WO2008131773A1

WO2008131773A1 - Collapsible container

Info

Publication number: WO2008131773A1
Application number: PCT/DK2008/000164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik Egelund
Original assignee: K. Hartwall A/S
Priority date: 2007-05-01
Filing date: 2008-04-29
Publication date: 2008-11-06
Also published as: EP2158131B1; EP2158131A1; DK200700655A; ATE500154T1; DE602008005303D1

Abstract

A collapsible pallet container (1) with a bottom (2) and four corner posts (6, 7, 8, 9). configured for carrying a number of collapsible sides that are each secured to a pair of angle rails (13). The angle rails (13) have bearing pins (10) that are pivotal and vertically movable in slots (12). In order to be able to fixate a side in erected position, locking means (17, 19) are provided, where the one part (19) is^ constituted by the upper edge of a hole in the angle rail (13), while the second locking part is constituted by a locking' spring with inclined faces (20 and 21, respectively). When the side is erected, the edge (19) moves up along the inclined face (20) whereby the side is lifted and drops down between the spring (17) and- the corner post (8). When the side is to be collapsed, the edge (19) presses on the inclined face (21 ) which is so steep that the spring (17) yields without the side being lifted significantly.

Description

Collapsible container

The invention relates to a collapsible pallet container including a bottom and including sides that are connected to the bottom via corner posts that extend transversally of the plane of the bottom and having a slot for receiving pivot pins on the sides to the effect that they become pivotal and displaceable transversally of the plane of the bottom, and including a first and a second locking part that are arranged on a side and a post, respectively, such that the parts can be caused to engage and disengage by mutual movement transversally of the respective side.

A container of the above-mentioned type is known ia from German patent publication 29 03 368, German published patent application 1 285 946 and German utility model 297 13 623.

Many requirements are made to such collapsible pallet containers where they are ia to be collapsible to take up as little space as possible, and also to be able to be erected and in such a manner that the pallet container is able to carry a number of superposed containers with load. The containers must also be robust, thereby making them sturdier and heavier.

In recent years a need has arisen to make the containers more ergonomic in use.

The object of the invention is to provide a container where it is possible to obtain both a stable and a reliable locking, but wherein it is simultaneously obtained merely by healthy work postures and while applying less force.

This object is obtained in that the one locking part of the pallet container is an upwardly curved locking beak which is arranged for resilient movement when the locking parts are moved away from each other; and that the other locking part is configured for receiving the locking beak and has a downwardly facing edge for cooperating with an inclined face on the locking beak to the effect that the second locking part is lifted upwards relative to the bottom when the locking parts are moved towards each other.

By this construction, the following advantages are obtained at one time when the side is to be laid down or erected to vertical position.

When the side is to be laid down from its vertical position, an operator has to influence the side only perpendicularly in the direction towards the container bottom whereby a spring force is to be overcome; however, this is the only load and it takes place in a direction which is as ergonomic as possible, viz a pressure force preferably at about hip height.

When the side is to be erected to vertical position, the operator has to lift the own weight of that side only and, also, he does not have to counteract a spring force like the one mentioned above. The lifting of the side which is to take place before it may snap in place and become locked is not to be performed by the operator either, since cooperation between the downwardly facing edge and the inclined face of the locking beak automatically provides that lift and not until a position is reached where the side element is already close to the vertical position.

The invention will be described in further detail by an embodiment, reference being made to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a collapsible pallet container;

Figure 2 shows, in perspective view, a corner of the container of figure 1 ; while Figures 3-5 are sectional views through the corner in different positions of the side.

Figure 1 shows a pallet container 1 comprising a bottom 2 and a number of sides 3, 4, and 5 that are journalled to the bottom by means of four corner posts 6-9 to the effect that the sides can be erected and collapsed.

Figure 2 shows, in perspective, a view of the corner posts 8 and the side 5, but also the side 3 which is now shown in collapsed position. Figure 2 clearly shows that the side 3 is journalled in the corner posts 8 by means of bearing pins, of which bearing pin 10 is visible which is movable in a vertical cut-out 11 in the corner post 8. The corresponding cut-out 12 for the second bearing pin also appears from figure 2.

