DE20214367U1 - Flat, reusable transport container - Google Patents

Description

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WESTPHAL, MUSSGNUG & PARTNER

Patent Attorneys ■ European Patent Attorneys

Wood industry Prince of Fürstenberg KG Hochstrasse 2

78183 Huefingen

- Utility model application -

Flat-pack reusable transport container

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Description

Flat-pack reusable transport container

The invention relates to a flattenable reusable transport container according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such transport containers are known as reusable transport containers in the form of small containers and are designed for multiple circulation in materials management. Flattenable reusable transport containers of the generic type are preferably, but not exclusively, stackable on top of one another when assembled and/or disassembled. They have a base in the form of a continuous base plate or a slat arrangement onto which a flattenable structure can be placed. The structure preferably consists of side walls arranged perpendicular to the base. The structure is often designed as a so-called folding frame, i.e. the side walls, namely the longitudinal and end walls, are connected to one another in a hinge-like manner via straps, so that the structure is held together, but can be folded and laid flat on the floor for the purpose of space-saving return transport. In addition, the flattenable reusable transport container of the generic type often has a lid, which can often be placed on the side walls and thus closes off the flattenable reusable transport container at the top.

In order to connect the side walls of the structure to the floor and to the cover, if present, it is known from the state of the art to connect them directly to one another using connecting elements in the form of nails or screws.

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Another method for connecting the structure to the lid or the base, according to the state of the art, provides for a metal band with folded tabs running along the outer sides of the side walls in the edge area, which extend parallel to the side walls when not assembled. When assembling the lid, the lid is placed on the upper end faces of the side walls, for example, with the folded tabs reaching through recesses in the area of the lid. To secure the connection, the sections of the folded tabs that protrude beyond the outside of the lid are brought to rest on the outside of the lid in a subsequent assembly step.

Furthermore, reusable transport containers with angle connectors are known from the prior art, which are placed on the outside of the side walls and the base or the lid. According to the prior art, these angle connectors are screwed to the side walls and the base or the lid to create a detachable 0 connection.

A disadvantage of the transport containers known from the state of the art is that the connection techniques used between the side walls and the base or lid are labor-intensive, as the assembly is complex. Likewise, there are limits to the multiple use of the transport containers with the known techniques for connecting the structure to the base or lid. Since the transport containers are often made of wood or plywood, the areas with screws and nails often tear out with frequent use. There are also limits to the reusability of the folding tabs due to material fatigue, as the safety

securing is achieved by plastic deformation of the tabs.

Based on the known prior art, the invention was therefore based on the object of creating a flattenable, reusable transport container of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which the connection between the side walls and the base or lid can be made and released in a simple manner and which can be assembled and disassembled many times without showing noticeable signs of wear in the connection area between the side walls and the base or lid.

This problem is solved by a flattenable reusable transport container with the characterizing features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified by the features of the subclaims.

0 The invention is based on the idea of connecting at least one side wall of a reusable transport container that can be laid flat to the base or to the lid by means of at least one connecting element that encompasses the outside in the manner of a detachable snap connection. For this purpose, the connecting element has two legs that form an acute angle when not assembled. Furthermore, the transition area between the two legs is designed to be spring-elastic. In addition, at least one engagement element that points essentially perpendicularly inwards to the leg is provided on each leg and can be inserted into a recess in the outside of the side wall or the base or the lid. When assembled, the two legs of the connecting element form an angle α,

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which is greater than the angle α that the legs enclose in the unassembled state. This creates a spring-elastic force moment that presses the at least one engagement element of each leg into the corresponding recess on the outside of the side wall or the base or the lid. This creates an easy-to-release connection between the at least one side wall and the base or lid, which can be released by lifting one leg to a position in which the engagement element arranged on the leg is completely pulled out of the recess corresponding to the engagement element. To assemble the connecting element, the connecting element is inserted with an engagement element into the corresponding recess, for example in a side wall. The connecting element is then deformed in such a way that the two legs form an angle α that is larger than in the unassembled state. which enables the second engagement element to engage in the recess of the base or the lid in the manner of a snap connection with partial deformation of the connecting element.

It is particularly desirable if the connection of the structure to the base or lid is essentially free of play. A preferred embodiment therefore consists in the fact that the spring-elastic restoring force of the connecting element additionally causes the at least one side wall to be pressed against the base or lid.

