DE9320240U1 - Plastic container - Google Patents

Description

DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney 5ngidip5ENSPti _# Per« _# ;

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. O2&Pgr;-36SJ^ *«.·"" •..·&Rgr;&agr;*&2&Pgr;-3$&dgr;!41 J

07.01.1994 My file no. 7142b R/Si

Hammerlit GmbH

"Plastic containers"

The invention relates to a plastic container for waste, dirty laundry or the like, in particular for hospitals, homes or hotels.

Such plastic containers should have sufficient capacity, be easy to transport and fill, and retain their shape so that they can be easily stacked and pulled apart again.

Plastic containers of this type are usually manufactured using the injection molding process and therefore have to have a draft angle that is advantageously dimensioned so that the containers can be stacked inside one another. The edge in the area of the opening of these plastic containers is usually reinforced by a flange that protrudes horizontally or is U-shaped in cross section. This flange, however, means that the walls of the plastic container, if it has a

DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney JingJdipJ ENSF^

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. 0211-3(^35^1 · _&phgr;&phgr; · ' •.l

rectangular or square cross-section, bulge inwards when cooling after injection molding, as the flange contracts more than the walls. These deformations cause the containers to jam when stacked one inside the other, making them difficult to pull apart.

Furthermore, these containers are difficult to close tightly with a lid if the lid is to be easy to open again.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a plastic container which avoids these disadvantages, can be tightly closed by means of a lid, but is also easy to open, which retains its predetermined shape after demolding from the injection molding machine and does not deform during use and which is easy to handle.

Based on this task, it is proposed that the plastic container according to the invention has an edge reinforcement in the form of a protruding flange, which is at least partially truncated cone or truncated pyramid-shaped. The truncated cone-shaped design results in a plastic container with a circular cross-section, while the truncated pyramid-shaped design results in a

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DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney at Law.

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. O211-3<S355lS &Idigr; ·* ! 5 FaxtO2*ll

Plastic containers with square or rectangular cross-section.

Due to the truncated cone or truncated pyramid shape of the flange, the edge reinforcement is sufficiently elastically deformable so that it does not lead to tensions in the edge areas of the plastic container and does not cause any permanent, disadvantageous deformations.

A lid with a corresponding truncated cone or truncated pyramid-shaped centering flange can be placed on the edge reinforcement of the plastic container in a sealing manner but without jamming and can therefore also be easily removed again.

The truncated cone or truncated pyramid shape of the flange can begin as a surface perpendicular to the edge of the plastic container and transition into an outwardly bevelled area that is preferably open at the bottom.

If the truncated cone or truncated pyramid-shaped formations of the flange extend only in certain areas, preferably in the corner areas in the case of a square or rectangular cross-section, flange elements can be arranged between these truncated cone or truncated pyramid-shaped formations of the flange, which extend to the container edge.

DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney,

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel, &Idigr; ^*\

are spaced apart and run perpendicular to them and are aligned with the lower edge of the outwardly bevelled area. The outer edges of these flange elements can be bevelled in the same way as the bevelled areas of the truncated cone or truncated pyramid shape of the flange.

Preferably, the truncated cone or truncated pyramid-shaped configurations of the flange and the connecting flange elements can merge into one another via inclined surfaces.

Due to the edge reinforcement according to the invention with the truncated cone or truncated pyramid-shaped areas of the flange, the plastic container can be designed from a first, upper, shorter area starting from the edge with essentially parallel surfaces and at least one handle protruding from it, as well as a lower, longer area tapering towards the bottom. When stacked one inside the other, the lower container only takes up the tapering area of the container placed inside it, whereby the shorter area can be supported by a shoulder on the upper edge of the plastic container.

The carrying handle can be attached to the container by means of vertical bars extending over the entire shorter section,

DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European PcjJentJPtfrpirley

Stresemannstrasse 28 4O0O Düsseldorf 1 Tel. O211 -36&euro;§p« · , . · " · . . *Fa$ <Q211 -3&phgr; £Jt41 J

This ensures that the carrying handle can carry a sufficient load without using too much plastic material. As the webs are relatively thin-walled, while the carrying handle must be dimensioned according to the filling weight, the elasticity of the webs prevents the shrinkage of the carrying handle during cooling from leading to a deformation of the adjacent container wall.

