US20090120835A1

US20090120835A1 - Container

Info

Publication number: US20090120835A1
Application number: US12/221,452
Authority: US
Inventors: Rainer Ublacker; Karl Scheithauer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-03
Filing date: 2008-08-02
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: DE202007010828U1; DE102008032481A1; EP2020382A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (10) with a container body (12) and a cover (14), with which the container body (12) can be closed on its upper side. The container (10) is embodied as a hood container which has a lower part (16), which can be detached from the container body (12) and is further provided with a recess. The container body (12) has on its lower side a circumferential extruded profile (44), which interacts with an extruded profile (44) on the upper side of the lower part (16), wherein a plurality of bent lever closures are provided for connection between the container body (12) and the lower part (16). By closure of the plurality of bent lever closures the container body (12) can be connected to the lower part (16) such that a seal (62) inserted between both extruded profiles (44) can be compressed by stop faces of the extruded profiles (44) by a specified level.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a container, in particular a hood container, according to the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous containers have become known as so-called hood containers which enable articles, which are to be transported and stored, to be operated after removal of the hood in a vibration-free and easily accessible manner.
In this case, so-called pallet containers should in particular be cited which offer a conventional pallet as a standing surface. The advantage of such a solution lies in the fact that the pallet is easy to handle but can be produced at low cost, not least due to the large numbers involved. It also offers very good flexibility in terms of the options for fastening the hood.
Reference is made to the pallet container according to DE 295 01 479 as an example of such a pallet container. This container is, however, practically a type of supporting casing for a container made of stainless steel sheet for storing fluids. On the upper side, the supporting casing is clearly fixedly connected to a covering plate, while the supporting casing is inserted into recesses in the pallet, which projects slightly to the side.
Containers have also become known in which articles, which are to be transported and/or stored, have to be fixedly fastened to a lower part. One should consider in this case sensitive devices, for example, electronic devices in the military sector which also have to be well protected. In this context, production of a hood has also been proposed having an inlet opening to the device in order to carry out minor tasks in the case of the device even with a closed hood.
On the other hand, these proposed containers are, on the one hand, very complex to produce, not least as a result of their fissured configuration, but, on the other hand, are not, however, particularly robust, as a result of which sealing is difficult or even impossible. This particularly applies if no fluid barrier is possible as a result of additional visual flaps, etc. which only closes as a result of their weight.
A further disadvantage of multi-part containers is in principle the reduced rigidity over one-part containers. Each dividing point offers the possibility for contamination to penetrate there; if the container falls or tips over by accident, the connecting elements come slightly loose there.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to create a robust container according to the preamble of claim 1 which enables improved operability even in the case of particularly sensitive devices, including electrical devices, possibly using known components, is very cheap to produce, but still offers reliable protection and can also in particular be sealed off.
This object is achieved according to the invention by claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention will become apparent from the subordinate claims.
According to the invention, it is provided to configure a container in a geometric standard form, for example cuboid or cubic. Herein, the production of rounded corners is particularly expedient, according to which the number of contamination-sensitive internal corners is then minimized.
According to the invention, the container which is insofar present in a simple geometric form offers the possibility of operating with simple sealing planes. The lower part according to the invention can insofar adjoin the container body imperviously in a particularly simple manner, wherein even standard closures can be used.
By producing a fully opening or removable cover which covers the entire upper side of the container, easy access to the device to be stored can be produced on the one hand. On the other hand, it is ensured that a reliable sealing connection which is known per se can also be produced here.
Bent lever closures which are known per se can preferably be used according to the invention for this purpose, which bent lever closures interact with lever hooks on the respectively opposite part, wherein both parts are guided towards one another via extruded profiles into which a seal is inserted. The extruded profiles opposite one another have centering oblique faces at the bottom on the container body and at the top on the lower part, which oblique faces facilitate the attachment of the container body in the correct position on the lower part and in particular simultaneously form a labyrinth seal there. It is particularly preferable if the seal is produced on the inside, i.e. protected, and stop faces and oblique stop faces are provided which enable a specified sealing force when the bent lever closure is closed. The bent lever closures are installed in the region of the container body wall or the lower part wall which snap back relative to the terminal extruded profiles. The corner extruded profile squeezes its ends in an inherently familiar manner in a shared groove for connection between the base wall and the side walls. The connection between the extruded profiles and the sheet metals of the container is produced via pressing.
By means of this, precise, yet simple and impervious connections can be produced, wherein it is provided according to the invention to produce the identical connection arrangement between container body and cover and between container body and lower part.
According to the invention, it is particularly expedient that the lower part, as a flat cuboid, itself likewise offers a stable basis which can accommodate even heavy devices but can nevertheless also be produced in a fluid-impervious manner without a lateral projection being necessary. The security from damage can thus be significantly improved, and by suitable configuration of the corner extruded profile at the base, stacking capacity of the container can also be achieved without further ado.
To this end, the cover of the container has stack projections in a manner which is known per se, which stack projections have centering external oblique faces with respect to internal oblique faces of the corner extruded profile at the base such that a lateral slipping is impossible. The stack projections allow optionally a further container body or a further lower part to be supported in a positive-locking manner, and in particular have stop shoulders, which act against a horizontal displacement of the parts stacked on top of one another relative to one another.
Where required, additional stack closures, for example, corresponding to the container closures, could even be produced which would enable a connection between containers stacked on top of one another.
However, the lower part according to the invention also enables an impact-protected accommodation of sensitive electronic, electromechanical or also technical chemical procedural devices: it is thus for example possible to line or fill the lower part with foam or another suitable lining material. Further impact protection can be produced by likewise providing the inner wall of the container body with an impact protection lining. This does not impair operability since the hood—with a closed cover—can also be completely removed where required with such a modification, or it is also possible to leave the container body on the lower part and produce access to the accommodated device or other article via folding up of the cover.
Further advantages, details and features will become apparent from the following description of one exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, a container according to the invention in a closed form in one embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 1 with an open cover and separated lower part; and