A further preferred embodiment of the flattenable reusable transport container according to the invention consists in that the at least one engagement element in the unassembled state with

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the associated leg forms an acute angle β. This means that an engagement element that passes through the recess can also engage behind the recess and thus additionally secure the connecting element.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one engagement element is pre-tensioned in a spring-elastic manner in the assembled state. This makes it possible to ensure that the engagement element is additionally secured in the recess by the action of force on an inner surface of the recess. Furthermore, the action of force can also ensure that the parts to be connected with the connecting element are pressed against one another in the contact area.

To create a firm and detachable connection between at least one side wall and the base or lid, it is completely sufficient if the connecting element of the flattenable reusable transport container has an engagement element on each leg. According to a preferred embodiment, an engagement element is provided on each end of the legs of the connecting element.

The angle α that the legs enclose in the unassembled state determines the force with which the engagement elements are pressed into the recesses in the outer sides of the side wall or the base or cover, as long as the spring-elastic range of the material from which the connecting element is made is not exceeded. Depending on the material used, it is advantageous if the legs enclose an angle α of between 20° and 89°, in particular an angle of between 75° and 87°.

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A preferred embodiment provides that the connecting element of the flattenable reusable transport container is manufactured in one piece from a spring-elastic material. This is particularly useful for manufacturing reasons, since such a connecting element can be manufactured particularly easily and therefore inexpensively. The preferred materials in this context are metal or metal alloys, in particular spring steel.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the connecting element is made from an elongated material section with a round and/or rectangular and/or polygonal cross-section. This is particularly advantageous for manufacturing and logistical reasons, since semi-finished products with a round or rectangular or polygonal cross-section are available inexpensively in a variety of ways as intermediate products for further processing into connecting elements.

According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting element of the flattenable reusable transport container can be produced by a forming process. Forming processes are processes that are mastered in terms of production technology and are therefore cost-effective. It is therefore particularly advantageous to produce the connecting element of the flattenable reusable transport container by means of such a process.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the connecting element is designed as a spring steel bracket.

According to a preferred embodiment, the floor has a floor plate and an undercarriage structure. Furthermore, the undercarriage structure protrudes at least partially over the floor plate. In this case, the at least one wall is

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one end face can be placed on the projecting part of the undercarriage structure and its inside can be brought into contact with the end face of the base plate running in this area from the outside. By using an undercarriage structure, the flattenable reusable transport container can be picked up and placed down in a simple manner, for example using the fork of a forklift truck or hand pallet truck.

It is particularly advantageous if the undercarriage structure protrudes over the base plate at least in sections in the area of each front surface of the base plate. This means that all side walls of the structure of the flattenable reusable transport container can be placed on the protruding area of the undercarriage structure, which acts as a support surface.

In the case of reusable transport containers that can be folded flat, it is desirable that there are as few individual parts as possible when folded up. A particularly preferred embodiment consists in connecting the walls of the structure to one another via hinges in such a way that the structure can be laid flat on the floor. Thus, when the reusable transport container is dismantled, the structure consists of only one folded ring-like component instead of four individual side walls.

A further preferred embodiment provides that the areas of the undercarriage structure that protrude above the floor plate are flush with the outer sides of the structure.

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A further preferred embodiment provides for an at least partially circumferential guide strip to be provided in the edge region of the lid as a contact area for the inner sides of the walls from the outside, wherein the lid can be brought to rest on the end faces of the side walls in the area between the lid edge and the guide strip.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown schematically in the figures.

Figure 1

the flattenable reusable transport container in perspective view of the individual parts,
15

Figure 2

the flat reusable transport container in assembled state in perspective view,

0 Figure 3

a detailed sketch of the flattenable reusable transport container in assembled state in cross-sectional direction in the area of connecting elements (1st embodiment),

Figure 4

a detailed drawing of the flattenable reusable transport container according to the invention in the assembled state in cross-sectional direction in the area of connecting elements (2nd embodiment),

Figure 5

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the connecting element (1st embodiment) of the flattenable reusable transport container in unassembled and assembled state in side view.

. 5 Figure 1 shows various individual parts of the flattenable reusable transport container 1 according to the invention in a perspective view. The transport container 1 essentially consists of a base 2, a structure 3, a lid 4 and several connecting elements 5. The base 2 has a base plate 6 and an undercarriage structure 7. In the present embodiment, the undercarriage structure 7 is formed by three joint pieces 8 running parallel to one another and to the transverse sides of the base plate 6. The left and right joint pieces 8 protrude beyond the respective transverse side of the base plate 6. The section of the joint pieces 8 protruding beyond the base plate 6 forms a support surface 9 in the area of the joint pieces 8 and a contact surface 10 in the area of the front side of the base plate 6. All three joint pieces 8 also protrude beyond both long sides of the base plate 6. This forms the support surfaces 9 and the contact surfaces 10 in the area of the long sides. Furthermore, recesses 15 are provided in the base plate 6, which penetrate the base plate 6.