The lower, longer section of the container may have corrugations that contribute to its dimensional rigidity.

Preferably, the cross-section of the container can be rectangular, so that notches can be arranged on the edge areas of the broad sides, the distance between which corresponds to that of the broad sides in the base area. Positioning projections that correspond to the notches can be arranged on the base area, so that the containers can be stacked on top of each other, rotated by 90°, and are held securely against each other.

In order to be able to empty the container easily, a handle for gripping underneath the container can be arranged in the base area below the handle, so that the container can be grasped, lifted and tilted for emptying with one hand on the handle and with the other hand on the handle.

DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney

&bull; ·· ··· · · Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel, &Ogr;2&Pgr;-3&aacgr;&bgr;£.3&Iacgr; ·.,· * *,

The hinged lid that can be used with the plastic container can have a protruding, pyramid- or truncated cone-shaped centering flange with its inside corresponding to the outside of the pyramid- or truncated cone-shaped design of the flange on the container, so that the lid can be placed centered and sealed on the container opening without jamming and can therefore also be opened easily.

In order to stiffen the lid, it can have a recessed surface compared to the centering flange area, so that the centering flange acts like a stiffening frame. The recess can serve to accommodate a second container standing on it.

The lid can preferably be connected to the container via a hinge part that can be attached to the handle, so that the container can be used either with or without the lid attached.

In one embodiment, the attachable hinge part can consist of a U-shaped bracket that can be clamped over the handle with a long leg that rests on the container wall adjacent to the handle and a web that extends from the bracket to the edge area of the container and a

DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney.^oTmev **g;di|SJ ENSPgJ Pfif _#

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. O211-36c53! &iacgr; S ·* ! SF5iSS?l ^# i*

The web end consists of a thickening running parallel to the container wall and forming a folding axis.

In another embodiment, the attachable hinge part can consist of a U-shaped bracket that can be placed over the handle, webs arranged at each end of the bracket that are perpendicular to it and supported on the adjacent container wall, and a folding axis that connects the web ends and runs parallel to the container wall. In this embodiment, the webs of the hinge part are adjacent to the webs of the handle, so that the handle can be grasped in the usual way even when the hinge part is attached. In this embodiment, the webs can rest with one side edge on a flange element of the container and springy, elastic, spread tongues on the webs can grip the flange element from below. To attach this hinge part, the webs are pushed from above into the free area between the handle and the adjacent container wall, with the tongues in the area of the flange element initially being deformed so that they slide past it. As soon as the tongue ends are free from the flange element, they spring back into their original position and grip under the flange element so that the hinge part is secured against being pulled out and in doing so engages with the bracket on the handle and with the webs on the adjacent container wall and the

DIPL.-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Peter* Ätosrney · !ng.

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. &Ogr;2&Pgr;-3<53&dgr;3&Ggr;..' ' *..* F<3»©211-363l4li

- 8 flange element supports.

A hinge part that can be attached to the folding axis can be screwed onto the lid. In its simplest form, this consists of a plastic block with a slot-like opening for the folding axis. The slot-like opening is slightly narrower at the edge than the diameter of the folding axis, so that it is held sufficiently securely in this hinge part after it has been attached.

The hinge part can be attached to the cover at a region of the centering flange with horizontal and vertical "" limiting surfaces," whereby the cover can have a similarly shaped opening handle diametrically opposite.

In another embodiment, the hinge part can consist of at least one parallel extension on the lid, directed perpendicular to the plane of the lid into the area of the webs of the carrying handle, which can be plugged onto the carrying handle, extensions of the carrying handle or pins on the webs of the carrying handle.

Preferably, flat pins with their narrow side pointing upwards and downwards can be arranged on the inside or outside of each web, adjacent to the flange element, which are overlapped by the extensions with widening slots.

DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney j Ing. dipJL

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel, O2 11 -3<5 ÄS 3i* · · * " * · · * Fe* ©211 -345141

These slots can lead to extensions which can be circular with a diameter corresponding to the distance between the narrow sides of the pins, whereby the extension can protrude beyond the pins so far that it rests under the flange element of the plastic container when the lid is folded up.

