WO2001083310A1

WO2001083310A1 - Crate for containers

Info

Publication number: WO2001083310A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Norman Ashley Micke
Original assignee: Pamak Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-04
Filing date: 2001-05-04
Publication date: 2001-11-08
Also published as: AUPQ730100A0

Abstract

A stackable crate (100) for holding one or more containers (C) having two pairs of opposing vertical side walls (1) encompassing a floor (3) fixed thereto at an intermediate height between top and bottom edges of the side walls (7, 8). Supporting formations (11) which comprise extensions down from the base abut with the inner wall of the top of a similar crate (100) stacked below to provide lateral support between the two stacked crates (100). The supporting formation is continuous about the circumference of the crate (100) for improved structural characteristics and stability.

Description

CRATE FOR CONTAINERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a one-piece multi-level stackable crate for holding a plurality of containers.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention is particularly related to stackable milk crates for holding milk containers, however it is not limited to crates for such use. A particular example of a related type of crate is described in United States Patent No. 4,911,303 (Andersson), which describes a stackable crate having a floor fixed at an intermediate height between two opposing pairs of side walls. The side walls of a first pair extend generally continuously between top and bottom horizontal edges of the crate, in profile forming the uprights of an H-section. The recessed side walls of the second pair form a beam element spanning between the uprights of the H-section.

A disadvantage of such H-profiled crates is the lack of support for the floor provided by this beam element spanning between the uprights. Because of the reduced depth of the recessed side walls, the resulting construction must be heavier to retain adequate bending stiffness. Moreover, bending strength of the uprights of the H-section, which is necessary for laterally locating the crates when in use, is reduced in this type of crate since the side walls forming the uprights of the H-profile act independently in bending.

In this H-profile crate, access to the containers is improved by the recesses. However recesses are only present in one pair of walls, apparently for structural reasons. The unequal length of the two pairs of side walls also results in a lack of symmetry, whereby the crates may only be rotated end for end. This has the disadvantage of imposing requirements for the alignment of the crate when in use. Moreover, the stability of this H-profile crate when sitting in a flat surface is decreased, since it is supported only upon two opposite edges. Sliding this crate on a flat surface is also likely to lead to the bottom edges or corners catching on any small projection.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to

provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-level stackable crate for holding one or more containers, including:

a rectangular horizontal load-supporting floor;

two pairs of opposing vertical side walls, the walls being joined at four corners of the crate, each side wall being fixed to said floor at a line bisecting said side wall into upper and lower side walls having respective top and bottom edges opposite said bisecting line;

supporting formations at the bottom edge of each lower side wall, each formation including an extension which, projects downwardly from the respective lower side wall and terminates in a substantially continuous horizontal edge; and

stacking elements at upper parts of each said upper side wall, wherein said stacking elements are adapted to laterally support the supporting formations of another similar crate stacked thereon from above. According to another preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-level stackable crate substantially as described above wherein the spacing of the floor from the top edge is within the range of 25% to 75% of the height of the crate between the top and bottom edges. The crate is thereby adapted for use with containers having a maximum height of not more than the height of the crate between the top and bottom edges, less the depth of the floor. In a further preferred embodiment the floor is positioned substantially midway between the top and bottom edges.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-level stackable crate substantially as described above wherein the extensions of the supporting formations are laterally displaced inwardly from the respective lower side walls so as to engage with an inner surface of the upper side walls of another similar crate stacked thereon from above, the said inner surface comprising the said stacking element. Optionally, the supporting formations of adjacent side walls may be joined about the circumference thereof to be continuous about the circumference of the crate.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a

multi-level stackable crate substantially as described above wherein the said top edge of each side wall includes two spaced horizontal top edge sections having a shallow recess of the top edge therebetween, enabling insertion of a person's hands to lift a similar crate stacked thereon. The aperture in the lower side wall may be adapted for engagement with a lifting fork or the like. An aperture formed below the recess in the top edge may create a handle for manipulating the crate.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-level stackable crate substantially as described above wherein the crate is substantially square in plan view to permit stacking upon rotating a crate in a stack from a stackable orientation by 90 degrees about a vertical central axis of the crate.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-level stackable crate substantially as described above wherein the side walls include apertures and recesses, thereby minimising the required wall material, enabling examination of the labels of the containers to be made and allowing ready access to the containers.

The crate is preferably moulded from polymerised synthetics as a one-piece, rigid

item.

