MX2012005144A

MX2012005144A - Multi-height container.

Info

Publication number: MX2012005144A
Application number: MX2012005144A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Ryan C Meers
Original assignee: Rehrig Pacific Co
Priority date: 2011-05-02
Filing date: 2012-05-02
Publication date: 2013-02-19
Also published as: US20190077543A1; US20120279890A1; MX356108B; CA2776196A1; EP2520506B1; EP2520506A1

Abstract

A container includes a base and a plurality of walls extending upward from the base. A support includes a support portion connected to the walls by a pair of arms. The arms each include a first arm portion connected to the support portion and a second arm portion pivotably connected to the first arm portion. The second arm portion is pivotably connected to the walls.

Description

MULTIPLE HEIGHT CONTAINERS Background of the Invention Containers that can be fitted usually include brackets (or "brackets") that can have pivotal movement between a nested position, where the bracket is outside the footprint of the base, such that an identical container can fit within it, and a position stacked on the base, such that an identical container can be stacked on it.

The multi-height containers allow the supports to move at different heights so that the upper container can be stacked on it with the lowest height that accommodates the articles. This usually requires that the supports can both slide as well as move in pivot relative to the container. The pivot pins captured in elongated slots in the walls of the container allow the sliding and the pivoting movement of the supports. However, the elongated grooves weaken the walls and the sliding movement is sometimes difficult, since the support is twisted and the pivot pins jump in the grooves.

Brief Description of the Invention The present invention provides supports with arms of REF. : 230484 hinge support. The hinged support arms can eliminate the elongated slots in the walls of the container or any sliding movement of the supports, but still extend to a plurality of stacking positions or heights. Alternatively, the hinged support arms could be used in combination with shorter elongated slots.

Detailed description of the invention A container 10 according to an embodiment of embodiment is shown in Figure 1. The container 10 includes a base 12, side walls 14 and end walls 16. The supports 18 (or "clamps") are pivotally connected the container 10 at each end. Each support 18 includes an elongated support portion 20 and the support arms extending from each end of the support portion 20. Each support arm includes a first arm portion 22 and a second portion of the arm 24. The first portion of the arm 22 is connected proximate one end of the support portion 20. The first arm portion 22 also connects pivotally to the second arm portion 24. The second arm portion 24 is pivotally connected to the container 10 at a fixed pivot point.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of the container 10 of Figure 1. As shown, the upper portions of the side walls 14 generally include an outer wall portion 40 and an inner wall portion 38. The holes of the pivot 34, 36 are formed in the portion of the inner wall 38 and the portion of the outer wall 40, respectively. The second portions of the arm 24 have pivotal movement relative to the container 10 around the pivot holes 34, 36. The second portions of the arm 24 are captured between the portions of the inner wall 38 and the portions of the outer wall 40.

Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged views of one end of the support 18 and the second portion of the arm 24. An outer end of the first arm portion 22 includes a pivot pin 26 that projects internally (i.e. pivot 26 and first arm portion 22 of the outer arm; Figure 2), which is adapted to fit by snap closure into an opening 28 at one end of the second arm portion 24. The other end of the second portion of the arm arm 24 includes a pair of pivot pins 30, 32. It should be recognized that the pivot pins and holes in any hinge connection can change to any component. By forming large contact surfaces in the hinge between the first arm portion 22 and the second arm portion 24, torsional bending is reduced between the first arm portion 22 and the second arm portion 24. Large contact surfaces can formed by having a larger diameter pivot pin 26 and / or large connecting surfaces between the first arm portion 22 and the second arm portion 24.

Figures 5 and 6 show the support 18 in a nested position, with the support portion 20 of the support 18 aligning with the outer wall 16. The inner wall portion 38 includes a high stacking surface 42, a medium stacking surface 44 and a low stacking surface 46. The pivot pin 30 of the second arm portion 24 is pivotally connected to the hole 34 in the portion of the inner wall 38. The pivot pin 32 of the second arm portion 24 it is pivotally connected to the hole 36 in the outer wall portion 40 (Figure 1). As shown, in this position, the first portion of the arm 22 is approximately perpendicular to the second portion of the arm 24. An identical container 10 could be fitted within the container 10 when the support 18 is in the engaged position. As can be seen in Figure 6, the high stacking surface 42, the average stacking surface 44 and the low stacking surface 46 are vertically aligned, such that the support portion 18 of the support 18 comes into contact with the base 12. of an identical container in the same place in all stacking heights.