The invention is explained in more detail below using several embodiments. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective, exploded

Illustration of a plastic container with lid and hinge part,

Fig. 2 a sectional view of the plastic container

with another hinge part,

Fig. 3 a perspective view of the

Hinge part according to Fig. 2, '

Fig. 4 a perspective view of the

Handle area of the container for attaching another hinge part to the lid,

DIPL-ING. JOCHENREHDERS Patent Attorney European i$~iteE»tTfyfctney: ln&, <3\&zgr;>\. ENSpMfins,

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. 0211-36^3?. _# * "··..* FfJ.0211-^*^'

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Fig. 5 a sectional view of the plastic container

with attached hinge part and

Fig. 6 a detailed view of Fig. 5 with folded up

Lid.

A plastic container, generally identified by reference number 1, is manufactured using an injection molding process and has a rectangular cross-section with rounded edges. In the corner areas, surfaces 2 are provided that extend perpendicularly from the container edge 3 and, together with beveled surfaces 5, form a truncated pyramid-shaped edge reinforcement. The spaces between the truncated pyramid-shaped corner areas 2, 5 are connected by flange elements 4 that are spaced from the container edge 3, are aligned with the lower edges of the beveled areas 5 and whose edges are beveled in the same way as the surfaces 5. -

The container 1 consists of a shorter area 7 starting from the container edge 3 with essentially parallel broad sides 9 and parallel narrow sides 10. The shorter area 7 merges via a step 11 into a longer area 8 which tapers towards the bottom 15.

DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney I ing. d!j5l. ENSßM ScSns.

Sfresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. 0211-342581·..· * *..· Fg^p2&Pgr;-3<ä514* J"

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Parallel webs 13 are arranged on the narrow sides 10 and serve as holders for a carrying handle 12. On the narrow sides 10, stiffening beads 14 run continuously from the flange elements 4 to the bottom 15 of the container.

On the broad sides 9, the beads 14 end at the shoulder 11. In the edge areas 3 of the broad sides 9 of the container 1, notches 16 are arranged, the distance between which corresponds to the distance between positioning projections 17 in the form of a circumferential edge on the base 15. Towards the narrow sides, the base has recesses 18, which, in conjunction with the edge area widened thereby, serve as a handle for emptying the container by grasping, lifting and tilting the container with one hand on the handle 12 and with the other hand in the recess.

A hinged lid 19 can be arranged on the container 1, which is provided with a centering flange 20, 21, which is formed from a horizontal edge area 20 and an area 21 running downwards at an angle to it. This centering flange 20, 21 corresponds in its dimensions and angles to the truncated pyramid-shaped formation 2, 5 and the flange elements 4 connecting them, so that it centers itself when placed on the container 1 and is sufficiently

DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Pafenranwo.lt European *irei5r%1cfney: in|. d!|l. ENSf ¹ M Pckis^

Stresemannstrasse28 4CXXiDüsseldorf 1 Tel. &Ogr;2&Pgr;-3&dgr;353&Ggr;..' ' *«.* FeJD211-34Sl4li

- 12 seals without clamping.

In order to limit twisting and deformation of the hinged lid 19 to a minimum, the main surface 22 is recessed relative to the centering flange 20, 21, so that the centering flange 20 _and 21 form a stiffening frame. This recess can be used to fix a second container standing on it.

A hinge part 23 can be attached to the handle with its U-shaped bracket 24. The U-shaped bracket 24 clamps the handle 12 so that it is held securely for normal use. The U-shaped bracket 24 has a long leg 25 which is supported on the narrow side 10 of the container 1 adjacent to the handle 12. A web 26 extends from the U-shaped bracket and ends in a thickening 27 which forms a folding axis for the hinged lid 19. For this purpose, a window 28 is provided in the web 26 below the thickening 27. A hinge part 29 which is attached to the hinged lid 19 by means of screws 30 is attached to this area and is held on the folding axis 27 in the same way as the U-shaped bracket 24 is held on the handle 12.

