GB2306944A - A stackable or nestable container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container 1 comprises a base 7 and walls 3,4,5,6 the container 1 being configurable in a first, stacking position for supporting another like container thereon, and a second, nesting position for receiving another like container 1 within the walls 3,4,5,6. The arrangement is such that in both positions the walls 3,4,5,6 remain linked together by extension parts 8 of one pair of walls 5,6 which engage in slots defined by inwardly folded panels 3a,4a of the remaining walls 3,4.

Description

A CONTAINER The invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a container which is both stackable and nestable.

Containers such as boxes are often required to be stackable i.e. capable of being stacked one on top of the other for storage. To be stackable, a container must be relatively strongly and rigidly constructed, and should have a top surface or surfaces upon which another container can rest without crushing the contents of the lower container. When not in use however, stackable containers can present a problem in that they occupy a large amount of storage space. To overcome this problem, it has been proposed in the past to provide stackable containers which can be dismantled into a basic flat blank for flat storage. When the container is needed again, the blank is re-erected. However, dismantling and re-erecting containers can be relatively time-consuming and can result in a reduced service life of the container due to wear.To overcome this problem containers which are nestable have been proposed. Such containers, when not full of contents can be nested, one inside the other thereby occupying less space when not in use. One type of commonly used nestable container has walls which taper inwardly towards the base allowing another like container to be placed inside. Containers such as these suffer from the drawback that they cannot easily be stacked when full of goods because one container rests directly on the goods of the container beneath. In addition, the load carrying capacity of the container is reduced by the tapered walls.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate problems such as these.

According to the invention there is provided a container comprising a base and walls, the container being configurable in a first, stacking position for supporting another like container thereon, and a second, nesting position for receiving another like container within the walls, the arrangement being such that in both positions the walls remain substantially linked together.

The invention thus provides a container which is both stackable and nestable, the transition between stacking and nesting being relatively easy to perform without the need to join various walls of the container together as for example is the case with a flat packed container.

It is preferred that in the first position the walls are substantially perpendicular to the base, and in the second position the walls are inclined outwardly from one another. Substantially perpendicular walls are more suitable for supporting other containers in the stacking position, and outwardly inclined walls allow convenient nesting.

The walls may be hingedly attached to the base to allow for a convenient transition between the first and second positions.

It is preferred that at least one wall is linked to two adjacent walls by extension parts of the one wall which extend into slots of the adjacent walls. The extension parts may be moveable within the slots to allow the one wall to move towards and away from the adjacent walls.

It is preferred that the extension parts include means to allow the adjacent walls to move outwardly. The means may comprise hinge lines of the extension parts, disposed such that outward movement of the adjacent walls causes inward movement of the said one wall.

The extension parts and/or the slots may be adapted such that the extension parts are substantially prevented from leaving the slots completely. This may be accomplished by providing each extension part with a nib, adapted to cooperate with a boundary of a slot of the adjacent wall when the part is inserted therein.

Additionally, the container may be provided with locking means, to lock the container releasably in the first position. The locking means may comprise a tab of the said one wall.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the container may have two walls linked to two adjacent walls by extension parts, the two walls being opposing walls of the container.

The container may be formed of a plastics material, and the material may be a fluted material such as that which is sold under the Registered Trade Mark CORREX.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for forming a container as defined hereinabove.

The invention will further be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates four containers according to an embodiment of the invention in stacked configuration; Fig. 2 illustrates the same four containers as Fig. 1 in nested configuration; Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a blank for forming a container according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 shows a plan view of a blank for forming a container according to a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a blank for forming a container according to a still further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a blank for forming a container according to a yet further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a blank for forming a container according to a yet further embodiment of the invention;; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a part of a container according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the container illustrated in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a container 1 comprising a base 2 and walls 3, 4, 5, 6 the container 1 being configurable in a first, stacking position A for supporting another like container 1 thereon, and a second, nesting position B for receiving another like container 1 within the walls 3, 4, 5, 6, the arrangement being such that in both positions A, B the walls 3, 4, 5, 6 remain substantially linked together.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there are illustrated four containers 1, each consisting generally of two elongate side walls 3, 4, and two shorter end walls 5, 6 and a base part 7 (Fig. 3). The illustrated containers 1 are of a general type used for storing and transporting a wide variety of goods, and it will be appreciated that the invention can be applied to containers of a wide variety of different shapes and sizes. Handles 16 can be provided in the side walls 3, 4, for example, as cut outs, or metal or plastic handles as is known in the art.

In the illustrated embodiments, the containers 1 are formed from a fluted plastics material as is known in the art, for example that which is manufactured and sold under the Registered Trade Mark CORREX. It will be appreciated however that any of a wide range of materials could be used, for example fibreboard, corrugated fibreboard, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, solid board and any other like material. Referring now to Figs. 3 to 7, there are illustrated five examples of blanks for forming containers 1 which vary in the detailed shape of certain parts, but which all are of the same general configuration. As can be seen from these Figures, the end panels 5, 6 have lateral extension parts 8. The blanks are erected into containers 1 by folding along the dotted fold lines as illustrated, the sides being folded upwardly (as viewed) along the fold lines formed with the base 7.It will be noted that the longer sides 3, 4 have additional panels 3a, 4a and these are folded inwardly so that the longer sides 3, 4 have a double skin, the panels 3a, 4a, being on the inside of the panels 3, 4. This strengthens the containers for stacking. In this way, a substantially vertical slot is formed between the panels on each side, 3a, 3, and 4a, 4 being the gap between the skins. The extension parts 8 are then inserted into the slots in the longer sides 3, 4 so formed. It will be noted in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7 that each longer side has three panels, 3, 3a, 3b and 4, 4a, 4b. In this embodiment the longer sides 3, 4 are triple skinned, the three panels being folded over as described above. It will be appreciated that it is advantageous to insert the extension parts 8 between the panels 3, 3a and 4, 4a before the panels 3, 3a and 4, 4a are fully folded into position. In all embodiments, once the extension parts 8 are fully inserted, it will be appreciated that the container 1 consists of four substantially upright and self supporting walls.