Figures 7 and 8 show the support 18 in the high stacking position, with the support position 20 of the support 18 supported on the high stacking surface 42. The first arm portion 22 and the second arm portion 24 extend around 180 degrees relative to another to allow the support to reach this position. The pivot points are substantially aligned along the straight line.

Figure 9 and 10 shows the support 18 in the middle stacking position, with the support portion 20 of the support 18 supported on the middle stacking surface 44. The first arm portion 22 and the second arm portion 24 approximately shape perpendicular to the other again, although in the opposite direction as in the fitted position. Este allows an identical container to be stacked on it at an average height.

Figures 11 and 12 show the support 18 in the low stacked position, with the support position 20 of the support 18 supported on the low stacking surface 46. The first arm portion 22 and the second arm portion 24 extend approximately 100 degrees. This allows an identical container to be stacked on it with a low height, to efficiently stack small items.

Figure 13 shows the line of the section for Figures 8, 10 and 12. Figure 14 is an elevated view of the container 10. Figure 15 is a side view of the container 10. Figure 16 is an end view of the container 10 As shown, the provision of a pivot between the pivot connection of the container and the supporting portion of the support allows the support to move in different positions without the need to lengthen the slots in the container and without the need for sliding movement between the support and the container. This can provide a smoother and easier movement of the support to different positions and increases the strength of the wall in the container. The operation of the container 10 closely resembles the existing containers, but without the sliding action and elongated slots in the container. Alternatively, the pivoted or hinged arm can also be used with a shorter slot in the container, so that the supports have both the pivoting and sliding action to provide additional flexibility, but stronger walls than the previous designs.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and urisprudence, configurations of the above-described embodiment are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its perspective or scope.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. Container, characterized in that it comprises: one base; a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base; a support including a support portion connected to the walls by an arm, the arm includes a first portion of the arm connected to the support portion and a second portion. arm portion pivotally connected to the first arm portion and pivotally connected to the walls.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a first arm connected to the support portion near one end of the support portion, the support further includes a second arm connected to the support portion near an opposite end of the support. supporting portion, the second arm includes a first portion of the arm previously connected with a second portion of the arm pivotally connected to the walls.

3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of the walls include a first wall, the arm is connected to the first wall, the first wall that includes an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion, the second portion of the arm between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion.

4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that the second portion of the arm includes a pair of pivot pins in the holes in the portion of the inner wall and the outer wall portion.

5. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the support can be pivotably fixed between a nested position where the support portion does not extend over the base of the container and a stacked position where the support portion extends over the base of the container .

6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the stacked position is a high stacking position, the support can also be moved to a low stacking position.

7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the support is also movable to a middle stacking position higher than the low stacking position and lower than the high stacking position, where an identical container can be stacked on the support at the low stacking position, the medium stacking position or the high stacking position and wherein the identical container can be fitted into the container when the holder is in the engaged position.

8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the plurality of walls includes a first wall, the arm is connected to the first wall, the first wall that includes a portion of internal wall and an outer wall portion, the second portion of arm between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion.

9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the internal wall portion includes a high stacking surface, a medium stacking surface and a low stacking surface, the support that comes into contact with the stacking surface high in the position of high stacking, the average stacking surface in the medium stacking position and the low stacking surface in the low stacking position.

10. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the first portion of the arm and second portion of the arm are connected by a hinge, the hinge includes a pivot pin with adjustment with a spring closure within an opening.

11. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the second arm portion is pivotally connected to the plurality of walls with a fixed pivot axis.

12. Container, characterized in that it comprises: one base; a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base; Y a support pivotally connected to the walls about a fixed pivot axis, the support can move between a nested position, a high stacking position and a low stacking position, wherein the support includes a support portion that is placed on the base in the high stack portion and the low stack position, wherein the support portion is not placed on the base in the nested position.

13. Container according to claim 12, characterized in that the positions of the support portion in the high stacking position and the low stacking position are aligned vertically with the other.

14. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that the plurality of the walls includes a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of walls of the opposite end and wherein the support is a first support, the container also includes a second support, wherein the first support and the second support each are pivotally connected to the pair of side walls.

15. Container according to claim 14, characterized in that each of the side walls includes a high stacking surface, a medium stacking surface and a low stacking surface, the first support and the second support containing the "high stacking surface". in the high stacking position, the medium stacking surface in the medium stacking position and the low stacking surface in the low stacking position.