GB2393951A

GB2393951A - Disposable crate insert

Info

Publication number: GB2393951A
Application number: GB0221497A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Stuart Marshall
Original assignee: MIGRATION Ltd
Current assignee: MIGRATION Ltd
Priority date: 2002-09-17
Filing date: 2002-09-17
Publication date: 2004-04-14
Also published as: GB0221497D0

Abstract

A disposable crate insert includes one front (1), one end (2) and two sidewalls (5) assembled using mating flaps (10) and (11) to form a container to fit inside a plastic storage crate. Loaded inside a plastic storage crate the disposable crate insert can be transported in stacks and removed at its destination, allowing the plastic storage crate to be returned. Folds (6) allow the insert to be collapsed and stowed for collection within a nested stack of plastic storage crates. Apertures (7) in the front and end walls (1,2) and flaps (10), reinforced by adhesive tape or mouldings (8), align to form handles.

Description

239395 1

DISPOSABLE CRATE INSERT

The invention relates to a disposable crate insert of the type that can nest inside a plastic storage crate and store for example, office materials and/or domestic effects.

5 Plastic storage crates are well known robust stackable & nest-able containers for the transportation and/or storage of office materials, but suffer from the disadvantage that, when loaded they cannot be returned, and are often found on customer sites for long periods of time.

10 It is an object of the disposable crate insert to be un-nested when the loaded plastic storage crate needs to be returned, thereby reducing hire charges.

It is additional object of the disposable crate insert to be collapsed by folding the side and end walls inwards, in a concertina effect, to allow it to stow in the floor of a 15 plastic storage crate.

It is a further object of the disposable crate insert to be simply erected by un-

collapsing the side and end walls, while stowed in a plastic storage crate.

20 It is another object of the disposable crate insert to nest erected and loaded within a stack of plastic storage crates, enabling it to be transported.

It is a further object of the disposable crate insert to stow collapsed in the void created between the floors in a stack of nested plastic storage crates, enabling them 25 to be either delivered, or collected.

r It is another object of the disposable crate insert to be collapsed and stowed in the floor of a plastic storage crate after it has been used, making it reusable.

30 It is another object of the disposable crate insert to be loaded as a standalone unit, allowing it to be transported using the more robust plastic storage crates, and un-

nested at its destination, enabling the plastic storage crates to be returned.

It is an additional object of the disposable crate insert to be loaded and transported 35 as a standalone unit, should a customer decide not to use plastic storage crates for transportation. Additionally the disposable crate insert could be supplied with a lid to, for example, hide the contents from view and/or further strengthen the structure.

It is a further object of the disposable crate insert to provide handles to make the unit 40 easier to carry when compared to, for example wellknown cardboard packing boxes, which can be difficult to handle.

It is an additional object of the disposable crate insert to be simply constructed; allowing it to be sent flat packed and assembled by the customer on site.

Preferably the disposable crate insert should be constructed of an inexpensive and disposable material, such as cardboard.

A preferred embodiment of the disposable crate insert will now be described with 50 reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a perspective of the disposable crate insert.

Fig. 2 shows an unfolded view of the disposable crate insert.

Fig. 3 shows a top, side, front and rear view of an erected disposable crate insert.

55 Fig. 4 shows a top, side, front and rear view of a collapsed disposable crate insert.

Fig. 5 shows a top view of one plastic storage crate with lowered metal bars nesting one erected disposable crate insert.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of two plastic storage crates with lowered metal bars nesting two erected disposable crate inserts.

60 Fig. 7 shows the top view of one plastic storage crate with raised metal bars stowing one collapsed disposable crate insert.

Fig. 8 shows a cross-section of two stacked plastic storage crates with raised metal bars stowing two collapsed disposable crate inserts.

65 As shown in Fig. 1 the disposable crate insert comprises one front wall 1, one rear wall 2, two side walls 3 & 4, being directed outwards at an angle, starting from the floor 5, two front side wall flaps 10, two rear side wall flaps 11, two front wall flaps 12 and two rear wall flaps 13.

