the crates (1, 1'), while when the two crates (1, 1') are stacked up in a second relative angular position, in which the two crates are turned 180 DEG relatively to each other, the supporting elements of the one crate (1') are prevented from engaging in the recesses of the second crate (1) and provide a stable vertical support between the crates (1, 1'), to allow a high stacking height for the crates (1, 1'). <IMAGE>

Description

NESTAB CONTAINER This invention relates to a vertically nestable container.

Vertically nestable crates are known of the type which comprises four vertical walls, whose uppermost and lowermost edges define upper and lower horizontally limiting planes for the crate, whilst between the upper and the lower limiting planes is located and connected to the insides of the walls, a horizontal loadbearing base, and which are intended to be stacked up vertically with identical crates. These crates are used for example in the transport and storage of consumer packages containing dairy products, juices etc.On the market today there are to be found a number of crates of the type mentioned, which are so constructed that, when two similar crates are stacked upon each other, vertical walls of the upper crate are supported from below by vertical walls of the lower crate, allowing the base of the upper crate to rest on the uppermost edges of the vertical walls of the lower crate. In this type of crate, two of the four walls are H-shaped with the base placed level with the transverse line of the H, so that between two nested crates there are two opposite, relatively large side openings. The object of these is so that the consumer packages which stand on the base of the lower crate can be removed through the side openings without one having to lift off the upper crate. This existing crate, however, has the following disadvantages.In order to minimize the undesired dead space, when transporting and stacking full or partly full crates, that is the undesirable void between the upper side of the contents in one crate and the underside of the base of the crate stacked above, the wall heights are dimensioned taking into consideration the type of packaging to be placed in the crate, more precisely determined by the requirement that all the packages will have sufficient space between the nested crates and also can be extracted laterally through the above-mentioned side openings. The problem which exists is that in the market there occur varying packaging types with different heights.

Packages which are shorter than the packaging type for which the crate is constructed can obviously be handled, although with an undesired dead space. Packages which are taller than the packaging type for which the crate is designed, however, cannot be handled by the crate, as in this case the crates cannot be stacked upon each other vertically.

Crates are known which are constructed so that an upper crate can occupy selectively a higher-level stacking relationship or a lower-level stacking relationship with respect to an identical lower crate depending upon the orientation of the upper crate with respect to the lower crate. Such crates are particularly useful, for example in the storage and transportation of layers of tall articles, when the crates occupy the higher-level stacking relationship, or short articles, when the crates occupy the lower-level relationship and partially nest in each other. A crate of this character is disclosed in, for example, US4189052, in which an upper crate can be re-oriented through 1800 in a horizontal plane relative to a lower crate in order to change between a high-level relationship and an intermediate-level relationship.Moreover, the upper crate can be re-oriented through 900 in a horizontal plane relative to the lower crate to change from the high-level or intermediate-level relationship to a low-level relationship for use for transportation of empty crates. Each crate is of a shallow U shape as seen in side elevation, with each end wall being castellated along its uppermost edge but having its lowermost edge of a horizontal straight-line form.Projecting outwardly and downwardly from the lowermost edge zone of each end wall is a row of spaced-apart stacking feet which, in the high-level relationship, engage over stacking posts formed by the upward protrusions of the castellations, but, in the intermediate-level relationship, engage over nesting posts located in downward recesses among the stacking posts, while the stacking posts engage under respective nesting feet located in upward recesses alternating along the end wall with the stacking feet. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the stacking posts interfere with smooth manual sliding of the crates horizontally one on the other during stacking, particularly because they can snag in the upward recesses.

An attempt to overcome the problem of the stacking posts interfering with smooth manual sliding of the crates horizontally is disclosed in US4402408, in which the nesting recesses are provided with relatively thin vertical posts projecting upwardly to the same extent as the stacking posts. Although these thin vertical posts can reduce the snagging problem they can readily be broken off during handling of the crates, whereupon the problem arises again.

Another three-level stacking crate is known from US4106623.

Opposing first and second wall structures of the crate comprise bar members which extend upwardly between a lower border flange and an upper rim. The bar members are arranged such that the bar members of an upper crate parallel the bar members of a lower crate when the upper crate is nested in the lower crate.

