NL1009326C1 - Inwardly foldable storage container comprises polygonal base with corner bodies at each corner that include primary support components, with base including secondary support components - Google Patents

Abstract

At the location of each corner point of the base (1) is a corner body (8) which is connected by means of a basic surface with the base. Each corner body comprises at least one primary support component (83), whilst the base has secondary support devices. The primary support component and the secondary support devices, at least at the location of an angle point, work in conjunction with one another. The arrangement is such that between the primary support component and the secondary support devices a wall (2) of the container can be freely releasably received.

Description

The present invention relates to a storage container comprising a polygonal bottom, which may or may not be closed, with upright walls, which may or may not be closed, which walls can be folded manually.

Collapsible storage container.

Such a collapsible storage container is known from a European patent application No. 443,327. The storage container described therein comprises a rectangular bottom from which four uprights extend at the corners. Four walls are accommodated between the uprights on the sides of the bottom and are hingedly connected to them at the bottom by means of a hinge pin. At their top, the side walls are provided with means for fixing the walls in an upright position.

A drawback of this known collapsible storage container is that the hinge construction used therein is relatively fragile. It is not uncommon for storage containers of the type referred to here to be handled relatively roughly, which may result in a hinge pin being bent or even breaking off, in which case the entire container must be taken out of service at least temporarily, for repair or even complete replacement.

20

The object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible storage container of the type mentioned in the preamble, which is considerably less vulnerable and can be repaired particularly quickly in the event of accidental damage.

In order to achieve the intended object, a storage container of the type mentioned in the preamble according to the invention is characterized in that an angle body is provided at each corner point of the bottom with at least one primary support member, which comprises secondary support means, and that the primary support members and the secondary support means can mutually cooperate at least at the location of the corner points in order to receive the walls of the container in a releasable manner in an input space therebetween.

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The present invention starts from in principle loose walls which are slid between primary supporting members and secondary supporting means. This makes it possible to avoid relatively vulnerable hinge members, such as in the known storage container. Moreover, completely detachable walls facilitate the possible repair of an unexpected damage thereto, in particular because the container does not have to be taken out of operation for this purpose. After all, the damaged wall can easily be removed and replaced, temporarily or otherwise, by a spare wall. The damaged wall can then be repaired while the container remains in operation.

10

In a special embodiment, the storage container according to the invention has the feature that the at least one primary support member of a corner body comprises two, whether or not contiguous, support surfaces which are substantially transverse to each other and on either side of a corner point substantially parallel to the sides of the container adjoining the corner point and that the supporting surfaces and the secondary supporting means, at least at the location of the corner point, enclose an input space in order to receive a wall of the container in a releasable manner.

Such connecting surfaces, which may or may not be contiguous, as the primary supporting member have already been found to provide excellent support at a low height for the side walls which, on their opposite side, support adequately against the secondary supporting means of the container bottom. A special embodiment of the storage container according to the invention is characterized in that the corner body comprises a base surface from which the supporting surfaces protrude and by means of which it is connected to the bottom, and that the secondary supporting means comprise side walls of the bottom which together with the opposite supporting surfaces of an angle body limit the inlet space. The base surface allows simple mounting of the corner bodies to the container bottom, the base surface forming a bottom of the infeed space and the supporting surfaces and the side walls of the bottom delimiting the infeed space laterally. From a manufacturing technical point of view, but also because of the strength and durability, a further embodiment of the storage container deserves 1 ^ 09? Preferred according to the invention, which is characterized in that the supporting surfaces on the corner body are contiguous and form an integral whole with the base surface of the corner body. This achieves an extremely sturdy and robust whole, which can be manufactured relatively easily from, for example, sheet steel.

5

In an important preferred embodiment, the storage container according to the invention has the feature that the bottom of the container comprises a base part and an upper deck, that the supporting surfaces are directly connected to the base part and that the top deck is retracted on at least one of the sides of the container. 10 relative to the base part, thus leaving the inlet space intended for a wall of the container. Because, in this embodiment, the base part of the container bottom limits the entry space at the bottom, a base surface at the corner body can be omitted. The corner bodies of this embodiment can therefore be particularly simple in nature and need not comprise more than a bent piece of sheet steel which is nailed, screwed or otherwise fastened directly to the container bottom.

