GB2368337A

GB2368337A - Nestable and stackable crates

Info

Publication number: GB2368337A
Application number: GB0125115A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Coenraad Johannes Bart Benraad
Original assignee: Wavin BV
Current assignee: Wavin BV
Priority date: 2000-10-27
Filing date: 2001-10-18
Publication date: 2002-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-18
Also published as: GB0125115D0; GB2368337B; NL1016493C2

Abstract

An assembly of nestable and stackable crates comprises crates of a wide type (1) and crates of a narrow type (2), a wide crate having a base surface which is substantially twice as wide as a narrow crate. In the centre of the front part of its base (3), the wide crate is provided with a support pillar (25) with two auxiliary support elements, which are positioned next to one another, for, in a stacked position, supporting front bearing members (20) of narrow crates, a bottom part of the support pillar delimiting a cavity which is open towards the bottom, for the purpose of, in a nested position, receiving a top part of a support pillar of another crate, and the wide crate being provided with two pairs of back support elements (15) for, in a stacked position, supporting the back bearing members (14) of two narrow crates which are positioned next to one another.

Description

Short title : Assembly of nestable and stackable crates The invention relates to an assembly of nestable and stackable crates according to the preamble of claim 1.

Crates of this type are known, for example, from EP-B-0 553 932. Crates of this type are characterized by an open top and front side, tapering or narrowed bottom side-wall and back-wall parts, and by the fact that they are provided in a suitable way with projecting bearing members, complementary support elements and complementary cutouts. The crates are suitable in particular, in the stacked position, for transporting goods, which goods then need to be accessible via the open front side without the crates having to be separated for this purpose. After the crates have been emptied, they can be stored in the nested state and can be returned to the starting point of the distribution line. The crates from EP-B-0 553 932 can be nested with respect to one another and can be stacked in a high and a low stacked position. This allows goods of various formats to be transported and displayed efficiently.

A drawback of these known crates is that the contents are difficult to see and to gain access to in the low stacked position.

Consequently, the crates are used predominantly in the high stacked position. A further drawback is that the crates of a series which fits together are only designed in one dimension in order to be stackable and nestable with respect to one another. Consequently, in practice it is often the case that goods which are only desired in small quantities at each distribution point are transported and displayed in excessively high stacked positions and/or in excessively large crates. This is not optimum with regard to the transportation and display volume required, and entails unnecessary costs.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks and, in particular, to provide an assembly of crates which is suitable for efficient distribution of both large and small quantities of goods which even in the stacked position of the crates are readily accessible via the open front sides thereof.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by an assembly of crates according to claim 1. The assembly in this case

comprises crates of a wide type and crates of a narrow type, the crate of the wide type being substantially twice as wide as the crate of the narrow type. A characteristic feature of the invention is that the crate of the wide type is provided, in the centre of the substantially open front side, with a support pillar. This support pillar is equipped, in a top part, with two auxiliary support elements which are positioned next to one another and are each suitable for, in a stacked position, supporting one of two front bearing members of a crate of the narrow type. In a widened bottom part, the support pillar is provided with a cavity which is open towards the bottom and is sufficiently large to receive, in a nested position, the top part of a support pillar of a crate below. A further characteristic feature is that the back wall of the crate of the wide type is provided with two pairs of back support elements and cutouts. This has the advantageous result that two crates of the narrow type can be stacked next to one another on top of a crate of the wide type, without detracting from the stackability and nestability of the crates of the wide type. The crates of the narrow type can be stacked and nested with respect to one another in the customary way, i. e. front and back bearing members rest on complementary support elements and/or are received in complementary cutouts of a crate below. Crates of the wide type can be stacked on top of one another in a corresponding way, with the support pillars in a floating position one above the other. In the nested position of two crates of the wide type, the downwardly open cavity in the support pillar ensures that the support pillars can be lowered over one another, so that they are not in the way of nesting. In the stacked position, the accessibility of the contents of the crate of the wide type is only limited to a minimal extent by the presence of the support pillar, while the rigidity is not adversely affected.

The result is an assembly of crates of the stackable and nestable type which can be used very flexibly and which can easily be assembled as desired, taking account of the quantities of goods which are to be distributed..