The structure 3 has two longitudinal walls 11 and two transverse walls 12 arranged parallel to one another. All walls 11, 12 extend perpendicular to the base plate 6. When the transport container 1 is assembled, two adjacent walls 11, 12 form a right angle. In the present embodiment, the walls 11, 12 are connected to one another by hinge-like bands, so that they can be folded flat in a parallelogram-like manner when the transport container 1 is dismantled.

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Four recesses 14 are provided on each of the walls 11, 12 of the structure 3. Of the four recesses 14 on each wall 11, 12, two are arranged at the top and two at the bottom. In the present embodiment, the recesses 14 penetrate the walls 11, 12 completely.

The cover 4 also has recesses 16 which also completely penetrate it. On the inside 27 of the cover 4, a guide strip (shown in dashed lines) is provided which runs around the edge area.

When the flattenable reusable transport container 1 is set up or assembled, the lower end faces 18 of the transverse walls 12 and the lower end faces 19 of the longitudinal walls 11 are placed on the support surfaces 9 of the undercarriage structure. Furthermore, the lower edge areas of the inner sides 20 of the transverse walls 12 and the lower edge areas of the inner sides 21 of the longitudinal walls 11 are placed on the support surfaces 10 of the base 2. To attach the structure 3 to the base 2, a connecting element 5 is brought into engagement with the recesses 14 and 15 of the base and side walls arranged adjacent to one another. In this case, the connecting element engages with a first engagement element 22' in a recess 14 of the structure 3 and with a second engagement element 22 in a recess 15 of the base 2, wherein a leg 22, 23' of the connecting element 5 engages around an outer side 24, 25 of the longitudinal wall 11 or the transverse wall 12 0 and the outer side 2 6 of the base plate 6 in the edge region.

Figure 2 shows the inventive flattable reusable transport container 1 in assembled state with closed

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Lid 4. When the lid 4 is closed, the inner side 27 of the lid 4 in the area between the guide strip 17 and the edge of the lid comes to rest on the upper end faces 28 of the transverse wall 12 and on the upper end faces 29 of the longitudinal wall 11. Furthermore, the upper edge areas of the end faces 20 of the transverse walls 12 and the upper edge areas of the inner sides 21 of the longitudinal walls 11 come to rest on the guide strip 17.

The connecting elements 5 can also be seen, which are engaged with their engagement elements 22, 22' in adjacent recesses 14 of the side walls 11, 12 and recesses 16 of the cover 4. The legs 23 of the connecting element 5 overlap the outer sides 24, 25, 30 up to the recesses 14, 16.

Figure 3 shows the flattenable reusable transport container 1 in a cross-sectional view running parallel to the transverse wall 12 in the area of connecting elements 5 (1st embodiment). The connecting element 5 of the 1st embodiment is designed as a spring steel bracket with a round cross-section. The base plate 6 of the base 2 is completely penetrated by a recess 15. The inner side 21 of the longitudinal wall 11 is brought into contact with the contact surface 10, which is formed by the circumferential front side of the base plate 6, in the lower edge area. The longitudinal wall 11 has a recess 14 in the upper and lower edge areas, which completely penetrates the longitudinal wall 11. The lower front surface 19 of the longitudinal wall 11 is brought into contact with the support surface 9. The support surface 9 is formed by the area of the joint wood 8 which protrudes over the base plate 6. The inner side 27 of the cover 4 is placed on the upper front surface 29 of the longitudinal wall 11 in the area between the guide strip 17 and the edge of the cover. In addition, the

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upper edge area of the inner side 21 of the longitudinal wall 11 on the guide strip 17 attached to the inner side 27 of the cover.

An engagement element 22, 22' of the connecting element 5 is brought into engagement in the recess 15 of the base plate and in the recess 14 of the longitudinal wall 11. As can be seen from Figure 3, the engagement elements 22 and 22' run at an angle to the recesses 15 and 14, whereby the recess surface 31 of the recess 14 of the base plate 6 and the recess surface 32 of the recess 15 of the longitudinal wall 11 are engaged behind by the engagement elements 22, 22'. In the connecting element 5, each engagement element 22, 22' encloses the same angle β with the leg 23, 23' assigned to it in the assembled state as in the unassembled state. Furthermore, the legs 23 and 23' of the connecting element 5 run essentially at right angles to one another in the assembled state. This state can be achieved by elastically deforming the connecting element 5 at least in the transition area between the two legs 23 and 23'. As a result, the connecting element 5 is transferred from an unassembled state, in which the legs 23 and 23' form an acute angle, which preferably corresponds to approximately 85°, to an assembled state in which the legs 23 and 23' 5 are arranged essentially perpendicular to one another. The elastic prestressing of the legs 23 and 23' causes the engagement elements 22 and 22' to be pressed into the recess 15 of the base plate 6 and the recess 14 of the longitudinal wall 11.