For the purpose of practical handling of the storage container, a further special embodiment of the storage container according to the invention has the feature that the bottom comprises a pallet construction intended to receive lifting means from a lifting device therein. Larger and therefore heavier containers in particular can be maneuvered effortlessly in their bottom thanks to such a pallet construction using conventional lifting means such as a forklift truck or lift truck. Preferably, a pallet construction that is accessible from one side is used here, and more in particular a pallet construction which is accessible on all sides of the storage container. In order that access to an input space for the lifting members is not hindered thereby, a special embodiment of the storage container according to the invention further has the feature that the walls at their underside which are turned towards the bottom are provided with a recess which provides access to the pallet construction.

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In a further embodiment, the storage container according to the invention has the feature that the walls on a top facing away from the bottom are provided with manually detachable coupling means intended to at least temporarily connect adjacent walls to one another. Such coupling means can in practice be used in a short time to achieve a solid, mutually coherent whole. In a special embodiment, the storage container according to the invention has the feature that the coupling means comprise a belt with tensioning means and that adjacent walls are provided near the mutually formed corner point with an insertion slot for receiving the belt therein. In practice, such straps 10 appear to be extremely well-suited to their task and, due to their flexibility and flexibility, are not very vulnerable and therefore resistant to relatively rough use of the storage container. For easy insertion of a strap, the insertion slot in at least one of the two adjacent walls is open from the top of the wall.

15

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the storage container according to the invention has the feature that the bottom is at least substantially rectangular with two long sides and two short sides, that a supporting rib with a thickness of at least at least one edge of the bottom is arranged on both short sides almost twice a wall thickness of the walls on the short sides, and that the walls have a height smaller than the length of the long side less the sum of the widths of the two supporting ribs. By folding the short walls first in this embodiment and placing them between the two ribs, the long sides, and optionally a cover, can then be laid on a flat and stable bed which is formed on both sides by a supporting rib.

In a further special embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, in which the primary support members on the corner bodies have a height at least substantially equal to the thickness of the bottom plus the sum of the wall thicknesses, the corner bodies thereby prevent the walls can slide apart when folded. Thus, the collapsed storage container 1009326-5 contains a particularly handy and compact package held together. In order to facilitate the refitting of the container, a preferred embodiment of the storage container according to the invention has the feature that the walls are provided with at least one handle. Such a handle aims to provide sufficient grip to lift an otherwise flat wall from its collapsed position.

In practice, storage containers are often stacked on top of each other in order to save floor space of a storage space. In view of such use, a further embodiment of the storage container according to the invention is characterized in that at least some of the walls are provided on their upper side facing away from the bottom with stacking members which are able to cooperate with the corner bodies of a similar storage container placed thereon to effect mutual guidance. Such a guide which can be established between the stacking members and the corner bodies considerably facilitates straight stacking of successive containers. In a special embodiment the storage container according to the invention is further characterized in that the stacking members comprise an upright projection which is able to cooperate with a side wall of a corner body of a storage container placed thereon.

A mutual stackability of the storage containers is also achieved in a further special embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, which is characterized in that the bottom of the container comprises a base part and a bottom deck, the bottom deck being recessed on all sides of the container of the base part to thus fall within the upright walls of a similar storage container placed beneath it. Because in this embodiment the bottom deck falls within the walls of a container placed below it, these walls automatically guide the top container in a straight stack, which makes further stacking members unnecessary.

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The storage container according to the invention is suitable, inter alia, for the storage of loose material and bulk goods. Where appropriate, the container is thereby emptied by tilting the container in a device intended for that purpose so that the contents fall out. In order to prevent the walls of the container from loosening thereby, a further embodiment of the storage container according to the invention has the feature that the bottom and the walls, at least in the unfolded condition of the container, are connected to each other by releasable means by means of locking means .

