MXPA05013449A - Curtain for a container - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention concerns a curtain for an open side of a container, and the container having such a curtain, wherein the curtain comprises a flexible web material, is of an approximately rectangular shape and can be connected along its upper edge to the portion of the container, which is in opposite relationship to that upper edge. In accordance with the invention, the lower left and right corner regions of the curtain are on average per unit of surface area of a greater weight than the average of the remaining areas of the curtain. This allows the curtain to close automatically and independently in a well-defined manner and in so doing completely covers over the front side of the container without a user having to actively intervene apart from pulling down the curtain from the top side of the container or allowing the raised curtain to fall.

Description

CURTAIN FOR CONTAINER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a curtain for an open side of a container, wherein the curtain comprises a flexible weft material, which is approximately rectangular in shape and can be connected along its upper edge to the portion of the container, which is in opposite relation to the upper edge. The corresponding curtains are known, among others, from various transport containers such as those used for example to transport automotive parts in the automotive industry. The parts of a car (private car or heavy goods vehicle) are produced by suppliers and delivered in a just-in-time relationship with the recessed parts for a vehicle, a corresponding factory or assembly line of an automobile manufacturer. For this purpose, the corresponding parts are generally contained in large containers which in turn have a multiplicity of compartments in which the respective automotive parts in question are individually accommodated in a protected manner. The parts are transported in these containers and the containers are established directly in the immediate vicinity of the corresponding assembly band in a REF manner. 168685 that the assembly personnel can remove the parts directly from the container and adjust to a vehicle. In such a situation, the parts are frequently accommodated in individual compartments of a container, which comprises a flexible weft material so that the various parts which are often delicate or have projected sharp edges or corners are not directly in contact with each other. To facilitate the removal of the parts, however, these compartments open towards at least one side of the container. One or each of such side corresponds for example to the aforementioned open side of a container, in which case it is not necessary to consider whether, for example for the transport of corresponding containers, a fin or fixed cover for the open side to be or sides they are also provided additionally. For the sake of simplicity such an open side is referred to below as the "front side" while this generally involves the side facing a user, even if the present invention, evidently by itself, also includes any corresponding curtain which is provided for any open side. In order to project the parts during transport and in particular to prevent the powder from getting into the individual container or compartments, the open front sides of this type are sometimes provided with a curtain hanging down freely on the front side of the container and which therefore closes the open front side of the container sufficiently airtight to protect the accommodated parts in the container against environmental influences. It should be noted that, in order to remove the individual parts, the curtain must move away from the open front side. Generally, this is done by folding the curtain over its upper edge and on the upper side of the container, at least when the upper edge of the curtain is also fixed to the container in the vicinity of the upper edge thereof. Depending on the respective size of the container, however, this operation may be relatively difficult to carry out so that from time to time it is only substantially possible to fold back a part of the curtain on the upper side of the container or, after a part of the container. the curtain has been bent upwards, the rest is simply pushed in in a certain way from bottom to top on the upper side of the container and remaining stacked uncontrollably on the edge. In this situation it can happen that such a curtain also unintentionally slides down again and assumes a position opposite the open front side of the container. The container can on the other hand have closed side walls (including the rear wall) and / or a closed bottom and a closed top side, and possibly the side walls, the bottom and also the upper side may be opened and the container may in other respects consist of a frame in which the compartments are suspended in the form of an interconnected insert. In this case, the exteriors of the compartment divisions effectively form the side walls or the upper side and / or lower part of the container, in which case, as will be appreciated, hybrid forms are a possibility, in which case for example the bottom it has an additional closed wall while the side walls and / or the top side are in principle open, but here the outer walls of the compartment inserts effectively form a side wall and / or an upper wall or rear wall respectively. Frequently, however, the rear side is open in the same manner as the aforementioned front side and in this respect it is also seen as the front edge 'after the container is rotated around 180 ° C or if the user approaches from the other side. The same possibility applies to the other side walls. It should be appreciated that it is annoying if a curtain which has been returned back on the upper side, in use of the corresponding container, ie, when removing the articles from the container or also when loading the arrangement with corresponding articles, under some circumstances, it slides uncontrollably downwards again and in this way at least partially covers the front side or the front openings of the individual compartments. On the other hand, it may however be that the parts are only removed from the container from time to time or, for example in the case of a possibly expensive production of articles, they will be placed in the compartments of the container only at relatively large time intervals of so that it is desirable for the curtain to be kept closed in the meantime to protect the items which are already or even in the container, against external influences. In this case, for example, the curtain is opened for the respective operation of entering or removing an individual item or only some items, and subsequently closed again. When the curtain is closed, it is important that the curtain completely closes the open side of the container and, as far as possible, does not have corners over bent or folds