It is commonly known to use the vertical slots 11 , 12 by which it is easier to collapse the container completely. The consequence of this is that the bearing pin 10 quickly reaches the bottom of the cut-out 11 to the effect that, by the prior art, the operator has to lift the side 3 to cause it to be in securely locked position.

The locking means according to the invention comprise, in the embodiment shown, a locking spring 14 configured for being receivable in an aperture 15 in an angle rail 13 secured to the side 3 and which carries the bearing pins, of which the pin 10 can be seen. This is shown in sectional view on page 3, where it will appear that, at the top, the spring 14 comprises a locking beak 16 which is coherent with a shaft 17 secured by means of a bolt 18 to the corner post 8. The locking beak 16 has a first inclined surface 20 and an inclined surface 21, the face 21 being significantly steeper in the resting position of the shaft 17. The aperture 15 has an upper edge 19 which, in the loading position shown in figure 3 is somewhat lower than the top of the locking beak 16. In this way, the side 3 is secured on position between the locking beak 16 and the corner post 8.

If an operator is to collapse the pallet container, he will influence the side at the top in a direction which is to the left in figure 3. This is a healthy work posture, the height being suitable and the force to be applied being relatively small in order for the shaft 17 to flex and yield to the effect that the locking beak is influenced to the left in figure 3 - as it is without any significant lifting of the side 3. The angle of the inclined surface 21 is adapted to be such that the shaft 17 flexes rather than the edge 19 sliding on the inclined face and lifting the side 3 upwards.

Figure 4 shows that largest possible flexing of the shaft 7 with the locking beak 16 immediately before the locking beak 16 is released form the aperture 15. Figure 5 shows the position where the side is completely released and where the locking spring is in its starting position.

The position shown in figure 5 also serves to explain what happens when the side is erected to the vertical position. It is now assumed that the side is erected from horizontal position to the position shown in figure 5, and it will readily be understood that the operator does not have to overcome any other resistance than the own weight of the side. Not until the side has been erected as much as shown in figure 5, will the cooperation with the inclined face 20 of the locking spring start, but due to the construction of the spring it has poor moveability to the right in figure 5. In return, what will happen is that the edge 19 of the opening 15 slides upwards across the inclined face 20 whereby the side 3 is lifted while a fairly small application of force takes place. When the side is vertical, it falls into place in the position as shown in and explained in the context of figure 3.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A collapsible pallet container including a bottom and including sides that are connected to the bottom via corner posts that extend transversally of the plane of the bottom and having a slot for receiving pivot pins on the sides to the effect that they become pivotable and displaceable transversally of the plane of the bottom, and including a first and a second locking part that are arranged on a side and a post, respectively, such that the parts can be caused to engage and disengage by mutual movement transversally of the respective side, characterised in that the one locking part is an upwardly curved locking beak which is arranged for resilient movement when the locking parts are moved away from each other; and that the other locking part is configured for receiving the locking beak and has a downwardly facing edge for cooperating with an inclined face on the locking beak to the effect that the second locking part is lifted upwards relative to the bottom when the locking parts are moved towards each other.

2. A collapsible pallet container according to claim 1 , characterised in that the locking beak is coherent with a spring journalled on a post; and that said edge is the upper edge of an aperture in a side.

3. A collapsible pallet container according to claim 2, characterised it that the locking beak and the spring is folded from a coherent piece of spring steel comprising a longitudinally extending side which is, at the bottom, secured to the post from where it extends upwards and being, at the top, folded to constitute the locking beak.

4. A collapsible pallet container according to claims 1-3, characterised in that the locking beak comprises two inclined faces, of which the one forms a first acute angle to the bottom and the second one forms a second acute angle to the bottom which is larger than the first acute angle.

5. A collapsible pallet container according to claim 4, characterised in that the locking beak has poor resilience when the side is erected to vertical position whereby the downwardly facing edge of the side cooperates with the face of the locking beak with the first angle to the effect that the side is lifted upwards; and that the locking beak is resilient when the side is collapsed with sufficient resilience for said edge at the side to be able to disengage with the face of the locking beak with the second angle without said side being lifted upwards.