GB2373238A

GB2373238A - A Lidded Stackable and Nestable Container

Info

Publication number: GB2373238A
Application number: GB0104596A
Authority: GB
Inventors: A C Cope
Original assignee: Mckechnie Investment Holdings; CG Paxton Ltd
Current assignee: Mckechnie Investment Holdings; CG Paxton Ltd
Priority date: 2001-02-24
Filing date: 2001-02-24
Publication date: 2002-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-24
Also published as: GB0104596D0; GB2373238B

Abstract

A container 10 has two lid portions 16 mounted on a collar which can be moved up and down the container walls 20 by manipulating a rocker member 32. This allows the overall height of the container to be changed.

Description

Container The present invention relates to containers and in particular, but not exclusively, to containers for delivery of goods to retail premises.

Retail goods are commonly delivered to retail premises in relatively large containers or crates, typically about 600 mm by 400 mm in plan. These containers stack when full, to allow easy handling, such as by means of a wheeled dolly. The containers can nest within each other when empty, for compactness during their return journey.

Some containers are open-topped. Others have lids attached. Empty containers can be nested with their lids open. When the containers are containing goods, the lids can be closed (and sealed in the case of particularly valuable contents), allowing further containers to be stacked one on top of another.

The present invention provides a container comprising a body having an upwardly facing opening for access to the interior of the container, and lid means associated with the opening for closing the opening, in use, to allow another container to be stacked thereon, the lid means being mounted on a support arrangement slidably movable between upper and lower heights relative to the body of the container, retaining means being provided for retaining the support arrangement respectively at either the upper or lower height, the retaining means being automatically engageable when the support arrangement is moved to either said upper or lower height to retain the support arrangement thereat, the retaining means being operable from outside of the container such that manual movement of a part thereof can readily cause disengagement of the retaining means.

At the upper height the top of the support arrangement is preferably spaced above the top of the body. At the lower height the top of the support arrangement is preferably at or adjacent the top of the body.

The retaining means may be engageable with a formation on the body, which formation may comprise a rim, and desirably a rim extending around the top of the body.

Different parts of the retaining means may be respectively engageable with the formation when the support arrangement is either at the upper or lower height. Said different parts may comprise different parts of a same retaining member. The retaining member is preferably movably mounted on the support arrangement, and is desirably pivotally mounted thereon.

The retaining member may be urged to a position engageable with the formation at either the upper or lower height, but manually movable against said urging to permit disengagement.

The retaining member may comprise upper and lower surfaces, with the lower surface engageable on top of the formation at the upper height, and the upper surface engageable beneath the formation at the lower height.

The retaining member is preferably pivotally mounted to the support arrangement at a point spaced between the lower and upper surfaces. Contact surfaces may be provided on the retaining member engageable with the formation as the support arrangement moves between the upper and lower heights. Two contact surfaces may be provided, each inclined towards the pivotal mounting, from respectively either the upper or lower surface.

The retaining member may be urged to a position with the upper and lower surfaces substantially parallel to the opening of the container. The urging may be provided by a resilient member connected to the pivotal mounting of the retaining member, and engageable against the inner side of the support arrangement. Alternatively, the urging means may comprise a resilient member engageable between the retaining member and the inner side of the support arrangement, and the resilient member may be engageable against the underside of a one of the contact surfaces.

The support arrangement may comprise a collar, which collar may comprise an upper lip engageable against the formation at the lower height, and a lower lip engageable against the formation at the upper height.

The retaining member may be accessible through an external opening in the side of the collar to permit manual pivotal movement of the retaining member.

Alternatively the retaining member may be accessible through an opening in the top of the collar. Said opening may be arranged to only be accessible when the lid means is open.

A plurality of retaining means may be provided, and desirably with retaining means on opposite sides of the container.

Means may be provided for locking the support arrangement at either of the upper or lower height. The locking means may comprise a member engageable with the retaining member to prevent movement thereof, and may comprise a member engageable through aligned holes in the retaining member and the remainder of the support arrangement, and perhaps also through the formation when in the lower position.

The lid means may be arranged such that when closed the support arrangement cannot be moved between the lower and upper heights. The lid means may comprise a stop member engageable, only when the lid means is closed, with the retaining means to substantially prevent movement thereof.