that leave open a part of the compartments that open to this side and in which the corresponding items may still be or are already placed. In the case of previously known curtains of this type, however, it means that the user is not required to simply allow the curtain to be lowered after having been folded back, for example on the upper side, but it must be ensured in this respect that the curtain does not Form no fold and do not come back to its edges but completely cover the entire front side of the container. For this purpose it is often necessary for the user to eliminate corresponding bends or edges that bend backward by holding the outer edges of the curtain and pulling them into their desired position. In comparison with this state of the art, the object of the present invention is to provide a curtain having the characteristics indicated in the opening part of this specification, which when properly fitted, on the one hand, can be folded back over the upper side of a container in a well defined manner and that on the other hand, when it is bent backwards or pulled down from the upper side respectively, for the purpose of closing automatically and independently in a well defined manner and thus completely cover the front side of the container without the purpose of the user having to actively intervene other than pulling down the curtain from the upper side of the container or letting the raised curtain fall. This object is achieved when the two lower left and right corner regions of the curtain are on average per unit area of surface weight greater than the average of the remaining areas of the curtain. When a user holds such a curtain, normally near the center of the lower edge thereof, the lower left and right corner regions of the curtain hang down to the left and to the right of the point at which the curtain is fastened, further intensifying in particular by the increased weight of the corner regions. In this case, the fold lines are formed substantially from the upper right and left corners of the curtain, to the point where the curtain is held and lifted by the user. The lower left and right corner regions hang freely down from the fold lines in a slightly curved arch. If the user simply releases the curtain in this position so that it falls downward, then its heavy lower left and right corner regions will first have a tendency to close more quickly than the remaining part of the curtain, but, due to the resistance to air that occurs in such a case or the air current produced by it, will also swing backwards in part as in a wave similar to the wings of a bird or, to place this in better shape, as wings or wings wing type fins of lightning, so that the air behind the curtain can escape and the curtain assumes a position in a uniform condition and without the formation of folds in front of the open side of the curtain and completely covering it above. When the curtain is placed on the upper side of the frame container the curtain is desirably positioned in a manner corresponding to the folds that are formed when it is raised. When the curtain is also pulled from the upper side of the container and the curtain is dropped according to the invention, it assumes a position, with a corresponding "wing strike", in a uniform condition opposite the open side of the container. It will be appreciated that, notwithstanding the reference to the upper edge and the upper right and left corners, the curtain does not necessarily have to be of an exactly rectangular configuration but for example the upper edge can be bent or twisted in the gable way, in case also the lower corner regions do not have to be corner regions of an exact rectangle but for example can also have very rounded corners. The only essential consideration is that the upper edge of the curtain was adjusted in a certain way to the container and that the curtain can be folded along the adjustment line or also along the line parallel to it and can be established on the upper surface of the container as it is established over the entire surface. Folds occur when the curtain is raised and when placed on the upper side can be influenced by turning the lower center portion first to one side and then to the other side when the curtain is placed on the top side of the container so that The curtain also remains in that state in a carefully folded configuration on the upper side of the container. However, if it is not even possible for the curtain to be placed on the upper side of a container because for example the container is too high for a user to be able to reach the top side with his hands, the curtain according to the invention can nevertheless be used advantageously, with the features described, because the curtain can also be supported with one hand for a short time, for the removal of individual articles. After an item has been removed (or inserted), then the user simply releases the curtain so that it falls again, in which case the two lower left and right corner regions that hang down loosely open like two wings and close again towards the open container in the manner of a wing blow movement. This is of particular interest in relation to the modalities or containers from which the articles are removed only from time to time (or similarly introduced therein) and that if they are not exposed, for example, to harsh environmental conditions (dust)., cuts, rain, water spray, chemicals). According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lower corner regions may have some weight, wherein these weights may be concentrated along the lower edge and / or also the right and left side edges, but preferably should be distribute evenly over the surface of the lower right and left corner regions. A preferred embodiment of the invention, however, is one in which the lower corner regions have triangular surfaces of increased weight per unit surface area, for example in the form of thicknesses of the weft material, which in turn preferably they are made in each case of at least 10% and preferably more than 15% of the total curtain area. It is convenient, for example, if the lower left and right corner regions comprise a larger number of layers of flexible weft material than the larger part of the remaining area of the curtain. In this relation it is observed that the corner regions of multiple layers for example mainly are not seams on folds at the edges of the curtain but rather regions of large area, which extend in the direction of the center of the curtain and which only they limit in the manner of a seam to the regions of the edges. As already mentioned, the lower left and right corner regions of multiple layers or double layer must be made of at least about 10% of the curtain area. Even, as reference is made to the "remaining curtain areas", which mean areas within regions incorporated by any edge seam. In general, a preferred variant of the invention is one in which the lower left and right corner regions are homogeneous, that is they have a uniform surface density, which in this case, once again, any seam along the length of the Edge should not be taken into consideration. The homogeneity of the corner regions occurs automatically if the corner regions are formed by two or more layers of the flexible weft material constituting the curtain, while the remaining areas of the curtain have only one layer or few layers that the regions of lower left and right corner. It will be appreciated that what is assumed with respect to the flexible weft material or individual layers thereof is or is otherwise of a substantially uniform thickness. