GB2369350A

GB2369350A - Nestable and stackable container

Info

Publication number: GB2369350A
Application number: GB0028878A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chong Ngang Koh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-27
Filing date: 2000-11-27
Publication date: 2002-05-29
Also published as: GB0028878D0

Abstract

Container 1 has supports 7, 8, 9, 10 moveable between extended and retracted positions (figure 11) which allow like containers to stack (figure 4) or nest (figure 8) respectively. The supports may pivot between the extended and retracted positions, in which they lie parallel respectively to the base 2 or the sides 3, 4, 5, 6. Movement from the extended to the retracted position may be prevented when the angle between the actual position of the support and the normal, extended position is less than a predetermined angle, e.g. 60 degrees. Each support may have grooves (21, figure 12) co-operating with corresponding pins (22, figure 12), and each support may have a holder (17, figure 10) with one or more abutments (18, 19, figure 12) which take the weight of a like container positioned on top (figure 10). Container 1 may be rectangular, have a support 7, 8, 9, 10 at each corner and/or be formed from plastics or metal. The supports may be disposed on a frame (17', figure 11) attachable to the top of a box-like container.

Description

STORAGE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to storage containers and in particular to storage containers that can be either stacked or nested, as required.

The present invention provides a container comprising a nestable box-like structure having a base, sides and an open top, wherein the container has a plurality of blade members each positioned at or near the open top, each blade member being movable between a first, extended position in which the blade members project into the area of the open top to support the base of a like container positioned on the open top of the container, and a second, retracted position in which the blade members allow a like container to enter the open top and to nest in the container. Such a construction has the advantage that a simple and effective mechanism is provided for changing between a nesting and a stacking configuration.

Preferably, each blade member is arranged to pivot between the first, extended position and the second, retracted position.

The blade member when in the first, extended position is preferably substantially parallel to the base of the container. Providing a plurality of blade members, each substantially parallel to the base of the container when in the first, extended position, ensures that a like container placed on the open top of the container is well supported by the blade members.

Preferably, when in the second, retracted position, the blade member is arranged to slide into a storage position

substantially parallel to a side of the container. By this means, the blade members can be stowed away neatly without danger of fouling other objects.

The blade member may advantageously be prevented from moving from the retracted position to the storage position when the angle between the actual position of the blade member and the position of the blade member when, in the extended position, is less than a predetermined angle. This reduces the likelihood of the blade member moving from the extended position to the storage position when the container is disturbed during transportation or handling.

The predetermined angle may be 60 degrees.

Each blade member may co-operate with at least one associated pin, the at least one pin enabling the blade to slide and pivot relative to the container.

Preferably, each blade has a pair of grooves, one on each side of the blade member, wherein, in use, each groove cooperates with a respective pin.

Preferably, the container includes a respective holder for each blade member.

Each holder may advantageously have at least one abutment allowing the associated blade member to pivot, the at least one abutment acting, in use, to take the weight of a like container and its contents positioned on the open top of the container.

Each holder may have two abutments, each abutment being on a respective side of the pivotal axis of the blade member and

being respectively positioned above and below the pivotal axis of the blade member. By this means, good load bearing and a wide range of pivotal movement can be achieved.

The container may be substantially rectangular in plan.

Each blade member may be positioned at a corner of the substantially rectangular container.

The container may be used for removals and especially, but not only, in such a case may be made from a plastics material.

The container may be a skip and especially, but not only, in such a case may be made from metal.

The present invention also provides a frame suitable for attachment to the top of a nestable box-like structure, the container having a base, sides and an open top, the frame comprising a plurality of blade members, each blade member being movable between a first, extended position in which the blade member projects into the area of the open top of the container to support the base of a like container positioned on the open top of the container and a second, retracted position in which the blade members allow a like container to enter the open top and nest in the container.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which : FIGURES 1 to 3 are respectively side, front and plan views of a container in accordance with the present

