GB2143922A

GB2143922A - Connecting unit for box sides

Info

Publication number: GB2143922A
Application number: GB08418275A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sven Olof Persson
Original assignee: HEDIN NORDANSJOE AB
Current assignee: HEDIN NORDANSJOE AB
Priority date: 1983-07-22
Filing date: 1984-07-18
Publication date: 1985-02-20
Also published as: DK358884A; NO842946L; SE8304118L; GB8418275D0; DE3426516A1; SE450947B; DK358884D0; SE8304118D0

Abstract

A unit for connecting the sides (2, 5) of a demountable box or the like consists of a rigid fitting (1) for each of the box corners. Each fitting (1), which is adapted to be securely connected to one (2) of the box sides (2, 5), first extends outside the corner edge (3) at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the other box side (5), after which the fitting (1) is bent at right angles to the first box side (2) so as to form a recess (7) to receive the end section of the said other box side (5). Finally the free end section (8) is bent inwardly towards the first box side (2) to engage a groove (9) in the other box side (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connecting unit for box sides The present invention relates to a unit for connecting the sides of a demountable box or the like, consisting of a rigid fitting for each of the box corners. Characteristic of this unit is that each fitting, which is adapted to be securely connected to one of the box sides, close to the corner edge thereof, first extends outside the corner edge at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the other box side at the corner, that the fitting then is bent at right angles to the first box side so as to form a recess for that end section of the other box side which faces the corner, and that the free end section of the part of the fitting extending at right angles to the first box side is bent inwardly towards the first box side, said free end section of the fitting being adapted to engage a groove in the other box side for the interconnection thereof with the first box side.

The invention will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings which shows by way of example an embodiment of the unit as applied to a box corner, and a modification of it, and in which: Figure 1 shows the box corner as seen from one side; Figure 2 shows the box corner as seen from the other side; Figure 3 is a top view of the box corner; and Figure 4 is a top view of the modified box corner.

The box is provided at each of its corners with a fitting 1 for demountable interconnection of the box sides so that the box, especially for transport, can be brought to take a position in which it is not bulky. The term box is to be taken in a wide sense, including e.g.

such wooden frames as usually are piled on load pallets and the like.

The fitting 1, which consists of a sheet metal detail, is adapted to be securely connected to one box side 2, close to the corner edge 3 thereof. The fitting 1 extends with the section 4 outside the corner edge 3 at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the other box side 5 at the corner. The section 6 of the fitting 1 outside the section 4 is bent at right angles to the first box side 2 so as to form a recess 7 for that end section of the other box side 5 which faces the corner. That free end section 8 of the fitting 1 which extends from the section 6 is bent inwardly towards the first box side 2, said free end section 8 being adapted to engage a groove 9 in the other box side 5 for interconnection thereof with the first box side 2. The end section 8 is to be pushed sidewise into the groove 9.Due to the provision of embossments 10 serving as stiffening springs, the fitting 1 is rigid and therefore the end section 8 cannot rebound into and out of the groove 9.

As is apparent from the drawing, the fitting 1 has a flat section 11 securely connected to the first box side 2 on the outside thereof 12, the section 4 being a direct extension of the flat section 11. The recess 7 for that end section of the other box side 5 which faces the corner will thus be defined by the fitting 1 and the corner edge 3 of the first box side 2.

It would be possible, however, to make the fitting 1 alone form the recess if the fitting adjoins the corner edge 3.

The length of the section 6 of the fitting 1 extending at right angles to the first box side 2 is at least equal to the thickness of the box side 2 but the length may of course vary within wide limits.

In one embodiment the fittings 1 are adapted to be securely joined to one of the pairs of opposite sides of the box ajacent the two corner edges thereof, while the grooves 9 for the free end sections 8 of the fittings 1 are provided in the other pair of opposite sides of the box adjacent the two corner edges thereof. In another embodiment each of the box sides is provided with a fitting 1 adjacent one corner edge and a groove 9 adjacent the other corner edge so that all the box sides may be equal.

The modified embodiment according to Fig.

4 differs from the embodiment of Figs. 1-3 especially in that the section 11 of the fitting 1 is connected with the box side 2 by fastening means 1 3 which are formed integrally with the fitting 1. According to Figs. 1-3 the section 11 of the fitting 1 will thus be joined with the box side 2 by means of nails, screws or like separate fastening means 1 4. According to Fig. 4 the box sides 2 and 5 are also fixed to one another by means of the nail 15, which may be effected when transport of the box itself is no longer to take place.

As is apparent from the above description the box may be built up of a number of frames, each consisting of four panels of wood, plastics or other easily workable material. The panels are provided with a lap at each side edge, which two laps are situated at relatively opposite side surfaces of the panel and defined by said surfaces or a chamfered side surface and a short upper or lower end surface. Four such panels are joined together so as to form a frame with the fittings of the present invention. To this effect two opposite sides are to extend throughout the width of the frame while the two other opposite sides are fitted in between the end parts of the two first-mentioned sides. The two sides fitted between the end parts are provided at both ends with fittings which are to engage grooves in the two other sides. As the grooves are relatively short, normally ca 120-130 mm the mounting of the frames is simple to achieve. In the present case the laps on all upwardly facing end surfaces are to be turned inwards and the laps on all downwardly facing end surfaces to be turned outwards from the centre of the frame or vice versa, so as to obtain a frame which can be piled with overlap on another similar frame with the olique side faces of the laps fitting corresponding surfaces of an adjoining frame.

The invention is not restricted to that described above and shown in the drawing but may be modidfied within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Unit for connecting the sides (2, 5) of a demountable box or the like, consisting of a rigid fitting (1) for each of the box corners, characterized in that each fitting (1), which is adapted to be securely connected to one of the box sides (2, 5), close to the corner edge (3) thereof, first extends outside the corner edge (3) at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the other box side (5) at the corner, that the fitting (1) then is bent at right angles to the first box side (2) so as to form a recess (7) for that end section of the other box side (5) which faces the corner, and that the free end section (8) of the part of the fitting (1) extending at right angles to the first box side (2) is bent inwardly towards the first box side (2), said free end section (8) of the fitting (1) being adapted to engage a groove (9) in the other box side (5) for the interconnection thereof with the first box side (2).

2. Unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fitting (1) is securely connected by a flat section (11) with the first box side (2) on the outside (1 2) thereof, so that that section (4) of the fitting (1) which extends outside the corner edge (3) at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the other box side (5) at the corner, will constitute a direct extension of the flat section (11) securely connected to the first box side (2).

3. Unit as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the recess (7) for that end section of the other box side (5) which faces the corner is defined by the fitting (1) and the corner edge (3) of the first box side (2).

4. Unit as claimed in any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the length of that section (6) of the fitting (1) which extends at right angles to the first box side (2) is at least equal to the thickness of the box side (2).

5. Unit as claimed in any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the fittings (1) are adapted to be securely connected to one of the pairs of opposite sides of the box adjacent the two corner edges thereof, while the grooves (9) for the free end sections (8) of the fittings (1) are provided in the other pair of opposite box sides adjacent the two corner edges thereof.

6. Unit as claimed in any of claims 1-4, characterized in that each of the box sides is provided with a fitting (1) adjacent one corner edge and a groove (9) adjacent the other corner edge.

7. A unit for connecting the sides of a demountable box or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.

1 to 3 or to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.