The stop member may be engageable with a recess or hole in the retaining means.

The container body is preferably formed to nest within the body of a like container when the lid of the like container is open. The container body may comprise a base and four upstanding walls which define the container mouth at the upper extremity thereof.

The lid means may comprise two lid sec is. The lid means is preferably attached to the container body by hinge means. When closed the lid means preferably rest on the top of the support arrangement.

The hinge means may comprise a line of spaced pillars forming first knuckles of a hinge arrangement with the lid means comprising second knuckles of the hinge arrangement, interleaved with the first knuckles.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figs. 1 to 6 are perspective views of a first container according to the invention, with the support arrangement in respectively upper, ready to move to lower, lower, lower ready to move to upper, open positions; and upper and lower closed positions; Figs. 7 and 8 are more detailed views of parts of Fig. 1; Figs. 9a to 9j are sequential diagrammatic cross-sectional views through part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 being moved from an upper to a lower position and back again; Fig. 10 is a detailed perspective view of part of a modified container according to Fig. 1; Figs. lla and llb are diagrammatic sectional views in respectively upper and lower positions of a modified version of the container of Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a further embodiment of the container of Fig. 1; Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrammatic cross-sectional views through part of a second container according to the invention in an upper position; Figs. 15 and 16 are similar views to Fig. 13 and 14 but in a lower position; and Fig. 17 is a perspective internal view of part of the second container.

Figs. 1 to 12 shows a container 10 which comprises a body 12 having an upwardly facing opening 14 for access to the interior of the container 10. A lid in the form of two lid portions 16 is associated with the opening 14 for closing the opening 14. This allows another container to be stacked on the closed container lid. The lid portions 16 are respectively attached to the container 10 by hinge arrangements 18, to allow the lid portions 16 to remain attached while the lid is open, and also while the lid portions 16 are closed at either of an upper or lower height relative to the body 12 of the container 10.

In more detail, the body 12 has a base (not shown) from which four walls 20 are upstanding in a rectangular arrangement. The walls 20 taper outward slightly, up to a rim 22 to permit nesting with other such containers 10.

Slidably mounted around the top of the body 12 is a collar 24. The collar 24 is slidably movable between an upper position (Fig. 1) and a lower position (Fig. 3). The collar 24 has an upper inwardly extending flange 26 and a lower inwardly extending flange 28 between which the rim 22 locates. The hinge arrangements 18 are provided on the upper flange 26.

The container 10 has two retaining arrangements 30 provided respectively one on each shorter side of the collar 24. Each arrangement 30 comprises a rocker member 32 which is pivotally mounted on a bar 34 extending on or adjacent the inner face of the respective walls of the collar 24. The rocker member 34 is engageable through a substantially correspondingly sized opening 36 in the respective walls of the collar 24. To the exterior of the collar 24 the rocker member 34 has a flat outer face 38, which in a rest position lies substantially parallel to the remainder of the surrounding collar 24.

The rocker member 32 has upper and lower surfaces 40,42 which extend for slightly less than the width of the flanges 26,28. From the upper and lower surfaces 40,42 the rocker member 32 converges to a narrower central part which mounts the bar 34. The converging faces define contact surfaces 44. The rocker member 32 may be hollow with the surfaces 40,42, 44 being provided at extremities as shown in Fig. 10. The bar 34 may be integral with the rocker member 32 and rotatably mounted in an appropriate recess 46 extending inwardly from the inside of the collar 24, as also shown in Fig. 10.

Accordingly, the container 10 can be used as a conventional nesting container with the lid open, or a stacking container with the lid closed, and in either upper or lower configurations thereby helping to avoid wasted space at the top of a part-filled container, and thereby increasing the possible density of goods in a stack of containers.

The container 10 may be moved between upper and lower conditions as follows and with particular reference to Figs. 9a to 9j. In Fig. 9a the container is shown in an upper configuration with the rim 22 trapped between the lower flange 28 of the collar and the lower surface 42 of the rocker member 32.

To move the container to a lower configuration the rocker member 24 is pushed inwardly at an upper point as shown by the arrow 48. This causes the lower surface 42 to be moved clear from the rim 22 thereby permitting the collar 24 to be slid downwardly relative to the body 12. As the collar 24 moves downwardly, the edge of the rim 22 engages against the contact surface 44.