In a first particular embodiment, the storage container according to the invention is characterized in that the securing means herein comprise an externally arranged belt, which on the one hand is permanently connected to a first one of the bottom and a wall and on the other hand comprises a series of openings in which at least one of them ridge on a second to receive the bottom and wall. Such securing means are relatively invulnerable, even with rough use of the container and, when mounted, prevent the relevant wall from becoming detached from the bottom. The same applies to the securing means in a second special embodiment of the storage container according to the invention, characterized in that the securing means comprise a cam arranged on the corner body, which extends in the infeed space and that the wall of the container comprises a hole for mounting in the input space therein receive the cam.

The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of two exemplary embodiments and an accompanying drawing. In the drawing: figure 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a storage container according to the invention in erected position; figure 2 shows a bottom view of the storage container of figure 1; figure 3 shows a first side view of the container of figure 1 in erected position; figure 4 shows a second side view of the container of figure 1 in erected position; figure 5 shows a top view of a bottom of the storage container of figure 1; 1009326 -7- figure 6 along the line VI-VI of figure 5, partly in side view and partly in cross-section, the storage container of figure 1 in folded state; figure 7 along the line VII-VII of figure 5, partly in side view and partly in cross-section, the storage container of figure 1 in folded state; Figure 8 shows a view of a first wall of the storage container of figure 1; and figure 9 shows a view of a second wall of the storage container of figure 1.

figure 10 shows a top view of the bottom of a second embodiment of the storage container according to the invention; figure 11 shows a section along the line XI-XI of the bottom of figure 10; Figure 12 shows a side view of a short wall belonging to the bottom of figure 10; Figure 13 is a side view of a long wall associated with the bottom of Figure 10; figure 14 shows a side view of the second embodiment of the storage container 15 according to the invention in folded state; figure 15 shows a top view of the second embodiment of the storage container according to the invention in fully assembled condition; and figure 16 shows a side view of two storage containers according to the second exemplary embodiment in mutually stacked condition.

20 The figures are purely schematic and not always drawn to scale. In particular, for the sake of clarity, some dimensions are exaggerated. Corresponding parts are designated as far as possible in the figures with the same reference numeral.

Figure 1 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a storage container according to the invention. The container comprises a rectangular bottom 1 which in this example is formed by an upper deck 11 of a series of parallel wooden slats nailed to a base part of the bottom, comprising three transverse slats 12 with intermediate blocks 14, see figure 2, which upper deck 11 separates from a lower deck 13 of three separate battens. On the longitudinal sides of the bottom are four upright walls 2,3, namely two 1 009326 -8- long 2 and two shorter 3. The walls 2,3 comprise this example panels 91 of a suitable wood-based sheet material, such as, for example, 15-20 mm waterproof plywood, plywood, OSB or underlayment, which are provided all round with cleats 92 with a total thickness of approximately 40 mm. Instead of such a plate material, walls 2, 3 or walls 2,3 constructed entirely of cleats and loose slats can also be used. The unfolded container of this example has a length, width and height of approximately 1200, 1000 and 940 mm, respectively, and a net volume of approximately 850 liters.

The walls 2,3 are each received loosely in an inlet space 6 between a side wall 7 of the bottom and a corner body 8 which is arranged at each corner point. The corner bodies 8 each comprise a base surface 81 with which it is connected to the bottom 1 of the container by means of screws, nails or other suitable adhesives, see figure 2, as well as a primary support member, in this example in the form of two contiguous supports surfaces 82,83, to support two adjacent walls 2,3 against this. The support surfaces 82, 83 extend on either side of the corner point substantially parallel to the relevant walls 2,3 of the container and form one integral whole with the base surface 81. For the corner bodies 8, in this example steel plate material with a thickness of approximately 4-6 mm, which appears to be sufficiently strong in practice for the intended purpose. If desired, however, other materials and thicknesses can also be used within the scope of the invention.