FIG. 3 shows the lower part for the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Container 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a container body 12, a cover 14 and a lower part 16. The basic shape of the container is cuboid, wherein, in the closed state of container 10, the height of the container approximately corresponds to the width of the container and the depth is approximately ⅔ of the width. The four vertical external corners are rounded here, wherein in a manner known per se the radius is approximately 5% of the container width.
The division between lower part 16 and container body 12 is selected in the exemplary embodiment shown such that the lower part occupies approximately ⅓ and the container body approximately ⅔ of the height of the container.
It should be understood that the dimensions indicated here should solely be understood as exemplary and can be adjusted to a large extent to requirements. Container 10 has in any case a simple cubic or quadratic basic form and the height of lower part 16 is at least 1/10 of the height of container body 12, in particular more than ⅓ and less than ⅔, preferably approximately half the depth of the lower part 16.
Container body 12 is provided with two bent lever closures 18 and 20 which are known per se and interact with lever hooks 26 and 28 which are fastened on cover 14 at the front/bottom. This type of detachable locking of the cover is known per se.
Similar bent lever closures 22 and 24 are provided on lower part 16. These bent lever closures interact in turn with lever hooks 26 and 28 which are fastened at the bottom/front on container body 12, for example, via rivets.
While it is preferred that cover 14 is fastened in an articulated manner via a backward hinge on container body 12 and bent lever closures corresponding to bent lever closures 22 and 24 are attached to the rear of lower part 16, the invention is not restricted to this solution. For example, instead of these, bent lever closures corresponding to bent lever closures 18 and 20 can also be attached to the rear of container body 12 such that cover 14 can be completely removed. It is also possible to provide an articulation on the rear of the connection between lower part 16 and container body 12 such that the hood comprising cover 14 and container body 12 cannot be fully removed, but rather can be swiveled backwards.
In the event of too low a height of lower part 16, it is provided, instead of installing bent lever closures 22 and 24 on the front side of lower part 16, to attach these on the underside of container body 12. Lever hooks 26 and 28 are then attached opposite these on lower part 16.
With the configuration according to the invention, it is possible to accommodate and store a device, not shown here, or any other article securely in lower part 16. The transport of the device can then be performed expediently via carrying handles 30 which are in each case attached to front walls 32 of lower part 16. The load applied to lower part 16 is then received directly there such that bent lever closures 22 and 24 are not loaded by the carrying load.
However, in addition, further carrying handles 34 are attached opposite one another on front walls 36 of container body 12 in order to also enable carrying of container 10 there, for example, of an empty container.
Lower part 16 is basically configured trough-shaped. It has a base wall which snaps back upwards and is not shown here. The base wall is connected via a corner extruded profile 40, as is known per se with such containers on the container base, to front walls 32 and side walls 42 of lower part 16. These are formed from a circumferential metal sheet in a manner also known per se, and, by means of the corner radius specified here, such a metal sheet, but also circumferential corner extruded profile 40 can be easily produced. The sheet metal is preferentially light sheet metal.
Both bent lever closures 22 and 24 and carrying handles 30 are in each case fastened on circumferential walls 32 and 42 of lower part 16. These snap back slightly relative to corner extruded profile 40 such that the level of projection of the armatures formed in this manner is at least reduced.
The upper side of lower part 16 is formed by a closing profile 44 which is more easily apparent from FIG. 3.
Container body 12 together with cover 14 is shown in FIG. 2, wherein cover 14 is open there. Container body 12 has a lower closing profile 46 which interacts with closing profile 44 of lower part 16. Overlapping this, but not projecting with respect to this, lever hooks 26 and 28 are attached. Attachment is performed expediently such that the hood shown in FIG. 2 can be put down without resting on lever hooks 26 or 28.
The circumferential sheet metal which forms front walls 36 and side walls 48 of container body 12 is accommodated in closing profile 46. Due to the existing height, container body 12 is made more rigid there in each case with circumferential beads 50 and 52, wherein corner beads 54 are provided which serve for additional rigidity.
Walls 36 and 38 of container body 12 are sealed off via an upper closing profile 56 which is embodied in a manner known per se. It has, for example, a closing oblique face 58 which interacts with a corresponding oblique face of cover profile 60 and acts in a centering manner. A seal 62 is also accommodated circumferentially, as is known per se. The dimensioning is selected such that in the case of closed bent lever closures which can apply a significant closing force, the seal is compressed in a defined manner, wherein the level of compression is restricted by stop faces between cover profile 60 and closing profile 56.
A corresponding sealing off is performed between closing profile 44, as shown in FIG. 3, and lower closing profile 46 of container body 12. A seal, not shown, is also provided here which is compressed by a specified level. This makes it possible in general to manufacture a fluid-impervious container such that dust-imperviousness is insofar present.
Even though this is not shown in FIG. 3, it is preferred to provide lower part 16 with a lining material which can be, for example, foam, fleece, felt or another suitable material. The lining can be fixedly inserted in the lower part 16, in particular by adhesion or by interference fit. Where required, a corresponding installation frame for the device to be accommodated can also be fixedly installed there.
The production of lower part 16 with 30 carrying handles also makes it possible to transport the device for a short distance without a hood, i.e. resting only on lower part 16. After removal of the hood composed of cover and container body, the container can function as a stand frame for the operation of the device.
While a preferred form of this invention has been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular details described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but intends to be limited only to the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. In this regard, the term “means for” as used in the claims is intended to include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future.

