WO2011009985A1

WO2011009985A1 - Container with collapsible freight platform

Info

Publication number: WO2011009985A1
Application number: PCT/ES2010/070441
Authority: WO
Inventors: Miguel Alagarda Cervera; Luis Asensio Cotillas; Manuel Blay Orenga; Javier Ramón GARCÍA ARANDA; Emilio Gil Serrano; Mónica ALEGRE OLMOS
Original assignee: Industrias Alegre, S.A.
Priority date: 2009-07-22
Filing date: 2010-06-30
Publication date: 2011-01-27
Also published as: ES2354553B1; EP2457841A1; EP2457841A4; CN102498042A; US20120168434A1; BR112012001519A2; ES2354553A1

Abstract

Container with collapsible freight platform for transporting various parts, in which once the container has been completely emptied it can be collapsed, taking up less space. The container is characterized in that it comprises a collapsible freight recipient with two opposing side walls incorporating a central fold line (5) and two lateral fold lines (6) that are parallel and separated at a distance from the corner joints (7) with adjacent side walls. This creates characteristic internal spaces when the freight recipient is in the folded position, making it possible for various securing means to be housed inside the latter, unlike the conventional case in which it is not possible to house such securing means inside a collapsed freight recipient.

Description

CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as expressed in the statement of this specification, refers to a container with a folding cargo platform that is of the type comprising a pallet-shaped platform, a cargo container that is foldable and a lid to cover the assembly, both in a situation of folding and in a situation of unfolding or work, which is when the container is filled with the product or products to be transported and / or contain.

Starting from this premise, the object of the invention is a new form of folding of the cargo container, whose characteristic structure allows a folding that generates in its interior a space to keep inside some fasteners that are required to hold the products to be contained. and transporting, being the cargo container in an unfolded position, unlike other containers in which those elements incorporated into the container must be removed before folding, since if it was not removed, the respective container could not be folded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, containers with a folding cargo platform are known which generally comprise a lower platform as a base, a folding container itself and a cover to cover the assembly, both in the folded position and in the unfolded position.

These cargo containers usually incorporate different fasteners inside them to separate the load or to hold it separating some parts from others, so that at the time of folding it is necessary to previously extract these fasteners and place them on the platform side of the cargo container folded. When unfolding, it will be necessary to place the fasteners back inside the cargo container and so on.

It should be noted that the structure of folding lines presented by these cargo containers does not allow keeping the fasteners inside such containers in the folded position, constituting this need to have to draw and introduce such fasteners a drawback.

The German Invention Patent with publication number DE 102004006416 refers to a reusable container for transporting loose product, with a bottom (1) and side walls (2-5) removable from the bottom with which they have to be arranged during transport of the container as empty product in the grouped state (25) on the bottom (1). It is characterized in that it incorporates additional side walls (14-17), whose height is less than the height of the side walls (2-5) that have been mentioned first and which, in addition to transport space for the side walls (2 -5) grouped together, they provide additional transport space (27) for means for packaging the loose product inside the container.

It is also known the Invention Patent with publication number in Spain n ° 2211800 referring to a collapsible container that basically comprises a structure such as that described in the initial generality of this section of the background, characterized in its first claim because the bottom or floor The support (13) of the cargo container is fixed as a folding part or a plurality of folding parts (14) to one of or respectively a plurality of the side walls (3) of the cargo container itself.

These two patents cited incorporate containers of load, whose folding does not allow to keep inside the different fasteners, that is, before it is folded it is necessary to remove them and then put them back inside in the unfolded position, before introducing the load again.

In all cases, the folding structure of the containers allows the empty return of the containers with a reduced volume, nevertheless presenting in all cases the inconvenience of not being able to incorporate the different fasteners in the folded position, as it has been referred to above.

As for the retention and fixing elements of the container walls to the base platform when said walls are deployed, the state-of-the-art containers generally have latches that fix the walls. These latches, 2 on each side of the container are usually located at the base of the container and are manually operated. To perform the retention and fixation of the walls, said walls have holes, generally reinforced with an added piece, through which the fastening latch passes.

