GB2534263A

GB2534263A - Rolling container provided with a closure and method therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2534263A
Application number: GB1518629.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Niels Jasper Koopsen Alwin
Original assignee: HOZA BV
Current assignee: HOZA BV
Priority date: 2014-10-31
Filing date: 2015-10-21
Publication date: 2016-07-20
Also published as: GB201518629D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure for a rolling container 2, a rolling container provided therewith and a method for transporting and/or storing goods with such a rolling container. The rolling container provided with closure according to the invention comprises: a frame 4, provided with wheels 10, and a first locking element 28, arranged in or on the frame; a door element 20 provided pivotally or removably relative to the frame; -a closing mechanism arranged in or on the frame and comprising an operating handle (46, fig 4) and a first hook-like element (56); a connecting element (68)arranged in or on the door element for movement relative thereto and provided with a second hook-like element (64) and a second locking element; wherein the operating handle is switchable between a closed state and an open (46, fig 5) state by rotating the operating handle such that the first and second hook-like elements (64) are movable relative to each other and in the closed state are in engagement at a first closing position, and wherein during movement of the operating handle to a closed state the second locking clement engages in or on the first locking element at a second closing position (28b, fig 6).

Description

ROLLING CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH A CLOSURE AND METHOD THEREFOR

The present invention relates to a rolling container for transporting goods which is provided with a closure. Such rolling containers are used, among other purposes, for supply and discharge of products within and between businesses.

Diverse rolling containers for transporting goods are known in practice. These rolling containers make use here of a carrier platform on which goods can be placed and wherein side walls, for instance in the form of a wire mesh, are placed at or on this carrier platform. The carrier platform is further provided with wheels in order to enable displacement.

Known rolling containers can be provided with door elements, or walls, which can be opened relative to the frame of the rolling container. Access is hereby gained to the interior of the rolling container for placing therein or removal therefrom of goods. Such door elements are provided hingedly on the frame here and provided with a clamp or fastening means for securing the door element during transport. A problem occurring here in practice is that securing of the door elements during transport becomes less than optimal over the course of time, for instance due to wear of a fastening means. Providing protruding parts in order to make the securing possible is also undesirable due to the increase in outer dimensions of the rolling container and the risk of injury and damage. Nor is securing a door element in safe manner usually possible in user-friendly or ergonomic manner.

A further problem with closures of convention& rolling containers is that they do not fix or secure the door element sufficiently relative to the frame of the rolling container, or that operations have to be performed for this purpose at several positions on the rolling container during opening and closing of the door element. In the first case the closure can prove to be insufficiently strong and robust due to the load occurring on the door element. in the second case the closure is not user-friendly, this entailing a risk that the closure is not effected properly because the required action is not performed at all closing positions.

The present invention has for its object to obviate or at least reduce the above stated problems.

The present invention provides for this purpose a rolling container provided with a closure according to the invention, the rolling container comprising: -a frame provided with wheels and a first locking element arranged in or on the frame; -a door element provided pivotally or removably relative to the frame; -a closing mechanism arranged in or on the frame and comprising: -an operating handle which is provided pivotally at a first outer end on the frame of the rolling container and which can be operated at a second outer end; and -a first hook-like element connected to the operating handle; -a connecting element arranged in or on the door element for movement relative thereto and provided with a second hook-like element and a second locking element; wherein the operating handle is switchable between a dosed state and an open state by rotating the operating handle such that the first and second hook-like elements are movable relative to each other and in the closed state are in engagement at a first closing position, and wherein during movement of the operating handle to a closed state the second locking element engages in or on the first locking clement at a second closing position.

Providing a door element enables a user to gain access to the interior of a rolling container for the purpose of placing therein and/or removal therefrom of goods in simple manner. A door element is also understood to mean a wall element. Although in a currently preferred embodiment a door element is provided pivotally on one side of the frame using hinges and provided releasably on the other side of the frame using a closure, it is also possible to provide the door element in removable manner by providing both sides of the door element with a closure. It is also possible to provide both sides of the door element with a closure and for instance provide the door dement pivotally on the underside or upper side of the frame.

In the currently preferred embodiment a number of hinges are provided on a first longitudinal side of the door element for pivoting the door element between an open and closed state relative to the frame of the rolling container comprising a number of uprights and a bottom. A second longitudinal is provided with, or at least operatively connected to, a closure.

A first closing position is realized by providing a closing mechanism in or on the frame, wherein the closing mechanism comprises an operating element such as an operating handle or anti and a first hook-like element. The door element is provided with a connecting element arranged movably, in particular pivotally, therein. The connecting element is preferably a body finable in the plane of the door element. The connecting element is provided with a second hook-like element.

The second hook-like element forms together with a first hook-like element a first closable connection at a first closing position which can be operated by moving the operating element. in order to provide a further closing connection a second closing position is realized by further providing the frame with a first locking element, for instance a recess, hole, sleeve, cup-shaped opening and the like, in a beam of the frame. The connecting element of the door element is provided with a second locking element connected operatively thereto, for instance a pin, shaft and the like. During the closing movement the connecting element makes a rotating or pivoting movement when the operating element is operated, wherein the second locking element engages at a second closing position on or in the first locking element in order to realize a second closable connection.

