GB2429687A

GB2429687A - Stackable and nestable container

Info

Publication number: GB2429687A
Application number: GB0604666A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean-Marc Dubois
Original assignee: Georg Utz Holding AG
Current assignee: Georg Utz Holding AG
Priority date: 2005-05-06
Filing date: 2006-03-08
Publication date: 2007-03-07
Also published as: GB0604666D0; FR2885352A1; DE102005021170A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport and storage container 1 having a rectangular base 2 from which longitudinal side walls 3, 4 and at least one end wall 5 extend upwards. The walls 3, 4, 5 are inclined obliquely outwards from the base 2. Additionally means 6, 7, 8 for fixing an insert wall 9 are provided, such that the insert wall 9 may optionally either project vertically upwards from the base 2, permitting stacking of the container 1, or project at an inclined angle, permitting nesting of the container 1. The means 6, 7, 8 for fixing the insert wall 9 may comprise a recess 7 made in the base, guides 6 arranged vertically above the recess 7, and abutment elements 8 for supporting the insert wall 9 in its inclined position. In one embodiment two insert walls 9 may be provided at either end of the container 1.

Description

Transport and storage container The invention relates to a transport and

storage container having a rectangular base from which the longitudinal side walls and at least one end wall extend upwards, these walls being inclined obliquely outwards from the base.

Plastics containers of this kind, made in particular by injection moulding, of the type mentioned at the outset serve for example for the transport and storage of cable harness for automotive vehicles.

They are relatively elongate and, as a result of their tapering construction, can be fitted inside one another in the empty condition, for reasons of saving space.

As a result of the elongate tapering form, however, it is difficult to construct the containers such that in the filled condition they can be stacked on top of one another without difficulty and without the occurrence of undesirable deformation.

This is particularly the case when the containers are constructed to be open at one end on the end face so that the products in the container are readily accessible when they are in the stacked condition.

The object of the invention is therefore to construct a transport and storage container of the type mentioned at the outset such that it can be both fitted inside another and also stacked, and the forces during the stacking procedure do not need to be taken up by the longitudinal side walls.

This object is achieved by the invention in accordance with the characterising part of Claim 1, in that means for fixing a respective insert wall constructed to correspond to the container cross-section formed by the base and the longitudinal side walls are provided at the end-face ends of the base and the longitudinal side walls such that the insert walls optionally either project vertically upwards from the base and their upper edge lies in the plane extending through the upper edges of the longitudinal side walls, or are fixable in a vertically inclined position directed obliquely upwards from the base.

When the insert walls are fixed in the outwardly directed vertically inclined position, the transport and storage containers according to the invention can be fitted inside one another.

When the insert walls are fixed in the vertical position, the upper edges of the insert walls serve as a support for the container or containers stacked on top of them.

As a result of this, excellent transmission of the forces from the upper to the lower container is achieved, with the forces having only vertical components, that is to say they act only in the direction of gravity. No lateral force components occur, with the result that the container cannot undergo deformation.

According to Claim 2, it is preferably provided for the means for fixing the insert walls to comprise a respective recess made in the base for receiving the lower edge of the insert wall and, at least in parts of the longitudinal side walls, guides arranged vertically above the respective recess and abutment elements for the inclined position of the insert walls.

The recess and the guides arranged vertically above it in the side walls cooperate with one another such that the respective insert wall is inserted from above into the guides and the recess so that the container is ready for stacking.

If containers are to be fitted into one another, the insert walls are withdrawn from the lateral guides and laid against the abutment elements, with the lower edge of the insert walls again coming to lie in the recess.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, according to Claim 3, it is provided for an end wall of the container to be formed by one of the insert walls. In this case too, the insert walls provide an improvement in stability, since the forwardly open container would otherwise be subject to pronounced deformation in the event of loading.

In accordance with a further embodiment in the invention, according to Claim 4, it is provided for the insert wall forming the one end wall to be first of all raisable vertically out of the insertion recess by way of a gear integrated in a longitudinal side wall and then pivotable out of the container. In this way, free access to the containers is ensured even when they are in the stacked condition.

Preferably, the base of the container according to the invention is a ribreinforced double base additionally reinforced by steel struts which are partly welded.

Each individual transport and storage container according to the invention may be closed by a cover.

If, however, a plurality of containers is stacked on top of one another on a palette, for example, with a plurality of stacks, in particular two stacks, being arranged next to one another, it is provided in accordance with the invention for the topmost containers arranged next to one another to be able to be covered by a common cover, which has the additional advantage of increasing the stability of the stack.

The invention will be illustrated by way of drawings and explained in more detail below.