On the other hand, the German Invention Patent cited incorporates small side partitions (15) linked to the base or base platform, which raise the height of the lid assembly to create a sufficient space to return in addition to the folding parts, elements several employees in the transport of the products inside the container. These elements are generally support bars, partition walls, retaining parts, bags, separators, chokers, etc.

Other documents related to the invention are the following:

Invention Patent with publication number Spanish 2117187.

French invention patent with application number 9007090.

Utility Model with Spanish application number U96018028.

Utility Model with Spanish application number U9602755.

German Invention Patent with publication number DE19806075.

- German Invention Patent with publication number DE102005059950.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the drawbacks mentioned in the previous sections, the invention proposes a container with a folding cargo platform that in principle comprises a base platform, a cargo container, which is foldable, and a cover to cover the set both in a situation of folding and in a situation of unfolding or work, when the cargo container is ready to introduce the products inside.

The base platform can be of the type that incorporates a perimeter partition that delimits a lower space where the folded container is kept being hidden thanks to the lid that fits over said perimeter partition.

In turn, the container comprises four side walls with a rectangular plantar configuration, although it could also have a quadrangular shape.

Starting from this premise, a first characteristic of the invention is that the container incorporates a central folding line and two lines in two of its side walls folding sides that do not coincide with the corner joints of adjacent side walls as is the case with all conventional containers of this type, but those two folding side sheets are close and parallel to the mentioned corner joints, whereby some are generated Characteristic internal spaces inside the container in the folded position that allow to keep inside different fasteners that are needed to better hold the load inside the container or to distribute it in a certain way.

Thus, the folded position of the container in question generates two pairs of opposite end portions of opposite side walls adjacent to the corner joints of the side walls. In turn, the folded position generates two angular centered portions housed within the cargo container.

This cargo container may comprise the four side walls mentioned without bottom or bottom.

In the first case, the outer bottom will be determined, for example, by the upper face of the base platform itself.

Other features of the invention relate to the structure presented by the different fasteners that the cargo container incorporates inside and which need not be disassembled when folding the cargo container.

It is possible in this way different embodiments of the fasteners inside the container, some of which can be folded and deployed simultaneously with the folding and unfolding of the container.

In this way, the space delimited by the perimeter partition of the base platform will only be used to house the cargo container in its folded position, without it is necessary to increase said space to house other fasteners as is happening conventionally.

It would also be possible to dispense with the perimeter partition of the base platform, whereby the lid could incorporate a perimeter skirt whose height would allow it to house the container in a folded position.

The invention also covers the incorporation of two preferred embodiments of the container retention and fixing system to the base platform of the container. In a first embodiment, said system is a retention system by means of ramp and fixing pin. At the base of the container there is a ramp on the sides where the wall has the folding. The ramp, born from the loading surface of the base, flows into the perimeter channel where the walls are placed in their deployed position by entering the side wall through a hole made in said side wall. In addition, the retaining element is located on the inner side walls of said channel, positioned slightly offset from the center to avoid the hinge zone of the walls.

This element, when the walls are placed in position, penetrates through a window in the walls. In this way, when the walls tend to leave their position, they encounter the retaining element. However, if the walls are pulled in their fold side inwards and upwards, the walls can be removed from their position. This is achieved thanks to the configuration of the counter-output of the retention element, the shape of the reinforcement window that has the walls in its holes and the final shape and inclination of the ramp. In a second preferred embodiment of said retention and fixing system, the system is a retention system by means of a latch and cable handle. In this system in the peripheral channel of the base where the walls fold, a rod is placed as a bridge. At the same height, an automatic latch system is placed on the walls, which, by placing the walls in place, remains locked in the previous bridge. This latch system is always in a closed position thanks to a spring or the like, and to release it is actuated by means of a strap. The strap can be operated in a comfortable and ergonomic manner from the upper edge of the walls, by means of a pull handle.