Since the hinge part 23 encompasses the carrying handle 12 over its entire width, this carrying handle 12 is available for handling

&bull; · · · · < ■ ··
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DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney · ln<J. diflll

Stresemannstrasse 28 400&Ogr; Düsseldorf 1 Tel. &Ogr;211-35giSf··" *··" Fe* O211-S* 5141·

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no longer available. In contrast, the design of a hinge part 34 according to Fig. 2 and 3 allows the container to be handled by the handles 12 in the usual way. This hinge part 34 consists of a U-shaped bracket 35 which surrounds the handle 12 and at the ends of which webs 36 are arranged which run perpendicular to it. An extension of the webs 36 upwards carries an axis 37. In the area between the axis 37 and the U-shaped bracket 35, resilient, spread tongues 39 are formed which can be bent under lugs 38. If the hinge part 34 is now pushed from above into the free area between the handle 12 and the flange element 4, the tongues 3.9 _r are deformed by the flange element 4 so that they can slide past the flange element 4. As soon as the lugs 38 rest on the flange element 4, the tongues 39 spring back into their original position and grip under the flange element 4. In this position, the U-shaped bracket rests on the handle 12 and the webs 36 are supported on the narrow side 10 and with the lugs 38 on the flange element 4, so that the hinge part 34 is held precisely and wobble-free. The hinge part 34 is secured against being pulled out by the tongues 39 gripping under the flange element 4.

The hinged lid 19 is clamped to the hinged axis 37 by means of the hinge part 39 in the same manner as described with respect to Fig. 1.

DIPL-ING. JOCHENREHDERS Patent Attorney European &resT'Aforney i in|. d!|l. EN

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel, O211 -3&£^t..* ' *..* F«5O2&Pgr; -

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Since in the embodiment according to Fig. 2 and 3 the U-shaped bracket 35 as well as the carrying handle 12 is only limited by lateral webs 36, the carrying handle 12 can be grasped and used in the same way as if the hinge part 34 were not attached.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4 to 6, flat pins 40 are arranged on the flanges 13 of the carrying handle 12, the narrow sides 41 of which protrude upwards and downwards. Hinge parts in the form of extensions 42 on the opening handles 31 can be attached to these pins 40, which can protrude both inwards from the webs 13, as shown, and outwards. For this purpose, the extensions 42 are provided with downwardly directed, widening slots 43, which merge into a circular extension 44, the diameter of which corresponds to the distance between the narrow sides 41 of the pins 40. In the drawing, the narrowest area of the widening slot 43 is shown wider than a narrow side 41 of the pin 40, but this area can also be slightly narrower than the pin 40, so that the cover can only be clamped over the pin 40 and can only move freely when the pin 40 is completely in the circular extension 44.

The extensions 42 are preferably long enough to be able to

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DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Attorney at Law European Financial Services Agency ln|. dpi. ENStM tans»

Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. 0211-36^3?..* **..· FpJ £1211-3$Sl*4l!'

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Place the cover 19 in the raised position shown in Fig. 6 against the underside of the flange element 4 and hold the cover 19 in the raised position.

The extensions 42 with the widening slots 43 and the circular extension 44 can also be extended so that they can be attached to the handle 12 instead of to the pins 40. It is also possible to extend the handle 12 on the outside of the webs 13 using flattened pins and to attach the extension 42 on the cover 19 to these extensions.

Claims (22)