Since the walls 2,3 are always detachable from the infeed spaces 6, they can be easily removed therefrom and collapsed into a compact whole, see figures 6 and 7. To facilitate this, the walls 2,3 handles 9 fitted with which the walls can easily be lowered and raised. In this example, the handles are based on polyester belts, but instead, if desired, suitable recesses can also be provided in the walls 30 or otherwise provided with a grip on the walls. Preferably, first the short walls 3 are taken out from the infeed space 6 and 1 eye is placed between supporting ribs 50 arranged for this purpose on the bottom. The support ribs 50 have a height at least equal to the sum of the thicknesses of both short walls 3, so that a flat bed can be obtained in order to stably lay down the long walls 2 thereon. In this example, a beam 5 with a height of 80 mm and a width of 60 mm is used for the ribs 50. Since the corner bodies 8 with a height of approximately 300 mm have a height which is substantially equal to the thickness of the bottom 1 plus the sum of the thicknesses of all side walls 2,3, the corner bodies 8 are also capable of collapsed state to hold the whole firmly together. In this way an extremely compact and handy whole 10 is obtained with a total thickness of approximately 300 mm. that is easy to store.

In order to give the container in unfolded state, see in particular figures 3 and 4, more cohesion and strength, the walls 2,3 near the corner points on their top are provided with manually detachable coupling means in the form of tensioning belts 30 with tensioning means 31 and tuned slots 32,33. In this case, one of the two slots 33 with two adjacent walls 2,3 is open from a top side and the other 32 is completely closed. The closed tensioning strap 30 can thus not come loose from the closed slot 32, while the strap can simply be slid from above into or out of the slot 33 opened there of the adjacent wall in order to effect or to remove the desired connection.

Since storage containers of the type described here are frequently used for the storage of bulk goods or other loose material which is poured therefrom by tilting the container, the walls 2,3 and the bottom 1 in this example are manually detachable with one another. connected together by means of securing means 60 provided for this purpose. The securing means comprise a band 61 which is permanently adhered to a wall and which at one end comprises a series of openings 62 for receiving therein a cam 63 fixed with the side of the bottom connected. The strap 61 is made of polyester and is relatively stretch-free, allowing it to pull tightly around the cam 63 with an opening 62 for a firm connection.

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Usually containers of the type described here are moved using suitable lifting means such as a forklift. In view of this, the bottom 1 of the container comprises a pallet construction 40 which, in this example, is four-way double-deck, not reversible, see in particular figures 6 and 7, in order to receive the spoons of a forklift truck therein. The pallet construction comprises a number of blocks 14 and cross bars 12 with which the top deck 11 of the bottom 1 is connected to a bottom deck 13 of three parallel boards at a more or less standardized distance of approximately 80 mm. The pallet construction shown is accessible by a forklift truck on all four sides of the container, offering optimum handling.

In order not to hinder access to the pallet construction, the walls of the container are provided with recesses 90 adapted thereto, see in particular figures 8 and 9.

With a view to a possible stacking of containers, the upper cleats 92 of the two long walls 2 of the container are provided at their top with a notch 15 70 which is able to cooperate with a side wall of a corner body of a stacked thereon container so as to establish a mutual guidance. Thus, the notched cleats 92 form stacking members which, upon stacking, automatically guide an above-placed container into the correct position.

Instead of making such a notch 70, it is also possible to make the upper cleats of the long sides shorter, such that the end ends thereof bear against the side walls of the corner bodies of a container placed thereon. This avoids an additional processing step associated with making a notch, but is perhaps less attractive from an aesthetic point of view. In addition, it is possible to provide separate stacking members in the form of, for example, approximately 4 mm thick plate parts with an upright ridge which performs the same function as the notch 70. The ridge is then able to cooperate with a side wall of a corner body of a container stacked thereon so as to effect the mutual guidance.

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A second embodiment of the storage container according to the invention is shown in Figures 10-18. In this case too, the container comprises a bottom 1 with a base part, an upper deck 11 and a bottom deck 13. The base part comprises a number of blocks 14 and cross bars 12, both of good quality spruce wood, which support the top deck 11 and bottom deck 13 on a keep a standard distance to form a pallet construction. Instead of from a series of loose slats, as in the first example, the upper deck 11 in this case is formed from two panels of OSB sheet material, see figure 10. The walls 2,3 of the container are also complete in this example made of OSB sheet material. As in the first example 10, the bottom deck 13 comprises three parallel slats.