invention, the container having four blade members each shown in an extended position ; FIGURE 4 shows three containers, each of the form shown in Figures 1 to 3, stacked on top of each other; FIGURES 5 to 7 are respectively side, front and plan views of the container of Figures 1 to 3, but with the four blade members each shown in a storage position; FIGURE 8 shows three containers, each of the form shown in Figures 5 to 7 nested within one another ; FIGURES 9 and 10 are respectively front and rear perspective views of a blade member assembly including a blade holder and a blade member, the blade member being shown in an extended position ; FIGURE 11 is a rear perspective view of the assembly of Figures 9 and 10, but with the blade member shown in a storage position; FIGURE 12 shows the steps by which the blade member is moved from the extended position to the storage position and vice-versa; and FIGURE 13 is a partially cut-away view of the blade holder for a blade member ; Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 3 respectively show a side view, front view and plan view of a container, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1.

The container 1 comprises a frame having a base 2, sides 3, 4,5 and 6, blade members 7,8, 9 and 10 positioned near respective junctions of the tops of sides 3 to 6, and an open top, indicated generally by the reference numeral 11.

The container includes feet 12,13, 14 and 15 (foot 15 not shown) at the base of the container.

Each one of the blade members 7 to 10 is shown in an extended position in which it projects into the area of the open top 11 of the container 1, each blade being substantially parallel to the top of the container. Each blade provides a support for a like container stacked on top of the container 1.

Figure 4 shows three containers labelled 1, 1' and 1'' respectively and each of the form shown in Figures 1 to 3,

stacked on top of one another. In each of containers 1, l' and ill, the blade members 7 to 10, 7'to 10'and 7''to 10'' (only blade members 7,8, 7', 8', 7''and 8''being visible) are in extended positions as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and act to support the container above. Thus the feet 12 to 15 of the containers l'and 1'' are respectively supported by the blade members 7 to 10 of the containers 1 and 1'below.

Figures 5 to 7 respectively show a side view, front view and plan view of the container 1. The container 1 is the same as that of Figures 1 to 3, but the blade members 7 to 10 are shown in a storage position substantially parallel to the sides of the container and are on the outside of the container 1. Thus the blade members no longer act to support a like container placed on top of the container.

Figure 8 shows three containers of the present invention, labelled 1, 1' and 1''. In containers 1, l'and 1'', the blade members 7 to 10, 7'to 10'and 7''to 10'' (only blade members 7,8, 7', 8', 7''and 8''being visible) are in storage positions as shown in Figures 5 to 7. The sides of each container are shaped to allow a like container to be nested within the container. Thus the containers of Figure 8 are nested within each other.

Figures 9 and 10 are respectively front and rear perspective views of the blade member 16. The blade member 16 is shown in the extended position as shown in Figures 1 to 4. The blade member 16 is associated with a holder 17.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a blade member 16 shown in the storage position of Figures 5 to 8. The blade member 16 and the holder 17 to which the blade member is attached are shown as part of a frame 17', which frame can be placed on top of the container 1, the frame therefore enabling the blade member 16 and holder 17, to be detached from the remainder of the container 1.

In use, the blade members 7 to 10 move from the extended position of Figures 1 to 4 to the storage position of Figures 5 to 7 and vice-versa. The mechanism by which this occurs is shown in Figure 12. In that Figure, a series of crosssectional views of the blade member 16 and the holder 17 are shown. The holder 17 comprises a lower abutment 18 and an upper abutment 19, the upper and lower abutments defining a channel 20. The blade member 16 includes a pair of grooves

21, one on each side of the blade member. Each groove 21 co operates with a respective pin 22 in the channel of the holder.

In position A of Figure 12, the blade member 16 is in the extended position. If a container is placed on top of the

blade member 16, the base of the container is supported by abutments 18 and 19. The blade member 16 therefore acts as a cantilever.

To move the blade member 16 from the extended position (position A) to the storage position (position C), it is rotated about pin 22 to a retracted position B as indicated

by arrow 23. When the rotation is such that the blade member 16 is aligned with channel 20 (i. e. in position B), the blade is slid to position C by allowing groove 21 to slide with respect to pin 22 as indicated by arrow 24. With the container in the normal operating position, the sliding of the blade from position B to position C is assisted by gravity.