In particular, front parts of the support pillar are provided with two auxiliary cutouts which are positioned next to one another, and the back wall of the crate of the wide type is provided with two pairs of the abovementioned complementary cutouts. The auxiliary cutouts are in this case designed to be sufficiently large

. to, in a nested position, receive the front support members of a crate of the narrow type. The result is that two crates of the narrow type, in a nested position, can be positioned next to one another inside a crate of the wide type.

Expediently, the top edges of the side walls of the crate of the narrow type are provided with recesses at positions where parts which project downwards from the base of a crate of the wide type are located. Providing these recesses has the advantage that not only can crates of the narrow type be stacked on top of crates of the wide type, but also a crate of the wide type can be stacked on top of two crates of the narrow type which are positioned next to one another.

In a particular embodiment, the front support elements of the crate of the narrow type are arranged on side-wall parts in pillar form. The side-wall parts in pillar form are in this case designed in such a manner that they can be nested in the cavity of a support pillar of a crate of the wide type. By designing the remaining parts of the side walls, i. e. the parts which lie between the pillar-like side-wall parts and the back wall, to be sufficiently lowered, it is then also possible for a crate of the wide type to be nested in two crates of the narrow type which are positioned next to one another. With respect to the level of the front support elements, the lowered section of the side-wall parts has to be greater than or equal to the difference in height between the nested and stacked positions.

Further preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent subclaims 5-7.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a crate of the wide type and a crate of the narrow type stacked on top of it; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the crate of the wide type in Fig. 1 as seen from the rear; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of three crates of the wide type which are nested in one another; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of two crates of the wide type stacked on top of one another; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the crate of the narrow type in Fig. 1, as seen from the rear;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of three crates of the narrow type which are nested in one another ; Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of two crates of the narrow type which are stacked on top of one another; Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a first variant embodiment of a crate of the narrow type; Fig. 9 shows a perspective view, as seen from below, of the crate of the narrow type from Fig. 8 and a crate of the wide type from Figs. 1-4 stacked on top of it; and Fig. 10 shows perspective views of a second variant embodiment of a crate of the narrow type.

Figs. 1-7 show an assembly of crates of a wide type 1 and crates of a narrow type 2. Both types comprise a mesh base 3, two side walls 5 provided with handles 4, and a back wall 6, and a largely open front side which is delimited at the bottom by a low front edge 7. The walls 5,6 have a top edge 8 and a rib 9 running parallel thereto. The bottom parts 10 of the back wall 6 and side walls 5 are inclined slightly outwards as seen from the base 3.

The back wall 6 is provided with back bearing members 14 which project towards the rear and in this case are formed by trapezium-shaped lugs. Furthermore, the back wall 6 is provided with back support elements 15, which in this case are formed by indentations in the top edge 8. The bearing members 14 and support elements 15 in each case lie in one line, between which there is also a back cutout 16, which in this case is formed by a continuous rectangular recess.

Each side wall 5 is provided, in its front part, with a front bearing member 20, which in this case is formed by a triangular lug which projects laterally from the bottom side-wall part 10. At the location of the top edge 8, the side wall 5 is provided with a front support element 21, which in this case is formed by a square, upwardly projecting lug. The bearing member 20 and the support element 21 lie on one line with one another, between which there is a cutout 22 of a shape which is at least large enough to receive the bearing member 20 of a crate positioned above it in a nested position.

The crates of the wide type 1 are twice as wide as the crates of the narrow type 2. As can be seen clearly from Figs. 2 and 5, the crates 1 are designed with four back bearing members 14,

support elements 15 and cutouts 16, while the back wall 6 of the crate 2 is designed with two back bearing members 14, support elements 15 and cutouts 16.

A characteristic feature of the assembly of crates according to the invention is also that a support pillar 25 is provided in the centre of the open front side of the crates of the wide type 1. In its bottom part, the support pillar 25 is provided with a cavity which is open towards the bottom, which cavity is large enough for the top part of a support pillar 25 of a lower crate to be nested in. At the level of the edge 8, the support pillar 25 is provided with two auxiliary support elements 26 which are positioned next to one another and are of identical design to the front support elements 21 of the side walls 5.