Intermediate-level stacking is obtained by stacking feet of upper bar members hooking over tops of lower members, whilst low-level stacking is obtained by the upper bar members interdigitating among the lower bar members. However, high-level stacking is obtained by first swinging inwards into positions on the tops of the lower bar members horizontal pivotable bars which support the upper crate. The provision of these pivotable bars has the disadvantages of adding to the cost and complication of the crates and also being more readily damaged than integral fixed supports.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nestable container comprising first, second, third and fourth substantially vertical walls whereof the first and third walls are arranged opposite each other and have substantially horizontal uppermost and lowermost edges extending for substantially the whole of the length of the wall, a substantially horizontal load-bearing base connected to the first to fourth walls, supporting elements and recesses located at lower and upper parts of the container and horizontally distributed in a particular pattern both at said lower part and at said upper part, said pattern being such that, when said container and an identical container are stacked-up in a first relative angular position, the supporting elements are accepted in the recesses, to provide a lower-level stacking relationship, whereas when the containers are stacked-up in a second relative angular position in which the upper container is turned about a vertical axis relative to the lower container, the supporting elements are prevented from being accepted in the recesses, to provide a higher-level stacking relationship, said supporting elements comprising substantially vertical horizontally protruding ribs not extending beyond said substantially horizontal uppermost and lowermost edges, and said recesses comprising slots complementary to said ribs.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a crate comprising four vertical walls, and a horizontal load-bearing base positioned between the tops and the bottoms of the walls and connected to the insides of the walls, which crate is intended to be stacked with identical crates, the walls being provided with at least four supporting elements, which are located to one side of the base and which are horizontally distributed according to a pattern, and with a number of supporting elements corresponding with a number of recesses, which are located at the opposite side of the base, and which are horizontally distributed according to said pattern, which pattern is such that, when two such crates are stacked up in a first relative angular position, the supporting elements of the one crate are accepted each into its corresponding recess in the other crate, to provide a low stacking height of the crates, and that, when two such crates are stacked up in a second relative angular position, in which the two crates are turned 1800 relatively to each other, in the horizontal plane, compared with the first angular position, the supporting elements of the one crate are prevented from engaging in the recesses of the second crate and provide a stable vertical support between the crates in order to provide a high stacking height of the crates.

Accordingly, one is able to vary the vertical distance between the bases of stacked-up H-shaped crates, by turning the crates 1800 in the horizontal plane relative to each other. In a first, low stacking relationship, the supporting elements can be ineffective and engaged in the recesses, whilst the upper crate, through the underside of its base, can rest upon the upper edges of the walls of the lower crate. In this position, with low stacking height, the crates may thus rest on each other, in the same manner as described above for the existing H-shaped crates.

If one now, for simplicity's sake, considers the two stacked-up crates in the low stacking relationship, one can achieve a high stacking relationship simply by lifting up the upper crate, turning it 1800 in the horizontal plane and then replacing it on the lower crate. Side stability is achieved in the same manner as for the existing crate by the walls of the upper crate being supported from below by the walls of the lower crate. However the two crates cannot be nested into each other as far as with a low stacking height, as the pattern of the supporting elements of the one crate and the pattern of the recesses of the other crate are no longer coincident, unless they are turned through 1800 relative to each other.This special pattern is selected so asymmetrically that the supporting elements, in the 1800 turn angle, cannot engage in the recesses of the other crate, unless the stack together comprises a stable vertical support between both the crates. This requires, in order to achieve a similar stable vertical support, that at least four pairs of supporting elements and recesses are located in the neighbourhood of the four corners of the crate.

For example, both supporting elements and recesses can be four in number, arranged in two pairs, with different relative distances on the two opposite walls of the crate.

It is advantageous if each of the supporting elements is attached to one of the walls over substantially the whole length of the supporting element, because then the element can be made relatively thin, preferably less than one-twentieth of the horizontal width of the wall to which it is fixed, for example about one-eightieth of that width.

Moreover, the walls preferably do not have a large number of holes therethrough, because these increase the likelihood of penetration of foreign matter and increase the difficulty of cleaning of the containers.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an end view of two nestable crates stacked one upon the other with a relative angular position which gives a high stacking level, Figure 2 is an end view of the crates, but with a relative angular position which gives a low stacking level.

Figure 3 is divided into Figure 3.1 on the left and Figure 3.2 on the right by a line A-A, where Figure 3.1 is half a side view of the crates in Figure 1, seen in the direction of the arrows III.1-III.1 in Figure 1, and where Figure 3.2 is half a longitudinal section through the crates in Figure 2, taken along the line III.2-III.2 in Figure 2. In the following description the same reference numerals are used for both crates, although with a ' for items which belong to the lower crate. For simplicity and since both crates 1 and 1' are identical, only the upper crate 1 will be described in detail.