To move the blade member 16 from the storage position to the extended position F, blade member 16 is slid to retracted position E as indicated by arrow 25 before being rotated about pin 22 to move from position E to the extended position F, as indicated by arrow 26. With the container in the normal operating position, the rotation of the blade from position E to position F is assisted by gravity.

Holder 17 can be arranged so that the angle of the rotation indicated by arrow 23 when moving between positions A and B of Figure 12 must be greater than a predetermined angle before the sliding motion 24 can occur. This feature prevents, for example, the blade member from moving from the extended position to the storage position when the container is disturbed during transportation or handling. In the example shown the predetermined angle is 60 degrees.

A holder for use with the present invention is shown in more detail in Figure 13. The holder is shown partially cut away so that channel 20 and pins 22 can be seen clearly. Channel 20 is shaped to co-operate with blade member 16. Channel 20 is shown in Figure 13 with grooves 27, which grooves cooperate with respective channels on the underside of the blade member. Pins 22 extend partially into the channel 20 so that they engage with the grooves of the blade member 16.

Two separate pins 22 are shown in Figure 13 and are provided to co-operate with two grooves 21, one on either side of the blade member 16. The pins 22 can be replaced with a single pin which extends across the full width of the channel 20 and, in use, extends through the blade 16.

The container need not be provided with feet. In the absence of feet, the base 2 of a container is directly supported by the blade members 7 to 10 of the container below.

The container of the present invention can be of any desired size and used for a variety of purposes. The container may be a skip, with the container and the blade members manufactured from metal. The blade members and the holders can, for example, be made from forged steel, in which case, no welding is needed during their assembly. The forged steel blade member and holder assemblies can then be welded into place. The reliability of such a construction using forged steel blade members is high.

The frame 17'shown in Figure 11 may be provided as a lifting frame so that the container 1 can be lifted, for example, by a fork-lift truck.

Especially for smaller containers, the blade members may be manufactured from either metal or a plastics material. Such a smaller container may, for example, be used in the removals industry.

Containers in accordance with the present invention may be adapted for the transportation and storage of liquids. In that case the containers should be provided with solid side walls rather than walls of open framework construction as shown in the drawings.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A container comprising a nestable box-like structure having a base, sides and an open top, wherein the container has a plurality of blade members each positioned at or near the open top, each blade member being movable between a first, extended position in which the blade members project into the area of the open top to support the base of a like container positioned on the open top of the container, and a second, retracted position in which the blade members allow a like container to enter the open top and to nest in the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each blade member is arranged to pivot between the first, extended position and the second, retracted position.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, when in the first, extended position, the blade member is substantially parallel to the base of the container.

4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, when in the second, retracted position, the blade member is arranged to slide into a storage position substantially parallel to a side of the container.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the blade member is prevented from moving from the retracted position to the storage position when the angle between the actual position of the blade member and the position of the blade member when, in the extended position, is less than a predetermined angle.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the predetermined angle is 60 degrees.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 when dependent on claim 2, wherein each blade member co-operates with at least one associated pin, the at least one pin enabling the blade to slide and pivot relative to the container.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7, wherein each blade has a pair of grooves, one on each side of the blade member, wherein, in use, each groove co-operates with a respective pin.

9. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container includes a respective holder for each blade member.

10. A container as claimed in claim 9, wherein each holder has at least one abutment allowing the associated blade member to pivot, the at least one abutment acting, in use, to take the weight of a like container and its contents positioned on the open top of the container.

11. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein each holder has two abutments, each abutment being on a respective side of the pivotal axis of the blade member and being respectively positioned above and below the pivotal axis of the blade member.

12. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container is substantially rectangular in plan.

13. A container as claimed in claim 12, wherein each blade member is positioned at a corner of the container.

14. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container is used for removals and is made from a plastics material.

15. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the container is a skip and is made from metal.

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

17. A frame suitable for attachment to the top of a nestable box-like structure, the container having a base, sides and an open top, the frame comprising a plurality of blade members, each blade member being movable between a first, extended position in which the blade member projects into the area of the open top of the container to support the base of a like container positioned on the open top of the container and a second, retracted position in which the blade members allow a like container to enter the open top and nest in the container.

18. A frame as claimed in claim 17, wherein the frame further comprises the features of any one of claims 2 to 16.