As can be seen from Figs. 3 to 7, the longer walls 3, 4 are provided with further slots 9 which in the erected box are formed in the top edges of the longer walls 3, 4. The slots 9 may also include lugs 13 (Figs. 8 and 9) protruding therefrom.

The end walls 5, 6 of the container 1 are provided with locking means 11 in the form of two additional panels, each one including two lugs 1 lea. As will be understood, in the erected container 1 the additional panels 11 form part-lids for the container, the lids being securable by means of the lugs 1 lea in the slots 9.

This effectively locks the container 1 into the stacking position A. This is not however essential.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the walls 3, 4 have longitudinal extension flaps 15. These are folded back into the sides 3, 4 upon erection of the container 1, to provide extra strength for stacking.

In use, a container 1 is erected as described for holding goods. The container may be locked in the stacking position, and several containers 1 can then be stacked, one on top of the other as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the upwardly protruding tabs 13 formed from the four panels 3, 3a, 4, 4a, help to maintain the lateral stability of the stack, as shown in Fig. 9. The walls 3, 4, 5, 6 are substantially perpendicular, as can be seen, providing a sturdy container capable of supporting a stack of like containers. As the walls are substantially perpendicular, there is no loss of load space.

When not in use, the containers 1 can be nested in position B as illustrated in Fig. 2. To convert a container 1 from position A to position B, the lid parts 11 (if present) are first released from the additional slots 9 in the longer edges 3, 4. The side panels 5, 6 are then moved outwardly, hinging along the joint formed with the base 7. This has the effect of drawing the extension parts 8 outwardly and upwardly in the vertical slots, causing the upper edges 8a to abut with the top inner surfaces of the longer sides 3, 4 inside the vertical slots, thereby preventing the panels 5, 6 from completely disengaging from their adjacent longer sides.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the extension parts 8 are formed with nibs or hooks 12 to engage complementary parts of the sides 3, 4 to prevent disengaging, however this is not essential.

As will be appreciated, if the longer sides 3, 4 were rigidly attached to the base 7, nesting would be more difficult. By releasing the ends 5, 6 in this way the longer sides 3, 4 are enabled to move outwardly, again hinging about the joint formed with the base 7, causing the container 1 to gape, bow out, or splay, thereby allowing the insertion of another gaped or splayed container 1 in like fashion.

This gaping or splaying action can be enhanced by providing the extension parts 8 with hinge lines 14, which are in the form of two spaced substantially parallel hinge lines to provide for bowing or splaying. Without the hinge lines 14, when the side panels 5, 6 are moved outwardly it will be appreciated that a bending force will be exerted on the extension parts 8 by the inner surface of the outer leaf of walls 3, 4 and the effect of this can be to limit, to some extent the amount which the walls 3, 4 can move outwardly. Although it is not an essential feature, the provision of the hinge lines 14 in the extension parts 8 helps to relieve this pressure.

The containers 1 can be provided with finishing parts in the form of, for example, edging rails, corner strengtheners, and other similar fittings to provide additional strengthening and a neat appearance.

Thus, as will be appreciated, the containers illustrated in this description are capable of being nested when not in use, by virtue of their ability to splay, bow out or gape, and can easily and quickly be erected into stacking form by the simple operation set out above to form rigid, substantially square section containers which are stackable.

Claims (19)

1. A container comprising a base and walls, the container being configurable in a first, stacking position for supporting another like container thereon, and a second, nesting position for receiving another like container within the walls, the arrangement being such that in both positions the walls remain substantially linked together.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein in the first position the walls are substantially perpendicular to the base, and in the second position the walls are inclined outwardly from one another.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the walls are hingedly attached to the base.

4. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one wall is linked to two adjacent walls by extension parts of the one wall which extend into slots of the adjacent walls.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the extension parts are movable within the slots, to allow the one wall to move towards and away from the adjacent walls.

6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the extension parts include means to allow the adjacent walls to move outwardly.

7. A container according to claim 6, the means comprising hinge lines of the extension parts, disposed such that outward movement of the adjacent walls causes inward movement of the said one wall.

8. A container according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the extension parts and/or the slots are adapted such that the extension parts are substantially prevented from leaving the slots completely.

9. A container according to claim 8, each extension part including a nib, adapted to cooperate with a boundary of a slot of the adjacent wall when the part is inserted therein, to substantially prevent the extension part from leaving the slot completely.

10. A container according to any of claims 4 to 8, including locking means, to lock the container releasably in the first position.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the locking means comprises a tab of the one wall.

12. A container according to any of claims 4 to 11, there being two walls linked to two adjacent walls by extension parts, the two walls being opposing walls of the container.

13. A container according to any preceding claim, formed of a plastics material.

14. A container according to any of claims 1 to 12, formed of a fibreboard material.

15. A container according to any of claims 1 to 12, formed of a solid board material.

16. A container according to claim 13, the material being a fluted material.

17. A container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A blank for forming a container as claimed in any preceding claim.

19. A blank, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.