This preferred crate is effective and efficient in operational use, and has an overall simple design which minimizes manufacturing costs and maximizes performance. Compared to the prior art H-profile crates, the invention offers improved stability and structural characteristics, overcoming the above mentioned disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more readily understood an embodiment thereof will be described by way of illustration only having regard to the drawings wherein:

Figure la is a pictorial view from above of a crate in accordance with the present invention;

Figure lb is a pictorial view from below of the crate of Figure la;

Figure 2 is a part central sectional elevation of the crate of Figure la; and

Figure 3 is a front elevation of two stacked crates in accordance with Figure la. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figures la, lb and 2, a crate 100 in accordance with the present invention is formed by four substantially identical rectangular vertical side walls 1 joined at their edges 2 to encompass a horizontal floor 3. Each side wall 1 is fixed to the floor 3 at a line 4 bisecting the side wall 1 into upper and lower side walls 5 and 6 having respective top and bottom edges 7 and 8 opposite the bisecting line 4. Offset inwardly from the bottom edge 8 is a support formation 11, a horizontal face 12 of which supports the weight of the crate 100 or stack of crates 200 (Fig. 3) on a generally horizontal surface. An open top 9 and an open bottom 10 are formed above and below the top edges 7 and support elements 11 respectively.

The support formation 11 which comprises a downward projection below the bottom edge 8, has a vertical abutment face 13 adapted to abut with an inner vertical face 14 of the upper side wall of a crate 100 stacked below it. The support formation 11 is substantially continuous for the full lateral extent of each side walll, and the support elements 11 are joined at the corners (not shown) to be continuous around the circumference of the crate 100.

Each of the side walls 1 is generally symmetrical about a central axis A thereof and includes a plurality of apertures 20a-20g and a recess 21. The lower central aperture 20e is adapted for engagement with a lifting fork (not shown) or like lifting device for lifting a crate 100 or stack of crates 100. The upper central aperture 20b provides a handle 15 handle

for manipulating the crate 100.

The corner structure of the crate 100 at either side of the edges 2 of the sides 1 comprises a continuous column 30 extending between the bottom edge 8 to the top edge 7

and having an angle shaped cross-section. The open top 9 is also circumscribed by a continuous ring member 31, which includes the handle 15. The top edge 7 of each side 1 includes the central recess 21, providing a planar but discontinuous support for the weight of crates 100 stacked above.

In Fig. 3 a stack 200 of two crates 100 is shown, each crate 100 having an internal length and width corresponding to the combined horizontal cross-sectional dimensions of a plurality of milk containers C. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown, the crate 11 holds nine square cross-section milk containers C in a three-by-three array. Each crate 100 is therefore sufficiently symmetrical to permit stacking upon rotating a crate in the stack 200 by 90 or 180 degrees about vertical central axis A.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

1. A multi-level stackable crate (100) for holding one or more containers (C), including:

a rectangular horizontal load-supporting floor (3);

two pairs of opposing vertical side walls (1), the walls (1) being joined at four corners of the crate (100), each side wall (1) being fixed to said floor (3) at a line (4) bisecting said side wall (1) into upper and lower side walls (5, 6) having respective top and bottom edges (7, 8) opposite said bisecting line (4);

supporting formations (11) at the bottom edge (8) of each lower side wall (6), each formation (11) including an extension which projects downwardly from the respective lower side wall (6) and terminates in a substantially continuous horizontal edge; and

stacking elements (14) at upper parts of each said upper side wall (1), wherein said stacking elements (14) are adapted to laterally support the supporting formations (11) of another similar crate (100) stacked thereon from above.

2. multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the extensions of the supporting formations (11) are laterally displaced inwardly from the respective lower side walls (6) so as to engage with an inner surface (14) of the upper side walls (5), of another similar crate (100) stacked thereon from above, the said inner surface (14) comprising the said stacking element (14).

3. A multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the supporting formations (11) of adjacent side walls (1) are continuous about the circumference of the crate (100).

4. A multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the said top edge (7) of each side wall (1) includes two spaced horizontal top edge sections having a shallow recess (21) of the top edge therebetween, enabling insertion of a person's hands to lift a similar crate stacked thereon.

5 5. A multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in claim 4 wherein an aperture (20b) formed below the recess (21) in the top edge (7) creates a handle (15) for manipulating the crate (100).

6. A multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherem an aperture (20e) in the lower side wall (6) is adapted for engagement with a lifting fork or the

10 like.

7. A multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the spacing of the floor (3) from the top edge (7) is within the range of 25% to 75% of the height of the crate (100) between the top and bottom edges (7, 8).

8. A multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in claim 7 wherein the floor (3) is 15 positioned substantially midway between the top and bottom edges (7, 8).

9. A multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the

crate (100) is substantially square in plan view to permit stacking upon rotating a crate (100) in a stack (200) from a stackable orientation by 90 degrees about a vertical central axis of the crate (100).

20 10.A multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 for holding containers of milk.

1. A multi-level stackable crate (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.