Claims

1. A container (10) with a container body (12) and a cover (14), with which the: container body (12) can be closed on its upper side, wherein the container (10) is embodied as a hood container which has a lower part (16), which can be detached from the container body (12), with a recess, wherein the container body (12) has on its lower side a circumferential extruded profile (44), which interacts with an extruded profile (44) on the upper side of the lower part (16), wherein a plurality of bent lever closures are provided for connection between the container body (12) and the lower part (16), by closure of which plurality of bent lever closures the container body (12) can be connected to the lower part (16) such that a seal (62) inserted between both extruded profiles (44) can be compressed by stop faces of the extruded profiles (44) by a specified level.

2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess of the lower part (16) comprises a base and four side walls (42) which extend upwards from said base.

3. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (10) is embodied as an essentially cuboid container, possibly with rounded corners, and comprises in particular sheet metal, preferably light sheet metal, which is guided via the extruded profiles (44).

4. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extruded profiles (44) opposite one another have centering oblique faces at the bottom on the container body (12) and at the top on the lower part (16), which centering oblique faces facilitate the attachment of the container body (12) in the correct position on the lower part (16) and in particular simultaneously form a labyrinth seal there.

5. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two bent lever closures lie opposite one another and that the bent lever closures are installed in the region of the container body wall or the lower part wall which snap back relative to the terminal extruded profiles (44).

6. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for connection between cover (14) and container body (12), at least one closure, preferably two closures are fastened, and that the cover (14) is in particular mounted on the container body (12) such that it is articulated backwards, preferably via hinges.

7. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein similar or identical closures are used for connection between cover (14) and container body (12) on the one hand and container body (12) and lower part (16) on the other.

8. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower part (16) is embodied flatly cuboid and has a height of more than 1/10, in particular more than ⅓ and less than ⅔, preferably approximately half the depth of the lower part (16).

9. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower part (16) has a lining, in particular made of foam, which is fixedly inserted in the lower part (16), in particular by adhesion or by interference fit.

10. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower part (16) has carrying handles (30), which are fastened in particular on the front walls (32) of the lower part (16) and preferably correspond to carrying handles (30) or are similar to such which are fitted on the front walls (36) of the container body (12).

11. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base wall of the lower part (16) snaps back at least slightly relative to a corner extruded profile (40) and that the corner extruded profile (40) squeezes its ends in an inherently familiar manner in a shared groove for connection between the base wall and the side walls (42).

12. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection between the extruded profiles and the sheet metals of the container (10) is produced via pressing.

13. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover (14) of the container (10) has stack projections, via which optionally a further container body (12) or a further lower part (16) can be supported in a positive-locking manner, and in particular has stop shoulders, which act against a horizontal displacement of the parts stacked on top of one another relative to one another.

14. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (10) is used as a transport container for an article, in particular an electrical device, and, after removal of the hood composed of cover (14) and container body (12), as a stand frame for operation of the device.