The first closing position is preferably provided at or close to the upper side of the door element and the second closing position is provided at or close to the underside of the door element. Hereby made possible is a closure which is operationally reliable in use and which provides an effective closure even in the case of relatively great loads on the door element.

By providing a connecting element a connection between the door element and the frame of the rolling container is realized at two closing positions with a single movement of the moving element. By preferably embodying the connecting element as a body tiltable in the plane of the door element a combined relative movement of hook-like elements and locking elements is realized in effective manner. A closure is hereby realized or released at two closing positions with a single movement. This results in a safe, user-friendly and ergonomic closure. The connecting IS element moves here substantially in the plane of the door element so that no protruding parts are present on the rolling container. This increases the safety of the rolling container.

In an advantageous preferred embodiment according to the invention the second locking element comprises a connecting pin configured to span a distance between the connecting element and the first locking element.

The distance between the connecting element and the first locking element can be spanned by providing a connecting pin. In a currently preferred embodiment the operating handle is provided at or close to the upper side of the frame, and the connecting element is provided at or close to the upper side of the door element. The first locking element is formed in this embodiment by a well or recess in a lower beam of the frame. The connecting pin transmits the movement of the connecting element to the locking element. With a single movement a closing connection can hereby be made or released at or close to both the upper side and the underside of the door element. The connecting pin preferably extends substantially in longitudinal direction of the door element. The movement of the connecting dement can hereby be converted in effective manner to a relative movement of the locking elements. The connecting pin is preferably arranged here in an upright of the door clement. The upright functions here as housing and/or guide for the connecting pin. Such an upright can be embodied as a tubular profile, U-profile and the like. The connecting pin is hereby protected from fouling and/or damage.

in a further advantageous preferred embodiment the rolling container comprises a spring element configured to displace the second locking element out of the first locking element during opening of the door element.

Opening of a door clement becomes possible in effective manner by providing a spring element. The first and the second locking element are brought into mutual engagement here counter to the spring action during closing of the door element. During opening of the door element the locking elements are pushed away from each other by the spring action. A user-friendly opening of the door element of the rolling container hereby becomes possible according to the invention.

The present invention further relates to a method for transporting and/or storing goods, the method comprising of: -providing a rolling container with a closure as described above; -opening the door or wall element comprising of opening the closure; -placing goods into and/or removing goods from the rolling container; and -closing the door or wall element comprising of closing the closure. Such a method provides the same effects and advantages as described for the closure of the rolling container.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figures 1A-E show views of the rolling container according to the invention; - Figure 2 shows a view of the operating member with hook-like elements of figure 1 at a first closing position; - Figure 3 shows a view of the elements of figure 2 as arranged in an upright; - Figure 4 shows a side view of the first closing position in closed state; - Figure 5 shows a side view of the first closing position in opened state; and - Figure 6 shows a side view of the closure at the second closing position of the rolling container in closed state.

Rolling container 2 (figures 1A-E) comprises a support frame 4 which is formed in the shown embodiment by longitudinal beams 6 and transverse beams 8. Support frame 4 is further provided with wheels 10 and bottom or support plate 12. Addition& levels can optionally be arranged for rolling container 2 using racks or shelves 14. In the shown embodiment shelf 14 is provided pivotally on rolling container 2 using hinge elements. Rolling container 2 is provided with a number of uprights 16 between which side walls 18 lie in longitudinal direction and door 20 and wall 22 in transverse direction. Uprights 14 are provided at the corner points of rolling container 2. in the shown embodiment uprights 14 are provided from tubular profile. it will be apparent that other configurations of rolling container 2 with uprights 16 and walls 18, 20, 22 are likewise possible according to the invention. In the shown embodiments side walls 18 are attached to wall 22 together with uprights 16 using brackets or strips 24.

Door 20 is mounted on rolling container 2 on a first side using hinges 26 and can be fastened on a second side using closure 28. In opened state (figures ID and E) door 20 is fully open and lies wholly against side wall 18. in the shown embodiment closure 28 is provided at first or upper closing position 28a and second or lower closing position 28b.

Rolling container 2 is provided with operating arm 28 of brake mechanism 30. Handles 32 are also provided on rolling container 2.

in the shown embodiment door 20 is provided as a type of wall element 34 with fixed section 36, middle wall part 38 and upper wall part 40. it will be apparent that side walls 18 or wall 22 can also be embodied as wall element 34 with segments 36, 38 and 40.

Closing system 28 (figure 1) comprises first closing position 28a and second closing position 28b. In the shown embodiment first closing position 28a is located close to upper side 42 of door element 34 and second closing position 28b is located close to underside 44 of door clement 34.