DIPL.-ING, JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Satetir*4tidrneyS ln||. cfijbl. &Egr;&Ngr;^&Ngr;/&Phi;&Igr;&pgr;* Stresemannstraße 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. O211-3 - 16 - 07.01.1994 My file no. 7142b R/Si Hammer lit: GmbH Protection claims 1. Plastic container with - an edge reinforcement in the form of a protruding flange (2, 4) and - a frustoconical or truncated pyramidal shape (5) of the flange (2) at least in some regions. 2. Plastic container according to claim 1, characterized in that the truncated cone or truncated pyramid-shaped formation (5) of the flange begins as a surface (2) perpendicular to the edge (3) of the plastic container (1) and merges into an outwardly beveled region (5). 3. Plastic container according to claim 2, characterized in that flange elements (4) are arranged between the truncated cone or truncated pyramid-shaped formations (5) of the flange, which are spaced from the edge (3) and run perpendicular thereto. DiPL.-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European iJbteSt*/VdrneyS ine. cfijel. EN&M Pans. Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. O211-3S>^3t,.* ' *.«* &% U - 17 - 4. Plastic container according to claim 3, characterized in that the frustoconical or truncated pyramidal formations (5) of the flange and the flange elements (4) connecting them merge into one another via inclined surfaces (6). 5. Plastic container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cross section is square or rectangular and the truncated pyramid-shaped formation (5) of the flange (2) is arranged in the corner regions. 6. Plastic container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a first, upper, shorter region (7) starting from the edge (3) consists of essentially parallel surfaces (9, 10) with at least one carrying handle (12) projecting therefrom and a lower, longer region (8) is tapered towards the bottom (15). 7. Plastic container according to claim 6, characterized in that the two regions (7, 8) merge into one another via a shoulder (11). 8. Plastic container according to claim 6 or 7, characterized DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney: ln|. <5ijS>l. OO fe^* ·· fc Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. 02 &Pgr;-3fe^t* ' ·· - 18 - characterized in that the carrying handle (12) is attached to the container (1) by means of vertical webs (13) extending over the entire shorter region (7). 9. Plastic container according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that at least the lower, longer region (8) has stiffening beads (14). 10. Plastic container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cross section is rectangular and notches (16) are provided on the edge regions (3) of the broad sides (9), the distance between which corresponds to that of the broad sides (9) in the base region (15) and that positioning projections (17) corresponding to the notches (16) are arranged on the base region. 11. Plastic container according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a handle (18) for reaching under the container (1) is arranged in the base region (15) below the carrying handle (12). 12» Plastic container with hinged lid according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the hinged lid (19) has a protruding truncated pyramid or truncated cone-shaped, with its inside facing the outside of the truncated pyramid DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European fa&fiM&neA fnb. 5IpI. EN§PMiPcn* Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. &Ogr;211-34333&Iacgr;.,* '*.,· - 19 - or frustoconical design (2, 5) of the flange on the container (1) corresponding centering flange (20, 21). 13. Plastic container according to claim 12, characterized in that the lid (19) has a recessed surface (22) relative to the centering flange region (20, 21). 14. Plastic container according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the lid (19) is connected to the container (1) via a hinge part (23, 29, 34) which can be attached to the carrying handle (12). ......... 15. Plastic container according to claim 14, characterized in that the attachable hinge part (23) consists of a U-shaped bracket (24) that can be clamped over the carrying handle (12) and has a long leg (25) that is supported on the container wall (10) adjacent to the carrying handle (12) and a web (26) that extends from the bracket (24) to the edge region (3) of the container (1) and a thickening (27) that runs parallel to the container wall (10) at the end of the web and forms a folding axis. 16. Plastic container according to claim 14, characterized in that the attachable hinge part (34) consists of a U-shaped, DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European ifcre&t*/^neyj*ln{j. dffcl. Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. O211-^ - 20 - a bracket (35) that can be inserted over the carrying handle (12), webs (36) arranged at each end of the bracket (35) that are perpendicular to it and supported on the adjacent container wall (10), and a folding axis (37) that connects the web ends and runs parallel to the container wall (10). 17. Plastic container according to claim 16, characterized in that the webs (36) are connected to a side edge (38) at a
Flange element (4) of the container (1) and
spring-elastic spread tongues (39) on the bridges
(36) engage under the flange element (4). 18. Plastic container according to claims 1-17, characterized in that a hinge part (29) which can be attached to the folding axis (27) is screwed to the lid (19). 19. Plastic container according to claim 18, characterized in that the hinge part (29) on the lid (19) is attached to a region of the centering flange (20) of the cover (19) with horizontal and vertical boundary surfaces (32, 33) and the cover (19) diametrically opposite a similarly shaped
opening handle (31). 20. Plastic container according to claim 14, characterized in that the hinge part consists of at least one parallel, DIPL-ING. JOCHEN REHDERS Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney in£. dfiS>l. EN^ ³ Mf4n%. Stresemannstrasse 28 4OOO Düsseldorf 1 Tel. O211-35.^3?,.* ***.«" F^|.O211-^*4?* - 21 - an extension (42) on the lid (19) directed perpendicular to the lid plane into the area of the webs (13) of the carrying handle (12) and pluggable onto the carrying handle (12), extensions of the carrying handle (12) or pins (40) on the webs (13). 21. Plastic container according to claim 20, characterized in that flat pins (40) are arranged on the inside or outside of each web (13) adjacent to the flange element (4), with their narrow side (41) pointing upwards and downwards, which are overlapped by the extensions (42) with widening slots (43, 44). 22. Plastic container according to claim 21, characterized in that the extension (44) of the slots (43) is circular with a diameter corresponding to the distance between the narrow sides (41) of the pins (40) and the extension (42) projects beyond the pins (40) so far that it rests under the flange element (4) when the lid (19) is folded up.