The support pillar 25 advantageously enables two crates of the narrow type 2 to be stacked next to one another on top of a crate of the wide type 1. As can be seen clearly from Fig. 1, in this arrangement one of the two front bearing members 20 of the crate 2 is supported on one of the two auxiliary support elements 26 of the crate 1. The other front bearing member 20 of the crate 2 is supported on one of the two front support elements 21 of the side walls 5 of the crate 1. The two back bearing members 14 of the crate 2 are supported in the corresponding two back support elements 15 of the crate 1.

The crates of the wide type 1 can be placed in a nested position (Fig. 3), in which the support pillars are nested inside one another and the crates are in each case supported, by means of their rib 9, on the top edge 8 of a crate below. In this nested position, the projecting bearing members 14,20 are received in the associated cutouts 16,22 of a crate below. The crates of the wide type 1 can in each case be stacked on top of one another (Fig. 4), with the pillars 25 in a floating position above one another and with the front and back bearing members 14,20 supported on the associated front and back support elements 15,21 of a lower crate.

The crates of the narrow type 2 can be nested inside one another in a corresponding way (Fig. 6) and can be stacked on top of one another in a corresponding way (Fig. 7), with the support pillars, of course, being absent.

Advantageously, each support pillar 25 is provided with two auxiliary cutouts 30 which are positioned next to one another and

have dimensions which are larger than or the same as the front bearing members 20 of a crate of the narrow type 2. This has the advantageous result that a crate of the narrow type 2 can not only be stacked on top of a crate of the wide type 1 but also can be received in a nested position therein.

The front support elements and cutouts are preferably arranged in vertical sawtooth forms. The front support element 21 is in this case provided on a top horizontal sawtooth surface, while the front cutout 22 forms a sawtooth recess with an inclined sawtooth surface which opens out in a bottom horizontal sawtooth surface. This has the advantageous result that when two crates are being nested inside one another, the front bearing members 20 are guided into the nested position via the inclined sawtooth surfaces.

Advantageously, the bearing members 20 are provided on the underside with a square cutout, in which the square lugs of the front support elements 21 can engage in a positively locking manner.

This ensures that, in the stacked position, the crates cannot move with respect to one another. If the bottom horizontal sawtooth surfaces of the cutouts 22 are likewise provided with square lugs of this type, it is ensured that the crates cannot move with respect to one another in the nested position either.

In the embodiment shown, the auxiliary support elements 26 and auxiliary cutouts 30 are of identical design to the front support elements 21 and cutouts 22 of the side walls 5, and in particular are likewise arranged in vertical sawtooth forms. In particular the bottom sawtooth surfaces of the auxiliary cutouts 30 in this case have an important supporting function if a crate of the narrow type is nested in a crate of the wide type 1, since the rib 9 on the inner side wall 5 in this position cannot be supported on a top edge 8 of the crate 1 below.

Fig. 8 shows a design variant of a crate of the narrow type 40, which is characterized in that the side walls 41 are provided, at the location of the top edge, with recesses 42. The recesses 42 in this case extend between the back wall 43 and the front support elements 44. As can be seen clearly from Fig. 9, the recesses 42 advantageously enable a crate of the wide type 1 to be stacked on top of a crate of the narrow type 40, in which case a downwardly projecting edge part 48 of the crate 1 is received in the recess 42 of the crate 40.

Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of a crate of the narrow type 50 in which the side walls are designed to be considerably lower than the variant shown in Figs. 8 and 9.-The front support elements 51 are in this case arranged on pillar-like side-wall parts 52. The remaining side-wall parts between the pillar-like side-wall parts 52 and the back wall 53 are of lowered design. The extent of the lowering corresponds to the difference in height between a nested position and a stacked position, in this case approximately half the height of the crate. The pillar-like side-wall parts 52 are designed in such a manner that they can be nested in the cavity of a support pillar 25 of a crate of the wide type 1 as shown in Figs. 1-4. This advantageously enables a crate of the wide type 1 to be nested in two crates of the narrow type 50 which are positioned next to one another.

In addition to the embodiments illustrated, numerous variants are possible. For example, the bearing members, support elements and cutouts may also be designed with other shapes and dimensions. Furthermore, support elements and cutouts can be provided on more than one level. The crates are preferably made from plastic and are designed in mesh form, in order to allow good ventilation for goods which are stored therein, for example bread.