Operating handle 46 (figure 2) of closing mechanism 48 is arranged on upper beam 50 of rolling container frame 52 and movable around hinge or pin 54. in the shown embodiment operating handle 46 is provided with first hook 56 which is provided movably on operating handle 46.

Door element 20 (figure 3) is provided with tilting body 58 as connecting element which is provided pivotally around shaft 60 in upright 62 of door element 20. Tilting body 58 is provided with second hook 64 which in the closed state is in contact with first hook 56.

Connecting element (figures 3 and 4) is further provided with a connecting pin 68 which is arranged around shaft 66 and extends in upright 62 of door element 20. A movement of connecting element 58 results in a substantially vertical movement of connecting pin 68 in upright 62.

At first closing position 28a (figure 4) first hook 56 hooks in the closed state behind second hook 64 and forms therewith a closing connection at first closing position 28a. Connecting element 58 is then located in closed position and connecting pin 68 is pressed as far downward as possible. First hook 56 is provided movably in recess 70 in operating handle 46. in the shown embodiment a sliding/translating as well as a rotating movement of first hook 70 is possible relative to operating handle 46. The user can hereby disconnect first hook 56 and second hook 64 for the purpose of opening door 20.

At first closing position 28b (figure 5) operating handle 46 in opened state has been rotated through an angle of about 135 degrees. Connecting element 58 is rotated here through an angle of about 90 degrees, wherein connecting pin 68 is moved as far upward as possible. The connection of first hook 56 and second hook 64 can be released by a user here so that door element 20 can be opened. In order to close door 20 a reverse movement is performed, wherein hooks 56, 64 are placed into connection with each other and handle 46 is rotated back and connecting pin 68 is pressed downward.

At second closing position 28b (figure 6) connecting pin 68 with dosing pin in dosed state is pressed further through opening 70 in upright 62 of door element 70 into recess 72 functioning as first locking element 74 in beam 76 of rolling container frame 52.

Provided in the shown embodiment is spring 76 which exerts a counteracting force when connecting pin 68 is pressed downward. The dosing at second closing position 28b hereby takes place counter to the spring action of spring 78. When door element 20 is opened, connecting pin 68 will be pressed upward by the spring action. The closing connection is hereby released at second closing position 28b in that outer end 80 of connecting pin 68 is pressed out of recess 72 in beam 76. A force is hereby also exerted by spring 78 on connecting element 58 at first closing position 28a, whereby element 58 will tend to undergo a tilting movement so that a connection between hooks 56, 64 can also be released at first closing position 28a.

For the purpose of transporting and/or storing goods door element 20 is opened by moving I5 operating handle 46 upward. Spring 78 presses connecting pin 68 upward and thereby presses connecting element 58 away so that it makes a rotating movement. First hook 56 is taken off second hook 64. Door element 20 is opened and goods are placed into and/or taken out of rolling container 2.

Door element 20 is subsequently closed by hooking first hook 56 behind second hook 64 and moving operating handle 46 downward. First and second hooks 56, 64 are hereby brought into closing connection at first closing position 28a. By moving operating handle 46 downward connecting element 58 is tilted and connecting pin 68 is pushed downward counter to the spring action of spring 78. A closing connection is hereby realized at second closing position 28b.

Rolling container 2 is then transported to a desired location. Door element 20 is opened again there.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above described embodiments thereof The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged. Other forms of rolling container 2, also including a different dimensioning thereof, are also expressly possible according to the invention. The materials employed can be metals, such as iron and stainless steel, but can also be plastic materials or combinations thereof

Claims

CLAIMSRolling container for transporting goods, comprising: -a frame provided with wheels and a first locking element arranged in or on the frame; -a door element provided pivotally or removably relative to the frame; -a closing mechanism arranged in or on the frame and comprising: -an operating handle which is provided pivotally at a first outer end on the frame of the rolling container and which can be operated at a second outer end; and -a first hook-like element connected to the operating handle; -a connecting element arranged in or on the door element for movement relative thereto and provided with a second hook-like clement and a sccond locking element; I5 wherein the operating handle is switchable between a dosed state and an open state by rotating the operating handle such that the first and second hook-like elements are movable relative to each other and in the closed state are in engagement at a first closing position, and wherein during movement of the operating handle to a closed state the second locking element engages in or on the first locking dement at a second closing position.
2. Rolling container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises a tillable body movable substantially in the plane of the door element relative to the door element.
3. Rolling container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second locking element further comprises a connecting pin configured to span a distance between the connecting clement and the first locking dement.
4. Rolling container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connecting pin extends substantially in longitudinal direction of the door clement.
5. Rolling container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the door element comprises an upright configured as housing and/or guide for the connecting pin.
6. Rolling container as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, further comprising a spring element configured to displace the second locking element out of the first locking element during opening of the door element.
7. Method for transporting and/or storing goods using rolling containers, the method comprising of -providing a rolling container with a closure as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims; -opening the door or wall element comprising of opening the closure; -placing goods into and/or removing goods from the rolling container; and -closing the door or wall element comprising of closing the closure.