The crate 1 includes four vertical walls, more precisely two end walls 2 and 3 and two H-shaped side walls 4 and 5. A horizontal, load bearing base 6 is arranged at the level of the transverse line of the Hs and connected to the insides of the walls 2-5. With the two stacked crates 1, 1', the walls 2 to 5 of the upper crate 1 extend down to clasp the walls 2' to 5' of the lower crate which extend up to support the crate 1.

These are four separate supporting elements 7a, 8a, 9a and lOa, and four corresponding, separate recesses 7b, 8b, 9b and lOb. The supporting elements 7a-10a are designed as vertical ribs extending on the outsides of the end walls 2 and 3 at a level above the base 6. The recesses 7b-10b are designed as vertical grooves on the insides of the end walls 2 and 3 below the base 6, the grooves 7b-lOb being closed at the tops and open at the bottoms towards the lowermost edges 2a and 3a of the end walls 2 and 3.

The grooves 7b-10b each have a vertical height which is a little greater than the vertical height of each rib 7a-10a.

Furthermore the ribs 7a- lOa have respective upper support shoulders 7c,8c,9c and lOc.

From Figure 1 it can be seen that the ribs 7a and 8a and the grooves 7b and 8b are arranged on and in the end wall 2, and from Figure 2 it can be seen that the two other ribs 9a and lOa and the two other grooves 9b and lOb are arranged on and in the other end wall 3. The ribs 7a and 8a on the end wall 2 in Figure 1 have a relative horizontal spacing CC1, and the grooves 7b and 8b in the same end wall 2 are positioned at the same relative horizontal spacing CC1. The ribs 9a and lOa on the end wall 3 in Figure 2 have a relative horizontal spacing CC2, and the grooves 9b and lOb in the same end wall 3 are positioned at the same relative horizontal spacing CC2. As can be seen from the Figures, the distance CCl is less than the distance CC2.

Consider now the two stacked up crates 1,1' in Figures 1 and 3.1. The upper crate 1 is so angularly positioned that its end wall 2 is positioned above the end wall 3' of the lower crate 1'.

Therefore, the grooves 7b and 8b in the upper crate 1 are now lying above but horizontally displaced in relation to the ribs 9a' and lOa' in the end wall 3', so that the ribs 9a' and lOa' cannot enter the grooves 7b and 8b, but their upper support shoulders 9c and lOc bear the lowermost edge 2a of the end wall 2.

In a corresponding manner, at the other end walls 3 and 2', the two ribs 7a' and 8a' (not shown) of the crate 1' will, by way of their shoulders 7c' and 8c' (not shown), bear the lowermost edge 3a of the end wall 3, since these ribs 7a' and 8a' are positioned at the relative spacing CCl and therefore cannot engage in the grooves 9b and lOb of the crate 1 which are positioned at the greater relative spacing CC2.

When the crates have the relative angular position shown in Figures 1 and 3.1, the four shoulders 7c'-lOc' together provide a stable vertical support for the lowermost edges 2a and 3a of the upper crate 1. As indicated with a chain line 11 in Figure 3.1, the base 6 will then lie at a distance H from uppermost edges of the lower crate 1'.

Now, leave the lower crate 1' in Figure 1 in the same position and lift up the upper crate 1, turn this through 180 in the horizontal plane and replace it upon the lower crate 1'.

After this operation, the situation is as shown in Figures 2 and 3.2. All of the ribs 7a'-lOa' now line up with the respective grooves 7b-lOb. When the upper crate 1 is lowered, and as the vertical height of the grooves 7b-lOb is somewhat greater than the vertical height of the ribs 7a'-lOa', the underside of the base 6 can now pass further down in relation to the uppermost edges of the crate 1' and come to bear on them, as shown in Figure 3.2. The marked vertical distance H in Figure 3.1 has therefore been eliminated and the two crates 1,1' have now a low stacking level.

There has been described with reference to the drawings an example of the invention, but the invention can take the forms of many examples. In one modification, the ribs 7a-lOa could be below the base 6 and the grooves 7b-lOb above the base 6.