This causes the rocker member 32 to pivot back to the alignment of Fig. 9a, and then to further pivot such that the upper part is urged outwardly as shown in Fig. 9d thereby permitting the rim 22 to move past the upper surface 40.

Once the rim 22 has passed above the upper surface 40 the rocker member 32 will return by spring urging to the original alignment, with the rim 22 trapped between the surface 40 and the upper flange 26 of the collar 24. This therefore provides a lower arrangement for the container 10 for use with smaller volume loads.

To return to an upper alignment the pattern shown in Figs. 9f to 9j is followed. The rocker member 24 is urged inwardly at a lower part as shown by the arrow 50 in Fig. 9g. This causes the upper part of the rocker member 24 to move outwardly such that the upper surface 40 moves clear of the rim 22. As the body 12 moves downwardly relative to the collar 24 the edge of the rim 22 will again move over the contact surfaces 44 causing the rocker member 24 to rock initially back to the rest position and then such that a lower part thereof extends outwardly from the collar 24 as shown in Fig. 9i. This permits the rim 22 to pass the lower surface 42 and subsequently to become trapped between this surface 42 and the lower flange 28 as shown in Fig. 9j with the container again in the upper arrangement to permit larger volume loads.

There is thus described an arrangement which readily permits the container to move between upper and lower arrangements whilst providing secure engagement in either the upper or lower condition.

Fig. 10 shows an arrangement for spring urging the rocker member 32.

In this arrangement a strip 52 of resilient material is mounted on the bar 34 adjacent an end thereof, and arranged to be aligned substantially parallel to the inside of the collar 24 in a rest position but to engage thereagainst when the bar 34 is rotated in either direction away from the rest position, to urge the bar 34 back to the rest position.

Figs. lIa and lib show a way of providing extra security to prevent the container moving between the upper and lower positions for example during transportation. In Fig. 11a in the upper position, aligned holes 54 are provided through the upper flange 26 of the collar 24 and the upper surface 40 of the rocker member 32. A pin 56 is engageable through the aligned holes 54, and has an arrowhead 58 to prevent inadvertent withdrawal. In Fig. lib in the lower position the pin 56 is also engageable through a hole 60 in the rim 22.

This arrangement could provide a security seal during transportation which requires to be broken before the container 10 can be opened.

Fig. 12 shows an arrangement to prevent the container 10 being moved between the upper and lower positions with the lid portions 16 closed. An edge 60 is provided on the inside of each lid portion 16 which is engageable through an opening in the upper flange 26 of the collar 24 and locates in a recess 62 in the upper surface 40 of the rocker member 32. Consequently the rocker member 32 can only be pivoted when the lid portions 16 are fully open and hence the edge 60 is clear of the recess 62. Fig. 12 shows the upper position, and in the lower position the edge 60 would also when closed extend through an opening (not shown) in the rim 22.

Figs. 13 to 17 show parts of a further container 50 which is similar to the container 10 except as follows. In this instance similar rocker members 52 are provided, but these are provided within the collar 54 on the longer sides thereof. The rocker members 52 are urged to a rest position by two springs 56 engageable between the inside of the outer surface of the collar 54 and the opposite face of the rocker members 52.

The rocker members 52 are each only accessible through a generally central opening 58 on each side, which opens partially upwardly and inwardly as shown in Fig. 17. The opening 58 extends through both the respective collars 54 and lips 62. A tab 60 on the rocker members 52 is accessible through the respective opening 58 to permit engagement therewith.

Fig. 13 shows the container 50 in an upper arrangement. To move the container 50 to a lower arrangement the tab 60 is pulled inwardly through the opening 58 as shown in Fig. 14. This permits the bottom of the rocker member 52 to pass beyond the lip 62 of the container. Thereafter the rocker member will pivot therepast until the top of the rocker member 52 engages beneath the lip 62 as shown in Fig. 15.