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the lower left and right corner regions preferably substantially respectively encompass the entire area which is included by the left or right edge respectively, the bottom edge and a line extending from the left corner and upper right respectively of the curtain to the center of the lower edge, or to a point in the vertical longitudinal centerline of the curtain above the lower edge, but preferably still within the lower half of the curtain, in the latter case, the area of specific weight increased in relation to the area that assumes the shape of a trapezoid having right and oblique angles as is also defined among others by claim 8. In addition, a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention is one in which, starting from the proximity of the lower edge, to rigidify a lower central portion of the A curtain, a bar comprising a material that is rigid relative to the material of the curtain, extends approximately along the vertical longitudinal centerline to a point within the lower half of the curtain. This bar which is adjusted to the curtain at least in the vicinity of the lower edge thereof and to another point within the lower half of the curtain and which stiffens the curtain in that central portion, possibly serves not only as a element of stiffness but at the same time as a handle and, when the curtain is opened, it can be held by a user and can be ascertained on the upper side of the container. Since the bar is of a certain length and its lower portion which is in proximity to the lower edge, it can in any case be reached and held with one hand in such a way that at least the lower portion can be pushed onto the upper front edge of the container, at the same time also pushing the portion of the curtain which is placed on it and which is fitted to the other upper end of the bar on the upper side of the container. In that case, the fold lines are formed by a connection of the upper left and right corner regions of the curtain to the upper adjusted point of the bar in the vicinity of the center of the lower edge, more specifically if the bar is held substantially in place. the plane of the curtain or however if the bar is angled in relation to the plane of the curtain, for the upper adjustment point of the bar By virtue of the arrangement and manner of assembly of the bar, even in the case of relatively high containers , the upper side of which can still only be reached by a user with his hands, however it is possible to set the curtain safely on the upper side of the container without being able to slip. In this regard, the bar helps to push the upper portions of the curtain far enough on the upper side of the container and, after it has been placed on it, the lower end of the bar can substantially end with the upper front edge of the container. container, in which case also substantially the entire lower edge of the curtain is pushed on the upper side of the container or hung above only slightly. For the purposes of the original description, it is pointed out that all the features that one skilled in the art will deduce from the present description, from the figures and claims, even if they were specifically described only together with certain additional features, can be combined individually and also in any combination with other characteristics or groups of characteristics described herein, unless expressly excluded or technical aspects make such combinations impossible or meaningless. It is only for the sake of brevity and readability of the description that a comprehensive and explicit representation of all conceivable combinations of characteristics is preceded in the present. This applies in particular but not only with respect to the bar mentioned above, in which respect it will be appreciated that such a bar may also be appropriately adapted to a curtain if the lower left and right corner regions are not heavier per unit area than the rest of the curtain so that the feature of claim 10 can be claimed independently and also together with other features of claims 1 to 9. Therefore, advantages are also enjoyed, particularly when the curtain is placed on the upper side of the container and also when it is pulled from it. However, the combination of claim 10 is particularly preferred. Other advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a portion of a container with a closed curtain of According to the invention, Figure 2 shows the container and the curtain of Figure 1 with a partially raised curtain, Figure 3 shows the container of Figure 1 with a curtain folded partially back on the upper side, and Figure 4 shows the container of figure 1 with a curtain completely placed on the upper side of the container. Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a container 3 which is only partially illustrated schematically in the form of an armable box and which is substantially in the form of a parallelepiped, that is, it has a lower side and an upper side as well as peripherally extending side walls of which one defines a front side which is shown in Figure 1 closed by a curtain 1. That curtain comprises a flexible weft material and is in a substantially rectangular shape that conforms to the shape of the front side of the container 3. The curtain 1 is connected along its upper edge 16 to the upper edge of the container 3. The front surface extends substantially vertically, in which However, it will be noted that the invention would also work in the same way if, for example, the front surface were extended in a slightly inclined plane and the upper edge of the container would therefore be set back a little inward relative to the lower edge. The curtain has a lower left corner region identified by reference 4 and a lower right corner region identified by reference 5, which are delimited from the area of the remaining curtain by dashed lines 6 and 7 respectively. These dashed lines 6, 7 extend from the upper left and right corners of the curtain respectively and approximately to the center of the lower edge 12 of the curtain, in which case it will be observed that these lines 6, 7, however do not necessarily have to extend precisely to the right and on the other hand they can also be displaced slightly with respect