Furthermore, it is possible to have supporting elements and recesses also on the side wall(s) 4 and/or 5, and also to vary the number of pairs of supporting elements and recesses. The only condition is that these pairs of supporting elements and recesses are distributed in accordance with a special pattern, which, in one of two relative angular positions of the crates, prevents the supporting elements from engaging in the corresponding recesses.

Finally, it is also possible to apply the invention to crates in which, with two stacked up crates, the lower parts of the walls of the upper crate are entered within the upper parts of the walls of the lower crate, or in which the lower crate is provided with a special groove in its uppermost edge for acceptance of the lowermost edge of the upper crate.

Claims

ClAIMS

1. A nestable container comprising first, second, third and fourth substantially vertical walls whereof the first and third walls are arranged opposite each other and have substantially horizontal uppermost and lowermost edges extending for substantially the whole of the length of the wall, a substantially horizontal load-bearing base connected to the first to fourth walls, supporting elements and recesses located at lower and upper parts of the container and horizontally distributed in a particular pattern both at said lower part and at said upper part, said pattern being such that, when said container and an identical container are stacked-up in a first relative angular position, the supporting elements are accepted in the recesses, to provide a lower-level stacking relationship, whereas when the containers are stacked-up in a second relative angular position in which the upper container is turned about a vertical axis relative to the lower container, the supporting elements are prevented from being accepted in the recesses, to provide a higher-level stacking relationship, said supporting elements comprising substantially vertical horizontally protruding ribs not extending beyond said substantially horizontal uppermost and lowermost edges, and said recesses comprising slots complementary to said ribs.

2. A nestable container according to claim 1, wherein said ribs and said slots are located at the lower and upper sides of said base and horizontally distributed in said pattern both at said lower side and at said upper side of said base.

3. A nestable container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said ribs is attached to one of said walls, over substantially the whole length of the rib.

4. A nestable container according to claim 3, wherein each of said ribs is of a horizontal thickness less than one-twentieth of the horizontal width of the wall to which it is fixed.

5. A nestable container according to claim 4, wherein each of said ribs is of a horizontal thickness of about one-eightieth of said horizontal width.

6. A nestable container according to claim 5, wherein, when the containers occupy the lower-level stacking relationship, the upper container via the underside of its base rests on the uppermost edges of the first and third walls of the lower container.

7. A nestable container according to claim 2, or any one of claims 3 to 6 as appended to claim 2, wherein said container has only two stacking levels.

8. A nestable container according to claim 2 or 7, or any one of claims 3 to 6 as appended to claim 2, wherein the second and fourth walls are H-shaped.

9. Crate comprising four vertical walls, and a horizontal load-bearing base positioned between the tops and the bottoms of the walls and connected to the insides of the walls, which crate is intended to be stacked with identical crates, the walls being provided with at least four supporting elements, which are located to one side of the base and which are horizontally distributed according to a pattern, and with a number of supporting elements corresponding with a number of recesses, which are located at the opposite side of the base, and which are horizontally distributed according to said pattern, which pattern is such that, when two such crates are stacked up in a first relative angular position, the supporting elements of the one crate are accepted each into its corresponding recess in the other crate, to provide a low stacking height of the crates, and that, when two such crates are stacked up in a second relative angular position, in which the two crates are turned 180 relatively to each other, in the horizontal plane, compared with the first angular position, the supporting elements of the one crate are prevented from engaging in the recesses of the second crate and provide a stable vertical support between the crates in order to provide a high stacking height of the crates.

10. Crate according to claim 9, characterized by the supporting elements being located on the outer surfaces of the walls, above the base, and by the recesses being formed in the inner surfaces of the walls, below the base.

11. Crate according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by the supporting elements comprising vertical ridges which face outwards from the base, and together provide the said stable vertical support in the second angular position, and by the recesses being formed by vertical grooves.

12. Crate according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, when two such crates have the first relative angular position, to provide the low stacking height, the upper crate via the underface of its base, rests on the upper edges of the walls of the lower crate.

13. Crate according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized by both the supporting elements and the recesses being four in number arranged in two pairs, with different relative distances on the two opposite walls of the walls.

14. Crate according to claim 13, characterized by the two other walls being H-shaped, with the base being positioned level with the transverse line of the Hs.

15. Crate according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized by it being so constructed that, with two such stacked crates, downward supporting members included in the walls of the upper crate enclose upstanding members included in the walls of the lower crate.

16. A nestable container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.