The side walls of the crates of the wide type may also be of lowered design, which enables crates of the wide and narrow types if desired to be nested in half-brick bond form. The inclined bottom wall parts may also be tapered in steps, in order to enable nesting to take place. It is also possible for the support pillar to be designed as a wall which is inclined obliquely away or is offset in steps and which is arranged to the side of a continuous opening in the base.

Therefore, the invention provides an assembly of crates of a wide type and of a narrow type allowing goods to be distributed efficiently and inexpensively without detracting from the desired stackability and nestability.

Claims

1. Assembly of crates which can be stacked in a nested and stacked position with respect to one another, each crate comprising: - a base (3); - two side walls (5) which lie opposite one another; and - a back wall (6); at least the bottom parts (10) of the back wall (6) and side walls (5) being of tapered design and/or being directed at an angle outwards from the base (3); the back wall (6) being provided with projecting back bearing members (14), with complementary back support elements (15) for, in a stacked position, supporting back bearing members (14) of another crate, and with complementary back cutouts (16) for, in a nested position, receiving back bearing members (14) of another crate; front parts of the side walls (5) being provided with projecting front bearing members (20), with complementary front support elements (21) for, in a stacked position, supporting front bearing members (20) of another crate, and with complementary front cutouts for, in a nested position, receiving front bearing members (20) of another crate; characterized in that the assembly of crates comprises crates of a wide type (1) and crates of a narrow type (2), a crate of the wide type (1) having a base surface which is substantially twice as wide as a crate of the narrow type (2), in that the crate of the wide type (1) is provided, in the centre of the front part of its base (3), with a support pillar (25) with two auxiliary support elements (26), which are positioned next to one another for, in a stacked position, supporting front bearing members (20) of crates of the narrow type (2), a bottom part of the support pillar (25) delimiting a cavity which is open towards the bottom for the purpose of, in a nested position, receiving a top part of a support pillar (25) of another crate, and in that the crate of the wide type (1) is provided with two pairs of back support elements (15) for, in a stacked position, supporting the back bearing members (14) of two crates of the narrow type (2) which are positioned next to one another.

2. Assembly of crates according to claim 1, in which the front parts of the support pillar (25) are provided with two auxiliary cutouts (30) which are positioned next to one another, and the back wall (6) of the crate of the wide type (1) is provided with two pairs of cutouts (16) for, in a nested position, receiving front and back bearing members (20,14) of crates of the narrow type (2).

3. Assembly of crates according to claim 1 or 2, in which the side walls (41) of the crate of the narrow type (40) are provided with recesses (42) for, in the stacked position, receiving downwardly projecting parts (48) of a crate of the wide type (1).

4. Assembly of crates according to claim 3, in which the front support elements (51) of the crate of the narrow type (50) are arranged on pillar-like side-wall parts (52) which can be nested in the cavity of the support pillar (25) of the crate of the wide type (1), the remaining side-wall parts between the pillar-like side-wall parts (52) and the back wall (53) being of lowered design, which lowered part, with respect to the level of the front support elements (51), is greater than or equal to the difference in height between the nested and stacked positions.

5. Assembly of crates according to one of the preceding claims, in which each side wall (5), on the front side, has a vertical sawtooth shape, of which the top sawtooth surface is provided with the front support element (21) and of which the sawtooth recess forms the front cutout (22).

6. Assembly of crates according to one of the preceding claims, in which the auxiliary support elements (26) and auxiliary cutouts (30) of the support pillar (25) are of identical design to the front support elements (21) and cutouts (22) in the side walls (5).

7. Assembly of crates according to one of the preceding claims, in which, next to the nested position, only support elements (15,21) and auxiliary support elements (26) are provided on one level.

8. A crate system comprising a. plurality of first crates to be used with a plurality of second crates or vice versa, the first and second crates having substantially the same length, the first crates being wider than the second crates such that a plurality of second crates in side-by-side relationship have substantially the same width as that of a first crate and are stackable and/or nestable with a first crate.

9. A crate system as claimed in claim 8 and comprising a plurality of said first crates and a plurality of said second crates.

10. A crate system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings or those Figures as modified by Figure 8 or Figure 9.