to the positions illustrated. The lower left and right corner regions 4, 5 differ from the upper central region 20 which extends substantially between the lines 6, 7 and the upper edge 16, by virtue of the fact that the regions 4, 5 are of greater weight per unit of surface area that the central region 20 and in particular comprise more layers of the flexible weft material than the central region 20. In specific terms, here the regions 4, 5 are made of two layers of weft material while the region central 20 comprises only one layer of the same material (again without taking into account any edge seam). In order to have suitable triangular weft portions of flexible material, corresponding to the shape of regions 4 and 5, they are sewn on a rectangular weft corresponding to the total surface of the curtain, for example along the lines 6. , 7 and along the lower edge 12 and the left and right edges 14, 15 of the curtain. It will be appreciated that the additional frames can also be glued or welded, depending on the respective nature of the flexible weft material constituting the material of the curtain. Also positioned in the lower region of the curtain and arranged substantially along the vertical center line of the curtain, is a bar which in the present case is a metal rail 10 which is sewn to curtain 1 (for example by means of of corresponding holes in the metal rail). As will be seen that the metal bar 10 extends approximately from the center of the lower edge 12 of the curtain to approximately one third of the total height of the curtain 1. Preferably the upper fixing point of the bar 10 must still be inside of the lower half of the curtain while the lower fixing point should preferably be in the vicinity of the lower edge, that is, within the lower 10% of the curtain height. In addition the lower portion of the bar 10 can also be provided with a handle 11 which makes it easier to hold the bar and the curtain 1. Figure 2 shows the curtain 1 in the partially raised condition, wherein such a condition is produced for example by a user holding the handle 11 and pulling it up and down. By virtue of their double-layer nature the lower left and right corner regions 4, 5, are relatively heavy and hang freely downwards., in which case, depending on the respective orientation of the rigid bar or metal rail 10, they form one or two bent lines that are defined by the lines 8, 9 and 6, 7 respectively. If the metal rail 10 is maintained substantially in the plane corresponding to the curtain portion that is placed thereon and that is held in a tense state, the bent line is defined either by the lines 6, 7 while in contrast if the metal rail 10 is angled downwards with respect to the plane of the curtain that is above it, instead this implies a fold along the lines 8, 9, where the term • bend1 here does not mean a sharp line but the more or less rounded transition of the flat surface that is on the metal rail 10 downwards to the lower left and right corner regions hanging 4, 5, which are therefore trapezoidal or triangular in shape. Figure 3 shows how the rail 10 now rises by means of the handle 11 on the upper edge of the container. In such a case a fold or fold line is formed along the respective lines 8, 9, as described above with reference to Figure 2. The lower left and right corner regions 4, 5 then hang downwards substantially only of the rail 10 and the user can then place the curtain dust cover in a folded shape on the upper side of the container 3, as finally shown in the figure.

To pull the curtain from the upper side of the container the user preferably holds the handle 11, pulls it forward on the upper edge 16 and simply allows the curtain to fall, in which case the curtain assumes a position in a uniform and completely opposite condition. on the open side of the container, by virtue of the specific configuration described. It should be noted that the appended figures only schematically show the object of the invention, while parts that are not essential to the invention such as for example the internal compartments distribution of the container 3 and a complete illustration of the container 3 have been omitted.

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 (10)

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

1. Curtain for an open side of a container, wherein the curtain comprises a flexible weft material, which is approximately rectangular in shape and can be connected along its upper edge to the portion of the container, which is in opposite relation to the upper edge, characterized in that the two lower left and right corner regions of the curtain are on average per unit surface area of a weight greater than average of the remaining areas of the curtain. Curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower corner regions of the curtain additionally have weights that fit in or on them. Curtain according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the lower corner regions substantially comprise triangular or trapezoidal regions of increased weight relative to the area, in particular in the form of thickened material of the curtain. Curtain according to claim 3, characterized in that the lower corner regions comprise a greater number of layers of the flexible weft material than the greater part of the area of the remaining curtain. Curtain according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower corner regions comprise two layers of the flexible weft material while in other respects the curtain substantially comprises a layer of the flexible weft material. Curtain according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each of the lower corner regions of increased weight relative to the area is composed of at least about 10% of the area of the total curtain. Curtain according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lower corner regions are homogeneous, that is to say they have a uniform density in relation to the area. A curtain according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the regions of the lower corner substantially include the entire area which is incorporated by the left and right corners respectively and a line extending from the left and right corner. upper respectively of the curtain to a longitudinal center line in the vicinity of or on the lower edge of the curtain, to a maximum of half the height of the curtain. Curtain according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the curtain comprises at least partially a transparent plastic material. A curtain according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, starting from the vicinity of the lower edge of the curtain, to harden a lower central portion of the curtain, a bar of a material that is rigid in comparison with the The material of the curtain is fixed to the curtain and extends substantially along the vertical center line of the curtain to a point within the lower half of the curtain.