70 Constructing the disposable crate insert from Fig.2 requires making folds 6, shown as dashed lines on the drawing, allowing the two front side wall flaps 10 to fold onto the front wall 1, and the two rear side wall flaps 11 to fold onto the rear wall 2, which enable each surface to be either mated or bonded, using a suitable adhesive. The front wall flaps 12 and rear wall flaps 13 are attached in this preferred embodiment to 75 the sidewalls 3 & 4 using a suitable adhesive, this is to add further stiffness to the structure. All cut apertures 7 shown in Fig. 2 are reinforced 8 using either a suitable strong paper adhesive tape, or shaped plastic moulding, to form handles when aligned 80 together. The top of the walls 1 & 2, side walls 3 & 4, and flaps 10, 11, 12 & 13 can also be reinforced using either a strong adhesive tape, or a shaped plastic moulding, to add further structural strength to the disposable crate insert.

Fig. 3 shows a disposable crate insert simply erected by pulling the apertures 7 in the 85 front & rear sidewalls 10 & 11, apart in an outward direction to their maximum range, which in turn deliberately erects the sidewalls 3 & 4. The floor 5 has air holes 14 to increase the airflow between the surfaces in contact, enabling both disposable crate insert and plastic storage crate to un-nest with ease. Each sidewall 3 & 4 is provided with a cut channel 23 to allow them to be collapsed more fluidly; otherwise the 90 surfaces collapse to form points, which may snag, hindering the movement.

Fig 4 shows a disposable crate insert could be collapsed in a simple motion by applying inward pressure to the top centre of side wall 3, followed by 4, which are both collapsed in a downward arc toward the floor 5, purposefully pulling the two end 95 walls 1 & 2 and side wall flaps 10 & 11 in an inward direction to achieve the side view in Fig. 4. The grooves 9 shown butting up to each other allow the front and rear walls and side wall flaps 1, 2, 10 & 11 to overlap, enabling the structure to be lowered to the correct height for stowing in a stack of nested plastic storage crates.

100 Fig. 5 shows the top elevation of an erected disposable crate insert nested in a plastic storage crate with the metal bars lowered 21. The purpose of lowered metal bars 21, is to allow plastic storage crates of the same dimension to stack one on top of another, forming a stack of plastic storage crates. Alternatively a raised metal bar allows other plastic storage crates of the same dimension to nest together to form a 105 nested stack. Plastic storage crates can also have hinged lids, which are opened or closed, for the same purpose as the metal bars 21. The disposable crate insert can nest and erect in either type of plastic storage crate. In this example the plastic storage crate comprises one front wall 15, one rear wall 16 and two sidewalls 17 & 18, which are directed outwards at an angle starting from the floor 19, with lowered 1 10 metal bars 21.

The cross-section in Fig.6 shows the disposable crate insert erected and nested in the plastic storage crate with the metal bars 21 lowered, allowing other plastic storage crates to be stacked one on top of the other, which enables the disposable 115 crate insert to be loaded and transported in a stack of plastic storage crates.

As shown in Fig. 7 the disposable crate insert is collapsed and stowed in the floor of a plastic storage crate.

120 The cross-section in Fig. 8 shows nested plastic storage crates of the same volume leave a void 22 between each floor 19, thereby allowing collapsed disposable crate inserts to be stowed between each floor of the nested plastic storage crates.

Claims

1. A disposable crate insert includes side, front and end walls where directed outward at an angle, starting from the floor, forms a container which can be assembled using mating flaps to fit inside a plastic storage crate.

2. A disposable crate insert as claimed in Claim 1 includes seams or folds

allowing the container to be collapsed and stowed in between the floors of two nested plastic storage crates.

3. A disposable crate insert as claimed in Claim 2 where collapsed can be erected to form a container as claimed in Claim 1.

4. A disposable crate insert as claimed in Claim 1 where cut apertures in the walls and mating flaps align to form handles once assembled.

5. A disposable crate insert as claimed in any proceeding claim, is made from an inexpensive and disposable material, such as cardboard.