The fastening of the cover 4 to the longitudinal wall 11 is accomplished by an identical connecting element 5 and will therefore not be explained in more detail.

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Figure 4 shows, like Figure 3, the flattenable reusable transport container 1 according to the invention in a sectional plane parallel to the transverse wall 12 in the region of connecting elements 33, which represent a second embodiment of the previously described connecting elements 5.

The features described in Figure 3, which are not related to the second embodiment of the connecting element, will not be discussed in more detail below. The base plate 6 has a recess 15 that completely penetrates the base plate 6. The longitudinal wall 11 has a recess 14 that completely penetrates the longitudinal wall 11. The connecting element 33 of the second embodiment is designed as a spring steel bracket with a rectangular cross-section. In the assembled state, the legs 34 and 34' enclose a larger angle α than in the unassembled state. However, in the assembled state, the legs 34 and 34' do not run at right angles to one another as in the connecting element 5, but enclose an angle α < 90°. Since the connecting element 33 is made of a spring-elastic material, the legs 34 and 34' are spring-elastically prestressed in the assembled state.

Furthermore, the engagement elements 35 and 35' enclose a larger angle β in the assembled state than in the unassembled state.

The engagement element 35 completely passes through the recess 15 and is brought into contact with the recess surface 31 of the recess under spring-elastic prestress. The engagement element 35' completely passes through the recess 14 of the longitudinal wall 11 and is brought into contact with the recess surface 32 of the

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Recess 15 is brought into contact under spring-elastic prestress. Due to the spring-elastic prestressed contact of the engagement elements 35 and 35' on the recess surfaces 31 and 32, on the one hand the lower end face 19 of the longitudinal wall 11 is pressed against the support surface 9 of the joint wood 8 and the lower edge region of the inner side 21 of the longitudinal wall 11 is pressed against the contact surface 10, and on the other hand the engagement elements 35 and 35' are secured against slipping out of the recesses 14 and 15 due to the elastic prestressed contact on the recess surfaces 31 and 32 of the recesses 14 and 15. Due to the fact that the two legs 34 and 34' form an angle &agr; < 90° to one another and are pressed under spring-elastic prestress against an area of the outer side 26 of the base plate 6 or the outer side 24 of the longitudinal wall 11, on the one hand it is achieved that the engagement elements 35 and 35' are pressed into the openings 14 and 15 and thus secured in their position, and on the other hand this type of arrangement of the legs 34 and 34' in the assembled state of the connecting element 33 ensures that the lower end face 19 of the longitudinal wall 11 is pressed against the support surface 9 of the joint wood 8 and the lower edge region of the inner side 21 of the longitudinal wall 11 is pressed against the contact surface 10.

Figure 5 shows the connecting element 5 of the first embodiment shown separately. Figure 5a shows the connecting element 5 in the unassembled state. The legs 23 and 23' enclose an angle α of approximately 85° in the unassembled state. In addition, each engagement element 22, 22' encloses an angle β of approximately 85° with the leg 23, 23' assigned to it in the unassembled state.

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Figure 5b shows the connecting element 15 in the assembled state. The legs 23 and 23' form an angle α of 90° in the assembled state. Since the connecting element 5 is made of a spring-elastic material, such as spring steel, the legs 23 and 23' are pre-tensioned in the assembled state. As a result, the legs 23 and 23' of the connecting element 5 are each pressed against the outer sides of the flattenable reusable transport container assigned to them, whereby the engagement elements 22 and 22' are pressed into the recesses 14, 15 and 16.