At the location of the corner points of the container, corner bodies 8 are provided, each of which comprises two contiguous support surfaces 81, 82 which form primary support members. Unlike in the first exemplary embodiment, the support surfaces 81, 82 of the corner bodies 8 are directly connected to the blocks 14 of the base part 12 of the bottom 1 and the corner bodies lack a base surface. Since the upper deck 11 of the container bottom is retracted relative to the base part 12, there is nevertheless an entry space 6 in which the side walls 2,3 of the container are received. The sides of the upper deck thereby form secondary support means and keep the walls 2,3 in their mutual position.

In this case too, securing means are provided so that a built-up container can be tilted if desired. The locking means in this example comprise a cam 65 on the support means 8 which extends in the infeed space 6 in combination with a corresponding hole 66 in the side walls 2,3, see in particular figures 12 and 13, in order to receive the cam 65 therein. . Because the hole 66 is thereby slightly more spacious than the ridge 65, there is sufficient clearance to be able to bring the wall over the ridge when the walls are placed. In addition, the holes 66 are open from the respective longitudinal side of the wall, so that the walls can also be simply folded out beyond the other projections 65 of the respective supporting bodies.

Once placed, the lugs 65 in the holes 66 secure the walls vertically, while the walls mutually provide horizontal fixation. The container can thus be tilted without any risk of collapse.

The walls 2,3 are provided at their top with coupling means in the form of tensioning belts 30 with tensioning means 31 around the short walls 3 and mounting cams 35 on the long sides 2. Once the free end of the tensioning belt 30 is placed over the ridge the adjacent long wall is drawn and secured to the ridge by means of an opening arranged therein. The tensioning strap 30 is then tightened with the tensioning means 31 to achieve a tight, play-free mutual fixation of the walls. Handles 9 in the form of double folded band parts in the middle of the walls facilitate the handling of the walls. The container thus set up is shown in top view of figure 15.

This embodiment of the container according to the invention is also equipped with a lid 4, see figure 15, with which the contents of the container can be closed. The lid bears on four lid supports 41 which are arranged on the inside of the long walls 2. The lid supports here include spruce chocks nailed to or otherwise secured to the wall. A number of openings 42 in the lid serve as a handle with which the lid 4 can easily be lifted out and carried along. The whole is dimensioned such that the walls 2,3 together with the cover 4 fit within the supporting bodies 8 on the bottom 1 and thereby form a compact whole as shown in figure 14.

The containers are stackable to save space. In this case this is enhanced by the fact that the bottom deck is also retracted relative to the base part, see figures 11 and 14. As a result, the bottom deck falls within the supporting bodies of a container placed below, so that an automatic alignment of the containers mutually becomes a straight stack. achieved, which is shown in Figure 16. Incidentally, the bottom deck does not have to be retracted per se in order to achieve a mutual stacking of the containers. Stacking is also possible without such a staggering of the bottom deck, but this will require a higher degree of precision of 100S326 -13- for example the forklift driver to place the containers upright on top of each other.

Although the invention has been further elucidated above on the basis of only two embodiments, it will be clear that the invention is in no way limited to the examples given. On the contrary, many variations and appearances are still possible for a skilled person without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention can thus also be applied to both smaller and larger containers than that of the exemplary embodiment. In any case, the given sizes 10 and materials are given by way of example only and within the scope of being replaceable with other suitable materials and desired dimensions.

Also differently shaped corner elements can be used within the scope of the invention, whereby for instance loose supporting surfaces, cams or otherwise other primary supporting members are used. If a thinner bottom, for example one without a pallet construction, is assumed, the secondary supporting means preferably comprise secondary supporting members to provide sufficient supporting capacity to a wall of the container placed against it.

The placement of the corner elements can also be varied in height. In a special embodiment, the base of the corner elements is located between the bottom deck of a pallet construction and the blocks mounted thereon. The base of the corner elements is thus protected between the bottom deck and the bobbins and a mutual alignment of containers stacked on top of each other is also provided in that a bottom deck of an upper placed container will fall within the walls of a container located below, while the corner elements of the former container will support on those walls.

In general, the invention provides a storage container of the type mentioned in the preamble 30, which can be realized in various embodiments and always provides a particularly practical collapsibility and robustness.

