GB2355449A - Stackable container - Google Patents

Abstract

A stackable container is formed from a set of parts including a blank, preferably of extruded fluted plastics material, and a member for application to a free edge (6) of the receptacle folded from the blank, the member defining a support flange (7) extending inwardly of the container to receive an overlying container. The member may comprise a set of separate elongate elements and a set of discrete corner elements. It is preferably of polypropylene and ultra-sonically welded to the free edge (6). The container may have diverging sides and dividers may be provided.

Description

2355449 A SET OF PARTS The invention relates to a- set of parts,

particularly to a set which is erectable to provide a container.

Containers such as boxes are often required to hold different articles such as automobile components, and as such are often required to be customised to particular requirements, or "made to measure". However, such containers are often then not stackable, which means that a great deal of floor space can be wasted during storage and transport, particularly in volume handling of components.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a set of parts for assembly to provide a container stackable with another, comprising, a container device, and a memberfor application to a free edge thereof and which has a support flange whereby on assembly, the support flange projects interiorly of the container to provide a support for another container.

The container device may comprise a blank of material erectable to form the container. This provides for efficiency in storage.

The member may comprise a plurality of separate elongate elements each having a support flange. This provides a relatively simple member which nevertheless provides for a stacking facility.

2 The elongate elements may each comprise a channel section from one limb of which projects the support flange. This provides a construction that can be relatively easily made, for example by extrusion.

The support flange may project at substantially 90' from the free edge of the lim.

The set may also comprise a plurality of discrete corner members. This provides for closing off of any gap at a corner.

The container device may be erectable to provide a container with sides which diverge upwardly from the base.

There may be a set of dividers for holding articles in the container. This provides for efficiency of use of the container.

According-to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a container, whenever assembled from a set as hereinbefore defined.

The member and container may be secured together. This provides against unwanted disassembly of the assembled container, particularly a polypropylene member which may be secured to the container by welding or ultra-sonic welding.

The container may have diverging sides.

The container may be stacked with another container the base of 3 which may rest on the flange.

A set of parts and a container assembled therefrom is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of blank of the set; Fig. 2 shows a second'embodiment of blank of the set; Fig. 3 shows to an enlarged scale a perspective view of a member of the set; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a corner member of the set; Fig. 5 shows a transverse sectional view of a container assembled from a set according to the invention stacked with another container; Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a part of set when assembled; Fig. 7 shows a plan view of the part of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 shows an enlarged external corner view of stacked containers; and Fig. 9 shows an interior view of part of an assembled container.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a set of parts 1, 2, 3 for 4 assembly to provide a container 4 stackable with another 5, comprising a container device in the form of a first blank 1 (Fig. 1) or a second blank 2 (Fig. 2), both made of a sheet of extruded fluted plastics material such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark CORREX, and a member 3 for application to a free (upper in use) edge 6 thereof and which has a support flange 7 whereby on assembly, the support flange 7 projects interiorly of the container 4 to provide a support for another container 5.

The flutes of the blank 1, 2 extend in the direction of arrow X in Figs. 1 and 2. Both embodiments of blank 1, 2 have a panel 8 forming a base and pairs of opposed lateral flaps 9, 10 and 11, 12 which provide upwardly (in use) divergent sides 13, e.g. in Fig. 1 the internal dimension of the top or free edge 6 of the sides 13 is 6mm greater than the base 8 external dimension. There are holes 14 in the flaps for receiving a handle 15.

The member 3 which extends round the free or upper edge 6 of the sides 13 of the container 4 is in the embodiment a plurality of discrete elongate elements or rails, extruded from polypropylene and each comprising a Ushaped body 15 from the free edge of one limb 16 of which projects at substantially 90 0, the support flange 7.

The set also includes a plurality, usually four, of discrete corner members 17, of simple channel section and of right angle configuration.

There is also in the set a plurality of dividers or compartment- producing fitments 18 (Fig. 9), for holding articles or components in the container 4. The dividers, or fitments 18 are inserted into the erected container, and have tapered outer walls to be complementary to the internal configuration of the container.

In use, the elongate elements 3 are cut off square, and applied downwardly over the free edges 6 of the sides 13, so that the flange 7 forms a platform interiorly of the container forforming a support on which a base 19 of the another container 5, in this case a similar one, is supported for stacking. The flange 7 holds the dividers or fitments 18 in place. A gap 20 (Fig. 8) between elongate members 3 at the each corner is covered by a corner member 17 as shown in Fig. 8.

The containers 4 and elongate elements 3 are secured together as by welding such as by heat fusion or ultra-sonic welding, in order to provide in the embodiment a sturdy construction.

The base 19 of the another container 5 forms a lid which helps to keep components in the compartments 18 in position.

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Claims (16)

1 A set of parts for assembly to provide a container stackable with another, comprising a container device, and a member for application to a free edge thereof and which has a support flange whereby on assembly, the support flange projects interiorly of the container to provide a support for another container.

2. A set according to Claim 1, the container device comprising a blank of material erectable to form the container.

3. A set according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the member comprising a plurality of separate elongate elements each having a support flange.

4. A set according to Claim 3, the elongate elements each comprising a channel section from one limb of which projects the support flange.

5. A set according to Claim 4, the support flange projecting at substantially 90' from the free edge of the limb.

6. A set according to any of Claims 3 to 5, comprising a plurality of discrete corner members.

7. A set according to any preceding claim, the container device being erectable to provide a container with sides which diverge upwardly from the base.

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8. A set of parts according to Claim 7, including a set of dividers for holding articles in the container.

9. A set of parts for assembly to provide a container stackable with another, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A container, whenever assembled from a set according to any preceding claim.

11. A container according to Claim 10, the member and container being secured together.

12. A container according to Claim 11, the member comprising polypropylene and being secured to the container by welding.

13. A container according to Claim 11, the member comprising polypropylqne and being secured to the container by ultra-sonic welding.

14. A container according to any of Claims 9 to 13, which has diverging sides.

15. A container according to Claim 14, stacked with another container the base of which rests on the flange.

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