To return the container 50 to an upper position the tab 60 must be pushed outwardly as shown in Fig. 16 to permit the rocker member 52 to pass upwardly beyond the lip 62. As can be seen the opening 58 is just inside the hinge 64 and therefore when the lid (not shown) is closed access to the opening 58 is prevented and the container 50 cannot be moved between the respective upper and lower conditions. This provides for extra security during use of such containers.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A container comprising a body having an upwardly facing opening for access to the interior of the container, and lid means associated with the opening for closing the opening, in use, to allow another container to be stacked thereon, the lid means being mounted on a support arrangement slidably movable between upper and lower heights relative to the body of the container, retaining means being provided for retaining the support arrangement respectively at either the upper or lower height, the retaining means being automatically engageable when the support arrangement is moved to either said upper or lower height to retain the support arrangement thereat, the retaining means being operable from outside of the container such that manual movement of a part thereof can readily cause disengagement of the retaining means.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein at the upper height, the top of the support arrangement is spaced above the top of the body.
3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at the lower height, the top of the support arrangement is at or adjacent the top of the body.
4. A container according to any preceding claim, the retaining means being engageable with a formation on the body.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the formation is a rim.
6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the rim extends around the top of the body.
7. A container according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein different parts of the retaining means are respectively engageable with the formation when the support arrangement is either at the upper or lower height.
8. A container according to claim 7, wherein said different parts comprise different parts of a same retaining member.
9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the retaining member is movably mounted on the support arrangement.
10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the retaining member is pivotally mounted thereon.
11. A container according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the retaining member is urged to a position engageable with the formation at either the upper or lower height, but manually movable against said urging to permit disengagement.
12. A container according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the retaining member has upper and lower surfaces, with the lower surface engageable on top of the formation at the upper height, and the upper surface engageable beneath the formation at the lower height.
13. A container according to claim 12, wherein the retaining member is pivotally mounted to the support arrangement at a point spaced between the lower and upper surfaces.
14. A container according to claim 12 or 13, wherein contact surfaces are provided on the retaining member, the contact surfaces being engageable with the formation as the support arrangement moves between the upper and lower heights.
15. A container according to claim 14, wherein two contact surfaces are provided, each inclined towards the pivotal mounting, from respectively either the upper or lower surface.
16. A container according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the retaining member is urged to a position with the upper and lower surfaces substantially parallel to the opening of the container.
17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the urging is provided by a resilient member connected to the pivotal mounting of the retaining member, and engageable against the inner side of the support arrangement.
18. A container according to claim 16, wherein the urging means comprise a resilient member engageable between the retaining member and the inner side of the support arrangement, and the resilient member is engageable against the underside of a one of the contact surfaces.
19. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the support arrangement comprises a collar.
20. A container according to claim 19, wherein the collar comprises an upper lip engageable against the formation at the lower height, and a lower lip engageable against the formation at the upper height.
21. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining means is accessible through an external opening in the side of the collar to permit manual pivotal movement of the retaining means.
22. A container according to any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the retaining means is accessible through an opening in the top of the collar.
23. A container according to claim 22, wherein the opening is arranged to only be accessible when the lid means is open.
24. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of retaining means is provided.
25. A container according to any preceding claim, having retaining means on opposite sides of the container.
26. A container according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for locking the support arrangement at either of the upper or lower height.
27. A container according to claim 26, wherein the locking means comprise a member engageable with the retaining member to prevent movement thereof.
28. A container according to claim 27, wherein the member is engageable through aligned holes in the retaining member and the remainder of the support arrangement.
29. A container according to claim 28, wherein the member is also engageable through the formation when in the lower position.
30. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid means is arranged such that when closed, the support arrangement cannot be moved between the lower and upper heights.
31. A container according to claim 30, wherein the lid means comprises a stop member engageable, only when the lid means is closed, with the retaining means to substantially prevent movement thereof.
32. A container according to claim 31, wherein the stop member is engageable with a recess or hole in the retaining means.
33. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container body is formed to nest within the body of a like container when the lid of the like container is open.
34. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container body comprises a base and four upstanding walls which define the container mouth at the upper extremity thereof.
35. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid means comprises two lid sections.
36. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein, when closed, the lid means rest on the top of the support arrangement.
37. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid means is attached to the container body by hinge means.
38. A container according to claim 37, wherein the hinge means comprise a line of spaced pillars forming first knuckles of a hinge arrangement with the lid means comprising second knuckles of the hinge arrangement, interleaved with the first knuckles.
39. A container substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
40. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.