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List of reference symbols

1 flattenable reusable transport container

2 Floor
3 Structure

4 lids

5 Connecting element

6 Base plate

7 Undercarriage construction 8 Joint wood

9 Support surface (joint wood)

10 Support surface (front side of base plate)

11 Longitudinal wall

12 Cross wall

13 Hinge band

14 recesses (structure)

15 recesses (base plate)

16 recesses (lid)

17 Guide rail

18 lower front surface (transverse wall)

19 lower front surface (longitudinal wall)

2 0 Inside (cross wall)

21 Inside (longitudinal wall)

22 Engagement element 23 Leg

24 Outside (longitudinal wall)

25 Outside (cross wall)

26 Outside (base plate)

27 Inside (lid)

28 upper end face (transverse wall)

29 upper end face (longitudinal wall)

30 Outside (lid)

31 Recess area (recess structure)

32 Recess area (base plate recess)

33 Connecting element (second embodiment)

34 legs (second embodiment)

35 Engagement element (second embodiment) 5

Claims (16)

1. A reusable transport container ( 1 ) which can be laid flat, comprising a base ( 2 ), a structure ( 3 ) with side walls ( 11 , 12 ) arranged perpendicular to the base ( 2 ) and optionally a lid ( 4 ), wherein at least one side wall ( 11 , 12 ) can be detachably connected to the base ( 2 ) or to the lid ( 4 ) by at least one connecting element ( 5 , 33 ) which encompasses the outer sides ( 24 , 25 and 26 , 27 ), characterized in that - that the connecting element ( 5 , 33 ) provides two legs ( 23 , 34 ) which, in the unassembled state, enclose an acute angle α, - that the connecting element ( 5 , 33 ) is spring-elastic at least in the transition region between the two legs ( 23 , 34 ), - that on each leg ( 23 , 34 ) at least one engagement element ( 22 , 35 ) is provided which points inwards substantially perpendicular to the respective leg ( 23 , 34 ), - and that corresponding thereto, in the outer side ( 24 , 25 ), ( 26 ) or ( 27 ) of the side wall ( 11 , 12 ) and the base ( 2 ) or the cover ( 4 ), a recess ( 14 ) and ( 15 ) or ( 16 ) is provided, into which the respective engagement element ( 22 , 25 ) can be inserted with elastic deformation of the connecting element ( 5 , 33 ). 2. Flattable reusable transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one side wall ( 11 , 12 ) is pressed against the base ( 2 ) or the lid ( 4 ) by the connecting element ( 5 , 33 ). 3. Flattable reusable transport container according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one engagement element ( 22 , 35 ) in the unassembled state encloses an acute angle β with the leg ( 23 , 34 ), in particular 20° to 89°, and particularly preferably 75° to 87°. 4. Flattable reusable transport container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one engagement element ( 22 ) in the assembled state encloses the same angle with the leg ( 23 ) as in the unassembled state. 5. Flattable reusable transport container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one engagement element ( 35 ) is spring-elastically prestressed in the assembled state. 6. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an engagement element ( 22 , 5 ) is provided at the end of each of the legs ( 23 , 34 ) of the connecting element ( 5 , 33 ). 7. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the legs ( 23 , 34 ) in the unassembled state enclose an angle α between 20° and 89°, preferably 75° to 87°. 8. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connecting element ( 5 , 33 ) is made in one piece from a spring-elastic material, in particular from metal or from a metal alloy, preferably from spring steel. 9. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the connecting element ( 5 , 3 ) is made from an elongated material section with a round and/or rectangular and/or polygonal cross-section. 10. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the connecting element ( 5 , 33 ) can be produced by a forming process. 11. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the connecting element ( 5 , 33 ) is a spring steel bracket. 12. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the base ( 2 ) has a base plate ( 6 ) and an undercarriage structure ( 7 ), the undercarriage structure ( 7 ) protruding at least in sections over the base plate ( 6 ), and the at least one wall ( 11 , 12 ) can be placed with an end face ( 18 , 19 ) on the projecting part ( 9 ) of the undercarriage structure ( 7 ) and can be brought to rest from the outside with its inner side ( 20 , 21 ) on the end face ( 10 ) of the base plate ( 6 ) running in this area. 13. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the undercarriage structure ( 7 ) projects at least partially over the base plate ( 6 ) in the region of each end face ( 10 ) of the base plate ( 6 ). 14. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the walls ( 11 , 12 ) of the structure ( 3 ) are connected to one another in a hinge-like manner via bands ( 13 ) in such a way that the structure ( 3 ) can be laid flat on the floor ( 2 ) when folded. 15. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the sections ( 9 ) of the undercarriage structure ( 7 ) projecting over the base plate ( 6 ) are flush with the outer sides ( 24 , 25 ) of the structure. 16. Flattable reusable transport container according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that in the edge region of the lid ( 4 ) an at least partially circumferential guide strip ( 17 ) is provided as a contact area of the inner sides ( 20 , 21 ) of the walls ( 11 , 12 ) from the outside, and wherein the lid ( 4 ) can be brought to rest on the end faces ( 28 , 29 ) of the walls ( 11 , 12 ) in the region between the lid edge and the guide strip ( 17 ).