In the figures: Fig. 1 shows a transport and storage container in a perspective illustration, in the basic condition, Fig. 2 shows a container according to Fig. 1, with insert walls in the stacking position, Fig. 3 shows a container according to Figure 1, with the insert walls in the fitting- together position, Fig. 4 shows a detail of two containers according to Figure 1 with insert walls, stacked on top of one another, Fig. 5 shows three containers according to Figure 1, with two iHustrated in the stacking position and one in the fitting-together position, Fig. 6 shows a detail of the container according to Figure 1, with the insert wall inserted vertically, Fig. 7 shows containers in the fitting-together position, with a cover placed on, and Fig. 8 shows two stacks of containers arranged next to one another, with a common cover.

Figure 1 illustrates a storage and transport container according to the invention in its basic configuration, provided with the general reference numeral 1. It comprises a base 2 which is rectangular and elongate in its construction and from which the two longitudinal side walls 3 and 4 and an end wall 5, connecting the longitudinal side walls 3 and 4 to one another, extend obliquely outwards and upwards, with the result that a container of frustoconical cross section open at one end is formed.

Guides 6 which are constructed in the shape of a dovetail are provided in the end- face end regions of the longitudinal side walls and cooperate in particular in the base region of the container 1 with a recess 7 made in the base. The dovetail guides 6 lie vertically above the recess 7.

The reference numeral 8 designates abutment elements of which the purpose is apparent from Figure 3.

In Figure 2, the container according to Figure 1 has the addition of insert walls 9 which are fixed in the dovetail guides 6 and the recesses 7 such that they are seated vertically on the base 2. The upper edge 10 of each of the insert walls 9 lies in the plane extending through the upper edges 11 of the side waIls 3 and 4. Containers 1 constructed in this way can now be stacked on top of one another without difficulty.

Figure 3 illustrates the condition in which the insert walls 9 lean against the abutment elements 8, outside the dovetail guides 6. In this position, they are inclined to the vertical such that they extend upwardly and away from each other, so that in this position a plurality of containers 1 can be fitted inside one another. In this case, the profiles 15 (Fig. 1) engage in the complementary niches 16 (see also Figure 5).

Figure 4 shows in more detail the stacking position of the containers 1, with the insert walls 9 arranged in their vertical position in the dovetail guides 6 and the recess 7, so that the forces acting on the lower container 1 from the upper container 1 comprise only a gravity component.

Figure 5 shows three containers 1 according to the invention, with the lower two illustrated in the stacking position and the upper container in the fitting-together position.

Figure 6 shows once again, and in detail, the condition of the container 1 in which the insert walls 9 are arranged in the dovetail guides 6.

Figure 7 shows a container 1 in the configuration in which they can be fitted inside one another, in which the container 1 is closed by a cover 12.

Figure 8 shows a plurality of containers 1 which are arranged next to one another and are stacked on top of one another, with the two topmost ones covered by a common cover 1 3, which results in additional stabilisation of the stack.

The container 1 has a double base 14 which is reinforced with ribs, as indicated in Figure 4, and which may additionally be made more stable in its construction by steel reinforcements.

Claims

Claims 1. A transport and storage container having a rectangular base from

which the longitudinal side walls and at least one end wall extend upwards, these walls being inclined obliquely outwards from the base, characterised in that means (6, 7, 8) for fixing a respective insert wall (9) constructed to correspond to the container cross-section formed by the base (2) and the longitudinal side walls (3, 4) are provided at the end-face ends of the base (2) and the longitudinal side walls (3, 4) such that the insert walls (9) optionally either project vertically upwards from the base (2) and their upper edge (10) lies in the plane extending through the upper edges (11) of the longitudinal side walls (3, 4), or are fixable in a vertically inclined position directed obliquely outwards from the base (2).
2. A transport and storage container according to Claim 1, characterised in that the means for fixing the insert walls (9) comprise a respective recess (7) made in the base (2) for receiving the lower edge of the insert wall and, at least in parts of the longitudinal side walls (3, 4), guides (6) arranged vertically above the respective recess (7) and abutment elements (8) for the inclined position of the insert walls (9).
3. A transport and storage container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that an end wall of the container (1) is formed by one of the insert walls (9).
4. A transport and storage container according to Claim 3, characterised in that the insert wall (9) forming the end wall is first of all raisable vertically out of the insertion recess (7) by way of a gear integrated in a longitudinal side wall (3, 4) and then pivotable forwards out of the container (1).
5. A transport and storage container according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the base (2) is a grid-reinforced double base (14) having additional steel reinforcements.
6. A transport and storage container according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it is provided with a cover (12).
7. A transport and storage container according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a plurality of containers (1) arranged next to one another may be covered by a common cover (14).
8. A transport and storage container according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the external contours (15) of the container (1) are constructed to be complementary to the internal contours (16).