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Claims (23)

Storage container comprising a polygonal bottom, which may or may not be closed, with upright walls, which may or may not be closed on its longitudinal sides, which walls can be folded manually, characterized in that an angle body is provided at each corner point of the bottom with at least one primary support member, which bottom comprises secondary support means, and that the primary support members and the secondary support means can mutually cooperate at least at the location of the corner points to receive the walls of the container in a releasable manner between them. 2. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one primary support member of a corner body comprises two support surfaces, which may or may not be contiguous, which are substantially transverse to each other and on either side of a corner point substantially parallel to the the corners extend adjacent sides of the container and that the supporting surfaces and the secondary supporting means, at least at the location of the corner, enclose the inlet space in order to receive a wall of the container in a releasable manner. Storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the corner body comprises a base surface from which the supporting surfaces protrude and by means of which it is connected to the bottom, and in that the secondary supporting means comprise side walls of the bottom which together with the opposite supporting surfaces of a corner body limit the input space. 25 Storage container according to claim 3, characterized in that the supporting surfaces are connected to the corner body and form an integral whole with the base surface of the corner body. Storage container according to claim 2, characterized in that the bottom of the container comprises a base part and an upper deck, that the supporting surfaces are directly connected to the base part and that the top deck is retracted on at least one of the sides of the container relative to the base part so as to leave the inlet space intended for a wall of the container. Storage container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom of the container comprises a base part and a bottom deck, in that the bottom deck is retracted on all sides of the container with respect to the base part, so that it is within the upright walls of a placed below it, similar storage container. 10 Storage container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom comprises a pallet construction intended to receive lifting means from a lifting device therein. Storage container according to claim 7, characterized in that the pallet construction is accessible on multiple sides for lifting members of a lifting device. Storage container according to claim 8, characterized in that the pallet construction is accessible on all sides of the container for lifting devices of a lifting device. 20 Storage container according to one or more of claims 7, 8 and 9, characterized in that the walls are provided with a recess on their underside, which faces the bottom, which provides access to the pallet construction. Storage container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the walls on a top facing away from the bottom are provided with manually detachable coupling means intended to at least temporarily connect adjacent walls to one another. 1nnp 3? R -16- Storage container according to claim 11, characterized in that the coupling means comprise a belt with tensioning means and that adjacent walls are provided near the mutually formed corner point with an insertion slot for receiving the belt therein. Storage container according to claim 12, characterized in that the insertion slot in at least one of the two adjacent walls is open from the top of the wall. Storage container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom is at least substantially rectangular with two long sides and two short sides, that a supporting rib with a thickness which is provided on both short sides near an edge of the bottom at least substantially twice a wall thickness of the walls on the short sides, and that the walls have a height less than the length of the long side less the sum of the widths of the two supporting ribs. 15 Storage container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the primary support members on the corner bodies have a height which is at least substantially equal to the thickness of the bottom plus the sum of the wall thicknesses. 20 Storage container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the walls at their top facing away from the bottom are provided with stacking members capable of interacting with the corner members of a similar storage container placed thereon to establish a mutual guidance. Storage container according to claim 16, characterized in that the stacking members comprise an upright projection which is able to cooperate with a side wall of a corner body of a storage container placed thereon. 30 1 n09 3? R -17- Storage container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the walls are provided with at least one handle. 19. Storage container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom and the walls, at least in the unfolded condition of the container, are connected releasably by means of locking means. 20. Storage container according to claim 19, characterized in that the securing means comprise an externally arranged band which is on the one hand permanently connected to a first of the bottom and a wall and on the other hand comprises a series of openings for in at least one of them a ridge on a second of the bottom and wall. Storage container according to claim 20, characterized in that the securing means comprise a cam arranged on the corner body, which extends in the inlet space 15, and in that the wall of the container comprises a hole for receiving the cam when placed in the inlet space therein. Storage container according to claim 21, characterized in that the hole is arranged near one side of the wall and is open from that side. 20 Storage container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two opposite walls of the container are provided with lid supports on their facing sides to receive a lid of the container thereon. 25 1009326