Both preferred embodiments of the retention and fixing system have the advantages over the state of the art that improve the ergonomics of the system as the user does not have to bend down or operate the usual 4 latches and also provides a faster, easier and more direct assembly. , that is to say, with the same maneuver of placing the walls the fixation is already being carried out.

Next, in order to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive report and forming an integral part thereof, some figures are attached in which the object of the invention has been shown as an illustrative and non-limiting nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of the container with folding cargo platform, object of the invention. It basically comprises a base platform, a cargo container and a lid. The cargo container is foldable, highlighting that in the folded position it is possible to keep inside different fasteners of the load contained in the container. Figure 2.- Shows a schematic view of the cargo container in folded position.

Figures 3 to 6.- They show different embodiments of the cargo container with different structures and configurations of the fasteners.

Figure 7.- Shows a general view of a first preferred embodiment of the retention and fixing system.

Figures 8 and 9.- Shows a detailed view of the fixing holes of the first preferred embodiment of the retention and fixing system.

Figure 10 and 11.- Shows a detailed view of the fixing elements of the preferred embodiment of the retention and fixing system.

Figure 12.- Shows an overview of a second preferred embodiment of the retention and fixing system.

Figures 13 to 18.- Shows a detailed view of the elements of the second preferred embodiment of the retention and fixing system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, the container with a folding cargo platform includes a base platform 1 provided with a low height perimeter partition 2, a cargo container 3 that is foldable and a lid 4 to cover the assembly in a folded position by hiding the cargo container 3 folded into the space delimited by the perimeter partition 2, lid 4 which in this case will be coupled in correspondence with the free edge of the mentioned perimeter partition 2.

The lid 4 will also cover the mouth of the cargo container 3 in the deployed position of use.

The cargo container 3 has a rectangular plantar configuration, said cargo container 3 comprising four side walls, opposite two to two, of such that two opposite side walls are affected by a central folding line 5 and two folding side lines 6 arranged on those same side walls opposite in parallel and parallel to the corner joints 7 that support adjacent side walls.

In this way, characteristic internal spaces 8 are generated inside the cargo container 3 in a folded position that allow to keep inside different fastening elements that are required to immobilize or better hold different types of cargo, contrary to what conventionally occurs where The cargo containers do not allow those fasteners to be housed inside them in a folded position due to the folding system, so it is necessary to remove the fasteners prior to folding, and then install them inside the unfolded container. In addition, it should be noted that in the present invention, the fasteners may be solidly attached to the cargo container itself.

The folded position of the cargo container 3 forms two pairs of end portions 9 of side walls adjacent to the corner joints 7 of the side walls. In turn, the folded position generates two centered angular portions 10 housed within the respective cargo container 3 in the folded position.

The cargo container 3 can incorporate a foldable bottom 11 as shown in Figure 3. In this case said bottom 11 incorporates a centered separation line 12 parallel to the corner joints of such bottom 11 with the two respective opposite side walls.

In a first embodiment shown in Figure 2, the fasteners comprise fixed stops 13, integral with the inner faces of the side walls, of both the different parts 9 and 10 of the opposite walls. that fold like the other two even walls.

In a second embodiment shown in Figure 3, the fasteners comprise separating plates

14 which can in turn support combs 15. Said separating plates 14 are attached to the side walls that lack the folding lines.

In a third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the fastening elements comprise separating plates 14 associated with collapsible packages 16 defining separate compartments.

In a fourth embodiment shown in Figure 5, the fasteners comprise parallel bars 17 fixed at their ends in vertical columns 18 arranged in correspondence with the facing end portions 9 in correspondence with the corner joints 7 of the side walls. In this case, on the parallel bars mentioned 17, laminar pieces 19 that hang from said bars 17 are coupled.

In another embodiment shown in Figure 6, fixed combs 15 are fixed on the centered angular portions 10.

Another possibility shown in Figure 1, could consist of a cross-linking of laminar bodies 20 hanging from two parallel bars 17 arranged as described above.

