Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D67/00—Kinds or types of packaging elements not otherwise provided for
  • B65D67/02—Clips or clamps for holding articles together for convenience of storage or transport
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
  • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
  • B65D21/0201—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable or joined together side-by-side

Definitions

• This invention relates to a coupling means for releasable coupling of at least two containers, preferably of the art plastic container for bottles, which coupling means comprises at least two first grip elements arranged to cooperate, each of them, with a second grip element at each of the containers.
• the object of the invention is to provide such a coupling means , and it is primarily characterised in that it is provided with a guide element designed to guide the first grip elements to engagement with the second grip elements, thereby guided by a second hollow space, formed by at least two containers, brought together.
• a guide element designed to guide the first grip elements to engagement with the second grip elements, thereby guided by a second hollow space, formed by at least two containers, brought together.
• Figure 1 shows, in perspective a previously known cross hook, for coupling four wooden containers together
• figure 2A shows a plane view of two containers, brought together to be coupled together by a coupling means according to the invention
• figure 2B shows a plane view of a coupling means according to the inventio with portions of the containers in figure 2A
• figure 3A shows a plane view of two containers, intended to be coupled togther by a coupling means of an alternative design
• figure 3B shows a side view of a coupling means, applied at the containers of figure 3A
• figure 3C shows a plane view of a coupling means, apphed at the containers of figure 3A
• figure 4A shows a coupling means according to the invention, seen in a side view
• figure 4B shows a plane view of the object of figure 4A
• figure 4C shows a plane view of the four corners of four plastic containers, partly brought together to be coupled together by the coupling means in figure 4A
• figures 5A- 5C show plane views of three embodiment
• FIG 1 a previously known cross hook is marked by 1, and four wooden containers by 2- 5.
• this form of a coupling means shows several drawbacks, it is expensive and also cumbersome in use.
• Figure 2A shows two containers, marked by 6 and 7. Their walls have recesses, all of them marked by 8.
• figure 2B there is shown a plane view of a coupling means 9, with a central guide element 10, that has been passed down in the quadratic hollow space, that has been formed by two recesses 8.
• Four first grip elements 11 are symmetrically chvided around the guide element such that they grip down in pairs at each side of the walls 12 and 13.
• the second grip element is formed by the quadratic hollow space, that is limited by these walls.
• FIGS. 3B and 3C An alternative design of the coupling means is shown in figures 3B and 3C, comprising a guide element 40 and two first grip elements 41.
• the guide element consists of a profile, the cross section of which is obvious from figure 3C.
• the guide element and the grip element are joined by an upper plate 42, provided with a lower recess 43, intended to be engaged to the upper corner portions 44 of two containers, held together with their longer sides engaging each other, see figure 3A.
• the guide element is in this case guided by the hollow space, that is limited by the corner portions of the containers.
• FIG 4A On further coupling means is shown in one embodiment in figure 4A, seen from the side.
• FIG. 4B shows the location of the grip elements in relationship to the rod 15.
• figure 4C it is shown, that the four plastic containers are not correctly brought together in order to locate the coupling means. When this has been effected, it can be placed in such a position, guided by the guide element, that is the rod 15, that the first grip elements 1G can be brought down in the holes 19, which in this case form second grip elements.
• the guide means that is the rod 15, is in this case formed with a profile, the cross section of which corresponds to the cross section of the hollow space 20, that is formed when the plastic containers are brought together correctly. From figure 4A is also obvious, that the horizontal plate 14 at the lower side shows an excess 21, which means, that the couphng means demands a small room in vertical direction.
• the grip element as well as the guide element may be designed wit a variety of cross sections. Examples are shown in figure 5A- 5C and 6A- 6D. In figure 5A are shown four bevelled corners 22 brought together, such that a hollow space is formed, with a quadratic cross section. From figure 6A the design of first grip elements 45 is obvious, corresponding to the hollow space formed within the bevelled corners 22.
• the grip element in figure 6C corresponds to the hollow space 25 in figure 5C, whilst the grip elements in figure 6B may be used, together with a guide element 28 with a cross section, formed like a cross, to keep four containers with corners according to figure 5B together.
• the embodiments hitherto shown have shown first grip elements formed as rods or profiles. It is, however also possible that the first grip elements are formed as hollow spaces in a support portion, like the plate 14 in figure 4A, just mentioned, whilst the second grip elements are formed like protrusions at the containers. See figures 7A and 7B, where a container has been provided withj a protrusion 29, directed upwards and a corresponding low recess 30.
• the couphng means here has an upper plate provided with holes 31, which fit over said protrusions 29.
• the drawback inherent to this design is, that it demands a special design of containers and the like, whilst embodiments of the couphng mans according to the invention hitherto described may be adapted to different forms of containers etc, decided in advance.
• a couphng means 32 keeps containers 33 together,piled on top of containers 34.
• the couphng means may be designed such that the guide means according to figure 9 extends downwards 15 as well as upwards 35, from a plate 14, identical with that in figure 4A.
• the first grip elements also extend downwards 16 as well as upwards 36.
• a couphng means with an upper plate 37 may be lifted by a suction coup 38 or two lifting arms 39. In both cases it may be suitable to keep the containers by a holder on 40..
• the first grip elements 41 in the form of longitudinal profiles show bends deviating from the longitudinal axis of the profile. This design is intended to warrant the grip of the first grip elements at the first hollow spaces (19 in figure 4C) in view of the small friction between grip element, manufactured from plastics, and containers of a similar material.
• the bend may have different forms, e g like part of a circle with a suitable radius, or other geometrical form.
• bends 42 are directed inwards to the rod 15, as shown in figure 12.
• the bends 42 may be directed to each other in pairs, which design admits certain manufacturing advantages.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Stackable Containers (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20278214

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (2)

Citations (4)

• 2000
  • 2000-01-25 SE SE0000223A patent/SE515561C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2001
  • 2001-01-24 WO PCT/SE2001/000134 patent/WO2001054993A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-01-24 EP EP01902901A patent/EP1409357A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-01-24 AU AU2001230666A patent/AU2001230666A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (4)

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