In another preferred embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 11, the retention system incorporating the container is a retention system by means of ramp and fixing pin comprising:

• At least one ramp (23) for each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5) with the at least one ramp (23) being located on the loading surface of the base (1). • At least one fixing pin (24) on each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5) located on the loading surface of the base (1);

• At least one hole (21, 22) in each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5) through which to insert the at least one ramp and the at least one pin. The hole through which the fixing pin (24) is introduced has a reinforcement comprising two pieces that are fixed to each other located on both sides of the hole as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

In another preferred embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 18, the retention system is a latch and cable pull retention system comprising:

• A rod (32) as a bridge located in the peripheral channels of each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5).

• An automatic latch system (28) located at the same height as the rod on each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5) comprising the automatic latch system comprising at least one closed pocket (29), a latch (30) and a spring (31). This latch (30) is introduced in its closed position in the rod (32) as a bridge fixing the walls of the container. The automatic latch system will preferably be fixed to the container wall by rivets (33).

• A tie rod (27) will preferably be a steel cable, connected at one end to the automatic latch system

(28) and at the other end to a handle handle (25). He Strap (27) will be covered by a cable cover guide (26) which in turn will be fixed to the wall of the container (10). Preferably said fixing will be carried out by means of an adhesive placed between said guide (26) and said container wall (10).

a handle handle (25) for actuating the latch (28) through the shoulder (27), located in the upper part of each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5), comprising a handle inside and an outer handle joined together on both sides of the opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5).

Claims

1.- CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, comprising a base platform, a cargo container itself that is foldable and a cover to cover the assembly, both in the folded position and in the unfolded position, counting the cargo container at least with four two to two parallel side walls, characterized in that two opposite side walls incorporate a central folding line (5) and two parallel folding lines (6) separated by a distance from the corners (7) intended to create internal spaces (8) in its folded position, delimited between extreme portions (9) and other centered angular portions (10) of the side walls incorporating the folding lines (5 and 6) and between the other two even side walls, being intended said internal spaces (8) to house fasteners.

2. CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fasteners comprise parallel bars (17) fixed at their ends in vertical columns (18) arranged in correspondence with the facing portions (9) and in correspondence with the corner joints (7) of the side walls of the cargo container (3).

3.- CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fasteners comprise fixed stops (13) integral with the inner faces of the side walls, both of the different parts (9 and 10) of the opposite walls foldable as of the other two even walls.

4. CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fasteners comprise separating plates (14) which they in turn support combs (15), said separating plates (14) joining the side walls of the cargo container (3).

5. - CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening elements comprise separating plates (14) associated with folding containers (16) defining separate compartments.

6. CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fasteners comprise fixed combs (15) that are fixed on the centered angular portions (10) of the side walls of the cargo container (3) .

7.- CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fasteners consist of a cross-linking of laminar bodies

(20) hanging from two parallel bars (17) coupled at their ends in vertical columns (18).

8. CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, according to claim 1, characterized in that said container comprises at least one retention system of the side walls of the container to the base platform.

9. - CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one retention system is a retention system by ramp and fixing pin comprising:

• at least one ramp for each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5) the at least one ramp being located on a loading surface of the base platform.

• at least one fixing pin on each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5) with the at least one fixing pin on the loading surface of the base;

• at least one hole in each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5) through which to insert the at least one ramp and the at least one pin.

10. - CONTAINER WITH FOLDING LOAD PLATFORM, according to claim 8, characterized in that the retention system is a latch retention system and cable handle comprising:

• a bridge-shaped rod located in peripheral channels of each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5);

• an automatic latch system located at the same height as the rod on each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5) comprising the automatic latch system comprising at least one closed latch, a latch and a spring; Y,

• a strap, the strap being covered by a cable guide, attached at one end to the automatic latch system and at the end opposite to a handle handle

• a pull handle for actuating the latch through the strap, located in the upper part of each of the two opposite side walls incorporating a central folding line (5), comprising an inner handle and an outer handle.